#denmark 1988

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F 1985

"Axel F" is an electronic instrumental track by German musician Harold Faltermeyer. It served as the theme song for the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop, its eponymous character (as portrayed by Eddie Murphy) and the film franchise it is based from, which became an international number-one hit in 1985. The track reached number one in Ireland as well as on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Additionally, it was a number two hit in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, and West Germany. In addition to the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, the song appears on Faltermeyer's 1988 album Harold F. as a bonus track.

Faltermeyer recorded the tune using five instruments: a Roland Jupiter-8 provided the distinctive saw lead, a Moog modular synthesizer 15 provided the bass, a Roland JX-3P provided chord stab brasses, a Yamaha DX7 was used for the marimba sound, and a LinnDrum was used for drum programming. All instruments were played by Faltermeyer. According to Faltermeyer, the initial reaction to his first presentation of the track to the film's producers and director did not result in an immediate approval; it was not until director Martin Brest voiced his approval that the producers showed enthusiasm. A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Faltermeyer.

"Axel F" has been sampled in many songs, including "Champion" by South Korean singer Psy. In 2005, Crazy Frog's version became a summer hit. It topped the charts in the UK, with some of the best weekly sales of the year, and remained at the top of the UK Singles Chart for four weeks to become Britain's third-best-selling single of 2005, outselling and outperforming the original version. It also reached number 1 in Australia, the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Ukraine, Spain, and Sweden. In France, the song stayed at number 1 for thirteen weeks, only to be dethroned by Crazy Frog's second single, "Popcorn". This was only the second time that an artist had ever dethroned themself in that country. It peaked at number 3 on the US Digital Sales chart, and number 2 on the US Adult Contemporary Top 20. In 2024, as part of a tribute to celebrate the release of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the Crazy Frog Youtube Channel made a special crossover music video with Netflix, featuring scenes from the movie, but re-edited to feature Crazy Frog in them, being chased by the Beverly Hills Police and Axel Foley.

"Axel F" received a total of 88,3% yes votes!

[mansjensenphotography]

Richard, Bornholm 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . #roadtrip #bornholm #denmark #ishootfilm #analogphotography #filmsnotdead #harleydavidson #nikon #nikonf2as #ilfordhp5 #1988 @nikonsverige @nikoneurope @ilfordphoto @analog_mag @life_framer (på/i Hammershus Ruin) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmexxUwMZSD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[operafantomet]

Hi there! I have a request that might be tricky so feel free to ignore this ask. So I'm extremely fascinated by these certain types of vintage Christine's wedding dress bodices that were used in 1990s atleast in Hamburg and Japan and more recently in Brazil. The bodice was made of "stripy" fabric and the basque/belt was quite wide. I wondered could you make a photoset of those bodices? Thank you!

YES! These bodices are absolutely masterpieces. They are so dramatic, so hourglass shaped, so period looking. So... Bjørnson. I love them to pieces and pretty much screamed of joy when they decided to use them for the principals in the Sao Paulo revival.

Their origin is in very early West End days, as well as the first European productions in Stockholm, Vienna, Scheveningen, Hamburg, Basel etc. As the Japanese production replicated West End at the time, they could also be seen there, and is more or less made in that style today. Here's some:

Ryoko Nomura, Tokyo 1988:

Anna Maria Kaufmann, Hamburg c. 1990:

Elisabeth Berg, Stockholm c. 1990:

Jill Washington, West End c. 1994:

Kyoko Suzuki, Tokyo c. 1992:

Eriko Murata (?), Hiroshima 1992:

Ute Baum, Basel 1995:

Colby Thomas, Hamburg 1998 (which is a bit different in fabric and in basque than the others, but the latest incarnation of the style in Germany before they started doing the current look):

Emma Frost, Copenhagen 2009:

Giulia Nadruz, Sao Paulo 2019:

Raquel Paulin, Sao Paulo 2019:

A detail shot of an old German or Dutch bodices used in Brazil:

And a detail shot of an old Swedish bodice used in Denmark:

Aaaaaaaah, bliss!!!!!!

