As June moved toward the solstice, Jessa found that she'd been wrong. Even early June in Virginia was unbearably hot for a heavily pregnant woman. It didn't matter that the house was air conditioned. It didn't matter how much ice was in her drinks, or how lightly she ate or dressed. She was roasting.

"Someone take me swimming?" She'd begged at one point. "A river, a pool, the quarry. I don't care, just give me a puddle of cold water and dunk me in it."

Damon had been fearful. He'd looked to his mother-in-law and saw she was holding back laughter. What was wrong with his wife?

"Jessica," her mother said, drawing her ire. "You can't go swimming. You're far too pregnant, and as for a puddle of water, we could fill a bathtub with cold water, but it may shock the babies. Do you want to make them uncomfortable?"

She muttered under her breath, "they're making me uncomfortable." And her mother couldn't hold her laughter back. Glaring at the insufferable woman she came close to kicking her out of the house.

"You're close, darling." Her mother said, ignoring the irritation in her daughter's face. "The irritation is normal. You may even hate Damon soon."

Jessa's eyes widened, clarity came over her. She was irritable because it was almost over, she was huge and nearing the day that she'd finally meet her two little occupants. Of course, hadn't she seen ridiculous movies with this very premise? She'd assumed it was exaggerated, but if how she felt was any indication, it was undersold.

"I wouldn't dare, Mother." She answered, considering being angry with Damon over her predicament silly. "We're in this together."

Her mother smiled knowingly. "Well, aside from the fact that you are the one being used as a incubator, and that you'll be the one pushing two babies from a very small opening that has to stretch to accommodate them leaving, sure you're in it together." Jessa hated her smugness, but had to admit she was right in her explanation.

"I'll be right beside you the entire time," Damon assured her, coming up behind her and rubbing soothingly on her lower back. "And, Jessa? You can rage at me all you want, I'm here no matter what."

JUNE 20, 2012

The first pressure Jessa felt wasn't completely uncomfortable. It was almost like a cramp, clutching at her stomach, but not unbearable. She ignored it at first, but it grew, blossoming into real discomfort. After about an hour, she didn't even realize that she was making a noise, but Damon noticed.

It was during dinner. Her parents had gone out for one last date night before the babies arrived, and so it was just the two of them at the kitchen table. She gasped and pain tightened her eyes. Damon reached for her hand, but it was clutching her fork as though she was going to melt it with her touch.

"Jessa?" He asked, fear blooming in his chest. "Babe, what's wrong?"

It took her a full minute to be able to unclench her hand and focus on him and what he was asking. Letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd taken, she looked into his eyes and admitted she was probably in labor. "The cramps started about an hour ago, but that one was particularly strong."

He stood up and pulled her from her chair. "Let's get you to your room." They'd chosen a room downstairs for the birthing room, and he took her there. "Should I call your parents?"

She shook her head, allowing him to help her into the twin sized bed in the guest room they chose for this. "No, you know it could take hours for me to be fully ready to deliver. Just let me rest. They'll be home soon."

As she lay back, another pain gripped her and she held his hand in a clench that would have crushed a normal human. "That's right, baby, you hold on to me. I'll be by your side no matter what." The pain lasted for a full minute and she gasped when it released her. "I should at least call Bonnie, so she knows to be ready."

Nodding, she lay back in relief that the pain passed. She listened as he told Bonnie that her contractions had begun, but no, her water hadn't broken. No sooner had he said the words did it happen. "Damon?" She said, feeling gross at the gush of fluid, hot running from her. When he turned to her, she answered, "Splash."

His eyes widened and he told Bonnie the update. Assuring her that he would call Madeline, he hung up and pushed the button for her mother. He quickly updated his mother-in-law and then hung up as another contraction hit. As she clutched at him, he watched a clock placed by the bed for this reason. One full minute again, and as she settled back she grimaced. "What's wrong?"

"Another gush of fluid," she looked grossed out, because it felt gross to her. "I thought it just broke and was finished."

