The months pass and Nettle never grows tired of learning more about her mother's family-line. She reads about the history of not only the Changelings in Wales-- the Changelings referring to themselves as the "Tylwyth Teg" or "Y Cymri," and to Wales as "Cymru"-- but also about the Wyck coven Rheibau ferch Llandona. The Llandona are all Awakened Mages, but they want to exist independently from the Traditions as they have for ages. Apparently the ties between the Fae and the Llandona are so close that the Llandona all have Fae-blood running through their veins. In fact, many more girls than boys are born to the Llandona, and are traditionally given in marriage to a Fae noble, or to a Mage.
Nettle feels shivers go up her arms when she reads that. She gets additional goosebumps when she reads that the Coven Llandona is made up of members of three Traditions: the great majority being Verbena, and the others Cult of Ecstasy and Order of Hermes Mages! These three Traditions in Wales so value alliance with the Llandona that they try to join by any means necessary, including marrying in. What a coincidence for she and Alec! And were her own ancestors Llandona?

She reads on eagerly and learns everything she can about the history and culture of the land. The Cymri had never had a king or queen. The land is divided into Principalities that had been originally ruled by chieftains, later to be called princes and princesses. The Principalities are further broken up into Cantrevs that are ruled by counts and countesses. Her ancestor Ellowyndriel's Principality was called Gwynedd, and the Cantrev she ruled with her husband was called Snowdonia.
Nettle finds the section in the book on Ellowyndriel and her family, and drinks in every detail she can get. The Moonglow family was very popular with the nobles and commoners, alike. Both Ellowyndriel and her husband Loviander travelled extensively on missions to serve the chieftain-- although it appears from the records that they never travelled together. Nettle finds this odd. It was also recorded that the Countess Ellowyndriel had travelled to Egypt to hunt down and kill the Bali that had destroyed her freehold in Caernarfon, and had returned successful. Nettle had to smile with pride at that!

Regarding Ellowyndriel's children, she had a daughter named Gwendolyn-- who Nettle's line flowed from-- and a son named Corrander. The history said that just before the Shattering when the gates to Arcadia slammed shut, Gwendolyn had left Arcadia so that the commoners who were left behind on earth would have a leader. The book mentioned an amulet Gwendolyn wore which-- she claimed-- would lead her back to Arcadia. She was recorded as having told the Fae that she would not return until she'd gathered together all the Fae she possibly could, because once the gates were opened and she walked through, they would shut again permanantly. She didn't want to return with only a handful of Fae.
But the mission was a lot harder for Gwendolyn than she'd thought. She'd learned how to case herself in mortal flesh to protect her from Banality. In the confusion that resulted from the commoners suddenly finding themselves leaderless on earth, Gwendolyn was able to bring many Fae to her side who were loyal to her cause and anxious to return to Arcadia. But just as many Fae saw the Shattering as an opportunity to break free of the feudal system the Fae had operated on since time immemorial. They opposed Gwendolyn and her loyal followers, and what followed were years of fighting and bloodshed-- the rebel-Fae wanting Gwendolyn's head as an gesture that they were no longer in servitude to the Sidhe.
During the struggles, the Llandona came to Gwendolyn's aid and sheltered her and her followers from those who would destroy them and their cause. The party of Fae lived there for years, and during that time Gwendolyn came to know, fall in love with, and marry a Llandona Verbena named Aberthol Cadwaldr. The two had a baby boy they named Trevelyan.
But a few months after Trevelyan's birth, the Llandona were threatened by the Fae-rebels to give up Gwendolyn or defend themselves. Gwendolyn left her son and husband to don her armor and take her loyal Fae followers and meet the rebels on the battlefield. The battle was fierce and bloody, and it was clear why the rebels had engaged them: their numbers were far superior to Gwendolyn's.
Gwendolyn was fatally wounded by an arrow shot by a Redcap, but while she yet lived a Troll in her loyal service picked her up and ran with her back to the Llandona. The Llandona healing magicks kept her alive long enough for her to pass the amulet on to her baby son, and explain what she knew of how it worked to her husband.

Nettle stopped reading here because she couldn't see past the tears filling her eyes.

