She had tears of her own now, "John, it stopped being a sacrifice a long time ago and instead I've come to see that you're the greatest blessing I could've ever received in life."
"Likewise." I said
She hugged me then and my arms encircled her. I smiled after a moment, as I let my arms fall back to the bed to lay at my sides. She broke the kiss and looked into my eyes.
Smiling I said, "I'm at your mercy."
"I know!" She said her words husky with promise.
Ten months later.
Asia looked around, in a free moment of peace not filled with contractions, at her husband's handiwork. He done what he said he would and what a good job he'd done of it!
He'd turned the small hot spring pool into a veritable spa with underwater benches and interchanging shallow and deeper areas. He hadn't stopped there. He had completely enclosed the space within a snug shelter.
It was humidly warm and balmy within the spa chamber, as Arctic winds raged away outside far below zero in temperature. Another series of contractions hit and she did her best to focus on relaxing and breathing through them.
Relaxing wasn't actually that hard to do with John's whispered encouragements directly into her ear, even as his big hands rubbed her soothingly over and over. He was the best birth partner a woman could ever dream of having.
Asia turned her face and sighed into his neck seeking comfort in the aftermath of a brutal contraction. Her water had broken four hours ago and since then the contractions had been merciless in their severity. She started to cry, as another one hit her.
"Shhhh, keep breathing honey. Here lay your head back on my shoulder and open up your throat for more air flow." I said encouragingly.
Asia did as I said and it helped, but there was no rest from the contractions now, "I can't do this!"
"Yes you can."
"No I can't!" Asia screamed back in pained defiance.
My voice remained calm as I said, "Any girl, who can save the world, can bring a baby into the world."
"That was easy compared to this! Oh God!!!"
I pulled her head back from where she'd clenched it forward, "Breathe honey!" I commanded.
She did then in gasping breaths.
"Do you feel the urge to push yet?"
"No!" Asia whined out piteously, as I mopped the sweat from off her face.
"I want this baby out now! I want this over!"
"Shhhh, I know you do honey, but we've got to let your body tell us when to push or you could hurt yourself."