Work Text:
The months leading to the final day of baby Athena’s arrival was beyond painful for the couple
Severus was miserable every day after his fifth month had passed, everything was beginning to swell and grow sore and all Lucius could do was administer pain potions, dreamless sleep potions, and massages that usually left the younger man overwhelmed with touch
Lucius was miserable because Severus was miserable, he watched him grunt and struggle but would be denied help when offered, he knew how independent his husband wishes to be but it seems the old brute forgot that pregnancy was a team effort and both had to put in the work for either of them to be happy
As the months flew pass so did the due date, it crept up on them and currently was five days away
Currently the couple laid on the couch, Lucius sat against the soft grey cushions and his heavily pregnant husband on top of him. The weight from both Sev and Athena was a wondrous feeling as the pressure felt oddly similar to the weighted blanket he used to sleep under as a child
His hand carded through his husbands newly grown hair, ruffling and tangling it before smoothing through it and pulling out any knots or kinks
Severus despite not liking the idea had allowed his hair to grow out for once, and currently it reached his hips.
The Long raven hair acted as a curtain currently as it splayed over the resting face of the man he loved.
The younger always complained about the strands being long but never actually made effort to cut it back short, one part of Lucius is telling him that it’s because it’s pulling length and is a good key for control but another is telling him that he simply likes the way it looks and can’t cut it
Lucius rested the book on his chest to flip a page when suddenly the man splayed over his lap flenched and then tensed, his brow rose and his hand stopped their movements, the book was closed and then placed onto the table next to him before he sat up just barely to glance at the other man
“You alright luv?”
The raven simply shook his head and briefly sat up, a hand resting under bump, Lucius eyes widened slightly and went back to the tinted cheeks of his husband, stray strands of ravenous locks covering portions of his face
“What’s the matter…”
Severus grunted and just squeezed himself tighter in the small corner of the couch, the exhaustion marked on his face. His voice sounded strained when he finally did speak after whatever that was ended only for it to happen again ten or so minutes later resulting in a small pained sound from Sev
“These aren’t Braxton hicks Lucius… I’m in labor”
The cobras eyes widened before he began to smile, seemingly uncaring that the baby was five days early, he scooted forward on the grey couch and gripped his lovers hands who looked up at him in pain
“We’re having a baby”
That seemed to brighten up the younger man’s mood as a small smile crept onto his own dusted cheeks
“Yea we are…”
The viper chuckled before standing off the sofa and extending both hands to the other man who gladly accepted, together they walked into the bedroom with the occasional stops for a breath as a contraction hit
When they got to the bedroom Severus was sat onto the bed and ridding himself of his trousers allowing them to drop to the floor with a faint thump, Lucius made a floo call to their healer Mrs. Haxley who answered immediately
She arrived minutes later while her patient was in the middle of a particularly bad contraction, one that felt as if it were ripping him apart piece by piece
She noticed how stressed out and pained the younger man was and rose a brow at the older in question
“This one’s worse than any of the others, he’s had two more of these since we’ve been awaiting your arrival”
She nodded and accio’d a few towels, a bowl of ice, some gloves, and a bunch of other stuff from her bag. The towels were stuffed under Severus, thick enough to catch any fluids that could possibly stain the sheets as well as comfort the baby’s head while she’s crowning
The ice was handed to Severus who slowly ate the ice chunks piece by piece, not caring if it was freezing the inside of his mouth it was distracting from the pain.
Haxley looked from where she stood between patted pale thighs and hummed.
“He’s about three to four Centimeters dilated. Has his water broken yet?”
