Chapter One

"Are you excited honey?" Eddie asked Lila as they headed to the maternity clinic at Lutheran Hospital for Lila's first ultrasound.

"Yes, I can't wait to hear the baby's heartbeat and get a little picture to show off," Lila replied.

"How's the sickness?" Over the last couple of weeks, Lila's morning sickness had increased to several times a day.

"It's the same," Lila sighed. "I throw up, I eat, and then I throw up what I ate. I'm going to talk to the doctor."

"It's normal, sweetie," Eddie soothed. "It really is. I was so sick when I was having your brother…a little less with you. It's the mark of a healthy baby but if you feel like it's too much for you, then talk to your doctor."

Lila signed in and sat down. She looked around, most of the women had their husbands there. Lila sighed and Eddie took her hand. "It's the life we chose, sweetheart," Eddie reminded her. "We chose men who chose a life of service. When I was sick, you barely remember that, but I had my very first radiation appointment and I was scared stiff. Dad promised me he was going to be there for me but who ended up taking me, Grandpa Frank."

"God bless, Grandpa Frank," Lila laughed. "You know he offered to go to the childbirth class to refresh his memory incase Steven is at a fire when the baby is born?"

Eddie laughed, "For ninety-four he is feisty. I think that's how he's still with us."

Lila smile, "I know he's getting worse, he's on the oxygen more now and…do you think he'll see the baby born?"

"Lila the doctors haven't even dared to put an estimate on Grandpa Frank. He will be here long after the baby comes, believe you me."

"Lila Tenney," the nurse called out.

Lila and Eddie stood up and followed her. Lila was weighed, "111 lbs, you have gained five pounds since your last appointment."

"That's a little much isn't it, considering I can't keep food down?" Lila asked.

"Well, it's not just food, honey," Eddie replied. "Let's just relax." Eddie shook her head. She's her father's daughter.

Lila laid down on the bed and waited for the sonogram technician to come in. "I have to pee so bad," Lila laughed. "I hate this part."

"Yes, but in a few minutes you can hear the baby's heart and see it's little body. Dad is so excited to see the picture."

"Steven is too, his parents weren't as excited as we hoped."

"You two haven't been married that long, honey," Eddie reasoned. "But if you have this gift, and it is a gift, then you accept it like you promised when you got married."

"Hello, Lila, I'm Misty, I'll be doing you ultrasound today." Misty was very tall, with flowing dark hair. She made Eddie and Lila feel smaller than they actually were. "Lie back and we'll get a look at that little one."

Misty put the cold gel on Lila's belly and slowly started to move the transducer around. "There we go," she smiled when she found the baby. Misty studied the screen, "Oh boy!"

"What?" Lila held tight to Eddie's hand in fear. "What's wrong?"

Misty smiled, "Nothing at all. I'm just going to get Dr. Mianni."

Lila looked up at Eddie, tears already streaming down her cheeks. "Mom, there's something wrong with it," Lila hiccupped.

"Hush, now," Eddie comforted not for the first time when Lila got upset wishing Jamie was there. "It's all right, baby. She said nothing was wrong, just relax.'

A minute later, the doctor came in. "I'm sorry, Lila. Misty is a newer tech and she wanted me to confirm what she saw. There's no reason to cry."

The doctor turn the screen, "Do you see that little spot there with the blink? That is your baby and its heart beat."

"Is it okay?" Eddie asked for Lila.

"It's fine," Dr. Mianni replied. "And so is this baby. You're having twins, Lila."

Lila went to crying from fear to crying for joy in less than a minute. The doctor turned on the sound and two very strong heartbeats filled the room.

"Oh my God, Mom!" Lila gasped. "Oh my God!"

"Congratulations, baby," Eddie replied kissing her head. "Can we have two copies of the pictures?"

Lila looked at her mom, "What? Dad wants to start a book for the baby or babies as the case is now. He is so excited."

Lila smiled and chatted with Eddie while the doctor did the internal exam. "You are right on target for twins, Lila. I know the morning sickness is a little intense, that's because of the double hormones so if it gets too bad, call my office."

"I was thinking it was a little much, but now it makes more sense," Lila laughed, sitting up and taking the copies of the pictures.

On the way out she made her appoint for the next month then headed out with Eddie to go to lunch. "Do you want to stop by the firehouse to see Steven?" Eddie asked.

"No, I think I'll wait until we're at home to tell him. You want to stop by 1 PP?"

"Oh no, I have had enough of that place to last me a lifetime. The last time I was there working…."

Lila squeezed Eddie's hand, "I know Mom. I know…"

Eddie and Lila had a celebratory lunch, then headed for home. "Well, how is our girl?" Frank asked. "The baby okay?"

"Oh yes, everything is just fine," Eddie replied wanting to tell Jamie and Frank at the same time. "What time did Jamie say he was going to be home?"

"He said six," Frank replied. "What's for dinner tonight?"

"Beef stew," Eddie replied. "The Irish kind." She got to work on carrots and potatoes to put in the stew. Once it was on the heat, Eddie sat down in the living room with Frank. "How you feeling, Dad?"

