Chapter Ten, The baby Surprise
"Darling?" Jasper asked worriedly when he felt a range of different emotions surging through his wife. "Darling you're scaring me what does it say?" Jasper tried again when he didn't get an answer. Artemis looked up from the parchment she was holding tightly in her hands tears filling her eyes as she looked up at her husband. "I'm pregnant." Artemis whispered a tear rolling down her cheek. "What?" Jasper asked his eyes wide.
"I'm pregnant Jasper with twins." Artemis said again a small smile coming to her lips. Jasper blinked one then twice, venom tears filling his eyes, one of his hands cupping her cheek the other resting softly on her stomach. "We're going to have more children?" Jasper breathed a smile on his lips as he leaned forward kissing his wife with all that he had. Sending her all his love, devotion, admiration and happiness. When he pulled back he rested his forehead against her forehead, gently wiping away her tears. "Why are you crying my love? Is something wrong?" Jasper asked panicked.
Artemis shook her head softly not moving from their embrace.
"No Jasper. Nothing's wrong I'm just so happy." Artemis told him. "The good thing about that spell is, it tells you if you need to take any potions as well after the examination is complete. I'll have a quicker pregnancy then I did with Cassie. I'll be pregnant for about six months instead of nine, I'll have to take some potions such as nutrient potions and blood replenishers but that's it. As I'm a witch and a creature too my body is stronger than a muggles so I won't die during labour as my magic and creature side balance out the vampire gene.
Normally when a witch is a vampire's mate and they have a child, the child will have magic from birth but not the vampire gene they'll come into that at sixteen along with an influx of magic as it matures, the same with any other creature. But as I'm a Veela witch and you're a vampire it would depend on what gene was more dominant in the child but as we have twins one could be a Veela and the other vampire. But unlike being bitten the children will essentially be human with some vampire traits and can survive of human food and blood." Artemis explained.
"So you'll be okay?" Jasper asked wanting to make sure his wife would survive. Artemis smiled softly resting her hand on his cheek. "I'm going to be fine Jasper and our babies will be just fine as well." Artemis assured laughing when Jasper scooped her up into his arms kissing her soundly on the lips as they span in a circle. "Thank you my love. You have given me more than I had ever dreamed to hope for. You have not only shown me what love actually is and made me feel that I do actually deserve it but you have given me a family in your family and Teddy and Cassie my children but also two more on the way. I love you so much." Jasper said embracing his wife in another sweet kiss.
"I love you too Jasper more than anything." Artemis replied. "But we may need to head home it's best if the potions are taken as soon as possible. And I'll probably need a stronger medicine for my heart."
"Then we will leave in the morning darling. And we will come back here with all our children." Jasper assured as they made their way back into the villa to mirror call her dad and Andy so the potions are ready for when they arrive. "Sirius Black." Artemis said into the mirror leaning back against Jasper who was sat against the headboard on the bed his arms wrapped around her. "Artemis? Jasper? What's wrong?" Sirius asked immediately becoming concerned.
"Is Andy there dad? We have something to tell you." Artemis said a wide smile on both her and Jasper's faces.
"ANDY!" Sirius was heard shouting from the mirror ignoring them as they tried to calm him down. "COME QUICK! SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED!" They heard running then suddenly Andy appeared disheveled in the mirror along side Sirius. "What is it? Artemis are you okay? Is it your heart?" Andy fired off rapidly.
"No Andy we tried to tell Sirius nothing was wrong but he wouldn't listen." Jasper assured. Andy glared at her cousin slapping him around the head. "That's for making me panic Sirius!" Andy hissed at her cousin. "What's the matter?" Andy asked turning to the newly weds as Sirius grumbled rubbing the back of his head.
"I'm pregnant." Artemis said smiling at her dad and for all intents and purposes another mother. "We thought we should tell you first so the potions are ready and probably a stronger medicine for my heart. The spell said I'll need blood replenishers and nutrient potions as it's twins."
"Oh congratulations Artemis, Jasper I'm so happy for you both." Andy beamed at the pair. "I'll get the potions started and get Severus to make some as well. I'll do another examination spell just to make sure and we'll have the stronger medication ready for when you come home; don't worry Jasper. Artemis will be fine. I take it you'll be coming home tomorrow?"Andy asked.
