Chapter eight
Christian.
As I sat out on the balcony I reflected on the night before. I knew sex with Ana was always mind-blowing, but last night had been something completely different.
The emotion I saw in her eyes as I sat deep inside her almost brought me to tears.
I could see all the love she felt for me, and I saw all of my hopes, dreams, and fears reflected back at me, and I just wanted to scoop her and our children up and hide them all from the world so that no one could ever harm them.
I knew now more than ever that I had to find those who were out to hurt my family because I never wanted to see my beautiful wife in pain, ever. Last night had shown me not just how much she looked forward to our future and all of the possibilities that spending eternity with your soul mate presented but also the fear of knowing that there were beings out there that envied what we had and would go to any lengths to try and take it for themselves.
I knew that no one would ever succeed but Ana didn't believe that yet. I always forgot because of how well she handled everything that she was still so new to this life. She still had no idea how powerful I was or even how powerful she was. No one in any world had the power that we had, and together we could take anyone on. Shit, Ana could take on Zeus with the power that she had alone.
I took another drink of my coffee and then stood to go back inside. I walked in and smiled when I saw Ana still sound asleep. I bent over and gently kissed her lips careful not to wake her and I couldn't help the burst of happiness I felt when she smiled and pulled my pillow to her nuzzling her head into it and sighing with pleasure.
I finally tore myself away from her to go and check on the children. When I slowly opened their door and saw that they were still fast asleep I closed the door silently and made my way downstairs.
The villa was silent apart from the sound of the birds outside and the waves coming from the sea and I took full advantage of the quiet before everyone woke.
I had always loved this place and the peace I felt when I came here, that's why I chose this place to bring my family hoping it would be a good place for us all to relax with the added advantage of our enemies not knowing where we are.
I walked into the kitchen after hearing someone pottering about and saw Beal with his head in the refrigerator. "Morning, brother. Are you okay?" Beal stood up and turned to look at me with a concerned look on his face.
"I'm not sure. Huldah was getting pains in her stomach all last night. She finally fell asleep about an hour ago and I'm not gonna lie to you, brother. I'm terrified! I know nothing about being a father and I think it's hitting me now after seeing her last night."
As we stood in the kitchen Huldah came rushing in panicked, which had Beal by her side in an instant. "Baby, are you okay?" I saw the tears form in her eyes as she doubled over in pain grabbing onto Beal's arm.
"No, I think it's time." She was panting as she was talking, so I shimmered up to the bedroom to wake Ana shaking her gently.
"Ana, you need to wake up honey, I think Huldah is in labour." As soon as the last word was out of my mouth she shot up and was out of bed gloriously naked and I could see she was just about to shimmer when I grabbed her arm stopping her.
"Honey, you need to get dressed." Ana looked down at herself then glamoured little denim shorts and a white vest top with a yellow bikini underneath.
"Baby, please go and get Artemis and tell her to meet us downstairs." Ana kissed me then shimmered out of the room and I headed off to find Artemis.
A few minutes later Artemis and I shimmered downstairs to find that everyone was now in the front room with Huldah panting and walking around the room bending over in pain every now and then clutching her stomach.
"How's it going?" Ana looked up at me when she heard my voice and her smile lit up her face.
"She's having contractions but her waters haven't broken yet." Ana walked over to me and kissed me, hugging me around my waist. "Morning, baby. Sorry, I didn't say that earlier." I smiled and kissed her again, and with my wife cuddled up to me where she belonged, I pulled my gaze away from her to look at Beal who was following Huldah around the room.
Artemis's eyes landed on Huldah before she smiled and walked over to her. "How are you doing, sweetie?" Huldah looked up from her bent-over position with tears in her eyes.
"It never went this long with Ana why is it taking so long, I have been in pain all night?" Artemis sat down on the sofa smiling sympathetically at Huldah.
"Honey, every labour is different. Have your waters broken yet?" Huldah shook her head and cried out as another contraction hit her.
Beal was rubbing her back and holding her hair back from her face that was covered in a light sheen of sweat just in time for her hand to fly up to her mouth. As she started to heave, Ana ran over to her with an empty trash can in her hand and held it in front of Huldah just as she started to be sick.
Once she had finished she leaned back against Beal clearly exhausted and I felt so bad for her. She was right Ana hadn't gone through this. Nor had she been in labour this long, and I was so relieved she hadn't because this would have killed me.
