Beneath a Moonless Sky - Book One (Moon Child Series)

Chapter Seven

The next month flew by and I was already two months pregnant and way bigger than I expected to be and even Dr Grace said that the babies were growing at a much faster rate than she expected. Yes, I said babies. Twins. When she said that there were two babies in there, I clenched my legs together. Two babies were going to be coming out of me and I was already worried about just one! I was still umming and ahhing about what my decision would be, and it was starting to frustrate me. Why couldn’t I decide? It couldn’t be that hard. But Dr Grace never pushed me. Telling me to take my time and listen to my heart. But my heart was on holiday right now, it had left with Lucian. And the questions I found myself asking were always the same. Could I stand to care for a child that would probably look like Lucian and have a daily reminder of him abandoning me? Or could I give up the only connection I had to the man I love and my best friend of eighteen years? 

I was at war with myself and no one was helping me by weighing in. It was all up to me. 

“Elaina Callaghan? The doctor will see you now.” I got up from my chair, with more effort than I would like; this belly was giving me trouble already and it was only going to get bigger! Dr Grace was sitting at a new machine today, not one I recognised. 

“Hop up on the table Elaina. We’re doing a 3D ultrasound today.” I looked at her questioningly. “Well your babies have been growing much faster than we expected so this will allow me to see in more detail what’s going on in there. Just in case there is any abnormalities that we can’t see with a normal ultrasound.” I lay back with a shrug and went through the same motions as always and waited for her to start. I didn’t even look at the screen anymore while she worked, not really seeing more than wavy lines and blobs. Maybe I just wasn’t very maternal. Maybe this was my sign that I should just let another family raise these children. When the ultrasound was over, I cleaned myself up and took the envelope of pictures from Dr Grace. Fergus and Connor loved cooing over them more than me so I would give them the pictures to ogle at. 

“Elaina, I want you to do an exercise for me when you get home, can you do that for me?” I nodded. Sure. I’ll try anything once. “In that envelope with the pictures is a recording of the babies’ hearts. I want you to sit by yourself and listen to it while you look at the sonogram pictures. And although you might feel silly, talk to them. This has helped other patients of mine in the past decide the path they want to take. I know that you’ve really been struggling with it.” I look down at the envelope in my hand and shrug. 

“Sure thing Doc. I’ll give it a go.” With a smile on her face she walked me out. When I got home, Fergus was standing at the reception desk looking at the desktop. 

“Elaina!” He called to me excitedly. I walked over to him looking at the computer as I did. “We just received an email from Blackwood Enterprises regarding the photo shoot you did, and they loved your work! They ended up paying double they loved it so much!” My mouth fell open when I looked at the new invoice they’d sent through. “I’ve already transferred over your percentage to your bank account. You earned it love.” He hugged me to his side and kissed my head. I was still in shock at the amount they’d paid for a few photos of jewellery. Fergus notices the envelope in my hand and beams. 

“Is that the scans?” I nodded. 

“Yeah. I’ll let you and Connor have them after. The doctor wants me to do an exercise with them first to help me decide on the path I want to choose. She said it’s helped others before me. So, I’ll give it a go and see what happens.” I shrugged and started walking to the break room. 

“Have fun!” 

“Yeah, yeah.” I climbed the stairs and collapsed on to my bed, pulling out my headphones from my bedside table. The envelope contains a little tape recorder and the scans from today. Leaning back on my headboard I put my headphones in and press play. I listened for a while only hearing throbbing sounds, which sounded like muffled horse hooves. I pulled out the pictures and flicked through them. They looked like little aliens. Cute little aliens though. The tape stopped after 5 minutes, and I pull my headphones out. Now it was for part two of the exercise. 

