Author: Shelby     

 

Rating: PG

 

Summary:  A few months have passed after Ahm Shere, and life for the hero’s seems to be settling down, but what new adventure awaits them?  Read and find out.

 

Note:  I’ve done this before and I want to redo it so This is the more thorough version.

 

Disclaimer:  The Mummy Movies do not belong to me.  They belong to Stephen Sommers, and Universal Studios, and are not mine.  The new characters in this story are mine so don’t touch them.  Added Note:  The title of my story was thought up by none other than Whitney herself, so thanks to her.

 

 

 

 

After Ahm-Shere: Healing and Revealing

 

Prologue:

 

It had been four months since the events at Ahm-Shere, and it seemed that the O’Connell’s were finally living the normal life.   For Alex, the nightmares had stopped, and he was finally comfortable sleeping in his own bed, as long as the candle on his bedside table remained lit.  Life for Rick, and Evelyn had gotten more romantic, and more disgusting according to Jonathan, who seemed to always find them attached at the lips, and on occasion other places. Therefore, he spent most of his time at the Casino he had built, glad to be away from their disgusting behavior.  Life couldn’t be more perfect, and the family as a whole felt that their days of adventure were finally going to settle down, and life would at last be normal.

 

 

Chapter 1: New friends and interests

 

Always in the past, school for Alex meant being teased and ridiculed because he was smart.  At school the young boy had very few friends, and most of the time was spent with his nose buried in a book.  After his return from Ahm-Shere, one day during recess Alex was doing his usual, reading a book, when a group of boys walked over.  Preparing himself to be picked on and bullied Alex held tight to the book and closed his eyes.

 

“Hey O’Connell, do you want to try out for the Rugby team?”  a boy named Darby Frankel asked.  Surprised Alex looked up.

 

“Um I don’t think I would be very good,”  he said softly.

 

“Well why don’t you give it a shot,”  Darby said.  Alex put his book away and went with Darby and the other boys who taught him the basics, and by the time resess was over Alex for the first time in a long time had a smile on his face.  The rest of the day went by fast, and as he walked out of school he felt his rucksack taken from him.

 

“Hey lets see what O’Connell has in there today,”  Josh said laughing.  Before Alex could respond, Darby grabbed Josh and took the Rucksack giving it back to Alex.

 

“Why don’t you leave him alone,”  Darby said.  He was much older and a lot bigger than Josh, and once he let him go, Josh ran off.

 

“You stick with us O’Connell, and we will make sure they don’t pick on you,”  Darby said.  As they walked to the bus stop Alex asked Darby why he was taking up for him all of a sudden.  Darby was new to their school and 3 years older than Alex.  He had always been picked on and now that he was more with the popular crowd, and seeing how most people treated Alex, he felt it his responsibility to take care of him.

 

“Well I know what it’s like to be the odd man out, so I don’t want to see that happen to you, and besides we need to get you into some things where you will make more friends.  Rugby is a good start.”  he said as the bus arrived.  They both got on board and the City bus took them to the Museum first, where Alex got out.  Once he said goodbye to his new friend, Alex ran for the museum in the best mood he had ever been.  Not realizing his shoes were untied he kept running and then fell as he stepped on a lose shoe lace.  He skidd on his hands and his elbows, and his knees and scraped his nose and his forehead before he stopped.  Not wanting to cry, Alex did his best to suck it all up but as he sat up everything hurt and he did cry.  Henry, the Guard at the front entrance had seen his fall and ran out to him.

 

“It hurts,”  Alex sobbed as Henry picked him up.

 

“Not to worry Alex, we will get you to your mum and she will take good care of you,”  he said.  Alex sniffed as Henry carried him into the building and past several people looking at him.  When they arrived at her office, Evie was on the phone, but when she saw how hurt her baby was, she ended her conversation and went to them.

 

“Oh baby,”  Evie said as she took him from Henry.  Alex was getting tall like his father, but Evie could still hold him.   Carefully she settled him on the couch, and went into her washroom getting a washbasin of warm water and other things like sticking plasters and iodine.  As soon as Alex saw the Iodine he got up and made a run for the door running right into Rick.

