Chapter 14

"Alucard!"

The elder vampire's eyes widened when he hears Seras mentally call for him. "Master, I need to get to Seras now. She's calling frantically for me."

"Good lord! She's gone into labor as well?" Kenneth exclaimed.

"Don't worry about it. Megan is going to oversee Seras's birth. Alucard, go be with Seras. I'll be fine." Integra said during a moment of calm. With permission granted, Alucard vanished from Integra's room.

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Megan, Zoey and a few nurses all gathered in the room where Seras would soon give birth. An i.v. had been put in her arm for the blood transfusions she would inevitably need. A special holding unit full of blood packs was wheeled into the room so the transfusions could be replaced quickly. Towels and blankets were also brought for when the baby was delivered. The lighting was soft and candles were lit to help Seras stay relaxed. It was a contrast to the bright flourescent lights Integra was under in the delivery room.

Alucard monitored everything like a hawk as the nurses helped Seras get as comfortable as they could make her. They would stay close by incase immediate medical rescue was needed. Once all the preperations were made, the nurses left the room to wait in the next room. For Alucard and Seras, this was a very private and intimate event. They didn't want an army of onlookers crowding them. Megan started Seras on her relaxation breathing.

Alucard sat behind Seras letting her recline against his body for support. He rested his hands against her shoulders rubbing them gently. She wore a sleeveless, soft cotton gown that went just below her knees. Seras rested her head against Alucard's chest. Her eyes widened when she felt something cool and wet pool between her legs.

"What happened?" She asked slightly panicked.

"It's all right Seras. Your water's broken." Megan said seeing a mix of blood and clear fluid. She picked up the towel she'd placed on the bed before hand to make the clean up quick. She put another in its place.

"Try to relax Seras. The contractions are far apart for now. Don't exert too much energy just yet. You'll need all your strength for the delivery."

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The doctor and his staff constantly hovered over Integra checking her vital signs and those of the baby. She tried to handle all the attention with as much patience as she could muster. But deep down she wanted to tell everyone of them what they could go do with themselves. Combined with the fact that she wasn't very comfortable at the moment didn't help matters either. She was not however going to let the pain of birth get the better of her.

"Integra, are you sure you don't want something to take the edge off the pain?" Kenneth asked. "This is an audourous and drawn out process and you're going to need something to help you relax so you can use your full strength to push the baby out."

"I am a Hellsing, Kenneth. I could handle being shot in the arm by my uncle. I handled seeing Alucard rip him and his bloody cohorts to shreds. I can handle this birth as well." Integra said. "Now stop pestering me!" She barked.

Kenneth shook his head and backed away.

"Sir Integra, I agree with your husband. I know you have a high thresh hold of pain, but this is your first birth. It might be better to have at least a mild sedative to help you relax through the contractions so you won't be eghausted when it comes time to push. There's only so much time you'll have before we won't be able to give you anything for pain." The doctor said.

"I've already told all of you I don't need any drugs. I've dealt with far harser pain, and I'll deal with this as well. And if you want me to relax then stop bothering me so damn much." Integra growled.

Two hours later....

"OWWWW!" Integra howled as a severe contraction hit.

"I want something for the pain!" She shouted.

"But Integra," Kenneth interjected. "I thought you said you could handle the pain. After all, you'd been shot by your....ARRRHHG!" Kenneth screamed as he felt very harsh pressure applied to his lower body. He looked down and saw Integra had grabbed him in a very personal spot.

"GIVE ME MORPHINE!" Integra roared.

"You heard the woman!" Kenneth shouted clutching his male anatomy.

"Prepare the epideral!" Doctor Travalian shouted.

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Seras lay panting and grunting as the pain became more intense. She clutched Alucard's hands hard trying to bear the discomfort. He grimaced feeling the bones in his hands slowly being pulverized by Seras's iron grip. He would just bear with it. His hands would heal as quickly as they were injured. And he knew Seras couldn't help it. She was in a type of pain he could not possibly comprehend.

