3
Two Golden Miracles
A/N: Okay, this chapter is quite intense, so be aware! Also, it couldn't have been written without the help of cynicsquest and my sister who's an OB/GYN. I just hope I got everything right!
Snow lashed the windshield of the Cadillac, pelting the glass with an icy deluge that made it difficult for Gold to see through it. He was driving at only 20 miles per hour and he felt like a turtle crossing the road. Especially because his pregnant wife was in labor next to him and gripping his arm in hers in a vice-like grip. But he didn't complain. All he cared about was getting to the hospital.
He narrowed his eyes and squinted through the storm, inching along and praying that there was nothing beneath the snow on the road that he couldn't see. He thought about trying to make the car fly with his magic, but quickly nixed that idea, because the storm winds would make them crash. Too risky. He used his Bluetooth to make a quick call to Bae and tell him what was going on, since Bae was supposed to stop and pick up Alina and Henry at Alice's and drop them off at the house. Emma was out on an emergency call, there had been a bad accident down near the cannery. Then he called Dr. Jo's answering service to tell them he was going to the hospital because his wife was in labor.
The answering service told him to be careful, and said the doctor was already at the hospital, delivering another baby, and had been there all night, this was the third delivery in a row for her. Gold hung up and shook his head. A snowstorm and an exhausted doctor. Dearies, you've got the worst timing. Why can't you just stay inside your mama for another day? At least the roads would be driveable.
"Belle, you all right?"
Belle was panting now. "Just . . . drive . . . Rumple . . . don't worry about me . . . I've done this before . . ." She hissed as another contraction pressed on her pelvis. Then she dug her nails into her husband's arm in a reflexive action.
Rumple gasped as her nails punctured his skin, as she had shoved his sleeve up before grabbing his right arm. Then he gritted his teeth and ignored the pain, it didn't matter. Not then. The wipers were going full blast, as was the heater, but the snow was barely melting as it hit the windshield before more took its place.
Suddenly, the car's left tire hit a patch of ice hidden beneath the snow and the car skidded, fishtailing like crazy.
"Shit!" Rumple snarled and tried to wrestle the Caddy into submission.
"Oh my God! Rumple!" Belle screamed, having visions of them ending up smashed against a tree. Her heart was racing in terror just as another contraction hit. Breathe. Breathe. And pray. Please God, don't let me die, don't let my babies die, or my husband die . . .
Rumple turned the wheel slightly into the skid and made sure to keep his foot away from the brake. But he was as terrified as Belle, and when the car hit . . . something and he felt it shudder, and quit spinning, he almost wept from relief. He leaned his head on the wheel and whispered, "Thank God." Then he straightened up and said, "Okay, sweetheart, let me check the damage." He put the car in park and put on the emergency brake and the hazards before getting out of the car.
Squinting through the falling snow, Gold saw that his left front tire had been blown out. "Great! Just great!" He banged his fist on the hood in frustration. Now they weren't going anywhere, and the storm was getting worse. "Flaming hells!" he swore. Then he counseled himself to quit behaving like a lunatic and get back in the car. Stop reacting and think, Rumple! Use your damn head!
He yanked open the car door and got in, shutting it. "Belle, how are you?"
Belle looked up at him and said, "The contractions are pretty steady, Rumple. But we have time yet, I think. What happened?"
"We blew out a tire and the storm's getting worse," he admitted. "Look, I'm going to call Bae, see if he can't take us to the hospital." He used his Bluetooth again.
"Hello, Papa?"
"Bae, I need you to come and pick us up—"
"What? Papa, you're breaking up—"
"Dammit!" Gold slammed his hand into the dashboard. "Bae, come and pick us up, we're right down the street, my car hit some ice and we've got a flat . . ."
There was crackling then Bae replied, "Okay. On my way. Just sit tight."
"He's coming," Gold said to Belle as they disconnected. He reached over to take her hand.
It was then that Belle noticed the four punctures in his arm. "Rumple! Your arm . . . is bleeding!"
"That? It's nothing, dearie."
"Nothing? You have four puncture wounds in your arm!"
"Five," he corrected. "There's one on the other side. I'm fine, Belle."
"It's just a flesh wound, right?" she returned, frowning. "Dammit, Rumple, I did that. I hurt you." She stared down at her hands in dismay, only now seeing that her left hand had some specks of blood under her nails. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay, Belle. I'll live. I'm like a
T-Rex, I keep on coming back to life," he joked. "But next time, dearie, we're clipping your nails."
