Little Moments: It Runs in the Family
Chapter 21: My Mood Swings
Disclaimer: Nope. Nope. Nope. Boo. Blah. Blee-blee-blahh.
A/N: Hey all. Life as a first year teacher is crazy. I'm loving it, but I literally have like...no free time. Apologies for the late update. Maybe things will get better/less hectic as the year moves along. But on with the chapter. Sawyer and Ben were facing something unexpected, and Graham had been in an accident. This chapter picks up with that and then it will jump as the sections usually do. Enjoy!
OTHOTH
The moment the nurse walked back in the room with a doctor, Sawyer knew everything had changed. Everything she thought about the pregnancy had changed, and she knew she was about to get news that would turn her and Ben's worlds upside down. Her heart had leapt into her throat, her heart was racing, and Sawyer was starting to feel the prickle of tears forming behind those blue eyes of hers. She'd watched Charlotte go through the heartbreak of a miscarriage, but she never thought it might happen to her. And Sawyer was absolutely convinced she'd done something wrong.
Ben was just as anxious to find out what was going on, and he nervously smiled at the woman in a white coat who'd walked into the room. She was either going to devastate him or relay news that was more bearable. Whatever the outcome, Ben just wanted to know. He knew Sawyer wanted to know too. He held her hand waiting hoping for the best.
"Hey guys, I'm Holly Powell." She was all smiles and approached the ultrasound machine with a pep in her step. She looked at the screen and then moved the probe over Sawyer's belly to check for herself. "Yep. Yep..." Nodding at Helen, the nurse who'd first noticed Sawyer's particular condition, Doctor Powell confirmed Helen's suspicion. She pointed to the screen and looked to Sawyer and Ben, "Looks like you've got two babies in there, guys." The woman flashed her perky smile again. "Congratulations, it's twins."
"What?" Sawyer's initial fear turned into complete and utter disbelief. "Excuse me?"
What Ben thought might be his worst fear turned into absolute bewilderment. A sweet grin started to cover his face, and he let out a laugh taking a deep breath as he ran his hand over his neck. The blue-eyed Coastie looked to his girlfriend, "Holy cow. Two babies, OJ." He leaned over to Sawyer, and planted a sweet kiss on the side of her head. For Ben, the news couldn't have been any better. He'd been expecting something terrible, soto find out they were having twins was a completely welcomed shock.
Looking at her belly and to the screen and then back and fourth for a few times, Sawyer couldn't quite process the information. She furrowed her brow and let her mouth hang open. Twins. They were having twins? Her eyes bugged and she started to realized exactly what that meant. Two times the trouble. Two times the diapers. Two times everything. "Holy shit."
Doctor Powell laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "It might take some time to set in. I'm sure this is a bit of a shock, but twins is one of the most wonderful gifts of pregnancy."
Gifts my ass. Sawyer wanted to ring that doctor's neck. Two was not always better than one. Two meant they'd double up on everything. They'd have to spend double the money, and she'd get doubly fat.
Looking to Ben's uniform, Doctor Powell nodded at Sawyer, "Now I know you're friends with some of the guys who were hurt last night, but try to take it easy. You've got two little lives depending on you now. So get a much sleep as you can and increase your calories a bit. You want those babies as strong as possible." The kind doctor put her hands together and asked if Sawyer and Ben had any questions.
Being the stand-up guy he was, Ben did have questions- questions about making sure the babies were well taken care of and questions about his girlfriend. He wanted to do right by them-all three of them.
Meanwhile, Sawyer was a mess. Her mind was all over the place when Ben was asking the doctor questions. Everything Dr. Powell said and explained went in one ear and out the other. Twins. It was all she could think about. Twins! It was absolutely unbelievable.
Grinning with that goofy, boyish smile, Ben thanked the medical staff and watched the doctor and nurse walk out of the room. He turned to Sawyer and took a deep breath about to say something, but Ben could see the news had muted his normally boisterous and opinionated girlfriend . Her stare was untraceable and she was being mighty quiet. "Hey..." He moved closer and nodded, "Tell me what's going through your head."
Taking a second to gather her thoughts, Sawyer looked right into those sweet eyes of his. "I'm thinking that it was what...last week when I had realized I was ready for a baby." Sawyer and pregnancy were two things that had never seemed to mesh up until recently. "But one baby and two babies are completely different things." She shook her head and closed her eyes. "I just..." Sawyer breathed deeply and raised her hands to rub over her face. "I don't know."
Ben could tell that she was trying to decide if twins was a good thing or bad thing. "Tell me what to say to make it better."
Sighing, Sawyer lifted her shoulders and furrowed her brow, "Tell me that we're ready for this. That I'm ready for this. Cause right now I feel like I'm about to jump out of an airplane without a parachute."