"Take it easy Seras. I know you're in pain. Just try to relax and breathe with the contractions." Megan instructed.

She got in front of Seras. "I need to check how dilated you are. The baby will be ready to be delivered when you've reached nine centimeters." She explained. "You've reached four centimeters right now, so you're almost half way there. Five more to go, and then we can bring your daughter into the world."

"How long...will it take?" Seras panted.

"Some women dilate very quickly. With others it can take a while. For now it's a waiting game to see how long it will take for you to fully dialate. If we get down to the wire, there is something you can be given to speed up the process. Essentially dilation is the softening of the cervix. When fully dilated it helps allow for a smooth passage through the birth canal for the baby." Megan answered.

"What is it you can give her to speed up the process?" Alucard asked skeptically.

"It's a solution that when applied to the cervix helps it to dilate fully. Doctors don't use it unless they absolutely have to." Megan answered.

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Now that Integra had something for the pain, she was a little easier to deal with. She rested as comfortably as possible now that she felt numb from the waist down. Kenneth sat a considerable distance away from his wife holding an ice pack to his crotch. He learned the hard way when a woman wanted something for considerable pain, give it to her without argument. Walter walked over to him.

"Are you all right?" He asked.

"I'll be fine. I should have just kept my mouth shut. Now I understand why women give birth and not men." Kenneth said with a sigh. "Bloody hell..." he groaned feeling the hurtful ache of his private parts.

Walter walked over to the doctor. "How is she so far doctor?" He asked.

"So far she's dilated to three centimeters. Perhaps now that she's relaxed the progression will go faster. This being her first child it's hard to tell how long this birth will take. It's been well documented that many first time mothers can experience a long labor. It could be well into the morning when she actually delivers." The doctor explained.

"Very well." Walter replied.

He walked back over to where Kenneth sat. "What did the doctor say Walter?" Kenneth asked.

"She's three cenimeters at present. It could be awhile before she's fully dilated. For now, it's simply a matter of waiting. The actual delivery should go quickly. It's getting there that takes the longest." Walter answered.

"What about Alucard and Seras? I can't imagine the agony she must be going through. At least Integra has something to help with the pain. Poor Seras just has to bear through it." Kenneth replied.

"Miss Victoria has the people she needs most with her at this time. I'm sure she'll get through this all right." Walter said reassuringly.

"You might want to replace that ice pack Kenneth." Walter added.

"Damnit. I look like I've pissed on myself. Walter, please stay with Integra while I go change."

"Of course."

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Seras gritted her teeth knashing them together as she tried not to cry out. The pain was getting more intense as time passed. She knew it was going to get a lot more unbearable. Trying to relax she started breathing in deeply and exhaling. While it took a little bit of the edge off, she could still feel strength of her contractions as they started coming closer together. As time progressed they became harder and harder to deal with.

"You're almost there Seras. One more centimeter and it will be time." Megan said.

"She's in so much pain. Are you sure she'll be all right?" Zoey asked worriedly.

"I'll...be...all right...Zoey." Seras panted. "Please don't...worry."

"Her blood pack has emptied." Megan said noticing the empty pack still hooked to the i.v. "Zoey, go and summon one of the nurses to change the blood packs for me." She instructed.

"All right." Zoey said and hurried to bring one of the nurses.

"Uhhhhhh.." Seras groaned in pain. She whipped her head from side to side against Alucard's chest. She cringed and grimaced. She felt Alucard's ungloved hand against her face pushing her bangs from her eyes. She looked up at him. He felt so helpless at that moment. There was nothing he could do to take her pain away. She had to be concious to deliver the child.

"Alucard..." Seras gasped. "I'm...I'm scared."

"I know. You must be brave, Seras. But understand that you do not go into this unknown territory alone. I'm not moving an inch until I know you and our daughter are safe." Alucard replied doing his best to reassure Seras she would be all right. He held her hand while Megan checked her again to see if she was fully dilated.

"All right, Seras. You're at nine centimeters. If you feel the need to start pushing, then go ahead."

