Cassandra's loud cry brought Hermes to a halt.

"It's time!" he called to his children.

Rushing across the cloud floor, he burst into his room and snatched a vial of golden liquid. By the time he'd reached the gates, his children were waiting, looking excited.

"What's going on, Daddy?" Tyche asked.

"Evelyn's going into labor," he said. "I've got to get her this vial of luck so that the birth will be easy. I'll call for you when the baby's born."

His children nodded, and Hermes turned and shot through the gates of Olympus and down to Cassandra's house. When he got there, Vic was pacing back and forth, his face creased with worry. Hermes slid to a stop and smiled at Vic. Vic looked up, stopped pacing, and started wringing his hands.

"Cassandra went to get the midwife."

"I need to go and give Evelyn this vial. Come on," Hermes said.

They walked into the room and up the stairs to Vic and Evelyn's room. Evelyn was slowly walking back and forth, her hand on her bulging midsection. Hermes smiled at her as he approached, then he gently placed his hand against her stomach.

"How are you?"

"Tired and ready for the baby," she said.

Hermes nodded and popped the cap on the glass vial. He swirled the liquid for a moment so that it glowed then handed it to her.

"Drink up. This should last the first few weeks. You mentioned you had trouble with giving milk when Cassandra was little. This should help with the early feedings."

Evelyn took one hand off of her middle and took the vial in her hands. "I've been having trouble keeping much down," she said.

"Liquid luck is easy on the stomach and absorbs immediately," Hermes assured her. "Even if you throw up, the luck will already be in your veins."

Swallowing once, she placed the glass to her lips and tossed it back like a shot. Immediately, she relaxed, and a soft glow lit up her skin. She sighed.

"I can feel it working already," she said. "I don't feel ill, and I'm not worried anymore."

Vic wrapped an arm around his wife and kissed her cheek as the door downstairs opened and Cassandra called out.

"Mom! Dad! I'm back!"

There were two sets of footsteps up the stairs and Cassandra appeared with a plump, older woman with a leather bag slung over her shoulder and lying against her hip. She looked around and took charge at once.

"You boys scoot on out of here," she ordered. There was a pause as she took in the fact that Hermes was there, and that he was a god. She hesitated, so Hermes smiled.

"You heard the woman, Vic," he said. "We'll go on down and grab a bite to eat at an inn. I think it'll be an easy birth, madam, but let me know if there are complications. I'll do what I can."

The midwife straightened up, and she smiled. "Go on then. As for you, Evelyn dear, you need to lie down. Cassandra, dearie, come and help me."

Cassandra was pale, but she had decided to help her mother give birth to her brother or sister, so as nervous as she was about her self-assigned task, she was determined to face it. She had never seen a woman give birth, and she knew that there was screaming and blood, but she needed to do it.

"It'll be okay, Cassandra," Hermes said. He patted Vic's shoulder and led him down the stairs. "Let's go grab some food."

Hermes changed his form to Mercury so that people wouldn't stare too hard at him and took Vic down the road to an inn, where he bought a rack of lamb ribs for them to split. Vic was nervous, but Hermes kept on him to eat his half. Hermes smiled fondly at the anxious look on Vic's face. The mortal's eyes dashed to the door every so often, and Hermes leaned his elbow against the table, chewing a juicy bite of rib meat. He set aside the bone and tapped Vic gently on the shoulder. Vic jumped and looked at him.

"What?" Vic asked.

"You remind me of myself with Dryope," he said. Vic's eyebrows came together. Hermes laughed. "She was my first lover. She gave birth to Pan, my firstborn. The nymphs helped her, and I wasn't kicked out, so I saw the whole thing. She was shocked that Pan was a satyr, but after she'd recovered, she loved him." Hermes paused and took a deep draught of wine. "I still have no idea why he turned out to be a satyr."

Vic smiled. "It's just that Evie's not so young anymore. Heck, neither am I. And to start over with a baby this late in life…"

"It's not so uncommon," Hermes replied. "And I think it'll be good for you, Vic. Cassandra's right. She's almost old enough to be on her own, and you're going to miss her." Hermes looked out a window at the street. "Do you want a boy or a girl?"

Vic laughed. "I don't care. Either would be fine. I just want Evie to be okay."

"She will be. I gave her a concentrated dose of luck. This birth will be easier than the first."

Vic closed his eyes. "She got sick after Cassie's birth. So sick. We thought she wouldn't recover. It was hard on her."

"I understand. Chione had a rough time with Auto. She was more fortunate with Angelia. She came fast. Short, intense labor with no complications. But Auto was hard on her. She was in labor for over twenty-four hours before he made his screaming entrance into the world. He was a chubby, healthy little boy, but Chione was bedridden for a few weeks. I visited her every day, and she was happy to have a son. But I didn't care if it was a girl or a boy. I just wanted it to be healthy."

Vic nodded. A voice rang through the inn. "Is there a Victor here? Your wife's given birth and you need to go home!"

Vic stood up, and Hermes quickly paid for their meal, tipping extra. They hurried out to see Cassandra, flushed and smiling broadly. Vic pounced.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" he asked.

"Come and see," Cassandra said.

They hurried down the road to their house, and when they pushed open the door, Cassandra hurried to the stairs and rushed up. Victor glanced at Hermes, who shrugged, and the two men walked up the stairs to the bedroom. Hermes knocked, announcing himself so that Evelyn could cover herself up, then they walked in. They both stared in surprise, their eyes going from Cassandra to Evelyn.

