A/N: Hello, The Words readers! This is a super-long chapter, but so much happens, I couldn't split it apart.I will warn you now: If you do not like medical talk, birth, etc, you're going to want to skip a decent chunk of this chapter. Sariel gives birth in this chapter.
I hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter 24
Dreaming
Sariel grumbled when she opened her eyes. The inky darkness in the bedroom caused a scowl to form on her face. She rolled over and tried to ignore the tiny kicks in her uterus as the baby waylaid her bladder. She sighed in defeat and rolled over again and slid out of bed.
She shivered in the cool spring air and pulled her gray silk robe onto her frame. She cast a critical eye towards the bathroom door when she saw light filtering in underneath it. She glanced at her alarm clock and cursed when the display told her it was only three a.m.
She waddled towards the bathroom and froze when she heard soft crying from the other side of the door. A furtive glance towards the bed confirmed it was more than likely Elliott, as he wasn't in bed. Sariel gently rapped her knuckles on the oak door and tried the handle. She frowned when she realized it was locked.
"Ellie, honey, you okay?" Sariel whispered.
"I'm fine, Rinn. Go back to bed. I'll be there in a moment." Elliott sniffled.
"Rem, you're a horrible liar. What's wrong?" Sariel asked.
"You'll think I'm crazy." Elliott stammered.
"You married me, that alone makes me think you're crazy." Sariel laughed.
"I'm serious, Sariel." Elliott bemoaned.
"As am I, honey. It's three in the morning, Baby McCoy just did a dropkick on my bladder." Sariel whimpered.
"Oh, of course, hold on." Elliott replied.
After a few moments, the large oak door unlocked and Elliott pulled it open. His soft green eyes were tinged with red and it was blatantly obvious he'd been crying for quite a while. He sniffled and smiled weakly when he saw Sariel. He stepped out of her way and perched on the bed out of sight while she went about her business.
She waddled back into their bedroom while drying her hands with a towel. She tossed the now damp garment into the clothes hamper and crawled onto the bed next to Elliott. She pulled him into a hug and kissed his shoulder.
"Wanna tell me why you're crying at three in the morning?" Sariel purred.
"Promise you won't think less of me?" Elliott asked.
"Honey, I'm pregnant and I'm hormonal. You put up with me all the time, the least I can do is do the same for my favorite author." Sariel teased.
"I have been having a recurring nightmare since shortly after we started dating." Elliott admitted.
"What's scaring you?" Sariel replied.
"I've had this recurring nightmare that you gave me a buzz cut... you wouldn't ever do that to me, would you? I trust you." Elliott whimpered.
Sariel fought as hard as she could to not crack a smile and failed miserably. The joyful belly laughs that escaped her filled the air in their room. As time passed she realized she was laughing so hard she was crying.
"Sariel, I'm serious!" Elliott cried.
"Oh, honey, I believe you. It's just… of all the things in the universe you could have a nightmare about, you have one about me cutting your hair?" Sariel giggled as she spoke.
"You think I'm vain, don't you?" Elliott grumbled.
"Sweetie, I love your hair. Most of all, I love you. You could be bald and I'd still love you. I promise I will never cut your hair or pressure you to cut it if it means that much to you." Sariel stated.
"You'd do that?" Elliott asked.
"Ellie, I'd cut my hair off and dye it blonde, green, pink, blue, purple, orange, or black if it made you happy." Sariel replied.
"Never do any of those things. Ever." Elliott stated firmly.
"Why's that?" Sariel asked.
"Your hair is beautiful and perfect. It suits you wonderfully." Elliott blushed as he spoke.
Sariel smiled and held her hand out towards Elliott. When he took her hand she shook it gently. She cleared her throat and bore a solemn look on her face.
"I, Sariel Lia McCoy, do hereby swear to never cut, dye, or alter my hair, nor the hair of my husband Elliott Remington McCoy, for he is silly and I love him dearly." Sariel laughed.
"I love you too, Rinn." Elliott smiled.
"Feel better now?" Sariel inquired.
"Indeed. You're quite awake though, aren't you?" Elliott frowned.
"That's a big yep. I might take a walk to the beach and watch the sunrise. Might go for a swim too. I think my bikini from our honeymoon still fits." Sariel taunted playfully.
"The emerald green one you bought in Thessaloniki?" Elliott inquired.
"Mmhmm. I have the white beach dress still too." Sariel purred.
She slid off the bed and moved to the closet. She rummaged around inside and pulled the garments in question free and laid them on the bed behind her. She cast off her robe and sports bra and pulled the bikini top on. The dark emerald green fabric had thin straps that crisscrossed between two thicker straps over her chest. The matching bottom had a set of three thin straps that connected the front and back panels and hung delicately on her hips.
She unfurled the white beach dress she had and slipped her right arm through the strap. She crossed the fabric over her chest and wrapped it around her back, bringing it up under her right arm, and she slipped her left arm through the remaining strap. The fabric pooled at her feet slightly and she smiled when she felt Elliott's warm hands on the bare skin of her back.
"You look stunning, my darling." Elliott purred.
"Mmm, flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. McCoy." Sariel quipped.
