(Back to Mary's POV)

Three weeks passed. Alastor had returned a week earlier and, after about several days, the lord general had gotten used to him being around, and alive at that. William had also gotten used to having Alastor around, and to relieve himself of the tension that he experienced at times with Cornwallis, he would even pull Alastor aside to talk with him. Even William's brothers had gotten used to their father. It was half past seven in the morning. I had finally been let off of bed rest, so I was in the stables, keeping William and the children company as they fed the horses.

"Brielle, give me the oats." Said Braden, trying to snatch a small bag of oats from his sister, who held it out of his reach.

"Braden, there are more bags over in the box." William said, reaching into a large bag of oats and scooping a handful for Belial, who ate them greedily.

I felt a soft nip on the back of my arm and turned to see Ember staring at me with dark eyes.

"Here you go." I said to Ember, feeding her a handful of oats.

Just then, Apollo walked up beside his mother, trying to poke his head up above the stall door.

"You want some too, don't you?" I said, feeding him some oats.

"He's getting big." Said William softly, wrapping his arms around me.

"He certainly is." I replied. "He's got his sire's build."

"Father, I want to go inside; it's too cold out here." Said Braden.

"Have you finished feeding Lightning?"

"No.."

"Finish feeding him and then you can go."

After Braden finished feeding his pony, he and Brielle went back up to the house.

I stayed with William for twenty more minutes before I started feeling queasy and went back up to the house and up to the master bedchamber to rest.

After several hours I got up and went downstairs to prepare dinner, where I saw Cristabel in the sitting room.

"Cristabel, good day."

"And good day to you as well." She replied with a smile. "I see you're back up on your feet now. How are you feeling?"

"Well, I'm relieved to be allowed out of bed." I replied. "And you?"

"I've never eaten so much in my entire life!" She replied with a laugh. "And the morning sickness and vomiting are hardly abnormal anymore."

"I know what you mean." I replied. "But you'll know it's worth it in a couple of months, when you feel movement."

"I know, and I can't wait for it!" Cristabel said excitedly.

I smiled, feeling tired.

"Well, Cristabel, I've got to make dinner."

"I can help if you like."

"Alright. Thank you."

After dinner, William took Braden, Brielle, and Alastor over to Bordon's to help him with some house chores. So, it was just Cornwallis, Cristabel, and I at home.

I was downstairs in the sitting room reading while Cristabel rested in one of the spare rooms when the lord general stepped into the room, holding what looked to be a couple of reports.

"Mary are you alright?" He asked. "You look pale."

"I'm not quite well today, as you guessed, but it's nothing new. I'll be all right. But thank you for your concern."

Cornwallis gave me a small smile.

"Alright, but if you need anything, just let me know."

"Thank you."

If it's alright with you, may I sit here and read reports?"

"You may; it isn't a distraction at all."

An hour later, I got up and was about to leave the room to check on Cristabel when I paused, feeling pain in my lower abdomen. When it subsided, I cautiously took a few more steps until it came back at a higher amount and I paused again, holding on to a chair for balance.

"Mary, are you sure you're alright?" Asked Cornwallis, walking over to me and putting a hand on my shoulder.

"I need you to get William. Now."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong." I replied wincing. "I'm having labour pains."

Cornwallis' eyes rounded with surprise.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes!" I hissed. "Now please, go to Peter's and get my husband!"

"But-"

"Cristabel is here and she's worked as a midwife before. I'll be fine until you return. Just go! Now!"

(William's POV)

It was half past one in the afternoon.

"Papa, I'm hungry." Said Brielle.

"Ask your uncle of he has anything for you then."

Suddenly, there was an insistent pounding on Peter's front door and a muffled voice cried, "Colonel!"

I strode over to the door and answered it. A breathless lord general stood before me.

"Mary's time has come!"

"Who's here?" Peter called, coming down the hall.

"Mary's in labour Peter. Please, watch Braden and Brielle, and I'll send for you when I feel the time is appropriate."

Peter nodded.

"Well, you'd best be going then."

"Thank you Peter."

With that, I went out to the stables, put Belial's bridle on him and not even bothering with the saddle, led him bareback, out to the road to meet Cornwallis.

"Let's go then." He said riding up to me.

"No. You go to Thomas' and tell him to come to my house as soon as possible. Ill meet you two there."

The lord general gave a quick nod and then sped off down the road. I leaned forward on Belial and whispered in his left ear, "Fly devil."

Not needing my spurs in his sides, Belial lunged forward at breakneck speed, charging all the way home.

Once home, I quickly put Belial into his stall and sprinted up to the house.

"Colonel, is that you?" Cristabel's voice called from upstairs as I opened the door.

"Yes." I replied speeding up the stairs two at a time.

I entered the master bedchamber to see Mary already stripped and wrapped in blankets with her ebony hair in a braid, while Cristabel took a wet cloth from a pail of water and placed it on hr forehead.

"How is she doing?"

"So far she seems to be doing alright; obviously the contractions are painful, but she isn't fully dilated yet, so we'll just have to wait and see."

"Thank you Cristabel, for being here for her." I said. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

"I'm fine, but thank you anyway."

I walked over to Mary and bent over her, brushing a light kiss across her lips.

"William…" She said softly and then suddenly squeezed her eyes shut, moaning in pain.

"Everything will be alright; Thomas will be here soon."

Ten minutes later Thomas arrived with Cornwallis.

"How is she doing?" He asked.

"She hasn't fully dilated yet."

"I see. Well, hopefully it shouldn't be too long before she does." He replied. "Is Edward coming here?"

