The Darker Side of RP

28, She/Her, Loving Birth RPs and Magic RPs. The Fluffier, the Better! Mod Status: A Lot Going On At The Moment- Please be Patient.

[darkerrp]

Rules/About Mod!

Mod is 18+, and minors are not allowed to interact with this blog. This blog will stray from NSFW as much as possible in the public’s eye.

Be patient with the mod, as she works long days and is struggling with health issues, so responses, while detailed, may be limited.

Mod likes to be the carrier and enjoys the following RPs:

Magic/Fantasy

Paranormal

Birthing RPs

Medical RPs

Labor RPs

Being Coached Through Birth

The mod will also do object birth, however, filming and or recording is not allowed. She does like having people coach for her through text or audio chat, so as long as it is not recorded.

————————

Some Nos for the Mod Are:

Completely Off Medical Pregnancies (IE- Fetus anywhere but the womb- eggs are fine)

Purely Smut Plots

Please message if you have any questions! Here is a Tiered List of What the Mod Likes:

[solarhill]

Happy Mayternity Everyone ♡ This month we bring to you a Mayternity Ask Game from the Solarhill server

Courtesy of our mod @preg-vancy with a y axis of months and an x axis of pregnancy, reblog and have your followers send in requests for your ocs! Requests such as 2 months by twins or 9 months by triplets might appear in your ask box!

We hope you have a happy and wonderfully kinky May

[darkerrp]

Let’s have some fun with this…

[solarhill]

☀️Solarhill Mayternity Ask Game 2026💛

As the first blossoms bloom and April turns to May, we return with another Mayternity Ask Game!

We saw how much you enjoyed last year's ask game so @preg-vancy and @sweetnspicyart teamed up to come up with another one!

The rules are simple: Drop a line to some of your favorite creators (with their permission of course) and give them some ideas using the graphic above to suggest what some of their character's growing bellies should be filled with. Or take the prompt yourself and run with it! What would your townie's tum look like filled with humanoid babies versus an alien baby, or a little creature? How would they react to such news or the potential powers that their growing bundle might grant them while in utero? You tell us!

And don't forget to tag us so we can make sure to reblog your art! Happy creating!

[darkerrp]

Let’s have some fun during Mayternity!

[greatbigbellies]

THE GREAT BIG GRAVID PREGNANCY KINK ASK GAME

There are some very fun preg or belly kink ask games out there, but the one's I've seen are typically focused on one flavor of said kink, or aren't strictly pregnancy-focused or are heavily gendered.

So I thought I'd to cook up 50 fun, kinky but not outright explicit, questions for an ask game. All pretty broad in application, and gender neutral! Please enjoy! _______________________________________________________

What's your favorite aspect of pregnancy? What makes it hot for you in a kink sense?

Would you rather be with someone who IS pregnant, or be pregnant YOURSELF? (or both?)

Do you prefer pregnant bellies that sit high, or carry low?

Do you prefer a pregnant belly that leans more "torpedo belly" or "beachball belly", or something else?

Favorite pregnancy blemish (stretchmarks, veins, linea nigra, ect), if any?

If you could only pick one, would you keep hyperpreg, rapid preg, or perma preg? Why?

Favorite NON-physical attribute of pregnancy? (Ex: cravings, pregnancy brain, nesting)

Most niche part of pregnancy that fits into your kink?

How pregnant is TOO pregnant where it stops being hot?

Thoughts on ill-fitting/outgrowing clothes with pregnancy?

Do you prefer bare, partially covered, or tightly clothed pregnant bellies?

Do you have a favorite occupation to see a pregnant person performing?

In preg kink writings, when a pregnancy is abnormal in any way, do you prefer when it's supernatural (fantasy), technological (sci-fi), explained some other way, or not explained at all?

Who are some of your favorite preg kink artists/blogs?

Do you prefer when a pregnancy is super encumbering, or doesn't limit the pregnant person in an extreme way?

How do you feel about pregnancy and stuckage?

How do you feel about pregnancy and stuffing, or vore, or wg, or inflation, or any other kink that increases belly size?

How do you feel about pregnancy paired with another, non-belly related kink? (asker may specify)

Thoughts on pregnant belly worship?

Thoughts on pregnant belly manipulation? (like pushing on or shaking a pregnant belly)

What's something kinky you would love to do to a pregnant belly, outside of the realm of normal pampering or worship?

What's an outfit you'd love to see a pregnant person wear?

For kink purposes, what's your favorite stage of pregnancy?

Favorite view for a belly? (straight on, side profile, POV looking down as though it's yours, ect)

Do you prefer a pregnant person dressed to the nines, or basically in their pajamas?

Describe one of your most self indulgent preg kink fantasies in full.

Do you prefer super active pregnant bellies, or bellies with calmer babies?

Do you prefer smooth and blemishless pregnant bellies, or ones with lots of marks and veins and strain?

Favorite non-belly physical attribute of a pregnant person?

Favorite state for a belly button on a pregnant belly? (innie, outie, flat, ect)

Thoughts on pregnant bellies with a soft layer of chub around them?

Favorite word to describe a pregnant belly?

Do you prefer when a pregnant person is "maxed out" and at the height of their possible growth, or big but still growing, lending to some anticipation for what's to come?

What's your ideal rapid preg growth speed? How long should it ideally take to go from a flat tummy to full term?

Do you prefer a large/overdue singleton, or a batch of multiples?

What what point does "high order multiples" become "hyper preg" to you?

Thoughts on monsterpreg? If you enjoy it, what's your favorite monster to be/see someone pregnant with?

If you enjoy pregnancy encumbering mobility, do you prefer if its due to size, or weight? or both?

Do you think of a pregnancy kink as a more "vanilla" kink, or as one of the weirder ones?

What are some aspects of pregnancy that you enjoy in a kink way that AREN'T the pregnancy itself? (Ex: breeding, labor, birth, lactation, ect)

Have you told anyone you know IRL about your pregnancy kink? If so, who (within reason privacy wise), and how did they take it?

Favorite piece of pregnancy-centric media? (could be for kink purposes or otherwise)

Favorite part of a pregnant belly?

Thoughts on belly piercings on pregnant bellies?

In a kink context, what's an activity you would you like to be doing/see someone doing while pregnant?

At what point does a pregnant belly go from "big" to "huge"?

Do you have any preg kink "guilty pleasures"? What is one, if you have any and are willing to share?

Do you have another kink that you enjoy mixing with pregnancy? If so, what is it?

Do you have any irl stories or anecdotes that relate to your pregnancy kink in way way? Care to share?

In as much detail as possible, what's your IDEAL pregnant belly?

[opbreeder99]

Ohhhh would love to get some asks over here!

[wrongdesire-writings]

The Heat of the Storm

Flora stood under the studio lights, her honeyed Southern drawl spilling into the microphone as she gestured toward the green screen behind her. At 29, she was a vision of poise—long auburn hair cascading over her shoulders, a fitted emerald dress hugging her swollen belly, her skin glowing with the quiet radiance of late pregnancy. Nine months along, she carried herself with the stubborn grace of a woman who refused to let the world see her falter. The weather map flickered with storm clouds rolling across the Carolinas, and she traced their path with a steady hand, her voice lilting like a summer breeze.

“Y’all, we’ve got a real humdinger brewin’ out there tonight,” she said, flashing her signature smile. “Heavy rain, gusty winds—best keep those shutters tight and the sweet tea close.” The crew chuckled from behind the cameras, used to her charm. But beneath the polished exterior, a tremor rippled through her. A tightening, low and deep, coiled around her abdomen. She inhaled sharply, masking it with a quick laugh. Not now, she thought, pressing her lips together. Not here.

She’d felt the twinges all morning—little whispers of discomfort she’d dismissed as Braxton Hicks, those teasing contractions that toyed with her like a cat with yarn. She’d powered through her shift at WNCX anyway, unwilling to admit that her body might betray her on live television. Flora was a professional, damn it, not some wilting flower who’d crumble under pressure. She’d built her career on grit and charisma, rising from small-town pageants to the evening weather slot, her pregnancy only adding to her allure—a radiant icon of life amid the chaos of nature’s tantrums.

The studio was sweltering, the air thick with the hum of equipment and the faint musk of her own perfume—jasmine and vanilla, clinging to her skin. She shifted her weight, one hand resting lightly on her belly as she pivoted to the next graphic. The tightness came again, sharper this time, a slow burn that radiated from her core. Her breath hitched, but she pressed on, her voice steady as she warned of flash floods along the coast. “Folks in low-lyin’ areas, y’all take care now,” she said, her fingers trembling slightly as she gripped the clicker.

Behind the camera, her producer, Tom, raised an eyebrow. He’d been hovering all week, fussing over her like a mother hen, suggesting she take leave early. “You’re a trooper, Flo,” he’d said that morning, his voice laced with concern. “But don’t push it.” She’d waved him off with a laugh, her pride flaring. She wasn’t about to let a little discomfort—or a baby—steal her spotlight.

Now, though, the discomfort was blooming into something undeniable. A warm flush crept up her neck, her breasts aching beneath the dress’s snug fabric, heavy with milk she hadn’t expected to feel so acutely. She clenched her jaw, forcing her smile wider as she turned to the seven-day forecast. “Looks like we’ve got clearer skies by Thursday,” she said, her tone bright even as a bead of sweat traced the curve of her spine. The contraction peaked, a fierce, rolling wave that made her knees quiver. She gripped the edge of the desk, her manicured nails digging into the wood.

“Flora?” Tom’s voice crackled through her earpiece. “You okay up there?”

“Fine as a fiddle,” she murmured, her lips barely moving, the lie slipping out as easily as her next breath. She couldn’t admit it—not to Tom, not to the viewers, not even to herself. She wasn’t in labor. She couldn’t be. Not with ten minutes left in the broadcast, not with a million eyes watching her through their screens. Her body was hers to command, not some wild thing ruled by instinct.

But her body had other plans. The next contraction came faster, fiercer, a primal pull that tugged at her hips and sent a shiver of heat through her thighs. She bit her lip, tasting the gloss she’d reapplied before the show, and leaned into the desk for support. Her dress clung to her, the fabric stretched taut over her belly, accentuating every curve. She felt exposed, vulnerable, yet there was a strange thrill in it—the edge of control slipping through her fingers, the cameras capturing her in this raw, unguarded moment.

“Flora, sit down,” Tom urged through the earpiece, his tone sharp now. “We’ll cut to commercial.”

“No,” she snapped under her breath, her pride flaring hotter than the pain. “I’ve got this.” She straightened, tossing her hair back, and launched into the wind-speed report with a fervor that bordered on defiance. Her voice trembled only slightly, a sultry edge creeping in as she fought to keep her composure. The studio lights burned brighter, the air thickening around her, and she could feel every inch of herself—her swollen breasts, her taut belly, the ache pulsing between her legs.

The crew exchanged glances, sensing something amiss, but Flora pressed on, her words a lifeline. “Winds pickin’ up to twenty-five miles an hour,” she said, her breath shallow. Another contraction gripped her, and she faltered, her hand slipping on the clicker. The graphic froze, the map stuck on a swirling mass of red and yellow. She laughed—a throaty, nervous sound—and waved it off. “Well, y’all, looks like Mother Nature’s keepin’ me on my toes tonight.”

The pain was relentless now, a rhythm she couldn’t ignore, each wave crashing harder than the last. Her thighs trembled, a slick warmth spreading beneath her dress, and she froze, her mind racing. My water. It hadn’t broken—not yet—but the pressure building low in her pelvis told her it was close. She clamped her legs together, her cheeks flushing as she imagined the headlines: Weather Girl Goes Into Labor On Air. No, she wouldn’t let it happen. She’d hold it together, finish the broadcast, and deal with this in private, like the lady she’d been raised to be.

“Flora, we’re at two minutes,” Tom said, his voice tight. “Wrap it up.”

She nodded, barely hearing him, and turned to the camera with a smile that felt like a mask. “That’s all for tonight, folks. Stay safe out there, and I’ll see y’all tomorrow—Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise.” Her voice cracked on the last word, a soft moan escaping as the fiercest contraction yet seized her. She gripped the desk with both hands, her head dipping forward, auburn curls spilling over her face.

The red light on the camera blinked off, the feed cutting to the station’s logo. The studio erupted into motion—Tom barking orders, the crew rushing toward her—but Flora barely registered it. She sank into the chair behind the desk, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her hands clutching her belly. “No, no, no,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Not yet, sugar. You wait for Mama.”

Tom knelt beside her, his face pale. “Flora, we’re calling an ambulance. You’re in labor.”

“I’m fine,” she insisted, her voice a strained purr, even as her body screamed otherwise. She wanted to believe it, to cling to the illusion of control, but the truth was slipping through her fingers like rain. Another contraction hit, and she arched back, a low, sensual groan escaping her lips despite herself. The sound was raw, unguarded, a mix of pain and something deeper—something primal that stirred the air around her.

The crew hovered, uncertain, their eyes wide with a mix of awe and alarm. Flora’s dress rode up slightly as she shifted, revealing the curve of her thigh, damp with sweat. She didn’t care. The world had narrowed to the heat pulsing through her, the life within her demanding release. “Get me outta here,” she rasped, clutching Tom’s arm. “Not in front of everybody.”

He nodded, helping her to her feet, and they stumbled toward the back of the studio, the crew parting like a sea. The green room door swung shut behind them, muffling the chaos, and Flora collapsed onto the couch, her legs trembling. “I can’t—I can’t do this,” she panted, her hands splaying over her belly as if she could hold the baby in.