When Nettle was able to resume reading, she saw-- to her great disappointment-- that Moonglow-history after Gwendolyn's death was almost non-existent. The Fae who had been loyal to her had almost all been butchered in the battle, and those who may have kept record hadn't had their writings discovered. With Arcadia sealed, there was no way to know what had become of Ellowyndriel, Loviander, and Corrander. Nettle pondered to herself. Perhaps the Llandona had Aberthol and Trevelyan Cadwaldr's history in their archives!
Once Nettle had finished researching everything Balador's library had on all those topics, her mind got busy. When she, Alec, and the babies were able to travel, they should go to Anglesey in northwest Wales and seek out the Llandona! They would surely be safe there for as long as they needed to stay! The book contained exact directions for where to go-- a small village on the coast of Anglesey called Niwbwrch-- and who to see-- a woman named Amrys Gwent. Nettle feels her heart tugging in her chest-- she almost wants to go there now!

Nettle gets up heavily from the desk-- her pregnany now nearing the end of its term-- and walks over to the bed where Alec's still sleeping. Her mind is such a whirl of thinking these days that she seems to only be able to catch sleep in little snatches here and there.
She sits down awkwardly on the bed and slides over beside Alec and rubs his arm.
"Hey baby? You awake yet?" she asks gently. When she doesn't get a response, she shakes a little harder and makes her voice a little louder until finally she gets the answer she wants!

Alec rolls over to face her and yawns. He stretches and then lays his head on her lap.
"Yes, love? What is it? I was having this lovely dream..." he says a little sleepily.

Nettle grins. "Oh REALLY! And what was it about, sexy? You and me back when I wasn't smuggling this watermelon of a belly around?" She traces her fingertips around Alec's hairline, amused by how far down her lap his head has to lay when he wants use it for a pillow!
Nettle has been quite the celebrity in Balador, and she didn't even mind the comments people and spirits alike have made about her looking like a toothpick-and-olive martini when she would sit in the hot tub...well...she USUALLY didn't mind, anyhow!
The only arguments she and Alec have had were regarding the babies' names, and which music the babies REALLY preferred! Nettle likes to stretch a pair of headphone around her belly and pipe in she and Alec's favorite music in hopes their children never grow up to like country! Alec tried to outlaw ABBA, but he learned quickly not to mess with a pregnant Nettle!

"I don't quite remember. I think it involved you me and a tub of vanilla pudding or something like such..." he says.
He rolls over to his back and stares up at her. "So what did you wake me for, love? Find anything interesting?"

Nettle smiles and nods eagerly. "I know where the Llandona are, Alec! They must have the records of what happened to Gwendolyn's son Trevelyan! They sheltered and protected Gwendolyn from harm...I'm thinking they would shelter us with them after the babies are born! What do you think? The babies could spend time in Wales-- they'd only be a train-ride away from London, too! Just until it's safe to come back...IF it's ever safe to come back! My parents would kill me if they didn't get to meet their grand-babies! What do you think, Alec??" Nettle looks at Alec with hopeful-eyes.

Alec looks up-- awake now-- and looks into her eyes. "Alright love, if you feel it's safe. But if there's any strangeness with them we'll leave immediately...right?" He says looking at her with a serious look.

