How Does Your Garden Grow?
By Donna and Abs
Although close to term, Vanessa did not seem to be slowed by her pregnancy much. She was still as vivacious as ever. And, of course, her lover Gus appreciated it!
Even though it was fall outside in the rest of Edan, everything was still green and blooming in the Secret Garden. Gus and Vanessa had a tiny cottage in one corner of it. Having collected enough gems to keep busy making jewelry over the winter, Gus was content to stay in the Garden with Vanessa, close by her side. He didn't want to miss the birth of his child!
Of course, the "fall" weather in the town of Edan itself did not make much difference in the desert climate. If anything, the contrast was from cactus and tumbleweeds to lush flowery garden! Vanessa said she needed to be with the flowers, and so did her other garden sisters, so the flowers did not die. At least as long as they were there.
As usual, Vanessa was in the heart of the garden itself, communing with the flowers and talking to the butterflies that flitted around her. Gus had gone inside to get them both some fruit juice, and when he came back, he stopped in his tracks. Vanessa's face had an odd look of concentration on it.
"He's coming," said the fae. Gus was instantly excited, spilling the fruit juice all over himself in an attempt to get to her, but she pushed him away. Pulling down her pants, she concentrated for a moment before giving birth to a pod!
Gus looked at the pod, his jaw dropped. "But.. but..," he stammered. Behind him, there was a soft chuckle. Turning, Gus saw it was Rhiannon, who was large with child herself!
"She's a butterfly," Rhiannon laughed. "What did you expect?"
"But when will she hatch or whatever she does?" he asked with a rather woeful expression, forgetting in his bewilderment that the child was supposed to be a boy.
Rhiannon leaned down, and placed a hand on the pod. Meanwhile Vanessa was sitting up, already healed. "It is a he," said the childbirth fae. "And he will come soon, but in his own good time. Oh!" The last was said as she stood up, her hand going to her own belly.
Gus looked panic stricken. "Rhi? Are you okay? Do you want me to get anyone for you?"
"I think it might be time for my baby!" she said. "Can you find Glen?"
Gus danced in place for a moment, torn between wanting to look after the pod that contained his son, and wanting to help Rhiannon. As Vanessa gathered up the pod, he took off like a shot, heading out of the garden and down the road to the farms. Luckily, he ran into Dani, who was heading back out there himself after getting some supplies at the mercantile, and the ponies attached to the cart he was driving were able to cover ground a lot more quickly than he could running.
Glen never really stayed in one place for very long. They were hoping he was visiting his mother and father at Gideon's cottage.
Fortunately, he was! Excited, Glen jumped into the cart with the other two men that looked like him. He had a far away look on his face as he communicated with the fae in the garden. "We are to stop and get Kat," he told the others. Apparently Rhiannon, being a childbirth fae, had to go through a bit of what her patients went through. Well, the births usually *did* echo their forms!
It didn't take long for them to find Kat, and the midwife joined them in the now rather crowded cart to head back to town. A short time later, Dani pulled it to a halt near the Mission church. He had heard rumors of a Secret Garden, but like most of the Edan residents, he had not visited it. Taking Kat by the hand, Gus led her to the tiny gate that was almost hidden by vines on the tall fence behind the church.
Inside, Vanessa was hugging her pod, and rocking it. The little boy had not yet made his appearance. Rhiannon was not there, but Vanessa said that Rhi’s mother and sister had taken her to the cover of a cottage.
When Kat got to her, she found the fae already in active labor. "How are things going?" she asked pleasantly as she unpacked the things she would need from her birthing bag.
Rhi was having a contraction, but Endora said, "She has to experience labor to be able to relate to those she later helps. I am afraid it will not be as easy as it usually is, for us."
Katherine nodded. "Having my own baby has certainly helped me in that way," she said with a soft smile.
Rhi's contraction ended and she panted. "That HURTS!" she said.
"It will if you fight it," Katherine said softly. "Breathe next time. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Concentrate on something, like that vase of flowers."
"Thought I was breathing," said Rhi. "I know what to do, but it is not so easy to do it myself." And another contraction hit as she finished speaking.
Kat coached her through it, and this time, she managed to get the rhythm of it down. Afterwards she was checked, and found to be over six centimeters dilated already!
It would be a quick labor, but a labor nonetheless. Meanwhile, outside, Vanessa rocked her pod.
Having seen that Glen and the midwife were brought to the Garden, Gus returned to Vanessa's side. With a tentative hand, he reached out and touched the pod. It felt warm.
Then it squirmed! Gus backed up, startled, while Vanessa laughed softly. He had taken his hand away, but she put it back, and while both were touching the pod, it began opening!
Gus sank to his knees beside Vanessa, an expression of pure awe on his face as the pod started to split. Out of the pod came the most beautiful blue butterfly Gus had ever seen! But instead of a bug's body, there was a sweet baby's face!
"A butterfly? My son is a butterfly?" Gus gasped.
"Well," Vanessa laughed, "he is my son too! Oops!" She laughed again, as little Papillon tried out his wings. "Catch him, Gus!"
Laughing, Gus jumped to his feet, enveloping the fluttering little boy in his arms. "Gotcha," he said, hugging the baby against his chest. "Hey, boy, I'm your daddy."
Papillon looked at his father and gave a little cry, but it was not an angry noise. It was more like he was saying, "You?" Vanessa giggled, then put out her hands. The baby flew into her arms, and began to nurse noisily.
As he nursed, his body changed into one like a normal human infant except for the wings. Even so, Gus could not be more proud of his newborn son!
Meanwhile, inside the cottage, Rhiannon had reached transition. By this time, she had reached a healthy respect for human women that would willing go through this process just to have a baby of their own!
She also had a bit of a crowd, waiting for the little one to be born! Everyone was excited, especially Glen. Once the baby, an all fae, was born, he would grow quickly, just as his parents had done.
Her sister was there too, looking a little smug. When it came her time to give birth, she wouldn't have to undergo what her sister was experiencing!
Diana was a fertility fae, but she was not really expected to be a midwife. Her talent was more like her mother's.
As Rhiannon passed through transition, she soon felt the urge to push. And as everyone watched, she delivered her firstborn into Katherine's waiting hands!
That part, at least, did not take long. It was a very large baby boy, with a lusty cry!
"I have a son!" Glen announced gleefully, kissing Rhiannon and everyone else in his excitement.
"Yes," the new mother sighed, glad it was over. She would heal quickly, and remember all that went on. "Now we have another male fae to carry on the line!" Taking her son in her arms, so she could feed him, she told everyone, "Meet Donovan!"