Bay hugged Ty good bye and went looking for clothes. She spent the next two hours going from shop to shop, picking up items here and there. Her mind was not on the task at hand though. She kept thinking of the recent news about the twins. How would she manage? She had no experience whatsoever around kids and now she was going to have two. Bay longed more than ever to sit down with Regina and Kathryn and pour her heart out. Her phone beeped and Bay saw it was a message from Ty.
HOW LONG WILL YOU BE
Bay replied
ON WAY
She drove back to the base and as soon as she got inside the house Ty called her to come to the living room. She found him sitting at the computer.
"Bay, you're here. That's good. I made a few calls and got your families together. They're waiting for our call."
Bay grinned and hugged him.
"Really? Thank you so much!"
Ty opened up Skype and made the call. Soon Bay could see everyone around the Kennish living-room. John, Kathryn, Regina, Angelo, Daphne, Emmett and little Abby with her crazy curls all standing up.
Kathryn and Regina looked worried "Ty, Bay what's the emergency? We're so worried!"
Bay settled on Ty's lap and he put his arm around her waist, resting his hand on her belly.
Her eyes moistened when she saw the big Christmas tree in the background. Ty felt her getting emotional and hugged her to him tighter. He looked at the screen.
"Bay and I have some news we would like to share with you. You want to tell them, sweetheart?"
"I'm pregnant."
Bay looked at the screen and smiled at the joy that erupted on the other side. Everyone was hugging each other and talking at the same time. Everyone but one. Bay didn't miss the brief shadow that passed across Emmett's face. Neither did Ty, whom she could feel tensing. Daphne looked at Emmett and sighed. Bay couldn't believe her eyes. How long would he carry a torch for her? He'd been with Daphne ever since she returned home from college one year ago and still he seemed not to be fully over Bay. Emmett regained his composure and managed a smile.
"Where's Toby?" Bay asked.
"Touring with his band and getting up to no good." John said rolling his eyes "We'll tell him when he calls."
Suddenly the face of seven year old Abby took over the entire screen.
"I'm going to be an auntie?" She tapped her hands across the screen in excitement.
Angelo and Regina laughed and pulled her back.
"You sure are." Angelo said.
"Bay, I'm so happy for you guys" Regina said "Guess Kathryn and I will have to fight about who gets to babysit."
Ty smiled "Maybe you won't."
Regina and Kathryn looked shocked "What do you mean, we won't. You're coming back, right?"
"Yes we are and we're having twins." Ty said and grinned.
Now everyone looked astounded on the other side. Then more cheers erupted. Bay and Ty smiled at the chaos in the Kennish house. Regina looked at Kathryn.
"Are there any twins in your family? I don't know of any in ours."
"No, no one has twins. Ty?"
"I wouldn't really know. I'll ask Sofia when I call her later." He said.
Bay took his hand and squeezed it. She pressed her other hand on the screen.
"I miss you all so much."
Kathryn's eyes misted over "We miss you too, honey!"
After a bit more of chit chat and back and forth excitement and a lot of promises to speak the next day they ended the call. Bay hugged Ty.
"What an excitement! Thank you for organizing this. I'm a bit tired now."
"Yes, they're certainly a handful. Go and rest, I need to get back to work after I send an email to Sofia, Laura and Marco"
Bay retreated to the bedroom where she fell asleep within minutes. She woke up when she heard Ty come back three hours later. She got out of bed and found him dragging a big box into the living room.
"Wow Ty, what's that?"
"This babe, is our Christmas tree. I saw you looking at your parent's one and thought it would be fun to have our own."
"Oh Ty, how wonderful."
"German tradition says that it should only be decorated tomorrow, but we're not Germans so would you like to do it now?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Bay clapped her hands in excitement "Where are the decorations?"
"In the car. I'll bring them in."
Bay and Ty spent the next two hours decorating the tree. Once they finished Ty cooked them diner and they sat in front of the TV to watch a movie. Bay fell asleep in the middle of it and Ty carried her to bed.
The next morning was Christmas Eve and a Saturday so Ty had the day off. They slept in and then had their breakfast next to their new tree. Later they were going to have diner with the other families in the big hall at the base. Bay was drinking her coffee in her pajamas and flipping through the Jacko-o catalogue, Germany's number one supplier of baby goods and Ty was going through some paperwork. They didn't even notice it was past noon.
"Ty, I love this quiet. I guess it will be the last time we'll be able to enjoy a quiet Christmas. Next year we'll have two babies screaming."
Ty took off his reading glasses and smiled at her "Yes, and it'll be even better."
Bay ran her hand across her belly "It will. But right now I want to enjoy the silence."
That's when they heard a knock on the door. Ty and Bay looked at one another and rolled their eyes.
"So much for silence. Ty, can you get it? I'm not dressed."
Ty went to open the door and his mouth opened when he saw Regina, Kathryn and Daphne standing outside. After the hellos and hugging they stepped inside.
Bay stormed into the kitchen "Mum, Regina, Daphne, what are you doing here?"
She threw herself into Kathryn's arms, then hugged Regina and Daphne.
Kathryn looked at her and smiled "After those news yesterday we decided that we couldn't let you spend Christmas without us. Thank God you called early and we were able to make arrangements and catch the evening flight to Frankfurt."
"Oh Mum, I'm so happy. Where's Dad and how did you get past the barrier."
"Thank Senator Kennish for that. He took the opportunity to do some PR of visiting US troops abroad. He'll be here soon, he's meeting with the Commander and the press."
Bay rolled her eyes "Trust Dad not to miss out on that! Where are you staying?"
"At a hotel downtown. But we'll be having diner with you guys and the whole gang."
"And Angelo and Abby?" Bay asked
Regina shook her head "They couldn't make it. It was all so last minute and Abby doesn't have a passport yet. She was so sad that Angelo melted and he is taking her to Disneyworld tomorrow."
