Two New Terenzios

MariIyn Pearl: Their lives were so full and so busy that had the need arisen, Marilyn could have worked right up until she gave birth. She had completed the transition from office to home and could work effectively from bed or from the couch, but Marcello had graciously taken them on paternity and maternity leave, respectively, and Mari was sitting on a porch swing, enjoying the cool evening breeze, when she felt something odd, then wet, and glanced down to see a puddle forming beneath her. She closed her eyes, pressed her hands over her stomach, and laughed quietly. "Marcello! It's time!"

diavolidifendono: If wasn't one thing, it was another. Last week, all members of his family had just disappeared. This week, they were back. And goddammit, he was on paternity leave. Leave. It meant he didn't care what happened in the world. He was going to witness the birth of his children. Period. He had loudly thrown a small temper tantrum in front of his father, and aunts when they'd come back from their little adventure declaring this. And then he'd turned his phone off and gone home. He'd done some light and he did mean light work while there. Today, he wasn't doing any. He'd gone into the house to refill their glasses and was just coming back out the door when he heard that. He skittered completely

diavolidifendono: out onto the porch. "It's time?" The gray eyes snapped downward. Her water broke. "It's time!" His mouth curved. "Stay there, I'll be right back." He turned and walked quickly back into the house, setting the glasses carelessly onto a table in the foyer. Her bag, already prepared was hanging up by the door. He grabbed it, then snatched his truck keys and came back outside, leaving the front door wide open, and stepped over to her, offering his hands to help her.

MariIyn Pearl: Her husband was adorable. Barely suppressing her laughter as he skidded onto the porch, only to turn around and launch himself back inside, she wiggled to the edge of the swing and grimaced as she felt another popping sensation, followed by a second gush. This was not very adorable. Slipping her hands inside his as he returned, she pulled herself to her feet. "I hope you packed a towel."

diavolidifendono: "I did." He helped her to her feet, glancing down again. "Remember your breathing. Breathing is very important. Any pain yet?" Front door still wide open he helped her down the three short steps and over to the truck, pulling open the door. He didn't bother to attempt to make her climb in, he simply levitated her and placed her inside, then shut the passenger door, so he could jump into the drivers seat.

MariIyn Pearl: "I remember." The front door was the farthest thing from her mind as she made her ungainly way down those three steps and waddled to the truck. While she wasn't yet employing the breathing techniques she had learned the last few months, she was certainly breathing slowly and steadily, to keep her heart from racing. They were going to have their babies! "No," she assured him as she lifted into the car. "No pain yet, just-- ooh." She stopped to put her hands on her stomach. "Just a little contraction."

diavolidifendono: He snapped the gray eyes down to his watch, taking note of the time as he started up the truck. He drove quickly, but extremely carefully around the lake and onto pavement. He was going to be a father. In however long her labor lasted. By this time tomorrow he could be holding their children. A slow grin curved quickly across his mouth at that thought, and then he looked over at his wife. "How we doing Mari, you all right?"

MariIyn Pearl: The contraction didn't last very long. But then, neither did the stillness between it and the next one. She closed her eyes, taking moment to enjoy to the - for the moment - peaceful knowledge that she would soon be holding their children. "I'm perfect." Head against the headrest, she turned to smile at him and smooth her fingers through his hair. "Are you alright?"

diavolidifendono: He timed the next one. That was a quick. When the twins wanted out, apparently the twins wanted out. "I'm perfect." He reached up and caught her hand, pressing his mouth against the back of it. "I should have grabbed my t-shirt." Amusement flickered briefly the gray. It wasn't long before he pulled up in front of the hospital. "Be right back." And then he jumped out of the car, he would not run. But he would walk very quickly, inside. He returned with a nurse and a wheel chair, opened up the passenger side door and floated his wife down into it.

MariIyn Pearl: Wondering how long their states of perfection would last, she picked up the bag that had been packed for over a week now and set it in her lap as Marcello reappeared and, yet again, gingerly lifted her out of the truck. Now, if he could just lift the babies out, this day would be a piece of cake! Situated, she smiled at the nurse and reached up to squeeze Marcello's hand. "You remember to breathe, too."

diavolidifendono: "I didn't take paternity leave just to pass out the day our kids get here." He bent down and kissed her. "I love you. I'll be right in." He nodded at the nurse then stepped aside and pulled out his cell phone. The first call he made was to Aunt Lil.

MariIyn Pearl: She did laugh this time and kissed him a second time before the nurse wheeled her into the reception area. Marilyn had made sure that they were as ready as they could be for this day by pre-registering and filling out the necessary forms days ago. Once they were inside, they checked her ID, she signed the admittance papers, and was quickly shown to a private room. "Change into the gown right there," the nurse said, "And someone will be in to check on you in just a minute." She left, and Mari waddled into the bathroom.

Femina Obscurus: Since she didn't really have an office these days, Lil was at home, entertaining Christopher and tending to her sunburn. She was peeling a disgustingly large flake of skin off of her shoulder when her phone rang. Glancing at the name, she grinned lightly and held the phone to her ear. "You got the yelling out of your system, so this must be a baby related call."

diavolidifendono: "The newest Terenzio's are on the way. Contractions are about six minutes apart. I'm going to be a daddy. Twice. Pass the message along. See you when you get here." He snapped the phone closed, and stood there a moment, letting it hit him again. Another grin snuck across his mouth and then he turned and dashed inside, got her room number from one of the nurses then went that way, pushing open the door. "Five bucks says Amanda comes out first."

