"I'm alright... just my stomach's aching, that's all... been like this for a day or so... might have caught something...", Evangeline replied.
"Do you think it's serious?", Mimi asked as Evangeline shook her head, "No... just feels more like the times when I was pregnant... so probably nothing too bad.". She wasn't making the connection at the moment.
Mimi nodded, "You know that Ray absolutely makes sure that his food is all cooked to the point of perfection...Probably a bit of spoiled milk we forgot to date or something.".
Evangeline chuckled, "Yeah, you're probably right. The goats are probably eating some winter grass hence the milk tasting a bit funny this morning.", resuming her knitting work for a few moments as the baby realized that its kicking wasn't strong enough, and hungry for lunch to come, with a burst of infant energy, it finally kicked hard to be more noticeable.
"OOOF!", Evangeline groaned as Mimi practically jumped up from where she was sitting. "EVE!", she cried as she got worried as Evangeline held up a hand, indicating that she was alright.
Evangeline gave a chuckle as she rubbed her belly with her other hand, "You're hungry, huh, little one?", and a kick responded eagerly as her eyes filled with tears, now connecting the dots, smiling, looking up at Mimi who is stunned and surprised, "I thought you have been on birth control since the twins for years...".
Evangeline smiled, "I was...But well, remember when you said that you were the 'man' in charge? I think magic was involved...", and Mimi widened her eyes, gaping in surprise, looking between her face and her baby bump, and with a burst of strength, she slowly walked over to Evangeline's chair, leaning down, hesitantly moving a hand before eventually touching Evangeline's baby bump.
"Come on, kick for your momma.", Evangeline spoke warmly, and a kick responded, right under Mimi's hand. Mimi started to tear up when she felt the kick. "Mimi...", Evangeline whispered as she knew what was going through her mind. With her being a parent... but not going to be around for the child that she helped create.
Mimi whispered, "Is it bad to want to stay here when I know my soul and my body is getting tired?", tears prickling and falling down her cheeks, and Evangeline gently cradled Mimi's cheek with her free hand, helping her look up into Evangeline's eyes.
"No...no, it's not. I solemnly swear that I and Ray will raise the child with so much love, appreciation, and more. We will tell them stories about you, Mimi...They will know you, and they will know that you'll always be with them in their heart. They will know how much you loved us so, and how much you loved them.", Evangeline spoke softly, kissing Mimi on the forehead as the baby kicked onwards.
Mimi gave a little chuckle, "They're really hungry...Shall we find some food in the icebox?", and Evangeline gave a little smile, "Of course...You know that I and Ray never break a promise, don't you?".
"I know... I just... it hurts...", Mimi said as Evangeline nodded. The whole situation really did give Mimi practically the greatest reason to stay, to not move on, but the potion wouldn't be stopped, not now...
Mimi exhaled deeply as Evangeline helped her up, and they went to make some quick lunch, due to the baby's insistent kicks and all, and Evangeline grumbled, "I think this one is going to be even more demanding in a way than their older siblings...".
Mimi giggled softly, "Sounds like they got my flair of impatience...I can't believe this is actually happening...Magic really is around in this village more often than anybody could account for...I know we did lovemaking that first day, and then a bit the next day...Did I look different?".
Evangeline replied, "I think one of the reasons you were exhausted on your big day was because of you letting the magic adding a penis...I almost didn't expect it until it came to full hilt...", with a smile.
"Leaping lizards...I was really the man for a few minutes...I was literally like Juliet in her and Perla's story...", Mimi exhaled as they began to eat, "Did...did I hurt you badly?".
Evangeline reassured her with a smile, "No, you didn't...Magic must have taken out my birth control...", feeling the baby finally calm down, sensing that food is on the way, "Of course, you know what this means...Ray would have to know...".
"Think he'll be upset?", Mimi asked. "I mean... what we were doing before was one thing... but...", biting her lip nervously. "He'll be fine with it... after all, not the first one in this family to have a surprise pregnancy when two women share a bed.", Evangeline chuckled.
Mimi smiled wryly, "True...And it's also true that the baby is related to Ray too through me, so if anybody from the outside world beyond the village asks questions, they'd be plenty satisfied...".
Evangeline nodded, "Indeed...", smiling at her, "And if I'm right, magic helped the baby grow faster than a normal pregnancy hence the kicking already just close to 3 days after our big day...I'm feeling sure that the baby will be born in time before you...you go home to the heavens...".
Mimi's eyes started to tear up again, "You believe so? For me to be able to hold, see and name the baby?", and Evangeline let go of her spoon, reaching over to grasp her hand, smiling gently, "I believe it with my heart 100%.".
"I know what I decided, Evangeline... just...", Mimi sniffled as Evangeline took her into a hug, "I know, Mimi, I know... just... feel free to let it out if you wish...".
Mimi hugged her back just as gently, sobbing softly as she leaned her head into Evangeline's shoulder, and Evangeline stroked her hair, kissing her gently on the temple, almost not hearing the door open and closing at the front of the house, as she fought back tears.
