Birth

[survivesitall]

Sleep has been elusive at best, something that she chases most nights. Her accelerated pregnancy and the worries that she had because of that were only part of it. There were the regular worries that impending parenthood brought. Her sleeplessness tonight was another thing entirely, she realised too late.

She'd called Mindy and had grabbed her bag before Clayton had driven her to the hospital. They had Mindy's word that there wouldn't be any questions about it, that she would manage that end.

Labor itself was terrifying, and took far too long in her mind. When it was over and she had two newborn babies clutched to her chest it seemed worth it. A boy and a girl, just like her future. But were these babies the same or different? That was something Elena wasn't ready to wrestle with. For now she would look at her children and be grateful.

Comments

[survivesitall]

"Neither can I," she admits with a smile, knowing that her friend is one of the few that knows the truth of it. Elena has had to tell everyone at work that she became pregnant and didn't realise it for months, and that because of that she hadn't shown for a while. Otherwise there would be too many questions, questions she can't answer without giving away secrets.

"I'm happy they're both healthy. For a while-" For a while she's been afraid they were too early, no matter what Jeremy had told her during his short time here in Darrow. "Hopefully they don't keep growing up as fast."

[cleverness]

Hermione looks up when Elena's voice cuts off, but when Elena doesn't elaborate, Hermione doesn't try to push. She knows from personal experience that being pregnant is stressful enough without anything being abnormal, and can't imagine how she might have felt in Elena's situation. She's glad that at the end of everything, the outcome is as simple as Elena getting to meet her children earlier than most mothers would have.

"They certainly seem like they're about ready to take over the world," Hermione remarks, smiling down at the pair again. "But I'll certainly send that same hope in your direction. I always hear that children grow up so quickly, more quickly than any of us are ready for. I want you to have as much time as you can to enjoy your two little dears. Have you chosen names?"

[survivesitall]

Elena shifts out of the bed, wrapping her robe around herself as she steps over to the bassinets. They're fussing in a way that Elena is learning means nothing; only that they're asleep and active at the same time. "Probably. They'll be running around before we even notice, and we'll dream of the days of diapers and having them practically tied to us."

She reaches out to touch the boys cheek. "I think so. At least, I have names but I haven't told Clay yet. I think he's a Jeremy."

[cleverness]

"Jeremy. That sounds like such a nice, robust name," Hermione says, unable to keep a smile from crossing her face as she thinks about her own child, about the names that she and Ron have tossed around as ideas. One thing they know for certain is that they want to have two children — a child whose name begins with H, and a child whose name begins with R. Not just for the symmetry, but also because a pair seems just about right, guaranteeing that they can always get the attention of at least one parent at any given time.

"Named after any friends or family? Or is it just a name you like?" Hermione asks, her hand returning to the swell of her own belly. "I feel like names carry such heavy importance. It's something that will be tied with them for the rest of their lives."

[survivesitall]

"He was our Alpha." She misses him every day, and knows that it's worse for Clayton. "And Jeremy's father. He found Clayton when he was young and raised him."

Clay's background was difficult, the survivor of a childhood bite he was completely different to any other wolves. But then, so was she. "And Paige, she was my friend. One of my first who wasn't part of the pack. A witch."

[cleverness]

"Oh," Hermione says softly, her expression gentler at the thought of Jeremy being a name that's in the family, one with emotional significance. There are times when she's thought about the same — wondering whether or not it would be appropriate to name a son after Fred. But in some ways, no matter how much the Weasleys are family to Hermione, it feels like that kind of a choice isn't hers to hold.

It's up to Ron, to George, to those who knew Fred throughout the years, ever since he was a child.

"I think it'd be wonderful to name your children after people who have meant so much to you during your life. It's almost as though you get to keep a part of those important people with you. I imagine they would be honored, were they here."

[survivesitall]

"If they were here, we wouldn't have to, would we?" Paige starts to fuss and Elena scoops her up immediately, holding her close and whispering to her in the hope to it will help. Her children have become her focus in everying, she realises, no matter what she may have worried of beforehand.

"Hopefully these two won't mind the weight of it."

[cleverness]

"Maybe not. Though there is something nice about having someone with whom you can immediately bond with, based on the name," Hermione says softly, her expression melting immediately when she sees Elena reach out for Paige, holding her with an almost instinctual gentleness, like her hand knows exactly how to comfort the child.

Hermione's heart aches at the very sight of it.

"At least for now, neither of them are any the wiser. But someday, I'm sure they'll appreciate learning the stories you have to share with them."