EC22special

Emily's Chronicles Part 22- "Special Delivery" (PG)
Written by Trish, Tammy, and Liddy
Disclaimer: The following is a work of fanfiction based up on the characters and places in the Emily of New Moon book by L.M. Montgomery and the tv series. No infringement upon the rights of the estate of L.M. Montomery, her heirs, or anyone connected with the television series is intended.
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The large grandfather clock in the parlor boomed one o'clock. Upstairs
Isabel lay awake in the darkness counting seconds as the small fire in the
fireplace painted images on the walls. She had been fitful in her sleep
most of the early night. Isabel had practically breezed through her final
month of pregnancy. Allen had even allowed her to get out of bed to sit in a
chair, and she was also able to take short walks in the upstairs hallway,
but the steps remained off limits. She had not seen the first floor of New Moon
in weeks, and wondered if it were still there. The excited mother to be had
much to keep her mind occupied, however. Laura and Eve had stopped by at
least every other day to visit, and her evenings were usually spent with
Emily delighting her with stories. Her father fussed over her like she had never
seen before. There was also Elizabeth, who watched over Isabel with great
care and concern. Their friendship and deepened and grown in this short
time.

Isabel had given up trying to get comfortable at night months ago, spending
most nights leaning her body against Francis who lovingly obliged. This
night however there was another reason for her sleeplessness. She had
already felt three sharp contractions come in rhythmic evenly spaced bursts.
Isabel remembered the feel from a few months ago when the babies had nearly
come too early. Where then they had been an ominous foe, tonight they were
welcomed with a delight that seemed odd in regards to the pain she felt. She
knew what they meant, soon she would bring her little ones into the world,
and soon she would be a mother. She lay staring at the ceiling her hands
tracing soothing circles over her abdomin and wondered what the coming day
would bring. She prayed her babies would be alright.

As the clock downstairs struck it's half hour call, another pain gripped
her body. It was stronger this time and had come sooner than she had
expected it . She was sure now. Isabel reached over and lightly touched her
husband's arm. "Francis." She whispered. He awakened immediately. He too
had been sleeping lightly the past weeks.

Francis raised himself on one arm and spoke with slight alarm in his
voice as he held Isabel's hand. "What is it."

Isabel looked at Francis with loving anticipation. "It's time." She
smiled gently.

"Now!" He clarified, his concern growing.

Isabel did not speak, she merely smiled sweetly at him and nodded her
head. For a moment he took her face in his hand and kissed her realizing
what lay ahead. Then he nearly jumped out of bed to dress quickly. He then
lit the oil lamps on the nightstands and dresser as quickly as he could and
returned to Isabel who lay nearly motionless in the bed. They were both
frightened and nervous. Francis sat down beside his wife on the bed, took
her hand once more and kissed it. He stared at her with wonder for a few
seconds more and then realized he should do something.

"What should I do?" He asked her totally bewildered.

Isabel laughed with a compassionate giggle. She was surprisingly calm.
"Go tell Elizabeth." She said brushing his cheek with her hand.

"Oh, yes, of course." He rose from her side and stumbled a few feet.
Then stopping in his tracks he raced back to Isabel in the bed. He took her
in his arms and kissed her sweetly and slowly. "I love you." He said smiling in
awe.

"I love you, too." Isabel answered her smile wide and bright, and full
of hope.

Francis rushed to the door and down the hall the to Elizabeth bedroom.
He knocked urgently on the door. After what seemed like forever, Elizabeth
finally openned the door a bit. He did not even notice that she was still
clad in her nightclothes, fighting the tie on her heavy robe. "Yes, what is
it?" She asked already sure of what it was.

"It's Isabel, the babies are coming." Francis babbled nervously.

"Alright." Elizabeth said with authority. "It's alright, everything will
be fine. Wake Malcolm, then go to the barn and tell Perry and Joe to get Dr.
Burnley and Jimmy." She had barely gotten the name out of her mouth before
she found herself rushing to Isabel's bedside to check on her. Under normal
circustances Elizabeth was certain that her's was the only presence that
would have been required. However, because of Isabel's age, the fact that
she was carrying twins, and the complication that she could face it had been
decided that Dr. Burnley should deliver her babies.

