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babydee1Happy New Year, everyone! May your 2015 be better than your 2014. :-)
Once again, I apologise for the delay in getting this out; it was meant to be a late Christmas present but somehow crept into the new year. Chapter is short & sweet, but there's a lot going on and I want y'all to enjoy the SQUEE that is sure to follow before I post the conclusion. :-P
Enjoy! Awesome banner by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chleansmile
Title: Beauty in the Breakdown XI: Baby Love
Author:babydee1
Pairing: Chlollie
Rating: NC-17 (this chapter PG-13) New Series.
Warnings: A Re-telling of Chlollie post-Warrior
Timeline: Season 9
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Series Summary: With Oliver by her side, Chloe learns to let go, find peace, and fall in love.
Story Summary: Following the loss of their beloved baby, Chloe and Oliver find their way back to a place of love and hope
Feedback: …Always. :)
Read previous chapter here.
Read story from the beginning here.
Chapter 6
***
Oliver watched his wife as she slumbered peacefully. He was infinitely grateful for the very effective painkillers, though he was now concerned that the delay to her labour might not be the best thing for his unborn daughter.
He sighed and glanced at the clock; it was almost noon. Maybe he should have manned up earlier like Lola said and been stronger during the latent phase of Chloe’s labour; but her pain had been increasing exponentially, and he had begun to fear the worst. He felt better now that she wasn’t hurting anymore. And the baby’s heart monitor had been steadily in the safe zone for the last two hours, so that was fine, too.
Although… he leaned closer to the readout and noticed that the foetal heart rate had risen from 12o beats per minute to 127 over the last forty minutes or so. Oliver frowned. What did that mean?
He reached for the emergency cord and was about to ring it when Chloe stirred and struggled to sit up.
“Hey,” he said. He rested a hand gently on her back and helped her upright. “You okay?”
“Something’s happening,” she said, staring at him wide-eyed.
“What do you mean?”
She swallowed. “I – I feel like I need to push.”
“Are you sure?” He lifted the blanket and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Oh my God.”
“What is it?”
“Um…” he gulped. “You’re crowning.”
Her jaw dropped. “I’m what?”
“The baby’s coming now, Chloe – right now!”
***
One Week Ago
“Oh this is interesting,” Oliver remarked. “Did you know that your cervix will expand to a ten-centimetre diameter before the baby can even begin to make an exit?” He stretched his index finger and thumb apart to the approximate distance, and winced. “Ouch.”
Chloe grimaced. “I’ve been told. What I don’t know is why you’re reading the gory bits of the baby book instead of the fun stuff.”
“Because our daughter could make an appearance anytime from 37 weeks, which is like now,” he replied. “If by some cruel twist of fate we get holed up in a deserted cabin, or you go into labour on a plane and there’s no doctor on board, I need to know how to deliver you safely at 35,000 feet.”
“Yeah, right. Like you’re going to let me anywhere near a 747 or a cabin in the woods with this thing,” she scoffed, pointing at her swollen belly. “Don’t waste your time with all that, my love. Read the sections on diaper-changes and teething, because that’s where I’m gonna need help.”
***
Present Day
“What?” Chloe whispered. “Are you sure?”
Oliver had studied enough birthing videos to know that his daughter’s arrival was imminent. “I’m sure.”
“Oh, my God.” Chloe stared up at him with wide eyes, and when she spoke he could hear the panic in her voice. “Get Lola. We need her in here, now!”
“There’s no time,” he replied briskly, instinctively rolling up his sleeves and unbuttoning his shirt. “You’re fully dilated, looks like you have been for a while. You need to push on the next contraction.”
“This can’t be happening!” she wailed.
“It is, but there’s nothing to worry about,” he replied as he positioned himself between her legs. “This is going to be very, very fast.”
“But the baby –!”
“She’ll be fine. Don’t worry, honey; just relax, and do what comes naturally. We’re going to be fine. All of us,” he added with a lot more calm and confidence than he felt. “Do you trust me?”
She nodded. “Always.”
“Okay. Take deep breaths, and as soon as you feel a tightening, push as hard as you can. You can do this, Chloe.”
Chloe still looked terrified, but she nodded and breathed deeply. When the next contraction hit, she scrunched up her face and pushed hard. Oliver gulped as her cervix widened and the back of the baby’s head slowly inched outward.
