Chapter 1: There's one more

It was 2:16 when Gail had to tell Holly it was time. Actually that there was no more time.

"Babe … Baby … Hols, wake up." But, no movement. Gail lightly shook Holly's shoulder but the woman did not move or wake. All Gail could feel was pain, adrenaline and fear of what to come.

"HOLLY!", the blond yelled.

Holly immediately sat up straight in bed. Still foggy of her sleep and surprised by the sudden wake, she started rambling. "What is wrong? What happened? Is Ben crying? Are you.."

The cop interrupted her wife and said, "The baby is coming! We have to go now. I've been awake for tree hours now and I think it is time."

Holly was startled. "Gail, honey, why did you not wake me up earlier? I could have helped you get some sleep or food or anything." Holly's mind wanted to ramble again but she had to keep herself together. She sighed and calmed herself, within two seconds she got herself together (a little).

"Holly, we have to go now. I have waited for hours not trying to burden you but now I can not wait any longer. It is only getting worse."

"Are you sure babe?" Holly asked with fear in her voice. "I mean you're only 8 months pregnant. That is a little early."

This time Gail found Holly a bit to calm, at the moment Holly needed to be on the same level. The level that said; 'Let's go, get your shoes! Where are the keys! I don't care about speeding. Go, go, GOOOO!'

"YES, I am sure!" she said angrily. "We have to go, I can't..." Gail started to look at Holly with puppy-eyes full of pain, helplessness and tears. "I know it is to early but somethings happening. The baby is ready."

"Okay. Let's get going. I'm sorry." Holly got up and went to the other side. She helped Gail out of bed and down the stairs onto the couch. "Babe, I'm going to call Steve and Traci so they can meet us at the hospital to pick up Ben. Let me grab some clothes for us, wake him up and get the car on the road. Just stay put."

As Holly went upstairs to wake up their two year old son Benjamin and grab clothes, Gail was mumbling to herself. "Well it's not that I'm going anywhere HOLLY. I am stuck to this couch BECAUSE the baby is coming and I'm in PAIN!"

"What was it you said?" Holly yelled from upstairs.

As soon as she got Ben she raced down the stairs got the keys of the car and dragged everybody to the hospital.

xxxx

At 6:48 the doctor put the newborn on Gails chest and told the parents that it was a girl. Holly hovered over her wife and baby. There were happy tears across her face. She felt so proud of Gail who was al sweaty and exhausted. She had every right to be. She just gave birth to their baby girl, plus Holly knew how it was to give birth.

"Gail we have a girl! I am so happy. You did great. I love you." Holly first kissed Gail on the lips then her temple. Gail looked at Holly and then back to the baby.

"I love you to nerd! She is so beautiful and tiny, I am so grateful that she is okay with being born to early."

Holly wanted to respond but the doctor cut her off. "Okay mommy, are you ready for the next one? You better be because we can not wait anymore."

The nurse took the baby girl to get cleaned up and checked out. Holly had the feeling she just had a heart attack. "What?" she asked a little perplexed.

Gail just looked out in front of her not believing a word the doctor was saying. Holly saw the terrified look in her eyes, of both the news and the fact that she had to go true all that pain again.

"There's one more?!" Gail said. She did not know what to do next and started panicking. "No, that is not possible. We already have a baby. The nurse just took her. You must be mistaken." Every word that came out of her mouth was a little louder then the one before. She started moving and waving her arms. Gail wanted to get up and run.

Holly knew she had to hold it together and help Gail out of her panic attack. She took Gail's hand and caressed her wife's face with her other hand. "It is okay baby, it's okay. I'm here. You can do this, and I am right here to support you, help you and hold your hand."

"Holly there is another baby. We only ordered one. The doctor never said anything about a second baby."

The doctor interrupted the conversation. "Yeah it seems that the second baby wasn't visible on the echo. That can happen. It is rare but you guys are apparently one of those rare cases."

"Apparently" Gail said with a hint of anger.

xxxx

When the clock turned 14:00 visiting hours started. Steve, Traci, Leo, Olivia, their daughter of three, and Ben walked in the room. Holly was sitting in a chair next to Gail who was sleeping. She was exhausted.

"Well hello there Mom!" Steve said. Ben who was in Steve his arms started asking for his mom as soon as he saw his parents. Holly who was holding one of the babies stood up and went over to the visitors.

"Hey you guys! Meet Mathilda."

"Wow! She is really tiny." said Leo.

