As agony began to crescendo through Lara’s swollen abdomen, she rested a hand in the small of back to relieve some of the tension. As he silhouette melding with Liam’s she leant against his chest, she released a gentle moan not of pain but of effort and exertion. “Breath, take your time” he muttered as she sent her next breath down to her baby, a lifeline in the wave of pressure that spread through her hips.

“the doc said we don’t need to go back to the hospital till things start picking up, how are you feeling?” As Lara placed a hand firmly over her hipbone , she breathed “they’re manageable… I wanna…work through them here a little longer” .her flushed cheeks shone with warmth as the pressure started to build deep in her pelvis and she closed her eyes, finding her centre in the storm of sensations that crashed over her.

As an hour seemed to trickle past, which Lara’s moans of sheer effort mingling with each measured breath , her grip on Liam’s bicep intensified . “Baby, do you wanna head for the car? We’ll take each contraction at a time, I’m right here..” he reassured as she whispered breathlessly as beads of sweat, a visible testament to her her work formed across her brow. “Yeah, they’re.. getting intense , Li’” . As he supported her abdomen as she rose from the bed, she steadied herself on the wall. “That’s it, just breathe and we’ll walk between contractions, you’ve got this” he said as he held her from behind. 

As Lara breathed out the twinges of her latest contraction, she nodded as the blissful reprieve washed over her. She took a step , as her a Liam slowly reached their car and he eased her inside . “Liam , sinking into the driver seat, found Lara’s hand on the gearstick. While her fingers clenched his, her laboured breaths filling the air , he rubbed a thumb over her knuckles. “I’m sorry about the traction, the drive will be over before you know it, you’re doing so well baby” he said as he hit the highway, a blur of lights timing her gentle moans

As the car pulled into the parking lot , Liam gazed at  her with a firm nod, “one sec -“ As he opened her door and slid an arm around her waist his voice was low in the noise of the ambulances that came and went. “It’s alright, they can bring a wheelchair or do you wanna walk through it? One contraction at a time ?”  Lara hauled herself into his arm, wrapping her hands around his back. “I think the movement will..help,  I’m going to ..mmm..take my time .” As Liam coursed a steady palm down her spine he assured her. “If you need it , I can flag you a wheelchair, but yeah, moving will help-we’ve got this-“ Lara’s breath hitched as she smiled through another wave peaking through her core “it’s gonna take a while -and the air is so - “ Her voice was stolen as she breathed through the steel band that gripped her waist as she rocked her hips into Liam’s side. 
As the cold glass doors slid hours, the air con blasting on her heated skin, she leaned back weakly on Liam’s abdomen “I think…I could use that wheelchair now Li’” He held her against his chest as he called out to a passing warden, who offered her a seat and she sank down panting. Liam, steering her to the front desk , was greeted by a waiting nurse . “Ah, Mrs Weston, you were just one centimetre along a few hours ago.. how are the contractions coming along now? Still talking through them?” 


As agony began to crescendo through Lara’s swollen abdomen, she rested a hand in the small of back to relieve some of the tension. As he silhouette melding with Liam’s she leant against his chest, she released a gentle moan not of pain but of effort and exertion. “Breath, take your time” he muttered as she sent her next breath down to her baby, a lifeline in the wave of pressure that spread through her hips.

“the doc said we don’t need to go back to the hospital till things start picking up, how are you feeling?” As Lara placed a hand firmly over her hipbone , she breathed “they’re manageable… I wanna…work through them here a little longer” .her flushed cheeks shone with warmth as the pressure started to build deep in her pelvis and she closed her eyes, finding her centre in the storm of sensations that crashed over her.

As an hour seemed to trickle past, which Lara’s moans of sheer effort mingling with each measured breath , her grip on Liam’s bicep intensified . “Baby, do you wanna head for the car? We’ll take each contraction at a time, I’m right here..” he reassured as she whispered breathlessly as beads of sweat, a visible testament to her her work formed across her brow. “Yeah, they’re.. getting intense , Li’” . As he supported her abdomen as she rose from the bed, she steadied herself on the wall. “That’s it, just breathe and we’ll walk between contractions, you’ve got this” he said as he held her from behind. 

