by April Zyon
“You are pushing my buttons, Bracken,” she muttered and gasped as another pain caught her by surprise. “I thought that the pain patches would make the pain all go away. Seriously, this sucks.”
“The patches help to temper the birthing pains, they do not fully remove them,” the doctor told her. “You need to feel some of the pain otherwise we won’t know your progression, or if something should go wrong. Sorry, Lady Daykin, but you’ll have to suck it up.”
Petr shot the woman a look. “Have you even met my sister? She’s the biggest wimp around when it comes to pain.” He finally seemed to be coming out of his shock, though, so that was good. And he moved to the bed so he could lean in to give her a kiss.
“I can’t help it,” she muttered and rubbed the hard knot that was in her side. “By the ancestors, this hurts!” she screamed as she felt the burning sensations. “It’s almost as if they are trying to come out at the same time. Fin, talk to your damn children and tell them one at a time.”
His hand pushed hers aside to rub at the knot on her side. “Lean into me,” he said softly against her ear. “Focus on one thing, and slow your breathing. They will come out one at a time. You know that, Adira. But their nice safe environment isn’t so nice right now as they are being forced out. They are likely as scared as we are about this whole process. You need to be as calm as possible so they are. They are picking up on your emotions, remember?” Fin moved his other hand to rub over her belly in slow, soothing circles.
“I’m trying to be calm but it’s so hard.” She was gasping, leaning heavily against Fintan as she did so. “I just want them out in the world so that they can start to terrorize everyone around them as well.” She was grinning as she said that, her hand stroking her belly lightly. “And Petr is right, I really do not do pain well at all.”
“I know that, little wife. But we’re in this together. Lean on me. I’m not going anywhere, Adira.” He began to rock her slowly. Pressing his lips to her neck he started to hum softly. With one hand he rubbed the knot in her side away, and with the other he stroked her belly in a way that seemed to help calm the babies a little.
She began to relax once more, the pain patch helping somewhat. “Petr, how did you get here? How did you know?” She was late in her pregnancy. The babies should have been born two weeks earlier, so it wasn’t that he was looking for her due date.
“Your husband has been sending me encoded messages since I was here last. We’ve been shadowing you for the last couple of weeks so we’d be close when you finally went into labor. Why do you think you are on border patrol?” Petr asked. “Because it was the only way for me to get close enough to take a crawler over at a moment’s notice. And with the limited coverage no one is any the wiser on either of our crews. Especially mine, given the fact command has been extra suspicious of late.”
She began to cry. She couldn’t help it. Her emotions were all over the place. “I love you,” she said with a nod, then screamed—and felt the water rushing between her legs. “Oh crap.” She knew what that meant. Her water broke. Great. “Oh boy.”
“Ah, progress,” the doctor said cheerfully. “This is very good. General, you should help your wife up. Take a hot shower to clean her up, and then get her into something more comfortable. We need to change the bedding while you do that, and then we’ll be ready to bring your little ones into the world.”
Adira nodded and looked back at Fintan and smiled. “We need to do this. This is good, right? Our babies will be here soon. Good.” She looked down at her belly and rubbed it. “That’s right, my little darlings, you will soon be in the world and everyone will want to hug you and love you. I can’t wait. Your dad is going to be so protective of you.” So was she, to say the least.
“Shocking information,” Petr said sarcastically.
Fintan shook his head slightly and gave her a light squeeze. “I’ll get up and then help you off the bed. We’ll go to the bathing room so we can clean you up, and hopefully they’ll actually want to join us at this celebration.”
She was leaning heavily on Fintan, moving along with him now that he had her up and on her feet. “Right, wait.” She paused mid step so that she could breathe through the small pain that rippled through her. “Not bad, but that’s okay.”
“Good,” he said. Rubbing her back, he kept moving her along toward their bathing room. Inside he walked her straight into the shower and eased her down onto the built-in bench. “I’ll be back in a moment. I need to get you something to wear, and I need a change of clothing as well. Will you be all right for a few moments?”