"When we get to the hospital, you're having that arm looked at."
"No need, dearie. Let me just heal it," he answered, and then tried to do so. But his magic felt . . . sluggish, and though the cuts healed, it was strange. "That's odd . . ." he mused.
"What is?"
"Just my magic . . . it's sort of . . . sluggish. I don't know why." Then he noticed something else when he looked at his wife.
"Belle, you're . . .glowing . . ."
For Belle was glowing, with an unearthly golden light, emanating from her hands and face in small golden sparkles. "Oh! Rumple, I think it's the babies!"
He nodded. "Yes, you're right. I read in the Fairy Compendium that sometimes during the birth of a Halfling child, the mother will glow with her child's magic. Like they're . . . illuminating you with their love . . ."
Belle gazed at her glowing hand, which seemed to be lit from within by a golden flame, as flickers of light danced on her skin and shone from her fingertips. "I feel . . . so peaceful . . . and I'm not afraid anymore, Rumple." She put a hand on her belly and whispered, "I can feel them. They're turning . . . getting into position . . . they'll b born soon, Rumple. Today. My precious babies . . .oh!"
Suddenly she quit glowing and groaned as another contraction gripped her. Panting, she focused on her Lamaze breathing, sweat trickling down her forehead. "Hell . . . that was a big one . . .dammit, now I have to pee . . ."
"You sure about that?" Rumple queried gently, rubbing the back of her neck. "Your water's not broken yet, has it?"
"Not yet," she answered, just as a gush of warmth and wetness suddenly soaked the seat beneath her. "Umm . . . I think it just did . . ." she grimaced. "Either that or I wet myself . . .ugh . . . I'd forgotten how messy this was . . ." She flushed faintly at the stain now spreading across the floor of the car. "Rumple, we are going to make it to the hospital, right? I am not delivering these babies in your car!"
"Yes, we will. Bae should be here any minute," he soothed. Come on, Baelfire, move your ass! He waved a hand and dried Belle and the seat and the floor, reflecting that he would have to get this car shampooed after all of this was over. And again he noted that his magic was . . . off. It could be the babies, he thought. Maybe they were interfering with his magic. "How's that, Belle? Better?"
"Uh huh. Rumple . . . I'm sleepy . . . gonna take a nap . . ."
"A nap? You're going to sleep now?" he sputtered, watching in amazement as she leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. "Okay, dearie. You're the one in labor, so whatever works for you."
Then he clenched the steering wheel until his fingers were white and muttered, "Hurry, Baelfire! Please get here so we can get to the damn hospital on time! I've never delivered a baby before and I really don't want to start now, so F-ing drive!" He thought inanely of that book Belle had bought him—She's Having a Baby and I'm Having a Breakdown. I'm going to have a breakdown right here if somebody doesn't come and get us. He started to hyperventilate just imagining things going wrong, stopping only after Belle moaned and he forced himself to snap out of it by smacking himself in the face. Keep it together, Gold! She needs you, now quit freaking out. You can do that later when this is all over, he berated himself. Right, when the men in white coats are coming to take me away, he snorted and giggled just a little, which was something he occasionally did when nervous.
Just then Bae's headlights shone into the car, and Rumple exhaled in relief. It was going to be all right.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Ten minutes later, they were trying to get to the hospital, but there was a six car pile-up ahead of them and the weather was just getting worse.
"Papa, this is really bad," Bae swore, for now they weren't moving, just standing still.
Rumple groaned. So did Belle.
"Easy, sweetheart," he crooned, reaching his hand back so she could grab it. "This is just . . . a temporary delay . . ." Inwardly he was swearing so much the air should have turned blue.
"Rumple . . . I want to go home . . ." Belle said softly. "Just take me home . . . before I have these kids in Bae's car . . ."
Bae blanched. "Oh, hell no, Mama! That is not happening!" he cried. "Papa, I'm turning around, we're going back to your house."
Then he made a K-turn and drove as quickly as he could back to the Victorian.
"Bae! That means we're going to deliver these babies!" Rumple cried, panicked. "Have you ever—?"
Bae shook his head. "Sorry, Papa. I've read it, never done it. But I know CPR from my sports medicine courses. Hey, let's call your doctor, maybe she can . . . uh . . . coach us . . ."
