It was stereotypical, but Austin's jaw dropped as one hand flew to his mouth and the other flew to his belly. "Oh...my...wow...I..." he sputtered. Rachel's nursery was gorgeous. The yellow and purple walls, the beautiful wooden crib, the plush rocking chair... it was perfect.
He immediately turned and embraced his wife as best he could. She rubbed the sides of his belly as he laid his head on her shoulder. "It's perfect..." he whispered.
"Yes, thank you so much Virginia!" Austin said. He waddled over to the crib and pulled up his shirt as he leaned against. His belly was bared and Rachel was clearly visible through his skin. The baby's head was towards the bottom of his cramped womb as he stared with love into the crib. He heard the door click as Virginia left to give them privacy. Lois's arms partially snaked around his pregnancy, her hands meeting at his bellybutton.
Austin gave a fatherly proud smile as Lois's hands rubbed their daughter's head. "With any luck, dear, she won't be our last," he remarked. He pulled his wife's hand up to the top of his belly. "Her butt's right here."
"She's really easy to feel now," Austin said, running their hands over his exposed belly. The baby's shape was easy to feel in his womb. He waddled over to the rocking chair and sat down with Lois's help. "Just think... in two weeks, I'll be sitting here and rocking you to sleep, Rachel," he cooed to his belly. He pulled his shirt up again as Lois knelt next to him.
Austin sighed and patted his belly. "Yeah, honey. Don't get much bigger, okay? I wanna get you out easily and into my arms." His face contorted as Rachel somersaulted and kicked at his wife's face, the movements causing his belly to erupt in waves.
"Pffff..." Austin breathed deeply. "Yeah, that one hurt," he said. "Bad girl!" he pouted with a pat of his belly. "When she does those big movements, it hurts a bit. I just don't have much more room in here."
*TWO WEEKS LATER*
Austin waddled over to the dining table. He was full-term with his baby girl and his belly stuck out like a watermelon. Rachel was almost ten pounds and was easily visible in his womb. Her head bulged at the bottom of his belly. His breasts were extremely swollen and already starting to leak milk.
He sat down with a sigh across from his wife, who gave him a reassuring smile. To her, this was the sexiest he'd ever been.
He waved from the door like the pregnant househusband he was. At nine months pregnant, he couldn't do anything except lay on the couch. And that is what he did until noon. Austin laid on his side, belly exposed. He amused himself with belly rubs and pokes as he watched TV. At around 12, he felt a tightness pass through his pregnancy. He stared as his stomach contracted around his daughter, who he could easily see through his womb. He had just had his first contraction.
Austin stared wide eyed at his belly. A contraction. He was in labor. Now. This baby would be out of his belly and in his arms within the day.
He debated whether or not to call Lois. He knew labor would take a while to really pick up and didn't want her worried. On the other hand, HE WAS IN LABOR. Austin couldn't get that out of his head, even as Rachel kicked at the discomfort from being squeezed. He laid a hand on his belly and rubbed the enormous mound. "Be strong, baby. They're gonna be a lot worse than that."
Austin reached across the end table for the phone. Dialing Lois's cell phone, he hoped she would pick up. He cradled his belly, which now hung low on his torso. "Hi, dear. Um... I just had my first contraction."
Austin smiled as his sister-in-law entered. "I don't see what she's so worried about. It's just one contraction, and labor takes a long time. Though, if you wouldn't mind, could you get me a water? I can't exactly move," he reminded her with a rub of his belly.
"You been through this a lot, Virginia. What should I expect?" he asked as she handed him a glass of water.
"Some of the other men in my class said their births weren't very hard, but there were others that took almost two days to have their kids," Austin replied, sipping his water. "Rachel, please help Daddy out and come out quickly, okay?" he asked his belly, giving it a rub.
"Yeah, I've packed the hospital bag and some clothes for her. Lois has the car seat in her trunk." Austin replied. "Oh, I remember now. You've had all boys until your fourth, right? I hope my first two or three are girls..." Austin said. Rachel gave a kick and he moved Virginia's hand to the spot on his belly.
Austin noticed his sister-in-law's blush. "You can play with her, you know. She's your niece. You'll be having fun with her after she's born, anyway." And she'll be born pretty soon, he thought.
Austin was about to reply, but another contraction passed through. His womb squeezed around his daughter, allowing Rachel's full form to be easily seen. The contraction a little longer than the first and felt like a slight cramp. "There's another one," he breathed.
"A soup or something would nice. I don't think my stomach could handle anything rich right now." Austin called.
To think, by the next morning, he would be a dad. This baby inside of him would be in his arms and on his breast. Austin couldn't wait.
"Ah, thank you." Austin.
(Wanna skip to when Lois gets home? This is getting kinda boring, and by then, he'll really be in labor.)
Austin was full on laughing as Lois rushed in and threw herself to his belly. "Lois, dear, your sister's been taking good care of me. I'm fine. I'm having contractions about every..." he checked the paper next to him, "12 minutes."
Austin continued laughing as he sat in the front seat. He almost couldn't fit, as his belly scraped the dashboard. He stopped laughing and moaned softly as another contraction came over him, not wanting to alert Lois.
Lois put their bags in the back of the car. "Now, honey, please drive slowly, as hard as that may be. We can't be in an accident now, or even stop fast," he said as she rubbed his belly.
Austin held Lois's hand as she checked them in at the paternity. He sat down in a wheelchair a nurse brought as he was wheeld to a room, Lois by his side. The orderly helped him change into a gown and lay down on the bed.
"Ahhh..." he said as he laid down in the bed. The gown made his bulging belly seem even larger as it loomed above him. He laid on his side and held Lois's hand as she drew circles on his belly. This was it.
Austin kissed her lips. "Yeah... we will." At that moment, a nurse came in and hooked Austin up to a contraction monitor and a fetal heartbeat monitor. Both devices beeped smoothly, indicated that both father and daughter were doing great.
Austin moaned as another contraction came over him. He felt Lois squeeze his hand as his womb closed over the baby. The contraction lasted for quite a while, and he breathed a sigh of relief as it finished.
"Ack... I couldn't talk through that one. Shouldn't the doctor be in soon to check my dilation?" Austin asked.
