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

[red_ponytail]

"All part of the service," Bill said with a smile, reaching with his free hand to help her get her hair out of her face. "You're doing fine, we'll be there before you know it."

[sluttylyingliar]

"Oh my god this feels so unnatural," she breathes, leaning against him as they walk. "I get those women in all those movies who scream at their husbands. I kind of want to kick Raylan in the balls right now. And make him shove a bowling ball out his ass."

[red_ponytail]

"I...don't blame you in the slightest for feeling that way," Bill said carefully, in the interest of his own bollocks. "Men have got it pretty sodding easy when it comes to having a baby. That's why women are so bloody amazing, though. Can you imagine what it'd be like if it was the men that gave birth? We'd be complete pansies about the whole thing."

[sluttylyingliar]

"Good answer," she huffs, fingers gripping his shirt.

"Can you believe this?" she asks with a shaky laugh. "I'm having a goddamn baby. How do feel about being Uncle Bill to this kid, huh?"

[red_ponytail]

Bill couldn't get enough of kids, and that wasn't just because he'd come from a large family. He grinned. "I would be honored," he replied, utterly sincere.

[sluttylyingliar]

"Well good, because you don't really have much choice," she grunts, pushing along up the path. "Plus, it's a tie with you and Danny over who's the most responsible and functional so we're going to need you to teach this kid how to not be a total shitshow."

[red_ponytail]

"You and Raylan are going to be fine," Bill assured her firmly. "And I promise, I will help as much as you need me to, all right?"

[sluttylyingliar]

"Thank you," she breathes, stuttering to a stop as another contraction rips through her, only Bill's strong arm keeping her from completely doubling over.

"I'm gonna puke," she mutters, breathing through her nose to try and keep from actually doing it. "Oh my God this hurts."

[red_ponytail]

He kept her upright, letting her take a moment as she worked through the contraction. "Keep breathing," he said gently, rubbing her back. "We're almost there, you can make it."