“I will. Just turn on the shower so that I can sit in the heated water?” she asked hopefully. “Because I know you will be back soon. Right? Now, go. Hurry, please?”
“Stay still,” he told her. Moving to the controls, he got it turned on and redirected the spray toward her. He stepped out, then left the room. Fin didn’t take too long, was back with an armful of clothes, and shut the door quickly. After stripping down he stepped back into the shower with her. “We need to get this off you,” he said of the loose outfit she was wearing.
“Right, I didn’t want to move. My balance is shaky at best right now.” She had put her hands on the seat at her sides and hadn’t moved since he left her. “I need your help though,” she said and turned to look at him. “Please?”
“Of course,” he told her. Coming in close, he put his hands under her arms. “When I lift ease it up so it clears your bottom. Then I’ll sit you back down and pull it off over your head.” At her nod he gently lifted her off the seat enough to give her the clearance she needed to push the sopping wet material out from under her. He settled her back down, then went to work peeling the loose gown off her body.
She did just as he instructed and closed her eyes. “The hot water feels so good. Can we just stay in here while we have our children?” She knew that wasn’t feasible, they would have to refuel water on one of the orbiting moons that had it in abundance and she wouldn’t think to put the crew out like that, but she was tempted. So tempted.
“Pretty sure your brother would have something to say about his niece and nephew coming into the world in our shower. Besides the fact the doctor wouldn’t let that happen. She may seem nice, and cheerful, but she has a mean streak in her.” He gathered the soap and crouched before her to start by washing her feet and legs.
“All doctors have to have a mean streak in them or else we would be in a great deal of trouble. Everyone needs to be able to be mean sometimes, right?” She took another deep breath and felt the pain once more. “Another one. Give me a moment, please?” she asked and began to pant.
“Focus on me, Adira. Keep talking to me too so I know what’s going on. Unlike the babies, I don’t get to have a peek into what you’re feeling. You need to tell me things,” he said. He was watching her with concern, his gaze locked with hers.
“I’m trying but sometimes it hurts to talk while the pains are rolling through.” She gasped once again. “It’s burning, from spine to belly button. Lots.”
“Then we’d better hurry up,” he told her. Once the pain passed he gave the rest of her a wash, only standing her up to get the parts he hadn’t been able to while she’d been sitting, and to rinse her off.
Shutting the water, off he collected a towel to wrap her in. Another went onto the stool out in front of the vanity. Once he dried himself off he helped her out to sit on the stool and quickly dried her off. “I brought one of my shirts for you to wear since I know how much you like them. It’ll be a little snug around the middle, but once we’re back on the bed we can undo the buttons around your belly and still keep you covered with the sheet.”
“Thank you.” She smiled and leaned in to hug him. “You are so good to me. I just want you to hold me for now, okay?” She nodded. “So hug me. Don’t let go?”
He did as she asked, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back as she had the contraction. “Remember to breathe, Adira. You have to keep breathin
g or you’ll turn blue. While I still think that you are hot, I don’t think you’ll look nearly as good in that color.”
“I’m trying.” She was breathing in and out, leaning on him to keep her moving in the way that she needed to, breathing as she should. “Okay, it’s passed. Let’s get me dressed and back into bed where hopefully the doctor will give me more for pain. Please.”
Nodding, he brushed her hair back. He stood, grabbing up the shirt, and helped her to get it on. While she buttoned it up he pulled on a pair of loose pants, then slid a shirt on. Once they were both covered, Fin helped her up to her feet and guided her out of their bathing chamber and back to the bed.
She took another deep breath and nodded. “All right, I’m good.” She was holding his hand with hers and gave him a squeeze. “Now, have you come up with a name for our children as of yet, husband?” She noted that Petr and Bracken were on opposite sides of the room, guards were at the door, and the doctor was waiting.
