Sounds of chatter, pots clinking, and running water could be heard from the kitchen. Maia was making small talk with the midwife and her assistant, gauging an idea of when the two would be leaving. After about twenty minutes she guessed it would be a while. She knew her mother would want them around only if she needed them, and she had been around for nearly all of her mothers pregnancies and labors to know when she wanted to be left alone. These days, moms and their babies were tended to and hardly left alone, and Maia knew that was one of the reasons she wanted a quiet home birth. She deserved it.
Pleione just lay there feeling exhausted and worn out from the last few days. Her body was like clockwork when it came to her babies. She knew when early labor had started and like every woman should, she knew when it was time to call for assistance.
She smiled at Atlas, "He's yours too. That makes him double special."