Four families, all very different, are expecting new babies. Yet more magic comes to Storybrooke...
Storybrooke Hospital – Six months later
They'd been waiting in the little visitor's room for at least an hour, when an exhausted-looking David Nolan finally emerged from the delivery room.
"Dad? Is everything okay? The nurses wouldn't tell us anything."
"It's a girl, Emma! You have a beautiful baby sister!"
Regina's worried face broke into a smile, as she stood to join her pacing wife. "That's marvellous, David," she hugged him tightly. "How's Snow?"
"Sore. There were some complications. You know her, she wanted to delivery naturally, but Marina insisted it was too late for that, plus the baby was in distress. So they had to do a C-section. She bled a lot more than usual, so they're giving her a transfusion and stitching her right now. That's why I popped out to tell you. The baby's okay though."
"Oh, dad." Emma hugged her father tightly. "That's rotten luck. But she's going to be all right, yeah?"
"Yes, thank god. She's weak, but she's in good hands. Merlin's trained up an excellent team, and her midwife said she may need to be in a day or two, just till she gets her strength back up. Once they've finished settling her, I ask for you to be allowed in."
It was only another half hour wait before they were called in. Nervously stepping into a side room, Emma saw her exhausted mother propped up by pillows, nursing a tiny swaddled package. "Hi mum."
"Emma!" the new mother looked up, her mouth turning into a tired smile. "Come in, sweetheart. Come meet your little sister? Regina, you too!" David stepped back from the bed, so they could come get a closer look.
"Oh my!" Regina gasped at the tiny bundle. She was even smaller than she expected, with wispy dark hair that shot up into the air. A small tube came out of one of a nostril. "She's so weeny! Much smaller than my girls were, but I guess that's because she's prem?"
"Yes, almost a month early. The tube's there to help feed her. Now then, she's just tried finishing her first feed off me. Emma, come closer. I want her to have her first cuddle with her big sister." Emma cautiously collected her from her mother's protective arms, lifting her into her own, as Regina moved next to her to take a closer look. David had already taken his phone out for a picture of the special moment.
"Mum, she's beautiful! I hope she opens her eyes before we leave. That hair though. So dark…"
"Yours was the same, Emma!" added David, proudly. "Marina told us hers'll change over the months. She says she's going to be a blondie, too."
At the sound of his deeper voice, tiny eyes opened to look up. "Green eyes? She's got my eyes!" Emma yelled excitedly, like a little girl herself.
"Yes, she's going to look like her Emma. Your mini-me!" said Snow, grinning. The blonde instantly went into baby-babble as she snuggled her closer. "Hello gorgeous! I'm your big sissie, Emmy! Yes, I am. Who's a bootiful baby den?" the others giggled at the silly-speak.
"She's perfect, Snow," Regina cooed. "Beautiful, just like her brother…" Emma arched a brow. "…and sister!" She pressed a kiss to her wife's cheek as she pouted. "May her sister-in-law also be allowed a little cuddle? What's her name?" Emma pressed a final soft kiss on her little sister's forehead before handing her over to Regina.
"Louise. Louise Eva Nolan. After David's favourite aunt and my mother…"
"Suits her. Hello little Louise! I'm Gina, your sissie's wife," even she couldn't avoid going into a silly baby-speak voice as she addressed the little cutie. "You're lovely, you are, just like your handsome big brother! You and me and Neal are going to be the bestest friends but I'm going to be your favourite! The one you'll also come to when you want to escape your insufferable parents and big sister! Yes you will! Yes you will!" she gabbled, as Emma exchanged a look with her parents, who chuckled regardless.
"Speaking of big brothers, shouldn't Neal be here? Does he even know, dad?"
"He knows, and he's on his way! Mulan's bringing him over, as he was staying over at Pip's house. We thought it best, as we knew your mum was likely to have…complications, and we couldn't be sure how long it would take." Or if the birth went seriously wrong! he left unsaid.
