When Carolyn awoke the next morning it was to discover that Riddick was already out of bed and had been for some time if the coldness of his side of the bed was any indication. She sat up in the bed and saw clean clothes had been laid out for her on a nearby chair. Wondering the room she finally found the bath, lingering in the shower letting the warm water soothe her aching back.
She emerged from the room to find a few soldiers and the Elementals having breakfast with the girls.
"Mommy!" Rory screeched happily, running to her, throwing her little arms around her leg with Ziza not far behind.
Carolyn bent down on her knees so she could talk to them. After last night she was happy to see that they had bounced back. She listened as they excitedly told her their plans for the day, asking questions and overall just enjoying being with them.
"Girls," Aereon called, "Why don't you let your mother come and eat. Then we can all leave at the same time."
The girls jumped up and down carrying on as Carolyn sighed in frustration. "A little help?" she called looking at Aereon who just chuckled. Two of the guards rushed to her side and with their help managed to get back to her feet.
"Thank you," she told them sincerely before settling at the table.
"Is there anything resembling toast?" she asked, looking over the table. Maurelle handed her a plate of coarse looking bread as Aereon sat a hot cup of tea in front of her.
"Don't you think you should eat a little more?" she said as Carolyn spread something that looked like jam onto the bread.
"Probably, but I don't think my stomach can handle anything else."
"You should have the Doctor look you over today."
"I doubt if there's much he can do," Carolyn smiled running her hand over her still for once child. "It's just a waiting game at this point."
"As you heard, Shirah will be here soon to take us on a tour of the house and grounds."
Carolyn opened her mouth and Aereon help up a hand. "Riddick has already arranged more than enough guards to accompany us."
Carolyn smiled and reached over wiping jam off of Rory's mouth. "You, however, are off for a morning and afternoon of fun yourself."
Carolyn narrowed her eyes. "Why do I not like the sound of that?"
"You my dear will be joining Riddick in the Large Hall to hear all about this fine planet we'll be living on."
Carolyn made a face, "You mean I have to go to school?" The girls laughed at her and she played it up for them, enjoying the sound of their laughter. A knock a the door got their attention and they all quieted down waiting to see who it was.
Shirah appeared with Kestreal and Kilo on her heels. "Everything is ready for us to proceed if you are," she said nodding at Aereon before turning to Carolyn.
"Lady Carolyn."
"Hello, Shirah," she replied just as the girls approached to kiss her goodbye. "You be good and listen to your Grandmother. And stay out of trouble!"
"Yes, mama!" they replied in unison each grabbing a hold of one of Aereons hand and almost pulling her out the door in their enthusiasm. Carolyn shook her head watching them go and then turned to Kilo and Kestral.
"Mistress," they said, much the same way the girls had just answered her. She laughed at their antics shaking a finger at them.
"Don't you two even think about starting! So, are you here to take me to the torture chamber?"
"Yes, they're about to take a small break and Lord Marshal requested us to bring you down."
Carolyn sighed and grabbed a shawl that Aereon had laid out for her. Arranging it around her she let them help her to the bottom floor where several great rooms were. As they got to the bottom of the steps she could hear many voices in the hall way. As Riddick moved away from the man he was speaking to the group grew silent as he approached her.
"You slept well?"
"Yes thank you."
He stood looking at her for a moment, the breath taken from him. She was truly beautiful. He reached for her hand bringing it up to his mouth for a kiss then leaned in, placing a hand around her back to draw her near.
He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You know how much I hate this political crap; will you please come keep me company?"
The entire group was left wonder what this newcomer had said to her as her lips curled up into a smile. "Of course," she told him, her breath tickling his ear. He straightened back up and taking her hand, started introducing her to the natives.
It was after lunch when she realized she was in trouble. In addition to her backache continuing from last night, her stomach had started to cramp. She was pretty sure she was in labor and probably had been for some time. She stayed by Riddick's side until she felt as though she wouldn't be able to make back to their rooms if she didn't leave soon.
She wrapped her fingers around his forearm and leaned towards his ear. She kept her voice low as to not interrupt the very enthusiastic man who was currently speaking.
"My back's hurting, if you don't mind I'd like to go lay down for a bit." She pulled back to see his face and he smiled at her.