Francis did as Elizabeth had ordered, waking Malcolm to tell him he was
truly soon to be a grandfather, then rushing down to the barn to wake Perry.
Much to her dismay Elizabeth reached Isabel's room only to find her
cousin out of bed and laying tiny gowns and linens out on the dresser and
over in the cradles. Jimmy had made another tiny cradle identical to the
antique Murray cradle when the family discovered that Isabel was going to
have twins. "What are you doing?" The elder Murray woman asked disbelief in
her voice.

"I have to get things ready." Isabel informed her barely looking up from
straightening wrinkles out of the Murray plaid Emily had given her.

"Everything will be ready." Elizabeth stated bluntly taking Isabel by
the shoulders and leading her back to her bed. "You need to lie down, and
stay there." As they reached the bed Isabel felt another contraction take hold.

"They're getting worse." She told Elizabeth.

"Yes." Elizabeth looked compassionately at her cousin. "They won't be
any better for a while, but you will be fine, all of you." She smiled.

Isabel smiled gratefully back at her, happy for the kind words of
understanding. She was glad Elizabeth would be there with her tonight.
"Where's Francis?" Isabel asked urgently.

"He went to send Perry and Joe to fetch Allen." Elizabeth reported.
"He'll back in a few minutes. The doctor and Laura will be here shortly.
They're also going to get Eve and Jimmy."

Isabel was touched that whole family would be at New Moon for her
blessed event. It made her feel a little better that everyone would be close by.
The support of her family had helped her more over the past months than she
could ever put into words, and now once more they were coming together to
help her. She smiled and tried to begin to voice her appreciation to
Elizabeth. Just then another pain gripped her body hard. "Uhhh, I hope they
hurry." She gasped.

"They will be here in no time." Elizabeth said taking her hand, trying
to hide her anxiety from Isabel. To herself Elizabeth whispered, 'Me too.'

Down in the barn, Perry nearly hit the floor startled as Francis ran in
yelling for him to get up. "What is it?" Perry questioned still half asleep.

"What do you think?" Francis said urgently throwing Perry's clothes at
him. "You have to ride for Dr. Burnley and Laura."

"Holy Moly!" Perry cried as he jumped out of bed. Throwing on his
clothes and grabbing one of the horses from it's stall he shouted. "Don't
you worry about a thing, you can count on me."

Joe had been snoring lightly in Jimmy's old cot, which had now become
his. He awoke suddenly and rose from the bed concerned as Francis came
running into the barn. As Perry led the horse outside he asked. "There
anything I can do?" Wanting to help. In his short time around New Moon he
had come to greatly like Isabel and her husband, and wanted to do something
if he could. He knew he was not part of the family, but if they needed
anything today, he was there for them.

"Could you go tell Jimmy and Eve?" Francis asked him urgently.

"I sure can." Joe said, pulling the other horse from it's stall,
bridling and saddling, then leading him out to where Perry was just mounting
his. They were all three off like shots, Perry to fetch the doctor, Joe to bring
Jimmy and Eve, and Francis back to the house and Isabel.

Back upstairs Malcolm dressed quickly and went to check on his daughter.
He found her in her bed squeezing Elizabeth's hand while she suffered
through another contraction. Seeing Malcolm appear over her cousin's
shoulder, concern on his face Isabel did her best to smile through her pain.

"Father, my babies are coming." She forced out, struggling to look
positive.

Malcolm bent down and kissed Isabel's forehead. "I know, my lass." He
smiled. "Be strong." He took her hand from Elizabeth. "Show the little ones
what it takes to be a Murray." His smile was twinged with worry, and Isabel
could tell. She was worried too.

She took a deep breath. "We'll be fine, Father, just fine." She said, as
much for herself as for him.

"Of course yee will." He said, and lifted her hand to kiss it.

Just then a very sleepy Emily came stumbling in through the open door.
She was yawning and rubbing her eyes. "What's going on?" She asked.

"Emily, your cousin is ready to have her babies." Elizabeth informed her
realizing that the best way to handle the situation was with honesty.

"Really, now!" Emily was fully awake and excited.

"Yes dear, now." Isabel smiled at her from her bed.

Emily ran to the bed and threw her arms around Isabel's neck. Isabel
returned the hug, grateful for the girl's caring. "That's wonderful!" She
cried, standing up. Then she remembered what she had seen the night Maida
Flynn had given birth to Little Oliver Murray, and what Isabel would be
facing in the hours ahead. She wanted to give her cousin some words of
encouragement.