Seeing what she had gone through was hard enough but had Ana been sick and in pain for this long it would have destroyed me so I couldn't imagine what my brother was going through right now, watching the woman he loved going through this.
Beal walked her over to the sofa and sat Huldah down and moved to sit behind her so that she could lie back on him and stretch her legs out on the sofa in front of her. "Do you want me to get you, anything, baby?"
I had to admit I was a little shocked when I noticed that for the first time in Beal's existence, he looked lost but then I remembered how I felt when Ana was having the twins and I felt exactly as my brother looked.
To see the woman you love in pain and being unable to do anything to take that pain away from her left you feeling useless and lost, especially for men like myself and my brothers.
"No, I just want this to be over. It's not fair. I thought it would go fast like Ana's did." Huldah sobbed for a few seconds before her hand flew to her mouth again as Ana held the now clean trash can out for her so that she could be sick in it.
"Should we call for a doctor?" Ana looked from me to Huldah, then Beal, waiting for someone to answer, but at the mention of a doctor Huldah shook her head making it clear that she didn't like that idea, and to be honest neither did I. Not after our last experience with a doctor.
We all sat around for what felt like forever when Mia and Kate came down the stairs with the children laughing and giggling but when they saw us all the smiles on their faces dropped. Kate stepped forward, moving the children behind her protectively, and looked around the room. "What's happened? Huldah are you sick, sweetie?"
"No, she's having contractions." Kate's concerned frown disappeared and she smiled excitedly before she turned to Mia.
"Mia, babe. Go wake Mom up she'll want to be here for her sister. Get Elliot, Benji, and Dad up, as well. They can take the children outside to play while we look after Huldah."
"Wake Apollo up as well, Mia. He can help with the children." Artemis was walking into the room with blankets and ice chips just as Mia left the room when Hope came running from the guest house in a panic. When she saw Huldah she ran over to her and dropped to her knees visibly upset and a little relieved.
"Aunty Huldah, are you okay? What's happened? No one hurt you, did they? I woke up and thought someone had taken you again." Hope buried her head in Huldah's chest hugging her tight as Huldah hugged her back.
Sounding calmer than ever, Huldah squeezed Hope tighter. "Oh, sweetheart. No, I'm fine. The baby is coming, that's all. I promise you no one is going to take me again. Uncle Beal won't let me out of his sight, and if anyone tried he would never let them succeed. Please, sweetheart. You have to stop worrying about that."
I didn't know how but we had to figure out a way to help Hope with this. She was so young. She didn't need this worry every time Huldah wasn't around. It wasn't healthy. It would be so much easier if we could just wipe her memory but now that she was an oracle that was no longer possible. As if hearing my thoughts Zeus walked in, his booming voice echoing around the room.
"I think I can help you, Christian." Everyone looked from Zeus to me frowning, and when I turned to face him, I noticed Pythia walking in staring at Zeus with a blush creeping up her cheeks and a smile that screamed 'love' that was obvious for everyone to see.
"Help with what?" Ana broke me from my thoughts as I turned from Pythia to my wife.
"Your husband is worried about sweet Hope being so scared when Huldah is not in the room. He wants to find a way to help her forget what happened so that she isn't always so scared. Would you like me to help you, sweet child?"
Hope lifted her head from Huldah's shoulder and my heart broke when I saw the tears streaming down her little face as she nodded her head. I had to admit I was curious how Zeus was going to do this because I knew Oracles, minds could not be altered when once again Zeus answered my unspoken question.
"You are right my friend. You cannot wipe an Oracles memory. However, at the moment she only has the powers that I gave her, and the powers that Ana took from Hera. She has yet to receive her powers from her parent's coronation. This means that right now she only has the power of the Gods which only contains a small element of her Oracle ability. She won't be a full Oracle until she receives the rest of her powers and as I am a God, I can wipe her memory. I should have told you my Queen you can wipe their memories also. We don't do it often, if ever. As we do not like to mess with Oracles minds. It is after all where her power comes from, but in this situation, I think it's important to make an exception. We don't want this beautiful child to live with so much worry and fear."
Zeus had his hand against Hope's cheek as he spoke. Once he had finished speaking he held his hand out for her to stand. She held onto his hand letting him pull her up so that she was standing in front of him.
