A love to last

DO YOU think I'll be a good mother?" Freya's voice broke the comfortable silence that had surrounded the pair as they laid together.

Falcon's arms were wrapped around her waist, caressing the prominent bump of her belly as Freya stared up at the night sky through the wide window across from their bed. They had been in bed for hours, enjoying the calm and companionable silence that came with the setting of the sun and each other's presence.

Falcon sighed, seeming to take a moment to sort through his thoughts before answering. "I think," he began. "You are the kindest, most considerate and intelligent woman I've ever met. If those aren't the attributes of a good mother, I don't know what are."

Freya smiled softly, snuggling back into his chest as the words warmed her heart. He always knew how to lessen the dark clouds that hung over her when she judged herself; it was part of why, even ten years down the track, they were still completely, perfectly and incandescently happy together.

She took in a short breath when a contraction suddenly hit, a small groan of pain escaping her closed mouth as she squeezed Falcon's hand. As he had the last few times the contractions had hit, he suddenly turned alert, bolting up in bed. "Are you okay?" he rushed out. "Is it the baby?" After a few more seconds, the pain slowly began to ease away and she let out a relieved laugh. "Lie down," she swatted him back. "I'm fine. The baby isn't coming just yet."

Almost disappointed, Falcon laid back down behind her, curling his arms around her waist once again. After another few moments of silence, Freya spoke again. "What do you think it'll be?" she whispered softly.

Falcon stopped caressing the bare skin of her belly, squeezing her closer as he pressed a kiss to the back of her head. "Hmm," he hummed into her hair. "A girl."

Freya chuckled in response. "Why a girl?" she asked.

He shook his head and she knew that at that moment, he was smiling. "Just because," he mumbled. "She's going to look exactly like you."

She snorted, before shifting slightly in her place to try and move the baby's weight to bear down on a different part of her body as her back began to ache. "Well, I think it's going to be a boy," she said matter-of-factly.

It was Falcon's turn to chuckle. "And why do you think that?" he questioned her playfully.

Freya simply shrugged, a smile tickling the sides of her lips. “Call it a mother's intuition,” she said with an air of faux superiority.

Her husband nipped at her ear in response to her cheekiness. "Ten bucks says she's a girl," he spoke lowly, and she could feel his chest rumble as he spoke.

She rolled her eyes, softly jabbing him in the stomach with her elbow. "I am not going to bet on our kid," she tried to speak strictly as she giggled.

Falcon feigned pain as he groaned, holding the area she had elbowed him. He didn't respond, just continued whining as she rolled her eyes, pushing herself to sit up in bed with a little trouble. That baby was ready to pop and to be completely honest, Freya wished it would just happen now. She had loved the first few months; the news that she was going to be a mother made her glow with happiness wherever she went, but now it was getting slightly troublesome. He - or she - was getting heavier by the day.

Just as she had finally settled herself against the headboard with a huff, she was about to tell Falcon to stop complaining when she felt a sudden rush of warm liquid and as if on cue, her lower stomach contracted, accompanied by a rush of pain. She slapped a hand down on Falcon's bicep as her eyes grew wide and a gasp escaped her lips. Within seconds, his playful mood dropped and he shot upright.

His mouth opened to ask the obvious question, but Freya beat him to the punch. "He's coming," she gasped.

Falcon was suddenly in complete panic mode; ripping the sheets off of him as he almost tripped out of bed. He ran for the gym bag they had stuffed with everything she may need in the birth centre before rushing over to her. She held her hands out, silently asking him to help her get out of bed. Stretching her body upright hurt like a bitch, but she gritted her teeth and bore through the pain as Falcon helped her out of the room.

As they reached the stairs, the contraction finally ceased, allowing her to walk easier - or in this case, waddle. Falcon held her hand in a death grip as they slowly made their way down the stairs. About three minutes later, they had finally made it outside and were getting in the car when another contraction hit. For the first time in her life, Freya actually felt like cursing, but she settled for growl as she heaved herself into the car. Letting out a deep breath, she closed her eyes, just trying to concentrate on breathing until the pain passed.

She didn't even realise Falcon was inside the car until she heard the deep rumble of the engine and they began to pull out from the driveway. She took back what she said before, she did not want this baby coming right now.

"Why do you have to be two goddam days early?" She groaned.

She doubted her husband even heard her in his state of mind. His hands were wrapped around the steering wheel in a death grip, the knuckles turning white as his arms tensed. She eventually was able to convince her body to move and laid a hand on his arm, offering him the little comfort she could. She could tell he was torn between excitement and fear at the notion of her giving birth.

