Terrified and sleep deprived, Fred paced like a madman outside of his wife's hospital room. "Bloody hell, why can't I see her yet," He yelled at no one in particular, "She's been in there for hours!"
A head popped out of the door, "Mister Weasley, please calm down! Your wife has been in labor for over ten hours now and is almost fully dilated. It won't be too much longer. If you wish to join us, I'll ask Healer Madeline to help you scrub up." The woman's lips were thinned into a tight frown, her eyebrows furrowed.
It was a hard decision for him…he had said from the beginning that he didn't know if he could tolerate seeing her in such terrible pain. It would've killed him to know that he'd done this to her and chances were he'd only have been in the way. Although, Millicent had never expressly barred him from the delivery room…she had merely told him that it was his decision. Another powerful scream from inside the room made his decision for him, "I want to be in there. She's my wife, I should be there!"
Nodding, the woman disappeared and was replaced by a young healer in training who was mechanically thorough as she made him don a stupid looking blue frock and scrub his hands for what felt like hours. Before long, he was being led into the room where his wife was between contractions, looking red faced and bleary eyed. Walking over to the bed, he smiled down at her and grasped her hand, "I changed my mind."
Smiling weakly, she moved to speak when another contraction ripped through her and she screamed again, "Oh Merlin, let me push! Please, I have to push." She pleaded, tears leaking out of the sides of her eyes. The pressure was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before and she felt as if she would die of it.
"Not yet, Millicent, just a little big longer, we don't want you to tear." The healer said, with a smile. "You're almost fully dilated and when you are, I promise you can push all you like."
Fred felt like he was going to pass out. He had done this to her…how would she ever forgive him? Gripping her hand, he pressed a kissed to her sweaty brow. "Oh Millicent, I'm so sorry…I didn't know it would be like this."
Breathing heavily, she shook her head, "No Fred, its fine I…" Moaning, she felt another contraction building. Damn, they were almost one on top of each other now. "I am never having sex again!" She screamed, holding his hand so hard she swore she heard something crack.
The look on Fred's face was so shocked that the Healer took pity on him, "They all say that, don't worry." Checking Millicent's progress again, she smiled, "We're at ten centimeters. Let's get ready to have these twins," She said, alerting two more healers to prepare for two babies. Pushing back the sheet, she grasped her wand in one hand. "Alright Millicent, when you feel the next contraction coming, I want you to push with everything you have in you."
Two healers had helped her to sit up slightly and Fred had her hand firmly clasped in his. So far, he wasn't feeling too badly, Millicent seemed to be holding up very well and the end was nearing. He could do this…all he had to do was breathe.
Explosive pressure came over her again and Millicent took a ragged breath, bearing down with everything she had in her. Pushing until her lungs burned, she fell against the bed, her breath coming out in ragged little spurts. Sweating out of every pore, she rested for a moment, "Bloody hell I'm going to die," She moaned.
Fred shook his head, "You're doing great, love, you're going to be fine." He barely even recognized the sound of his own voice. Yes, he was comforting her even though he felt like he was about to hit the floor. He could do this; with her and for her, he could do anything.
"Alright, Millie, that was a good push. I can see the top of the first baby's head. Another big push on the count of three," She said, patting the laboring mother's knee reassuringly, "One, two, three!" Another giant push later, the healer smiled, "Shoulders are out, stop pushing Millicent!"
The wails of the first twin filled the air as the squalling infant was passed to another healer to be cleaned off. But before anyone had a chance to say anything, another contraction hit and with one last big push, the second twin slid into the world. Unlike the first baby, however, this little one was completely silent.
Millicent sat back, exhausted…but she was not tired enough to not worry about her babies. "Are they okay? Why isn't the second one crying?" She asked, her mind reeling with fear. Tears ran down her cheeks, "Please tell me that the baby is okay!"
Fred could barely keep her in bed as she tried to get a look at the second twin. Walking to the edge of the bed, he laughed as the tiny baby peered up at him with huge blue eyes. "He's fine, Millie, he's just the quieter of the two." As if on cue, the second twin began to fuss and the new mum breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
Smiling, the healer nodded, "Congratulations Mister and Mrs. Weasley, twin boys!" After cleaning Millicent and the twins up, the Healer brought over the first baby and handed him to Millicent, then gave the second one to Fred. "The first twin was born seven pounds, eleven ounces at 6:03am, August first. The second twin was born seven pounds, one ounce at 6:05am, August first." The proud parents couldn't look happier, "Do they have names?"
