Perla turned her attention back to Leila as she went to hold her hand. "It'll be alright, Leila... you'll be just fine...", she told her as Leila chuckled.
"Perla... not my first time, remember?", she chuckled. "I'm sure I'll be alright giving birth to two... hopefully much more if a certain friend of ours sneaks in.".
"Friend...", Perla whispered. She mentally hit herself. Magic... she knew she was going to have to come clean with Adam about things; he had to know, especially since she was carrying their children.
Leila replied, "We will be okay, Perla.", taking deep breaths at the mild contractions, knowing that this will take several hours, and luckily, with plenty of food, rest, and assistance, she would deliver the babies safely.
Perla nods, knowing that she will tell the truth to Adam tonight, along with her announcement of her pregnancy, but right now, she has to focus on helping Leila as she luckily knew about labor and such, hearing the castle fill up with gossip and frantic noise.
"Please make sure the number of folks here isn't many though...", Leila asked. "Nerves and all, you know? Might not help much with the labor.".
Perla reassured her, "Don't worry, Mrs. Potts will be in charge of the hot water and towels and of course, the snacks. It's only me and Juliet...I know you would want Jules to be here, but we'd have to see if Beast is okay since this is his castle and all, midwifery and labor laws.".
Leila replied, "Let's just start with you and Juliet for now with the first baby...I'll see how I feel after that, okay?", with a reassuring smile. "Okay... and I'm sure Jules would be fine with that... not the first time himself when his wife is giving labor.", Perla said.
"Not to mention growing up knowing the whole laws and traditions... or at least what the others sort of still hung on after all the mess of French society in the past few decades.", Leila chuckled with a shrug.
Perla nods before a knock came at the door, "Miss Perla, Mrs. Russo? It's Mrs. Potts, I got hot water and towels and all.", and she calls out, "Come in! Leila is not indecent yet! It's still early yet.".
"Okay! Coming in!", Mrs. Potts's tea cart came in, bringing pitchers of hot water, warm towels, and plates of snacks and tea to make the labor progress nicely.
Leila smiled at Mrs. Potts appreciatively, "Thank you, Mrs. Potts...", as Leila settled the trays on the large dresser, and Mrs. Potts smiled warmly, "You're very welcome, Leila. It's such a beautiful day to give birth to a couple of miracles. I'll be praying with faith for all of you, and I'll be close by, if you need anything else.".
"Thank you.", Perla nodded. "Is Juliet on he-", she didn't even finish when Juliet practically ran right into the doorway and got into the room. "-way?", with a little amused smile. "Is-", Juliet panted as she clearly rushed to room. "Is she alright?!".
Leila chuckled, "I swear you're even worse than Jules, my daughter. I've barely started, darling.", as Mrs. Potts left on her tea cart, and Juliet replied sheepishly, "Sorry, Mama. I just...This is going to be my half-sister and half-brother, in a way.", as she closed the door tightly.
"I know, Juliet, but having you, my grown-up daughter and my second adult daughter in Perla, it's perfect...", Leila smiled before taking a deep breath, exhaling at another contraction.
Perla replied, "Come on, Juliet, let's settle and prepare our mother for the big day.", and Juliet nodded, helping Leila change out of her clothes, into a modest birthing dress, checking on the progress of the dilation, with Leila walking around the room or resting on the bed, eating snacks and drinking tea, crying out as contractions increase over the next couple of hours, and then at the 10-minute mark after two hours, Leila shouted, "First baby is on the way out!".
Juliet checked, "They are, and you're all dilated, Mama! Breathe and push!", and Perla held her hand, "You got this, Leila!", as Leila took a deep breath, pushed, crying out in pain.
Outside in the hallway, Jiminy, Mrs. Potts, Beast is waiting while hearing the sounds of Leila, with Jules sitting on a chair, his hair mussed up, clenching his hands into his legs, praying. He is partly relieved that Ray is playing with the children in the painting room a floor up. Ella would have been scared and quiet if she was here.
"You holding up alright?", Beast asked Jules as he took a deep breath, "Alright... a little bit... just... now that the day has come; the nerves and worries sort of hit all at once. I was doing fine for months before but now...".
Beast rumbled softly, "It's becoming real for you...", and Jules nodded softly, "Yes, it is...Gods, I wish I was in there by Leila's side...It sounds so painful just like it was with Amelie when she was in labor with Ella...".
"Well, the doctor was in charge there, right?", Beast asked, and Jules nodded, "Yes, it was...". Beast patted his shoulder gently, "Then since Perla and Juliet's in charge, and I'm the master of the castle, I'll see if they can allow you in if Leila wants you then.".
Jules gave a small smile, "Much grateful for the thought, Beast...I trust Perla and Juliet...They are professionals already with experience of sorts.", before biting his lip as he heard another cry of pain.
Leila kept pushing and taking deep breaths, with brief breaks of rest, lasting for 50 minutes before she shouted in pain when she felt her vagina burning at the edges, "Is it crowning?!".
