Transition Plan Chapter 135 - School Days Part 11 (conclusion)
Rated T for mild labor/childbirth descriptions, romance
...
In well under ten minutes, seemingly inexhaustible Jack got Jeanne to their flat, opened the door, laid her carefully on the bed, gave her a quick kiss, and proceeded to do everything his mother told him to do, while Jeanne completely undressed and put her robe. She felt very cozy and safe with Jack, knowing he would do everything he could to help her bring their children into this world in the comfort of their very own flat, and with the confidence both mothers would be there with her to get her through this successfully. She was surrounded by the people she loved most in the world, and thought a prayer of thanks and preparation.
Jack came back to her and arranged several pillows to support her back and head, and placed other pillows under her knees so her legs were slightly bent and spread apart a little. When the next contraction came, she felt better in the reclining position, and he sat in a chair next to her. In that manner, he was there for her to focus on, cling to, and help her with the breathing exercises they learned from the doctor and some other older adult women at the University who found the discipline and concentration helped redirect the pain.
She looked positively radiant and praised her husband, "Thanks to you dear, I'm all set and comfortable. At least as comfortable as I can get right now. Are you all right?"
He was still breathing heavily, "A little winded. A little worried, but now I know you're ready, Jeannie."
He moved the two small cribs from the bedroom converted to a nursery next to their bed.
Jeanne smiled and observed, "It's wonderful to know that in a few hours those will be occupied."
He kidded, "Well only if you choose to let go of our children long enough to put them in the cribs."
She retorted, "You're one to talk, dear. You'll be busy showing them the new world they live in all the time if I let you have them."
"So true, dear."
They exchanged loving looks and shared a nice, lingering kiss.
Jeanne reflected, "These past four years as just a couple were wonderful, Jack. But I'm ready now to be a parent as well as a wife."
"Me too."
"Oh? Do you like being a wife?" she grinned.
He just gave her a look and a crooked smile, "You know what I mean, sweetheart."
They never passed up an opportunity to tease each other.
She felt the next contraction welling up within her, and gripped the sheets, exclaiming, "Oh dear… this is no laughing matter: here comes another one."
Still joined by their connection, he felt it too.
"Man those are rough…" he winced afterward, steadying himself against their dresser, with his hand and arm on it to prop himself up, and his other arm clutched his own stomach.
Jeanne offered, "Dearest, I think I can handle it alone now. One of us should be full strength. Just hold me, talk me through this, and help me breathe."
He vowed, "I am prepared to go the distance with you on this."
She smiled softly and stroked his bearded cheek, "I know you are, dear. I can think of no other man better able to do this with me. But you don't need to suffer what I have to go through."
"Well what other man do you know to share labor pains using the connection?"
"You are just being difficult, jungle boy. You know exactly what I mean. I have to do this part myself now," she stated as she broke the connection.
They had a good laugh, and shortly after, their parents finally came through the door and immediately went to her. Armand looked exhausted. He'd struggled to walk as fast as he could.
"How are you, honey?" her mother asked, sat on the edge of the bed, took her hands, and asked with great concern.
Jeanne answered, "I was just barely coping in the auditorium but thanks to Jack, I got through it, and now, because of him and the fact you're here now, I feel even better."
She beamed as beautiful smile as she could at her mother and her husband as she could.
It was just the six of them, with Jack and the parents surrounding Jeanne in the bed. They all looked at each other in one quiet moment with no pain and no panic.
Jack took Jeanne's hand and announced to the parents, "I am so glad you are all here with us. Nothing could be better than to have our parents here on this day of all days. Dad, could you say a prayer for all of us?"
"It would be my pleasure," replied Tarzan, delivered a beautiful prayer of thanks, and asked for strength for Jeanne and for blessing on Jane and her work and for the babies on their way.
Josephine was moved to tears as Tarzan led them all hand-in-hand in prayer, seeing her all-grown-up little girl positioned right next to her on the bed ready for her first delivery with her eyes closed in reverence. For a moment Jeanne's mother recalled how close Jeanne had come to be missing forever, living a horrible fate with no hope and no faith - yet here was everyone gathered together with her in joy.
After a hearty group 'amen', her mother reflected, "Jeanne, sweetheart, you're so beautiful and so confident. Our oldest daughter is having her own babies…"
Josephine and Jane embraced their children and each other.
"Are you OK, son? That was a very long run," Tarzan asked, and Armand stood with a concerned but supportive look.
Jack answered from the heart, "Dad and Papa. When you're excited about something important, it doesn't matter how difficult a task is, only that it must be done, and done right."
Jack's conviction amazed both fathers.
