"I'm sorry what?!"
"I wish I could give you some other news, Lady Uma," the doctor said as Uma clenched Harry's hand as another contraction wracked her body. "But unfortunately, as you've elected to have a water birth, it's not possible to implement an epidural while in the water."
"It's been over twenty...years...since Auradon was founded...and you're telling me...the geniuses here haven't figured...out a way to make it so epidurals could be used while having water births?!"
"Remember cuz, Apollo is the God of Medicine," Mal said as she gently held Uma's other hand. Normally it would just be the expectant father in the room but the doctors weren't about to argue with the High Queen of Auradon or her mother. "All that sun probably melted his brain so all he can do is focus on poetry."
"Makes...sense...to me!" Uma groaned as another contraction hit her body and she squeezed Harry's hand once more.
"We have been experimenting with Lady Eileithyia," the doctor said. "Combining morphine with nectar to provide some relief to those of a divine lineage who choose to have a water birth since it doesn't seem fair to have you be in pain. Of course we'd need both your approval and Lord Harry's approval to administer it if you're interested in seeing if it works."
"Please, I...I grew up on the Isle. I'm not taking any pain meds," Uma said, still panting rather hard as she tried to catch her bearings. "All the women of the Isle did this for years without pain meds, if it's not an option for me then I don't want special treatment."
"Very well Lady Uma," the doctor nodded but Mal frowned as she caught a glimpse of Harry's face. It was clear he was trying to hide it but most if not all of the color had gone from his cheeks. And if Mal was honest, she wasn't entirely sure Harry's knuckles being white was due to Uma's grip on his hand or Harry's grip on her's.
Hey mom? You might want to talk to Harry, Mal thought to Persephone. At least get him some fresh air or something, he looks about ready to pass out.
Persephone glanced over at Harry and frowned slightly as she saw her daughter wasn't far off.
"Harry...come with me, let's go get a bit of fresh air," Persephone said, trying to keep her voice gentle for the former pirate.
"But...Lady Steph..."
"I promise, Uma will be just fine. We'll just be in the hall," Persephone said as she began to lead her surrogate son out into the hall.
"Wait...where's Harry going?" Uma asked as she watched them go out. "What's...what's going on?"
Mal sighed as the realization seemed to hit her as to what was bothering Harry. "Cuz...what day was it two days ago?"
"CJ's...birthday...." Uma said, her voice trailing off as she remembered just what that meant to Harry. Even though he had only been two at the time, some hurts never truly healed for the VKs.
Meanwhile, out in the hall, Persephone gently rested a hand on Harry's shoulder as she sat him down on a nearby bench. "Take your time, Harry. It's okay," she said, making sure to keep her voice as gentle as possible.
"No...no I'm fine," Harry said, shaking his head. "I...I want to be in there! I can't leave her, not now—."
"You're not going to be any use to Uma if you're panicking and having flashbacks, Harry," Persephone said, gently yet firmly pushing Harry back onto the bench. "As I said...just take a minute. I know it's scary, believe me."
Harry shook his head once more and looked up at Persephone, worry clearly visible in the man's blue eyes. "I...I can't lose her Lady Steph...please...I have to be with her..."
"Harry, Uma is in the best place she could be to have this baby," Persephone told him, still keeping her voice as gentle as possible. "It's not like the Isle. But right now you have to focus on you."
Harry bit his lip, glancing between Persephone and the door to Uma's birthing suite. Persephone didn't mind the silence, she'd been in Harry's life so long that she knew it was better to not press him. VKs didn't do well when they felt cornered after all.
"I...I can still hear my mom screaming..." Harry whispered. "I know it doesn't make sense...since I was two but...I can. I can hear her screaming when she gave birth to CJ...I...seeing the pain in Uma's eyes...and knowing she's like that because of me—."
"Harry, I'm going to stop you right there," Persephone said firmly. "Uma is not in pain 'because of you'. Unless you're trying to tell me you didn't give Uma a choice in the matter?"
"No of course not!"
"Then this was Uma's choice, Harry. She was prepared for this moment to happen when she got pregnant."
Harry shook his head. "It's...it's still my fault though...it takes two..."
"Harry James, you listen to me," Persephone said, keeping her voice gentle yet firm and trying to hide the way her heart broke hearing Harry's whispers. "Yes, Uma is in pain. But trust me, that pain is temporary and she will forget all about it when your baby is in her arms. But the last thing Uma wants to see is you in pain."
Persephone sighed softly as she saw the doubt in Harry's eyes and gently brushed some of the hair out of his eyes before pointing to a ring Harry wore on a chain around his neck. "I know the only birth you've been through before this is one that ended in tragedy but Harry, trust me when I say that is not in the cards for Uma. Has she ever been someone to break a promise?"