“What’s happening?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“She’s on her way out; I have her head in my hands,” he said, his voice shaking. “Can you still feel the contraction?”
“No.”
“Are you in any pain?”
“No, but I can feel the pressure.”
“Okay, stop pushing and relax.” With trembling hands he supported the small head and swept his fingers gently around the baby’s neck to make sure the cord wasn’t trapped. “You’re doing great, honey. One more push, and she’ll be here.”
“Is she okay?” she asked tremulously.
“She’s fine, I’ve got her. Deep breaths, and push hard as soon as you feel the urge.”
“Okay.” Chloe squeezed her eyes tightly shut and pushed on the next contration with all her might, her hands twisting the sheets into unrecognisable knots. As she did, the baby’s shoulders slowly presented. Oliver gently assisted the baby’s outward passage as the rest of her followed… and suddenly, his child was curled up in his hands, albeit still connected to her mother by her umbilical cord.
“She’s here!” he announced excitedly. He lifted her to his bare chest and gently massaged her back with his palm.
“Is she alright?” Chloe asked anxiously.
The tiny body moved against his, and just as the clock chimed to signal 12 noon a thin, reedy wail filled the air. It was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard, and immediately tears began to form in his eyes.
Oliver smiled through his tears and went to his wife’s side. “I think she’s answered your question.”
Slowly he lowered their squalling infant into her mother’s waiting arms. Chloe sobbed as she held her baby for the first time, and Oliver wrapped his arms around them both, his heart bursting with joy and love for his family.
“Oh my God, she’s really here, I can’t believe she’s really here!” Chloe said tearfully. She stroked her daughter’s cheek and gently bounced her up and down. “Shush, my love, it’s okay… it’s okay. Mummy’s got you. Daddy and I are so happy to finally meet you.”
Just then the door opened and Lola stepped in. She blinked and stared at them for several seconds, and then reached for the phone.
“Paediatrician to Suite 1205, stat,” she said crisply. She walked towards them with a stern expression, folding her arms and shaking her head.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered. “The one time you actually need to use the darned emergency button, you don’t.”
Oliver grinned. “Sorry. It all happened so fast.”
***
Chapter 7/7…
Once again, I apologise for the delay in getting this out; it was meant to be a late Christmas present but somehow crept into the new year. Chapter is short & sweet, but there's a lot going on and I want y'all to enjoy the SQUEE that is sure to follow before I post the conclusion. :-P
Enjoy! Awesome banner by
chleansmile Title: Beauty in the Breakdown XI: Baby Love
Author:
babydee1Pairing: Chlollie
Rating: NC-17 (this chapter PG-13) New Series.
Warnings: A Re-telling of Chlollie post-Warrior
Timeline: Season 9
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Series Summary: With Oliver by her side, Chloe learns to let go, find peace, and fall in love.
Story Summary: Following the loss of their beloved baby, Chloe and Oliver find their way back to a place of love and hope
Feedback: …Always. :)
Read previous chapter here.
Read story from the beginning here.
Chapter 6
***
Oliver watched his wife as she slumbered peacefully. He was infinitely grateful for the very effective painkillers, though he was now concerned that the delay to her labour might not be the best thing for his unborn daughter.
He sighed and glanced at the clock; it was almost noon. Maybe he should have manned up earlier like Lola said and been stronger during the latent phase of Chloe’s labour; but her pain had been increasing exponentially, and he had begun to fear the worst. He felt better now that she wasn’t hurting anymore. And the baby’s heart monitor had been steadily in the safe zone for the last two hours, so that was fine, too.
Although… he leaned closer to the readout and noticed that the foetal heart rate had risen from 12o beats per minute to 127 over the last forty minutes or so. Oliver frowned. What did that mean?
He reached for the emergency cord and was about to ring it when Chloe stirred and struggled to sit up.
“Hey,” he said. He rested a hand gently on her back and helped her upright. “You okay?”
“Something’s happening,” she said, staring at him wide-eyed.
“What do you mean?”
She swallowed. “I – I feel like I need to push.”
“Are you sure?” He lifted the blanket and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Oh my God.”
“What is it?”
“Um…” he gulped. “You’re crowning.”
Her jaw dropped. “I’m what?”
“The baby’s coming now, Chloe – right now!”