 

“Noo let go she’s gonna hurt me worse,”  Alex yelled as Rick held him.

 

“Hey listen buddy mum needs to clean those scrapes, so they won’t get infected.  Trust me pal, if they get infected it will hurt much more,”  Rick said.  He managed to calm his son down, and while Evie cleaned the wounds Rick blew on them until Alex was all fixed up.

 

“Did Josh do this to you?”  Evie asked, once Alex was feeling a little better.

 

“No I fell on my own.  I met a new friend too, actually lots of new friends.  Darby and Matt, and some of the other guys play Rugby, and they showed me how to do that.  Darby even got Josh to go away.  He said he got picked on like me so he wants to make sure I don’t get to go through that.  When I’m old enough I want to join the school team.  I have to be ten,”  Alex said excited.  Seeing him happy was enough for both parents to agree with him about starting that sport.

 

“Well pal why don’t we get you home,”  Rick said as he stood up.  On the other side of Alex Evelyn also stood up and felt the room spin.  Before she could stop herself she was falling, and it was Rick’s strong arms which caught her.

 

“Hey beautiful,”  Rick said as he held her close.  Evelyn sighed feeling suddenly tired, as she had been feeling for a few weeks.

 

“I just stood up to fast,”  Evie said weakly.

 

“I think maybe you should come home with Alex and me,”  Rick said, and his tone indicated that he was not going to take no for an answer.  Too tired to argue the point, she sat on the couch with Alex who held her hand, while Rick got her things together and informed the newest Curator that his wife was taking a leave of absence.  One that was taken care of they all left for the house.

 

~*~*~

 

Once Rick got his family home he talked Evie into taking a nap, and while she did that he helped Alex with his studies.  Tonight it was long division.

 

“Dad why do they make us learn such things?  I mean I know that when I’m old enough I want to be an Egyptologist just like mum, or maybe an adventurer like you.  So if I’m going to do that, then why do I have to study Division?”  Alex asked.  Rick grinned, remembering when he was younger how he had to study such things.

 

“Well son there will be times in your life when you might need to use this.  Like if you go exploring in Egypt and you find some unknown tomb.  You will need to know measurements and even division to figure things out, like how big the room is, or how to map things out,”  Rick said.  Having never thought of that, Alex got back to work with his studies.

 

“Hey pal, do you mind if I go up and see how mum’s doing?”  Rick asked.

 

“Go ahead,”  he said as he worked his next problem.  Rick tousled his hair then left, going up the stairs to the second level where their room was.   Inside the darkened room all was quiet.  Rick found Evie still asleep and leaned down kissing her head. 

 

“I’m fine Rick,”  she mumbled, though she made no effort to move, and that worried him.  He hadn’t ever seen her so run down.

 

“Just rest honey,”  he said resisting the urge to call the doctor.  He decided to give her till morning, and if she was still not up to her usual self he would suggest they go in and see him.

 

~*~

 

The next day Evie was up at her usual hour swearing she felt better even though she didn’t.  Once she was at work, she settled at her desk and put her head down wondering what was wrong, then jumped when someone knocked on her door.  Evelyn sat up and called out for the person to come in, finding Mr. Fitzgibbins at her door.  He was one of the senior members of the Bembridge Scholars, and one of her favorite people.

 

“Hello Roy,”  she greeted as she stood slowly.  The room stayed still for which she was delighted.

 

“Good Morning Evelyn.”  he greeted back.  Once they were sitting down, the older man told her why he had come to visit.

 

“The Cairo Museum is sending the find here, and it should arrive within the hour.  I want it displayed if its possible,”  he said.  Evelyn nodded glad to have the staff of Amum to display.

 

“Well I won’t keep you,”  he said.  After he left, Evie sat down hard in her chair and after a few minutes made a phone call to Dr. Brigman setting up and appointment to see him, then got ready for the staff’s arrival.

 

~*~

 

Once again school for Alex went well.  After it was out, he went with Darby and the guys to the sweet shop and they all had malts and sodas as they sat around and talked about the up coming game against their rivaling school St. Josephs.

