The Family Auditore – Chapter 18 – Family

Early fall had come.

Isabelle was sitting by a window looking out at the landscape below. The trees were turning and the air was cooler. Her hand rested on the swell of her belly as she looked out. Mario and Ezio stood back from her, watching her.

Something about her was different today.

Ezio walked to her and kissed her cheek. "Hello, dulce."

"Ezio." She whispered.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing and everything."

He saw her hand move as she sighed. "Are you in labor?" He asked suddenly in concern. His hand went to her belly, resting above her hand.

"No, but it will be soon. Perhaps later today or tomorrow." She said wistfully.

ZzZ

Ezio joined his uncle later that day.

He watched Isabelle curiously and then smiled.

Mario chuckled. "I prefer her so." He said softly. "She has taken to throwing things at the architect when he displeases her."

"Perhaps he deserves it."

Mario laughed and led him away.

ZzZ

Isabelle was out on a walk with Claudia. The weather was warmer than it had been.

Claudia was commenting on clouds she saw building. Isabelle was paying no attention. She paused and touched her belly and then doubled over in pain. "Dio." She cried and panted against the pain. It was nothing she had ever felt before.

Claudia touched her. "Are you all right?"

"No…the pain…it is unbearable." Isabelle said through gritted teeth.

"What pain? What is going on?"

"The baby…"

Claudia gasped. "You are in labor?"

"Yes…I think so." Isabelle panted. She was able to straighten after a few moments.

"Come. To your chamber. Then I will fetch the midwife and Ezio."

Claudia saw her safely in her bed. She then ran outside.

Ezio was sparing with Mario. "Ezio!" Claudia cried.

"What is it Claudia?" Ezio asked parrying an attack.

"Uncle Mario!"

"What, child?"

"It's Isabelle!"

Ezio turned. "What about her?"

"She is in labor."

"Go fetch the midwife!" Mario said.

Claudia nodded. She moved as fast as she could to the village.

Ezio was already out of the ring before Mario could stop him. He ran into the villa and up to the room Isabelle had been in for months now.

"Isabelle!"

She was in the bed panting and curled over her belly.

Ezio went to her and caressed her back. "Tesoro! Easy." He said.

She looked up at him. "Ezio!"

"It will be all right." He said looking at her. He had no idea what he was doing.

She nodded. "It hurts."

"I know and I am sorry." He whispered to her.

"Make it stop!" She screamed reaching for him.

"I would if I could piccina." He said softly kissing her tear streaked cheek.

Mario arrived and watched as the girl got up and moved around shoving Ezio away from her as he tried to stop her. Mario took an arm as she waddled about almost aimlessly, but moving put her at ease for now.

ZzZ

She moved about with their help for hours.

She often paused as pains took her. The midwife watched and occasionally checked to see how the labor was progressing.

It had been hours and finally a nasty contraction sent the girl to the floor. She looked up at her brother-in-law and uncle, her eyes screaming for help. They managed to pick her up when it ended. She was becoming exhausted.

Mario noticed the blood on her leg and on the blood below her.

He looked to the midwife who came to him seeing the blood. Unceremoniously, she lifted the girl's skirts and felt her state. The men averted their eyes, though they were curious as well. She lifted her fingers back revealing the blood as well.

"Her water is broken. She can push now." She said.

Ezio nodded and helped the girl onto the bed. He took her hand and kissed it as Mario looked at the older woman who fixed them with a stare. "Out."

"I am not leaving her." Ezio said.

"Come, nipote. This is women's work. Shall we go for a ride?"

Ezio looked at him incredulously. "She is giving life and you suggest we leave her to her fate?"

"There is little productive we can do here."

Ezio hissed, but Mario managed to herd him outside the door. The midwife shut the door and Isabelle cried out for them, but Mario blocked his way. "It is not good to be there. A woman's torment in this time reminds us that when the children do come, what treasures they are."

All Ezio could do was sigh and turn to walk away from the door.

ZzZ

Isabelle screamed in pain. "Please…make it stop! I beg of you!" She cried.

They had laid her in the bed nearly an hour ago. The midwife had come and had seen to her. The older woman was used to the curses the girl was using and also the cries. Childbirth was painful and dangerous.

Mario watched as Ezio rose to his feet. He rose and put his hand to his nephew's chest. "You can't go in there."

"I need to be with her. She is in pain, uncle!" Ezio could not believe it had been nearly a day already since the pains had started.

He shook his head. "You must stay away or…"

The midwife appeared. "Messer Ezio. I need the doctor."

"What is going on?"

"The child is not facing right. I need his help or we may lose the mother and the child."

He looked in the door and saw his sister-in-law bent over herself and crying out in pain as a contraction hit. He nodded. "Yes. Yes. I will go fetch him!"

Ezio was nearly dragging the doctor in. "Please…Please save her." He begged. He could not go on if he lost his best friend too. They had spent much of the time remaining in her pregnancy speaking while he rubbed her back and feet to soothe her. It had been good for both of them to express their feelings.

