"Where is she? Is she okay? Are they okay? Oh my god, twins…" Angel stared at Mimi, her eyes wide and her mouth open. Mimi grinned and nodded.
"I can't believe it either. But Collins says that everyone is fine, and we can see Maureen and Joanne tomorrow."
"And the babies…?"
"Tomorrow also. They have to…I actually don't know what, but the babies need a check-up or something. Anyway, we can see them all tomorrow." Angel sighed and grinned, clutching Mimi's hands.
"This is so wonderful, I just…I just can't believe that Maureen went through this." Mimi rolled her eyes.
"Don't be proud yet. Mo has twenty odd years of parenting ahead. We can be proud of her if she makes it through that." Angel laughed.
"Knowing our Mo, she'll make it through fine. And she'll kick ass too. I wish I could see what those babies will be like when they get grown up." Mimi's face fell, and she opened her mouth to say something. Angel hushed her.
"We already talked this through; let's not get into it again. It's the truth, and I know it. Don't worry." Mimi nodded and bit her lip. There was a moment of silence, then Angel cleared her throat and asked, "So what's everyone else doing? Where are they?" Mimi giggled.
"Well, Mark sort of freaked out and he refuses to leave tonight, so he's sleeping in the hospital like Collins has been doing. And frankly, Roger just said okay. I'm not leaving, so I guess it means there's going to be a slumber party here tonight."
"Hell yes!" Angel said happily. Then she frowned. "But they can't sleep in here like Collins does…the nurses are literally putting their jobs on the line, letting him do that. It's not—"
"Don't worry," Mimi assured her. "They're going to sleep in the waiting room. I think we've all gone insane, actually, so I won't mind doing that." Mimi sighed and took one of Angel's hands in one of hers, pressing it against her forehead. "God, Angel, you would not believe how hard we had to work to keep Mark from really going crazy. Roger had to practically pin him to the ground, and Collins was preparing to borrow some laughing gas." Angel giggled.
"He was relieved. I know I was." Mimi raised her eyebrows.
"At least you didn't laugh like that freakish yellow talking sponge on TV. Mark was scaring people." Angel giggled again. Before either of them could say another word, the door opened and Collins stepped in.
"Everything ok in here?"
"Hey, honey! Don't ask me that, you're the one who has reason not to be ok." Angel stretched out a hand to Collins like a little child reaching out to a parent. He took it and kissed the fingertips as he sat wearily in the chair beside his bed.
"I see you've gotten an energy boost from this." Angel nodded happily. Mimi smiled and leaned over to kiss Collins's cheek.
"You, on the other hand, look like you need some serious anesthesia." Collins rubbed his eyes. Angel stroked his arm.
"Yeah, being around Maureen for about six or seven hours when she's angry like a bull and then high like a bird is not my idea of a day off." Mimi snorted. Angel made a sympathetic noise.
"You need some sleep. Are Mark and Roger settled?" Collins groaned and rolled his eyes.
"It's horrible. The staff thinks they're…cute." He said the word like it was a profanity beyond even his capacity. "I mean, it's like they're five year olds to those old nurse-types. They got blankets, they got water, they got everything except a bedtime story. Mimi, Roger made a place for you, by the way. They've rigged up some chair thing, they'll explain it." Mimi and Angel were struggling to swallow laughter by now. Collins grinned tiredly.
"I can't wait to see it. In fact, I don't think I will wait." Mimi stood, smoothing out her shirt. She leaned down and kissed Angel's check, then patted Collins' shoulder. "Both of you get some rest. We all went through a lot today." With a little wave, Mimi exited.
"Think she'll be okay?" Angel wondered aloud. Collins snorted.
"If she can make it through Mark's spaz-fest, she can do anything." Letting out a long breath, Collins stood and gestured at Angel. "Move over, pleeeeaasse?" She smiled and scooted over to one side of the bed.
"You ask so nicely, one night I'll have to do what you say." Collins laughed and lay down next to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Angel sighed and leaned back against him, feeling safer and calmer simply by touching him. His head drooped forward, and he gently nuzzled her soft natural hair.
"Are you really okay?" she asked quietly. He nodded and stroked her stomach with two fingers.
"You?" Angel smiled to herself and found his hand with her own, squeezing it gently.
"All right. This whole thing…I just got scared." Collins made a low noise in the back of his throat as agreement. "But now…Mo is ok, and so is everyone else. Plus, we got two tiny people instead of one." He chuckled and settled back, feeling the heavy lead-like sensation of deep weariness. She sensed this and laid her head back, resting it just beneath his chin. Collins smiled and kissed the top of her head.
"Night, Angel."
"Night." Slowly, the rhythms of their breathing merged, and they drifted off to sleep.