 

“See Al when you get old enough, in about two years you will be ready to play on the Junior team,”  Darby said.  Alex liked that idea.

 

“I’m still not sure I’ll be good though,”  he said.

 

“Hey you got past Matt today, and thats something few people can do,”  Randy said.  After they finished at the sweet shop Alex went to the Museum and found his dad waiting out front.

 

“Your late,”  Rick said with his arms folded.

 

“I know I forgot, well I mean I..”  Rick grinned

 

“It’s okay buddy, just do me a favor and let one of us know when you are going to go out after school,”  Rick said.  Once they were ready, Rick drove them home.

 

“Where is mum?”  Alex asked used to going in to see her.

 

“Amelia said she had an appointment with Dr. Brigman,”  Rick informed.  Alex wasn’t worried about that, too excited about what his friends and he had discussed, and when he got home he found Megan waiting and the two of them headed out into the field to ride horses before they had to go in and start their studies.

 

~*~

 

In the small room in Dr. Brigman’s office, Evelyn sat waiting for the test results.  He had taken a sample of blood early that moring, and told her to stop by around four that day.  It wasn’t long until the Doctor arrived and after he settled down on his stool he told her something that totally shocked her.

 

“I’m what?”  she said not able to really take in what he was saying.  After Alex’s birth she and Rick had talked about wanting more children but for some reason that never happened, and the two of them spent time with the one child they had.  Now almost nine years later they were pregnant once again.

 

“Is there any reason why it took so long for us to be able to have another baby?”  Evie said now digesting the news.

 

“Well sometimes during birth a womans body goes through great trauma, and I know with Alex your labor was not easy.”  That was an understatement.  Her labor with Alex had lasted two days and when he was finally born there had been a lot of tearing and bleeding, which she guessed was why there had never been more.  On the drive home she was still in a state of shock, and then like a bolt of lightening it all came to her.  When she had been healed by The Book of the Dead, somehow her body must have healed as well.  Now all she had to do was tell her husband and her son the news and she was afraid that neither would want to have another baby so late in life.

 

*~*

 

Chapter 2: Evelyn’s Secret.

 

A week had passed since Evelyn had found out about being pregnant, and things had gotten busy with all of them.  The Staff of Amun had arrived and the museum had been busy with tourists wanting to see it.  For Alex his envolvment in the School’s Rugby team kept him out late, and for Rick, he had double duty with helping out at the museum, and making sure things were going well at the shipping firm.  Now on a quiet Saturday morning, Evelyn had ventured up to the third level of their home where a few more rooms were located, and where the door to the attic was also located.  She opened it, and went up the wooden steps turning on the lights as she went.  The attic was a vast room filled with everything from old dresses hanging on a stand that her mother had once worn, to treasures that her father had collected on his digs around the world.  Carefully Evelyn worked her way back to the back end of the attic,and found what she sought.  Gently she fingered the swinging cradled Alex had slept in so long ago.  Next to the cradle was a crate, and with little effort she opened it finding within it two sterling silver rattles Aunt Maggie had gotten for Alex at his birth, and other things like tiny gowns he had worn and toys he had played with as a baby.  Subconsciously she put her hand over her stomach, which was firm now that she was in her third month of pregnancy.

 

“Evie you up here?”  came Rick’s voice.  For a moment Evelyn thought about hiding the fact that she had been looking through the baby things, then decided it was time to let Rick know they were going to have another baby.

 

“Yes,”  she called out.  After a few moments, he knelt behind her and took the rattle she had in her hand.

 

“I remember how much he loved this rattle.  I think because it was so shiny,”  Rick said.

 

“I know, and this old bear.  I never thought he would want to give it up, and when he told me I needed to donate it to the orphanage I didn’t have the heart to so I put him up here,”  Evelyn said as she leaned against her husband.

 

“So someone we know having a baby?”  Rick asked not realizing how close to the mark he was.  Evelyn took in a deep breath.

 

“As a matter of fact yes.  We are having another baby,”  she said ready for him to yell at her for not saying something sooner.  To her surprise he stood and helped her stand, then pulled her into his arms and spun her around.

 

“I guess that means your happy,”  she said as he set her down.  Rick kissed her.

