DGG: Oh boy! I'm finally back! Rejoice, all! Anyway, it's the chapter everyone's been waiting for. So here you go!

The Rodriguezes, along with Otto, rushed Reggie to the hospital. She wasn't having contractions just yet; however, that wasn't enough to calm her nerves. She knew twins usually arrived early, but she was worried that this was a bit too early. And if it was too early, then what? Reggie's heart pounded; she didn't want to lose her babies.

When the group arrived at the hospital, Reggie was immediately admitted. Since her water broke, the doctors began administering her some antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection for both her and the babies. She was dilated to three, so she was also given some contraction suppressing drugs in the hopes to hold off labor. After that, she was given the first of two steroid shots to help mature the babies' lungs since it was likely she would end up delivering within the next day or two. The doctor hoped Reggie would make it at least another twelve hours so they could administer the next shot for the babies, but at this point they would have to wait and see.

"Don't worry, Mija," Sandy stroked Reggie's hair in the hospital room. "Everything will be fine."

"Does Dad know I'm here?"

"Yeah," answered Otto who was sitting next to her on the other side of the bed. "I called him. He'll probably be here any minute."

"Okay…good. What about Sam? Does he know?"

"Yes. He said he'd get here as soon as he could."

The haggard female took in a deep breath.

"I'm scared," she admitted.

"They'll be fine," Otto squeezed his sister's hand. "They've got Rocket DNA in 'em, so you know they'll be fine."

"But what'll happen if I deliver them now? Will they be okay? What if they're not matured enough? What if…what if they…" the mother-to-be started to panic.

"Reggie, the twins will be fine," Raoul interrupted her. "If I had to venture a guess, I would assume that they would maybe spend some time in the NICU. And regardless of what happens, medical science has improved a great deal over the years. There are babies born much sooner than the twins might be, and they have survived. Your babies have very high chances of pulling through an early delivery, Reggie. Worrying about it isn't doing you or them any good."

She groaned as she leaned her head back against the pillow.

"Raoul is right," pointed out Sandy. "I know it's hard, but you have to try and relax. The doctors are doing everything they can. Have faith in them."

"I'm trying. It's just…they're my babies. They're the last things Twister gave to me…gave to all of us. That makes them even more special. I just can't stand the thought of them not pulling through if I end up delivering them now."

"We know how you feel. But you are over-thinking things again," said the Latino man. "We certainly don't want anything bad to happen to the twins either."

"It may be a little on the early side, but Mr. Rodriguez is right," agreed Otto. "They're far enough along that they'll be okay if you do deliver them now. Just chill, Rocket-Girl."

"Easier said than done, Rocket-Boy."

"Reggie!" Ray burst into the room, causing everyone to jump at the sudden intrusion.

The man was wild-eyed as he caught sight of his daughter and rushed to her side.

"Honey, are you okay? How are you feeling? What did the doctors say? How are the babies? How –"

"Chill out, Raymundo," Otto interrupted him. "You're overwhelming her."

"Sorry," he frowned as he composed himself. "How are you doing, Rocket-Girl?"

"I've been better, Dad," she admitted.

"And the babies? Are they going to have to deliver now?"

"They believe it will be soon," Raoul answered. "She's on medication to stop her contractions, and they gave her a steroid shot. They're hoping to delay her labor for at least a day or two if not longer."

"Wow," Ray breathed as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Where's Noelani?" asked the bedridden female.

"I'm right here," the brunette made her way into the room and stood beside her husband. "Your father was in such a frenzy that when they told him what room you were in, he took off running and just left me in the waiting room."

"I was worried about my daughter," Ray defended.

"Geez, Dad, abandon your poor wife, why don't ya?" Otto chuckled.

"You're one to talk, Mr. I-abandoned-my-friends-and-family-for-months-on-end," Reggie squeezed her brother's hand.

"I'm fractious," he shrugged. "You know that."

"'Fractious'? Is that your vocab word for the day or something?" his sister raised an eyebrow.

"The Squid said it once. I thought I'd use it. I'm capable of better diction!" Otto winced. "You can stop squeezing now."

"Sorry," she panted, letting him go. "Contraction."

"A contraction?" frowned Sandy.

"Looks like those drugs aren't working," frowned Ray as he and Raoul exchanged worried glances.

"Maybe they need to up the dosage of your medication. I'll find the doctor," Raoul turned and left the room.

The violet-haired female sighed.

"Don't worry, Honey," Ray reached over and rubbed her left arm.