Sariel turned and slipped a pair of white sandals onto her feet and pulled a green cardigan onto her shoulders. She quickly tamed her hair in a simple side braid and made her way into the kitchen.
She pulled out a Ziploc bag full of prepared ingredients and dumped it into her Vitamix blender. As the machine worked, Sariel pulled a few hard-boiled eggs from the fridge and peeled them. She sliced the eggs in half and lightly sprinkled salt and pepper on them. She turned the electric kettle on and started making Elliott oatmeal.
"Darling, you don't have to make me breakfast." Elliott stated.
"I know. I like cooking. Just because I'm eight months pregnant doesn't mean that's changed. I feel like I don't get a lot of time to spend with you lately. You're working on Blue Tower 2, and I've got the farm to run and doctors appointments and mining to do. It's exhausting, and I miss you." Sariel pouted.
"Rinn, I always have time for you, my beloved. If I ever ignore you, or you feel like I'm neglecting you, you have my permission to smack me. You're the love of my life, my light in the darkness, bringer of my hopes and dreams. You're my soulmate, don't ever forget that, darling. I love you." Elliott lovingly stated.
"I love you too, Ellie." Sariel warmly spoke.
"What are your plans for today?" Elliott asked.
"Mmm, I really want to go for a swim after we eat. The bathhouse is open and the mineral water feels amazing." Sariel answered.
She casually flicked the blender off and smiled when the electric kettle chimed. She poured her whole juice into a glass and carefully stirred a scoop of vanilla protein powder into the beautifully rich purplish beverage. Blueberries, Pomegranate arils, and Açaí berries blended with fresh coconut water and a hint of banana and ginger for flavor and sweetness. It was one of Sariel's preferred breakfasts as of late.
She poured a second glass of the juice and set it on the table along with a plate holding a bowl of oatmeal for Elliott and two of the eggs. She set a smaller plate on the table next to Elliott's and she sat in the chair and curled her legs under her. She smiled brightly at Elliott as he joined her with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands.
"I miss caffeine." Sariel pouted.
"You've gone above everyone's expectations with how healthily you've treated this pregnancy. You amaze me every day. I cannot imagine the feelings of denying yourself something you crave because it's not good for our baby. You're a stronger person than I." Elliott commented.
"Thanks, honey. As soon as I have the baby I want to drink a pot of coffee and have steak for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and drown my sorrows in a tureen of mashed potatoes and gravy." Sariel smiled playfully.
"I shall support you in whatever you endeavor to do, sweetheart." Elliott stated.
"True love there. Find you a partner that'll let you eat a tureen of mashed potatoes and gravy, and you've found a partner for life." Sariel laughed.
"I do hope you love me for reasons other than the fact that I don't restrain you from your occasional gluttony involving mashed potatoes." Elliott chided.
"Honey, I love you for more reasons than I can count. My favorite reason is that you're home. We could be off on an expedition somewhere, traveling, or I could leave for something and come back and I know that wherever you are is home. Coming inside after a long day of working and knowing you're here brings me happiness. When I wake up at oh-dark-thirty o'clock and can't fall back asleep and I know you're in bed with me and you just seem to know I'm awake and you reach out and hold my hand, that's love. Also when you stop crying in the bathroom like a girl, so I can pee. That's love too." Sariel laughed warmly as she spoke.
"You're never going to let me live that down, are you, Rinn?" Elliott bemoaned slightly.
"Never in a million, billion, trillion years, Remington." Sariel smiled mischievously.
Sariel quickly finished her breakfast and moved her dishes to the sink. She dashed into their bedroom and grabbed her phone and her purse as well as towels for the both of them. She fished her keys out of her bag and twirled them around her finger playfully.
Elliott mimicked her motions and exited their room wearing a pair of gray lounge pants and a white tank top. His rich coppery hair was pulled into a ponytail and his bangs framed his face. He furiously tucked them behind his ears and smiled when Sariel pulled him into a hug.
"Oi. Baby McCoy is awake. Oof." Sariel whimpered.
Her hand shot to her side where their unborn child was currently kicking. The smile on her face brightened when Elliott moved his hand to join hers and felt their tiny child kicking. She rubbed the tender spot gently and finally relaxed when she felt the little one move.
"Are you alright?" Elliott asked shyly.
"Right as rain! They're just a little happy and energetic today. I'm hoping a swim will calm them down. Speaking of rain, it's supposed to storm later today and tomorrow, so there's nothing to do on the farm today. Want to have a lazy day and watch some movies after we're done at the bathhouse?" Sariel asked happily.
"I'd love to, darling. Are you ready to go?" Elliott asked.
"Yep!" Sariel replied sweetly.
Elliott opened the door for Sariel and gently guided her outside. As she turned to lock the door, he gently pulled her into his arms and kissed her. After he broke the kiss he nuzzled her nose with his and hugged her.
Their walk towards the bathhouse was relatively short, as they took the mountain pass. As they walked Elliott bounced ideas for the upcoming sequel to Blue Tower off Sariel. The string of expletives loosed from Sariel's mouth when she saw Thor and Phoenix outside the baths brought a large smile to Elliott's face.
