ajsrandomTitle: Baby?
Rating: PG
Pairing/s: Merlin/Morgana
Character/s: Merlin, Morgana, 2 OC's
Summary: Merlin and Morgana haven't felt their baby move in several hours.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 599
Prompt: 285, Sorrow
Author's Notes: Again, semi-autobiographical.
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Merlin and Morgana held hands as they made their way back to a part of Labor & Delivery they’d never been to before. Back to where special ultrasound machines sat, waiting to tell them good news or bad news. When they got there, the tech greeted them and invited Morgana to partially undress and lay back on one of the tables.
Morgana did as asked, poking at her big belly as she stripped down. Soon she lay on the table, a paper drape covering her lower half, except for that belly, which protruded.
The tech came back and squirted that cold gel on her belly. After rubbing it around, she picked up the transducer and ran it over the belling, looking at the picture on the screen. She said nothing as she worked, moving the transducer this way and that. Morgana hoped when she finally spoke that it would be good news, but the frown never left her face.
Morgana turned to Merlin, who had a tight hold on her hand. He didn’t look hopeful either, but smiled uncertainly when she caught his eye. They stayed that way for a few minutes, until the tech spoke up. “I’m going to get a doctor to look at this. Sit tight.”
“What else would I do?” Morgana joked, but it fell flat. Neither she nor Merlin had much hope, she could tell just by looking at him. He didn’t respond, but squeezed her hand tighter, with a pat for good measure.
Soon the tech returned with a male doctor, who took up the transducer and began rolling it across her belly. He didn’t speak beyond greeting them, but frowned in the same manner as the tech had.
After a while, the tech and the doctor spoke in low tones to each other before turning back to Merlin and Morgana. The doctor looked impassive, but there was something in his eyes that warned Morgana—this would not be good news.
“Mr. and Mrs. Emrys, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your baby has died in utero.”
Morgana felt like someone had punched her in the stomach and ripped out her heart at the same time. She looked at Merlin, who already had tears leaking from his eyes. He met her eyes and dipped down to hug her. That’s when she lost it, beginning to sob.
The doctor spoke again. “I’m so sorry for your loss. You have a couple of options, medically speaking.”
Morgana wiped her eyes and looked back up at the doctor. Merlin moved out of the way, but didn’t let go of her hand. “Okay, doctor. What are they?”
“We can admit you right now and induce you, or you can go home and wait until labor occurs naturally. I believe you are due in a few days anyway?”
“Yes.”
“Or if you want, you can go home and think about it, call in the morning if you’d like to be induced earlier.”
Morgana looked at Merlin. He searched her face then said, “I think we’ll go home now and think about it.”
“Okay. Is there anything I can do for you right now?”
“No, I don’t think so. Thank you, doctor,” Morgana replied. He nodded.
The doctor and the tech stepped out of the cubby to let Morgana dress, which she did. The tech bid them goodbye, and Merlin took Morgana’s hand as they walked out of Labor and Delivery, to head home. They had an unpleasant decision ahead of them and no better place to do that than in the comfort of their home.