Coming to Light

[Benita Hendrix-London]

September 29 12:00 PM

What exactly had been Beni's response to her water breaking that late September day?

"YES, OH MY MERLIN YES IT'S FINALLY HERE!!"

Beni had been stuck at home, eating her contraband ice cream and reading her fashion magazine that had been conveniently placed on her protruding belly. She was beginning to feel worried and mad that the month was about to end and yet she had yet to give birth. She was beginning to hear the horror stories of late births, mostly at the expense of the mother's comfort, and she was not into that. Beni was tired of being a slow moving lump, with the constant elaborate positions just to sit down and feel comfortable. And while she was always flattered by the comments of others on her pregnancy, she wasn't sure how much longer she wanted the pants with the elastic band. It was going to be fall in full swing, and she wasn't sure she liked that as a fashion choice.

And yet there was that time, as she was going to get some more marshmellows did she feel her water break. She was so exited and yelping all too loudly that when she was immediately transported through Mungos' careful transportation service, she forgot one thing.

Quickly, she had sent a messenger with a Howler on hand to send to Ben about it. "GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW, BENJAMIN LONDON," she had recorded into the Howler, loving that she had an obnoxious way to tell her husband that she was ready. "WE'RE HAVING A BABY! A BABY!! OH GOOD MERLIN I'M FINALLY GOING TO FIT IN MY CLOTHES AGAIN!"

And so she waited in her room at St. Mungo's, pacing up and down the room as she looked out the window and at her fellow pregnant lady named Daisy. "Daisy, when is this baby going to come?!? And why isn't Ben here-- I sent that Howler not even two minutes ago!"

"Relax, Benita! It takes a good while for contractions to come together-- believe me. It gets to be a little easier after the first baby," said the woman, who was in her early thirties and on her third child.

Beni, knowing this, didn't have the heart to tell her that she didn't want another child, only because she wasn't sure how to tell that to Ben either. She just wanted him to come before it was too late.

[Ben London]

Ben sighed slightly, sitting at his desk and tapping his fingers on the top of the immense pile of paperwork he had yet to attack. His other hand propped up his chin as he rested his elbow on his desk. He rolled his eyes over to the picture of himself and Beni where she had climbed up onto his back and was pretending to strangle him. They were both smiling and looked so happy together and Ben couldn't help but smile at it. But the moment he'd let himself get lost in the memory, the screech of an owl brought him back into reality. Ben didn't even need to hear the message before he was up and bolting out of the office. Beni's screaming voice followed him as he sprinted down the corridor.

Nearly leaving half his body when he Apparated, Ben was sure some Muggles had seen him disappear in the middle of the street. He cared very little as he ran into the hospital, tripping over his own feet as he sprinted down the hall, his Ministry robes flapping behind him. When he reached the desk, he demanded to know where his wife was.
"Benita Hendrix-London!" he yelled, panting as he hung over the desk. The young girl looked exceptionally frightened but she sent him in the right direction and he took off once again. Rounding the corner, Ben reached the room he'd been directed to and fell in the door.
"Beni!" he called out, panting even harder as he scrambled to his feet, "Beni, I'm here. I came as fast as I could."

[Benita Hendrix-London]

Beni heard him down the hall and grinned at Daisy. "Seven minutes-- I'm impressed." She stood in front of him as he entered through, and took him by the face and carefully kissed him over her huge stomach. "Are you ready for this, Ben?" She looked at him seriously after she kissed him, feeling that such an important event deserved such an urgent question. "We're going to be parents!"

She let go of him and sat on the bed, feeling relaxed enough to sit down now that he was there. "The Healer says that I'm going along fine and that the contractions are still too apart... it might take a while, but I'll probably ready by tonight."

[Ben London]

"Yeah," Ben answered a little shakily, panting hard as he tried to catch his breathe, "Of course I am, baby." He smiled at her, kissing her back softly as she leaned forward to kiss him. Ben sighed softly as he watched her sit. He picked up her legs, turning her against her will and making her lie down. He knew she's argue, but he also knew Beni wasn't really in any position to fight with him. Sitting down on the end of her bed, Ben's hand rested on Beni's huge stomach and he rubbed it softly. He'd calmed down a little now that he was here with his wife, but Ben's heart was still racing.

"I'll see you soon, baby," Ben said to her stomach, leaning forward to kiss it. His hand traced soft circles on her belly as he looked up at his wife. Ben smiled at Beni, meeting her gaze and all the worry seemed to just fall away. He knew they could do this. Together.
"You're going to be an excellent mum," he told her softly, leaning up to kiss her forehead.

[Benita Hendrix-London]

Beni smiled at his assurance. She did not need anything else but those simple words, and that simple expression. It instantly warmed her to know that was he in this, and was not going to forget it soon. It was just an enormous challenge that they had to face and face very soon. It would begin with significant but easy tasks like getting the baby's name and picking out what it needed within the first day, but afterwards it would multiply to an infinite number of complexities based on needs, wants, and everything in between.

She had swung her legs lazily before he took her and rearranged her position. "Wha--?" She said at the last minute, but couldn't even turn on her indignant face because she realized how much her legs enjoyed the amount of stress taken off of her. Instantly, he had her rearranged comfortably. "Now I'm never going to get out of this bed," she whined weakly. It wasn't a bad thing yet to be walking around, but now that she was feeling the exhaustion in her legs, she didn't know what would be more important.