“You don’t have a choice, darlin’,” Tom said, his voice gentler now. He knelt again, brushing her hair back, his touch steadying her. “It’s comin’ whether you like it or not.”

She shook her head, tears pricking her eyes. “I’m not ready.” But her body disagreed. The pressure surged, a tidal wave she couldn’t fight, and she felt the first real urge to push—a deep, instinctual pull that made her gasp. Her dress was soaked now, her water breaking in a warm rush that pooled beneath her, and she laughed, a wild, broken sound. “Well, ain’t that just perfect.”

Tom grabbed a blanket from the couch, draping it over her lap, his hands shaking. “Hold on, Flo. Help’s comin’.”

But there was no holding on. The baby was coming, and Flora’s world dissolved into sensation—pain, yes, but also a strange, intoxicating power. She gripped the cushions, her nails digging in, and bore down with a cry that echoed through the room. Her body opened, stretched, surrendered, and she felt every inch of it—the burn, the release, the exquisite edge of creation. Her breasts heaved, her thighs quaked, and she was lost in it, a storm of her own making.

Minutes blurred into seconds, or maybe hours—she couldn’t tell. Tom’s voice faded into a hum, the room a haze of heat and shadow. And then, with one final, shuddering push, it was over. A cry—not hers—pierced the air, sharp and new, and Flora’s eyes fluttered open. Tom held a squirming, slippery bundle, his shirt stained, his face a mask of shock.

“Flora,” he whispered, handing her the baby. “It’s a girl.”

She took the child, her hands trembling, and pressed her to her chest. The baby’s warmth seeped into her, a tether to reality, and Flora laughed again—soft, breathless, triumphant. Her dress was ruined, her hair a mess, her body aching, but she felt alive, electric, more woman than she’d ever been. “Hey, sugar,” she murmured, tracing the baby’s cheek. “You sure know how to make an entrance.”

The ambulance arrived moments later, paramedics bursting in with stretchers and questions, but Flora barely noticed. She was a mother now, forged in the crucible of her own denial, her pride humbled by the raw beauty of what she’d done. The storm outside raged on, but here, in this quiet aftermath, she was calm—sensual, powerful, whole.

[darkerrp]

egg + extra big baby + painful birth just wondering what would be inside that massive egg.

Likely a dragon, especially if we’re going with an extra big baby. It would take me days to fully deliver the dragon egg- all because of the large egg that keeps slipping back into me. Even if I squat…I can only go so low because of the egg.

[greatbigbellies]

THE GREAT BIG GRAVID PREGNANCY KINK ASK GAME

There are some very fun preg or belly kink ask games out there, but the one's I've seen are typically focused on one flavor of said kink, or aren't strictly pregnancy-focused or are heavily gendered.

So I thought I'd to cook up 50 fun, kinky but not outright explicit, questions for an ask game. All pretty broad in application, and gender neutral! Please enjoy! _______________________________________________________

What's your favorite aspect of pregnancy? What makes it hot for you in a kink sense?

Would you rather be with someone who IS pregnant, or be pregnant YOURSELF? (or both?)

Do you prefer pregnant bellies that sit high, or carry low?

Do you prefer a pregnant belly that leans more "torpedo belly" or "beachball belly", or something else?

Favorite pregnancy blemish (stretchmarks, veins, linea nigra, ect), if any?

If you could only pick one, would you keep hyperpreg, rapid preg, or perma preg? Why?

Favorite NON-physical attribute of pregnancy? (Ex: cravings, pregnancy brain, nesting)

Most niche part of pregnancy that fits into your kink?

How pregnant is TOO pregnant where it stops being hot?

Thoughts on ill-fitting/outgrowing clothes with pregnancy?

Do you prefer bare, partially covered, or tightly clothed pregnant bellies?

Do you have a favorite occupation to see a pregnant person performing?

In preg kink writings, when a pregnancy is abnormal in any way, do you prefer when it's supernatural (fantasy), technological (sci-fi), explained some other way, or not explained at all?

Who are some of your favorite preg kink artists/blogs?

Do you prefer when a pregnancy is super encumbering, or doesn't limit the pregnant person in an extreme way?

How do you feel about pregnancy and stuckage?

How do you feel about pregnancy and stuffing, or vore, or wg, or inflation, or any other kink that increases belly size?

How do you feel about pregnancy paired with another, non-belly related kink? (asker may specify)

Thoughts on pregnant belly worship?

Thoughts on pregnant belly manipulation? (like pushing on or shaking a pregnant belly)

What's something kinky you would love to do to a pregnant belly, outside of the realm of normal pampering or worship?

What's an outfit you'd love to see a pregnant person wear?

For kink purposes, what's your favorite stage of pregnancy?

Favorite view for a belly? (straight on, side profile, POV looking down as though it's yours, ect)

Do you prefer a pregnant person dressed to the nines, or basically in their pajamas?

Describe one of your most self indulgent preg kink fantasies in full.

Do you prefer super active pregnant bellies, or bellies with calmer babies?

Do you prefer smooth and blemishless pregnant bellies, or ones with lots of marks and veins and strain?

Favorite non-belly physical attribute of a pregnant person?

Favorite state for a belly button on a pregnant belly? (innie, outie, flat, ect)

Thoughts on pregnant bellies with a soft layer of chub around them?

Favorite word to describe a pregnant belly?

Do you prefer when a pregnant person is "maxed out" and at the height of their possible growth, or big but still growing, lending to some anticipation for what's to come?

What's your ideal rapid preg growth speed? How long should it ideally take to go from a flat tummy to full term?

Do you prefer a large/overdue singleton, or a batch of multiples?

What what point does "high order multiples" become "hyper preg" to you?

Thoughts on monsterpreg? If you enjoy it, what's your favorite monster to be/see someone pregnant with?

If you enjoy pregnancy encumbering mobility, do you prefer if its due to size, or weight? or both?

Do you think of a pregnancy kink as a more "vanilla" kink, or as one of the weirder ones?

What are some aspects of pregnancy that you enjoy in a kink way that AREN'T the pregnancy itself? (Ex: breeding, labor, birth, lactation, ect)

Have you told anyone you know IRL about your pregnancy kink? If so, who (within reason privacy wise), and how did they take it?

Favorite piece of pregnancy-centric media? (could be for kink purposes or otherwise)

Favorite part of a pregnant belly?

Thoughts on belly piercings on pregnant bellies?

In a kink context, what's an activity you would you like to be doing/see someone doing while pregnant?

At what point does a pregnant belly go from "big" to "huge"?

Do you have any preg kink "guilty pleasures"? What is one, if you have any and are willing to share?

Do you have another kink that you enjoy mixing with pregnancy? If so, what is it?

Do you have any irl stories or anecdotes that relate to your pregnancy kink in way way? Care to share?

In as much detail as possible, what's your IDEAL pregnant belly?

[pupspregnancy]

happy halloween!

witch who loves to get pregnant and give birth but just cant handle the responsibilities of having children so she always just makes a magic baby for her to grow and birth in a constant cycle! its not a real baby, and she can have as many as she wants in there to birth out by the end of it.

she’d gladly carry sextuplets over the course of a few weeks, then have her water break at the end of it and struggle for hours and hours on end just to get one of them out…

or maybe even carry a litter of wolf cubs! because who said it had to be human?

[broody-babe-deactivated20250502]

💖✨GIFT A PREG✨💖

Ready to gift a pregnancy? Leave anonymous prompts in my ask, and I’ll write about my experience with the pregnancy you craft.

1. 🌸 How far along am I?

( 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Overdue)

2. 💖 How many babies am I carrying?

(1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | +)

3. 🐽 How much weight do I gain?

(10 lbs | 20 lbs | 40 lbs | 60+ lbs)

4. 💅 How big is my bump?

(Cute and round | Big, but manageable | Huge and in the way)

5. 💖 How long am I in labor?

(1 Hour | 6 hours | 12 hours | 24 hours | Delayed | +)

6. 🎀 How difficult is it?

(Easy | Medium | Difficult | +)

7. 🍼 How big are my tits?

(Normal | Full | Overflowing | +)

8. 💅 Any other growth?

(Hips | Ass | Thighs | +)

9. 👙Anything else?

[shockspectrum]

hottest things to say during labor:

oh god i'm so full-

it's coming OUT!!!

i feel it stretching, oh my god, i'm stretching!

it burns so bad!!

it's so BIG!

i don't think it'll fit, it won't fit, it's not gonna fit, please help me, it won't fit-

why does it keep going back in???

i think it's stuck...

is it crowning yet? what do you mean NO?

PLEASE JUST MAKE IT STOOPPPP!

get it OUT OF ME!

pull it out!!!

please help me!!

[annoyingpeaceblizzard]

Build a birth

Gender of the carrier

🧍‍♀️female

🧍‍♂️male

🧍nonbinary

How many babies

1️⃣ Singelton

2️⃣ Twins

3️⃣ Triplets

4️⃣ Quads

#️⃣ other (specify)

Where is the the birth

🚙 car

🏡 home

🏖 beach

🌲 wood

🏕 tent

🚜 farm

⛪️ chruch

🏚 run down house

🚍 bus

🏥 hospital

Typ of birth

🍼 human

🥚 egg

❔️ something else

Complication

👣 breech

⏳️ overdue

🐢 prolonged birth

💪 shoulders get stuck

🌡 high fever

🤮 abnormal nausea

Matter of denial

🤲 pushing the baby back in

🪢 legs tied together

🔒 castity belt

💊 medication

🩲 tight clothing

🪄 magic/curse

🔌plug/toy

👐 holding the head

🛑 refusing to push

🚩 forced denial

🏳 wanted denial

Position

🪑sitting

🛏 laying

🛁 water birth

🙇‍♀️ all fours

🧍‍♀️ standing

🦵 sqatting

🧎‍♀️ kneeling

Who helps during the birth

🧑 brother

👨 father

👨‍💼 partner

👧 sister

👩 mother

👩‍⚕️ midwife

👨‍⚕️ doctor

👱 stranger

How big are the babys or baby

🐳 big

🏀 normal

🐭 small

Bonus

⚡️ rapid pregnancy/rapid birth

🤩 orgasmic birth

🎚 macrosomia (over 10 kilos)

🤫 secret pregnancy

[xillpregnant]

I really want a couple of ideas to write about that c:

[darkerrp]

I second the idea of wanting things to write about! This seems fun!

[hush-writes-preg]

Hush's Mayternity Announcement #2: A Commission Raffle!

Prizes: -GRAND PRIZE: A 1,000-word commission of your choice (1 winner) -RUNNER UP: A 500-word commission of your choice (1 winner)

When to enter: Between now and May 31, 2025 (until 23:59 CET)

How to enter: Reblog this post (likes are welcome, but don't count) to receive an entry. Only one entry per blog will be counted. However, 🌟all Patreons on a paid membership tier 🌟 who reblog will earn an extra entry (for a total of 2)!

The winner will be chosen on June 1, 2025, via a Spin the Wheel generator. Then I'll message the winner, who will have 1 week to get back to me. If I don't get a reply, the wheel will be spun again! The finished commission should be completed within approximately 2 weeks.

Rules: -You must be 18+ to participate -Your age must be listed in your bio or on a pinned post in your blog -You must be following @hush-writes-preg -The subject matter must fall within my writing guidelines

Commission themes may include topics such as: Breeding/impregnation, pregnancy, labor, birth, and themes from my other blogs. They may also include fandoms such as D&D/Faerün, Baldür's Gate 3, Elder Scrölls, and Fällout in addition to my usual original content. My writing guidelines page has more details.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out and ask.

[kishore-da-fool]

The Heat Of The Storm

Flora stood under the studio lights, her honeyed Southern drawl spilling into the microphone as she gestured toward the green screen behind her. At 29, she was a vision of poise—long auburn hair cascading over her shoulders, a fitted emerald dress hugging her swollen belly, her skin glowing with the quiet radiance of late pregnancy. Nine months along, she carried herself with the stubborn grace of a woman who refused to let the world see her falter. The weather map flickered with storm clouds rolling across the Carolinas, and she traced their path with a steady hand, her voice lilting like a summer breeze.

“Y’all, we’ve got a real humdinger brewin’ out there tonight,” she said, flashing her signature smile. “Heavy rain, gusty winds—best keep those shutters tight and the sweet tea close.” The crew chuckled from behind the cameras, used to her charm. But beneath the polished exterior, a tremor rippled through her. A tightening, low and deep, coiled around her abdomen. She inhaled sharply, masking it with a quick laugh. Not now, she thought, pressing her lips together. Not here.

She’d felt the twinges all morning—little whispers of discomfort she’d dismissed as Braxton Hicks, those teasing contractions that toyed with her like a cat with yarn. She’d powered through her shift at WNCX anyway, unwilling to admit that her body might betray her on live television. Flora was a professional, damn it, not some wilting flower who’d crumble under pressure. She’d built her career on grit and charisma, rising from small-town pageants to the evening weather slot, her pregnancy only adding to her allure—a radiant icon of life amid the chaos of nature’s tantrums.

The studio was sweltering, the air thick with the hum of equipment and the faint musk of her own perfume—jasmine and vanilla, clinging to her skin. She shifted her weight, one hand resting lightly on her belly as she pivoted to the next graphic. The tightness came again, sharper this time, a slow burn that radiated from her core. Her breath hitched, but she pressed on, her voice steady as she warned of flash floods along the coast. “Folks in low-lyin’ areas, y’all take care now,” she said, her fingers trembling slightly as she gripped the clicker.