Regina bristled. "We could have looked after him. We are family…"
"We thought of asking you," Snow defended, "But you've already got the girls to take care of in the mornings. Little Philip's one of his best friends too. Perhaps you could help over the next week or two? As they've carved me up a little downstairs, Marina says I'm going to need quite a bit of bed rest."
A short while later, an excited Neal burst into the room. "Hiya mum! Hi guys. Right, where's my little sister?"
After more cuddles and kisses, David finally marshalled everyone to sit around Snow and Louise for family photos, before they all eventually left so mother and daughter could sleep. As Emma and Regina walked back to the car, Emma smirked over the roof. "You know something? In all the years I've known you, you never cease to surprise me!"
"In what way now, my Swan?" she asked, innocently, recognizing a fun-poking look.
"Your sissie's wife? Bestest friend? Nealy?" She tittered. "If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were smitten!"
"Perhaps I am. Can I help it if you have much more adorable, less sarcastic siblings?"
The Maternity Unit - Three weeks later
Emma and Regina would never have guessed just how soon they'd find themselves back in the same nursing room that Snow had given birth, only three weeks earlier.
It was several hours since the former Princess Aurora had given birth to a son, and they now walked in on the happy, but tired, family as a clearly-smitten mayor cradled their new-born, sitting at the edge of the bed. Mulan sat on a chair in the corner, their infant daughter Li on her knee, happily chewing a biscuit.
"Morning ladies! Come meet the latest addition to the Briars?" said a tired Aurora, sitting upright in bed. Congratulations and hugs were exchanged all around until Philip could finally be persuaded by Mulan to part with the baby for cuddles elsewhere.
Emma smiled as she saw how doting he was. "I can see that one's going to have you so wrapped around his little finger, Phil."
"Probably. Just like his mothers."
As the former warrior passed the baby boy into Regina's cautious arms, she noticed something about the baby's face? Though the face shape was Philip's, the almond eyes were clearly Mulan's eastern shape!
"I don't understand. He is VERY handsome, but…Mulan, he has your eyes?"
"Merlin," Aurora nodded. "After Dorothy Lucas told me how Nathaniel has the biological DNA of both mothers, as it's safe I spoke to Merlin a year ago, just in case we wanted more. He used the same magic on me. So if Mu or I got pregnant again, we'd share. He thought it wouldn't work, as Philip doesn't have magic. But it seems having once been turned into the Yaoguai, he has something."
Emma looked closer. "So he's like Hope and Faith? Three biological parents?"
"And Ruby's imminent baby. Just the same."
"He's gorgeous, Aurora," Regina gazed down at him. "I'm surprised you wanted us come see him so soon."
"You're very welcome. But, I have to confess, we also asked you both to come for a reason."
"Oh?"
Philip stood, moving closer. "Well, as you know, Robin's already Li's godfather. We asked him, because he's been Mulan's closest male friend for a fair while. And at the time, we didn't really know you two. But, we like to think we've all become closer friends since? We were wondering whether you'd both be willing to become two of Xhou's three godmothers?"
That surprised her! She remembered how she'd once laughed, when she'd watched Maleficent put the princess under a sleeping curse, as revenge against her mother. "Godmothers?' Emma was equally surprised. "But…yes, of course we would! We'd be honoured. Thank you, all of you. But…the name? Xhou?"
Mulan nodded. "It's my father's name. Fa Xhou. Though we might put 'Z-o-o' on his certificate!"
Aurora took her wife's hand. " Her dad was a very famous warrior in Japan, and hero in his own time! One of the emperor's greatest generals. We thought it fitting." Mulan leant across, pecking her lips.
"Xhou Briar? Hmm…I like it!" Regina bent over and kissed the baby's brow. "Hello Xhou. I'm Regina, one of your new goddies..." Regina went on to babble and coo over the new-born, making Emma grin as babies always seemed to have that affect on her ever since Honour was born.
"You said 'Two of his three godmothers'? Who else?"
"Well, Merlin's agreed to be a godfather. And let's face it, if it hadn't been for him, Xhou wouldn't even be here! Then we started talking to his family, and we thought-"
She was interrupted by the room door banging open, a new visitor walking in.
