"Alpha? Alpha?"

"Hm?" Lily woke up in the dark, feeling her mate's hand gently shaking her shoulder. "Whazzit, Sev…?"

"Alpha, I'm in labor."

She sat up. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I got up thinking I had indigestion, but they're real contractions, I know they are."

Lily reached for her wand and cast Lumos. Severus was sitting next to her in bed, wide awake, one hand grasping his belly. She didn't waste time asking more questions - if he felt this was it, this was it. She got up and lit the lamps, then put a dressing robe on.

"Do you need anything right now, Sev?"

"I don't think so. It's early yet."
"I'll get the midwife anyway." Lily headed downstairs to use the Floo for a fire call.

Severus sat back in bed, taking deep breaths as he held his belly. He wasn't nervous - he had done this before - but he wanted to mentally prepare himself for this important task. His babies were ready, and he was ready to meet them.

When the midwife arrived, Severus was still fairly comfortable with contractions mild and far between, so she sat nearby and talked quietly with Lily. She was the same midwife who had helped him deliver Harry and overseen both his pregnancies, so he didn't have to fret over having a stranger in the room.

A few hours later contractions had ramped up, and Severus was pacing around the bedroom, moving around to help get the babies into position.

"Do you want a drink, Sev?" Lily offered.

He nodded, and she gave him some water. Another contraction hit, and Severus hung onto his Alpha for comfort, moaning a little. She rubbed his back.

"You're doing great, Sev."

He sighed in relief, glad to have his Alpha's encouragement. Lily kept rubbing his back, knowing keeping him relaxed was important.

After a while Severus wanted to pace again, wobbling back and forth across the room. He couldn't help making a noise as a particularly strong contraction came - he stopped and swayed his hips back and forth, rubbing his belly and moaning.

"He's doing well," the midwife whispered to Lily, "but I don't think this one will be as quick as before."

"I think so too. This is slower."

"It's nothing to worry about, no warning signs. Just let him and the pups work it out at their own pace."

Severus wasn't hearing their conversation, despite his excellent hearing. He was totally in tune with his babies, working with his body to prepare for birth. But he wasn't able to tune out his other child.

"Daddy? What's going on?"

They all looked up and saw Harry in the doorway, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Lily went over to him.

"Everything's fine, sweetie. Daddy is having the babies. Why don't you go back to bed and -"

"Daddy's having the babies?" Harry's eyes shot open. "Daddy, are the babies coming?"

"Yes."

"Can I watch?"

"It might be boring," said Lily. "Not much is going to happen for a while."

"That's okay, I can keep daddy company, right daddy?"

Lily glanced at Severus, not sure if her mate would consider it a distraction. But Severus smiled at his son.

"If you listen to mummy, then I would love to have my Harry with me."

Knowing there was no way Harry was going back to sleep anyway, Lily allowed him to stay.

Harry was eager to do whatever his daddy needed to help him feel better: he held daddy's hand when his tummy hurt, his mum showed him how to rub daddy's back and press on it the way he liked, and gave daddy water and snacks. Over time, Severus spoke less and less until he was only groaning, seeking comfort from his mate and son. When contractions slowed down for a while, Severus enjoyed the rest as he snuggled with Harry on the bed, purring the way content Omegas do. He felt completely safe and relaxed in his own room with his family with him, calmly allowing labor to progress as it would.

When his water broke and he felt pressure, he felt himself tune everything else out. It was finally time. Lily held Harry in her lap and took Severus' hand as he pushed with grit teeth.

"Alpha! Alpha…" he whimpered.

"You're doing well, love. You're so good, having my babies. Now I want you to push them out."

Encouraged by his Alpha's command, Severus squeezed her hand as he bore down, growling with the effort.

"You can do it, daddy!" said Harry. He couldn't see the business end of things where he sat with his mum by the head of the bed, but he knew what must be happening. The midwife was at the foot of the bed, ready to catch the infants.

"That's it, we're crowning! Good strong pushes now!"

"Push strong, Severus!" Lily encouraged him.

Severus kept pushing, solely focused on delivering their babies and pleasing his Alpha. Shortly before sunrise, he gave birth to the first twin, and the midwife caught the newborn.

"We have a little girl!"

She placed the wailing baby on Severus' chest, who immediately scooped her up close.

"Oh, Severus, she's beautiful!" Lily kissed her mate on the cheek. "You did so well!"

Severus' eyes were wet as he caught his breath, clutching his baby. There was one more waiting in the womb, but he gladly admired his first daughter. Fifteen minutes later, just after sunrise, Severus easily gave birth to another baby girl, the first one still on his chest.

"Look at them! Two beautiful girls!" Lily gushed.

Severus was holding both of them close, smitten with his baby girls. "Are you pleased, Alpha?"

"I couldn't be more proud!"

Harry was looking at his new siblings with fascination and some confusion. They were awfully red and kinda wrinkly.

"Look Harry, you have two baby sisters!" said Lily, propping him up for a better look.

"Are they supposed to look like that?" Harry asked.

"Yes, that's normal. You looked like that too when you were born. They'll be even cuter later, you'll see."

Harry kept asking his mum questions, and Severus gazed at his daughters with immense joy and happy tears. They had great timing - this was the perfect Christmas present.

After the midwife helped clean up, she left, wishing them all a merry Christmas. Severus spent the day in bed, and they celebrated Christmas in the bedroom. Harry brought in all his presents to open, beside himself with excitement as he went back and forth from looking at his baby sisters and opening his presents. Lily and Severus smiled to watch him play with his new toys and talk about all the things he was going to do with his sisters. Lily brought in meals, and they ate together.

After lunch, Harry fell asleep, worn out from being up late and all the excitement. Lily set him on the bed next to Severus, who was nursing Holly and Ivy. Then she kissed him.

"Need anything, Sev?"

He smiled at his caring mate, then at his children. "No, Alpha. I have everything I need."

Severus loved Christmas.

FINI