"You're going to be a wonderful mother." She told her sincerely.

"Thank you Emily. I needed to hear that." Isabel smiled. The moment was
cut short when Isabel winced as another stonger, harder contraction took
hold. She cried out in pain, and clutched her abdomin. At this Elizabeth
took both Malcolm and Emily gently by the arms and led them to the door. She
felt it would be best for them to leave the room now.

They had stood in the hall for several minutes when Francis came rushing up
the stairs and back into the room to be by Isabel's side. He noticed that
Elizabeth had helped Isabel change into a fresh gown, and the sheets on the
bed had been quickly changed. The elder Murray was rolling them up and
laying them in a basket in the corner. Isabel's husband thought he knew the reason
for these changes, but made no mention of it. He also noticed that the
calmly serence expression his wife had worn before he made his trip to the barn was
gone.

"It's starting." Elizabeth informed him.

Elizabeth did not see any reason why he could not stay with his wife until
the doctor got there, and quietly closed the door behind him. She also
stayed in the room incase things began to happen quicker than expected.

After what seemed like a century Emily and Malcolm, who had taken up
sentinal duty in the parlor, heard a buggy pull up outside. A few seconds
later the front door opened, and in rushed Laura and Allen followed by Ilse.
There was no time for hello's as the adults quickly climbed the stairs to
Isabel's room. Ilse stayed behind in the parlor with Emily.

"Isn't this exciting?" Ilse asked Emily and Malcolm standing in the
doorway. Emily's face beamed agreeing whole-heartedly with her friend in
their youthful exuberance.

Malcolm, however, saw the situation with the practicality that comes
with age. He put his arms around the girls' shoulders. "Aye, exciting it is.
Also very frightening." He looked at them, and then let his gaze travel to
the second floor where his daughter was in the most important struggle of her
life.

Upstairs the little bedroom in which Isabel lay preparing to bring her
children into the world was getting crowded. Laura and Elizabeth were
rushing around making certain everything was ready. Dr. Burnley was
preparing to examine Isabel, and Francis sat beside her not knowing exactly what to do
except to hold his wife and whisper comforting words of encouragement as her
contractions continued to grow worse.

Seeing that Dr. Burnely really needed to be getting on with his
examination, and also realizing that he was apprehensive to begin with
Isabel's husband in the room, Elizabeth spoke up taking Francis by the arm.
"I think it's time for you to go down to the parlor now." She informed him.

"No." Isabel cried grabbing her husband's hand. "Please let him stay."
She needed him near her now.

Francis looked hopefully at Allen. He did want to stay. He wanted to be
near Isabel to help her. He also wanted to be with her to welcome their
children into the world. Unfortunately, he found no ally in the doctor.
Allen looked at his friend sympathetically, but said, "It really would
be best for you to wait downstairs in the parlor." He had seen expectant
fathers panic during this time even in the parlor, let alone right in the
middle of the birth. Isabel did not need that. Delivering twins was going to be hard
enough on her. She needed to stay calm, and concentrate on the babies, and
herself.

Seeing he was outnumbered Francis turned to Isabel and kissed her
shaking hand. "I'll be right downstairs." She bravely smiled and nodded to
him. He took her face in his hands and kissed her for a moment that was not long
enough. "I love you." He told her.

"I love you, too." She tried to give him her best smile but knew that
her anxiety showed on her face.

Elizabeth led Francis to the door, she could tell how hard this was for
him, and tried to sympathetic. As he stood in the doorway for a moment he
looked back at Isabel who had begun once more to struggle with the pain. It
was killing him to leave her now. But, if it would be best for her, he would
do it without protest. Elizabeth squeezed his arm in reassurance. "She'll be
just fine." She told him as she closed the door.

Francis Carpetner walked down the staircase at New Moon nearly in a
trance, every step felt like quicksand. His precious Isabel was upstairs
giving birth to his children and he was not allowed in the room. He had
planned to be with her, and hoped she knew that he was in spirit, and was
only as far away as her voice could carry if she needed him. There had been
so much he wanted to say to her, but was not given the time. He knew,
however, that she would face the situation with her usual strength and
courage, and hoped that everything would be alright. He had never been so
worried, and turned back with nearly step to listen for her cries.