"MAL?" Regina was shocked. The dragon was the very last person she expected here! "What the hell are you doing here?" She instantly turned her back on Aurora's nemesis, shielding the baby with herself as Emma stepped in front of them, ready to protect it with magic. Even the Saviour knew what Maleficent had done to Aurora!
"Emma, Regina! Stop!" Aurora called out. "She hasn't come to harm us! We asked her to come!"
"You did what? Mal? Why on earth would you-"
"You're not always party to everything that goes on in your little town, kitten!" said Maleficent, her brow arched at her fellow witch, friend and once, almost-lover. Regina hated when she used her pet name for her in public! "I've met with Aurora, and her family, several times over the last few months. I've sought her forgiveness for my past crimes, against her and her parents. And, fortunately for me, she's found it in her heart to forgive me. Even though I don't deserve it!"
"That's perfectly true, Regina," Now Philip spoke up. "We've had many chats with Mal and Merlin and, we've asked them both to be Xhou's other godparents."
Regina stood open-mouthed, stunned at the revelation. Maleficent stepped forward, opening her arms to request to hold the baby. "May I?"
Regina looked to the parents for approval. Aurora nodded, as the former Mistress of All Evil took the Briar baby into her arms, holding him to her chest. When he was secure, the dragon opened the palm of her right hand, and a small shiny silver bar appeared.
The baby's eyes opened.
"Hello young Prince! It's lovely to finally meet you." Mal smiled down at him, but with a steely, determined look in her eye. "I'm Maleficent, your grandmother's former nemesis! Your parents have given me the great honour of allowing me to become your godmother, and I accept the role without hesitation, due to the immense wrong I did her once upon a time. So, I am making this act of contrition. I hereby now make you a dragon's pledge. I swear my eternal fealty to you, my prince, and vow to protect you, should you require it, for the rest of your natural days. A dragon's promise cannot be broken on pain of death, and I call upon all those here present, to witness…" She then went on to say something in what Emma presumed to be some sort of dragon-tongue, completely incomprehensible to everyone in the room.
As she intoned the words, a very serious look o her face her right hand drew the small silver bar across her left palm. A wide, painful-looking cut opened up, which started to bleed immediately, although Maleficent didn't flinch! Instead, she calmly dipped the end of the silver bar into the fresh wound, before lifting it to draw a small wavy line across the baby's forehead. As the Locksley women stood transfixed, the bloody mark seemed to absorb itself into little Xhou's skin, become invisible. And as it did, Emma definitely thought she felt a warm wave pulse over her. Magic.
"There, it's done!" she dropped a small kiss on the baby's cheek. "Live a long, happy life, my prince."
After a moment's silence, when the others began to realise what her vow had implied, Mulan finally spoke. "Sorry, but I know so little about dragons. This…this vow to protect? Does it cover his brother and sister too?"
Mal initially glared at the woman, her thoughts interrupted. The glare slowly morphed into a smile. "It does. That must have been a little confusing for you, but, I basically translated something from an ancient tongue to English, then repeated a version of the original. It's a promise to protect him from anyone, or anything, that wishes him harm, with my own life if necessary. You may think of it as your son becoming my liege lord. It applies to all members of his family, including you three, until he reaches adulthood."
"But you said protecting 'with your own life'? As an immortal, surely you can't be killed?"
"A common fallacy, Mulan. Even an immortal can be killed! We just have to wait for a resurrection to happen, which can take centuries, even millennia."
"Mal, could you bring Xhou back over and come sit by me please?" Aurora patted the side of the bed. As she did, the dragon obediently decanted the baby boy back into her arms. "Thank you!" She whispered, before placing a warm kiss on the woman's cheek as she stooped. The rare affectionate touch had a much more profound effect on Mal than she could ever realise. "And for the record, your fiancé told me about you and my mamma."
