And there was a couple of weekends where they took rest at inns along the way, to give the horse and mule a break, and since they were heading into the mountains and forests, it was slower than being on the flat ground, and they had to take care when they encountered wild animals or well-flowing rivers.
One day, after a morning that Perla announced that her significant other was close, by a few days, they were going on a rough road that was giving some of the gang motion sickness, yet the worst one is Leila.
"You alright?", Jiminy asked Leila as she threw up over the side of the cart once more. They were lucky that they were in the rear cart so at least the others wouldn't have issues with them passing by a few moments later.
"Yeah... just feeling fairly off... I swear, these carts have gotten bumpier...", Leila said. Jiminy replied, "Well, we're almost there to the top, Leila, I'm sure there's a meadow we can stop at.", as they were coming into a neighboring hill that's right on the side of a mountain, as he rubbed Leila's back, asking, "Do you want me to switch the reins with Jules?".
Leila shook her head, "He's focused on driving Major since this is a bit dangerous with the bumps in this road. And besides, Ray and Naveen are having a rough time too since they hadn't experienced such a rough road like this before.", as Perla is trying to help drive the motion sickness from the poor boys in the other cart with a couple of herbs.
"Okay, if you're sure.", Jiminy nodded, as he's a bit worried about Leila as Ray and Naveen was technically having less of a rough time than her, and Leila smiled at him reassuringly, "I'll get my share of herbs from the supplies here...I'm just off, my mind is whirling a bit...".
Jiminy gently inquired, "How about some water?", and Leila smiled, "Okay, if that makes you feel less guilty for you to see me like this.", and Jiminy searched for some water as he heard Leila throw up, hearing her mutter, "Definitely not like the last time...Probably need to walk if this road wouldn't smooth out in the next hour...Oh, my head...Jiminy...I think you need to tell Jules...".
He looked back in worry, and gasped as Leila held her head, fainting as she rested back against the side of the cart, "Leila!", scuffling over to gently check Leila, hearing Jules's panicked shout, "What's going on?!", as Jiminy gently nudged Leila to drink water slowly yet awkwardly, with the bumps going on, with Leila giving him a weak small smile.
Jiminy gave a light chuckle as he took a deep breath as it clicked for him, "Relax, Jules... she just got a bit lightheaded, but I think I know what her issues have been recently.".
Jules, still in a bit of worried concern for his wife, not connecting the dots as quickly as Jiminy as it's technically been longer since Ella's birth than Carlo, asked, "Is she resting?", as he doubled the speed by urging Major a bit hastily.
"I'm giving her water. She's awake and resting. Don't worry, Jules, we will have Perla check over her as soon as you're able to stop without gravity pulling us down.", Jiminy called back.
Jules was relieved to hear the little plan, and that his wife is alright. They had been on this rough road for the day before, and she was mainly fine, with a throw up one or two times, but it seems as they got further and further up, the road got rougher.
He passed the other cart, nodding to Juliet, "We need a break when we're there at the top.", and Juliet nodded, passing on the word, and he carefully watched for the potholes in the road as best as he could, and to his relief, they came into a flat plateau of a meadow and a view of the land beyond, and he brought Major to a stop in a spot.
The other cart came to a stop at Juliet's reins on Arnaldo, and they got off, putting rocks between the wheels, putting them on an angle where they couldn't roll away, with the horse and mule unhitched, taking a break to eat most of the grass they could and rest.
Jiminy glanced at Perla, "You better check on her before Jules bursts into the cart.", as he got off the cart, and Perla nodded, closing the drapes as she climbed into the cart. The children went off to play in the meadow, staying in sight of the carts, as Ray counted the sun's position, "Almost three hours before sunset...Good call, Jules...I was getting sick of the motion sickness...".
Jules gave him a small smile before glancing at the closed drapes of the cart, and Jiminy reassured him, "She's in good hands, Jules.", and Juliet replied, "He's right, Jules. After all, everybody isn't more or less inclined to take motion sickness well. After all, there was a couple of rough roads back in Italy, though they were flat, not in the mountains...".
"So, what exactly is wrong with her?", Jules had to ask. Thanks to the loss of his first wife and Leila's poisoning, he obviously would be much more worried if ever her health was anything less than perfect.
Jiminy replied, "I do have a guess, but I could be wrong, as it would be just an extreme case of motion sickness. You know Evangeline healed her to full health, doesn't mean that minor things can't bother her. She isn't in pain at all which is good. Like I said, she was lightheaded, and of course, who couldn't throw up during a really rough road?".
Ray replied, "He's right. I threw up yesterday, and today, and Naveen was the same.", and Jules exhaled, "I suppose you're right...Perla and Leila would know better than you right now...", amending to Jiminy's logic.
