After "A Perfect Touch In Paradise"

Summary:

Set about six months after Richard and Camille's honeymoon in the UK and Paris.

Apologies in advance for the strange mix of English and French in the title of this story.

Chapter Text

"We will be counting the days until you are born." He tells them.

Finally the day has come! It's hot, very hot, at the Saint-Marie police station and they're packed with work but not for some particularly complicated case, so what's up? Commissioner Patterson got it into his head to reorganize the station, repaint it, and finally, modernize the computers, bringing the policemen into the 21st century.

But... while Commissioner Paterson fought hard to get the station rid of the white board, Richard brought out his most terribly stubborn side and there was no way to get rid of it.

Of course the white board stayed where it was.

Camille spent several days enjoying the struggle between these two titans.

And... Dwayne won the bet.

Richard is very nervous and at the moment he is packing up with great haste. Fidel will stay in charge of the station while he and Dwayne finish up today's paperwork.

The reason for the nerves and haste is none other than it's time to take Camille to the hospital. At last he is going to be reunited with his children, not in a dream but in real life!

"Chief! As soon as we finish here we go to the hospital." Its Dwayne who has spoken.

"I wouldn't run much, mate. First births take the longest and there are two babies. It's still going to take a few hours." Fidel corrects him with the calm characteristic of a man experienced in these conflicts.

"Fidel, I assure you that these children are special! This birth might be different." Richard says nervously as he helps his wife stand up with an arm around her waist.

Camille, at first, did not notice his gesture, for she has seen the calendar on the wall and she is petrified when she saw the date her children would be born.

But now is not the time to worry about that.

Richard can only wonder how it is possible that she came for him at the station. Why didn't see phone?

"Richard, what baby isn't special?" Camille, despite the pain, calls her husband's attention. He has forgotten that both Fidel and Dwayne are unaware of their connection to the Loa.

Richard laughs nervously.

"Sure, you're absolutely right, honey. I…." at that moment he addresses his officers, who look at him with understanding, unable to avoid smiling on their face, "….we will call you with whatever. And you can see them! They will be beautiful babies!"

"Of course, if they look like the mother!" Dwayne jokes. "Hurry up, Chief! Camille is getting angry…."

As they leave, still listening to Camille trying to reassure Richard, Fidel comments, suddenly turning serious.

"Do you notice that, for a second, Camille frowned at the calendar sheet?"

"That's because a few years ago today, Aimée was murdered. Fidel, if the Chief wasn't so distracted and his brain was working at full capacity, " Fidel smiles again, its evident that today the DI barely knew how to put one foot in front of the other correctly, "he would tell us that coincidences dont exist..."

"I'm sure, Dwayne. Now we are going to finish the job if we want to go to the hospital later when we close here."

"As you command, Sergeant!"

Fidel smiles to himself….

Richard has left Camille sitting in the car at the emergency entrance of the Saint Marie hospital.

They have arrived in the new family car that Richard has insisted on buying before the arrival of the twins, although Camille has also had something to do with it.

Camille, faced with the renovation of the shack, had discovered her love of activity and even during the twins' pregnancy, enjoyed decorating her and Richard's house to her own taste, except for Richard's office. And she realised that she could not depend on the station wagon. Nor did she want to.

During the journey to the hospital, Richard didnt stop asking his wife if she was okay, stressing that they were going to get to the hospital immediately, that everything was going to be fine…. although the truth is that, upon arriving at the ER, the DI parked the car and ran off to report Camille's condition, forgetting about her.

She, after letting another contraction pass, smiles with pure happiness stroking her abdomen, makes herself as comfortable as possible in her circumstances and waits calmly.

"My lovely babies, dont take it as an insult. He is looking forward to seeing your precious little faces. He has been waiting for your arrival for a month. I don't know if you will remember everything that we have already lived together, but your father and I remember everything. We dont forget anything. And we are going to love and protect you with all the means at our disposal. As you did for us when we needed help.

She hasn't noticed, but by the time she's finished talking to her children, Richard has already arrived with one of the male nurses, who brings a wheelchair for her.

Camille, a little embarrassed, looks at her husband, hoping she hadn't been indiscreet in front of the nurse, but his look tells her that she has nothing to worry about, so she lets them help her sit in the wheelchair, all heading to the hospital.

Richard kisses her on the cheek saying in her ear:

"Probably then I'll get even more nervous and I'll just be looking out for the kids and you. That's why I'm telling you now. You are absolutely everything to me. Most likely, when the time comes to meet the babies, I will be too shocked to speak at the time."

Camille squeezes her hand as she senses another contraction.

Catherine is leaving the last recommendation to her manager before she too rushes off to the hospital. Foresightedly, she has lit several candles so that everything goes well. Some of those candles are lit to certain Loa.

"Roger, the taxi is waiting. I have my phone, but I doubt very much that I can use it inside the hospital. I'm leaving now!"

Roger shakes his head wishing her well. The long-awaited grandchildren finally show up! Focusing on his work, he serves the customer who is waiting at the bar…..

Richard's parents, Alice and Arthur, who were the first to see the nervous parents-to-be arrive at the hospital, reassure the other grandmother-to-be that Camille still has a little bit of time left.

