[FweepFwopFwoop]

Astien doubled over and cried out in pain.

[Eskal]

Marius held Astien's hand.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Astien screamed and screamed, until the contraction passed. He leaned back against Marius and cried, tears streaming from his face. "I can't do this! I can't, I can't do this!"

[Eskal]

"You've been at it for five days, Astien. You're doing great."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"Has it been five days? It feels like four... But I can't do it anymore! I can't! It hurts too much!"

[Eskal]

"You're doing great," Marius said.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"No, no it hurts too much!" Astien laid his head against the crook of Marius' shoulder. "I can't do this!"

[Eskal]

Marius stroked Astien's hair and kissed his head.

[Eskal]

"You can do it Astien."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"It hurts too muuch!"

[Eskal]

"Just think about holding Aiden in your arms for the first time. No more swollen ankles and no more back pain."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"I'm trying, gods I'm trying!" Astien sobbed. He began yelling once more as another contraction came.

[Eskal]

"You're doing great."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Astien panted and took deep breaths, until he was finally done with the contraction. "Gods, just kill me now." He groaned.

[Eskal]

"As you're husband, that is against my promise to you." He kissed Astien's head.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Astien closed his eyes. "I just want to be done with this." He sobbed. "This is torture!"

[Eskal]

"You'll get through it. We'll help you."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"I feel like I'm about to be ripped in half."

[Eskal]

"I believe it."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Another contraction came, and then another, and another. Astien bruised Marius' hand from squeezing, as he screamed and cried.