MariIyn Pearl: She was back at the bed by the time he arrived, clad in the thin hospital gown and bound around the wrist with her plastic ID bracelet. She brightened at the sight of him and eased herself down onto the edge of the bed. "You have yourself a deal," she said, shaking his hand. "Dad."

diavolidifendono: Dad. This was pretty much about to be the real deal. And they'd someone how gotten two on their first time, this lifetime. He took her hand and kept it, helping her onto the bed. "Any change? Doctor been in yet?"

Femina Obscurus: Lil couldn't get a word in edgewise between the excited, machine gun bursts of information. Barely tacking on a, "We'll be there soon!" before he hung up on her, her grin widened. She called Carissa next, then Kyle and told him to meet her at the hospital, and finally, Stefano.

MariIyn Pearl: She squeezed his fingers. "No change. And no, he hasn't--" Before she could finish, the doctor himself came around the corner and into the room, pulling a pair of blue gloves onto his hands. "Here are the proud parents-to-be," he said, smiling at them both as he sat down in a chair and wheeled himself over to the bed. "How are we feeling? Any contractions yet?"

Segreto Diavoli: Kyle had been underneath an airplane, schooling an intern on how to treat the ladies when he'd gotten the phone call from his wife. "Welp, time for me to be an Uncle. Again." He rolled out from underneath the plane, tossed the wrench to Hicks and told him to take over, washed his hands then climbed into his jeep, and headed for the hospital.

IMortiMascherati: He'd been standing in his son's office, studying the full walled interactive map when his cell phone rang. He'd pulled it up to his ear, just to hear from his sister that Marc and Mari were at the hopsital about to have the twins. His response had simply been, "All right." And then he'd hung up. Finished his thought process then allowed another to enter. He, was going to be a grandfather. He clucked his tongue. He was too fucking young, to be a grandfather. Letting that thought go though, he called Ciro. Then he'd picked up his sons humidor, and the bottle off the bar and jumped to the hospital. By the time everyone else got there, he'd be in the waiting room, sitting in one of those uncomfortable chairs with his legs crossed, drinking.

diavolidifendono: He was about to go find the doctor and drag his ass into the room, but the man saved himself that embarrasment by showing up. This was good, because he liked Mari's doctor. "Six minutes apart." Answered, trying to temper his excitment.

diavolidifendono: (its stefano lol)

Femina Obscurus: All right, he said, with typical Stefano-understatement. Rolling her eyes, Lil packed up the diaper bag, loaded Christopher into the car, and joined the rest of the family at the hospital. In the doorway to the waiting room, she paused and blinked at her brother, hoarding booze and cigars. "It's 2015, you know. Not 1955."

IMortiMascherati: He canted his head at her, and paused mid sip. "Have the customs changed?"

MariIyn Pearl: The doctor nodded at Marcello and wheeled up to Mari to give her a brief but extensive exam and ask her all of the pertinent questions. "Alright," he said after he had learned what he needed to, "Lay back for me, Mrs. Terenzio. I need to check your dilation." And so came the first of many awkward moments. Mari did as instructed, staring up at the ceiling as the doctor felt his way around a very private part of her anatomy, and restlessly drummed her fingers on her belly. "Six centimeters," the doctor said, withdrawing his hand. "You have a little time."

Femina Obscurus: Laughing, she set the diaper bag and Christopher on the floor and dropped into the chair across from him. "They tend to frown on smoking in hospitals, these days."

diavolidifendono: He remained next to her while the doctor did his thing. "Whats a little time? How much time?"

CiroTheBodyguard: "Outta the way! We gotta baby coming! Two babies coming!" Ciro came into the hospital with a big vase full of colorful flowers and a camcorder around his neck. He asked the nurse where Marilyn's room was, bypassed the waiting room completely, and busted right in. "We got babies, yet??"

MortiMascherati: "I have lit it yet. I'm suppose to wait until the babies come, if I remember correctly." He lifted an empty glass from the floor before Christopher got to it and filled it up for his sister, handing it to her.

MariIyn Pearl: The doctor was about to answer, when from out of nowhere the big Italian came barreling into the room. Mari gave a small squeak of surprise and quickly clamped her gown down around her knees, small spots of color darkening her cheeks. "No babies, yet," she said to Ciro. The doctor laughed. "It might be a couple of hours yet. It's different for everyone."

Segreto Diavoli: Kyle came strolling into the hospital and into the waiting room. "Hey buddy." He winked down at Christopher, scooping him up into his arms, then kissed his wife. "Hi. New Twins here yet?"

Femina Obscurus: She smiled at Kyle as he arrived and returned his kiss, then took the glass that Stefano offered her. "Hi. Not yet, as far as we know."

diavolidifendono: Amusement flickered through his eyes as Ciro came bursting into the room."Don't even think about picking up that video camera." He let go of Mari's hand and pushed Ciro back towards the door. "Go wait with everyone else."

