Muted Cries (A SOKEEFE FANFIC)

Part 4- Sophie

"How are you doing?" Sophie asked Biana. 

"Tired?" Keefe added glancing around the pale blue nursery of Gistenway. 

Biana nodded, leaning back in the marble rocking chair, holding her new baby boy, Abrick Tam Song.  He was sleeping, but Sophie could tell he had his father's jet black hair, and something about him seemed calm. 

"Thanks for coming," Biana said, smiling down at her son. 

Sophie grinned, suddenly feeling excited about her baby. 

"Is the excitement too much?" a deep voice behind Sophie asked. 

Tam walked into the room with a rattle. Keefe's eyes narrowed, but he kept his voice even as he said. "Congratulations, Bangs Boy."

Tam gave a curt nod and crossed the room to his wife and Abrick. 

The baby gave a little wail, and began to cry. "Shhh," Biana cooed, rocking him. 

Abrick started to hiccup, then blinked open his teal eyes. "H..hello." he squeaked. 

Sophie felt stunned, then remembered that elvin babies could talk from birth. 

"Hi," Sophie said, finding it strange that she was talking to a 1 day old baby.  

Abrick looked up at his mother who nodded at him. "Hi." The baby smiled a toothless grin. 

Keefe gave a little snort. "Well....he's okay for now, but if he grows hair like his dad's in the future, I might have to call him Baby Bangs. "

Tam glared at him, but Sophie, Abrick, and Biana giggled. 

"At least Abner has a cool name," Sophie whispered, smiling. "Just this morning Keefe was suggesting that we should name our baby, Sparkle." She added with a playful glare at her husband.

"Hey!" said Keefe. 

Bla bla bla Sophie thought as she flipped through the pages of runes that the Black Swan made her translate, since she was days away from having her baby. 

Keefe was on a mission with his mother and the house was quiet. Sophie pulled out the note that he had left her. 

Be back soon my favorite Foster. Stay safe, and don't let baby Keefester or Keefette be born yet! Love, Hunkyhair   

Sophie giggled, suddenly feeling a lurch in her belly. 

Sophie gasped. It was coming. Tears burned her eyes. Now? With Keefe gone? With no one at Bridgeheath to help her?! Sophie didn't feel pain. Della had told her it was painless, but draining. Sophie already felt exhausted. Too exhausted to walk across the huge bedroom to get her imparter so she could call Elwin. She even felt too tired to use telekinesis. Even transmitting felt too draining. Sophie wanted to wail. She wanted to tell her child it was too early, but she knew she couldn't stop this. There was no one to help her. Sophie wished that Sandor was there. Or Nibuti. Or Tarina. Or Flori. Even Bo. Bo. Sophie gasped louder. She looked at her wrist, the squiggly bracelet that Ro had given her on her wedding day. The words To Blondie: If you or Hunkyhair need help, just call Auntie Ro were engraved on the rim. Next to them was a dull black gem (because Ro hated sparkles).

Sophie pressed her thumb into the gem, counting to 3 then released it and breathed "Help."

567 seconds passed. Sophie insides churned. Her baby was going to be born soon-she knew it. She curled up, hugging Ella tight.