Chapter 6 - A Chance to Watch

I woke up sometime later. My chest no longer had a weight on it and I sat up quickly to look around. My panic was immediately halted when I noticed the tiny crib only a few feet away. It was my first chance to really look at my daughter and I found myself unable to move to touch her.

"Don't worry, touching her won't hurt her," a voice said from behind me. I turned to see Shawna leaning against the doorway. She looked exhausted.

She straightened up and stepped slowly into the room. "I can't stay too long. Lindsay, Maggie and Lisa are all in labor in the other room. But I had the AI warn me when you woke."

"How long?" I asked.

"Were you asleep? About seven hours, but don't feel too bad. Both you and Madoka needed it. She got her first feeding and dropped off to sleep. While you slept she did get hungry a couple of times, but we made sure she was fed so you could rest and recover. She'll probably wake soon and you can feed her again before you go home."

"Is Janice?"

Shawna pointed past me. I turned to see Janice curled up on a hospital bed. Between us another small crib rested. "She gave birth to Joy only four hours ago. She's probably got another four hours of sleep to do before she wakes."

I was sitting up and looking at my baby. My mind was still trying to fully appreciate that concept. This little human child was not just any baby. She was mine. I reached down to touch one of her tiny hands and watched as it twitched. Moments later Madoka's legs started to squirm. Shawna appeared at my shoulder when that happened.

"You need to feed her, and then you can return to your pod. I suggest you get a meal when you get home. You have to be hungry," she told me.

I remembered how Madoka had quickly latched onto my breast right after her birth. I carefully picked her up and placed her lips next to my right breast. She fussed for a moment and then her lips surrounded my nipple and started sucking. I found myself once again looking at my little baby and smiling.

"Interesting, Paula and Jillian had the same expression," Shawna said.

"Huh?" I responded looking at Shawna. She had a wry smile on her face.

"You look down at your child and for a moment it's like all is right with the world. It's a wonderful expression. I just wonder if all the concubines will have it."

"You will when you have your own child," I said with a sigh. "I just hope I can make a few more with James."

"Give yourself one more day before you do that," Shawna said. "The Confed medical technology is very good, and the AI tells us you can have sex now, but an extra day won't hurt."

I nodded. "What about feeding Madoka and changing her and such?"

The AI cut in with its toneless voice. "The pod can monitor any baby and alert members of the household should one need attention. Also, the training and reading material available is the most extensive possible. Do not be afraid to use the tools available."

Shawna giggled. "Paula and Jillian got the same instructions. Don't tell anyone. Donna and I are interested in seeing if every concubine asks that question and gets told the same thing. It's one of the few times the AI immediately answered a concubine."

I struggled to my feet, still holding Madoka to my breast. Just then James walked in the door. "Shawna," he called out. "I heard my Little One is awake and can bring Madoka home! Is it true?"

Shawna just smiled. He was looking back at something and had not noticed me standing. I took a quick step towards him and put my left hand on his shoulder. "You not only can, but your Little One wants nothing more than to be in the arms of Madoka's father tonight," I said quietly.

James gave a whoop of excitement, turned and grabbed me around the waist. I had to quickly put my left arm around Madoka to steady her as he swung both of us around in a circle. We made two full revolutions before he set me down and kissed me. I returned the kiss with all the passion I could without crushing poor Madoka between us. James must have been paying close attention because he shifted to my right and only lightly cuddled Madoka while we tried to suck the air out of each other's lungs.

We finished and James looked over at Shawna. "Let me know when Janice is awake and I'll come and get her as well. And thanks, the colony is blessed to have you and Donna watching over all of our citizens and concubines."

Shawna giggled and blushed. "Meiko, you were asleep for nearly eight hours. During that time we slid you into a medical tube. You will be a bit tired, but the rest has been repaired."

"You are a wonderful doctor," James told her

Shawna blushed deeper. "Now if I could only have passed high school biology without a friend to do the frog dissection for me."

She disappeared through the door. Beyond I could hear Donna offering vocal support to someone. Madoka had finished her drink and was sleeping against my chest as I put my left arm around James' waist. "Are you happy?" I asked.

"Deliriously," he said. "Let's go home. Although I think we should wait for Bethany and Tina to give birth before we have any celebrations."

I giggled as we walked from the room. My legs felt a bit unsteady, and my balance was off. For months I had been carrying Madoka inside me and now that weight was gone. I stumbled once before James carefully lifted Madoka from my arms. "My daughter," he said reverently.

"You have another back there still sleeping," I reminded him.

"Yes, and I love her just as much as I love Madoka here, but it's still a miracle. My daughter. I never thought I'd have children, and now I'm blessed with a beautiful daughter and her beautiful mother."

"Just me?" I asked impishly.

James laughed. "You know I love the others just as much. You don't need to remind me. Sometimes I think I should be reminding each of you just how special you are."