"I didn't go to him yet, but Cristabel is here."

"She's a midwife isn't she?"

"Well, she has delivered babies before, I know that."

"She'll do then." Thomas replied. "I'll see you upstairs."

"Is there anything you would like me to do?" Cornwallis asked after Thomas had left up the stairs.

"Just stay down here and help watch my son and daughter if they arrive during the labour." I replied. "I'll be upstairs with Mary."

Cornwallis shot me a surprised look, to which I rolled my eyes and replied, "She nearly bled to death with Braden because he was turned the wrong way and got stuck. I'm going to be there for her in case something goes wrong whether it's proper or not!"

Cornwallis narrowed his eyes at me.

"Col. Tavington… your tongue..."

"Look, you can court-martial me for my tongue, I don't care. But don't you dare tell me that I cannot see my wife!"

With that, I swept up the stairs, leaving a staring lord general behind me.

Two hours passed. Mary had fully dilated and was in hard labour. Her contractions came in strong cruel waves, causing her to utter bloodcurdling screams until they subsided momentarily, and then returned with their fierceness.

"Come on Mary, keep pushing!" Thomas encouraged.

Mary screamed in response, nearly crushing my right hand with hers. I flinched as her small hand continued to constrict my hand with crushing force. 'I need that hand, you know.'

"Wait Thomas." Said Cristabel suddenly. "Something is wrong. She's bleeding too much."

The colour drained from my face.

"How much blood has she lost?" I asked weakly.

"Not very much, at least not enough for it to be dangerous." Cristabel replied.

"But if it doesn't stop soon, it will be."

"Is Edward home?" Thomas asked. "I believe we're going to need to pull one of them out."

"Can you not do it yourself?" Cristabel asked.

"I can, but I must confess, I've only had to do it a couple of times."

"Well, Edward should be home, but at least try; we don't have a lot of time."

"I'll get Edward." I said.

"No." Said Cristabel in a firm voice. "Mary needs you here. I'll go."

"No you won't." Thomas commented. "Not in your condition. Have Cornwallis go."

Cristabel glared at Thomas.

"Cornwallis is not to be brought into this, and besides, I'm not very far along. I am going to get Edward, and you are not going to stop me."

With that, Cristabel swept out of the room.

Fifteen minutes later Cristabel returned with Edward at her side, and immediately he tried pulling one of the twins out. Mary gasped in pain, her face streaked with tears as Cristabel, Thomas, and I held her down to keep her from writhing.

"Hold on Mary, don't move." I said holding her shoulders and arms down.

"Edward hurry, we don't have a lot of time; the blood is flowing too rapidly." Said Thomas.

"I know, but I can't get a good positioning. The baby is positioned at an odd angle."

"Damn." Thomas muttered. "Try again."

"I can't Thomas. The space is too small for my hands, and she'll tear if I do." Edward replied.

"Let me try." Said Cristabel.

Thomas stared at her.

"Look, my hands are smaller than the both of yours, and if I don't, she'll bleed to death.

"Cristabel-"

"Hold on Thomas. She has a point and she's experienced." Said Edward. "Is that alright Will?"

"Do what you must." I replied.

Cristabel turned to Mary and said, "This shouldn't take too long. Just try not to move."

For the next fifteen minutes, Thomas, Edward, and I wrestled Mary, trying to keep her still. Then…

Crying.

"The first one is a boy." Said Cristabel smiling, handing the crying baby to Thomas, who wrapped him in cloths and then handed him to me.

I looked down at the crying bundle in my arms. He had dark brown hair and my icy blue eyes.

I looked over at Mary who gave me a wan smile, but I could still see pain in her eyes.

"He looks like you." She said softly.

I gave her a light kiss on the cheek and replied, "Yes, he does."

"Mary, I believe I'm going to have to pull the other one out as well; you've lost too much blood." Cristabel said.

"Now?" I asked.

"We can wait a few minutes."

"No. Just get it over with." Mary replied.

"Will, I know you won't like this but can you leave the room with the little one until the second one comes?"

"As you wish."

I gave Mary a quick kiss and then left the room with my newborn son, and went down to the sitting room, where a fire roared and crackled in the fireplace.

"Is that the little one?"

I turned to see Cornwallis standing in the middle of the sitting room.

"He's one of them. We're waiting for the other one."

"He looks like you." Said the lord general. "What is his name?"

I shrugged.

"I'm not sure yet; Mary picked the names this time."

Twenty minutes alter Thomas called me back up the master bedchamber.

"It's another boy." He said as we entered the room.

I walked over to Mary who was holding the other twin in her arms. She cast me a tired smile and I kissed her.

"There identical, except for the eyes." She said softly.

I held my son next to his brother and glanced down at his eyes, which were an unusual icy green.

"I guess for now, that's the only means of telling them apart." I said softly.

Mary smiled.

"So, what shall we call them?" I asked.

"I think the first one shall be Aric Alton Edward Cynric Alexander; and the younger one shall be Alexavier Baron Adair Vian Aland."

I nodded and replied, "Strong names for strong boys."

Mary laughed softly but suddenly grew silent, her face grave, and only then did I realise how deathly pale she was.

"Mary?" I asked. "What's wrong?"

"William.."

"What is going on?" I asked, beginning to grow worried.

Edward walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Give Aric to Cristabel and come with me."

I handed my son over to his aunt and followed Edward out the door and into the hall.

"What's going on?" I asked again, my voice beginning to shake.

Edward closed his eyes momentarily.

"We couldn't stop the bleeding. She's dying, Will."