Authors: LaVenia R. Boswell
Jonathan hadn't seen the baby pop out suddenly after the doctor finally got his second shoulder birthed, he had run to Melody's head, fearing that she had died.
Jon stroked her wet and whitened face as she looked up into his eyes and said, “No matter what happens Jonathan, I want you to know, I wouldn't have had my life with you changed one bit. I love you and I want you to find another mate to bond with to raise our son if I don't make it.”
Jonathan cried and kissed her as she closed her eyes.
The medical group came barreling through the door and almost knocked Mark off his feet. One came up to Melody's face and examined her eyes. Another held a hand scan and began moving it all over her. Two more were almost standing on top of her stomach as they pressed into her lower abdominal flesh. They put different colored drops into her mouth and in a few moments she started trying to open her eyes. Everyone sighed relief. Then Jonathan heard the sound of his son crying for his mother.
When Melody heard the baby she whispered to Jonathan who had his head buried beside her neck, “Let's look at our boy.”
Jon, lifted his weeping face and looked toward her feet. The doctor was holding a beautiful, beautiful little Prince.
“Here, he's yours. He's a fine boy, a little turned around and maybe a little mad at the pinch I gave him, but he's in great shape,” the doctor said as he brought him to Jonathan. Someone had gotten a blanket from his nursery and had him wrapped in it.
Jonathan was suddenly completely speechless. Melody tried to raise her head but they made her lie still as he took the baby from the smiling doctor. After a few moments his eyes cleared the tears away, he kissed his child then lowered his son down into her waiting arms.
“Melody, God's given you back to me twice. I never want us to have another child,” Jonathan finally said as they looked at the small wiggling baby.
“Jon! You can't mean that!” Melody said upset.
Before Jonathan could say more, the doctor made a news worthy statement. “If I might interrupt.”
Jonathan nodded his permission.
“The problems that occurred with this pregnancy should never occur again! We have learned volumes from this episode, and we have filed it. It will never happen again! I know it has been overly traumatic and deadly dangerous but all your future children will have an uneventful growth and birth. Sire, our Lady, thanks to the both of you we now have enough information to assure that our people will survive.”
“See Jon, everything will be just fine when we have our three other babies,” Melody said as she allowed their son to find the breast he was struggling so hard to find.
Jonathan smiled sweetly at his wife in agreement. Inwardly, he had firmly decided that the doctors would have to perfect their knowledge and skills, using some other men's wives before he would begin to dream of increasing their family. Even then, it would be Earth years from now.
Seeing the joy in Melody's eyes as her skin began to return to its normal color, he felt his heart would burst with all the love and the thankfulness he was sending Heavenward to God for saving them both.
“Jon, I really could use something to drink and I certainly need a good bath.”
The room began to empty as the doctor said, “Mrs. Jontu, you will have to remain in bed for at least three hours. We've stopped the main bleeding but it will take a little while for your tissues to heal completely, even with the sealing that we've done.” He looked at Jonathan for emphasis, “I'll send someone in to get you cleaned up and changed, but you have to take it easy for a couple of days and drink lots of fluids.”
“Yes, Doctor, I promise to behave,” Melody responded.
She was given a couple more of the colored drops then Jon handed her a glass of water.
“Mark! Did you see my boy?” Jonathan called to him after the excitement had calmed down. Jonathan had finally seen Mark sitting in a chair, looking green, at the end of the bedroom.
“Yes, Jon, he's magnificent.” When everyone but the three of them and the baby had gone, Mark decided to test his legs again.
Walking over to the bed, he looked down at the baby nursing greedily, under the small blanket that Jonathan used to cover her top with. “Mel, how are you?” Mark was still in shock at what he had witnessed. How could a woman go through what he had just seen and now lay there calmly and talk?
“I'm feeling much better now Mark. I'm sorry that my screaming had you so afraid, I just couldn't help it. It did make me feel better when I saw you tearing through the doorway though, I knew you would be here to help Jon. I was sure that I wasn't going to live,” she said looking into his unbelieving eyes.
“Mark? You came in when all that was happening?” Jonathan suddenly remembered the horrifying scene. He realized that his wife had been exposed, but it certainly hadn't been an erotic picture.
“Yeah, the door was open and I heard Mel sounding like someone was killing her. I ran in to help her, but you were running to her. I saw him suddenly born, but he wasn't moving.” Mark turned green again as he said, “The blood, I've never seen anyone bleed like that. It was horrible!” Mark's eyes filled with tears as he continued, “Mel, I'm just so happy that they were able to save you. All I could think about was how Jonathan had lost the love of his life and his baby at the same time.” With that his tears fell in earnest. He blubbered, “I'm so happy! He's a beautiful baby and you're the best mate a man could possibly ever have, Mel. You make Jonathan's life a joy. He could never live long if he lost you.”