He laughed at her and shrugged. "Alright. Well...we're not ready..."
"Ben!" Sawyer's eyes widened. "Why would you say that!"
"Who is ever ready for twins, Sawyer? Nobody." He grinned but shook his head, "So I'm not gonna lie to you and tell you we're ready, cause we're not. But I can tell you that this is gonna be a good thing- that you're gonna be a great mom, and..." His eyes moved from her face down to her twelve weeks along belly, "And those babies are gonna be the best thing that ever happened to us."
It was times like this when Sawyer Scott knew that without a doubt Ben Trammell had been the thief who'd stolen her heart. His good looks, cute smile, and southern charm had nothing on the way he spoke to her or how he made her feel. He was the guy who put it all in perspective, the man she loved, and the father of her two unborn children. Biting her lip and looking up to him, the blonde, music lover nodded. She took a few more deep breaths. In time Ben would be right. The babies probably were gonna be the best thing that ever happened to them. And what Sawyer was realizing more and more everyday was that Ben was the best thing that ever happened to her.
Smiling and still loving this new news, Ben leaned over to kiss her. "I love you."
His lips silenced her reservations and reminded her about what mattered. Once he pulled away, Ben helped Sawyer off the exam table and they walked out of the room. The real world was just beyond those doors, and Sawyer and Ben had to quickly get ready to face the rest what life threw at them. Graham's fate still hung in the balance.
The accident had been temporarily placed in the back of both of their minds since the news of the babies, and now that they were walking towards the waiting room, it was becoming all to close to home. Sawyer and Ben made their way to the rest of Graham's friends and family hoping for any news. Charlotte and Haley were missing from the bunch, and Ben's grip around his girlfriend's hand weakened when he saw uniformed officers surrounding Captain Langston's wife. Ben headed towards his Coastie comrades while Sawyer took a seat next to her uncle Nathan.
"Where are Charlotte and Haley?"
Nathan was exhausted and had been resting his head in his hands. He looked up to his niece and sighed. "Charlotte passed out in the bathroom, and she and Haley are with the doctor."
Bugging her eyes, Sawyer swallowed hard. What! Sawyer could still distinctively remember the day a few years back when she'd crawled into bed with Charlotte after she'd heard her best friend had miscarried. Surely Charlotte and Graham' wouldn't be dealt another devastating blow. This family should only have to take so much. "Is she okay?"
"I hope so. They're gonna run some tests and check on the baby."
Instinctively, Sawyer reached out to console her dark-haired uncle. Even with all the news she was facing, Sawyer knew Charlotte and those closest to her were dealing with so much more. She placed her hand on Nathan's forearm and nodded. "I'm sure everything's gonna be okay."
A man of few words, Nathan could only nod and hope his niece was right.
Twenty minutes passed before they heard word about Charlotte and the baby. Graham's wife and Haley had come back with good news, though. She and the baby were both fine. Limited pain brought on by stress was apparently common.
Just as the gathering of close friends and family faced Charlotte's good news, the same two uniformed officers who had shattered Mrs. Langston's world, walked towards Trevor and Graham's families. One of them broke off to Trevor's family and Sawyer kept her eyes on the one walking to Charlotte. Please let it be good news. Please. Sawyer's eyes and ears were glued to what came out of the man's mouth. Graham was at the hospital. He was in surgery. He was alive.
Quickly following the footsteps of those around her up to the surgery waiting room, Sawyer passed Ben in the hallway and wanted to share the good news since he'd been talking with other Coasties. "Hey...Graham's okay. He's in surgery."
Ben knew. He'd heard. He'd also heard the other news. He nodded and looked to Trevor's family. His saddened face said it all.
Turning over her shoulder, Sawyer could see Trevor's wife covering her face with her hands. Suddenly the happiness about Graham turned into fear. Instantly, a knot formed in Sawyer's stomach. She looked back to Ben and furrowed her brow whispering a question, "He didn't make it?"
Swallowing hard, Ben shook his head. His heart was breaking for Emily and everyone close to Trevor. "I'll meet you up there later." He tilted his head towards the elevator. Before he waited up in surgery with the rest of them, he needed to go see Trevor's family.
"Okay." Sawyer watched Ben walk away and she continued towards the surgical waiting room. She found a spot next to Charlotte and they both blankly stared out into space. A few minutes passed before either of them spoke.
"Trevor..." Charlotte's emotion pooled in her throat. Charlotte had seen Emily in passing when they were walking to the other waiting room. The look on Trevor's wife's face would haunt Charlotte forever. Trevor was dead and Graham was in surgery. Nothing was certain anymore. Her stomach hurt, her heart ache, Charlotte just wanted this fiasco to be over. "I...I don't..."
Sawyer grabbed Charlotte's hand and she turned to her best friend. "Graham's gonna be okay, Charlotte."