Lucius shook his head and continued petting at the locks of hair sprawled haphazardly over the soft white pillow, feeling horrible that all he could do was stand there while his husband endured a pain he would never understand
“Well if it hasn’t broken by the fifth centimeter I’m going to do it myself, this is normal so no worries, I will also be staying since he’s too far along in the process for me to leave and come back”
The viper gave a delicate bow which was returned before he was then back at the other man’s side who continued to moan in pain with gritted teeth and clenched eyes
“I’m sorry I can’t help you my love…”
Onyx eyes opened and stared hurtfully up at him before shutting tight with hitched breath, it hurt to talk while the contractions came through so Sev was silent during them preferring to speak when they were finished
When it was over for a second the man relaxed and then suddenly swore under his breath when a warm trickle began down his buttock and onto the white towels
“Tell… tell the healer, that my water just broke and the pain has worsened significantly”
He was hesitant to leave the others side but refused to stay after he was given a biting glare that would strike if he were to not listen to the command
The healer waltzed into the room and following behind her was an anxious Lucius who fiddled his fancy robes he still wore from time to time
Mrs. Haxley took her spot on the edge of the bed and firmly patted a pale thigh signaling for him to open his legs so that she could check him again and he did albeit a little hesitant
When she checked him she noticed how his contractions had jumped and how his centimeters rapidly increased, she looked up at the discomforted face before pulling her hand away
“Went from three centimeters to seven… I think the little tyke is just as excited to see you guys as you are her”
Lucius smiled but it faded when he noticed his lover beginning to grit his teeth and curl up a bit moaning out in pain
The healer watched for a bit before motioning for Lucius to step back and then took his place next to the labouring man, they spoke hushed words to one another before she began to haul Severus out of bed and removed his shirt revealing flushed skin
A robe was conjured up for the man to wear and he graciously took it and put it on enjoying the lingering warmth he had and the smell of lavender, he only shrieked when a horrifyingly cold sensation went across his chest and caused him to jump
“Bloody hell was that?”
The healer chuckled before placing the ice back onto his heated chest, his nipples hardening under the cold fog as the ice sizzled on his warm skin
“Ice my dear, it is to help not only cool you down but stimulate the muscles inside your chest to ensure the milk comes out smoothly and isn’t chunky or bad… if you want I can provide a pump for you to relieve this soreness.”
Severus nodded but then grunted when a particularly hard kick was sent to his lower gut at the icy frost gliding over his body starting up yet another contraction that his knees buckled at
The healer muttered something under her breath before prompting him to fold over the bed and allow himself to express his pain to which he did in constant threats at Lucius and a deathly grip on the sheets as he refused to let out the sounds he so wanted to
She massaged his back in crisp circular motions and it made Lucius feel rather useless as despite having a tutor for this kind of stuff ordered by his father when he was a child he did not know much about relieving a labouring man or women
She walked him around the room, allowed him to roll on a few of the yoga balls she had, as well as the mats, and even brought him more ice and yet Lucius stayed stationary in the corner unknowing of what to do with himself
Everything he thought of doing was taken up by the healer and her multitasking abilities
“Lucius my dear, do you hear me? Alright I must say that you’ve been over here for quite a while and that your husband has been calling you for the past two minutes… he wants you at his side.”
His heart swelled and he swallowed before nodding at her and going over towards the bed where Sev sat kneeled with his forehead against the duvet and knees apart underneath the robe he wore
“Lucius… luc…”
He could already tell his name had been being chanted off the others tongue and frowned as he climbed into the others space and began to massage his back with soft nimble fingers
The tense muscle made him protest with a grunt or a moan of hurt but did not once tell him to stop his hands motions as it helped deal the pain lower into his back and abdomen
“This… this is the worst thing I’ve ever experienced”
He grunted dropping his head back on the blanket to keep from growing dizzy which was rarely common among bearers
“Well darling, you won’t have to go through it again if you don’t want too”
He could see the peak that Severus took at him and the long stare to see if he had been telling the truth before the peak disappeared behind an eyelid and a hum sounded in their space indicating Severus had heard what the other said
Another contraction tore through his body and he cried out, the noises being unable to be held in any longer as the pain worsened telling the healer that the man was close and that he’d most definitely be ready soon.
TIMESKIP
Ready came quicker than all of them thought it would.
Severus lay on his back on the bed once again, his body writhing on the blanket as cramp after cramp came for him, he’d used to think he had a high pain tolerance but this beat it and took the cake.
The poor man begged for a pain potion or something more stronger but the healer refused each advance and continued to prepare blankets and towels and ice and some scissors and for a second his heart jumped
“Are you sure you can’t give him something?”
The nurse rubbed her temple and shook her head, looking up exhaustedly
“If I were to give Mr. Malfoy anything right now it could harm the baby, especially a pain potion as the ingredients would be to potent for the tyke to handle… maybe if I were asked earlier sure but right now there’s nothing I can do”
Severus wailed at a sudden burst of pain that had his hand squeezing Lucius with a death grip, no doubt cutting the circulation in that area, the blonde seethed before looking back to the nurse
“Is there a spell? A pill?”