The doctor nodded. He looked at the situation and then nodded to the young man. "Be easy." He closed the door and Ezio went to the wall and hit it.

Mario went to him. "Ezio…"

Ezio looked up at him. "You do not have a child so do not tell me you know what it is like."

Mario chuckled. "Neither do you. These babies are not your children."

"As good as with Federico murdered."

"True enough the measure of a father is not who gives you life, but who cares for you." Mario said. "Isabelle well knows this."

Ezio took a breath. "I will always be there for her."

Mario nodded and stood back as his nephew closed his eyes to pray.

ZzZ

The doctor came out of the room wiping his hands. Inside there was the sound of an infant squall. It was dark. They days were shorter, but still, it had been more than a day and a half since they had gathered the midwife to them.

Mario looked at Ezio. "The child!" he said. Ezio had been looking out the window.

Ezio looked up. Mario had been forced to restrain him on several occasions and now he was exhausted. The midwife walked out holding a small bundle. "You have a daughter. She is small, but strong." The doctor said. "The boy is also strong and larger." He said. He smiled. "The boy was turned wrong. Once he was free the girl came out within a push."

"What of Isabelle? What of my brother's wife?"

"She is exhausted and unconscious. I stopped the bleeding, but she will need much rest. The labor was taxing on her."

"Forty hours." Ezio said. He moved to look at his niece and nephew. The girl looked up at him boldly. Ezio then held out his arms and took the tiny baby. He held her close, almost afraid she was too small to hold. He walked into the room.

Mario looked up. "She is perfect, nephew. The next generation of Auditore has been born to us." He said taking the boy in his own arms.

The room smelled like blood and sweat. He saw his wife lying on the sheets. She was pale and appeared to be sleeping, but as she heard his footfalls, she looked up. She looked so tired, but still beautiful even with her hair matted with sweat from her exertions.

The midwife moved to the windows to allow a fresh breeze into the stifling place. Ezio sat down beside his brother's wife and cupped her head. He bent and kissed her brow. "You did well, Cara." He said. He moved to the other side of the bed and laid down beside her. He shifted the baby and laid her between them. "She is so beautiful like her mother." He said.

Isabelle smiled up at him and sighed as sleep reclaimed her. He watched his niece and beloved sister-in-law sleep before he allowed himself to relax. Mario laid the boy in the cradle he had made for them. Mario was actually quite a carpenter and had made both cribs for them. He had surprised Isabelle with them a month ago.

It was after dinner time when the children started to squall. Ezio looked down as the tiny mouth screamed her heart out.

Isabelle woke and looked down at the baby. She sighed. Still weary, she reached and bared a breast to the tiny babe. Ezio watched in awe as the baby nuzzled about and the found her mark and began to nurse from her mother. The soft sounds and watching the baby feed from Isabelle was one of the most moving things Ezio had ever witnessed. He cupped the tiny head and bent to kiss her before looking up at the still exhausted mother. Her face had an odd ecstasy to it.

When the girl had her fill, Ezio brought over the screaming boy who then suckled as well. Once he calmed enough to feel the liquid on his lips he latched on and drank.

He kissed her cheek softly and her eyes opened. "Ezio." She whispered.

"Isabelle." He looked down. "We need to name them."

"I have not thought of such things." She said.

He smiled. "They will be christened as Auditore within the week. What do you think of Giana Cristina?" he asked.

She smiled. "Beautiful." She smiled. "And the boy?"

"Giovanni Federico."

Her eyes misted as did his and he held her as he looked down at his nephew suckling.

He lifted the boy and rubbed his back as the midwife had told him. The boy burped and then settled down.

Both were in their cribs and happy.

ZzZ

Claudia and Mario visited later in the evening.

They took their turns with the babies, but when one started to cry Ezio shooed them out so Isabelle could nurse. He thought nothing of holding the other baby as he watched. He tenderly caressed Isabelle's hair. It was still sweat-fouled, but he combed his fingers though it to soothe her and perhaps himself.

She looked up at him. "Are you all right Ezio?"

"Yes." He said. "Sorry I am miles away. Were you speaking?"

"No just watching." She said.

He nodded and sighed.

He looked at the babies. They were perfect. Totally perfect.

ZzZ

It took some time for Isabelle to recover. The labor had cost her much in terms of energy. She was confined to bed for more than a month recovering enough to even move about the room. Finally she was able to make short walks into the villa grounds.

It was not long before the girl was again making plans for the villa. A wet-nurse had been hired due to Giovanni being such a hungry little baby. He ate and did not leave any for his smaller more petite sister. There was a woman, the wife of one of the mercenaries who had just given birth a month ago. She had a healthy boy and milk to spare. Plus the added income was always welcome.

Ezio sighed as he learned from his uncle more. He realized that he needed to stay here for the babies and for Isabelle's sake. She had a purpose now, something to redirect her mind away from the murder of her husband. The children were growing well.

She was often found alone, daydreaming, with tears in her eyes. Ezio longed to kiss them away, but it was too soon. He soothed her as best he could.

They had a long road ahead of them.