Damon shook his head. "No, it can go on for awhile. Off and on." He knew she hated feeling dirty or messy. "We can change you and the bed, but it will keep happening, Jessa."

She nodded, dealing with the frustration of messiness. "It's fine. What did Mother say?"

"They're on their way. So is Bonnie." He smiled down at her as another contraction hit. Two minutes between them, and lasting a full minute. "I'm not sure the babies want to wait for the solstice."

As she worked through the pain, she hoped he was right. The solstice was tomorrow and she really didn't want to go that long through this pain. If the contractions felt like this, what was actual birth going to feel like?

HOURS LATER

Jessa was wearing down. The pain, the frustration of waiting, and honestly everyone being overbearingly sweet was driving her mad. Her mother assured her that she was almost ready. Almost? It had been forever since the first pain. Why didn't these babies understand they were being evicted.

Damon was by her side the entire time. He offered ice chips. He wiped her brow. He told her how wonderful and brave she was and how much he loved her. So why did she want to smack his hand away and scream at him?

"OK, Jessica." Her mother said, smiling after checking under the sheet that covered her from the waist down again. "It's time to start pushing."

Ugh, now?! She felt like a worn out dishrag. She didn't have the energy. She didn't feel like it. Couldn't someone else do it for her? Damon seemed willing.

"Come on, Jessa." Bonnie offered, taking the hand opposite from Damon. "You can do this. You want to see your daughter and son, don't you?"

Yes, she did. So sitting up as her mother indicated she should, she held tight to both Damon and Bonnie and pushed as hard as she could. The pushing felt like it took hours too, with plenty of promises and motivation from Bonnie, Damon, and her mother. Hours must have passed before the first baby was free, and she finally heard a cry.

"Your daughter, Jessa." Her mother said, cleaning the baby and having Damon cut the cord. Then her beautiful blue eyed girl was laying on her chest. Not a long enough reprieve, because soon Bonnie was cradling her daughter while another round of pushing began.

Eons passed, she was so tired, so worn down. Surely he'd be free faster than this? But again she forgot how long it took when she heard another cry.

"And your son, my darling." Her mother again cleaned and had Damon cut the cord. Soon another blue eyed babe was cradled to her chest, and Bonnie returned with their daughter and she and Damon sat holding their children, staring into eyes that looked so like their father, but with light hair like their mother. Smiling through tears they looked on their children and each other with wonder.

"Have you finally picked names?" Bonnie asked, tears in her eyes as well. She was helping Madeline clean up the mess and eventually Jessa.

Jessa and Damon nodded at each other, having another internal conversation. "Bonnie, Mother, meet Roselyn Serafina and Dante Isaiah Salvatore." They looked up to see the two women smiling through their tears. "Could someone get Papa?"

Her papa was overcome when he met his grandchildren. He was amazed at their size and his daughter having brought them into this world. Smiling he held each after they'd been fed.

"I have a princess and a prince." He said grinning at the two bundles on either arm. "This is a perfect day."

Jessa realized that the sun was shining outside the window. "So they really were born on the solstice?"

Her mother looked smug. "Of course they were. I told you they would be."

ONE WEEK LATER

Their house was once again filled with friends and family. No one aside from Bonnie and her parents had met the babies yet. They had taken the week to acclimate to their new reality. The babies tended to sleep at the same time, but that meant that they were hungry at the same time and ready for changing. Thankfully Jessa and Damon were quick studies.

As everyone gathered in the library. Jessa and Damon entered holding their two bundles. Smiles greeted them as they introduced their daughter and son, then everyone took a turn at holding them. Finally they settled in for an early dinner, everyone talking about how beautiful the babies were and how quiet they were.

"Damon and I have made another decision." Everyone stopped chatting and looked at Jessa. "If you're willing, we'd like for Ric and Bonnie to be their godparents."

Ric looked gobsmacked. Bonnie looked proud. "Of course we will." She answered, shooting Damon's best friend a look to force him to nod. "It would be an honor." He choked out.