I wrote this as a belated birthday gift for several members of the S/T fandom. This story is dedicated to them.

Also, this takes place after the previous chapter, Baby Talk.

Friday, 24 August 1923

Tom was sitting at his desk at the newspaper when he heard a commotion towards the front of the office. Looking up, he saw his ten year old nephew Kevin talking to Miss Tiernan, the newspaper's secretary, his arms waving about. Tom stood up just as she pointed his nephew in his direction. Kevin ran to his uncle, and began talking really quickly, making his words incomprehensible.

"Calm down boyo!" Tom said. "What's the matter?"

"Aunt Syb's in labour. Aunt Katie ordered me to fetch you and bring her to her place."

Tom's eyes widened on hearing the news. He quickly gathered up his belongings and asked Miss Tiernan to tell his editor where he was. Then he and Kevin dashed back to the street their flat was on.

As he hurried back home, Tom's thoughts raced. Please let them be safe. The baby's not due for another month. Could the doctor have made a mistake? Oh God! If something happens to Sybil…

Before he knew it, they were back on his street. Instead of going to Tom and Sybil's building, Kevin led his uncle to his Aunt Katie's across the street. Upon entering his sister's flat, Tom was charged at by his daughter, clearly excited about everything that was happening around her. He picked her up and kissed her on her forehead. Seeing his sister, Tom spoke, his anxiety clear in his voice.

"Katie, why am I here? I need to be with Sybil right now."

She raised her hands in a conciliatory gesture. "Calm down, Tommy. The doctor and Sybil decided it would be best for you not to be there." She paused briefly before continuing. "She's about a month early and the doctor's worried that something might be wrong. Also, Rosie was being a handful and didn't want to leave her mother's side. Kevin only got her over here by promising her a sweet and a piggy back ride."

Looking at his dark haired little girl in his arms, he said, "Were you trying to help mammy?"

She nodded gravely and said, "Mammy hurting."

"I know, Rosie. She's having the baby. Are you excited about being a big sister?"

Rosie nodded and hugged her daddy tight.

Turning back to his sister, Tom asked, "Are you sure I can't help Sybil? I was with her when she had Rosie. I really want to be there when this one comes into the world."

Kathleen shook her head. "I know, Tommy, but Sybil thought it would be best if you stayed with Rosie." She paused as Tom put Rosie back on the floor, watching as she scampered to the blocks on the other side of the room. Lowering her voice, she said "I think Sybil's worried."

Tom's eyes widened in fear. Seeing this, Kathleen quickly continued. "Not for herself, for the baby. I promise you, big brother, that I will have Kevin bring you over as soon as we know what's going on. Besides, I agree that it's best for you to watch Rosie."

"You're going over then?"

"Yes. I'll watch over Sybil for you."

He hugged his sister tight and whispered, "Thank you."

She whispered back, "I know what she means to you, Tommy. Just watch over your daughter. I'll let you know what's happening as soon as possible."

With that, she left her flat and walked across the street to Tom and Sybil's. Tom sat down on his sister's couch, not sure what to do while he waited. After a few minutes, Rosie totted over to him and tried to pull herself up onto the couch. Seeing her struggle, Tom picked his little girl up and placed her on his lap. Deciding to focus on her, he asked, "Did you enjoy your sweet and piggyback ride?"

She nodded vigorously. "Yes. Can I have a story?"

Tom smiled at his daughter and replied, "Yes, love."

Putting aside his fears, Tom began to tell his daughter about a beautiful lady who wore trousers, had the ability to heal people, and fought battles for the man she loved.

—

Ten hours later

Tom stood in the doorway of the bedroom he shared with his wife at a complete loss for words. The sight before him took his breath away. It was beyond his wildest dreams. There was his wife, sweat glistening on her face and neck, her hair all over the place, her birthing gown clinging to her from a mixture of the humidity outside and her exertions from the past ten hours. Yet, she never looked more beautiful to him as she sat up in their bed, beaming down at their children.

Twins, he thought. We have twins. Two babies…oh wow!

As he looked on the incredible scene before him, Sybil was staring at her sons, feeling her love for them overwhelm her. She was stunned. Happy beyond what she thought was possible, but still stunned. Two, identical little boys. Thank God Ma had the presence of mind to order Kathleen to go into the linen closet and fetch the green blanket. We wouldn't be able to tell them apart if she hadn't.

Sybil looked up at Tom then and smiled. "Darling, come and meet your sons."

His eyes widened at her words. "Sons? They're both boys?"

She chuckled. "Yes. Come and meet the little troublemakers."