Mal's eyes widened in surprise. Looked down at Briar's daughter, a heaviness weighed on her heart. "I loved your mother, you know? I truly loved her. But...we both wronged your father terribly! There was a time when Stefan and I were friends. Until I…until we…" the memory of her shame overcame her. But she wanted to get this out! "After Merlin, or Draco, as he was in dragon form, I never felt as one with anyone until Briar Rose…" She stopped to wipe a stray tear. "It was wrong of both of us. We betrayed him. And then, when your mother decided to return to him, I just-"
"Mal, I forgive you! I think it's time for us to move on, don't you?"
The Same Maternity Unit – five days later
Ariel was the next to give birth. To a beautiful baby girl, with Belle and Rumple at her sides.
The birth had been straightforward and without complication, as was to be expected from Rumpelstiltskin's careful planning and precautions. Knowing there could possibly be unknown complications coming from the birth of a mermaid-human, Merlin, in his Professor Sage gynae capacity, successfully delivered a perfect little baby into the arms of her loving parents.
An hour later, Ariel, Belle and Rumple were surrounded as they cooed, praised and flattered the expanded family. Ariel was still in a haze, exhausted by a twelve-hour labour, and sat back on the plumped-up pillows as Belle, sitting close beside her, held their tiny daughter in her arms, Gideon on her other side.
Four months before the baby was due, the marriage of Angus and Belle Gold to Ariel Tritonsdottir was held on the Jolly Roger, a mile offshore, facing Storybrooke Harbour, with Archie Hooper again officiating. Killian had initially been reluctant to loan his ship for anything involving the former Dark One, but Belle, and Henry, had worked on him, persuading him that the creature that killed Milah and wreaked havoc to thousands, was no longer inside her husband. Although Ariel's six sisters had been allowed to attend, and supported her as bridesmaids, Ariel's parents boycotted the entire wedding, which cast a small shadow over her day. Nonetheless, the third polyamorous marriage of Storybrooke took place under a bright blue sky, and the evening celebration back on land in Sherwood was attended by an enormous crowd of well-wishers.
"Oh she's bonny!" said a simpering Merida, as Baelfire proudly took back his baby sister, folding her carefully into his arms. "The world needs more feisty redheads like you an' me, doesn't it Ariel? An' this wee lassie is gonna keep our flag flyin'!"
"Have you decided on her name?" asked Henry, who'd raced with his father from Boston, once news came that Ariel had gone into labour. Ariel gave Belle a smile and a small nod to tell them, as Baelfire carefully passed the little bundle into his father's arms.
"It took us a while to agree a name. So we thought, what with Ariel's musical connection, that we'd-" Belle was interrupted by a loud rap on the door, stilling everyone. Merlin leaned his head in to address the room.
"Sorry to interrupt, but you have some 'unexpected' visitors. They weren't sure whether they would be welcome, so asked me, to ask permission for them to be allowed to see you?" The two mothers looked to Rumple, confused, until the Sorcerer followed with, "Your parents. King Triton and Queen Athena!"
Ariel gasped and Rumple stiffened immediately, wondering whether they might try to abduct Ariel…or even the baby! Merlin saw the worried looks, so in the low, calm voice, so not to be heard outside the room, he said "Rumple – why don't you and I go see them together first?" At least two powerful sorcerers may have more chance against a god and goddess? Rumple nodded, turning to step over and press a quick kiss on Ariel's, then Belle's lips, whispering a silent 'don't worry', before leaving the room.
They were gone for several minutes before the door opened again. Rumple moving back to them. "They have sworn to stick to our agreement, and they will leave the moment you ask them too! I said that I would defer to you, Ariel. It's your decision?" After a moment's hesitation, Ariel nodded, and the royal deity were allowed to enter the room. Neal, having spent long enough amongst the gods, felt the familiar powerful magic as the pair entered the room. They seemed oddly…nervous.
"Ariel? How are you my dear?" Triton began, cautiously, looking at the tiny bundle that was now in Belle's arms. Athena stood a pace behind him, saying nothing.