Poor Rumple looked totally flummoxed. "I . . . okay . . . umm . . . okay . . . dammit where's my phone . . . oh, here it is, in my pocket . . ." He fumbled the phone and slid up the screen, his hands shaking. "Dear God, I don't know anything about birthing babies . . . only livestock . . . and Belle's not a damn nanny goat . . .!"
"Right now I wish I were a goat," Belle said wryly. "I think it's easier with goats."
"Hang on, baby, I've got Dr. Jo on speed dial . . ." he pressed the button. "Pick up . . . pick up . . . Jesus H. Christ, this is an emergency! . . .Hello, this is Mr. Gold, my wife's in labor, can you patch me through to Dr. Jo . . .we were on our way there, but we can't make it, there was an accident . . . can I please speak to her . . .because I'm going to have to deliver twins myself and if I don't get to speak to her right now you're going to have one ticked off sorcerer go fifty shades of crazy on your ass!" He shouted.
"Papa, calm down!" Bae said. "I almost had an accident!"
"Watch the road, Baelfire," Rumple snapped.
"Rumple, relax!" ordered Belle.
"Yes, dearie."
"Breathe," she instructed.
"I am," he muttered, then he said, "Hello, Dr. Jo? Yes, you see we're having a problem getting to you . . . is there a chance I could bring you here to my house . . . oh, I see . . . you have to do a C-section in forty minutes . . . umm . . . okay . . . so what do I have to do?" He listened as the doctor detailed certain things. "Right . . . okay . . . uh . . . yes, I'll make sure of it . . ."
"Remember, hon, women have been having babies since we were still in caves, so she'll be fine . . . and so will you. You can do it, Rumple! And you call me if it looks like there's a problem and I'll talk you through it, okay? Now put Belle on, let me talk to her," Dr. Jo said.
"Belle, here," Gold reached back and handed Belle the phone just as Bae pulled into the driveway.
Belle was still talking when she got out of the car and Rumple helped her into the house and up the stairs. "Yes . . . I will . . . and I'll make sure they remember that . . .thank you . . . well, I've been there and done that once already, so . . .third time's the charm, right?" she smiled at something the doctor said, then hung up and handed the phone back to her husband. "Rumple, we need towels, and scissors, and trash bags and the bassinet and some string . . . oh, and those baby wash cloths . . . and I need to get changed . . .hmm . . . can I borrow one of your T-shirts . . .?"
"Yes, here," he yanked open his dresser drawer and grabbed the first T-shirt he saw, which was a deep blue one that said I've stopped listening, so why are you still talking? And handed it to her. "Okay, you get into that and I'll get the kids to help me get the rest of this stuff." He left Belle to get changed and went downstairs and called for Alina and Henry to help him get things ready for the babies.
"Papa, aren't you going to the hospital?" Alina asked worriedly.
"I can't. My car has a flat and there's a huge accident on the way and we couldn't make it," he explained. "So . . . I'm going to need your help, because me and your brother are going to deliver the babies here."
"You are? Cool!" Henry said.
"Papa, you know how to do that?" Alina asked, awed.
"Umm . . .sort of," he answered breezily. "Now, you go and get lots of towels and some old sheets and some alcohol and I'll find my surgical steel scissors and some cotton swabs and cord . . ." Reciting a list in his head, he went methodically through the house, summoning things to him, but by the sixth thing, which took four minutes to come to him rather than four seconds, he quit taxing his magic and just went to get things normally.
Bae was talking to Emma on the phone, and also Googling "home births" on Gold's computer in the study.
Belle was quietly timing the contractions and pulling Rumple's shirt over her head, thinking how surreal this all was. She was glowing slightly, and whispered, "Almost time, babies. Soon I can hold you in my arms."
She walked out of the bathroom just in time to for Henry and Alina to come in with armloads of towels and sheets and a large laundry basket.
"Mama, where do you want the towels?" Alina asked.
"Um . . . put them on the floor right now," Belle directed. "And can you get me some ice chips, please? My mouth is dry."
"Sure, Grammy," Henry said. "But why not water?"
"Because water will make me throw up," Belle informed him. "So just get me a glass full of ice chips, okay?"
"Uh huh." Then he ran downstairs to get the ice chips.
Alina stared at her mother. "Mama . . . does it hurt a lot?"
