Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 92

(Anna) EIGHT MONTHS LATER

"Push!" One of the nurses said.

"I AM!" I yelled back angrily, but did as she said.

I had been trying to birth this child for 10 hours already. It was time for it to get out.

I pushed, screaming in pain. It hadn't hurt this bad with the other two.

But, then again, I was a whole different person then. Physically and mentally.

I squeezed Loki's hand, and I was 99.999% positive that I was cutting off his circulation, though he didn't complain.

The nurse told me to stop and breath for a moment, and I took the chance to turn and glare at Loki, at my husband of 6 months. "You did this.' I grunted. "I'm going to kill you."

"Been there, done that, Darling." He smiled and winked at me. Dark humor got the best of us sometimes. It's part of the reason I was so madly in love with him.

Our wedding had been beautiful. Everyone had shown up for the ceremony and enjoyed the feast afterward. I swear the party lasted a whole week. We ate and drank and laughed and danced, and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced. It was so odd saying that I had a husband. And it was weirder still thinking about how I had gotten so lucky with the man of my dreams. The man who had saved me and loved me, who continued to bring me back from the edge when I was already falling.

Afterwards, we had officially consumated our marriage, and I must say that it was the most beauiful, amazing thing that I had ever experienced.

Now that we were finally able to settle down, we couldn't get enough of each other.

That is, until I started showing. Then we had a baby to think about. Loki helped design the nursery. It was right next to Leolin's old one, which hadn't changed a bit and never would. But the new child's nursery was just as beautiful. Loki had had drawers and toy chests made out of handcrafted wood. He had even had someone put protective spells in the room, just to be safe. And to top it all off, he had requested large curtains for the windows that had his favorite stories woven into them. He was so excited to be father. 

And I was excited as well. Because this child would be raised the other two were meant to be. This beautiful child of ours would grow and do great things. Our new life together will truly start when our baby is born, and that's a beautiful thing. I wanted to hold it, and never let it go. 

I swear the kingdom was excited as we were for this new child. I knew from my sources that people had been making bets on whether the child was to be male or female. I also knew that there was going to be a huge feast and festival in the new baby's honor. I partially think it was Thor's doing. I think he told the people how much this child means to us, so they are celebrating. 

"Push!" The nurse yelled again. I screamed as I pushed the baby, this time all the way out, as its cries echoed in the room. I slammed my head back on the pillow as Loki kissed my hand and put a cool cloth to my forehead, telling me how wonderful I had done. I took deep breaths and closed my eyes. I wanted to see the baby but I was so tired. And in pain. What the hell, kid? I don't know if I could do another birth. It might rip me apart from the inside out. 

"What's going on?" Loki said, standing up. 

My eyes shot open and I looked at him, panicked. What was wrong? Please don't let their be anything wrong. I've had enough wrong in my life, please let this be one thing that was right. 

Loki was staring at the nurses who had taken the baby to be cleaned. His face was a mix between anger and worry. "I said: What's going on?" He asked, sterner this time. I stared at the nurses in horror. I knew the baby was alive, because the poor child was still crying. It was surrounded by the nurses, who all seemed to have worried looks on their faces. I heard the doctor subtly whisper to them to take the child away.