"I'm only giving this another hour or two anyway; you go on and get some rest." She squeezed his arm and accepted Kilos help up from her chair with Kestrel taking the lead.
She left them in the living area and went to her room shutting the door behind her nearly collapsing against it. As with Rory she knew it could be hours and it wouldn't do to alarm everyone right away.
The first contraction after her water broke was by far the worst so far. She had managed to change into a short cotton gown she had had made for this very occasion. She gritted her teeth and held on tightly to the bed post as she breathed her way through it. By the time she caught her breath and recovered, another was up on her before she could call out for help. This was so not good. It was going much, much faster than Rory's delivery. Finally she decided the hell with it and on the next contraction let out a bloodcurdling scream. That should get their attention, she thought panting heavily on her knees at this point. Kestrel, Kilo and half a dozen other soldiers literally fell upon themselves as they burst into her room. Before they could ask her what was wrong another contraction had her in its grasp and she fighting not to scream through it as well. Kestreal and Kilo looked at each other and immediately started issuing orders. Kilo hauled her up off the floor and got her into a chair as Kestrel ran to get Riddick. Others were sent after the doctor and the women.
She was still hanging on to Kilos forearms, "What can I do Mistress?"
"Make sure the girls aren't brought here, I don't want them frightened."
"Done," he told her as she started grasping at his arms again. She was breathing heavily as Kestrel burst back into the room with the Doctor on his heels.
"How far apart?" he asked her slipping on some gloves.
"A minute, maybe two," she gasped.
"Get out of my way, man!" Doctor Ogilvie told Kilo trying to get to Carolyn. He stood and made to leave but she wouldn't let go of his arm.
"You're not leaving till Riddick gets here" she ground out at him.
"Yes mistress," he told her and moved to the back of the chair hanging his arms down so that she could hold onto them while the doctor was examing her.
"Get over here," he said looking over his shoulder at Kestrel. "Get some towels out of the bath now. I need to examine her as soon as her next contraction is over."
Kestrel returned just as she was coming down. The Doctor grabbed a towel from him and instructed him to hold on to her leg, pushing a knee in his direction and flipping her night shirt up. Kesteral looked up at Kilo who shrugged.
"I promise I won't let him kill you," Carolyn gritted out as the doctor was trying to determine how dilated she was.
"You stupid woman," he told her shaking his head.
He turned back to Kestral "How long before Mr. Riddick arrives. This is happening soon."
"He had been taken out on the grounds to meet his daughters. They should all be here any second."
"Speak of the devil," the doctor muttered as the doors to the room crashed open reviling a flushed Riddick.
The first thing he saw was one man standing over his wife and two between her legs. "What the fuck?"
Kestrel immediately stood and rushed out of the room while Kilo pried her hands off his arms and muttered something about taking care of the girls.
"Riddick, we are seriously not discussing this right now," she threw at him as another contraction hit, causing her to scream out. Riddick, Chode and Vaako who had entered with him, stood riveted to the spot as Aereon came breezing through.
"Oh for goodness sakes," she said looking in their direction." What do you need?" She asked coming to stand beside the doctor.
"I need someone supporting her so that she can bear down," he said with his hand still between her legs "This is happening now!" He shouted causing Riddick to snap out of his stupor.
"Riddick!" Carolyn groaned and panted as she worked her way through another contraction.
He was immediately by her side looking at the doctor. "Pick her up and sit down behind her, place her place her legs over yours," the Doctor instructed helping to position her.
"Allah, help me from soldiers," he said looking at Vaako and Chode. "I need towels, lots of them, boiling water, a sterilized knife or scissors and a tub of warm water. Now!" He barked at the men who scrambled to do his bidding.
Aereon drifted over to the door and asked Diondra to fetch Riddick's grandmother as they were going to need a bed and blankets of some type for the baby. The door was left open and while Maurelle and Elyta fluttered around helping Vaako and Chode, the rest of Carolyn's Necro/Furyans stood in the doorway watching their mistress give birth. This is what they had spent the last nine months trying to accomplish. They were finally at home, some of them meeting long lost families and getting reacquainted with things they hadn't seen since they were young; but getting their Mistress to their home alive and well so that her child could be born here was their greatest accomplishment. They parted as Shanly and Shirah came rushing in followed by attendants that were stopped at the door with a bassinet and blankets. The guards took the items and turned them away. No one was going to be allowed near Dame Riddick until they were told differently.
