Chapter Sixteen, New Arrivals

The two weeks since Mia went into her nest had lulled her mates and family into a false sense of security, their fears of an early birth, however, were confirmed when Mia went into labour as the night was ending on April 6th startling the four men so suddenly from their restless slumber that their Dragel attributes burst out the moment they jumped awake by Mia's sudden scream of pain. Fred tried to call out for Mia in alarm only for a soothing rubble to pass his lips joined by André, Blaise and Damon. Despite the four being terrified for their mate and the woman they loved it seemed their Dragels' knew what was happening; Mia had gone into labour.
"She's gone into labour!" Damon fretted, wringing his hands anxiously, catching himself with his claws which held quickly after.

"But it's too early!" was Fred's turn to fret now, another scream wrenched the peaceful grounds of the Aubert-Weasley estate, followed by more rumbles vibrating from the back of the four men's throats as an extremely worried Dobby appeared in the bedroom.
"What's happening? What's happening to my Mistress?" Dobby asked tearfully, his tennis-ball green eyes almost glowing with his unshed tears.
"She's in labour Dobby." Blaise whispered, a startled revelation passing across each person's face. Muttering those three words to someone other than themselves seemed to bring the fact home harder than they thought it would.
"Healer said Mistress could have sweet babies early, but should Dobby fetch the Healer?" Dobby asked, reminding them all of that particular conversation and bringing them all back from the brink of a panic attack brought on by worry.

Shaking off their worry, André and Fred - the Alpha and Beta (or first and second in command) of their mate-ship, took charge. They couldn't all fall to pieces in worry they needed to support each other. André was there to support all of them, Fred was there to support them all as well but his particular role of going off of his instinct was to support Mia first and foremost (and André when he really needed it), and Mia while also supporting them all her instincts pointed her more towards their babies. A submissive would even kill their mates if they posed a threat to her children. And for Blaise and Damon their roles were not only to support them all but mainly Mia.
"Okay, none of us are going to sleep now so why don't we go downstairs have a coffee and let the family know." Fred suggested, climbing from the bed and pulling on his dressing gown as he slipped his feet into his warm slippers.

"Agreed." Blaise and Damon muttered, high alert to defend Mia and the nest if it came down to it. But Blaise, as the Warrior of the mate-ship, was more determined to protect their home from anyone and didn't really like the idea of others being here but pushed that feeling back as he couldn't afford to let his Dragel take control as that's when mistakes can happen.
"Dobby, could you alert Healer Talbot for us please and then you can join us in the small living room for some tea. I'll have it prepared for your return." André asked, but a tiny note of authority could be heard within his voice.
"Of course Master André." Dobby agreed, happy to have something to do. He didn't like not having anything to do while his friend and Mistress were in pain. All he wanted to do was help her.

"I'll stay here while you all alert the family." Blaise insisted, his instincts demanding he protect their home and vulnerable mate and children. "I'll send a Patronus to those you don't travel to." He added, knowing the others didn't really want to leave either but their family would skin them alive otherwise.
"Okay, I'll let Remus, George and Mum know." Fred contributed, Hedwig chirping angrily from her perch, the four had made it to the kitchen where Mia's laboured screams echoed loudly, cutting each man down to the bone, as they waited for the kettle to boil.

"And I'll send Hedwig with letters for Bill, Fleur and Charlie, and Neville and Luna." He added, which seemed to satisfy Mia's demanding familiar.
"Damon and I will go and alert the rest of our family." André announced, Damon nodded his agreement. Releasing one last soothing rumble the three Shadowed to their respective places while Blaise was left at home; the quicker they revealed the news and got home the better. 

***

While three of them were revealing the news to their family and Blaise got ready for no doubt some members of their large extended family, Mia was in her nest panting with each contraction as she laboured to bring her twins into the world, completely unaware that her house was rapidly filling with Healer Talbot (although, she only stayed to reassure the family before leaving once again. Telling them to let her know when Mia comes out of the nest with the twins or if there were complications although she doubted there would be), George, Remus, Molly, Melissa and André and Damon's parents. Their siblings had stayed home as their own mates had not long come out of their own nests, however, they were all awake and waiting for news.