In the parlor Jimmy, Eve, and Perry had joined the nervous waiting.
Francis entered the room met by the sympathetic smiles of the others as the
clock struck two-thirty. No one notice that it was still the middle of the
night.

"How is she?" Malcolm questioned.

"She's being brave." Francis answered. Malcolm knew he could expect
nothing less from his daughter.

"Of course, she is." added Jimmy, trying also to comfort Francis.

Listening from one ear to her husband's agreeable words, Eve wondered to
herself, if Jimmy would also be as brave when she goes into labor with their
first child, she sensed was beginning to grow inside her. She also knew that
he would make a wonderful father to their children.

The night wore on. Malcolm and Jimmy took turns pacing a pattern in the
rug. Eve, Emily, and Ilse tried to make those in the parlor comfortable by
offering tea and something to eat. Perry did his best to be encouraging, but
felt unsure of exactly what to say. Joe stayed mostly on the fringes trying
to offer help whenever he could. Francis paced by himself at the landing of
the stairs lost in thought. From time to time Elizabeth or Laura would come
downstairs to fetch some water, or linens and such. Each time encouragingly
telling him that everything was running smoothly. It continued like this
well through sunrise.

Then time began to move excrutiatingly slow. It seemed nothing was
happening. The family could only imagine what was happening upstairs. Joe
and Perry had finished the morning chores and returned to resume their
nervous vigil. Eve had made a light breakfast which was hardly eaten. She
even took some up for Laura, Elizabeth, and Allen, but the same was true
from upstairs. She kept the coffee pot brewing on the stove in anycase.
Emily and Ilse were beginning to grow bored, and Malcolm's fear was rising. The
clock struck noon, and still no news.

Francis, suddenly overwhelming worried and impatient stopped in his
tracks, and nearly yelled out, "What is taking so long?" His concern for
Isabel and the babies was more than he could stand.

"Geez," remarked Ilse. "Since there's sooo much pain havin' a baby, I know
that I never want to have one."

"Are ya' sure, that that's the way ya' want it, Ilse?" asked Perry.

"Yeah!" replied Ilse.

Emily sitting there listening to her cousin's and Perry's conversation.
Seemed to nod her head in agreement. Eve, on the other hand, smiling
silently from within, for she herself was temporarily hiding a little secret
she was itching to share with everyone else, but before she could...she
really wanted her Jimmy to be the first one to know....

Upstairs Isabel struggled valiantly through greater pain than she had
ever known in her life. She was now deep in her labor and could no longer
tell where one contraction ended and another began. She cried out nearly
continuously. She was already growing tired as the sweat streamed down her
face. Laura did her best to refresh her with cool water and a cloth but she
feared she was losing the battle. She had even run to the attic and
retrieved an old fan with which she tried to create a breeze, between
helping Allen. Elizabeth never left Isabel's side, encouraging her.

A short time after the clock in the parlor struck four Isabel felt the
pain grow even more intense. She felt something else as well, an almost
violent need to push. Allen noted this almost immediately, his clinical eye
picking up every little change in his patient. With the late afternoon
sunlight coming in through the window Isabel began the straining that would
move her children toward life.

It was after seven thirty when Laura came rushing down the front stairs.
Francis froze when he saw her apron, streaked with blood. He looked at her
in anticipation, and she gave him an understanding smile, and said "Still
not quite yet, Francis, but soon."

She ran to kitchen and returned with another armful of fresh linens,
climbing the stairs as quickly as possible back to Isabel's room.

Shortly after Laura disappeared back upstairs the quiet tension was
shattered by a near scream. It was Isabel. Francis started to run up the
stairs but was stopped by Jimmy, who had himself come over to the staircase.

"You stay down here, now. This is Isabel's work." Jimmy said with an
understanding nod, he was pretty sure he knew how he would feel if it were
Eve up there. Little did he know that even his time would soon be coming,
for when he too would become a father.

Francis looked sick as he stared up at the closed door. All he could
think of were the ominous warming of the complications Allen had told him
Isabel might face. They had been in the forefront of his mind since he had
returned to Blair Water.

A few minutes later another cry filled the air. This one was sweet
music. It was the first cry of a baby greeting life. Downstairs tense faces
eased a bit, as they waited for the second.

