[...] I'm glad that it doesn't. [Let him just sit right here and run his other hand through your hair, okay. He's grown to like giving Hilda reassuring physical contact as much as she likes receiving it.]
Mom got to take her time and do what felt right when she had my little sister and brothers. You can let Hilda take her time too, right?
[Easy does it. He brushes his thumb against her knuckles- he's not annoyed or projecting his discomfort out on the doctors, but he still wants to speak his piece.]
[She rides out contractions, and after a little bit, she starts to feel the need to push! The epidural does wear off, just like warned, but Hilda just smirks and groans through the pain, taking it like a champ.
[Twenty minutes later, after a lot of very slow progress, however... things start to look bleak.
Something hemorrhages, and there's a lot of blood. The doctors advise her to stop, but she keeps going, a death grip on Silver's hand despite how badly she was trembling. Other doctors began to scramble, bringing in blood for a transfusion. If only she'd finish delivering!
"The head is showing, miss Hilda! Not much longer now!" the nurses encouraged, though they didn't offer to hold the mirror for her to see. It was a bit too bloody, and Hilda herself glanced at Silver, a little scared. Well, a lot scared. Her voice is a miserable whine, shaking as badly as her hands already were.]
I'm... almost done... make sure it lives, okay, make sure it lives!
[The second there's blood is the split second that horror covers his face. No. No, Hilda. You're supposed to be okay-
No, don't think like that. Hilda can pull through this. Hilda's strong enough for this. He has to believe in her. He has to believe that she'll be okay, that their baby will be okay, that it will all turn out okay.
He forces himself to keep from trembling, from doing anything but maintaining his position as an emotional pillar. Come on, Hilda.]
You're almost there. You can do this. You'll both pull through this. [His voice is level as usual, and he holds onto her hand with both of his. He refuses to look at anything but her face with the fear that his composure will collapse if he does anything else.]
[Hilda nods, and pushes on. It takes such a long time, but it's nothing compared to the rest of the wait and the rest of the effort. There's excitement when the head is out, a choked sob of a laugh from Hilda before she pushes again, and then there's the excitement of the baby coming out entirely.
"A girl! A beautiful little girl," the doctor announces, wrapping the baby up quickly in a towel and wiping her clean. From the rustling, the baby bursts into loud shrieking, screaming nice and loud as a pretty good indicator of being healthy.
[They clean up the baby, quickly getting her cord cut and her footprints on the birth certificate. Equipment is moved in and out of the room, the doctors working on treating Hilda's injuries first and foremost. The doctors inform Silver that she will be fine, she just needs emergency blood transfusion and some immediate care... and his daughter will need him more than his wife right now.
A nurse comes and passes the baby to her father. The child won't stop crying, not yet, everything is too cold and too strange right now.]
Hilda will be okay. There's no doubt about that in his mind. She just needs a little time, that's all.
For now, he needs to be a father. He rocks her a little in his arms and shows her a warm, bright smile.]
It's a little loud and crazy in here, isn't it? Must be pretty scary to be here.
It's okay. Mom and dad are right here for you, and the world's a pretty good place.
[She's beautiful. She's got a little bit of red hair- it's impossible to mistake such a bright color for anything else- and Hilda's bright blue eyes. Blue it is then.
[She's a fussy, bratty little thing! A nurse eventually comes over, passing Silver a bottle with formula. Hilda would be out for quite a while, but might as well get that baby calmed down!
There's some paperwork, of course, the sooner filled out the better. But the nurse is all smiles, offering congratulations and directing Silver around to where it's most convenient.
It's about 10 am when the doctors come to see Silver, informing him that she's awake again, if very weak; she'll be staying for at least three days minimum for recovery, but she's healthy enough to see her family.]
[He's quick to fill out the paperwork, even if he has to ask about a few things and adjust to doing something with one arm while holding onto a child with another. From there, it's just a waiting game.
Silver's all but dozed off with their calmed daughter in his hands by the time the doctors finally come to see him. Even if he wasn't too concerned because he knew full well that Hilda is Hilda and would pull through just fine, he's still relieved to hear that she's going to be okay.
Show him the way, doctors. He's a little sleepy but all smiles.]
[...the excitement does not last. As the doctors celebrate, Hilda weakly grabs onto Silver's jacket with her other hand. She's already whiter than the bedsheets, and weaker than she's ever been.]