Ray's laugh was heard as he replied, "Snagged a whitetail for dinner. Am I late for lunch? I swear I'm hungrier than a bear.", stepping into the kitchen/dining table before pausing in surprise and concern at the sight of his wife comforting his cousin.
Evangeline slightly glanced at him, giving him a look of bittersweet assurance, and Ray nodded, quietly shedding his outer clothes, grabbing a bowl and poured himself some stew from the stove while Mimi let it out on Evangeline's shoulder, her sobs slowly becoming hiccups and sniffles as she calmed down.
"Here you go...", Ray said as he gave her the bowl. "I think you might want to eat first... I can wait for a few more seconds to fix my own.", he told her.
Mimi gave a small smile, taking it, "Thank you, Ray.", before smirking mischievously at Evangeline who recognized what she's about to do, and smiled, and Mimi then hummed, "Could he even be worse in making sure that you're fine when you're expecting?".
"I'm sorry?", Ray asked as Evangeline blushed as he looked at her. "Evangeline?", he raised an eyebrow. Evangeline smiled softly, "Well, Mimi, Ray here is not much worse than Jiminy when it comes to hovering over me while I'm expecting a baby, thank goodness, but he's more hilarious than Jiminy.".
"Evangeline...", it clicked in his head. "You... you're pregnant again?", he asked as Evangeline nodded.
"Ray... just... please understand for a moment when I tell you this... you're not the father... Mimi is.", she told him. He was stunned for a moment before he looked back at Mimi and then Evangeline again, "Sorta like how Juliet did it before, right?".
Evangeline smiled warmly, "Yep, except magic has advanced it more than normal...", gently taking his hand on her baby bump, "Baby, if you're not busy right now eating, kick for your papa.".
A kick responded, and Ray laughed before swiftly grabbing Mimi and Evangeline in a hearty bear hug, spinning them for a moment, "Oh, this is wonderful!", tears of joy in his eyes, smiling before something else clicked in his head, gently placing them down.
"Wait, wait, magic? Are you okay, Eve? Is anything hurting with the baby? You're already 41 years old!", Ray worried for a second, and Evangeline replied, "Ray, I'm alright, and the baby is clearly kicking as you clearly had felt a minute ago, so they're growing properly...Okay, I suppose the timing of preparation is unusual, and sure, it has been several years since Charlotte and Louis, but I'm not scared as I have you two with me, right, Mimi?", with a smile.
Mimi gave a small smile and nodded; but obviously that wasn't fully true since she knew she only had some days left to live. Ray could see the look on Mimi's face and felt a pit in his stomach once more.
Ray whispered, "You...you can't personally raise the child with us...", and Mimi sighed deeply, "No, but know this, goddamn the extension of my energy bursts in strength and all, I'll be there for the entire birth no matter what...Evangeline believes that the baby will come before I...I move on, and I believe her with my heart.".
Chuckling bittersweetly, Ray replied, "You sounded like Mama Odie for a minute there. I believe you, Mimi.", before blinking in surprise, "Oh! Right, gotta make sure you're okay! I'll be right there with another bowl of stew for you, Evangeline, for the baby!", almost fumbling with a chair in his way, heading to the stovetop, "I'm okay!", with a sheepish grin.
Mimi and Evangeline laughed warmly, with Mimi giggling, "I see what you mean by Ray being more hilarious when he intends to do things for the baby through you.", and so, they resumed lunch.
The twins soon found out about the baby's surprise arrival, and are nervously excited to meet their new cousin/sibling, and so, the next few days were spent in peace and quiet with a few moments of excitement, and then upon checking on the calendar, the next day, they realized with a bittersweet tone is Mimi's last day of life yet the baby's arrival as Evangeline can very much feel with her aches and pains increasing every hour since midnight.
"You alright?", Ray asked Evangeline as she sighed and nodded, while rubbing her belly, "Yeah... just... the baby will be here any hour now...".
Ray replied softly, "That's good...Is anything feeling tender or sore?", and Evangeline replied, "My breasts and back are really sore...".
"Let me try something.", Ray looked at her with a smile, and Evangeline smiled, "Anything for driving away boredom since I woke up at dawn when I needed to pee...".
Ray chuckled warmly, "I couldn't blame you since the baby is getting really heavy and prepping up for the birth.", before one of his hands went to massage her back while his other hand wrapped around her, massaging the first breast, with him peppering kisses on the side of her neck.
Evangeline gasped in relief and pleasure, "Ohh...Oh, Ray...Yes, that feels so much better...Please don't stop...", closing her eyes, leaning her head back, exposing her neck more.
"Seems like you almost want another round of some fun...", Ray joked as Evangeline smiled. "As tempting as it is... I think I'll just take a pleasurable massage... too much excitement might not be good for the baby.", she reminded.
Ray hummed, "Fair enough, since magic helped the baby grow, it's a wonderful miracle that they kept up to term for a few days...", before smiling, "Still, you're so beautiful when you're pregnant, my angel of my heart...", kissing her neck a bit more pleasurably as he massaged her back and other breast with his hands.
Evangeline blushed, smiling as she moaned in pleasure and relief, "Always finding a way to flatter me, my love...", as the pleasurable massage continued on for 20 minutes, and she finally felt more relaxed than ever in a long while when the baby announced that they're finally on the way a few minutes later.