Nettle nods quickly. "Of course!" Then her eyebrows lower a little. "They're my people, Alec...why would there be any strangeness?" She sits back and rests her hands on her stomach. "If they know about the prophesy, they will be thrilled to see all of us, I think!" Nettle continues, one hand straying up to the amulet and the other hand staying on her belly. "The book says they're still closely allied with the Fae...maybe that's how our son will--"
Suddenly Nettle's eyes go wide open-- staring unseeing-- and she lets out a gasp, the hand touching the amulet now clutching it tightly.
Nettle feels like she's on a roller coaster ride that's pulling her towards something. She can't see anything for a moment, and then suddenly she sees Gwendolyn fastening the amulet around Trevelyan's little neck, falling back onto the bed she's resting on, and suddenly time shoots forward. She sees Trevelyan...a long string of female descendants one after the other, a male descendant, and then the vision stops on a female descendant. It's the last descendant who held the amulet before Nettle-- Nettle saw her in the first vision the amulet gave her. But now she can hear her, as well, and it feels like she's standing in the house with her!
The woman is looking down at a baby girl in a baby-crib.
"My little Meredy...I will not subject you to what my father went through!" Nettle hears-- the amulet translating from Welsh to English for her. Something about that name tickles Nettle's memory... The woman hangs a heavy cloak around her shoulders, takes a lantern from the table, lights it, and walks quickly from the house. Nettle's had time to look around, and noticed that the house is completely packed up. From a newspaper laying on the table by the lantern, she sees that it's the turn of the 20th century.
The woman walks outside a ways to an old tree. She looks all around her, and then removes a false knot from the trunk. Taking a deep breath, she removes the moonstone amulet from around her neck-- the same amulet Nettle wears now around her own neck-- and places it in the hollow place in the tree, and then replaces the knot. The woman takes some small items that Nettle can't quite see from a pouch at her waist, and then begins casting wards over the knot. Nettle gasps. This woman is very powerful in magick! And then it hits her. Meredy...that was her mother's grandmother's name!! Then this woman is her great-great grandmother!
Nettle's vision floats along beside her great-great grandmother in astonishment as the woman returns to her house. The rest of the vision of these people speeds up, and Nettle sees them leave the house behind with her great-great grandfather and board a ship for America.
The vision speeds up again and Nettle sees Meredy grow up, marry, give birth to Nettle's grandmother Rowena, and Rowena, in turn, grow up, get married, and give birth to Nettle's mother Sharon. And finally Nettle sees her mother Sharon marry her father John, and then some time later she sees Sharon going into labor with...herself!
The vision is so real that Nettle can almost feel her mother's labor-pains! She has to laugh because these labor pains are caused by her own birth! But then her laugh turns to a grimace, and she holds her belly. Oooh...a little TOO real!
Nettle watches her mother gasp and sit up in pain, and suddenly Nettle, too, gasps and sits up in pain-- her eyes flying open-- and she's back in she and Alec's suite in Balador...in labor!

Alec can suddenly feel his mind link with her go distant and then come back in an instant. He can feel something wrong with it and he sits up grabbing her shoulder.
"What's the matter love? Is it--"

The door opens and Mrs. Spiffle and several maids walk in.
"Labor, Mr. Gideon." Mrs. Spiffle says. She wheels the chair over to Nettle and helps her into it.
"There there, dearie. Ye've nothin to worry about. I'm here and we're fixin the infirmary right now for ye and the wee babes, yeh?" She says.
"Come come, Mr. Gideon, yer children are ready to come,' she says.

Alec nods and grabs his robe and follows her out.

The little entourage has to convince Nettle to get out of the bed and sit in the chair-- Nettle protesting that she wants to stay right where she is and they can set up around her, thank you very much-- but they finally get her up out of the bed, and she sits in the chair with a pissy look on her face.
Then the memory of the vision she just had jolts her out of her pouting, and she reaches out and grabs Alec's hand.
"Guess what?? I just had another amulet-vision!! It was incrediboOOOOOW!" she ends in a shout followed by a string of curses.

Alec winces with how tight Nettle is gripping his hand. "Ouch! I may need that hand later," he says through gritted teeth. "What vision love?" he says pulling his hand free and shaking it a little bit.

"Yeah, you'll be needing that hand a lot because I'm not letting you between my legs until you have another snip-snip!" she mutters crossly between clenched teeth. When the contraction finally passes, she exhales and closes her eyes.
"Sorry...where was I? Oh yes! The vision! I saw all my ancestors from Gwendolyn to the present! It was my great-great grandmother who last held the amulet! She didn't lose it, she hid it in a tree because she didn't want her new baby-- my great-grandmother-- to have to deal with Gwendolyn's quest...having to round up Fae who wouldn't follow her! It sounds like my great-great-great grandfather had a horrible time of it when he was the amulet-bearer, so my great-great grandmother decided she didn't want her child to go through that! Anyhow, she warded the tree, and somehow our little band of Changeling-stalkers were able to find the amulet and return it to us many years later! Perhaps the ward protected the amulet until it wanted to be found!"

Alec nods considering and then with another wail from Nettle he grabs her hand. "Be steady love. I'm here for you," he says.

"Almost there, dearie," Mrs. Spiffle says turning a corner and wheeling her into the infirmary. "Here we are," she says.
The masseuse smiles at Nettle and pats the birthing chair.
"Here you are Mrs. Gideon. We have an antique birthing chair just for you." she says. She winks at her. "I thought you'd like the idea."

Alec looks at her and smiles, "Balador..."
"Yes, Mr. Gideon?" she says. Alec shakes his head. "No matter," he says helping Nettle up.