I gave James a hug as we reached the passage leading to our home. "You do every day," I whispered.

We finished the walk and entered our home. As we stepped in I was greeted by applause. I looked up and found Bethany, Tina, Kitty and Brittany standing in front of a banner that read. "Welcome home Meiko and Madoka. We love you!" I could see spots where each of them had signed the banner.

I just stood there speechless as tears fell from my eyes. James rescued me by leaning over to whisper in my ear. "Go to them."

His words galvanized me and I stepped forward, throwing myself into Bethany's arms for a hug that was quickly joined by the others. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. The need to cry quickly overwhelmed me and I sank to the floor with tears streaming down my face.

"We love you," Kitty whispered in my ears. Brittany had left the hug for a moment, but returned with a cloth she used to dab at the tears, drying my face.

"I'm sorry," I sniffled. "It's just I thought you'd be jealous and angry."

Tina sniffed. "Jealous only that you were the first. And I could never be angry with you. You didn't have some magic to make you the first."

Bethany preened. "Besides, I'll have the best you know that." We all glared at her until she winked and fell on the floor giggling.

"Tickle her!" Brittany demanded. Moments later the normally prim woman was squealing and screaming as I joined my sisters in tickling her. We kept it up for several minutes until she screamed.

"Stop!"

We all backed off and she sat there gasping for breath. She then looked down at her crotch. There was a moment of silence and then she looked up at James. "I guess I'm third," she whispered. "I just felt a contraction and it looks like my water might have broken."

"Affirmative," the AI called out. "Scan of vital signs shows that Concubine Bethany has just started labor. It's only at the initial stages, but for the safety of the child she should report to the medical pod in two hours, or earlier if the contractions start coming frequently."

James knelt down to give a hug and kiss to Bethany. The rest of us joined in, comforting her. She seemed nervous.

"I'm too old. I shouldn't be having this baby," she whispered. She was almost fighting off our caresses.

"Bethany, the AI has made it clear that your child is perfectly healthy," James reminded her. "And it removes the dangers of an old woman having children. You don't have to worry about that like a woman on Earth. That's one of the wonders of Confed technology."

Bethany was crying. "I know, but I'm still scared. And will you still love me?"

"Always," James said before he gave her a long and loving kiss. The kiss only broke when Bethany was seized by another contraction and pushed him away.

"Sorry, but the contractions are a bit distracting," she said.

James nodded. I never learned if they had more planned for me because moments later James was helping Bethany walk around. Kitty and Brittany fed me while this went on, but it was only an hour later when the AI interrupted the walk.

"Concubine Tina has entered labor," it said.

We all turned to look at Tina who was sitting on the couch. She looked puzzled. "What is that AI scanning?' she said petulantly. "I haven't felt a single, owwwwwww!"

"Does that one not count?" Kitty asked with a giggle.

"Wow," Tina said. "Meiko, I thought you said they were like little cramps. That felt like much more than a cramp!"

I shrugged, but James was looking around the room. "I think we might as well take Tina and Bethany to the medical pod."

Brittany smiled. "That's fine, and then tomorrow everyone will be back and we can have a real celebration."

"Yes, we'll have Madoka, Joy and two other babies to start working on spoiling," Kitty observed.

"But all babies smell that way," Bethany said with a moan followed by a faint giggle.

The comment caused my two younger sister concubines to fall to the floor laughing. James had Bethany sit on the couch next to Tina as he went to the replicator. He returned with a harness that he held out to me.

"Put this on," he said. "It's designed to hold a baby so that it can turn her head and quickly find a meal. This will free your hands if you want to hold Bethany's or Tina's at the medical pod."

I started to put on the harness. While I was securing it, I looked James right in the eye. "They were there for me. I will be there for my sisters. They deserve my support and if I can't go through labor for them, I'll be there to help comfort them."

"You already went through it and showed us how to do it," Tina said. "And thanks."

James helped secure the harness around my waist and shoulders and then Kitty carefully slid Madoka into it. She was dozing happily. I smiled again at her as James helped Bethany and Tina to rise to their feet.

"Wow, if that look means anything, you are very happy," Bethany observed.

"I am," I replied, reaching down to stroke Madoka's tiny head. "This precious life is a wonderful symbol of my feelings not just for James, but for all of you. Knowing we will get to watch her become a woman and raise her together warms my heart."

I looked up to see tears in the eyes of my sister concubines. "Thank you," Tina whispered before she turned as James signaled the door to open and we walked to the medical pod.

The walk took a bit of time. The harness helped me balance so I was able to walk smoothly, but both Bethany and Tina had to stop with each contraction, and neither was walking very quickly. We arrived at the medical bay to be met by a nearly frantic Gina.