Wiping away a tear, Charlotte nodded. She could only hope as much.
The minutes and hours ticked by without any news on Graham's condition. Charlotte was getting restless. She craved information that wasn't available. After pacing, she sat down in the uncomfortable waiting chairs and breathed loudly. She looked to her pregnant best friend who was picking at her nails passing the time. "Hey..." Sawyer turned to Charlotte and arched her brow. "I love you for being here, but you don't have to stay." The brunette glanced at Sawyer's expanding belly and fatigued body language. "I'm sure you would be more comfortable at home."
Sawyer shook her head. She wasn't going anywhere. "I'm okay." Tired, but able to manage her exhaustion, the thirty-two year old glanced to Charlotte's growing belly. "What about you? Tell me what you need."
Leaning back, Charlotte closed her eyes. Other than her husband to come out of surgery alive and well, Charlotte breathed deeply as she thought about it. The smell of her day-old clothes was rising through her nostrils. "Actually...wanna do me a favor?"
"Yeah, sure. What?"
"You think you could run by the house and grab me a change of clothes. I think I'm starting to smell in these."
Sawyer let out a smile and nodded.
"Oh...and a cheeseburger from somewhere. This hospital food is terrible."
Smiling again, Sawyer nodded. "I'm on it." She got up out of her seat and slung her bag around her shoulder. She asked around to see if anyone else needed anything and then made sure that someone would call her if any news came.
Ben got up to walk with her and stopped at the elevators. "Grab a burger or two for yourself."
Punching the down button, Sawyer rolled her eyes with a smile. "I'm not getting two burgers for me."
Running his eyes down to his girlfriends's stomach, Ben raised his brows, "Well now that we know..."
Sawyer quickly hushed Ben and pressed her finger to his mouth. "Shh..." She didn't want their news about twins to go viral at the moment. It wasn't the time or place, and right now everyone needed to be focused on Graham. "I'll be back in a little while."
"Okay." He softly kissed her head and watched Sawyer step into the elevator.
The doors closed and Sawyer felt the contraption shift downward. She headed for the parking deck and revved the engine to life when she got into her car. Her parking fee was ridiculously expensive considering it was priced at an hourly rate, and it took everything in Sawyer's body not to ram straight through the dumb gate. But better thought and common sense prevailed. She sped out of the exit and turned straight towards Charlotte and Graham's house.
It hadn't taken Sawyer long to get back to the hospital. She'd not so gently crammed some clothes in a bag for Charlotte and then stopped by a fast food place to pick up some burgers. Between red lights and stop signs she'd eaten Charlotte's fries, though. But somehow, Sawyer didn't think her best friend would mind. Charlotte was more thankful for the clothes and burger.
Now they were all back to waiting.
The florescent lights of the hospital made the approaching 9pm hour seem earlier than it really was. The brightness of the hospital couldn't light up the somber mood of the waiting room, though. Everyone was waiting, wishing, and hoping for news that Graham would be okay. Sawyer had fallen asleep on Ben's shoulder when the doctor finally came out.
Graham had made it out of surgery. He wasn't awake yet and wouldn't be for a while, but he was okay.
With everyone's minds at ease, Ben sent Sawyer home to get some sleep. She didn't need to stay any longer. It wasn't good for her, and only a couple people could be at Graham's bedside anyway. Sawyer fought it and tried to defend her willingness to stay, but it was no use. Charlotte teamed up with Ben and more or less told Sawyer she better go. And as much as Sawyer hated to be away, she was secretly glad she could go home and lay down. Her ankles hurt, her butt was sore from those dumb, hard chairs, and she was ready for bed.
It was just after ten when Sawyer pulled into the driveway. It seemed like forever that she'd been home. She walked into her home and was happily greeted by Trout. The golden retriever rubbed against her leg and escorted Sawyer to the bedroom. Quickly changing into some pajamas, Sawyer slid under the covers and turned off the lights. Her eyes welcomed the darkness and her body thanked her as she snuggled into her pillows. It had been a long day- a very long day.
On her back, Sawyer breathed deeply and then moved her hands from her side across her was still so surreal to think there were twins in there. Maybe the world was testing Sawyer, giving her more than she could handle, but now determined more than ever, she was ready to prove to the world and to herself that she could do it. She and Ben were up for the challenge.
Drifting into a deep sleep, Sawyer dreamt about the future- about what it would be like to be a mom. And about four hours into her peaceful dreams, Sawyer woke up to footsteps against the moaning hardwood of the hall. Ben must have come back.
Trout perked up. He rose to his paws and wagged his tail when he saw his most favorite companion walk into the bedroom.
"Hey, bud..." Ben's soft voice was a whisper so he wouldn't wake up Sawyer.
But she was already up and started to sit up in bed. "So is Graham...?"
