[snip]

Marthese stood by ready to take each baby once born without interfering during the labor it self , while Cross encouraged Bre to push.Now poor Morgan was grabbed by Cross to get closer ‘’It’s your call McHoan retired or not!’’ the female doctor exclaimed.

“Ah hud learned mair abit deliverin’ bairns afair yer maw was it ‘er cotton nappies!” replied McHoan. “Noo lets gie th’ lassiesome clean sheets an’ some room!” She was glad to see the Sickay had been properly equipped with two incubators and other obstetric furnishings.

The ensign got closer to Lt Bre ‘’I know this is not the right time to ask..but..but…what species is the biological male?’’ obviously it was not out of simple curiosity but rather to assess and monitor their condition .

The fluid was clear and it was uncertain which sack Cross had broken. The last scan had shown one baby head down and the other breach. Bre began to push. She also started trying to control her breathing and use the meditation techniques she’d taught herself for this specific occasion. At the end of the contraction, she let her breath out and relished a few seconds of peace.

“So which one is that?” she asked as another contraction set in.

Once the first baby was born and the umbilical cord cut Marthese took the baby,the first thing she did was clear the baby’s airway before proceeding to examine the newborn.

‘’Em its baby A’’ Cross responded ,now she was more concerned about the breech one.

“Ye did weel,” Morag told Cross. “Ye turn th’ next bairn. Ah will help if ye need onie.”

Bre was scowling though she didn’t mean to, her instincts were in control.

“Human. The father is Human.” she said pushing. The pain was sharper and it seemed to take more out of her this time.

And examination of the first baby revealed her to be a Human female at four pounds, ten ounces, in excellent health.

‘’Baby girl is fine Bre’’ Marthese replied back ‘’Oooo what a sweet girl’’ she was heard cooing .

Just as Bre was giving birth to the first twin finished, a faint rumble and shudder went through the ship but no alarms went off or other warnings so presumably things were ‘ok’.

For a brief moment Cross stopped and looked around ‘’What the hell was that!’’ she exclaimed wondering if the ship was still in one piece .

“Thes is a sign!” said Morag at the disturbances and ghosts. “…but Dornt fash yerse. Ah ken druid ways ay avertin’ th’ danger frae changelings.”

Also around this point a bit after that two NE engineer’s peeked into the sickbay, NE Ghosts Be Gone spoke, “..So any of you docs see any ghosts? The future folks there say these emitters we got modified should help make them go poof..” he said.

‘’Hope so’’ the ensign doctor replied,remembering the dark shadow she saw which made her pop a pill in her mouth for good measure.

Cross was back concentrating on the second twin ‘’Listen Bre I know you are tired but do you think you can stand on your knees for this one and follow my instructions?’’ the female doctor asked hoping Bre would comply, while turning to the midwife to assist her.

Morag was happy to assist. Although she wasn’t as strong as she had once been, she could be leaned upon to support Bre as she lifted herself with the help of Mirriam.

Bre lay panting for several seconds before attempting to get on her knees. Shaking her head, she winced in pain and fell back on the bed. Reaching down, she touched her abdomen. Over the last few months she had become quite familiar with all the lumps and bumps.

“Why is the head here and the feet here?” she asked shakily indicating that the baby was transverse high in the pelvis. Perhaps it had tried to change positions but that’s not the way it had ended up.

Another sharp pain coursed through Bre as her green eyes filled with tears.

“Yer daein’ weel!” Morag encouraged her. “Th’ doctur will sort ‘at bairn it. Dinnae push while she diz ‘at.”

With Bre on her knees holding on to the midwife and nurse Cross instructed ‘’Dear listen with the next contraction push while I hold the body of the baby, wait for the next contraction and this time you have to push real hard for the head to come out......understand?’’ the female doctor had the episiotomy scissors ready for if the baby’s head would not come out by the second push she would have to cut Mediolateral.

‘’You’re doing fine Bre,the body is out next contraction take a deep breath and the baby’s head will slid out’’ holding the body with one hand and the other on the mother’s abdomen Cross was ready for the next contraction and when it come she told her friend ‘’A deep breath and push..1..2..3..4’’ the doctor was ready to gently assist in pulling the baby’s head.

Bre took a deep breath and began to push. It hurt like hell but the baby’s head finally slid out, along with an abnormally large gush of blood.

Her blood pressure was dropping and her heart was beating faster. Bre could hear both children crying but didn’t exactly know where she was in space or time.

Baby B was a boy, 5 pounds 14 ounces and an inch longer than his sister.

Morag took care of the two babies, that looked in perfect health, and allowed Marthese and Miriam to attend to Bre.

Morag, Ship’s Midwife (retired)