Royals: Part 6

Chapter 18

"Thank you so much, I really need a good night's sleep," Jackie gushed, ushering Nanny Sophia into Kensington 1B. Jackie had called Mary Kate's nanny on duty for the night -- she was absolutely exhausted and Harry had a meeting early the next morning. Nanny Sophia would sleep in the spare bedroom so they could get some rest.

"She's already sleeping," Jackie explained, leading Nanny Sophia to her room. "Please, help yourself to tea and food -- whatever you need. I'm just going to head to bed." 

Nanny Sophia flashed an understanding smile. "Of course, Your Highness. Sleep well."

Jackie shuffled down the hall to her and Harry's room, where Harry was already sprawled across his side of the bed, watching BBC.

Jackie tossed her robe across the end of the bed and climbed in, her eyes heavy. The buttons on her silk pajama set never stayed buttoned over her baby bump, so Jackie quickly cuddled under the covers to stay warm.

"'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left the Lindo Wing at quarter to 7 with their new addition, the Princess of Cambridge,'" said the BBC evening anchor. "'The parents say they have not yet decided on a name for the Princess, with bookies reporting that the odds are favoring Alice.'"

"Alice is a nice name," Harry commented, rolling over to face Jackie. 

"I wonder what they'll choose," Jackie thought aloud. "Kate called when they got back to the Palace and says they've been calling her Sister, like George suggested." 

Harry smiled. "He seems to be adjusting to having a sibling quite well." 

"I think so too," Jackie agreed. "I hope Mary will be the same." 

"I think she will," Harry said thoughtfully. "She carries her doll around everywhere she goes, feeds her, changes her nappy." 

"It's too bad she's not old enough to help out a bit, we'll be up to our ears in nappies in no time," Jackie laughed. As she laughed, she felt a sharp pain across the front of her abdomen, causing her to flinch. 

Harry sat up. "What's the matter?" 

"I just felt a cramp," Jackie said, waving him off. "I'm sure all my muscles are shot after lugging these babies around for nine months." 

"Are you sure it wasn't a contraction?" Harry asked, his voice a bit panicked. 

Jackie smiled. "I can't be positive, but I promise I'll tell you if I feel anything change."

Harry didn't seem satisfied, his eyes watching her cautiously. Jackie turned her attention back to the TV, where the reporter continued the story of the birth of the new Princess. 

"'Prince George was in the care of his aunt and uncle, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, during the delivery. The entire family came to meet the Princess of Cambridge, where the Duchess of Windsor's impressively large baby bump nearly stole the show from Prince George and Princess Mary Kate. According to Palace reports, Jackie is due in just about two weeks, and she looks ready to pop. There is hope that the Duchesses will once again deliver just one day apart as they did only two years ago. With Kate out of the Lindo Wing, all eyes are now watching the gates of Kensington Palace for any signs of movement.'"

"Jackie." 

Jackie turned to look at Harry, whose face was abnormally close to her's. She smiled, giving him a quick peck. "What?"

Harry's eyes were filled with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?" 

Jackie put her hand on Harry's. "Harry, I'm a nurse, and I have a child. I think I know what labor feels like." 

---

Jackie let out a sigh, flipping over in bed once again, trying to get comfortable. She'd woken up out of a dead sleep to find herself staring at the ceiling, unable to fall back asleep. She could feel a tightening pain deep in her stomach, and it felt as though the twins were in a boxing match. 

Jackie rolled out of bed, tip-toeing to the adjacent bathroom, careful not to wake Harry. She was moving to close the door behind her when- simultaneously-  there was a sharp pain in her stomach and a warm gush down her thighs. 

Jackie let out a shocked laugh, her hand flying to her stomach, trying to ease the tightening- which she now recognized as contractions. 

She decided she would mop up the puddle on the floor, then get Harry, and head to the Lindo Wing. Jackie only took one step towards the linen closet when her foot slipped on the wet tile, sending her to the hard floor with a thud. 

Harry was in the bathroom in a flash. "Oh my god-" he stopped mid-sentence, his foot finding the puddle. "What happened?" 

The entire back of Jackie's pajamas were soaked through, and she looked at her wet hands with a disbelieving laugh. "I slipped in my own 'water.'" 

Harry pulled Jackie to her feet, putting a hand over his nose and letting out a mix between a laugh and a gag. "It smells!"

"That settles it, I'm in labor," Jackie giggled. "I'll take a shower and then we should probably get going." 

"I'll wake Nanny Sophia and get your bag," Harry added, a bit out of breath. 

Jackie smiled, pulling Harry in for a kiss. "Enjoy our final hours of being parents of one." 

Harry kissed Jackie back, giving her a tight squeeze, despite her wet (and somewhat smelly) pajamas. "I love you." 

---

Within an hour, Jackie was lying in a hospital bed, wires attached to her baby bump, nurses and doctors flowing in and out of the room. Kensington Palace twitter announced Jackie was in labor shortly after she and Harry arrived, tweeting: 

'HRH The Duchess of Windsor was admitted at 04.00hrs to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London and is in the mid stages of labour. The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital with The Duke of Windsor.'

Harry nearly had a heart attack driving Jackie in the middle of the night; her contractions intensified soon after her water broke, and she was in quite a bit of pain. Her fall left a nasty bump on her bottom, but the pain of the bruise was nothing compared to labor pains.

"The doctor is coming in to speak with you about the birth plan in just a moment," a nurse told Jackie, handing her a cup of ice chips. 

As the nurse left the delivery suite, Harry walked in, his phone in hand. "I spoke with Will. He and Kate send their love. They can't believe it's happening again, either." 

Jackie smiled, resting her head back on her pillows. It seemed that she and Kate were one in a million -- Jackie's labor was in full swing, the day after Kate. "I can't believe it either. George and Mary Kate on July 22 and 23, and the Princess and the twins on May 2 and 3."

Harry laughed, sitting on the chair next to Jackie's bed and holding her hand. "People are going to think we're planning it at this point."

The door to Jackie's room opened once again, this time her doctor, Dr. Brown, entered. "Hello, Your Highness. How are you feeling?" 

"I'm in some pain," Jackie admitted. 

"Well, we've been reviewing your chart, and I think that our best option is to deliver the twins via Caesarean section in an hour or so," Dr. Brown said, flipping through her clipboard. "We don't want your labor advancing to the point that you have to deliver naturally, the position of the babies isn't ideal for a natural birth, unfortunately." 

Jackie looked at Harry, who shrugged. She knew his medical knowledge was very limited compared to her's. Though she had hoped she could deliver the twins naturally like she had with Mary Kate, Jackie knew it was almost impossible. She nodded, resting her hand on her baby bump, which would soon be empty. "Okay. We're ready when you are."

---

The twins will be arriving in the next chapter! Though I already have it all picked out, any guesses on genders and names? ;)