Ben didn't even let her finish. Instead, he nodded and smiled. "Yeah, he woke up about an hour ago." He started to pull his Coastie uniform off his body and slipped off his shoes.
Feeling her chest fill with warmth and her eyes puddle with tears, Sawyer smiled and then started to cry.
Pulling his belt through the loops, Ben furrowed his brow and crawled up on the bed next to her. "Hey...he's fine. A little bruised and sore, but he's okay."
Unable to speak through the tears, Sawyer could only nod. She'd been so overcome and caught off guard with her happy emotion.
Ben kissed her wet cheeks and hovered over her before wrapping his big arms around her.
Sawyer wrapped her arms around Ben and continued to cry. She couldn't stop. Maybe it was a mixture of pregnancy hormones plus a genuine reaction, but whatever it was, she didn't want to let go of Ben. He made things better. He always did, and he always would.
OTHOTH
The mid-June air was sticky and humid, and as Sawyer pushed her hand outside the car window to feel the heat, she felt bad for the runners participating in the Diligence Dash this year. It was one humid day. On most occasions, she and Charlotte would be right down in the thick of things, passing out drinks and handing out registration packets, but this year was different. Graham was recovering from knee surgery amongst his other ailments that still lingered from the accident, Charlotte was seven months pregnant and wouldn't be sitting out in the heat for more than twenty minutes, and Sawyer played the pregnancy card too. Ben was running as he normally did, but Sawyer would be in the crowd, cheering on the boys and waiting for her Coastie to cross the finish line.
This Diligence Dash was different for another reason, too. Instead of that spunky, sea-blue convertible she loved so much, Sawyer was driving something new. Not new in the sense of age, but new to her. Convinced old or vintage cars were the only ones worth driving, Sawyer bit the bullet and temporarily retired her two-seater convertible for a larger car. Her beloved 1963 Karmin Ghia was resting her tires in the garage, and Sawyer's new four wheel drive, SUV was taking its place. Made in 1980, just barely making Sawyer's 'age' criteria for a car, the forrest green, and wood paneled Jeep Wagoneer came with airbags, broken in leather seats, an updated stereo system, and room for two carseats. It was everything she was looking for. It had been a tough call though. Sawyer had fallen hard for a 1964 Studebaker Lark that was in pristine, restored condition, but something about the Wagoneer snagged Sawyer from the moment she sat in the driver's seat. Ben had hoped for something a little more modern, but he knew which battles to fight. The car decision, was not one of them.
The Jeep was an adjustment, however. Sawyer sat higher up, guzzled a little more gas, and couldn't whip into parking spaces like she used to. She was making it work, though. And the good thing about the Diligence Dash was getting to park behind Clothes Over Bros. Sawyer wouldn't have to fight for a parking spot.
Blaring Elvis Costello and a block away from Brooke's store, Sawyer could already see the droves of people who'd come out to watch. Some of the roads were already blocked, but Sawyer was able to maneuver her way to the ally. Hopping the curb was another perk of the Wagoneer.
Once she'd parked, Sawyer hopped out of the car and headed inside. There were a few window shoppers who'd come in to look at clothes, and Sawyer pushed her sunglasses into her hair.
Brooke was standing behind the front desk writing down something when she heard someone walking in from the back. Smiling wide, the raspy-voiced brunette smiled. "Hi!" She quickly reached down beneath the counter and pulled out a bag. "I've got something for you."
Laughing, Sawyer shook her head. "You have to stop that." In the six odd weeks that Brooke had known about the pregnancy, Sawyer had received more clothes and baby clothes than she knew what to do with.
"You know I can't." Brooke had baby lovers syndrome. It was well known and well documented. Her reaction to Sawyer's pregnancy had been classic and would replay in Sawyer's head from time to time. Brooke had come to the studio to meet Peyton and Haley for lunch and Sawyer ended up tagging along.
Peyton pulled into the parking lot of Elijah's and looked to the passenger seat at her daughter with a smirk "Ready to see a grown woman bawl in the middle of a restaurant?" Laughing, Peyton opened up the door and watched Sawyer get out.
Furrowing her brow, Sawyer shook her head, "I doubt she'll bawl. Tears I can see, but she's not gonna have a full fledge come apart."
"You must not know Brooke very well, then." Peyton saw Haley and Brooke pull into the parking lot. "I think she's even gotten worse with age."
Sawyer just laughed and walked into the restaurant with her mom. Haley and Brooke weren't far behind and the four women sat outside underneath the breeze of a ceiling fan.
Brooke was the first to speak and looked directly at Sawyer, "So...what's this rumor I hear around town, kiddo?" Smiling as the waiter handed them all menus, Brooke turned her attention back to the youngest of the four.
Sawyer immediately felt her cheeks turn red. How did Brooke know? Someone told her, didn't they?
