She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. The time between contractions was lessening, and it was only a matter of time before the twins were born. So far they were proving just to be as stubborn as their father. Refusing to leave the warmpth of their mother and enter life, their new life. They knew already that one was a boy and the other a girl. Names had been the furthest thing from her mind and when the time was right, they would name them.

"Where the hell is my husband?" Genesis nearly growled through clenched teeth. She refused to move from the kitchen chair until she knew he was there. She was just as stubborn as he was, perhaps a bit more. Besides the pain was getting worse and she wasn't about to let anyone else carry her upstairs. Claw like nails bit into the wooden chair she sat in, splintering slightly beneath the force of her grip as another contraction gripped her, like a roll of thunder chasing the wind. Forces that seemed to be pulling from the center of the earth grew only stronger with each passing hour.

Cannan




The thought struck him more savagly than usual. Like a blow from a hammer that jerked him from his sleep. Jerking up he threw a glance to the bed where she would have been laying and then to the open door. Cursing he stood and scrambled for his jeans, pulling them on as he half ran half hopped to the door. Losing his balance he thudded against the floor, wriggled into his jeans and lopped down the stairs. Odd that a touch of panic flared even in the moment he had been ready for. Kissing her brow tenderly he whispered softly in her ear. " Hush baby, I'm here.."

Carefully scooping her up he made his way with as much care and speed as he could he carried her up the stairs careful not to mirrior his earlier error and fall. Gently placing her on the bed he propped her head up on the pillows. " You know I dont know what the fuck to do here?" he grumbled.



Moving back down the stairs he poured heated water into a copper bowl and soaked towls in it, slinging dry ones over his shoulder he carried them towards the stairs with a deft kick to an idol gargoyle. " What are you standing there for!? Go and tell everyone Gene is having her child. Move or I'll tear your wings off!" Thudding up the stairs he placed the bowl at the foot of the bed, trying to clear his mind of worry's and try to focus on what to do.

Genesis had nearly ripped her pillow in half. Feathers clung to her hair and sweat soaked skin. Her normally firey eyes seemed to be glazed over in pain, but also in excitement. She knew that there was only one way these kids were coming out...

"Just catch." She joked, hoping to make light of the situation as she caught her breath between contractions. "They won't make it to help, Cannan. Just relax. Everything will come to you naturally. Trust me, baby." Even through the pain that showed at the corners of her eyes, Genesis managed to show just how much she loved her husband.





Her hair was wet, plastered to her face and shoulders. She was well and truly exhausted. Laying her head back against the bed flat, she breathed deeply. She could hear the gentle cooing of the twins, and Genesis lifted her head enough to see them both in Cannan's arms.

It had been a long and bloody time. The children seemed as stubborn as both their parents and put up a valiant effort to stay safe in their fleshy sanctuary. The girl was born first with a shrill cry it came into the world. Quickly Cannan cut the cord aside and draped it in a warmed towl. The task was repeated a second time untill the birth cries of two, lusty infants sounded out.



Holding both infants in his arms Cannan smiled and felt his sense of pride both in his wife and his new born children. With great care he carried them th their exausted mother, turning to fetch one of the towls and -very discreetly.- swipe away tears which had welled up. Sitting on the bedside Cannan gently wiped his wifes brow. Stroking the hair back he gently he kissed her softly. " Well done baby." He whispered softly before carefully lifting the twin children from her. Unbuttoning her top he pulled it aside slightly and helped her sit up, Sliding her arms under the infant to hold it close to her swollen breast. When one had filled itself the other was fed. Cannan cleaned them and dressed them carefully. Supporting the neck and showing an odd tenderness, a deep love and care that rarely showed on the outside. He spoke to them as he lulled them and soon the pair were asleep. Lulled into deep slumber by their fathers voice to recover from the great effort of being born.




Placing them beside his wife Cannan turned his attentions to her. Cleaning her face and brow, tidying up around her and covering the trio with a satin sheet. His hand found her's as he leaned down to kiss her once more " You did it, my angel. You did well."