"Ok, Carolyn, you've done this before. On the next one I need you to take a deep breathe and bear down as hard as you can," the Doctor told her from his position on the floor.
She nodded holding onto Riddick's hand, trying to bring another of his children into this world. She sobbed as she let up, breathing heavily.
Riddick turned her head towards her looking her in the eyes. "I love you, Carolyn," tears swimming in his eyes as he watched the miracle taking place in front of him. She nodded and took another deep breathe, pushing his son into the world. Aereon was there to catch him and start wiping him off as the Doctor handed Chode the knife to cut the umbilical cord. It truly was a family affair. The doctor got his nose and mouth cleaned out quickly and Aereon opened the top of Carolyn's gown laying the baby on her breast. She was crying as Riddick reached out to gently run a finger over the baby's head.
"A son, Carolyn," he whispered in awe. "You are so beautiful," he told her, kissing her temple as she laid her head back in exhaustion. Aereon and the doctor looked at each other and he nodded to her. Aereon reached out to pick the baby up startling Carolyn. Riddick just looked at her.
"We need to get him cleaned up," she told the younger woman who was suddenly once again crying out in pain.
"What's wrong?" she gasped looking at the doctor.
"As it turns out, you're not quiet finished yet."
"I know that but the afterbirth shouldn't hurt this badly," she said between gritted teeth.
Riddick glared at the Doc. "You knew," he accused.
"So did you," the Doctor replied back, for once not shaken by the larger man.
"Knew what?" Carolyn demanded as she threw her head back against Riddick grinding her body against him in pain.
"Looks like we're getting two for one."
"Two for one, two for one what?" she asked looking wildly between the two of them before a full fledge contraction hit giving her the answer.
"Twins?" she growled, grabbing the doctor by the front of the shirt.
Riddick dutifully pried her hands off of the man so that he could do his job "Carolyn, you need to concentrate."
"You are never coming near me again! Do you understand? I will cut your balls off and wear them as necklace if you even think about touching me again!" her nails digging into his arms as pain radiated through her body.
Aereon stood to the side cleaning up the infant just chuckling as she listened to the exchange.
"Riddick," Shanly called out to her Grandson.
"Not now!"
"It is our tradition that with royal twins the first born is marked so there can never be any doubt."
Aereons head shot up like a bullet looking towards Riddick and Carolyn and Shanly and Shirah. Riddick nodded at Aereon who glared back him.
"He will not be taken out of this room."
He nodded at her and looked back to Shirah and Shanly who nodded in return.
Carolyn who had been breathing through a contraction was finally able to voice her opinion. "Riddick, not only am I going to cut your balls off, I am going to kill all of you if she lays one hand on my child." She desperately called out for Kilo.
"I'm right here, Mistress."
"Cross bow. In this room. Now!" She said between each gasp of air.
Suddenly, her newborn was crying and she had to bear down. "NO!" she screamed, bearing down trying to expel this second child from her body. She was sobbing now, "Please Richard, please don't let them hurt my baby."
He wrapped an arm under her breast to anchor her to him and turned her head so she was looking at him. "It's ok Carolyn. It's ok."
"No she's hurting my baby, you promised!" she accused, before bearing down again and then gasping for air.
"Just one more time Carolyn," the doctor told her.
He put his mouth to her ear telling her, "It's not like Rory, Carolyn, I'm here this time; I promise no one will ever touch him again with out your permission," as she gave one last push, giving birth to yet a second child.
This time Elyta was there to catch the baby and Vaako was the one to cut the cord. Once more a baby was laid on Carolyn's breast where she had collapsed; sobbing against Riddick's chest, her face buried in his neck, as he kissed her forehead and rubbed her hair. He brought his free arm up to touch his child laying his hand on it's back. "Carolyn look, it's another boy."
She moved her head to look down at her infant child lying on her breast, his father's hand as big as he was.
She laid her forehead against Riddick chin. "He's beautiful."
"He's ours."
