The mansion had been quiet for days.
Not the empty kind of quiet—it never truly was anymore—but the settled kind.
The kind that came when everyone had started believing, even subconsciously, that the twins would arrive "soon" in some distant, undefined way.
Leah was in the living room with Clara when it happened.
Zarek was nearby, sitting on the carpet with his lion plush and teddy bear arranged in what he called "guard positions."
Every few minutes, he glanced at Leah's stomach like he was checking a status report only he understood.
Clara had come over earlier that afternoon, insisting on "a proper check-in" even though she had already done so twice that week.
Leah had laughed at her.
"You're worse than Izana sometimes."
Clara had smiled.
"That's because I actually say what I'm thinking."
The conversation had been light at first.
Tea on the table.
Soft winter light through the windows.
A calm, ordinary afternoon that felt almost fragile in its normality.
Clara leaned forward slightly.
"You really do look like you could go into labour any day now."
Leah exhaled softly, one hand resting on her stomach.
"I feel like I could go into labour every day."
Zarek looked up immediately.
"Today?"
Leah smiled at him.
"No, sweetheart."
Zarek nodded seriously.
"Tomorrow?"
Clara laughed under her breath.
Leah shook her head.
"We don't know exactly when."
Zarek accepted this like a mission he had to remain prepared for.
"Otay."
Then went back to guarding his plush animals like they were trained medical assistants.
The calm lasted exactly six minutes.
Leah shifted slightly on the sofa.
At first, it was nothing.
A small adjustment.
A breath.
A pause in her sentence.
Clara noticed before she did.
"Leah?"
Leah blinked.
"I'm fine, it's just—."
She stopped.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the cushion.
A strange discomfort passed through her abdomen.
Not sharp yet.
But unfamiliar.
Clara's expression changed instantly.
"That didn't sound like 'fine.'"
Leah tried to answer—but her breath caught again.
A deeper sensation rolled through her this time.
She froze.
"…Oh."
Clara sat up straighter.
"What is it?"
Leah's hand pressed more firmly against her stomach.
Her voice lowered slightly.
"That… might be a contraction."
Silence.
Then Clara stood immediately.
Zarek's head snapped up.
"Contraction?"
Leah managed a small, reassuring smile.
"It's okay—just—."
Another wave hit.
Harder.
Her breath left her sharply.
Her entire posture shifted.
Clara didn't hesitate anymore.
"Leah."
Leah's eyes widened slightly.
"I think—."
And then—
it happened.
A sudden warmth.
A clear, undeniable change.
Leah's eyes widened fully.
"…My water just broke."
Silence.
For half a second, nobody moved.
Then everything moved at once.
Clara stood so fast her chair scraped back.
"IZANA!"
Zarek shot up from the floor.
"DA-DA?!"
Leah gripped the sofa edge as another contraction followed immediately.
"Zarek— it's okay—."
But her voice broke slightly through the pain.
Zarek's face crumpled.
"Mama hurt?"
Clara immediately crouched beside him.
"It's okay, it's okay— she's okay—."
But even Clara's voice carried urgency now.
Because it was happening.
The doors opened before anyone could call again.
Izana.
He was already there.
As if he had known before anyone else spoke.
His eyes locked onto Leah instantly.
Everything else disappeared.
Clara.
The room.
The noise.
Only her.
He crossed the space in seconds and knelt immediately in front of her.
"Li."
Her breath was uneven.
"I think… they're coming."
A pause.
Izana didn't panic.
He didn't freeze.
He simply understood.
Completely.
"…Now?"
Leah nodded.
Another contraction hit.
She tightened her grip on the sofa.
Izana moved instantly.
Carefully.
Efficiently.
He slid one arm under her shoulders and the other beneath her knees.
Leah instinctively held onto him.
"Iz…"
"I've got you," he said immediately.
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Just certainty.
He stood with her carefully in his arms.
And turned to Clara.
"Stay with Zarek."
Clara nodded immediately.
"Go."
Zarek struggled in her arms.
"No— Mama!"
Clara held him closer.
"Zarek, listen to me."
But Zarek was already reaching forward.
"DA-DA!"
Leah looked at him through Izana's shoulder.
"It's okay, sweetheart— I'll be right back."
Zarek shook his head rapidly.
"No!"
Clara gently turned him away as Izana walked.
Zarek's voice faded behind them.
"MAMA!"
The mansion moved differently now.
No longer quiet.
No longer still.
Staff appeared instantly in the corridors as Izana carried Leah through.
Doors opened.
Paths cleared.
The medical corridor came alive.
Everything prepared in seconds.
Leah clutched at his shirt through another contraction.
"Iz—."
"I know," he said softly.
He didn't look away from her.
"I'm here."
The medical room was already being prepared when they entered.
Warm lighting.
Clean space.
Doctors moving quickly but calmly.
Izana didn't set her down until they were ready.
Then he did it carefully.
Like she was something irreplaceable.
Leah let out a shaky breath as she was guided onto the bed.
Izana stayed immediately beside her.
His hand found hers again.
And didn't let go.
Another contraction hit.
Leah's grip tightened.
Izana leaned closer instantly.
"Look at me."
She did.
His voice softened further.
"You're not alone."
Leah's breathing trembled.
"I know…"
He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Slow.
Steady.
Anchoring.
"I'm here," he repeated.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Leah closed her eyes briefly.
Another wave came.
Her hand tightened again.
Izana squeezed back immediately.
Outside the room, Clara stood with Zarek in her arms.
He was trembling now.
Confused.
Scared.
"Mama?"
Clara held him tighter.
"She's strong, Zarek."
"Babies coming?"
Clara hesitated for only a second.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
Zarek went very still.
His fingers curled tightly into her sleeve.
"…Otay."
But his voice was small now.
Not excited anymore.
Just waiting.
Inside the room, Leah turned her head slightly toward Izana again.
Another contraction building.
Her voice was softer this time.
"Iz…"
He was already there.
"Yes."
She swallowed.
"I think… they're really coming now."
Izana looked at her for a long moment.
Something deep and steady in his eyes.
Not fear.
Not panic.
Just certainty.
Then he leaned closer again.
Pressed his forehead briefly against hers.
And whispered—so quietly only she could hear:
"We're going to meet them."