Behind the camera, her producer, Tom, raised an eyebrow. He’d been hovering all week, fussing over her like a mother hen, suggesting she take leave early. “You’re a trooper, Flo,” he’d said that morning, his voice laced with concern. “But don’t push it.” She’d waved him off with a laugh, her pride flaring. She wasn’t about to let a little discomfort—or a baby—steal her spotlight.

Now, though, the discomfort was blooming into something undeniable. A warm flush crept up her neck, her breasts aching beneath the dress’s snug fabric, heavy with milk she hadn’t expected to feel so acutely. She clenched her jaw, forcing her smile wider as she turned to the seven-day forecast. “Looks like we’ve got clearer skies by Thursday,” she said, her tone bright even as a bead of sweat traced the curve of her spine. The contraction peaked, a fierce, rolling wave that made her knees quiver. She gripped the edge of the desk, her manicured nails digging into the wood.

“Flora?” Tom’s voice crackled through her earpiece. “You okay up there?”

“Fine as a fiddle,” she murmured, her lips barely moving, the lie slipping out as easily as her next breath. She couldn’t admit it—not to Tom, not to the viewers, not even to herself. She wasn’t in labor. She couldn’t be. Not with ten minutes left in the broadcast, not with a million eyes watching her through their screens. Her body was hers to command, not some wild thing ruled by instinct.

But her body had other plans. The next contraction came faster, fiercer, a primal pull that tugged at her hips and sent a shiver of heat through her thighs. She bit her lip, tasting the gloss she’d reapplied before the show, and leaned into the desk for support. Her dress clung to her, the fabric stretched taut over her belly, accentuating every curve. She felt exposed, vulnerable, yet there was a strange thrill in it—the edge of control slipping through her fingers, the cameras capturing her in this raw, unguarded moment.

“Flora, sit down,” Tom urged through the earpiece, his tone sharp now. “We’ll cut to commercial.”

“No,” she snapped under her breath, her pride flaring hotter than the pain. “I’ve got this.” She straightened, tossing her hair back, and launched into the wind-speed report with a fervor that bordered on defiance. Her voice trembled only slightly, a sultry edge creeping in as she fought to keep her composure. The studio lights burned brighter, the air thickening around her, and she could feel every inch of herself—her swollen breasts, her taut belly, the ache pulsing between her legs.

The crew exchanged glances, sensing something amiss, but Flora pressed on, her words a lifeline. “Winds pickin’ up to twenty-five miles an hour,” she said, her breath shallow. Another contraction gripped her, and she faltered, her hand slipping on the clicker. The graphic froze, the map stuck on a swirling mass of red and yellow. She laughed—a throaty, nervous sound—and waved it off. “Well, y’all, looks like Mother Nature’s keepin’ me on my toes tonight.”

The pain was relentless now, a rhythm she couldn’t ignore, each wave crashing harder than the last. Her thighs trembled, a slick warmth spreading beneath her dress, and she froze, her mind racing. My water. It hadn’t broken—not yet—but the pressure building low in her pelvis told her it was close. She clamped her legs together, her cheeks flushing as she imagined the headlines: Weather Girl Goes Into Labor On Air. No, she wouldn’t let it happen. She’d hold it together, finish the broadcast, and deal with this in private, like the lady she’d been raised to be.

“Flora, we’re at two minutes,” Tom said, his voice tight. “Wrap it up.”

She nodded, barely hearing him, and turned to the camera with a smile that felt like a mask. “That’s all for tonight, folks. Stay safe out there, and I’ll see y’all tomorrow—Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise.” Her voice cracked on the last word, a soft moan escaping as the fiercest contraction yet seized her. She gripped the desk with both hands, her head dipping forward, auburn curls spilling over her face.

The red light on the camera blinked off, the feed cutting to the station’s logo. The studio erupted into motion—Tom barking orders, the crew rushing toward her—but Flora barely registered it. She sank into the chair behind the desk, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her hands clutching her belly. “No, no, no,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Not yet, sugar. You wait for Mama.”

Tom knelt beside her, his face pale. “Flora, we’re calling an ambulance. You’re in labor.”

“I’m fine,” she insisted, her voice a strained purr, even as her body screamed otherwise. She wanted to believe it, to cling to the illusion of control, but the truth was slipping through her fingers like rain. Another contraction hit, and she arched back, a low, sensual groan escaping her lips despite herself. The sound was raw, unguarded, a mix of pain and something deeper—something primal that stirred the air around her.

The crew hovered, uncertain, their eyes wide with a mix of awe and alarm. Flora’s dress rode up slightly as she shifted, revealing the curve of her thigh, damp with sweat. She didn’t care. The world had narrowed to the heat pulsing through her, the life within her demanding release. “Get me outta here,” she rasped, clutching Tom’s arm. “Not in front of everybody.”

He nodded, helping her to her feet, and they stumbled toward the back of the studio, the crew parting like a sea. The green room door swung shut behind them, muffling the chaos, and Flora collapsed onto the couch, her legs trembling. “I can’t—I can’t do this,” she panted, her hands splaying over her belly as if she could hold the baby in.

“You don’t have a choice, darlin’,” Tom said, his voice gentler now. He knelt again, brushing her hair back, his touch steadying her. “It’s comin’ whether you like it or not.”

She shook her head, tears pricking her eyes. “I’m not ready.” But her body disagreed. The pressure surged, a tidal wave she couldn’t fight, and she felt the first real urge to push—a deep, instinctual pull that made her gasp. Her dress was soaked now, her water breaking in a warm rush that pooled beneath her, and she laughed, a wild, broken sound. “Well, ain’t that just perfect.”

Tom grabbed a blanket from the couch, draping it over her lap, his hands shaking. “Hold on, Flo. Help’s comin’.”

But there was no holding on. The baby was coming, and Flora’s world dissolved into sensation—pain, yes, but also a strange, intoxicating power. She gripped the cushions, her nails digging in, and bore down with a cry that echoed through the room. Her body opened, stretched, surrendered, and she felt every inch of it—the burn, the release, the exquisite edge of creation. Her breasts heaved, her thighs quaked, and she was lost in it, a storm of her own making.

Minutes blurred into seconds, or maybe hours—she couldn’t tell. Tom’s voice faded into a hum, the room a haze of heat and shadow. And then, with one final, shuddering push, it was over. A cry—not hers—pierced the air, sharp and new, and Flora’s eyes fluttered open. Tom held a squirming, slippery bundle, his shirt stained, his face a mask of shock.

“Flora,” he whispered, handing her the baby. “It’s a girl.”

She took the child, her hands trembling, and pressed her to her chest. The baby’s warmth seeped into her, a tether to reality, and Flora laughed again—soft, breathless, triumphant. Her dress was ruined, her hair a mess, her body aching, but she felt alive, electric, more woman than she’d ever been. “Hey, sugar,” she murmured, tracing the baby’s cheek. “You sure know how to make an entrance.”

The ambulance arrived moments later, paramedics bursting in with stretchers and questions, but Flora barely noticed. She was a mother now, forged in the crucible of her own denial, her pride humbled by the raw beauty of what she’d done. The storm outside raged on, but here, in this quiet aftermath, she was calm—sensual, powerful, whole.

End

[definitelynotabirthblog]

A Church Birth

Word count: 2800

Summary: a homeless young woman gives birth in a church on a cold night with the help of a vicar

TW: mention of bowels opening in the context of childbirth. Otherwise a bog standard if inconvenient birth fic.

---------------

Reverend Thomas Callahan tipped the electric kettle and poured boiling water over his teabag. As he stirred the steaming, amber liquid, the metal teaspoon clinking on the side of ceramic mug, he gazed out of the window in the small kitchen attached to his church, St Barnabas. It was November 5th and winter had ushered itself in rather prematurely in Reverand Callahan's opinion. Just two weeks ago, the village had been enjoying the last lingering rays of an Indian summer. Yet today, though it was barely 5pm, the milky glow of the moon had crept over the village as dusk fell, casting pointed, angular shadows of gravestones over the churchyard. A cold breeze picked up dead yew leaves and made them pirouhette beneath the window pane. Grey clouds scudded across the bleak sky, warning of the imminent storm. The reverend poured milk into his tea and lifted the mug to his lips, watching the wind drive the thick flurries of snow diagonally. As he sipped, a particularly strong gust forced the back door of the church open with a bang. He sighed.

Cupping his mug in his hands for warmth, he made his way to the door. He used his entire body weight to force the door shut, twisting the lock after.

"Lord, keep us safe tonight," he murmured, clutching his tea. He stared at his alter, his thoughts swimming.

He was a young vicar and St Barnabas was his first parish, its village his first flock. More than half of local residents attended services on Sunday's - most out of obligation than devotion to the Lord, he had concluded - but few reached out to him for guidance and prayer between services. Privileged enough to be privately educated by wealthy parents, he was painfully aware of his naivety, and had hoped that being posted to a poorer, rural community would provide him with the experience needed to advise and councel. He had come to understand that he was regarded with a mixture of amusement, novelty and affection - but not respect. He had not earned those stripes yet.

Physically he supposed that he was handsome enough. He had a head of thick, mocha-coloured hair, olive eyes framed with perfectly symmetrical eyelashes and peach-coloured skin. His lips were soft and pink, his front teeth crooked, but he was blessed with a warm smile that made his eyes shine. At six foot one inch he was tall, healthy man, muscular without being ripped, with a small, stubborn podge of stomach fat. He hadn't been oblivious to the occasional attractive young women taking a second yearning glance at him when he had explored the local towns, but his cluelessness at navigating such situations prevented him from pursuing them. As he walked away, frustration simmering inside him, he would often feel the aching throb of an erection tenting in his trousers.

A rap at the front door stole his attention from his reverie. He set his mug down and strode along the pews, shoes squeaking in the otherwise silent building. The night had drawn in now. Who could possibly still need the sanctuary of his church?

Thomas opened the door and peered out. The flurries he had noticed in the kitchen were now falling at blizzard speed as an inch-thick layer blanketed the churchyard, the wall and the lane beyond. Pinpricks of orange light in houses across the snow-covered village green sparkled, but the temperature outside was now close to freezing. His breath was visible in thick white puffs as he took in the sight before him.

A young woman. Her face was so pale it looked translucent, with fearful blue eyes and teeth chattering in the icy air. Her knotted blond hair cascaded around her shoulders which were covered in a shapeless coat the exact colour of moss. She wore thin leggings on her legs and a dirty pair of boots which looked like that they had trekked through mud. Thomas recognised her - she had been loitering outside the church after the previous two Sunday services but had darted away the second he tried to approach her.

"Can I help you?" he enquired, first looking past her to check she was alone, and then looking directly into her scared eyes.

She nodded and tried to talk, but either due to the cold or nerves, she was unable to speak, her mouth forming the shape of a word but without sound.

"It's too cold to dither out here," he said, assessing the situation. "Would you like to come in? Then maybe I can help?"

She nodded. He opened the door wider and she bowed her head before scurrying past him like a frightened mouse.

When they were safely inside, Thomas turned and looked at the young lady. She was young, barely out of her teens, and very petite in stature. Her scruffy clothes had a musty smell and were torn in places as though had been living rough. The hollowness of her cheeks, her pale face and her wet hair gave her the look of a drowned person. As the warmth of the church hit her, any remaining stamina she had was lost as she staggered, fell against the wall and slipped towards the ground. Thomas caught her frail body in his arms by reflex and supported her the last few inches towards the floor. He knelt down beside her.

"What's your name?" he asked kindly.

"Willow," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Do you think you could stand up again, Willow? You can come and warm up and then maybe I can call someone for you."

Willow opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, her face contorted and she cried out in pain. Her hand instictively travelling to her abdomen which was protruding from her slender frame despite the oversized coat. Her tortured eyes locked onto his, pleading for help. Compassion flooded through him and he did not hesitate as he scooped her up, one arm supporting her skinny shoulders and the other under her knees. Breathing through his mouth as the smell of the motheaten coat wafted upwards towards his nostrils, he carried the sobbing girl down the aisle and into his office, gently lowering her on the sofa he normally reserved for comforting the bereaved. As her cries reduced to muffled whimpers, he sat down next to her and placed his left arm around her shoulders. Desperate for solace, she leant her body against him, and he found himself drawn into an awkward embrace with her, holding her close as he comforted her. Finally her breathing steadied.

"How can I help you, Willow?" His arm remained around her shoulders.

She looked up at him, frantically shaking her head, eyes begging him to understand.

"You're obviously scared and in pain... and not very well? Do you need to see a doctor?" he asked, concerned.

"I... I... maybe..." she said shakily, her head still pressed against his shoulder.

"Maybe?"

"I-I don't know..."

"Maybe if you told me what is wrong, I could help you decide if you need to see a doctor. But you just collapsed in my church. I think seeing a doctor would be a good plan." He looked at her unkempt appearance. "Where have you been staying?"

"Wherever I can."

"Wherever you can?"

She nodded.

"I'm very sorry to ask this but are you homeless?"

"Only for the last two months."

"Only? That's a very long time to be sleeping rough."

She shrugged.

"I'm in touch with a few local hostels. I could ring around and see if I can get you a bed for tonight."

"They won't take me."

"Why won't they?"

"Because... because..." She burst into fresh floods of tears. Within seconds, her cries turned into fresh bellows of pain as she rocked her hips back and forth. "Oh, please help me. It hurts, it HURTS!"

