Labour(2)

Janice groaned, she clenched the duvet that was wrapped around her lower midsection, shut her eyes and gritted her teeth before puffing out a breath.
Her nostrils flared and her back ached from laying on the bed since the contraction began.
"Someone should get this out of me!" Janice arched her back and sweat dribbled down her forehead.
"My lady, you'll be fine," Grace assured, wiping the sweat off her face.
"I doubt that." She gasped out.
She added when the pain lessened, "I need Jules. I don't care wherever he is, I need him right now!"
She bit down on her lower lips hard, enough for it to draw blood. She didn't know if she was bleeding from the bite or not because the only apparent pain she could feel was from her stomach. 
Her wide blue eyes travelled to the door and she imagined Jules popping into the room magically.
Janice wondered if his mother had reached him earlier since she promised she would.
But she had heard her trying to ring him and also talking on her phone soon after. 
It was getting to thirty minutes she had been in the room, grunting and cussing due to the contraction that multiplied with each second.
Yet, no sign of him.
She only wished he was around the palace. At least, it would be easier for them to reach him.
Again, she couldn't help but wonder if he was stalling on purpose, seeing as they had barely talked since he left. She didn't know if he'd rush to be with her as soon as possible when he heard she was in labour.
"He'll be with you soon, my lady," Grace said again. Her eyes went to the door each time she mentioned her husband. "I doubt His Majesty would want to miss the birth of his first child."
Janice nodded, gritting her teeth.
The door went ajar, Janice's heart thumps and she tilted her head to see who had come in. 
She let out a disappointed sigh as she saw Margie, striding towards her.
"I came as soon as I heard," Margie mumbled, sitting by her bedside. 
She clasped her hand and squeezed gently. "How is she?"
Margie asked the nurse, tending to Janice. "Is the baby coming anytime soon?"
"No. And she still has two more hours to go before she needs to push the baby out. She isn't dilated fully yet."
"This sucks," Janice grunted. Two more hours of excruciating pain, she doubted she'd survive it.
She had been trying her best not to scream bloody murder since the contraction started, but having to endure more hours might be the end of the line for her.
An hour later, Janice felt like she might die as the pain grew intense. It was not even up to the hour the nurse predicted, Nonetheless she didn't think she could hold it in any longer.
Waiting to get fully dilated was an experience she didn't think she would wish to go through again.
Maybe, she would change her mind as soon as she was done. But, at the moment, all she could think of was surviving the ordeal.
Jules wasn't in the room as well and she wondered what was holding him down since she was told he was on his way.
"Jules isn't here yet?" Jeremy tilted his brows as he peered into the room. He wrinkled his nose and grimaced.
"Giving birth is a bloody business. I don't think I would like to engage in such."
"I think you prayed too late." Janice winced.
Margie glared at Jeremy, "That is nice for you to say." She responded, sarcastically. 
"But, I know you'll like to stick around to see your child being born, unlike your brother."
Jeremy shrugged, "I doubt that."
Although he meant it to be a joke, he glimpsed his wife glaring at him. But he ignored her and stared at Janice.
"I am sure he is on his way. I don't think he is intentionally coming late for the birth of his child. Perhaps, something held him down."
It was the same thing she had thought of. In as much as they had a fallout, she doubted he would not come to see their baby being born. Yet, the explanation wasn't enough for Janice and his absence was getting her more agitated.
"I swear to God, if Jules doesn't get his arrogant f**king ass here before the birth of the baby, I would assume our marriage is null and void and he can choose to be with whoever he wants!"
"Is that a threat, madame?"
Janice's heart fluttered as she heard the deep timbre of his voice. She glared at him and tossed the pillow that was beside her at him.
Jules caught the pillow and strode towards her. Margie stood from where she sat beside Janice to make room for him.
"I hate you for putting me in this condition!" Janice shouted, clenching the hand he extended to her.
"I don't think you do," Jules mumbled. He winced as her grip tightened but he didn't let go.
"I look like a mess!"
Jules chuckled as she still cared about the way she looked despite being in anguish.
"You look beautiful, darling." He said, brushing the hair out of her face. He placed a slight kiss on her lips, then the tip of her button nose before kissing her cheeks.
"I bet you are just saying that to make me feel better," Janice murmured.
She leaned into him as he kissed her once more.
"Looks awkward. I hate seeing both of you smooching each other, it makes me want to puke." Jeremy gagged, earning a swat from his wife. 
"I'm leaving you here with her and I hope the next time I'll be here, I'll like to see my Godson or daughter," Margie said, tugging Jeremy's hand.
"You are the godmother of their child? What about me? I have no title!"
Margie dragged Jeremy out of the room as she noticed Janice and Jules needed some privacy.
"That is because you don't deserve any title." 
Janice giggled as she heard Margie scolding him.
"That is mean!" Jeremy retorted.
Sighing as their voice faded, Janice stared at Jules. The pain had subsided and she could move her body a bit without feeling like something was about to claw its way out of her.
"I'm sorry," Jules said after a while. 
Janice tilted her brows, she didn't know the reason he was apologizing because she knew he had a lot to apologize for. But, she assumed he was talking about coming late until he spoke up.
"I shouldn't have acted the way I did before I left. I did not know the reason I was mad or acted cold, I believe it was one of those phases I often went into and I only needed a clear head."
"Then, I was an easy target to lay your anger on?" Janice asked. Her winter-blue eyes bored into his slate-grey ones.
She shook her head and her hair which was in a messy bun followed suit. She grasped the pin that had fallen off from it and used it to tack the hair down again.
Jules exhaled, his shoulder moved with each breath he took. "I didn't mean it that way. I just didn't want it to affect you."
Janice rolled her eyes, "If you had told me you were going through a phase, I'd understand. I mean I have seen you get furious and frustrated with me before, for no reason apparently. Still, I understood you needed sometimes with yourself."
"But what happened last week was uncalled for and you didn't even bother to talk to me about anything. You literally just ignored me!"
"Imagine if I wasn't in labour, you wouldn't have come over right?"
Jules sighed, shaking his head. He'd have come because he missed her. And seeing the slut that had slept by his side was enough for him to come to his senses.
"I don't really know, I just hate that I love you. You take advantage of my love and make me feel like trash. I wish I could make myself not fall so hard for you." Janice sobbed.
Jules creased his brows and his heart clenched as he saw the tears gliding down her cheeks. "I have never and would never take advantage of you."
"Please, don't cry." He groaned, shutting his eyes. His hand went to her face to wipe the tears away.
"I'm sorry, darling." He clasped her hand, caressing it softly.
He loathed seeing her in tears. Her vulnerable state even made it worse as she often cried at the slightest thing.
Normally, Jules would have termed it irritating and dismissed her, but now he wanted to gather her in his arms whilst comforting her that everything would be fine.
He felt his resolved break each time he stared at her. He enjoyed her presence more than anything and liked doing what she wanted.
Jules wondered if that was what love was. He hadn't felt the sensation before but he could feel it now. The feeling was warm as it surged through him.
He felt her pain as she clasped his hand. Also, the sense of protection invaded his mind as he stared at her.
Jules was aware he had loved her for a while now but he had been trying so hard to deny his feelings for her and even hardened his heart which he didn't know the reason for.
Now letting himself feel it again, it was a wonderful feeling he didn't think he would want to go away anytime soon.