"Why aren't we allowed to be in there with mommy?" I asked dad. "She's in pain!"

"Because it's an... intimate situation, Alcott. Only women are allowed in the room."

"B-But doesn't mom need, you know, moral support? I don't like being away from her when she's in so much pain." Dad hugged me, and I felt the slight tremble in his hands.

"I don't either. All we can do is hope your mom and the baby end up healthy."

"...Dad, why did the baby come so early? Wasn't mom supposed to be due in 2-3 weeks?"

"Sometimes babies come out sooner than expected. We can't always predict an accurate due date." I dropped the topic, not wanting to upset dad any more than he already was.

"What will their name be? Did you and mom think about baby names?"

"Actually, we both decided to let you name the child. If you want to, that is." WHAT?! 

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?! I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO THINK ABOUT NAMES!" I panicked, "oh my god, what if I can't think of a good name for them?!" Dad let out a strained chuckle and patted my head.

"It's not rocket science, Alcott. Your mother and I aren't forcing you to do it. We can all decide together if that'll make you feel better." 

"Okay. How long do you think mom will be in there?"

"No idea, bud. No idea." Dad paused, then added, "not long enough."

"? You want mom to be in pain longer?"

"That's not what I meant. You remember when the doctor said mom was in precipitous labor?"

"Yes?"

"That means your mom didn't have proper time to let her body adjust to giving birth."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"It can be."

"Oh." I fell silent. Dad and I sat in that room alone for a while. You could hear a pin drop it was so quiet. The anxiety I was so used to feeling had lessened, though- ironically- this was the moment when mom was most vulnerable. When she could possibly...die. 

I fiddled with dad's hand as I relaxed against him on his lap. I toyed with the wedding band he always had on. Part of me wanted to ask how him and mom met, but I felt too scared to ask. Afraid it'd remind him that the during time mom was taken away from him, I was born into the world. I was living proof that at some point mom had been with another man- even though it wasn't consensual, which made it worse. 

"It's a boy!" We heard a muffled cry from the bedroom, and we jumped up and ran out into the hallway. One of the midwives came out with a crying baby swathed in a bundle of purple cloth. Dad gingerly cradled the bundle in his arms, and I watched as wonder and awe spread on his face. 

"Alcott, meet your baby brother," dad sat down on the ground and I sat beside him. He showed me how to hold the baby and I felt tears well up when I held the baby. 

"He's so cute and wrinkly," I held back a sob. "I wonder if he'll look like you or mom."

"There's a second one!" A maid poked her head out. "It's a girl!" The same midwife from before brought out a second child, also swathed in purple. Dad stood to take her and settled back down beside me. We sat there for a minute, looking at the tiny, squirming bundles as they made little sounds that shot straight into my heart.

"How's Edith?" Dad asked when a maid exited the room. "Is she doing well? Can we see her?" The maid's expression made dad and I share a look of horror. 

"Er, there is some hemorrhaging, so the doctor has asked for you to wait a little longer. She said it wasn't life-threatening." Dad and I let out a sigh of relief. 

"Oh, thank god." Dad sighed. "Please let us know when we're allowed to go inside." I got distracted when I felt my little brother's hand wrap around one of my fingers. He brought my finger to his mouth and sucked on it.

"Dad, look!" I squealed, "isn't he super cute?!"

"He sure is, but don't let him do that." I pulled my finger away, but the baby's face contorted, and he started wailing. I gave my finger back, and he quieted down, sucking on my finger again. "Nevermind then."

"Hehe, my little sister is cute too." I peered at the other baby, "she also looks cute and wrinkly." That made dad chortle and ruffle my hair with his free hand.

"They'll be even cuter in a couple months." Dad and I waited for the doctor to come out and give us permission to see mom. It felt like forever when she finally stepped out.

"Your babies are healthy, and the Queen is in great condition. I do suggest she stay in bed for a week to rest and heal. You might want to hurry in, she's getting impatient."

"I'm coming in, mommy!" I walked in, careful not to trip, with a bright smile. Mom looked exhausted and pale, but her smile it up her entire face when she saw us.

"You two put me through a lot of trouble," she smiled dotingly as dad and I sat on the bed- dad to her right, me on her left. 

"You did amazing, honey," dad kissed mom multiple times on her face. "I'm so glad all of you are ok."

"Women are amazing," I said, "it sounded like it really hurt."

"It did, but it's worth it." Mom smiled. "You two should take your shirts off, the doctor said skin-to-skin contact is very important for babies right after they're born."

"Okay!" I practically threw my shirt off and made grabby hands. "Can I hold my sister?"

"Of course, you can." Mom eased the baby into my arms. "Have you thought of potential names for your baby brother and sister?"

"Uh huh, for sister I thought we should name her Harika."

"Oh, did you get that from that story I read you a week ago?"

"Uh huh. It meant 'a beautiful miracle' right? I think sister is a miracle because we only expected one baby, but we got two! And she's very beautiful already." On cue, my little sister made a cute gurgle noise. "And super cute!"

"What about your baby brother?" Mother's sounded wobbly, like she was holding back tears.

"Um, I thought Orion would be a good name for him. Since his eyes look black like dad's." I reddened, "it doesn't have as much reasoning as Harika, but I thought it'd suit him." 

"Those are both wonderful names. Harika and Orion it is." My head snapped up when dad said that.

"Really? You don't want to come up with other names for them?"

"I don't think I'd be able to think of better names for them." Mom smiled. 

"...Okay," I focused on Harika, somewhat embarrassed from the indirect praise. "I hope they like their names when they're older."

"I'm sure they will."