Chapter Twenty-Five, Meeting the babies
The group of men, Hobbits, Elves and one lone dwarf stood frozen in the doorway as they looked at Evelina sat up in bed with Teddy in her lap smiling happily at them to the three occupied Moses baskets in the corner by Teddy's bed. "Daddies!" Teddy shouted excitedly jumping up and down on the middle of the bed before his eyes widened and he stopped jumping looking towards the Moses baskets which thankfully no noise was coming from them.
"Sorry mummy." Teddy apologised. Evelina just sent a loving smile to her son telling him it was okay. "Mummy had the babies! Mummy had the babies!" Teddy said excitedly continuing his jumping after he realised his mum wasn't angry with him. Sirius though in a trance was fearful of his oldest grandson falling off the bed held his arms open ready to catch Teddy just in case he fell, tears shinning in his bright grey eyes. Teddy smiled happily thinking his grandpa Siri wanted a hug jumped into his arms bringing everyone out of their trance. "Careful Teddy." Sirius chided as he brought his oldest grandchild closer to him settling him on his hip.
"He's been a little terror all day." Luna laughed from behind them causing them all to look behind them as she came further into the room checking on Eve who insisted she was fine but still took the pain potion Luna handed to her. "Why what happened Eve? Lassie are you alright?" Gimli asked gruffly in concern as Aragorn, Legolas and Haldir had rushed to kneel beside Evelina's side of the bed as soon as they saw her drink a pain potion, Luna quickly moving out of their way and back to Boromir.
"Eve went into labour first thing this morning and Teddy didn't understand why he couldn't be with her and caused merry hell till he could see her this afternoon." Luna informed them.
"And I'm fine Gimli." Evelina smiled as he, Merry and Pippin sat on the end of her bed. Looking to her left she saw the worried and disbelieving looks of her mates. Sighing she held out her hands to them and they each rushed to hold her hands and arms.
"I'm fine really, just a bit sore but that's to be expected with birth. Would you like to meet them?" Evelina asked her mates as they each kissed her hands then looking to her dads and her friends who all nodded. When she went to get out of bed everyone stopped her and told her to stay in bed. "I'm fine." Evelina insisted.
"I know meleth-nîn." Aragorn said kissing her hand once more. "But please stay in bed."
"We can only imagine how painful birthing is for one child let alone three. Please mîr-nîn." Legolas continued learning forwards to kiss the inside of her wrists.
"We hate to see you in pain and if we can stop you getting into more pain then we will ind-nîn." Haldir finished kissing her other hand. Evelina smiled with tears in her eyes and nodded agreeing with them giving everyone peace of mind.
"I'll help Luna, Pup." Sirius said as he gave Teddy to Theodred so he could have cuddles with his other grandpa as he headed over to the first Moses basket gently picking up the first baby smiling down at his second grandson who was dressed all in blue, while Luna picked up his third grandson who was dressed all in green. "Haldir, Legolas sit on either side of Eve. Aragorn slide in behind Eve." Luna instructed as the three men did as they were told; Eve sliding down the bed a bit so she was resting against Aragorn's chest.
"He's so handsome Eve." Sirius said smiling at the grandson in his arms as Luna gave the boy she was holding to Haldir and the tiniest little girl -dressed all in pink- to Eve. "They're so small are they alright?" Pippin asked worriedly looking at each of the three babies.
"I'm so sorry Eve it's my fault I should have helped you more." Merry said looking like he was going to cry.
"No Merry." Evelina said softly. "You have nothing to be sorry for. It's not your fault they came early. And they're perfectly fine Andy gave them all a potion to help them, though this little one had to have two as she's smaller than her brothers but she's fine. They all are." Evelina insisted smiling reassuringly at her friend.
"Papa!" Teddy called wiggling out of his grandpa's hold now wanting cuddles with his papa. "Come here Teddy." Legolas called holding his arms out as Teddy ran up the bed to his papa. "I missed you and daddy and Ada." Teddy said burying his head into Legolas' chest.
"We missed you and your mother too." Legolas said holding his son close kissing his head.
"I'm sorry we weren't here Eve." Theodred apologised as he knew like himself that Sirius, Aragorn, Legolas and Haldir were all kicking themselves for not being here when she needed them most.
"Papa you don't need to apologise. None of you do. I understand it's fine." Evelina assured, though they didn't look too convinced. "What are they're names?" Boromir asked.