Jane looked around the flat and the kitchen, and complimented her son, "Perfect, Jack. Everything is prepared, thanks to you, dear. We saw the doctor on the way over leaving the graduation ceremony with the Medical School students and nurses. He'll be ready if we need him."
Jeanne said to Jane as she took her hand and her mother's, "Thank you Mom C, but we won't need him. I feel very good and I want to do this completely on my own. You're an expert midwife and Mama is such a good nurse. I trust you both completely to get me out of any difficulty, and I have my Jack right here with me."
But just as soon as she finished speaking, another contraction gripped her. It was a really long one that ebbed and swelled in intensity. She strained through it, focusing on Jack, but was in continuous pain. Jack could see her tears form, but she suppressed them. This was the first contraction the mothers had seen her fight her way through, and were quite concerned remembering their own birthing pains, but knew Jeanne had to get through it on her own as she was doing.
It left her and she exhaled. Jack soothed her hair and face, and dabbed the sweat from her forehead, "Good, sweetheart. Very good."
"I got through it Jack. That was the worst one yet and I did it," she said, kneading his hand, satisfied with her accomplishment.
"Yes you did, dear."
But her own body wouldn't let her relax, as another contraction soon followed.
"Still five minutes apart, Jeannie," noted Jack.
Taking the cue, Jane asked her daughter-in-law, "Jeanne, dear. I'm sorry, but you know I have to see how far along you are. This is going to be really uncomfortable. I wish there was another way, my dear sweet girl."
She swallowed hard. Only a doctor had done this before, and she told Jane, "I… I understand, Mom. Do whatever you need to do to help deliver me."
Jane put some gloves on she got from the clinic and Jeanne watched, biting her lip, and sipped a little water offered by Jack.
"Jonathan, Armand, if you could give your daughter a little privacy please. Just for a moment," ordered Jane.
"Of course," responded Armand.
It was quite normal for both fathers to see Jeanne naturally as a Mangani female and even to unintentionally notice Jack and Jeanne being intimate in the jungle, but this was very personal. They stepped into the parlor. Jack remained by his wife's side as she wanted.
Jane asked, "Are you ready, dear?"
"Yes, Mom," she sighed, looked at and gripped Jack's arm, and started a breathing exercise as Jane began the pelvic exam.
Jeanne crunched her eyes shut and groaned with the intrusion, however careful Jane tried to be, and as the women expected, Jane's inspection triggered another contraction in Jeanne, which made the young woman groan louder. But it was over quickly, and Jeanne had a moment's respite.
"Oh dear. I'm sorry Mom. I couldn't help it. I know you were being gentle."
"It's all right dear, we all go through this. You'll be pleased to know you are correctly dilated and effaced for as far along as you are. This is a very normal delivery. You are a very healthy young woman."
Josephine sighed in relief.
She smiled up at her husband, seeking his approval, "Did you hear that, Jack? I'm just right!"
"You are just right. Way to go, sweetheart," he said encouragingly.
He knew his wife's confidence and self-esteem would rise and fall like a roller coaster because of the hormonal imbalances of labor. Jane had been explicit in telling him weeks ago that his primary job was to keep her going and her spirits up.
A knock came at the door to the flat. It was Edith and Bruce. Tarzan answered it.
Bruce asked tentatively, "Are Jeanne and Jack taking visitors Count Clayton? We'll only be a moment, sir."
"I'll have to check. Jeanne dear? Your friends are here."
Jeanne said happily from the bedroom, "Of course we are. Especially you guys. Come in."
"Hi there Mr. and Mrs. C and J," chimed Edith.
Edith and Bruce were familiar faces to the family over the college years, and had been to the Castle regularly for family events, and so could be very informal with the parents.
Jane gushed, admiring her maternal roundness, "Goodness Edith, look at you, dear. You're gorgeous!"
"Thank you Mrs. C," she blushed.
Edith rushed right over to the bed, took her best friend's hand and asked urgently, "Are you all right? We saw you all leave early. What happened?"
Jeanne hugged her friend and explained, "Thank you so much for coming. Pardon me if I don't get up. It sorta, kinda turns out that I'm in labor. I have been since 6 am."
Edith struggled with the logic but quickly drew the conclusion, "But that means… Good grief girl, you're nuts! You went to graduation in labor?"
Jeanne giggled, "Yeah, well, you know I never do anything the easy way. All those speeches are so boring… they just make you want to scream out in pain. So I thought: 'What the heck? I can scream about two things at once.'"
She was very proud of her joke. Everyone laughed.
"We just wanted to let you know we and our parents are just below in our flat if you need anything," Bruce offered.
"I'm in good hands, but thank you."
Edith kissed her friend's cheek, "We should go back downstairs, and let you two alone with your parents. Take notes on this, Jeannie, I may need to borrow your 'new mother homework' in few months."
