Invitation for a Delivery
by Donna and Toni

Fiona was enjoying the party from the comfortable lounge chair that had been provided her. She had a good view of the dance floor and was enjoying watching all the antics of the leprechauns and the various fae. Andrew and Shannon's daughter, Angel, seemed fascinated by her huge belly, and was her little shadow, asking question after question about what was going on.

She had even asked Philip a few questions, once she found out he was involved, and Fiona had rescued her blushing husband more than once when he'd look at her with his "help me" look. A priest was definitely not an expert on explaining the birds and bees to a little girl, the Irishwoman thought to herself with a smile. But even the threat of being questioned didn't keep the young father to be that far from his wife; not with her this close to her due date. He chatted and laughed with others, but would look often in her direction, to make sure she was still all right. It seemed he was more nervous about their impending children than she was!

She kept him occupied by having him fetch her drinks and samples of the good food that was covering the tables. She didn't lack for any company while he was gone though. It seemed that someone had to ask her how she was feeling every two minutes!

But she really didn't mind; they were a tight knit community, and they all only had her best interests at heart. She'd been ignoring the pains she'd been having off and on all day, not wanting to spoil the party or worry Philip even more than he already was. As she watched him conferring with Alec about a church matter, she felt a pain that was the strongest one yet, and automatically rested her hand on her belly, trying to brace herself better to get through it.

Once it was over, one of the twins chose that time to use her bladder as a soccer ball. "Oh sweet Jesus!" she gasped, struggling to get up out of the chair so she could waddle over to the nearest bathroom.

Philip immediately was at her side, helping her to stand. But she wasn't even half way to the house before she gasped again and froze in the spot. "Me water just broke!" she cried out in the Irish, and a glance at the ground proved this to be the case.

He dispensed with just helping her to stand and walk, and lifted her carefully into his arms and carried her the rest of the way, which fortunately wasn't far. Strangely enough, the minute he'd seen her in trouble, so to speak, his fear immediately calmed and he found the courage that had taken him through many a Legacy crisis armed with nothing more than holy water and a crucifix. As he carried her, he did his best to calm her, telling her it'd be all right, they'd get through this together; and yet, for all his calm, Fiona knew he was doing some heavy non stop praying in his heart.

Part 2

By Donna, Toni and Abs 

It was not hard to miss the fact that Philip had swooped his wife into his arms and was carrying her to the house. Seeing this, the nearest person to the house dashed ahead to open the door for them. Angel, who had been hovering near Fiona during most of the party, would have followed them into the house if her father had not caught her just in time.  

Another redhead spotted the activity as well.  Mary Muldoon knew the babies were on their way, and she went sprightly to her husband, who was having a drink (of course).  Hitting him in the head, she said, "Go an' get one of the doctors!  Isn't Herself havin' after havin' those wee babes?" 

With a wistful look at the drink he'd been forced to abandon, the leprechaun did as he was bid, going to Methos and telling him what was going on at the manor. 

He had heard that Methos was a doctor.  But of course, there were others much more qualified, so the Ancient One smiled happily at the news, then went to hunt down someone else.  Muldoon was not at all upset by this; Mary could not say he did not do anything, and now that it was in Methos' capable hands he was off the hook! 

Meanwhile, Mary had grabbed Ginger, and the two women had run into the house to get things prepared for the upcoming birth. Philip had carried her into the first room that he had come to, which was actually one of the servant's quarters, but he was in no position to be picky! He sat by her side, holding her hand and trying to keep her calm, and as she went through yet another contraction, he called out, "Where's that doctor?" 

Fiona took a deep breath. "Philip, me love, I'm alright! Be a dear and ha' someone fetch Endora fer me, would ye know?" 

Endora was sent for, because the couple agreed she had done them well by making the twins possible in the first place!  But when she arrived, the fertility fae said, "I just get 'em started!  I don't know how to bring 'em!" 

Her daughter, Rhiannon, had some childbirth powers, but she was not yet fully grown.  Almost, but not quite.  "Momma please let me try!" 

The couple looked at each other, and Philip said softly to his wife, "It's got t'be your call, Fiona." After all, she was the one actually delivering! 

"I don't mind if she helps out," Fiona said, smiling at her young friend. It seemed strange to think that she and her sister had been born at the Thanksgiving feast!  

Meanwhile, Methos looked about for a doctor, and the first one he laid eyes on was Robert Helm, socializing with his family!  It seemed a shame to take him from his wife, but twins came quickly, and there might be no time to find another. 

Helm hadn't paused much, when asked to come help out.  After kissing both Quinn and their little boy, he ran with Methos toward the house.  "Send someone back to the clinic for the right things," he said.  "Or see if Kat has a birthing bag." 

It turned out that she did. "With this many pregnant women around, I never go anywhere without it," she told Methos and Helm as she came into the room. "Hello, Fiona! You are doing great" she said brightly, not expecting a reply since the Irishwoman was in the middle of a contraction. But as soon as it was over, she asked if anyone had been timing them.    

