Infinity Chapter 137 - Snow Storm

[itztigress3]

Chapter 137 –  Snow Storm

POV:  Emily / Zac

Word count: 6861

December 30, 2016

  I had never in my life wanted a pregnancy to be over with as badly as I did this one. October had been episode one.  I followed the doctor’s orders but I went in November 7^th to simply check the invoice and of course, a major vendor chose that day to call and it really didn’t take long to raise my blood pressure and yep, that done it for me. Zac called Zander with my blood pressure number and was told to bring me to the hospital right then, it was still too high when I got there and Zander admitted me to the hospital. Of course my blood pressure was high! I’d just given a vendor a verbal ass kicking!

Zander however refused to accept any excused and admitted me anyway for observation, I thought over night, fuck no he kept me two fucking weeks! Yet, it kind of was a good thing because while Zac did not want to leave Oklahoma, he had to be at Disney. There was no way he could handle work and the kids, so they stayed at home with Aaron and Zander, who just crashed at the house with them. Bringing them up to see me every day, after Zac got home I begged to go home, I wasn’t having any medical emergencies, the mucus plug was intact, the babies heart rates were fine, Zander refused and Dr. O’Brian did not disagree, in fact he agreed. Two weeks, stuck in a small hospital room with nothing to do.

Right before Thanksgiving Zac talked to them and together the three of them made some deal, because he was having major issues with Alexander and Isabella, neither of them were fine that I wasn’t there and they couldn’t be here long. They talked forever before reaching an agreement that both Zander and Dr. O’Brian agreed upon.

The agreement? I was under full bed rest at home. I was not allowed anywhere near the studio and that included doing anything on the computer, I was not allowed to do any cooking, cleaning or even going up-stairs. I am sure if they could have, bathrooms would have been banned too. I assumed that once I was at home, Zac would give me some kind of freedom, but no.

Zac brought me home and I found Aaron and Zander there waiting and a queen size bed in our living room near the front, added all three of them were strict. Aaron and Zander were staying until they arrived, so that they could be up-stairs with the older two. I had complained, whined, considered even crying but they simply told me to get my ass in bed. Alexander and Isabella were the only ones on my side but their opinions don’t count! I wasn’t even allowed to go outside of the house for new babies!

Jessica had delivered Hans Solo Wright on the first of December, he was healthy and her delivery had gone very well. Unfortunately I had to wait until they were released to see him, because Aaron and Zander especially wouldn’t let me up. Amanda had delivered Destiny Paige on December 20 and she was gorgeous with dark curly hair and dark eyes. Again, Zander was standing beside the bed shaking his head long before I even sat up. Both events pissed me off because I wanted to be there and especially with Amanda, but Zac was quick, he had Skype up and ready for me within an hour, so we were able to talk through the labor and delivery part, I couldn’t be there in person but I was able to see her before anyone else besides Sean.

Bed rest for a month and a half had gotten me to 36 weeks. Thanksgiving and Christmas was held here at the house, because I wasn’t allowed to leave. Maddi came up just before Christmas and after Zac put his foot down Zander reluctantly agreed to let me stand or move for a few maternity pictures, but that was the extend of it.

Although, I had finally gotten Zac to agree to any form of sex! We’d tried right before the hospital stay and found it uncomfortable but once the bed rest rules went in he wouldn’t so much as approach the subject, I could watch if I wanted too. Yet, after describing that very vivid dream about sex on stage he hadn’t been able to deny it had turned him on. We couldn’t do traditional sex, but fuck fingers and mouths worked just as good! It had been the first time I’d slept well in weeks. I’d woken up an hour ago and just been watching the snow outside.

I had lived in Tulsa since 2006 and while we’d had some snow, we had never had a fucking blizzard. Snow fell before Christmas, allowing Zac and I to get some wintery maternity pictures and for Maddi to get some of the older two also, but it was just enough to be pretty but not enough to be a pain in the ass. After Christmas however a massive system moved in and decided it wanted to just stall right over the mid-west, dumping snow on us. Our current total was just over 2 feet, it meant going anywhere was impossible. Thankfully, Aaron and Zac had went out and stocked the pantry and gotten supplies in anticipation of the storm. The snow was pretty as it fell, but I wished I was able to go outside and really enjoy it.