Upstairs Isabel looked into the face of her newborn son, who Allen was
holding up for her to see while Laura quickly and carefully cut the umbilical cord. Her painfilled cries turned to cries of joy, as she reached for her child. "Please, let me hold him, just for a moment." She pleaded, knowing she was not finished.

Dr. Burnley placed the tiny bundle in his mother's waiting arms. Isabel
drew the child close to her and kissed his head. Her eyes filled tears as
she held her baby for the first time. However, there was barely time for
mother and child to get acquainted. Soon, Isabel felt more sharp pains take hold
of her body.

"It's starting again." Isabel shouted wincing. She still had another
baby to bring into the world, one that was now all alone, it's mother was
all it had in the world. Laura quickly took the little boy from it's mothers
arms and carried him to the basin of water on the dresser to bathe. Through her
exhaustion, Isabel somehow found the strength she needed. All she could think about was her babies. Over the haze of pain she heard someone shout. "Push, Isabel, Push. Breath." However, she wasn't sure who said it. She was squeezing Elizabeth's hand so hard that the elder Murray thought it might break, but she never left her cousin's side. Isabel was nearly sitting straight up, pushing as hard as she could. She didn't realize that she was
crying. From somewhere she heard Allen say, "Here's the head. It's almost
over." Then someone or everyone ordered her to push again. Isabel closed
her eyes tight and bore down hard again.

Suddenly another cry echoed through the house. Downstairs happy shouts
and laughter filled the parlor. "Unless I miss my guess, I'd say that one's
surely a girl." Malcolm smiled.

"How can you tell." Francis asked around the hand shakes and hugs.

Malcolm smiled." Because she sounds just like Isabel the night she was
born."

"You remember that?" His son-in-law asked amazed.

"Aye, I certainly do, my boy..." Malcolm laughed. "And so will you."

Behind the bedroom door, Isabel openned her eyes when she heard her
second baby cry. "A girl!" Allen proclaimed, once again handing the child to
her mother, as Elizabeth helped Isabel lay back on the two soft pillows.

Isabel cradled her daughter in her arms, once more crying joyful tears.
She kissed her, and layed her cheek gently against the child's tiny head.
Her ordeal completely forgotten. Isabel looked over to where her son was
being bathed. She never dreamed she could love anything as much as she loved
these babies.

After a moment, Elizabeth gently took the little girl from Isabel for
her first bath. Laura left the little boy with her sister, and came over to
tend her cousin. Isabel could not take her eyes off of her babies. She
ached to hold them again, and wished Elizabeth would hurry. Laura helped freshen
Isabel's face with clean water and a cloth, and brushed out her hair,
placing it back in a neat braid, as Allen finished at the foot of the bed. Then Laura
set about arranging the bed sheets. Isabel's happiness was now staving off the
exhaustion and pain that she knew would soon catch up with her.

Laura did her best to hide the tears brimming in her eyes. She had not
allowed herself think of her own baby all these months, trying to
concentrate on her new found happiness with Allen. However seeing Isabel's joy suddenly
brought a longing flooding into her heart. She had wanted her baby so
desperately, and her miscarriage had ripped a hole in her heart she knew
would never truly be repaired. It would have been a few months old by now. As Allen finished, he saw the struggle his wife was having with her feelings and reassuringly put his arm around her. As he kissed her forehead softly, and without words they both shared a hope that someday it would be their child they would welcome into the world.

Finally, Elizabeth brought a double bundle back over to Isabel, cradling
both babies together within the Murray plaid. She lovingly placed the
newborns back in their mother's arms. Isabel could not find words to speak. She could
barely breath, her heart felt like it would burst with love. She was holding
her babies in her arms. For months she had protected them, been so afraid
something would happen to them, and had almost lost them. Now here they were
alive and well, and laying in her arms. She nuzzled their faces and hands.
"Oh,my sweet precious angels. I love you so." She whispered to them. Her
happy tears were contagious as Elizabeth and Laura wiped their eyes.
Isabel looked around at those who had helped her. "They're beautiful,
aren't they?" She beamed.

"They're perfect, Isabel." said Elizabeth and Laura together.

"I want to see Francis." Isabel asked urgently.

"Of course, they're perfectly beautiful." Elizabeth smiled and turned
toward the door.

