Chapter 21:
Six weeks later. It is mid-January of the next year.
It is the middle of the night and Andrew is wide awake; he can't sleep. He looks over at his sleeping wife and decides to get up. Tossing and turning in bed will most likely awaken her, and with two new babies and a one-year-old, he concludes that she needs as much sleep as she can get. Quietly, he kisses his wife on the cheek. He freezes when she moans, but breathes a sigh of relief when she rolls over, still asleep. He walks over to his sleeping twins and places a soft kiss on their heads. Looking at their sleeping forms, he falls in love with them again. Although he felt differently when Monica told him she was expecting again, he couldn't imagine a day without them. He exits the room and makes his way down the hallway, trying not to disturb Hannah or Tess.
"Ah Tess!" he thinks to himself, "She has been a help to them since the twins' birth." He doesn't know how they would have made it without her help.
Andrew hears a whimper from Hannah's room, so he silently peeks into her room. It seems that she is still asleep. Apparently, she is dreaming. He hopes it's a pleasant dream, so he stands there and waits to see whether or not she's going to wake up. Fortunately, she continues to sleep.
He descends the stairs and decides to stretch out on the couch. Monica and the babies' six week check-up is tomorrow and he knows she'll be begging for baby number four soon. He looks at the collage of pictures on the opposite wall. Their wedding picture is in the center, and each of the babies new born pictures are surrounding the wedding picture, but there's a space for baby number four's picture. He looks at the vacant place and sighs. "I'm not ready for a fourth baby," he sighs to himself, "but I know if she has her way, we'll have our fourth child around Halloween."
The blond angel looks to Heaven and begins to pray, "Father, you know how each of us feels about a fourth baby. I'm going to submit to your will. If it's your will that we have a fourth this year, then help me be ready. I can't do it without your help."
"Can't do what?" a familiar voice asks behind him.
Andrew turns around and sees his wife descending the stairs.
"I know you want a fourth baby this year, and I was just telling the Father that I can't do it; I can't handle four babies under the age of two without His help."
Monica approaches her beloved, and sits down beside him on the couch. "We know each other so well," she chuckles as she begins, wrapping her arms around him, "I know that you're thinking about the fact that we just had the twins and Hannah just turned one."
"But you still want a fourth right away," he concludes.
"Yes, I do," she answers.
"But why?" he asks, not understanding her reasoning. "Why do you want all of them in a row instead of spaced out a bit?"
"I want our children to be close together in age. I've always thought if I ever got to live as a human and have babies, that I would want them all to be almost the same age."
"It...it just...well, to me, it doesn't make much sense. Almost as soon as you give birth, you're wanting another one. Don't you want to just enjoy each baby and let him or her be the baby for awhile, without having another one immediately?"
"I see what you're saying, and I did miss getting to do a lot with Hannah her first year, but this is something that's important to me."
"And what about your body?" he continues. "You were on bed rest almost the entire time with the twins, and we nearly lost them...and you. And now you want to tax your body further with a fourth right away?"
"It doesn't make much sense on the surface, but it does to me. Plus, since Hannah and Andrea are less than a year apart, I don't want Aaron to be left out. He needs a little brother close to his age."
Andrew kisses his wife on the top of her head. "And just after Thanksgiving this year, are you going to talk about having a fifth child around Labour Day? And you know, there isn't a holiday in August..."
"No!" She interrupts. "I believe a fourth child, a second boy, will complete our family. Just think about it...two girls and two boys. It's perfect!"
Andrew raises an eyebrow.
"We have Hannah Tess, Aaron David, and Andrea Elyse. We need a son to have an H name...ummm, like Hayden."
"I like Hayden," Andrew grins, forgetting that he was upset a few minutes ago.
Monica smiles, knowing she's won the argument. "We'll have a wee lad on Halloween, named Hayden. You know you've always hated Halloween, and having our last child on Halloween should make it a good day for you."
Andrew sighs, knowing he's lost the debate. "Yes. Yes, it will," he smiles, and places a gentle kiss on her lips.
Suddenly, they hear two loud wails from upstairs. "Looks like our littlest daughter and oldest son need us right now," Monica smiles.