IMortiMascherati: He flicked his gaze up to Kyle when he arrived and nodded once. "Stupid." Now his new name for him. Stretching out his left leg, he glanced down at his watch, then took another sip from his liquor glass. "How long do these things usually take?"

MariIyn Pearl: Chuckling as Ciro was forced to depart, Mari reached for the cup of ice chips that the nurse had left her. The doctor made to leave, but paused, turning back to Mari. "I can give you your epidural now, if you'd rather not wait for the pain to kick in." Mari glanced up from her ice chips. "I don't want an epidural. Thank you, though."

cirothebodyguard: "You don't wanna catch the birth of yah children on film??" Holds up the camera as Marc pushes him out the door. "Fiine. Good lucky Marilyn! We're rooting for yah! Push them two new new li'll Terenzio's out!" In the hallway, he winked at a passing nurse. Made the phone motion, then strolled into the waiting room. Eyeballing all the liquor glasses. "Where's mine?"

Femina Obscurus: Lil cast Stefano a narrow-eyed, sidelong glance. She didn't know which nickname was worse, Pussy or Stupid.

SegretoDiavoli: Well. He'd gone from Pussy to Stupid. He wasn't sure if that was an upgrade on not. "Stef." Kyle looked amused, kissed his son's cheek then set the baby back down onto the floor to wander. "And to answer your question, we could be here for a while."

diavolidifendono: He shook his head amusedly at Ciro's depature then retook his place at his wife's side. A gentle smile curved his mouth and he kissed the back of her hand as she answered the doctor. "As Terrance would say, that's very gangsta."

imortimascherati: Ignores the look he's sister is giving him, and makes a glass appear for Ciro. Fills it up and hands it to him.

MariIyn Pearl: The doctor blinked, and grinned faintly at Marcello's comment. "Terrance is right, whoever he is. Are you sure, Mrs. Terenzio? Once everything has started, it will be too late. I won't be able to give you anything, no matter how much it hurts." Mari smiled and gave Marcello's hand a small squeeze. "I know, but I want to be able to feel them the whole time." The doctor mirrored her smile and nodded. "Okay, then. I'll be back to check on you in a little while."

diavolidifendono: "You just want a few hours when you can get away with calling me really rude names, while swearing never to let me touch you again." Amusement flickered through his eyes.

Femina Obscurus: She sipped her own drink and offered it to Kyle with a small shake of the glass. "They're her first, so it will take some time. And there are two, which will take a little more time."

MariIyn Pearl: She laughed and crunched into another ice chip. "Or I want another excuse to burn you."

diavolidifendono: "This might hurt me as much as it hurts you." Pulls up a chair. "I'm not sure that's fair."

MariIyn Pearl: Her smile stretched into a grin. "On the contrary, I think it's perfectly fair."

SegretoDiavoli: Stretches his arm out over the back of her chair and takes the offered glass, sipping from it. Then he eyed Ciro. "You were trying to video tape it weren't you?"

imortimascherati: He clucked his tongue. "Why are we here now?"

cirothebodyguard: "Cuz there yah first grandchildren." Says to Ugly, then grins at Kyle. "I was this close." Pinches fingers together.

Femina Obscurus: "Because it's tradition," she said evenly, appealing to the same side of him that had seen fit to bring cigars and booze in celebration.

diavolidifendono: "You're messing up the natural order of things. I sit here, and become a motivational speaker through your pain, thank god I'm not a woman and remain pain free besides a minor hand cramp." The corner of his mouth lifted.

imortimascherati: He was thoughtful a moment to consider that. Finally nodded once, glanced up at the TV and changed stations without touching it until landed on Cops. He left it here.

SegretoDiavoli: "How long were you in labor with Dom and Em?" Randomly curiously as he took another sip from her glass then handed it back.

MariIyn Pearl: She laughed again and touched his cheek as she leaned over to kiss him. "The whole world's natural order has been messed up. I think we can let this slide."

Femina Obscurus: Lil peered thoughtfully into her returned glass, then took a sip. "Ten hours, I think. It was a long time."

diavolidifendono: He returned her kiss and placed a light hand on her rounded stomach. "Noted, Mrs. Terenzio. Just try not to set my whole arm on fire. I don't want to the doctor to hear me shrieking like a girl."

SegretoDiavoli: Kyle whistled low. "That is a long time. But hey, Maris very zen, maybe it will be quicker."

MariIyn Pearl: "I'll try to restrain myself," she promised him, lying back as another contraction rippled through her. They continued to grow in frequency, duration and intensity, punctuated by visits from the nurse and occasionally the doctor. Some time later, said nurse patted Mari on the thigh and said, "Okay, you're fully dilated. Let's give pushing a try on the next contraction."

cirothebodyguard: Ciro got down on the floor, on his stomach holding up the video camera and shooting Christopher. "Your two new cousins are about to pop into the world. This will make your mother a great aunt and your uncle a grandfather. How does this make you feel?" Christopher procede to respond.