Ariel looked at the pair, her face a combination of sadness and determination. She ignored the question.
"I'm surprised to see you here, considering you never showed up for my wedding?" she glared.
Triton seemed to hang his head in shame. "Yes, well…I'm sorry. I'm just a proud old man, I guess." He seemed to have a problem continuing, until eventually, "Your sisters have also voiced their displeasure with me. Attina refuses to speak to me. Arista has turned her back on us and Andrina…"
"Andrina hasn't been since they came back from your wedding, Ariel." added Athena, looking up at her husband. "We've sent out search parties but…nothing."
"Andrina's missing?" Ariel sat up, alarmed. "Then we've got to do something! Rumple?" she looked to the side, to her husband. "Can you help?"
"Your father and mother are the rulers of the oceans, Ariel. If they cannot find her, it means she must be on land somewhere." Or dead, he thought, but wasn't going to upset them unnecessarily.
"She left us a note…" said the grey-eyed goddess. "Basically…she has informed us she no longer wishes to be part of our life until we have…resolved matters with you!" the goddess replied, matter-of-factly before her cold eyes cast over the man sitting nearby. "You're the one Zeus sent back, aren't you? The friend of Persephone?"
Neal had spent long enough working on behalf of the God-of-Gods, not to be intimated by the deity. He nodded, giving her an equally cold look. "The name's Baelfire, or Neal in this world. Hello to you too, Athena."
"If she's on land and in this realm, I can help," Rumple interrupted "If she still lives, I can prepare a suitable tracking potion for you to use."
"She lives. But at what price? There's always a price with you, Rumpelstiltskin!" Triton's comment drew an angry glare from his daughter, which he couldn't fail to notice.
"No price, dearie. You choose to forget, I'm no longer the Dark One! I will help, but only because of your connection to Ariel, to find her sister."
Triton nodded silently, unable to thank him. "May I be allowed to see my granddaughter?" asked Athena, stepping forward. Ariel nodded to Belle, so the librarian gently placed her daughter in the older woman's arms. As the goddess examined the tot for the first time, the baby's eyes opened wide. Piercing blue met grey and for a moment, then Athena visibly shuddered, recognizing something enormously powerful within the baby's knowing look.
That's not possible! How could it be?
"Hello, little one. I'm not quite sure how, but you appear to be blessed by my father himself! I can sense him in you."
"Your father?" Ariel gasped, looking up at Rumple. "Zeus? Mama - what are you saying?"
"She has his aura, my child. I'd know it anywhere!" Athena placed a kiss on the baby's forehead. "I have no idea how, but one day this child will sit with her great-grandfather and her family…on Olympus."
Rumple's head dropped as he closed his eyes, deep in thought. "Of course! The prophecy…"
"Prophecy?" asked Belle. "Rumple, what prophecy? What's going on?"
"I'll explain later, Belle, but it seems our little one's destined to be a goddess, uniting life and afterlife…"
Triton had been silent during their exchange. He stepped closer to his daughter. "Ariel, I've been a proud fool. It's taken me a long time but, as your sisters have been quite persistent, I realise it was wrong of me to seek to prevent you choosing your own path. I'm sorry, my love. Do you think you could forgive an old god his short temper and poor judgment?"
If she didn't know better, she could have sworn her father was about to shed a tear!
"Papa!" Ariel sniffed, opening her arms. Triton leant into them, hugging her, as tears fell on both sides. "Of course, I can papa. I love you!"
Getting cuddled by his youngest girl again was the best present he could have, and they held each other for several minutes, neither wanting to let go. Eventually, they separated, after which Athena quietly passed the baby over to Triton.
"Hello, precious one," he also kissing a cheek. "Ariel, have you chosen a name for her?"
"Melody," Belle answered, having felt invisible the last few minutes. "Melody Colette Gold."
Ariel squeezed her wife's hand. "Colette was Belle's mother's name, papa. She died protecting her. Like Melody did protecting me."
