Journal 2/21/13

The Nation showed up in Annelle. They haven't been hitting planets lately, but it was still a tense few minutes, getting everyone out and on the shuttle and up to the Feather. Verin Hakatain had people there too. It's good to know that there will be someone looking after Debreth until it's over. I can't say I minded the escort either, whatever the current Sansha MO.

Jan and Madi didn't like the trip up one bit, and I don't think they were entirely happy with things once we were on the Feather either - I guess it wasn't an ideal way for them to experience their first off-world trip.

I didn't know being an aunt would involve quite so much worrying. Even about things I can't do a thing about.

Journal 2/15/13

They seem stronger every day. Madi is eating without a tube, now. They're still very, very small, but they're strong.

Journal 2/11/13

We're back home. Cia's house, I mean. The DeGrace Residence they call it in Debreth.

They've got the babies' room made up like a hospital. Well, a very nice hospital. There's all the medical personnel hanging around too.

Even with all that, getting back here though, back home, really makes it feel like we made it - like they made it. It was hard to feel like they were out of the woods when we were at the Birthing Centre.

Silver's been running back and forth. I think he likes spending time with Jan and Madi, even if they do something baby like and he suddenly needs to be elsewhere for a little while. He's trying.

Journal 2/3/13d

I talked to Nualla this afternoon. She was gardening.

Hopefully she'll have a word with anyone else who feels like fucking with Cia over their religious hangups. Nualla is what a priest should be, so I'm going to give the people she shares a church with this one last chance.

I might question Nualla later about gardening in winter in Debreth. See if there are any tricks she'd like to share.

Journal 2/3/13c

The food at the birthing center is terrible. Will send someone to Alain's to get something decent.

Journal 2/3/13b

Cia wanted to have the twins in Debreth. When she went into labor early, in Gulfonodi, apparently she was about ready to fly herself if she had to.

Silver got the Feather prepped in about record time, though, so that wasn't necessary. 22 jumps, but we made it in time.

We came clear across the cluster, and they tried to stop us when we got to the door of the birthing centre at Fortune on the Waters. One of them says, This is a place for children of the River. Like Cia's kids aren't.

Then when we got inside, thank the ancestors for Mathilde. None of the attendants would help us, but she knew what to do. We got Cia into the pool ourselves, me and Mathilde and Charlie and Dr Nabbobeh. Camille even helped, bringing things when we needed them.

It took hours. Jan was hard enough, but Madlen, poor little Madlen was the wrong way 'round. She was so long in coming out that even though they're twins, they'll have different birthdays. Dr. Nabbobeh did a hell of a job, since he had to do a lot of the job underwater.

They're so small, my niece and nephew. They made it, though. All three of them made it.

Jan and Madi. They're so beautiful. Perfect and tiny.

I'm an aunt. I never thought I would say that. I'm an aunt!

Journal 2/3/13

It was a long night. Cia - It's hard, hard work. A lot harder than I think I ever realized.

Jan and Madlen are beautiful.