Andrew stands up as Monica holds her hands out. He helps her stand and they walk up the stairs with their arms around each other's waists.
Ten weeks later. It is the beginning of April. The twins are 4 ½ months old and Hannah is 15 ½ months old.
Monica sits in the twins' nursery, feeding the babies. She looks at her babies and thinks back to just about a year ago when she was rocking Hannah at this same age. A year ago, she was in the throes of morning sickness, but things feel different this time around...an absence. She hasn't had even the slightest bit of nausea since before the twins were born. Am I pregnant? She thinks to herself. Or, am I not? Guess I shouldn't worry about whether or not I am until I know for sure one way or the other.
The familiar tugging sensation she feels on her breasts, as the twins continue to feed, lulls her to sleep. Andrew walks past the nursery, holding Hannah. He stops and takes in the sight in front of him. I love her! I want to spend an eternity with her. He sees their twins cradled in her arms. My life is perfect! I've got two beautiful daughters, a handsome son, and I am married to the most beautiful woman in all of heaven and earth.
"Daddy!" Hannah squeals, as she pats her father's face, causing Monica to startle awake.
"Hey you two!" she smiles. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Oh," he replies, shifting a squirming Hannah in his arms, "we just got upstairs."
"What does Hannah have all over her dress?" Monica inquires, curiously.
Andrew looks at his eldest daughter's pink stress, covered in brown stains. "We made chocolate donuts for breakfast."
"You gave our daughter chocolate donuts?"
"Cha! Cha!" Hannah, clapping her hands, screeching with delight.
"See? She likes chocolate donuts, don't you, Hannah Banana?" He tickles her ribs, making her laugh.
Aaron detaches from his mother's breast and begins squirming. "I think Aaron's done and Andrea looks like she's about done. I can get Hannah cleaned up." She shifts the twins around so she can reach for her elder daughter.
"I'll get her cleaned up. She's due for a bath anyway, aren't you sweetie?"
"As soon as I get these little ones burped, we'll join you guys. These little ones need their baths too."
Andrew begins taking Hannah's dress off, leaving her in just her diaper. "How are you feeling? Still no nausea or morning sickness?"
"Nope," she replies, as she adjusts Aaron to burp him. Andrea begins squirming as she finishes her meal. "None at all." She sighs and fights off a tear. "I was really hoping that we would complete our family on Halloween, but it doesn't look like it will happen."
The blond angel sets Hannah down, walks over to his wife and gives her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "It'll happen when and if it should happen. I think we have our hands full with the three we've got." Monica begins to protest, but he stops her. "Listen, I know you're set on having another holiday baby. Perhaps we'll have a fourth on New Year's or Valentine's Day? I find it a very romantic idea to have a baby on Valentine's Day." He plants a passionate kiss on her lips.
Instinctively, Monica leans in and moans. However, having an infant in each arm makes it almost impossible to complete the embrace. She giggles as she breaks the kiss. Looking down by her lap, she sees her chocolate-covered daughter patting her knee. "Mama, up!"
"Does my little Hannah want in mama's lap?" Hannah raises her arms. "A little help here, Andrew?"
Andrew picks Aaron up and begins to burp him while Monica shifts Andrea to let Hannah crawl onto her lap.
"And you still want a fourth," Andrew chuckles.
"Yes!" she smiles, as she balances her daughters in her lap, not bothering with the fact that her top is exposed—something that doesn't go unnoticed by her husband.
Andrew gulps, feeling his trousers become tight. "Ummm, let's get these babies bathed and down for their naps." He feels himself inhale. "A...and then if you want..." Exhaling, he continues, "...we can work on having a fourth."
"REALLY?" She is beaming.
"Yes, really," he replies, enjoying her smile.
"Come here."
"Why?"
"Because I want to kiss you."
Andrew leans down and Monica gives him a deep kiss. "Ma! Ma! Ma!" Hannah giggles, patting her parents on the cheek.
"Let's get these little ones bathed," Monica suggests, as Andrew lifts Andrea into his arms. He balances the babies as Monica stands up with Hannah.
