runningracingdancingchasing:
“I don’t think it could possibly hurt,” she chuckled thinly. “Don’t know if it’ll help, either, but it’s worth a shot.”
It was hard to focus on anything but what was happening with her. She was barely aware of Pascal scampering up beside her and petting her hair. Usually, she was aware of the swaying of their wagon as it moved, the creaking of the structure, but she didn’t even hear it now. There was just this pain, anticipation, excitement, and yes, fear. Plus Eugene. She was very aware of Eugene’s presence.
“How long until we get there?” she wondered. She was ready for this to be done, to fall into an exhausted heap with her new babies and sleep until she had no more sleep left in her.
At her approval, Eugene started to rub her foot, gently at first to make sure he wasn’t doing anything to make her even more uncomfortable than she already was. He focused extra hard on the way his thumbs moved, the distraction helpful. He was always surprised at how soft her feet were, even though she lived to feel the ground beneath them without a barrier. He was surprised by her constantly, it seemed. Both her strength and her grace, never faltering no matter what this seemingly cruel world threw at her. Leaving him in awe, standing in the glow she radiated through even the most mundane of times.
He has been worried, at times, that he wasn’t going to be able to do this. He wasn’t going to be enough for her, or for the two souls knocking on the door to come Earth-side. But when he looked at her and saw her, raw and real and pure, he felt calmer. She’d never expect anything from him he couldn’t handle. And if she did, then he needed to believe in himself, because she was always correct when it came to him. Even if it stung at times, or he didn’t believe it himself
Even now, the strength she was showing left him feeling so proud of her. He could see the pain and timid nervousness in her eyes and features, but knew anyone else in her position wouldn’t be handling it nearly as well. She was an inspiration, she was all his, and she was about to give him the greatest gifts he’ll ever receive. A thing years ago, he wouldn’t have considered a gift. A thing now he craved, only with her. A life of domestic simplicity with the little firecracker that was his wife and the mother of his children.
“Soon, I’d hope,” he responded a few moments later, once his brain caught up with the words she had said to him. “We aren’t too far, we made sure not to be too far away in case anything happened. Maybe twenty minutes at most? Max is hustling.”
He lifted her foot and pressed a kiss to the top. “You just tell those two to be patient just a little bit longer. Their dad is not a doctor, and he’s not looking for a hands on crash course today.”
Of course, if he needed to, he could. He was good in situations like that, where he needed to be level headed and make things happen for the safety of both his life and his family’s.
But he just needed a little freak out to build him up.
He switched to her other foot, starting the same way, and gave her a playful smile. “You are sure there’s two in there still, right?”
While his words were teasing, the thought of having twins was so ingrained in their lives now that he would be a little heartbroken if it ended up just being one. Though the doctors and Rapunzel were both very sure, it always nagged at Eugene’s inner thoughts, and wouldn’t feel real until he was holding them in his own arms. Two was crazy, but two will be their new normal. And two will be the adventure of a lifetime.
Normally, a foot rub from Eugene would be heaven. How many times in the past nine months had he sat patiently rubbing her feet, and she’d sunk into the pleasure and relief of it? Now, it was barely a distraction, but that wasn’t his fault, and so she made sure to smile her gratitude.
Traitorous thoughts kept racing through her head, about her mom’s complications while pregnant and wondering if they’d done the right thing, leaving Corona far behind them to live a simple life. Was that fair to the two babies about to enter the world? Didn’t they deserve all the comfort and security being royalty would grant them?
But then she remembered what made them leave all those months ago, all the pressure and being caged into a life she had no choice in. They’d left because freedom was a better option. They’d talked about this so many times. They’d bought this little caravan so that they’d have a roof over their heads and still be able to travel. This bohemian life was exactly what their children deserved.
“Be patient, little bobbins,” she murmured upon Eugene’s request. “Just hold on a little longer. This wait is nothing. You should try living in a tower for eighteen years.”
Except, no. They shouldn’t try that. She wouldn’t wish that life on anyone.
“There are absolutely two,” she assured him with a thin chuckle. “And one of them is a great dancer.”
origamiaround
blakekathryn
vaporwave
gummygunk