As Lara breathed out the twinges of her latest contraction, she nodded as the blissful reprieve washed over her. She took a step , as her a Liam slowly reached their car and he eased her inside . “Liam , sinking into the driver seat, found Lara’s hand on the gearstick. While her fingers clenched his, her laboured breaths filling the air , he rubbed a thumb over her knuckles. “I’m sorry about the traction, the drive will be over before you know it, you’re doing so well baby” he said as he hit the highway, a blur of lights timing her gentle moans

As the car pulled into the parking lot , Liam gazed at  her with a firm nod, “one sec -“ As he opened her door and slid an arm around her waist his voice was low in the noise of the ambulances that came and went. “It’s alright, they can bring a wheelchair or do you wanna walk through it? One contraction at a time ?”  Lara hauled herself into his arm, wrapping her hands around his back. “I think the movement will..help,  I’m going to ..mmm..take my time .” As Liam coursed a steady palm down her spine he assured her. “If you need it , I can flag you a wheelchair, but yeah, moving will help-we’ve got this-“ Lara’s breath hitched as she smiled through another wave peaking through her core “it’s gonna take a while -and the air is so - “ Her voice was stolen as she breathed through the steel band that gripped her waist as she rocked her hips into Liam’s side. 
As the cold glass doors slid hours, the air con blasting on her heated skin, she leaned back weakly on Liam’s abdomen “I think…I could use that wheelchair now Li’” He held her against his chest as he called out to a passing warden, who offered her a seat and she sank down panting. Liam, steering her to the front desk , was greeted by a waiting nurse . “Ah, Mrs Weston, you were just one centimetre along a few hours ago.. how are the contractions coming along now? Still talking through them?” As Lara’s hands gripped the armrest, and Liam signed a form , she managed “we haven’t been timing them..I -mmm-one sec” . her hand reached for Liam’s shirt , and her fingers twisted through his sleeve as he finished her sentence “She didn’t want to focus on progress . Just been taking them as they come. “ His hand interlaced with hers as her grip relaxed and she panted out “ They’re needing more of my attention-ooh boy” . 

“Well let’s get you’re dilation checked and see how far we’re coming along, have a cool cloth while we wheel you through to your room “ the nurse held a dampened towelette to Lara’s forehead as she moaned softly, leaning into the fabric. Soon she was on a stool, releasing a slow breath as the nurse instructed “Ok Lara , when this contraction ends , I’ll see where we are , deep breaths for me.” As Lara rocked her hips in the chair, draped over the back as Liam stroked her hair, the nurse announced “four centimetres, Lara , it’s been almost nine hours now and you’re doing well. “

 “well done baby, “ Liam muttered as he dropped a kiss to the shell of her ear and she rode out the last of the wave. “Liam…mmmm..right here” Lara moaned softly, as she held his hand to her hip and he eased his thumb around the curve of her abdomen. His thumb rotated her hipbone as her skin grew taught under his touch. “Keep breathing Lara , “ the nurse encouraged as she grasped Lara’s hand. “Liam , you might want to take a walk while things are taking their time. As she reaches the big ten, a lot will be happening “ 

Lara moaned deeply, feeling an overwhelming fullness as she channeled its intensity into her voice. “Mmm…I can feel…so much pressure,” she panted, drawing on the well of feminine energy simmering in her womb. “That’s it, baby, keep…uhhhh…moving down,” she gasped, sweat dripping from her navel, her skin taut and radiating heat.

As she rocked her hips against the back of the chair, she guided Liam’s hand to her hip, his thumb gently gliding around her hipbone. A trickle of fluid escaped her, making her gasp. The nurse encouraged her, “That’s it, Lara. Looks like your waters are breaking, a marvelous sign of progress. You’re doing beautifully. They may keep coming with the next contractions, and it may be rather intense, but try to work with it.”

Liam whispered roughly into her ear, “Good job, baby, you’re getting so close.” Her hands wound tightly through his as she was transported back to the night they had created the life she was now bringing into the world. A familiar energy coursed through her, and she gave an almost sensual moan of effort as the pressure consumed her.