[ltwilliammowett]

It's almost done, just one night and it's Christmas Eve. But that also means that the calendar is coming to an end for us. That's why we're delving into the world of films today in the 23rd door and I have two beauties that we know from the Hornblower movies - HMS Retribution and HMS Hotspur

HMS Hotspur and behind HMS Restribution

Here is more about the two and who is actually behind them:

The Earl of Pembroke was built in 1945 in Pukavik, Sweden, under the name Orion and was used for timber transport in the Baltic Sea until 1974, when she was laid up in Thisted, Denmark. She was transferred to the United Kingdom in 1980, where her complete restoration began in 1985. As part of the restoration, the ship was converted from a schooner to a barque (to resemble the famous HMS Endeavour, on which Captain Cook discovered Australia) and renamed Earl of Pembroke. From then on she served in various films in different rigs, but is best known as HMS Hotspur. Unfortunately, she had no further use in recent years and was completely scrapped in 2022.

The smaller Restribution is actually the Phoenix of Dell Quay, a brigantine. She was built by Hjorne & Jakobsen at Frederikshavn, Denmark in 1929, originally as an Evangelical Mission Schooner. Twenty years later she retired from missionary work and carried cargo until her engine room was damaged by fire. In 1974 she was bought by new owners who converted her into a brigantine before being purchased by Square Sail in 1988. A first aid over-haul enabled her to sail back to the UK where she underwent a complete refit. During 1991 she was converted to the 15th century Caravel Santa Maria for Ridley Scott's film 1492: Conquest of Paradise. She has also worked in: In the Heart of the Sea, Poldark, Taboo, Hornblower and Frontier. At the moment she is for sale.

[aestheticaltcow]

The Bear Timeline

This is based on this article, but there are a few flaws within it. They cite The French Laundry as a New York restaurant, but it is located in Northern California.

We don't know how old Carmy is, but this article says he's supposed to be 26 in season 2, and the season 1 screenplay portrays him as 25

I can't explain the barbeque incident that Richie and Carmy discussed in Season 1 because Carmy was not alive when Mikey turned 15. My conspiracy theory is that the line got mixed up, and it happened on Carmy's 15th birthday.

Birth Years: Mikey 11/15/1979, Sugar 11/10/1988, Carmy 1997

2015

If Carmy was, in fact, born in 1997, he would have been Class of 2015 He wants to work at The Beef, but Mikey says no, so Carmy goes to culinary school in France. Culinary programs seem to be between 3-9 months (let's split the diff and say Carmy finished in 6 months) So Carmy graduates high school in June of 2015. Let's say he takes a month off between graduating high school and starting culinary school.

2016

Carmy finishes culinary school and maybe stages somewhere in France, or the kid is just really lucky and lands a gig at The French Laundry straight out of culinary school *the logistics confuse me on this part* Works at The French Laundry in California Works at Ever in Chicago and meets Luca Works at Noma (Denmark) with Luca

2017

Carmy returns from Denmark The Fishes Dinner

2018 -2021

Carmy moves in with Michelle and Steven. Carmy works at Empire and eventually becomes a CDC Carmy turns 21 and wins The Best Up & Coming Chef He also wins a James Beard Award

2022

Mikey dies by suicide in February, Carmy doesn't return to Chicago until the Summer of 2022 (Let's call it June since Richie was running The Beef alone for four months before Carmy comes home) Season 1 Episode 3 takes place in November (Sugar calls to say it was Mikey's birthday at the end of the episode) So Season 1 is presumably over by the end of 2022

2023

The Beef changes to The Bear. Sugar's pregnancy (Beginning of season 2-almost end of season 3) The Fridge Scene is supposed to happen in March of 2023, which means season 3 is the spring/summer of 2023

[andiatas]

"When we talk about Frederik's popularity, we also have to acknowledge that there have been quite a few mishaps"

Denmark's new regent has several scandals in his backpack.

Today, Crown Prince Frederik has entered the office he was born to, and from now on, he will have to fill the huge shoes that his mother, Queen Margrethe, is leaving behind.

These are shoes that he is predicted to be able to fill via his slightly more popular profile, who attends Smukfest and organizes the Royal Run.

But the route to where he is today has occasionally been bumpy and has left the country's new king with scratches in the paint.

There have been cases of public backlash in the 55-year-old regent's life.