Femina Obscurus: "I wasn't pushing for ten hours. It was ten hours from the time my water broke to when Dom popped out." She was about to elaborate, when Ciro chose that particular moment to reveal to her that the babies being born would in fact make her a Great Aunt. Her eyes widened.

diavolidifendono: All scrubed up himself and in one of those blue things, he was a big excited ball of energy and instinctive concern. He breathed with her, told her he loved her about a hundred times. And then it was time to push. He wondered if she'd end up making the smoke alarms go off, that amused him.

imortimascherati: "Criminals are stupid." Was Stefano's wisdom of the day as he continued watching Cops. And gave his sister a sideways amused glance when that bit of reality struck her.

SegretoDiavoli: "Yeah they really are." Agreed with him, sucked into the show.

Femina Obscurus: "We're criminals," she said absently, still staring wide-eyed at the back of Ciro's head. "And we're not stupid." Frowning, she finished her drink, dug around for a cigarette, and gave a soft, relieved sigh as the first hit of nicotine buzzed through her.

imortimascherati: "No, we are mafioso, there is a difference." Corrected and refilled up his glass.

cirothebodyguard: "We're high class criminals." Agreed. "You gonna be the next kingpin? Yeah you are, arentcha. With them big expressive eyes." Ciro grinned down at Christopher, then swung the video camera onto the rest of the family.

MariIyn Pearl: This was it. There was no turning back. And there certainly was no epidural. Nodding at the nurse's instructions, she sat up, gripped Marcello's hand tightly in her own, took a few deep breaths, and pushed as a fresh contraction rippled through her rounded stomach. "That's perfect," the nurse cooed, "Keep going just like that." Ten minutes of pushing later, Mari sat back as the last vestiges of a contraction faded, leaving her panting, red in the face, and sweating like a horse. The nurse glanced up at her. "You're doing great! Give me some more." Mari sat up and pushed again, teeth gritted with exertion, and gave a small cry of pain as something inside shifted and pushed down. "Wait, wait, wait! Stop pushing!" The nurse hopped up from her chair and darted out into the hall. "I need someone to come catch this baby!"

diavolidifendono: "You're doing great baby. Keep it up. They're coming." Kept speaking those words of encouragement as she cut off the circulation in his hand. And then the nurse told her to stop and darted out into the hall. Marcello blinked, but returned his focus to his wife, and did the breathing thing with her. "She'll be right back. Just hang on."

cirothebodyguard: After interviewing Kyle on his thoughts about nothing, Ciro swung the video camera around just as the nurse appeared. "Uncle Ciro to the rescue!" He went bounding down the hallway, into the delievery room, camera still rolling, moved to where the nurse had been sitting. And then, Ciro's eyes widened and he passed out.

imortimascherati: Stefano watched Ciro get up, and began rubbing his temple. "Lil, you better go. He's not going to make it." Just knew it.

diavolidifendono: "Ciro, get that camera - " And then, Ciro hit the floor. He blinked, and might have laughed had his wife not been in the middle of having two babies. "You've got to be kidding me."

MariIyn Pearl: Mari had been doing a remarkable job in keeping her body's temperature regulated. Until, that is, Ciro burst into the room - not only with a video camera rolling, but right into the place that the nurse had vacated, giving him a bird's eye view of her nether regions. "CIRO!" she screeched, "OutOUTOU--" It was the thud that caught her attention. Still panting, she peered over the foot of the bed, grimaced, and lay back as another contraction wrenched through her stomach. The doctor came sliding around the corner then, struggling for traction in sterile booties, and nearly tripped over Ciro. "Somebody get this guy out of here!"

Femina Obscurus: Lil blinked at Stefano and opened her mouth to protest, but was already pushing to her feet. "Why don't you get him? You're the one who can levitate things..."

imortimascherati: He clucked his tongue and then released a dramatic sigh. "Fine." Climbing to his feet, he moved down the hallway and poked his head in the delievery room. He had no intention of going inside. Simply dropped his gaze to Ciro, and the big oaf came sliding across the floor and out the door.

SegretoDiavoli: Lookingly highly amused, Kyle got up only to reoute Christopher in another direction. "Next time they have kids, they'll wait until they're home before they call us."

Femina Obscurus: Work thus avoided, Lil fell back into her chair and laughed, wiping a smudge of something off of Christopher's cheek. "Or we'll have traumatized them so much, they won't have anymore."

SegretoDiavoli: Kyle started laughing. "Or that. Well at least they got two out."

imortimascherati: He came walking back into the room, Ciro dragging on the floor behind him. Stefano left him laying there, sat back down in his chair, picked back up his glass, winked at Christopher then resumed watching Cops.

MariIyn Pearl: The doctor landed gracelessly on the nurse's stool and wiped beaded sweat from his brow before he took a peek at things. "Okay, Mrs. Terenzio, you're close. Give me a few more good, hard pushes. Now!" Mari had enough time to draw a quick, half breath before another contraction hit and she was forced to push. She wrapped a hand around one of her knees to keep herself in place, gritted her teeth together, and squeezed Marcello's hand so hard that the bones grinded together. "There's the head! Just a few more pushes."

diavolidifendono: "She's coming! She's coming baby!" His hand was nearly numb at this point, oh no wait, there went a crunch. That was okay though. "Push, c'mon push, nothing to it. You can do it baby."

