Liam pushed open the door, slipping back into the controlled chaos of the birthing suite, catching Lara's eye the moment he appeared. As weary and ragged as he felt, commitment and determination flowed stronger; he was where he needed to be.
Her hand hung limp in the air as she fought back against the constriction of her womb with a steady moan, her laboured breaths filling the room. As he stood with bleary eyes , his muscles slackened in relief , the hardened with renewed energy. Her hand grasped his, and she muttered . “They said…sev-“ . Seven… you left at four inches . Ah hell you almost missed the birth of your own child and you’re still standing there . “I’m sorry I was out cold. But I’m here now” he said with a low voice, grained with his exhaustion as his knuckles wrapped around hers . The strength in her hold spoke volumes as the next contraction started just as the last one was ending. No more falling back in relief? “You sure you won’t take the pain meds, or the epidural -I just -“ . Her eyes, fierce with determination that cut through his mind , softened as she pled .”Li-help

Here mkre Liam pushed open the door, slipping back into the controlled chaos of the birthing suite, catching Lara's eye the moment he appeared. As weary and ragged as he felt, commitment and determination flowed stronger; he was where he needed to be. Her hand hung limp in the air as she fought back against the constriction of her womb with a steady moan, her laboured breaths filling the room. As he stood with bleary eyes , his muscles slackened in relief , the hardened with renewed energy. Her hand grasped his, and she muttered . “They said…sev-“ . Seven… you left at four inches . Ah hell you almost missed the birth of your own child and you’re still standing there . “I’m sorry I was out cold. But I’m here now” he said with a low voice, grained with his exhaustion as his knuckles wrapped around hers . The strength in her hold spoke volumes as the next contraction started just as the last one was ending. No more falling back in relief? “You sure you won’t take the pain meds, or the epidural -I just -“ . Her eyes, fierce with determination that cut through his mind , softened as she pled .”Li-help“ . She leaned into the peak of the contraction, her moan of sheer exertion striking at his core as he brushed a damp strand of hair from her forehead “No-just-“ she gasped out, her eyes closed and her focus inward as the swift disarming hit him harder than a membrane sweep. A midwife cornered his mounting confusion as dumbfoundedness as she clamped down on his shoulder . “Just talk to her, she needs you her , that’s all.” No she wants you to trade places and have the damned…well you only feel like a bastard now . Wait till she reaches a nine and they tell her her she can’t push because the -“ Liam snapped out of his haze as he turned , voice rough. “You’ve got this Lara “he mustered the strength to say under the dim of movement. “If anyone knows that , I do”. She responded with a grunt through gritted teeth , nodding head as he stroked her hair . The next hour trickled through their interlocked hands , a haze of sweat and the primal scraping of Lara’s voice as she near the next centimetre of dilation. “Lara you’re at an eight . Keep doing what you’re doing.” It was like a poorly constructed joke as she groped at Liam’s arm with a desperation he’d never felt as his muscles reacted with a shiver. “Not much longer baby” he murmured, His own voice stiff from lack of use, her voice raw and dry in the heated air. “I -want to “ As she panted her way through another wave , she choked out “Li -I want to stop” . Is that an option . Oh god. 
The midwife took over from Liam as his bloodshot eyes filled with a fresh concern . If this ends in a c-section her heart just might shatter. The lights were a shade too bright as he rubbed an open palm over his vision. 
“Lara we can’t stop now . Your baby doesn’t have to come right now, but think about what you’re working so hard for. Focus on that breathing. “ , the midwife instructed , as if deaf to Liam’s protest. “She’s twenty hours in -Give or take but-“ . Damn you don’t know the half of this . 

His eyelids, infused with red as the fluorescent panel above him irritated his eyeballs, his gaze honed in on Lara as she clenched her teeth and fell backwards. “Li-I can’t-“ . The burn of her lungs wa audible in her shaking exhales , the intense contracting of her muscles gripping around her baby , her skin drenched in sweat. “You can. hell you already are. You made it this far -and without me .” You drive a strong point there Liam. But don’t sell yourself to relief of duties yet. Her hands entwined with his shirt as she gasped in exhaustion, her abdomen relaxing again and her breaths coming long and slow. “That’s it Lara , eight and a half , we’re getting there.” A clinical voice updated , as if medical details mattered much on the scale of suffering and triumph. Lara smiled , her resolve weak as she nodded “I -can-feel-our” . Liam coursed a hand down her back as he sank down onto his knees , eye level with her as he stroked her hair in silence. “We waited six years for this . Just focus on me.” He said after what seemed like an hour had passed . “You’re almost there. “ And here it is. “Li-I need-“ . A sensation of fullness , evident in her breathing as a weight settled against her pelvis , a firm hand held her shoulder back. “Lara , you’re almost at a ten but not quite. If you feel the urge to push I need you to pant. “ Yeah. Now you’ll need another six years tacked on to your life to make up for the sheer hell of this moment. Telling her not to do what she -
“Why would she fell the urge when” Yeah ain’t no poor fool listening to your enquires about now. 
Lara whimpered as the midwife gave sharp instructions . “Pant Lara . Like blowing out a candle .” 
If she were turning seventy five. Hell. 
“Liam-tell her I need to-“ As he felt the sting of resentment and anger in his voice , a nurse briefly explained.” She’s feeling a lot of pressure , but her cervix is just a fraction away from full dilation so we need to slow things down for a little longer. “ pressure from ya’ll more like it. Ah , the ground is too close and you can’t lie down yet.