- When we talk about Frederik's popularity, we also have to acknowledge that there have been quite a few mishaps, says Cecilie Nielsen, history and royal house correspondent at DR Nyheder.

Among other things, she points to the time a 20-year-old Crown Prince Frederik and 19-year-old Prince Joachim, together with two friends, drove Frederik's Peugeot 205 off the road near Cahors in France.

- It was a rather serious accident, so there was a lot of talk about whether the two princes were even allowed to drive together, Cecilie Nielsen tells about the episode, which took place in 1988.

Partner was driving drunk

And four years later, it went sideways again.

- Then there is also a New Year's party in 1992, where his girlfriend, in a drunken state, gets behind the wheel of his car, says Cecilie Nielsen.

The girlfriend at the time was Malou Aamund, who did not have a driver's license. The episode once again caused a media storm about Frederik.

- Taken for drunken driving, read the headline in B.T.

If you continue to botanize in the then crown prince's misfortune on four wheels, many probably remember when he crossed an otherwise closed Great Belt Bridge in 2015.

The IOC case is the worst

However, that is not where you find the case that has brought Frederik into the most headwinds, says royal house commentator Thomas Larsen.

- The biggest storm was the IOC case because he was also up against the political system, which simply believed that he had made a completely wrong decision.

Frederik went directly against the Danish line in the International Olympic Committee in 2016 and voted for Russia to participate in the Olympics despite extensive scandals about state-sponsored doping.

Before then, it had raised criticism that he stood up for the committee.

- In the role as king, he simply cannot get into such conflicts, says Thomas Larsen.

Especially when he no longer has Queen Margrethe as a frontline fighter, says the royal house expert.

- I think he should consider himself happy that he could stand under the protection of a very, very strong queen.

Herlufsholm and Casanova

In addition, the future regents were also on thin ice when the whole case around Herlufsholm was happening. A case which, as you know, ended with Prince Christian changing schools.

- It raised the question: Can the royal children go to a school that is part of a bullying debate when their mother has an anti-bullying campaign, says Cecilie Nielsen, which, of course, also mentions the recent case of Crown Prince Frederik's trip to Madrid, where he was photographed in the company of the Mexican model Genoveva Casanova.

- It was especially big in foreign media, says Cecilie Nielsen.

Translation of an article by Jakob Slyngborg Trolle for DR, published Jan. 14, 2024, at 18:33. The text has also been edited by me for clarity.

[ace-kage-from-wetland-woods]

So in the wake of the shooting I made a list of all the shootings in Europe I could find... There is 21 of them and a total of 127 people were killed (not counting the ones from today). That's a lot isn't it? Yes, it is. But... Do you know when the first one was? 1913.

We had 21 shootings in Europe in the last 110 years and 127 dead. The list:

1913 - Germany (5 dead)

1925 - Poland (5 dead)

1947 - United Kingdom (1 dead)

1961 - Sweden (1 dead)

1967 - UK (1 dead)

1974 - Bulgaria (8)

1983 - Germany (6 dead)

1987 - UK (3)

1989 - Finland (2)

1988 - UK (0)

1994 - Denmark (3)

1996 - UK (18)

2002 - Germany (17 dead)

2003 - Germany (1)

2006 - Germany (1)

2007 - Finland (9)

2008 - Finland (11)

2009 - Germany (16)

2012 - France (8)

2022 - Germany (2)

2023 - Serbia (10)

This list doesn't include todays shootings in Prague and the shootings that weren't in schools (for example the Norway attacks of 2011 [shooting and bombing], 77 people died).

[youngfcs]

[ INDIAN FEMALE FCS ] - Part 1.

Alia Bhatt (1993) -  Born in India | Gujarati, Kashmiri and German descent

Anya Chalotra (1995)  - Born in England |  Kashmiri Indian and English descent

Deepika Padukone (1986) - Born in Denmark | Saraswat Brahmin family to Konkani-speaking parents 

Disha Patani (1992) -  Born in India | Kumaoni, from a Rajput background

Janina Gavankar (1980) -  Born in United States | Indian and Dutch descent

Kriti Sanon (1990) - Born in India |  Punjabi descent

Pooja Hegde (1992) - Born in India |  Indian descent, Tulu-speaking family

Sujaya Dasgupta (1988) - Born in India | Bengali descent

Tina Desai (1987) - Born in India | Gujarati and Telugu descent

[slack-wise]

Napalm Death live @ Club Paramount, Roskilde Denmark November 1988

[charlotte-of-wales]

Happy 87th birthday to Princess Alexandra!