 

“Evie do you know how much I love you at this moment?”  Rick asked looking into her eyes with compassion.

 

“You could show me,”  she said.  Rick grinned at her and lifted her into his arms then carried her out of the attic and down the stairs to their own room and spent several hours showing her all the ways that he loved her.

 

~*~*~

 

Later that same day, when Alex arrived home from helping out at the game, since he was still too young to play, he found his mum in the parlor dusting off an old cradle.

 

“How was the game?”  Evie asked as she set the rag aside satisfied with her job on the cradle, and more interested in talking to her son about the game and also about the new addition to the family.

“Good, we won.  Darby is such a good player.  He knows how to weave in and out of everyone and he’s a fast runner.  He said he thinks I should start running with him that way when I get old enough to play I’ll be a good player like he is,”  Alex informed as he sat down and grabbed an apple out of the basket of fruit that always sat on the coffee table.

 

“So who is getting the baby bed?”  Alex asked as he bit into the apple.

 

“Well remember the day a few weeks ago when you fell and then in my office at the museum I almost fainted?”  Evie asked.  Alex nodded.

 

“Dr. Brigman ran a test, and the one for being pregnant came back as a positive.  So this baby bed will be for our new baby.”  Evie said.  Alex sucked in his breath and got choked on the piece of apple he had just bitten off.  Rick had just walked in and ran over to him smacking hard on his back which got the apple out.

 

“A baby?”  he asked not able to believe what he was hearing.

 

“Yeah pal you get a sister or a brother how about that?”  Rick asked.  Alex got up from the sofa and ran up the stairs, and they both heard the slamming of his door.  Neither one of them had guessed he might not be happy about having a baby, and now they knew.

 

“I thought he would be happy,”  Evie said as Rick settled beside her and gathered her in his arms.

 

“I know I did too.  I think it’s just going to take him time to get used to the idea,”  Rick said.

 

~*~

 

Upstairs in his room Alex lay on his bed petting Cleo and Siam.  He was afraid and excited but more afraid that with a new baby they would somehow not love him anymore.  His friend Darin had a new sister a few weeks ago, and he had said all the baby did was cry, and all his mum did was yell at him for being too noisy.  When he heard the knock at his door, he ignored it hoping his parents would go away but they didn’t, then he heard his uncle John’s voice and turned

 

“So they just told me the news.  Why don’t you and I go out for a drive?”  Jonathan asked.  Alex just nodded, then went with his uncle feeling a bit dazed.  Once they were in the car Jonathan began.

 

“You know when my parents had your mum I was 7, and I was sure she would ruin my life.  I was so mad that I ran away, of coarse dad found me and made me come home, but your mum has been one of the best friends I’ve ever had.  When she was a baby she wasn’t much fun, but when she got older she was always curios about what I did, and though I picked on her as I still do, we still love one another very much.”

 

“Do you think they will yell a lot like if I make noise and stuff?”  Alex asked.  Jonathan grinned.

 

“Well for a while you are going to have to learn to keep it down.  Babies need a lot of special care, and at first they are rather boring but trust me partner when the time comes you will enjoy being a big brother,”  Jonathan said as he pulled up to the sweet shop.  They got out and ordered Sodas then sat at at table and talked more about being a big brother.

 

~*~

 

Later when Alex arrived home he was feeling better and now sat at dinner with his parents.

 

“Mum will you and I still be able to go for rides in the woods?”  Alex asked as he took a bite of steamed cabbage.  Evelyn smiled.

 

“Of coarse we will.  We will make time for the two of us,”  she said.  That made him feel better, and after dinner he and Jonathan cleaned up the dishes giving his parents time to themselves.  After putting on their warm coats they took a walk outside.

 

“So how do you feel?”  Rick asked as they walked down the lane.  Evelyn sighed, feeling happy and content.

 

“Better now that I know you and Alex are all right with this baby,”  She said.  Rick reached out and placed his hand on her belly and rubbed there.  With her coat on he couldn’t feel anything and Evie smiled putting her hand on his.

 

“Are you ready for another baby?”  She asked. 

