Thomas announced, "You're two centimeters away, Barbara, just a bit longer!", as Barbara breathed in and out, groaning in pain, as Harley handed a cold rag to Victor who dabbed Barbara's forehead with his other free hand.
Five minutes came and went of cursing, shouts of pain, and panting deep breaths before Barbara screamed in frustration, pain and impatience, "Tell me that I'm going to push, fuck it!", and Thomas shouted, "That was the last centimeter! You're clear, push!".
Barbara shouted, "Finally!", taking a deep breath and pushed, groaning louder than before with a momentary yell here and there, focusing despite her slowly growing exhaustion, lasting for an hour and half before screaming in pain at the ring of fire that came suddenly.
"Ohh, I see the head, it's crowning headfirst! Don't give up, Barbara!", Harley announced with tears as Thomas gave her the reins to deliver the baby, as she's the godmother, all because she was first on scene, saving Victor's life in that traumatic car crash, next to being one of the chosen parents, having Jason herself.
"Just a bit more, Barbara... almost there...", Victor whispered as he kissed her forehead. "We're...", Barbara groaned as she pushed. "Doing just the one...", she told him as he nodded. Very well, one child was more than enough if Barbara desired.
Nora replied, "Indeed, Jackson and this one will be enough, Barb...", kissing her forehead, "Almost there.", and Barbara attempted to glare at her, "What do you think I'm fucking doing?!", as she caught her breath, and groaned and screamed in pain as she pushed, feeling the ring of fire intensify, feeling her baby's head coming through at the widest part.
"Good, Barbara! Breathe and push!", Harley encouraged, and this continued for another 10 minutes before Harley called out, "Almost out, one more push!", using her hands to help slide the baby out, holding by the head and back.
Barbara sat up a bit more, managing, taking a deep breath and grunted, pushing as she yelled out in pain, and then collapsed back into the pillows, panting in near exhaustion, and tears came when she heard a wailing cry of life.
Harley laughed with joy, "It's a girl like you've always thought, Barbara! And she's got a good set of lungs like her mama!", as she and Thomas went to swaddle the wiggling, crying, shivering nude baby girl in a loose blanket, and cutting the cord/clipping a tie to her belly button.
Barbara smiled tearfully, "Oh, Victor, Nora, we got a girl!", reaching out to take her baby girl from Harley's arms, sobbing softly as she shushed her daughter, "It's okay, baby...Mama's here...She's perfect, my loves...She's like Jackson...You're so beautiful...".
Indeed, her and Victor's daughter appeared to be also part of Nora's too, having a wisp of Barbara's shade and style of fire-red hair, having Victor's skin tone of tan, a feminine version of Victor's nose and Nora's shoulders, having Barbara's cheekbones and chin, and having Nora's smile, and when her eyes opened, they revealed to be bicolored, ice blue on the right eye like Nora, and emerald green on the left eye like Barbara.
"Oh, my goodness...", Nora spoke. "She has all three of us...", she admitted as Victor looked, "Yeah... just like Jackson...", as he was tearing up a bit with joy at the sight of his second child, his first daughter.
Barbara sniffled, smiling, and blushed as she glanced at her loves, "Sorry about all those things I said...", and Victor chuckled, smiling, "Don't worry about it. We understand that it was the pain and hormones back there...So, any ideas for her first name, my love?".
Thinking a bit before Barbara smiled, "Laura...Her name is Laura, in honor of Harley Quinn...", gazing at Harley who gasped with tears, "Really, are you sure? Victor, Nora?".
They both nodded. "Harley...", Nora spoke. "If not for you, Victor might not be here today.". Harley shook her head. "Hey, Red deserves some credit too; she didn't give me directions fast enough, so we took the wrong turn for a minute there that had us in that position.", she chuckled.
Barbara smiled tiredly, "Fair point. What do you think, my loves?", and Victor replied, "Well, since she helped too...And with our Laura's unique looks, how about Ivyrose for her middle name?".
"Ivyrose?", Nora giggled; her mind quickly thinking back to another name similar from a popular vampire book series when she was younger and the unfortunate name the protagonist of the story gave her daughter. "Well, actually, that's a pretty fun middle name now that I say it.".
Barbara replied softly, "Laura Ivyrose Fries-Gordon. It's perfect...", kissing her daughter's forehead, caressing her side, "Welcome home, darling...That's your daddy by my left, and that's your momma by my right...You're all ours, Laura...".
Laura cooed and gurgled, calming down from her cries, and a knock was heard, and Thomas replied, "I'll get it.", as Harley cleaned Barbara up gently, covering her up, smiling, "Pamela would be so happy to be honored like that.".
Victor replied, "No problem. Thank you for helping, Harley...It meant a lot...", and Harley nodded as Thomas called out, "James is here with Jackson. Can they come in?".
Nora glanced at Barbara who nodded with a tired yet excitedly beaming smile, and she called out, "Yes.", and so, with that, Thomas and Harley left the room, trading places with James and Jackson, heading for their respective families within the extended family.