I was still awake then Aaron came down at 8:30 alone.

“Kids still asleep?”

“Alexander is up, Zander is choosing his outfit and Isabella was waking up. I’m shocked Zac’s not awake yet.”

“We didn’t go to bed right at ten dude, we’re not old men like you two.”

“Bullshit, Zac was half dead when we up-stairs, I know he didn’t stay up long.”

“It was after midnight.”

I was not about to tell them why he stayed awake! Zander would probably blow a gasket!

“Then why are you awake?”

“Aaron, you guys don’t let me do jack shit but sleep all day. Zander even took my laptop away!”

“Because you were checking on files from the studio and browsing fan websites and getting all pissed.”

“I am the manager, I have to check files. Not my fault some fans are being a pain.”

He just looked at me. “What do you want for breakfast?”

“Anything but eggs.”

“Oatmeal fine?”

I nodded, it wasn’t long before Zander came down with them both and Zac woke up once they were down here. After everyone ate breakfast and Zac was about to head up-stairs I reminded them of my bath day, because I couldn’t go up-stairs I had to shower down here but I needed help. Zac got me some clean clothes while he was up-stairs, which at the moment were the four large sweat suits and t-shirts, because even maternity clothes didn’t fit. Twins were no joke, Maddi wasn’t even this big but as much as I despised bed rest with these two pressing on everything it was hard to breath, hard to move, hard to really do much of anything. God blessed me with Zac because he would do anything I needed, including shaving my legs, he actually seemed happy to help. I was sitting on the seat with my foot in his lap as he slide a razor over my skin when I felt the sharp pain on my right side.

“Shit.”

“Did I knick you?”

“No. You’re ok. I just got a pain on the right side, probably Braxton hicks again, those bitches are evil.”

His eyebrow raised. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Zac. They aren’t as bad as contractions.”

He watched me for a moment before he finished and after the bathe and being dried and dressed I was put back in bed. I couldn’t even sit on the sofa, I’d been allowed at first but with the extra weight pressing on my legs it often meant major swelling and cramping, so laying was better or propped up.

I now knew how Maddi felt, like I couldn’t do anything for Alexander or Isabella, yet again Zac rescued us all. He came up with craft time with mommy, which while I was confined before Christmas it was great! We made a lot of gifts for the grandparents and it gave them time to sit with me. Today was no different, Isabella was beside me coloring her green sun and orange grass as Alexander was drawing and showing a decent ability with that too. Yet, the twinges and pains kept coming.

“Ems, are you ok?” Aaron asked.

“Yeah, Braxton contractions, there just super annoying.”

Zander looked up. “Are you sure that’s all it is?”

“Yes, I’m acutely aware of what actual contractions feel like.”

He smiled and they returned to whatever they were watching. The kids sat with me most of the morning and even a little while after lunch. After lunch Isabella laid down with me for a nap but I couldn’t find a single comfortable spot. So I did more tossing and turning than sleeping. After her nap Zac debated taking them out but the snow was just too deep so, they played inside. I kept getting the same little pains and I was beginning to wonder if I needed to go on to the hospital, but they weren’t feeling like normal contractions to me. Aaron and Zac fixed dinner and Zander was checking my blood pressure, claimed my face was a little red.

“It’s slightly elevated, how do you feel?”

“Fine.”

“No more pains?”

“Not the last two hours.”

He looked mildly worried and I didn’t understand why, if it was labor I was use to days and I’d have time to get to the hospital. Dinner was good but I felt tired, maybe sex wasn’t a great idea so once they took them up-stairs Zac sat down on the bed.

“Feel ok?”

“Just tired and everything hurts.”

He got up and turned the lights off and laid down, but being behind me he could reach my back and he was just rubbing them. I drifted off to sleep about ten thirty.

