Through A Glass Darkly

Chapter Ten: New Lives

Bianca stared at Ruby in complete shock. "But you're only seven months along! How can you be going into labor?"

Ruby yelped as a stronger contraction hit, then glared at her. "Maybe Dr. Whale was off in his estimate! Look, it doesn't matter now! What matters is that I am in labor, in pain, and if you don't get me to the hospital damn quick I'm going to end up having the babies right here on the living room rug!"

Bianca wrung her hands, distraught. "But I don't know how to drive, and even if I did, I don't have a license, and…"

"BIANCA!" Ruby's angry shout made Bianca jump. "Quit your damn prattling! For God's sake, act your age! Look, you're my only chance. I need your help, you understand?" Bianca nodded, and Ruby nodded. "Good, now, the keys are…Oh fuck!"

Bianca gawped at the puddle forming under Ruby. "Ruby, what happened?"

"My water just broke! Oh shit, I'm not going to make it to the hospital. I must have been in labor for longer than I thought. Bianca, call Emma! Call someone!" She suddenly screamed in pain and collapsed onto the couch. "NOW!"

Bianca ran into the kitchen and grabbed the phone, frantically dialing Mary Margaret's number. "Come on, pick up, pick up…"

"Hello?"

Bianca sighed in relief. "Mary Margaret?"

"Yeah, who's this?"

"It's Bianca. Is Emma there?"

"Hold on a second. Emma, Bianca wants to speak to you!"

Bianca heard a "Hold on," then Emma took the phone. "This is Emma."

"Ruby's having her babies! Right now!"

Emma and Mary Margaret both gasped in shock. Mary Margaret was the first to find her voice. "But she's not due for another two months!"

Ruby screeched in pain, yelling towards the phone. "I KNOW THAT! IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING AND OH FUCK THAT HURTS!"

Emma came back on the line. "Bianca, let me talk to Ruby."

Bianca handed the phone to Ruby. "Emma wants to talk to you."

Ruby gave her a sickly smile and took the phone. "Emma…this hurts!"

"I know, Ruby. Take a deep breath. Now, do you think you can make it to a bed?"

"No."

Emma cursed. "Shit. OK, than get comfy on the couch. I'm on my way over. Mary Margaret, you'd better go get Gold. I think he'll want to be there for Ruby."

Ruby wailed in pain. "I WANT MY HUSBAND!"

Emma spoke in a placating tone. "Mary Margaret is going to get him, honey. Everything will be okay, I promise." She hung up, and Bianca helped Ruby lie down on the couch.

"It'll be okay, Ruby. You'll be okay."

Gold was polishing a brass wolf when Mary Margaret came bursting in, panting. "Gold…Ruby…babies…coming."

Gold dropped the wolf and gawped at her. "What?"

Mary Margaret growled in annoyance and came forward, yanking on his hand. "Ruby's gone into early labor, you're about to become a father, so will you please hurry up!"

Gold allowed himself to be pulled out of the shop, his mind still reeling from the news. When they reached his car, he managed to shake off the shock long enough to get behind the wheel. Mary Margaret clenched the dashboard as Gold sped off towards his house, tires squalling.

Emma was sitting next to Ruby, wiping her forehead with a cool cloth and trying to calm her down when the front door banged open and Gold came running in, eyes wide in shock, concern, and joy. "Ruby?"

Ruby gave him a relieved smile. "Tomas, you made it." Gold came forward, gently nudging Emma aside, and grasped Ruby's hands in his, kissing her.

"Of course I made it. Ruby, love, let's get you to a bed. Emma, could you give me a hand?" Emma nodded, and together they gently picked up Ruby, supporting her between them. "Thank you. Now, come along. Ruby, I'll ask later why my shotgun is out."

Ruby nodded, her face pale and set. "Good idea."

Together, Gold and Emma managed to get Ruby into a bed and undressed. Bianca grabbed as many pillows as she could carry, and placed them under Ruby's head, propping her up. Emma looked over at Gold. "Get behind her for support. She's going to need you. Mary Margaret, go find some clean towels and washcloths."

Gold slid behind Ruby, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her hand tightly. "It'll be okay, my love. Miss Blanchard, towels and cloths are in the linen closet, two doors down." Mary Margaret ran out of the room, returning minutes later with a pile of towels and cloths which she placed at the foot of the bed.