Zefiel seemed to appear at the door and knocked lightly, waiting for someone to answer it. He had felt new life in the world, and had been drawn to it. And since he knew who it was, he felt the need to congratulate them. Which was unusual. Because he had never done that before. So he waited for an answer to his knock.

Genesis' fingers tightened in Cannan's. "We did it." She replied, returning the affectionate kiss to his lips. "I love you so very much." Tears welled in her eyes, even as she lay back against the pillow with her husband beside her as they watched their children sleep.

That was when she heard the knock on the front door down stairs. The door was opened by one of the gargoyles and Zeifle was ushered in, almost immediately being told to remain as quiet as possible so as not to wake the sleeping newborns.

She turned to Cannan then with a great sigh. She wanted to rest in her husbands arms with their children beside them, but she knew the vistors would be coming to see the two newest additions to Purgatory. "Could you find me something to throw on? We have our first visitor."

" I love you too angel. With all my heart." He whispered while his arms encircled her. The pair watching the sleeping infants with no small sense of pride and joy. Tenderly he touched her hair aside. Stroking the damp ends out of her face and trying to aid her sleep. Shee would need it for when visitors started arriving.



The knock on the door made him grunt quietly. Who of all people would arrive now? The gargoyle had been sent to inform, not invite. Low brow useless construction. He nodded at her request and slid from her arms. Quickly washing his hands he picked out a simple white dress that wouldnt give her any trouble pulling on. The dress gathered at the waist with a broad cloth belt. Walking to her side he helped her up and helped her undress. Cleaning her up to the best of his ability he helped her slip the dress on and tied the belt for her. When she was dressed he quickly pulled on a dark, long sleeved shirt and strapped on his belt. " Will I fetch him up here or will you be alright getting down the stairs beloved?"

Genesis was overly touched at his tenderness and at his abundance of affection he was directing not just to her, but to their babies nearly had her heart melting. When she was dressed and presentable, she walked towards the twins who still slumbered soundly. Without managing to wake them up, she handed the girl to Cannan and picked up her son.

"They need names before we start visiting, don't you think?"

When he inquired if she could walk down the stairs, she simply nodded. "I am already healing."

With a nod, Zefiel stood infront of the door as the gargoyle left to inform the residents of the house of a visitor. Reaching out lightly with the powers granted to him, he found the four lives he was seeking and then nodded. They were coming down. With a small smile, he procured a bottle of finely aged wine and ran a finger over it lightly. It was the best, from Earth, and had been in his personal cellar for a long, long time. And since he didn't drink, he decided to give it as a gift to Genesis and Cannan.

Zefiel tilted an eyebrow as he lowered the blade he had hidden under his coat. He turned to face Rachel, a small frown fighting his smile. "You shouldn't sneak up on people who tend to be jumpy, Angel of Peace. It might cause someone to put a knife between your ribs. How can I help you?" he asked as his dagger slid into it's sheath. The smile had won, for two reasons. The first births in Purgatory had come to his cousin and her husband, and because the Angel of Peace was back, which meant things were settled on Earth for a bit.

His lips touched his daughters forehead as he held her. His eyes wandering over the tiny creature wrapped in blankets. Names... He could never think of names when he needed too, They had discussed names many times but always when they found some they liked somone suggest other names that drew their attention. " I do not wish my..."family's" legacy to have an heir. I will not give them hellish names. I feel Thanatos for our son. for our daughter I am not sure my beloved, What do you think?"



He could feel the two visiters down stairs, one was Z. The other was oddly familer but not...Curses. Rachel... " Please tell me I'm mistaken." He whispered to Gene with a wink. " Today was set to be such a perfect day too."

"I think Thanatos suits him rather well." She held their son nestled in the curve of her arm. She was immediately in love with her children. What mother wouldn't? "As for our darling princess, I think Kyara will be perfect." She ran the palm of her free hand over her daughters full head of dark hair.

Genesis smiled when Cannan commented about Rachel's presence. "I expect the two of you to get along, at least for tonight. This night is for the children." She stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to her husbands cheek. "Let us go down and greet out visitors and get this over with so I can get some sleep."