Brookyln gave a wide toothy smile, "Yay! Me happy 'rprise baby want come today!", and both women were confused yet bewildered, with Peggy asking, "Brooke? Did you know this was happening?", with a careful look.
"No, but me wondering when they come out after coming home on Dada's bitday.", Brookyln looked shy, biting her lip, hoping that her mummy isn't mad at her for holding the secret that her returned sibling was the lost miscarriage.
Peggy blinked in surprise, trying to understand before she gasped softly, "Your daddy's birthday? What do you mean, coming home?", and Brookyln spoke quietly, "Me promised returned sibling not saying anything until they want come out. Returned sibling came home on big nights of Dada's bitday, after plane fly from Paris...returned sibling wanting mumma happy after losing them first time...".
Both women were completely shocked to hear that. Just the whole idea, the sheer fact of things; it was almost impossible to comprehend considering everything they had learned growing up. But with anything regarding Atlantis and the Heart itself, it appeared that anything was possible. Peggy started to break down in tears, hearing that, thankfully ones of joy.
Peggy sobbed happily, the pain of the memory of that terrible miscarriage that night becoming hopeful prayers to see her new baby healthy and breathing, stroking her belly, "Oh, my god...".
Brookyln looked at her mummy, "Mummy happy?", and Peggy reached out to hold out an arm, and Brookyln crawled up to her, receiving kisses all over her face, "Very happy, and I'm praying that they are going to be born perfectly well...I'm not mad that you kept it secret...How did you know?".
"Family bond...Returned sibling grew from lost feus to real baby on big nights with help of kings and Dada...you not hurting them, mumma. Returned sibling love mumma and dada.", Brookyln whispered, not wanting her to worry very much.
Peggy gave a tearful smile, "Oh, Brookyln...", relieved to hear that her new baby, her lost baby who came back home, they're okay, really okay despite her not knowing that she was pregnant all this time, and shocked that her baby grew up somehow to a real baby out of the miscarriage danger zone those two nights between being in Paris and traveling to America, had linked Steve's birthday due to time zones and such all while they made love intentionally at the time, not for fun, and hiding all this time until today...
Audrey was amazed, "Dang, now it's just gotten to be an actual miracle and on Christmas Day too, where miracles are happening...", and Peggy nodded tearfully, "Christmas miracle, indeed.", before gasping out in pain suddenly, "Oh!", as the contractions became more prominent, but not consistently yet, as she clenched her hands in the sheets.
Brookyln looked worried, "Mumma!", as Peggy took a deep breath, smiling reassuringly, "It's okay, Brooke. I'm just getting closer to the point where I will have your sibling, but not for a while yet...Right, Audrey?", as Audrey was checking on her progress just now.
"Yeah, you're halfway dilated now, Peggy. Looks like the kid is really making sure you progress steadily, through the water bag is not broken yet.", Audrey commented, and bit her lip, "I hope the boys get here fast. I'd need Bucky's help with the warm water and towels for this, and watching over Brookyln when I couldn't, as you need me and Steve here.", before they heard the distinct sound of tires screeching.
"Speak of the devil...", Audrey gave a small chuckle. "Will you be alright by yourself for a few seconds while I let them in?", she asked Peggy.
Peggy smiled, "Yes, I'll be fine with Brookyln keeping me company.", as Brookyln soon realized that the pain is normal for her mummy while bringing her returned sibling into the world and moved to stroke her mummy's belly to help a bit.
Both women smiled at the action and Audrey left the bedroom, heading across the living room and such to hear Steve's frustrated growl, "Damn key!", and Bucky replying, "That's because you are having it upside down, bro!".
Audrey rolled her eyes as she unlocked the knob, and opened the door, with both men catching themselves on the doorway, with Steve looking at Audrey, "Did we miss it?", with panic and fear in his eyes.
"No, you're very lucky. Still early yet, she's in the bedroom with Brookyln, and-", Audrey replied before Steve ran past her, and she shook her head, smiling at Bucky, "Let me guess, he wrapped his mind around it during the drive, then?".
"Pretty much. We're probably as stunned as you two were. How on Earth did you even know? Did she just start going into labor the moment we left?", Bucky asked.
Audrey let him in, smiling as she stroked her baby bump, with him closing and locking the door behind him, "No, not quite immediately, just started into halfway during lunch. Of course, we first thought that it was a stomachache or the time of the month, but after discussing what she had, and with a story I realized after she said some familiar things, it was then we realized that she could have been in labor.".
"Now, you're going to help me get warm water into a bowl and warm towels, and after that, you'd have to stay out here, to keep an eye on Brookyln. I'd have to be the midwife this time.", Audrey looked at him as they walked closer, hearing a pained gasp of a contraction, along with Steve's reassurances, and hearing Peggy reassuring him that she's fine, with him confused, asking her why she's crying.
Bucky nodded, "Right...How far is she?", and Audrey replied, "Halfway along, and the water bag hasn't broken yet. Of course, she will have some things distracting her from the pain for some time yet.".
