Chapter 11 #6
I licked my lips. “If… if it’s ok with you. I would like you to choose a name that honors Naqoi. Not his exact name, I think that would be too hard on you, but something that symbolizes the impact he’s had on our lives.”
“But he has not impacted your life.”
I shook my head. “He has, though. Veeshen said you came here as a way to find purpose after your loss. Tolai and Naduq wouldn’t exist without him. I love your family as my own, but I would have never met them or you if you’d remained on Lyll. The impact may not always be happy, but it’s there.”
He sniffled. “You would do this for me?”
I ran my hand along his cheek and jaw. “For us. But only if you want it. I wanted you to know that it’s an option.”
“Thank you,” he said softly, burying his face against my shoulder.
I held him for several minutes—until his emotions seemed to settle—then I turned and kissed his hair. “Come on. Let’s go down before the spaghetti gets cold.”
He nodded again and sniffled. “Ok.”
It might have been an unconventional suggestion, but as we headed downstairs, I knew it was the right one.
∞∞∞
Eashai and I sat next to each other in his obstetrician’s office, hands joined on the armrest of his chair. The slight tremble in my mate’s fingers and his pale knuckles told me just how nervous he was, even if he didn’t want to voice his fears.
We’d been informed some weeks prior that our baby was breech. Several attempts to turn him had been made, but he’d stubbornly stayed in position.
Now, with the due date quickly approaching, it was our last chance to see if we had time to get our son into position, and Eashai had been beside himself with worry.
The doctor knocked, gave a polite few seconds, then strode in. “Good morning, Eashai and Gene.”
“Good morning, Escaluu,” I replied to the peach-skinned man.
Eashai nodded in greeting.
“How are we feeling today?” the doctor asked. “Anything I need to know about?”
Eashai shook his head. “No. I am merely hoping that he has turned.”
Escaluu looked at one of their tablet things, then he let out a long sigh.
The way Eashai’s fingers tightened on the armrest told me he knew what the doctor was going to say.
He set aside the tablet, which rolled up into its pen-shaped form. “Unfortunately, your baby is still breech.”
“Th-there is still time for him to turn, right?” Eashai asked, nerves tinging his voice.
He shook his head. “Unfortunately not. Your test from this morning shows that you will go into labor within the next day or two. I am going to call down for an immediate surgical birth.”
“Surgical?” my mate squeaked.
He nodded. “You are too close, and even if he starts to turn, he will probably not be head down by the time labor starts. Surgical birth now is the safest for both of you.”
I squeezed Eashai’s hand. “I’m here. Everything will be fine.”
“But…” He turned to me with wide eyes. “I… I do not…” He shook his head, and I recognized panic on my normally calm mate’s face. “No surgery.”
I reached up and set a hand along his cheek, then I leaned in and touched my forehead to his. “Hey,” I murmured. “Talk to me. Why are you scared?”
“I do not know,” he admitted softly, calming under my touch. “The thought of surgery has always scared me.”
“Ok,” I replied. I swallowed. “I’m going to talk you through this, ok?
He nodded almost imperceptibly.
“You know you shouldn’t deliver naturally when he’s breech, right?”
“Yes,” he whispered.
“Why shouldn’t you deliver when he’s breech?”
He swallowed. “There are too many potential complications, and risks are much higher. I could try, and end up requiring a more intense surgery. One or both of us could suffer serious injury.”
“That’s right,” I murmured. I ran my hand along his jaw. “You know that even the human version is considered mostly safe?”
He nodded into my palm.
“The Lalyllte version should be even safer.”
“I know.”
“And I’ll be right with you the entire time. They let human fathers in most of the time, so I can’t imagine I won’t be allowed.”
“I am still scared.”
“I know.” I paused. “It’s your body, E. I want what’s best for you and our baby, but nobody, and that includes me, can force you to have surgery. It has to be something you consent to. Do you want to try to have a natural birth when he’s breech instead?”
Eashai closed his eyes and swallowed. I couldn’t fight his fear for him; all I could do was trust that he’d make the logical choice.
“No,” he breathed after what felt like far too long.
“Look at me?”
He opened his eyes again and his gaze met mine.
“I love you,” I murmured. “I will fight for what you want. Do you need to go home and prepare yourself more? What do you need to be as comfortable as possible?”
“I think…” he started, voice shaking, “that going home would make it worse. I do not want to think about it.”
“You want to do this now?”