Fred looked down at the twin in his arms; both had a shock of red hair and the bluest eyes he'd ever seen. He had read in one of the books Millie bought that most babies were born with blue eyes, but he knew that these two would have the lovely blue-green eyes that their mother did. "Arthur and Andrew Weasley…" He said, sitting on the edge of Millicent's bed. The healer quickly left to finalize the paperwork, leaving him alone with her. "They're beautiful love…the most beautiful babies I've ever seen," He said, leaning down to kiss her, "Even if they are a little bit pink and wrinkled." Alright, they were A LOT pink and wrinkled…but he was still smitten with them and with their lovely mother.
Smiling tiredly at him, she rocked the baby that was nodding off in her arms. Arthur was slightly bigger than Andrew, weighing more, but he also had the tiniest little birth mark on the back of his head. He was also the louder of the twins, certain to be the ringleader in pranks. Andrew on the other hand was quieter, calmer, and was staring up at his father's face as if wanting to memorize each detail. "Thank you, Fred…for them, for loving me," She said softly.
As was procedure, the babies needed a more thorough examination after the birth and, of course, they wanted Millicent to rest. Despite her protestations, they managed to convince her that after they finished, they'd bring the babies back in here to sleep beside her. But in the meantime, she would need her rest. With Andrew and Arthur safely tucked in the healers arms, Millicent leaned back in bed, exhausted.
When it was finally just Fred and Millie, she took his hand and kissed it softly, "Would you get my travel bag…I have a present for you."
Fred gave her a funny look, "I think the twins were enough, Millie. You didn't have to get me a present." But still, he was curious. Grabbing the travel bag that had been hurriedly thrown together last night as her contractions had begun; he brought it over to her. How had she managed to put a present in the bag as they were running around like madmen trying to put everything together?
Digging through the bag, she finally came to it. Smiling, she pulled out a package wrapped in white paper, tied up with blue and pink ribbons. "Go on," She said, trying to ignore the yawn threatening to overtake her, "Open it."
Shrugging, he sat down in a chair beside her and tore open the paper. Looking down, he looked at it, "El Condor Pasa…you got me a book?" Turning it over to the back cover, he began to read. "Millie, you got me a romance novel…" Raising an eyebrow, he shrugged, "Thank you, love."
Laughing, she nodded, "Look at it again."
Turning it back over, he looked at the front cover, "El Condor Pasa by…Marlene Bradenstock." His head snapped up and he looked at her, "You wrote this?" Standing up, he read the back cover again, "People can change. It's just a matter of how deep below the surface you're willing to look. A story of lies, second chances, and, of course, family. Take a look into the turmoil and courtship of a very unconventional couple." Mouth agape, he began to laugh, "You wrote a story about us?"
"Actually…it's the reason I went out with you in the first place. I wanted to experience life and love. And who better to teach me than the infamous rake Fred Weasley? I just never thought it would end like this…and I'm so very happy that it did." Biting her lip, she looked over at him, "Don't tell me you're angry with me…"
"Angry? I'm bloody impressed, Millie!" He said, walking over to her and pressing his lips to hers. "Not only am I the proud father of twins, I'm married to a brilliant writer who thinks I'm worthy of being a romance novel hero! My ego is the size of England today!" Laughing, he settled beside her on the bed, holding her tightly. "I love you, Millicent…you, Andrew, and Arthur. You've made me the happiest wizard alive."
Hugging him tightly, she closed her eyes. "I love you too," she murmured. Before long, exhaustion took over and she was out like a light. But she had no doubt that when she awoke again, she'd still find the world just as beautiful and perfect as she remembered it. She had her husband, her family, and all the love in the world…and anything she set her mind to, she surely would do it.
The End.
Wow everyone, it's been such a wonderful ride. Thank you all so, so much for reading El Condor Pasa and I hope you liked the ending! I'd really like to hear what you thought about the story as a whole and this last part!!
Thank you so much, it's been such a pleasure writing for all of you!
Dr. Marina Black, PhD