Casanova: Marriage of convenience, or is it?
Four months later Henriette was due to give birth. She had discovered around her forth month that she was expecting twins, when the Doctor had noticed she was bigger then she should have been if it had only been a single baby she was carrying.
Henriette had been sitting in the library talking to a seven month pregnant Astra. They had been discussing baby names when Henriette had felt a sharp pain shoot across her lower stomach. At first she just thought it were the babies kicking like they were constantly known to do.
But after this happened a second time and a third and a fourth time over a four hour period; she began to wonder if she were in fact in labour.
She told Astra what was happening. Astra suggested they call out the Doctor as it did not seem like a case of the cramps that she was experiencing.
So the Doctor had been called for. Half an hour later it was confirmed that Henriette had indeed gone into labour. The Doctor confirmed the babies should make their arrival into the world by the end of the evening.
And sure enough after eight and a half hours of labour Henriette's water broke, so with the help of Astra and several maids, Henriette was prepared to give birth to the next Generation of Grimani's.
The maid encouraged her "come madam push, you are doing wonderfully. One more extra hard push and the head of the first baby will be free. Now push."
Henriette screamed as she bore down hard, huffing and panting as she breathed in and out deeply. She whimpered as she lay back after the contraction died down.
She only had a mere seconds pause before another contraction racked her frame. She leaned forward and shirked as she pushed down hard. The maid exclaimed "oh well done madam I can see a head with a light layer of blond hair."
Henriette bit her lower lip as the maid told her push once more. Henriette gritted her teeth as she pushed down harder and harder. Moments later the shoulders passed through.
Henriette took a moment's break before she was hit with yet again another contraction. She screamed once more as she pushed and panted heavily.
Henriette grimaced as she felt an unpleasant and moist burning feeling as she felt the first of her children slip completely out of her. She beamed as she heard the hiccupping cries of her first born.
Another maid came forward as another cut the umbilical cord separating the little child from its mother. The maid beamed and happily announced "it's a boy madam, you have a son."
The maid passed the little boy to another maid to take him to be cleaned up and so the Doctor could examine it to make sure he was healthy.
Henriette did not have time revel in the birth of her son, as she was soon overcome with more contractions. Obviously his twin wanted out.
Henriette yelled at the top of her lungs as she pushed down hard. Thankfully now that the first was born the second baby would come quicker and easier.
Henriette grunted as the maid informed her she could see a little head full of dark hair like her own. A few moments later Henriette threw her head back and bellowed in agony her screams could be heard from on the other side of the door and down the hall way.
The shoulders were finally free, one more push and the second of the Grimani twins would be born. Henriette howled in agony as she pushed down hard, to the point she feared she might split in two.
She grimaced as she felt the same uncomfortable burning and moist feeling she experienced with the delivery of her son. She sighed in relief and stifled a sob as she heard a second set of hiccupping cries.
The maid cut the umbilical cord separating the second and final twin from its mother. The maid beamed and informed Henriette as she passed the second baby to be cleaned and checked over.
"Congratulations madam, you have a beautiful baby girl, you have a daughter." Henriette beamed in delight and cried as she lay back against the pillows and finally relaxed. The maid then told her "now I need you to push one last time to get rid of the after birth, then it will be all over."
Henriette nodded before grunting and pushing. She grimaced in disgust as she felt something very moist slip from her. The maid exclaimed "there that's it. It's over; well done madam you did splendidly."
Henriette sighed and finally lay back and relax as she thought about the fact she now had a beautiful son and daughter. She loved them already and she was still yet to hold them.
As if someone read her mind. One of the maids returned with her son wrapped in a soft and fluffy pale blue blanket. She carefully placed the tiny boy in his mother's arms.
Henriette cooed in delight as she took in the sight of his sweet and tiny face she melted. He was beautiful, and he was all hers. She looked up and smiled when the same maid returned with her daughter wrapped up all snug in a pale pick and fluffy blanket.
She beamed when maid placed the little girl in the cradle of her other arm. The little girl obviously had her features and hair. Whilst the little boy had Grimani hair and his feature were a mixture of both of his parents, but Grimani's features were the more prominent.
Astra eyed her nephew and niece and melted at the sight of the tiny faces. She gazed down at them with a soft look upon on her beautiful features.
Henriette noticed the look on her face and smiled knowingly to her self. She knew at that moment there and then that her son and daughter would be spoilt rot by their aunty. And above all Astra was going to make a wonderful mother. Henriette could see the maternal instincts shining out of her.
Astra sighed and asked "be honest with me is it as tortuous and hideous as it looked?" Henriette sighed and asked "honestly?" Astra nodded.
Henriette grimaced "its worse trust me. I don't envy you in the least. It pure torture" she revealed with a grimace of remembrance and sympathy for Astra who had gone more then a little green.
Astra shuddered and said "ok. I'm going to go and retrieve my idiot of a brother, its time he met his son and daughter. Have you decided on what your going call them yet?"
Henriette nodded and replied "yes he should be here now to meet his children. And yes I have decided I just need to see if your brother approves." Astra nodded and went to retrieve her brother.
A few minutes later Grimani entered on his own, he instantly noticed the twins and felt a surge of love for the little beings he and Henriette had created. They had not been created in the act of love but both parents without a doubt loved the little boy and girl.
Henriette asked "would you like to hold your son and daughter?" Grimani sat on the edge of the bed and accepted both little ones, one on each arm. He gazed down at them with a soft look of love upon his handsome face.
Henriette had never seen such a soft and loving look upon his face before. It both intrigued her and in the smallest of way warmed her, weather he was good husband was beside the point, he was going to make a wonderful father she did not doubt it.
She commented "we need to choose names for them. There are four names I like, two of them are male names and two are female names. I need you to help me to decide."
Grimani asked "what are they?" Henriette replied "I like the names Bellatrix, Cira and Nico, Bryant." Grimani nodded "I approve of all of them, which makes it difficult to choose."
He paused before suggesting "why don't we use all four names, Bellatrix Cira Grimani, Bella for short and Nico Bryant Grimani. What do you think?"
Henriette nodded "I like it. Then I guess it is settled then. Shall we call the others in to see the babies?" Grimani reluctantly agreed.
After Grimani had summoned a maid. Five minutes later Astra, Giacomo and the senior Grimani entered the room. Henriette spoke up "everyone I would like to introduce you to Nico Bryant Grimani and Bellatrix Cira Grimani, Bella for short."
Giacomo eyed the little boy and girl and felt a brief stab of pain and jealousy. But that was soon squashed when he eyed Astra's prominent stomach. He felt a warm feeling settle inside of him, as he imagined what his and Astra little buddle combined of both of them would look like.
Everyone saw the pained looked on Giacomo's face but watched as it instantly melted into a soft and warm content expression as he eyed Astra's very pregnant figure.
Grimani nodded his head in approval. He was by no means a fan of his brother in law, but even he could tell Casanova wanted that unborn child, the expression on his face made that very clear.