Seven months late.
'When the world stopped moving winds howled across the endless plains ripping through the brittle grass, frozen over with fresh dew. Shifting with a thousand whispering voices.'
The wagon rattled along the narrow trail, worn wheels groaning with each jolt and rut. The sky with its merciless gray dome stretched wide above them, pushing down.
Hunched in the back Jane had one hand pressed hard against her swollen belly. Her silver hair plastered with sweat on her forehead even though the wind bit enough to burn.
Redgwrick rode with one hand on the reins, another nervously twirling an old blade. his dark onyx eye's flickers constantly to the back of the cart
Watching. Worrying. Waiting.
Jane's hoarse and grasping voice whispered from the back "Red…"
Vector shifting he was at her side in an instant, his boots creased as he knelt beside her. His hand rough, calloused, sure. Found hers.
The edge of urgency was in his voice. "talk to me."
Jane tried to smile to hide the fear constricting her chest but failed.
Sounds of broken laughter escaped her lips. "I think…" she grimaced, clutching tighter "I think the little traitors are not going to wait."
Red's jaw clenched making a popping sound. They were close, so close to the Goldfields. however only grass, sky and the world's indifferent beating heart was all they had.
Red threw a sharp command to the horses, pulling the wagon off the trail into a shallow trench between the hills, covered on both sides, with spindly trees above.
He worked fast, almost instantly. Wordless. Efficient.
Unhitching the horses using Vector manipulation red started building a crude lean to using the wagon as the backbone. using his Vector Splicing to gathered wood and starting a fire.
Spreading every blanket they had, every coat, every spare scrap of warmth he could find to bring comfort to Jane.
She bit down on a cry as another contraction tore through her.
Red was beside her immediately taking one hand and bracing her shoulder, the other smoothing the sweat soaked hair from her face. "I'm here. I'm not leaving."
Jane caught his hand digging her nails deep, half laughing half crying "you say that…like I'd let you." breathing rough he kissed her knuckles fiercely.
Time twisted into hours of melted ice in a cold drink. The world narrowed to blood, breath, pain and love.
Screaming into the crook of his arm she cursed him, cursed the world, herself. Red, the silent. Red the Indomitable took every word like a blessing. Because it was proof she was alive and so long as she fought, he would fight with her.
It was deep into the night when the first cry of life warmed the frozen air. Jane collapsed back against the bedding, sobbing with exhaustion.
Red knelt between her knees, cradling a tiny, slippery bundle in his massive hands. Hands that never knew something so delicate. A baby girl.
He worked quickly, using his Vector Pillar as a second set of limbs. Somehow feeling more taxed than any fight has ever made him.
Wrapping her in the cleanest cloth they had, checking her breathing, wiping her tiny face. The baby wailed again, strong, furious, alive.
With glossed over eyes and a voice so soft yet deep enough to still travel. "you're alright little one, daddies got you."
There was no time to breath when another contraction coursed through Jane. This time harder, longer. Like the stars were sending one of their own.
Her hands clawing at anything she could, a ragged scream ripping from her throat. Red barely has the time to hand the newborn to Jane before diving back to catch the second.
From Red's perspective the wind seemed to have caught its breath when it kissed the skin of this next one.
A boy, smaller, quieter.
For a heartbeat that stretched coldly, Red's chest seized in terror. The world is tilting dangerously.
Then the boy took a deep shuddering breath that shattered the night. Leaning back on his heels making a sound mixed between a sob and a laugh, Red wrapped the boy carefully.
Placed against Jane's chest beside his sister Jane wept openly. Cradling both, kissing their damp hair, murmuring words Red couldn't even hear over the ringing in his ears.
Sitting beside them resting one hand on both the infants as if anchoring them to the earth by touch alone.
Having known better through growing up in this harsh world and surviving events most couldn't even imagine. He knew better, that making vows often brought more than those who make them can handle.
He hated vows, they lacked sincerity. However the three lives he has come to love has changed him.
He now understood.
Silent, fierce; 'nothing will take you from me.'
"Nothing."
The fire cracked weakly nearby, the wind screamed overhead. The vast world, uncaring, raged around them. But here in this tiny forgotten hollow, a battered wagon and worn blankets were held together by bloody hands.
The dawn crept over the plains, soft gold and pink bleeding into the gray of the night. Jane stirred beneath the patched wool blanket. Her body ached deep, raw like that of roots through bone and spirit. But her arms were full.
Two tiny bodies, warm and breathing softly against her skin. One was quiet and still. The other kicked with soft, relentless energy.
Jane opened her eyes.
Sitting at the edge of the fire, shirtless Red was drying blood stained linens in the rising sun's warmth. He hasn't slept.
Whispering is a hoarse voice Jane called for him "Red."He turned immediately, eyes dark and heavy from mental exhaustion but bright nonetheless.
"Morning" She offered a tired smile while shifting slightly, adjusting the blanket over the babies. The girl had fallen back asleep, but the boy…
The boy was wide eyed.
Tiny silver lashes fluttered and when his gaze met her, Jane felt something ripple inside her chest, inside her soul. Not just maternal awe. Something deeper.
She blinked rapidly to keep her tears at bay. "They're perfect."