Nettle breathes just as she was instructed earlier-- short, forced breaths-- as she gets out of the wheelchair and is helped over to the birthing chair. Once she's sitting, she lays her head back and closes her eyes as the women around her help open her legs and secure them for her.
"This is going rather fast, isn't it?" Nettle asks a little breathlessly. "Is everything OK? Will I be able to have them naturally?" Her face is a little pale with strain and worry. "Alec?? Where are you??" She looks around the room desperately, and then relaxes noticibly when she sees him standing just to the side.

Alec takes her hand and kisses it. He smiles at her, "Everything is fine, love," he says. He kneels down next to her. "I'm right here baby I'm not leavin..."

Nettle smiles gratefully at Alec with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, honey..." she whispers.

Balador smiles, "Everything will be fine, Mrs. Gideon. You could not be in safer hands than I." she says. She kneels down in front of Nettle.
"How far apart are they?"

Nettle looks down at her legs. "I don't know, but that's as far apart as they're getting!" she says vehemently. The maids start giggling, and suddenly she realizes that Balador meant the contractions! Her face flushes and she gives a little laugh.
"Sorry...let's see...probably less than a minute...is that good?? Jesus-- what's wrong with me? All those months of reading and I never thought to read that "What to Expect When You're Expecting"-book! I'm such a--" Nettle's eyes go wide, "SONOFOABITCH!" she shouts when her body clenches up again as another contraction takes hold. "Devin you lying bastard!" she hisses.

"Devin?" Alec asks, "Who's Devin love?" Alec asks.

Nettle remains clenched up for a moment, breathing through her teeth until the contractions pass again. Then she opens her eyes and looks at Alec.
"Devin...what a crock of shit! Devin was one of the guys in the pain-fetish crowd I used to hang with back after I graduated from high school. He said he knew a girl who got off on pain so much that she had repeated orgasms while giving birth! Can you believe that crap??" Nettle shakes her head in disgust and exhales.

Mrs. Spiffle chuckles, "Oh dearie that is a crock of shite!" she says. Alec turns to Mrs. Spiffle with an amused look on his face.
"That's pretty fu- ahhh!" he says as Nettle squeezes his hand tight once more.

Balador smiles and nods, "Very close," she says. "Just a little bit more. I need you to keep pushing, Mrs. Gideon. Just a bit more and the first one will be out..." she says.

"Oooooh! Really??" Nettle says in a voice quivering with emotion, sitting up a little. "Oh I can't wait to see my babies...I hope they're healthy and OK! I'm so honored to have you delivering them, Balador..." she sniffles, wiping at her eyes.

Balador smiles, "I would not miss this for all the world, Mrs. Gideon."

Mrs. Spiffle sends several of the maids out to get hot water and blankets. "Now, dearie there's nothing to worry over..." she says.

Nettle nods, smiling through her teary eyes. "Thank you, Mrs. Spiffle." she murmurs.
She sits there with her eyes closed for a few more seconds, and then lets out a strangled cry and sits up, gripping the arms of the chair. This time she naturally begins to push when the contractions start, and sweat breaks out on her forehead.

"Almost there," Balador says.
Mrs. Spiffle leans over Nettle's shoulder to get a better look as the maids come rushing in with hot water and blankets.
Alec winces as she holds his hand in a vice-like grip.

Nettle's oblivious to everyone around her-- she only knows that she has to push these...babies...out...now!
She takes a deep breath, squeezes Alec's hand against the arm of the chair again, and then gives a long, heroic push.
Towards the end of the push, she feels herself finally push something through, and lets out a cry of triumph that mingles with the cry of a newborn baby.

"It is a boy, Mrs. Gideon," Balador says as she takes the baby and places it in a crib. The maids run over to it and begin to clean it and check its health.
"And he is perfectly healthy," Balador says returning to Nettle.
"One more," she says.

Nettle's face crumples in relief, and she starts crying-- she's so happy!! Look-look-- that's her son in that little crib!!
"Oh goddess, Alec...look at him! That's OUR baby!" she cries in a weak voice, quite overcome and incredulous.

Alec looks over and gets up to go over to his son when Nettle squeezes his hand and yanks him back down to his knees.
Mrs. Spiffle rubs Nettle's shoulders.
"Come along now, dearie. One more...just one more..."

