Another Morning Surprise

When we awoke, it wasn't to the bliss of our bodies aching in just the right way, nor was it to the chirping of birds somehow making it into the basement thanks to whomever left every door or window open upstairs.

Instead, we were awakened by the gentle prodding of Heila as she gave us an awkward smile, one that took a moment to realize what was going on since she wasn't in seemingly any discomfort at all, despite her legs being drenched, and not in a way that we were commonly presented with.

Rhefia was the first to shoot up out of the bed, the Deerkin going from drowsy to fully awake in a mere second when she got a whiff of Heila's scent, and that urgency in her movements got me completely awake too.

The moment I was coherent and could see the Doe holding her belly I understood what was going on, and we began to rush around to clear off a suitable portion of the bed for her before taking our positions, with Rhefia resting between the Doe's legs yet again but with a different responsibility this time.

As soon as she laid down most of the house was awake, and Kalia joined us as she began to layer healing spells to comfort the Doe as she entered labor, the Dark Elf making use of her skills right away as she aided her Aunt in her time of need.

Renna joined the Dark Elf in keeping Heila healthy and prepared for what was to come, and I could see that the Nymph was a bit pale compared to normal as she helped, likely thinking about her own babies and how she would look when she was in Heila's place.

Resting behind the Doe and whispering soothing things into her ears, I waited with her as she began to push, settling us in for however long it was going to take for her to give birth to Rhefia's child.

To all of our surprises though the Doe practically slipped the baby out of herself not even a half hour later, her petite frame not offering any disadvantages to this birth as she just entered and left labor just like that.

Part of me was extremely angry as I recalled the hours I had spent being tortured by Aethisia and the hours of waiting for Ehretia and Aka, but more of me was happy for Heila since this meant she wasn't going to be in as much pain as I had been, which was certainly a good thing.

All of us were surprised, with Rhefia being the most as she held her baby for a few seconds in silence, not moving at all and just staring at it before she swiftly cleaned them off and swaddled them, leaving Heila to be cleaned off by Kalia so that she could welcome her child without looking like a mess.

Everyone else had been quiet this entire time, and watching it had been enough for Inik as she just turned away while Shelur only watched because she was morbidly fascinated at what was happening; Annie and Cici were also in that same boat, and I could see the realization dawning on them as their hand slowly made its way to their stomachs.

It happened so quickly that we barely had time to wonder about it, but now there was a new baby being held in Heila's arms, the smooth, pale brown baby wailing softly as it snuggled against it's Mother's bosom, eventually latching onto the Doe's breast and suckling down the nutrients provided.

"Well... that was..."

Rhefia was still staring at the Doe in shock, and the rest of us were finally breaking free from it as we looked at one another, trying to understand why she had just popped the baby out that quickly, only to write it off as Heila having entered labor in her sleep and not realize it.

She was perfectly healthy according to both Kalia and Renna, and even after they weaned her off of the healing spells she seemed more than fine, but of course we were keeping a close eye on her as we all just stood around, wondering what was next for this day.

"Fast. Very, very fast... and seemingly painless... Thank the Goddesses, Heila... they blessed you with one hell of a delivery..."

Heila just leaned back into me with a slightly tired smile and nodded, though she immediately looked back down at the Doe she was holding snugly in her arms, her eyes warming up considerably as she rocked her baby and enjoyed this sudden blessing.

"Netyl..?"

Rhefia muttered that aloud before blinking when everyone turned back towards her, the Deerkin unaware of having said that only to then turn to Heila as she asked "How about Netyl? Born in Spring rather gently... Crying rather softly...", which made the Doe nod as she replied "Netyl, the little, gentle caretaker... it's perfect..."

Another name taken from old words or myths, but another name that fit as we stared at the small baby resting in the petite woman's arms, and after a few moments we finally gave the two a little space to welcome their child together, just the two of them.

Rhefia took my spot and Heila welcomed the arms of my wife - and hers - as they wrapped around both her and their baby, and for a moment I just stared at them from afar, analyzing the scene curiously as I felt that small spark of jealousy upon seeing Rhefia being like that with someone else, while also being elated when I saw the soft smile and love in her eyes as she stroked Netyl's cheek.

It was going to be hard to have the rest of the day after this, but we needed to start sometime soon anyways, so we migrated upstairs and chatted about it quietly, with Kalia, Annie and Cici cluster around Camara as they asked her about how she had felt when she had gone through a 'normal' pregnancy while Renna helped me in the kitchen as we prepared breakfast, the red head asking me similar questions.