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The doctor stood by Integra monitoring her vital signs. His face took on an expression of concern when he saw something was not right with the vital signs of her unborn child. "The heart beat isn't as strong as it was an hour ago. Nurse, prepare for an ultrasound." He ordered.

"What's going on? What's wrong with the baby?" Integra demanded.

"We're going to see what is hindering the baby's heart beat." The doctor answered. Once she was prepped, he began observing the baby's position on the monitor. He looked over at the emergency staff giving them instructions.

"The umbilical cord has wrapped around the baby's throat. That's why his heart beat has slowed." He said.

"The cord is wrapped around his throat?" Integra asked sounding panicked.

"We're going to have to deliver this baby now. Prepare for emergency c-section." The doctor ordered.

"Yes doctor."

"Walter, what's going on? I felt panic from Integra just now."

"The umbilical cord has wrapped around the baby's neck. The doctor has to do an emergency c-section to deliver the baby. Try not to worry about Sir Integra, Alucard. You need to be there for Seras. I will let you know how everything goes when the baby is delivered."

Kenneth and Walter stood to one side of the delivery room while the staff prepped Integra for surgery. Both had worried looks on their faces, but tried not to show their concern too strongly.

"Walter, she's going to be all right... isn't she?" Kenneth asked.

"Sir Integra is a very strong young woman. She will make it through this, Kenneth." Walter answered reassuringly.

"I'm sure she will. I just don't want anything to happen to either of them." Kenneth replied.

"I know. I'm sure they'll both be just fine."

Kenneth stood beside Integra as the sheet was raised over her lower body. Thankfully he wouldn't see the bloody mess about to be made.

"We're making the first incision now."

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"AHHIIEEHHHH!" Seras screamed in pain.

"Push Seras!" Megan instructed.

"Uhhh! I am pushing!" Seras shouted.

"All right, take a breather for a moment." Megan said. "Just rest for a moment."

"You're doing very well Seras." Alucard replied wiping Seras's brow with a cool, damp cloth.

"I feel like I'm being ripped in two." Seras panted.

"I know. Just try to hang on a little longer."

Seras tensed up again feeling another contraction coming on. "Ahhhh!" She cried.

"OK, time to push again. Come on Seras, a few more good pushes, and we should have her out." Megan coached.

"GAAAHHHHHH!"

"That's it Seras! You're doing fine. I think I can see the head crowning! Now push with all that you have!"

"UHHHH! OWWWWWW! Oh God! I can't take this anymore!"

"The head's coming! Alucard, help her get her legs up so the baby can come out easier." Megan instructed.

Alucard did as requested. He hooked his hands around Seras's upper thighs pushing them against her until they were almost at her chest. She gripped his thighs bracing herself for another push. The strain wasn't kind on his body, but at the moment he didn't care. She was in far more pain than he ever was and would just bear through it until it was over.

Seras gritted her teeth and squinted her eyes tightly as she pushed with everything she had left. "I can see the head! She's coming! Keep pushing Seras! We're almost there!"

Seras grunted and growled sounding almost like a feral wild animal. Her nostrils flared and her eyes flashed wildly. She gave one last scream as she pushed with all the strength in her body.

"The head's out!" Megan exclaimed. "All right, Seras. Stop pushing now." She instructed as she grabbed a suction tool to clean the baby's mouth out. As soon as she did this, she pulled gently to finish delivering the baby.

"She's all the way out." Megan said.

"She's not crying. Why isn't she crying?" Seras asked.

"She needs blood. She needs living blood." Alucard answered.

"Zoey, will you give some of your blood to the baby? That should bring her around. The birth has eghausted her as well as her mother."

"Of course." Zoey said.

Megan took a scaple and made a tiny incision in Zoey's hand. "I'm sorry for hurting you." She said.

"No, it's all right. Anything to help the baby."

A stream of blood began to flow from the wound. Megan held the baby's mouth open to let the liquid fall into it. A few seconds passed with only silence. Alucard, Seras, Megan and Zoey all held their breaths waiting for signs of movement.