"One more..." Nettle moans, closing her eyes. "Need to rest...just need to rest a moment, Mrs. Spiffle..." She glances back over towards the maids who are weighing and measuring her son, and she feels her heart burst with joy. She can do it. Just one more time.
"Just one more time, Alec..." she mumurs. "...one more is all...no more after that...just one more..." she repeats, almost as a power-mantra.
She looks up at the ceiling imploringly, communicating mentally with the Goddess to help her through this, and thanking her for her healthy baby boy. Then she takes another deep breath, grips Alec's poor, crushed hand tightly again, and bears down with everything she's got.

Balador smiles as the second baby pushes its way out and into her hands. She takes the baby and cuts its cord as it wails.
"And a baby girl, Mrs. Gideon..." she says holding her up.

Alec smiles and kisses Nettle's hand. "You did it!! You did it!" he says.
"Well of course she did, Mr. Gideon. A strong girl is our Mrs. Gideon," Mrs. Spiffle says patting Nettle on the back.

Balador smiles, "And healthy as well," she says as she lays the baby girl, too, in a crib and the maids clean and wash her off.

Nettle lays back and closes her eyes, tears coursing down her cheeks. "Oh I'm so happy...oh my god...we have babies..." she barely gets out between crying. "I want to see them...I want to hold them..." She glances down at her still-small chest and gives a choked laugh. "I hope I can feed them enough!"
She pulls Alec to her and wraps her arms around him. "How do you feel, baby??" she whispers emotionally. "Actually...I should say 'daddy' not 'baby!'" she laughs again and sniffles.

"I feel good love! I feel good," he says wrapping his arms around her.
Mrs. Spiffle picks up the boy and hands him to Nettle, and Balador picks up the girl and hands her to Alec.
Balador and Mrs. Spiffle usher everyone from the room.

"The gods, love...she's beautiful..." Alec says.

Nettle starts bawling again when her son is placed into her arms, and she has the sudden urge to hold him to her forever so he won't have to lead the Fae back to Arcadia!!
'Fuck the Fae and fuck Arcadia!!' she thinks to herself defensively, glancing around the room paranoidly for a second as if someone will suddenly appear and demand him from her. When no one does, she calms down a little.
She pulls the blanket back from his face, stroking his smooth skin with her finger. He has light-blonde peach-fuzz-hair, Nettle sees, and she gives a little cry of delight.
"Aaaw look at him, honey!! My sweet little baby boy!" She looks up at Alec and smiles, and then peers into his arms, trying to see her daughter.

He leans over. "He looks just like you love..." he says. "He has your hair...and your skin."
He leans down so Nettle can see her daughter. "Look love, she has my hair..." he says remarking on her thick brown hair. "It'll be shaggy like mine I suppose," he says a smile on his face, his eyes tearing up.
"You did a wonderful job love...they're beautiful..."

Nettle gives a happy laugh and leans in to kiss Alec. "I only gave them a place to grow-- you're just as much to thank for how perfect they are!"
She inspects her little daughter with a big smile on her face. "You're right-- she looks just like you, lucky thing! Aaaw, my baby girl!" she exclaims, and motions for Alec to pull a chair up beside hers so she can see both babies at once. She kisses Alec's forehead, and then pulls back her daughter's blanket so she can see her face better.
"What little darlings..." she sighs contentedly, shifting her bundle so Alec can see his son.
"So are we decided then? On the birth certificate it will say 'Ian Aleczander,' and then you can call him Zander if you really want to?" Nettle sighs, blowing a loose strand of hair from her face and raising her eyebrow at Alec.

"Alright love. That sounds perfect. And Simone Rochelle how's that?" he asks. He looks down at his son and smiles. "He's a handsome one isn't he? He'll break a few hearts in his day, I think." he says approvingly.

Nettle raises both eyebrows. "Let's hope not! Besides..." she gazes at his face softly, "...I don't think he's going to end up that type, baby. I feel from him that he's a sensative soul...perhaps that's because he's a baby right now, but I think I'm right..." She looks back down at Simone and places her hand lightly on her daugher's little tummy. "Now THIS one-- she's going to give everyone a run for their money!" Nettle laughs. She grins at Alec. "This is going to be fun raising them and watching them grow, isn't it, handsome!"