Jeanne grinned, "Come back later when I really have my 'group project' with Jack to show you, Edith, then we'll talk."
Knowing that Jeanne meant her babies, Edith touched her friend on her shoulder, took her hand a moment, and assured her, "Sure thing, dear friend. That's a promise! How are you doing through all this, Jack?"
Jack shrugged, "I'm a little tired, but otherwise I'm fine, so thanks. I'm just mostly here to hold her hand."
Bruce reaffirmed, "Good luck to both of you. We just wanted to let you know we're both praying for everything to work out right. After all, we feel partly responsible for this!"
They all laughed. The young friends all knew Jack and Jeanne got pregnant literally the night of Bruce and Edith's crazy wedding reception. It was Edith who told them to 'go get a room'. And they did.
The young couple departed for their flat, chatting happily about Edith's coming time to deliver and how amazingly strong Jeanne looked.
The contractions stayed about five minutes apart and she rarely got relief over the next few hours. Nothing changed much, and she persevered and was always encouraged by the family surrounding her. She got up several times to just stretch and pace the pain off. Jack helped her with every step.
After one trip to the bathroom, the process started to accelerate, and it seemed that soon as one contraction ended another swelled into being. They happened erratically and were very powerful.
A series of what seemed like four or five contractions in a row seized her. They seemed to last an eternity, and despite the breathing exercises and Jack's support, each one built in intensity upon the other, and the last one was so intense that it made her cry out in terrible pain clinging to Jack for relief. She nearly crushed his hand. But they did finally subside. She was dripping in sweat after that.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart, but I thought those were going to cut me in half," she said through gritted teeth.
"It's all right, cherie."
"They're about one to two minutes apart, dear, now, not counting that last set," Jane announced looking up from her watch.
Josephine announced, "She's in transition Jane. It won't be long."
Jane acknowledged her friend's observation, knew the next step, and requested, "Jeanne, sweetheart, I have to check you again."
"OK Mom," she said more confidently.
This time was much easier, because she was visibly much larger and much more ready.
Jane complimented Jeanne, "You are really getting there, dear."
"Just a little while more, honey. Jane's right," her mom added.
"Thanks Mom C, Mama. Jack, dear did you hear?" Jeanne answered proudly, buoyed by both mothers' praise.
Jack answered quickly, "Yes, cherie, I did. You are doing so well with this."
"We think so too," her father added for both him Tarzan.
It was especially timely for a lot of praise for Jeanne, as she was really exhausted through the transition phase, which was the shortest but the worst emotional time for women in labor, and often contractions came and went quickly and lasted long, with considerable pain, as they were doing. Women often felt lost or alone or abandoned, and sometimes blamed the ones they loved for getting them into this situation. Jeanne fortunately didn't have any of those feelings, or managed to suppress them.
Jack had witnessed Lily's birth but was only a little boy. It was astonishing to him how a woman's body transformed to give birth.
About a half hour more passed with her labor being nearly continuous between very hard contractions. She couldn't find a comfortable position despite Jack's help. He kept her strength up by serving her sips of water.
But a look of extreme urgency came over Jeanne. She squirmed in bed, re-positioned a little, leaned up a bit, and cried out to Josephine in a moment of real need, "Mama. I… I want to push. I need to push."
Josephine warned, "No honey, not yet. Not until Jane tells you it's OK."
Jane was quickly trying to assess her condition externally, and didn't respond.
She begged, "But I want to so badly, Mama."
The French girl turned frantically to Jack for another opinion, "I have to Jack. Please let me push."
Jane was still very busy assessing Jeanne's situation.
"Not until Mom says so, Jeannie. Please dear, hold on. My mom's figuring it out. I don't want you to hurt yourself."
It was clear Jane was going to have to find out more, "I think you're ready, dear, but I'll have to check again. OK, Jeanne, sweetheart? Then I can tell you if you can push. If you push now, you could tear. You don't want that, do you? You want to take care of those babies right away, don't you?"
A vaginal tear would mean that Jeanne would have to be taken to the clinic to be stitched and would make her sickbed-ridden for some time. Jane could only do so much as a certified midwife. The doctor would have to be called to do those kind of repairs.
Jeanne was begging, "Yes Mom, but I want them out so I can love them. That's why I need to push. I don't want to tear. But I still want to push so badly. Help me please."
Jane was firm, donning her gloves and making sure she had everything ready for delivery. Checking now would really induce the babies to arrive faster, sometimes instantly as she experienced as a midwife for many gorilla infants, "Can you wait for me to check?"
"OK… OK. Yes. Just please tell when me it's all right to push," she said urgently, crushing the bedsheets in her hands.