The large coral colored building stood nestled at the top of one of the smaller mountains that surrounded Pelican Town. The train station sat behind it a fair bit, protectively shielded in the valley. Sariel pushed the gray door open cautiously. Pleased there weren't bits of clothing strewn about she and Elliott parted ways as they made their way separately through the locker rooms.
The air was warm in the women's locker room and Sariel smiled at the row of lockers before her. The last locker on the left had a nameplate attached with her name on it. She spun the combination lock and stashed her purse inside. She made her way through the room and darted into the showers in the back to rinse off before getting into the warm mineral water. She dashed back to her locker and tucked her phone under the left strap of her bikini top and shut her locker door. She exited the rear door and took a deep breath of the steamy air.
Leon and Chris were busy swimming laps in the heated water. Sariel crossed to the speaker system and plugged her phone into it. She selected one of her favorite albums and soon the electronic dance music filled the air. She shed the white beach wrap she was wearing and kicked off her shoes before diving into the warm water.
"Buon Giorno!" Leon called out.
"Good morning, boys!" Sariel replied brightly.
"Did Elliott join you?" Chris asked as he came to a stop near Sariel.
"He did. Y'all haven't been up to any hanky-panky in here, have you?" Sariel asked cautiously.
"Haha, no. Where is Elliott?" Chris inquired.
"Hopefully somewhere between the Men's Locker Room and here?" Sariel asked as she shrugged.
"Rinn, is this Cry for the Stars?" Leon asked as he waded over.
"Yep. One of my favorites." Sariel answered.
"I'd hope so, considering it's your album." Elliott stated from behind her.
"Mother ape ass! Don't scare the pregnant lady!" Sariel panted.
Elliott pulled her into his embrace and kissed her forehead. The pitiful swat she delivered to his chest made him smile. He spun Sariel around and danced with her in the warm water. His hands drifted to the large swell of Sariel's abdomen.
"Pregnancy suits you, Rinn." Leon stated.
"Oh, thanks." Sariel groaned.
"I think my loving, idiotic husband means to say, you look beautiful, Rinn." Chris added.
"Thanks, Chris." Sariel beamed.
Hours dragged on as Sariel relaxed in the warm mineral water. Her back was throbbing and she groaned in pain as she continued swimming. She pushed the thoughts from her mind and urged herself to calm down.
As she continued to swim, she noticed that the pain was sharp enough it was searing through her thoughts. She started slowly making her way towards the edge of the pool and tried to spy Elliott in the water. Unable to find him, she gently climbed out of the pool and propped herself up on the edge.
Elliott resurfaced a few yards away from her and quickly made his way to her. He was followed closely by Chris and Leon. They could tell there was something amiss with Sariel.
"Rinn?" Elliott purred.
"My back is hurting pretty badly." Sariel lamented.
Immediately Elliott dropped his hand to her back and started rubbing the tense muscles with his fingers. He could feel the knots deep in her back from carrying their child and working on the farm. He was appreciative of the fact she'd convinced Linus to come live on the farm and work as her farmhand, as it lightened the load of work she had to do by herself.
"What does it feel like, Rinn?" Chris asked.
"Hot, sharp, searing pain deep in my back. Like really, really bad menstrual cramps." Sariel whimpered.
"Is it coming in waves?" Chris pressed gently.
"Yeah. How'd you know?" Sariel asked.
"You're in labor. You need to call Harvey." Chris answered.
Sariel's gray eyes went wide with fear. She reached for Elliott and whimpered when he wrapped his arms around her protectively. She collapsed against her husband and started crying gently.
Leon practically leaped out of the pool as he dashed to Sariel's phone. His fingers quickly typed out Harvey's phone number. His breath caught in his chest as the ringing echoed in their bedroom. Three calls later, Harvey finally answered.
Sariel winced when she felt her back tighten and spasm and the color suddenly drained out of her face. She cursed herself for taking her watch off the night before. Another smaller wave of pain startled her.
"G'morning, Sariel, is everything okay?" Harvey slurred slightly as he spoke.
"Her water broke!" Leon exclaimed.
"Oh. All right. Where is she?" Harvey responded.
"At the bathhouse." Leon replied.
"How far apart are her contractions?" Harvey asked.
"I dunno. We just realized her water broke." Leon barked.
"I see, can you take the phone to her, please?" Harvey responded.
Leon made his way to Sariel and saw her resting on the floor with her eyes closed and concentrating on her breathing. Her eyes would wince occasionally as he assumed a painful contraction occurred. Her cheeks were flushed and he could see her shoulders tensing from stress.
"Harvey... five minutes." Sariel whimpered out.
"Okay, do you think you can make it to the clinic? Keep track of her contractions and help her calm down if you can. We'll see you soon." Harvey stated as he disconnected the call.
"Shitfuck this hurts, Ellie." Sariel whimpered painfully.
"I can only imagine the agony you're in, darling. I am sorry I did this to you." Elliott replied.
Sariel forced herself to draw in a breath of air. She felt Elliott's strong hands on her shoulders gently rubbing the stress and tension from her muscles. She sank into his touch willing herself to calm down.
"C'mon Rinn, let's get you to Harvey's." Chris stated.
