Windermere

The stricken midwife placed a hand onto the woman's abdomen as she urged her to push. On the wide canopy bed sprawled a female, clutching her lower abdomen and gasping in pain. It was about time.

The midwife muttered indecipherably as the pushing began. With a new found determination, she screamed for the rest to leave as she positioned herself to receive the baby. She sighted the head and the signalled for another push. Gingerly, she pulled lightly upon it, getting the rest of the body out except for an arm of the baby. It seemed to be clutching something and however the midwife tried, she could not pry the hand away.

Realising there could be a complication, the midwife urged the exhausted woman to resume the process. Confused, the woman gathered any strength that remained and gave her all.

The midwife widened her eyes as yet another baby emerged. She eyed closely at the entwined hands of the babies as they laid on the sheets, shaking and seeking each other. Shaking out of her stupor, she quickly wrapped them up in blankets and passed them to their mother.

The expended female stared at the babies in shock, but cradled them both against her chest.

"My babies..."