She was at an emotional edge that the end game of labor put women in. She was nearly hysterical. Jane checked Jeanne again to another round of groans and uncomfortable straining. A powerful contraction actually clamped down on Jane's hand and forearm.
"Oh Jack, just please hold me," she cried in terrible pain.
"OK sweetheart," he answered and he did his best to comfort her with little success. He'd only seen Jeanne this frantic in their terrible times in the early days of their escape.
Jane finished the exam and smiled at her anxious looking daughter-in-law, who was now truly sweat-soaked from her labors and pain.
"I have good news for you, Jeanne, dear."
"Tell me, Mother," Jeanne wanted to know desperately.
"You can push, but you must listen to me first."
"Oh goodie!" she beamed at her husband giddy as a little girl, "I can push, Jack. I can push!"
Jeanne was extraordinarily happy, distracted and emotionally drained by nearly 11 hours of pain, discomfort, and extreme exhaustion.
Jane grasped Jeanne's chin and turned the young woman's gaze back to her eyes, instructing her, "Jeannie? Jeanne, sweetie, Are you with me, dear? I asked you to listen to me carefully. Please."
Jeanne calmed and focused, "All right. Yes, Mom. I am all right now. I will listen."
Jane told her what to do, "We're going to do exactly what I taught you before. Take Jack's hands and let him help you lean up as far as you can. When you have your next contraction, I'll say '1-2-3', then hold your breath and push. We'll do 'ten count', take a breath, and do it again. You're going to push hard as many times in a row as you can until the contraction is gone, you'll rest, and try it again when the next contraction after that comes. Do you understand me? If you do this, you'll have your babies in your arms very soon."
"Yes Mother Clayton, I understand," Jeanne said very seriously nodding her head in concurrence, "I want to hold my babies. I'll do just what you told me. I remember what we practiced."
"Good girl," Jane praised, stroking her cheek.
"Oh dear, here comes another one," Jeanne warned.
"OK, sweetheart, let's do this."
Jack supported her back and together they leaned her as far forward as she could go without crushing her babies. She drew her deep breath, Jane counted and ordered, "Now, Jeanne!"
Jeanne strained and pushed hard at least four times, but nearly screamed in the pain and stress. She could feel her babies shift. It gave her encouragement.
She announced excitedly, "Mom, I could feel them move! It's happening. It's happening! And here comes another one."
Jane continued to coach her, "Good girl. Breathe and do it again."
She followed Jane's orders, and held on to Jack as hard has she could. She grunted and bore down and pushed with everything she had.
Jane informed her, "Such a wonderful girl you are. Keep going. There's a very cute fuzzy head coming."
"I see! I see! I want to see all of my baby."
"Push again and you will, dear. Jack, be ready. You're holding this one."
"Yes Mother," Jack complied.
Jeanne pushed again. The baby slid out easily into Jack's eager hands, and he held their newborn toward Jane at her direction. It was amazing. The baby was very dark pink and warm, but very slippery, and very squirmy. The child shivered with the sudden temperature drop outside Jeanne's womb. Jane cleared the baby's mouth and nose as fast as the eye could see. The baby coughed and whimpered, and took its first breath but didn't cry.
Josephine silently held her hands to her face and cried happily and the fathers silently admired their view of their first grandchild. Jane continued to work around Jeanne but was smiling too.
Jeanne asked frantically, still blocked by her own bump filled with their remaining child, "Tell me! Tell me! Who is it?"
Jack announced proudly, "It's Jackie."
Jackie took another, stronger breath and whimpered louder. His eyes were squinted tightly shut in the first light of his life. Jack held him. The umbilical was still attached but the little boy was on his own. Jack re-positioned his son so Jeanne could see him.
She started to cry happy tears, "Jackie. Oh Jackie. I see you! You're so handsome."
Jane was still absolutely focused on Jeanne's birthing, "Now, sweetie, listen to me some more. I'm sorry you can't relax yet. Remember there's another baby who wants to meet you. Your mother will hold your next child. Push again, just like you did."
"Can I count and push with you this time, Mom?" she weakly smiled in confidence.
"Of course dear. Whatever helps you."
With the rise of another contraction, they did count together, "1-2-3, push!"
Jeanne held her breath, pushed down hard, and with the way already stretched open by her firstborn, the second baby easily entered the world. Jane cleared the second newborn's air passages, but this one squalled.
Despite the noise, Josephine smiled and said, "Hello Ellie, little one. Welcome to our world."
Startled by the crying of his newborn sister, Jackie cried too.
The bedroom was filled with the sounds of two very unhappy newborns but the family rejoiced.
Jeanne was overwhelmed by the flood of emotions of being a brand new mother, "Jackie and Ellie! Just what I wanted. You're perfect. I want them. Please let me hold them."