During the first month, he had read more about childbirth than she had in the entire nine that this baby had been inside of her. He knew every complication that could possibly happen, and he had told her multiple times that he was scared shitless of something happening to her, but she assured him she and the baby would be perfectly fine. However, she was just beginning to realise that she had no way of knowing that for sure, and her own fear began to set in.

Twenty minutes and three more contractions later, they finally reached the birth centre and Falcon wasted no time jumping out of the car before quickly coming to let her out. He grabbed the gym bag from the back seat before wrapping an arm around Freya's shoulders as she wrapped one around his neck. He helped her waddle inside and up to the main desk before scrambling to open up the bag with shaky hands.

Having finally gotten used to the pain that came with every contraction and having reached the centre, Freya felt her anxiety lessen. She reached out, wrapped both hands around Falcon's bicep before pressing a kiss to his shoulder. "Relax," she mumbled.

He tried to nod but she could see that he was still in panic mode. Eventually, he got the bag opened, handing over the necessary forms as he talked to the woman the desk. Freya took this moment to walk around, trying to relieve the pressure that was building up in her back. Finally, someone came up to them and brought them to the delivery room.

The room was different from what she had expected. The walls were painted a light pastel yellow and there were beanbags in the corner next to a large, white armchair that was furnished with yellow pillows. The person who had shown them to the room left after telling them they would return with the midwife. Freya decided to explore the room, opening a door that led to the bathroom. It was a rather large ensuite; a built-in bathtub sitting proudly in the middle of the room. She assumed it was mainly used for water births; something Freya would soon know much more about since she had decided that it sounded the least painful way to experience the first stage of labour.

She exited the bathroom, finding Falcon fussing over the gym bag before seeming to find what he needed and pulling it out before turning to face her. He walked over to her, wrapping her in a hug before holding her face between his hands and giving her a short kiss. "Here," he said, handing her the loose cotton nightgown they had picked for her to change into. Freya smiled gratefully, undressing next to the bed before pulling on the gown.

The door then opened and who she assumed was the midwife walked in, greeting them. The went through the normal procedures; taking her and her baby's pulse and doing an internal examination before the midwife - whose name they had learned was Alisha - gave them a warm smile.

"Well," she sighed. "It looks like it's going to take a few more hours before any of the real action starts, so feel free to move around the room. Try some up and down motions and just walking around and in about two hours we'll get the bath ready for you."

Freya nodded, taking in a deep breath. "Alright," she breathed before smiling. "Thank you." The midwife walked out of the room and Freya glanced over at Falcon who was already staring at

her. She leaned back on her pillows, grinning at him as he slowly returned the gesture. And so it began.

Never again.

She was never giving birth to another child ever again.

She took back everything she had ever said about wanting children. The pain she was experiencing at that very moment was like nothing she had ever had to experience before. "You're almost there sweetheart," she heard Falcon smooth away sweat-soaked hair from her face. "You're doing so well."

She was so glad her man was made of steel; with the way she was squeezing his hand, anyone else would have been crying from the pain. He kissed her hand, squeezing it back as encouragement continued to pour from both him and the midwife's lips.

She didn't want people to tell her how good of a job she was doing, she just wanted the damn kid out.

With another push, she let out a mix between a growl and a scream and finally, a cheer went up in the back of the room. She could hear the excited chatter of her father and the midwife and Falcon got up to join them. Freya couldn't find the energy to even lift her head; her hearing was still muted by the after-effects of the pain and everything inside of her just wanted to collapse and sleep.

Just as she closed her eyes, the sounds in the room began to clear up and one cry seemed to stick out to her above the rest. Suddenly energy returned to her body and she lifted her head just as Falcon came into view with a little bundle of blankets in his arms. She had never seen him smile quite like he was in that moment and she knew why as soon as he began to lower the bundle to her chest.

Instincts took over and she instantly cradled her newborn baby in her arms. "Congratulations on your son," she heard the midwife speak, but she didn't bother looking up, her attention completely ensnared by the red, crying face that peeked out from amongst the blanket. There were no more doubts in her mind about the kind of mother she would be; she knew that she would do anything and everything for him. Freya smiled gently, her heart overflowing with love for the little human in her arms.

"Hi there, little one," she cooed softly, carefully shifting the blanket away from his tiny face. "Welcome to the world, Greyson."

She felt Falcon wrap a single arm around her shoulders, the other reaching out to gently caress

the side of Greyson's face. Her smile grew as she watched an expression of awe develop on her husband's face.

She looked back down at her son, holding him close to her chest as she whispered. "We're gonna take good care of you. I promise."