Chapter 34: Red and White

The night had once again reached. It has been snowing radically ever since nightfall. And it could be proudly said that it has never snowed this much before in Wistal.

The gently blurred eyes which had been darkened by darkness for hours had now finally settled to open. A soft sound of pain developed out from her mouth. Slowly, she was beginning to recover. She blinked few times, but her eyes till stayed blurred. Her head felt like being pulled by gravity.

After managing few of her energy, she was able to sit, with her head on the head of the bed. Her eyes widened. She couldn't believe what her eyes were sighting

Zen stood there, looking outside the large window, wearing one of his comfortable inside garments. Most shocking of all, he was holding a baby on his chest, caressing the baby coolly. He was smiling and kissing the baby's head through the cloth covering her hair.

Shirayuki tried whispering Zen's name, but her voice was rasped and hurt very badly, presumably from screaming during her incomprehensible childbirth.

"Shirayuki?" Zen's voice came in, stunned. His eyes widen and quickly walked up to Shirayuki and hugged her tightly. The baby started crying. Zen released Shirayuki from the hug, took the nearest pillow, gently put the baby on it, and once again, he hugged her tightly than before.

Shirayuki felt cold drops on her shoulders. Zen was sobbing. "I'm so glad you're alright." As Shirayuki was about hugging back, it hurt more. "Zen, my arm." Zen immediately released his arms around Shirayuki.

"Does it hurt badly?" Zen asked as he rubbed his palm around the area where Shirayuki had permitted blood into her body. "Yes. A bit." She answered. He smiled and kept soothing Shirayuki's arm, but Shirayuki kept looking at the baby who was sleeping near to her.

"She's the second born," Zen said softly.

"She?" Shirayuki asked amused. Zen nodded. "Where's the other twin?"

"There. And it's a boy," Zen answered pointing to the other direction of the bed. Shirayuki almost jumped out of the bed. All this time her baby was lying beside her and she didn't even notice. She smiled proudly. Both of her babies were sleeping.

Zen told her everything, including the poisoning incident and after she passed out. "... After few hours, the nurse discharged you from receiving blood. I got to know the babies were not doing so great, but fine enough. So I told them if I could have a short time with them." He smiled to Shirayuki and asked, "Guess what happened next?"

Shirayuki smiled back, trying to figure out what could have happened. She shrugged her shoulders.

"The first time I held them in both my two arms, they started crying," Zen said with teary eyes. "After almost 24 hours of being born, it was their first time having a reaction; crying. The nurse and the midwife were also amazed and said it could the bond between the babies and I. I was above amazed

"That's amazing, Zen. You can make babies cry." They busted into laughter.

"Can I hold them?" Shirayuki asked. "Of course," Zen replied spontaneously.

Zen carried the twins to Shirayuki. "Hello, handsome, red-haired baby and beautiful, white-haired baby." She kissed her babies' forehead, and to her surprise, a big, deep-blue eyes and big green eyes were staring at her. The babies started giggling. Shirayuki melted.

"I make them cry and you make them open their eyes. Wow, Shirayuki, we might be possessing some superpowers," Zen commented, making Shirayuki smile.

Zehel and Laila.

That's their names.

Zehel for the elder male twin with big blue eyes and red hair, and Laila, who will also be known as Lily, for the younger female twin with big green eyes and white hair.

"They're gorgeous."

"I know. To go through all the troubles of giving birth to them, Shirayuki, I'm unlimitedly proud of you." Zen kissed Shirayuki's forehead.

A quick knock was heard and Zen received it.

"Hello, Princess. How are you feeling?" The midwife asked astonished by Shirayuki's presence.

"Quite well," Shirayuki replied as she gave Laila to Zen due tiredness of her arm, but still kept Zehel in her arms.

"Glad to hear," the midwife replied, "I came here because I would like to notify few things about Princess Shirayuki and the babies."

Zen and Shirayuki shared a quick surprised and sad look.

"Your blood transfusion went surprisingly well. Your body is going to have an immense transformation, that's why I have decided for you to have a very balance dieted-meals for the next one month. On top of everything, and the main reason why I'm here is to alert you of getting pregnant ever again. Having another life-threatening complication is definitely not good for you. If you ever happen to unintentionally get pregnant, we will have no choice but to miscarry the baby, due to your Placenta Previa, instant lack of blood, herrmohage (bleeding) and Hyperemesis Gravidarum. All of these rare complications are not to be engaged with, else your chance of living is also not positive or supported."

