Chapter Text
And we can’t leave tonight.
The contraction surprised her, sharp and painful, making Athena freeze mid-step. She clutched her belly, heart pounding. No, this couldn’t start right now. Not here. Not tonight. The storm had shut down every road for miles. They were completely alone in the cabin.
And the baby was coming.
Zuri’s birth hadn’t been easy, she was a big baby and Athena’s first. Second births were usually quicker, and this baby was smaller than her sister, estimated to be around six pounds. But none of that eased her fear and she felt her breathing speed up. Athena tried to get off the couch, but another contraction hit, stronger this time, catching her off guard.
“Breathe, baby.”
Her husband’s steady, patient voice cut through the panic, grounding her just enough to help her focus and get through the next wave. When the contraction passed, she pushed herself up and turned to face Bobby.
“You can do this, ‘thena.” He kept his voice steady. “I am going to clean the couch and call 911. Maybe there is something they can do.” Bobby said, rising from the couch and grabbed Athena’s hand to squeeze it quickly.
He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple and guided her to the bathroom so she could clean up and put on one of his oversized shirts. Meanwhile, he cleaned the couch and after that he called 911.
“I am sorry, Mr. Nash, but nobody is able to go on the roads tonight. You said you have assisted with a birth before?” The kind voice of the dispatcher did nothing to calm his nerves.
“Yeah, but that was years ago. And this is not some stranger I’m helping. She is my wife.”
“I understand, sir. We are doing everything we can to get someone to you, but in the meantime, gather as many towels as you can. This baby is coming, whether you are ready for her or not.”
Bobby took a deep breath and thought about the past few hours. If his calculations were right, Athena had been in labor for roughly five hours. He knew they were nearing the point where he would need to check her progress, something he hadn’t done in years, and never with someone he loved more than life itself. Bobby knew he had to stay focused, for Athena and for the tiny life they were about to bring into the world.
“What did they say?” Athena asked softly, leaning heavily on a chair and breathing through another contraction. She had one of her hands protectively on her belly, where she could feel the baby move slightly, as if she was reminding her that everything would be okay.
“They are trying to get someone here, but until then we have to do this ourselves.” Bobby ran a hand over his face and resisted the urge to sigh loudly, because he knew Athena needed his support and not his frustration.
“You are kidding me. We can’t do this here, Bobby.” Athena said, her chin starting to wobble, tears already sliding down her cheeks. This wasn’t how she imagined giving birth, stranded in a cabin with no medical help.
“We have to. And you can do this and I am gonna help you however I can.” Bobby said reassuringly. He didn’t give her time to spiral further. Instead he slid an arm around her waist and slowly guided her toward the bedroom. Her body tensed beside him, and he could feel how hard she was trying to hold it together.
Once they reached the bed, he helped her sit down carefully, then adjusted the pillows behind her to prop her up. He brushed a damp curl from her forehead, his palm lingering against her face.
“We’re gonna do this together, okay? One step at a time.” She gave him a hesitant nod, her breath shallow, and he stayed close to her for a second.
“I am gonna get some towels and blankets.” Bobby tried to be calm, but with every minute that passed, it got harder. He walked to the linen closet to collect as many towels and blankets he could find and he turned up the heat of the room.
Meanwhile, Athena was trying to think of breathing patterns, the positions they had practiced in class, but everything had vanished in the pain. The only thing she could do was focus on this contraction. Then the next.
Over the next two hours, the contractions came harder and with less time in between, leaving Athena barely any time to recover in between. Each wave stole her breath, her body curling in on itself as the pain took over. Bobby was a constant, his voice low and steady, wiping her face with a cool cloth, holding her hand through every pulse of agony.
By the end of the second hour, her breathing turned ragged, no longer controlled. Panic flickered behind her eyes again as another brutal contraction rippled through her body. But this time something felt different, there was a different kind of pressure now, deeper, instinctual.