 

“Sure, I get to watch you nurse again, and partake in whats left over, so I’m ready for that.”  Evelyn just laughed shaking her head knowing everything would be all right for all of them.

 

*~*

 

Chapter 3: A Heart Beat

 

By her fifth month, it was clear that Evie was going to have a baby.  Already she was into lose fitting cloths, and with spring arriving she had to get a whole new wardrobe to accommodate her pregnant state.  With Alex she had shown more when the weather was cooler, and with March and April right around the corner Evie was wearing long flowing dresses, soft to help her feel comfortable.  Now she and Rick sat in the doctors office at an appointment.  She saw Dr. Brigman every two weeks, and he had told her that this next visit would be special, but not why.  While they waited, Rick read the post, and Evie watched a young mother with a toddler and a new baby, and considered herself fairly lucky that she had space between her two children.

 

“Evelyn O’Connell,”  a brown haired nurse called out.  Rick stood, and helped Evelyn up and the two of them walked into the back of the office to a small room.  The nurse did things like take her blood pressure and her temperature and also a small sample of blood before leaving them.

 

“Don’t you feel like a guinea pig when they do all that to you?” Rick asked as Evie settled in a chair.

 

“Not really.  You get used to it about the third week of visiting,”  Evie said then took his hand and put it on the right side of her stomach.  Rick grinned as he felt the movement of their child.  What he felt was the same as when Evie had carried Alex, light flutters against the tips of his fingers.  He leaned forward and gave her belly a kiss then sat up as the knob on the door turned.  Doctor Brigman walked in, and greeted both of them, then sat down.

 

“Well Evie your blood pressure is a bit higher than what we like to see.  I need to listen to your heart beat, and then I’m going to ask you to do something you might think is a bit strange,”  The doctor said as he took out his stethoscope.  He had her take a few deep breaths and let them out and was satisfied with that.  Next he placed the stethoscope on her belly and smiled.

 

“Would you like to hear your baby’s heart beat?”  he asked.  Both of them nodded and Evie listened first.

 

“Now the slow steady heart beat is yours, but if you listen close enough, you will hear a faster heart beat.”  Evelyn concentrated then smiled.

 

“Oh my goodness, is it supposed to be so fast?”  she asked as she let Rick have a listen.

 

“Yes, thats a good sign.”  Rick also heard the heartbeat and placed his hand on hers.

 

“Now Evie what I want you to do is take this cup into the Bathroom and I want you to fill it with your urine.”  Evie gave him a funny look but Dr. Brigman had been her doctor for years and she trusted him.  While they waited Rick and Doc talked about the Rising power of Hitler.

 

“I don’t think he will get much past Germany,”  Doc said as Evie stepped out.  The Dr. Dismissed them and instructed Evie to take a few days off to rest, which she wasn’t thrilled about but did, not wanting to endanger the life of her baby.

 

~*~

 

At the house Alex and Darby sat up in his room playing a game of chess.

 

“You know, my parents really like you.  Your the only chap they let stay here when they are away,”  Alex said as he made his move.

 

“Your parents are really fun to be around.  My mum and father are so strict and uptight, sometimes I don’t get them.  I mean we have almost as much money as you guys do, and they still are picky when I want money for things like going to a picture show,”  he replied pondering his move.

 

“So what do you think about being a big brother?”  Darby asked.

 

“I think it will be fun, but only when the baby is grown a little.  My Uncle says tiny babies don’t do much other than cry and sleep, and I know thats true because when I’m with Darin all his sister Kate does is cry,”  Alex replied.  Darby made his move and a winning move at that.

 

“So whats next?”  Alex asked.

 

“Well We should go running,”  Darby replied and the two of them left the house to do that.

 

~*~

 

A few days later Dr. Brigman called Evie at the house and wanted to see she and Rick again, and so now they sat in his office waiting.  When he walked in there was a grave look on his face.

 

“Evelyn I’m not sure whats going on but your body is producing too much protein, which is why your blood presure is up.  I need you to do something honey that isn’t going to be easy on you, but you need bed rest until your pregnancy ends term,”  he informed.  Her eyes grew wide with fright and apprehension and Doc told them why he wanted her to stay in bed.

