"His... it's one of his family?", Preston asked as Bebinn nodded. "Yes... though which one I'm not so sure as of yet. Possibly his sister if I could guess but easily could be his mother.", she said.
Jerika replied, "Do you want me to get Vinny?", as they were absorbed into the presence of their new daughter, and Bebinn nodded, "Yes, please.".
Preston replied, "He is probably resting on the couch, Jerika.", and Jerika nodded, and arranged the sheets over Bebinn's knees, and left the bedroom to get Vinny, as Bebinn took a deep breath, feeling her other baby moving slightly in the womb, mild contractions as of now, giving her some needed rest.
"How's the other one doing?", Preston asked softly, and Bebinn smiled, "They're doing alright, still headfirst from what I can feel, but I have a feeling that it's our boy Finin, and he is definitely a momma's boy as this one came first...", with a warm chuckle as she gazed upon their daughter who gurgled, clutching into Bebinn's finger, enjoying Preston's gentle caress.
Preston chuckled, "Sounds about right...", as they then heard the door moving open, looking up to see Vinny walking in with a rub of his arm, looking curious, "Jerika said that there was a surprise for me...".
Bebinn smiled, "Yes, it's involving you...", adjusting their daughter into view of Vinny, and she blinked, giving out a gurgling squeal of joy, as Vinny widened his eyes, walking closer as tears came to his eyes, "Flora?".
The baby girl gurgled happily, as Preston asked gently, "Flora?", and Vinny whispered, "Flora was my little sister...She has the little birthmark of the flower that was used for her name, and she got Mami's nose, yet she's...she's all of you guys...What...why is she here?".
Bebinn spoke warmly, "She wanted to see you again...She touched the Time Stone, and I saw her past life...She was sad that you were blaming yourself for the fire, and she chose us as her new parents...She was six when she got sick, didn't she?", with a soft look at Vinny.
Vinny nodded tearfully, "She was going to be seven years old within the next month...Does...does she remember being sick?", worried, and Bebinn shook her head, "No, not much, just that she wants to live again, to make you smile...And she was hoping that you wouldn't be mad for her in picking us to be born to...", as the baby girl whimpered, looking at Vinny, even though she doesn't remember much of her past life anymore, she knew that Vinny was important.
Vinny teared up as he shook his head and was trying hard not to bawl out crying right then and there. "No... I could never be mad at her...", he sniffled as he was at war with himself not to break down and cry with joy. "It's okay... you can cry if you wish... they're happy ones, not sad ones.", Bebinn smiled at him.
The baby girl cooed and gurgled, her little hand grasping and reaching for Vinny's finger, and Vinny sat down, his breath catching as memories of her past birth with Mami came, and he knew...he knew immediately that it was his sister...now his pseudo-cousin..."It's Vinny...I promise to protect you...and this time I won't be helpless...".
Bebinn and Preston exchanged a silent look, and agreed on something before Preston smiled, "You aren't helpless, Vinny. You literally fought dozens of monsters and protected my wife and children...Would you like to be the godbrother of Flora?...That is, if you want your name, sweetie?", with a loving, fatherly, awed smile.
The baby girl gave a loud squeal, affirming that she's Flora, keeping part of her past life, like her birthmark and her Mami's nose, and Vinny sobbed, letting go of happy tears as he smiled very genuinely, "I'd love to be her godbrother...Welcome home, Flora...".
Flora cooed and gurgled happily as Bebinn smiled happily, replying, "You're a Whitmore now, darling...", as Preston hummed thoughtfully, "Vinny, what was her middle name/s?".
Vinny replied, "She had two middle names, believe it or not...", with a wry chuckle, "Giuseppina Cora. Mami used to call her the whole thing while Dad used just Cora.".
Flora snorted, looking directly at Vinny with a pout, and Preston chuckled, "Think that she's saying no, but perhaps to honor her past father, as she got her past mother's nose, how about Celina since she's beautiful like the moon?".
"I love it.", Bebinn smiled as she gently brushed the girl's tiny hairs. "How about you, Vinny, would that work with you as well?"
Vinny sounded it out, "Flora Celina Whitmore...", and Flora gurgled happily, and he chuckled, "It works for me...It's perfect for her...", with a smile.
Flora cooed before her belly grumbled hungrily, and she whimpered, glancing at her ma, and Bebinn chuckled, "Alright, dinner's on, darling...", with a smile as Vinny politely got up, "I may have gotten used to my mami feeding her before, but that was when I was a little kid and I didn't know any better, and it was another thing with Mom feeding Kory and Jen...Can I cook some dinner for you guys, especially you, Bebinn? You still got her little sibling waiting...", and Bebinn felt a kick as the others saw it, chuckling warmly.
Bebinn smiled, "Yes, please, that'd be great...I need the energy for it...", and Vinny nodded, leaving the bedroom, while Preston helped moved a portion of her dress and bra, as Bebinn adjusted Flora, feeling a slight pinch as she latched to the nipple, and felt milk moving through as her little daughter suckled, gulping slowly of her ma's delicious milk as she made herself comfortable, a content little coo.