In Cassandra's arm was a newborn in a pink blanket. Tucked against Evelyn's breast was a newborn in a blue blanket, suckling away hungrily. Hermes looked at Vic's face then burst out laughing.

"Twins, Vic! Twins! A boy and a girl!"

Vic joined in the laughter, and the midwife, who was sitting in a chair by the bed, stood up and smiled.

"Congratulations, sir. Two children, both healthy." She turned to Hermes. "The birth was incredibly easy, like you said. I think you had something to do with that, and I have to thank you. I've seen younger women struggle to birth twins. But Evelyn here had an easy time. Thank you for that."

Hermes inclined his head. "Anything for good friends. How much for your services?"

The midwife named her price, and Hermes pulled out twice as much and handed the money to her. He smiled at her shocked expression.

"Twice as much for twice as many," he said.

"Thank you," she said slowly, studying Hermes with curious eyes.

"You are most welcome."

Hermes turned and whistled. Immediately, a blue portal opened and Hermes's children came bursting through, their faces aglow. They froze at the sight of two babies, then they laughed and Pan slapped Victor on the back.

"Twins!" he exclaimed. "Lucky guy, eh Dad?" Pan's eyes twinkled.

"Very lucky," Hermes said.

"Hey, Pan," Cassandra said. "Could you go get Herc, Triton, Icarus, and Phil?" she asked. "I want them to see this."

Pan nodded and flashed into a portal. The midwife looked a bit overwhelmed by this, and Hermes bowed at her.

"Why don't you go downstairs and make a hot drink."

She nodded, skirted the group of gods, and hurried downstairs. Within minutes, the portal reopened, and Pan came through with the other four. Hercules stepped out, hurried to Cassandra, and looked down at the baby.

"Girl?" he asked. Cassandra nodded.

"And a boy!" Triton exclaimed, pointing at Evelyn, who had finished feeding the baby boy, was sitting up in bed, cradling him close.

"Twins?" Icarus asked, his face soft. Cassandra nodded.

"What are their names?" Hercules asked.

Hermes turned to Vic. "Well, Vic? What are you going to name them?"

Vic flushed at being the center of attention, but he walked over to his wife and sat down beside his wife.

"What do you think, Evie?" he asked, reached over to rub the back of the boy.

Evelyn smiled tiredly up at him. Her hair was disheveled and she looked exhausted. "I don't know, Vic. I still like Eva for a girl."

Cassandra smiled down at the girl, rocking her back and forth. "Eva," she said. "I like it, Mom."

"Then her name is Eva," Vic said.

"Hey Eva," Triton crooned, running his green fingers over her little cheek.

"And what about her brother?" Phil asked, staring at the bundle lying in Evelyn's arms. He looked curious but shy. The satyr hadn't ever seen a newborn before, and they were so delicate looking.

Vic thought about this then looked at Hermes. "You gave us hope. So how does Elpidios sound?"

Hermes nodded. "I like it. Elpis for short. Eva and Elpis. That's a good set of names."

Cassandra smiled at Hermes as everybody cooed over the babies. Hermes held out his arms.

"May I hold Eva?" he asked.

Cassandra gently set the newborn into his arms. Hermes cradled it close, tightening the blankets around the baby's body. She squirmed and made a little coo, cuddling into Hermes's chest. Hermes smiled.

"She looks beautiful," he said.

"Beautiful?" Phil asked, making a face. He couldn't see how something that red and blotchy could be considered pretty at all.

Hermes laughed. "Believe it or not, they're very beautiful babies. Once they grow a little, you'll think they're the most adorable things in the world."

"I'll take your word for it," Phil said.

Hermes carried Eva over to Vic and gently laid her in his arms. "Congratulations, you two. We're going to get out of here so Evelyn can rest. I know how tiring giving birth is."

Evelyn smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, Hermes. For everything."

Hermes bowed low, then he herded everybody downstairs. Icarus and Hercules began to protest, wanting to spend time with the new babies, but Hermes cut them off.

"No. Her birth might have been gentle, but it was still a birth. Two, as a matter of fact. Evelyn needs rest. So we're going to leave. When the babies can leave the house, I'll give a grand feast in Olympus to celebrate. Alright?"

Hercules huffed. "I guess."

Hermes patted his shoulder. "Well, how about some baklava?"

"Sounds good," a female voice said. Cassandra came down the stairs. "I didn't get lunch, and I think baklava would be perfect."

Icarus, Triton, and Hercules smiled at her. "Congratulations, Cassandra," Hercules said.

"A brother and a sister," Triton said, shaking his head in disbelief. "That's wild."

Cassandra smiled, tossing her pink hair behind her shoulders. "I can't believe I'm a big sister," she marveled. "And they're so tiny and perfect."

"How did you handle helping the midwife?" Hermes asked, heading out the door.

Cassandra pursed her lips. "It was very messy. But I'm glad I was there for my mother." She sighed. "I knew she would scream… but that was intense."

Hermes nodded. "Giving birth is painful and difficult. But I knew you could do it. Now, let's go and get some baklava! It's on me."

They all hurried down the street, the gods ignoring the gaping stares as they strode purposefully with the mortals. Cassandra followed behind Hermes, happy and excited for this new chapter in her life, the chapter where she was a big sister to two beautiful newborns. It was more than she could ever have imagined.