"Are they really getting someone else to emcee the Fourth of July barbeque contest this year?" For as long as Brooke could remember, either Peyton or Sawyer had been the face of the big summer event.
"Oh..." Sawyer looked to her mom and Haley with wide eyes. They all thought Brooke had found out the other big news. "Yeah, kinda. Right now I'm not wanting to do it and I think Mom's gonna pass, too."
"What?" Brooke shook her head, "That's crazy. It won't be the same without a Scott girl up there to gather the crowds. "I mean...I'd say Charlotte should do it, but she'd be what...eight months pregnant?"
"I'll be five." Sawyer bit her lip to see if it registered with Brooke.
Haley and Peyton watched the exchange between their friend and Sawyer.
Brooke laughed and shook her head, "Five what?"
"Months along."
Sitting back in her chair, Brooke narrowed her eyes. She looked to Haley and Peyton who both looked like silly little school girls. And in an instant, Brooke's uncertainty turned to clarity. "Oh my God! You're pregnant!" Scooting her chair back, the fashion lover threw up her hands, "Ah!" She moved out from the table and went to hug Sawyer.
Smiling, Sawyer couldn't help but laugh as Brooke squeezed her. "Careful. Don't want to squeeze too tight."
Brooke pulled away to show her teary eyes, runny mascara, and happy smile. "Oh, Sawyer... I can't believe it." Turning to her best friends she pointed to Haley and Peyton, "And damn you both for not telling me! I can't believe you two!" She laughed and returned to her seat, drying her eyes with her napkin. "So tell me everything!"
Nearly two months later and Sawyer could still see Brooke's bleary face. She'd had a similar reaction to the news of twins, and she'd been showering Sawyer with clothing presents ever since.
"Here..." Brooke pushed the bag towards Sawyer and smiled. "Neutral colors since we don't know what the Trammell twins are yet, but I think you'll like them."
Digging through the tissue paper, Sawyer pulled out green and yellow onesies. The front had a cute black drawing of a record playerand the saying below it made the music lover grin. Playtime. Holding the soft material in her hands, Sawyer looked to Brooke with a smile. "These are great."
"I thought you might like them." Brooke kinked her eyebrow up as she smiled.
The bell to the front door rang and Peyton walked into the store. "Oh, Brooke... What did you make for her now?"
Holding up the two onsies, Sawyer turned to her mom and smiled. "You know you're jealous."
Grinning, Peyton eyed the two little outfits and nodded. "Yes. Why yes I am." Her two newest grandkids were certainly going to be stylish. "You know...if you put that on a tee and we put the Tric logo on the back or on the front somewhere I bet they wouldn't stay of the shelves."
The front door opened again and little feet ran inside. Little arms connected to those little feet wrapped around Sawyer's legs.
Looking down, the blonde, smiled. "Mad-Hatter...I didn't know you were coming." Sawyer picked up the four year old and turned to see Charlotte walk in with Scott holding her hand. The two year old little boy had the greenest eyes anyone had ever seen.
"Come here, mister..." Brooke walked out from the counter and smiled at the little boy. "Did you come to see the big race?"
"Me winned..." There was an old medal of Graham's that Scott had around his neck.
Charlotte smiled. "Or in other words, we needed to get out of the house."
"How's Graham doing?" Peyton looked to her niece and knew they were going through a lot.
"He's doing okay. His shoulder and knee were really bothering him this morning, and I think he was ready to have the house to himself."
"When will he be back to one-hundred percent?" Brooke smiled at the boy in her arms and then looked to Charlotte.
Resting her hand on her belly, Charlotte widened her eyes. "Hopefully before this baby comes."
Moving her mouth close to Sawyer's ear, Hattie whispered in a not so quiet voice. "I hope theres two babies like you."
Laughing, Sawyer shook her head. "Don't get your hopes up, kid. I'm pretty sure you're gonna have one little sister."
"Let's hope so." Charlotte couldn't handle any more at the moment.
"Then can I have two more little sisters from you?"
"Oh, I hope not." Sawyer barely wanted one girl much less two. "Could you settle for two boy cousins?" Sawyer wasn't sure what she was having, but she'd much rather have two boys or one of each than two girls.
Squinting as if she was pondering one of the most important questions she'd faced in her young life, Hattie shrugged her shoulders, "I guess so."
The adults all laughed and started to make their way to the sidewalk outside. The race was about to begin and they wanted to cheer on the runners familiar or not. Nathan and Haley walked over with Liza and Jamie's kids, Lucas and Julian found spots near their wives, and Bridget parked the stroller with Kit near Charlotte's stroller. Unsurprisingly, Jamie and Liza were close to the front of the pack. Their athleticism and general cuteness, made it nearly impossible for anyone to root against them. Keith wasn't far behind the UNC grads. He was a little redder in the face and visibly more sweaty, but he was doing really well. Spotting the crowd by Clothes Over Bro's, Keith saw his ten month old in his father's arms and ran close to wave.
