Vikings Modern AU fic part 4: Expecting

Note: This story is set seven years after the original and Ivar and Dagmar are adults now, so that explains the marriage and pregnancy. Those who've known me long enough should recognise the baby name suggestions mentioned, comment if you recognise them ^^

Dagmar let out a quiet groan as she let herself fall onto the sofa, exhausted after a long day of errands and an appointment with the doctor, because there was also another reason for her exhaustion: she was pregnant.

Dagmar was now 23 years old and she and her husband Ivar had been married for nearly a year. Five months ago, they discovered that they were pregnant with their first child, and now Dagmar was really starting to experience some of the normal and expected discomforts of pregnancy. Today's symptom was horrible back pain, and because Dagmar was autistic and also of short stature, the sensory problems made the pain feel especially bad.

Dagmar sat back and stared up at the ceiling, overwhelmed by the slight relief of finally being able to sit on the soft sofa, that she didn't notice Ivar approaching her in his wheelchair. "Hey, Dagmar. How are you feeling?", he asked. "A little better, but my back has been hurting me all day", Dagmar said. Just then, the back pain became more intense, causing Dagmar to wince. "It hurts", she said, with tears in her eyes. "You need to rest now. Come on", Ivar said softly, holding his wife's hand as she struggled to stand up. Although he was happy that they would soon bring a new life into the world, he knew how bad it felt to be in pain constantly, and he wished that she would not have to hurt.

After a minute, they were in the bedroom, and Dagmar immediately lay down on the bed, then she rolled onto her side, remembering the advice she had read. But despite the softness of the bedsheets and the coldness of the silk pillows, there was still the excruciating pain in her back.

"It still hurts", Dagmar said. "You will feel better soon, my love. I promise", Ivar said as he dragged himself onto the bed and kissed her. Dagmar tightened her grip on the bedsheets and started to cry. "Do you want me to massage your back?", Ivar asked, concern in his voice. "Yes, yes", Dagmar whimpered. "Okay. Just relax, you will be fine", Ivar said as he carefully rolled his wife's shirt up, exposing her back. He gently kissed it before grabbing a small vial of lotion and he gently spread it onto Dagmar's back. Dagmar shivered a bit, the moisture of the lotion made her back feel cold in the cool air of the bedroom.

"That lotion feels cold", Dagmar said quietly, sniffling. "It will help to make the massage easier... are you ready?", Ivar asked. Dagmar nodded, closing her eyes when she felt her husband start to firmly but carefully rub and knead her back. It felt so good, gentle, relaxing and soothing, and knowing that he was massaging her made it feel even more wondrous.

"Does that feel better?", Ivar asked. "Yes... I hate the back pain", Dagmar said. "I know, sweetheart. But soon it will all be over, and we'll bring our baby home", Ivar said and kissed her behind her ear as he continued to massage her back. "Yes, the baby... I wonder whether it's a boy or a girl?", Dagmar asked. "We'll find out when it is born", Ivar said. They had chosen to wait until the birth to discover the baby's gender.



"I can't decide which name to choose. I'll probably give them many middle names like royal families", Dagmar said laughingly. "Well, I was a Viking prince in another life", Ivar chuckled. "I like names from my favourite languages and names of people whom I like. Boy names: Gunnar, Alexei, Jón, Nicholas, Milen. Girl names: Alice, Annelies, Alexandra, Victoria, Olga, Anastasia, Maria, Tatiana, Greta... there are so many names", Dagmar said. "We'll find the best name eventually", Ivar said reassuringly.



"Is the pain gone, darling?", he asked. "Yes... I think I might have a nap now", Dagmar said, starting to fall asleep. Ivar gently rolled the shirt down and lay down on his side, gently wrapping his arms around his wife's pregnant waist. "I love you... and I love our baby too", he said quietly. "I love both of you too", Dagmar whispered. Ivar smiled and kissed her and gently stroked her belly, thinking about the baby. When he noticed that Dagmar had fallen asleep, he carefully rested his head on her shoulder and fell asleep.