"I think I can wait for that," he says. "But yeah...I see it in her too. She'll take after her father," he says with a grin and a wink. "I don't know what to say love. I never thought I'd see the day, and now here I am-- not just one baby but two...can you believe it?"

Nettle shakes her head, smiling. "Not at all! I think it'll take a while to sink in, too! NO one will be able to believe it back home! Me and you-- parents! Hahahaahaha!" Nettle laughs, and then looks back down at Ian and her face softens. "We'll be good parents..." she reassures him softly.
After a minute more of holding the babies they're holding, they trade so that Nettle's got Simone and Alec has Ian.
Nettle smiles down gently at her little girl, playing with her thick brown hair. A Tori Amos song goes through her head, and she starts singing quietly, "Don't judge me so harsh, little girl...you've got a playboy-mommy..." Then she glance at Alec and gives a little laugh.

"Hey there big guy...hey there," he coos at Ian. "He's awful slim...he'll have your figure, I see." He looks down as tickles his chin. "Look at him...my son. My son Ian, allo Ian!" he says.

Nettle grins contentedly when Alec calls him 'Ian' instead of 'Zander'-- as he'd been constantly threatening to do for months and months!
"Don't tease, Ian, baby! He's had to share his womb with Sister! Simone is cute and chubby!" she laughs. "She reminds me of certain baby pictures I've seen of a certain someone..." Nettle flickers her eyes around the room with a pretended-innocent look on her face.
Just then Simone gives a little wail, her face turning red.
Nettle glances over at Alec in alarm. "What should I do? What should I do?" she whispers. She lifts Simone up so Simone's head is resting on her shoulder, and continues looking at Alec worriedly.

"I have no idea," he says. "Let me get Ian away so she doesn't-- bugger, never mind," he says as Ian starts to wail as well.
"Well I don't know just ahhh put her to your nipple..." he gives her a grin, "You should be used to that by now."

Nettle narrows her eyes at Alec and sticks out her tongue. "Yeah, but what about Ian? How can I hold them both??" she cries in dispair. Without waiting for an answer, she brings Simone back down into the crook of her arm, unlaces the front of her neglege and pulls it open, and then brings Simone's mouth to her chest. Simone immediately finds what she wants and begins to suck.
"Ow ow ow ow..." Nettle winces for a few seconds, and then drums her fingers on the arm of the chair with her eyes closed until she gets used to this new sensation.
"I'm about the most awkward, unmotherly mother there ever was..." she comments in frustration under her breath.

Alec smiles, "You're doin great," he says. He watches for a moment and then looks up at Nettle. "So ahhh...do you know how much you have in there? I mean one baby isn't going to drink it all are they?"

Nettle laughs, but her eyes show mirrored worry. "Well, I think that's what there are two for!" she grins hopefully, indicating her breasts. "Look...you keep Ian entertained until this boob's empty, and then I'll trade you babies and switch boobs. Sound like a plan?" she asks, winging this motherhood-thing the best she can.

"I love it when you talk technical." He says with a smirk. "Alright then...it's a plan." he says ready for the hand off.

Nettle nods back in agreement, and then waits. And waits. And waits while Simone feeds. She and Alec start chit-chatting about what an incredible day this has been, and how fast the labor was, and then after about 15 minutes has passed Nettle notices Simone is drinking slower and slower.
"Aaw, Alec-- I think she's falling asleep!" she murmurs tenderly. "Oh honey! She has green eyes like mine! Look! Aaaw! Little Simone Rochelle..." Nettle sniffles, stroking her daughter's thick hair back from her face.
Simone drifts off to sleep, and Alec and Nettle make the hand-off with the babies. Nettle pulls open the other side of her neglege and brings Ian's mouth to her other breast. He'd gotten drowsy while Alec was holding him and talking, but natural instincts kick in when Ian senses food nearby, and soon he's sucking energetically.
Nettle winces again, but quickly settles back against the chair and smiles, looking down at him.
"Well this isn't so hard!" she exclaims. "Oh Alec-honey, why don't you try to burp her, or something..." she suggests, motioning to Simone. "Tania always did that after feeding Sarah. Damnit, I wish I had Tania here now to tell us what to do!"

Alec nods and takes Simone in his arms and awkwardly pats her back and rocks her a little. "Hey you know this isn't too bad," he says. Simone lets out quite a burp. "There you go, love. keep it up," Simone burps up some milk on his coat.
"At least I wasn't wearing a nice jacket," he says. "Right, next time definitely using a towel or something," he says.
He continues to pat and rock her as he looks about the room for a towel.