"Good, I had a good day. Joey's Molly came by and Linda was here for a bit too. Jack is so happy with Rita and I think she will fit in just right as the Commissioner's wife. Those my dear are huge shoes to fill."

Eddie blushed, "I'm not that much of an asset to him. Jamie is the one they all look at."

"Jamie is who he is because of you," Frank told Eddie. She smiled and looked at the clock, almost six.

"You're anxious to tell him something," Frank laughed. "Or is it to show off your grandbaby? Trust me there is nothing like it, I've been a grandpa five times over. I can't wait for my great-grandchild."

Eddie smiled, 'I'm anxious because he's been working too late again."

"He's fine, he's strong and fine," Frank smiled and went back to watching the news.

Jamie let himself in the backdoor at 6:02. He was excited to see the picture of his first grandchild. "Eddie! Dad!" Jamie called not seeing either one in the kitchen. "In here," Eddie called hurrying to her purse to get the picture out.

Jamie pulled her in as she passed the door way and kissed her. "Hello, Beauty…" He laughed and snuggled her close.

"Hello…What did you do?" Eddie laughed.

"I screwed up big time, forgot to get the milk," Jamie laughed. "Nothing, I'm just excited to see that picture."

Eddie pushed open the kitchen door, sure enough, the milk was on the table. "I was going to get it when you ambushed me. Sit down and I'll show you both together."

Jamie sat down on the couch and kicked off his shoes. He removed his leg brace and rubbed the skin under his sock. "Sore?" Frank asked.

"Irritated," Jamie replied. "It's no big deal."

All of the remaining deficits and problems from his stroke Jamie considered to be "no big deal."

Eddie returned the ultrasound picture. "Okay…here you go… This here is his or her little head, and that's the spine forming…and that…" She pointed to Baby B. "Is the other little head and part of a shoulder…"

"Wait a minute…" Frank said sitting up as Jamie's face broke into a huge smile.

"Twins," Eddie confirmed with a smile of her own. "Lila is a little freaked but she knows she'll have all the support in the world."

Jamie kissed Eddie's lips, "This Sunday, we're ordering out for Indian!"

A few blocks away Lila set the table and waited for Steven to come home while she roasted a chicken. She put her hands on her belly and smiled, "Hi, babies…Mommy is so excited to meet you in six months and Daddy is going to be so excited too. Whether you are boys, girls, or one of each, it won't matter to us. We are going to love you…" She heard Steven's key in the door.

Lila turned and smiled at her husband when he stepped inside. "There's my handsome man," she sighed and moved over to hug him. "Oh, you smell like smoke."

Steven nodded, "Two alarm on the other side of town. No one hurt, we even got the furry critters out. Those signs, please save my dogs, they work…"

Steven dropped into the big old leather chair they bought second hand at a yard sale. "How was your day?"

"It was good. Mom and I went to my doctor's appointment and to lunch," Lila replied. "And we made some lists of things we'll need to get for the when the babies are born." Lila handed the list to Steven.

"A new house…" Steven began reading, not comprehending yet that Lila had said "babies". "Two cribs, two bouncy seats…Honey, I know your parents really want to help with the baby but it doesn't need a duplicate of everything at their house!"

Lila started to laugh, "I guess I should have said four cribs, and four bouncy seats…" Lila draped her arms around Steven's shoulders holding the ultrasound pictures in front of him.

"Is this from today? Did the doctor say the baby was okay?" Steven asked rubbing his wife's arms.

"She said they are both fine," Lila said softly. "We're having twins, Steven."

If Steven wasn't sitting down, he'd have fallen down. "Tw…Twins? Like two babies at once?"

Steven wasn't sure he was ready for one child, especially one being born into the Reagan family and all that entailed.

"Yes, I was surprised too." She moved around and sat on Steven's lap. "Mom offered to help of course. She was telling Dad and Grandpa tonight and we'll tell the family on Sunday. How do you feel about this?"

Steven sighed, "Doesn't really matter does it? We are having twins…and that is a blessing it's just…"

"Just?" Lila asked trying not to get upset until she listened.

"We are just married, we are just starting out. We don't have money for things like a new house and everything. You won't be able to go back to school for a while…we won't' have two incomes for years."

Lila nodded, "I know. I'm sure we can get some things second hand. We don't have to get a house, we can just get a bigger apartment."

Steven smiled and rubbed Lila's arms, "Yeah, we can do this…I just panicked for a minute but we can do this."

Lila kissed Steven softly on the lips, "We can do anything together. We're having twins, Steven. In six months we will have two boys, two girls, or one of each…we'll have a family."

Steven smiled and kissed Lila's head, "Yes, we will. Our own little family, Lila. Our own perfect little family."

A/N: Two new little Reagans, well Tenneys, are on their way. Are Lila and Steven really ready for this? I hope you enjoy this installment as much as the previous three. Special thanks to Lawslave, Werks, and Yanks20 for assisting me with various portions of this story. This proved to be more challenging than other stories and their feedback was helpful along the way!