Born on 25 December 1936, Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel; born 25 December 1936) is the only surviving granddaughter of George V and a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II through her father Prince George, Duke of Kent. Alexandra's mother was Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. At the time of her birth, she was sixth in the line of succession to the British throne; as of 2023, she is 57th.

On 24 April 1963, she married The Hon. Angus James Bruce Ogilvy, at Westminster Abbey. Angus Ogilvy declined the Queen's offer to be created an earl upon marriage, so their children carry no titles. Angus Ogilvy was knighted in 1988 (when Princess Alexandra assumed the style of The Hon. Lady Ogilvy).

Princess Alexandra and Angus Ogilvy had two children, James Robert Bruce Ogilvy (born 29 February 1964) and Marina Victoria Alexandra Ogilvy (born 31 July 1966) and four grandchildren: Flora Ogilvy (29), Alexander Ogilvy (27), Zenouska Mowatt (33) and Christian Mowatt (30).

Beginning in the late 1950s, Princess Alexandra carried out an extensive programme of engagements in support of the Queen, both in the United Kingdom and overseas. Taking part in roughly 120 engagements each year, Princess Alexandra was one of the most active members of the royal family. She made 110 engagements in 2012. However, in late June 2013, she cancelled her engagements due to arthritis.

[tiny-librarian]

Royal Birthdays for today, July 22nd:

Joan of England, Queen of Scotland, 1210

Philip I, King of Castile and Léon, 1478

Catherine Stenbock, Queen of Sweden, 1535

Marguerite of Lorraine, Duchess of Orléans, 1615

Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1848

Sobhuza II, King of Swaziland, 1899

Constantin, Prince of Nassau, 1988

Noriko Senge, Japanese Princess, 1988

Felix of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, 2002

George of Wales, British Prince, 2013

[abwwia]

Elizabeth Romhild (15 October 1960, Copenhagen, Denmark) is a Bangkok-based Danish-Armenian painter, sculptor, designer.

Elizabeth Romhild was born in Denmark in the family of Armenian father and Danish mother. She spent her childhood in Iran. She went to school in England, lived in Saudi Arabia, the United States, Indonesia, in 1988 she settled in Thailand. via Wikipedia

[gijoe-forever]

VH toys at Sorø Denmark 1988.

[thatrickmcginnis]

BOBBY McFERRIN, TORONTO 1988

Bobby McFerrin was about to have his life changed when I photographed him in the spring of 1988. McFerrin had been developing his unique vocal style for years before he released his first album in 1981, and he had released two more well-reviewed records before Simple Pleasures and its massive hit single was released in 1988. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" would win three Grammy, top the Billboard Top 100 and win gold records in the US, UK, Sweden and Denmark. (It would go platinum in Germany.) But its reputation as a one-hit wonder and a novelty record made it stand out uncomfortably in McFerrin's career, and he rarely if ever performs the whole song in concerts any more.

Bobby McFerrin comes from a musical family - his mother was a singer and teacher and his father an operatic baritone - and he was famous for his vocal skills before the hit that changed his life, bringing a capella and vocalese back into jazz over a decade after it had its heyday in the '50s and early '60s with acts like Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. Influenced by Keith Jarrett's improvisations, he has performed and recorded with jazz luminaries like Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, the Marsalis brothers and Tony Williams, and he guest conducts symphony orchestras all over the world. In the last few years he has focused on working with vocal ensembles, on record and at a weekly session he holds at a venue in Berkeley, California.

I still have no idea why Bobby McFerrin was moved to mug constantly during my portrait session with him back in 1988, and with time I have also forgot where this was shot and who I was working for. What I do know was that McFerrin restlessly pulled faces for most of the shoot, and that the memory of being unable to control my subject cast a shadow over this session - so much that I skipped it altogether when I was going through my files for my old blog several years ago. Since then, however, the strangeness of these photos has papered over whatever lingering memory I might have had, and legendary Welsh photographer Chalkie Davies recently told me that McFerrin did the same thing with him. So this is probably the first time these photos have been seen since whoever hired me for this assignment published them, nearly forty years ago.

