Chapter Ten: Early Delivery
Dear Glinda,
I know this will reach you in the early hours of the morning, but I figured you have two month old twins, you're bound to be up, right? Plus, I know you'd want to know as soon as possible.
The good news is, there will only be two months difference between our children, not three. And now I've confused you.
Elphaba went into labour early yesterday morning (early as in pre-dawn). Given that she wasn't due for another month and it was the middle of the night, you can imagine how I panicked. But I was just trying to keep Fae calm, because she was quite panicked herself, especially considering her mother had gone into premature labour with Nessarose and we all know how that ended. She was in labour all day, so we sent Aerin to Briar-Rose's house, fortunately Aerin's friends with her little girl and thought she was having a play date, we didn't want her knowing Momma was hurt and scared.
But finally, little Liir Dillamond Tiggular arrived about two hours ago, twenty-three hours after Elphaba's waters broke. It was even worse that when Aerin was born, and we really would have given anything to have you here with us, Glinda. Fae's been quite emotional, even for her, I think she was more scared than she let on and remembering Nessa's birth.
Liir is definitely Elphaba's son, despite arriving so early he is in perfect health. He's tiny, and Haggar is a little worried about how small his lungs are and if he would feed properly, but he proved he is a fighter- promptly having breakfast and going to sleep in his Mama's arms. I guess he looks like me, Elphaba says it's almost exact, but I just see Fae in him. She says I'm just biased, which could be true too.
Liir is after my father, I thought it was a nice gesture even if they can never meet. Dillamond, is of course, after Dr. Dillamond. He meant so much to Elphaba, and we never did find out what happened to him after Fae freed the monkeys and him from the palace, did we? Fae got upset when she realised she didn't even know his first name, but I think just 'Dillamond' suits Liir perfectly.
Oh, before I forget- Elphaba made sure that I tell you about that birth announcement you keep pestering us for. Here's how news travels in the village- you walk to town, tell the first person you meet, and everyone else will know within the hour. So, sorry, there's actually no written birth announcement. Small town, remember? I know you guys are planning to visit next month, and we don't want you to change your plans, despite our anticipation for you guys to meet Liir and for us to meet the twins.
Seriously, the extra month will give us time to make sure everything's ok with Liir and adjust Aerin to her new role as big sister and us as parents of two. And now that you have the twins, you can't pack up and leave at the last minute.
I can't believe it, Glinda. I mean, I adore Aerin and I would have been thrilled with another girl. But to have a son… it's a different sort of feeling than I had when Aerin was born. I remember telling Fae when she told me she was pregnant with Aerin that I'd prefer a boy because I didn't know the first thing about raising girls. And the second Haggar held Liir up and said it was a boy, I thought I would have preferred a girl because at least I knew for sure how to raise a girl!
I mean, when I told Fae I knew how to raise a boy, I was just thinking how my parents raised me; but now that I actually have children, there's no way I would ever raise the kids like how I was raised. I don't want my children to live like I did before I met Elphaba.
By the way, just in case you were wondering, Liir isn't green. I know Elphaba's concerns over what would happen if one of the kids did inherit her skin colour, but is it bad to say that I'm a little disappointed? Her skin is just one of the things I love about Fae, and if Oz forbid something were to happen, I kind of like the idea of her having passed that particular trait down to at least one of our children. Not that I will ever tell Elphaba that, she always says she wouldn't wish her life upon anyone, especially our children.
Do you think Aerin will like Liir? Is that a stupid question? I mean, I was an only child, and Elphaba cared for Nessa her whole life. But I think if Fae's pregnancy is any indication, we'll be fine. Aerin was just completely fascinated by Elphaba's stomach the whole time, and the idea that there was a person in there. I wish you could have seen Aerin reading to the baby during Elphaba's last trimester. She's just learning to read, but she's so proud of what she can do, and Fae suggested she read to the baby, and she did! A lot. And then we discovered the baby kicked towards her when he heard Aerin's voice, and she was ecstatic. And then we couldn't get her to stop reading, talking or singing to the baby, and then it wasn't so cute anymore.
Elphaba just woke up, and she says hello and to send her love. We can't wait to see you all again and to meet the twins.
Love from,
Elphaba, Fiyero, Aerin, and Liir