December 31, 2016; -Zac-

  I felt really bad for my wife, I know bed rest was driving her insane and she really wanted to be in our bed and not down here. I’d asked Zander about letting her up up-stairs and it was a strict no. They were here because well, I needed someone up-stairs with the kids in case something occurred. The back rub had seemed to put her to sleep pretty quickly but I heard her get up about 1, mumbling about her bladder. She wasn’t gone too long and I heard soft snores so I went back to sleep, but at 4 am I felt those damn claws in my arm. My eyes opened quickly and I looked at her.

“Emily?”

It took her a few moments to reply. “Really bad Braxton or a contraction.”

“You want me to get Zander?”

“No. Just I don’t know.”

I turned and held her but the pains weren’t anywhere near close as an hour later she was back asleep. So, I dozed back off, Alexander woke me up at 5:30, his tiny hands poking my shoulder.

“Daddy.”

“Yes?”

“I wet the bed.”

“It’s ok buddy.”

Alexander had been doing very well at night, but sometimes we had accidents, even during the daytime but those were much less frequent. I carefully got up so I didn’t wake her up and I took him up-stairs to his room. But, whoever made it up last hadn’t put the protector on so I got him clean pajamas and got him cleaned and changed.

“Go lay back down with Mommy. I’m going to check on Isabella and I’ll be back down.”

He rubbed his eyes but scurried back downstairs in his dry pajamas and clean underwear. I checked on her but found she was soaked as well and was already waking up. I got her diaper changed and dry pajamas and brought her down with me. Alexander was curled up beside Emily who was awake.

“Bed wet?”

“Yeah, I’ll clean it this morning when there up. I checked on Isabella and she was soaked through, so we get them both.”

“Not a problem.”

I laid back down with them between us and it wasn’t until about 8 that I got back up, Zander was fixing breakfast and Aaron was on
the phone with someone.

“Did you get them during the night?” Zander asked.

“Alexander came down early.”

“Did he wet the bed again?”

“Yeah, but it’s ok. We know he’s not quite old enough for full control all the time. I’ll clean his mattress in a bit.”

“You shouldn’t have too.”

“I don’t mind, accidents happen. She was soaked through also, so I changed her also.”

Emily was still asleep so we left her alone, got the kids fed and I took them up-stairs to get their rooms cleaned. Her bed wasn’t bad, just change the sheets and remake it, his I had to clean before making the bed back up. Aaron had weird views on bed wetting but Emily had said David was very strict in that aspect and we both agreed, it was normal for accidents at night and we’d never punish him for that. I went back down about 11, after doing laundry and cleaning up. Emily looked miserable though, she was sitting up trying to eat but just the look on her face said she was hurting somehow.

I went ahead and cleaned the kitchen up, because while Zander and Aaron were cleaning up it wasn’t to her liking and I didn’t want her to feel like she needed to make it cleaner, so I went about cleaning the kitchen and even went to the fridge as well. She got up and came to the bathroom about 2 and when she came out she stopped at the wall and braced herself. I closed the fridge and walked to her.

“Babe, are you ok?”

“My back’s been hurting and the Braxton bullshit things are just stupidly bad.”

I rubbed her arms. “Are you sure there Braxton Hicks Emily?”

“There is no set times, no regularity to them at all.  I timed when I woke up and there just not consistent and there not strong there
just..annoying.”

“Hey Zander, would it be ok if we just walked back and forth a bit? She’s been laying for weeks, this could be some weird side effect from that.”

“You can, I wouldn’t recommend long though.”

We just did to the front door and back to the kitchen a few times, she said it seemed to help but then she laid back down. Once she was settled I slipped a coat on and stepped out into the garage, both vehicles were here but I opened the garage door and there was snow piled up against it, up to my knees and I knew there was no way I was getting either vehicle out of this garage, let along down the driveway!

“Zac?” Aaron asked.

“Can you get out of the driveway?”

He looked at the banks of snow and ice. “Uh, no…why would we need to get out of the driveway?”