"The little boy dad is holding is Leo and he's Aragorn's." Evelina said looking up at said man who had his eyes fixed on his son. "He was born first and he looks like Aragorn but has my nose and chin. Then the little boy Haldir is holding is the second one born and his son Logon."
"The warmth one." Haldir translated smiling happily at the son in his arms.
"He's the perfect mix of both of us." Evelina told him happily. "He has your hair, ears, nose and chin..."
"And the rest is all you." Haldir interrupted as his son opened his eyes showing the exact replica of his mother's.
"And this little one is Lily Legolas' daughter. She is the exact opposite to Leo where he looks exactly like his father and little of me. Lily looks exactly like me with little of her father." Evelina smiled.
"They're all perfect." Aragorn said kissing the crown of her head, Legolas and Haldir offering similar praises as they lent forwards kissing each of her cheeks. "And we will love them all the same just like we do with Teddy." Legolas continued.
"No matter who the father is." Haldir finished reassuringly. Evelina smiled happily at her three mates happy they will love each of her children just the same.
"Is it over now? Where's Sam and Frodo? Did we find them? Are they okay?" Evelina asked worriedly.
"Shh mîr-nîn calm down it's okay." Legolas soothed rubbing his thumb over her knee soothingly. "It's over and Sam and Frodo are in the infirmary. Andy is looking after them so you know they'll be fine." Legolas assured kissing his mate once more as a thick silence fell over the room.
"I'm sure your itching to know who the babies take after." Luna said serenely breaking the silence that had fallen on the room.
"Tell us Luna." Eomer asked fidgeting in place.
"Leo is a Dunedain like his father but he is also a Wizard like Sirius, Neville and Teddy. Logon is also a Wizard like his brothers, Sirius and Neville but he is also an Elf like Haldir. Lily is exactly like her mother, a Kitsune and a Witch, she'll come into her Kitsune at sixteen whereas her brothers are an Elf and Dunedain at birth."
"Well she is definitely the most protected Princess in all the Kingdoms with three older brothers, a very fierce and protective grandmother, three fathers, four grandfathers and multiple uncles and aunts." Eomer laughed.
"Mummy where gampa?" Teddy asked as he looked around the room. Everyone sobering up as they wondered how they were going to explain that he would never see Theoden again. "Come here baby." Evelina said with a sad smile on her face. Teddy climbed over his Papa's legs sitting next to his mummy who wrapped one arm around him the other holding his baby sister.
"Your great grandpa isn't here anymore my love, he's in heaven."
"Oh." Teddy said. "When will he be back?" Everyone felt their heart clench painfully for the poor little boy. "He won't be back my love." Evelina said sadly. "He's in heaven with my mummy and daddy, uncle Fred and your grandpa Ted, mummy Dora and daddy Remus. But even though they're all gone they love you so much and are always watching over us and they are so proud of you cub." Evelina tried to explain.
"I miss gampa mummy." Teddy said sadly cuddling into his mother more. "He won't see the babies now."
"I know my love we all do. But he is a hero he saved this City from the bad men."
"Like you mummy, unca Nev and auntie Luna you always save people from the bad men." Teddy said causing everyone to laugh wetly.
"That's right Teddy and do you know what grandpa Siri said to me when I was sad about my mummy and daddy?" Evelina asked, Teddy shook his head no.
Evelina looked up at her dad with tears in her eyes, seeing them reflected in his own as held Leo close to his chest thinking his daughter has grown up too quick. "The ones that love us never really leave us. And you can always find them, in here." Evelina said to her son as she placed her hand over his heart. "Love you mummy." Teddy said laying his head on her shoulder as his little hand covered her own. "I love you too cub." Evelina said kissing his head.
"Mummy, unca Fred will play pranks on gampa." Teddy said seriously as if he was sure of that fact. Evelina, Sirius and Luna laughed at that as they had no doubt that he would. "I expect he will Teddy." Sirius laughed. "And I expect grandpas Ted and James will join in while grandma Lily and mummy Dora will them and daddy Remus off when he joins them." The three world travellers all laughed at that as they sat remembering their past loved ones as they all got a hold of the babies.
End of chapter!
Elvish: ind-nîn- my heart.
Elvish: mîr-nîn- my jewel.
Elvish: meleth-nîn- my love.