Seeing her brother, Sawyer smirked and swatted at him as he passed her. "If you're not first, you're last!"
Turning around and sticking out his tongue, Keith narrowed his eyes at his older sister. "Whatever!"
Minute after minute and more runners passed the crowded sidewalks, but there was no sign of Ben. Normally he didn't think much of the Diligence Dash and would wind up in the back of the pack, but when Sawyer started seeing gray-haired ladies, she knew something was up. Something was off.
The time ticked by and then the announcer spotted the last runner, "And let's get it up for Principal Turner, ladies and gentlemen!" Old and gray, the aging man had to have walked the entire race.
Worried and concerned, Sawyer's eyes started to scan the runners and everyone around.
"Where's Ben?" Charlotte leaned over to Sawyer and was wondering the same thing.
"I don't know..." Sawyer stepped off the curb and started to walk towards the finish line. Maybe she'd missed him? Crowds of people started to disperse as the race ended but Sawyer was concentrated on finding her boyfriend. She walked onto the wooden planks of the Riverwalk and started to head for the boat. Maybe he was over there talking with some of his buddies? Sawyer continued to scan her eyes and then she spotted him. He was talking to a man in a uniform and Sawyer could tell they were talking about something important. It looked like the admiral, so whatever the conversation was, it must have been work related.
Holding back until Ben walked away from his superior, Sawyer walked towards Ben and waved a little when they locked eyes. As she got closer she could see that he was upset about something. She furrowed her brow and stopped just short of him. "Why does it look like you're about to tell me bad news?"
Glancing out across the water, Ben turned back to Sawyer and shrugged his shoulders. He was. He was about to tell her bad news. "They're sending me on patrol next month."
"What? For how long? I thought you said you weren't gonna have to go." Sawyer stepped closer with her brow still furrowed.
"I did to." Ben sighed and ran his hand over his head. He'd told his boss about Sawyer's pregnancy and had been told that he would be a reserve for the summer and fall patrols. Clearly his number had been called.
Sawyer crossed her arms and wanted to know how long he would be gone. "How long?" When did he even leave?
"We'd be leaving the second week in July."
"For how long?" He was avoiding the question, so it must have been for a while.
Ben took a deep breath and knew it was going to sting. "Five weeks."
"Five weeks!" Sawyer's face dropped. He never had to leave on a patrol for that long. She widened her eyes when she put the dates in her mind. "Ben, you're gonna miss the twenty-week doctors appointment." That was gonna be a big one. They'd find out what they were having then.
"Don't you think I know that, Sawyer!" His eyes cut to hers like a knife. "I don't want this. I wish I didn't have to go, but I don't have a choice. Okay."
Not liking his tone, Sawyer narrowed her eyes. "Well don't take it out on me!"
"I'm not!" He turned around and started walking away from her.
Watching him go made Sawyer's blood start to boil. "Where are you going?" Tossing his hand in the air, Ben didn't answer her. "Ben!" She watched him disappear into the crowds and Sawyer turned around. Fine. If he wanted to act like an ass, then that was his problem. Sawyer had better things to worry about.
Annoyed and hungry, Sawyer walked straight back to the store and jumped in her car. She peeled out of the parking lot hoping he might hear her off in the distance. The drive back home was even more annoying. She had to wait at nearly every intersection for pedestrians making their way home. When she finally did get to the house, she slammed the door shut and went straight to the kitchen.
"Of course there's no food in the damn house..." Opening the cabinets, Sawyer settled on the last pouch of instant oatmeal. As the microwaved worked its wonder, Sawyer couldn't help but think about what a jerk Ben had been. Not only did he yell at her, he'd walked away from her.
The microwave dinged and Sawyer added a little cinnamon and sugar to her runny oatmeal. She sat down at the kitchen table and started to stir her snack. The brown moving boxes and broom caught her attention. They'd been working on moving Ben in for the last month. Half of his stuff was still in cardboard boxes because they were having a hard time deciding where their separate stuff needed to go.
Moving day was going really well. Most of the heavy lifting had already been done. Ben and his Coastie friends got most of his stuff in the house in no time. Now the big challenge was to determine where it all went. For the last hour or so Sawyer had been on couch giving the thumbs up or thumbs down to her boyfriend's knick-knacks. So far she'd been quite entertained with what he'd brought over.
Digging through a box, Ben pulled out a handful of books. He only owned about seven, and those seven were important to him. Three were coffee table books- one on the Coast Guard, one on the history of baseball, and one on the back country of Tennessee. "These are good..." Ben walked towards Sawyer and set the three books on the coffee table.