***
One Week Ago
“Oh this is interesting,” Oliver remarked. “Did you know that your cervix will expand to a ten-centimetre diameter before the baby can even begin to make an exit?” He stretched his index finger and thumb apart to the approximate distance, and winced. “Ouch.”
Chloe grimaced. “I’ve been told. What I don’t know is why you’re reading the gory bits of the baby book instead of the fun stuff.”
“Because our daughter could make an appearance anytime from 37 weeks, which is like now,” he replied. “If by some cruel twist of fate we get holed up in a deserted cabin, or you go into labour on a plane and there’s no doctor on board, I need to know how to deliver you safely at 35,000 feet.”
“Yeah, right. Like you’re going to let me anywhere near a 747 or a cabin in the woods with this thing,” she scoffed, pointing at her swollen belly. “Don’t waste your time with all that, my love. Read the sections on diaper-changes and teething, because that’s where I’m gonna need help.”
***
Present Day
“What?” Chloe whispered. “Are you sure?”
Oliver had studied enough birthing videos to know that his daughter’s arrival was imminent. “I’m sure.”
“Oh, my God.” Chloe stared up at him with wide eyes, and when she spoke he could hear the panic in her voice. “Get Lola. We need her in here, now!”
“There’s no time,” he replied briskly, instinctively rolling up his sleeves and unbuttoning his shirt. “You’re fully dilated, looks like you have been for a while. You need to push on the next contraction.”
“This can’t be happening!” she wailed.
“It is, but there’s nothing to worry about,” he replied as he positioned himself between her legs. “This is going to be very, very fast.”
“But the baby –!”
“She’ll be fine. Don’t worry, honey; just relax, and do what comes naturally. We’re going to be fine. All of us,” he added with a lot more calm and confidence than he felt. “Do you trust me?”
She nodded. “Always.”
“Okay. Take deep breaths, and as soon as you feel a tightening, push as hard as you can. You can do this, Chloe.”
Chloe still looked terrified, but she nodded and breathed deeply. When the next contraction hit, she scrunched up her face and pushed hard. Oliver gulped as her cervix widened and the back of the baby’s head slowly inched outward.
“What’s happening?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“She’s on her way out; I have her head in my hands,” he said, his voice shaking. “Can you still feel the contraction?”
“No.”
“Are you in any pain?”
“No, but I can feel the pressure.”
“Okay, stop pushing and relax.” With trembling hands he supported the small head and swept his fingers gently around the baby’s neck to make sure the cord wasn’t trapped. “You’re doing great, honey. One more push, and she’ll be here.”
“Is she okay?” she asked tremulously.
“She’s fine, I’ve got her. Deep breaths, and push hard as soon as you feel the urge.”
“Okay.” Chloe squeezed her eyes tightly shut and pushed on the next contration with all her might, her hands twisting the sheets into unrecognisable knots. As she did, the baby’s shoulders slowly presented. Oliver gently assisted the baby’s outward passage as the rest of her followed… and suddenly, his child was curled up in his hands, albeit still connected to her mother by her umbilical cord.
“She’s here!” he announced excitedly. He lifted her to his bare chest and gently massaged her back with his palm.
“Is she alright?” Chloe asked anxiously.
The tiny body moved against his, and just as the clock chimed to signal 12 noon a thin, reedy wail filled the air. It was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard, and immediately tears began to form in his eyes.
Oliver smiled through his tears and went to his wife’s side. “I think she’s answered your question.”
Slowly he lowered their squalling infant into her mother’s waiting arms. Chloe sobbed as she held her baby for the first time, and Oliver wrapped his arms around them both, his heart bursting with joy and love for his family.
“Oh my God, she’s really here, I can’t believe she’s really here!” Chloe said tearfully. She stroked her daughter’s cheek and gently bounced her up and down. “Shush, my love, it’s okay… it’s okay. Mummy’s got you. Daddy and I are so happy to finally meet you.”
Just then the door opened and Lola stepped in. She blinked and stared at them for several seconds, and then reached for the phone.
“Paediatrician to Suite 1205, stat,” she said crisply. She walked towards them with a stern expression, folding her arms and shaking her head.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered. “The one time you actually need to use the darned emergency button, you don’t.”
Oliver grinned. “Sorry. It all happened so fast.”
***
Chapter 7/7…
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