More water flowed with her next contraction as its peak stole her breath, and she guided a moan through to her baby as the rhythm of Liam’s fingers grounded her in the intricate pull of sensations. “That’s it Lara, just let it happen, there’s going to be quite a lot of pressure but we’re not quite there yet” the nurse updated from somewhere in the distance as the room closed in around Lara’s intimate bubble of her labor’s culmination. Of her pregnancy coming full circle as the warmth of Liam’s voice in her ear filled her with strength. “You’re so strong “ he muttered in awe , his voice above a whisper. Pressing his hand firmly into her pelvis she gasped “I feel the head grinding on mmmm..my-pelvis” she breathed. As she griped the back of chair, her knuckles whitening , her other hand clenching amongst Liam’s fingers, the. Purse moved to check her dilation . “Seven centimetres Lara. These next few inches are the toughest , but you’re doing nicely. Keep up that breathing.” 

as the pressure pulled her into a sea of I instinct , the nurses steady voice reminded her : as the head comes through your pelvis , there’ll be lots of pressure, and you might feel like pushing with all that energy building up, but you need to breathe through it Lara. Nice and slow . Listen to your body” . As a brand new sensation gripped her, demanding to be embraced as she let out a moan and gripped her own trembling thighs , each wave was a mountain to climb. As she tumbled into relief  as each peak delivered her back to shore, collapsing into Liam’s arms as breaths and moans escaped her lips , she found her own primal rhythm . “Good Lara, good, eight centimetres, we’re getting there” the nurse praised, as moments turned to hours and back to moments, each breath and moan bringing her womanhood into its fullest bloom. Liam’s low voice sent shivers down her spine as he whispered hoarsely, his voice stiff from lack of use. “You’re doing it Lara, you’re having our baby”. The sound had her smiling through pain as she nodded “I’m …almost…there” 

“That’s it baby, you’re almost there” Liam repeated , as she bit her lip , her abdomen dragging downward with a visible tug. The nurse ran a firm palm over Lara’s contracting skin as she monitored the shift in energy. “Lara , the baby is nice and low , you may experience the dropping of the head into your birth canal soon, and if you have the urge to push squeeze my hand and we’ll manage it slowly” . Lara groaned as another contraction took a fast and furious hold , and she grabbed the nurses scrubs in her clutches. The room was silent as Lara’s labored breaths punctured the air . “Oh .. boy … I feel it coming… Out baby is really ..phew ..coming” the nurse calm voice was a light at the end a long tunnel as she praised “good , Lara, were pushing soon…wait for that urge , deep breaths” . The nurse , quizzing Liam’s shoulder, made sure he’d taken an earlier break. “You were gone for awhile earlier Liam, did you manage to eat and rest a little ?” With distraction he answered “yeah, I promised I wouldn’t but, I crashed for a moment , I didn’t want to miss this -“ The nurse smiled as another medical staff joined her at his side. “Hi Lara, Liam, I see things are coming along nicely-Lara are we still opting out of pain relief? The window will be closing soon-“ Lara nodded, he legs trembling harder as she gasped out “I’m doing this naturally..” Liam , feeling the shaking of Lara’s shoulders, added with a hint of concern “yeah, she’s stronger than me, but she insisted on not risking the effects of an epidural on her nerves or the baby’s …I won’t say it’s not difficult to watch her going through this but I respect the choice-“ .the nurse, taking a seeat by Lara’s hip, reaffirmed “She’s a strong women , Liam you must be proud” . He nodded as his grip tightened in hers . “Oh she’d kick my ass if I stood in her way-“ Lara smiled through her efforts to pant out”he’s always been-like this-“ . There was a collective laugh before Lara breathed, her concentration stolen by a new sensation. “I think I-“ Her observation was cut short by its urgent demand to be experienced , as the head settled in her birth canal, and the pressure drove through her core . “Lara, I need you to pant for me, as hard as you can. Hold onto Liam while we see how our baby is doing “ Another nurse placed Lara’s  searching hand into Liam’s as she asked him “are you ready to help her through this , Dad? Baby is getting ready to meet us soon…” Liam nodded, fatigue replaced with a strange adrenaline as he kissed Laras sweaty temple , his breath scraping against her neck as she panted through a whimper. “I need to push-“  Her hand squeezed the blood from the nurses hand as she poured the irresistible urge into a desperate moan, her back arching as Liam gripped her hand tighter and said “Lara, just focus on my voice , pant, match my breath.” As she fell into a shallow rhythm, expelling the desire to push , a voice came from her side “Now Lara, this is tough to hear right now but you’re almost at eight and a half. We aren’t quite ready to push-“ Lara gasped as fingers slid from cervix “but -I -uhhhh-“ Liam’s voice was in her pounding head, soothing her as he murmured “it’s just you and me, you do this, baby. Every pant is bringing our baby closer. “