“Bobby.” She took a sharp breath. “I need to push.” Her voice was strained, barely more than a whisper. Every muscle in her body was trembling from effort. She waved vaguely toward the glass of water, throat raw from all the screaming. Bobby was at her side in an instant, bringing it to her lips before the next contraction would hit her.
“Give me a second to check, baby.” Bobby took a steadying breath, trying to mask the tremor in his hands as he moved closer. He gently placed his hands on her knees, feeling the heat of her skin and the tension vibrating through her entire body. He looked up at her face and waited for her signal, not daring to proceed until she gave him permission.
She gave a faint nod, and Bobby carefully lifted the oversized shirt that clung to her damp skin. His heart pounded as he lowered his head to get a clear view. He could just make out the top of their baby’s head, already beginning to crown. At that moment he realized it was really happening. Right here, right now. There was no more time to hesitate or hope for backup. It was up to him. Up to them.
Bobby tried to push aside any memories of the last time he did this.
He was a rookie, barely two months on the job when he got a call of a pregnant woman in a car crash. When he arrived, the woman had already got out of her car, sitting on the pavement and trying to breathe through a contraction. Apparently she was 39 weeks pregnant and on her way to the hospital, because she had been in labor for a while.
After they checked if everything was okay, Bobby got dispatch on the phone, because the baby wasn’t waiting and the paramedics were still minutes out. It went by so quickly, it being her third baby, that he barely had any time to register what was happening. The baby came out screaming, a perfect pair of lungs on him, and Bobby wrapped him in a blanket just when the ambulance arrived and the paramedics took over from him.
Back in the present, Bobby took a deep breath and gently pushed the shirt further up her thighs so it was no longer in the way. “Okay, you can push once, baby.” Bobby looked back at her, seeing the pain written on her face.
She nodded once and Athena finally gave into the urge to push, pulling her knees toward her and bearing down. Bobby told her to stop after a few seconds, and Athena collapsed back onto the mattress. She would have preferred to be on her hands and knees, but Bobby wasn’t sure that was safe right now, so she stayed on her back.
After two more pushes Bobby took another look.
“I think I can see more of her head, ‘thena.” Bobby felt his pulse quicken, both fear and anticipation climbing up his throat. It wouldn’t be much longer for their baby girl to join them.
“I seriously need to push, Bobby.” Athena said through gritted teeth, while she tried very hard to not give in to the feeling. When Bobby gave her the permission to push again, just once, and told her to go slow when the head would come out, she didn’t hesitate.
Athena pushed down, her body taking over without her realizing, pressure and pain building until she couldn’t hold it anymore. She fell back with a groan when Bobby told her to stop, wanting nothing more than to keep going, to deliver the baby that was literally almost there.
“Okay, you can push again, baby.”
Athena blindly reached out for his hand, finding it somewhere under her hip and grabbing it, squeezing the living hell out of it. The sound that left her lips when she bore down was primal, but Bobby didn’t care and he squeezed her hand just as hard. Then he told her to stop again, watching as she fell back to the bed, breathing coming in short gasps. Her curly hair clung to her forehead, damp with sweat.
“One more push, love,” Bobby said gently, locking eyes with her. “You’re not alone. I got you.”
“I can’t do this anymore.” Athena’s voice shook, chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to get her breath under control. She was tired and in so much pain. Knowing the baby was so close didn’t feel like enough anymore to keep going.
“Yes, you can, Athena. You have to. You are a badass, you take down criminals for a living. You can do this. One more push and you will be able to hold our daughter.” Bobby squeezed her hand again, nodding to her when she looked at him again.
Finally, Athena nodded back and inhaled deeply before she pushed one last time, a scream ripping from her throat. That was the moment she felt her baby slip into the world, Bobby’s hands right there to catch her.
For a few seconds it was quiet, Athena’s eyes flicking to her husband, worry rising, before she heard the first cry of their daughter. She exhaled in relief and sank back down onto the mattress.