Triton winced. Melody had been the elder daughter they'd lost, killed so many years ago by a human ship. A tragic accident. Just one of many reasons he mistrusted humankind so much! "A hero's death. The finest death of all! Hello Melody, my little one, I'm your grand-papa. Your grand-mama and I have looked forward to this day. It seems you are a very special girl indeed, a bridge between two worlds. We have a very special present, just for you my little one."
The very next day it turned out to be Ruby's turn!
She'd been sitting on a sofa in the back of the Diner, talking to Snow and Emma, when the first contraction hit. With Regina minding the little ones, and Robin spending the day in Sherwood, she had decided to spend her day off with her mother, getting to know her one-month-old little sister. As she held the little one in her arms in the armchair, Ruby suddenly stood.
"OW! FUCK!" yelled Ruby, holding her legs apart and resting a hand on the table to steady herself. "SHIT, THAT REALLY HURTS!"
Snow moved quickly to her side, going into her calming, best friend mode. "Looks like things may be starting to happen. Rubes, hold steady for a moment while I get Dorothy. We'll use my car. Emma, could you mind your sister for a little while longer?"
"Sure. Better still, get everyone together with all the bits, and I'll poof us over to the hospital? Merlin set a little room aside for us to arrive in, so we don't disturb anyone."
~oOo~
An hour later, Ruby was lying back on the hospital gurney while Patricia, one of the senior midwives, ran the ultrasound over her belly.
"Okay Ruby, everything looks good to me, though I'm pretty sure labour hasn't properly started yet. You'll be here a little while until baby arrives. What with the wolf genes and the baby's mixed DNA, although I'll be delivering, Professor Sage is going to be here, supervising the birth. He's in theatre now and should be out in an hour. So, get comfortable. Anyone you need me to call?"
"All in hand thanks, Pat!" said Dorothy, holding Ruby's hand, her phone in the other.
Emma smiled across at the midwife. "You know, Pat was my midwife? She delivered Hope! You're in good hands here, Rubes, even without Merlin." she winked at the midwife.
"I know. I'm sure everything's going to be fine. I just wish we could get hold off Killian and Rosie. They should be here too…"
Emma knew the two couples had an odd relationship, but after earlier blunders didn't want to say anything to set them off. "Where are they? You need me to find them?"
"Killian's doing sea trials with the Jolly, so they're several miles offshore. They're going to be heading back to DunBroch soon, with the royals and Neal."
"They're going back? I thought they said it was too dangerous? Neal said…" but Snow squeezed her arm, encouraging her to say no more, in case it stressed the pregnant woman. Emma frowned. They may no longer be together, but he was still Henry's father, and she felt 'something' for him!
"Best ask Merlin when he gets here. He's going with them." said Dorothy.
Snow pondered the problem. "Emma, you know that telepathy thing you do with Robin and Regina? Didn't you say Merlin has it with his children? Perhaps he could 'call' Rosie and get them back here?"
~oOo~
It was a good four hours before the Jolly was moored.
Killian burst into the delivery room, by which time Snow and Emma had long gone. Rosie joined him an hour later, once the boys had been settled with Blue at the convent. By now, Ruby was bored out of her mind and Dorothy falling asleep, resting her head on the bed beside her. "Is she alright, Rubes? She seems…bloody exhausted." said the concerned Captain.
"She's been doing all the late shifts, as Mike's been away. And what with me like this, I'm no use! Poor lamb's been run off her feet, but she won't leave me, even though she desperately needs some sleep!"
Rosie rested a comforting arm on her back. "You silly things! You should have said something? I wouldn't have left with Killy had I'd known. I could have helped in the diner, or something."
"Listen, love," Killian rested a hand on the wolf's arm. "You said there's no chance of having the little one for at least twenty-four hours, right?" Ruby nodded. "Okay. Rosie hasn't had a decent rest the last two nights so…why don't we let her take Dot back home, so they can both catch up properly? It'll be a long night after all. I'll go get some books or something for us, and I'll sit with you overnight. That way she knows someone's with you. When the girls are rested, they'll come back and I'll take a break."
