UPDATE 2/9/15: I realized I've been writing a lot of fics around this general theme and time period, so I've decided to make this one-shot into a collection of one-shots, most being non-linear, and covering any relative time before/during/after they're born, with perhaps a couple two-shots thrown in.

This chapter was inspired by this lovely fan art:

comicninja409 . deviantart Mother-s-Day-453590518

As well, I must give credit to Gadfly, whose canon created in "Small Miracles" as well as most of his other fics (which too are excellent and are must-reads) this slightly draws from.

I love Fiona as a character, and because it's a children's franchise and she's not the main character, she doesn't get the credit or exploration she deserves, in my opinion. But in a way I'm thankful they left the pregnancy/birth/new parenthood largely untouched, so that we could fill in the rest ourselves.

Thank you for reading, please R&R!

Shrek's hand had virtually become an extension of her own, as she held fast to it, and he to her. Her other hand balled up the linens upon which she lay, atop a bed of moss and straw that temporarily lay on their bed frame.

The past months Fiona had reminisced upon her elaborate fantasies from her days in the tower, of the life she was lead to believe she would have, and the family she would create with her prince. How could she not? She was about to see them become reality, though not at all in any similarity to what they once looked like in her mind. But realized, indeed, they were: she had her prince - the greatest that any princess could ask for; they had their castle, much more a home than marble blocks and mortar could build; and now they had their family.

Well, almost.

Anything useful Shrek had read in all the books Fiona had foisted upon him in the preceding weeks had flown clear out of his head; similarly had the relaxation techniques Fiona had learned. Luckily, as always, they had each other, which was almost as good, they cheekily agreed.

Next to the bed frame sat a very newly-expanded crib, in which lay two very newly-born baby boy ogres, cleaned and wrapped in the softest blankets they owned. Farkle, the eldest, christened a traditional ograrian name (Shrek's choice, naturally), brown eyes like his father and a sprig of his mother's red hair; Fergus, the second, with a more kingdom-inspired name (a mutual agreement), brown-eyed and bald as he could be. In the midst of the emotional tidal waves that were currently consuming them, both parents took ample time to meet their sons, shed tears (something Shrek was entirely unprepared to experience), shower them with kisses, and take in every last detail about them before gently settling them down.

In the throes of her own personal emotional hurricane, Fiona had been so happy to have two healthy babies that she had not even thought about her girlhood dream to have a daughter. She'd even had the perfect name in mind: Felicia.

Now, able to better focus on her final efforts, she resolved that would not let herself be disappointed, not even a little, by a third happy and healthy baby boy, if it so happened to be.

Not even a little.

Some voice registered at the back of FIona's mind, saying that something is "almos'"… something. She wasn't even completely sure if the boys were still crying. She closed her eyes, leaned back into the makeshift bed and smiled. In an odd moment of focus, she felt a single drop fall from her nose down into the corner of her mouth, though whether it was sweat or tears she couldn't say. She felt that very particular pressure building within her, and as it grew she inhaled deeply. Shrek's hand in hers tensed in anticipation, and she in turn adjusted her grip within his own. She bore down with more might than she thought she could contain as more tears trickled down from her eyes, and she was vaguely aware that she herself was screaming.

And then, all at once: nothing. Fiona let her body fall limp into the bedding, and stared up at their dirt ceiling as she desperately gasped for air. Both her hands laid at her side, having let go of Shrek - or was it he who released her? - who was occupied with something just out of her sight. The recognizable cries of her two sons filtered back into her consciousness. Her breathing slowly began to regulate, but she still hadn't h-

A brand-new voice pierced the early morning air to make the duet a trio, and fresh tears streamed down Fiona's face. She could not stop laughing, or smiling, or crying, all three at once. She heard Shrek's unmistakable laugh, getting caught in a sputter or two for good measure. As she brought herself back to a more upright position-

"Issa girl! Issa girl!"

Shrek too had caught the laughing-crying bug, and he lifted the baby up to place in his wife's arms. He wiped a hand roughly down his face, as he sat for a moment gazing at the pair, as he had two times before.

"Felicia." Fiona's voice was airy and hoarse, and barely audible over three sets of cries and one other set of laugh-cries. Saying the name out loud, to the child to whom in now belonged, brought on another wave of sobs, and her tears fell directly on top of her daughter; she attempted to kiss each one away, in much the same way she had with the boys.

Shrek had already picked up Farkle and Fergus from the crib (properly, as he proudly remembered something from his readings). He helped her hold them all on her lap facing her, as if Fiona were holding an armful of infant playing cards. He kissed the top of each baby's head, and then brushed a soaked lock of hair from his wife's face, and kissed her tenderly on the lips. With no free hands, Fiona settled for leaning her forehead against her Shrek's, and kissed him again. She was finally able to whisper to him, "Thank you." He held her cheek in his hand a moment more, then kissed her on the forehead again. He sat back down in his chair beside the bed and soaked up the sight before him.

Fiona knew instantly in her heart that she loved each of her children equally. It's just that she met two for the very first time, and one she had met once before, in a dream, now getting to know in the flesh.

Fiona had long forgotten the exact date of Far Far Away's officially ordained Mother's Day, but such a date was trivial, at any rate. Today was her Mother's Day.