"Willow, please tell me-"

Another noise noise erupted from her, this time low and primal, not unlike a roar. Thomas watched as the pain seized her, calculating whether he should comfort her or call for help first. Her knuckles were white as she clenched the sofa, her agony clear in her eyes as she growled her way through whatever was causing her body such torment. Acknowledging that this was a medical emergency that he was unequipped to handle, he reached to his pocket for his phone. He sighed with exasperation as he saw he had no bars, the sigh turning into a panicked moan on noticing the red light on the router.

"I think I need to call for help," he decided, rubbing Willow's arm in an inadequete effort to offer reassurance. "But I have no signal and the WiFi is down. Probably because of the weather. It means I need to leave you but I'll be b-"

"NO! Please don't go!" she gasped, scrabbling for his hand. "Please, no! You can't leave me!"

As the pain ripped through her body, there was a audible pop, immediately followed by a squelch, as though someone had sat in a puddle of water. Willow immediately pulled her hand to her crotch, relief evident in her face as the pain began to ease once more. Thomas was very confused now. What was wrong with this lady, this scrawny, malnourished young thing sat in his office, who had collapsed in his church, was intermittently wracked with such intense pain it rendered her barely able to speak, seemingly had no one on this earth to help her and was allegedly homeless but not immediately requesting medical help?  He looked at her as she shut her eyes, taking whatever brief respite had come her way, the awkward curve of her abdomen distending under her coat. Suddenly he understood just what that audible pop and squelch of liquid was.

"Willow, are you pregnant?"

She gazed at him. "I know it's a sin vicar."

"Let's leave sin at the door for the moment. Is the baby coming?"

"I've been having bad pains all day and... and... I think something has just come out of me."

"I think it is just the fluid that cushions that baby. Do you understand why I'm going to have to leave you do get help?"

Another contraction reared itself before she could reply. Willow threw her head back, her face twisted as the spasms of her womb coasted across her body. The animalistic noises that erupted from her sounded more bovine than human. Thomas knew he needed to establish just how far away from delivering this child she was. As the contraction eased again, he took Willow's trembling hand in his.

"Willow, is the baby coming right now?" he asked, his eyes finding hers.

"It feels like something is coming out of me."

He sighed.

"Do you mind if I have a quick look at you... er, down below?" He blushed. "If the baby is coming now, I will have to catch it."

She hesitated and then nodded.

He knelt down on the floor and positioned himself so he was directly in front of her.

"Do you want to take you bottoms off for me?

Willow kicked off her dirty boots and then, in one slow awkward movement, slipped her leggings and drenched knickers over her skinny hips and past her knees. Thomas helped her pull them over her ankles and threw them on the sofa beside her. Instinctively, she opened her legs for him, showing her unshaved mons. She was positioned with her hips too far back to see anything more than the top half inch of her slit.

"Do you think you could shuffle forwards for me so you're perched towards the edge of the sofa?" he asked anxiously, gesturing for her to shuffle forwards.

She awkwardly scooted her bottom towards him and then reclined as best as she could.

"And maybe you could just lift your legs up for me?"

As she gripped the back of her thighs and pulled them towards her chest, finally exposing her pussy to him. Staring at the site displayed before him, his eyes took in her jewel-like clitoris nestled between her stubbled labia. Between them was her vaginal opening and peeking at him from underneath, her puckered rosebud. Unable to see anything that looked like a baby emerging, Thomas breathed a sigh of relief.

"Phew. Thankfully I can't see anything. So-"

Willow roared as a contraction hit, her breaths coming in shallow and ragged gasps. Her tender asshole bulged and her rectum emptied right there onto the edge of sofa. Her vulva bulged outwards as her labia started to separate. A dark, wet mass appeared just inside her vagina, fluid dribbling out from around it in rivulets onto Thomas's knees. Adrenalin surged through him as he realised there could be no leaving Willow to get help, as she was about to birth her baby right there into his arms. He looked around frantically for something clean to deliver the baby onto and quickly grabbed a couple of spare sweaters he had on top of his desk. As he eased one under Willow's buttocks, her breathing started to ease and the pain lessened once more.

"What do I do?" she trembled, panic welling over in her voice.

"I'm a vicar, Willow, not a midwife," he laughed nervously, looking up at her over her spasming belly.  "I think you need to keep doing what your body is telling you to do and I'll catch the baby when it comes."

"I need to push. I can't stop it."

"Then push, if that's what your body is telling you to do."

As though on cue, Willow started grunting her way through another contraction. Her pussy stretched more with each torturous push, until a dark, two inch portion of head was visible as the contraction peaked. When it eased off, the head slipped back inside, her inflamed lips closing over it. Willow threw her head back exhausted, but seconds later she was bellowing again as her baby appeared once more at her opening. Thomas wondered just how much stretching it could take as the now lemon-sized portion of head continued to be driven outwards. A memory of a film he saw came to him, where the birth attendant used gauze to support the woman as she pushed out the biggest part of her baby. He pressed the sweater he put under Willow against her perenium. She writhed and shrieked on the sofa as she neared a full crown, her legs flailing around Thomas's head.

"Oh, help me! Oh God in heaven!" she screamed, her panicked, frantic hand reaching between her legs for Thomas.

"Please, just breathe Willow," he said, pressing on her taint with one hand and taking her hand with his other. "The head's coming out now. I think this is the worst bit."

Willow panted, her swollen vulva circling her baby as she drove it out of her body. As the contraction peaked, the head teetered on the raw lips of her pussy before the pain eased again and her body pulled it back inside her canal. There it sat, just visible between her stinging labia.

"You were so close then," Thomas said, squeezing her hand. "One more push like that and I think the head will be out."

Gathering her strength again, Willow bore and pushed the infant out of her fatigued body once again. It popped out with a gushy splash, amniotic fluid and blood splattering the floor and pebbledashing her inner thighs. Thomas balanced the damp, slimy head in his hands, watching as the child's brow furrowed, its mouth opening in a silent cry. Gradually, it turned to Willow's thigh.

"The head's out. Push again."

With one last effort, a dribble of fluid and a groan, the wriggling baby tumbled into the world. Thomas caught its slippery body in his shaking hands and carefully lowered it onto his knee. A baby boy. He cried lustily, feeling the chilly air on his skin for the first time. Thomas wrapped the little boy in his sweater and looked up at Willow. Her entire body was shaking, her face shining with sweat.

"Willow... Willow, you've done it!" he gasped, gazing down at the newborn.

She gazed down at the vicar, whose eyes were meeting hers from between her legs and reached her arms out. As if he was handling the crown jewels, he carefully settled Willow's firstborn son on her breasts. Tears of relief and exhaustion leaked down her pretty pale face, her chest shaking with sobs as the baby was comforted by the warmth of her trembling body.

"Thank you," she whispered to Thomas, her lips brushing her baby's head.

"You did it all yourself, you wonderful girl," he replied, the emotion crackling in his voice. He gazed over at his desk and looked at the router, the green light shining. "And would you believe it, I can finally ring for help!"

[angelpregdreams]

I can't help it, I think about being told to push often, it just does something to my brain and I want to push and feel a huge baby spread my body apart as I keep pushing and pushing

[shhhsecretsideblog]

Inconvenient Birth Prompts

Send me one of these plus a random location/scenario and I’ll try to write a little ficlet

“I’m sure they’re just braxton hicks…”

“Relax, I’m not due for ages”

“I’ll be fine, it’s not like my waters have broken-”

“The baby feels really low”

“I am not in labour!”

“I thought we had more time ughhhh”

“I don’t think the baby is gonna wait that long…”

“There’s so much pressure…”

“I think I need to push”

“I am not having this baby here!”

“You can’t be in labour too, who’s going to deliver my baby?!”

“Come on, you’ll be fine. First labour’s take ages”

“Not now… not here”

“I can make it, I just won’t push.”

“The contractions are only 2 minutes apart…”

“This baby will just have to wait”

“Are you pushing?!”

“I’m fine, it was just a s-strong kick”

“I can’t stop it… nnghhh I’m pushingg!”

“Oh god! The head is out!”

[insert your own]

Credit

[gimmeabigpush]

The Witching Hour

Another fantastic commission from Beans where we just found an idea and ran with it together. This was such a fun story to tell, and I really hope you all love it too.

~12k words, false labors, home birth, unassisted, tarot readings

A special thanks to my Patrons! Wolf, j4j, CinnamonBuns, Pregfur, Cocktailpug, Dia, Apnsr, Feeling-Pushy, Sarah Jane, Amezz, Maddie, Ivana, Katharina, and Anon!

Patreon 💜 Twitter 💜 Wishlist 💜 Bluesky

-💜-

Sadie had been mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually preparing for this day. She’d done tarot readings, meditated, burned incense and charged her crystals. Her baby was almost here, the nursery was together, she had clothes, diapers, and all kinds of prepared food in her fridge. Witch hazel, water, teas, and all kinds of candles. 

When her contractions started, slow and almost lazy, pressing at the small of her back and curling around to her lower belly, she wasted no time in calling her cousin Lavender. 

Rocking back and forth in bed, soles of her feet pressed together, Sadie tossed her hair out of her face and beamed as she waited for Lav to pick up. When she did, mumbling a sleepy hello into the phone, Sadie immediately launched into a bubbly babble.

“Laaaav it’s Sadie! Okay so my water hasn’t broken or anything but I’m most definitely having contractions, and I just told you she’d come around this date, didn’t I? I told you I wasn’t gonna be having a Scorpio, I just couldn’t.”

Lav yawned on the other side of the phone, then her soft voice came through again. “Wait…Sadie? Are you in labor?”

“I think so, yes! I’ve been having very slow contractions for an hour or so!”

“Oh! Oh gosh, okay, let me get out of bed and get my things and I’ll be right over!”

The two laughed and chatted a little bit more before hanging up, and Sadie set her phone down next to her in the bed, beaming a big smile and stretching her arms high above her. She relished in the stretch, wriggling her hips a little bit and arching her back, noting how heavy and round her belly felt in her lap.

She’d just been so excited for this day, and now it was finally here! Her little blessing from the universe was on its way.

Slowly, she got herself out of bed and wandered into the kitchen. She almost lazily made herself a cup of tea, her hands rubbing up and down her belly while she waited for her kettle. Another contraction began to prod at her lower back while she waited, but the new mom just closed her eyes and smiled, humming lightly in the back of her throat as she swayed from foot to foot.

When Lavender got there, tote bag slung over her shoulder and her light green hair up in a frizzy bun, she half expected to find her older cousin squatting in the living room holding a baby, or with a head hanging out of her. 

Instead, she found her cousin lounging on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV, cup of steaming tea held in one hand. Sadie looked up as Lavender walked in, absolutely beaming at her cousin. “Hiiii!”

Lavender laughed and immediately came over to give her cousin a big squeezy hug. The two of them had been close ever since they were kids, all but raised together. Thankfully the friendship had lasted into their adulthoods, and when Sadie had found herself suddenly and unexpectedly pregnant, Lavender had been the first one she’d called. It was only fair play, as Lavender had called Sadie first when her engagement had gotten broken off, and also when she’d finally graduated from college. The two relied on each other.

Sadie gave Lavender a squeeze, then the two separated, and Lavender set her tote bag down before perching on the edge of the coffee table, excitedly looking at her cousin. She darted out a hand and rubbed her warm, taut belly, her eyes twinkling. “So? How’s it going?”

“Just fine…I’ve been, uhm.” Sadie wiggled her phone in the air, looking for the words. “Timing the contractions with this app. Like I said, they’ve all been nice and easy so far. I just need to breathe through them for a sec.” “Okay! That’s a good thing! How are you feeling?”

“Oh, lovely.” Sadie beamed, stretching her legs out a little. “I mean. Very pregnant. Ready for this part to be over already.” 

The two giggled, and Sadie smoothed her palm over her belly before she continued. 

“But overall, I feel fine. Just…ready.”

Lavender nodded and smiled brightly. “Good! Well, uh, I brought some incense, the kind you liked when you visited last time, and I have all my stuff for an overnight.”

“Perfect! You want to pop in a movie for now, see how things work out while we watch?”

“Are you sure? You don’t need to concentrate or anything?” Lavender tilted her head quizzically, and Sadie shrugged a shoulder, setting her phone down on top of her belly, balanced there. 

“I think right now I’m okay, I did some meditation while I was waiting for you.”

“Okay, if you’re sure! Whatcha wanna watch?”

Sadie waved a hand at her small shelf full of DVDs and BluRays. “Pick anything over there! Maybe nothing sad though, I don’t wanna cry right now.”

“Of course not, this is a happy occasion!” Lavender giggled and hopped to her feet, padding over to the shelf to choose a movie. Once they’d chosen and got it popped into the player, she popped a big bowl of buttery popcorn in the kitchen and brought them both some sweet teas. Sadie even showed her where her candy stash was (in a drawer in the side table by the couch arm), and they broke out a big bag of MnMs.

Together, the cousins snuggled in and began to watch their movie, Sadie making sure to remind herself to keep her breathing steady and even, and keeping a palm pressed on her lower belly (except when she needed the hand for snacks).

As the movie progressed, she had a couple more contractions, both of them lasting about as long as the ones before them had. A firm pressing down in her belly, a clenching of the muscles.

But as the movie went on, the amount of time between them became longer and longer. Sadie found herself wrapped up in the movie and not even noticing them by the time the climax rolled around.