"Oh hey-- what a good idea, baby! Holding the Simone tummy-down in your arms worked faster and better than when Tania held Sarah up to her shoulder when she burped her! I'll let you burp Ian, too!" she grins, winking. "You're a natural, honey!"
She watches Alec walks around the room rocking Simone in his arms, and then glances down at Ian again. He blinks his eyes open sleepily for a moment, and Nettle lets out a little sigh of emotion.
"Alec-love...Ian has your blue eyes..." she smiles, enjoying the feel of her fingers skimming across the top of Ian's peach-fuzz hair.

"Great," he says. "Mental note, buy towels. Lots of towel," he says with a wink. He leans down to look at Ian. "Look at that...he does have my eyes." He looks down at Simone, bringing her down to his chest. She looks up at him and yawns. "Well what do you know love...she has your eyes."

Nettle grins and nods, looking up at Alec and Simone. "Yes she does! Oh this is so much fun, Alec! SO far, anyway! I have so many questions! Like how often do we need to change them...wash them...feed them...when should they go to bed...hey! What day is it? Do they make birth certificates in this place?" Nettle brings her hand to her mouth and giggles. "I can just see it now-- 'Born in Balador' across the top of it! THAT'LL go over well! I hope Mrs. Spiffle comes back soon! Once the twins are both fed and sleeping, I don't know what comes next! But I DO know that I'm exhausted and I feel gross-- I need a bath!" Nettle lays her head back and closes her eyes, concentrating on the sensation of Ian's powerful little sucks.

"I'm sure Mrs. Spiffle will have a lot of advice on their care, love. And I have Jaf working on the birth certificates right now. I sent him a mental link just a bit ago. They'll be born in a Salt Lake County hospital." He says. He sits back down in the chair and rocks little Simone as she sleeps. "She looks like an angel doesn't she?"

Nettle's face crumples and she starts crying softly again. "Yes...yes she does..." Nettle says between crying. "Oh I'm such a ball of emotion right now!" Nettle wipes quickly at her eyes and sniffles. "I feel like this is all a dream-- I can't believe we're really parents!" She looks down and notices that Ian has finally stopped feeding and is sleeping. Reluctant to hand him over, she turns him gently over her forearm and starts patting and rubbing his back while rocking him slowly. He gives a little burp, and then falls back to sleep.
Nettle smiles and brings him back up to cradle him in her arms.
"We're doing really well, baby! Look at us!"

Alec closes his eyes and concentrates. He opens his eyes again and nods, "March twenty-third, love. Today is March twenty-third." he says. He leans over, careful not to disturb Simone, and kisses Nettle's forehead.
"I love you, Nettle. And I love you too, Simone," he says kissing her little forehead. "And you as well, little Zander," he says cooing at Ian.

Nettle grins and reaches over and smacks Alec's arm playfully when he calls Ian 'Zander,' but then smiles softly.
"I love you, too, Alec. And I love you, sweet little Ian..." she says looking down at him in her arms, "...and I love you my pretty Simone!" she calls softly to the bundle in Alec's arms.
She looks down at herself-- neglege practically hanging off of her now-- and is reminded of something.
"Clothes, Alec...and diapers! There's so much we're going to need for these two! Oh-oh!! But think of it!" Nettle does a little excited-bounce. "We get to DRESS them!! Little daddy-suits for Ian...little black dresses for Simone..." Nettle laughs, beaming at Alec.

"They'll have the best fashion-sense," he says. "Can you imagine love? They'll be the coolest kats in school with the coolest parents," he says.

Nettle laughs in delight and starts mentally assigning colors to each of her children based on what would be most flattering for their coloring.
The door opens and Mrs. Spiffle pokes her head in. "Well hello, dearie. Yer room has been prepared, and it's time to clean ye up and get some rest now yeh?" she says. "Come along." She goes over to help Nettle into the wheel chair. "We'll get ye to yer room, and the babes as well."