"As for the babies, I would advise for you to keep a very close eye on them, especially the younger one with the white hair. The babies were left without air for minutes, which suffocated them in the womb. It could have led to instant death, but thankfully, nothing bad happened, at least for now. They might be acting and looking normal, but still, because they are babies, we, the adults, cannot detect what is wrong with them. But with time, as they grow, the possibility of catching and having infections, complications, diseases, sicknesses and mostly disorders would be extremely high. I would recommend them to have periodic check-ups of their body."

Shirayuki looked sad. She couldn't believe this was the side effects of giving birth to innocent twins who also suffered in the uterus. She asked the midwife few questions about taking care of twins, especially now that they can be sickened very easily, the midwife gladly answered her and even recommended few and easy things. Shirayuki also asked about how she can improve Zehel's and Laila's health naturally. After asking her troubling questions and getting them answered, the midwife left.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, we're going to pull out of this together." Zen kissed Shirayuki on her scalp. Zehel yawned.

"And it looks like someone is hungry," Shirayuki said dryly as positioned herself into a respective position. With the help of Zen, Shirayuki managed to pull the shoulder sleeve off, revealing her tender, firm breast. If she remembers correctly, she must feed the baby fifteen minutes with each breast.

Zen didn't mind the scene. In fact, he was satisfied looking at Shirayuki for the first time feeding her own baby. As noticed, Laila, in his arms was also yawning of hunger. It really surprised him. For his knowledge, he thought babies cried immediately after feeling hunger, but his children were so gentle. He stood up from the bedside, started walking back and forth in their room and brought Laila to his chest and started patting her back, comforting her while Shirayuki breastfed Zehel.

After close to thirty minutes, it was Laila's turn to be breastfed. And Zen was now comforting Zehel to sleep. Zehel kept making cute sleep noises in his sleep. It felt amazing holding his own red hair and blue eyes son.

It was midnight and neither could Shirayuki and Zen wait for tomorrow. It's going to be an extremely busy day. The announcement to the citizens of Clarines of the birth of the Royal twins, Zehel and Laila would be tomorrow. Zen knew he is going to be remarkably tired tomorrow since Shirayuki has been ordered strictly to be in bed for the next six weeks for rest, but he's also looking forward to it too.

He placed Zehel onto a very comfortable pillow and comforted Laila to sleep while Shirayuki dealt with her still-leaking breasts.

Then he remembered. He went and fetched a red-colored box, embroidered very beautifully with gold, and settled beside Shirayuki by kneeling. Zen sighed nervously.

"This is for you." Zen gave the case to Shirayuki. She gave a puzzled look and quickly opened the box with its key.

"Zen," Shirayuki whispered softly. "This is beautiful and looks very hand-made." Shirayuki kept exploring the small box with admiration. "You made it?" Shirayuki asked Zen as she wiped the falling tears. Zen nodded.

In the beginning of their marriage, Shirayuki had once playfully requested a journal. The idea was to write about Zen and her experience for their children, in a story form. And she didn't just get a journal, she also had the art she had painted the day she had entered into labor, recreated in a smaller size. There were also two necklaces. The gold necklaces had a Z-letter and L-letter and a love-shaped accessory on its end. A picture-frame accessory. Shirayuki was above thankful for the gift her husband got for her and their children.

"Look, Zehel and Lily. Loot at what daddy got for your 1-day birthday present," Shirayuki said excitedly, showing the two necklaces to the fast asleep twins.

Shirayuki turned to Zen, looking at him straight into the eye thinking of the right words to say. She was just speechless. Zen smiled and gave her a very long and a comforting hug. She was crying. "Thank you for this amazing gift. I'm greatly happy for the journal, the art, and the necklaces you made by yourself for the children and me."

"It's okay, Shirayuki. I'm the one who should be thanking you for your spectacular job of bearing me two children at a time. You're the one who should receive a thank you." Zen gave a kiss on Shirayuki's lips. They pressed their foreheads together. "Thank you, Shirayuki."

After their short kisses and long moments together, they finally retired and Zehel and Laila were given to the nurses so they could sleep comfortably in their own cradles.

A/N:

Y'all remember Chapter 27: Tortures and Despairs, when Zen had woken up secretly after making sure Shirayuki was asleep. Well this is the reason: to surprise her wife and child(ren)

You might be wondering, how did Zen know Shirayuki will be giving birth to twins? That's because Zen had fastly recreated another necklace when Shirayuki was still resting after collapsing.

And was I the only who also found this chapter so cute. Zehel and Laila (also known as Lily) giggling after hearing their mother's voice for the first time (also crying after their father touching them), yawning to be breastfed, Zen's surprise journal for his wife and necklaces for his twins, Zen thanking Shirayuki for bearing him children, Zen always patting Lily's back.

But then again, who's really scared of their health as they grow? Especially Laila, since she suffocated badly in Shirayuki's womb.

Hope you enjoyed;)