“No… but…”
“If it helps,” Escaluu cut in. “It is not uncommon for people to be worried. I often find that detailing the procedure is a valuable tool to combat these concerns.”
I blinked, then chuckled. “That right there tells me you’ve got better technology than Earth. I think if a doctor here offered to talk about it, it would make things worse.”
He laughed. “Indeed, the procedure is quite safe and routine. Eashai, would you like to know what to expect?”
Eashai closed his eyes tightly. “Yes,” he whispered.
“Thank you.” The doctor paused for a breath.
“You will be offered the choice of a general or local anesthesia. If the thought of surgery is too overwhelming, then I suggest general. Most still opt for local so that they may hold their infants immediately, but your comfort is critical. After that, we will clean your abdomen. Surgery starts with a nanite salve applied to the incision area. Combined with scans, they determine the best course of entry. I will briefly review the recommendation, then use it as a guide. I will use a laser scalpel to cut through the layers of tissue. The nanites will temporarily block blood flow during the procedure and use the agreed-upon logic to open in a manner that causes the least trauma. We will deliver your baby via the incision, then make a quick seal. The nanites will form stronger connections and encourage healing. They will have sealed the wound within minutes, and will dissolve naturally as your body restores itself.”
“What complications do we need to worry about?” I asked. “Pain management? Infection risk? Scar tissue and wound treatment?”
“Most bapis report minimal pain, if any, after the procedure. If it is a concern, there are various options to address it. The nanites handle any infection risks along with wound repair. Scarring is possible, but uncommon, and we have effective treatments if desired.”
“How long will it take? And how long until we’d be able to go home?”
He hummed. “The procedure itself is usually under an hour. We would ask you to stay in the hospital for another two to three hours—until the nanites report that they have completely sealed the incision area. Then you will be able to go home.”
“What if there is a complication?” Eashai asked softly.
“Then we deal with it,” the doctor stated. “But I do not believe there will be one. You and your baby are both healthy. He is not in a difficult location or position for surgical birth.”
Eashai trembled under my touch. “I do not wish to be awake.”
“Ok,” I murmured. “I understand. And I’ll be right by your side.”
“Are you ready for me to call down to have them prep for you, or do you need a bit more time?” Escaluu asked.
“N-now,” Eashai replied.
“Understood. Somebody will escort both of you to the preparation area. Please follow their instructions. We should be ready for the procedure once you have changed.”
With that, the doctor strode out of the room.
Eashai turned, a position that had to be uncomfortable given his pregnant belly and the arms on the chair, and leaned against me. He shook like a leaf hanging on during a hurricane.
I shifted and wrapped my arms around him. I kissed his hair and forehead. “I’m here,” I whispered. “Everything will be ok, and soon you’ll get to meet our baby.”
He clung to me. “I am scared.”
“I know,” I murmured, then I kissed his temple. “You be scared, and I’ll be strong for both of us. We’re a team, like always.”
Another knock at the door signalled the arrival of a nurse, and a younger light orange Lalyllte who went by the rather human-sounding name of Milo strode in with a wheelchair.
Eashai had insisted on walking in, but I was glad to see the chair. I wasn’t sure if he’d be able to keep himself upright as hard as he was shaking.
“The delivery room is almost set up,” Milo stated. “Let’s get you changed.”
I blinked, then shook my head. I still wasn’t used to hearing a Lalyllte use contractions, but Milo seemed to have no problem with them—a fact I tended to forget.
I stood and helped Eashai from the regular chair to the wheelchair, then followed as Milo pushed the chair through the door. As soon as we were in the wider hallway, I fell in step beside my scared mate and took his hand.
Eashai’s grip was tight—almost painful—but I merely squeezed his fingers in return. He could be as scared as he needed. I’d support him as he braved it.
“Ok,” Milo chirped as we entered another room. “Eashai, we’re going to get you dressed and cleaned first, then Gene will need to wash his hands and wear a mask to go in.”
“I don’t need something covering my clothes?” I asked.
Milo shrugged. “We can get those things if you want, but they’re not necessary.”
“Ooook,” I replied, somewhat unsure.
He laughed. “Even hand-washing is merely an added level of safety. You’ll see a tiny band of glowing blue around the door when we go in.
By now, they will have sterilized the room, and that blue will knock out anything dangerous on us.
Masks are important so we don’t have to increase the field strength to deal with anything coming through in our breathing. ”
“Oh, ok.”