"Thank you Andy." Jasper said hugging Artemis close rubbing her stomach softly. "I've booked the flight already we should be home just after two in the afternoon."
"Daddy?" Artemis asked as it seemed Sirius had gone into shock but at the sound of his daughter's hesitant voice he snapped out of it a wide smile coming onto his face. "Congratulations Pup I'm so happy for you and Jasper. Teddy is going to be so happy to be a big brother again and Cassie will be happy too."
"Thanks dad." Artemis thanked the same time as Jasper did.
"How were they after we spoke to them earlier?" Jasper asked concerned.
"They were fine don't worry." Sirius assured. "They went straight to sleep. We'll let you get plenty of rest Pup, we'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight Pup I love you. Night Jasper." Sirius bid goodbye.
"Night dad love you too. Night Andy love you." Artemis said goodnight smiling as Andy and Jasper said goodnight before the mirror went cold.
"What would you want to name them?" Jasper asked as Artemis changed into one of his shirts. They had destroyed all of her night clothes Alice had packed for them. "If we have a boy I want to call him Remus as his first name." Artemis suggested. "What do you want to call them?" She asked as she climbed in next to Jasper snuggling into his arms.
"If we have a girl I like Hope and it goes with Remus. I would love to name our son after your godfather and Teddy's father my love." Jasper assured kissing her forehead.
"I like Hope. And thank you Jazz." Artemis smiled. "You can pick Remus' middle name." She suggested.
"Okay then." Jasper agreed thinking for a moment. "Then you can pick Hope's. I like Elijah with Remus. Remus Elijah Hale."
"I love it Jasper." Artemis agreed kissing his cheek. "What about Mya?" She asked. "Hope Mya Hale?" She asked sounding it out.
"I think it's perfect darling." Jasper said kissing her lips lovingly as he ran his thumb over her hip bone. "Get some sleep my love. I'm right here for you." Jasper suggested.
"Night Jazz." Artemis said through a yawn laying her head on his chest. "I love you." She said kissing his chest where his heart lay.
"Night my love and I love you more." Jasper replied lovingly kissing the top of her head as she drifted off to sleep.
"I can't wait to see our babies!" Artemis said excited as she rested her head on Jasper's shoulder his arm around her shoulders as they waited for the plane to take off.
"I know my love. I can't wait to see them either." Jasper replied kissing the top of her head. For the rest of the plane ride they spent relaxing and talking about anything and everything feeling excited as they couldn't wait to tell the rest of their family the news especially Teddy and Cassie.
Once they had finally arrived in Port Angeles they were picked up by Arthur who was brimming with excitement. "How're you feeling Artemis?" Arthur asked looking in the rear view mirror at his daughter in all but blood. "I'm okay just feeling a little sick. Morning sickness hit me pretty bad on the plane. How're Teddy and Cassie?" Artemis asked.
"They're fine. They can't wait to see their mummy and daddy again. All we've had all morning is them asking when you would get here." Arthur laughed as he took one hand off the wheel as he handed Artemis a anti sickness potion. "Andy thought you would need it with how you were with Cassie."
"Thank you." Artemis said as she quickly downed the potion feeling much better when it started to work.
"Mummy! Daddy!" Teddy and Cassie shouted running away from their toys to their parents as soon as they entered the Living room. "Hello my babies." Artemis said crouching down as they both ran into her arms hugging them tight and giving them lots of kisses. "We missed you Mummy." Teddy said hugging his mother tightly as his sister hugged her just as tight. "Wuv mummy." Cassie said giving Artemis a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
"Oh I missed you both too and I love you both so much." Artemis said hugging and kissing her children before they ran into Jasper's arms repeating the words to him along with hugs and kisses.
"Here you go Arte dear." Andy said handing over the assortment of potions she had to take along with a ham and cheese panini and some fruit, now that she was settled on the sofa next to Jasper, Teddy on her lap and Cassie on Jasper's. "Thank you Andy." Artemis smiled quickly downing all the potions so they were away from her children before eating her late lunch, though she ended up sharing her fruit with her children even though they had already had lunch. "Teddy, Cassie." Jasper called to his children causing them to look away from the toys they had been given. "We have something very important to tell you." Jasper said mainly to his children, though all the family had gathered at their house when Artemis was eating.