Zeus held on to Hope's hands smiling at her like a loving father would his child. "Close your eyes, sweet girl." Hope did as she was told and we all stayed silent as we watched was Zeus was about to do.
I was shocked to see that there was no glowing this time. In fact, it didn't look like anything was happening at all, but when they opened their eyes Hope looked like all of the worry, and stress, and fear she had been feeling was gone.
I watched taking a relieved breath when Hope knelt in front of Huldah, held her hand, and stroked her hair, smiling. "Do you want me to get you anything Aunty Huldah?" Huldah was silently crying as she looked into Hope's beautiful eyes, which no longer held fear or worry.
"Sweetie, why don't you go and get Aunty Huldah some more ice chips." I turned to Artemis frowning because I knew that she had just come in with ice chips but when I looked down at her hands to see that they were now empty. Artemis looked at me and noticed me watching her and gave him a slight nod.
Hope jumped up and ran off as Artemis held Huldah's hand "Are you okay, Huldah? What's wrong?" We all waited for whatever Artemis had noticed that we hadn't but itt wasn't Huldah that replied. It was Zeus.
"She thought that once I wiped Hope's memory their bond would be gone. I didn't just wipe the memory of what happened my dear. I altered her memory so that the bond you share would still be there. I have seen how close you are and knew how important that bond is. I didn't want you to lose that. Especially, not after everything you have already been through." Beal held his hand out for Zeus to shake, thanking him and I did the same.
I had to admit he was beginning to really like Zeus not that I would ever admit that.
Zeus clapped me on the back with a knowing smile then knelt next to Huldah placing his hand on her stomach. Huldah's hand shot to her stomach as her eyes went wide. "What are you doing?"
"He just needed to be turned a Huldah, don't worry. I just didn't want you to have to go through more than you had to, and I am sure you didn't want to have to deal with a breeched birth. It would have caused you more pain, and I know that I don't just speak for myself when I say no one wants to see you in more pain than necessary."
Zeus stood and moved over to Pythia wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing the top of her head. "Huldah, Beal. I would very much like to stay and see the birth of your babe. If you wouldn't mind. I will stay up by your head Huldah I promise. It's just that being who I am I don't get to see a child's birth often, as only some of my offspring were born the way yours will be and the last one was an incredibly long time ago. It would be such a wonderful thing to experience again."
They both smiled and nodded in agreement and Zeus Glamoured a huge Chair so that he wouldn't see anything he shouldn't but he would be able to see once the baby was born. When Zeus sat in the chair, he pulled Pythia onto his lap just as Hope came in and sat back on the floor next to Huldah holding out the ice chips.
Everyone turned as we heard a noise coming from the stairs to see Mia, the men, and the children coming down the stairs with Dione following behind them. Dione walked straight over to Huldah and sat on the floor next to Hope. "Oh, sweetheart. This is so exciting. I'm finally going to be an Aunty, soon. How are you feeling?" Huldah gave Dione a weak smile as she doubled over with another contraction.
I didn't want any of the children to see Huldah in pain because they wouldn't understand what was happening and they looked a little scared. So, I had the guys take them all outside so that they could have breakfast and then play.
As I watched them leave the room, I found my eyes drawn to Pythia who now had Bella in her arms and Pythia was staring at her with a soft smile on her face, as Zeus watched Pythia and stroked her hair lovingly. Just as I pulled my gaze away from what I felt was a private moment between them, Abigail came running back into the room to give Huldah a hug followed quickly by Michael who was trying to get her back outside.
"Okay, sweetheart. Come on. We need to give Aunty Huldah some space." Elliot was reaching out for her again when Abigail jumped back and Huldah gasped.
"Mommy I think Aunty Huldah just had an accident." I had to stop myself from laughing at the look on Abigail's face when she whispered this to Ana.
"No, sweetheart. That just means the baby is coming soon. So, I need you to go outside and have your breakfast. I will come out and see you in a little while." Abigail nodded frowning then ran off toward Elliot who had made his way back over to the doors with the other children.
Once they had gone outside Ana, Artemis, and Dione leapt into action. "Okay, Huldah. Honey, we need to get you cleaned up and changed…" Before Artemis could finish what she was saying someone had glamoured Huldah into fresh clean clothes with a blanket over the top of her. "Whoever did that thank you." Huldah's voice sounded so weak.
"It was me, my love, and you are very welcome, sweetheart. Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?" Beal was stroking his hand through Huldah's damp hair.