“Hello in there, babies.” I felt stupid talking to my belly. “I’m hoping you can help me out here. I’m having a hard time deciding if you’d be better off with me or someone else right now.” I began rubbing my belly, helping with the itching I was feeling. The sudden stretching of my skin from my bump made my skin itch a lot lately. “I’d never really thought about being a mother. I never thought I’d find someone who I’d love enough to create life with. And when I finally did, your daddy... ow!” I clutched at my stomach as a sharp pain hit my ribs. What the hell was that?! Rubbing at the spot below my breast I continued. “Anyways, your daddy... s**t!” This time I felt the kick as it hit my hand where it rested on my belly. I stared down at my belly in shock. “Daddy.” Another kick. I laughed and felt tears fall down my cheeks. What was this feeling. I ran my hand over my belly and continued talking, knowing they could hear me. 

“Your daddy... ouch... is not here to see you grow. But mummy… ow... will be.” Tears were streaming down my cheeks now as I came to the realisation, I finally knew my decision.  

“Fergus!! Connor!!” I yelled trying to stand up from the bed. I heard them scrambling up the stairs and saw them crash through the door, their faces filled with worry; made worse by the sight of me in tears. They ran to me and helped me off of the bed. I threw my arms around Fergus’ neck and laughed with joy. 

“What’s wrong love?” He pulled me back from our hug, a comical look of confusion on his face. 

“I’m going to be a mother.” I beamed. 

“Yes, we know that love. You’ve been pregnant for two months.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. 

“No Fergus. I’m going to be a mummy... ow.” My belly was still pressed against Fergus’ and he felt that little kick. He looked down eyes wide. 

“You mean you’re going to keep them?!” I nodded, smiling so wide I probably looked like a Cheshire Cat. “Oh Elaina. We’re so happy for you.” As they crushed me in a hug I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Two healthy babies on their way in eight months and two of the best friends a girl could ever ask for. I was lucky to have them. And I knew it. 

***

The next few months flew by and by 4 months I was huge. I knew carrying twins meant you would get bigger than carrying just one. But I already looked full term. It was getting harder and harder to get up the stairs to my bed and shimmering was not an option, so the boys would either carry me up or if they weren’t home, I would just sleep on the pull-out bed in the couch. I wasn’t comfortable anywhere I lay so whether it was a sofa bed or my bed I was uncomfortable either way. At the present moment I was attempting to stand up from the sofa bed. Another thing that was harder was getting up from places and my balance was way off. Leaning over was no longer permitted due to a small incident where I bent over to pick up a piece of paper that had fallen off my desk and fallen over. Luckily, I’d had the common send to turn as I landed and only bruised my butt. I felt like I was a prisoner inside my own body. Couldn’t move, couldn’t sleep, I was peeing fifty times a day and eating just as much. 

I gave up trying to stand up and reached for my phone. 

Elaina: please for the love of the goddess someone come help me stand. I have to pee. Again…

I waited patiently for a reply as a kick to my bladder made me wince. Very funny babies. Kick me while I’m down. 

Fergus: Give me 5.

I stroked my belly soothingly as I tried to calm down the babies who were kicking up a storm today. My back was especially sore. Goddess, these babies better be worth this strain on my body. 

As promised five minutes had passed and Fergus walked in with a knowing smirk. 

“Shut it Fergus. Now quick, before I wet myself.” He helped me stand and to the toilet where it was such a relief to empty the punching bag the babies had been playing with. I walked out to Fergus handing me my favourite craving at the moment, tomato, and cheese toasted sandwich. I stretched my back as I paced the small room serving as my makeshift bedroom and still the break room as I munched on my toasty.

“Babies giving you trouble today love?” I nodded and glared down at my swollen belly. 

“You have no idea. The weight of them right now is causing painful spasms in my back.” I finished the toasty in record time and then made my way for the reception desk, dusting of the crumbs that had fallen on my stomach. Fergus followed rubbing my back as I walked. It definitely helped. 

“Has Mrs Graham arrived for her newborn shoot yet?” I made my way to my computer and checked the schedule. 