“Because I don’t think those pains are Braxton’s, they never were this bad. Dr.O’Brian didn’t even say anything about them being this bad either. If she needs to go to a hospital, either we have to take her or someone has to get up this to get to us.”

“Well, let’s hope that’s not the case.”

He patted my shoulder and went back inside but I called Craig and Christopher.

“What’s up Z?” Craig asked.

“Uh, nothing is wrong but do you have a vehicle that will get out of your driveway?”

“Not a chance, our garage is banked in with snow. It’s almost up to my waist against the door. Why? Is everything ok?”

“Yeah, everything is fine.”

I heard a female voice in the background, which confused me.

“Who is there with you guys?”

“Oh, Jacey and her husband Jonathan Hayward. They came over and kind of got stuck with us for a bit, at least until they can get to their car.”

“Nice. She ok?”

“Oh yeah, there both enjoying cuddling time with the kids.”

“Nice, Alexander and Isabella love the snow but it’s too deep right now. Poor Bells would just sink in the snow and vanish.”

“Bells? No, Casey is rubbing on you.”

“I know! So sad. I don’t call her that often though.”

I hung-up and I called everyone I knew, even the ones that could get out, didn’t think they’d make it up the driveway. I finally went back in and started dinner, keeping an eye but while Emily said there was no consistency with the pains there was to me.  I sat with her through dinner, letting Aaron and Zander monitor the kids. She ate well then laid down about 6:30 she went to the bathroom and I was cleaning up after dinner, Aaron and Zander had gone to shower while we were both awake to watch them. I was just washing the dishes when I felt the nails dig into my arm, followed by wetness on my socks. I turned to find her standing beside me, one hand on the counter and the other one digging into my arm, and based on her facial expression she was in serious pain.

“Emily?”

It was several seconds before she even bothered to look at me. “That wasn’t a Braxton…”

It took me a moment to realize that her pants were wet and that my socks were also because her water had broken. I didn’t recall either of theirs being this bad, but they were singles and we’d been in the hospital when it broke. I guided Emily to the chair behind her carefully, her socks were wet and so was the floor. I sat her down.

“Don’t move baby, the floor is wet and I don’t want you to fall. I’m going to get you some dry clothes.”

She nodded and I glanced at the clock and it was 6:48, I marked the first contraction down at 6:45, I then took the steps three at a time, barging into my bedroom not expecting to find them both here naked, but I really didn’t care at the moment and didn’t even glance their way.

“Damn Zac!”

I ignored them and ran to the closet where I got clean clothes for her and clean socks for us both, I kicked mine off here in the closet. I grabbed some extra towels and then ran back down, I was certain they were confused but she was more important to me. Emily was right where I left her but Alexander was standing there, Isabella was still in the living room playing with her favorite blocks.

“Is Mama ok?” he asked.

“She’ll be ok buddy. Hey, can you keep your sister occupied for Mommy and me?”

He smiled widely. “I try.”

He then ran off to play with her while I quickly cleaned the floor to prevent anyone from slipping and then got her up. When I heard them coming down I yelled for them to wait, she was standing in the kitchen half dressed. Alexander and Isabella had showered with us, so no need to hide from them. Once she was clean, dry, and re-dressed I lead her to lay down and it was just in time for a second one, 7:15, thirty minutes and that was alarming.

“Zac?” Zander asked.

“Her water broke and she had an apparently strong contraction. You need to call paramedics, there thirty minutes apart.”

I tended to her while Zander made the call but his arguing made me worry and at 30 minutes apart it wasn’t like we had a lot of time for them to pussyfoot around.

“They are going to try to send someone as soon as possible, there contending with short staff and there prioritizing patients.”

“Is she not a priority?”

“She is, but Zac she’s not dying. It shouldn’t take them long. Are your bags and all ready?”

“Yeah, there by the door.”

Emily looked scared and that was a face I hadn’t seen during the other two’s labor or even delivery. The third contraction was 25 minutes later and in the two prior ones she had never screamed and she did this time. Alexander and Isabella both looked up and looked worried, I couldn’t blame them. This was scaring me too. Because we were essentially trapped here. Zander was not a OBGYN, he was a surgeon and a damn good one but his knowledge of delivering babies was limited.