"Camille is getting a bit testy with Richard. He has said that he wants to always be by her side so as not to miss anything and Camille has already "kindly" asked him to calm down and allow her to relax. Richard is incredibly nervous!" Alice explains with understanding in her voice.

"Do you see how it was better at the time when Richard was born? We fathers-to-be did not burden you mothers-to-be." Arthur comments with amusement in his voice. But he also feels very nervous.

Catherine and Alice look at each other and, each taking Arthur's arm, go to try to see Camille one last time.

Richard and Camille are alone in the room assigned to her by the lucky doctor: Dr. Martin. He is very serious, rude, shy and goes straight to the point.

Richard and Catherine's parents have gone home to leave them alone. Richard will let them know if the twins are about to arrive.

Of course, according to Patricia, a nurse friend of Camille's who works there, Dr. Martin is the best.

'Calm down,' Camille assures her friend. "He reminds me of Richard when he gets stubborn. Actually now the only thing that matters is that everything will be fine."

"Camille, do you need anything?" It is Richard who asks her now. He tries not to overwhelm her with his attentions, but he just feels useless. She is suffering and he can't do anything. And she seems to be self-absorbed and almost ignoring him.

"I was just thinking about what Patricia told me. Do you think the Loa have sent this doctor to make sure everything will go well?" Camille asks as she caresses her belly again, her huge belly.

He leans down and kisses her on the head. According to what they have been told, they still have a few hours left to wait.

"We can tell you that, Camille. Everything will be fine."

They are suddenly in the old shack. Camille finds herself lying in the old bed that she and Richard shared in the early days of their relationship.

Fortunately she is still pregnant. She doesn't want to lose sight of her children.

Richard hears the voices and for once can see more than one diffuse shadow in the room.

"Won't they miss us at the hospital?" he asks concerned.

"Don't worry, Richard. Nobody will notice anything. That only happens when we want it to be. There is still a little time left. We think Camille will be more comfortable here."

Indeed Camille feels more relaxed. It even seems that the pains are more diffuse.

"We know something is troubling you, Camille. You know there are things we couldn't change. We're talking about Aimée, of course. We think that the children being born the same day that she died will make you understand that life doesnt end in the world that Richard and you knew before we contacted you."

Richard hugs her tight. He has sat down carefully next to her and tries to convey all his strength, his support, his love to her. He regrets having momentarily forgotten that sad anniversary.

Camille looks at him at that moment.

"Richard, really, it's okay. It is normal. I love you too."

"Camille, I adore these children even before I can hold them in my arms. But I wouldn't mind having more children, a girl or girls…"

She laughs and leans against the headboard of the bed. He continues talking. Seeing that she's not angry, he feels safe to do so.

"You know, so we could name it after your friend and…. you."

"And so we won't sleep at night for the rest of our lives, right?"

" I don't mind. We can always take turns or… have the grandparents help take care of them."

Camille laughs again, she can't help but feel happy.

And that was what Richard wanted, what the Loa wanted. Let her forget about the sadness over Aimee and concentrate on the happiness of the children and Richard.

"Camille, Camille!" It's Dr. Martin. "It's time for those kids to come out. I'm sorry, Inspector, but those children are going to have to be delivered by caesarean section. They are taking a long time. You will have to wait outside."

The two detectives feel terribly disoriented for a moment. But Richard soon regains control of the situation and, giving Camille a kiss, says goodbye to her saying:

"They are almost here! I'll wait for you outside. Everything will be fine. I'm going to call my parents and Catherine. Also Fidel and Dwayne. Everything will be fine."

He keeps the fear and worry inside as he watches his whole life being wheeled to the operating room at that moment.

Apart from those calls, Richard, who has taken advantage of that moment to try to stop worrying and calm down, asks Catherine to bring what they had prepared for Camille to the hospital.

But he shouldn't worry, Catherine has always carried it in her bag every time she went to the hospital. It's silly, but it's still Aimée's written words.

"Inspector Poole."

The voice catches him unawares… offside again!

"Doctor Martin. Is my wife okay? The kids are fine?"

The doctor answers a Richard who has jumped to his feet and visibly worried and nervous.

"Everything went well. They are two perfectly healthy children and Sergeant Bordey is well and stable. But she still has a few post-operative procedures resulting from the C-section. It will only be a few more minutes. A nurse will notify you as soon as you can see her."

"Thank you." Richard shakes the doctor's hand, surprising him, nervously, a big smile on his face. Everything went well.

Now he only has to wait a few more minutes to be able to verify it and thus hug his children again.

"Richard!"

Its Alice, his mother, followed by her husband and Catherine, who seems to be repeatedly checking the contents of her bag.

"Mom, twins are born! They're all fine, but I still can't see them. They'll let me know as soon as I can."

All this was told by Richard as he hugged his mother and smiled at his father and an almost tearful Catherine.

Finding all of them too excited to sit quietly, they look nervously down the hall where the person who will give them free passage will come out to tell them they can finally see Camille and the children.

"They're so small…" Richard mutters when he sees them.

He remembers them grown up.

The children are in two very small cribs on either side of the hospital bed in Camille's room.