Belle sighed. "Only sometimes, baby. It comes and goes . . . and most of the time it's bearable."
"Then . . . you don't need pain medications? But in the movies, all the women are screaming," her daughter said, puzzled.
"That's because it's the movies, sweetie." Belle brushed the hair from her eyes. "It's not that it doesn't hurt . . . it does, I won't lie to you, but you see, we were meant to do this . . . so we can . . . and you just breathe and concentrate . . . like this . . ."
Alina gaped as her mother began panting sharply as a contraction gripped her, rippling through her belly. "Mama . . . I can heal you . . ."
Belle held up a hand. "No, you can't, Alina. I'm not injured. This is normal . . . besides, I've done this before . . .and I don't think you ought to use magic around me right now, the babies' magic might counteract it. So, you just get the kimonos and caps and socks we have for the babies, you remember where I put them? And the diapers and washcloths? Good! You remember how we practiced swaddling the baby on Regina's doll, right?"
"Yes. I know how."
"That's my girl! Because that's what you and Henry are going to do after they're born. Because your papa and Bae will be too busy with me, so you'll have to make sure the babies are cleaned and kept warm, Alina."
"I can do that, Mama," Alina said confidently. "And I'll show Henry too."
"Good! Your papa will call you in when it's time," Belle told her, gently stroking her hair. "Don't be scared. I'm fine. And soon you'll be holding your baby brother or sister."
"How long before they're born?"
"Hmm . . . we've got a few more hours to go, I think," Belle replied. "Now go and help your papa. He's probably having a breakdown over finding something."
"Okay, Mama." She hugged her mother and then went downstairs, just as Henry came up with the glass of ice chips.
Belle sucked on some and thanked her grandson before waving him out of the bedroom. "Go help Alina," she told him. "Where's your grandfather?"
"Right here, dearie," Rumple interjected, his arms full of supplies. "Where's Bae?"
"Here, Papa," Bae came into the room next. "I just talked to Emma. She said to call her if we need to."
"Dad, you know how to deliver a baby?" Henry asked.
"Tiger, I know a lot of things," Bae hedged. "Now why don't you go help Alina, okay?" He shooed his son from the room and shut the door. "Mama, how are you progressing?"
"Slow but steady, Dr. Gold," Belle said jokingly. "Contractions are about ten to seven minutes apart."
"That's good, right, Papa?" Bae looked at his father, who was putting several things down on the nightstand.
"Yes, now come over here and sterilize these instruments for me. Dr. Jo says sterilization is very important. Use the alcohol here and when you're done, line them up on this dishcloth."
"Right," his son moved over to do that.
"Sit down here, Belle," Rumple said, leading her to the bed. "I'm gonna trim those nails of yours, dearie."
Bae looked up from washing the scissors with alcohol. "Papa, you're doing what?"
"Trimming my fingernails," Belle answered. "Because you should have seen what I did to his arm in the car." She held out her hand to Rumple, who gently took it and clipped with his nail clipper while she explained why to her son.
She wiped sweat from her brow. "It's so hot in here, Rumple. Let me have some more ice chips."
Rumple handed her the glass and after she was sucking some, said, "Okay, dearie, let's take a walk. Dr. Jo says you need to do that, it helps get the babies in position." He gently assisted her up from the bed.
"You don't need to tell me that," Belle chuckled. "I think I walked through the whole castle when Alina was getting born." She took Rumple's arm in hers as they began to walk around the room.
"Papa, I think we need to line the mattress with some trash bags and maybe an old sheet because . . . err . . . it can get really messy when Mama's delivering," Bae recalled something Emma had said.
"Yes, I'm leaking like a sieve," Belle sighed, thinking that the large sanitary napkin she had on right now was going to have to go soon. But not just yet.
She began to breathe through another cramp, thinking that the pain wasn't too bad yet, just a continuous pressure in her lower back and pelvis.
Rumple held her while she breathed, murmuring, "That's good. There you go, dearie. You know, I've seen a goat get born, a calf get born, and a lamb get born, but this is the first time I've ever seen a baby get born."
Belle nodded, gripping his hand with her fingers. "That's good, Rumple."
"Great, Papa. I never got to see the goat get born, you chased me out of the barn," Bae grumbled.
"Bae, you were green as grass and probably going to throw up or pass out, whichever came first," Rumple objected.
