Gregor didn't miss a beat, he just turned and ran. He could hear Luxa from the hallway, which he assumed wasn't a good sign. He burst in, and there was quite the commotion. There were several people, Gregor figured they were nurses, rushing about, and Howard was doing the same. Luxa was on the bed, covered in sweat, and obviously in agony. Gregor rushed to her, and grabbed her hand.

"Hey, hey, I'm here. How are you?"

"Oh, I am just lovely!" Luxa said through gritted teeth. Howard came over to fill Gregor in.

"She began the first stages of a labor this morning while you were at training. We were not going to notify you until active labor began, but when the alarm sounded, it became harder to get you the message. We were just about to send someone out for you. She is currently in the transitioning stage now. Her contractions are only about a minute apart, and her water has broken. It is almost time."

"Luxa, I'm so sorry I wasn't here for the rest of it." Gregor really wished they had told him before. Then again, he would've had to leave when the alarms went off anyway.

"It is alright. You are here now." Luxa tried to smile, but she just sort of grimaced. After about ten minutes of Gregor trying to help her breath steadily and calm her down, Howard came to check again.

"Are you starting to feel like pushing?" He asked. Luxa nodded, and Howard started to gather everyone around and set up. Gregor's head was spinning, and he wasn't exactly sure what to do, but he let Luxa squeeze his hand, really hard, and he tried to be encouraging. Soon, everything was set up, and Howard told Luxa it was time to push. Gregor tried to be helpful, he held her hand, and supported her back while she pushed, and told her she was doing a good job constantly. In the movies, people push for five minutes, and then it's all over, but Luxa pushed and pushed and pushed for at least half an hour, and nothing happened. Howard kept insisting progress was being made, but Gregor could feel Luxa becoming exhausted.

"Luxa, you must keep going." Howard said. He was trying to be encouraging, but this was exhausting for him too.

"I cannot do it. I cannot do this anymore." Luxa had been crying for much of the pushing, but now she was sobbing, and shaking her head. This was one side of Luxa Gregor had never seen before. Gregor looked Howard, and held up one finger. This would just take a moment. He then took Luxa's face in his hands, and kissed her on the forehead.

"You are without a doubt the strongest person I know. You amaze me every day with your strength and determination. I know that this is hard. I can't imagine how hard. If we could switch places and I could do this for you, I would. But I cant, and that's probably a good thing, because I bet I wouldn't be able to. But you? You can. If there's anyone that can do this, it's you. We're almost there, okay? Just a little while longer, and then we can meet him." Luxa nodded, and Gregor got back into position. Now, as she pushed, she screamed louder, and worked harder, but about five minutes later, they heard a cry. Howard quickly cleaned him off, and set him on Luxa's chest. He was so tiny, and pink, and wiggly. He was probably the grossest thing Gregor had ever seen, and he was absolutely beautiful. Gregor was definitely crying a little bit as he watched Luxa hold their son. He looked just like her, not like the child Gregor had seen in his dream.

"Good." He thought. "It'd be a shame for him to look like me." Luxa winced a little bit.

"They are starting again." She called to Howard.

"That is perfectly normal, do not worry. In a few minutes the placenta should be passed." Luxa nodded and turned back to Luca. After a few more moments, Luxa handed the baby to Gregor, and he took him, shaking. He was terrified that he'd drop or hurt him, but it was so amazing to hold him in his arms. Luxa was starting to breath heavily again, but Gregor was so enthralled, at first he didn't notice. Then, she started to moan, and Gregor's heart dropped. Something was wrong, he could feel it. It should've all been over, why was she still in so much pain? Howard had been trying to give them the opportunity to bond with their baby, so he was no really paying attention.

"Howard, I think something is wrong!" Howard rushed over to check on Luxa.

"I see no hemorrhaging or tearing... I think you may just be having intense third stage contractions. I will stay here to monitor you, however." Luxa nodded, closing her eyes and trying to breath deeply. In minutes, she was screaming with the pain again. Howard poked and prodded her, and checked and checked again. Finally, he seemed to notice something that he hadn't before. His eyes got wide, and he looked directly at Gregor. That did not make Gregor feel any better.

"There is another." Howard said. Gregor handed Luca to a nurse so that she could properly wash him off.

"Another what?"

"Another child."

"Excuse me?" Gregor said.

"That would explain so much... the extreme vomiting, the bleeding, why she grew so large so fast. She most likely isn't full term, but there were two babies, so of course she grew fast." Gregor couldn't exactly wrap his mind around what Howard was saying. Two babies? He hadn't been prepared for one, but two? Two to protect. Two to give up? This reminded Gregor that he desperately needed to check on the soldiers. As Gregor was beginning to hyperventilate a little bit, Howard cut through his panic.

"She is ready to push again" Gregor nodded. This time, it went quickly. Ten minutes later, there was more crying. This time, an even smaller baby was placed on Luxa's chest, equally as precious as the first. Now, Luxa was really smiling, and overjoyed. Gregor was too, but his head was still spinning. And he was worrying about the cutters. When Luxa handed Gregor the second baby, and he got a good look, he couldn't believe his eyes. It was the exact same child as in his dream months ago.

"A girl and a boy. Just like my mother and Hamnet." Luxa was so proud. Gregor was too, but he could not keep his mind off of the dream, his daughter being stolen by the cutters. But now, there were two for them to take. Just then, he realized something.. He recited the prophecy to himself, as he had done a thousand times over.

When the Underland has its Queen

Who hears each beast's new plight

The king she finds to rule at her side

Will seem in every way right

The people's only heir will bring happiness

This happiness will ruin their sight

As the killers rejoice in their victory

They cutters will prepare to smite

When the peace dissolves, and the kingdom falls

The cutters will have might

With the royals dark, and the child gone

They will have found their light

"The people's only heir." Gregor said out loud. Luxa looked at him, puzzled. "Its not us. The prophecy isn't about us! We have two children. The prophecy says that killing the people's only heir will get the cutters the Underland!" Gregor handed Arabella back to a slightly confused Luxa, and turned to sprint away. He could only hope that this news would convince the cutters to stand down. He ran through the palace as fast as his legs could carry him, and burst into the high hall.