I remembered from a conversation with Christopher when they were here for Christmas that Jacey’s new husband was a OB doctor, so I called them back. It rang what felt like forever before Christopher answered.

“Hey, is everything ok? Two calls back to back.”

“You told me Jacey’s new husband was an OB right?”

“Yes. He was telling us earlier that he’s been working at Dr. O’Brian’s office for like two months, he remembers meeting Emily last week. Why?”

“Is there any way I can speak to him?”

“Is Emily ok?”

“I don’t know, It’s why I want to talk to him.”

There was a pause and I heard Christopher telling him who it was and then he said hello in this deep voice, I remembered seeing a new doctor but wasn’t sure what his name was.

“Hi, um..I’m not sure if you can help me but my wife is pregnant with twins, we’re at 38 weeks and her water broke. We called the paramedics but there was some priority thing going on and I don’t know when they’ll be here.”

“She made it to 38 weeks with twins?”

“She’s been on bed rest basically the last two months.”

“You said her water broke? How far apart are contractions?”

“Twenty-five minutes.”

“Well, I’m not sure what I can do really. I mean I don’t know if I can reach you.”

“I’m beside you..”

I heard Christopher telling him where we were and then Craig was talking too about the little path between the places. Then he was talking to me!

“Zac, what is going on?”

“Emily’s in labor and I don’t know when paramedics will make it. Zander is a surgeon.”

“Hey!” he said.

I didn’t have time to care if I hurt his feelings, fact was he hadn’t delivered a baby and he didn’t know how to make sure they were all ok and this other guy did.

“We’ll be over as soon as we can.”

He then hung-up, wait..what? I was distracted by the nails digging into my arm and I looked at her. I wished I had a 4-wheel drive. It was after 8 before the next one occurred and nearly an hour after we called the paramedics! The fourth contraction brought tears to her eyes.  About 8:15 the back door opened and Craig, Jacey and her husband came in. He was a tall man, short brown hair, dark brown eyes and I remembered meeting him now, just last week before Christmas.

“Christopher stayed with Jasmine and Trevor, he said there didn’t need to be any extra kiddo’s here and if you want someone can bring him these two, he’ll watch them.”

“Do you want them to go over there?” Aaron asked.

I looked at Emily and based on the tears in her eyes and the last scream, it was probably better to let them go over there, because if she got too loud they would get upset, especially Alexander.

“Yes, I think it’ll be better if they weren’t here considering how she looks. But, bundle them up very well before taking them outside, it was freezing when I stepped out several hours ago.”

“I’ll take them over and then return if you need me too. I’d rather not witness said births but I know you may need help.”

Emily wasn’t really saying anything.

-Emily-

I could hear them talking about bundling them up but I just laid here, maybe if I ignored the severe pain it would go away. I knew Zander had called the paramedics, where the hell were they?! I kept laying here quietly but I did kiss and hug them goodbye before Aaron and Zander gathered them up and left to take them to Christopher’s. Dr. Hayward walked over and sat down carefully.

“Hi, Emily. Do you remember me?”

“Dr. Hayward, you were there last week with Dr. O’Brian.”

“Yes, he’s on vacation this week and wanted me to meet patients just in case. Zac said your water broke?”

“Yes.”

“One to ten scale for the contractions.”

“Fourteen.”

It wasn’t a lie, they fucking hurt and even more than when I had the other two!

“Jace, baby can you bring me by bag.”

Jacey got a bag and brought it over and smiled at me, he got the stethoscope to check my heart rate and to use with his blood pressure cuff.

“Why were you on bed rest?”

“I got upset at work and fainted once and then again, he had me in the hospital for two weeks then home. It was mostly my blood
pressure.”

He checked it and it was higher than normal, but then again shouldn’t it be?! He made a call to the paramedics as well, evidently getting the same reason why they couldn’t be here in the next ten minutes. The contraction occurred at 8:30 and he put his hands on my stomach and I just wanted to shove him away, I didn’t want to be touched.