Bae flushed. "I was five, what'd you expect?"
"You're not going to pass out now, right, Baelfire?" Belle asked.
"Of course not, Mama," he reassured her.
"And if you do need to throw up, Bae, just do it in one of the trash bags."
"Papa, I'm not going to throw up!"
"Just saying. And you'd better not, because I'm not delivering these babies alone, you hear?" Rumple growled.
"Yes, Papa. Now take a chill pill."
"Hey! Don't you sass me, Baelfire!"
"Then calm down, for God's sake!"
"I'd like to see you calm down when YOUR wife's in labor."
"Both of you, knock it off!" Belle snapped. "You're breaking my concentration!"
"Sorry," both men chorused.
Belle began breathing again.
"Okay, dearie. Let's breathe together," Rumple coached, and they started doing the breathing exercises.
After a few minutes, Rumple looked up and said, "Baelfire! Stop spacing out and get the bed ready. God, boy, this is why I sent you outside while the goat was getting born!"
Bae rolled his eyes and began stripping the bed and putting the trash bags over the mattress, that way it didn't get damaged from all the birthing fluids. Then he prayed that everything would go well during this birth.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Three hours later, Belle's contractions were coming faster and longer. She was becoming hyper aware of the changes going on within her, and feeling the pressure steadily building as she walked about the room. Her skin tingled and she sucked ice chips like she was a camel preparing for a trek across the desert. In fact, her mouth was dry as the Mojave.
"Rumple . . . it's almost time," she said, leaning on him. "Help me . . . I need to take this off . . ."
"Take what off?" Bae gasped, an image of his mother naked popping into his head.
Belle whispered something to Rumple, and he escorted her into the bathroom.
They emerged a few minutes later and Rumple helped Belle to get on the bed, which had been lined with sheets and towels and Belle lay on her side. The position was the most comfortable right then.
Rumple breathed in tandem with his wife while Bae knelt and massaged her neck and back, using the acupressure techniques he'd learned from Master Kitaro. Never thought I'd be doing this to a woman in labor. Ah, well, you live and learn. "How's that feel, Mama?"
"Good. Keep doing that, Bae. Especially my lower back. Ahh!"
"Did I hurt you?" he asked, alarmed.
"No. I'm just . . . sensitive there right now. Keep going. Rumple, more ice chips."
A few minutes later, Bae asked, "Is that better?" and got no response. "Mama?"
"Bae, she's dozing," Rumple explained.
"Say what? But she's having a baby!"
Rumple rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Captain Obvious. She says that sometimes she needs to rest up between contractions. So she has strength for when she starts pushing."
"But . . . isn't she in pain? How can she sleep through it?"
Rumple shook his head. "Do I look like a woman, Baelfire? I don't know how she does it, but it doesn't really matter. Now let's get gloves on . . ."
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Downstairs, Alina and Henry had gotten everything ready for the babies arrival and Alina had given Henry a quick lesson on how to diaper and swaddle the baby when Jimmy emerged from his room and said, "Hey, what's going on?"
"Mama's having the babies upstairs, and Papa and Bae are delivering them," Alina answered.
Jimmy gaped at them. "Neptune's hairy balls! Umm . . ."
Henry burst out laughing.
Alina rolled her eyes.
Jimmy shook his head. "Is there anything he can't do? Mr. Gold, I mean?"
"Well, he can't have a baby . . ." Alina replied, smirking, and they all started laughing.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Upstairs, Belle was feeling the contractions cresting like a wave, pulsing through her at regular intervals. She couldn't sleep now, the pressure was tremendous and she rolled from her side onto her hands and knees on the bed, murmuring, "They're coming, Rumple! I can feel it!"
"How long are the contractions now, Papa?"
"Five minutes," Rumple replied, looking at his watch. "Okay, dearie. Let me see . . . err . . . if I can see the head or something . . ." He leaned over, muttering softly, "Just pretend this is the goat . . . okay . . ."
Bae mopped Belle's forehead with a washcloth. "You're doing good. We're almost there!" He winced at the intense expression on her face.
"Okay, dearie, I see the top of the head!" Rumple cried.
Belle gritted her teeth. "Rumple, I need to push!"
"Whoa! I'm not ready yet," her husband cried.
"Hurry!" his wife snarled, and then she turned over, half-sitting up, spreading her legs wide against the bed. "Oh, I wish we had stirrups!"