"Two more?" she said as she noticed Bethany and Tina both slightly hunched over. "I think we need to talk to the medical AI about this. We already have six others on gurneys."

"How many do you have?" Kitty asked.

"Gurneys? We have ten, but Donna and Shawna didn't expect all the childbirths to occur in a flood like this. Well, let's get you two inside. I'm afraid you will have to accept my fumblings for a while. Donna and Shawna are a bit busy," Gina said with a sigh.

Gina guided Bethany and Tina into the room. She helped them onto gurneys and had them lay back. Once they were lying comfortably Gina looked at the readouts. "Damn, I really wish I had more time to study these," she muttered.

"What?" Tina asked.

"Sorry," Gina replied. "I've been working as Reggie's Vice-Principal over at the school most of the time. I have a background in early child development and I fit in. Donna and Shawna are the only two who know these gurneys well.

"What about Ed?" Bethany asked, naming the third citizen who usually worked in the medical bay.

"He's concentrated on military medicine and especially the injuries we are likely to see when damaged ships visit. I think working on pregnant women embarrasses him," Gina replied.

She returned to looking at the readouts as James stood between the gurneys and held the hands of Bethany and Tina together, like he had done when Janice and I were giving birth. I could see the surprise and pleasure pass over Tina's face.

"You are here for me," she whispered.

"I promised I always would be," James replied confidently. I walked over to hug him from behind, careful about crushing Madoka. He brought one of my hands up for a kiss and then placed it on the joined hands of Bethany and Tina, moments later Kitty and Brittany had also circled the gurneys and added their hands.

"Thank you," Bethany said just before her body shuddered.

"Wow," Gina said. "I guess that confirms the readout. Bethany, your body has decided that your child is to be born now. You have already dilated quite a bit. I think you only have an hour or so before you will give birth."

"What about me," Tina said. She seemed to be reclining peacefully. But occasional shadows of discomfort crossed her face.

Gina shook her head. "You must have just started. Sorry, but I'd say you have four or five hours."

James bent down to kiss Tina's neck. "I'll be with you until it's over, I promise."

I spent the next four hours watching first Bethany and then Tina give birth. Bethany clearly had a few problems as she swore loudly on more than one occasion. Donna assured her that everything was fine, and her discomfort was due to the rapid progression of the childbirth. James never seemed to be concerned, offering her comfort, kisses and encouragement until another baby girl was born and placed on her mother's chest.

Bethany was clearly exhausted, but she had the strength to gasp. "Astrid. My daughter shall be called Astrid." Moments later as her daughter continued to suckle for the first time Bethany fell asleep.

Tina was a bit shaken when Bethany finally gave birth, but moments later Janice wandered in. She was obviously hungry and unsteady, but her pleasure as showing off her daughter Joy lifted even Tina's spirits. Kitty dashed off for a few moments and brought back a light meal for Janice. The four of us then joined with James as we kept Tina company until her first child, a boy, was placed on her chest.

"I had the first boy," she said with an exhausted smile. "I want to be different. Can we call him Tolwin?"

James just laughed. "Tolwin it is. Now rest. I'll come and collect you when you wake."

With her son suckling his first meal, Tina joined Bethany in slumber. Just then Shawna entered the room.

"Oh, good. James, why don't you take Janice, Meiko, Kit and Brit home and rest yourselves. David and Craig are helping transfer the ladies to beds to rest. Don't worry, we haven't had one wake up," she instructed.

James agreed with a laugh and after gathering Kitty and Brittany under his arms waved Janice and I forward. 'To home and to bed!" he commanded.

We trekked home where I discovered that I was again tired. With Kitty's help I cleaned and changed Madoka, giving her one more feeding. I could see Brittany helping Janice with Joy. Then we looked around. James smiled and guided us to the main bedroom.

"I've made a couple changes," he said. "First, we now have cribs for each baby. Tonight, Madoka and Joy can sleep here, but in the future they will sleep upstairs and I'm afraid that while they are feeding every night we will have to have a rotation of concubines to sleep with them and feed them should they wake."

I smiled, placed Madoka in a crib and then turned to hug Janice as she stood up from placing Joy in a crib. "I understand. Being away from you at night is not something I welcome, but for Madoka and her siblings I'll do it."

Janice returned the hug. "Thank you sister," she said.

"Now, I'm sure the next announcement is more important to Meiko and Janice. I know we are supposed to wait another night before we make love, but I think a bit of cuddling will work," James said.

Kitty giggled. "Yes, make a James Oreo. Meiko and Janice can be the cookies tonight."

I gasped and rewarded Kitty with a tear-filled kiss. "Thank you," I whispered before climbing into bed and taking James in my arms. Janice immediately joined us by hugging James from behind. I closed my eyes as we lay down. Distantly I could feel the bed shift as Kitty and Brittany climbed in to join us, but I was asleep before they settled into position.