Harry shook his head, his hand going to the ring. Uma had gifted it to him before she left on her first trading route. It was a simple ring but what mattered the most to Harry was the engraving inside it.
All my maps lead to you.
It was Uma's way of telling him that she would always come back, no matter what. And it was silly but the closer they got to Uma's due date, the more Harry had begun to wear the chain with the ring. Almost as if he was trying to prevent the fate that befell his mother from befalling on Uma as well.
"Are...how can you be sure Lady Steph?" Harry asked, his voice soft.
"Because first of all, you and I both know that Hades is watching her lifeline like a hawk right now and two, this is not the Isle," Persephone told him. "They're prepared for anything that looks like it's going to go wrong just like they were for Mal. Everything's going to be just fine okay Harry? Uma's going to give birth and you're going to hold your child in your arms and this will just be a passing memory," Persephone said gently. "One look at your child's face...and everything you went through to get them here will be all worth it. Okay?"
"...Okay mom..." Harry said softly before pausing, his eyes growing wide. "I...I didn't mean—."
"Harry, you know I think of you as a son," Persephone said with a small smile. "That will never change, no matter if you're a nine year old boy or a man about to become a father. But if you're not comfortable calling me that, I understand. I know how much you loved your mother and I would never want to replace her for you. But for Olympus' sake, stop using my title okay?"
"Okay," Harry said with a small chuckle.
"I'm sorry to interrupt my Lady but Lady Uma is asking for Lord Harry," one of the nurses said, poking their head out of the door to the birthing suite. "The baby's coming."
Before either woman could blink, Harry was on his feet and making his way through the door to be by his wife's side; all fear forgotten as he rushed into the room. Though Persephone couldn't help but note that Uma seemed to be much less in pain than she was when Harry took his breather.
She didn't want Harry to be in pain, Mal thought to Persephone, thankfully providing the explanation Persephone was looking for. She took the pain medication.
Didn't the doctors say they also needed Harry's approval?
Uma might have splashed one of the nurses with the water from the birthing tub when they said they'd go ask Harry. She didn't want to worry Harry and make him think something was wrong.
"I am so sorry," Persephone heard Harry whisper to Uma as he crouched to take Uma's hand.
"I get it even if Mal had to give me a gentle nudge in the right direction and I'm so sorry about that," Uma told him, softly resting her forehead on his shoulder before squeezing his hand. "I was going to ask for Harriet to come for you if...if Aunt Steph hadn't helped you."
"Don't worry about that now, darlin'. You focus on you."
"I can multitask, Harry," Uma said with a soft smile.
Harry shook his head before kissing hers. "Not right now, you don't. Right now, you just focus on our child. Is the water warm enough?"
"I'm...I'm fine Harry," Uma said, groaning slightly as another contraction hit. Even with the pain relief, she could still feel the pain though it wasn't as bad as it had been before.
"Okay," Harry said, his voice soft as he gently squeezed her hand and smiled as Uma squeezed his hand back.
"You're doing well Uma," Persephone said.
"You really are," the doctor nodded. "Everything's going smoothly."
I don't know if that's normal or if they're saying that for my sake, Harry thought. He knew he'd likely have to do a lot to be able to show his face in the hospital without the doctors knowing him as the guy who freaked out as his wife was giving birth. Still, it was nice to know that there were no surprises.
Uma bit her lip, trying to keep quiet even as the strain of labor was evident on her face. She didn't want to put Harry through that again.
I gotcha, cuz, Mal thought to her with a small smile. Trust me, I'm very familiar with the whole 'trying to not be the typical screaming wife in labor' routine.
I mean, you went through it yourself, Uma thought back. Besides Harry feels guilty enough without me screaming. The pain meds were good but...Gods I can't wait for this to be over! And I don't want him feeling bad...not today. I want December to finally be a happy month for Harry.
Mal nodded slightly, she completely understood where Uma was coming from. You got this cuz, she thought. If anyone can do it, you can.
...If this doctor calls me 'Lady' one more time, I'm going to kick him and make it look like an accident!
Why does that not surprise me?
I mean it Mali!
"One more big push, Lady Uma!" The doctor exclaimed and Uma was so startled, she forgot to kick him as promised. "There we go...it's a girl!"
"A girl? We have a daughter?" Harry asked with a smile.
"I guess you were right," Uma said, giving him a tired smile as she leaned back.
"I guess so," Harry smiled as the doctors cleaned their daughter off, wrapped her in a nearby towel, and then gently placed her in Harry's arms. "Hello lassie. I'm your papa."