Rumple doused his gloved hands with alcohol and cried, "Bae! Get down by her feet, you're going to catch the baby. I'll need to be up here with her." He climbed on the bed and knelt behind his wife, helping her to brace herself, supporting her with his arms around her. "Ready, dearie?"
"I was . . . ready . . . ten minutes . . . ago, Rumple!"
"Okay . . . on three . . . one . . . two . . . three . . .Push, dearie!"
Belle did, bearing down with all the muscles in her pelvic region. Sweat streamed down her forehead and birthing fluids were expelled from her along with the baby's head.
"I see it! I see the head!" Bae cried excitedly. "But it's upside down!"
"That's . . . normal . . .!" Belle gasped. She began to breathe again. "Rumple, I'm slipping . . .!"
Rumple hauled her up by sheer brute force. "Again, Belle! Come on!"
She braced herself and then hissed, "Okay . . . one . . . two . . . three . . ."
"Mama, the head's out," Bae called. "And I see the shoulders . . ." he reached up with his hands and gently tugged. "Good job . . . come on, once more . . .!"
Belle felt drained and exhausted. "Rumple . . . I'm so tired . . .!"
"Third time's the charm, my Belle!" he encouraged. "I can't wait to see our baby . . ."
"Okay . . .once more!"
One last push and the baby slipped out into Bae's hands.
The martial arts instructor caught the tiny infant and turned it over gently. "It's a girl! I've got a baby sister, Papa!"
The baby girl's sharp cry filled the room.
Downstairs, Nala and Freya began meowing and barking, and Freya ran around in circles.
"Look, Mama, look at your baby!" Bae cried, giddy with amazement, his eyes wide. He gently placed the baby on Belle's tummy.
"Uh . . . the cord, Bae. We need to cut it," Rumple reminded him, his eyes glassy with tears.
Bae quickly tied the cord and handed Rumple the scissors.
Rumple snipped, and then he handed the scissors to Bae and just stared down at the baby. "Hello, dearie. Belle . . . look at her . . . our little baby . . ." tears of wonder coursed down his face.
Belle reached down and cradled the baby to her, unmindful of the birth fluids that still coated her. Her cerulean blue eyes met those of her daughter, who had smoky blue ones, and she whispered, "Hello, little Daria Rhea. My beautiful baby girl. I'm your mama."
The baby nuzzled her, whimpering, and then the small mouth curved up slightly.
Belle couldn't stop smiling, she held the precious miracle and whispered, "Rumple, she has your hair!"
"And your eyes," he agreed, wiping his own. Then he bent and kissed the small head. "She's perfect, dearie. Our own little miracle."
Belle nodded, then grimaced and said, "And here comes her twin." Just then her second water sac broke.
Rumple quickly took the newborn and called, "Alina, Henry! Come here!"
The two younger Golds bolted up the stairs.
"Grandpa, are they born?" Henry asked.
Rumple met them at the door. "Your aunt is. Henry, meet Daria Rhea Gold."
Alina came and held out her hands when Henry faltered. "Hi, little sister! Papa, she's tiny!"
"I know. She's probably around four pounds, if that. Careful, support her head." He gently placed the baby in Alina's arms. "You know what to do, right, dearie?"
"Yes. C'mon, Henry. Let's get her cleaned up," Alina said, and brought the baby into the bathroom.
Henry summoned the clothes and bassinet lined with towels and followed his aunts.
"Put a towel down there on the counter," Alina directed.
Henry did so, then watched as Alina set the baby down. "What's all that stuff all on her? It looks like . . . blood."
"Some of it is. It's messy getting born," Alina replied.
"Gross!"
The baby started to cry.
"Hey, I'm sorry! Don't cry!" he said, panicked.
"Henry, she's cold and wet. Come on, help me!" Alina said, and gently took a washcloth and began to wipe the baby.
Henry followed suit. "Alina, what's this white stuff on her?"
"I don't know. It's probably normal. Don't worry about it."
Together they finished cleaning the newest Gold up and putting her in a preemie diaper, a pink kimono, socks, and a little hat Rumple had knitted for her.
As they were putting on the skull cap, Alina noticed something. "Henry, look at her ears! They're a little pointy."
"Whoa! Cool! She's got ears like a . . ."
"Fairy," Alina grinned. She cooed at her sister. "Pretty baby, let's put you in your bassinet."