There's... there's another one, coming out...
[It's a whisper, but all falls dead silent in the room besides the screaming baby girl.]
[The doctors start going through their options. A c-section now would probably kill Hilda, and she's definitely in no state to deliver as she is. But if they saved Hilda, the only ways they knew how, the baby would be lost or severely injured...
...And while they're in a panic, at least this moment hooking her up to a blood transfusion, Hilda weakly pulls Silver closer to her.]
Silver. Silver, listen to me.
[Her voice is low, but there's that fire and determination sparking under the frailty and weakness.]
My family will never give up. None of you can ever give up. Not you, not the babies... and not me.
[She lets go, hauling herself upright and pushing as hard as she can, letting out a pained wail. The doctors immediately respond, though they can't stop her. They work with her, in that tense and loud and painful fifteen minutes that it takes for the boy to be delivered.
Hilda collapses. Her eyes glazed, her skin a deathly pale, so still she can't even shake from the pain or the weakness any longer. But upon hearing her son crying, she smiled. And she closed her eyes, as if to finally rest.
The doctors frantically move to revive her, nurses having to move Silver out of the way as they break out the defibrillator and emergency equipment to revive her.
A nurse asks Silver if he wants to see his children or wait for his wife.]
[His voice cracks, and that's all he can bring himself to say. He doesn't let go of her or even hear anything and before he knows it she's collapsed and he hears the crying of their second child and
and he's being ushered out of the way.
His face has completely paled and he keeps his mouth open just to breathe easier.
He looks up and stares at the nurse with a thousand yard stare for a second as if he can't quite comprehend what she's trying to tell him, but before she can look away or react he nods and when he realizes that his nod doesn't quite answer her question he looks in the direction of their children before looking at the nurse again- please. Please let him see them. Let him hold them if he can, if he's allowed to. Please...]
[The nurse nods, patting his arm gently. She gets the babies, now that they're cleaned up and wrapped up, and brings them over. She'll help Silver hold both of them, and escort him out of the room.
The first thing he's given is a pair of birth certificates and a couple of forms, in case he decides to keep himself idle and busy and let the nurse accompanying him hold onto one or both of the babies.
The second thing he receives, after twenty minutes, is a single statement from a doctor, who is very hesitant to speak.
"I'm afraid she didn't make it. We were unable to revive her."]
no subject
no subject
[She makes a weird face.]
...That feels weird. Thaaaat feels weird, like pressure. That would probably really hurt right now.
no subject
no subject
Though Civil Disobedience Hilda does sit up, she doesn't push.]
It doesn't feel right.
[The doctors just awkwardly try to encourage her, but... well. The best they can do is gently remind her that the epidural may well wear off.]
no subject
[Easy does it. He brushes his thumb against her knuckles- he's not annoyed or projecting his discomfort out on the doctors, but he still wants to speak his piece.]
no subject
That's fine. I can take it.
[She tugs at Silver's sleeve, wanting him to sit down next to her.]
I can survive any pain. I've got Silver with me.
no subject
Still, he is a little concerned.]
Don't put yourself through too much just because I'm here. I want you to be okay.
1/2
[She rides out contractions, and after a little bit, she starts to feel the need to push! The epidural does wear off, just like warned, but Hilda just smirks and groans through the pain, taking it like a champ.
They were gonna have a baby!]
no subject
Something hemorrhages, and there's a lot of blood. The doctors advise her to stop, but she keeps going, a death grip on Silver's hand despite how badly she was trembling. Other doctors began to scramble, bringing in blood for a transfusion. If only she'd finish delivering!
"The head is showing, miss Hilda! Not much longer now!" the nurses encouraged, though they didn't offer to hold the mirror for her to see. It was a bit too bloody, and Hilda herself glanced at Silver, a little scared. Well, a lot scared. Her voice is a miserable whine, shaking as badly as her hands already were.]
I'm... almost done... make sure it lives, okay, make sure it lives!
no subject
No, don't think like that. Hilda can pull through this. Hilda's strong enough for this. He has to believe in her. He has to believe that she'll be okay, that their baby will be okay, that it will all turn out okay.
He forces himself to keep from trembling, from doing anything but maintaining his position as an emotional pillar. Come on, Hilda.]
You're almost there. You can do this. You'll both pull through this. [His voice is level as usual, and he holds onto her hand with both of his. He refuses to look at anything but her face with the fear that his composure will collapse if he does anything else.]