They exit the nursery and go to the guest bathroom. Monica, balancing Hannah on her knee, runs the water in the bathtub, as Andrew sets the infants in their little bathtubs in the back of the main tub. When the temperature is perfect, Monica places Hannah in her bath seat. She splashes her feet in excitement, for she loves having a bath.
Before they know it, they finished bathing their babies. Monica dresses Hannah as Andrew wraps the twins in soft, fluffy towels.
"Let's get you down for a nap." Monica states as she exits the bathroom. "Say 'nite, nite!' to Daddy."
"Ni! Ni!" Hannah says, as she leans over to kiss her father on the cheek.
"Sleep tight, baby."
"As soon as I put her down, I'll help you with the twins," the brunette angel states.
She carries Hannah to her bedroom and places in her crib, underneath the lamb picture that has her name on it. "Sleep tight, my love." She bends down and kisses her on the cheek. Then, she joins her husband in the twins' nursery. The room is a soft mint green with brown, black, and white puppies gracing the wall. The furniture is a similar make to Hannah's. Aaron's crib and the rest of the furnishings are mahogany, while Andrea's crib is white like Hannah's. The plan is to move Andrea in with Hannah after the twins turn one. Aaron has a picture of a brown dog over his crib, and it has his name, "Aaron David" on it. Andrea's picture matches Hannah's, but has "Andrea Elyse" on it.
Andrew is putting a clean diaper on Aaron. Andrea is bundled up in her towel in her crib. "I've got her," Monica states. She picks her infant daughter up and begins to dress her. "C'mere, sweet lass. Mama's going to get you all dressed and ready for your nap."
As soon as Andrew dresses Aaron, he walks his son over to Monica and Andrea. "Give your mommy and sister a kiss goodnight." He leans the baby toward Monica and Andrea to mimic the baby giving them each a kiss.
"Good night, baby boy." The brunette angel kisses her son on his head. She lifts Andrea off the changing table and does the same. "Give your daddy and brother a kiss."
"Goodnight, Angel Girl."
The pair lay the twins in their respective cribs, turn off the lights and shut the door.
As the couple makes their way to the bedroom, Andrew begins planting passionate kisses along his wife's cheek and neck. Monica wraps her arms around her beloved. "I want you," the blond angel whispers, as his breathing becomes heavier.
"Mmmmm! That feels good!" she replies, panting.
He swings her around and pins her against the wall. He travels down her neck and shoulders, hungrily removing her shirt.
"P...please!" She begs, "Now!" Monica fumbles with the buttons on his shirt and manages to remove it.
Suddenly, the doorbell rings. Monica slumps into her husband's chest. "Not now!" she moans.
"Just...ignore...it."
The doorbell rings a second time.
"Andrew," she deflates.
"If we stay quiet, perhaps whoever's at the door will go away."
"But the kids! Go answer the door before they ring it again and wake the kids," she directs.
The doorbell rings a third time, paired with a knock on the door.
"All right," he sighs, "I'll go answer the door." He gives her a quick peck on the cheek, races out of the bedroom and down the stairs; he is eager to get rid of whoever's on the other side of the door and get back to his wife. "Whatever you're selling, we're not buying it," he calls as he opens the door to reveal Gloria.
"Hi, Andrew!" she greets, not hearing what he just said, and quickly embraces her friend. "How are you, Monica, and the kids?" She enters the house.
"Uhh, come in?" he sighs, trying hard not to reveal his frustration and disappointment. He was really hoping it was a solicitor, so he could shoo the person away and get back to Monica.
Gloria suddenly realizes that Andrew doesn't look thrilled to see her. "Am...am I interrupting something?"
Just a long roll in the sheets with my wife, he thinks to himself. "No...n...nothing at all. Come in. Have a seat in the living room and I'll go get Monica."
Gloria makes her way to the living room while Andrew ascends the stairs and goes into the master bedroom. Monica steps out of the bathroom, eliciting a curious look from the blond angel. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she replies, also frustrated. "Who was at the door?"
"Gloria. She's in our living room."
The brunette angel buttons her top and ties her hair back. "What timing."
"Do you want me to ask her to leave?" he asks, somewhat hoping that she would say yes.
"No," she puffs, "that wouldn't be polite." As Andrew deflates, she wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him on the cheek. "Tonight, we can finish what we started, okay?" she purrs. "After we put the kids down for the night, we can work on the fourth."