“How far are they?”

“They were thirty for like two then it dropped to twenty-five minutes.” Zac said.

“I didn’t bring anything for pain with me, I can’t keep that stuff on hand. I’ll keep calling the paramedics though. You really do need to be picked up.”

I nodded and all we could do was wait on the paramedics, he kept a check on the time and even allowed me water and bathroom privileges. But even I knew they were getting closer together, which scared me. He’d called the paramedics after each one to see if there was some time frame and they had nothing. Aaron and Zander had returned and Craig was right here by the bed.

About 9 I noticed that Jacey was asking Craig questions, I was sure that Zac picked up too because he was watching them too. They were getting pots out and getting hot water, sterilizing things and gather some clean towels.

“What are they doing?” I asked.

Although, I’d seen this enough to know the answer.

Dr. Hayward smiled. “They’re getting things together in the event the paramedics don’t get here in time.”

“What do you mean? I’m not having them here! Dr. O’Brian went over the complications that can occur.”

Zac looked no less terrified and the multiple complications raced through my head from one being breach and needing a cesarean to cords being wrapped around their necks, and what if there was some major problem and they needed quick and immediate care?!?!

He got my hand. “I know he did Emily and I know all the potential complications myself. But, your water has already broken and your contractions are closer, it is a precaution only. I would rather be prepared and not need it, than need it and not have it.”

“NO!”

Dr. Hayward moved when Zac came over and he got my hand. “Calm down Emily, there just being cautious that’s all.”

“If you’ll give me a phone I will get the fucking paramedics here!”

“Ems.”

I wanted to argue that point but the contraction came and it was so much worse than anything I’d ever felt before and I couldn’t stop the scream, it made me believe something was wrong! These were so different.

“You never said that she did all this!” Craig said.

“She hasn’t before, even without pain medication.”

“Hospital administer small doses anyway, it’s likely that she had some medication just to take the edge off.” Dr. Hayward said.

I really wished I was there instead of here. I tried to ignore the pain, ignore the stupid ass snow that was falling, the fact I was stuck in this fucking house because my stupid ass brother and his stupid ass doctor boyfriend confined me here a month and a half ago!

-Zac-

I could tell that she was scared and terrified and I felt the same way, but she was also irritated and I was betting that was because she was confined to the house. It was close to 11 pm when Dr. Hayward motioned me to the kitchen and I followed.

“Her contractions are extremely close, within 15 minutes. Do you think she would allow me to check and see where she is dilated too? I can tell in her body language she’s not wanting to be touched.”

“I will ask but I don’t think she’ll mind.”

We approached and explained and she didn’t seem very pleased with the idea but after the next one she agreed, I really think that she was trying to just block it out and pretend it wasn’t happening. He maneuvered her some so he could check and Craig helped a bit.

“When did the contractions start?”

“First bad one was 6:45, but she had Braxton like ones basically all day and some of yesterday.” I said.

“Emily, honey you're at 9 now.”

He took the gloves off and again he called the paramedics and this time he basically screamed at them, he was scaring me and everyone here with that voice and tone. Even Zander looked confused and he was a doctor! He didn’t hang up until he got some kind of confirmation.

“They’re sending one here now, but the roads are icy and bad, so it might still be an hour.”

Jacey frowned. “She’s not making it that long if she’s at nine now.”

“We’ll hope she waits until there here at least.”

Time ticked by in what felt like slow and fast at the same time! I was fairly certain we weren’t making it to a hospital and that terrified me more than anything. He checked her again at 11:35 and he didn’t look happy at all.

“Emily your at ten, I can’t stop this and you don’t need to try to either. It is far safer to go ahead than it is to try and wait.”

I notice the panic on her face.

“Jacey is here and she’s a pediatrician with knowledge of newborns, she’s been part of a lot of them and I’ve delivered hundreds over my training and career including twins. You can do this.”

“But what about..”