They all cried together as they hugged one another.
“Now, my two favorite men in the whole world, I would like to have a little privacy,” Melody stated as a woman came into the room with fresh linens and towels as well as pushing a beautiful cradle from the nursery.
“Sweetheart, don't you dare get up!” Jonathan ordered before he left the room.
The nurse placed the baby in the cradle, while she cooed and coddled him the whole time. Then she turned her attention to Melody.
After almost an hour Jonathan was getting restless waiting. Just as the nurse opened the door he had been about to walk in.
There sat Melody, propped up in bed with her hair brushed and her makeup back on, looking like nothing had ever happened, except for some puffiness around her eyes.
“Good grief, but you're a lovely Princess!” Jon stated in genuine surprise.
“Thank you, my Lord!”
He instantly noticed that the cradle was at the head of their bed on Melody's side. “We'll have to move his cradle to my side though, Mel. You can't be raising up and lifting him for a couple of days.”
“Oh, yes I can . . . after tomorrow, the nurse said so,” she answered defensively.
The sheets as well as the bed covers had been changed. The room smelled of Melody's favorite perfume. No one walking in would ever guess the life and death struggle that had occurred here just a short time ago.
Jon bent over the bed and kissed Melody tenderly then stood over the bassinet, pulling back the blankets to look at his son.
“Jon, I have to say one thing. You sure do know how to make beautiful babies,” she praised as he held the sleeping child.
“You, my dearest heart, are the one who deserves all the credit. He is perfect, isn't he?” He sat down beside her gently trying not to jar the bed. “There are a lot of excited people outside that door. My parents called and asked if they could see you both?” He now looked questionably at her.
“Of course Jon, but how?”
“We can set up a camera and a screen right in here,” he explained excitedly. After making sure she agreed, he picked up the phone and approved the crew to begin.
In about twenty minutes they were set to transmit.
Melody was surprised when she saw his family on the large wall screen. She wasn't sure what she had expected but they were like regular parents. Jonathan favored his father the most, they had the same hair and eye color. Black hair and blue eyes was dominant in the Royal genes.
It was more than evident how proud Jonathan was to show off his wife and their new son. He held the baby close to the camera so they could see his tiny blue eyes. Jonathan had trouble getting him to open them since he had just nursed again and was contented.
“Melody, we are so very proud to have you among our family,” Jonathan's father stated with obvious pride. “We were all watching the wedding. I would not be truthful if I didn't tell you that there wasn't a dry eye on this planet as we saw you and our Jonathan share your vows and were crowned. Next to, I believe where you come from, she would be called your mother-in-law, you were the most beautiful bride that any of us have ever seen.”
Mel, blushed brightly as she thanked him and said, “I see where Jonathan learned to be such a charmer. I only wish that you could have all been here with us on that special day. Since we were unable to do that, we both wanted to share the joy of our son's birth with you. I hope it won't be too long before we meet in person.”
Jonathan told them about some of the projects that they had been working on. When his sister asked how many others are bonded now, Jonathan's answer surprised everyone on both sides of the screen, especially Melody.
“Mark thinks he's starting to have major stirrings with a woman Mel introduced him to a short while back. We're pursuing that at this time. As soon as Melody is stronger, she will begin training the other males in the fine art of dating that is required here.”
Melody tried to hide her surprise at this last statement, she stopped her mouth from dropping open at least.
Everyone said their goodbyes then the session was ended. As soon as Melody had Jon alone again she asked, “What's that you said about me training your men in the fine art of dating?!”
Jonathan gave her a sheepish grin as he said, “Well, I was going to talk with you about it first, then for some unknown reason I just blurted it out. I guess I was afraid they wouldn't think that I had been thinking about the others when I was so happy myself.”
Melody thought about this for a while then she smiled a wicked, teasing smile as she said, “Do I get to show them how to do the special kiss?”
He looked startled for a moment then seeing that she was only kidding he tossed a pillow at her as he bent down and said low and growl-ly, “Never! That's all mine!”
They laughed and carefully tussled with one another for a while, then Jon asked, “Sweetheart, are you sure you want to give the baby breast milk?” Seeing she looked surprised he continued, “It's just that many women on H'trae decided that they didn't want to do that anymore. Mark and I have discussed it before and he told me that he'd overheard one woman say that it was just too painful.”
Mel laughed, “The knowledge that the two of you have about the birth and nurture of a baby could be put in a teaspoon.” Seeing his face look hurt she hugged him and said, “Jon, my love, it only hurts for a few days. The antibodies that he'll receive from me during this time, will help him. Besides, I've learned through talking with your aunts, that the women in your culture keep men in the dark about way too many things, important things. I do plan on telling and teaching your men about those important things if you still want me to instruct them.”