[bookcoversaroundtheworld]

Watership Down - Denmark (1988)

[snaillamp]

The April Fool

31st March, 1988. Aarhus, Denmark.

Niel and Helena sat on their sofa, watching television. Helena was cuddling with her husband, he was warm in the brisk spring night, and ever since getting pregnant, the cold had got to her more. She gasped slightly as she felt the baby kick, touching her stomach as Niel looked over at her swollen belly. She was practically ready to pop. A couple more weeks and she was going to have their child, and they were both so excited.

"Hello my little fishy..." Niel murmured into his wife's stomach. "Are you going to come out and meet us soon?" Helena laughed softly, massaging her bump and smiling. "It's a very active little thing." She sighed, "Maybe a she?" She was still hoping for a girl.

Niel kissed the belly, and then his wife, "I think you will love whatever it is, regardless." Helena nodded, holding her bump protectively. "I'll never let anyone hurt my little one."

~~

Helena swayed as she danced to the song playing softly in their room. She had been ecstatic when Niel had bought her the her Enya cassettes for her birthday, and she had listened to all the albums she had over and over since she got them. Something about it was just magical to her, like her baby, a magical, special baby. Neil smirked as she continued to sway gently. "You and that hippie music." He shook his head.

"It's so good though! It's so mystical and modern sounding. And besides, I think Enya is a good name for a girl, so unique." Aksel slid into bed as his wife turned off the song, getting in with him. "My love, Enya is a wonderful name, but... what if you have a son? We've agreed on Ejnar, because of my dad. You can't call a boy after Enya. She's a woman." Helena frowned. "Why not? Maybe we shouldn't have gendered names at all." She massaged her belly fondly.

"Yeah, well, names are the way they are for a reason. Messing with them is silly." Niel concluded as he got under the sheets. Helena sighed, rolling her eyes and getting down with him. "Goodnight, Niel. Goodnight baby." She murmured, feeling it kick again. This time harder. A lot harder. She gasped in a little pain. "You alright?" Niel asked, looking up, concerned. "Yes, just a bit of a big kick." She winced, rolling onto her side and sighing. "It's such a little baby but it still has so much time left to grow, how is it already kicking so hard?" Niel chuckled. "Must be preparing early for the big day."

Helena nodded. "I hope so..." She snuggled up to Niel, and soon both were happily snoring away...

~~

Helena awoke in the early hours of the morning. Her stomach was hurting a little, but it was fine. Just a Braxton-Hicks contraction, like her ob-gyn said. The baby wasn't due for another two weeks. Rolling over onto her other side, she got comfortable, falling half asleep again for a while before another cramp began. It was fast, nothing serious. Just a Braxton-Hicks.

However, as she continued to lie there, they kept happening. After trying and failing to sleep for at least a 2 hours, Helena got up and waddled to the bathroom. She felt a bit dizzy, but probably just needed to go to the toilet. She had had a lot of water to drink recently. She wanted her baby to be healthy.

As she sat down, she winced, feeling another contraction. They had started becoming closer and closer together. Frowning, she rubbed her bump. "Not yet, little fishy. You're not done cooking yet." She took a deep, shaking breath in as she waited for the cramp to stop. Blowing the breath out, she shuffled back to bed, sliding in and trying to get comfortable. "Mmm... You 'kay?" Niel mumbled into the pillow, his arm snaking around her waist as he pulled her close. "Just a Braxton-Hicks contraction. Probably just cause I needed to pee." Helena rationalised. "Mhmm..." Niel mumbled, going back to sleep.

Helena must have drifted off, but she was awoken again by a very angry cramp. "Argh!" She sat up, leaning forward and breathing deep breaths. Niel sat up, still slightly sleepy. "Helly? Are you alright?" Helena nodded, "That was a bad one..." She gasped, standing up. "I'm not going to be able to sleep, I'll go watch TV downstairs. I'm sure there's some rerun of something on..." She winced.