"Good idea, Killian. I'll take care of Liam and Nat, make sure she goes to bed, and keep an eye on her."
Ruby wanted to argue, but seeing her beloved seeping deeper into sleep. "You're sure you don't mind?"
~oOo~
Six o' clock the next morning, Dorothy woke up, an hour later than usual. Normally expecting to find her true love spooning her, she was instead met with the sleepy eyes of Rosie Jones. "Sleep okay?"
"Yeah. I still feel guilty leaving her. What if the labour's started?"
"They would have told me! Killian just texted, so stop worrying…" she pulled her cell phone from the bedside table, pulling it closer:
Killian: Morning lovely! Quiet night. No more contractions, so she got some shuteye. All good here and Ruby says no need to rush over. Also says give Dot a kiss good morning from her, make her have a lie in, and could she please bring her phone over as she left it behind?
They smiled at the message, Rosie texting a reply:
Rosie: Glad to hear it. Just woke up. Yes, I'll see she rests before coming over. Give R our love. ILY!
She was surprised how quickly he texted back. They read:
Killian: Rosie, it's Ruby. Just borrowed Kill's phone. Thank you both SO much for doing this! Love you and don't forget to kiss my girl good morning from me!
As she placed the phone back on the side, Rosie rolled back to face her. "You heard the lady..." before placing a warm kiss on her lips. "Mmmm, nice way to wake up..." whispered Dorothy, rolling on her side to come face to face with the other woman, a little smirk on her lips. "Who's looking after the boys?"
"You really were tired, weren't you?" Rosie sniggered. "Vic and Carrie picked them up from Blue. They said they could look after them for the day if we wanted?" A flirtatious look on her face. Blue eyes staring into green.
"Then you'd better help me rest." With that, The brunette rolled on top of the other woman, giggling as she used her knees to part the other woman's thighs, settling between them. "First though, I need to help me relax?"
"I can help with that!" Rosie dragged the other woman's mouth down, onto her own.
Three hours later, after a short but surprisingly vigorous bout of sex, resting, showering and coffees, Rosie and Dorothy made their way back to the hospital, bringing flowers and a box of pastries.
"Wolfie..." She dropped a kiss on her lips. "Not sure if you've eaten, but Mike pulled a few things out of the bakery for you. Says to give you a kiss from him. How're you doing?"
"I'm glad you're back. We got my contractions started about two hours ago!"
As she hugged her wife, Ruby's heightened olfactory senses kicked in, picking up so many scents on the woman. So many more than any human could detect. "That's the basil and mandarin bath oil we bought, isn't it?" She took another long sniff then recognised…several other distinctly non-bath smells on her!
"Yeah, the expensive one we bought in Arendelle. I had a soak before I came out. You've gone into labour? I thought they said nothing was going to happen for at least a day! Sorry, I would have come sooner had I known!"
"It's okay, you're here now. You smell nice, by the way" She looked up at the other woman. "Rosie, do I get a hug?"
"Of course. Glad you slept okay. It's a bugger settling down, when you're that pregnant, isn't it?" Killian's wife bent over the trestle bed to hug her. As with Dorothy before, Ruby took a long, drawn out sniff of the woman's scent. Sure enough, and as she half-expected, mixed with the smell of bath oil was another, very familiar scent!
"Hmm. You used that bath oil too?" she said, gauging the other woman's reaction. Sure enough, Rosie's cheeks pinked. Ah ha! Gotcha!
"Yeah, it's lovely. Hope you didn't mind me borrowing some?"
Before she could answer, Killian walked into the room. "Rubes, they only had some poor excuses for sandwiches, and some pizza slices, so I went for…oh, hi Rosie, Dot. Sorry, I didn't know you'd arrived! I got some bought some lunch, but I can go back and get more, now you're here?"
"No, don't go Killian..." Ruby grinned. "They've also brought some food with them, so we're good..." Then casting a sly glance at the two other women, "Killian, don't they both smell nice?"
He looked confused. "Erm, I'm sorry, what?"