"WHAAAAA!" Came a tiny scream.

"She's crying! She's crying!" Megan yelled happily.

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"We're removing the baby now." Said the doctor. He carefully lifted the smothering child from Integra's open womb. Then he quickly but carefully unwound the wrapped cord from around the baby's neck.

"Applying suction."

"Is the baby all right? Doctor is our son all right?" Kenneth asked insistently.

"AAAAAHHHH! WAHHHHH!" The child screamed as he took in his first real breath of air.

"He's got a healthy set of lungs on him." The doctor said. "Would you like to cut the cord Mr. Hellsing?"

"Yes." Kenneth replied as he walked over to cut the cord. His eyes widened at just how much blood had been shed during the operation. He kept himself as stately and dignified as he could as he cut the cord after it was tied off. Then he quickly excused himself to go into the bathroom.

Everyone could hear him heaving and gasping and realized he was being relieved of the contents of his stomach. Walter gave a chuckle. He knew Alucard would find the story very amusing he learned of it. A few minutes later Kenneth emerged from the bathroom trying to look as if nothing had happened. Walter walked over to him.

"Feeling better now?" The aged retainer asked.

"Much better." Kenneth answered.

"God help you if you should ever have to go into battle." Integra chided wearily.

A nurse walked over to the couple. "Your son, Sir Hellsing." She said as she handed the swathed baby to his mother.

"The next generation of Hellsing...here in my arms." Integra sighed. She tried to hide it, but a feeling of motherly pride welled up within her.

"Sir Hellsing, we need to take him for overnight observation." The nurse said.

"It's merely a precaution to make sure there's no organ or brain damage from lack of oxygen." The doctor added.

"Yes, of course." Integra answered.

"The surgeons are stitching you back up. As soon as they're finished we'll wheel you into a recovery room."

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Megan tied off the cord as a nurse swaddled the screaming child. She looked over at Alucard who looked almost as exhausted as Seras. "Alucard, do you want to cut the cord?" She asked.

"Give me a moment." He answered.

His form slowly turned into shadow. The nurses supported Seras's back while they propped up pillows for her to rest on. Another nurse changed yet another blood pack for Seras. Even with all the blood she'd been given, the birth had greatly drained her of her energy. She rested wearily upon the fluffed up pillows. Alucard materialized once more in solid form and walked over to where Megan sat with the baby. His eyes widened at the tiny form before him.

"Your daughter, Alucard." Megan said.

He looked upon the child with a mix of amazement and fatherly pride. She had deep garnet colored hair. Her eyes were like tiny rubies against her ivory skin. His eyes widened in wonder at the child. Megan handed him a pair of surgical scissors. Carefully he cut the cord at the tie off point. Megan treated the area and then handed Alucard's daughter to him. He held the tiny girl in his arms for the first time. He couldn't think of the words to say. That moment he was simply speechless. His daughter looked up at him. Her tiny crimson eyes looked curiously into his big ones.

He walked over with the child to Seras who lay still but concious. "Seras..." he said. "Our daughter is with us now."

Seras opened her eyes and looked over at Alucard. He placed their daughter into her waiting arms. She held the child close to her breast looking down fondly upon her.

"Alucard, she's beautiful." She sighed.

"She most certainly is." Alucard replied in agreement.

"Alucard..."

"Yes master. Are you all right?"

"Yes. My son is doing well. They've got him in obersvation for the night. He came through the surgery just fine."

"And does my future master have a name?"

"Henry, his name is Henry."

"I am not suprised you picked that name for him."

"What about Seras?"

"She's very weak. The birth has taken a great toll on her, but she and our daughter are both doing well. I must go now master. I am needed."

"Tell Seras to rest as long as she needs. We've done without her for the past eight months. We can make due a little longer."

"Alucard, have you and Seras picked a name for her?" Zoey asked.

"Yes. Our daughter's name is Mariah."

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