He climbed out of the pool and pulled Sariel into his arms. He cradled her to him as he walked across the tile floor. Leon ran through the women's changing room and pulled Sariel's purse and clothes from her locker. Elliott ran ahead of Chris and swiftly shed his wet clothing and changed.
Elliott peppered Sariel's neck with kisses as he massaged the tender flesh of her shoulders. He stared at the clock on his phone and was physically bracing himself for the next contraction. He woefully moved away from his wife and pulled extra towels and blankets onto their bed.
"Ellie... Fuckfuckfuck! Ungh!" Sariel screamed out.
"Yes, Rinn, I'm still here. What can I do to help you? It hurts me seeing you in so much pain." Elliott lamented.
"Just… hold my hand? I promise I won't break it." Sariel panted.
"Even if you did, it would be a fond reminder of what transpired." Elliott replied as he took her right hand in his left.
Sariel gently squeezed his hand and closed her eyes against the torrent of pain she was feeling. She screamed in agony when yet another contraction surged through her. He looped her arm around Chris' neck and smiled weakly when he broke into a solid sprint with her in his arms.
A few scant moments passed before they reached Harvey's clinic. Elliott threw the door open, startling Harvey and Maru. He smiled when Harvey directed them to the small surgery ward in the back of the clinic.
Chris lowered Sariel to a bed and took his vigil outside the room. When Leon joined him, he pressed a kiss to his temple. Silent prayers were lifted up for Sariel.
Maru immediately set up monitors and devices to track Sariel's wellbeing. She started a stopwatch to time her contractions and alerted Harvey to the fact they were now every three minutes. She washed her hands in the sink and slid on a pair of rubber gloves.
"Sari, do you want pain relief?" Maru asked softly.
"No." Sariel said defiantly.
Elliott looked at her in surprise and awe at her statement. He knew his wife was exceptionally tough-willed. It completely surprised him she'd opt for natural childbirth given how much pain she was in.
"Are you sure, beloved?" Elliott stated as he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Y-yes… I am. Unless you have to give me something to save my life, I want this to be as natural as possible." Sariel stated.
"Okay. I'm going to have to physically check how far you're dilated. Is that all right?" Maru gently asked.
"Yes." Sariel stated as she shifted her position.
Maru quickly palpated Sariel's cervix. She was already dilated eight centimeters and was steadily progressing. Maru withdrew her fingers and gave her findings to Harvey.
"Sariel, you're in the transition stage of labor. More than likely you started laboring yesterday, but had contractions so faint you didn't notice them." Harvey spoke gently.
Sariel screamed and tensed her entire body as yet another contraction surged through her uterus. She slammed her eyes shut and drew in shaky breaths as the pain wracked her body. She smiled at the soft press of a kiss to her temple from Elliott.
Elliott took his place by Sariel's side. He could tell she was physically weakening from the painful contractions and prayed to Yoba that her labor would end nearly as swiftly as it had started. Each time a painful contraction shot through her body, she'd whimper and moan or scream.
"Sariel, I love you more than anything else in this world. You're doing amazing, love." Elliott whispered in her ear.
"I… I can't do this, Ellie." Sariel whimpered.
"Yes, darling, you can. You can do anything you set your mind to. This, too, will pass." Elliott replied.
"It hurts, Ellie." Sariel whimpered again.
"I know darling, I know. Soon this will all be over though and we'll have a healthy child to look after. Surely that's worth it, isn't it?" Elliott cooed into her ear.
"Yeah, it is." Sariel smiled slightly.
"Sariel, you're at ten centimeters dilated now. Have you felt the need to push yet?" Harvey asked.
"If you mean the overwhelming feeling of needing to squeeze all of my muscles to heave a watermelon out of my body, then yes, I have." Sariel stared the doctor down.
"Ah, yes, that is a descriptive way of putting it." Harvey chuckled.
"Her contractions are every two minutes now, and are lasting 90 seconds each, Dr. Harvey." Maru reported.
"Excellent. The next time you feel the need to push, I want you to tuck your chin down and push, Sariel." Harvey stated.
Sariel nodded slightly and pressed her palms into the bed by her sides. She could feel the storm that was another contraction starting to build and her brain was telling her to push. The contraction hit its crescendo and she tightened all of the muscles in her abdomen and pushed as hard as she could. She screamed in agony as she continued pushing.
"Relax, love. Wait for the next contraction." Elliott gently murmured.
"Easier said than done, Ellie." Sariel fired back.
"Sariel Lia McCoy, you're doing wonderfully." Elliott replied.
"Elliott Remington McCoy, thank you." Sariel playfully quipped.
Elliott felt a blush creep on his cheeks. He kissed the back of Sariel's head. He gently massaged her back while she pushed a second time.
"Sariel, you're doing great. I can see the crown." Harvey called out.
"Just a few more pushes, Sari, and your little one will be here." Maru stated excitedly.
Sariel lost track of how many contractions she'd gone through. Her body tensed as yet another surged through her and she pushed again. She collapsed onto Elliott's chest after expending her energy.
"Excellent, Sariel. Elliott, would you like to catch the baby?" Harvey asked.