She picked up her sister, and gently placed her in the bassinet.
In the bedroom, Belle was nearly done pushing, encouraged heavily by both Rumple and Bae.
"Once more, Belle!" Rumple called, bracing her.
"Come on, Mama! You're on the homestretch!"
"Bae, she's not a horse!" Rumple cried.
"Hush up!" Belle growled, then she gave one final push and her second twin was born, ten minutes after her daughter.
"Papa, we've got a baby boy!" Bae cried in triumph. "I've got a baby brother!" He held the smaller twin in his hands, laughing and crying all at once.
The baby boy opened his eyes and gave a soft cry, almost like a cat mewing.
His eyes were as green as the grass. And all the flowers in the room burst into bloom.
Once Rumple had cut the cord, Belle held her son to her, and she cried, "Look, Rumple! His eyes! They're green—green as new spring leaves!"
"He's as beautiful as his mama, Belle!" Rumple said, fresh tears streaming down his face. "Hello, my beautiful baby boy!"
His son gave a small hiccup and started crying.
In the bathroom, so did his twin sister.
"Well, they've got a good pair of lungs on them, dearie!" Rumple laughed. "Right, my little man?"
"Shh! Don't cry, Dylan," Belle crooned to her son. "Your mama's here." She kissed the wrinkled little face.
"And your papa too," Rumple added. "Dylan Pearce Gold." Then he kissed his son as well.
Baby Dylan gazed at his parents with wide alert eyes. Then he gave a small yawn and shut them.
"Well, he certainly knows where his priorities are!" Belle laughed. "And I'd love to follow his example."
"Afraid you can't just yet, sweetheart," Rumple said, and took the baby and handed him to Bae. "Take your brother and give him to Henry and Alina, Bae. Your mama and I have a little more work to do."
Bae frowned. "But she's had the . . . oh, now I remember!" He smiled down at Dylan.
"She has to deliver the afterbirth," Rumple said. "Now go, I can hear poor Daria yelling from here. They've never been separated before, so she's stressing."
"Like her papa," Bae teased, then ducked Rumple's swat. Smirking, he carried his brother into the bathroom.
While Alina showed Bae how to clean and diaper a newborn, Rumple helped Belle deliver the afterbirth, which he then placed in a clean plastic bag so they could bring it to the hospital later along with the twins. Dr. Jo had told him they needed to examine it to make sure all of it was there.
"Okay, dearie. Now you can rest while I clean you up," Rumple said. He kissed his wife happily. "You did an incredible job."
Belle smiled at him tiredly. "No . . . we did an incredible job. And now we have two golden miracles, Rumple." Then she kissed him back.
While Belle half-dozed, Rumple gently washed her and changed the sheets, making sure she was warm and dry and comfortable.
Belle woke once as he was placing a thick pad beneath her and murmured, "You know, that wasn't as bad as I thought. They're a lot smaller than Alina was. Probably around three or four pounds. Alina was close to eight, and I tore some with her."
"You did a wee bit too here, Belle, only I healed you," her husband said. He drew a thick blanket up around her shoulders. "Now sleep, dearie. I love you."
"I love you too," Belle said, shivering a bit, for she was chilled. Then her eyes closed and she slept, exhausted but very proud.
Bae carried the bassinet with the twins out and placed it next to Belle on the bed. "They're sleeping too, Papa."
"I'm not surprised. Getting born wears you out," Rumple said, and he smiled as he looked at his twins. Then he looked up at Bae and clapped him on the shoulder. "You were a great help, Bae. Thank goodness you were here."
Bae hugged him. "You know, I was this close to throwing up at first. Or running out of the room."
Rumple chuckled. "Well, so was I. But we did it." Then he yawned. "I'm ready for a cup of tea and a nap."
"Me too," Bae agreed. "I can't wait to call Emma."
"And I'll call Alice," Alina said.
"And I'll tell Jimmy," Henry said, and went downstairs to do so.
"And I'll call Snow and David." Rumple paused before he left the room, looking back at his sleeping wife and their two precious babies, sleeping side by side, and he wondered what Regina would say when she saw them. "Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the trolls bite," he called softly, then he blew them a kiss before shutting the door behind him. As he made his way downstairs, he wore a grin that stretched from ear to ear, and caused his eyes to crinkle with delight. Life was beautiful.