Preston smiled gently, caressing Flora's fine black hairs, "You did it, Bebinn...I can't believe it...another part of family has come back to begin her life again...", kissing Bebinn on the lips tenderly.
Bebinn smiled blissfully, "Our little flower...She'll bloom into an amazing woman with our love and support and more, and this time, we will make sure that she won't know great sickness ever again...", never taking her eyes off her, their daughter, awed that she chose them as her new parents.
Jerika went to check under the sheets, and replied, "You're just past 1/4 dilated. Looks like they're being smart to give you some rest and time to have food to help you feel stronger to handle them coming in a while.".
"Any more risks?", Vinny asked as Preston took a deep breath, "No, I don't think so, I think we did so much of a job they won't dare try anything against us at least for a long, long time... it won't stop them obviously trying to do this and succeeding against others but... there is only so much we can do. This is a war that's been fought for millenniums upon millenniums."
It was an hour later after Flora's feeding, and Preston is holding Flora who is resting and snoozing in his arms, unable to take his eyes off her as he rested in one of the small breakfast table chairs, while Vinny is checking on things on the stove and all.
Bebinn is currently taking a nap after using the bathroom, and Jerika is staying in the bedroom, reading a book, ready to check if something changes suddenly.
Vinny sighed, "And there's no way to track the other spots they would have teared into the world here?", and Preston replied, "No, for they can sniff it out quickly as they go through the Dark Dimension, but don't worry, there are ward alarms on various places for all the Mystic Arts Masters and such to seal other tears, and kill off more demons, but it's hard work, yet luckily, the demons only come on Halloween, Day of the Dead, and the short amounts of sunrise and sunset, for they are afraid of the sunlight and the sunlight's effect against the moon, dying under it helplessly.".
"Oh...I suppose that makes sense...What about the eclipses?", Vinny asked, and Preston replied, "Possibly that too, but luckily, eclipses are decades apart as they are rare.".
Vinny nodded, "That's good, at least...", and Preston nodded, "Aye...If we help out behind the curtains occasionally on those days and the times of sunset and sunrise, we might suppress the dark god who rules the Dark Dimension to a weak state, and the world could be healing more thoroughly, not just us and the makeshift family and Atlantis.".
"That sounds like a good plan of traveling occasionally.", Vinny smiled, and Preston chuckled warmly, "Indeed, and maybe with Bebinn's advice, we would teach some more of our makeshift family in the present, and maybe some of the Atlanteans, just in case in the far future.".
Vinny chuckled, "Oh, yeah, that'd work with more backup, and if technology gets better, we can practically portal anywhere to seal a tear on those times.", and Preston smiled, "Believe me, Vinny, the near future and far future will be great in technology.".
Vinny grinned back at Preston, knowing that Bebinn is occasionally a seer thanks to the Time Stone, and so things relaxed, with eating some dinner, changing out the essentials to fresh ones for the second birth, and the steady progression for another hour and half before the contractions became painful with Bebinn crying out in pain, calling out, "Preston!".
Preston was about to take off, glancing at Vinny and Flora who's having her first bath, and Vinny smiled, "I did this with Kory and Jen, I got her, go!", and Preston nodded, leaving the nursery, heading quickly to the master bedroom, opening and closing the door.
Jerika replied, "Good timing, Preston! She's just a few pinches past halfway dilated, won't be much longer now.", as Preston went to hold into Bebinn's hand as she playfully glared at him, "Couldn't leave Flora long enough for me?", as it was clear that Flora had wrapped her daddy around her little finger.
"Oh, please don't make me choose...", Preston teased. "I couldn't decide between the two of you.", with a wry, teasing smile. "Careful now, we have a third one... don't want to make them feel the odd one out, now do you?", Bebinn countered.
"I only have so much love to give.", Preston laughed as he held her hand. "Besides, I think it might be good for Vinny to at least have some time with her considering that she is his reborn sister after all.".
Bebinn smiled warmly, "More than fair...", before gasping and moaning loudly out in pain from another contraction, taking deep breaths as she instinctually squeezed her husband's hand, and Preston kissed her on the temple, "That's it, Bebinn, breathe...I'm here...I'm right here...".
Bebinn gave him a grateful, small smile at him. The contractions increased steadily over the next two hours, becoming more painful as she moaned and cried out in pain while Jerika checked every 10 minutes, between getting ice chips and such to help Bebinn.
"I swear that this baby doesn't want to come out of me!", Bebinn groaned in frustration, and Preston wiped her forehead gently, "It's just taking a bit longer than we thought, that's all, my love...Not all second born twins want to be born quickly.".
Bebinn replied, "I know, Preston!", snapping out at him, cursing in Irish Celtic, as her hormones flared out, and Preston took it at face, kissing her on the lips, changing her temper into sobs of frustration, "I'm sorry, Preston! I'm damn tired, close to exhaustion, and it's already getting late!", as it's like 10:30 pm from the bedroom clock.