MariIyn Pearl: She couldn't recall a time in which she had ever needed to remind herself to breathe, but she was quickly becoming acquainted with the scenario; and with the whole blaming the husband for this whole mess scenario, to boot. "There's a hell of a lot to it!" she screeched through clenched teeth, digging her nails into her knee and forcing herself forward as she pushed again, crying out as something gave way and there was the sharp smell of blood and birth in the room. "Shoulders are free! Just give me one more, Marilyn. Come on." Mari sucked in a hitching breath, held it, and gave another mighty push. Amanda slipped free, and gave a healthy cry after the nurse suctioned her mouth and nose. Another nurse pinched off the umbilical cord and handed Marcello a pair of surgical scissors. "Do the honors, Daddy, quick!"

diavolidifendono: Insofar she hadn't set him on fire, that was a good thing. His gaze traded between his wife's face to where the doctor sat back and forth until he heard that healthy cry and saw the tiny form of their daughter. And he was in utter awe. The nurse's quick words, spurred him into motion and he left Mari's side long enough to cut one cord. He pressed his lips against his wife's sweating temple. "I love you. One more to go baby."

MariIyn Pearl: She caught a brief glimpse of a tiny, mucous flecked body as she fell back against the mattress, gasping. "Which one is it? Are they okay?" The doctor grinned behind his mask. "Your little girl. And she's perfect. Let's bring her brother out, okay? I know you're tired, but you can do this, Marilyn. Come on." Marilyn closed her eyes, leaning into Marcello's mouth as he kissed her. Inside, she smiled. Outside, she was far too tired to muster the effort. "I love you, too." While the nurses cleaned and weight their little girl, Mari sucked down another handful of breaths, sat up, and went back to work.

diavolidifendono: Pulling his eyes away from their litter girl as the nurse cleaned her up, he took his wife's hand back within in his own. "You did one, second one should be easy." Probably not but he was trying to be encourging. "Push baby."

MariIyn Pearl: "Then you deliver the second one!" she screeched. But the second one was a little easier, as a matter of fact. Which was good, because Marilyn was shaking with exhaustion by the time the doctor glanced up at her, smiling, and said, "He's crowning. Just a little more." Mari let her head fall back as she worked through the breathing exercizes, then lowered her chin, summoned the strength from some well deep within her, and pushed through the next contraction with everything she had. "Here he comes!" Mari felt him slip free, head first, then shoulders, and finally skinny little legs. With a great, heaving sigh, she fell back against the mattress.

diavolidifendono: There was a reason women did the whole birth thing and men didn't. He wasn't sure he could have gone through all this. The world might be a very sparsly populated place. At any rate he was perhaps the best cheerleader when she worked up the strength to push their second child into the world. He gently kissed her sweating forehead again when she fell back against the matress, then turned his dark eyes onto their son. And a simply awed expression moved across his face. "They're beautiful, Mari. And so little."

CiroTheBodyguard: Ciro shot up from the hospital floor, blinking. Looked around, then rubbed the back of his head. Then he stared at Lil. "How is it possible that your vagina can do that? What are yah freaking aliens or something??"

SegretoDiavoli: He'd scooped up Christopher, holding him on his knee as the waiting room got a little populated. "Look Uncle Ciro's awak-" And then Ciro asked that, and Kyle lost it.

IMortiMascherati: "It is my opinion that some things a man was never meant to see. Such as what you just witnessed. You're stupid for going in there." Simply and continued watching Cops.

MariIyn Pearl: The doctor's smile resurfaced as the same nurse as before offered Marcello a fresh set of surgical scissors, after cleaning out their son's nose and mouth and clamping his umbilical cord. "One more."

SegretoDiavoli: "And that's really my only problem with childbirth. But understandable." Kyle winked over at Lil, and then grinned down at Christopher. "You were worth it though. Or you will be until you start talking."

diavolidifendono: A soft kiss was pressed against his wife hand, before he let it go, and then moved to cut the second cord. Those gray eyes gentled as they traveled over his son, then over at Amanda. "Can we hold them, now?"

MariIyn Pearl: "As soon as we get your little boy weighed and measured," the nurse assured Marcello. She took Demetrius away to clean him, while the doctors and other nurses cleaned up and took care of the afterbirth. It wasn't until her feet were out of the stirrups and she was put back together that Mari relaxed; just in time for a pair of nurses to bring the cleaned, wrapped babies over to the new parents and hand one to each of them. Mari sat up, smiling glassy-eyed at her daughter. "Look at you. You are tiny..."

diavolidifendono: So very carefully he took Dem into his arms, and he'd never felt so humbled in his life. He swallowed hard, touching a tiny clenched fist. And then quiet laughter parted his lips, looking over at their daughter in his wife's arms, then back at their son. "Worth nine months of sibiling rivalary inside the womb, huh?"

MariIyn Pearl: She laughed softly and reached over to squeeze his arm. "Worth every minute." The doctor smiled between them and pushed to his feet. "Try feeding in half an hour or so. Someone will be in to check on you. Congratulations, Mom and Dad." Smile breaking open into a grin, he turned and left them alone. "Thank you!" Mari called after him, then looked down into their daughter's face again, comlpetely transfixed. "We make beautiful babies, Marcello..."

diavolidifendono: "Thank you doctor." He lifted his eyes briefly to the man, smiling, then back down at his family. More laughter came out of his mouth when he heard his wife. "Yes we do. That's something to brag about it. Can you hold them both? I'll go update the family."

