Jess Givens - dated to April 20th

[sluttylyingliar]

It's really, really not supposed to happen this way. Rachel has tried (sort of) to cut down the whining about this Wild Westcrap because it's about the happiest she's seen Raylan in pretty much ever but still. Birth? Without electricity? In the DESERT or whatever this is supposed to be? There are like, rattlesnakes around. And ghosts...maybe. And that clniic is not sterile and there aren't any modern drugs and these dresses are ridiculous and heavy and she can't breathe she's so pregnant.

Honestly, she should have known this would happen in the four seconds a day Raylan and Danny leave her by herself. Her back had been hurting all night but she had written it off to the lumpy mattress and somehow also forgot to mention the shooting pains that in restrospect were coming every ten minutes or so. She'd sent Raylan on with an assurance she was fine and all she needed was a soak in the bath (iron tub thing) and that she didn't need Danny to supervise. It's clear to her, now, that she should never be allowed to make the decisions every again because the second she stepped out of that tub, her water broke and it was very clear what was happening. And that is what happening very quickly.

She'd managed to scramble into one of those weird underdresses, not giving two shits how much the world was seeing and carefully made her way outside, her guts writhing and back not too painful to straigten. She squints against the bright, hot sun and pads barefoot out into the path.

"Help," she croaks out, arm firm around her belly like maybe she can catch the kid if he falls out right here in the dirt. "Shit, someone help!"

Another wave of pain sends her stumbling down to her knees, cursing loudly and creatively as she tries and fails not to panic. Two seconds in and she's already screwed this up.

Comments

[sluttylyingliar]

The rest of the trip passes in a long, sweaty haze of pain and murmured reassurances from Raylan. Chase is, miraculously, in the clinic and informs them the baby is almost here, and that its a very good thing they'd gotten here when they did. Rachel figures she'll panic about that later. Right now she's busy trying to break all the bones in Raylan's hand as she pushes, panting and gritting her teeth against the pain.

[angriestman]

He does his best - to stay out of the way and to stand the pain in his hand without comment. He grits his teeth and coaches her on her breathing. He stays close.

"C'mon, baby," he says, softly. "You can do this. You are the strongest damn person that I have ever met and this'll all be over soon."

[sluttylyingliar]

"Oh God," she breathes as the ripping, intense pressure intensifies and then releases, leaving her weak and boneless as she falls back against the bed. There's a moment of silence and then a sharp, pissed cry. Their baby. Their Jess.

"Is he okay? she murmurs, never really quite believing she could keep him healthy.

Chase holds him out to Raylan, having quickly cleaned him and wrapped him up.

[angriestman]

And there it is: he's holding his son in his arms. A warm, tiny weight, settled against his chest. Jess (and, looking at him, Raylan knows that his name is Jess) doesn't cry, not at first. He just stares.

"He's fine, baby," he says, quietly. "He's beautiful."

[sluttylyingliar]

"I want to see him," she says, voice weak and shaky but determined as she tries to push into a seated position. She stares up at the two of them. Raylan looking at his kid. Her family. Her honest to God, very own family.

"Shit," she breathes, tearing spilling over as every goddamn emotion in the book washes over her all at once.

[angriestman]

She needs to hold him, not just look at him, and Raylan drags himself away, shifting leaning over the bed to slide Jess onto Rachel's chest.

"Shit," he echoes, a broad grin spreading across his face.

[sluttylyingliar]

"Oh my God," she breathes, holding him like he was made of spun glass and crying like a lunatic.

"He looks okay," she says, fucking blown away. "He looks healthy. God, I think his hair is kind of red. What do you think?"

[angriestman]

"Red hair," he says, nodding, ghosting the palm of his hand across the top of Jess' head, feeling where he's not quite whole yet. Fontanel. That's the word for it, isn't it?

"I think he's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." He glances up into her face. "Present company excepted."

[sluttylyingliar]

Rachel opens her mouth to try and say something. Something to convey the goddamn terror and happiness and gratefulness and love but in the end she just pulls Raylan closer with her free hand, leaning her face against him and letting her tears soak into his soft shirt. She's exhausted and sore and sweaty but she just wants to cling to the two of them forever, until she's certain they'll stay with her and never leave.

Jess chirps and roots around at her chest, warm and impossibly tiny.

[angriestman]

"Let's get married," he says, voice hoarse, eyes suddenly stinging. His hand stays on Jess' head and he leans in, pressing a warm kiss against Rachel's mouth. "Let's do it."

[sluttylyingliar]

She actually startles, pulling back to stare up, suddenly very awake.

"Are you sure?" she asks, head reeling at the thought of this complete family just being handed to her. "Is that what you want?"

[angriestman]

"Yeah," he says, nodding. He strokes the side of her face with one finger and then drops a kiss onto the top of Jess' head.

"You brought it up. This is me saying yes."

[sluttylyingliar]

"So," she says with a snort of laughter. "Basically I proposed to you? And you said yes. Is that what I get to tell people? I can live with that...let's do it. I don't want a big wedding or anything, I just want you"

[angriestman]

"You can tell people whatever you like," he says, rolling his eyes. "And we can do it however you want, but, for now, you've got to rest."