Rhiannon said they were coming six minutes apart and that her water had broken already.  She looked at the new woman's bag uneasily, as if she knew this person would soon be taking over. 

But when Endora explained to Katherine what Rhian's gifts were, the little midwife smiled brightly. "Wonderful! We can use all the help we can get! Are you the only fae with this talent?" 

"No, there is another. One of our new sisters in the forest.  Her name is Lucinda."  Endora smiled fondly at her dark haired daughter.  "There seemed to be a need, and Rhi is not really matured yet." 

"But I am trying!" complained the teen.  "It's just that . . ." 

"One of the babies is out of place?" asked Helm with a smile.  He and Kat exchanged a knowing look. 

"It's unfortunately fairly normal for one of the twins to be either breech or transverse," Katherine explained. "Why don't you call Lucinda here, and together, we can get you started off right with helping laboring mothers, all right?"  

Rhiannon smiled, relieved that she hadn't done something wrong, and she nodded gratefully.  "I'll call Lucy," said Endora.  "You see what you can do for her." 

Upon hearing that one of the children was not positioned correctly, Philip swallowed, and asked the midwife, "She'll be all right, won't she? She's not in any danger tryin' to give birth normally?" 

"Don't worry," Katherine assured Philip. "After the first twin is out of the way, the second one will often turn on their own. If not, we can help convince the wee one to do so!" 

After conferring with Helm for a moment, Katherine set things up to check Fiona internally, explaining to Rhiannon everything she was doing, and why. The girl was very attentive. After the exam, Katherine confirmed what Rhiannon had said. 

"One is head down and fully engaged, and the other is transverse," she told everyone. "And you, Fiona, are over six centimeters dilated!"  

Turning to Rhiannon, she asked if she would like to try to do an internal exam.  

"I can tell by touching her how far she is," said the young fae.  "What I don't know is how to turn the baby?" She was very curious about that! 

Both Helm and Katherine took turns telling Rhiannon the various methods that could be used. Fiona ignored all this, trying to concentrate on her breathing. This was hard work!  

Philip was with her all the way, encouraging her and even breathing with her, as Helm had mentioned coaches often did. With all the talk around him about what was going on, he only had eyes - and concentration for his wife, praying harder than he ever had before that she and their children really would be all right. 

Her labor was progressing fairly quickly, and before Philip knew it, his wife was already starting to push the first baby out into the world! 

Helm was going to actually deliver the baby, with Kat right by his side.  Rhiannon watched closely, while monitoring the new mother's pain at the same time.  She was linked to her that way, but could not actually change anything. 

Though he stayed pale throughout, he was also in awe, watching the miracle happening right in front of his eyes - his and Fiona's miracle! It took a little while more, but finally, the new father was holding his son in his arms. He kissed the baby's brow gently, and whispered a prayer of thanks for his safe arrival. But this was only the first part of the miracle! 

Fiona looked longingly at her newborn son, with his dark head of hair and intense blue eyes, aching to hold him. But now was not the time. Another contraction seized her, and the remaining baby inside of her turned just enough to put extra pressure onto her spinal column. She gasped, crying out in pain as Kat and Helm tried to get the baby to turn the rest of the way. 

Her husband, having given his son to Rhian to hold, turned white, letting Fiona squeeze the life out of his hand as he tried his best to comfort her through their procedures. He felt tears in his eyes, and started his prayers anew. 

The pain was so intense her eyes were going blurry.  Just then a tall woman with long, dark hair entered the room.  "Hush," she said softly, and the pain ceased!  "You should be able to move her now," she smiled at the two caregivers.  “I'm sorry it took me so long.  Quail, you know.  They have six or ten at a time." 

Katherine nodded, and as Helm applied pressure on the outside of Fiona's belly, she reached up inside, grabbing the baby's feet and guiding them down into the birth canal. The baby was breech that way, but being on the small size, not that hard to deliver.  

In fact, she came out easier than they had expected.  Lucinda just smiled and nodded at them, satisfied her visit, even if it was late, had done some good. 

Philip, watching all this, admirably did not pass out, as a lot of first time fathers might have done. Instead, he continued to encourage Fiona, as she gave birth safely and without anymore pain. 

A short time later, another dark haired baby was delivered into the world. As her daughter was placed on her belly, Fiona wept tears of joy. 

She wasn't the only one, as Philip's face was also wet, and he whispered another prayer of thanks, this time for his daughter. As he had done for his son, when a grinning Helm offered him the surgical scissors, he carefully cut the cord where instructed, and it was official. There were two new Callahans in Edan! 

Rhiannon came and placed the boy with the girl on their mother's belly.  Then she went to her aunt.  "I've got a lot to learn," she said. 

"There's time," smiled Lucinda.  "And you will get a lot of practice in this place!"