“Yes love, she’s waiting for you in the studio. Her little one is to die for. Such a cutie.” I smiled and turned to the studio. I’d been taking a lot more photography jobs on for Fergus, the money I earnt paying for all the twins’ things; even though Fergus and Connor had bought plenty of their own things for them. I opened the doors and saw a drop-dead gorgeous blonde holding the most precious looking baby and if I hadn’t been pregnant already my ovaries would have been screaming for me to reproduce right that second. 

“Good evening Mrs Graham, I hope you haven’t been waiting… shit.” I doubled over in pain at a particularly hard kick. “Sorry. Pardon my French. The babies have been really active today.” I straightened up and rubbed the small of my back. 

“No that’s ok.” She replied, looking down fondly at the bundle in her arms. “I don’t miss those at all.” We both laughed as I walked over to her and joined her in looking down at her beautiful son. 

“When are you due? You look about ready to pop.” 

“Not for another five months.” I hissed as I doubled in pain again. “Ow.” Fergus came running in, worry plastered on his face. 

“Love, are you alright?” His hands rubbed my back as the pain continued for a good 30 seconds. 

“Yeah. The babies are just playing soccer with my insides.” I heard a chuckle next to me and looked up at Mrs Graham. 

“Sorry. It’s not funny. But if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re in labour.” My eyes opened wide like saucers. 

“That’s not possible. It’s too early!” Mrs Graham shrugged sympathetically. 

“I could be wrong. But it’d be best if you went to the hospital.” Fergus nodded in agreement as another shooting pain hit me. I couldn’t speak, I just nodded. Fergus swept me up into his arms and ran to the car. 

“Sorry Mrs Graham. We will call you the minute we can and reschedule!” He called out behind him as he ran. 

“No problem! Good luck!” I felt like I was being ripped open.

“Fergus. It’s too early!” I was sobbing, pain ripping through me. “It’s too early!” 

Fergus clutched my hand as he drove, probably running a few red lights, and screeched into the parking lot. He dove out of the car calling for help as he grabbed me from the passenger side. A scream was ripped from me as another jolt of pain went through me. The air around me crackled as my magic reacted to my pain.

“Get Dr Murphy! Now!” He growled at an attending who ran off without a word. I was placed on a gurney and wheeled inside. I was delirious and in pain. Everything happened all at once. People were calm around me though. Nurses began placing drips and hooking me up to machines as a brunette woman in a lab coat came into my room. 

“Elaina? Nice to meet you dear. Let’s have some babies, shall we?” I shook my head as pain continued to rip through me. 

“No! It’s too early!” I was sobbing, I couldn’t breathe. Cool hands grabbed my face and bright blue eyes stared into mine. 

“Listen to me Elaina.” Dr Murphy’s voice calmed me, and I took a deep breath. “Now I need you to breath and to push when I say. Even if it is too early, these babies are coming and they’re coming now! I will do everything in my power to make sure that these babies survive. I give you my word. Ok?” I nodded and took a deep breath. 

“Ok.”  Was all I could whimper. It all happened so fast. Dr Murphy would tell me to push, so I would. I courd hear cracks of thunder in the distance and the lights around us flickered. A couple of hours of screaming and pushing later my son was born. His screams filled the air and my heart was gone. The nurses took him off to clean him and check him up. I watched them take him away and felt as though they were taking my heart with them. Tears streamed down my face. I wanted to hold my son. Dr Murphy tapped my knee comfortingly. 

“It’s ok Elaina. He’ll be back. But you still have a little more pushing to go.” I whimpered as another contraction hit me hard and I screamed, lights around us exploding into shards of glass. Dr Murphy didn’t even flinch as the nurses around us swept up the glass around us. “Push!” she screamed. So, I did. Not too long a wait and another scream pierced the air. A daughter. 

Again, she was swept away to be cleaned and checked. Fergus smiled down at me as he stroked my hair. I was exhausted and just wanted to hold my babies. Dr Murphy joined the nurses to check on my twins. 

“Huh.”