The Announcement

Forever Changed Epilogue

Takes place two years after the end of the musical and Annie's and Molly's adoptions. Annie is 13 and Molly is 9. I own no characters from Annie. Grace and Oliver's twins are my original characters. This sets the scene for my collaboration with Manadlicious Cousins. Grace's sisters are Mandalicious's originally characters.

One blustery winter day Grace Warbucks felt very sick and couldn't figure out what was making her ill. She had been in relatively good health and hadn't eaten anything out of the ordinary recently. One day Annie heard her throwing up in the bathroom and peeked around the doorway looking concerned.

"Mom, are you okay?"

Grace looked up at her daughter, her face pale.

"I'll be fine Annie… I am hoping it's just a stomach bug. Please don't get too close to me. Would you mind getting me a glass of water darling?"

Annie nodded. "Sure Mom, no problem." Annie went down to the kitchen to get a glass of water. When she returned she handed it to her mother.

"Mrs. Pugh said you should lie down and that she'll be up to bring you a sandwich in about 10 minutes or so." Annie said.

Grace nodded. "That's a good idea. I'm not hungry right now but I'll eat the sandwich when I am ready."

Annie nodded. "Okay."

Grace went into her bedroom and climbed into bed. Mrs. Pugh came in a minute later with the tray with her sandwich and a glass of juice on it.

"Grace, I'll leave this tray on the dresser for you whenever you're ready."

"Okay, Mama, thank you. " Grace replied

Helen walked over to Grace and felt her forehead. "You do feel a little warm. Rest a little and you'll feel better in no time."

Grace nodded her head. Helen kissed her forehead then left the room closing the door softly behind her.

About an hour later Grace felt a little better. Oliver came in to check on her.

"How are you feeling sweetie?"

Grace smiled. "A little bit better. I honestly don't know what's been making me so sick. This has been off and on for a few days now."

"Should I call the doctor?"

"It couldn't hurt to be checked out. I'd like to know what's been going on."

Oliver nodded. "Okay. I will go to my office right away and call Dr. Evans. You just relax. I'll be right back."

Within one hour the doctor arrived.

"Thanks for coming on such short notice Dr. Evans." Oliver said

"Not a problem Mr. Warbucks.. Show me the way to where Mrs. Warbucks is."

Oliver led him up stairs to the bed room. He waited outside in the hallway while the doctor examined Grace.

About an hour later the doctor came out of the room smiling.

"So what's the diagnosis?"

"I am not sure why she has a fever because that has nothing to do with what's going on."

"What do you mean? It appears to me like she has the flu."

"Quite the contrary actually, go on inside. I'll let her tell you the good news."

Oliver was very confused.

Grace was smiling.

"Oliver .. I was totally wrong I don't have a stomach bug after all."

"What's going on then?"

"I'm pregnant."

Oliver's jaw dropped. "Pregnant?"

Grace nodded, her grin growing even wider.

"How far along are you?"

"A couple weeks. I'll be due at the end of September."

Oliver bent down and kissed his wife's forehead.

"This is wonderful news darling. Annie and Molly are going to have a little sister."

"And a little brother because I'm pregnant with twins." Grace said.

"Twins?! That's even better news." Oliver crowed.

At dinner that night Oliver made the announcement to Annie and Molly.

"Annie, Molly you know how your mother has been sick for the past week or so ?"

Annie and Molly nodded their heads.

"Well as it turns out she doesn't have the flu or a stomach bug.. its morning sickness."

"What's that mean?" Molly asked

Mrs. Pugh interjected. "It means your mother is pregnant. You two are going to have a little brother or sister in a little over 8 months."

Leapin Lizards… a little brother or sister. How great!" Annie said.

"It's actually quite possible you could get a brother and a sister. Your mother is pregnant with twins." Oliver said.

Mrs. Pugh was grinning from ear to ear. She was beyond estactic that Grace was pregnant. She could tell Annie and Molly were excited too about their new siblings.

After dinner, Mrs. Pugh went into Oliver and Grace's room to check on Grace. The tray with the sandwich on it was empty. Mrs. Pugh sat on the edge of Grace's bedside and stroked her hair back.

Grace looked up at her surrogate mother smiling.

"Hi baby, do you feel any better?"

Grace nodded her head. "Oh yes, Mama much better. I'm assuming Oliver told you and the girls the wonderful news at dinner."

Mrs. Pugh returned Grace's smile. "He certainly did. Annie and Molly are so excited about their new siblings."

"I just can't believe I'm pregnant. The next 8 months are going to be a whirlwind."

Mrs. Pugh kissed Grace's forehead. "I couldn't be more thrilled for you my beautiful precious girl. I love you so much."

"I love you too Mama." Grace's hand reached out from under the covers and squeezed Mrs. Pugh's.