 

“Your at high risk of losing this baby, and the more rest you get the better.  You need to watch what you eat, and drink as much water as you can, as well as milk...”  He gave both of them instructions then sent them home for the long wait.

 

*~*

 

Chapter 4:  The long wait

 

Being on bed rest was a prison sentence for Evie, and though she could conduct her business from her bed, calling the museum to talk to Amelia or the Curator, it wasn’t the same as actually being there.  She was touched at Alex’s effort every day after school to include her in his lifes activities, and there were times when Rick would carry her downstairs and outside to a blanket beneath a weeping willow to enjoy the outdoors.  Now in her sixth month of pregnancy Evie was every bit as big as she had been at the end of her term with Alex, and Dr. Brigman had told them that there was a possibility she had more than one child in her stomach.  That bit of news shocked all of them, and today Rick and Alex were out getting a few things she had requested while Nanna stayed with her.  Rick, when Dr. Brigman had told them she might be having more than one baby, had called her and asked her to come back home and help which she was more than happy to do.  Nanna was now in her late fifties and like a grandmother to Alex as was Aunt Maggie who also came to the house quite a lot.

 

“Dad if we have two babies how will I be a good big brother to both of them?”  he asked as Rick drove them into the small Village to the east of their home.  Rick smiled.

 

“Well I don’t think you will have to worry Alex.  Just spend time with both of them,”  Rick replied.  When they got to the village, Rick got the things on Evies list.  She had sent him for more gowns and bonnets, and Rick got more than they needed but decided if they really were going to have more than one baby, then 20 gowns would be good.  Next on their list was to go to Mcgregers Nappy service and get them to start bringing nappys to their house at the beginning of July, which Rick got sorted.  They were given a bag of 50 clean diapers to start with and the woman who was working told him to call if they needed more.  Once all that was taken care of the two O’Connell men headed home.

 

“I sure hope Aunt Claira isn’t there,”   Alex said as they turned down the lane that would eventually lead them to their Manor. 

 

“Why is that?”  Rick asked.

 

“Because she smells like a dead bug, and she always pinches my cheeks and tells me how sweet I am.  Sometimes it makes me want to lose my lunch,”  Alex said.  Rick let out a howling laugh, and Alex grinned, the same grin his father was famous for.

 

“Well pal maybe she won’t be,”  Rick said.  Unfortunately when they arrived at the house, Aunt Claira was there, just leaving, which was good, but Alex couldn’t avoid getting his cheeks pinched.  Once she did that and kissed him getting rouge all over his cheek Alex politely excused himself and went inside to get a bath so he wouldn’t smell like dead bug.  Rick watched with Humor and gave Aunt Claira a hug then went inside to check on his wife.

 

~*~

 

While Rick and Alex had gone to run errands, Nanna helped Evelyn take a bath.  Evie was sore from having to lay in bed, and her back hurt with the extra weight she had gained with the pregnancy.  Taking a warm bath helped to ease the tension in her body and she relaxed while Nanna sat on a stool next to the tub.

 

“I’m not sure I can handle two of them,”  Evelyn admitted as she rubbed her hand over her large protruding belly.

 

“You will do fine, and don’t forget you have Rick myself Alex, and everyone else whom I’m sure will lend a hand,”  Nanna said.  Evie nodded and closed her eyes.  A few moments later Rick stepped in, and Nanna smiled leaving them in private.  Evie opened her eyes and smiled as he placed his hand in the water moving it over her belly.

 

“Hmm that feels so nice,”  Evie said softly.  Rick wanted to do more but Dr. Brigman had stated that under no circumstances were they to engage in love making, so for now all he could do was give her massages which had become a part of their daily routine.

 

“Did you and Alex have success finding everything?”  Evelyn asked. 

 

“I think we found more than we needed.  I found twenty night gowns which I think you will like, and I purchased a packet of fifty Nappys so I think that should last us until these kids are ate least a year old,”  Rick said.  Evie sighed and shut her eyes again.

