"Just a bit more, Eva... just a bit more...", Sylvia told her; Evangeline might not be able to handle much more of this especially if things suddenly started taking too long. Sylvia was going to do all that she could but even she had some limits... else she would've already just simply had the newborn popped right out of his mother's womb and right into her arms.
It took 25 minutes as Evangeline labored, took deep breaths as the contractions became quicker and quicker, and then Evangeline cried out in pain as the latest contractions got more painful, and Sylvia checked once more like she has been checking every five minutes, and announced, "You're clear! Breathe and push!".
Evangeline clutched Ray's free hand as she took a deep breath, and pushed at the end of another contraction, crying out in pain. This repeated for an hour before she felt the familiar pain of her vagina stretching out as she shouted in pain, and Sylvia called out, "The head's crowning! Almost there, Eva!".
Ray kissed Evangeline on the temple and lips, "Hear that? Almost there, my love!", glad that Charlotte wasn't disturbed all this time, slumbering peacefully in his arm, and Evangeline panted, tired, sweaty, and beyond relieved that she's almost there.
She took a big deep breath, and pushed, grunting as she screamed out in pain, feeling the head come through, along with the shoulders, as Sylvia announced, "That's it, one more push!", as she cleaned the nose and mouth of the baby.
Evangeline took a deep breath, and heaved, grunting as she pushed, crying out in pain, and then with a pop, the baby was freed, and as if the baby had sensed that the warmth was gone, the baby then gave out a heartfelt wail of life.
"It's a boy! He sure looks like his father, yet slender like his mother!", Sylvia smiled heartily as she held her wiggling, slightly shivering, and nude nephew as Evangeline pushed out the afterbirth, and then all but collapsed back into the pillows, panting and smiling as she heard her son's cries.
"Eve?", Ray looked at her as Evangeline looked over to him and squeezed his hand, "I'm alright; just tired...", with a reassuring smile.
"Can't blame you since we didn't get much sleep during the night there...", Ray chuckled, knowing that they had slept from like 9 pm, and woke up a bit before midnight.
Evangeline chuckled softly, "I think the others would understand if we slept in after this...", as Sylvia magically cut the cord and tied a bit to the belly button, and smiled, "There you go, little tyke.", passing the crying baby boy into Evangeline's arms.
"Oh, it's okay, darling, Mama's here...", Evangeline shushed him gently, giving him featherlight kisses on his forehead, "Your aunt's right...you really look like your Papa...My adorable boy, Louis.", with a smile.
Louis got Ray's black hair, but rather fine and soft, having Evangeline's nose and smile masculine style, and Ray's dark brown eyes, and his skin tone is caramel, like his twin sister, but Louis is a dark caramel shade while Charlotte is a light caramel shade.
"Hard to believe they're real sometimes...", Ray admitted. "I honestly never thought this sort of moment would happen with me...", he said. He had a point; he still thought some time ago that his fate was to be separated from Naveen eventually and die from being worked to death.
Evangeline smiled gently, kissing him on the lips lovingly, "Don't think that no more, Ray...You're a papa again, and you have a woman who loves you for who you are...", as Sylvia canceled the mild soundproofing aura off Charlotte, and upon hearing little snuffling cries, she woke up sleepily, yawning before blinking in surprise, and then babbled eagerly to Louis, who quieted down, blinking at his twin sister, and babbled back, having a little smile.
Ray chuckled, "Good nap, sweetheart?", kissing Charlotte on the forehead, and she cooed before her belly grumbled again, and she whined hungrily, reaching for Evangeline.
Evangeline smiled as Ray gently passed Charlotte into her arms, and with a smile at Louis, Charlotte eagerly showed her twin brother as she immediately latched into a nipple, suckling, and Louis blinked in confusion for a moment before his belly grumbled, and he then realized the familiar feeling, and followed Charlotte's example, quickly taking the other nipple on the free breast, suckling.
Ray sighed contentedly, caressing Louis's head gently, "You're right, my love. This isn't a dream...He looks a lot like me, yet he got your nose and smile, while Lottie looks a lot like you, yet having my nose and dimples...They're perfect...", kissing Evangeline on the lips lovingly as Sylvia cleaned up the mess underneath her cousin.
"You know we're going to have to let Naveen know...", Ray chuckled as Evangeline smirked, "You tell him, and make sure he doesn't scream again this time... we don't want these two to become deaf.".
Ray sighed dramatically before chuckling warmly, and Evangeline giggled, and Sylvia then replied, "Do you want me to send all of you back in your bedroom? It won't make the tykes sick, I promise, Ray.".
Ray smiled, "At least everybody is asleep. I guess the echo of the ballroom here wasn't loud, and yes, I suppose we better, as Naveen's bedroom is not far from our bedroom.".
Evangeline then replied, "It will be really quick, Ray. Thank you for everything, Via...And is this earning you the temptation to have a baby, cuz?", with a smile.
"Not quite sure yet, cuz, but I'll let you be the second to know after Jiminy, deal?", Sylvia nodded with a smirk. Evangeline chuckled, "Deal. And oh, tell Jiminy hello for us.".