When the credits started, she huffed a soft breath through her nose and untangled herself from Lavender, unlocking her phone and peeking at the timing app. It had been easily half an hour since her last contraction. And judging by the little graph, it had only lasted around 25 seconds, maybe 28 if she was being generous with how quickly she had hit the buttons.

Sitting up, Lavender looked at her with concern, wiping off her hands with her napkin and tossing their trash into the empty popcorn bowl. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, they’re fine…everything kind of…slowed down.”

“Slowed down how?” her cousin tilted her head again, scooting closer and resting a warm hand on her swollen side.

“Like…I didn’t have a contraction the entire last bit of the movie. It’s been over half an hour.” Sighing, Sadie shook some of her curls out of her face and looked down at her belly, palming the opposite side. “I guess…it was probably a false alarm.”

Tisking her tongue, Lavender looked disappointed for a moment, but forced a small smile. “Hey, you want me to still sleep over tonight? In case something happens? We can do breakfast in the morning.”

Softening, Sadie looked up and nodded. “I’d like that, if you can swing it…”

“No problem.” Leaning in, Lavender pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back softly. “I’ll probably have to scoot after breakfast if things really have stalled, but I’m here, ok?”

“Of course. Maybe I’ll like…bounce on the ball for a little bit or something.” Sadie mumbled into the hug, and Lavender brightened, giving her back a pat before pulling away.

“Yeah! That should help get things moving, right?”

With Sadie’s nod, the two of them wiggled off of the couch to clean up and do some bouncing.

However…even with bouncing on the ball, some chips and hot salsa, and some chocolate, Sadie’s labor didn’t return. When the cousins headed to bed, the last contraction marked in Sadie’s app was the one she had in the middle of the movie.

The two of them had a quiet and pleasant breakfast the next morning, and Lavender helped with the dishes before giving her cousin another tight hug and scooting out the door to get ready for work.

Left with a quiet house and a baby still rammed in her ribcage, Sadie flopped onto the couch and stared down at her belly, taut and heavy underneath her sleep shirt, the morning sun filtering through her curtains casting rays across it. With a soft sigh, she relaxed a bit, smiling a little and drawing her fingertips across her lower belly. 

“In your own time, right little love? You’ll be here soon. You just…need a little more time in the oven. I trust you, okay?”

A nudge to her ribs. Sadie smiled. 

–

The contractions finally started back up again the day after, this time around midday. Sadie was out on a small waddle-walk around her neighborhood, keeping one foot up on the curb whenever she could, for the extra nudging stretch.

She felt the surge, the unmistakable nudging and prickling at her lower back, and she couldn’t help but break into a huge smile. Pausing, the new mom lowered her hands to her knees and let her belly hang, doing some deep breathing as she quietly thanked the universe for finally letting her meet her baby.

When it faded, she gathered herself up and quickly waddled back home, not wasting a moment before sending Lavender a text.

Baby time! 4 Real! 👶Go time!

She kicked off her shoes, waddled carefully into the livingroom, and busied herself lighting candles while she waited for a reply. 

Luckily, she didn’t have to wait long, as her cousin texted back with lightning speed.

4 real? OMW Mama, hold em in! 🚗

Laughing, Sadie texted back a couple of baby emojis, then tapped over to her contraction timing app as she plopped herself down on the exercise ball that she hadn’t bothered to put away from her false alarm.

Setting herself to bouncing, she closed her eyes and rubbed her belly with both hands as she waited. Things were finally falling into place. The event from the previous day had gotten her a little down, if she was being honest with herself. She was anxious to finally hold her baby that she’d been waiting so long to have, and she had thought that her body was finally ready. The fact that her labor had stalled made her doubt herself.

But here she was, finally really ready. 

Another surge nudged at her lower back, and Sadie closed her eyes, humming a soft exhale. All she had to do was relax and wait now. She could do this.

When Lavender arrived around fifteen minutes later and let herself in, she found her cousin still gently bouncing on the ball, her phone lit up and timing a contraction on the coffee table at her side. 

She kicked off her shoes and approached on excited tiptoes, perching on the edge of the couch. She watched as Sadie, belly held in both hands, took a big inhale, then opened her eyes and exhaled as she leaned forward and tapped the phone to turn off the timer.

“Hi.” Lavender beamed, and Sadie smiled back, her eyes twinkly.

“Hi.”

“How’s it going, mama?”

“FIne, so far…I’m so ready.”

“I am too.” Giggling, Lavender reached out and lovingly rubbed the side of Sadie’s belly. “Again.”

“Again.” Sadie rolled her eyes, then shook her head and pushed her hair out of her face. “Can you go find me a scrunchie? I think there’s one on my dresser. I wanna head outside and lay in the hammock for a while, my hips are aching.”

“You got it.” Lavender immediately hopped to her feet, retrieved a scrunchie, then helped her cousin tie up her hair. The two then made their way out onto the back porch, one of Lavender’s favorite parts of her cousin’s place. 

Outside was a covered concrete porch, which led into the grass-filled backyard and flower garden. A yoga mat and some incense burners were already out here, and a cloth hammock was strung up between two of the beams of the wooden awning.

Sadie paused, stretching her arms over her head and closing her eyes, as they stepped outside. “Mmh. I’d hoped I’d be able to soak up some moon energy when I was in labor, but the sun is good too…feels good.”

“Yeah, it’s a beautiful day.” Lavender smiled and closed her eyes, taking in a deep, cleansing inhale of the soft spring breeze. 

The two rested there a moment until Sadie felt another contraction prickling at the small of her back, and she quickly opened her eyes and waddled over to the hammock. One hand holding the fabric and the other cradling her belly, she all but tumbled into it, giggling softly and wriggling around until she was comfortable. “Oof. Oooh, okay…”

Closing her eyes, she let her hands come to rest on the edges of the fabric cradling her body, near her head. She took a deep breath as the contraction washed through her, trying to focus.

She heard Lavender’s footsteps, sensed her picking something up and moving it closer, and then heard her settle down. The contraction was soft, almost like kneading bread dough or squeezing the juice out of a fruit. It felt good to lie back in the hammock, the swaying fabric cradling her sore hips and belly. 

Slowly, she pulled in a deep inhale, then blew it out with pursed lips, focusing on holding it as long as she could manage. If things continued just like this, maybe she could just pop the baby out right here in the hammock, surrounded by nature. Wouldn’t that just be lovely.

A smile flickered on her face as the contraction peaked, then quickly fell. When it was over, she opened her eyes and peeked over at Lavender. Her cousin had made herself comfortable on the yoga mat right nearby, the soles of her feet pressed together and her hands resting on her knees.

Lav grinned excitedly at her, eyes bright and excited, and Sadie couldn’t help but giggle. “Mm. I think I’m just gonna pop em right out in here, how’s that sound?”

“Ooh, sounds good to me. Lemme know when so I can help you catch em.” Sadie laughed softly in response, reaching out and giving the hammock a little nudge so it would rock back and forth.

“Mmmh…” Sadie hummed a happy noise and closed her eyes, laying her head down and just relaxing into the day. This was perfect. It was exactly how she wanted it.

–

Things were not perfect.

The day creeped along, the sun outside growing a bit hotter and the breeze dying down. 

After a few more contractions, soft and squeezing, Sadie waited…and waited. And waited. 

Again, just like the previous day, there were no more.

Brow furrowed, hand gripping the edge of the hammock, she’d pressed her fingers against herself through her clothes, then almost angrily shoved her hand down her pants to check herself, fingers prodding clumsily at her cervix. 

She was still open just a fingertip, exactly as she had been to start the morning.

With a groan, she pulled her hand free and threw her elbow over her face, frustrated tears prickling her eyes. “No! What am I doing wrong??”

“Oh, honey.” Lavender sighed, sitting up and coming over to give her cousin a hug. “You aren’t doing anything wrong…this is how it goes sometimes. Bodies are weird. You can just…count this as practice! You know you like it in the hammock now, right?”

Sadie sniffled, swallowing hard before slowly nodding. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess so…I just…” Slowly, she pulled her elbow down and stared down at her belly, a miserable look on her face. “I just wanna have my baby already.”

“I know you do.” Lavender stroked her forehead, looking at her understandingly. “You’re gonna. Soon. I just know it. You wanna go inside? Get something to drink? I can go pick us up some snacks…?”

Sadie let out a shaky sigh, then nodded, holding out her hands for help to wiggle out of the hammock.

The two watched another movie, cuddled on the couch, Sadie had a small cry, and the two ate many snacks. It wasn’t the way they’d envisioned spending the rest of the day, but, looking back, it wasn’t a terrible one.

Especially considering what events took place the night after that.

–

After Lavender left the next morning, Sadie had tried to be kind to herself. She’d taken a long, lazy nap, ordered in her favorite food, and watched some bad TV.

However, she couldn’t help herself, once she’d cleaned up after dinner, she found herself wandering into the nursery and spending some time refolding the cloth diapers she’d collected and checking over the blankets and towels she wanted to use for her labor and birth.

She looked down at herself while folding one of the soft blankets, and she sighed, smoothing her palm up and down her belly. Maybe she wasn’t ready. Maybe she just…needed more time, and this was the universe’s way of telling her that.

Shaking her head, Sadie set aside the blankets and the old towels, pulling herself out of the nursery and willing herself to just go to bed.

She popped a chocolate kiss in her mouth and let it melt on her tongue as she got into her pjamas, an entirely-too-big tshirt from an old ex and a pair of boxers, elastic pulled underneath the swell of her belly, comfortingly holding her pubic mound and sitting low on her hips.

She crawled into bed and gathered her pillows, closing her eyes and willing her body to relax, open, and ready itself.

–

At 3am, the witching hour, Sadie woke up, brow furrowing in concern, as she realized her thighs were wet.

Why were her thighs wet?

Grumbling, she shifted groggily in bed and dropped a hand, pulling at the wet and sticky fabric of her boxers. Yuck. 

Wrestling against her heavy belly, she rolled herself out of bed and pulled down the damp boxers, only to have a bit more fluid leak out of her when she bent over. 

With a soft “Mmh?” she blinked against the darkness of the room and cupped a hand between her legs, swiping at the moisture there and rubbing her fingers together. Was her water getting ready to break? Did she have to go to the bathroom?

No, she didn’t need to…maybe her water was going to break. Maybe this was it.

Almost as quickly as the thought flashed through her head, Sadie pushed it back. No, she didn’t need to jump the gun. Just…clean up, get a change of clothes. Breathe.

So, sleepily, she followed her own instructions, pulling on another pair of boxers and washing her hands before rubbing at her thighs with a baby wipe. Once she felt clean, she crawled back into bed and sat propped up against her headboard, hands cradling both sides of her belly.

After a couple of breaths, her belly tightened, and she lifted her head, bowing it forward and scrunching up her eyes. Like greeting a familiar friend, she met the rising contraction with a deep breath. 

Was this a sign? Was her water really breaking? Was this it?

Shifting against her pillows, she forcefully shoved those thoughts aside and grabbed at her blanket, grumbling as she shoved it between her legs and underneath her heavy belly. She’d have to do laundry anyway, she didn’t care if she leaked on her sheets. She just needed the support.

The contraction kneaded at her lower back, then slowly faded, and Sadie let out her breath in a big whoosh, her eyes sliding back open. That didn’t seem like it lasted very long. Maybe she was just having another false alarm.

Her fingers twitched, and she started to reach for her phone, but hesitated. When she did pick it up, all she did was check the time and log the contraction. Just after 3am, and the surge had lasted around 30 seconds. She tapped over to her text messages, reading the last couple she’d sent to Lavender.

Her thumb hesitated over the buttons, and she finally just locked her phone and set it aside, planting her hands on the bed to heft herself up to sit higher. She’d text or call her later, if things didn’t just fade out on their own. She didn’t want to wake her up at 3 freaking o'clock in the morning.

As she shifted and got herself more comfortable, Sadie’s eyes landed on her deck of tarot cards, sitting on her bedside table in their velvet bag. Maybe just to soothe her mind she could do a quick reading.

Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she reached over and grabbed the bag, taking out the deck. She loved these cards, they’d been a gift from her mother. She only did readings every now and then, when she had a question for the universe that wasn’t answering itself or making itself apparent in another way. 

Holding the cards close to her chest, forearms resting on her belly, she began to shuffle and play with the cards, breathing deeply and centering her mind. It felt good, at least to focus on something that wasn’t her impending labor and mistrust in her body. 

She continued to shuffle and move the cards around until one card fell out. Strangely, it landed right in her lap, and Sadie had to peer over her belly to peek and try to find it. She finally picked it up and held it up, her heart warming as she stared at it in the dim light. It was The Empress, and it had landed facing upright.

Sadie slowly smiled as she stared at the card. The figure on it was said to resemble motherhood and femininity as well as following what you knew to be true in your heart. She slid her thumb across the image on the card, a beautiful woman reclined on a throne with flowing robes and a crown on her head, a scepter in one hand and the other laying loosely in her lap.

She took another deep breath, then slotted the card back in with the others and tucked the deck back into the velvet bag. As she pulled the cords to draw the bag shut, another contraction pressed against the small of her back, and she quickly tossed the deck onto the bedside table and braced her palms against her knees, elbows locked. 

As she inhaled, she closed her eyes, then focused on letting her breath out as slowly as possible, lips pursed like she was blowing out a candle.

Candle…she should light some candles. Some incense. Even if this was another false labor, having the soft light and aromatherapy would help her relax.