"Am I allowed to do that? Will I hurt them?" Elliott asked terrified.
"You are, and Maru and I are here to help. I'd suggest making the decision quickly though." Harvey replied.
"Do you mind, love?" Elliott softly asked his beloved.
Sariel shook her head and kept her eyes closed as Elliott moved to take over Harvey's position at the foot of their bed. She collapsed on the bed and exhaled deeply. Her entire body was covered with sweat and she ached all over.
Maru quickly supported Sariel's back and sat with her as another contraction hit. She felt Sariel tighten instinctively. She firmly pressed on her back and whispered to the older woman.
"Push, Sari. You're almost there!" Maru exclaimed.
Sariel growled and pushed again. She was rewarded with an inexplicable feeling of relief. She opened her eyes and looked at Elliott as he was cradling their newborn in his arms. She noticed tears on Elliott's cheeks and she collapsed back on the bed.
Harvey descended on their infant in an instant and was suctioning the little one's nose and mouth. The infant squirmed in Elliott's arms and cried. He assisted Elliott in cutting the umbilical cord and took the baby for a brief moment. He expertly outfitted the child in a diaper and swaddling blanket.
"Rinn, it's a boy. We have a son!" Elliott proclaimed.
"That's good, Ell." Sariel whimpered lazily.
"Harvey, Sariel needs you." Maru called out.
Harvey handed Elliott his son and quickly focused his attention on Sariel. He noticed the color had flushed from her cheeks and fatigue was setting in. There was an abnormal amount of blood pooling near her.
"Maru, has she delivered the placenta yet?" Harvey asked.
"No. I was trying to get her to, and she just collapsed." Maru replied.
"Get an IV started, give her some Saline and see if we can get her vitals stabilized." Harvey ordered.
"What's wrong?" Elliott asked, alarmed.
"Her placenta is stuck and she's bleeding from it. It tried to detach but tore. She'll be okay once we can get the placenta out and get her blood pressure back up." Harvey replied calmly.
"Ellie…" Sariel whispered.
"Oh, Rinn, our son is amazing. He's got your eyes. What should we name him?" Elliott asked.
Elliott moved to Sariel's side and shifted their son in such a way Sariel could see him. He smiled at his wife and kissed her forehead. Her eyes were half-closed and she looked utterly exhausted.
"Dean Remington McCoy." Sariel whispered.
"That's… perfect, Rinn." Elliott said tearfully.
"Sariel, I'm going to have to physically remove the placenta. This might hurt. I'm sorry." Harvey said softly.
Sariel winced and grabbed for Elliott when she felt Harvey's hand slip inside her. His left hand pressed on her abdomen and his right hand grabbed the placenta and pulled it from her. He withdrew from her and discarded the placenta.
"How are you feeling, Sariel?" Harvey asked.
"Like hell." Sariel replied.
"That's to be expected. The blood flow has stopped, I didn't feel any uterine tears or anything else out of line. You had what's called a trapped placenta. It was very close to your cervix and was torn while you were pushing. I'm going to leave you some pain medication. We'll remain while the IV finishes and monitor you, but you're going to be all right. You did great, Sariel." Harvey gently spoke.
He and Maru set about clearing the soiled sheets and padding they'd set up. He periodically looked at Sariel as she was resting and was pleased the color was returning to her skin. As they finished up he turned his attention to Dean.
"Elliott, may I have your son, please? I'd like to weigh him and all of that." Harvey explained.
"Of course." Elliott replied as he handed his son to the doctor.
Harvey weighed Dean and was surprised he was 8 pounds, 14 ounces. He measured Dean's length and noted it was 21 inches. He gave the child a thorough check-up and was completely pleased with the results. He drew a scant amount of blood from Dean's heel and administered the first of his vaccines. When he finished he handed the agitated child back to his father.
"He looks amazing, Elliott. All of his vitals are strong, he's 8 pounds 14 ounces, and 21 inches long. I'll get the blood work done and let you guys know what his blood type is and just how good his health is in a few days when I have the results. Sariel, how are you feeling now?" Harvey asked.
"Better. Still really tired, though." Sariel replied calmly.
"Excellent. How's your pain?" Harvey asked.
"About a 6/10. Not horrible, but I've been better." Sariel stated.
"Okay, I'll have Maru give you some medication and then we'll get out of here and let you bond with your new addition. I'll check in with you soon. Chris and Leon are welcome to come back now. I'll come by tomorrow to check on you as well. Please call me if you notice anything wrong." Harvey stated as he packed up.
"I will make sure she contacts you, Harvey, thank you both." Elliott said proudly.
Sariel stared at the IV in her arm as Maru injected a dose of pain medication into it. She flushed the IV with Saline and set about removing the device from Sariel's arm. She expertly removed the tubing and needle in a matter of moments and left a blue bandage on Sariel's arm. The duo bade their farewell to Sariel and Elliott and returned to work for the rest of the day.
Elliott crawled into bed next to his wife and laid Dean on her chest. He snuggled against her and cradled her in his arms. He smiled brightly at his son and kissed Sariel softly on her temple. He was completely amazed at his wife. He felt an overwhelming surge of love in his heart for both Sariel and their child.