"What is it?" Teddy asked curiously. Artemis hugged him close kissing his forehead as Jasper did the same to Cassie. "Mummy is going to have two more babies." Jasper told them slowly. "You're going to be a big brother and big sister to your new siblings. So that means you have to help daddy look after mummy can you both do that?" Jasper asked smiling when both Cassie and Teddy nodded their heads frantically. "I'll help mummy daddy I promise." Teddy said seriously nodding his head cutely. Cassie not being one to be left out copied her older brother who she idolised. "I help too daddy. I help mummy." Cassie shouted nodding her head.
"Oh what a good boy and girl you are." Artemis cooed kissing her children's cheeks as they giggled. "I don't have to worry now with you helping daddy look after me. Thank you."
"Love you Mummy. Love you daddy and Cassie and new babies." Teddy said kissing Artemis' stomach much like he did when she was carrying Cassie. "We love you too my little man." Jasper told him happily as Teddy got down to play with his toys.
"Wuv mummy. Wuv daddy, Wuv Teddy an' babies." Cassie said cutely copying Teddy as she kissed Artemis stomach as well before she got down brushing her red curls out of her face that had come out of her braids, grabbing Teddy pulling him into a hug and kissing him as everyone cooed at the siblings.
"Are you going to be okay Artemis dear?" Esme asked concerned as worry shone on all the vampires faces.
"I was worried at first as well." Jasper told his adoptive mother. "But Artemis is going to be just fine the babies will just be born on January 16th instead of in June as she is already one month along even though she conceived a week ago. The first month is quicker then normal and then the pregnancy is six months instead of nine months after conceiving, but after being born their growth rate will be normal." Jasper told them as he proceeded to explain all Artemis had told him when they found out. Andy and Severus also explaining what the potions where for and that the babies could either be a Veela or having some vampiric traits as well as magic as they don't have to survive of blood alone but won't show until they get their magical and creature inheritance at sixteen.
For the rest of the day the family caught up with each other over what had happened while Artemis and Jasper were away on their honeymoon as they relaxed with the two toddlers and preparing for the arrival of two more babies into the family. They had also discovered while they were on their honeymoon Draco was Irina Denali's mate, Fred was Tanya Denali's mate and George was Kate Denali's mate and the three Denali sisters would soon be moving down to live with their mates.
(Six months later)
"I still hate this." Jasper grumbled as he heard his mates pain filled cries from their bedroom as she was giving birth to Remus and Hope. "I know Jasper I hate hearing my daughter in pain too." Sirius sighed running his hands through his hair before they returned to playing with Teddy and Cassie. Sirius had put a silencing charm around the children so they couldn't hear their mother in pain though they did continuously ask where she was. Wanting to know what was taking so long.
In the past six months the Denali sister's had moved down from Alaska Irina was now living at Malfoy Manor with Draco, his parents and Severus. Kate and Tanya and moved in with Fred and George at Potter-Black Manor. It was lucky the Potter-Black Manor was so large and spacious with the amount of people living there. The three sisters had become extremely close to Artemis in their short stay in Forks and had come to see her as another sister for who she was and not because their mates loved her. They had also become extremely protective of Teddy and Cassie.
There had been quite a few discussions amongst them that they they would adopt some of the children who were orphaned in the Wizarding World in a few years once they were all settled and knew each other properly so it was a settled environment for the children. And it would be good for Teddy and Cassie to have children similar to them so they didn't have to worry about hiding theirs or Hope and Remus' magic as they grew up. Artemis refused to put her children (or any nieces and nephews she may have in the future), what she went through growing up. She didn't want them to grow up fearing their magic and being disgusted for what they are.
It was a few hours later when they heard the sound of two babies crying and the sounds of Artemis in pain ceased. "Where mummy?" Teddy asked again. The Silencing Charm being removed now Artemis was no longer in pain. "She's just had your brother and sister Teddy." Kate told her young nephew softly.
"Mummy had babies?" Cassie asked looking from the door to her Auntie Kate.
"Yes sweetie." Tanya answered smiling at them. Teddy and Cassie were so close to each other they would do everything together and very rarely fought. They had lived up to their promises six months ago helping Jasper to look after Artemis, even wanting to do more which was very cute.