 

“Hey why don’t I get you out of there and you let me give you a back rub with that grape-seed oil you like so much.  Evie nodded, and could barely stand as Rick helped her out of the tub.  Once she was out, and he had a towel wrapped around her, he carried her to their bed and placed her on her side on the mattress putting pillows at her side and between her legs then got the grape-seed oil and began with his body Massage.

 

~*~

 

Evie was not the only one having a baby, and a few days later, Ella came for a visit with her new baby Zach who was a week old.  Alex happened to be the only one home with his mum when Ella and Zach arrived, and led them upstairs happy when he saw his mum’s face brighten up.  Evie was sitting up in bed and at her request Ella put Zach I her arms.

 

“Oh Ella he looks just like Sam,”  Evelyn said.  Sam was Ricks work partner and friend, and Zach was their first child.  Alex watched his mum and Evie took notice

 

“Alex come here,”  She said he did and with Ella’s permission he got to hold the baby.

 

“They make them tiny don’t they,”   Alex said as he let Zach clasp his hand. Both Evelyn and Ella smiled.

 

“Yes they do and for good reason,”  Evie said hoping that the baby or babies she had in her were not as big as Alex had been, at almost 8 pounds.  For a few minutes Alex held the baby as his mum and Ella talked. Then Zach began to shift restlessly in his arms, and he let Ella take him.  Evie pointed her to the rocking chair and the two woman talked as she nursed her baby.  Alex took that time to leave for his room, and make a puzzle.  As he was finishing, Ella stuck her head in and told him they were heading home, and so Alex went back to sit with his mum who had her reading glasses on looking at a book.

 

“Mum I guess I should know this, but how exactly are those babies coming out of you?”  he asked.  Setting her book aside Evelyn made room for her son on her bed then began.

 

“Do you remember what your dad told you about what you saw the one night we had the big storm?”  Evie asked.  Alex nodded.  That night he had been afraid because of the crashing of thunder and the wind howling outside.  So Alex had sought out his parents and found them making love.  Rick had explained about the physical love a man and a woman liked to share, and Alex had been rather grossed out.

 

“Well the same way a man enters a woman through her Vagina is the same way the baby comes out.”  Alex made a face at that.

 

“I bet that hurts,”  he finally said causing her to laugh a little.

 

“It’s not comfortable, but as soon as Eshe laid you on my chest I forgot all about how much pain you had caused, and watched you take your first cries,”  Evie said.  Alex knew of his birth at the Med-jai village, and of the trauma his mother had gone through before his birth.  Evie had been told to have a surgery to make it so she wouldn’t have babies but she never had and her body had never been able to conceive until now.

 

“Listen baby, I need to try and get some sleep,”  Evelyn said.  She had a nap schedule she kept and took two of them a day.  Alex helped her lay down and then left to wait for his dad’s return.

 

 

*~*

 

Chapter 5 :New Life

 

England was seeing an unseasonable hot summer, and now with July’s approach Evelyn was ready to have her babies.  Dr. Brigman, as well as his colleague agreed she was having two babies, and the bed-rest had helped her body get into normal rhythm.  Today Rick had carried out outside, and set her on a blanket beneath the weeping willow and sat with her letting her lean against him as he rubbed his hands over her stomach.

 

“I want these babies born,”  she said sleepily.  His hands on her always had a lulling affect and Evie wanted to sleep until the babies were born.

 

“I know you do honey, it won’t be to much longer,”  he said hopeful.

 

“Evelyn,”  they both heard Aunt Claira call out.  Evie groaned not wanting another lecture from her aunt about being out of bed.

 

“Back here Claira,”  Rick yelled.  In a few moments, she appeared with three decorative bags.

 

“Well I do believe you look ready to have those children, and I found a few things for them,”  Claira said.  Relieved that she wasn’t going to lecture her, Evelyn let Rick help her sit up then both of them opened the bags finding in the first one four gowns.

 

“Oh Aunt Claira these are wonderful but we don’t know if we are having girls or boys,”  Evie said.  One gown was pink with short ruffled sleeves and on the front of each dress was embroidered animals of different sorts.  The next bag was two bears each with matching bows, and the next bag four receiving blankets.