Jane asked for patience, "Just a minute dear. We have a little cutting to do."
She removed her open robe to prepare herself for both of them. At this point modesty was irrelevant.
Jane turned to her son, "Jack. You wanted the honors."
"Did I ever," he grinned.
Using his sterile knife, Jane showed him where to cut both cords. Jane quickly tied them off properly with the clips and sutures the doctor had provided the expert midwife.
"It's time for mother to meet her perfect babies," Jane instructed.
Ellie was wailing pretty loudly, but Jackie had a softer cry. Being gentle and careful in the extreme, Jack and Josephine handed the newborns to Jeanne, who cradled one in each arm. It was like she'd done it for a lifetime.
Josephine praised her daughter, "Jeanne, look at you, my beautiful daughter. You did so well, honey. We're all very proud of you. You're such a pretty new mother."
Tarzan noted, "How about that? Brand new college grad and mother of twins. All in one day."
"Thank you Mama and Dad C," Jeanne grinned, suddenly forgetting the hours of pain in the utter joy of holding her babies.
"Overachiever," Jack quipped.
Jeanne threatened in jest, "If I had any energy left at all, jungle jerk, and a free fist, I would punch you good."
"Lucky for me we had twins…" he retorted.
They all laughed and the new parents kissed.
Jeanne continued to smile at her husband, and she presented the babies toward her husband, "Jack, dearest, can you pray a blessing for us and them?"
Jack put his hands on their newborns and closed his eyes with the rest of the family. Jack prayed for Jeanne's very successful labor and delivery, albeit in unusual circumstances in the middle of graduation, for their mothers' help, and their perfectly healthy children.
Both babies were both rooting and fussing, not caring about their father's prayer for them at this point.
Jeanne smiled tenderly at her babies, "Dear me, I'm sure you guys are hungry. You had a rough go of it. Shall we see if these things work?"
She had to coach them a little how to latch on to her and nurse properly.
"Perfect, Jeanne dear. Just like we told you," noted Jane for her and her mother.
Soon the babies were both nursing ravenously, and she exclaimed, "They like me!"
"They love you, sweetheart," corrected Josephine.
There was no more endearing sight of Jeanne nursing her twins for the first time. Her grin was completely ear-to-ear.
"Aren't they beautiful dear?" Jeanne purred to her husband.
"Absolutely they are. Because you made them."
"We made them. Praise God."
"Thank God they both look like you," he complimented her.
"Oh, I don't know, Jack. I think I see some of you in them already."
Jeanne marveled at the miracle of birth and the profoundness of her new motherhood, "I'm a mommy. Our children are here. Right here in my arms."
"You did great Jeannie," Jack praised his wife as he stroked his newborns while they nursed contentedly.
She answered, "Only because of because of you. And both mothers."
Jane leaned back, having only a few more important tasks to do as midwife. Tarzan came up to her and gave her a huge hug from behind, saying, "You were absolutely amazing, 'grandma'. How many mothers can say they delivered their own grandchildren?"
She just closed her eyes, leaned into the hug, put her hands atop her husband's embracing arms, and sighed in relief and the sense of tremendous accomplishment.
Everyone was completely silent and lost in thought over what they all witnessed, just watching mother and babies nurse, and the cute little sounds they made while doing so.
But after awhile, Jeanne noted, "Wow, are these two hungry. I'm nearly drained already."
"Maybe you need four of those like some of our animal friends?" Jack kidded.
She grinned and quipped, "Don't you wish, Jonathan Robert Clayton IV. But you couldn't handle four."
He gave her an unspoken but mouthed answer: 'Try me!' in response.
Jane and Josephine could lip read and immediately blushed, even though they were used to their children's sexual candor with each other.
Josephine explained clinically, "Well your body will adjust to make more milk. But dear, Jane has a little more work to do down here. You need to push again, but not so hard."
It was over quickly. She had barely felt her afterbirth deliver.
For a moment, Jeanne looked toward Jane, and toward her lower body, and asked, "Is everything all right down there?"
Jane replied while once again concentrating on Jeanne, "I just have a little more work down here, sweetie, then we can cover you up and Jack and you can be alone with your new babies. You didn't even tear a bit."
"I tried to listen to everything you told me to do."
"That you did. You get A+ in birthing, dear. With extra credit for two babies."
They all laughed at the academic analogy.
Jeanne already had plans swirling in her head, "When can we go home? I want Grandmother Kala and Grandpa Porter to see them."
Jane tried to quell her daughter-in-law's ambition, "Wait a few weeks, dear. Don't rush. Get your strength back at the Castle. Get into a routine with the babies. Just enjoy them."
Josephine added, "And when you can, sleep, dear. We're here to help."