Beni grinned at him and watched him as he climbed up to kiss her on the forehead. Somehow she could imagine them instantly, almost three and a half years ago, with the same grins and kisses that showed their love. And now they were to share it with another soul. She could see it with the boy or girl, especially through Ben's expressions. His face had a glow that showed her how much he still wanted it. It made her heart melt happily.

[Ben London]

"Now I'm never going to get out of this bed,"

Ben glared at her as she whined, but smirked at her all the same.
"That was the intention, my love," Ben teased her with a warm smile. He stayed on the edge of her bed, one hand on Beni's stomach while the other rested on her hand. He had only just realized that they weren't alone in the room and there was a sudden tinge of pink in his cheeks. He nodded to the other woman in there, wondering what she thought of the scene he'd made when he fell in the door.

"I hope it's a girl," Ben told Beni, his hand running in circles around her belly, "A beautiful little girl, one who looks just like her mum."

[Benita Hendrix-London]

"You're insane," Beni said with a smile. "Do you think the world needs another me running around?" The idea was scary within itself, seeing as she didn't know what the world would do to her child. Beni had been able to manage two decades of dealing with the world, but she was afraid of her child not being able to. It was a pang of fear, which was fleeting on her face, but she didn't try to worry too much. Added stress would just make everything difficult.

[Brittany Garland]

Brittany pushed past the crowded waiting room, weaving in and out of people without an ounce of disregard towards their snide comments. The entrance of St. Mungo's was, naturally, filled with people the exact day she needed it empty. There was no time, there was no information, there was no way she was going to miss this. Completely unacceptable. Brittany had been doing nothing of particular importance when the green ribbon tired around her right wrist started pulsating and flashing the words, "Now's the time the doctor says..." Go figure Beni would allude to Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass. Unburying her self fromm the pile of books she was under, she grabbed her bag and raced to the fireplace. The next thing she knew she was surrounded by a flash of green then racing on to a street in London towards a condemned department store.

With the information desk in sight, she quickened her pace as the tail of her robe whipped visciously through the air. Finally reaching the desk, she smiled briefly at the woman half-hidden behind a clipboard. Quickly she explained, "I'm looking for my friend. I got a message that she was in labor."

"Name?" Was the simple reply that she recieved.

Brittany rambled, "Benita Hendrix...no! London, or maybe it's hyphenated!" She groaned as the woman behind the desk raised an eyebrow making Brittanny snap. "How many people in maternity could possibly have a name like Benita?!"

At a glacial pace, the woman looked up what she needed and said, "Fourth floor, room six."

With that Brittany was off, shooting daggers at the hospital for putting the maternity ward on the fourth floor. Taking one last turn, she came face to face with room six. Softly, she rapped a few times on the door, her manners finally catching back up to her.

[Benita Hendrix-London]

She hadn't given Ben much time to respond as she heard a light knocking at the door, and saw Brittany right then and there. Immediately she waved her friend into the hospital room. "Come, come! You got the notice, finally!" She was excited to see her close friend from Hogwarts, because she was much too enthusiastic to keep this between her and her husband. "Would you like some pudding? Or gelatin?" She gave her a huge grin as continued on with her rambles. "Oh! And meet my roommate for the evening, Daisy!"

"I doubt I'll make it to tonight, Benita," the lady responded as she brushed her frizzy red hair back. "My contractions are getting closer together... I'm almost sure I'll be ready by mid-afternoon!" She adjusted herself and made herself comfortable before her husband came in, flustered with two kids hanging off of his limbs. The red-haired children ambushed their mother, chattering excitingly about being able to get out of school early to see the birth of their baby brother. Beni grinned at the display and looked at Ben.

[Ben London]

Ben barely looked up when someone else entered the room. He recognized Brittany, one of Beni's best friends and smiled at her when she got closer. He cringed slightly when a couple of kids came charging into the room, making noise and chattering excitedly. He watched them for a minute though, half-smiling at them when they passed. They reminded him of his younger siblings back home and he silently wished they could be here for this. As much as his family irritated him, he still wished they could be there for the important things. They hadn't been able to come to his wedding because they'd done it at Hogwarts and he was sure they couldn't get into the hospital either. Ben sighed quietly, turning his attention back to his wife.

Ben leaned down to Beni, kissing her forehead softly and brushing her hair out of her face. He smiled at his wife, sighing again as he looked at her. His hand resting on her stomach started to trace circles again. Ben was starting to get restless; he couldn't wait to meet his baby.

[Brittany Garland]

"Oh my goodness! How can you be so homely at a time like this?" Brittany responded to her food offerings excitedly.

She was ecstatic to be able to witness Beni and Ben's baby's birth. What an alliteration. The woman nodded a hello to the woman Beni introduced as her roommate. All of a sudden the room became crowded with the other woman's family. However, she barely even noticed the noise. Brittany watched quietly as Ben looked at Beni with such love and patience. She couldn't help but want to sigh at the sight of the two of them. The two were about to become a lovely family of three and she was so happy for them.

Brittany bent down to Beni's round stomach and spoke to it, "Hello baby. I'm your aunt...kind of." She laughed and then put her hand to the side of the woman's stomach, "I can't wait to meet you."

Looking up from her crouched position, she grinned widely at her friend. "I love him or her already." Brittany laughed curiously wondering what the sex of the baby would be. As she straightened up to a standing position she asked, "Do you need anything? I am at your service." She smiled giving a little curtsy with her robe.