"Aro, how are we going to get the children out? Something tells me I can't just give birth like with normal human babies," Mariah asked, her hand moving softly over her swollen belly unconsciously as she thought of her children once again.
"Well, I haven't been idle on that front, Bella," he started, stroking her hair soothingly. "Bur, the only safe way I can see would be to remove the twins from your womb by a…Caesarean section if you will,"
"A C-section?" She asked, frowning.
"It will involve one of us using our….natural talents to remove the twins. Obviously I would be on hand to turn you the moment the children were clear," he assured Mariah, even as she suppressed a shiver at his words.
Aro or Caius would have to use their teeth to get the babies out... like Edward did with Bella.
"Are you sure this is the only way?" Mariah asked, the beginnings of fear tripping across her heart. Aro looked at her, long and hard.
"Yes, it is. I'm sure you've felt how…hard your stomach feels, almost like our skin. I don't think using conventional human methods will work, Mariah," he explained, and I had to concede that. Underneath my obviously still human skin, my uterus felt like it was made of stone. This was the only way.
"Alright. I trust you," I murmured, laying my head back down on his chest, drawing tiny circles on his suit jacket with the tips of my fingers. "How long do you think…?"
"Not long. In human pregnancies, most women are your size when they give birth, so I would guess soon. I think it would be dangerous to delay too long," he answered briskly. Suddenly his voice softened. "We won't lose you again…"
"I'm not dying, Aro," I muttered, rolling my eyes, flinching at the sound of his name. I could think it, but I couldn't say it out loud. Yet something was different than last time; I was different. That hole in my chest hadn't been torn open again.
"No, but immortality is an entirely new existence, with new experiences mortality cannot offer. But mortality does have its advantages," Caius replied whilst kissing my forehead. My heartbeat sped up in response. "Like that." He smirked.
We lapsed back into silence, content with the other's closeness, as I daydreamed, listening to the stillness of the house. After a moment or two, Mariah spoke up again, "What about names?"
"Had you any in mind, Cherie?" Caius pulled her closer and covered her hand with his.
"It's going to be a boy and a girl…though to whom each belongs I don't really know…" She began before quieting for a moment again. "Lillian, for the girl, I'm picking that one right now! But…Vlados or Damon for the boy?" Mariah smirked, as she wondered what they thought of her taking over of the name picking.
"I like Lillian," Aro smiled back at her, clearly amused at her authoritive tone.
"Vlados?" Caius groaned and let his head fall back against the bed head. "It's too close to the name of one of the Romanian scum we overthrew."
"So…Damon then?" Mariah's smirk widened into a mirthful grin.
"No…I thought…Jeremiah…" Caius whispered teasingly into her hair.
Mariah's smile turned gentle. "I quite like that."
"Excellent!" Aro clapped his hands together ecstatically. "Names are decided!"
"Yes, we…" Mariah trailed off, her facial expression changing from confused to agonised and she cried out in pain.
"Demitri!" Aro roared. "Get Carlisle… NOW!"