MariIyn Pearl: That was the questino of the hour, wasn't it? No stranger to motherhood in general, thanks to those past lives, Marilyn had never dealt with twins before. Carefully shifting Amanda to one arm, she held out the other for Demetrius. "Okay. Let me have him."

diavolidifendono: He waited for her to get situated then gently deposited Dem into her other arm. He then bent down and gently kissed both his children's foreheads, and then mom on mouth. "Thank you," He said quietly. He straightened and then walked out into the waiting room. And a grin spread across his lips. "You're all grands and greats. Twice over."

MariIyn Pearl: Lacking free hands, she nuzzled his face as he leaned down to kiss her, and smiled at him as he drew back. "Thank you..." When he was gone, she glanced down at the two tiny people in her arms and brought them together on her lap. "Do you recognize each other?"

Femina Obscurus: It was a very good thing that Ciro had - inadvertently - broken the news to her that as of this day she was officially Great Aunt Liliana. That way, she could be nothing but happy for Marcello when he stepped into the waiting room, looking just as ecstatic as he did exhausted. Lil pushed to her feet, and not only did she kiss his cheek, she hugged him, too. "Congratulations!"

CiroTheBodyguard: He jumped up off the floor and lifted the video camera, pointing it at Marcello. "Your a daddy! How does it feeeel???"

IMortiMascherati: He was offically a grandfather. He had mixed emotions about this. Perhaps it was time for a mid life crisis. He released a sigh and set his glass down, he pulled out the stole humidor and clipped the end. He ligt it up, stood up and handed it to his son. "Congratulations."

SegretoDiavoli: "Hope you didn't like sleep. At all." Kyle grinned and stood up."Hear that buddy?" said down to christopher."You've got more play mates. Show them the ropes."

diavolidifendono: He squeezed Aunt Lil returning the kiss. "Thanks! And their beautiful. Just beautiful." He looked over at Ciro and laughed. "Surreal." And then accepted the cigar from his father, puffing away. "Thanks Grandpa."

Femina Obscurus: Grandpa. Ha! Keeping her laughter in check with superhuman effort, Lil rubbed her top lip and patted Marcello on the shoulder. "How's Mari doing?"

diavolidifendono: "She's fine. Exhausted but fine." He passed off the cigar to Aunt Lil, amusement flickering in his eyes when he took note of hers. "You know, technically you really ought to be Grandma. Considering how much of a mother you've been to me."

IMortiMascherati: He had gone back to drinking, and lightly snorted into his liquor when he heard his son. "I think that's an excellent technicality, Marcello." Misery loved company.

SegretoDiavoli: "Just for the record, I stick with Uncle Kyle status." Kyle grinned, glancing at his wife. "Don't shoot him darlin. He needs to experience fatherhood."

Femina Obscurus: The mirth vanished and her eyes hardened as she accepted the cigar. "It will be Aunt Lil for the rest of your life and theirs, if you want said lives to be long and bullet-less."

CiroTheBodyguard: Ciro swung the video camera around to get Lils expression. "Awww, c'mon you'd be the best looking grandma of the century."

Femina Obscurus: Lil's gaze snapped to Ciro. "I'll stick to being a MILF, thank you. No GILF for me."

diavolidifendono: "Yes ma'am. Just a suggestion." He wisely surpressed a grin. "You can come see if you want. I need to get back. Mari's juggling them both." He looked over at his father. "Wash your hands, then c'mon Grandpa." He slapped him on the shoulder, then walked back down into the hallway.

CiroTheBodyguard: He burst into laughter. "You're so senestive." And then swung the video camera to Stefano. "Hows it feel to be old enough to be a grandfather, ugly?"

Femina Obscurus: "Yes," she mused from over Ciro's shoulder, "How does it feel to have a son who's old enough to have children of his own, when your sisters only have toddlers?" Passing Stefano a razor sharp grin, she turned and followed Marcello.

IMortiMascherati: His brow arched. He released another sigh and tipped back the rest of the contents in his glass. And then he eyed his sister, dangerously. Clucking his tongue, he fell in step behind her, very lightly passed his hand over her hair, and made it all go gray. Then simply continued into the room.

diavolidifendono: "I brought baby holders," Said as he pushed open the door to the room, his mouth curving into an immediate smile at his wife and the babies.

SegretoDiavoli: He followed along too, carrying Christopher. Watched Stefano walk behind Lil and then, her hair went gray. Kyle blinked, then stiffled laughter into their son and whispered to him, "You might just witness your first murder. Just remember, mommy loves you."

MariIyn Pearl: She looked up as the room filled and beamed at the family. "Here they are!" She gestured to her lap, where the two newest Terenzios were squirming and squawking and being tiny and adorable.

CiroTheBodyguard: And he would catch it all on camera. Crowding into the room, he grinned over at Mari then postively melted at the sight of the kids.

MariIyn Pearl: And then she caught a real glimpse of Liliana, and her mouth fell open just slightly as she cast Marcello a curious glance.

diavolidifendono: "This is Demetrius and Amanda." He touched Amanda's forehead gently, then looked over his shoulder at his family. And blinked when he saw Aunt lil. His mouth twitched and he cleared his throat but didn't say a word.

