Peacekeepers

Chapter 84: Surprise! Pt 1

August 24th, 1893

Sebastian was sleeping soundly when a flash of light woke him up, looking out through the window with drowsy eyes to see red sparks flying up into the sky from down the road.

"Wha-" he squinted as he tried to make out what was going on before he realized suddenly what that meant.

"WAKE UP!" He yelled loudly, making Ominis and Diane burst up as well, sparks of ancient magic filling the air with her shock. Sebastian was already moving out of bed so quickly he stumbled and fell before picking himself back up and tugging pants on.

"What's going on? What's wrong?" Ominis said in alarm.

Diane was wondering the same thing before the light flashed again, and she looked out the window to see the red sparks. "The signal! It's the signal!" She said in alarm, and now Ominis and Diane both jumped out of bed too.

"It's early still, isn't it?" Ominis said in alarm, tugging on pants as well.

"Yes- she's not due for another two weeks!" Sebastian said in worry, now pulling his boots on, his shirt unbuttoned still. "You both send signals out to the others, I'm heading there. I'll see you there soon!"

"Sebastian-" Diane said quickly, making him stop at the doorway with a frantic look back at her. "Seb, it'll be alright." Diane said in a softer voice.

Sebastian gave her a little smile before bolting out of the door toward Garreth and Anne's house.

"You send one to Poppy, I'll send one to Natsai." Ominis said, taking his wand out.

They both cast their patronus, a cobra and an eagle soaring out into the night sky. Diane giggled happily that their patronus were all mixed up, and with the signal sent, it was their turn to run down the hill.

———————

Poppy was sleeping soundly, her limbs tangled with Danny as they slept together after a lovely date night. Mary had offered to watch the kids for the night so they hadn't had anything to worry about for Danny spending the night at her place.

The blue light that filled the room brought Danny awake first, looking at the eagle in confusion and terror until Diane's voice sounded from it.

"Anne is in labor. It's time!"

Poppy had woken up with the light as well, and she looked to Danny who had turned pale at the news before they both got ready as well.

"She's too early-" Danny said in a wavering voice as he got dressed.

"She's tough, and she's got Garreth. I'm sure it'll be fine- but we'll all go to help if it's needed." Poppy said, knowing they'd likely sent a message to Natsai as well. The midwife would have been called by Garreth already.

"I hope you're right... I'll come along too- if anything to keep me from worrying to death here." He said, flinching when he knew this meant doing that apparating that made him feel sick. When they were both dressed Poppy ran outside with him and took his hand, disappearing into a puff.

——————

The patronus had woken Natsai, who had already prepared in just such an occasion, keeping her outfit next to her bed to throw on quickly. She thought about running straight there, but...

"Linus!" She rapped on his door loudly to wake him up, and she heard a fumble and a thump before an out of breath Linus opened the door.

"What? What's wrong?" He asked in panic.

"Anne is in labor, you know medical stuff, right?" She knew he'd been studying a lot of that.

"Yeah- alright let me grab my boots-" he said, tugging them on next to the door.