"Elizabeth, I want to tell him." Isabel called to her, and was answered
with an understanding smile.

Below the family was nearly crushing each other on the stairs awaiting
news when Elizabeth appeared at the top of the stairs. Seeing her Francis
ascended a few steps. "How are they?" He asked nearly petrified.

Elizabeth's gave him a reassuring look. "The babies are healthy and
beautiful." She announced.

Her omission of his wife frightened him. "And Isabel?"

Elizabeth looked at him a moment. "Isabel is just fine. Exhausted, but
fine." She smiled. "She wants to see you." The relieved sighs from below
were unmistakable as Francis raced up the stairs. Elizabeth stayed behind
to fill in the waiting family.

"Well." Emily said unable to stand the suspense any longer. Then
everyone's faces echoed her anticipation.

"One of each." Elizabeth reported. Smiles and laughter filled the room
that had been so tense only moments before.

Francis made his way slowly to where Isabel lay in the middle of the bed
beaming at him, two pink wiggling bundles in her arms. He sank down slowly
beside her on the bed, love and amazement on his face. "Oh, Isabel," was all
he could say through his wide smile. He kissed each of the babies heads and
hand, and then caressed Isabel's face as he looked deep into her joy filled
eyes. Gone was the fear he had seen the night before.

"Francis Carpenter." Isabel began laying her hand on each of the babies
one at time. "This is you son... and this is your daughter." Isabel smiled.

"One of each." He laughed, wanting to be certain he had heard right. She
laughed and nodded her head. He looked at the woman he loved, her face
happier than he had ever seen it. "Oh, I love you," he said. You are
amazing."

"I love you." Isabel answered tears again forming in her eyes as she
kissed her husband. "Hold them." She smiled at him.

Elizabeth who had returned to the bedroom, helped Isabel pull back to
family tartan in which the babies were wrapped to reveal that each tiny was
dressed it's own little infant gown, and wrapped in a baby blanket to keep
them warm. Isabel gently and carefully laid each of the babies in their
father's arms. Francis looked with amazement at the babies. He had never held any
baby before and now he holding two of his own. Their tiny fingers searching
for his face. Except for the day just a few months ago that he had married their mother, he could not remember ever being so happy. He could swear he saw Isabel's
beautiful face in each of theirs.

"They're beautiful." He smiled at Isabel. "Just like their mother."

She grinned at him and moved closer. "And no doubt brilliant, just like
their father." She said.

After some time Francis carefully layed the babies back in Isabel's
waiting arms. He wanted to watch her with them. Just then the babies
squirmed in her arms. Isabel and Francis looked at their new family with joy
and hope. There was more love surrounding them than either had ever felt.
Together they had created two new human beings, who were now totally
dependant on them. To think that they had very nearly lost each other. Now
they were beginning a brand new life together, the four of them. Again,
they shared a long and passionate kiss. Then Francis took Isabel and the
babies in his arms and held them close.

There was a light knocking at the door. Elizabeth went over quietly to
answer it. Isabel could hear that it was Eve's gentle voice on the other
side.

"Can we come in, Elizabeth?" asked Eve.

Elizabeth turned to Isabel. "There are some people waiting eagerly out
here."She smiled.

"Oh, by all means, let them come in." Isabel beamed, eager to show off
her new arrivals.

Malcolm was the first to come through the door. His face lit when he saw
his daughter and the tiny ones she held. "Oh, lass." He choked back tears.
"Look what you've done." He looked down at his grandchildren proudly,
playing with their fingers. "Well, what do we have here?"

Isabel herself choked back tears at seeing her father's happiness and
pride. "Father, this is your granddaughter." She said holding up the bundle
in her right arm. "And this is your grandson." She announced, showing him
the bundle she cradled in her left. The wonder on Malcolm's face was truly
magical. "Do you want to hold them?"

"Try and stop me." Malcolm laughed. Laura drew a chair beside Isabel's
bed for the old man to sit. As he sank into it, still marveling over the
two new Murray's, Laura gently layed the babies in his arms. They played
with his face, and cued as he began to sing them an old folk song in gaelic. "I
sang this to you, when you were small." He looked lovingly at Isabel.

"I remember." She assured him, a tear rolling down her cheek.

