of necessary supplies.

Rolling to her side, Rukia squeezed her eyes shut as her stomach tightened yet again. Her breath blew out in short little bursts as she counted the seconds down. Damn. Oh, damn. Why did no one tell her just how bad these contractions were? She understood that having a baby was painful, but no one could ever explain how it really felt. Well, now she knew. It hurt.

One of the squad members hesitantly came to her side and patted Rukia's forehead with a cool damp cloth. Emotional tears welled up in her eyes at that small act of kindness. Ashamed of her show of weakness, she ducked her head and daubed at her eyes with the edge of the sheet as her muscles unlocked and herbody relaxed.

In the interval that followed, she rested, conserving her strength and preparing for the next contraction. "Renji Abarai, you'd better hurry your ass up before I get out of this bed and come kick it!" Rukia threatened under her breath, her indigo eyes watching the wood and paper door for any sign of her husband's arrival. Just how long does it take him to get here anyway? Did he think she had all day?

Groaning, Rukia tensed as she felt another contraction begin and glanced at the clock. Less than five minutes since the last one? They were steadily getting closer together, but she wasn't yet ready.

Ready or not, her swollen abdomen tensed and the persistent ache in her lower back felt like it developed claws. Oh damn,