Sylvia replied, "Will do. Alright, ready?", as Evangeline tightened her hold slightly on her babies as they suckled, distracted, as Ray wrapped his arm around her, and they nodded, and then Sylvia snapped her fingers, with a white aura enveloping over the family in micro-seconds, and vanished with a pop, and then appeared flawlessly back into their bed in their bedroom, on the second floor of the castle.
Ray blinked, "Whoa, that was really quick.", as he glanced at the twins, undisturbed from their feeding, and Evangeline smiled, "Sylvia doesn't make halves, indeed. Now, go get Naveen.".
Ray nodded as he headed out and towards where Naveen's room was. Hopefully, the boy was still fairly tired when being woken up and told the news. He slowly opened the door to find the boy still asleep as he walked over to the bed and started to gently nudge him. "Naveen... Naveen, wake up...", he whispered.
Naveen sleepily opened his eyes, "Papa?", and Ray smiled warmly, "Mama wants to show you something.".
"Okay...It's early, Papa...", Naveen yawned as he sleepily rubbed his eyes, and Ray nodded, "Yes, I know, but it's very important.".
Naveen blinked in confusion as his mind slowly woke up, and then nodded as he got out of bed, walking by his father, and as they got to the door of the master bedroom, Ray replied, "Now, be quiet, okay?".
"Why?", Naveen asked as Ray smiled. "Well, would you like to meet your new siblings?", he asked as Naveen's eyes widened.
"Please, I know you're excited, but you have to be quiet, promise?", Ray asked, and Naveen nodded as he was trying to hold back his excitement.
Ray smiled, "That's my boy.", as he opened the door, seeing that Evangeline is now tucked into a blanket, still feeding the twins, and they walked in, with Ray closing the door.
Naveen was still wide-eyed as he walked quietly, and Evangeline smiled at him, "Come up, Naveen, meet your new baby brother and sister.", and Naveen gave a toothy smile as he climbed into the bed, crawling over to sit by her, as Ray sat next to Evangeline's other side, smiling.
"Golly, they look like both of you, Mama, Papa, and that skin tone, it's like caramel in tones between them...A real mix...Which one is Charlotte, and which one is Louis?", Naveen spoke quietly in awe as he couldn't easily see their genders, being tucked closely to Evangeline's breasts.
"Charlotte is the one with a bit more hair.", Evangeline explained. It also helped that she knew which one was which thanks to when they were born.
Naveen blinked, "Oh...Charlotte is awfully pretty like you, Mama. Oh, she got our dimples, Papa.", and Ray chuckled warmly, "Indeed. She's going to grow up into an outgoing, eager girl, that's for sure.", as Charlotte heard a new voice, a familiar voice she heard from inside the womb, finishing her meal, along with a little burp from Evangeline patting her back, she looked up at Naveen, cooing softly.
"Hi, little sister. It's Naveen, your big brother. Is it okay if I call you Lottie?", Naveen smiled widely, and Charlotte gave a happy squeal, gummily smiling, and Naveen went to move closer, with his finger immediately clenched by Charlotte, "Gosh, your hand is tiny!".
Evangeline chuckled, "That's because she and Louis are just newborns, and of course, surprising your father.", with a wry smile as Naveen looked a bit confused before gasping, "Oh, they really came after midnight? Because today is your birthday, Papa?", looking at Ray with a wide smile.
"I know, I think they may have known it too which is why they're here. They are fairly smart for mere babies after all.", Ray said.
Naveen giggled, "I knew I had a feeling about it!", before seeing Louis who finally finished his meal, burping lightly after a pat from Evangeline, and gurgled at Naveen who smiled, "Hi, little brother, I'm Naveen.", and Louis blinked, cooing happily as he realized that Naveen was the one behind the lullabies and the music, before yawning.
Evangeline chuckled as Charlotte followed along, and Naveen smiled, "Mama, can I sing the lullaby?", and she smiled warmly, "Of course, darling.".
Naveen then snuggled in, singing softly and warmly as he yawned himself, rubbing his eyes, and the twins yawned as they listened to their big brother singing, and before they knew it, halfway through the lullaby, the trio of youngsters fell asleep, and Ray sighed contentedly, "We have a family, Eve...And they're all ours...", carefully tucking Naveen in.
Evangeline nodded, "They sure are...And I couldn't imagine anyone better than you, Ray...", kissing him on the lips tenderly, and Ray whispered softly, "I love you, my angel of my heart.".
"I love you too, my bright light.", Evangeline whispered warmly before Ray gently took the twins out of her arms, into their own bassinets near the bed, in the corner, where they can see the twins easily, with little nightgowns to keep them warm.
Ray then returned to the bed, smiling as Naveen didn't move, just snuggled in, sleeping peacefully, as Evangeline closed the buttons on her top, and tucked herself in, exhausted yet happy, intertwining fingers with Ray's fingers over Naveen's back on the blanket, "At least I can now sleep normally again without them tumbling around in my belly.", with a sleepy chuckle.