Things became more hectic in the Warbucks household as things started to get prepared for the arrival of the babies. Mrs. Pugh decided to let Grace rest and took Molly and Annie shopping for stuff they would need to buy for the nursery. Molly and Annie decided to decorate the room with a zoo animal theme.. they had always loved going to the zoo when they were younger. When Grace was feeling a little more up to it she helped Annie and Molly decorate the nursery.

"You girls did a wonderful job with picking all of this stuff out. Thank you." Grace said smiling warmly at her daughters.

"You're welcome Mom. Can we help you to pick out names for the babies?" Annie asked.

Grace hadn't started to think about names yet but she wanted input from her daughters on the matter.

"What names do you like for a girl?" Grace asked.

Annie looked at her mother. "Well don't you want to name the baby after you if it's a girl?"

Grace shrugged. "I suppose Grace Margaret might be a pretty name."

What was your mother's name?" Molly asked.

Grace choked up at the mention of her mother. She took a minute to compose herself before she responded.

"My mother's name was Rachel." She whispered.

Molly nodded. "I really like that name, its pretty."

"What about boys names?" Grace asked

Annie and Molly had to give this a bit more thought as they couldn't think of very many boys names that they liked.

"Ahem, if I may join in on the conversation."

Grace, Annie and Molly looked up from their decorating to see Oliver standing in the doorway.

"Of course darling." Grace said smiling.

Oliver looked very solemn.

"The choice is yours Grace but I think we should name the baby Frederick if it's a boy… after my brother who died."

Grace stood up and walked to the doorway wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his cheek tenderly.

"Of course darling,,, his middle name can be Oliver after you if you'd like."

Oliver's heart melted and he ran his fingers through Grace's hair.

"I'd like that very much." He whispered.

Grace nodded. "Okay, then Frederick Oliver It will be.

"What suggestions do you have for a girl's name?

"So far we've come up with Grace Margaret and Rachel. We couldn't think of a good middle name to pair with Rachel just now. "

"I think Josephine, Joanne and Samantha are lovely names." Oliver said.

Annie nodded thoughtfully. "I think Samantha would be a good middle name if we were to name the baby Rachel."

"Marie might also work." Molly suggested

Grace nodded. "Rachel Marie has nice ring to it. I also like Joanne. That's a really pretty name."

"I'm sure we'll decide on a wonderful name for this beautiful little girl." Oliver said kissing Grace on the forehead again.

Grace looked at her husband and daughters smiling broadly.

"I love you all very much." She whispered.

All three people wrapped her n in a hug.

"We love you too Mom." Annie responded.

"The days weeks and months passed by.. Grace grew noticeably bigger. During the first week of August they went to the Hamptons on a family vacation. Annie had always loved going to the beach.

While on vacation Annie noticed that Molly looked very anxious about something. After a long day at the beach as they were getting ready for bed she decided to talk to her sister about what was bothering her.

"What's on your mind kiddo?"

Molly had tears in her eyes.

Annie was shocked by this emotional outburst. She pulled her sister against her tightly.

Molly started to cry but didn't say anything. Annie had no idea what to do to help her sister.

Grace stood in doorway and was shocked at the scene that she saw. Annie looked completely helpless. She sat on the other side of Molly on the edge of the bed.

"Annie, what's got your sister so upset?" Grace asked.

Annie shrugged. "I have no idea. She won't tell me,"

Grace took her daughter's face in her hand and wiped the tears away with fingertips.

"Sweetheart, won't you please tell us what's got you so upset?"

Molly took a minute to compose herself and then finally said what was on her mind.

"I'm just worried you're going to forget us once the babies come." Molly whispered.

Grace's heart broke in two. "Why ever would you think something like that?"

Annie had gotten up from the bed to get her sister a tissue. She handed her one and Molly blew her nose.

"It's just that since Annie and I were adopted and the babies are you and Daddy's own children you'll forget about us."

Grace knelt down on the floor next to the bed and looked both of her daughters in the eye.

"Both of you listen to me, even though we're having children of our own that doesn't mean we're going to stop loving you. Do you understand?"

Annie nodded. Molly didn't respond.

"Molly, sweetheart did you hear what I said? Grace asked.

Molly nodded, she was still visibly upset.

"Do you understand?" Grace repeated.

Molly shrugged. "I guess so."

Grace wrapped Molly in a warm hug rocking her back and forth. Annie came around and wrapped her arms around her sister from the other side. The three Warbucks girls sat this way for a good ten minutes.

"I love you two girls so much." Grace whispered.

"We love you too Mom." Annie said.

After Grace tucked Annie and Molly into bed she went into her and Oliver's room to get ready for bed herself. Oliver joined her soon after.

Oliver noticed that his wife looked somewhat distracted.

"What's the matter darling?"