His mother looks at him with understanding and surprise in equal measure.

"There are two, honey. It usually happens with twins."

Camille, still a little stoned, tired but terribly happy, takes his hand.

"They have your eyes, Richard."

He knows this isn't true but doesn't say anything. Catherine takes it upon herself to make it clear to her daughter that it is still too early to tell.

"Honey, all newborns have practically the same eye color as these beautiful grandchildren. We won't know their true colour for at least 9 months."

"Maman, they're going to have Richard's eyes."

Arthur, who continues to look at them entranced, considers that this is not important now. What matters is that they are already here and they are okay.

"Frankly, I don't care about the color of their eyes. I thought your mother and I would die without knowing grandchildren. The mere presence of these two children already seems like a miracle to me."

Richard laughs. Like Camille. At this point, they do not care about the alleged pressure that the grandparents had put on them to get the grandchildren as soon as possible. Richard then remembers the little detail that he and Catherine have prepared for her.

He sits down next to her bed and starts talking.

"Camille, I had not forgotten today's date. Well, yes, a little, due to this early arrival of the babies. But what matters is that we have a surprise for you. You know your mother's been cleaning out your old apartment in order to rent it and she found letters that you and Aimée wrote when you were teenagers. In them you wrote what you would do when you were adults."

Camille is speechless. She had forgotten it.

She stares at the paper that Catherine hands her. Just some nonsense they wrote one afternoon when torrential rains prevented them from leaving Maman's rooms in La Kaz!

For a moment she forgets everything as she remembers how she and Aimée had laughed like fools while writing what they believed would be their future at that moment.

Aimee had written, "It's funny how Cammy likes the island. She says that her life is here, that she has to help her mother. She says that she is sure that this island is magical. She is convinced that her destiny lies here, in Saint Marie. Since we are friends, I will always support her, because I believe that she is destined for something special. She will always be my only true friend. And… of course I will be a big star of the song. "

Camille remembers that at that time she still felt a little abandoned by her father's desertion and perhaps felt that her place was with Maman, to help her with the bar. That is why at that moment she did not have the need to leave the island.

Then Camille reads her own letter, "For the Camille of the future. I don't know what I'll be when I'm older. But one thing is certain: I will never be a policeman. The Detective who came to the bar two days ago because one of the customers said that Maman didnt have the proper license was very rude. Of course Maman did! He was a very rude man, but Maman told me after he left the bar that he hasn't from here and had no friends. That's why he was in a bad mood. Don't know. I only know one thing for sure: I will never date a police officer. Tomorrow, with a bit of luck, it won't rain and Aimée and I will be able to go out with the boys we really like. I would also like to travel when possible, but I believe my place is here. Im convinced that Im destined to stay here. Whatever happens, I will always be in contact with Aimée."

Camille folded the paper and handed it to Richard.

He took his time reading it. After doing so, he folds it back up and hands it over to her.

"Good thing you changed your mind, Camille. What would become of these two children then? What would become of me?

"And of me? I'm so thankful I changed my mind. " She took him by the hand, but then one of the little babies began to stir in his little crib.

Alice approaches with Catherine, stroking the face of the baby who is fidgeting in his little cot. The little one soon calms down. She never thought she would repeat that little gesture with one of her grandchildren. That caress that made little Richard, then a very small baby, calm down.

"Richard, it seems that this one is more restless than his brother. Have you thought of the names?" asks Arthur.

The younger Pooles look at each other and it is Camille who speaks.

"One of them will be called Richard, of course. The other will be called Arthur. "

The proud grandfather is grinning from ear to ear. At that moment, Dwayne and Fidel enter with Juliet.

"Chief, Camille! Congratulations!" Its Dwayne who speaks as he walks into the room.

The first thing he does is give Camille a kiss then goes to see the children. He dares not touch them as he gazes at them entranced.

"Congratulations, sir. Camille, they're beautiful. Just like you, Camille! Sorry we couldn't come earlier." Fidel shakes hands with Richard and gives Camille another kiss.

Juliet is admiring the children caressing them carefully.

"Thank you. Thanks to all." When Richard turns to talk to Camille, he sees Camille's eyes are almost closed, he assumes that she's a little tired.

Fortunately the rest of the family and friends see it too, so they say goodbye to let her rest.

As everyone leaves, Richard unpacks a book he stashed in Camille's overnight bag and, glancing at Camille and the children, he prepares to spend a few sleepless hours letting them sleep while he watches over them. His family.

Three days have passed since the babies were born. Camille has had the relevant tests and the children, although small, are doing well.

Of course, Camille has never felt alone. Aside from Richard, of course, Catherine has been by her side as much as she can.

"You didn't forget anything, did you, Camille?" the DI asks her as they prepare to leave the hospital.

Wouldn't you like to have a little Aimée?

The detectives stand still, hoping that they were the only ones to hear that comment.

But its Camille who is stunned when Richard replies:

"Of course. And a little Camille. Saint Marie needs two more warriors."

Did they really expect him to freak out over it?

Notes:

Of course, Richard thanks Sweepeaspatch from the bottom of his heart for remembering his beloved white board!