Harry managed to tear his eyes away from his precious little girl to give Uma a grin. "She looks like you."
"Gimmie," Uma chuckled, giving Harry a soft smile. Harry chuckled as he gently placed their daughter in Uma's arms. Uma smiled as she looked down at her little girl. "You're right...I mean, there're a few differences but there're more similarities than differences."
"You've got some strong genes there Uma," Mal smiled as she looked at Uma's daughter. "Looks like her hair's going to look like her mama's."
"So I guess Benny and I could form a club, since your daughter looks so much like him," Uma said, joking with Mal.
"I guess you could," Mal chuckled. "She's perfect."
"Yeah...she is," Harry said, his voice soft as he looked down at his daughter. She's absolutely perfect.
"What are you going to name her?" Persephone asked.
"Helena," Uma told her. "Helena Harriet Hook."
Mal couldn't help but smile at that. "I'm sure Harriet will be honored to be part of such a beautiful name," she said.
"I'm sure you're right," Harry said. It was the least I could do for her, after everything Harriet did for me...
"I'm just glad it suits her because we didn't have a back up," Uma added with a chuckle.
"We could have named her after one of your sisters," Harry offered.
"Maybe," Uma nodded.
Harry smiled and gently kissed Uma's head. "I'll go let Harriet, Freddie, Ally, Sammy, Celia, and CJ know she's here," he said. "I'm sure they're still out in the lobby."
Cyrus and Ryan had opted to stay behind for the first meeting, claiming that they would just overcrowd the room and cause a safety issue. Harry, though, thought they just didn't want to be alone with Fredde and Harriet for possibly hours and potentially be interrogated as to the direction of their relationships with Celia and CJ.
"Thanks," Uma said with a small smile as she continued to gaze at their daughter.
"No thanks needed," Harry said. "You just rest darlin', you more than earned it. I'll be right back, I promise."
"Take your time Harry, we're not going anywhere," Uma said and Helena cooed softly, as if agreeing with Uma. Harry couldn't help but smile as he heard that before heading out. His daughter was here, he was a papa now.
Harriet looked over at him as Harry walked into the waiting room, quickly getting to her feet and hurrying over to him. "Harry? What's going on? Are they okay?"
"Everyone's fine," Harry said with a smile. "You want to go meet your niece?"
"...It's a girl?" Harriet asked with a grin as she processed what her brother had said.
Harry smiled. "While I'd prefer if you didn't call my daughter an 'it', yep, I've got a daughter. Her name's Helena. Helena Harriet Hook."
"Harry..." Harriet said softly. "I'm honored. You didn't have to...I mean I'm sure you had other name options."
"None that suit her more than the name she has," Harry told her. "Come on Auntie, come meet your niece."
"Ahem?" CJ said, clearing her throat playfully. "Forgetting someone?"
Harry couldn't help but smile, it was truly a mark of how much their relationship had grown and flourished since the two of them came to Auradon that they could tease each other rather than it being a point of contention between the two.
"Chop chop then Ceej," Harry said, the grin never leaving his face before looking over at his sisters-in-law. "Freddie, Celia, Sammy, are you guys coming as well?"
"I'll stay here for now Harry," Sammy said. "Better to not crowd the new arrival right off the bat but congrats."
"Thanks Sammy," Harry said. "We'll make sure you and Harriet come over once Uma's home so you can meet Helena."
"I look forward to it," Sammy grinned.
"Great," Harry said, returning the grin before turning and leading the group back down the hallway. As he watched the others fawn over his daughter, Harry had to wonder how he had ever pictured a future without Uma or Helena in it.
"Trust me, I've been there," Mal said, walking over to Harry to give Uma a bit of breathing room.
"What do you—?"
"It's clear as day on your face Harry, plus I've practically known you my whole life," Mal shook her head. "There're days where I look at the twins and I find myself thinking 'how did I ever imagine a world where you wouldn't be in it' because it's such a foreign concept to me now. The kids...they don't have to fight for resources. They don't have to pick sides and hope they chose the right gang. They...they can just be and leave the worrying to us."
"She's going to be a little heartbreaker, isn't she?" Harry heard CJ chuckle.
"Oi! Who said she's dating?" Harry asked.
Mal shook her head. "Not even a papa for a day and he's already over protective," she snorted.
"And I wouldn't have him any other way," Uma said, giving Harry a soft smile. That was the truth after all. Even though she complained about his hovering during the pregnancy, Uma knew that the protectiveness was just Harry being the man she loved.
"Feeling's mutual love," Harry smiled. Life might not have been fair to the VKs growing up but it felt like the universe was finally starting to make amends by giving them the lives they could have only dreamed of. And Harry couldn't wait to see where life took him next.