#anywhere

The doc nods, and rattles off guidelines he probably goes through several times a day. "Visiting hours for the NICU are open throughout the day, though for parents only. We ask that you keep your voices low and limit visiting time to ensure that the babies get time to rest. Any child leaving the ward will have their bands checked to ensure that they're with the right person. That applies to all wards."

Looking over the papers, he raises a brow. "No McCormick here..."

he looks at Piper at that

Piper speaks up before Jonas can get too worried, slipping her hand into one of his. "They're under Hale-King." A tentative smile, looking for his reaction.

Somehow, the already tall man seems to get taller, and he gives her hand a gentle but delighted squeeze.

By troll body language, this is almost like yelling 'Whoop!'

"Yes, please, try Hale-King" he looks at Piper with delight as he says this

She grins in relief. "Can we go in, doc?"

He nods, and checks Piper's wristband, verifies that it matches his records, then waves them through the door.

Jonas mutters a thank you to the doctor, and goes on in, remembering to shorten his stride so Piper won't be dragged

In this not cold, yet less-then-glamourous environ her footsteps are the swish swish of slippers more than the clip-clop of hooves, but that doesn't stop her from doubling up her short stride until Jonas finds he needs to hustle to keep up with HER.

"Easy" he catches up, "you're still tender" Though he now is impressed by how well Sylvi's spell worked

That said, he knows better than to expect her to slow down much, if at all. His head is still swimming from the Hale-King surname for the babies, in a wonderful way.

They turn a corner, and "Siv!" Piper calls out, then remembers to keep her voice down. "Siv." She repeats in a soft tone, heading towards the other troll.

Siv turns. She's tired, but smiling, and that smile broadens as she sees them both. Near her are the two babies, Siv has positioned herself close to them as if ready to guard their lives. Of course, Piper can see for herself how they are currently kept by the hospital.

"Piper, Jonas, come here... come see our babies. They're so wee" She moves to give each a hug, then looks at Piper "You sure you should be walking around so soon after you were gutted like a hooked Marlin?"

Jonas gets his first glimpse. Two little reddish bundles, not squalling like one might expect babes to, but quietly laying in bassinets. The larger of the two is under a blueish light and has a small tube into one nostril, and a small fist waves in the air a little.

The smaller - oh, so small! Has Jonas ever seen an infant so tiny? Her skin is pale, almost translucent and showing every vein underneath it seems. Sensors on her chest and arms, and even on her little bald head, a tube in her nostril, and beeping, beeping from the machines.

Jonas stares with wonder at the little ones and moves towards them, itching to touch them, "Hello, my son. Greetings, daughter. I'm your father. Dad. You're going to be okay"

His words are meant more of a wish to WILL it so. He'll break his body to pieces to keep his little ones safe if need be.

"Careful," Siv says "Duncan says to touch little Franki, we have to use hand sanitizer... but touch is good for her now and then. Good for them both"

Duncan, the aforementioned nurse, gives a little wave but he stays back, allowing the trio room to visit without interfering beyond a watchful eye.

Piper wraps her arms around Siv tightly. "Sylvi visited."

Siv whispers in Piper's ear "Oh. Oh that's wonderful.. could make some things tricky or rise suspicions but okay... good good" She guides Piper to the babies, her voice normal again, "Kids, say hello to your mother. She's mom. Or mama. I'm mor. The big fellow is da or dad. You've got one more parent than most to learn, ,but you will be up to it"

"We'll deal with it... I had to see my babies. OUR babies. It doesn't feel real." She may not realize she's whispering as she peers at the incubator.

Siv leans over her from behind as Piper looks at their off spring "I thiink... this maybe the realest time ever" A smile "And I mean that in the best way."

"Two weeks" Jonas laments, looking at their daughter "They estimate two weeks"

A soft sound of a throat clearing, and Duncan speaks up. "I apologize - but what the doctors notes show is that they will be here for a minimum of a few weeks. You must understand that these are very premature babies and they need additional care. The little girl, specifically - her lungs and heart are not fully developed, and she will need to remain under monitor until we are certain she will thrive at home."

Seeing Piper's face crumple, he tries adding, "But be reassured they are under the best of care, and I do believe - I'm not a doctor, mind you - that your son should be cleared for release much sooner."

"Understood, Duncan, and thank you for looking after our young ones" Siv says "Folks, this is Duncan, a fine a nurse as we'll ever meet. A warm heart" She says knowing the others will ken that for themselves "Duncan, this is Piper, and this is Jonas. Loves of my life and blessed I am to have two of them."

He goes on to explain, "It's not uncommon with twins - TTTS, ot twin to twin transfusion syndrome-"

He sees the glaze on Piper's eyes at the technical, and clarifies, "It basically means that they shared a single placenta, and one baby got the lion's share of all of the good stuff."

Piper SNORTS. "She will NEVER let her brother live that down..." Even as she cautiously reaches through with a clean hand to touch Franki's tiny balled fist.

Duncan smiles at the others. "Miss Siv here is the King in their name, she tells me, which means you must be Mr. Hale." He nods to Jonas. "I'll step out so that you can visit a bit. If you need me, I'm just on the other side of that door."

"Thank you, Duncan, and yes." Jonas nods

Technically they are limited to a single visitor at a time, Siv was told, but Duncan gives her a friendly wink as he steps out.

Siv looks at their daughter then says to Piper "She came out first, so technically she'll be the BIG sister no matter what. "

Franki seems to fist/finger bump Piper. Probably just a coincidence. Yes, brother OWES her

Jonas keeps his hands clean too, and gently touches Valr, "Let's not be too hard on the boy. He didn't know"

"I don't know, maybe he did. It's impossible to know what goes on in their little minds." Piper coos at the basinets. "Yes you did, didn't you, little one?"

Innocent eyes though

"One's a girl" Siv chuckles "Still reeling from that. "

"I as well, Siv," Jonas says "How are you doing? I think food is on its way for us."

"Oh, I'll be fine" Siv waves it off, "mostly I've been watching the wee ones and texting friends. Though Gerd delivered a letter for me. Oh, I contacted Mickey"

"Oh!" Piper smiles at that, though she doesn't take her gaze off the little girl. "I appreciate that. I've been keeping him updated and I think he SOUNDED excited about being a grand da, but... pooka, you know?"

"Hard to read" She agrees, "Now, since it is just us" She whispers... "We got a plan to explain how you healed so fast? And... do you think we should dare risk cantrips on the babies? If a spell went wrong I'd never forgive meself"

Jonas ponders "It might take dross to reduce the chance of..failing. And..the right of ignorance could be in play"

Piper scowls, and glances at the door that separates them from the nurse attendant, it seems they can speak in relative privacy. "Damn the right of ignorance and the entire escheat if it means it keeps us from our children. I know it's hard for trolls to hear that, but... I don't care. We'll find a way to get our babies home."

"if it means paying every last bit of dross I have and mortgaging my future to some rich sidhe to have enough, if we have to get an expert to mind wipe the entire nursery wing!"

Her eyes blaze with satyr heat!

Jonas puts a hand on Piper's shoulder, a placating gesture "They will come home. That is a given. It is merely a matter of 'when'. We do not wish to put them at risk in our efforts. We don't want to make it worse"

Siv humphs "You're not mortgaging your future to any sidhe, Piper. None of us are. We've got friends and resources of our own. Goldfinch and Rivervale both."

Siv goes on "We will have to be sneaky though."

Jonas says "Well, Rikki has already proven to be... useful"

Siv looks surprised then "Well, darn .. I mean, good. Yes, she might be of more help yet"