Reaching the bottom of her breath, she drew in another through her nose, then sank into her slow exhale.

She tapped in the timing of the contraction once she was released, then slowly untangled herself from her sheets and peeled herself out of bed. She lit the couple of thick pillar candles set around her room, then a cone of soft floral incense, setting it on her dresser across from her bed.

The last thing she did was open the curtains to her room, drawing the fabric back and resting her hands on the small of her back as she peered out the window. She smiled as she saw the moon perfectly centered in the deep black sky, and she took a moment to step back and let the blue light wash over her.

Swaying from foot to foot, she rocked her hips and massaged at her back a little bit, her eyes rolling closed as she experimented with how her body felt. Especially standing, it felt like her gravity had shifted a little bit, her belly felt lower and settled deeper into her pelvis. That was a good sign…but maybe she was just making it up.

She stood there, bathing in the moonlight, until another contraction prodded at her lower back. Slowly, she turned and crawled back into her soft bed. She folded her arms and lowered her upper body into her pillows, leaving her pelvis and backside raised up into the air and her back straightened. Strangely enough, following her instincts, this position was quite comfortable, and she let herself roll her hips side to side as she rode out the pressing, kneading contraction with deep breathing.

It felt strangely good to just be…here in her own space, doing what she needed to for her body and her mind. She wanted to be connected to herself and her baby while she did this work, and with the two false alarms she’d been afraid she wouldn’t be able to find that connection when it came time.

And maybe this wasn’t even time, but she was slowly finding that connection that she needed. 

Sadie stayed in her bed for the next few contractions, tapping them into her app but not paying attention to the numbers, only that they were being tracked as they happened. Instead of watching the numbers, she focused on her breathing, keeping it even and steady, slow and deep. Back straightened, hips slowly rolling and stretching from side to side, belly hanging heavy between her thighs and against the bed, she breathed.

She found herself dropping her jaw and softly moaning on her exhales, releasing the building energy that seemed to be balled up in her pelvis. Using her voice felt right, even though things weren’t all that intense or overwhelming. It just felt…natural, to hum and moan and make noise as the contractions crested and fell.

After a while, she shifted from hands and knees to reclining back against her headboard. She continued her deep breathing, hands drawing slowly up the curve of her belly and then back down as she inflated her chest and then deflated. She pulled one knee up to her chest during the peak of a contraction, and actually found herself smiling at how much more open just that small movement helped her feel.

–

It was shortly after sunrise, the lovely streams of yellow light peeking through the curtains, when Lavender’s phone went off. 

Ding-ding

Hey I promise it’s for real this time

My water’s breaking and everything

No rush, I’m totally good, just head over when you can

And plz bring breakfast if you have a minute to stop

<3 u

The multiple messages in a row made Lavender stir, and, grumbling, she shoved the blankets back away from her and grabbed for her phone, squinting at it as she tried to wake up.

As soon as she read the messages, though, adrenaline shot through her and she all but scrambled out of bed, giggling to herself as she gathered up clothes and ran for the bathroom to change and get out of there. 

Hey even if it is a false alarm I’m so down for another sleepover

Sadie smiled as she read the message back, then set the phone back down on her bed facedown, letting her breath out with a whoosh. 

When she saw the sun rising, she’d finally taken a moment to look back at her timing app. Her contractions had started out a little shaky, a little unevenly spaced and shorter in length. But very quickly, they had become steady and even, and through the rest of the early morning had begun getting closer and closer together.

She was sitting now at around 2 minutes or so apart, and she was…beyond excited and happy. This had to be the real thing, even if you didn’t take into account the steady leaky dripping she’d been doing since she’d woken up. 

Now, though…now she felt like she needed to get up. Move, stretch, wiggle around. She wasn’t sure what had shifted but something definitely had.

So, slowly, Sadie peeled herself out of her bed and blew out the candles she’d lit, grabbing her phone and matchbox almost as an afterthought as she wandered into the livingroom. 

First thing she did, after tossing her phone onto the couch, was unlock the front door. She then opened the curtains and lit her favorite three wick candle so it would bring its smell to the space (vanilla, spice, and sugar). 

A contraction was prickling, poking at her lower back and hips, so, quickly, Sadie tossed the matches onto the side table and tried to pick a spot to stand. As she shifted, she picked up her knees a bit higher, almost like she was marching, and cupped both of her hands under her belly.

“Ohh…hohh.” She huffed and moaned, a small smile flickering across her face and her eyes fluttering shut. With gravity, being upright, things were definitely different. Not overwhelmingly so, but enough for her to notice.

When Lavender came in, bag over her shoulder and takeout bags and drinks tucked in her elbows and against her chest, she found her cousin standing and swaying side to side in the middle of the livingroom, her head tilted back a bit and hands tucked under her belly as if holding it up.

With a smile, she all but tiptoed in, closing the door and setting all her things down on the coffee table. After kicking off her shoes, she approached her cousin and rested her hands on her forearms, whispering under her breath that she was here. In response, Sadie shuffled forward a couple of steps and rested her forehead on her cousin’s shoulder, humming. 

Chuckling, Lavender gently rubbed her hands back and forth across the lower swell of Sadie’s belly and the upper curve of her hips. This felt more like what it should have been like when she’d come over the other times. The two of them cuddled together for the rest of the contraction, and finally, after a few more deep breaths, Sadie lifted her head and smiled at Lavender, pushing her hair out of her face with one hand. 

“Hi.”

“Hey.” Lav giggled, still gently rubbing her lower belly. “I brought you a breakfast sandwich and some juice, wanna sit and eat?”

“Oh my god you’re the actual best.” Sadie’s shoulders dropped in relief, and she immediately turned, holding one hand out for balance as she wiggled and then flopped onto the sofa.

Lavender laughed, then followed her example, quickly dealing out their food so the two of them could eat.

When mouths were full, Lavender cleared her throat and held a hand in front of her mouth, mumbling. “Mmh. So- fill me in.”

Sadie set down her already half-inhaled sandwich and held up one finger, bracing her other hand on the coffee table, elbow locked. “Hm. Mmmm.” Bowing her head forward, she moaned, spreading her knees apart and rocking her hips forward.

Right away, Lavender shifted her food to one hand and scooted closer, using her closer hand to gently press and rub along the side curve of Sadie’s belly. Taut and firm, she could feel the force of the contraction through her cousin’s soft pj shirt, and she smiled a little bit to herself in awe as she waited.

After a bit, Sadie finally let out her breath and shifted her hips back. “Whooo. Okay. Uhm.” She picked up her sandwich again, laughing at herself a little bit. “I woke up around 3am…and I was leaking. And I had a couple little contractions, and I thought it was way too early to call you, and I was worried it was another false alarm…”

Lavender clicked her tongue and gave her cousin a look, and Sadie stuck her tongue out at her in reply before taking another huge bite of her sandwich. “Mm. I know, shuttup. So I just meditated and did a tarot reading and just kind of…chilled out. Tried to get in the zone. And I guess…it just kept going.” She shrugged, shaking her hair out of her face.

“Mkay. Well, have you checked yourself lately?” Lavender took another bite, looking curious, and Sadie shook her head, palming and pressing on her belly a bit.

“Nah, I don’t wanna psyche myself out too much with progress or whatever. I’ll check in a couple hours if I need to. I just wanna…” She took another big bite, then smiled. “Relax. Let my body work. Try to…connect, y’know?”

Lavender grinned and gave a thumbs up, taking her last bite before balling up her trash and tossing it in the open paper bag. “You got it, mama. That’s why I’m here.”

Sadie beamed, cheeks full of her sandwich, and leaned over to bump her head against her cousin’s shoulder. Lavender laid her head on top of Sadie’s and reached her hand out to rub and pat at her belly, and the two sat there snuggled together for a moment.

The tenderness was broken, though, by the next contraction as it rolled through Sadie’s body. With a grunt, she tossed her sandwich down and heaved herself to her feet, slamming her hands into the small of her back and scrunching her eyes shut tightly. “Mmh. Oh wow. Ohhh wow.”

Lavender scooted over closer as quickly as she could, wiping her hands off on the thighs of her pants before standing and grabbing Sadie by the hips. “Easy, cuz. Breathe…” She hummed, rubbing her hands down the swell of her belly before sliding them back toward her hips.

Slowly, Sadie did, pulling in a deep breath through her nose, then blowing it out with puffed cheeks. It felt…grounding to have Lavender here, but also to have her hands on her when she’s contracting. It was something to put her attention towards, a loving and gentle gesture that contrasted with the crashing surge and pressure deep in her pelvis.

The two of them stood and rocked together while Sadie rode out her contraction. As it peaked, she bent her knees slightly and bowed her head, letting out a soft whine. Lavender nodded, pressing her palms into her lower belly just a little bit firmer. “That’s it…you got it. Don’t fight it…”

Sadie grunted in response, nose scrunched and teeth clenched, then slowly relaxed, swaying her hips side to side and her weight from foot to foot. Lavender followed her, watching her with a soft expression. 

It took a moment, but Sadie relaxed after a couple more breaths. She stretched her arms above her head and grumbled, and Lavender couldn’t help but smile, rubbing her hand in a big circle around her belly. “Nice work.”

“Mmh. They’re definitely getting a little rougher…I wanna try the hammock next, that was nice that last time.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll bring your drink, yeah?”

“Yeah, thanks…” Sadie shook her hair out of her face, then pulled and adjusted her shirt as she waddled for the back door. Just like the last time, the two stepped out onto the porch and moved to the hammock and the yoga mat, still left in place. 

Sadie snuggled her way into the hammock, tucking one foot up underneath her butt and letting the other dangle out of the fabric. Lavender flopped down on the yoga mat, then smiled and held up the drink for her cousin, who took it and drank some of the juice hungrily.

The sun was beginning to warm up the day, the air was fresh and cool, and almost as soon as she’d gotten settled, Sadie shifted, grumbling as another contraction rolled through her body. She shoved the juice back at Lavender, who quickly took it from her, set it on the ground, then reached up a hand into the hammock to press against Sadie’s side.

With a groan, Sadie arched her back and closed her eyes, pressing her own hands around her navel. The breeze blew across her skin, and she tried to pull her focus inward. It was tough, especially feeling like there was a bowling ball or a watermelon settled so deeply in her hips she wasn’t sure how she was ever going to get it out.

Hauling in a deep breath, she let her head fall back into the soft fabric of the hammock and moaned, letting the sound rattle around in her ribcage. The vibrating hum mixed with the release of energy tapped into something primal, and she felt herself relax.

Her shoulders dropped, and when her sound ran out she was able to pull in a much deeper breath. She felt Lavender’s hand rubbing low on her belly, heard her voice mumbling something underneath her rumbling voice, and a smile flickered across her face. She wasn’t alone, this was really happening, and she could do this. She knew she could.

Things were quiet for the next couple of hours. Sadie focused, soaking in the morning breeze and finding her voice in hums and moans and gentle, pulsing grunts. Lavender whispered gentle encouragement, pressing and massaging her belly as her cousin worked, and set the hammock rocking when Sadie began to shift and wriggle uncomfortably. 

After a while, though, Lavender noticed that Sadie’s noises had begun to change from softer, more sighing moans. Now they were much deeper, concentrated sounds, and much, much louder. Her cousin had also shifted from just relaxing back in the hammock and letting herself be held to pressing one hand between her legs during each contraction, her brow furrowed as she groaned.

So, as the morning drew toward afternoon, Lavender stood and tapped on Sadie’s upper arm, rubbing her belly softly with her other palm. “Hey mama. Let’s head back inside, get you some water. How about it?”

“Mmh.” Sadie sighed and rubbed a hand across her face, then nodded, opening her eyes and holding out her hands for Lavender. “Yeah, that’s…probably a good idea.” 

She wriggled her way out of the hammock, and the two made their way back inside, into the cool and soft-smelling house. The candles really added a lovely warmth and coziness to the air, one that Sadie immediately appreciated. Hands tucked underneath her belly, she right away waddled for her bedroom while Lavender fetched some water from the fridge.

On her way back to the bedroom, she also carefully scooped up the candle that had been lit earlier. She handed the water bottle to her cousin, then set the candle on the dresser, making sure it was still burning.

Sadie took a grateful gulp of the water, then capped it and tossed it on the bed. Folding her arms under her head, she leaned on the footboard and straightened her back, bending first one knee and then the other to sway her hips. Her belly felt heavier than it had before, hanging between her thighs and pulling on her lower back.

As the contraction revved up, she whined a little, hoping Lavender hadn’t left the room. Relief washed over her as she felt her cousin’s cool hands on her hips, and she gave herself over to the contraction as it fully began. Jaw lazily dropping open, she moaned into her folded arms, swaying into Lav’s hands and hauling in lungful after lungful of air.

She was still leaking, she could feel that plainly, and she all but itched to get the boxers off now that they were damp. But she had to wait until she could manage it, trying to stop rocking to step out of them sounded even worse while the contraction held her hips in a vice.

Lavender kneaded her thumbs into the dimples of her cousin’s lower back, her expression one of concentration as she listened intently to her sounds and signals. Things had definitely shifted gears.

When the contraction loosened, Sadie stood, then yanked at the waistband of the boxers. Lavender hesitated, then smiled and helped her off with them, tossing them over into the laundry. “Baby coming?”

