Kira
The warm water of the bath soothed my aching muscles all over my very pregnant body. Now just shy of my projected labor date, everything was sore and huge. Sasha helped wash me since I couldn't reach some places anymore. Leaning back in the tub and relaxing once I was clean, I rubbed my belly in large circles.
"Have you decided on any names, dear?" Sasha asked. She smiled brightly as she readied the towels to help dry me.
A warm grin spread on my face. I hummed my affirmative to Sasha's inquiry.
"If it's a girl, I have chosen Nikola, the feminine of Nikolai's name. If it's a boy, Niko."
Sasha grinned. "Good strong names for the child of two strong parents."
"Yes," Kira agreed. "And for nicknames, Nik works. If I'm mad at either child or father, I can call 'Nik!' and neither will know who is in trouble!" I giggled mischievously. "It will be great fun."
We both laughed heartily at imagining the scene. The feeling of laughter was healing for me. I had been lonely for Nikolai. It grew stronger the closer to our baby's birth we grew. Being surrounded by my two closest friends, Sasha and Vlad, had brought me great comfort.
A sudden stabbing pain deep in my back halted my laughter. It swiftly morphed into a wince of pain. I arched against the tub.
"Oh dear!" Sasha exclaimed. She came to my side and grasped my hand. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," I replied breathily. I groaned in annoyance when the pain slowly faded. "My back has been aching since yesterday afternoon. That was the first jolt of pain."
Sasha grinned and kissed me on the forehead. "My dear, I think your babe is getting ready to enter the world! Let's get you out and walk around your room, hmm?"
I nodded. In my chest, my heart sped up at the prospect of beginning labor. The ache of sadness flooded my heart that Nikolai, gone for nine months now, would be absent for the birth of his first child. The sadness whirled with anxiety and fear of childbirth.
"I will be here for each of the others! Nothing will stop me!" I imagined him saying apologetically. Surely he would bring me divinely down the passionate spiral toward conception of our next one.
Once out of the tub, I noticed a change in my dull discomfort I had grown used to over the last few weeks. A great pressure burned between my legs that made it awkward to walk. Realistically, I hadn't "walked" in weeks. Waddle was a more accurate description for how I got around these days.
Sasha helped me dry off then dress in a loose fitting nightgown before leading me into my bedroom. With an arm securely around my back and grasping my hand in her other, Sasha led me around the room in slow, circular laps. She hummed sweet songs to keep the mood light.
When I needed to rest, Sasha guided me to the window bench and sat behind me. She rubbed firmly at my back. At each tightening pain, I let out a low, growled groan.
The dull ache in my back turned to intense cramps by mid afternoon. Vlad arrived as cheery as ever, carrying lunch and tea. He was welcomed to the sight of a very uncomfortable me and a cooing Sasha.
"Well this is quite the development," Vlad chimed. He was trying to lighten the now intense mood. The sharp look I gave him shot daggers at his humor. He cleared his throat holding his hands up in surrender once the tray was down.
"She is in early labor, Your Grace," Sasha explained. "Since this morning."
"Oh...Ohh!" Vlad rushed to my side. He quickly took my hand in his. "Do I need to get my mother? Or the Doctor?"
YOU ARE READING
Once Upon His December
Historical FictionNikolai has been ordered to kill the young daughter of a kingdom his father, the Czar of Odessa, wants to possess. She is an annoying, dirty cheeked imp in his opinion. Yet he is unable to commit the act. Follow Nikolai and Kira on their journey. A...