James held his grandson, looking at his beaming and tired daughter holding a grandchild, seeing her wife and husband joyful and smiling, "Everything went well?".
Barbara nodded, "Yes, even if it was a long, tiring 8 hours from the first preparations of labor, to just now...You have a granddaughter, Daddy...I never thought I'd be so happy yet so exhausted, but it was worth it...".
"I got a bit worried...", James admitted. "When I was hearing the sounds...", with a grimace. "Yeah, sorry, Daddy, this is the only grandchild you're getting...", Barbara chuckled. "I really can't go through that ordeal again. I don't think my life was in danger, yet I probably could give birth again..."
"Just obviously never want to go through that sort of pain again if you can't help it.", James nodded. Barbara nodded, "Yep. Fighting crime was much easier than giving birth, that's for sure.", as Jackson babbled curiously, as James got closer with him, putting him down gently on the bed as he sat.
"Hi, sweetheart...I want you and your grandpa to meet Laura Ivyrose Fries-Gordon...Laura, meet your big brother, Jackson Alexander Fries-Gordon, and your grandpa, James Gordon.", Barbara smiled warmly, adjusting Laura into view where Jackson and James can see easily.
Obviously, the baby's mind was still trying to get used to the world of light that she found herself in as opposed to her mother's womb, so Laura stared at them for a few moments before she started looking elsewhere as she was taking it all in. "I don't think she inherited your attentive mind, Barbara...", James joked. "She'd easily miss all the evidence...".
They shared a bit of laughter at that, as Barbara replied, "She's curious like her grandpa...", with a smile as James nodded, "Indeed...Laura Ivyrose, what a perfect name, and she's really beautiful...just like you and Nora and Victor...", tears in his eyes as he's overjoyed that he has a granddaughter next to his grandson.
Jackson babbled to his little sister, and she cooed, and Jackson smiled widely, saying his first words, which is a bit unusual for his age, but considering with Nora's slight gamma genes, he's advanced, "Mama, dada, momma, ack, lulu!", gesturing to their parents, himself, and then Laura, and she squeaked happily.
Everyone's eyes widened. "Did he just...?", Nora asked. "Perhaps it has something to do with your treatment.", Victor said. "I remember Bruce saying that Poppy was quite advanced at such a young age herself around the same age as Jackson.". He then smiled, "Guess someone's having a little trouble with their Js, because I'm pretty sure your name isn't 'ack', Jackson.".
Jackson looked up at his daddy, "Ack! Lulu!", pointing to himself and Laura, and Barbara chuckled, "Looks like Jackson can't say Laura either, too, as Lulu is close in a way to Laura. So, you want to be Jack for short, then?".
Jackson smiled widely, "Ack, Ack!", and James replied with a laugh, "Well, looks like our little guy wants to be a big boy. Can't blame him there. Jackson can be used for times he gets into trouble, still.".
Nora smiled, kissing Jackson, "Agreed.", before two sounds of hungry grumbles were heard, and Victor chuckled, "Wants to be like her big brother there.", as Barbara adjusted her coverings, bringing Laura up to a breast, latching into it before starting to suckle, gulping, and Nora replied, "Let's feed you, Jack.".
Jackson blinked at Nora, "Ack ty mama, peas?", and Nora looked at him for a second before clarifying, "You want to try your mama's milk instead of coming for momma's usual milk?", and Jackson nodded, "Peas!".
James carefully averted his eyes with a chuckle, "Well, at least he's polite.", as Barbara replied with a smile, "Looks like we're sharing occasionally, Nora...Come here, sweetheart.", and Jackson shuffled over into Barbara's other arm, eagerly adjusting himself into latching on the other breast and began to suckle, smiling as he seems to enjoy it.
Nora sighed with a chuckle, "Sounds like he's enjoying it. At least I'd have breaks for a while until we wean him off.", and James replied, "I better go tell the good news to Poppy and all as she could have been worried for you. Want me to grab some dinner for you all from the table?".
Barbara smiled, "Thank you, Daddy...I'm so really getting a much-needed nap as long as I got between Laura and all.", and Victor replied, "Please close the door fully, James, if you could.".
James nodded, "Of course...I'm so proud of you by the way, Barbara...", kissing his daughter on the forehead with a proud, warm, fatherly smile before nodding at Nora and Victor with smiles, and caressed both Jackson and Nora's heads gently before leaving the room and closing the door completely, intent to go tell the good news to Poppy and all on the other side of the manor, while grabbing dinner on the back around way.
Poppy gave a sob of relief, "Thank goodness she and her daughter made it safely.", after she informed Waylon and her family the good news, and Carrie glanced at her mother, "Mom, are...are you scared of anyone losing their babies in this whole huge family since...since you lost us?".
Poppy gave a small nod, "Yes... it's really hard to lose it too even after all this time... having you all back now... it almost feels like that hole has been mended but...". She shook her head, "It's funny considering what I do, who I am and yet I still have that sort of fear...".
"I don't blame you.", Carrie nodded. "I would probably feel the same if I was in the same position. Some Amazons, when they're pregnant, they don't show until it's almost a very late date too.".
