Chapter 7: Grandbabies

April 2021

As Tara's due date approached, Atem got moodier. One afternoon, he took a beer out of the fridge and sat down on the couch, nursing it. I am not ready to be a grandpa. he thought.

"Hey Daddy, we need to talk." Tara said walking into the room gently rubbing her bump.

Atem looked up, his eyes tightening at the sight of her belly. "Sure, sweetie. Come on over."

"Daddy, I'm getting really worried about you. What's wrong?" Tara asked as she sat down next to her father.

Atem looked down at his beer for a moment. "It's been harder to be happy for you the further along you've gotten." he said quietly.

"I'm going to be ok, it would have happened sometime in my life anyway." Tara giggled nervously placing her hand on Atem's knee.

"I just didn't expect the little girl that liked unicorns a few years ago is having a baby." Atem looked up at her.

"I will always be your little girl Daddy but now you will have another little girl that will love you just as much"

"I'm just having to rethink my views on you, that's all. You're going to be a mother and-Something wrong?" Atem asked, seeing her wince.

"Please don't worry about me Daddy. I'm fine And the baby is going to be ok too, Sean's a really good boyfriend...No I'm ok nothing's wrong." Tara said caressing her stomach.

"I'm just having to rethink my views on you, that's all. You're going to be a mother and-Something wrong?" Atem asked, seeing her wince.

"Don't start Dad." Tara snapped.

"I'm sorry for snapping Daddy, I think I...um." Tara blushed as she felt wet between her legs.

"Something wrong?" Atem asked sharply, seeing her blush.

"I-I think my water just broke." Tara said going deeper red.

"Hali!" Atem called, getting to his feet. "Relax, honey. We'll get you to the hospital."

"Thank you..." Tara panted as she felt another contraction.

Hali hurried downstairs, seeing the pain Tara was in. "Atem, go get the bag we prepared."

Nodding to his wife Atem dashed off to their room, coming back with a bag that they had packed for their daughter "Ready to go?"

Hali helped her to the car and Aem drove them to the hospital. Hali stepped out of the room to where Atem was waiting. "She doesn't want me in there. My own daughter doesn't want me to be with her when she has her first baby." she sighed, tears in her eyes.

"Its ok Hali, I'm here." Atem said hugging his wife. "She's young and very hormonal at the moment, I'm sure once the baby is born she will want you back in there." Atem assured her.

"It's just hard to see her in pain like this. And hear it." Hali winced as she heard Tara scream in pain.

"See what did I tell you?" Atem smirked. "Good luck sweetheart." Atem whispered.

Joey arrived for support. "How's it going?"

"Hey Joey, good so far I think. Hali has just been called back in." Atem chuckled.

"Yeah screaming is natural. It's just hard to hear your own kid, I bet. I'm not looking forward to my daughters going through that."

"Don't remind me. I still have two more to go through it." Atem sighed.

"You'll do all right. You know it's going to be over eventually. Maybe in a few hours but she'll be happy and healthy."

"She maybe my eldest daughter, but it doesn't stop me from being worried about her."

Hours later, Hali came out, exhausted but smiling. "We have a perfectly healthy baby boy and mother."

"Wait, I thought it was supposed to be a girl." Joey pointed out.

"Well, apparently they didn't get a good enough look. It's definitely a boy. And yes, come on in."

"Wow, I can't believe it, I have a grandson of my own." Atem smiled as he walked into the room.

"Daddy!" Tara smiled widely as she saw him. She was holding a blue bundle of blankets.

"Tara, how are you feeling honey?"

"Tired and sore. Come meet Luca."

"He's beautiful Tara, well done"

"Plus you have red hair." Hali pointed out, touching the baby's cheek. "It's really an interesting look for his light tan skin."

"He's going to be just as handsome as his grandad." Atem chuckled.

"Hey I'm only trying to have a bit of fun."

"Yes, he'll be a lady's man when he grows up."

"I'm so proud of you Tara, you've done so well for someone so young." Atem smiled.

"Thanks, Ddady." Tara smiled.

Pacing back & forth in the living room Loretta muttered to herself "I can't believe Marika is having twins, I wish this wasn't happening."

Marika appeared in the living room, a hand on her large belly. "Um...Mom?" she squeaked.

"Marika, are you ok sweetie?" Loretta said looking up at her daughter.

"I think my water broke."

"Seriously? Oh no I was afraid this was going to happen this soon." Loretta panicked as she started to pace again.

"Don't I need to go to the hospital?" Marika asked.

"I better get you to the hospital, quick come to the car."

"Where's Daddy?" Marika asked, alarmed as she followed Loretta to the car.

"He had to go to work this morning but don't you worry. He will be there for you before your twins are born" Loretta smiled at her daughter as she helped her into the car.