"I love you Sariel. You're the best thing to ever happen to me." Elliott whispered softly as a few tears slipped down his cheeks.
"I love you too, Elliott. Thank you for everything. You're my sun and stars." Sariel stated lovingly.
"Our son is perfect, Rinn. You did such an amazing job. Do you need anything?" Elliott asked gently.
"I'd love some water if you don't mind." Sariel answered softly.
Elliott pressed a kiss to her cheek and slid off the bed. He stood in the doorway to her room for a moment and stared at Sariel as she softly sung to Dean while he nursed. He felt a fresh set of tears stream down his cheeks as Sariel exuded love and serenity to their newborn.
He headed towards the lobby of the clinic and managed to catch Maru before she darted off. He was silently hoping Sariel and Dean would be permitted to leave soon. He smiled at Leon and Chris before addressing Maru.
"Maru, Sariel's asking for water. Might you have a bottle for her?" Elliott asked gently.
"Of course. She should eat something too. Does she like apples and peanut butter?"
"She does. I can run to the farmhouse and get her something though." Elliott replied.
"Nah. Here." Maru stated.
She pulled her lunch bag from the cooler and retrieved her snack from inside. She handed the chilled Honeycrisp apple and portion of peanut butter to Elliott. She darted into the back room for a moment and returned with two bottles of water.
"Thank you, Maru." Elliott spoke gently.
"Elliott, is my sister okay?" Leon asked.
"Indeed. You're both welcome to come back now. Would you like to meet our little one?" Elliott returned.
"Yeah, that'd be really nice." Leon stated.
Elliott turned towards the surgical ward and smiled as Leon and Chris fell into step behind him. He heard his phone blip with a notification and quickly glanced at the screen. Sariel had texted a photograph of she and Dean. She was sitting up in the shared bed and smiling brightly while she cradled their son to her bare chest. Though her face looked fatigued the smile she bore was sublimely perfect. His heart melted at the sight of his wife holding their son.
"You're perfect, Sariel. Absolutely, stunningly perfect." Elliott called out softly.
"I appreciate the flattery, Elliott, but I feel like a hot mess." Sariel laughed gently.
"Maru thought you might be hungry." Elliott stated.
"Oh. Yeah, I guess I am. My stomach keeps grumbling. Thank you, baby." Sariel replied.
Elliott set the snack on the edge of Sariel's table and slid into bed next to her. He brought the snack to the bed and gently held out a slice of apple for Sariel to nibble on. He rubbed circles on her back as she ate.
"Ellie?" Sariel whispered.
"Yes, my beloved?" Elliott replied.
"I feel safe. You make me feel safe, loved, and protected. I can't imagine my life without you in it. I think you're going to be an amazing father. Dean and I are lucky to have you. I love you with all my heart and so much more." Sariel warmly spoke.
"I want nothing more than for you to be safe, my love. My life changed forever when I met you, and I wouldn't have it any other way. It is Dean and me that are the lucky ones, my darling. I know Dean is going to have the best life he can because you are his mother. I love you with all that I am, everything I could ever be, and my heart is yours." Elliott replied lovingly.
"You look great, Rinn." Leon stated happily.
"Thanks, Leon. I feel like crap though. My placenta was trapped and I started bleeding pretty badly. Harvey wants to keep me here for a few hours before he's alright with letting me go home." Sariel divulged.
"How's the baby?" Chris asked softly.
"He's great. 8 pounds, 14 ounces. 21 inches long. Big boy." Sariel answered.
"What did you name my nephew?" Leon prodded.
"Dean Remington McCoy." Sariel answered.
She nestled against Elliott's broad chest and softly smiled when he wrapped his left arm around her waist. The pair stared into their son's stormy-gray gaze. His eyes were large and bright, just like his mother's. His eyelids drooped and soon his breathing steadied as he fell asleep in his mother's embrace.
"That's amazing, Rinn. I'm sure Lilly will love that." Chris stated.
Two hours passed as Dean slept and Sariel took a small walk around the ward to stretch her legs. She was grateful Leon had run back to the farmhouse and brought her an outfit. She changed into a pair of gray maternity pants and a cerulean blue nursing camisole. She tugged on a gray cardigan and pulled a pair of fuzzy cerulean blue socks.
Four hours had finally passed and Harvey was pleased with Sariel's wellbeing to the point he discharged her. She and Elliott made the quick walk back to the farmhouse and ducked inside before the storm managed to hit. She made her way upstairs to Dean's nursery and gently deposited her son into his crib. When she retreated downstairs she found Elliott pulling a load of laundry from the washer and loading up the dryer. The basket beside him was full of burp rags and other clothing items for Dean. Sariel hefted it onto her left hip and made her way back upstairs to Dean's nursery.
She sat the basket on the floor and curled her legs under her on the bench in the softly lit room. Elliott quickly joined her and the two made quick work of folding and sorting Dean's items. As they finished putting the last of the items in his various dressers, he woke up with a soft whimper.
Sariel swooped in and scooped him up. Nearly instantly Dean calmed down and closed his eyes. His tiny, fragile hand groped towards Sariel's chest. Sariel smiled at the little bundle of joy and sat next to Elliott. She deftly unhooked the cup of the nursing camisole she wore and cradled Dean to her chest. She stroked his head lovingly once he latched on.