Some minutes later, the drapes of the cart opened, and the latch backside opened, with Perla and Leila coming out, and Jules was relieved to see Leila looking better after some herbs and crackers and water, though she was looking a bit nervous-excited as she came up to him, "I'm alright, Jules.".
"You sure? You were throwing up a few times today...", Jules bit his lip, and Leila smiled, "It wasn't motion sickness, my love...but rather something wonderful...", taking his hand gently, resting on her belly, looking at him with a radiant look.
It suddenly clicked for him as Jiminy chuckled, "Yeah, that was my guess, and more than likely what the answer is. Congratulations, you two.". He patted Jules on the back as Jules squeezed Leila's hand.
Jules whispered as he kissed Leila, with the others leaving with smiles, to tend to the children or forage for food, "Oh, Leila, I'm so happy...I'm a father...again...I love you and this baby...", stroking her belly with his other hand, tears in his eyes.
Leila whispered, "I love you too...And I will have to take more walks on the trip as this baby is different than Juliet when she was Romeo...", smiling happily, and Jules chuckled, "I should have known...Not every pregnancy is the same...Can we stay here? I mean, I know we stopped earlier than usual, but I...gods...I'm a father...".
Giggling, "Of course, Jules. We can rest in this place for today.", Leila smiled happily before teasing him softly, "You can't stop saying that you're a father, huh?".
Jules smiled widely, "Sorry...I can't help it...Must be that wonderful first night, huh?", and Leila smiled, "It's what I think too...Oh, Jules...I can't wait to meet them...", with tears in her eyes.
Knowing that it's the hormones settling in, Jules smiled, "Me either...Come, let's prepare a couple of cooking fires...Do you want to hear the gender from Evangeline?", and Leila walked with him, "Let me think on that, love, but I definitely want to know that the baby's healthy and developing fine...".
"That, I can agree with.", Jules smiled, nodding, and so, they went to work on preparing and cutting food and wood with the others, and as soon as the stars came out during dinner, Evangeline appeared, smiling as she kissed Ray on the lips tenderly, and hugged Naveen warmly while she sat between the father and son around the fire.
Evangeline smiled at Leila, "You're right. With care and love from both of you, they're growing quite wonderfully, though, of course, you would need to eat for three from now on, with your appetite growing to fit them.".
Everyone gave Evangeline a look before Leila finally spoke. "T-three... did you just say I'll be eating for three? That I'm carrying twins?", she whispered as Evangeline smiled, "Yes... you're having twins... two wonderful babies...".
Leila rubbed her belly, "I'm having twins...Oh, Jules...We're having twins!", with an overjoyed sob as she hugged Jules happily who was stunned at first before smiling widely, "Oh, Leila...This is a dream beyond a dream...", kissing her on the forehead.
"I guess I was eating my words a bit back there when we were doing that story in the carriage when we first met...", Leila happily cried, and Juliet chuckled, "Definitely...I'm a big sister...I'm a big sister twice over, Perla!", with an excited smile.
Perla smiled, "And you're already a big sister to Ella...Oh, boy...this family is really chaotic, yet it somehow fits...", and Evangeline smiled warmly, "Do you want to know the genders, my dear friends?".
Jules and Leila looked at each other. Of course, they know what they said before but with the announcement of twins, that plan may have changed. Jules nodded, "Yes... we'd actually like to know after hearing that.".
Evangeline smiled warmly, "A boy and a girl. I do not know if they're identical or fraternal, but they're very much healthy and developing everything necessary very well.".
Jules chuckled as he looked to Leila. "Well, at least you'll finally get another boy...", he kissed her cheek as she blushed. Leila smiled, "And I can learn how to take care of a baby girl too, yet you are our darling daughter, Ella.".
Ella asked curiously, "They gonna be smaller than me?". Jules nodded. "Yes... but that's because they'll be newborns.", he explained to her as she nodded and smiled.
Ella then looked nervous, "Do you think I be good big sister, like Juliet is?", and Leila hugged her gently, kissing her on the forehead, "Aww, of course, you will be a wonderful big sister, Ella, and even if they will be smaller than you, they will have a lot of love for us all, including you.".
"You pinky swear it?", Ella gave her pinky out, and Leila smiled, "Yes, I do pinky swear it.", hooking her pinky with hers, and everybody else smiled at the warm-hearted scene.
Perla then asked, "We're getting close to my significant other...Is there anything we should do?", and Evangeline replied, "You better keep a tight hold on the compasses...The dark magic is stronger than I thought with each day we come closer...The curse is held over the territory of a kingdom, and from what I can tell, a village is involved, but they have no idea that they have a royal castle in the span of the kingdom, having no memories of being there at the castle for a decade.".
"Really?", Juliet said. "Must be some powerful magic then to make a whole area forget...", Perla bit her lip with some worry. She obviously was concerned about everything involved considering her significant other was at the center of this terrible curse.