“No,” Fin said softly as he helped her onto the bed. Once he had her covered, and the shirt undone over her belly, he settled in behind her once more. “I thought you were coming up with the names, little wife. After all, you shot down my initial ideas. I believe you said they were boring.”
“I have one for our girl. Her name will be Morgan, after your mother.” His mother was gone. Adira wanted to ensure that her essence lived on. “Her middle name will be Elisa, after my mother.”
He was absolutely silent, but his arms tightened around her slightly. “Thank you,” he whispered against her cheek. “But now we need to come up with one for our son,” he said. “And no, I’m not naming him Bracken, so get that out of your head.”
“I never said to name him Bracken.” She was giggling now. “However, it wouldn’t be amiss if his middle names were those of our brothers. Don’t you think? Maybe name him Fintan Junior?”
“Bracken was the one to throw that in the name ring. We are not naming our son after me either,” he muttered. He fell silent again when she had another contraction, just holding her and rubbing her belly slowly. “What about Lennox?” he suggested once she started to regain her breath.
“I love that name. Lennox. We can call him Lenny.” She was struck by another contraction, this one harder. “Goodness, these kids want out in the real world, now, don’t they?”
“They were likely waiting on their parents to finally decide on their names,” Bracken offered with a grin. “Now that the two of you have gotten it together, they’re ready for the show to begin.”
“I’m about to throw something at you,” she muttered. She had almost forgotten that Bracken was there as well. “I mean it. You are so not funny right now. Not when I’m hurting.” She was practically growling at the man because she was hurting so badly.
“I’m funny all the time, you just haven’t yet been exposed to all the levels I can amuse you on. It’s all right, we’ll have plenty of time later for me to further instruct you. For now you should likely stop glowering at me and focus on the fact that the good doctor appears to be settling into position. It appears one of the two is going to attempt an appearance.”
“I’ll throw him out the airlock later,” Fintan promised next to her ear.
“Good. I might even let you.” She leaned heavily against Fintan and felt another contraction. “I feel another. This one is burning and hurting more. I want to push. Please tell me that I can push now.” She was panting as she spoke.
The doctor gave her a nod. Fintan slipped his hands to hers, lacing their fingers together, and changed their position slightly. “Any time you’re ready, Adira,” he told her. “I love you, little wife.”
“Love you too, but it’s your turn to have the children next time,” she muttered and began to push. She screamed as she pushed her way through the contractions, screamed as she felt the pain tearing her apart. She took a break, breathed, then repeated the process over and over again until the first child spilled free of her body.
“Well done, Lady Daykin,” the doctor said. She wiped at the baby’s face, clearing the nose and mouth. “Your son decided to join us first. Hello, Lennox, and welcome.” Wrapping up the baby, she passed him off to the first assistant to take him over to finish cleaning him and getting him swaddled.
There wasn’t much time for Adira to relax before the next contraction began and once more she screamed with the pains rolling through her. More pain and cursing as she brought her daughter into the world as well.
Once both the babies were cleaned up, the assistants brought them to the bed while the doctor continued to attend to Adira. They paused to see who she wanted to hold first, but Fintan made the decision for her. He took their daughter and quickly passed her over to Adira before taking their son in his arms. He didn’t look all that sure about it, but he seemed to be figuring it out slowly.
She just smiled as she watched her husband holding his son. In the meantime she stroked her fingers over her daughter’s cheek and smiled. “You are too beautiful, little one.” She had her father’s coloring but her eyes were a bright silvery blue color. “You are going to be a little heartbreaker, aren’t you?”
Fintan leaned in closer to her so she could see Lennox as well. He looked a lot like Fintan already, except the hair definitely had her coloring so far. “She has her mother’s eyes, beautiful eyes at that,” he said quietly.
“And he’s such a handsome little guy. I’m so happy that they both have your coloring.” She reached out and touched her son. She nodded and pulled back. “They are beautiful. Thank you for the most perfect children ever.”