He slowly walked over to the bed, and carefully sat down, not wanting to disturb Sybil and the babies. Tom just gazed at his sons, looking back and forth between them, noticing how much they looked alike.

Tom couldn't help the question that passed his lips, his voice filled with worry. "How are we going to tell them apart?"

Sybil laughed. "I think your mother figured that out for us. The one wrapped in the green blanket is our youngest. Our middle child is in the white blanket." She paused for a moment, then continued. "Would you like to hold him?"

Tom beamed. "Yes!" he exclaimed before gently picking up his second child. He was amazed at how tiny he was, and it made him worry.

"Are they well? They did arrive early."

She smiled at the concern in his voice. "Yes, quite well. They're both a little over five pounds and their lungs are developed. You haven't heard them cry yet. They are definitely Bransons."

He laughed heartily at that. They sat in silence for a little while before he brought up their next hurdle.

"What are we going to name them?"

"Well, I still want to name one Francis after your father, like I told you the night of Rosie's birthday. I think the older of the two."

"That's the one I'm holding."

"Yes." Seeing the look on her husband's face, she asked, "Are you all right, darling?"

"It's a lot to take in. I was only expecting one baby, but this is beyond words."

Sybil looked up nervously at her husband. "But you are happy about them?"

Tom looked at her like she was nuts. "Of course! It's a surprise, but I love surprises."

"Good, because I'm absolutely in love with them. Now, let's get back to the matter at hand – names!"

He smiled at her. "We're agreed on Francis with this one," he said, nodding his head towards the newborn in his arms. "What about Michael for the other?"

"Michael Branson," Sybil said, trying the name out to see if she liked it. Smiling, she said, "It's perfect. But why Michael?"

"After my cousin," he said softly.

Sybil shook her head. "I'm sorry, darling. I can't believe I forgot."

"Nonsense, love. You've just spent ten hours in labour and gave birth to two babies. You're allowed to forget one or two things. Or a dozen."

She laughed at that. "What about middle names? Do you have any ideas?"

Tom shook his head. "None whatsoever." Stealing a glance at his wife, he noticed a look in her eye. "Do you have any ideas for middle names?" he asked.

"I'd like to use the Irish version of your name for Francis's middle name. You're the best man I know and I like how it sounds with Francis. I would use it for both of them, but I want to make sure that they each have their own separate identity."

Tom gave her a small smile, touched by her words. He leaned in carefully, making sure not to jostle Francis, and kissed Sybil on the cheek.

Sighing, he said, "That still leaves Michael without a middle name."

She nodded. "Any family names we could use?"

Tom thought for a moment, going through family names in his head, when his mind thought of his maternal grandfather. Eóghan. Michael Eóghan. I like the sound of that. I hope Sybil does too.

"What about Eóghan, after my grandfather?"

"Michael Eóghan – that's perfect," Sybil replied enthusiastically.

Right after that, Tom's mother Máire came into the room. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Rosie just woke up and she wants to meet the baby. Her words. I didn't tell her there were two."

Sybil lit up even more when she heard her daughter's name. "Let her come in. I want to introduce her to her brothers."

Máire turned and quickly came back in with her granddaughter. Rosie walked into the room in her white cotton nightgown, excited to finally meet her little brother or sister. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw not one, but two babies, one in each of her parents' arms.

Tom smiled at his daughter and said, "Come here, a stór. Come and meet your little brothers."

She scampered towards the bed and pulled herself, with her grandmother's help, onto the bed, and maneuvered her way in between her parents. Rosie looked back and forth at her brothers, obviously delighted and confused about why there were two.

Noticing this, Sybil said, "We know we only told you that you would have one brother or sister, but we got a little surprise and got two instead."

The little girl nodded and said, "Two's always better than one. Like biscuits."

The adults all chuckled. "Exactly what I was thinking, mo mhúirnín," replied Tom.

"Do my two newest grandsons have names yet?" asked Máire.

Both Sybil and Tom beamed at her. Tom spoke first. "This one is Francis Tómas Branson." He paused for a moment, noticing his mother's breath catch and tears come to her eyes. "Sybil chose the name."

Máire beamed at her daughter-in-law, touched by her thoughtfulness. When she showed up at Máire's door over four years ago, Máire would have never thought that Sybil would be the daughter-in-law she would be closest to. Now, the two spent so much time together and were considered a formidable pair.

Sybil then spoke. "And this one, our youngest, is Michael Eóghan Branson."

With that, Rosie leaned forward and placed a kiss on Michael's forehead, then turned and kissed Francis's forehead.

"Hi brothers. I have so much to tell you." With that, Rosie began to talk to her brothers, only stopping as she fell asleep nestled between her parents.