"I don't need anything, thank you, and I don't think I should have any clothes on my bottom half other than the blanket." I smiled when I heard Beal's objections to her being naked from the waist down when there were other men in the room.
"Beal, she won't be on display. The blanket will cover her. I promise." Artemis was all business as she fussed over Huldah. I walked over to squeeze Beal's shoulder and told him without words that I understood his feelings, completely.
"Huldah, Beal do you want me to go outside with the others? I understand Zeus has asked to be here and I don't want to impose so if you want me to leave I will."
"If it's ok with you and Huldah, brother, I would like you to stay but like Zeus, I would like you to stay up that end so that you don't see anything. Is that okay with you, sweetheart?" I could hear how scared my brother was about what was about to happen and he needed some support from someone who knew what he was going through.
Huldah nodded to say it was okay. So, I glamoured a chair to sit in as the only thing in the room to sit on was the sofa that Huldah was currently lying on.
Artemis was lifting Huldah's legs so that she had her knees bent while she checked whatever she was checking under the blanket, and I had to admit we were so fucking lucky that Artemis was one of the primary Goddesses of childbirth and midwifery, among many other things. As no one else here would have a clue what to do.
Huldah was in the middle of another contraction that seemed to last forever and I couldn't hide the wince imagining what she must be feeling. I had no concept of physical pain but if was anything close to the emotional pain I have faced since meeting Ana I didn't envy Huldah at all.
When it ended Huldah collapsed against Beal and the fine sheen of sweat had her hair sticking to her forehead as I watched the beads run down the side of her flushed face.
I glamoured a small table at the side of them with a bowl of cold water and a cloth so that Beal could use it to cool Huldah's heated skin. Needing to help in any way that I can. Beal gave me a small smile then picked up the cloth and placed it in the cold water before placing it on her head, and when he did Huldah sighed with relief.
It couldn't have been more than two minutes since Huldah's last contraction when another one hit her, and it seemed like the worst one yet.
"Okay, Huldah, honey. I need you to breathe through the contractions. Can you do that for me?" Artemis was rubbing Huldah's knees as she encouraged and watched her breathing through the contraction as she had instructed. "Good, that's really good."
"Huldah do you want some gas and air? We can get that for you if you want." Huldah nodded vigorously at Ana with pleading eyes at the mention of the gas and air. The second she said yes Ana had it in front of her and Huldah quickly snatched it from her hands taking a big deep breath.
Beal was trying to take it from her concerned that it would hurt her in some way despite Huldah hitting his hand away each time he fussed over it, and clearly, Huldah had reached her limit as she turned around a little to face him, and smacked his hand away one last time.
"If you fucking grab for it one more time I swear you will go and sit outside. I couldn't care what they put in front of me if it helps with the pain I will take it and if you try to stop me, I. Will. Hurt. You."
She was right in Beal's face now growling at him like a madwoman and I had to cough to hide the laugh that I couldn't hold in. Ana turned around and I could see she was looking at me to hide the smile on her own face, as Artemis went back to checking on Huldah with an almost undetectable smile.
Beal held his hands up in surrender sitting back, and Huldah turned back around. As another contraction hit her the gas and air went straight back in her mouth and Beal wisely didn't try to stop her. "Artemis, can I push yet?" She was panting and sweating more now and I felt so sorry for her.
"No, not yet sweetie. You're only six centimeters dilated. I am so sorry just keep breathing through the contractions.
We had all been sat for a little over an hour when Ana got up to go and check on the children, but before she could reach the door Artemis announced that Huldah was now dilated ten centimeters and told her that she could now start to push. Ana quickly ran back after a glance to see the children playing in the pool with Elliot Benji and Apollo.
Everyone was watching Huldah even Zeus who had now looked up from Pythia and Bella for the first time since he had sat her on his knee. My attention was pulled away from them to Huldah and what was happening with her as she screamed out in pain.
Huldah was sitting up a little holding on to her knees and pulling them to her chest with her face twisted in both pain and because she was pushing so hard causing it to go a deep shade of red.
After a few seconds of pushing Huldah breathed out a loud sigh and collapsed backward onto Beal who was sitting up a little more to look over her stomach to see what was happening. The blanket was now up a little further, but thankfully from where I and Zeus was sitting, we couldn't see anything below her stomach.