"Yes, you're doing great, Mama! Almost there! Oh, look at that, it got Jules' hair color! Breathe and push!", Juliet encouraged. Perla felt Leila's hand clenching into hers as she took a deep breath, and pushed, shouting in pain as the head came through.
Perla replied, "Oh, oh, you got it, Leila, one more push!", and Leila panted heavily, tears falling as she smiled in joy, and took two deep breaths before pushing, grunting, crying out in pain before she felt the baby pop free of her, and she panted, leaning back on the pillows, as Juliet patted the baby's back, and came a hearty, loud wail.
"It's a girl, Mama!", Juliet sobbed happily as she grabbed a warm towel, cleaning her new sister, lopsidedly wrapping the towel around the baby as she cried loudly, shivering and wiggling, placing her on Leila's chest.
Leila sobbed softly with tears as she held her new daughter, shushing, kissing her forehead gently, "It's okay, baby...I'm here...Mama's here...", as her baby cried, whimpering and snuffling, soon settling as she realized that she's warm and safe.
"Look at you...You're truly your daddy's daughter...You got his handsome locks...", Leila whispered in awe and happiness, as Perla gently cut the cord, tying a bit to the belly button. Indeed, the baby girl got Jules's raven black hair in little curls, having Leila's warm tan skin tone, with Jules' nose, and Leila's mother's smile, and she revealed to have dark hazel eyes.
Juliet covered Leila's legs again with the blanket, asking softly, "You want Jules to come in?", and Leila glanced at her, "Yes, please. Our boy is still not coming yet. It should be fine.".
Juliet walked to the door before opening it and seeing the crowd waiting nearby. "Well, you'll be happy to know that my baby sister's here and well.", she smiled as a look of relief and happiness befell everyone. "Of course, now still waiting on my baby brother... Um, Jules, would you like to come in and be here for Mama?".
Mrs. Potts was about to protest, but a look by Beast was directed at her, and Beast chuffed, "Go ahead, Jules.", with an approving smile, and Jules smiled gratefully, nervously excited as he came in, with Juliet closing it, looking at his wife looking at him with happy tears, "Come along, my love, meet our daughter...".
Jules took a few slow steps before he finally got up to her. "She's... she's perfect...", he whispered as Leila chuckled. "Careful, you don't want to say that when Ella is around.", she reminded him.
Jules smiled, kissing her on the lips, "They're both two perfect little girls, Leila, and a beautiful wife in you...So, what are we going to call her?", as he gently sat down, caressing his daughter's head softly as she blinked at him, gurgling quietly.
Leila smiled warmly, "Well, if it wasn't for Evangeline, I wouldn't have been here, having you, this beautiful baby girl, and of course, our awaiting baby boy, so it makes sense to honor her in a way of sorts...Tiana...I know it isn't French or Italian, but...", looking at her husband with a smile.
"Tiana...Tiana Gabrielle Russo...", Jules whispered, giving his part as well to name their daughter, smiling, and Leila kissed him on the cheek, "I love it...Our Tiana Gabrielle Russo...", looking down at their daughter, "Welcome home, Tiana...".
Tiana gurgled happily, soaking in the love of her parents before her belly grumbled, and she snuffled in confusion, feeling hungry, and Leila chuckled warmly, "Hold on, baby.", before loosening the strap free, and adjusted her daughter to her breast who dutifully tasted her milk for a moment before eagerly latching into it, drinking hungrily.
"Tiana seems like she's alright...", Jules said as Leila nodded. "Thank goodness about that then... but... we're not exactly out of the woods yet with things...".
Jules kissed her on the forehead, "You did so good, Leila, with Tiana. You're strong, and you can do it again with our son...", as they gazed upon their daughter. Leila smiled, "I'm definitely rubbing off on you, my love.".
For several minutes, Tiana drank from her mother's breast before Leila gasped softly with a moan, feeling a second water bag break, and she took a deep breath, feeling mild contractions, and Jules whispered, "Is it time?".
Leila replied, "It's just mild right now, couldn't be too long now...", with a smile, "Let me just finish feeding this darling of ours first...", and Jules nodded as a few more minutes passed before Tiana finished, and Leila patted her back gently as she gave a burp, and yawned as Leila passed her into Jules' arms.
"I've been on this bed for an hour already, I need exercise.", Leila said as she got up a bit easier, taking deep breaths as she took to walk around the room, with Perla's help, while Jules swayed Tiana to sleep in his arms, yawning before snuggling into his shirt, cooing into dreamland.
Upon agreement an hour later, Juliet gently took Tiana in her arms, heading outside as the contractions were getting stronger, with Leila crying out in pain, stifling the noise for Tiana, before she was able to do it again when Tiana was safely out from the room, with Perla closing the door, hearing Jiminy, Beast, and Mrs. Potts quietly admire Tiana.
Perla went to check as Jules held Leila's hand, "Breathe, my love.", with Perla replying, "Looks like it's going to be soon. You're not fully dilated yet, Leila. You good with me checking for his position?".
Leila nodded, "Yes, please!", and Perla checked Leila's belly, gently prodding the boy into the headfirst position, checking, as Leila took deep breaths, crying out in pain at the quickening contractions.