“You ready to forgive me for all the pain yet?” he asked. Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he rested his head to hers. “You were truly amazing, Adira. So strong, and beautiful through the entire thing. I’m proud of you, little wife.”
“Next time I want more pain meds, but yes I forgive you,” she said with a sigh. “I’m ready to get cleaned up now, though. I feel disgusting.” She didn’t want to let her baby go, though. She was finding she was rather protective of her babies.
“As soon as the doctor leaves us be for a while, we’ll let the uncles get to know them while we clean up. I’m quite sure they’ll ensure no one makes off with them during the few minutes it takes us to get you presentable once more. And because Bracken was being an idiot earlier, he gets to make the bed up with clean linens.”
That had her laughing, which made her hurt. “Right. Okay, note to self, I’m still in pain. Another pain patch wouldn’t be amiss, by the way,” she muttered and let Fin help her up and out of the bed so that she could go and get cleaned up.
“After we clean you up,” he told her. Petr had Lennox, and Bracken had little Morgan in his arms. Both men seemed a little stunned as they stared down at the babies. “Bracken, bed sheets before we return.”
One of the assistants laughed. “I doubt he heard you, General. I’ll take care of the bedding for you before we leave you to get to know the family better. The doctor will come by later with some milk should it be required. Occasionally it’s hard for the new mothers to get it flowing on the first try.”
“Thank you,” he said, guiding Adira into the bathing room once more.
Epilogue
Fintan checked on Adira before he left their rooms. She was sound asleep with the twins curled up in her arms. Smiling slightly at the scene, he ensured the door was locked behind him. “No one in,” he said to the guards. With their nods he stalked off through the corridors.
Petr had already said his goodbyes to Adira, and Bracken was off getting some sleep himself on his own destroyer. But Fintan needed to speak with Adira’s brother before he returned to his own vessel. He needed to know what the hell was really going on.
Slipping into the landing bay, he walked across the empty deck to the lowered ramp of Petr’s crawler. The man was sitting on the edge, waiting on him. “Sorry, that took longer than I thought it would.”
“Understandable you wouldn’t want to leave them.�
�� Petr got to his feet and walked toward Fintan. “She’s happy, for which I’m eternally grateful. You’d best keep her that way, Daykin, or I’ll be back, and there will be rather strong words between the two of us.”
Fintan stared at the other man. While Petr was a bit shorter than himself, he wasn’t to be ignored, couldn’t be ignored. He was highly trained and lethal in his own right. On top of which he had a mind capable of concocting elaborate scenarios that could baffle even the most brilliant of minds on both their worlds. “She is my life. Her happiness is paramount and above even my own. But you could always come back and try.”
Letting out a snort, Petr shook his head. Fintan watched him, taking note of the shadows in and under his eyes. He was tired, and stressed, both easy enough to see if one were to truly look. “What’s going on with the Imarian Fleet?”
“What’s going on with the Craegin Armada?” Petr countered.
Fintan knew he had to give to get, and on this they were of a like mind so he was willing to give first. “There are rumors floating around about a planned attack. Nothing that can be substantiated of course, but you know as well as I do that the crews hear things they likely shouldn’t and it spreads.”
“Unfortunately it’s not always the truth as it is, but what the warmongers want the peoples to think.”
He agreed with that fully. “True,” he said. “When last I spoke with the marshal there seemed to be greater tensions than usual. If I had to take a guess, they are readying to mount an attack on your world.”
“Why? Why now?”
“Unknown, but I’m working on finding out more. Right now all I have is gossip, and hearsay. Nothing useful.”
“Sadly I have no better. The Imarian Fleet seems to have a rumor of an attack coming, so that matches with what you say. But it’s not us attacking you, rather you attacking us. On the home world I noticed they are putting in new defenses. I don’t know if this is a way to subjugate the people for something bigger, or if they truly believe an attack could come any day.”