Andrew takes a deep breath. "Let's not keep our guest waiting."
They walk out of the room, with their arms around each other's backs.
Monica and Andrew descend the stairs, with their best painted on smiles. When the couple rounds the corner into the living room, Gloria can hardly contain her excitement at seeing her friends. She hasn't seen them since before she gave birth to Mark and Lin's triplets. "Monica!" she squeals. "It's been forever!"
"How are you?" Monica smiles, as she embraces her friend. "It hasn't been that long, but yes, it does seem like forever."
"I'm good," the younger angel answers, as the three make their way to the living room and sit. "I just left Mark and Lin's place. I can't believe the babies are almost six months old."
"I know you miss them."
"I do." Gloria becomes sad, but quickly regains her composure. "Raphael gave me this to remember them by." She shows the Godlys a silver necklace with three October birthstone baby girl charms. Each charm has one of the girls' names on it."
Monica smiles. "That's lovely!"
"So they decided to use the names you'd written about it your letter?" Andrew concludes.
"Yeah," she giggles. "I like my names better, but they're the parents...I suppose."
The trio hear that Hannah has awakened from her nap. "I'll get her," Andrew volunteers. "And I'll check on the twins."
Gloria's smile widens. "How are your little ones?"
"They're wonderful! It's a lot of work having three little ones, but I love it."
"That's great."
"Out of all the assignments, all the roles the Father has given me, this one's the best." She glances at the pictures on the wall-of her and Andrew's wedding and the children, each as newborns. "I love being a mother."
"So..." Gloria begins, unsure if she should continue with her questions, "are you and Andrew expecting again yet? I know you were hoping for a Halloween baby this year."
"No," she answers. "I'm not."
"Oh," the younger angel's face falls. "I was hoping you would be."
"Me too, but I guess it's not the Father's will and the doctor actually said I shouldn't get pregnant right away, like I did after Hannah."
"So, you're saying it's for the best?"
Monica swallows before answering. "I suppose so...We're going to try for a New Year's or a Valentine's Day baby." She blushes as she continues, "Andrew thinks that a Valentine's Day baby is quite romantic."
"It is!" Gloria laughs. "Are you still hoping for a little boy?"
"Of course!"
Andrew comes downstairs with Hannah in his arms. Gloria smiles at the sight of the little girl. "Oh, she's such a cutie pie!"
"We think so too," Andrew replies. "And this cutie pie wants her mama."
Monica receives the child. "Did you check on the twins?"
"They're fast asleep." Andrew inhales and changes the subject. "I've been called into work for this afternoon. I'll be back in time to get dinner going."
"Which work?" Monica asks.
"The office...here."
"Oh, okay." She's disappointed, as she was looking forward to finishing the 'activity' they had started.
Leaning down, he whispers in his wife's ear, "We can resume our, ummm, 'activities,' after I get back," which causes her to smile and blush. He plants a quick kiss on her lips and then kisses Hannah on her head. "I'll see you soon."
After Andrew leaves, Monica asks Gloria about giving birth to the triplets. "So, how have you been since being a surrogate mother?"
"I loved being pregnant!" she enthusiastically answers. "To carry a life, well, three lives, inside me, knowing I was nurturing those sweet babies, was so wonderful!"
"It is!" the elder brunette angel agrees. "How was it for you placing the girls with someone else, not getting to take them home?"
"It was hard. I wanted to keep those girls, and give them the names I loved, but it made me happy knowing I could help them become parents."
"And that's such a gift you gave!"
"I was so excited when Tess told me that the Father was sending me on that assignment. Mark and Lin are such a wonderful couple. They'll be great parents. I'm glad that I can visit them every once in awhile."
"That's nice," Monica comments, "at least you'll be able to see them."
"Yeah...speaking of see, I'd love to see your sweet twins."
Monica shifts her now sleeping one-year-old around so they will be more comfortable. "Okay. I've got to lay this wee lass back down for her nap. We can check on the twins, but please don't talk above a whisper and wake them up."