Sariel heard the buzzing of her phone against the wood of the bench and she frowned at the incessant noise. Elliott slipped his hand into the pocket of her cardigan and answered the call. He held the device to Sariel's left ear.
"Rinn! My darling! We've made it into town. Can we come over?" Evynne softly called out.
"Hi, Mom. I'm really glad you guys made it into town safely. I think we're ready to see you. Can you stop by Pierre's and get our groceries? I can have Elliott send you the grocery list if you don't mind." Sariel spoke lovingly.
"Rinn, you're our baby girl. Of course, we don't mind picking up your groceries. Your father is insisting on cooking dinner for you both tonight, are steaks alright?" Evynne asked.
While Sariel spoke, Elliott quickly copied the text file of their grocery list into a message for Evynne. He added in his thanks and asked them to bring a bouquet of flowers for Sariel. He smiled at Evynne's reply and focused his attention on Sariel.
"Ellie, Mom wants to know if we'd like steak for dinner. Dad's insisting on cooking for us." Sariel whispered.
"Ah, steak sounds lovely. Do you think Evynne could make her mashed potatoes?" Elliott whispered back.
"Mom, Elliott says steak is fine. Would you mind making your mashed potatoes for us?" Sariel asked brightly.
"Not at all, darling. We'll see you shortly. We love you, Sariel." Evynne replied sweetly.
"I love you, too! See you soon." Sariel called out.
Elliott removed the phone and disconnected the call. His seafoam green gaze fell onto his wife's steely gaze and he kissed her softly. He caressed her right cheek with his left hand.
"Honey, would you mind helping me get a little more… presentable?" Sariel asked softly.
"Of course, darling. What can I help with?" Elliott replied.
"Once Dean finishes eating, I'd like to fix my hair and maybe sponge bathe. Dean needs his first bath too." Sariel lamented softly.
"Let's take things one at a time. Do you want to try the baby wrap?" Elliott asked gently.
"I think so. Should be easy enough, right?" Sariel laughed softly.
"I'll go run a basin of water so we can get you both cleaned up. I'll get your nursing cover for you." Elliott stated.
Sariel felt Dean's sucking change and she instinctively knew he was done feeding. She brought him to her shoulder and gently patted him on the back. She continued patting him gently until he burped ever so slightly.
She cradled him in her arms protectively. She used her left arm to support her son. Sariel moved through his room collecting everything she'd need to bathe her baby. She picked out a footed onesie that had cute cartoon dinosaurs all over it. She made her way downstairs and found Elliott in their bathroom.
"I think I have everything you need. Why don't you set Dean in the bassinet and I'll help you freshen up, then we can bathe our son together." Elliott stated.
Sariel nodded and gently tucked the newborn into the bassinet. The mobile hanging from the top started to gently spin and illuminate, captivating the tiny infant. He stared bright-eyed at the rotating shapes.
"Do you want to try a shower?" Elliott softly asked.
"I think so. I've made it up and down the stairs and I haven't felt winded or light-headed. The shower's glass, so if I fall you can see me." Sariel replied.
Elliott answered by peeling his shirt from his frame and hooking his thumbs in his waistband and shucking his pants off. He pulled Sariel to him and gently helped her out of her own clothing. He pressed a soft kiss to her neck and hugged her.
"Or, I can take a shower with you." Elliott purred.
"That works too. Thank you." Sariel replied.
Elliott reached toward the end of her braid and pulled the ponytail holder free. He tossed the thin black band towards the sink and ran his fingers through the long, messy braid. Soon Sariel's dark mahogany hair tumbled around her shoulders and cascaded down her back.
Elliott broke their contact and led her to the shower. He turned the water on and the pleased gasp from Sariel's lips made him smile. He spun her under the stream of water and began gently massaging water through her hair. He devoted precious minutes to worshipping her body with his hands. Every stroke radiated love to her, as he washed and conditioned her hair and lathered her body with soap.
He gently helped her rinse off and he focused his attention towards his own body, quickly washing his hair and soaping up. He smiled brightly when Sariel tapped him on the shoulder and turned him around so she could comb conditioner through his hair. He rinsed off and stepped out of the shower, immediately focusing on helping Sariel dry off.
"Feel better?" Elliott asked softly.
"Much. I don't feel nearly as icky as I did." Sariel replied sweetly.
Sariel dragged a comb through her long tresses and managed to pull her hair into a somewhat decent looking bun. She put on a fresh outfit, opting for black maternity pants, silver ballet flats, and a gray nursing top. She pulled her black short-sleeve cardigan from the closet and slipped it on her frame.
Elliott stood behind her wearing a heather gray t-shirt and jeans. Sariel giggled at the sight of him so calm and relaxed. He moved to the bassinet and scooped Dean into his arms. He brought him into their shared bathroom and started to softly bathe Dean while Sariel assisted him.
They gently scrubbed his scalp and body clean and rinsed him off. They both remarked at how non-fussy their infant son was. Sariel's heart felt warm and content at the sight of her husband holding their son. They rubbed his small body dry and Sariel expertly diapered him and dressed him in the dinosaur onesie.
