As usual, I do not own the Energency! characters. All credit goes to Jack Webb, R.A. Cinader, and Universal Studios.
This fanfic was a lot of fun to write. Honestly, I don't see it as me writing a story. These characters, that I know sos well from watching the show, have a life of their own inside my head. I merely record that life. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Chapter 1: Is it time yet?
May 10, 1984
It's 3 o'clock, and Dixie is just getting off work. These days, she comes in at 7 am and works an 8-hour shift. It's Kel's responsibiloity to get the twins off to daycare at 10 before he comes in at 11. Dixie picks them up at 4, and tries to have dinner ready when Kel gets home after his 8-hour. They usually eat late, but Dixie would rather eat late and as a family than eat early but seperate. Dixie and Kel try to get wekends off, aso they can spend more time with their kids, and the rest of Rampart's staff is great about filling in when need be. On the rare occasion that both Dixie and Kel absolutely have to work on a weekend, Roy and Joanne help them out.
Dixie changes out of her uniform and drivves home to drop off her bag. At 3:45, she's back in the car and heading for the daycare center.
hen she arrives, it's 3:52. She walks in to sign the twins out. Abby, as usual, is ready to go.
"Mama!" she calls, running over. Dixie catches her in one arm and swings her up onto her hip as she finishes signing them out. She kisses Abby's head, then sets her down.
"Go get your backpack, sweetheart, and find your brother," Dixie says, correctly assuming that Andy is outside running around.
Abby scampers off, leaving Dixie to smile after her daughter. She can't believe it's been nearly three years since the twins were born. Their third birthday was in four days!
Dixie had the celebration all planned out. All four DeSotos would be there, of course. Johnny was coming, and Marco, and Chet. Hank and Emily Stanley would be there. Mike Morton and Joe Early were coming, along with Mike Stoker, his wife Beth, and their daughter Danielle. Dixie had timed the party perfectly. Noon to 4, Sunday, May 13th. It wasn't the twins' actual birthday, but she had had to plan around 8 different work schedules. She was lucky to have found a day so close to their birthday.
Everything had worked out, thank goodness. It was a weekend, so she and Kel were off anyway. Mike Stoker got off shift at 8 am Sunday morning, and Joe got off at 11. Johnny and Marco had a 24-hour starting at 8 am Monday, and Roy and Chet didn't have to work until Tuesday. Hank Stanley, now that he was a Battalion Cheif, had a pretty flexible schedule and was able to get Sunday off. Only Mike Morton would have to leave the party a little early to make his 3 pm shift.
Dixie is jerked from her thoughts by the weight of two children, one on each hand.
"Hi mama!" Andy says excitedly. She is usually at work before Kel wakes them up in the morning, and they are always happy to see her when she comes to get them.
"Ready to go?" Dixie asks.
"Yes," Abby replies, holding out her arms. Dixie picks her up and grasps Andy's hand. They walk to the car.
As Dixie is getting them settled in their car seats, Andy asks, "Is my birthday soon, mama?"
She sighs, smiling. One twin or the other has been asking the same question every day for the past two weeks. "Yes, honey," she answers. "Very soon."
Later
Kel unlocks the front door at exactly 7:19 pm. He walks in, calling out to the house, "I'm home!"
"Daddy!" two voices shout, as two little bodies come barreling out of the kitchen. He catches one in each arm, swinging them up into a three-person hug.
With one twin in each arm, he heads for the kitchen. Dixie is just finishing scooping buttered pasta into two bowls for the twins. She turns as Kel walks in.
"Anything exciting happen after I got off?" Dixie asks her standard question.
"Not really," he replies after kissing her. "A 60 year old guy who broke his wrist falling off his granddaughter's bunk bed." He sets the twins down.
She chuckles. "Dinner's ready and waiting. There're carrots in the oven."
"Great," he says. "I'll take them out and get them settled."
Kel heads for the dining room, the twins in tow. He helps them up into booster chairs, then walks back into the kitchen. He crosses paths with Dixie, who's carrying out pasta and carrots for the twins. He dishes himself up, and then she comes back.
He opens his arms, and wraps her into a hug. She lays her head on his shoulder, hugging him back. He kisses the top of her head, then lets her go. He heads into the dining room with the twins. She follows a minute later, and dinner begins.
To Be Continued...