She labored for a bit over 6 hours with Flora, and so far with this baby, it's just a bit over four hours. She is wondering if this baby is determined to match their sister's record or just beat it of a few minutes past their sister's record. She is already starting to think that Preston was right about the baby being a momma's boy.
She sure wished she was a Atlantean or at least a super soldier jealously right now, but she will have to bear it like a normal woman which she is admittedly doing well at, but it's hard.
"You alright?", Preston asked her as she was taking deep breaths, "Yeah... just... wish it was kinda over already. I thought it would be much quicker since Flora was born, you know?".
Preston nodded, "I know, my love, but it's going to be okay...I'm right here...Just try to be calm and patient...", and Bebinn nodded, giving him a soft smile.
It was almost 40 minutes of more progression when Bebinn felt something go, gasping, "Something happened!", as Jerika checked, "You're right for the water has broken! And oh, yes, that got you all dilated. Take a deep breath and push!", with a wide laugh.
Bebinn sobbed in relief and nodding as she took deep breaths as contractions came through, and pushed, grunting, crying out in pain as she clenched into the sheets and Preston's hand with her hands.
"Good, keep doing it whenever you're ready!", Jerika encouraged as Preston went to wipe his wife's forehead of sweat and brushing her hair back with his other hand, ignoring the pain, as his heart hated seeing her in pain, but knowing that it's normal, "You got this...".
Bebinn took deep breaths and pushed for the next 30 minutes, crying out in pain, before she shouted, "Do you see them?!", as she can feel the familiar burn of her vagina stretching out beyond limits.
Jerika smiled, "Sure do, and they're already crowning than peeking! Almost there!", as Bebinn panted with relieved tears, "Thank the spirits!", moaning and gasping at another contraction.
Preston kissed her on the temple, "We're almost there, Bebinn!", with a wide smile, "You got this!", and Jerika nodded, "That's right! Steady, good pushes, just a bit more!".
Bebinn leaned forward slightly as she took a deep breath, and grunted as she pushed, crying out in pain the first few times, as Jerika encouraged, "Good, good, ooh, there's the shoulders coming! This is it, Bebinn, one more good push, and they're out!".
Bebinn panted, so tired to the point of exhaustion, whispered, "Can you hold me, Preston? Please? I'm so tired...", relieved that Jerika hadn't found any danger of vaginal bleeding or anything, but she is going to rest real good after a while with her second baby including their first feeding, maybe take some years off the idea of being pregnant again.
"Of course. I won't dare let go for days if you want me to.", Preston told her as she smiled. "I really do not deserve you sometimes, Preston...", Bebinn admitted as she took a few more breaths before pushing again.
Bebinn shouted in pain as she felt Preston's arms holding her, tears flying as she felt the shoulders go one by one and heaved with a cry of pain as she collapsed, feeling the baby slide out with Jerika's help, panting with her eyes closed, taking deep breaths.
A few seconds later, a hearty, loud wail echoed through the bedroom, causing Bebinn to open her eyes in relief and exhaustion as Jerika held up a squirming, goopy, shivering and crying baby, smiling, "It's a boy, and to boot, two minutes before midnight!".
Preston laughed warmly with tears falling, kissing her forehead, "You did it!", as Jerika went to clean the baby boy, clipping the cord and cutting the rest of the cord, and wrapped him loosely in a blanket, bringing him into Bebinn's arms, "There you go...", with a warm smile.
Bebinn breathed with awe and love, "Took you long enough, FinÃn...", tears on her cheeks as she cradled him, shushing him gently, seeing her husband's finger gently caressing their son's cheek.
Indeed, their son has fair tan skin, and chocolate brown eyes, just like his father while having Bebinn's dimples and nose masculine style, yet the best part of him which is a surprise somewhat, is his little nest of fine hairs in a medium auburn color, a mix of his mother's shade and his grandfather's shade.
"He looks so peaceful...", Preston said as Finin had quickly calmed down. "I don't think you need to worry about being a bad mother for sure with how easy you make it look with those two already.".
Bebinn gave a warm laugh, smiling as she kissed Preston on the cheek, "I love you...", and Preston smiled, "I love you too... He's absolutely perfect...Hello, Finin...I'm your da, and this is your ma...".
Finin cooed and gurgled before his belly grumbled, and the parents chuckled, with Preston remarking wryly, "He's bound to be very hungry after waiting almost all afternoon and night...", as he helped take off her top, and Bebinn brought Finin closer as he latched into a nipple, suckling eagerly.
A knock on the door caused everyone to look up, and Jerika covered Bebinn's legs before going to the door, and peeked through, "Vinny?", and Vinny's voice was heard, "Flora's fussing up a storm. I think she's very hungry after waiting, even after trying to give her a bit of formula.", as they heard Flora's hungry cries and grumbles.
Jerika nodded, "Let me have her. Why don't you head to Atlantis with your new portal magic? Everyone deserves to know the good news, and oh, it's a boy, Finin.", as they saw Flora being passed into Jerika's arms through the crack of the door, as Vinny's voice replied, "That's great news! You got it!", before his footsteps became quieter, walking away.