Marik arrived home after work to find a note on the fridge. "Crap." he muttered, grabbing his keys again.

Back at the hospital Loretta was pacing back and forth past Marika's door. "Come on Marik, where are you" Loretta said to herself as her phone suddenly started ringing.

"Mrs. Ishtar?" an unfamiliar voice asked when she answered it.

"Speaking." she said nervously.

"Your husband was in a minor car accident and is in the ER."

"Oh no! Well I'm at the hospital at the moment with my daughter but thank you for letting me know."

"You're welcome." the voice replied and the phone went dead.

"Oh great, now what am I going to do, my daughters giving birth and my husband is in ER. Damnit could this day get any worse? I need Atem." Loretta said in a panic as she called her brother still pacing the hallway

"Atem speaking." Atem answered.

"Atem, its Loretta. I need you to get to the hospital as quick as you can, Mariks been in a car crash and I don't know what to do." Loretta said breaking down in tears.

"I'll be right there." Atem hung up and headed out of the house.

"Thank you, bother." Loretta whispered as she hung up. "I hope Mariks going to be ok & Marika for that matter."

Atem arrived a few minutes later. "Youu go be with Marik, I'll stay with my niece."

"Thank you so much Atem, I love you." Loretta said with tears in her eyes.

Atem hugged her. "You be with your husband, I'll keep her safe."

"Your the best brother in the world you know that?" Loretta said as she walked away down to ER.

"I know that." Atem called back.

"Excuse me, is my husband Marik Ishtar here?" Loretta asked at the nurses office in ER.

"Yes, curtain one." the nurse gestured.

"Thank you" Loretta nodded as she slowly made her way down to where she was directed "Marik!"

Marik was sitting up in the gourney while a doctor was setting his arm. "Hey..."

"Oh my gosh what happened to you?"

"I ran into a light pole trying to get here. I was in such a hurry when i saw your note that i took the corner too quickly and hit it."

"I'm just glad you're ok." Loretta said giving him a small hug. "How bad is his arm doc?" Loretta asked.

"It's a clean break, he'll heal after a while. He's been given a mild sedative so he's not in pain."

"Oh thank goodness. Is he ok to leave now? Our daughter is up in the maternity ward having a baby Or should I say two."

"Yes, he's just got a couple broken ribs that we patched up already."

"Oh Marik, you're are a walking disaster." Loretta sighed shaking her head.

"Thank you doc."

"She's my niece and having my great-nieces or nephews. We Mutous take care of our family."

"Very good point Atem but remember you were only adopted into that family" Loretta smirked

"I would have been here sooner if I would have just slowed down and taken that corner better."

"Family is not always about blood. They accepted me for who I was." Atem shrugged. "They're as much family as the scared little girl in there. And a nurse said she was asking for you, Loretta."

"You just had to born first didn't you." Loretta said narrowing her eyes at Atem as she walked past him and into the room

Atem sighed. "Having a younger sister is a pain."

"Watch it Atem, dont forget who you are speaking in front of." Marik growled.

Meanwhile in the room "Hey sweetheart, how are you getting on? I'm sorry I couldn't be here for you the whole time." Loretta said as she took Marika's hand.

"She's about to push." the doctor told her, preparing for the births.

"You can do it Marika, I'm right here." Loretta said giving her daughters hand a small squeeze.

An hour of pushing later, a cry pierced the air. "It's a boy!" the doctor called, lifting the baby onto Marika's chest.

"Congratulations sweetheart, well done." Loretta said kissing her forehead "One to go."

Five minutes later, another cry pierced the air as the first baby was taken away.

"You rest now Marika, I'll go and get your Father. I'm sure he will want to see his new grandchildren."

"Where is he?" Marika asked, concerned.

"He's waiting out in the hall with Uncle Atem."

"Bring them in." Marika yawned.

Sticking her head out the door and clearing her throat, Loretta looked at her husband and brother. "Would you two like to come in & see the new twins?"

"Of course." Atem wheeled Marik in. "Hi Marika."

Marika's eyes widened in shock. "What happened to you Daddy?'

"I was in a bit of a car crash on the way to see you but I'm ok, just a broken arm and a couple of broken ribs." Marik chuckled and then winced.

"Come see your grandbabies." Marika smiled.

"I'm so proud of you Marika, have you come up with any names for these two. Considering your boyfriend is a Devlin" Loretta shuddered.

"You dated a Devlin." Marika pointed out.

Ignoring her daughters comment Loretta turned her attention to the babies. "What about Quec as a name for your little girl?" Loretta asked.

"That would be cute." Marika nodded.

"What about the little boy? I think he looks like Prince." Marik said looking at Loretta out of the corner of his eye.

"Anun?" Marika suggested. "Go back to his Egyptian roots?"

The baby's eyes opened, revealing eyes very much like Duke's. They all gasped.