When the old man stopped singing the babies began to cry for their
mother. "Oh, listen to those lungs." Malcolm beamed proudly. "Yes, they
certainly are Murray's."

Isabel laughed." They're Carpenter's too, Father." She reminded him.

Malcolm looked at the man who had made his daughter so happy, and
nodded his head. "Aye, that they are."

"These tiny wonders want their mother." Malcolm said as Francis took
each one at a time and once more layed them in Isabel's arms. She gazed at
them and snuggled them as if they had been gone a hundred years.

Malcolm smoothed a lock of Isabel's hair from her face, and looked at
the babies. "Such tiny wee ang..." He broke off before finishing the
thought. He had started to speak it without thinking and did not know how Isabel
would take the phrase.

"It's alright father, they are... wee angels." She smiled. All had been
forgiven.

Emily and Ilse rushed up to the bed, eager to see the babies. Isabel
held back the blankets that covered them for the girls to look at them.
"Oh, cousin Isabel." Emily said. "They're perfect." She wanted to touch the
little round faces that shone up at her but was afraid. She started to move
her hand, but caught herself.

"It's alright, Emily, you can touch them. You too Ilse." Isabel gave
permission. The two girls stroked the babies rosey cheeks, and dimpled
hands. "Hi, hi there." They said greeting their two newest family members.

Isabel could see Jimmy and Eve standing a bit apprehensively in the
doorway and beckoned them over. "Come over here you two, look at my babies."

They gladly accepted her invitation and came over to her bedside. Wide
smiles glowing on both their faces as they saw the sleeping newborns.

"Oh Isabel and Francis...they're sooo beautiful," Eve cooed, as she
longed to spring a special surprise on everyone in the room....but since it
was her cousins'-in-law big day, she decided against it. Her's and Jimmy's
time would soon be forthcoming.

Jimmy laughed as the little girl yawned. "They're gonna hafta have
names." He said. Little did he yet know that soon he too would be holding
his own little daughter or son in his arms.

"Yes, have you given any thought to name for these fine new human
beings?" Allen asked. He and Laura had been standing at the foot of he bed
their arms around each other. They looked into each others eyes for a
moment, thinking of their future and... possibilities.

Isabel looked at Francis who returned her gaze as if they held a secret.
They nodded at each other, both knowing what the other was thinking. "We've
had their names chosen for a while now." Isabel reported. She held her son
to her face and kissed him. "This fine handsome young man is Byron Murray
Carpenter."

"After Lord Byron, the poet!" Emily confirmed entranced. Isabel and Francis
nodded their heads. Emily knew how special his works and especially his love
poems were to them, and could not think of a better name for their son.

Then kissing her daughter on the cheek Isabel announced, "and this fine
lovely young lady is Lucy Murray Carpenter." The family resounded their
approval, and welcomed the two new additions with full and open hearts.

As the family celebrated the arrivals Isabel breathed deeply and sank
against Francis's chest. Her exhaustion finally catching up with her. Her
ordeal finally taking it's toll. In her excitement she had not realized how
tired she truly was, now she could barely manage to fend off the blanket of
sleep that was beginning to envelop her. She fought it, though, as best she
could, she did not want to spend one moment away from her children. Then she
realized they were tired also, having fallen asleep in her arms. They too
had been through a great struggle. Isabel carefully wrapped both babies once
more in the plaid, and layed the sleeping treasures beside her on the bed,
cradling them in her arm as Francis gently layed her back on the pillow. He
had noticed how her energy was waining. The family took one last look at the
precious babies before quietly leaving Isabel to her rest.

As the house settled down for a much needed rest Isabel slept peacefully
holding her sleeping babies and dreaming of the future. Francis lay beside
in the darkness, cradling her and the babies in his arms. He never dreamed
that this would be happening to him, or that he could love three blessed
souls so much. He would not sleep that night. He kept watch over his new
family, imagining of all the wonderful things the future would have in store
for them, and composing poems to them in his head.
____________________

On their way home to their Collie Farm, Jimmy took notice of his wife's
unusual silence he observed about her the whole time they were at New Moon,
he asked "Honey? Is there something wrong?"

Eve, thrilled that her own husband loved her enough to observe her unusual
bout of silence, said in reply, "Oooh Jimmy darling, if you only knew what I
suspect may be happening to us soon in the upcoming months...."