Sawyer leaned over to flip through the pages of the book about the back country of Tennessee, and she was taken with the beauty of the pictures. She'd nearly lost track of what Ben had been doing until she saw him putting something gold and flashy on the mantle. Sawyer put the book down and shook her head, "Whoa...no way. That's not going there."
Ben turned and furrowed his brow. He'd just picked up his MVP trophy from the annual Coast Guard charity baseball game. "What? Why?"
Did he not see how grossly out of place that was. Her face soured, and Sawyer grimaced, "It just...doesn't go there." It really shouldn't go anywhere. Sawyer got up off the couch and walked over to him. She reached for the trophy and tried to take it from him. "This can go in a closet somewhere."
Holding out of her reach, Ben shook his head. "A closet? What happened, to compromise?"
"I've been pretty good about everything else. I mean..." Sawyer looked around to see some of Ben's stuff mingling with her own. "Look, that lamp is yours. This blanket..." Sawyer picked up the blanket that was folded over the couch arm. "...you've got lots in here."
"And this is going up here, too." He nodded and started to put the trophy back on the mantle.
"Ben..." Was he testing her? Was he just doing it to get a rise out of her?
Turning to look at her, Ben flashed her a grin. "It's not gonna kill you, OJ. It's just a trophy."
"Fine, but do you have to put it there. Can't you find somewhere else to put it?"
If it was gonna bother her that much, Ben could put it somewhere else. The last thing he wanted to deal with was an annoyed, pregnant Sawyer. But he was gonna get his way. That trophy was going somewhere. "Alright. But wherever I put it, it's staying."
"Okay." She watched him disappear to the bedroom and Sawyer looked around. As long as he didn't put it under the covers on her side of the bed, she could probably handle it. Walking over to more boxes, Sawyer pulled the top flaps and looked at an array of dishes and kitchenware. He had a waffle maker, and some mismatched plates and cups. There bowls with chips on them and a blinder that looked as old as her car. His assortment of junk was halfway adorable though. Sawyer wrapped her arms around the box and knew it was a better fit in the kitchen.
Ben walked down the hallway towards the main part of the house and saw his pregnant girlfriend lifting a rather large box. "Whoa...Whoa... Stop." He hurried over to get the box from her and shook his head. "You're not supposed to move stuff."
"It's fine. It's not even that heavy."
He didn't want to hear it. Ben put the box on the counter and started to pull the contents out. "I know this stuff is a little dated, but..." He pulled out a magenta colored plate. "It works."
Sawyer could only laugh and walked towards him. "Hand me the plates and you get the other stuff."
He only had about four plates and Sawyer started to put them up. The pea green one went first, then the navy blue, and his ugly brown plate even made it into the cabinet. Sawyer was in the middle of putting up that hideous magenta one when she heard a loud popping sound following a surge. Ben had plugged in his old blender and apparently it wasn't meshing well with Sawyer's electrical system. The overhead light in the kitchen started to buzz and then suddenly the light bulb shattered and left the two thirty-somethings in the dark.
"Whoops." Ben started to laugh and looked to the ground. Not only did the light bulb bust, but the fixture on the ceiling shattered too.
"What...the hell." Sawyer looked around her dark kitchen and then glared at her handsome boyfriend.
"I didn't mean to." He laughed and started to move around the mess looking for a broom.
Sawyer set the plate down on the edge of the counter and started to move towards the mess. She laughed at the situation and shook her head, "Well this is a good start to us living together. We break the kitchen light and now have a huge mess in the kitchen."
Grinning, Ben pulled her close. "Wouldn't have it any other way." They both looked to the floor through the darkness and laughed. Ben turned his Braves baseball hat around and looked to Sawyer ready for clean-up time. "So where is your broom?"
Broom? Sawyer wasn't sure. "Uh...I don't think I have one."
"What? Ha..." Ben laughed and shook his head. "How do you not have a broom, OJ?"
"I don't know. I just don't."
"Well come on. Home Depot is still open. We're going to buy our first thing for the house together. Our first two things really; a broom and a light fixture."
Now Sawyer felt like that broom was staring at her. It was propped up against the kitchen wall. Its black bristles had remnants of dust stuck to the ends, and the music lover thought about shaking it out over the back porch but the noise of the front door opening turned her attention.
Ben walked in and locked eyes with Sawyer for a moment. He turned to toss his keys on a nearby table and then made his way to the kitchen. He sat down across from his girlfriend and took a deep breath. "I didn't mean to yell at you earlier."
Sawyer pushed her oatmeal out of the way and she nodded. She knew she hadn't exactly taken the news of him leaving well. And that was the thing. He had every right to be upset about leaving. She wasn't the only one who got to be mad. "I know you don't want to go. I don't want you go to either."