Inside the house Molly busied herself by knitting some items for all the babies in their large family and working with Melissa, Keegan and Michelle to get Fred, Damon, Blaise and André to rest even if it was in stages. George was keeping everyone updated via Patroni and Floo messages and Remus - if he wasn't pacing as Moony worried within his mind for his Cub - busied himself by helping Dobby with teas and coffees. Finally, as Dawn broke on the horizon turning the sky a pinkish-purple, a louder scream tore from Mia's throat as she bore down and with one large push she delivered her first baby - a girl with little dark brown curls atop her head - who screamed in protest.

Acting quickly, Mia attached a cord clamp to the umbilical cord and cut it before wrapping her eldest daughter in a fluffy towel to dry her off so she didn't get pneumonia. Satisfied she was clean and dry, Mia threw the blooded towel out of the nest as far as she could get it so as not attract predators, she placed a tiny nappy on her daughter and held her to her bare chest for some skin-to-skin contact (a fluffy blanket covering her tiny back), taking in deep lungfuls of her scent locking it deep within her mind; her Dragel purring contently as the cries quietened down as her baby girl had her first feed from her mother. A few minutes later, after drinking her full the tiny brunette baby girl snuggled and snuffled against her neck. After ten minutes the contractions started once more. Acting quickly Mia dressed her eldest in a white bodysuit that had tiny grey pandas on it followed by a matching sleep suit, hat and scratch mittens.

Grunting at the building pain of the contractions, Mia offered her adorable baby a smile as she carefully wrapped baby blanket that Fleur had made around her now sleeping daughter, she placed her carefully in one of the makeshift cradles, she'd made with her mates pyjamas and towels a few weeks ago that was out of reach of any blood or fluids but still could be reached easily if her baby needed her. For what felt like ages Mia screamed and cried as the process repeated itself, labouring to bring her second baby into the world vaguely hearing the soothing rumbles of all of her mates that although soothed her didn't help with the pain. Finally, with one large push the second twin came into the word screaming loudly like her elder sister. Again the process repeated itself as she tied off the umbilical cord, cut it, and cleaned and dried her second daughter who was smaller than her elder twin sister.

After bonding, feeding and dressing her little redhead in a cream coloured and giraffe patterned outfit, Mia placed her second daughter in the cradle with the second blanket wrapped around her ten minutes after she was born. Gathering the afterbirth Mia placed it in a sealed box that would stop the smell attracting predators before she gathered all the blooded items and threw them out of the nest, drank the flasks full of her mates' blood before settling back down into the nest with her twins asleep on her chest; their tiny faces snuggled into either side of her neck Mia joined them in Morpheus safe and secure hold.

***

It was after lunch when Remus first heard the sound of tired shuffling footsteps across the garden, his head perking up from the book he had been trying and failing to read.
"It's Mia!" André, Fred, Damon and Blaise's cries with his own relief clear in each of their tones which attracted everyone back into the kitchen. Hurried footsteps sounded as George, Molly, Melissa, Michelle and Healer Talbot appeared in the kitchen just as a tired Mia appeared in the doorway with the twins snuggled in her arms swaddled in the blankets, Fred and André on either side of her, Damon in front of her and Blaise behind.
"Oh Cub, I'm so glad you're alright." Remus sighed with relief, pulling out the closest chair for her as Blaise and Damon helped her into it, a donut cushion appearing on the seat courtesy of Dobby.

"Are you alright?" He added worriedly.
"I'm okay Remus. Just tired. The girls are okay too." Mia yawned, kissing Damon's cheek as a soft woollen grey outfit appeared on her bare form.
"We have daughters." Blaise asked, shocked.
"But they're so tiny." Damon continued worriedly, voicing everyone's thoughts.
"That's why I'm here." Healer Talbot weaved her way through the entrance of the kitchen - everyone else taking seats at the table and counter with Blaise and Damon standing behind Mia protectively while Fred and André sat on either side of Mia. "Let me check the three of you over." She added, giving the four men a look to step back so she can work which they quickly agreed to; jumping backwards as if they'd been hit by a Stinging Hex.