“No, I’m just…leaking a lot, and it feels gross.” Sadie huffed a soft laugh through her nose, then crawled into her bed, grumbling as she pulled her pillow to her chest and flopped forward onto it, hips raised in the air and back straight much like she’d done when her labor had begun. This time, though, she shifted one arm underneath her and pressed her fingers to her labia, giving herself a firm counterpressure.

Slowly, her eyes fluttered closed, and she sighed, forehead smoothing out. “...I think…in a while…I wanna try and…nap or something. I feel like…I was all restless and stuff and now I just…feel tired.”

Lavender nodded and climbed onto the bed with her, softly rubbing the heel of her hand up and down her cousin’s lower spine. “You do what you need to. You can lay down anytime, tuck a pillow between your knees and prop up, get some rest. If your body says you need it, you need it.”

“Yeah.” Sadie inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, lips pursed. “Lemme just…get through this next one and then I think I oughta try.”

“Sounds good…I’ll be right here.” 

“Thanks…”

The room fell into quiet, and through the fuzz and focus in her mind, Sadie found herself glad that the sun was shining through the windows so warm. She’d always felt a pull to the moon, but while she was working, the sunshine seemed to be giving her energy and comfort. She’d have to look into more daytime rituals once baby was here.

When she contracted, Sadie pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, panting open-mouthed as she lifted her head. Shifting and rocking her weight, she spread her knees a bit further apart, then rocked forward onto the heels of her hands before pushing her hips back and sinking hard into her heels with a deep groan.

“There ya go…” Lavender murmured behind her, pressing the heel of her hand into Sadie’s back, and Sadie let her head fall back, trying not to run from the pressure. It was deep, deep and low and pressing. Hauling in a lungful of air, she bowed her head and rocked into her hands again, arching her back and shoving her hips forward so she curled around her belly. 

Trying to follow her signals, Lavender cupped her hips in her hands and pressed in, noting to herself in the back of her mind that there was more fluid dripping down the inside of Sadie’s thighs. It was clear, that much she knew, which was a good sign. Instead of calling any attention to it, she just kneaded and pressed at her hips, following her as she moved. 

Slowly, Sadie rocked back onto her heels again as the contraction peaked, then she heaved a huge sigh, her lashes fluttering. It felt like a release of energy, and a smile flickered on her face as Lavender rubbed her hands firmly up and down her back with a small giggle. 

“You’re really doing amazing.”

“I’m trying…” Sadie mumbled, then pushed her hair out of her face. “Kay, can you…can you get me a scrunchie and then light one of my incense cones? I’m gonna try to…lay down.”

“You got it.” Lavender smiled, giving Sadie’s back a couple pats before wiggling out of the bed and scooting around the room. While she buzzed around, Sadie sat fully back on her heels and grabbed up the water bottle, taking a few big swallows. 

She set the bottle on the bedside table, then carefully turned her achy body and flopped down onto her pillows. Tucking one arm under her head, she flailed with the other and balled up her sheet between her legs, then propped another smaller pillow underneath her belly. “Mmh…” 

She closed her eyes as the scent of the incense filled the air, and she took in a big breath and blew it out with intent. Clear the lungs, clear the mind, clear the body. Reset. Things are going beautifully, and this baby was going to be here in just a matter of time. 

She felt Lavender get up onto the bed, and then her hands were gathering up her hair. She smiled and lifted her head a bit to help, grateful that she could feel the cooler air on her neck now. Lavender patted her shoulder, and then her free hand. “Open.”

“Mmh?” Sadie uncurled her fingers, and a cool stone was placed into her palm. She ran her fingers across it and smiled, recognizing the heart shape and the smooth, tumbled surface. 

“Rose quartz. For motherhood and love. Found it on your dresser, thought you might need it. Hang onto that while you try to get some rest, I’m gonna go get some of your laundry started, you just scream if you need me.” Lav’s voice was soft and sweet, and Sadie melted into a smile, nodding. 

“Okay. Thanks…”

Lavender patted Sadie’s hip, then scooted off of the bed, gathered the laundry that was in the corner (tossing in a few of the things that had missed the basket) and padded out of the room, leaving the door mostly open but pulled just a little bit.

Sadie listened to her leave, then took a deep breath in and willed herself to relax. Pressing her palm and the rose quartz heart to her belly, she nuzzled her face into the pillow…and breathed.

–

Exhausted, Sadie drifted quickly into a light sleep. Her body craved the rest, even as it continued working to prepare to have this baby. 

She dreamed, and it was more like different scenes pieced together instead of a coherent story. In one, she was swimming in an ocean that bobbed her up and down with the rough waves, but she wasn’t scared. In the next, she was carrying a bowling ball that was much too heavy for her, and nobody would tell her where to put it so she was left just carrying it around with her, looking for where to put it down.

In the last, before she woke up, she was in a forest, leaning back against a sturdy tree, waiting for her baby to arrive. She could tell, somehow, that it should be coming soon. She shifted her hips side to side and looked up at the treetops above her, water dripping from between her legs and flowers growing wherever it landed. 

It was a couple hours of slightly restless sleep, but sleep that she needed. When she woke up, it was because there really was fluid leaking from her, a wet spot on the blankets underneath her, and she felt the desperate need to squat or open up, and now. 

With an uncomfortable grunt, she stared into the middle distance and yanked the damp blanket from between her legs, then rolled further onto her side and grabbed her upper leg behind the knee, huffing as she pulled it toward her chest. It wasn’t enough, but as the contraction rolled through her, it offered a bit of relief. Puffing her cheeks, she focused in on her breathing, snuggling her face against the pillow underneath her head.

She was still leaking, and it was annoying. As she shifted her hips back and forth, she could feel the damp fabric of her boxers sticking to her thighs, and she couldn’t help but grumble. Nothing about this was comfortable, she needed to move. To open. Things were shifting, and she needed to shift with them.

When the contraction faded, she planted her hands on the bed and heaved herself up, then grabbed at her boxers and yanked them down and off immediately. She bent her knees and stuck a hand between her legs to prod at her labia, hoping she would be able to feel something, despite knowing she wasn’t quite there yet. 

When Lavender came back in, having heard the shifting and the grumbles from the other room, she found her cousin in a deep squat on the side of the bed, elbows leaned back on the mattress and back arched, belly shoved forward and a concentrated look on her face as she wriggled to try to get more open. 

Unable to stop a small giggle from escaping, she quickly scooted over to her and kneeled down at her side, smoothing a hand up and down her upper back. “Hey. Did you sleep?”

“Mmh. Hang on.” Sadie grunted, pulling one foot in closer under her butt and growling as she butterflied her knees back. Pulling in a deep, firm breath, she huffed it out through her nose, a soft grumbly grunt rumbling at the tail end of the breath.

Nodding, Lavender just continued rubbing her back. She dropped her other hand to cradle the bottom of Sadie’s belly, leaning down to peek a little bit. “You’re definitely leaking…it looks clear though, which is good…” “Mm.” Sadie nodded, then growled and dropped her head back, rocking her hips forward and then back. “Mmh. Hahhh.” 

“There ya go. Remember your low sounds…” Lavender gently stroked back and forth across Sadie’s lower belly, and Sadie tried to latch onto the feeling. Grabbing a deep breath, she sunk into a deep moan, then sighed as the contraction finally released.

“Hoooh. Damn. They really aren’t kidding…”

“You’re doing amazing. You wanna stay here?”

“Mm.” Sadie shook her head firmly and shifted, grabbing onto Lavender’s arm. Carefully, the two stood up, and Sadie kept a hold of her cousin’s forearm, kneading at her lower back and tailbone area with her other hand. “No, no…I think standing is good for right now…”

“You got it. You wanna lean on the island while I make us something for dinner, maybe?”

“Yeah. Yeah, sounds good.” 

Together, the two slowly waddle shuffled out to the kitchen area, Lavender easily letting Sadie give her some of her weight. As Sadie got settled at the kitchen island, she brushed some flyaways out of her face and sighed deeply, folding her arms and leaning on her elbows. “Did you eat lunch?”

Lavender rolled her eyes and shook her head fondly, grabbing a water bottle and placing it in front of Sadie before crossing to the fridge. “Yes mom, I had some lunch meat and crackers while you were napping. I’m fine, I promise. Let’s see, you want me to just…scramble some eggs, maybe some toast?”

“Mmh.” Sadie grumbled her reply, her voice muffled into the crook of her arm. When Lav looked over her shoulder and saw her bent over, water bottle in one hand and the other elbow tucked tightly around her face, she quickly closed the fridge and moved over to stand behind her cousin.

She rubbed her hands across her hips, then dug her thumbs into her lower back, snuggling close. “There?”

“Lowerrr” came the groaned reply, and she quickly slid her grip lower, kneading around her tailbone.

“Hohhh…” Sadie relaxed into the sound, bending her knees a little bit, and Lavender nodded almost to herself, continuing her kneading. 

When the contraction finally released, Sadie straightened and then wordlessly waved Lavender away, giving her a small smile and then uncapping the water bottle to drink deeply. 

Smiling knowingly, Lavender gave her back a pat, then went back to her buzzing around the kitchen, gathering the few things she needed to make their food. Her mind was busy, thinking not only about what she needed to do to cook (grab the eggs, whisk, make sure to heat the pan before you put the butter in, where’s the butter) but her ears were metaphorically perked, listening for if Sadie needed her. 

Nuzzling her face into her elbow again, Sadie slowed her breathing and shifted her hips from side to side. The surges were getting so much closer together, and she just couldn’t get the urge to open to be satisfied. Standing definitely helped some, but she was afraid to widen her stance even more than she already had, she didn’t want to fall over.

Her breathing deepened even more as she felt her next contraction creeping up, and she opened and closed her hands a few times, shifting and bending her knees a little bit. “Lav. Laaav-” She pleaded as the surge crashed into her hips, the name melting into a deep, rumbling moan. She needed the distraction and extra sensation, plus the counterpressure. 

A few running steps, and there they were, her cousin’s hands, digging and pressing into her lower back and hips. She whined a soft ‘thank you’ then tried to focus on her breathing, huffing hard. The pressure was incredible, it had changed so much just within the short time she’d been laid down. 

Everything was much deeper, much more urgent. And there was a needling, an ache of ‘down’, ‘out’, ‘open’. Was this the urge to push that so many parents and teachers had talked about? She wasn’t sure, and that aspect alone made her a little anxious.

Sadie pulled in a huge, gasping breath, then blew it out roughly, puffing her cheeks. Leaning back on her heels, she pushed her hips back against Lavender’s hands, then slowly relaxed as the contraction ebbed. Lavender gently patted her hip, then leaned and pressed a quick kiss to the back of her shoulder before pulling away and going back to the stove. As she left, Sadie dragged her head up and drank some more of her water, opening her eyes just long enough to grab the bottle before closing them again.

Water still on her lips, she buried her face in her elbow again, her other hand moving to rub big, slow circles around her heavy belly. With each exhale, she tiredly hummed a little bit, releasing the pent-up energy coursing through her body.

Unfortunately, when her next contraction began to roar through her and she called for Lavender, the eggs were already frying in the pan, their edges beginning to brown. 

Whining to herself, Lavender turned down the heat and quickly ran over to her cousin, immediately gripping onto her hips and holding her tongue against the landslide of curse words threatening to spill over. They’d be fine. Probably. She glanced at the pan, then back at her cousin as she kneaded low on her back, pressing in with her thumbs and drawing tight circles.

Sadie whined, a deep and uncomfortable sound, and drew her tight hips in wide circles. She felt herself dripping, some fluid splashing to the tile below her and some snaking down the insides of her thighs. Huffing out her breath, she bent her knees and shoved her hand between her legs, pressing at her labia for some extra counterpressure. 

Finding her breath again, she hauled in a huge inhale, and latched onto Lavender’s voice from behind her. 

“Keep those breaths nice and deep. I’m right here, and you got this. You’re okay.”

She couldn’t respond, not with the amount of pressure coursing through her, but she managed to blow out her air a bit more slowly, then pull in a gentler inhale. She could almost feel Lavender’s smile.

“Nice work.”

Slowly, carefully, she rubbed her palm up and down her labia, burning hot and dripping, and sunk into a soft, trembling moan. Finally, the contraction slowed, then eased, and she drew herself back up. She left her hand between her legs as she panted and tried to catch her breath, fingers cupping her vagina.

With another soft patpat on her hip, Lavender quickly rushed away, and all Sadie could hear was some whispered cursing, the click of the stove, and her frying pan being shuffled around. Once she felt like she had a bit of control again, she lifted her head and rested her chin on her forearm, smiling crookedly over at Lavender as she stood over the trashcan.

“Everything okay over there?”

Lavender jerked her head up, then smiled crookedly. “Shouldn’t have tried to cook when I gotta help you out. I’ll…clean this later. I promise.” She held up the pan with bits of egg sticking to it, and Sadie couldn’t help but laugh a little bit.

“It’s not a big deal, chuck it in the sink…we got other things to worry about.”

“Yeah, I know.” Lav sighed and tossed the pan into the sink with a clatter, then raked her fingers through her hair. “...Should we order some food?”

“Mmh. Yeah. Yeah I think that’d be good.”

“Okay let’s do it.” Smiling, Lavender came over to lean on the island next to her cousin, pulling her phone from her pocket and holding it between the two of them so they could both see it.

–

Two more intense contractions, hunched over the kitchen counter, and their order was placed, for delivery, from Sadie’s favorite Chinese place.