1/3
"A girl! A beautiful little girl," the doctor announces, wrapping the baby up quickly in a towel and wiping her clean. From the rustling, the baby bursts into loud shrieking, screaming nice and loud as a pretty good indicator of being healthy.
Hilda is exhausted, but pleased...]
GOOD END:
A nurse comes and passes the baby to her father. The child won't stop crying, not yet, everything is too cold and too strange right now.]
no subject
...Baby. He needs to take care of their baby.
Hilda will be okay. There's no doubt about that in his mind. She just needs a little time, that's all.
For now, he needs to be a father. He rocks her a little in his arms and shows her a warm, bright smile.]
It's a little loud and crazy in here, isn't it? Must be pretty scary to be here.
It's okay. Mom and dad are right here for you, and the world's a pretty good place.
[She's beautiful. She's got a little bit of red hair- it's impossible to mistake such a bright color for anything else- and Hilda's bright blue eyes. Blue it is then.
He's... He's really holding her...]
no subject
There's some paperwork, of course, the sooner filled out the better. But the nurse is all smiles, offering congratulations and directing Silver around to where it's most convenient.
It's about 10 am when the doctors come to see Silver, informing him that she's awake again, if very weak; she'll be staying for at least three days minimum for recovery, but she's healthy enough to see her family.]
no subject
Silver's all but dozed off with their calmed daughter in his hands by the time the doctors finally come to see him. Even if he wasn't too concerned because he knew full well that Hilda is Hilda and would pull through just fine, he's still relieved to hear that she's going to be okay.
Show him the way, doctors. He's a little sleepy but all smiles.]
no subject
Hi! Hi, oh my gosh, bring her here.
[Hilda's voice is sooooo hoarse, but she holds her arm out!]
no subject
Careful, she's one of the most beautiful girls you'll ever meet.
no subject
[Hilda holds her like a pro, just smiling.]
...This is the most badass thing I've ever done.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
BAD END:
There's... there's another one, coming out...
[It's a whisper, but all falls dead silent in the room besides the screaming baby girl.]
no subject
...Since... There's another one...
He's the first to dare to speak up, although his face remains frozen in disbelief.]
What?
no subject
No. No, it's... it's another baby. It's--nrg... it's already coming out.
no subject
His grip on Hilda's hand tightens as he bravely dares to turn his head to look at the doctors. The color's starting to drop from his face.
He's not sure what he wants them to do, or even say, besides something. Anything.
Please.]
no subject
...And while they're in a panic, at least this moment hooking her up to a blood transfusion, Hilda weakly pulls Silver closer to her.]
Silver. Silver, listen to me.
[Her voice is low, but there's that fire and determination sparking under the frailty and weakness.]
My family will never give up. None of you can ever give up. Not you, not the babies... and not me.
[She lets go, hauling herself upright and pushing as hard as she can, letting out a pained wail. The doctors immediately respond, though they can't stop her. They work with her, in that tense and loud and painful fifteen minutes that it takes for the boy to be delivered.
Hilda collapses. Her eyes glazed, her skin a deathly pale, so still she can't even shake from the pain or the weakness any longer. But upon hearing her son crying, she smiled. And she closed her eyes, as if to finally rest.
The doctors frantically move to revive her, nurses having to move Silver out of the way as they break out the defibrillator and emergency equipment to revive her.
A nurse asks Silver if he wants to see his children or wait for his wife.]
no subject
[His voice cracks, and that's all he can bring himself to say. He doesn't let go of her or even hear anything and before he knows it she's collapsed and he hears the crying of their second child and
and he's being ushered out of the way.
His face has completely paled and he keeps his mouth open just to breathe easier.
He looks up and stares at the nurse with a thousand yard stare for a second as if he can't quite comprehend what she's trying to tell him, but before she can look away or react he nods and when he realizes that his nod doesn't quite answer her question he looks in the direction of their children before looking at the nurse again- please. Please let him see them. Let him hold them if he can, if he's allowed to. Please...]
no subject
The first thing he's given is a pair of birth certificates and a couple of forms, in case he decides to keep himself idle and busy and let the nurse accompanying him hold onto one or both of the babies.
The second thing he receives, after twenty minutes, is a single statement from a doctor, who is very hesitant to speak.
"I'm afraid she didn't make it. We were unable to revive her."]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)