"Finally get a good night's rest, huh?", Ray chuckled as she nodded, "Well, at least not having to wake up in the middle of the night and then having to try and fall back asleep...".
Ray replied, "Well, one thing for sure, our twins would have a few hours before they need a nappy change or a feeding again.", before yawning, "Sleep well, Eve.".
Evangeline smiled, "Sleep well, Ray.", before they fell asleep. And so, the castle soon knew about the new arrivals at lunchtime after the adults slept in, thanks to Naveen telling the whole family.
The birthday party of Ray was spent with moments of showing off the twins, mentioning the night birth of them, and Sylvia helping deliver them, and the family delighted in meeting the twins at their pace, and after the cake was given, Ray, after getting Adam's permission, even if Adam told him that the whole staff didn't care that Ray is a free black, proposed to Evangeline, and being surprised yet overjoyed, she said yes.
And so, the family enjoyed their time of being part of the castle's lifestyle, as years passed, with Adam & Perla getting married with all their children at their sides one spring, and Ray & Evangeline getting married one autumn.
Belle and Juliet are still anxious about getting married, especially with the fact that the law of two women or two men together intimately forbidden is still in force in the outside world, especially when the children grew up as they discovered that their daughter Gianna has a crush on Jolene, Adam and Perla's middle child.
Naveen and Carlo are courting as they are almost out of their teenage years, almost 18, which is also a bit of an anxiety as well, but the boys themselves don't care as they are in love with each other. The others are either in different stages of age where they think girls or boys have cooties, or having crushes, or having more courtships, like Chip is courting Azure.
Yet there's trouble brewing in the outside world, the fires of revolution and the eliminations of monarchies, the fears the great powers of Europe had 50 years prior were once more spreading; and of course, considering it had been the epicenter of the fire before, it was all starting up in France once more.
For the family, however, it honestly felt so far away in ways, most of the rumblings for the moment were more around Paris but they all knew well enough that if things turned bad; that the clamors for reforms give way to violent revolutionaries like it had in the 1790s, they all would find themselves in danger once more.
With Fay's hiding spell fading slowly year by year, the castle wasn't in danger yet, but it was getting to be known, thanks to the lands around it, and the village itself was rumbling with revolution, with little armies from countryside cities and oceanside towns, which also involved Silla, the kingdom town of King Aloysius aka Louis and Prince Charles.
The king was getting really worried of the news, and was both proud yet terrified for his son who told him that he has to talk with the monarchy in Paris, in order to help stop the revolutionaries, and so, with some of the army leaned from the kingdom, Charles went to Paris, but unfortunately, within a month, the revolution became even worse, and despite Charles's struggle to help, the monarchy of Paris was overthrown, and the armies got convinced to rebel, not wanting to be ruled anymore, which the small army of his own is betraying him, with a lucky few staying loyal.
As winter came, Charles realized that the revolution was happening everywhere south of Paris, blocking the way home, and he, with his few loyal comrades, including his best friend, Bruno his dog, had to run to the mountains as there's another road to his kingdom, through it was less known, but he knew he had to get home, to save his father, yet he prays that his latest letter by hawk got to the kingdom long enough to help warn him, the grand duke, and the castle staff get to safety somehow...
"You alright, sir?", one of the loyalists asked Charles as he groaned being helped up. Charles was taking the chance of a brief respite they had on the move to use the bathroom... unfortunately standing on some loose ground and falling over. A bit shaken up, but he would be fine.
"Yeah, I'm alright...", Charles said. "Just a little scare... that's all.", with a nod. "The forest is treacherous. Staying on the main roads might be the better option...", one person said.
"And a good chance to be caught by a local... the uprisings and protests are getting rougher. Still can't believe the army...", the first loyalist replied.
"We were sending them to help quell citizens in our homeland who were only crying out for liberty and the wish to be self-determined.", Charles sighed. "I can't truly blame them for not wanting to go along with things. Father obviously worried that a bloody revolution similar a half century ago would come.".
"Well, haven't exactly heard the guillotine's been getting a lot of work, so maybe that's a sign that maybe the coup was a bit cleaner.", another loyalist said. "Still, hard to know what's going on throughout France with us on the retreat. At least we'll hopefully still make it back home before the army finally returns, thanks to our size and speed.".
Bruno barked, panting as he put down a dead rabbit, and Charles chuckled, "Thanks, Bruno. I'd never thank Ella enough for giving you to me, boy...I am really glad that you're an amazing hunter dog. I hope Ella and her family is safe wherever she is...", as he picked up the dead rabbit, giving it to one of his loyalists who's the cook of the group.
"Was she that one who nearly got poisoned before getting saved by her mother?", one of the loyalists asked. Charles nodded, "Yeah..You couldn't believe Father's rant when he recounted that night...I could have well as been poisoned...I hope I remember Ella if we meet again...It has been so long since I last saw her...".
"You think she even remembers you? It's been years as you said...", one man said as Charles nodded, "Probably most likely... she's probably found some other man, I'm sure, if she's settled down alright. They all left and traveled north if my memory serves...".