Chapter three
By the time the midwife arrived, Rose was sitting in the shower with the hot water running over her back soothingly. She and the second attendant urged her out of the shower and into a nightgown to walk around the house and move things along. Rose complained the whole time and leaned heavily on Alec through all of the contractions, but after a few hours, she had progressed enough that she could settle in the birthing tub with her husband behind her.
"I can't do this anymore," Rose cried as another contraction wracked her body painfully.
"You're almost there, love. I'm so proud of you," Alec praised her and massaged her lower back firmly as the muscles clenched.
"Ok, Rose, you're ready. When that next one comes, I want you to give us a push and we'll have those babies here in no time," the midwife instructed.
There was a fair amount of screaming from Rose, followed by some healthy screaming from the two little boys that were born, and silent tears shed by Alec, Jackie, and Beth who were all by their side throughout the birth. There were no complications and everyone was soon clean, dry and Rose was snuggled with the twins in her warm bed.
"Have you two decided on names for them yet?" Jackie questioned.
"Not really," Rose replied, her voice a little scratchy from the labour.
"My Da's name is Frank," Alec suggested.
"Oh no! Their last name is Hardy, you can't use Frank or Joe," Jackie argued.
"Why not?" Pete asked as he entered the room with Tony to meet the new babies.
"Seriously? Frank and Joe Hardy? The Hardy boys?" Rose prompted, getting nothing but blank looks from the people native to this universe.
"Oh my god! Did this universe not have those books? It's a series of kids' mystery stories with brothers named Frank and Joe, called The Hardy Boys," Jackie explained. "Whether you've got 'em here or not, those names are out."
"Alright. Don't think Joe would be at the top of our list anyway," Alec agreed.
"Could we call one of them Jack? Had a good friend named Jack once," Rose suggested.
"Fine with me. What about Evan? Had an uncle by that name, he was always helpful when my parents were arguing," Alec proposed thoughtfully.
"I like that. Jack and Evan. We could use Peter and Frank for middle names, yeah? After both of our fathers?" Rose agreed. "Is that Franklin or Francis?"
"Franklin. So, what do you two think, eh?" Alec asked the babies sleeping in his wife's arms.
"I think that's a yes," Rose laughed as they both gurgled adorably.
"I think you've got enough help here now, Rose. Lizzy and I are going to head back to Broadchurch, but you come visit us soon, eh?" Beth told her with a quick hug.
"Absolutely. We'll make a vacation of it when these two are ready for a road trip, yeah?" Rose replied. "Thanks for being here. It was great to have someone else here that's been through a natural childbirth before."
"No problem. See you soon. And you spoil her to pieces, Hardy!" Beth called over her shoulder as she left the room to gather her things.
Jackie, Pete, and Tony stayed for another day before heading back to the mansion. By that point, Alec, Rose, and the twins had gotten into a routine. Well, as much of a routine as can be had with two babies who rarely sleep.