Sean replied with a nod, "Because they train a lot, right? Are the babies really good for that?", and Carrie answered, "Because the babies are half or full Amazon, depending on the situation if it was a fling with a shipwrecked man, or a true courtship with another Amazon, it does not seem to bother them, and Mother told me that there's magic as extra protection and extra nutrients for an invisible big bump or something when their mothers are training.".
"Is training really that needed?", Jason asked, and Carrie shrugged, "It's not that intense as it's not every day, but they couldn't help it, they would need every advantage, even from the modern books that came over in shipwrecks or something. After all, it's...it's like a country to them, their island and all, you know?".
Daphne exclaimed, "Oh, like mandatory for the army!", and Carrie nodded, "Yep. After all, they have nowhere else to go, and no, even Greece is out, as they can't be so sure if there's space for them with Man's World pressuring on them, like for modesty issues and tradition issues.".
Damien whistled, "I can easily believe that...They're so lucky not to pay taxes or get spied by the government or something...That would be terrifying...So, where's this bottomless bag?", as they are relaxing after a hearty dinner.
Carrie replied, "Right here.", taking off the magical tie latch, and the bag appeared to everyone else's eyes, and Jason exclaimed, "Whoa! That's handy!", as Carrie must have brought it along with her from her temporary bedroom in the portion off the Family Wing in settling her stuff in.
"Indeed. Quite helped in hiding during camp times. Let me arrange them out.", Carrie replied, and went to arrange them all, taking several minutes, and Tim whistled, "How many Amazons exactly?".
Carrie said, "Can't say exactly how many on protection rules, but at least two generations, with one third generation in progress.", with a nod. Waylon murmured, "Wow, so this is the history of Themyscira in ways...May we look and touch, Carrie?".
Carrie nodded, "Of course.", as she smiled. "With Mother's blessing... just... don't play with them all needlessly, treat them with some respect.", she advised.
"It is very impressive...", Dick admitted. "And all looks as if was recently casted, fired, however you describe it; if we found any of this stuff around Greece and such, it would only be in like ancient ruins and look wear and tear of a few thousand years.".
Carrie chuckled, "All my Amazon sisters cherish and take care of them all, and they use them in needed ways as it's for Themyscira life. But yes, if they were in ancient ruins, they would have crumbled or something.".
Jason nodded, "Fair.", as the family went to look and touch, and it was normal for a few minutes before a gasp of surprise was heard when Tim touched a book tenderly in the arrangement of books in one row, opening it up, which Carrie recognized it as Alexa's book, realizing that Menalippe's words are coming true, as her brothers are starting to find their soulmates through touch of the Amazons' beloved belongings.
Poppy replied, "Are you alright, Tim? You look like you saw something.", looking concerned for her son immediately, pausing in her wonder over a beautiful shield, as Waylon looked over from admiring a crafted cup.
"I...I felt like a shock of electricity, like I wanted to know more of her I saw...It was a woman, a beautiful woman with dark red hair long to her mid-back, dressed in Greek clothes, with sky blue eyes...", Tim spoke.
Carrie replied, "That is Alexa's book. She always preferred to read a good book as she often admitted that she never enjoyed battle, but she always tries to do so to protect her home and her family. You didn't feel anything else on the previous things?".
Tim shook his head, "No. Only this book...Why?", and Carrie explained, "She is possibly your soulmate.", with a small smile.
"Wh-?", Tim stammered as he was shocked to hear that, the others were too. "Is that how it normally works for Amazons?", Poppy asked Carrie as she shook her head.
"No, it's all manner of ways; especially considering that Amazonians obviously see each other most every day, so that sort of... connection, isn't as normal.", Carrie explained.
Jason replied, "Wait, are you saying that why you brought these things is because you wanted to help us find love hopefully?", and Carrie nodded, "Yeah...Menalippe advised it...I know Sean and Daphne got lucky, finding good prospects here in Gotham, but you four, being my brothers...maybe in case why I was fortunate to end up in Themyscira, is because you four are maybe destined to find soulmates there, considering that I became an Amazon and found love with Kori, having things in common, like I being from Man's World, and Kori being from outer space, and we both became Amazons in our own ways. But it would be slightly different for you four.", with a nod.
Damien replied, "Then what are we waiting for? I don't know about you, but perhaps I could have way better luck in this, considering that high school is hell on my panther hormones and teenage hormones altogether.", and the other boys nodded, walking on to look and touch with respect to other things while Tim reverently held Alexa's book, taking a seat to see if he can read the book, hoping that he could start to know Alexa a bit by sharing a conversation of the book.
"So...", Tim spoke up. "Do I ask you about Alexa exactly or what?". He had a bit of a nervous look on his face as Carrie chuckled, "Well, that fully depends on if you'd rather go in mostly blind in terms of who you hopefully would be with.".
Tim blinked, "Well, I ain't asking for everything, Carrie, as I know there's probably some things personally that Alexa got, but I wouldn't mind a bit...You said that she doesn't enjoy battle, but she still fights to protect her home and family, and she prefers a good book.".