She again shook her head before propping herself up on her knees in between parted legs, a soft towel thrown over them for privacy reasons, and a few underneath to catch blood and other fluids
The small whimper of his name made him look down and come face to face with the pained expression of his lover who was damp from the amount of sweat and water that was dripped onto his face to keep him cool making strands of black hair stick Cooley to his face
“It hurts…”
Lucius squeezed his hand and kissed his forehead muttering an ‘it’s ok’ before the other had to look away with a shuddering breath and the blonde had to admit seeing his raven like this made him feel like a horrible partner, he did this to the man he loved.
“I’m sorry luv…”
Suddenly the nurse gripped the pale knees in front of her and parted them a bit further to get a better look at him and Severus flushed, embarrassed to be seen like this.
Her gloved hand entered the opening canal and had only made it just passed her wrist before she felt the little ones fuzzy head, her hand was removed and she quickly instructed that on the count of three Severus was to push as hard as he could.
“Alright, you lot ready?”
A cacophony of no’s reverberated the labouring man’s chest as he breathed the best he could and stayed calm but his voice gave way to the strain he was putting upon himself and broke.
A pat to the knee indicated that he needed too and Severus groaned out as he forced himself to sit up just a bit even with the struggle.
“Sweatheart would it make it better if I climbed in behind you”
He nodded and Lucius hurriedly pulled off his shoes and robes leaving him in a tan button up with black trousers, he climbed behind his husband, slotting him directly between his thighs and just barely leaned forward until his lover gave a small grunt of approval.
The healer watched the intimate scene before sighing and patting again.
“Alright I want a strong big push alright? You think you can do that for me and little tyke?”
He nodded and Lucius intertwined their fingers to squeeze gently, this was going to hurt like hell and they both knew it would take a while to recover from such an event.
“Good good alright. One… two… three!”
Her voice was loud but gentle as to not startle the birthing man who immediately began straining and squeezing letting out small cries before the healer called time and allowed him a bit of a break.
Lucius muttered little something’s in the others ear and occasionally tightened his hold of his hands before releasing and leaning into the sweaty body in front of him.
The healer looked up and reached forward to clean his face up a bit before looking back down giving him the sign to go again and hesitantly Severus started pushing with all his might and strength that slowly started wearing down as time went by.
He was quickly growing exhausted and Lucius frowned
His husbands head fell onto his shoulder and a soft whimper fell from his parted lips, Lucius kissed them and squeezed his hands wanting him to continue
His legs looked to have started to fall close and the nurse quickly pushed them apart
“Severus dear, don’t close your legs, you could suffocate your baby”
Both men sighed
“I can’t…”
His voice was hoarse and strained and Lucius grew upset at the display, he knew his husband was never one to just give up and when he did all he needed was a little pushing from him to get back into it.
“No… no… you’re not giving up, C’mon.”
Lucius pushed forward forcing the body in front of him to do the same before he stiffened and Lucius stopped, he instead pressed his face into the other man’s face and started speaking low so only they could hear.
“Don’t give up so soon my love, it’ll be over before you know it and you’ll have our daughters tiny body in your arms… surely she’s eager to meet her daddy so C’mon…”
Throughout that entire process the nurse watched, she dared not interrupt them but she was quite in a rush, babies being born from bearers were not only rare but super dangerous as it was easier for them to suffocate or get stuck.
Severus moaned in pain, his body urging him to get the intrusion out of his body and hesitantly he did.
The nurse praised him for his hard work until he suddenly stopped and dropped back into Lucius hold and for a second the man thought he had passed out from how still his body had become but then he took in a large inhale of air letting it out in a small cry.
Lucius didn’t have to pressure him for the second time since he had started on his own, a wail bouncing off his lips before something popped out and he groaned allowing himself to slump.
The nurse however began to smile as she picked up a bulb syringe and began to remove mucus from the baby’s nose and mouth allowing her to take in a hiccuping breath that didn’t get released.
She put the item down and looked up at the couple with something akin to urgency and Lucius lifted his hands to rub over his lovers abdomen.
Severus huffed and turned his head, slotting his forehead between Lucius’ chin and shoulder grumbling words neither could make out.
“This is the final one, dear, I promise you…”
He made some noise akin to a whimper before tensing with a shuddering breath, another contraction bursting through him as it tried to forcefully push the baby out.