"Baby, baby!" yelled Ben. "Momma, baby!"

"Yes, it's a baby." Holly said to her son. Ben started moving around in Steve his arms and wanted to get close to Holly and the newborn. Steve put him on the ground and Holly showed Ben the baby. Ben was really nice to the baby. He pointed to her but never touched the tiny bundle. Holly looked at the two of them and smiled.

Because Ben had been yelling baby, Gail had woken up. She sat straight and said hello. Ben saw his mother moving and ran to the bed. "Mommy, baby!"

"Yes, little man. It's a baby. Your baby sister." Gail said rather tired but with a huge and proud smile across her face.

Holly smiled towards Gail and looked her in the eye. Gail nodded because she knew what Holly was implying with that look she gave her. Holly handed Mathilda over to Steve, who's smile grew even bigger, and picked up Ben. First she gave him a big kiss on the cheek before putting him next to her wife in bed. "Mommy also kisses." said Ben.

"Yes, monster kisses!" said Holly.

Ben started kissing Gail and Gail returned the favor while hugging her son. Ben stayed in Gail her arms but looked over at Holly. He pointed to Gail and said, "Momma, monster kisses." Holly knew what he meant and started smiling before she leant over and gave Gail a quick peck on the lips. She kissed the forehead of her son and looked back at Gail. They both smiled at each other.

"You did great babe! I am so proud of you and I love you and our family so, so much!" Holly said before leaning in again and kissing Gail. This time the kiss lasted longer followed by two more little pecks before resting their foreheads against each other. Steve, who was showing the baby to both Leo and Olivia, turned his head to look at his sister and her family. Then he looked back over to Traci and winked. They were both so happy for the mothers.

Right after that moment the doctor walked in. Gail sat a little more straight and Holly took place in the chair with little Ben on her lap. Steve handed the baby over to Gail and took Sophia from Traci. The doctor began while everybody was eagerly waiting for what he was about to say. Gail and Holly knew it had to be about the other baby. Steve and Traci thought it was about Mathilda.

"Well, we did all the tests and the baby is fine. She is rather small but that is nothing to be worried about. She has to gain little less than a pound and then she can get out of the incubator and go home with you guys. I think that is about in a week or so. She is a strong little fighter."

Steve and Traci looked at each other. They did not get it at all. The baby was right here in the room. Gail looked over and saw their confused faces. "We have twins. Two girls. Mathilda is fierce and kinda dominated. She also loves cameras because during echo's she always blocked the view to see the other baby."

"What?" said Traci. "Twins!"

"Yep!" Holly answered. "Surprise!"

"A surprise indeed." was al Steve could say.

"So, she will be fine?" Gail asked the doctor. "We can take her home next week?"

"Yes, probably. If she gains some weight, which I am sure she will."

After some questions and answers the doctor left.

"Well that is something. So two girls?" Traci asked.

"Yes, girls. It was quit the shock but we could not be any happier!" replied Gail.

"Yeah now we are! The moment they told us Gail had to get ready for the next one she panicked."

"Anyone would panic, lunchbox! Giving birth was hell and as soon as I saw our Mathilda I forgot about that and it was al worth it. Until the doctor shared the news and told me I had to go true that once again. Suddenly al the pain came back."

"But now we have two babies for the price of one babe." Holly bantered and gave Gail her lopsided grin who had to laugh at her respons.

"Yup! And now I can't wait to get us al home." Gail said while looking all lovely in Holly's eyes.

"So.." Steve interrupted, "What's baby number two's name?"

"Yeah? What is her name?" asked Traci.

"Can I name the baby? What about Leah, that is like Leo but for girls. Or maybe Lisa, Laura is nice as well."

"Sorry buddy, but the baby already has a name. Maybe you can name the next one." Holly said.

"Their will be no next one Hol!" Gail answered rather rapidly. "I am never giving birth again!" This made everybody laugh. As soon as Holly wanted to reply, Steve interrupted them. "The name please!".

"Ow yeah, it is Alex." Gail told them.

Holly continued the conversation, "Well because we did not wanted to know the sex we chose two names. Mathilda for a girl and Alex for a boy. But now we get to use both names. Alex fits for a boy and a girl."

"Alex is like a really cool and tough name. And our baby girl is a fighter. She will be home in a week 'cause she is cool and tough." Gail said hoping the five of them would be home next week.

"Yes, just like her Mommy." Holly answered while caressing Gail's jaw.