Femina Obscurus: Feeling the air stir behind her, she passed a hand over the back of her hair and glanced over her shoulder, eyes narrowing warningly at her brother. But even Liliana was powerless against the cuteness of newborn babies, and whatever slight she thought she might have perceived was lost in her great-niece and great-nephew and that irresistible new baby smell. Waiting for a nod from Mari, she scooped up Demetrius, simply because he was closest, and cradled him against her. "You make Christopher look like a Titan."

IMortiMascherati: Quite pleased with himself, he stepped over to Marilyns bedside and kissed her cheek. "Congratulations." And then, he actually reached down and took Amanda into his arms. And something got a little, softer in those hard gray eyes. "Well, aren't you cute."

SegretoDiavoli: Kyle stepped over to Mari, bent and kissed her cheek too. "How are you holding up Mom?" Christopher began babbling and Kyle listened in intently humor in his eyes. "Chris says you look great."

MariIyn Pearl: "Considering how much weight they made me gain, I thought they would be a little bit bigger than this." Smiling at Lil and returning Stefano's kiss, and Kyle's, she lay back and gave a small, silent sigh of relief and pure bliss. Then she laughed and ran a hand over Christopher's head. "Thank you, Christopher. I'm tired, but great."

SegretoDiavoli: "Good." Kyle stepped next to his wife, holding Christopher next to Dem. "Hmm. Maybe Christopher will be a boxer, and Dem will be the pilot."

diavolidifendono: "They'll grow fast. My mother use to tell me I was small too." He sat on the edge of his wife's bed then glanced over at his father. And amusement flickered. "I think Grandpa just got suckered."

MariIyn Pearl: She chuckled lightly at Marcello's observation and smoothed a hand over his, giving it an affectionate squeeze. "I think he did, too."

Femina Obscurus: "We do call it a mask, you know," she mused, hearing Marcello and Mari. "That means that beneath it, there's somethi--" She broke off abruptly and did a double take; because there, through the bathroom's open door, was her reflection in the mirror. And her hair had gone gray. Her eyes narrowed to slits.

IMortiMascherati: Completely ignoring Marc and Mari, he sat down in one of the chairs by the window, craddling the tiny child in his much bigger arm and regarded his grand daughter. "You have a very intelligent gaze Amanda. I think you and I are going to get along just fine."

SegretoDiavoli: Kyle saw his wife's expression, wisely pulled all amusement off his face and looked over at Marc and Mari. "So, going to have two more next?"

Femina Obscurus: Her first instinct was to turn around and either shoot or sock her brother in the face. But because it was her brother, and because they were both holding babies, she restrained herself. Carefully schooling her face into neutrality, Lil continued to coddle her grand-nephew--outwardly. Inwardly, she began to subliminally suggest to Stefano that first, he felt like clucking a little bit. Then crowing like a rooster.

MariIyn Pearl: Eyes widening a tad as she caught the fleeting but no less murderous look on Lil's face, Mari cleared her throat and turned to Kyle. "Two huh? Oh, two more babies?" She grimaced. "Let me recover from these two, please."

IMortiMascherati: Quite content with spending time with his Granddaughter all of a sudden - why that brat. He felt the urge and could identifiy where it was coming from but there was little he could do to stop - he clucked. Once. Then twice. Three times. And then, he started crowing. Amanda looked fascinated.

diavolidifendono: "Two's a good start. Give me a few years to catch up on all the sleep I'm about to loose." Amusement settling in his eyes. He glanced over at his father. Then he blinked. His brow arched. He looked over at his Aunt, and then his lips parted with his laughter.

MariIyn Pearl: As if Liliana going inexplicably gray wasn't strange enough, Stefano had to put in his two cents but clucking-- no, crowing, like he was waking up the sun. Too stunned at first to do much of anything, Mari blinked several times, then burst into laughter.

SegretoDiavoli: "This is why you don't piss off your mom, buddy. Remember this." Pointing over at Stefano and did aboustely nothing to contain his own laughter.

CiroTheBodyguard: And you better believe he got this on camera too. Cracking up Ciro swung it around onto Stefano and Amanda. "That's just wrong."

Femina Obscurus: It was Lil's turn to be smug. Glancing up as Stefano did just as she directed, she gave him a cool smile. "If you want to stop, then you need to change my hair back."

IMortiMascherati: He glared at his sister, still crowing like a rooster mind you. He snapped his gaze towards her hair. And made it blue.

diavolidifendono: He glanced over at Aunt Lil, and that did nothing to help his laughter. At all.

CiroTheBodyguard: Swung the video Camera around and completely lost it. "Yah kids are so going to apperciate this."

Femina Obscurus: Stupid her, for thinking he would actually comply. Checking her reflection when the laughter only intensified, Lil whipped around and glared at Stef. "Fine. Why don't you hand the baby to Marcello, and try that crowing thing while you tap dance?" Oh, you better believe she pushed.

IMortiMascherati: And once more he felt compelled to answer her. Eyes narrowing, he rose to his feet gave Marcello his daughter. And then, while crowing like a rooster, Stefano Terenzio tapped dance. Fine, she didn't like the color, he waved his hand and not only was her hair gone, but her eyebrows were too.

diavolidifendono: He took Amanda from his father. "I apologize for you family, before hand." And tears were coming out of his eyes. "This is why, people in this family should never have been given abilities. Ever."