"Yeah, Steve is by her side now.", Bucky chuckled, and Audrey smiled, "That, and she's a bit emotional because Brookyln has revealed a secret about the baby. Turns out that the baby is the returned sibling that was lost in the miscarriage...", with a soft nod.
"Really?", Bucky said as Audrey nodded. "I swear, these whole Atlantean connections make things insane sometimes...", he shook his head. "Has to be the case with this one... after all, how old is Brooke here again? And yet practically talking in full sentences now; albeit the grammar needs work.".
Audrey chuckled, "Just a bit over 6 months old, but yeah, I hear you...It's a combo of that super soldier serum and the Atlantean genes of Steve working together with the human genes of Peggy which is amazing...Good thing that our baby is fully human...It's enough that Steve got a target on his back for being Captain America.", with a sigh.
Bucky nodded, "Agreed. I'll get the hot water and all, Audrey.", heading to the bathroom, as Audrey smiled, heading into the bedroom where Steve was shocked, wrapping his mind once again around the news that the unborn baby on the way to come into the world is the lost one from the miscarriage, returning home to their parents on his birthday timeline between Paris and the cottage, with Peggy watching with an amused, painful glint of joy in her tearful eyes as she took a deep breath through another contraction, with Brookyln stroking her mummy's belly in helping a bit as she could for her mummy's pain.
"How's he taken it?", Audrey asked as she walked in as Peggy gave a small chuckle, "I think I broke him a bit when I told him exactly... give him another minute and he should be good.".
Audrey giggled softly, "Couldn't blame him. It's a double slam to the mind.", before checking on the progress, and then replied as she recovered her again, "Still halfway dilated, creeping along.".
Peggy smiled wryly, "Looks like they got more patience than Brooke.", glancing at her daughter, and she looked at her mummy, "Mumma broke Dada...Dada mad that me not say anything about baby before now?", with a concerned glance at her daddy who looked like he got stuck.
"I... I don't...", Steve stammered as the girls chuckled. "Still think he may need more than a minute. Steve, how about you sit down before you fall over and hurt yourself?", Audrey suggested.
Steve sat down on the side of the bed, exhaling as he heard his wife gasp sharply in pain, moaning, louder this time to pierce his hearing, and it then hit him that it's actually happening, that it's becoming real, to see their returning baby as it was clear that they wanted to come back to him and Peggy, especially Peggy after what she suffered through that terrible night, and those horrible two weeks of grief with him at her side.
He gave a small smile, brushing his wife's hair back, "Breathe, Peggy...We're going to be parents again...On Christmas Day to boot...", with a small laugh and tears, "We're going to have them in our arms as they wanted so badly to come home, to come into this world to us...", kissing her on the lips happily.
Peggy smiled, wiping his tears, "Yes, we're having another baby, Steve...We are given a miracle...Brookyln just wanted to surprise us at the right moment which is clearly today...", as they glanced at Brookyln with warm smiles.
Brookyln blinked, "Dada happy too?", with a tentative smile, only a couple of baby teeth in her smile, and Steve leaned over to kiss Brookyln on the forehead, "Happy? My Brookyln fighter, you just made me the most excited daddy ever.".
Brookyln smiled wider, and then the door opened to let Bucky in, carrying a bowl of hot water and towels which will settle into warm temperatures, "Where do I put them, Audrey?", and Audrey replied, "On the dresser there.".
Bucky nodded, putting the stuff down on the dresser, and glanced at Brookyln, "Wanna play with your Uncle Bucky?", with a smile, and Brookyln bit her lip, looking back at her parents, and Peggy rubbed her back, "It's going to be a while before your sibling comes, sweetheart, and I need your daddy to keep me focused and it's scary for little ones like you.".
Brooklyn gave a small nod of her head as Bucky took her away. "Let's just give them some space, Brooke, it'll be alright. Just the less distractions the better right now.", he assured her as they left, leaving Audrey and Steve alone with Peggy.
"Okay, let's quickly get back to things then...", Audrey said. "How are you feeling right now, Peggy?".
Peggy replied, "Still good. I think I would last some time without getting tired after that nap refreshed me...", before gasping and moaning in pain from another contraction, taking a deep breath as it ebbed away, clenching instinctively into one of Steve's hands.
Steve smiled, "That's it, you're doing so good, Peggy...Just like riding a bike...", as Audrey checked on her again, and replied, "You gained another centimeter. Looks like you are right, Peggy. This kid is more patient than Brooke, yet getting eager..", with a chuckle.
"Sounds like a boy to me.", Steve commented, and Peggy looked at him in surprise as she remembered her breakdown in the nursery of the cottage, and she whispered, "I think you're right...", tears falling again in joy and hope, "This is happening...They heard us...".
Steve realized what she meant, and he kissed her on the temple, "We'll find out soon, Peggy.", with a smile, and Audrey replied, "They were hiding the gender from me when I was checking on the womb, but yeah, let's see in due time, eh?", with a grin.