Dione and Ana, however, were now standing at Huldah's feet, their eyes repeatedly going from what was happening between Huldah's legs and her face. They both had their hands over their mouths and tears running down their faces. This was the only time my heart wouldn't break at seeing my wife cry because I knew they were tears of joy.
Artemis smiled up at Huldah encouragingly grabbing my attention once more. "Sweetie, you are doing so well. I can see his head now. So, I need you to keep pushing for me, honey. You are so strong. You are doing so well." Huldah took a deep shaky breath and began pushing again, and both Dione and Ana began saying words of encouragement to her along with Artemis.
I smiled to myself when my brother joined in with his own words of encouragement, wondering how I had ever lived or existed without these people for so long, and how could I have ever thought that my existence before Ana, and my family could have ever been a happy one.
"Come on, beautiful. You can do it. I can see his head, baby." Beal's voice was thick with unshed tears.
Huldah pushed a few more times as Ana and Dione jumped up and down with excitement careful not to make too much noise. While Zeus and Pythia were giving their full attention to what was happening with the Huldah.
After another big push, the silence in the room was broken by the soft cries of my nephew as Artemis lifted the tiny little bundle placing him on Huldah's chest, and the second she held him she burst into tears smiling down at her son, with Beal stroking her wet hair back from her face staring down with shock and awe and pure love at the baby in Huldah's arms.
I felt tears burning at the back of my eyes for the joy I felt for my brother and someone I knew without a doubt would one day become my sister-in-law. I could hear my brother's thoughts as loud as if they had been spoken out loud.
Beal was thinking about how he had come so close to losing them both, and I didn't need to see my brother's face to know that right now he would have tears in his eyes. I could hear the raw emotion in his thoughts.
I never would have thought only a couple of months ago that myself or any of my brothers would cry over anything or anyone. Let alone a woman, but these women had melted our hearts and they had us on our knees willing to do anything for them and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I looked over to Zeus and Pythia to see that Pythia was crying just like all of the other women in the room, and Zeus was watching her with a look that I couldn't quite work out.
When I looked over to Ana, she was now watching Zeus and Pythia as well with a big smile on her face. She must have sensed me watching her because she turned her gaze to me and then began to walk over to him.
"Can you believe he is here? He is so tiny and so beautiful. I have never seen anything so amazing. It's made me so broody. Did you see how small he is?" I smiled at her and nodded choosing to ignore her comment about her being broody. I just remained hopeful that this meant that once the danger was gone, she would want another baby straight away. I had been broody ever since the twins had become toddlers, so hearing her say that filled me with so much hope.
An hour or so later, Huldah was lying on a now clean sofa and wearing some comfortable clothes with Beal sitting next to her and the baby in her arms. He was such a beautiful baby with a head full of jet-black curls and dark eyes that had lilac flecks in them. A perfect mixture of both his parents.
Ana sat on the other side of Huldah and reached over to stroke the baby's head softly. "Have you both thought of a name for this gorgeous little man." She hadn't looked away from the baby as she spoke. In fact, she had barely looked away from the baby since he had been born.
Huldah looked up at Beal who smiled and then kissed her softly "We've decided to call him Liam. It means strong-willed warrior and let's face it if he is going to be anything like any of the men in our family, he will definitely be strong-willed and he will for sure be a little warrior. So, it's perfect. What do you guys think?" Huldah sounded so proud as she spoke about her son's name.
I smiled at my brother and Huldah loving that they could relax for a while and enjoy being new parents instead of fearing our enemies. I wanted them to have as long as they could uninterrupted with their new baby and their family. "It's perfect and really suits him. He is definitely a Liam. Congratulations to you both. He's perfect." Huldah gave me a beaming smile before turning back to her son.
I frowned when I couldn't hear the excited, playful screams from the children outside but when I looked out of the glass doors, I couldn't help but laugh when I saw all the children with their little faces pressed up against the glass trying to get a look at the baby. "It looks like they are desperate to come and meet their cousin. Are you ready to let them in?"
Huldah and Beal looked up and laughed when they saw the children. "I don't think we have much choice. If we don't I think they will just shimmer in here themselves, or shimmer the baby out there." Beal was laughing but had moved closer ready for the onslaught of little children that would be running in any second.
Let the chaos begin I thought smiling at their excitement to be near the baby. I never thought when I woke up this morning that this was how today was going to go but I was so glad that it had.