Evangeline glanced at Perla, "I can see the worry in your eyes, Perla. He's not in immediate danger, but I'd have to dig hard to see the deadline of the curse if there's one, and since it's a curse, there'd have to be a contract on how to break it.".
Perla nodded softly, "Okay, so we have to keep our compasses in our hands when we get close to the borders of the curse, so we can technically bring you through...Do you know who made the curse?".
"It's difficult to say as magic can change over time, like how a person age physically. There has been fairies and enchantresses who has dark or neutral magic, besides good magic like I do.", Evangeline. Ray glanced at her in concern, "Would they hurt you if they knew that you were coming through?".
Evangeline squeezed his hand reassuringly, "Not if I stay low and careful, and I have a strange feeling that your significant other couldn't be happy to see me. He would have a biased judgement, thinking that magic is all dark like the curse on him.", glancing back at Perla after smiling at Ray.
"It'll be alright, Ray... one way or another. We dealt with the Coachman and hopefully what he had done was way worse than anything we should expect to see.", Perla assured him.
Ray nodded at Perla's reassurance, and Naveen yawned, rubbing his eyes, "Papa, I'm sleepy...", and Ray chuckled, "Alright, son.", as he picked his son up, as Naveen yawned again, infecting the other children.
The adults chuckled warmly, with Leila gently picking Ella up, knowing that she'd want all the chances now to carry her newfound daughter before she gets too big, as Jules kissed Ella good night, while Carlo was carried by Juliet, with Perla kissing Carlo good night, before heading to the children's favorite cart, and Evangeline followed by, singing her lullaby for all of them, and before the children knew it, they were tucked in, with Figaro purring, resting at the bottom of the makeshift bed, intending to be on guard, to protect his little master and his little master's friends.
The four adults kissed them good night, and they left the children in their restful slumber, and Jiminy chuckled as they settled in, "I swear they have so much energy every day that it's a wonder that they are sleeping so fast.".
Jules smiled, "Could you blame them? Having adventures every day, it's a kid's dream.", as he wrapped his arm lovingly around Leila, and Perla replied, "Well, at least since it's a castle, the kids would be having tons of fun, and be safe without worrying about wild animals or a broken wheel, and of course, a warm place to deliver the twins.", with a nod.
She knew that her significant other is a cursed creature, but the compasses or even Evangeline when she asked her, doesn't know what actually happened or what he is, but at least he wasn't a donkey or a mind-wiped woman, that she knew, thankfully. She wouldn't wish that on her significant other at all.
"You alright?", Juliet asked as Perla sighed and nodded, "Yeah... I'm okay... just... worried for what awaits us. I really wish things were simpler like how it was for Leila meeting Jules. I mean...". She blushed, "Not trying to say that things weren't easy with the two of you but...", she rubbed her arm.
Leila smiled reassuringly, "It's okay, and besides, you are younger than me, so it makes sense that you would want to solve this and help your significant other. But you heard Evangeline. He isn't in any immediate danger, so the curse is still a bit far off from the deadline, it sounds like.".
Perla smiled at her mother-in-law, even if she's not married to Juliet, it's still the same for her in a sense of logistics, and Jiminy replied, "Well, I don't know about you, but I think it's time to consult the map...Perhaps there's a smoother road that we can use than this current road, and if it's faster, or slightly out of the way, we could still be close enough to the border of the curse and come through.".
Juliet and Perla nodded, going to work with Jiminy over the map, while Leila huskily whispered to Jules, "I'm horny, love...", and Jules smiled wryly before glancing at Evangeline with concern. It was one thing while Amelie was carrying just one in Ella, but twins...
Evangeline smiled reassuringly, "She and the little ones will be fine for a few more months. Go on and make your wife happy.", and Jules looked relieved before going to pick up Leila in his arms who raised an eyebrow, "Jules, I'm not an invalid yet!".
Jules whispered huskily into her ear, "You will never be an invalid to me, my love...But how about being my stunning, beautiful, pregnant wife who deserves to be ravished like a goddess?".
Leila blushed so red, "Jules! Oh, yes, please...", smiling brightly and kissing him deeply as they went to the other cart, with one of the compasses firing up to soundproof the space of the cart.
Ray chuckled softly, "Jules is a lucky man. Shall we go on our stroll, milady?", bowing before Evangeline with a smile, and she smiled happily, "We shall, Ray.", taking Ray's hand as she got up.
Jiminy chuckled as he watched when Juliet raised an eyebrow. "You alright with everyone it seems being paired off?", she asked as Jiminy nodded.
"If you're trying to suggest that I should find someone of my own, it's alright, I'm perfectly fine if I don't have anyone for me. Helping others will be more than enough for me to be happy.", he told her as Juliet nodded, "Yeah... guess having someone with you... unless they're doing pretty much the exact same thing as you...".