Emma sighed; glad she was wearing a short sleeved shirt. "OK, Ruby, you're going to have to push." She looked at the others. "If you don't like blood, I'd advise you to leave now."

Bianca looked a trifle green, but shook her head. "No, I'm staying here. I'll be okay."

Emma nodded, and then spoke to Gold. "You'd better be prepared to have your hand crushed. Ruby, start pushing."

Ruby took a deep breath, and then bore down, and Gold yelped as she squeezed his hand hard. Ruby panted hard, pushing with all her might, sweat and tears pouring down her face. Gold stroked her arm, whispering in her ear. "You're doing a fine job, love. You're doing a wonderful job."

Ruby fell back against his chest, panting and sobbing. "I can't do it."

Emma looked up at her, stern-faced. "Yes you can. Ruby, women have been giving birth for millennia. You can so do this!"

"But it hurts!"

Emma sighed. "I know, but you have to do this. You're crowning. So come on, just a few more pushes."

Ruby took another breath, and then began to push anew, a scream ripping from her throat. "GOD DAMN YOU, RUMPLESTILTSKIN! YOU GODDAMNED IMP, YOU ARE NEVER, EVER GOING TO TOUCH ME EVER AGAIN, IS THAT CLEAR? !"

Gold frowned at her. "You must really be pissed at me, if you're using my real name."

Ruby answered with a growl, and Gold wisely fell silent. Emma chuckled, and then noticed Bianca looking extremely confused. "I'll explain later." The girl nodded, and then gasped.

"Emma! I can see the baby! It's coming!"

Emma smiled encouragingly at Ruby. "One more push, Ruby! You can do it!"

Ruby squeezed Gold's hand as hard as she could, and bore down with all her might. Emma laughed in delight as a piercing wail sounded through the house. Emma cut the cord with her pocketknife. "Got her! It's a girl! Mary, clean her up! Now, here comes the other one! One more push, Ruby!"

Mary Margaret cleaned up the first born twin, gradually revealing that she had a soft tuft of black hair and bright green eyes. "She's gorgeous! Emma, what's the other one?"

Emma grinned. "It's another girl, and she's got her mother's eyes. They're both perfectly healthy." She cut the cord, wiping the blood off with a cloth. "You made some gorgeous babies, Ruby."

Ruby stretched out her arms. "Let us hold them."

Mary Margaret and Emma came forward, placing the girls in their parents' arms. Gold gazed down at his daughters, tears of joy in his eyes. "Ruby…they're perfect."

Ruby nodded, kissing the one she was holding. "They are. Hello, my loves. I'm your Mommy, and that handsome imp is your daddy. We're so glad to meet you. Even if it is a bit early."

Emma smiled at the happy parents. "We'll leave you four alone to get better acquainted. Congratulations." She steered Mary Margaret and Bianca out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Gold sighed in happiness. "I'm a father again. Ruby, I swear on my life that I will never let anything bad happen to our daughters."

Ruby blinked back tears. "I know. Now, what do we call them?"

Gold grinned, and then whispered in her ear. Ruby beamed. "That's perfect."

"Oh Ruby, they're so cute and tiny and adorable and…"

"Ashley! Calm down!"

It was a week later, and Ruby and Gold had invited a small group over for dinner, and Henry and Ashley had immediately taken to the babies. Henry looked over at Ruby. "So, what are their names?"

Ruby smiled. "Well, the one with the black hair is named Emmalyn, after the woman that helped bring her into the world. The brown haired girl is Maggie."

Emma looked flattered. "You named one of your kids after me?" Ruby nodded, and Emma grinned. "Thank you."

Henry grinned at all of them. "You know what this means, right?"

Gold nodded. "Indeed I do, young Henry. It means that the curse has just been weakened even more."

Ruby smiled at her friends, then looked up at her husband-the man and imp that had stayed by her side in both worlds. "I love you, Rumple. In this world, our world, and every world, I'm yours."

Gold kissed her. "And I am yours, my Red."

Bianca smiled to herself. She was still healing from the time spent with her father, but now she could finally see the hope for a new life.

And she couldn't wait to see what the future would bring.

THE END.