"Oh, what a shame, I would have loved to see them."
Kathryn put her arm around Bay as they walked into the living room.
"You look good Bay, you're glowing and your hair is beautiful."
"Thanks Mum, I feel great."
Ty was talking to Daphne and observing the interaction between his wife and her mothers. His heart skipped a beat when he thought of the moments like this he had missed throughout his life. He couldn't wait to show his son or daughter to his siblings after their return to KC. They had been ecstatic at the news yesterday. He turned around when he heard a voice in the kitchen.
"Where's my baby Bay?"
John walked in the room and Bay smiled and ran into his arms.
"Dad, it's so good to see you!"
"You too Bay, you look great. How are my grandchildren doing in there?"
"Growing" Bay said and rolled her eyes.
He walked over to Ty and hugged him.
"Congratulations on your promotion Staff Sergeant Mendosa. I was just talking to your Commanding Officer and he thinks very highly of you."
"Thanks John, good to see you."
John looked up-and-down at Ty.
"So, twins, eh? I was right to park in front of your house all those years ago."
Ty laughed and looked at Bay.
"I'm so happy, you can't even begin to imagine."
John patted his shoulder "I know you are. You're a good guy, Ty."
Bay stood up from the sofa where she was sitting sandwiched between Regina and Kathryn.
"I better go and get changed." She looked at Daphne "Do you want to come with me?"
Daphne nodded and together they walked into the bedroom. Bay closed the door and sat on the bed.
"With all that commotion outside we hardly get to talk. How have you been?" She talked and signed to Daphne.
"Good, Angelo has been working me like crazy ever since I took Sous Chef position in his restaurant."
"And how are things with Emmett?"
Daphne's eyes clouded over briefly.
"Did you see his face when he heard about your baby? Bay, I will always play second fiddle with Emmett and I don't know if I'm ready to do that."
"Oh Daphne, please don't say that. It's not true. Even if it were, there is no way Emmett and I could ever get back together. I'm married and madly in love with my husband."
"I don't know Bay, he spent too much time after you guys split-up pining for you and I think it damaged him for life."
"Maybe it was just a temporary flashback. We all get those. It's not like he talks about me when you're together."
"No, that's true. Oh Bay, I'm so happy for you and to be a Switchter aunt to those babies. They'll be beautiful and I'll spoil them rotten."
Bay hugged her "You'll be the best Switchter aunt the world has ever seen."
Bay got changed and joined her family in the living room again. She chose to wear one of her new maternity dresses. This one was made of red velvet and Bay didn't really have a need for it besides on Christmas day, but heck, she had just been given an enormous cheque, she was entitled to spoil herself.
John had a beer with Ty to discuss the future garage business, then he was gone for the rest of the day to work on more PR strategies.
At 7 they all went into the large room at the end of the base that had been set-up to accommodate all the soldiers and their families for a Christmas meal. John was invited to do an opening speech in his capacity as Senator and afterwards they all sat together to enjoy their meal.
Bay was over the moon at having her family there for the celebration and was all smiles. She opened the dance floor with her Dad, who then swirled her over to Ty, while he continued his dance with Kathryn. Ty then danced with Daphne and John with Regina.
By the time Bay made it back on the dance floor and into Ty's arms she was looking a bit the worse for wear. Ty looked at his watch and saw that it was past 11 PM.
"Sweetheart you look white as a sheet. I think it's time for us to retire for the night."
"Yes, I feel a bit tired."
They walked over to their table and said goodbye with the promise of getting back together for Christmas lunch the following day. Together they made their way to their house.
When they got in Ty dragged Bay straight into the bedroom. He unzipped her dress and she let it fall to the floor.
"Right, off to bed with you" Ty said
"I can't sleep just yet Ty, all the excitement going on today has left me a bit light headed. I need to relax a bit first."
"Ok sweetheart, so what do you want to do? You want to have a bath?"
Bay turned around and placed her arms around his neck.
"Only if you'll have one with me."
Ty kissed her "Of course I will if that's what you want."
He went into the bathroom and ran the bath. While the water was running he went into the kitchen to get a beer, then returned to the bedroom to get undressed. He picked up four candles and went into the bathroom where Bay was waiting for him.
"Awwwghh you brought candles, are you feeling romantic?"
"It's for relaxation purposes Bay, not for romance. You're much to tired for that."
"Never. Can I have both?"
Ty laughed and kissed her nose "No."
He lowered himself into the bath and held out his hand. Bay took it and sat between his legs. She wiggled around trying to get comfortable.
"Ty, we've had tons of baths in here and I remember there being much more space."
"Yes babes, that was before there were four of us in here."
"No, it can't be. Did I get that much bigger?"
Ty tenderly ran his hands across her belly.
"Yes, you did and you have never looked better to me."
"Ty, I'm 12 weeks along, how will I look in four months. I won't be able to walk."
"Then I'll carry you."
He kissed her neck and massaged her shoulders. Bay melted into his hands. She could feel all the tension disappearing. She closed her eyes and lay back. Ty ran his soapy hands across her breasts and circled them slowly. Bay moaned. He continued his ministrations, then moved his hands down to her belly and stroked her bump. Bay put her hands on top of his and they enjoyed their special moment in silence.
After a little while Bay pushed Ty's hands down. He smiled and focused his attention on where she wanted it. Bay moaned again and tried to make more room for him in the bathtub. She turned her head so she could kiss him and he obliged. Bay grabbed his hair and he could feel the shudder through her body. She lifted herself slightly in the bathtub and then leaned against him with a happy sigh.
"Ty, that's exactly what I needed. Shall we continue this in bed?"
"Bay, that's the only thing you're getting tonight. We're going to bed to sleep now."
