"Get me hot water and see about clean blankets and sheets," Lucian ordered, shoving him out the door and locking it behind him.
He hurried back to Catherine. "You will listen to me, madam."
"It hurts so badly, Lucian," she said, twisting as another pain tore through her.
"Catherine," he said, sharply. "You will obey my every word. Is that clear?'
"No!" she shouted back at him.
He smiled pleased. She still retained her obstinacy. She hadn't given up yet. He sat beside her on the bed, grabbing her hands, offering his for her to squeeze until she broke them if necessary. "Let me help you, angel."
She grasped his hands, pulling at him. "I'm frightened. So frightened I'm going to lose our child."
He leaned down and kissed her gently, running his tongue over her bitten lower lip. "With both our stubbornness I don't think there's a chance in hell we'll let our child die."
She smiled briefly and bit her lip as another pain hit her.
Lucian tore his one hand free from her and stroked her stomach. "Easy, angel, easy," he cajoled, helping her through the intense contraction.
It passed and Catherine breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
"Let's get you out of this wet nightdress," he said, and without waiting for her agreement stripped it off her. He took a clean sheet from the trunk at the foot of the bed and slipped it beneath her bottom. Then he took another one and draped it over her.
In between her pains he fussed over her, talked with her, teased her, asked her about names for their baby and when she would like to give this baby a brother or sister. He received a punch for that remark through it was delivered with a smile.
Time wore on and the Black Skull set sail for Heaven. While the crew paced the deck in anticipation of the baby's delivery, the captain navigated his wife through each contraction.
"I'm too tired, I can't do this anymore," Catherine complained.
"You can and you will," Lucian demanded sternly, fearing her surrender would mean death for her and the child.
"I won't," she cried, feeling another pain charging across her belly. "I won't. I won't. I won't!"
"Yes, you will," Lucian ordered, grabbing her hands and holding onto them tightly. "Fight, damn you, Catherine. Fight."
She shook her head. "I'm not strong enough."
"You were strong enough to fight me."
"I used my head and it wasn't nearly as painful."
"That first time you stood in front of me, a virgin, never seen naked by any man, wasn't that frighteningly painful for you?"
She thought back, remembering her fear and her determination. "Yes, Lucian. I was frightened."
"But you did it anyway. Why?"
Her answer was swift. "To save my father."
Lucian sank down on the bed beside her. "Now it's time to save our child."
And she did. A short time later with Lucian's encouraging words and his gentle touch their son slipped easily from her womb into his father's waiting arms.