[for ariel and lily] dated to December 24

[island_anne]

While her discomfort had begun some time in the night, waking her irregularly and forcing her to change positions often, it wasn't until some time after dawn that Anne realised these weren't the same kind of false contractions she'd been experiencing from time to time over the past couple of weeks. They were more regular now, a little stronger, and

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[sickof_swimming]

Ariel was sleeping, and quite soundly at that. She didn't stir much, but she did respond to her name with a soft, "Mm?"

[island_anne]

"Ariel," Anne said again, a little louder for as she had just gotten comfortable she didn't want to rise again to gently shake her shoulder. "Ariel, the baby's coming."

[sickof_swimming]

"Huh?" Ariel asked sleepily, and opened her eyes. Anne's sentence didn't make a whole lot of sense. She rubbed an eye, trying to wake up. "Coming?"

[island_anne]

Anne rubbed her belly gently and was in no hurry for Ariel to come to full wakefulness. It was going to be some time before she even felt the need to fetch the midwife.

"The baby's coming today," she said. "Much later today, but today nonetheless."

[sickof_swimming]

That, Ariel understood. She sat up in bed, eyes going round. "How do you know? Are you having contractions?"

[island_anne]

Anne nodded her head, still rubbing her belly. "Since some time in the night," she said, "but they're starting to get stronger. I feel quite sure now that it's started."

[sickof_swimming]

"What should we do?" Ariel asked at once, and got up, sliding her feet into the slippers left next to the bed.

[island_anne]

"Well, there's not much we can do at this point," admitted Anne, "except wait for things to progress further. I must confess, I woke you mostly because I wanted the company until the time came to fetch Mrs. Strombeck." While she had seen others through this, she had never been through it herself, and the comfort and reassurance would be more than welcome at this point.

[sickof_swimming]

"Oh god, of course," Ariel said, and went to Anne, taking her cool hand between her own warm ones. "You should be covered!" She took the large quilt from their bed and draped it over Anne, tucking her in.

"Are you sure I shouldn't go get Mrs. Strombeck yet?" she asked.

[island_anne]

"I'm quite sure," said Anne. "It'll likely be hours before we need her, and if we bring her now she'll have nothing to do. I promise I shall let you know the moment things get to the point where we might need her. But right now... oh, this might sound silly, but do you think you might sing for me?"

[sickof_swimming]

"Sure," Ariel said, and settled in next to Anne in a second chair. "What should I sing?"

[island_anne]

"Anything at all that comes into your head," said Anne. "I don't suppose there'll be anything to soothe the baby now, but perhaps something to soothe me."

[sickof_swimming]

"Hmm..." Ariel thought a moment, and then began to sing what she knew was one of Anne's very favorite songs.

"Alas, my love, you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously
For I have loved you well and long
Delighting in your company

Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but my lady greensleeves..."

It was a long song, but Ariel sang it all the way through.

[island_anne]

It was just the sort of thing Anne needed to hear, not just the song but the sound of Ariel's voice. If they could keep on like this for the next little while, calmly and comfortably, she would be in fine shape when the hard part came.

"It's still snowing outside, isn't it," she said, glancing towards the window. "I can hear it."

[sickof_swimming]

Ariel hadn't even noticed. She looked out the window, but couldn't see much from the glare of the firelight against the glass. She got up and peered outside. "It is! I hope we don't get snowed in, it's coming down kind of heavy..."

[island_anne]

"Lily hasn't far to come," said Anne, though she too did hope they didn't get snowed in. There was a doctor ready to come should there be any problems, but that wouldn't be quite so easy in heavy snow. "I like the snow. It's very soothing, don't you think? So pretty and clean and white."