“Dear… it’s just the shoulders and then you’ll be free of this pain…”
Lucius stayed quiet.
Feeling as if he’d pushed the man enough, feeling as if he had annoyed him despite the other pressing firmly into his chest and tucked into his neck.
“Sweetheart…”
Severus groaned, removing his head to face the other way, his eyes were closed and his jaw was clenched, a scowl present and Lucius winced before looking away.
“It hurts Lucius”
His eyes cracked open and glanced at either person in the room before he glanced at his belly and sighed.
Internally debating Severus hummed, breathing out before tensing again as another round of long pitiful cramps numbed his lower region.
Giving up the debate he sat up, his face full of emotions as he groaned and forced his exhausted body to go through the process again, but this time a huge relief came and the pain stopped and he fell back finally.
Lucius allowed him to lean into him and even made up for the agitation he caused by massaging his shoulders and showering him with kisses that the other man leaned into.
But then they realized.
It was silent.
Too silent.
They both looked up and saw the nurse suckling out more mucus from the babies nose and throat allowing her to take in a gasp of air and release it in a powerful pitched wail.
And suddenly a wave came over Severus.
He sobbed into the others neck, his body shaking with silent cries.
Lucius however stared mesmerized at the wondrous sight of their daughter, her pale skin covered in vernix and blood that the witch had been gently wiping off, her hair was two separate colors and he teared up.
Her slightly angled nose and chubby body, full eyelashes and lips like Lucius, sharp jaw and cheek bones like Severus… she was the perfect mixture and he could not take his eyes off of her, even as she got wrapped into a soft yellow blanket.
Lucius hugged the other man tight, his head falling against the side of his head and he kissed his shoulder.
“You did amazing, my love…”
The nurse sat the baby down in her cot before casting a cleanup charm to rid the blood, fluids, sweat, tears and other off of them.
She then went back to their daughter and brought her to them both, and Severus gladly took her, the parenting books allowing him to hold her right without any errors and both men fell in love instantly.
They had not even noticed the women cast a healing charm on the raven before cleaning up and leaving, assuring that there were three calming draughts, Dreamless sleep potions, and pain potions on their dresser.
Severus smiled down at the sleeping newborn, his fingers trailing through her fluffy platinum blonde and black hair, his heart pounding in his chest even as exhaustion coursed through him.
“Luv…”
Sev hummed, his eyes glued to the baby even as his head slightly turned on reflex to answer the other.
“She needs a name…”
Lucius smiled as he stated that loving the look of realization that he’d been staring at their newborn for a while that they hadn’t had the conversation yet.
“What if we named her after Minerva? Minnie perhaps?”
Sev frowned and shook his head.
“I was thinking more on the gods and goddesses fairytales from the muggle world”
Lucius hummed.
He was not educated in the muggle world so he had no idea on what their names were though maybe he could cast a silent charm to help him out.
“Artemis?”
Severus cringed, looking up at Lucius as if he were crazy.
“No… uh… what about Hestia?”
A chuckle radiated from the blonde before he stuttered out a no, his own hand reaching around to rub against her head.
“She doesn’t look like a Hestia Severus…”
He rolled his eyes, peeling the blanket back just a bit to see her tiny body and he smiled.
“Well she doesn’t look like a Gaia either… or an Aphrodite…”
The blonde hummed again, the sound vibrating his chest and the two bodies in front of him, it seemed to disturb the little one however, leading her to open her eyes and glare angrily up at the parents in front of her.
Both men gasped at the color of her eyes, they weren’t blue or black but instead a glittery white.
“Athena… let’s name her Athena… Minnie can be her nickname”
The raven looked up expectantly and Lucius nodded, it fit her wonderfully and rolled off the tongue so easily.
“Yea I like that”
the left side of the beds covers were pulled down and as if taking the hint the darker man passed Lucius their daughter before sighing as he got comfortable in his spot.
Lucius however sat and watched the other get comfortable, his cheeks reddening as he smiled at the dark eyes that began to flutter just as he pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead before moving away and hugging their baby close.
When Sev fell into a deep sleep Lucius sighed… he felt miserable yet he didn’t even do anything.
He looked down at the wide eyed newborn and smiled, touching her gently as to not irritate her skin with his nails.
“You’re our little Angel, Minnie”
She hiccuped and her eyes fluttered indicating she was falling asleep and he couldn’t help a single tear falling from his eye.