Jeanne replied to the advice, "OK. But only I can feed them."
"They won't be hungry every minute. That's why you need your rest."
…
Overnight and into the next day, the babies and their mother began to settle into sleeping about an hour at a time and feeding every 3 or 4 hours. Jack and Jeanne became very tired from sleep deprivation, but they were very happy, despite their exhaustion. Josephine and Jane helped care for their grandchildren while Jeanne and Jack slept, usually nestled together. The new parents took visits from their friends before everyone departed the University. Edith and Bruce were first and lavished praise on Jeanne.
"They're so beautiful, Jeannie," Edith grinned upon seeing them.
Bruce really didn't have any experience with babies so this was all new to him, "Wow, Jack. They're so tiny."
Being used to his baby sisters and brothers, Jack told his friend, "They'll grow fast though."
Edith was excited, "I'm happy for you guys. Three more months for us. We'll call you. Come see us."
Jeanne informed her friend, "We will. We need to go to the jungle soon. We want to let our other family meet them."
Edith was amazed, "Goodness, Jeannie. Taking your babies to the jungle already? You guys are fearless."
"You know that's home, and that the gorillas are our family."
"Someday we want to go too," offered Edith.
"Edith?" Bruce queried in surprise.
"Yes, Bruce. I want to know all about their 'other' world. Experience it. All of it."
"Well at least we won't have to pack much," Bruce grinned at his bride, and she stuck her tongue out at him.
The four friends laughed. They were well aware of what life as a Mangani entailed from the stories Jack and Jeanne often told them.
"All right. That's a deal," agreed Bruce.
…About ten weeks later…
The combined families had arrived and stayed overnight at the treehouse in the Land of the Mangani. The treehouse was very full with everyone there. Lily and Okpara had joined them as well from the Council of Chiefs Village. Jack's younger sister made quite a special fuss about her new nephew and niece. They seemed to take to their aunt quickly.
"I told you we really are our own Mangani troop now," Jeanne joked to her family, as they all headed into the deep jungle, traveling together.
It didn't take everyone long to get used to the gait of being all fours again and being natural together. The new babies were strapped in fabric slings against Jeanne's bosom since they couldn't cling to their mother's fur like baby gorillas could, and were napping quickly from the rhythmic swaying of their mother's body and hearing her heartbeat. Armand was the only one who remained in a human stance, using his crutches and prosthetic parts to move along well with the others.
Jane warbled for Noni who arrived quickly, anxious to see her favorite human. The two female friends greeted one another in their traditional way: Noni landed on the top of Jane's head, leaned over Jane upside down and Jane nuzzled her and kissed her beak. Her avian friend had located the troop, which was not too far away, fortuitously gathered at the human family's favorite jungle pond.
Noni was very excited about the human newborns, "They're beautiful, Korak and Jeanne. Human hatchlings are so amazing. They start out helpless like our offspring, but they all take longer to grow. They have your darker plumage, Jeanne."
Amused the babies' darker skin color being referred to as plumage, she gratefully said, "Thank you, Noni."
Both babies were only a little lighter in skin tone than her, being a delightful mix of Jack and Jeanne.
Korak and Jeanne led the way proudly into the troop's nesting grounds, and the gorillas could see their babies instantly. Suddenly they were surrounded by the happy sounds of hooting and a lot of jumping around and thumping of chests in excitement. It woke the babies but they didn't cry, but seemed fascinated by the motions and the new sounds. The Clayton's and Jacot's were groomed joyously by the troop members, and welcomed back in happiness as they mingled and renewed friendships and family relations. Jeanne's pregnancy bump had not yet completely recovered to her former perfectly taut stomach shape, and she knew she'd never be quite the same again, though it didn't matter in the slightest to Jack.
The Mangani had rarely seen twins born to the gorillas, and Jane's twins hadn't been babies in years, so for many younger members of the troop, this was a new experience to them. Jeanne proudly nursed her babies, rejoining the circle of the females after a long absence, and the gorilla females praised her and marveled at Jeanne's size and capacity compared to them. Human babies were so much larger at the start of life than gorilla infants, yet matured so much slower.
Jana was the most excited, standing next to her mate, "We're so happy you're back. We have some news too."
"Oh?" Jeanne asked, anticipating what that news was. Jana seemed a lot bigger when they arrived but they didn't ask.
"We're expecting in a few moon cycles!" the gorilla said joyfully.
"Now there will be more cousins to love," Jeanne laughed and two females embraced.
It had been more than two years since they'd been back in the jungle because of summer school, friends' weddings and the trip to America. The human families wasted no time in getting back to the routine of being Mangani, who welcomed Tarzan once again being head of the family. Everyone loved Kirok's leadership, but they were always glad to have Tarzan back in charge of the troop.