30 minutes later, Leila gasped out in pain, "I feel him coming!", and Perla checked, "Yes, you're in the clear. Breathe and push!".
Leila groaned as she started to push, knowing that it wouldn't be long and then it was all over; she was quietly thanking it was only twins and not more as she was sure she'd probably not make it then. "Come on, you can do this!", Jules assured her.
It lasted for almost 40 minutes as Leila breathed, pushed, and cried out in pain, feeling her son coming closer and closer before shouting in pain when she heard Perla's announcement, "I see his head! He's crowning! Almost there, Leila!".
Jules laughed in relief and tears, "You hear that? We're almost there, love! You got this! Breathe!", and Leila gave him a happy, tired smile as she took a deep breath, and then pushed, grunting as she loudly cried in pain, feeling her son's head emerge.
"That's it, one or two more pushes gotcha do it!", Perla encouraged, and Jules kissed her cheek, "I'm right here, Leila!".
Leila took a big deep breath, and pushed, heaving as she grunted, shouting in pain, as Perla brought the baby out, and with a pop, Leila panted heavily as she rested back on the pillows when a wholesome newborn wail echoed through the room.
That was a welcome sigh of relief for her when she heard that, meaning that their son was alright. "It's a boy...", Perla chuckled. "Not that we didn't know already...".
Jules sobbed happily, "Oh, Leila, he's beautiful!", as Perla cleaned their son, cutting the cord, saving a bit to the belly button as their son cried, wiggling and shivering, and is then placed into Leila's chest as Leila whispered, shushing, crying happily, "I'm here, little one...Mama's here...".
Their son has very dark red hair in small tufts, having Jules' pale tan skin tone, Leila's nose, and Jules' father's smile, and his eyes are light hazel. Jules chuckled warmly as he caressed his son's head, "Looks like he and Tiana has the same hazel color, just in different shades of depth...but the rest of him, he's a wonderful mix of us...".
Their son soon settled, snuffling and whimpering as he felt his mama's warmth and his father's presence, safe and loved, and Leila smiled tearfully, "He's perfect...and he's all ours...What are we going to call him, Jules?".
"Well, I was thinking either Charles or Jacques for his first name.", Jules replied thoughtfully with a hum, looking at Leila for approval.
"I think I like Jacques more...", Leila smiled as Jules chuckled, "It's a good, strong name for such a strong young man... after all, he certainly has some loud cries... that's pretty strong.".
Leila giggled softly, kissing her son's forehead lovingly, "I'm here, Jacques...Jacques Lucca Russo...", and Jacques cooed, and Jules smiled, caressing his son's head, "I love it, Leila...", kissing her on the lips warmly.
Perla chuckled, "Shall I get Tiana in to meet her twin brother?", and the couple smiled, nodding, and Perla then headed to the door, opening it with a smile, "We got a baby boy, Jacques. Juliet, come bring Tiana in.".
Juliet followed, holding her baby sister as she chuckled, "There's your brother, Tiana... you finally can see him now. Pretty sure it was very dark in the womb for the two of ya.".
Tiana cooed and gurgled as she had woken up from her long nap several minutes ago, and Juliet carried her closer to the small family, and Jacques cooed as Tiana came into Leila's other arm, and their feet wiggled between each other.
Leila chuckled as they seemed to babble in baby talk, "Welcome home, Jacques.", before a knock on the door sounded out, and they looked up to see Perla smiling, "Look who's shy to meet her new siblings.", as Ella was hiding behind Perla's legs.
Juliet chuckled softly, "Well, let's not overwhelm the little ones too much. I'll see you around, little brother and sister.", kissing Jacques and Tiana on the foreheads, and then left with Perla, closing the door, with Ella slowly walking up to the bed shyly, "Momma? Can I...I climb up into the bed?".
"Of course, darling.", Leila smiled warmly as Ella smiled shyly, climbing into the bed, around Leila's free side, kneeling as she peeked carefully at her new siblings, "You're right, Papa. They are real small...".
Jules smiled warmly, "Yes, but they are healthy just the same.", as Tiana and Jacques cooed at their middle older sister, and Ella smiled happily, "They, they like me! What are their names?".
Leila hummed, "The little girl with the black hair is Tiana, and the little boy with the dark red hair is Jacques.", and Ella blinked, "Can I call them Tia and Jaq?", with a little glance at her parents.
The parents smiled happily, "Of course you can, Ella.", before Tiana gave a hungry cry, and Jacques copied her hesitantly, trying to follow her lead, and Leila smiled, freeing her straps, and began to feed the little ones as Jacques discovered that his mama's milk is delicious, happily suckling in unison with his twin sister.
The small family went to have their special time for a few hours with the twins, with Ella happily holding them one by one, while the rest of the family cheered and chatted around with the news from Juliet and Perla, knowing that they will meet the twins in due time.
Perla, being the resident healer, knew that Leila would need plenty of herbs to make her produce enough milk to feed the twins, but first, she is nervous yet excited about her newfound pregnancy, asking Beast to take her to a quiet spot to talk.