Elliott kissed him softly on the forehead and stared at Sariel as she wrapped the silvery-blue baby wrap around her slender frame. It took her a few moments, but she finally became satisfied with its placement. She cradled Dean to her chest and covered him with the baby wrap. Elliott helped her tie it behind her back and he quickly took a picture of Sariel and Dean when she smiled at him.
The soft knocking on their door interrupted the private moment. Sariel started to head towards the door, but Elliott stopped her and pointed towards the couch. Sariel chuckled and nodded.
She moved to the couch that faced the television. She sat cross-legged and pulled a blanket around her, making sure to keep Dean's face clear of fabric. She craned her neck down and kissed the top of his head.
Elliott threw open the front door and greeted Evynne and Peter warmly. He rushed to take the bags of groceries from Evynne's arms and led his in-laws to the kitchen to deposit their bags. He made his way out to their car and brought in their luggage. He easily hefted the bags upstairs to the guest room and bounded back downstairs to join Sariel.
"Mom, Dad, can you stop for a minute?" Sariel asked shyly.
Her parents turned from their task and cast a critical eye towards the couch where their daughter sat. Evynne's face drew into the exact look Sariel had when she was examining something. Peter smiled at his daughter and son-in-law.
"There's someone Elliott and I would greatly enjoy for you to meet." Sariel stated warmly.
Sariel unfurled herself from the blanket and stood up. Dean was happily sleeping against her warm chest. Though the wrap supported him fully, she still found herself holding him.
"Oh my god! You had the baby!" Evynne squealed with delight.
"Just this morning. I guess he really wanted to meet you both." Sariel replied.
"He? I have a grandson?" Peter asked.
"Dean Remington McCoy. Named after the two men I've loved and have driven me to become a better woman." Sariel answered.
"Oh baby, he's precious! Have you told anyone else yet?" Evynne bounced excitedly.
"Leon and Chris were with us when Sariel went into labor. They've met him already." Elliott answered.
"I hope you're not upset with us." Sariel lamented softly.
"Nonsense, honey. Where's your phone? I'll take a picture of the three of you." Peter answered.
Sariel handed her phone to her father and snuggled against Elliott. He wrapped his arms around her protectively and kissed the back of her head. Peter called out for them to smile as he took the picture.
He handed the phone back to Sariel and smiled at his daughter. He felt an immense amount of love for his family. He knew that Sariel was finally, truly happy. He couldn't have imagined a better match for her than Elliott.
Sariel's lilting laughter flitted through the air as her phone started incessantly ringing. The song playing as her ringtone alerted everyone to the fact Lilly was calling. She quickly answered the phone and put it on speaker.
"SARIEL LIA MCCOY! Just what kind of bull-hockey is this picture?" Lilly yelled.
"Lilly, shhhh. You're going to wake the baby." Sariel called out softly.
"Wake… the baby? You aren't due for another eight days!" Lilly chuffed.
"And sometimes babies decide they want to come early. I'm okay though, thank you for asking." Sariel laughed.
"Oh shi-shoot. What happened?" Lilly asked worriedly.
"Nothing major. I went into labor yesterday, according to Harvey. This morning when I woke up I'd dilated and all that gross stuff. Gave birth at nine a.m. Had a slight scare with the placenta getting torn, but I'm a-okay. Your surrogate nephew weighs 8 pounds, 14 ounces. He's 21 inches long. Hrm… What else is there to tell you?" Sariel teased.
"Good god, woman. What is my nephew's name?!" Lilly exclaimed.
"Dean Remington McCoy." Sariel stated boldly.
"De… Rinn… That… means so much. Shut up. I'm not crying, Red." Lilly snorted.
"Don't listen to her, Rinn. The waterworks are flowing. Congratulations. He's absolutely adorable." Audrey stated.
"Thanks, Red. I love you both." Sariel stated.
"We love you too!" Audrey called out.
Sariel suddenly yawned quite impressively. She felt the familiar sting of tears in her eyes as she yawned a second time. She frowned and turned towards Elliott.
"Ellie, would you mind it if I took a nap?" Sariel asked sweetly.
"Rinn, you gave birth. I think you've more than earned a nap. Please rest, love. I'll come help you get settled." Elliott lovingly stated.
Sariel pressed the back of her right hand to her mouth again as she stifled yet another yawn. She stood firmly in place while Elliott undid the tie of the wrap and helped her remove the baby carrier. He pulled the covers back from the bed and patted the mattress softly. He took Dean from Sariel's arms and watched her while she got ready to rest.
Sariel kicked off her shoes and pulled her cardigan from her body. She practically melted into the bed when she laid down. She smiled weakly at Elliott as he pressed a kiss to her lips.
"Sleep sweetheart. Let your body rest. We'll all be in the next room if you need anything, just yell. I love you." Elliott lovingly murmured.
"Thank you, honey. I love you too." Sariel replied lazily.
She burrowed her head into her pillow and felt her eyes drift shut. Her energy level had expended itself. As she drifted off to sleep, her thoughts turned towards her husband and the new member of the McCoy family.