Bobby quickly cleared the baby’s airway, then lifted her gently and placed her on Athena’s chest. Their newborn, a small and furious bundle, wailed against her mother’s skin, clearly unhappy about being forced into the world. With Athena distracted by their baby, she barely noticed delivering the placenta. Bobby kept the cord intact and made sure to keep the placenta level with the baby, just as he had learned. He returned to the bed, watching mother and baby together.
“Oh, baby girl.” Athena sobbed, clutching her daughter to her chest, waves of relief washing over her. Her legs trembled from the exertion and she knew she wouldn’t be walking anytime soon. The birth had taken everything out of her.
Bobby grabbed another towel to gently rub over the baby’s back, trying to clean more of her skin before he covered her up in a blanket.
“She is beautiful. You did so well, my love.” Bobby pressed a kiss to Athena’s damp temple and another one on her lips, before he slid in behind her. He wrapped his arms around both of them, finally letting out the breath he felt like he had been holding for the past twenty minutes.
“I love you.” Athena still was shaky and the only thing she was certain of in that moment was the overwhelming love she felt, for her husband, and for the tiny screaming miracle on her chest. She closed her eyes for a second, trying to get her bearings back so she could calm their daughter.
“I love you so much.” Bobby murmured in her ear, his hand coming up to the baby’s head, feeling the curls sticking to her head. She was just as angry and loud as her big sister when she was born and the familiarity brought tears to his eyes.
The three of them laid together on the bed, Athena’s shirt still pushed up so the baby could soak in some skin-to-skin time with the blanket covering her. It didn’t take long for her to start rooting against her mother’s skin. Athena, experienced now, helped her latch quickly before leaning back into Bobby’s chest again, barely registering the baby drinking away. She was exhausted and would love to fall back asleep, but she wanted to stay awake until the ambulance arrived.
It took another hour, but they finally saw the blue and red lights flash through the windows. At some point the storm had calmed down, making it possible for the help to arrive. Two medics entered the bedroom, quickly getting to work by checking on both Athena and the baby. They cut the cord and helped Athena onto the stretcher, handing the baby to Bobby so the three of them could head to the ambulance together. By some miracle, everyone was safe and healthy. The paramedics even complimented them on how well they had handled everything.
Athena laid in the hospital bed, their daughter sleeping in the bassinet next to her. The baby’s tiny hands were curled up next to her face, peaceful and unaware that her birth had been anything but easy. She was perfectly healthy, and had already won over every member of the hospital staff who met her.
“Hen is bringing Zuri up now. Are you ready?”
Bobby walked into the room with a giddy grin on his face. He could barely wait to see their eldest daughter and introduce her to the baby. He was especially curious to see how Zuri would react, now that her sister was finally here and no longer inside her mother's bump.
“I think so.” Athena said softly, not meeting Bobby’s eyes just yet. Her mind was still catching up to everything that had happened in the last twelve hours and she was sure it would for a while.
“It is okay, baby. You did so well and she is doing great.”
Bobby sat down on the edge of her hospital bed, reaching up so he could gently tuck a curl away from Athena’s face, brushing it behind her ear.
Slowly, her eyes met his, and there it was. The tears she had been holding back finally shimmered, unspoken emotion rising to the surface. She looked at him like she didn’t know whether to collapse into his arms or apologize for crying. Bobby didn’t give her the chance to do either. He leaned in, forehead resting against hers, and squeezed her hand.
“It’s over, baby. You’re safe,” he whispered, and watched as the walls around her finally cracked enough to let one tear fall.
“Zuri is going to be so happy to see you both.”
He leaned in to kiss the tear away that had escaped down her cheek, smiling reassuringly at her. “I am so proud of you.” Bobby whispered against her temple. His own emotions from everything that happened took a backseat to Athena’s for now.
“Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.” Athena replied softly, taking a deep breath to will the tears away. She didn’t want Zuri to see her upset when she was about to meet her sister for the first time. This was an important moment and they needed to make sure it went as smoothly as possible.
