8 and a half months later
Halt and Pauline were on their way back from the market the rumors had stopped for the most part for quite obvious reasons. Paulines hands rested on her quite prominant belly she was 8 plus months pregnant with twins. She smiled at her husband as he lifted a sack up onto his shoulder for the walk home. When a woman who had been particularly rude to Pauline with her rumor spreading started to speak Halt gave her a glare that could have woken the dead and she thought better of it. They still weren't public with their affection but now they didn't really need to be.
Halt was a nervous wreck he was excited to see his children but was also terrified about if he would be a good father or if something were to happen. Pauline on the other hand had a level of calm that rivaled the gods about the whole thing. She had with perfect confidence attended her appointments with the healers notified everyone who needed to be notified as the time got closer. She had even called Crowley into town early to try and calm Halt who was currently stuck to her like glue. When they arrived at the cabin he was there waiting for them.
"Greetings" he called swinging down easily from his horse.
"Pauline you look lovely and about to burst" he said giving her a warm hug.
"Thank you Crowley it's good to see you" she said.
"Halt you look like death are you alright? The children aren't even born yet and you are already tired" Crowley teased.
Halt muttered a reply going to set the supplies in the house.
"He's been a bit of a nervous wreck lately and stuck to me like glue" Pauline said "I love him but he needs to relax before he keels over my mother is coming to sit with me tonight do you think you could get his mind off all this for a little while."
Crowley nodded "that I can handle."
Halt walked back out of the house to the two a few moments later "what are you up to" he said the instant he saw Crowley's devious grin.
"Up to? Not a thing. Let's you and I go have some fun" Crowley said.
"If you are after something to do there is plenty here" Halt said.
"Nope come on give your wife a break from your grim old face and lets go I've even saddled your horse" Crowley said.
Sure enough Abelard stood at the fence saddled and ready to go. He tossed his head as if to say 'don't just stare at me get on'.
"While I disagree with the grim old face Crowley is right you need to get away for a while you have done everything humanly possible to be ready and my mother will be here tonight we will be just fine" Pauline said caressing her stomach.
"But-" Halt started to argue.
"I will be fine, Halt" Pauline said and kissed his cheek then added more sternly "now go."
Halt knew he was defeated between the two of them and mounted his horse after kissing his wife briefly not willing to give Crowley a show. Crowley smiled and mounted his horse and they started off.
"See some good old fashioned fun will do you some good" Crowley said jovially.
"If anything happens while I'm gone so help me I'll deck you" Halt muttered threateningly.
Crowley shook his head and took Halt to the tavern in Wensley. He practically drug Halt inside and sat him down ordering an ale for himself and something "a good but stronger for an expectant father."
About 4 drinks in Halt had a decent buzz going in his head as did most of the bar by that time. Crowley included was slightly friskier than normal and talkative most of the bar knew Halt had twins due soon at this point and had given him various forms of advice ranging from hovering and doting parenting styles to more fend for yourself antics. Halt had ignored them all intent on keeping the steady hum in his head to get him through the evening.
"Must have been fertile as a spring mare her ah? Two at the same time will just make it easier next breeding I suppose" one man said obnoxiously quite obviously having to much to drink.
He didn't look familiar he must have been from out of town because the small group around him that had perviously been laughing and talking went silent and eyed Halt nervously. Halt was fuming at Pauline being spoken of in such a tone and gripped his mug tightly.
"Watch your mouth" he muttered through clenched teeth.
The man turned round "what was that little man?" He said.
By now the group around him was beginning to try to get out of the way.
"I said don't talk about my wife in that manner" Halt's Hibernian accent shining a little more brightly with a few drinks in his system.
"Your wife ha no wonder she's having two a wee man like you left plenty of room had a real man had her she would have been much more satisfied" the man foolishly added downing his pint.
"I'd shut up if I was you he's one of them rangers not the kind to tangle with" the bartender said trying to take the mans drink and dismiss him.
"Come on Halt let's go" Crowley said standing quickly as Halt stood up.
Halt let his friend drag him past the man.
"That's right go home to your little broodmare" the man said.
That was it. Halt spun on his heal before Crowley could even think about stopping him and cold cocked the man in the nose. The man let out a yell as he grabbed his face blood pouring over his hands.
"Why you little..." the man flew into Halt like an angry bull.
He was fast for his size and with Halt's mind altered by the booze he wasn't as fast as usual he took a glancing blow to the face as he stepped out of the way as the men went crashing into a pillar and to the ground. The man was knocked out cold on his own weight.
"Do we need to clean up this mess or will you?" Crowley said shoving Halt out the door.
"I'll get it this time only because it's not his fault. This mans been starting a ruckus all night going to toss him out as soon as he pays his tab" the barkeep said.
"Well... you're welcome then" Crowley said before walking out of the bar.
The two had barely gotten out the door when the boy from the farm nearest Halt came hurrying along on a big plodding plow horse the beast stopped uncomfortably and Halt barely managed to stabilize the boy before he ate the dirt.
"Ranger Halt its lady Pauline" he panted "the babies."
Halt hurried to where the horses were tied.
"Looks like you are going to be a father a little early" Crowley said.
Halt reached over and slugged him on the shoulder "Haven't you hit enough people tonight!" Crowley said.
"I warned you!" Halt said Abelard wheeling on his back legs quickly getting them home at a dead run.