The Dragon King’s Baby

Chapter 9

Addie felt like an elephant. Her stomach protruded so far out in front of her, she couldn’t see her feet unless she laid down and put her legs in the air, which she’d actually discovered was one of the more comfortable positions she could put herself in. Until her back started hurting. Then she’d have to call someone to help her up. In just a weeks’ time, she’d gained twenty pounds. Her baby moved incessantly, and her stomach looked like a balloon with a declawed cat inside. She and Seathan would watch the baby move.

Addie was a little frustrated because the doctors couldn’t tell them the sex of the baby. They’d been receiving baby gifts from all their friends, from the higher-ups of the kingdom, and from the royalty in the other kingdoms. Opening the gifts had been so much fun, and choosing decorations for the nursery had been so much fun.

But now, she was just ready to have her baby. She was irritable, which was Poppy’s nice way of saying she was bi*chy. She was uncomfortable and miserable and shared her misery with everyone. For example, Seathan had brought dinner up to their rooms the night before, a lovely lasagna the chef had made just for her since she loved it so much. Rather than being grateful, she had complained about not having enough cheese or that there were no tomatoes in the salad. Seathan had finally tired of her and snapped at her; she’d realized how awful she was being and had apologized. He’d forgiven her immediately and shared chocolate cake with her, which had made her happy.

One afternoon as she sat fanning herself in the coldest room on the planet, Jeanne walked in, a huge smile on her face. Addie glanced up as she bounced across the room, her happiness almost palpable.

“You look happy,” Addie observed dryly. “What’s going on?”

“Conall caught me in the hallway,” Jeanne beamed. “He finally asked me on a date!”

“Took him long enough,” Addie commented. “How exciting, though! Where is he taking you?”

“He wouldn’t say. Somewhere outside of the castle,” she told her.

“That’ll be fun. When are you going?”

“Tomorrow night.” Jeanne sat down and clapped her hands together excitedly. “I can’t wait! You and Poppy will have to help me choose what to wear!”

Addie smiled and shifted on the couch. She’d been increasingly uncomfortable all morning, which hadn’t helped her attitude. But she was happy for her friend. Jeanne had developed a crush on Conall the first day they’d arrived and she’d ridden his back after he shifted into a dragon.

“You can raid my closet if you want, and you know Poppy will want to do your makeup,” Addie said, shifting again as a small pain shot through her belly. She let out an unladylike grunt and leaned forward a little.

Jeanne’s attention focused on Addie. “Addie, are you all right?”

Addie’s hand rested on her belly, which had tightened considerably. “Um, I think so. I’m not sure.”

Jeanne moved to kneel next to the couch, her hand on Addie’s belly. “Do you think you’re going into labor?”

“Well, it doesn’t really hurt,” Addie said. She looked at Jeanne, frowning as her belly tightened again. “Oh. Okay. That one hurt a little. Maybe we should go down to the doctor’s rooms.”

“When is your due date?”

“Three more days.”

“Babies come early all the time,” Jeanne commented as she rose to help Addie to her feet. She gasped as Addie stood straight. “Oh no, Addie!”

Addie looked down at the couch. Where she’d been sitting was a huge pool of blood. She stretched her neck; the back of her dress was soaked. How had she not felt the wetness? Why didn’t it hurt? She looked at Jeanne, fear in her eyes. “Jeanne?”

“Okay, stay calm,” Jeanne said, her voice quiet and serene. She held Addie’s hand, easing her back down onto the couch. “You shouldn’t walk. I’m going to get the doctors up here now. I’ll call Seathan and Vada as well.”

Jeanne moved away from the couch, but Addie gripped her hand hard. “My mom isn’t here. She is supposed to be here tomorrow.”

Jeanne nodded her understanding. “Addie, I don’t think the baby is going to wait. Let me go make the calls, okay? I’m not leaving the room.”

Addie nodded and let her hand go. She put her hands on her belly and waited. She still only felt slight discomfort, not pain, but the bloodstain on the couch was spreading ominously. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths; panic was trying hard to get its grip on her mind.

Jeanne returned to kneel beside her. “Is there anything you need?”

Addie shook her head, gripping Jeanne’s hand in a punishing hold. Jeanne didn’t flinch. “What’s happening? Is this normal?”

“I’m not sure, Addie. I’ve never had a baby nor sat in on a birth. The doctor is less than two minutes away,” Jeanne reassured her. “And Seathan should be here momentarily as well.”

“Call my mom when you have the chance, please. I want her to get here as soon as possible,” Addie said.

“Of course. Now just relax as much as you can,” Jeanne said. She was somewhat alarmed at the amount of blood pooling under her friend, but she couldn’t show her fear. When a knock sounded, she shouted, “Come in!”

The castle doctor rushed in followed by the doctor who had been staying here, the one who had helped with the birth of a were to a human mother. She knelt beside her on the couch.

“Hello, Addie,” she smiled at her.

“Hi, Dr. Sawlen,” Addie said. “Are we okay?”

“Oh, I think so. We’re going to get a gurney up here, which should be on the next elevator. You don’t need to walk or ride the elevator for that long,” Dr. Sawlen told her.

“Addie, are you experiencing any pain?” Dr. Multon asked, checking her pulse with his large fingers.

“Not really. Just uncomfortable,” Addie told them.

The elevator dinged and Seathan marched in followed by Vada and Malik. He froze at the sight of blood, then rushed to Addie’s side. “Addie.” He kissed her, holding her face between her hands. He looked at Dr. Sawlen and Dr. Multon. “Is she ok? Is the baby ok? What’s going on?”

Dr. Sawlen raised her hands and smiled. “Seathan, they seem to be all right. A gurney should be here in a second, and we’ll get her down to the delivery room to check her out.”

Seathan nodded. He looked at Addie again, who hadn’t taken her eyes off him. He could see her fear plainly on her face and in her eyes. He smiled down at her. “Don’t worry, my love. Everything will be just fine.”

Addie nodded. “Please get my mother here.”

“Of course.”

“And stay with me. The whole time,” Addie pleaded, holding his hand tightly.

“I’ll be next to you throughout, I promise,” he answered. He kissed her gently as the elevator announced the arrival of the gurney.

*****

In the delivery room, the doctors checked Addie and murmured to each other in quiet tones. Their secrecy increased Addie’s nervousness. She watched them and waited for them to speak to her about their diagnosis. While she waited, Seathan brought her a phone.

“Your mom is on the phone, baby,” Seathan told her with a smile, holding the phone out to her.

Addie took it gratefully. “Mom, I’m in labor.”

“Seathan told me,” Claire said. “Is Jeanne with you? What about Poppy?”

“They’re both in here, Mom,” Addie said. “And Seathan too.” She turned her head to the side and spoke quietly. “The doctors are whispering among themselves. It’s scaring the crap out of me.”