Peggy nodded before moaning in pain, taking a deep breath, and so, with Steve and Audrey helping her use the master bathroom occasionally as the contractions increased steadily and the dilation progressing over the next three hours, with Steve leaving the room to grab some snacks, reassuring Bucky and Brookyln that things are progressing just fine, and then at the mark of the fourth hour, the water bag broke out, as the contractions became even more constant and painful.
"Oh, gods!", Peggy cried out in pain, feeling the rush of fluids gush out, and Audrey looked, "Just over 3/4 dilated, almost full dilation, Peggy, wouldn't be much longer now! Do you want me to check if they are still headfirst?".
Peggy nodded, "Yes, please!", taking a deep breath, tears of pain as Steve dabbed her forehead with one of the warm towels, and Audrey went to scan Peggy's belly with her crystal, "Okay, looks like the cord is loosely attached, and out of danger, not hurting the baby as they are pressing on the hips, curled up and headfirst, and still hiding their gender, you sneak!", with a wry shake of her head with a smile.
"It's got to be a brother; I think Brooke probably wanted a little brother...", Peggy chuckled as she took a few deep breaths. "At least things appear to be fine right now... that takes a load off our shoulders.", Steve sighed in relief.
Peggy caressed his cheek, "Hey, everything is going to be alright, Steve...You have to admit that I had some time to get used to this, and true, it's strange that I was never obviously pregnant, but they were smart to hide and grow up healthily despite me working again on my job and our private time.", with a blush.
Steve blushed, shocked that they never noticed a thing in their lovemaking times when they were going for fun and distraction and occasionally, intentionally going for a child when she was already pregnant, yet this baby grew up just fine, unharmed and everything, and those occasional times Peggy complained about a headache or something, she ate and drank more than usual, but otherwise, it wasn't weird to them.
He smiled, kissing her on the temple, "I know...I wouldn't dare to doubt you, Peggy...", holding her hand, and she gave him a loving smile before crying in pain from another contraction, taking a deep breath as it ebbed away, tightening her hold on his hand.
"That's it, breathe, Peggy, I'm right here...", Steve brushed her hair back, and it was a half hour before Peggy cried out in pain, feeling something happening, "Oh, gods, I need to push!", and Audrey checked, "Yes, you do! You're in the clear now! Push, Peggy, push!".
Peggy took a deep breath as Audrey helped center her legs into position, and she pushed, crying out in pain, clenching into Steve's hand, "You got it, Peggy! We're almost there!".
As another hour slowly passed for the pushing, in the living room, Brookyln whimpered in worry as she heard her mummy's cries of pain, "Is mumma pain normal, Ukle Buky?", looking at Bucky sitting across from her as he was distracting her with a game of rolling the ball.
"I think so... about usual for those giving birth; at least up here it seems.", Bucky said as she had a look. "Well, the other place that we visited, seems like those from that place have it a bit easier.". He chuckled, "Sorry, know I'm confusing you; give it a few years and we'll tell you all about that place.".
Brookyln nodded a little and tried to focus on rolling and bouncing the ball back to Bucky while trying to ignore her mummy's cries of pain, hoping that her mummy and her sibling is going to be okay.
As the hour ended, Audrey encouraged, "That's it, keep pushing, Peggy!", as Peggy gritted her teeth, her hair soaked by sweat and such, pushed, crying out in pain, as Steve nodded, "That's it, Peggy, breathe and push.".
"Oh, that's it! I'm starting to see something! Yes, I see skin! Hold up and take some breaths to rest a bit as this is going to be the hardest part.", Audrey shouted, and went to grab the bowl of warm water, bringing it over to rest on the bench, along with warm towels drenched into it.
Peggy panted, taking slow, deep breaths, looking at Steve with a small smile, "At least I got practice before with Brooke, huh?", tears of joy falling on her cheeks as they're so close to finally seeing their new baby.
"Almost there, Peggy... almost there... ", Steve told her as he squeezed her hand. "Just another push or two and we'll have our new child...".
Peggy nodded softly, "This is so far much better than being in a cold hospital and not having you here at my side...", and Steve gave her a warm, loving smile, kissing her fingers and then her cheek, "Oh, much better, alright.".
Audrey looked at Peggy, "You ready, Peggy?", and Peggy nodded, and then winced and gritted at her teeth at another contraction, and took a deep breath, and then pushed, crying out in pain, soon turning into a shouting cry of pain as she felt the head crowning.
"That's it!", Audrey encouraged, cradling the crowning head in her hands, turning it gently to clean the nose and mouth, "Push!", as Peggy pushed, breathing slowly through her nose, tears of pain flying between loud cries of pain, as Steve felt her hand squeezing his hand so much, "You got it, Peggy!".
This continued for five minutes before Audrey shouted, "Head's out, one more push for the shoulders, almost there!", and Steve encouraged Peggy, "Hear that? We're going to see the baby! Push for me, honey, push for them...", tears starting to prick at his eyes again.
Peggy gave a small, tired sob in joy and relief as she took a determined breath, and then pushed, yelling out in pain, feeling the shoulders stretching her out, seeing Audrey barely through her tears as she reached closer, helping the baby slide out as it came free, and Peggy collapsed back into the pillows, panting tiredly.