happy thanksgiving

[notsocommon]

Thanksgiving was not a holiday that Helen really celebrated outside of food and drink with close friends and this year, she'd been with just Will when the labor pains had started up in earnest. She'd ignored them for a while, considering it was common enough this late in pregnancy to have some false labor but when the pain seemed to get sharp and real and the contractions worryingly close, she and Will made the trek to the clinic and luckily found Dr. McCoy, who was happy enough to deliver a baby (for a given description of happy, anyway).

It was only after the hard part was done (and they'd both slept a handful of hours, to boot) that she felt comfortable enough sending Will out to tell everyone the baby had come and felt up to entertaining company.

[[OOC: This is timed anywhere from morning to afternoon on November 23rd in the clinic.]]

Comments

[haolehothead]

Danny's grateful that she's doing this in the clinic instead of a home birth. It means that when he goes to work and then to the Children's Office, it's only a quick sidetrip to go see Helen and the new baby. He knocks lightly on the wall nearest to her with a burgeoning grin on his lips, looking at the baby and then at Helen, gesturing to the both of them as he sets his cane to the side. "I'm gonna sit down," he says. "And then I'm gonna hold him and there's nothing in the world that's going to stop me."

[notsocommon]

"I'm certain my darling will have no shortage of loving aunts and uncles to do that spoiling," Helen said, unable to keep from smiling. She hadn't smiled this much in years.

"I can imagine he won't even realize he has legs until he's four or five."

[notsocommon]

"Here, let me come to you," Helen said, shifting Gregory and getting out of bed. She was still sore, yes, but women had been having babies for thousands of years. She wasn't a complete invalid.

"This is Gregory James Zimmerman, who seems content to sleep for the moment. I'm sure when he gets home, he'll scream around the clock."

[genetic_deadend]

Leah was pretty sure you were supposed to bring gifts to a new mother, but she couldn't exactly swing by the florist's and grab a balloon and some gerbera daisies. If she'd thought about it she might've made something--she wasn't inept with a sewing needle--but she hadn't thought about it, so she made a mental note to poke around later and see if there was any yarn to be found anywhere on the damned island, and she'd crochet a blanket. For now, she just brought herself.

"Hey, check it out, you made a baby," she remarked by way of greeting as she sat down next to Helen. Cute baby, too. Itty bitty. Kind of red and patchy looking, and what was it about newborns that made her think of fish? She couldn't say. But it was still cute.

[notsocommon]

"It's a Thanksgiving miracle," Helen said dryly. Her smile was broad, though, because she cared deeply for Leah and loved her company. She shifted Gregory a bit, who seemed to be blinking awake.

"I think he may wake up for you, Leah. You're a special one."

[sunburned]

"Well, good day to you, Master Gregory," said John, reaching out to gently touch the top of Gregory's little head, remembering his sister's little ones and how fragile they'd been, how quickly they'd grown.

"And he is precious, Helen," he said, smiling. "May I ask to hold him?"

[notsocommon]

"Oh, you may absolutely hold him," Helen said, laughing lightly. "I believe the child won't know he has feet for years, considering how many doting loved ones he's going to have."

And, really, that was the way it should be.

[haolehothead]

Danny makes sure that the cane is set aside so that he can reach out and frame Gregory's face with soft fingertips, regarding him reverently and with all the due awe that's required of looking at something so precious. "Hey, take all these moments when they come. God knows Grace liked to squeal to get our attention those first few years. But what am I saying, you know this already."

[genetic_deadend]

"Well yeah, sure," Leah quipped, unable to keep from smiling down at the little fuzzy-headed blinking fish baby. "He knows a pretty girl when he sees one. Don't ya, fella? Yep. Heartbreaker in the making. And how's the little man and the new momma doing? You feeling okay? Everything go...uh, like it was supposed to?"

[sunburned]

"You'll have to assist," he said, smile broadening into a grin and shifting in the chair. "With the one hand. But don't worry - I've handled plenty of dragonets and never dropped one that didn't bite me first."

[inabmovie]

"If by 'amazing' you mean 'so far has not managed to scar him for life' then I think I've done okay." He tucks Greg into his arm but he's turned so Magnus can see him, and Greg curls his hand around Will's finger. Will wiggles that finger up and down a little, like a wave, at Magnus. "Hey, Mom."