Her eyes were far too wide, her breathing had dramatically increased and her words weren’t fluid like they usually were, no she was about to send herself into a massive panic attack and if she passed out right now, there was nothing we could do. I tried to reassure her but the franticness remained.

It was Craig who got her hand and squeezed it hard enough that she looked at him. “Hey, remember when you wouldn’t let me go into that school alone?”

“Yes.” She barely said.

“Look at me, you are not alone Emily. I’m not going to leave your side at all, Zac’s not going to leave and neither are the three doctor’s here. Every single one of us will do whatever we need to do, to make sure those two boys are fine. But, we cannot do that without you and you need to calm down.”

She appraised him for several seconds before she began to calm down and kind of focus on what she has to do.

“If you’re ok with it Craig can you get behind her, keep her propped up?” Jacey asked.

“I can totally do that.”

We raised her up and he moved onto the bed, Jacey and I laid her back to where her shoulders were resting on his thighs.

“Please, for the love of all things manly don’t snap your head back hard.” He said.

“No promises.” She replied.

I was beyond terrified because I had heard the same complications and issues and if anything happened, there was no way in hell we had the equipment to save them. There were so many possibilities but Dr. Hayward and Jacey were getting what they needed, clean towels, gloves, a pair of metal scissors she’d boiled to hell. Craig kept her left hand in his, I admired him quite a bit for that. Her right hand stayed glued in mine and I was kneeling on the right side of the bed, Jacey was beside her on the left.

“It’s the same process Emily, the only difference is after the first one is here, don’t relax there’s a second one coming. Zander, can you be ready to take Jacey’s place? She can make sure Baby a is fine.”

“No problem.”

He moved in place. Most people at midnight were welcoming the new year by celebrating, watching the balls drop, and drinking up a storm. I was able to kiss her forehead between screams but that was it.

Baby a arrived at four minutes after midnight, I’d heard Zander call the time but even as I cut the cord, he wasn’t crying and the brief moment I saw him he wasn’t moving either. Jacey took him out of her view to the love seat, laying in down and I couldn’t tell what she was doing. That did nothing to help Emily and Craig had to grip her hand tighter to capture her attention.

“One more Emily, you can do this. You’re doing fine and Jacey has him, he’ll be fine.” He said.

Yet, I could see the worry lines etched on his features too. Baby B arrived 6 minutes later, again I cut the cord and Zander called time but after that the entire house seemed to go very quiet and for a minute the probability of something catastrophic happening seem to occur to us both, my heart was sinking the longer the house remained quiet. Emily’s hand was shaking violently in mine.

Time felt like it was slowing way down and the fear that something was wrong with one or both of them was really getting to both of us. Aside from shaking violently her hand was crushing mine and I was positive Craig wasn’t escaping that. I could see the look on her face after several minutes and I could feel the prick of tears.

I would never be able to describe the feeling of hearing them start to cry. Blessed sounds as they began to scream, clearly not happy with being forced into the world. I know Emily and I both were crying, but I didn’t give a shit what anyone thought. I leaned down and kissed her.

“They are ok.”

She nodded but didn’t say anything. I saw the flash bounce off the wall and looked up, Aaron was holding a camera.

“You did not…”

“Not the birth no, I didn’t want to see that part let along get pictures and she didn’t want them with the first two. I do have some good ones of them though.”

Jacey got a clean towel around A and brought him over to her, Craig remained as her prop, Dr. Hayward came back to Emily while Jacey got b cleaned and wrapped. She was handing B to me when the blue and red ambulance lights bounced off the walls.

“Oh, I think the paramedics are here.” Aaron said.

He got some more picture of them and they were perfect, heavy but perfect. Zander let the paramedics inside and they went to checking her, Craig was still sitting there, just admiring her and the babies.

“Are you coming?” She asked.

“I should probably get home.”

“If you insist.”

“Go Craig, we’ll stay with Christopher.” Aaron said.

Paramedics did a quick check of her and the twins before they whisked us off too the hospital, they had trouble with the driveway but thank god Aaron had opened the gate to prevent it from freezing closed.

