Accidental Surrogate

Ella

I'm gripping my sister’s hand, gritting my teeth and groaning through the first of my pushes, when the door bangs open again.I don’t open my eyes — can't look - Quite frankly, at this particular moment I don’t care who the hell it is - if it's Hank, or Roger, or insurgents coming to kill us — all I care about is the horrible, tearing pain within me as I work to bring my baby into the world.I moan, throwing my head back against the pillows as I pant, feeling the pain subside a little bit.

"How is she?"

I hear Hank ask, and I open my eyes to see him there next to me.I try to give him a little smile, failing a bit.

"Hello, Ella," he says softly, his voice warmer than I'm used to.

"You look like you're doing great." mI murmur my thanks to him as he turns his attention back to Cora, getting a full report, and I shift my gaze to Roger, who stands awkwardly across the room.

"Roger," I say, putting my hand out to him, inviting him closer.

"Hello, Ella!" he calls, awkward.

"Happy...happy birth. Or whatever."

Sinclair starts to laugh quietly.

"Come over, Roger," he demands and Roger sighs, hanging his head and deliberately choosing not to look at me as he comes to stand with his brother.

"What," Sinclair asks him as he arrives at his side.

"More of a cigars in the waiting room kind of guy?"

"Yeah," Roger agrees, giving his brother a little glare.

"I'd say that’s much more my vibe."

"I wanted you here," I say to him, giving him a tired little smile.

"I want you to meet the baby."

"Of course I want to meet the baby, Ella," Roger says, his voice kinder now as he meets my gaze.

"Just...when you've cleaned it up a bit. Gotten some of the goop off." I laugh, a little, but groan when I feel the pain start to return.

Cora climbs up onto the bed for this one, cursing a little at the lack of stirrups and the soft surface of the mattress that makes it harder for her to see what's really going on.

me want to laugh in one of the more painful and

Cora’s space at my side, Sinclair

quickly

contraction ends and I

should be in the final parts of

him a little bit when he says this. I have no idea what that could mean - is there trouble in paradise? - but honestly, any of my interest

might during the contractions and then resting, as best I can, in the short spaces

hard, agonizing work, but my sister calls encouragement to me and my mate is by my side through every

endless repetition of this pattern,

he’s almost here!" she says, and the cheer in her voice is a

her with hope in my eyes and she gives me a happy

push, sis, and his head will

a deep breath, looking up excitedly at Sinclair, happy despite the pain ravaging my body.I wait for the next contraction and, when it comes and Cora tells me to, I push - absolutely

"Oh, his little head!"

"he’s here, Ella! Just a couple more to bring forward his body next!" I nod, eager, and begin to push again. And push, and push. I gasp, laying back and panting as I feel the contraction end, and I look to Cora for instructions. Instead of a happy smile, though, I see her exchange an

up and moaning at the pain that shoots

Where's

wrong?" Sinclair asks, suddenly

and the passing of responsibility to another - no matter how much they outstrip him in their

mate wants to

"Um,"

hesitates, "it’s okay, Ella - he’s almost born -

to see the child, but my sister shakes her head at me,

my eyes

you have to

as she sits back and I see that

any progress in the past few pushes. Which is

"There is some worry,"

a large baby, that he

I gasp, suddenly

rigid next

Hank says

dystocia — we think his shoulder is

I gasp, confused, baffled,

"What do we -"

though her worried voice belies