Another three contractions, one at the kitchen island, one halfway to the livingroom with her hands on her knees and a low rumbling roar in her chest, and one leaning on the back of the couch, and the cousins got settled in the livingroom again. Sadie rested on her yoga ball and very lightly rolled her hips in big circles, Lavender perched behind her rubbing her back.

Four more contractions, and their food arrived, thankfully left on the front porch. Lavender grabbed the paper bags and drinks during a breather, very quickly dealing out the food onto the coffee table and flopping herself on the couch right next to Sadie so they could eat.

It was hard for Sadie to eat, but she knew she needed the energy. Once the first bit of orange chicken touched her tongue, though, her body suddenly reminded her how much energy she was spending, and she became ravenous. She ate like a wild thing between each roaring contraction, her sounds shifting from the soft grunts and moans of the early day. Now she was rumbling, groaning, and softly lowing, working alongside the intense pressure and shift of energies.

Lavender made sure she ate too, but couldn’t hide back a few giggles at how much Sadie was eating. 

“Whaaat?” Her cousin whined, one cheek full of rice. “Nothing!! I’m just glad we got some food in you! Don’t choke!” Lavender laughed, and Sadie rolled her eyes, setting down her fork and taking a big sip of her drink.

“Listen, I am so tired and this tastes so good. Don’t you dare make fun of the pregnant lady.”

“You ain’t gonna be pregnant for long! Then I can make fun of you all I want.” 

Sadie huffed through her nose, but grinned at Lavender as she picked her fork back up again. “Deal. Now pass me more of that duck sauce.”

She had a few contractions while they ate, but simply moaned and rumbled her way through them, swaying her hips side to side on the ball with the heels of her hands pressed tightly to her knees. Lavender rubbed one cool hand firmly up and down her spine, and she breathed. 

With her rest and now food, she felt refreshed. Like she had gotten some energy back. She felt…much more ready. Much more solid, more prepared to fully open and bring her baby out. 

Once she finished her food and bounced her way through another contraction, Sadie used the edge of the coffee table to help herself to her feet. “Mmmh. Okay. I’m gonna go back outside…sit on the yoga mat…I need some moon time.”

“Mkay. You want me out there?” Lavender mumbled through her mouthful, blinking up at her cousin.

“It’s fine, just whenever you finish eating. I’m good for a few contractions I think.” Sadie smiled at her, then grabbed one of the towels on the couch and waddled for the back door. Lavender watched her go, then quickly turned back to eating. She didn’t want to miss anything.

Using her foot, she scooted the yoga mat over a bit more to the center of the porch, then clumsily draped the towel over it before carefully kneeling down onto the soft surface. Once down, she flopped back onto her butt with a deep sigh, feeling a contraction prodding and nudging at her lower back. With a soft huff through her nose, she pulled her heels to her backside, butterflying her knees, then tugged off her top, baring both her belly and breasts.

As the contraction crashed into her hips, she closed her eyes and leaned back on her hands, hauling in a deep breath. She dissolved into a low, rumbling moan as she breathed out, letting her head lazily tilt and fall onto one shoulder and keeping her jaw loose and open. The night was cool, with a breeze that flowed across her warm skin. 

With each exhale, she moaned, her throat open, her ribs vibrating, her belly tightening in her lap, against her thighs. This was what she had been envisioning, bathing in the moonlight, centering herself with the energy of the universe, focusing and connecting with her body and her baby.

As the contraction peaked, Sadie gasped, lifting her head. Her eyelashes fluttered a little bit, and she arched her back, just slightly, pushing her hips forward. No, whatever she had thought before, THIS was the urge. She needed to push, with every fiber of her being, her body and her baby needed her to push.

Guided by her instincts and the moon, Sadie gasped in another small breath, then gave her first push, jaw dropped to her chest. She melted into a soft groan, then released the energy, lifting a hand to grab at her belly and a dizzy smile fluttering across her face as she panted. 

Once she caught her breath, she let her head fall over onto her shoulder as she gave another push, her breath and sound softly bubbling, straining in the back of her throat. She could feel more fluid escaping her, dripping down her thighs onto the towel below her, and, best of all, there was a bulging, a warmth. 

Once the contraction faded and she released her push, Sadie shifted her weight and brought one hand down into her lap, pressing the pads of her fingers against her labia. There it was, the bulge of her baby, right there waiting. A huge smile broke across her face, and she began to laugh, letting her head fall back.

The back door slid open, and she heard Lavender’s footsteps jogging quickly out toward her. Sadie dragged her eyes open to look up at her cousin, who had a bewildered expression on her face.

“Baby’s coming.”

Lavender absolutely lit up, beaming from ear to ear. “Wait, now?”

“Yeah. Now.” Sadie giggled, belly bouncing, and Lavender laughed too, pressing her forehead against her cousin’s. 

“Alright. What do you need. Where do you want me. Let’s do this!” Sadie nodded, then pulled back and exhaled, cheeks puffed, as she massaged at her labia. “Okay. Get, um. Get the towels and blankets and stuff. Bring em all. And My water, and grab that rose quartz heart I had earlier. And turn on the lights, switch is by the door.”

“You got it. Be right back.” Lavender smoothed a hand over her hair, then stood and rushed back inside.

The fairy lights strung around the awning flickered on before she went outside, and Sadie sighed in relief, glad to be able to see a bit better but also that the light wasn’t harsh. Slowly pulling in a deep breath, she blew it back out and looked down at her belly, still very gently massaging her labia. “Okay. Okay baby. Let’s do this. You and me. We can do it.”

Another contraction gripped her pelvis before Lavender returned, so without waiting, Sadie closed her eyes, let her head fall back, and pushed, jaw falling open slack and fingers pressing against her labia. They swelled and bulged under her hand, fluid escaping and running down her fingers, and she moaned deeply as she released her energy. They were coming. She was doing it. Here, under the moon.

Lavender arrived back with the blankets as she began to push again, and she quickly kneeled down next to her cousin, setting the things down next to Sadie and holding the water bottle and crystal clutched in the other hand. She watched in amazement as Sadie’s belly changed shape while she pushed; it pulled into a heavy, beautiful teardrop shape with each groan of effort, and it was almost magical.

Lavender first rested her hand on Sadie’s thigh to let her know she was there, then, when Sadie let go of her push to catch her breath, she carefully rested the rose quartz stone on top of her belly, between her breasts. In response, Sadie smiled, nodding a couple of times as she blew out her breath.

The contraction faded, but didn’t fully go away, seeming to give Sadie a rest. The new mom focused on her breathing, shifting her hips side to side a bit as she pulled in deep, long breaths and pursed her breath to exhale, blowing out imaginary candles. 

“You got it…” Lavender whispered softly, then shifted to peek between her legs. She rested her cool hand on Sadie’s thigh as she did so, an amazed tone in her voice as she whispered. “You’re really bulging…they’re right there, Sadie. That’s your baby.”

Sadie just hummed a soft reply, a smile flickering on her face. It felt good to have confirmation that she really was moving the baby down, that her pushes were working. As the contraction grew in strength again, she tilted her head onto the other shoulder, drew in her breath, and pushed again, her jaw slowly coming open.

Bulging, fluid leaking, warmth, stretching. Between her fingers, she felt a shift, an opening, and there, there between the pads of her fingers, was…

“Holy shit.” Lavender whispered, and Sadie whimpered as she grunted and released her push. 

“Nngh. What…? You can’t just-”

“No, no, I’m sorry. Sadie, don’t push for a second. Just, uhm. Blow.”

Puffing her cheeks, Sadie did just that, scrunching her eyes and nose as she blew out her breath in short bursts. She heard and felt Lavender shift, knew she was peering closer between her legs. Finally, her voice, awed and hushed, came from lower down between her knees.

“Sadie. I think…baby’s coming out…face first.”

Sadie’s eyes snapped open, and she jerked her head up to look down at Lavender, jaw dropped. “...What?”

“Yeah, I see…I see their chin. And I think that’s their nose…”

“Oh…oh wow.” Biting her lip, Sadie carefully explored between her legs with her fingertips, trying to figure out what she was feeling. Lavender giggled and patted her thigh, then rubbed her upper arm. 

“I’m serious, it’s…kind of incredible. I think you need to keep pushing, though.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Mind whirring, Sadie quickly pulled her hand away and leaned back on it, shifting her hips and lifting up one knee. Planting that foot firmly on the ground, she lifted her hips up a little bit further, and glanced over at her cousin as she nodded.

“I need your hand-”

“Yep.” Already reaching, Lavender gently laid her hand just where Sadie had had hers, her fingers pressing on her parting labia. “I gotcha. I’m right here.”

It was a relief, almost immediate, to feel both the physical and emotional support. Nodding and licking her lips, Sadie closed her eyes and tried to pull her focus back in. 

Taking in a deep and concentrated inhale, she pushed again, belly lurching against her thighs as she let herself push quite a bit harder than she had before. Her jaw slowly opened as she felt herself burning, bulging, opening, and she let out a loud cry of effort as the pressure grew in intensity.

“You got it, you got it, Sadie!” Came Lavender’s excited cry, and Sadie groaned as she released her push, taking a few quick, panting breaths before pushing again. Despite the roaring pressure, it felt incredible to work alongside her body, to feel herself opening, and to do what she knew she needed to do for her baby. Bracing her foot hard against the mat beneath her, she pushed her hips up further toward Lavender, toward the moon, and grunted, her teeth gritting.

“Yes, that’s it…” Lav murmured, watching in awe as the baby’s face, red and scrunched, finally emerged fully. She quickly stroked some of the birth away from their little face, giggling softly. “Oh, they’re so cute. They have a little button nose, Sadie…”

Her heart leapt, and Sadie melted into a few soft giggles as she shifted and pulled her heel back toward her butt further. She took a moment to catch her breath, chest heaving, then all but melted into another firm, hard push, belly rolling and dropping into a heavy teardrop. The baby’s head held steady, some fluid escaping from around their face, as she pushed, caught her breath, and pushed again.

The contractions weren’t stopping, but Sadie didn’t even seem to notice. Time was still, everything revolved around pushing now. With a grunt, she released her push, then shifted her hips again, rocking from side to side before settling. Lavender nodded as she did, following her as best she could and then settling her hand back down. “That’s it…it’s all good…”

When she felt ready to push again, this time Sadie lifted a hand and grabbed her lifted leg by the knee, pulling it back toward her chest a bit. Once it was back, she inhaled deeply and melted into a loud, rumbling roar, her jaw dropped open and relaxed. Lavender beamed, immediately scooting closer and pressing both hands against either side of her cousin’s emerging baby. “Yes! Yes, go, Sadie! Go!”

The cheering gave Sadie a burst of energy. With a soft splutter, she relaxed, panted for breath, then pushed again, roaring and curling forward around her belly, toward her baby. Fluid gushed, splashing onto Lavender’s forearms, and both women let out differing cries of happiness as the baby’s head popped forward and free. Lavender of excitement and wonder as she cradled the little one in her palms, Sadie of relief and victory.

“I’ve got ‘em, I’ve got their head. Oh my god, that was amazing. That was incredible, Sadie. Oh my god!” Lavender babbled, and Sadie couldn’t help but tiredly laugh, slowly dragging her eyes open and trying to peer over her belly. She could see the top of the little scrunched head, but not much else, and she relaxed back onto her hands, letting her head fall back in relief. She tried to catch her breath and slow her breathing, but the euphoria and energy rolling through her body made that difficult. 

After a moment, the contraction nudged her again, and she felt the incredible sensation of her baby turning inside her, the shoulders shifting and dropping into position. Her jaw dropped, and Sadie’s eyes fluttered closed as she gave herself over and let it happen, trying not to push or interfere. 

She tugged in a deep breath, then puffed her cheeks and blew it out, tilting her head up toward the sky, the moon. Her baby settled, and she felt her body take control and push for her, belly lurching just a bit and coaxing a soft, grumbly grunt from the new mom. 

“There’s a shoulder…” Lavender whispered, staring in amazement at the baby held in her hands. Shifting them to one hand, she quickly flailed and grabbed at the blankets she’d brought, shaking one out and draping it over her hand before bringing it back over closer. “They’re coming, Sadie. They’re almost here.”

A smile fluttered across Sadie’s face, and she took a big inhale, trying to commit to memory how this felt, the intense pressure mixing and mingling with the euphoria and exhaustion. The smile stayed on her face as she tilted her head onto her shoulder and crinkled her nose, giving a small, grunty push.

The shoulders of her baby both easily emerged with a small splash of fluid, and Sadie dissolved into a happy, gaspy moan as, a moment later, her baby wriggled inside her, then came sliding out right into Lavender’s waiting hands and the blanket.

Lavender squealed in happiness as she scooped the little one up, wrapping the blanket around their shoulders and very quickly moving them up and onto Sadie’s chest.

As soon as she felt the baby slide free, Sadie’s eyes had opened wide, one hand lifting and reaching for her baby. Once their little, warm body rested against her chest, she wrapped her arm around them and let herself slowly fall back onto her back, exhausted, euphoric laughter bubbling from her chest.

The rose quartz heart had managed to stay tucked between her breasts as she pushed, shifted, and finally gave birth. As she clutched her crying baby to her breast, Lavender snuggled up to her cousin and quickly picked it up off of her skin, touching it to the baby’s wrinkly forehead before setting it aside on the pile of blankets.

That would definitely be a story to tell. Despite the false starts, her cousin had trusted in her body, the universe, her baby, and what she knew, and gave birth under the moon. It was exactly what she’d envisioned, even after getting discouraged. And the rose quartz heart was now a symbol of that magical night.