Two and a half months later.
"I don't know John. Are you sure?" Asia asked doubtfully.
"I think it will be great! Let me build it and you'll see for yourself."
"Okay." Asia responded hesitantly, as she rubbed at the growing mound of her stomach. John, bless him, had gotten rather big into this whole being a father to be, but Asia wasn't so sure about his latest endeavor.
In the center of the island just down from the highest point there was a small hot spring. It really wasn't all that hot, just being a pleasant warmth to the touch. Well John had run with it and concocted up a scheme to build a birthing tub in the middle of it for her to deliver the baby in. Asia appreciated his thoughtfulness, but she wasn't quite sure about having an unassisted water birth.
John walked her back to the house, "Okay, I'm going, but I'll be back before dark okay?" John said in a concerned fashion.
Asian nodded and watched John hurry back down the path that led toward the shore. He was off on yet another of his missions for her and the baby. The protein from the small land mammals and the occasional bear that lumbered ashore wasn't good enough. No, the mother of his child had to have fish, which was chock full of omega fatty acids. He wanted only the best for his family. Asia smiled to herself; he was going to be such a great father. Well, it was time to work on the Code again.
Asia turned to go into the house, but abruptly stopped as a hard contraction stole her breath away. Another contraction jolted through her painfully. It was all she could do not to panic, but then she saw the blood pooling on the ground and she panicked.
Turning, as she held onto the doorpost with one hand she screamed, "John!" But he was too far away and too close to the crashing of the surf to hear her.
"John!" She whispered out uselessly and then another contraction hit her hard.
"Oh God please no!" She wailed sinking to the floor. She was losing their precious baby!
I hadn't had much luck fishing, but I'd gotten enough to matter for now. There was no light coming from the house and then I saw the door was ajar. I broke into an all-out run sword already in my hand.
I busted inside and saw my worst nightmare. Blood on the floor and Asia laying so still on the bed that I thought she was dead for a moment, but thank God she wasn't! She looked up at me her eyes wet with tears. It looked like she'd been crying for hours.