Grace turned to her husband, tears were glistening in her eyes.

"Oh Oliver, Molly just told me that she's worried that we're going to forget about her and Annie once the twins are here."

Oliver was shocked. "Why would she think something like that?"

Grace shrugged. "I think it has a little to do with jealousy, I remember being the same way before my sister Melissa was born. She did seem to worry that we're not going to love them the same way because her and Annie are adopted and the babies are our own children."

"That's ridiculous. We love both of them as if they were our own children." Oliver scoffed.

"I explained that to her but she doesn't seem to believe me." Grace looked sad.

Oliver pulled Grace close to him and stroked her bangs back from her forehead placing a soft kiss on it.

"Don't fret darling. Everything will be just fine. Maybe the two of us should spend some time alone with Molly in the next couple weeks so that way we can prove we still love her."

"That's a wonderful idea." Grace said.

Grace leaned into Oliver's embrace taking comfort in its warmth.

"I love you." She whispered returning his kiss.

"I love you too sweetheart. Forever and always. "Oliver said

One morning in late September Grace woke up in a cold sweat. She looked down at the sheets and noticed they were wet.

She poked Oliver in the side hoping to wake him up. "Oliver, my water broke we need to get to the hospital right away." She whispered.

Oliver's eyes flew open. "Of course darling. Should I wake Mrs. Pugh or the girls?"

Grace shook her head. "No, we really should leave. The babies could come anytime now.

Oliver left a note for Mrs. Pugh on the kitchen counter and he helped Grace into the backseat of the Bentley. "Just relax darling. We'll be at the hospital in no time."

Once they got to the hospital Grace was immediately admitted to a room. Her contractions were three minutes apart and she was fully dilated.

Oliver squeezed his wife's hands tightly. "You're doing just fine sweetheart, don't worry a bit."

The pregnancy was a really quick one. The twins were born at 9:15 am.

Grace nuzzled each of the babies close to her. "Oh. Oliver, they're so precious. I couldn't be more happy."

Oliver kissed Grace on the forehead and then each of the babies. "What shall we do about deciding the names?"

Grace smiled. "Well, we've already decided on Frederick Oliver for the boy.. the girl's name has been a struggle to decide on though."

Oliver considered all the names they'd discussed in the nursery two months ago.

"You seemed to really like Joanne." Oliver said.

Grace nodded. "Yes I did. I think Joanne is a wonderful name and her middle name can be Rachel after my mother."

"I'll go call the house. Are you up for visitors?"

Grace grinned. "Of course. I can't wait for Molly and Annie to meet their siblings."

Oliver excused himself to go make the phone call and returned in about five minutes.

"They should be here in about 20 minutes." Oliver said.

20 minutes later Oliver and Grace heard excited footsteps running down the hallway. They could instantly tell it was Annie. She burst through the hospital room door ahead of Molly and Mrs. Pugh.

"Oh boy oh boy ! We have a brother and a sister." Annie squealed.

Oliver grinned and led Annie to Grace's bedside. "Yes, you do. Annie come meet Frederick and Joanne."

Annie leaned over the railings of Grace's hospital bed. Grace was still cuddling the babies to her.

"Wow, they're so tiny." Annie said. "I wonder if I was that small when I was born."

Oliver smiled and kissed Annie's forehead. "I bet you were. "

Mrs. Pugh entered the room holding a bouquet of flowers. Molly was next to her holding two teddy bears.

Oliver took the flowers from Mrs. Pugh and placed them on Grace's bedside table. He then put the teddy bears in the bassinets that were next to the hospital bed.

Mrs. Pugh leaned down and kissed Grace's forehead.

"What precious babies Grace. I'm so happy for all of you. Congratulations."

Oliver took one of the babies from Grace. Grace then reached up for Mrs. Pugh's hand and squeezed it,

"Thank you Mama. I love you so much,"

"I love you too my darling Grace Elizabeth."

Molly hung back in the corner by the door way looking uncomfortable.

"Molly sweetheart come say hello to your new brother and sister." Mrs. Pugh said.

Molly made her way slowly to Grace's bedside.

"What names did you decide on?" Molly asked her mother.

Grace smiled. "Molly, meet your new brother Frederick, your father is holding your sister Joanne."

Molly leaned down and kissed the baby's forehead. "Welcome to the family." She whispered.

Grace patted the bed next to her gesturing for Molly to join her. "Come here sweetie pie."

Molly hopped up on to Grace's hospital bed and curled into her mother's side as she used to do when she was younger.

Grace stroked her daughter's hair back and kissed her forehead.

"Never forget how much we love you and your sister." Grace whispered.

Molly kissed the baby's forehead again then kissed Grace's cheek.

"I won't Mommy. I love you."

Grace smiled. At that moment she couldn't feel more blessed to have such a wonderful family.