"Daddy can we see mummy now?" Teddy asked looking at his father expectantly looking very much like Artemis in that moment with his bright emerald eyes shinning, little hands on his hips as he frowned at his father, blonde curls falling into his eyes changing to Artemis' black curls. Jasper laughed shaking his head at his son picking him up in one arm kissing his cheek and picking his sister up in the other and kissing her cheek. He had wanted to rush up there as soon as he heard the babies cry but he knew his two eldest children needed him more at the moment.
"Come on then. Let's go and see mummy and your brother and sister." Jasper said as they exit the Living room meeting Andy and Narcissa at the bottom of the stairs. "They're all fine and perfectly healthy." Andy assured Jasper knowing everyone could hear her and was listening intently.
"Little Remus was born first ten minutes before Hope. They both weigh six pounds exactly. They screamed when we tried to put them in separate Moses baskets so we had to put them together." Narcissa laughed shaking her head. Jasper thanked them before rushing up the stairs followed by Sirius as they ran up the stairs to Artemis.
"Pup are you and my grandchildren okay?" Sirius asked as they came into the room. Teddy and Cassie wiggling in their father's arms to be put down as soon as they saw their mother who opened her arms for them as they crawled up the bed into her arms, Jasper and Sirius sitting at the bottom of the bed. "I'm fine dad and so are Remus and Hope. They're sleeping right now after being fed. Look they're holding hands just like they were on the scans." Artemis smiled hugging her oldest children to her in one arm while she points to the enlarged Moses basket that sat besides the bed.
Sirius and Jasper peered into the Moses basket smiling at the sight of Hope and Remus holding hands. Hope looked exactly like her mother including her emerald green eyes but with her father's blonde curls whereas, Remus looked exactly like Jasper with his brown eyes when he was human and his mother's black curls. "They're gorgeous my love." Jasper smiled softly stroking their cheeks and pressing a kiss to their cheeks with his fingers before he sat next to Artemis wrapping his arm around her kissing her temple lovingly. "Dad?" Artemis asked as Sirius was starring at the newborns with a soft sad but happy smile on his face his eyes filled with tears.
"They're beautiful pup. Your parents, Remus and Dora would be so proud of you. I know I am and I know Remus would be honoured you named your son after him. I love you Pup. Always." Sirius said leaning forwards to kiss her forehead.
"Thanks daddy." Artemis smiled with tears in her eyes. "I love you too daddy. Always."
"Mummy can we see babies now?" Teddy and Cassie asked bouncing on the bed excitedly making the three adults laugh.
"Alright calm down munchkins and grandpa Siri will carefully bring them over but you have to keep still and be very gentle and quiet as they're sleeping." Artemis told her children laughing as they nodded seriously. Teddy sitting on Jasper's lap and Cassie on Artemis' lap waiting eagerly for their new siblings.
"Why are they so small mummy? Daddy?" Teddy asked looking from his brother in his and daddy's arms to his sister in his mummy's and Cassie's arms then looking up at his mummy and daddy. "It's because they're only babies Teddy." Jasper explained softly. "You were that small once and Cassie was a little smaller than Remus and Hope."
"No!" Cassie denied shaking her head frowning at her daddy.
"You were Cassie." Sirius laughed at his eldest granddaughter. "You two have to be good for your mummy and daddy and help them look after your brother and sister. And when they're older and in school with you it will be your job to look after them. But most importantly love them." Sirius told Teddy and Cassie.
"I'll look after Cassie and baby Hope and baby Remus. I promise. I love them." Teddy said kissing his brother and then his sisters.
"I love them too and Teddy. Daddy when can they play?" Cassie asked after kissing Teddy and her siblings. Jasper, Artemis and Sirius laughed as he brushed her red curls out of her face as he kissed her head softly. "Not for a while yet my lil' love but you will always have Teddy, mummy, daddy, your grandparents, your aunts and uncles and Dobby I expect." Jasper said getting another laugh out of his wife and father-in-law knowing how excited the elf was that his Mistress Artemis has had more children.
"Okay daddy." Cassie said as she held her hand to her little sister giggling when she grabbed her finger in her free hand as she and Remus were still holding hands. Teddy's laugh filling the air as Remus grabbed his finger as well. Unbeknownst to Artemis and Jasper, Sirius had captured many pictures of them with their children, capturing every sweet and loving moment between the six of them as they sat cuddled together on the bed.
Authors note: one more chapter which is epilogue left and then this book is finished. Thank you everyone who has read this book and the first book: Blood Moon.