It's in the little things: One-shots x2

AU-Family life: Waltzing Matilda

Joe's POV:

"Alright Miss Buswell, all done. I can tell you that you are nearly 7 centimetres dilated now so it's almost time! How you feeling? I can get you some pain medication if you feel like it now?" the midwife gushes, fixing the blankets over Dianne and finishing up her routine. Rubbing her stomach gently and drawing a sharp breath as she breathes through yet another contraction, she still smiles, replying quietly but I can't hear it. The blood is rushing to my head is causing a deafening pulse in my ears, as I stare at her, still dumb-founded that the woman who was paid to teach me to dance, who became my best-friend and then girlfriend, now my fiancée...that wonder woman is preparing to bring our little baby into the world. And she doesn't have a single hair out of place.

"Alright Dianne, i'll leave you be for a little bit. If the pain gets too much, please please use the call button and we can get you something, I promise it doesn't have to be an epidural if you don't want it. In the meantime, do you want to try walking around a bit? Maybe bouncing on the yoga ball? At this stage, moving about might speed this last bit up a little and it's a good way to distract you from the contractions. Make sure you use that fiancé of yours, put him to work rubbing you back." the midwife winks, shutting the door quietly as she leaves. Seeing her lie back on the bed, focusing on the...lamar breathing technique ( I think it's called that anyway. Bad Joseph! Should've listen more in those pre-natal classes! Maybe Lamar is something off the TV?), I know she's feeling another contraction and yet she STILL hasn't complained or even made a sound! Heading over to place my hand on her bump, I press a kiss to her forehead and stroke the tiny fly-away hairs off her damp forehead. " Joseph...this might be the last few hours where we can hold my bump. Bump is about to become a baby Joe!" She whispers, stretching her hand over mine and rubbing both my knuckles and her stomach at the same time, seemingly trying to savour the moment. How did we get here?

Fidgeting a little, I can tell she is beginning to feel it more, her discomfort becoming evident as time drags by; minutes feel like hours as we wait for things to reach the end stage. Bouncing up from my seat, full to the brim of nervous energy, I reach for her hands and lift her gently into an upright position, "Come on my love, lets move about a bit and see if we can't encourage baby to..yano...HURRY UP!" I chuckle, kissing the bump for what will hopefully be the last time before I can kiss my baby instead. "Joseph...can we try and dance a little bit? If that doesn't work, i'll try the yoga ball but I want to dance so badly! I'm hoping the rocking movement of a waltz will nudge baby down a bit more." Batting those beautiful eyes at me, I melt, pulling her gently into my grip and wincing as I hear her whimper softly under her breath, rocking side to side as she works her way through a contraction.

I am telling you.

She's wonderwoman.

Dianne's POV:

Deciding it was time to move things along a bit, Joe pulls me ever-so-gently to my feet, wrapping me in his arms as another contraction washes over me, this time much stronger than before, causing me to let out a small whimper. Noticing this, Joe places his hands on the small of my back, applying pressure in circles, just like the midwife taught him when we first arrived, easing the pain and somewhat soothing the nerves that have started creeping in as I get closer and closer to delivering our child.
"Joseph? I love you."
I didn't need to say it, I know he knows I love him but my instant nervous reaction is to declare my love for him. Leading me in a smooth waltz box step, pausing only to rock me through the contractions which continue to crash through my body as baby gets closer and closer to reality. As a particularly painful wave hits, I fall forward, leaning my head against his shoulder and breathing heavily until it passes, his hands never ceasing their massaging movements, his lips never leaving my head as he mutters endlessly words of encouragement and "I love you's", rocking us continually.

"You're my wonder woman Dianne Buswell. Soon to be wonder mum." he mutters, running his fingers through my dull, brown locks as we side-step around the delivery suite. Held safe in his arms, my fears melt away, knowing that soon enough, he will be dancing with our child in his arms, rocking him or her this gently, making them feel safe and loved. That's enough for me. With that thought, it is like baby Sugg knew that I was ready and my contractions changed, becoming more powerful, lasting longer and coupled with an undeniable need to push. Gasping slightly whilst reaching to hold the bottom of my stomach, I look up at Joe and say the words he has been waiting to hear for the second time in nearly 14hours.

"Joseph...it's time. Can you help me back to bed and get the midwife please?"

The next hour goes by in a blur, with nurses and midwives fussing, talking and Joe squeezing my hand, brushing my hair and grimacing wildly. Before I can even comprehend what is truly happening, the midwife is placing our screaming child on my chest, messy and noisy yet perfectly healthy and insanely beautiful, all at the same time. My body reacts before my brain even has time to think, reaching up to cradle the tiny bundle of flesh as Joe is handed the scissors to cut the cord on our child, freeing it from my body once and for all. As the tiny bundle is taken away from me to be cleaned and weighed, I look up at the man I love, who is currently holding on to me so tight and crying his eyes out as they follow the blanketed child across the room...I did not think it was possible to love anything more than I love my Joseph and I love our chid. Then it hits me. "Joe? Is it a boy or a girl? I don't remember, I was too busy looking at it." I giggle, drawing a hearty laugh from him as he offers me a watery grin, "It's a girl Dotty. We have the most beautiful baby girl." Tears dripping again, I stretch up to press a firm kiss on his lips, incredibly grateful for the wonderful man I found, grinning as the midwife placed our daughter in my waiting arms and it was like the final piece of a puzzle... Our little family was complete.

"Hey Joseph?"

"Yes my wonderwoman? Are you okay? Is she okay?" The panic flashing through his eyes, evident in his tone and the shake of his hand. Bless him! He always has been a worrier.

"Stop stressing! She's perfect and i'm fine too! But don't you EVER tell me that the Waltz isn't magical...I think this just proves it. After all, it brought our little Matilda into the world." I wink, silently praying he will approve of the name.

"Oh Dotty...our very own waltzing Matilda...It's perfect." he whispers, placing his hand softly over mine and cradling both myself and our child in his warm grip.

Welcome to the rest of you life Dianne. This is the new normal.