"Where's the other? I want to see him. I want to know what that Noitah did to him."
Elyta picked up the second born and whisked him away to be cleaned up as Aereon laid the first born back in her arms.
"Where?" She asked the older woman, who tugged down the blanket to show his arm. There on his little wrist was what appeared to be a tattoo of some kind. How ever they had done it, it was already scabbing over.
Riddick covered the baby back up and spoke quietly, "We need names. We can't call them one and two."
Carolyn sniffled, "Why haven't we done that before now?"
"Because you wanted it to be a surprise, remember? Thought it would be good for my character."
She smiled and watched as the baby yawned. They both looked up as Shanly and Aereon appeared at their side.
"Traditionally, the first born sons are named Kempton and Chatham. We would be honored if you agreed to uphold this tradition as well."
Carolyn glared at the woman causing Aereon to speak up.
"They're good names. The Elementals would have no objection."
"I'm not sure how I feel about your traditions right now," Carolyn told the other woman.
"I understand. I shall wait in the other room."
"All done," Doctor Ogilvie finally said, pulling himself up off the floor, gathering up all the soiled towels. "Why don't you get cleaned up and into bed to rest? These little ones are going to need to be fed soon." Carolyn nodded and handed the baby back over to Aereon. Riddick carried Carolyn into the bath, shutting the door firmly behind them.
After they disappeared, the Elementals took pleasure in showing off the twins to their Uncles. Each one of the burly soldiers had a turn at holding each child under the guidance of an Elemental. It was really a party once the girls were brought up see the newest additions to the family. Aereon just stood shaking her head at the lot of them, strutting around like peacocks, acting like this was all their doing.
When Carolyn was clean and put to bed, the girls were brought in to see their mother then sent to their own beds with promises of lots of time with their new brothers tomorrow. Butcher, ever her children's caretaker, came in carrying a baby in his arms and laid him in the bed beside her with a huge smile on his face.
"Mistress," he winked broadly at her with a big grin.
"Butcher."
He turned, leaving, as Riddick watched on. Vaako was waiting his turn, a small finger wrapped around one of his. He leaned over placing the babe next to his sibling and kissed her cheek on his way up. She looked quizzically at him.
"I think I understand now," he told her referring back to a conversation they had long ago about children and families.
She smiled at him, "I'm glad." He returned the smile and then left the way he had come.
Riddick picked up a child and laid it in his wife's arms before picking up the other and holding him as he climbed up on the bed with her. He watched in fascination as Carolyn opened her gown and brought the baby to her breast. He was jealous as he watched his son latch onto his wife's nipple and started to suckle.
"Not jealous are you?" she chuckled breaking his train of thought.
"As a matter of fact," he said leaning over to kiss her neck.
She laughed and pushed his head away from her. "Behave yourself."
"Never."
She looked back down at the child she was nursing and began to un-wrap him from his blanket. She inspected every inch of him that she could while he was in this position while Riddick continued to watch. He finally broke his attention away when the child in his arms demanded his attention.
"I know. It's not fair is it?" He said to the baby. "Your brother's hogging all the best parts," causing Carolyn to laugh again. The baby in her arms was just falling asleep and his mouth had let go of her breast. She wiped his little mouth and wrapped him back up, trading off with their father and letting this one latch onto her other breast as she instructed Riddick on how to burp a baby. He stood walking around the room, doing as she instructed, as she nursed her first born boy. When he was done Riddick laid his bundle in the bed that Shanly had supplied and repeated the process with the next.
"Would it be so bad to name them after Furyan tradition?" he asked casually laying the boy down next to his brother.
"Is that what you want?"
He turned to look at her gesturing towards his sons, "Carolyn, we could name these babies thing one and thing two for all I care, as long as you're happy and everyone's healthy. That's all that matters to me."
She held out her arms and he crawled up the bed laying his head on her breast just as his newborn sons had. She rubbed his bald head, thinking about Rory and Ziza and their family. He was right of course but she would never tell him that. All that mattered was that their children were happy, safe and healthy. Nothing else mattered. She felt his breathing slow down as he was falling asleep in her arms.
She softly kissed his head as she finally let her body relax, "Kempton and Chatham Riddick, I can live with that," she murmured as she joined her boys in sleep.