At the hospital she was better checked and the placenta’s were delivered. Neither of the boys left the room as nurses checked them over and got their weight, they were wanting to be fed but due to their odd birth being checked was a bit better. Yet, at 1:45 they were given to her to feed and they seemed to be great eaters.

“Did you catch their weight?” Craig asked.

“A was 7 pounds 2 ounces and b was 7 pounds three.” I replied.

“Good lord. No wonder you were trying to break my hand.”

Emily smiled a little. “Sorry, but thank you for staying.”

“No problem. So, do we have names for these two? We cannot call them baby A and baby B.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“No, if you refuse to name them I will.”

“What about Nathaniel?” I asked.

“Um, Papa’s named Nathaniel?” She asked.

“Well, Aaron has his two sons after him and Nathaniel has no one named after him. We often call him Nate and the kids call him papa. I think he’d be honored.”

“But what about your dad?”

“Dad gave me my middle name which we can use again.”

“Nathaniel and what? We can’t call the other one baby a.”

“Gabriel.” Craig said.

“Gabriel?” I asked.

“I didn’t tell Christopher about that name, but I’ve liked the name Gabriel, I think this little cutie is a Gabriel. I’m not sure what Jacey did but she looked worried there a bit.”

“Gabriel and Nathaniel..” I said.

“Gabriel Sage Walker and Nathaniel Sage Walker Hanson.” Emily said.

I smiled. “You remembered I liked Sage.”

“I did. I think it fits.”

Craig and I rolled the idea around for several minutes before declaring them named.

“We should call Casey, he’s going to be sad he missed their birth.”

I called his number and he answered really quickly and sounded stressed as hell and that was weird.

“Casey? Why are you awake? I didn’t interrupt did I?”

Gabriel cried out because Emily moved him and he’d lost his latch apparently.

“What was that?” Casey asked.

“The reason I was calling, uh..congratulations you have two more godsons.”

“Wait, you’re at the hospital?”

“We are now, they were actually born at home, paramedics showed up a little bit after they arrived.”

“What room?”

“304.”

It wasn’t three minutes later he was walking in. “Why are you here?!?!”

“Katrina called she was having pains and came here, she wanted us to come down to make sure. Now hand me, damn there’s two of them I don’t know which one!”

We giggled and Craig handed Nathaniel to him first and then Gabriel, even telling him their names. He was beaming from ear to ear and so happy.

“How are you?”

“I’m ok now. They didn’t come out crying like the other two, Gabriel was very quiet for a while. Scared us both.”

“Yeah, big bad Zac cried on that one.”

“I did not.” I said.

“Bullshit, Aaron sent me the picture to prove it.”

“It’s fine, I cried remember?” Casey asked.

“Where is Robert?”

“He is right here, Katrina told me to come see them. I guess my twitchiness was showing. Alright Casey, fork over a baby.”

He let him take Gabriel who was quiet as a mouse but Nathaniel was getting fussy.

“Feeding time?”

She looked at the clock. “Close enough I suppose, it’s close to 4.”

“Where’s the bottles?”

“Um, there attached to my body, so you’ll have to hand him over.”

“Your breastfeeding them both? Good lord you are brave.”

Emily smiled and took him back but it didn’t take but a few minutes before Gabriel was whining too. So, Robert reluctantly handed him to her. She’d gotten the same little pillow that she’d gotten for Maddi, it was a dream. They returned to check on Katrina and when they were both fed I laid them together on the bed and got a picture. I couldn’t believe I had twin sons, they truly were identical and it looked like Mommy won on the eyes again.  I then sent out a massive text message to inform both sides of the family that the newest arrivals had been born on January 1^st, 2017.

There was no better way to ring in the new year than to welcome these two gifts.  I got replies from Jessica and Mac, but I assumed everyone else was asleep. Christopher called to make sure we were ok and to let me know that our older two were fine. After that we settled in for a short visit here, how we were getting home was beyond me. I think Craig and I alternated diaper changes and helping and at some point I swore Casey came in again.