About mid afternoon during a few moments of return to calm, Tarzan approached Korak and Jeanne, and asked, "Is now a good time?"
The pair looked at each other, exchanged a glance, and Jack answered for them, "Whatever you think is best, Father."
"All right then," he replied, then announced to the entire troop, "Everyone gather round, we have new family, the offspring of Korak and Jeanne."
Everyone stopped what they were doing and surrounded Tarzan, Jack, and Jeanne.
Both infants were pretty happy, making a lot of burbling and spitting noises, and were very playful, so Tarzan gathered Jackie and Ellie carefully into his arms, and stood centered among the Mangani. He outstretched his arms, with each baby securely in his hands and forearms. In those enormous muscled arms, the babies looked very small. All the Mangani knew what was next, as it was his job as the Silverback to bless every child that came into the family. It had been awhile since the blessings were bestowed on a human child, and everyone was very excited these were his first grandchildren.
"This is a very special day for the family. Two new Mangani have entered the world and take their place among us."
There was a round of excited hoots and grunts, and a couple of well-placed chest thumps. It had actually been some time since the last baby gorilla was blessed. The troop was aging, and several had passed.
"Behold my twin grandchildren, born in the world of men and christened there, but born of my oldest son, Korak and his mate, Jeanne, who is Mangani and of the jungle herself."
There was even more enthusiastic response from the gorilla family, and lots of smiles. She was one of them once again.
The gorillas knew the proper response. In the gathering surrounding Tarzan and the babies, all sat on their haunches and raised their paws into the air and against each other, giving the sign of their Mangani blessings for the babies. Jack and Jeanne were on either side of Tarzan, and were squatting enough so each could touch their children in Tarzan's arms, the place for every parent during a dedication and blessing.
In a series of ancient Mangani words, and sounds, and gestures whose origins were lost in history, the children became part of the troop. Soon the blessing ceremony was over, and the babies were returned to each of their parents. Korak held Jackie while Jeanne held Ellie. Every member of the family came to them with individual blessings for the children and simple gifts of food or flowers for Jeanne and Jack. She put the flower from Jana in her hair proudly which made her Mangani sister feel very special.
The touches and well wishes were gentle. However, with so much attention by the gorillas, though intended to be sweet and gentle, it did cause the babies to fuss a little, which their parents tried to soothe. Ellie met her limit of excitement among the others, and burst into tears, which took some for Jeanne time to settle her. Nursing didn't cure her.
"Your girl has a temper, Jeanne," observed one of the eldest females cheerfully.
Before Jeanne could answer, Josephine kidded from nearby, "Like her mother."
That elicited a number of simian snickers and mild laughter. They knew. They'd all seen her blow up at Jack.
Not to be outdone, Jeanne quipped, "And my mother before me!"
"Touché", Armand snickered to Tarzan. The Lord of the Jungle stifled a guffaw.
Korak laughed heartily however, enough to startle diaperless Jackie, who sprayed him and then spit up a little on him with a wet burp.
"Welcome to jungle living, son," Tarzan joked.
"Did I do that?" Jack asked with embarrassment.
Tarzan grinned, "I don't know how many times you did that. It comes with the territory."
"And there are worse things you did to him and your mother, nephew," Terk teased.
"Oh dear," the young father fretted.
Jeanne laughed heartily, along with everyone else, while Jack turned deep red in embarrassment.
Jane jumped into the conversation, as Jack looked pretty helpless with the situation, "Let me show you how we coped, Korak, dear. Good thing there's a bumper crop of spongeberries this year!"
It was a very tender mother/son moment as she taught Jack how to clean up his son in an environment of completely natural living with no civilized human amenities.
"Very nice dear," she praised as Jack took over the duties of clean up.
Jeanne's eyes watered lovingly seeing the tender moment. Ellie took that very moment to make a much bigger, slimier mess on her mother's leg.
"Goodness, Meriem Eleanor!" Jeanne exclaimed with a shocked look.
Jack was ready though by grabbing several spongeberries, "Let me take care of that, Jeannie."
"Amazing," Jane scoffed, "I wish I could have gotten my boy to clean up the twins like that when he was a teen."
Jeanne snickered and Jack just rolled his eyes at the continued teasing.
The eldest Mangani couple just gazed at Jackie and Ellie with tremendous emotion in their eyes.
Kala said softly, almost crying, "It is truly a miracle for this old gorilla that I lived to see my great grandchildren. Life is fulfilled."
"Me too, dear," Porter noted.
Jack and Jeanne gently embraced their very elderly grandparents.