Grabbing her Walkman, she brought her Enya cassettes down with her, tossing on her headphones and lying back against the sofa, sighing as 'Fairytale', her favourite song began to play. She lay back, listening to the sounds as they danced around her, sighing in contentment. After a while, another cramp... "Please little baby... Wait a while..." She mumbled, rubbing the bump. The baby was quite still, but probably sleeping. She smiled at the thought of the tiny little person sucking it's thumb as it slept. It was so magical, that there was a little life inside of her... Her little baby. She already knew she would do anything for it. Climb mountains, swim through floods, go without food or shelter just so her little miracle could be safe.

Niel and Helena had been trying for years with no success. They were beginning to consider IVF, but one magical night, she had realised that she finally was pregnant. It was like a fairytale, just like her song... so perfect and amazing and-

A massive cramp ripped through her body and she cried out. Easing off the sofa, she pulled off the headphones and waddled to the sofa arm beside her. Leaning heavily on it, she breathed through the pain... "Just breathe... Just breathe..." She coached herself. Niel came hurtling down the stairs. "Helly?"

Helena looked at him, his figure slightly illuminated by the dim light, tears pricking in her eyes. "I'm fine. It's fine it's just a Braxt-" Helena froze, the tears beginning to roll down her cheeks as the warm fluid began to drip down her legs. "Niel..." She murmured, voice hollow. "My water just broke." Her husband's eyes bulged as he raced to turn on a light, looking at the puddle on the rug below Helena. "Shit." He breathed, as Helena began to walk upstairs.

"Helly, where are you going?" He asked, concerned. "I need to change!" She exclaimed, going to the bathroom and locking the door. She pushed her back against it, sliding to the floor and cradling her bump. "Not yet little baby. You need to wait. Just two more weeks and then can come ou-AGH!" Her breath hitched as another contraction hit her. They were getting worse.

Pushing herself up, she went back into the bedroom, going to the closet and pulling on new clothes. She looked at herself in the mirror attached to the door, admiring her bump. She was worried, the baby was too early, but there was a small part of her screaming with joy, ecstatic. Her baby was coming!

Niel had already packed the car by the time she came outside. The contractions were long now, and painful, and so so much closer together. "Come on!" Niel tried ushering her faster but she was being careful on the frosty driveway. "Hold on, I'm in labour not bleeding out." She snapped, glaring at her husband.

They drove quickly to the hospital, Niel speeding a little faster than he should've as they raced through the streets. Finally arriving at the doors to the ER, Niel grabbed his wife, helping her inside as she cried out, hunching over with another contraction. Nurses were on them in moments, packing her up onto a stretcher and wheeling her away, Niel running close behind.

~~

Helena cried out in pain again. She had been in labour for 5 hours, and nothing. Niel had gone home, to bring her her Walkman and call both their parents. Helena's were on their back from their holiday in Greece and his were driving from Copenhagen. Both would take forever to get here. Helena screamed again, the contraction hurting her badly. A doctor came in, talking to her about the fact the baby was premature and the risks that entailed, but Helena wasn't listening.

"JUST FUCKING DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO TO GET THIS BABY OUT!" She wailed desperately. The doctor nodded, offering her some pain relief, which she took gladly, relaxing a little.

~~

7 hours in, Helena finally cried out to the nurse checking her vitals. "I have to push!"

In minutes, she was being wheeled into the delivery room, Niel scrubbing up and following close behind. He sat by her side as she began to push, eventually the doctor saying something about crowning, whatever that meant.

~~

Helena cried out, pushing hard. "Baby's crowning!" The doctor informed her. "You're doing very well Helena, keep pushing." The midwife next to her, opposite Niel rubbed her hand. "That's it deep breaths. Good girl, you're doing fantastic." Another push, and another and another and another until something shifted inside. "Baby's head is out!" The midwife exclaimed, her eyes smiling beneath the mask she was wearing. More pushing and the shoulders came free and with a final push, relief washed over Helena as she felt the baby come free.

She laughed, delirious from the pain, medicine and overwhelming joy, as she listened for her baby's cry.

Deafening silence greeted her.

