Axoular sat up. “That's much better than before.”
We went through it one more time with Anthony and by the time we all shared the pain, it was no worse than a period cramp, and the contractions spread back out to every three minutes.
After that, it was like a party. Cindy had to hang around and make sure the spell didn't unravel. Healer Rakesha sat her in the corner, keeping an eye on things and checking my dilation every few hours. We had lunch, watched TV, and played a few rounds of Rummy.
After another six hours, it was time to push. My cervix was dilated to ten and I was ready.
Even without the pain, I was nervous. Anthony stood behind me, Elias to my right, and Axoular to my left. I wanted to try pushing from a crouched position. We all crouched down when the next contraction hit us, slightly more painful. All three men gasped when I felt the ring of fire of the baby crowning.
“I warned you,” I said. “I pushed David and Daniel out very quickly.” I'd had epidurals with both of them. The pain I felt through the spell, while not intense, was distracting and more pain than I ever wanted to feel out of my poor lady bits.
I grunted and watched a wet head appear between my legs. “He's got hair,” I said. “Lots of it.”
Healer Rakesha helped maneuver him, so his shoulders weren't so hard to push out, and the rest was easy. My baby boy was out, and she immediately put him in my arms. The huge towel under me was moved and a clean one put in its place. I wasn't sure who did it, but I thought it was Cindy.
I sat back on my butt and double-checked. Sure enough, I had another baby boy.
It was hard to tell through the fluid and goo, but I was pretty sure he was blonde. I stared at Elias in shock, tears rolling down my face. “Is he Supay?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea.”
Someone handed me a towel, and I pressed him against my chest, rubbing his head gently as he squalled. Rakesha was between my legs, and I felt a tugging as she delivered my placenta.
Once all the mess was cleaned up and the baby as clean as he could be without a bath, we moved to the bed, spell still in place. I had no real pain yet.
Cindy assisted Rakesha and they both promised to stay for a few more hours, downstairs in case we needed them.
The four of us piled into the bed, Elias and Anthony on one side and Axoular pressed against my back.
“What are we going to name him?”
“Michael,” said Anthony.
I looked at them, Michael's best friends, and down at the baby that looked just like Elias. “I think that's lovely.”
We snuggled together, still bound. The spell helped me ignore the after-birth contractions that were shrinking my uterus. Michael latched onto my breast like a champ, a feat David and Daniel hadn't done with ease.
Sleep finally claimed me while the guys held Michael, cooing over him, and fighting over who got to change him. I was looking forward to being able to share the middle-of-the-night duties with the three of them.
I was jerked from my nap by a particularly painful cramp. I looked at the guys in confusion. They all had looks of surprise and pain on their faces. The cramp lasted a good thirty seconds, like a real contraction.
Axoular checked his phone. “It’s been three hours.”
“Maybe you should get the healer?” I asked Elias. Axoular held Michael as Elias jumped up and ran downstairs.
Another contraction followed and Elias zipped back into the room, using his Supay speed. Healer Rakesha and Cindy entered soon after. As they did, I stood, pressure against my hoo-ha forcing me to take action.
“Something's happening!” I yelled.
Axoular handed the baby to Cindy and grabbed himself. “It feels like it did when you pushed Michael out.”
I looked at Rakesha in horror. “Twins?”
She snapped on a glove and felt me. “Yes, ma'am. I'm not sure how I missed this. I've never missed a second baby before.”
I squatted down again, it having worked so well the first time. Cindy threw a towel under me.
The pain was worse, with the baby coming out of an already sore area. Even with the shared pain, I gasped when I pushed the baby's head out.