…
After the ceremony and feast that followed, Jack and Jeanne told the story of how the babies were born in the human world. Even though the gorillas didn't understand much about the University and graduation, they appreciated that her labor came when she least expected it, and they handled it well, enjoyed the special ceremony with their parents, and got back to their human nest in plenty of time to finish.
Jane and Josephine praised Jeanne's perseverance and strength through the unexpected situation and how good she was already at her mothering skills, something the females valued greatly in the troop. When they had finished, the Mangani families divided up into individual units for the night. It was pretty late and everyone was sleepy
Jack and Jeanne's nest was bigger than ever before. Laying all cuddled together with Jack, she nursed the babies to get them to sleep right next to them, just like every gorilla family did, and as the Clayton's had done for every one of their children.
Jeanne whispered, "Korak, dearest, it's so good to be home. Really home."
She gestured around and saw her mother sleeping nicely with her father. Teen lovers Michelle and Paul were cross nesting with them and Elisabeth was snuggling with Etienne, who loved her as another big sister. Tarzan and Jane and Andrew were together on the other side of them, but were completely mingled among the rest of the gorilla families and were as comfortable as they could be among the apes. It was an amazing sight.
Jack concurred, "I'm glad you think of this as home first."
"I do. And you know what we do at home, Korak, dear?" she asked.
He had an idea what she meant, given the glimmer in her eye. It had been two months hiatus since Jack and Jeanne were together, literally the night of her labor. Jeanne's body had long since recovered from labor and delivery, but they were always too tired or one or more of the babies would awake and need attention. They were love-starved for each other, given their pre-baby appetite for each other even all the way through pregnancy.
"You've waited for me patiently, sweetheart," Jeanne offered.
"I can wait as long as you need."
"I don't want to wait any longer Jack. You're my husband and I love you. You've given us two beautiful children."
"Wait… that's my line," he grinned.
She giggled, "It takes two to tango, dear."
"I'm not sure we were tangoing that night, sweetheart."
She just smiled and remembered that special night of ecstasy and conception.
Jack had a mischievous look and he whispered, "OK, then. I have an idea. The babies are right here. We don't want them to wake up."
"Oh? What did you have in mind?" she asked, anxious to see how they were going to make love quietly, because that was hardly ever the case between them.
"Well, when we were little and Mom and Dad wanted to do what we want to without waking us up, they had a… a special way."
"Well how do you know that?" Jeanne asked.
"It didn't always work…" he winked.
It was all Jeanne could do to not laugh.
"Show me, jungle stud," she inquired with an intimate whisper, grasping him to hasten things along.
With a barely audible gasp at her touch, he showed her what to do, and very quickly they were intimately joined as they were desperate to do. Their new way of being one was very subtle, but resulted in some surprisingly intense feelings, and she had wanted him for some time.
But what they were doing was very quiet, and midway through it, she observed, "Ohhh, Korak. I like this."
They soon peaked silently and spooned together to sleep.
Cuddling close to him, she sighed and confessed, "Korak, dear, I could really get used to that way."
Jack kidded, "But not too used to it. I think we have our hands full for now."
Jeanne agreed, "Yes dear we do. I know how to be careful and besides, while I as long as I am really nursing, I won't ever have a cycle."
"Women can do that?"
"Some do. It worked for my mom, and your mom, too."
Jack blinked, "You asked my mom about that?"
"She is my midwife as well as my mother-in-law. And she's a woman and mother, too. We have to defend ourselves from you men somehow, especially being naked and barefoot all the time in the jungle."
"I think I just got insulted," he smirked.
"Take it however you want, dear husband," she sighed and sunk further into his embrace from behind, "But Jack dear, that was so nice. You always make me feel good when we do that. You always have. I'm glad we can do this again. Good night Jack. I suspect someone will interrupt us in a couple of hours."
"True that. My turn first – no matter who it is. Or both."
"OK, jungle dad."
With the satisfaction of how good his new title felt, he whispered, "Good night, Jeannie. Sweet dreams… at least for as long as you can."
"How can I not? You're holding me after making love to me, our children are around us, and we are surrounded by our Mangani family in the jungle we love to call our home."
"No truer words were ever said, sweetheart."
For the first time ever, their children slept nearly four hours, giving their parents huge relief. It appeared Jackie and Ellie loved the jungle too.
…
Authors Notes: Well folks, unless I have something else that pops into my brain, that concludes another part of the Chronicle for now. I might take that hiatus I keep threatening to take to write something new. While we let Jack and Jeanne Clayton and their brand new family move on happily to grow into the family we saw in Chapter 120, perhaps we'll go back in time a long time ago, not forward as I have recently. Tarzan and Jane have been central characters for sure, but maybe it's time to feature them, in a story of pure fantasy, not fantasy set in a venue of history. But there are a lot of options to explore! :)