Names

Dropping his suitcase on the front steps of Lily's home, Frank stepped into the house, pulling Lily into a hug. Lily pushed him away, speaking curtly.

"I'm not ready for physical contact yet, and I'm not willing to forgive you. But I do want to try to make this work, because you're the biological father of the girls. The girls deserve to have both parents in their lives, and so, I'm gonna give this marriage another shot."

"Alright Lil, I'll take what I can get," Frank said humbly.

"You'll sleep on the couch from now on. You're not sharing our marital bed until I can trust you again." Frank nodded compliantly. A long tense uncomfortable silence ensued.

"So… have you thought about what to name the girls?" Frank asked, trying to break the ice.

"I thought long and hard about it, and I think one of them will be called Phoebe… in honour of their mother."

Pushing his luck, Frank ventured, "Phoebe is a lovely name. What do you think of Ursula for the other twin? It's my mother's middle name… Frances Ursula Buffay."

Lily tried on the names for size. Phoebe and Ursula Buffay; Phoebe and Ursula Buffay. It rolled off her tongue, had a lovely ring to it, it somehow… felt right.

"Well, I'm not exactly your biggest fan right now, but I have nothing against your mother. In fact, I think she's a rather lovely person. You could learn a thing or two about loyalty, integrity and honesty from her," Lily jabbed.

"Fair call," Frank said humbly.

"But Ursula is a lovely name, I'll give you that, so... Ursula it is," Lily agreed.

Frank smiled gratefully at her. Lily smiled back at him. Suddenly remembering she was supposed to be mad at Frank, she scowled at him, and stalked away. Frank sighed. Boy, am I gonna pay for this mistake for a long time; he thought moodily to himself.

"So look, I'm popping over to Pheeb's, telling her I'm naming one kid after her. I trust you won't be out screwing around behind my back again," Lily said curtly, shutting the door behind her.

Feeling tense, frustrated, uncomfortable and stifled in his own home; like a house-guest overstaying his welcome, Frank grabbed his car keys and hopped into his car to hit the casino. Gambling was not an activity he indulged in often, but ever since moving back in with a very hostile Lily, he had begun to indulge in it with increasing frequency. It had very quickly become a bit of a routine. Whenever Lily left the house, Frank would feel an itch to hit up the poker or blackjack table. He thought nothing of it, and as a consequence, his wife and unborn daughters would pay dearly for it.

Climbing out of the car, Lily knocked on Phoebe's door. Phoebe waddled over to greet her, looking extremely rotund, and radiant with the glow of a heavily pregnant woman.

"So, guess what? I've picked out their names!" Lily squealed, pausing for effect.

"Well? C'mon then, pray tell!" Phoebe pressed.

"Okay, well, the first will be Ursula Buffay," Lily announced, beaming. Phoebe crinkled her nose, it didn't sound like a particularly nice name, but who was she to question the adoptive mother. Isn't that the name of the obese octopus villain from 'My Little Mermaid'? she wondered to herself.

"Okay… great, Ursula, sure… What about the other name?" Phoebe asked.

"Phoebe. Phoebe Buffay."

Phoebe's face broke into a grin, and she threw her arms around Lily, almost bowling the woman over, with her humungous belly.

Lily stroked Phoebe's belly, and felt a number of large kicks. "Wow! Active little things, aren't they?"

"Yep, they're always fighting, these two. Always kicking each other in my belly! I have to smack my tummy otherwise they won't quit fighting. They just don't get along for some reason!" Phoebe laughed.

Alas it was true, even in utero, Phoebe and Ursula did not get along, and as you all know, up till today, they still don't get along.