Page 277 of Claim Me
"My parents really want to come," he says a little shyly. "This is their first grandchild."
"Sure, let them come. I’d just rather they not stare between my legs."
"I’d prefer that too," Gabriel grins.
An hour later I’m already at nine centimeters.
When Gabriel’s parents arrive, his father stays out in the hallway, but his dad comes into the room for a moment. I immediately notice his eyes are full of tears.
First he says something in Russian to Gabriel, which my glasses instantly translate on the screen as:
"Is everything alright, child? There aren’t any complications?"
Gabriel answers him in Russian too, and well, I discover I like listening to him speak that language.
Then Gabriel’s dad walks over to me and reaches out his hand. He’s holding something, and I glance at it uncertainly.
It’s a small pendant with a crystal stone in a cyan shade.
"This is my talisman, Blue. When I escaped from Russia, I held it in my hand and bad situations always seemed to pass me by. During every childbirth I held it too, and everything went well… But I wasn’t wearing it the day Marlow…" His voice falters. "But when he was in the hospital afterward, I wore it again. Maybe it’s foolish, but I believe this little stone helped me. It’s been in my family for a long time. It belonged to my grandfather."
"The one you calledObroten?"
"Yes, that one exactly." Gabriel’s dad blushes slightly.
I take the talisman. It’s just a small stone on a gold chain. I don’t want to hurt this older omega by refusing it, even if I don’t believe in superstitions.
"Thank you. Of course I’ll give it back once everything’s over…"
"No," Gabriel’s dad whispers. "The time has come for this stone to pass on to the next descendant and bring him luck too."
"It has a beautiful color," I say with a faint smile. "Such a pure, deep cyan."
"I think so too. I’ve always loved that shade."
Gabriel’s dad glances toward Gabriel before quietly saying, "I won’t disturb you. We’ll wait in the hallway. This is such an important moment for the new parents…" and he wipes away a small tear.
"No," I say suddenly. I can sense how unbelievably much this means to him, and all at once I stop caring that someone extra might witness the birth.
I tense slightly as another contraction hits, but Gabriel’s presence behind me immediately takes some of the pain away.
Dr. Jovan lifts the edge of the blanket and says, "I can already see the head. This will only take a few more minutes."
Gabriel squeezes my hands while his dad closes his eyes and clasps his own together. I hear him murmuring something in Russian that sounds like a prayer.
A strong contraction rolls through my entire body, and I can feel my ring working too. At moments like this I appreciate having traits similar to rose omegas, because the muscle capable of widening my passage is working intensely now too, and a moment later I feel a slippery shape slide through my entrance.
Dr. Jovan smiles and nods. "One more second and the body will slip out too."
And he’s right. Seconds later, carried by the final wave of contractions, my first son slips into the world.
Dr. Jovan lifts him up and places him against my chest.
Gabriel immediately leans down and lightly brushes his fingers over the baby’s damp head.
"Welcome to this world, son," he whispers, and his voice trembles slightly. I’ll admit my own throat tightens too with an unexpectedly powerful emotion.
Gabriel’s dad leans slightly over us. I notice he’s put on a mask, but I can still see tears streaming down his cheeks.