[not_so_smooth]

"Knock knock," Sam said quietly, sticking his head into the room to see if Helen or the baby were sleeping. He'd rather not wake either of them up but he was crazy excited to see them both. Babies weren't every something he'd been around, but this was exciting and would probably remain that way until he was asked to change a diaper.

[submitwithwill]

"Oh, I don't know about that. I find it compelling to observe children learning how to walk." Although I would admit that I did not have to watch them so often as to have that become a concern. I had heard that the early stages of walking were quite harrowing for parents, but with none of my own, I had not ever seen it.

"Children are quite fascinating and lovely, I think you're blessed to have one of your own."

[thedevamper]

"I don't see why not, all they do is eat and sleep and something at the rear end that doesn't even bear thinking about." Nikola said, sitting at the edge of the bed and taking the advantage to look at his godchild. Ugly little thing, he wasn't going to tell Helen that. He was sure he would grow into a fine young man... Eventually. Well, hopefully he would if he didn't inherit Will's genes over Helen's. "Of course he will, it's me. Do I get to hold him then?"

[notsocommon]

"Will you have any someday? I know it's an excessively rude question and one I've been asked over and over but I assure you, there's no expectation attached to it, merely curiosity."

Phedre was a clever woman and caring. Helen felt that, if she chose, she would be an excellent mother.

[notsocommon]

Helen waved back with a few fingers, grinning all the while. "Hello, darling. Both of my darlings, at that. I'm a lucky woman to be surrounded by so many fine men."

Flattery, certainly, but Will had been amazing throughout her pregnancy and just in general. She'd never had such a generous partner before.

[notsocommon]

Helen nodded and got out of bed with the baby in arms, crossing to Granby and gently settling Gregory against his good arm so he was well-supported.

"Well, I assure you, little Gregory is not going to be biting anyone for a while yet. Are newborn dragons fiesty creatures?"

[notsocommon]

"Yes, so long as you're careful. Will you come to get him? I'd rather not get up if I can help it."

There would be the walk back to her hut later, certainly, but that was...later. Nikola could do the bulk of the work for now.

[notsocommon]

"I could use the reminder all the same," Helen said gently. "If she were still with me, my Ashley, she'd be twenty eight in April. It's been a long time indeed since I've raised a newborn."

It felt like starting over but it didn't feel like replacing Ashley, at all, and Helen was grateful for that.

[notsocommon]

"Everything seems to be fine, so far as the birth went. Sore, but that's to be expected. Nothing my body couldn't handle."

Helen laughed. "You know, it's very chic now to have a natural birth with no doctors about. I think I would have bragging rights for having one on a deserted island."

[notsocommon]

"Hi, Sam. I was hoping you'd be by," Helen said, giving him a sweet, if tired smile. "I think Will's gone to get himself some coffee. Poor darling has barely slept since I went into labor."

Will had been there all night and it had been a great comfort, especially since she'd last done this alone.

[thedevamper]

"Of course I will be careful, I have to have time to corrupt him after all." Nikola replied with a sly, mischievous grin before sliding up the bed towards Helen. Holding out his arms for Gregory, Nikola very carefully picked him up and even managed to remember to support his head and not hold him out like some sort of unwanted package. "You, young sir are going to make a fine addition to the family."

The vampire race. Nikola liked to plan ahead after all.

[inabmovie]

"Look at your Mommy, kiddo," Will says. "Isn't she beautiful? Yes. Yes she is. You have the prettiest Mommy in the whole world. And the smartest, and the most kick-ass... you remember that, okay?" He kisses the top of Greg's head and breathes in the scent of soft, clean, brand-new baby. He can't describe it, but it's amazing. Greg, of course, has no idea what Will's saying but that's okay. He'll have plenty of chances to understand later.

[sunburned]

He hadn't intended for her to get up and he'd started to fluster, but he stilled immediately when she put the baby in his arms. He supported him with one hand, curling his injured arm around him protectively.

It's a long moment before he can answer the question.

"Aye, depending on the breed. Most come out of the shell talking and ravenous. Iskierka was ready to make war within minutes."

[notsocommon]

Oh, come now, you're filling his head with nonsense," Helen said, coloring a bit and dipping her head down. "Though I am glad to know you think I'm lovely in spite of the state I'm in right now."

She felt like a complete troll and she knew she couldn't look as horrible as she felt. It simply wasn't possible.