 

“Thank you Claira,”  Evie said accepting a kiss from her. 

 

“Well I hope that you can put those to good use.  The way your holding those children I’m sure your going to have girls,”  she said.  She said her goodbyes then left, and Evie sighed about to fall asleep when Alex ran from the front of the house excited.

 

“Mum, mum guess what.  Darby let me play in the last part of their game and I scored two goals all on my own,”  Alex said.

 

“I’m so happy baby,”  Evie responded.

 

“I can’t wait till they are born then you can come to the park and watch the games,”  Alex said.  With Summer’s arrival the games played were for fun, more than sport, and Alex was able to play with them which he really loved.  He ran off to get some lunch.  Evelyn had noticed that he was eating them through house and home and that he was growing again, and knew once she had her babies they would need to go cloths shopping before school started up in the fall.  When she fell asleep, Rick easily carried her to their room and on his way up the stairs both of them felt the wetness of her water breaking. 

 

~*~

 

In the waiting room at St. Frances Hospital a large group of people awaited the word of the birth of the baby or babies.  Alex sat with his Uncle Jonathan playing a game of spades while Nanna and his two Aunts knitted things for the babies.

 

While everyone waited Evie was hard at work bringing her babies into the world.  Unlike with Alex who was ready to be born quickly this baby seemed to be taking its sweet time.  She and Rick had made several trips up and down the hall ways of the maternity ward trying to speed things along, and it was late that evening when she was finally ready to begin pushing.  Rick sat at her side holding her hand as she started to push.  Evelyn took a breath, her memories of Alex’s birth flooding back, and she pushed with the contraction crying out at the pain she felt.

 

“Water,”  Evie said.  Rick got the washrag and dipped it in the washbasin of ice water and wiped her lips with it.  Evie pushed more, and  Rick marveled at her strength.  It took almost twenty minutes, but the first baby, a girl made her way into the world.  Dr. Brigman gave her a swat on the bottom, which she obviously didn’t like then gave her to one of the nurses to bathe.

 

“Be with her,”  Evie said.  Too emotional to speak, Rick kissed her and walked over to where the nurse was washing his new daughter, who was tiny, and who had a full head of black hair like her mother.  Rick watched the nurse as she weighed their new daughter, and did a few things like measure her head.  Once she was wrapped in a blanket the nurse silently placed her in Rick’s arms.

 

“Hello,”  Rick said as she tried to focus on him.  She whimpered, and Rick held her closer to him swaying watching as Evie once again was told to push.  All to soon the nurse took his first daughter away, and Rick watched as a second baby slid into the world smaller than the first, and another girl.  Doctor Brigman once again gave the baby to his nurse and once again Rick watched as she got her bath.  Unlike her sister, this baby did not calm down once she was wrapped up, and it took a little bit of time for Rick to get her to stop crying.  He looked up when he heard Evelyn cry out and Dr.  Brigman once again instructed her to push.

 

~*~

 

At almost three in the morning Rick walked in the waiting room finding Jonathan Alex and Nanna awake.

 

“So did she have two of them?”  Alex asked running to his dad.  Rick knelt down.

 

“You have three new sisters,”  Rick said.  Alex’s eyes got big.

 

“No boys?”  he asked.

 

“No boys, but you do know that there is more for you and I to do alone,”  Rick said.  At that thought Alex smiled and yawned.

 

“Can we see them?”  he asked.

 

“You may come, but Nanna and Jonathan need to wait until they are ready to go home,”  Rick said and laughed as Alex grabbed around his neck for a piggy back ride.  The two of them made their way to Evie’s room, where all was quiet.  All three of the new babies were asleep in one bassinet side ways beside one another.  Two of them weighed five pounds and one weighed a little under four.

 

“What are we going to name them?”  Alex said.   Evelyn smiled at him as he snuggled in bed with her.

 

“Well The one on the far right is Elizabeth Christina.  The baby in the middle is Rebecca Jordan, and the baby on the left is Louisa Amber,”  Evelyn said.  Alex didn’t respond and Evie kissed him closing her eyes to join him in a much needed rest.  Rick smiled as he lay on the couch and for a while there was silence.