Watching shrewdly as the Healer waved her wand over their three girls.
"It would seem despite being small and premature they are in perfect health." Healer Talbot announced, not revealing sizes and such about the babies as she knew from experience that Mia would want to do that. "Mia is also in perfect health but she needs lots of rest. Preferably bed rest, and some food. She is not to do any heavy lifting for at least a month, and light exercises." She revealed.
"The baby girl in white was born at six o'clock, is 18.8 inches in length and weighs 6 lbs. The baby in cream was born at six twenty am, is 18.1 inches in length and weighs 5 lbs 12 oz." Mia revealed between another yawn.

"They," Mia yawned once more as André and Fred rubbed her back and Blaise and Damon kissed her head. "They're both Dragel's -" she paused as everyone cheered for the new tiny Dragel's only quietening down when both babies snuffed in their mother's arms. "André, would you carefully remove the white hat please?" Mia asked. Feeling confused André did as was asked, revealing small brown curls on top of a tiny head. "This is your daughter Cressida Olivia Aubert."
"M-mine?" André stuttered, awe suffusing his very being.

"Yes, you can take her for cuddles but put on her hat. She has your apple green eyes." Mia added, smiling tiredly as André took Cressida holding her close to his chest as Damon ran a tender hand down her cheek. All four men were looking at Mia and the girls with love and adoration in their eyes.

"Thank you, my love, it's a beautiful name. I love you." André whispered reverently, kissing Mia's lips lovingly, their foreheads resting against each other when they pulled apart.
"She's beautiful just like her mother. We've missed you." Damon told her sincerely, each of them offering their own words of love towards their mate.
"I love you all too." Mia responded tenderly. Watching happily as André bonded with his biological daughter and Damon, Fred and Blaise bonded with her as they too loved her like a daughter.
"Fred, this is your daughter Rowena Skye Weasley." Mia revealed, gently removing her hat to show her Weasley red curls before replacing the hat causing Rowena to open one eye.

"She has your eyes." Fred beamed happily, almost like someone had cast a very overpowered Cheering Charm on him causing George to laugh and roll his eyes at his twin brother; he knew how much Fred loved Mia's eyes. "I love her name, both of my daughters' names. I love them and I love you so much, thank you sweetheart." Fred kissed Mia passionately. When they pulled back he carefully accepted his little Rowena smiling happily as Mia rested her head against Blaise's abdomen as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Here." Blaise handed her a banana and a mild Pain Potion that would be safe to take while breastfeeding the twins.

"You've done so well, Il mio sole. Eat the banana so you can take it if you can't eat anything  just now. You can sleep against me if you'd like, I have you." He said, gently scooping Mia from the chair to sit down himself with Mia on his lap snuggled against his chest. Damon sat on André's other side and Remus sat on Fred's, while the others smiled and as they watched the new family happily.
"I love you, La mia luna e le mie stelle." Damon told Mia softly, smiling tenderly at his tired mate. "You've done so well, rest you and the girls are safe now. They will be well cared for while you get some much needed and deserved rest." That did it. Not ten minutes later Mia fell into a restful sleep against Blaise.

"I'll see myself out." Healer Talbot whispered, as the four men each held, kissed and took in the twins' scents locking them deep within their minds. "Congratulations, and if you have any worries about Mia or the girls don't hesitate to send Dobby for me." She told them firmly.
"Thank you Healer Talbot." Remus said gratefully, as the Weasley-Aubert family were preoccupied with making sure Mia and the twins were alright.
"Not at all." She smiled, disappearing in Shadow as the four men finally allowed the family to greet their granddaughters/niece/great-niece (in Remus's case).
They were all happy to just have the three girls home, safe and sound.

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Italian to English translations:

* Il mio sole = my sun.
* La mia luna e le mie stelle = my moon and stars.