A series by November

Chapter 87 : The Angel Opens Her Eyes

“Lightning crashes, a new mother cries.
This moment she's been waiting for,
The angel opens her eyes,
Pale blue colored iris.
Presents the circle,
Puts the glory out to hide...”
--Live

“What is it?” Logan was freaked out.

“I think my water just broke.”

Logan had Jean on the phone before Rogue got to the bathroom. Rogue was showering a minute later when he returned.

“Darlin' are you okay?”

“No biggie, Logan, my water broke.”

“Jean’s on her way.”

“Oh!” Rogue doubled over. The contraction seemed to last forever.

“I think I need to get into bed.”

Maggie woke as they lowered Marie to the bed. “Momma? Are you okay?”

“Just in labor, honey.”

“The baby’s coming?”

“Maybe in a few hours.” Rogue thought of doing this for hours and tears filled her eyes.

Jean and Hank came in. Rogue had another contraction and Maggie hugged her close. “Aww, Mags, that’s the best pain medication there is.” she lied, and kissed the top of her head when it was over.

Logan paced while they did a pelvic exam.

“You’re three and a half centimeters,” Jean said.

“Ohgod. That’s it?”

“You’re progressing very quickly. It’s only five of five.”

“Not quickly enough. Gimme a freakin’ epidural, please.”

Jean and Hank exchanged a look. “Let's wait until you get to five. If we do it too soon it will slow down your labor," Jean said.

“Momma, can I watch you have the baby?”

“Sure sugar. Your job is to keep Dad calm.”

"I'm not a freakin' miracle worker, Momma."

.

Finally, five centimeters. She was certain she was going to die before this was over. Maggie watched as the needle slid in.

Rogue leaned back to the bed and marveled as she became numb. "Wow. I don't feel shit!" Now Rogue was dazed and was only in discomfort. But soon, the contractions spiked right though the drug haze and she squeezed Jean’s or Maggie’s hand or Logan’s hand so hard they yelped. “Ow. That’s metal, darlin.”

“Oh, I’m sorry! Are you in pain?” She said between gritted teeth.

The sky outside lightened and day came and the pain grew so bad she thought she’d die. To her it seemed that her cervix dilated with maddening slowness. She knew there were neighbors on either side and she managed to curtail her screams until about six-thirty and then she decided, fuck it, if she was gonna suffer, they were gonna suffer too.

In actuality, however, her labor was coming quickly, and so far without complication. Maggie was a trooper, staying awake all throughout it, waiting on Rogue hand and foot. Or course there wasn’t much she could do for her. “Maggie,” she said during a break in the contractions. “I’m gonna warn you this might get bloody and gory and I may say some things I don’t want repeated, especially by you, and I might be a real bitch, ok?”

“Cool,” Maggie said.

A little bit after seven Mariah came in and sat with Rogue. She fed her ice chips and brushed back her hair. Her eyes were full of tears. “I never thought I’d be a grandmother.”

Rogue smiled through her pain. “You did this, right? How the hell did you get through it? It freakin’ hurts.”

Mariah smiled. “I know. My labor lasted much longer than yours seems to be."

"Showoff."

.

Marie was certain that something was wrong, that she was dying. She didn't think the pain would be like this. She didn't think pain could be like this.

"I don't think I can do this," she cried as a contraction ripped through her.

Hank looked up at her from the foot of the bed. "Marie, I've seen you in the danger room. You are a formidable woman. You can do it."

"Easy for you to say, you'll never have to squeeze anything inordinately large out of your penis!"

"True, but my point is that I have faith in you."

"Come on, baby, you can do it," Logan said.

"Oh shut the fuck up!"

Logan looked at Hank, flabbergasted. He shrugged.

.

"You're ready to push, Marie." Jean said three hours later.

"Oh thank fucking god."

Marie looked over to the side of the room, where Maggie was sitting, watching with wide eyes.

"Hey, Blue. You okay?"

Maggie nodded.

"C'mere."

Maggie came over and Marie squeezed her hand. "It's okay."

"You're in pain."

"That's normal, baby. Are you tired?"

"No."

"Hungry?"

She nodded.

"You don't have to stay here. Why don't you go down and get some brunch?"

"I don't wanna miss the baby."

"I don't think you will. Jeannie can page you if she's almost here. Go 'head."

"Okay."

Marie shrieked as the next contraction hit her, and she pushed.

.

Logan was no longer afraid. His entire body felt as if it were humming and he was pacing, but it was with excitement, rather than fear. This comforted Maggie, who was scared by Marie's shrieks.

"She's crowning," Jean said. Rogue went limp with relief. It was almost over. She pushed and pushed with a harsh cry as she felt something give. The head was out. Hank suctioned her little mouth as Jean cradled her head.

Minutes later, with one strong push, Charlotte Pryde Christensen was born.