Nettle smiles with relief when she sees Mrs. Spiffle again, and Alec motions for Nettle to hand Ian to him. Nettle raises her eyebrows as she watches Alec hold Simone in the crook of one arm, and Ian in the crook of the other, and then gives a little laugh.
"Oh how I'd love a picture of Alec right now!" she grins at Mrs. Spiffle. Then she gets off the birthing-chair with Mrs. Spiffle's help, and sits down carefully in the wheel chair. Tensing for soreness or pain, she's relieved when she feels none. Her little labor-easing spell worked nicely! She grins to herself in satisfaction.
"I can't wait to see our room! Oh and I have so many questions for you about baby-care, Mrs Spiffle!" Nettle begins.

Mrs. Spiffle laughs, "All in good time dearie. The first thing is to get yer rest," she says wheeling her out of the infirmary and down the hall with Alec in tow.

"They are still asleep," he says quietly. He smiles down at both of them as he follows Mrs. Spiffle to their room.
Mrs. Spiffle opens the door, and they both can see two basinetts sitting near the bed. They are finely-crafted and look very expensive. They also see a large stack of diapers and little blue and green jumpsuits for the babies as well as an assortment of blankets.

"You think of everything, Mrs. Spiffle," Alec says.
Mrs. Spiffle smiles, "Aye, dearie. Now Mrs. Gideon, let me help you to the bath," she says as she takes Ian and places him in one of the bassinets.

Nettle nods absent-mindedly, unable to take her eyes off her babies as she watches them being laid down to sleep. "A bath would feel really good..." she murmurs with a happy smile on her face.
When Mrs. Spiffle takes her arm, she allows herself to be lead to the bathroom, still glancing over her shoulder at the darling little basinetts.

Alec lays Simone in a basinett and sits down at the edge of the bed.
"Even I am exhausted, love," he says.
Mrs. Spiffle leads Nettle into the bathroom and has her sit down while she draws a bath. She pours lots of bubble bath in and then turns to Nettle.
"Alright love watch yer step, yeh?" she says helping Nettle into the bath.

Nettle shrugs her neglege off, and then steps down into the deep bathtub.
"Mmmmm...ooh this feels good...she moans appreciatively. She fastens her hair up on top of her head and lays back in the water, closing her eyes. She rests like that for a moment-- about ready to drift off into sleep-- but then suddenly raises her head.
"Alec? Would you come here for a moment?" she calls. Then she turns to Mrs. Spiffle. "Mrs. Spiffle, you've been so incredible! Thank you for taking such good care of all of us!" Nettle says with grateful eyes as she waits for Alec to come.

Mrs Spiffle smiles kindly at Nettle. "Oh no worries dearie. This is my job don't ye know. Now what can I get for ye before I leave the two of ye be?"

Nettle thinks, and then grins. "How about a good book on babies!" She gives a little laugh. "I have no idea what to expect, and I want to be a good mother!"

"Of course dearie...that is on your night stand. Now I shall be back in a few hours to bring you some food. Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Gideon," she says walking out of the bathroom and out of the suite.

Alec walks in and sits down next to the tub. "That looks good love. What do you need?"

"You better not get in the tub right now or we'll both fall asleep and drown!" she grins. She motions for Alec to come closer, and then takes his hand in hers and inspects it carefully-- turning it over and back again. Then she closes her eyes and scans his hand for any sign of damage. She exhales in relief and opens her eyes again.
"Just a little bruised-- I can take care of that!" she laughs. She takes Alec's hand between hers and rubs in a circular motion while murmuring something under her breath. Instantly Alec's hand has resumed its pre-crushed state of perfect health. Nettle releases his hand with a sheepish grin.
"Sorry, baby, I didn't know I was holding your hand so tightly!" she apologizes.

"S'alright love," he says. Nothin broken and all." he stretches and yawns. "I'm exhausted, too, baby...not sure how that happened since you did all the work." he says with a smile. "And you did so well, baby...a real pro."

Nettle flushes with pleasure. "Thank you, sexy." She reaches over and rubs his leg. "You're tired because I woke you up too early-- I was just really excited to tell you about the Llandona!" she laughs. "And I didn't quite do ALL the work...I, uh...I did a little arcane channeling here and there..." she shifts her eyes mysteriously while biting her bottom lip to keep from grinning.

"Oh really," he grins.
Nettle washes herself a bit while Alec rests his head on the wall trying to stay awake. Finally he helps her out of the tub and helps dry her off. The two practically lean on each other as they head back to the bedroom. With one last look at Simone and Ian, they get into bed and immediately fall asleep in each others' arms.

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