Segreto Diavoli: Kyle was trying really hard to be the good husband, and failing miserably. "Stefano, now you've gone too far. That's not sexy, not sexy at all."

MariIyn Pearl: Mari was howling with laughter. "Oh my God, you have to stop... it hurts!" But she dissolved into laughter again, collapsing against the mattress.

Femina Obscurus: The room felt suddenly drafty. Mouth falling open in horror, Lil touched the top of her head and-- well, Stef better be thankful that looks could not in fact kill, because he would have been dead again. "Change it back!" she commanded him. "To my hair. My long, black, normal hair!"

IMortiMascherati: Snickering in between his crowing and tap dancing, at her command he was once more compelled and he obeyed changing her hair back. However, since she had not mentioned her eyebrows, those remained missing. Since he was still tap dancing and crowing.

CiroTheBodyguard: "This video is worth so much blackmail." Oh yes, the camera was still rolling. Ciro grinned over at Christopher. "i'm gonna be your favorite uncle."

Femina Obscurus: She had not thought to check her eyebrows. Her face was not as sensitive to drafts as was the top of her head. But because she wanted to be sure, she checked her reflection one more time, closed her eyes, and counted to ten. No. Twenty. Twenty five. Around thirty, she turned back to Stefano, let him stop crowing and tap dancing, and pointed at her eyebrows. "Fix these, too."

IMortiMascherati: Once he got the order to stop, breathing a little heavily from excertion he waved a hand and her eyebrows came back. "Cheater."

Segreto Diavoli: "Lil don't kill him in front of the kids." Therapy bills were bound to be expensive enough as it was. It was them after all.

Femina Obscurus: "You're lucky that there are kids here," she all but growled at Stef. She checked herself for, hopefully, the last time. Satisfied, she handed the baby to someone who hadn't held one of them yet.

IMortiMascherati: "Next time its all going to your ass." Threatened, as he straightened his sleeves, and looked over at his son and Marilyn. "Congratulations you two. I'm going to go do something more productive. I assume your paternity leave is still in effect?"

diavolidifendono: "You bet it is." He was completely enchanted by his daughter. Don't expect to see me for a few weeks. At least."

CiroTheBodyguard: Ciro let the video camera dangle around his neck and took Dem from Lil. "Aww, yah so fuckin cute. We're gonna come up with a really good nick name for yah."

Segreto Diavoli: "Whoa, whoa, Stef. Back up off the goods." Kyle put his free hand on his wife's ass protectively.

Femina Obscurus: To her ass? Oh, hell no. He was going streaking in a hurricane, if that was the case. She forgot about her war with her brother, however, when Marcello announced that his paternity leave would be continuing. For several weeks. She traded a glance with Stef, but didn't say anything, and grinned when Kyle covered her up with his hands. "Well, if you're going to do that whenever he threatens it, then let him keep threatening."

MariIyn Pearl: Mari glanced over at Ciro and laughed quietly. Fuck was going to be one of the twins' first words. She just knew it.

IMortiMascherati: He shared a glance with his sister, and for the moment didn't dispute this with his son. "That's fine." He flicked a glance at Kyle, rolled his eyes and strolled back out of the hospital room.

diavolidifendono: He watched his fathers depature amusedly, and then looked over at Ciro. "Easy on the F word eh? Ear muffs, Ciro. Ear muffs."

CiroTheBodyguard: Just eyeballs Marcello. "Yah fucking kidding me right?"

SegretoDiavoli: Kyle kissed his wife's cheek, then burst into laughter at Ciro and cast a glance over at Marcello. "You should just let that go. Figure with this family, foul mouths are the least of your problems."

MariIyn Pearl: Shaking with another peal of laughter, Mari sat back and reached for Amanda. "Let me try feeding them. Well, let me try feedin' one of them."

diavolidifendono: He passed over their daughter to his wife, then stood up. "I'll take him. And you better leave Ciro before you get traumatized again."

CiroTheBodyguard: "Good call." Agree's and hands him over. "Congrats you two. They're a pair of good lookin Terenzio's." He smiled.

Femina Obscurus: That was their cue, then. Kissing both of their cheeks and smiling down at the two new Terenzios, Lil headed for the door. "Congrats again from us, too. Let us know when you need a break. We'll babysit."

MariIyn Pearl: She winked at Ciro, smiled at Lil, and used one of the pillows to support Amanda while she fumbled with the laces at he neck of her hospital gown. "Thanks, everyone."

SegretoDiavoli: "Definately. Have to pass on the bad habits early." Kyle winked and smiled, following his wife over to the door. Christopher said good bye too.

IMortiMascherati: Is standing on the other side of the door, invisible. Like the adult he was, when his sister appeared he pulled her hair, like they were in fifth grade, but this time created a small bald spot. And then took off limping/running.

diavolidifendono: "Thanks for coming." He smiled warmly at them, and turned his attention back to his wife and newly born children.

Femina Obscurus: She was barely out the door when she felt a serious tug. Whipping around and slapping a hand against the back of her head, Lil glared down the hall. And her eyes widened when her fingers felt bare skin at he back of her head. "STEFANO!"

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