After a minute or so, the door creaked open. Zuri stepped inside, clutching a small teddy bear in her hands. Hen appeared right behind her, smiling warmly at the two of them. When she was sure Zuri was safe, she closed the door again. She would give them a moment alone before she would meet the newest addition to their family.
“Mama! Daddy!” Zuri shrieked with delight, running straight to her parents with her arms wide open. Hen had told her that baby sissy was born and warned her that Mama would be sore and she shouldn’t bounce on her, but excitement still radiated from the little girl’s movements.
“Hey, Zuzu.”
Bobby scooped her up, smothering her chubby cheeks in kisses. He had missed her so much, and now, next to her baby sister, she suddenly looked so big.
“Baby sissy?”
Zuri peered around Bobby to try to see the baby everyone had been talking about for months. Her excitement nearly bubbled over and she could barely contain it.
“In a minute, baby. Why don’t you give mama a kiss and a hug? Be gentle.” Bobby put Zuri down on the bed right next to Athena.
Zuri dropped her bear without a second thought, scrambling toward her mom and placing a careful kiss on her cheek before wrapping her arms around her neck.
“Hi, Mama.” She said softly against her skin, suddenly realizing just how much she missed her in the past two days.
“Oh, love. I missed you.”
Athena squeezed the little girl against her body, ignoring the shooting pain in her stomach. This moment was worth the soreness. Over Zuri’s shoulder, she locked eyes with Bobby and saw the emotion welling in his. She mouthed, We’re okay. All four of them were.
“Baby?” Zuri said happily when she pulled back from the hug, eyes darting across the room until they landed on the bassinet on the other side of the bed. The baby was still fast asleep, not making a sound.
“Yes, that is the baby. Do you want to see her?” Bobby barely finished the sentence before Zuri shot up, ready to climb over her mother to get a better look. Luckily he had fast reflexes and lifted her back up before she could accidentally hurt Athena.
“Gentle, Zuzu.” Bobby reminded the rambunctious kid before he rounded the bed, getting them closer to the bassinet, so Zuri could see her sister.
“She is so small.” Zuri whispered, completely captivated as she leaned closer to get a better view.
“Do you want to hold her?” Athena said, blinking back fresh tears. This time they weren't from fear or pain, but from the overwhelming joy of watching her daughters meet for the first time.
“I can hold her?” Zuri’s head turned sharply to look at her mom, who nodded at her. Bobby gently placed the girl on the bed again, helping her sit securely with Athena’s arm wrapped around her back. Then he turned to the bassinet and lifted the sleeping girl and brought her over to them, sneaking in one more kiss on her soft cheek, because he just couldn’t help himself.
It took some careful adjusting, but they managed to settle her in Zuri’s arms, the baby not stirring once. Bobby immediately reached for his phone to take several pictures of his girls sitting together, Zuri staring in awe at her sister and Athena watching them both, as if neither could believe they were all here now.
“What is her name, Mama?”
Zuri tore away her gaze from the sleeping baby to look at Athena. Her sister’s head rested in the crook of her arm, with Athena’s hand supporting it in case she would slip. Zuri’s other arm curled protectively under the baby's legs.
“Her name is Zoe,” Athena said, voice thick with emotion. She reached out, running a hand over the soft curls on her daughter’s head, making a mental note to get her a hat when she went back into her bassinet later.
“A Z like me?” Zuri beamed, thrilled to have something in common with her baby sister.
“Yes, a Z just like you. Isn’t that fun, baby?” Bobby said with a grin, finally putting his phone away so he could just enjoy the first moment of the four of them together. He was so proud to see them together and to realize it was his family, something they dreamt about back when the idea of a second child was still just an idea.
None of them noticed the door open again until Hen reappeared, this time holding a bouquet of fresh flowers.
“Can I come in?”
Athena looked at her best friend with a warm, tired smile on her face.
"Of course you can. Come here.”
She glanced back down at her daughters, Zuri’s eyes wide and proud, Zoe still sleeping peacefully in her arms. She heard the soft click of the door closing again as Hen approached them.
“Hen, meet Zoe Mae Carter-Nash.”