"Our wives. Don't you think they smell nice?" She touched her nose as she looked across at the guilty pair. Dorothy knew that look - they were busted! They knew they were allowed to be with the other couple, separately or together, so there was no point in denying it! She slowly nodded in resignation, looking sheepish.
Killian still didn't get it. "Sorry, am I missing something?"
"My 'super-sniffer' found out something. This morning, before they came over, our girls had a lot more than a rest together…didn't you both?"
Rosie was stunned. How the hell? "Underneath all that bath oil, I can smell you on each other."
"Guilty!" breathed Dorothy. "My fault. I woke up horny and…well, Rosie was there, looking all hot and gorgeous and…well, how could I resist? I know we shouldn't, what with you guys being in here, bored out of your brains all night! I'm sorry…" At her abrupt confession, it was Rosie's turn to blush, avoiding Killian's stare!
"So…let's see if I've got this right? You and I were sitting here, bored out of our tiny minds, having suffered the delights of hospital cuisine and reading material Belle wouldn't give to a blind man. While you, heavily pregnant, lay on a bed that felt like straw, and me on a chair that left me walking like a buggered docker with rickets?" Ruby tried so hard to keep a straight face, and not to burst out laughing at that line, knowing he was laying it on a bit thick! "And all the while, our beloved ladies here, were instead laying in soft warm sheets, making the beast with two backs?"
Rosie now felt dreadful! She looked at him, then Dorothy, whose eyes were also a picture of confusion. "Killian?" she tried desperately to compose her thoughts. "I thought we all agreed we were happy with this? That the four of us could be together? Share each other? I know it was maybe selfish, seeing as you two were stuck in here, but…"
Ruby decided to put them out of their misery. "Then it's a good job your husband managed to kick start my contractions, Rosie, isn't it? Otherwise we'd be stuck in here for another night!" Killian's serious face gradually morphed into a grin, as the other women tried to figure out what she meant.
"Killian 'kick-started' your contractions? How?" Her wife gave her a lascivious grin.
"You had sex, didn't you?" Rosie spotted the knowing look that passed between Ruby and Killian. "You two had sex to get things going? Why, you rotten buggers! You let me and Dot feel guilty, and all the time you were…"
"But here?" Dorothy, finally twigged. "Rubes, anyone could have walked in!"
"Not when there's a lock and magic soundproofing spell on the door!" said Killian. "Besides, Rubes guessed you'd probably both go at it like a pair of banshees on heat. She was right!"
"Easy guess. Dot always wakes up horny after a decent night's sleep, as you know Killian! She - AAGH, FUCK! ANOTHER ONE!" she squeezed Killian's hand hard, almost breaking his fingers as the contraction kicked in.
"Okay love, that's less than eight minutes since the last one. Let's get the midwife back in?"
~oOo~
It appears a wolf gives birth a lot quicker than a human being! In less than three hours from Dorothy walking into the room, Merlin executed a textbook delivery.
"Congratulations, Lucas family. You have a beautiful baby girl!"
After cleaning up Ruby, and checking the little one for any abnormalities, the Sorcerer passed the little bundle over to his excited mothers. "Here you are, one perfect little daughter!" Dorothy was already in tears as she looked at the tiny face. "Rubes – she looks like you! Ooh, she's gorgeous!"
"She's got your cheekbones, Dot! Come on let's get them in here?"
Unsurprisingly, Killian was completely smitten, falling in love with his little girl the moment he clapped eyes on her. Rosie, her unofficial 'third mum' had no intention of letting go of the tot either.
A little later, the first visitors to arrive were Victor and Caroline Whale. "Ruby pulled her old friend into a hug. "Vic, I'd like you to say hello to your goddaughter, Alice Anita Lucas!"
And so, in the space of just four weeks, four more remarkable children entered the world. Four children who would go on to change their worlds, for the better, in their own ways. Four children who, in collaboration with other magical users of their own generation, some yet to be born, would decades later, help to finally reunite the realms.
But their stories are for another day...
~oOo~