Labor

As the weeks passed, Mimi finally convinced Tobias to take a visit to the cemetery. He parked the car at the entrance before aiding the round young woman on the other side. Stepping out, Mimi could hardly keep her body up.

Due to the man's concern of her catching a cold, her entire body was enveloped in layers of coats and scarves. She could hardly walk before because of her ever-growing stomach; now she couldn't even move!

Seeing her struggle, Tobias pressed his lips together. "Should I carry you?" He suppressed a smile.

Mimi looked up at him with bewilderment. "If you haven't noticed, I'm the weight and size of two people right now."

"And still beautiful." Tobias chuckled and kissed her cheek.

Mimi raised an eyebrow. "Someone sure is trying to get rewarded tonight."

The man's eyes grew larger and darker, his intention clear. Softly, he caressed her cheek.

"Come on, let's go." He grasped her hand and helped lead her into the cemetery.

The two made it by the willow tree, arriving in front of two gravestones. A gentle, cold wind blew through Mimi's hair, as gentle and fragrant as her sister's fingers when she was young. In a distance, she could hear birds singing, the snow beneath her boots soft.

With Tobias's help, they placed the white roses individually on the two gravestones. She stared at them and smiled softly.

"It's been a while. Emily...Shen Jue." Her soft voice resounded around them. "As you can see, I've changed a lot the last I saw you. Tobias here has been so worried he pulled me back from visiting. But I finally convinced him."

The man beside her grunted, gripping her hand tighter. Mimi let out a soft laugh and continued.

"I wish you were here to see everything. Both of you...I miss you, big sister. You too, creepy bastard." Mimi gently patted the cold stones.

As her words faded, another breeze passed, ruffling the rose petals on their graves.

"We should go, it's getting colder." Tobias pulled her hat further down.

Nodding her head, the two strolled away from the gravestones. On their way to the car, Mimi admired the beautiful white scenery around them.

"Look, Toby! A church!" Mimi pointed in the direction of the large building, miles away.

Tobias turned and smiled. "We'll be there one day."

"You mean after our child is born."

He chuckled, kissing their joint hands. "Yes."

Mimi smiled. "Hey, Toby do you want a boy or a girl?"

Tobias looked down at the woman, her round face surrounded by a fluffy, furred hood.

"A boy."

Immediately, Mimi's expression turned sour.

"Huh? Why the sudden change of heart? Aren't you supposed to say you'd want a cute, beautiful little girl that looks just her gorgeous mother?"

Tobias chuckled and leaned down to kiss her pouting lips. "Either way, they'll look like their beautiful and handsome mother...Andras." His deep voice whispered huskily.

Mimi's brows twitched. Was he trying to make a joke?

"Whether it's a boy or girl, I will still love them." He smiled.

"And me, don't forget me!" She giggled.

"Mm, I'd love you the most." He kissed the top of her head.

Unable to contain her smiles, Mimi leaned her head on the man's shoulder while they approached the car. Opening her door, Tobias waited for her to enter. But she didn't. Seeing her frozen in place, he frowned.

"Mimi?"

To his surprise, the girl groaned in pain.

"It hurts..." She gritted her teeth hard, to the point that they creaked.

All the color drained from Tobias's face as his blood turned to ice, and fear lanced through his body. Adrenaline flooded his bloodstream, leaving panic in its wake.

The baby...it was coming now!

...

The two quickly arrived at the hospital, and upon confirming she was in labor, they rushed her into the delivery room. Only then did Mimi realize something.

Holy. Fuck.

This was the worst pain in her life! And she hadn't even given birth yet!

With each contraction came a pain that dominated Mimi's entire being. In those moments, for those seconds that stretched into infinity, there was nothing else. She could hear screaming from other rooms, yet she made no sound at all.

When the pain passed, it was only for a moment that she breathed with closed eyes, unwilling to re-engage with life outside of her own body. Her hair was in a mess, sticking to her sweaty face and cheeks, making her feel even more uncomfortable.

Suddenly, she felt a hand run through her hair. Opening her eyes, she saw Tobias, his body dressed head to toe in blue.

"Mimi, you will be okay." His voice sounded rougher than usual.

"Tobias...did you contact Alec?" Mimi's voice came out in barely a whisper.

Tobias nodded his head. "I had Juno let everyone know."

"Mm, that's good." She smiled weakly, shifting her eyes to the bright lights above her.

Her mind was already going fuzzy, numb even. Stay awake...She needed to stay, but it felt as if all the strength left her. She couldn't even keep her eyes open.

She really couldn't keep going on...

"Mimi? Mimi! Wake up! Mimi!" Tobias's panicked voice passed through her ears, but his voice, the doctors and nurses; it all sounded so faint.

"Mimi!" Hearing Tobias's voice again, her mind cleared a bit.

Blinking her eyes awake, Mimi heard the doctor order her to push. With a guttural grunt, she did so and was told to stop. It was time for a break. The man beside her wiped the sweat from her face. He was holding her hand very tightly.

"Just hang in there, Mimi. It's almost over." He rubbed her hands together.

"Tobias...Have I ever told you how soothing your voice is? It's like a warm, cozy blanket." Mimi looked up at him with a soft smile.

He smiled. "Yeah, you have."

"I see..." All of a sudden, the melancholy stored in her heart all came flooding out at once. Tears streaked uncontrollably down her cheeks. "Tobias...I'm—I'm scared. I don't know if I can..."

"Hey, hey." He kissed the inside of her palm. No matter how calm his face was, he couldn't stop the tremor in his hoarse voice. "Have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are? Or how every time we hold hands, it feels as if my entire world seems to come alive."

Mimi looked at his red eyes and smiled weakly. "More than enough."

"Okay, push!" The doctor ordered.

Nodding her head, she complied with the doctor's instructions and pushed even harder.

"I can see the head!"

Mimi felt the baby crowning, the hot stretching of flesh, and held her breath. Without any further effort, the baby slid into the hands of the doctor.

"Congratulations, it's a girl!"

There was elation, a girl at last, and in seconds she was there, nascent eyes opening, mouth crying for milk. The moment she heard the baby's lively cries, and a glanced at the sprawling, flaying arms and feet, Mimi smiled.

"She looks...so cute..." Then, her eyes closed; the world around her turning dark.

Finally, she could rest.