There was brisk words spoken as the doctors and nurses carried the tiny, floppy blue body towards a table, nurses pulling machines around them. The midwife left Helena's side, peeking over the shoulders of the medical team as they worked, muttering to each other. Helena desperately craned her neck to see, but couldn't see past the sheet in front of her. Niel stood up, glancing down at his wife who looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"It isn't crying..." She murmured, feeling her heart begin to crack. "Why isn't it crying?!" She cried out as the midwife came back, looking grim. "The cord was stuck very tightly around it's neck, the baby wasn't breathing when it was born. The doctors are doing everything they can okay?" Not even a minute had passed since her baby had come into the world and Helena had already lost it.

She felt her heart shatter as she began to cry silent, mourning tears as Niel sat with her, gripping her hand as the tense silence blanketed the room, the only sounds of the doctors doing something to her poor, little, delicate, precious baby. "No..." She whispered, staring at the blurred ceiling as the tears flowed down her cheeks.

A baby's screams filled the air.

Helena and Niel's hearts leaped to their throats as their child wailed. A nurse brought over a little, tiny baby, who was already red in the face from all that crying. "You have a healthy little boy!" The nurse exclaimed, putting the little, pink baby on Helena's chest. Her little, pink baby. Her tears continued to fall, this time full of joy as she watched him turn even pinker against her chest.

He was a tiny baby, eyes still shut as he snuggled into her body, a blanket wrapped around him, snuggly and warm. A nurse came over with a tiny, little blue hat, putting it over his thick, black hair and smiled.

Helena gleamed. Her baby. She had her baby. He was all hers. The two parents looked at each other, as Niel reached out his pinky finger, letting their son grab it with his tiny, delicate hand. He was perfect.

"I guess you got your wish..." Helena sighed happily, holding her baby close. "Ejnar..." She murmured in his tiny little ear. Niel smiled, nodding. "I guess I did..." He chuckled. "Little man really did pull an April Fool's prank on us." He stared at his son's five, tiny little fingers. "Welcome to the world little guy."

~~

As he wrote down his details on the form, Niel stopped at the last box, sighing.

Name of child:

He stared at it for a moment, looking at it, before sighing. He felt a little bad that Helena wasn't going to get her Enya that she'd had her heart set on. Finishing the name, Niel froze. 'Shit.' He thought. His dyslexia had fucked him up again on probably the most important document he’d ever sign… He’d misspelled his own son's name... Only eyes grew wide as he read it... It sounded like...

With a smirk, Niel put the pen down, triumphant. 'That's payback, little man.' He grinned wickedly.

Handing the form over the desk to the woman, she double checked it, nodding. At the box she paused at the name, frowning. "Sir, just checking that this is spelled correctly?" She said aloud each letter in the order they were written, and Niel nodded. "No, that's what I want." The woman shrugged, "Alright, then. Congratulations on your son, sir."

When he returned to the hospital, he held out the birth certificate. "Look my darling, he's officially official." Helena looked up, tired as the tiny baby suckled on her breast. "Aww, hungry little man, huh?" Niel asked. Helena nodded, stroking the baby's little head as he grunted happily, tummy full of milk. "He's perfect."

Sitting beside his wife, Niel held out the birth certificate. "I think you'll want to see this." Helena gave the baby to her husband as she fixed herself up and read the certificate. "Oh, Niel you made a mistake, his name is spelled..." "No, no, say it." She looked up at her husband's evil smirk, murmuring the name and gasped. "You didn't." She eyed him, waiting for him to yell: "April Fool's!" and produce the real certificate.

The seconds of silence filled the room as the three of them sat together, Helena staring at the certificate. "As a tribute to dad, I used his name, but I made it sound like the one you wanted. A perfect compromise... And that's pay back for the biggest April Fool's prank in history." He cooed at his sleeping son, the lie slipping off his tongue easily. Well, it wasn't really a lie, was it?

"So you got your Enjar after all." He looked at his wife, smiling as she began to cry, happy, happy tears. "You idiot!" She sobbed through her laughter.

"Happy birthday, my little Enjar... Oh... it suits him so well..." Helena smiled as Niel placed his son in the crib beside the bed. Their baby was perfect. Life was perfect. And Enjar's life was going to be wonderful, she could just feel it.

~masterlist~