In a half-waking state, I could hear faint traces of sound. At first, I couldn't understand what they it was, but as I started regaining consciousness, they began to make more sense. Voices. At least two.
"You must stop this madness." one of the voices said, coming from somewhere near me. It sounded slightly familiar.
I heard a responding growl followed by, "I'm not leaving her." this voice definitely sounded familiar. I wracked my brain, trying to think of who it was.
"Loki..." the other voice started.
Loki! That's who it was! Loki, my husband. I could feel both of his long-fingered hands cradling mine.
"No, Thor. I'm not leaving her. Not until I know she is fine."
Why did he sound worried? I was fine.
I opened my eyes and gasped as I was temporarily blinded by the brightly-lit room.
"Jaxon!" I heard Loki exclaim, his green eyes bright with relief.
"Loki," I said. Or at least I tried to, my throat felt clogged and no sound came out. I coughed to clear it and tried again, "Loki." I croaked.
His hands cradled my cheeks, and he pressed his lips to mine. His thumbs stroked my cheeks and moisture gathered in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" I asked weakly.
"You...you..." he couldn't seem to get the words out.
I looked at him in confusion.
Another voice spoke, "You lost a lot of blood. You have been asleep for almost three days." My head snapped towards the deep baritone, and my still foggy brain taking a while to recognize him as Thor.
My head cleared as the events from what was apparently three days ago come flooding back. I had given birth - that explained the hollow feeling inside of me - but something had gone wrong. I remembered the worried looks passed between the doctor and her assistant and then her stating it was more than likely only one of us would survive the birth. So, if I survived, that meant, "My baby's dead." I whispered painfully. Without warning I began to sob, the reality of losing my child before ever truly knowing him or her crashing done upon me like a ton of bricks.
I felt Loki's arms wrap tightly around me, which made me cry even harder. His shirt was going to be ruined, I thought randomly.
"Jaxon, love." Loki's hands were in my hair, combing through the long strands. When I didn't answer, he repeated, "Jaxon."
"What?" I asked brokenly, the loss of my baby cutting me to the core. I could barely think about anything else. How could I? I had loved him or her from the day I knew I was pregnant, eagerly awaiting the day I would finally get to meet my baby.
"The babies are fine."
My head snapped up, my eyes meeting his, "What?" I asked again, this time there was a thread of impossible hope in my voice.
"They are fine." he repeated. Wait a second, had he said they? As in, more than one?
I looked at him, "They?"
Loki nodded.
"That was why you had such trouble giving birth, you body wasn't prepared for one Frost Giant offspring, let alone two." Thor said from the other side of the room.
I glanced over at Thor, then back at Loki, "Two?" I asked, realizing I probably sounded stupid but not caring.
Once more, Loki nodded, "Are you fine with having twins?" he queried.
I gave a small smile, "Fine? I'm delighted. A minute ago I thought I had no babies. Now I have two!" my smile grew wider as I spoke. "Can I see them?"
"Of course, love." Loki stated, he motioned to Thor, who began walking to a side room. The small room was an old storage closet connected to our room, plenty big to serve as a nursery.
As I watched anxiously, Thor called out, "They're beautiful and as charming as the god of mischief himself."
I gave Thor a quick grin, and squeezed Loki's hand, inwardly sad I had missed the first three days of their lives. That was when it occurred to me I didn't even know their gender. Both boys? Girls? One of each?
My question was answered as Thor came out of the nursery bearing two bundles. One wrapped in a light yellow and the other in lavender, both were colors associated with femininity on Asgard.
I became overwhelmed as Thor sat next to me on the bed and gently handed me one of my daughters. I cradled the little purple bundle to my chest and stared down at her puckered face before looking over at the yellow swathed baby Thor was holding.
Thor was right, they were beautiful. Beautiful and mine.
I smiled up at Loki, "So, what are we naming them?"
"Well, with two girls, you do not have to choose between those two names you were stuck on. You choose which baby receives which name."
My smile became even wider, joy making my heart burst.
"So, which one is which. little sister? Loki refused to name them without you, they've been nameless for days." Thor complained.
I glanced at the baby in Thor's arms, "That is Caoimhe. And this," I stated, looking at the girl in my arms, " is Aine."
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End of Chapter 2
Thoughts?
Pronunciations:
- Caoimhe = 'kee'+'va'
- Aine = 'awn'+'ye'