They angels tip-toe up the stairs and lay Hannah back in her crib. Then, Monica leads Gloria into the twins' nursery. Gloria peeks at the babies lying in their cribs. "They are the cutest babies I've ever seen!" she squeaks.
"Shhh!" Monica utters, index finger on her lips.
"Oh!" She startles, "I'm sorry!" Gloria inhales and regains her composure. "They're beautiful! He looks just like Andrew and she looks just like you."
Monica smiles. "Let's go, so that we don't wake them." She grabs the receiver part of the baby monitor and the pair go back to the living room.
"Monica, you look so happy."
"I am."
"It shows."
"I never would have thought in my wildest dreams that Andrew and I would be married and that we would have three...hopefully four children."
"Sometimes I hope that the Father will allow me to have a family too."
"Perhaps you will."
The pair continue to visit until Andrew returns from work. Gloria notices Monica's conflicted expression. "I must go," Gloria suggests. "I've enjoyed visiting, just the two of us. We haven't done this in a long time."
Monica hugs her friend. "We haven't. Perhaps we can do this again sometime."
"I'd like that." Gloria states. "It's good to see you again, Andrew."
"You too, Gloria," he smiles, giving his friend a light hug.
As Andrew kisses his wife at the front door, Gloria takes this opportunity to slip out quietly.
Later that evening
The children have been fed and been put down for the night. Andrew embraces his wife in the middle of the bedroom. "Now," he grins, "where were we?"
"Right here," Monica states, as she puts his hand over her breast. "I love you!" She kisses her beloved.
"I love you too. Let's make our fourth baby."
Monica giggles as he scoops her up and lovingly places her on the bed.
In Heaven
Meanwhile, Gloria returns to Heaven and is walking near the alabaster gates. She peers down and sees Monica and Andrew in their bedroom. Although she knows she shouldn't spy, she can't help it; she desperately wants a family like Monica and Andrew have.
"Gloria!" A female voice booms, causing the young angel to startle. "What do you think you're doing? I have told you that spying on Andrew and Monica is wrong, and it is ESPECIALLY wrong to spy on private moments."
"I...I...I'm s...s...sorry, Tess." Her face falls. "I didn't see 'anything' though. Honest, I didn't!"
"You know better than that."
"I didn't see anything," she protests, trying to take the edge off her guilt she's feeling.
"It doesn't matter."
"I want a family...like they have. No, I don't wish they didn't have their family, but I want one too."
Tess exhales in exasperation. "I want! I want! I want! It seems that recently, all I've heard from you is 'I want.' What about what the Father wants?"
Tears begin to stream down the younger angel's face. So that she doesn't have to hear any more of Tess's lecture, Gloria darts away from her mentor, and runs straight into Raphael's chest, nearly knocking him over.
Raphael can see she's been crying. "Sunshine, what's wrong?"
"I've been really stupid lately," she sobs.
"I doubt that, but do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really, but I do want to ask you something."
"Okay, what?" His curiosity is piqued.
"Are you still against having a baby of your own?"
He looks at her confused.
"Ugh!" she groans, "that didn't come out right at all."
Raphael unsuccessfully resists the urge to chuckle. "Then, start over, Sunshine."
Gloria blushes. "You know we talked about having children...when Monica was giving birth to Hannah."
"Yes."
"And..." She sighs. "I don't know what I'm saying."
"Y...you want a baby," the Latin angel concludes.
"I do. Tess said that I'm doing 'I want, I want, I want.' I probably am, but carrying and giving birth to the triplets..." she trails off.
"Kinda made you want one of your own."
"Yes. I hated having to give them up. I know they weren't mine to begin with and I didn't 'make' them..."
Raphael invites her to sit with him. He looks into her eyes as tears well up. "It hurt a lot to place the girls with them, didn't it?"
"It did!" she wails. "I thought I was okay until I visited Monica and Andrew and saw those sweet babies in their cribs. Oh Raphael, I want that!"
"C'mere, Sunshine." He takes her into his arms. Gloria continues to weep. "I can't help you with...ummm...the baby thing, but I'm here for you to help you sort things out."
"Thanks."
Tess observes the pair and smiles as she feels the Father nearby. "Father, love on them. I don't know what Your plan for those two is, but just love on them."
-End of Chapter 21