"I'm not going anywhere," he says, as much to himself as to me.
"Good," I manage between contractions. "Because I'll hunt you down if you try to leave."
Hours pass. The contractions intensify, coming closer together. I walk, I rest, I breathe through each wave. Aratus stays at my side through all of it, his cold hand the only thing that seems to help when the pain starts building.
"This is your fault," I gasp during a particularly strong contraction.
"I know."
"Both your cocks. Both your fault."
"I know," he says again, but there's almost humor in his voice now.
"Not funny," I pant as the contraction eases. "When this is over, I'm going to kill you."
"You can try." He presses a kiss to my sweaty forehead. "After you've recovered."
"Recovered?" I laugh, but it turns into a groan as another contraction starts building. "You think I'm recovering from this?"
By hour ten, I'm no longer walking. The contractions are coming hard and fast, the pressure overwhelming. My magic responds chaotically, ice forming in violent patterns across every surface.
"I can't," I gasp, gripping Aratus's hand hard enough that my nails draw blood. "I can't do this."
"You can," he says, voice absolutely certain. "You're the strongest person I know."
"I'm not strong. I'm terrified."
"You're both." His other hand cups my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. "You can be terrified and still do this. You can be weak and still be strong enough."
The words cut through my panic. He's right. I've done impossible things before. This is just another one.
The head midwife checks my progress and nods. "You're ready. Next contraction, I need you to push."
"I don't want to," I hear myself say, and I sound like a child.
"I know." Aratus's voice is gentle. "But our children are coming whether you're ready or not. So let's meet them."
The next contraction builds, and I bear down with everything I have. The pressure is incredible, overwhelming, unlike anything I've ever experienced. I scream through it, not caring who hears.
"Good," Professor Wells encourages. "Again with the next one."
It goes on forever. Push after push, contraction after contraction, until I'm nothing but exhausted determination. Aratus stays with me through all of it, letting me crush his hand, anchoring me when I feel like I'm coming apart.
"I can see the first head," the midwife announces. "One more big push."
I gather everything I have left and push. The burn is intense, impossible, and then suddenly there's release and the sound of a baby crying.
"A girl," the midwife says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. "A beautiful girl."
They place her on my chest immediately, this tiny screaming creature covered in vernix and blood and absolutely perfect. She has my dark hair and Aratus's pale eyes, and the moment she touches my skin, frost blooms across both of us.
"Hello," I whisper, awed. "Hello, little one."
But there's no time to rest. The second twin is coming, the contractions starting again almost immediately.
"I can't," I gasp, even as I hand our daughter to a midwife. "I just—I can't do it again."
"You can," Aratus says. "One more. Just one more."