Reggie's only response was a look so pitiful it would have made a puppy feel bad for her. Ray's heart panged seeing his little girl this way. He just wanted to scoop her up into his arms like he did when she was little and make everything better. Everything was much simpler back then. A hug and a kiss could fix every situation, but not anymore. And it killed the Rocket patriarch to know that.

A few moments later Doctor Cameron came in, followed by Raoul who took his place next to his wife.

"I hear the medicine's not helping," the African American doctor spoke.

"Well, it was, but…" Reggie trailed off.

"Hm. Well, let's check things out a little," the female doctor lifted the sheet by Reggie's feet. "You're dilated to five now."

"Geez, Rocket-Girl, take it easy," Otto mumbled to her, causing her to hit him playfully.

"Looks like your babies are eager to get here."

"Will you be able to hold them off at all now?" asked Noelani.

"We'll certainly try, but at this rate we'll have no choice but to deliver. I'll give you something a little stronger to see if that will stop your contractions, and then we'll go from there."

"Sounds good," nodded Reggie.

The new medication only seemed to work for about a minute in Reggie's eyes; her contractions continued. She groaned in agony until she just couldn't take it anymore. That was when she was administered an epidural for the pain. All though she was relieved from her labor pains, she still wasn't relieved from any of her stress. She knew the twins would be born soon. Very soon. Like in a few hours or less. And that caused her to worry. Luckily she had a strong support system with her.

Twister's mother never left the bedside. She stayed firmly planted in her chair while running soothing fingers through Reggie's violet tresses. Otto stayed on Reggie's other side and kept a firm hold on her hand. He offered her jokes in an attempt to calm her nerves while occasionally giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. Raymundo reminisced about when she and Otto were born, his excitement, his nerves, his irrational fears, and how everything melted into pure pride once he held them for the first time. Even Sam and Tito were offering their support even though they weren't physically present. Tito reluctantly agreed to stay behind and mind the Shore Shack, so Noelani had him on speaker phone. He offered her comforting advice and chimed in with Ray's stories. He promised he would be there when the babies came. He just had to finish locking up the restaurant and shooing out customers. Sam wasn't able to make it to the hospital just yet due to a programming job across town, but he sent her encouraging texts every five to ten minutes. Each new message brought a smile to Reggie's lips. She truly felt blessed with everyone in her life right now.

Everyone, in their own little way, helped put Reggie at ease. She just couldn't believe how strong her bond was with everyone here, especially Twister's parents. They were obviously new to the inner circle, but looking at them now it appeared that they had been there the entire time. Twister's parents had always been off in the background. They were there. They had cared about Twister's friends. But they never seemed as involved as say Raymundo or Tito. She hadn't been close with Sandy or Raoul by any stretch of the imagination, but right now that didn't matter. Right now they were here, and she was so grateful that they were. They just fit in so naturally and perfectly that it was hard for Reggie to even begin to fathom that they hadn't been so close before now.

For a split second, Reggie forgot all her fears. Everyone's love seemed to melt it all away. She felt very Zen in this place. That was until Doctor Cameron came in for a check-up and announced that she was now ten centimeters dilated. This news caused Reggie's stomach to tighten and her heart to start pounding. Dread and worry oozed back over her body like a toxic sludge. Her initial fears about the babies being too early raced to the forefront of her mind. This couldn't be happening yet. It just couldn't! They weren't ready! She wasn't ready!

But ready or not, they were coming.

Otto quickly texted Sam about the babies as the doctors told the small group that they had to go to the waiting room. As the panic of everyone leaving set in, Reggie did feel her lips curl into a small smile upon hearing Tito over the phone yelling frantically at the remaining customers that they had to leave, and that he had to get to the hospital because his niece was about to give birth. But as soon as her step-mother ended the call, Reggie's smile vanished. And once everyone started giving their final words of encouragement and filing out the door, her nerves went into overdrive.

"You will do fine," smiled Raoul who gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Yes, and the babies will be fine, too," his wife nodded. "Don't you worry."

"Okay," Reggie took in a shaky breath as she attempted to keep herself together.

"We'll be in the waiting room," Noelani placed a comforting hand on her step-daughter's arm.

"And we can't wait to meet our two, new Rockets, Sis," Otto grinned as he gave her hand one final squeeze.

"I'll get 'em here as quick as I can, Otto."

The siblings fist bumped before the male exited the room behind his step-mother and Twister's parents.

"See you soon, Rocket-Girl," Ray kissed her on the head before following everyone else out the door.

"Dad, wait!" cried Reggie.

"What's up?" he turned around.