She loudly cried out in pain at the first contraction, taken off her guard for a second just as Ray was in the bathroom, piercing the air around upstairs, waking up the twins and Mimi.
Mimi recognized the sound as a few women had the familiar sound of childbirth on the plantation, and she felt strong enough to leave her room in a sprint, knocking on the door, "Ray, it's Mimi, let me in!", noticing Charlotte and Louis peeking out of their rooms.
She commanded them, "Charlotte, go whip up some hot water! Louis, get the extra blankets from the closet!", and the twins obeyed her, realizing that it's actually happening, as Ray opened the door quickly, closing it after Mimi walked in quickly, sitting on the side of the bed, holding Evangeline's hand, "Steady, Angeline! We're here, we're right here.", as Evangeline breathed deeply between sort of quickening yet steady contractions.
"Thank you.", Evangeline smiled as she groaned from another contraction that hit her. "Easy... easy...", Ray said. "We've done this before; you know what to do.".
Evangeline replied, "Check the progress, please...", as she breathed deeply from the contraction just now, and Mimi nodded, looking, "Look at that, you're already close to being 3/4 dilated, Angeline! Not long now, I hope...".
"Thank goodness...", Evangeline sighed in relief before groaning at another contraction a minute later, as Ray answered the door at a knock, grabbing the extra blankets from Louis, thanking his son before closing it.
An hour passed, with contractions increasing by a half minute, causing Evangeline to moan even louder in pain, as Ray soon got the pot of hot water from Charlotte, thanking his daughter as well, and gave them a signed note for the twins at school, reprimanding them to go despite probably being late with some quick breakfast and all, and that they will see their new cousin/sibling in the afternoon, despite their protests of bemoaning.
Ray replied, "Is she all clear yet to push?", as he held Evangeline's other hand, and Mimi replied, "Not quite. Just a couple more centimeters to go. And of course, the water bag hasn't broken yet.".
Evangeline gave a small chuckle, "Probably wanting to make a grand entrance.", before crying out in pain at a very sharp and fast contraction, feeling something go, and Ray gasped, "The water bag's breaking!".
Evangeline cried out in pain at the increasing contractions that is now a minute apart, and Mimi looked when the water bag has finished emptying out, "That got her all clear! Breathe and push, Evangeline!", helping her place her legs up and apart, and then sat back in her position, a bit tired herself, but still spry and strong enough to hold Evangeline's other hand.
"Come on, you're doing great!", Mimi said as she squeezed Evangeline's hand; hopeful that she would at least be able to see her child in her last hours.
Evangeline took a deep breath and pushed, crying out in pain by the end of another contraction, and so, she repeated all of this for another hour before shouting out in pain while tears came, "OH! Is it coming?!", as she felt her vagina stretching.
Ray and Mimi looked, and Ray replied, "Yes, we see the head, it's crowning! You're almost there! Push, Eve!".
Mimi looked at Ray, "You get the warm blankets!", and Ray nodded, stretching across the side of the bed to grab the heated blankets, damp and such from the hot water, as Evangeline took deep breaths, pushing, yelling out in pain for the next 15 minutes.
"Oh, oh, that's it, one last push!", Mimi encouraged, and Evangeline grunted, taking a deep breath, pushing hard, feeling the baby slide out with Ray's help, and collapsed, panting, tears falling as then came a hearty, loud wail of life.
Ray laughed happily with tears, "Oh, Mimi! You got a daughter! She's beautiful!", using one of the blankets to clean up the crying, wiggling, shivering baby girl, passing her into Mimi's arms.
Mimi cried softly as she rested by Evangeline, "Oh, she's perfect...She looks like us, Angeline...", with a smile, barely noticing that Ray was helping get the placenta out.
The snuffling, crying baby girl began to quiet down slowly, having Mimi's medium ebony skin shade, Evangeline's bright blue eyes, Mimi's dimples, Evangeline's nose, and then came the reveal of her hair which is a unique shade of black copper.
"Say hi to your father... well, second mother...", Evangeline gave a small joke as she looked to Mimi. "Please... you need to hold her... at least for a few minutes...".
Mimi gave a small smile, "You sure? I know babies need skin to skin touch with their birth mothers, something like that.", and Evangeline nodded, "I'll manage, and I think she's smart enough to recognize you...", noticing that their daughter hasn't taken her eyes off Mimi.
Mimi exhaled, looking at her daughter, "Oh...You're so perfect, sweetheart...", and her daughter gave a little coo, her little hand clenching around Mimi's finger, and Mimi gave a sob, love in her eyes, smiling, "You're amazing...and strong too...You're free...You're born free in a wonderful world...Robyn...".
The baby girl gave a happy gurgle, and Mimi gave a watery smile, "Yes, you are my Robyn, now and forever...", kissing her on the forehead gently, as she can feel her strength waning away slowly, realizing that she only has a few hours to see her daughter feed, to change her diaper, to rock her to sleep while singing her favorite lullaby one last time, not wanting her daughter to witness her peaceful death.