"Don't leave me here alone. Please," the female white knuckled the sheets of her bed.

Ray gave her a smile.

"You really want me to stay?"

"Yes," she sniffed. "You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not. It's not the first birth I've been to."

It was Reggie's turn to give a small smile.

"You talked about how you were nervous earlier. Was Mom nervous?"

"Yeah, she was nervous. Especially with you. The first pregnancy is always the most nerve-wracking because you don't know what's going to happen. You don't know what to expect. But her nerves were put at ease when she heard you cry for the first time."

"Well, I'm scared, Raymundo. The twins are coming early, and I just want them to be all right!"

"I know you do," Ray frowned as he held his daughter's hand. "So do I. But Raoul was right, they'll be fine."

A moment of silence passed between the two.

"I wish Twister was here," Reggie squeaked, tears flowing from her eyes. "He always knew what to do to make me feel better. Things would be so much different if he was here right now."

"You truly loved him, didn't you?"

Reggie nodded with a sniffle.

"I really wish you would have told me the truth about the two of you. I wish you both would have told us long ago."

"I know. Me too."

"Hey, it's all right," Ray rubbed her hand. "He would be here if he could be. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he was here. I don't know what happens after death, but I believe your loved ones still watch over you. And I'm no Twister, but I'm here for you, Rocket-Girl. And I'm not the only one just in case that wasn't evident by everyone sitting in here with you today."

"I know, Dad. But…I always pictured that one day when I had kids, they would have a mother and a father. It was the one thing I wanted more than anything in the world. Because Otto and I weren't able to have both you and Mom, and…and now…I just feel so terrible because they'll never get to know Twister."

"I know," Ray gave a solemn nod. "Trust me. I know how you feel. I wanted your mom here for you two. I wanted you and Otto to get to know her. No story I can tell, no picture I can show you will ever do your mother justice. But I know that she was with us. And she's still with us now. Just in a different way. And the same goes for Twister. Just remember that it takes a village to raise a child, and these kids are going to grow up so happy and so loved."

"Thanks, Dad," Reggie gave a grateful smile.

A few moments later, the doctors came in, and Ray was prepped and given scrubs to wear as well. In no time, Reggie was pushing. The epidural was wearing off, and the pain was excruciating. But having her father to help coach her through gave her the strength to keep going; however, after about an hour and a half, she was growing understandably weary.

"C'mon, Reggie," coaxed Doctor Cameron.

"I can't," she panted as she leaned her head back on the bed.

"Just one more big push and we'll have Baby A. I promise."

"I'm so tired."

"Just one more push, Honey," Ray rubbed her arm. "You can't quit now. Rockets don't give up!"

"Here's your next contraction," spoke the doctor. "Deep breath, and push."

Reggie forced herself to sit up, took another deep breath, and pushed again, but half way through she suddenly stopped.

"I can't keep doing this," she whimpered.

"I know, Honey, but you don't really have a choice in the matter," her father pointed out.

"Reggie, I know you're tired, but Baby A is right here. You just need to push, okay?" said the doctor.

"I'll try."

"Good. Now push!"

The exhausted female took another deep breath and began pushing once again.

"Almost there. Almost there…and…out!" Doctor Cameron exclaimed.

Reggie panted in relief as she lay back for a moment.

"It's a little girl," the doctor announced as she held up the baby for Reggie to see.

"A girl?" Reggie smiled as the baby let out a few healthy cries.

Ray smiled, giving his daughter a kiss on the head, feeling an overwhelming sense of pride.

The doctors cut the umbilical cord and took the baby to clean her off.

"One down and one to go," Doctor Cameron spoke.

Reggie groaned.

"Halfway there, Rocket-Girl," spoke her father.

"Can't I just snap my fingers and it be out?"

"In a perfect world, Sweetie."

"Ready, Reggie?" asked the doctor.

"Not really," she admitted.

"Big push, Reggie."

The female sat up and pushed with all her might and six minutes later had her second baby.

"And it looks like we have a baby boy," the doctor announced.

"A boy and a girl? Reggie, a boy and girl!" Ray exclaimed, as giddy as a schoolchild.

"Yeah," she panted heavily, "I'm not feeling so well."

"What's wrong?"

Before she could answer, Reggie collapsed back onto the bed, and that's when all pandemonium broke loose. The doctors rushed around, pulling Ray out of the way in order to get close to his daughter. Everything was such a haze for the male. He could barely make out anything of what the doctors were saying, but there was one thing he could hear very clearly: the obnoxious, monotonous buzz that was coming from his daughter's heart monitor.