"I hate that I'm gonna miss the doctor's appointment." Ben sighed and looked away from her. He was probably more excited about finding out what they were having than she was.
"We'll make it work, though. I'll be able to call you or we can Skype. We've done it before." In the eight years they'd known each other, they'd communicated just fine while he was out on the Diligence. Ben would leave on an assignment, but there was always a way to contact him.
The blue-eyed Coastie looked across the table to his pregnant girlfriend and smiled. "If it's two girls make sure your mom video tapes it so I can watch your reaction."
Laughing, Sawyer laughed and shook her head as she got up to put her bowl in the sink."I'm telling you...if it's two girls we're giving one back."
Getting up out of his chair, Ben walked over to Sawyer and wrapped his arms around her. He rested his chin on her shoulder and held her tightly. "Well whatever we have..." Ben's hands snaked around her hips and landed on her belly. "I only ask that they like baseball."
Turning around, Sawyer laughed, "And basketball." He did remember she came from a basketball dynasty, right?
"Okay...and basketball. But mine will like like baseball and and yours can like basketball."
"Oh, so now you're splitting them up?"
Smirking, Ben arched his brows, "Well...I'm just trying to play fair."
Nodding, Sawyer's eyes widened. "Fair would be you gaining at least forty pounds by the end of all this. Fair would be you having tender nipples, stretch marks, and constantly having to pee. Fair would be me having one of these babies and you having the other." Sawyer looked down to Ben's belt and grinned, "And I know you don't want to think about having to push something out of your penis." Ben laughed at Sawyer's tone and felt her put her arms over his shoulders. She arched one of her brows and kissed him. "There is no fair play in this pregnancy game."
Ben watched Sawyer walk away and he shoved his hands in his pockets. She was sexy when she got defensive. He may not love her crazy mood swings and the late night runs to get cubed pineapple or Captain Ds, but he loved her. There was no doubt about it. And when those two little ones joined them, he could only imagine the hold she'd have on him. It wouldn't be long either. June would roll around and November would get here before they knew it.
But before November, they had to get through July. Ben would leave and Sawyer would be on her own.
OTHOTH
It was the morning Ben was supposed to leave for patrol, and he was doing everything he possibly could to stay quiet. As usual, he'd waited until the last minute to pack his things and now he was trying to find clothes in the darkness of their bedroom. The sun hadn't come up and Sawyer was still asleep. He'd wake her up in fifteen minutes or so, but he wanted to hold out as long as he could. She'd never been a morning person.
Throwing his clothes in his big duffle bag, Ben quietly tossed it over his shoulder and headed out of the bedroom down the hall. He could smell the coffee pot and was thankful some had already been made. He set his bag down and walked into the kitchen to see a familiar face stirring sugar into black coffee.
The older man with kind, blue eyes smiled at the person behind him and held out a coffee cup. "Morning, son." Russ Trammell had made the trip from Memphis to Tree Hill a couple days back. Not only was he getting in a visit with his only son before Ben left, but he enjoyed getting to see Sawyer too.
"Hey, Dad." Ben walked over to the other Tennessean and took the coffee cup from him. "Thanks."
"So are you ready?"
"For the trip?" Ben poured himself a cup of coffee and shook his head. "No."
Russ quietly laughed and sipped his steaming cup of joe. He looked around the house and back to his son. "You know... you've done good, Ben. I don't think I say it enough." The veterinarian patted his son on the shoulder and sipped on his coffee again.
"Learned from the best, right?" Ben held his cup towards his dad and grinned.
Russ smiled and shook his head. "Oh you've done better than I ever did. Sawyer's a good one. And I'm getting two grand-babies." Ben's dad smiled excitedly. He'd been thrilled about one grandchild, but when he found out it would be two, he couldn't be happier.
"And speaking of Sawyer..." Ben checked the time. "If I don't wake her up soon, she's gonna have one of her bad mornings."
"Well lets not have that." Russ quietly laughed again and watched his son walk back to the bedroom. He watched the sweet golden retriever walk towards him and Russ knelt down. Seeing as he worked with animals on a regular basis, Mr. Trammel could see the age in the dog's eyes. Trout must have been about seven now, forty-nine in dog years. "You're a good ole boy, aren't you, Trout?" Russ scratched behind Trout's ears and then rubbed his hand down the dog's golden back.
"Sawyer...?" Ben walked into the bedroom and walked over to where she was in the bed. He sat down and watched the mattress move with his weight. He leaned over to and kissed her temple. "Hey...we're gonna leave in thirty minutes."
Her eyes opened and she adjusted them to the dark setting. Sawyer could feel Ben sitting next to her and she looked up to him. "Now? You're leaving now?" She rubbed away sleep and started to sit up.
"No, not yet, in about thirty minutes. I just wanted to give you some time to get dressed if you still wanted to come."
Yes she still wanted to come. She wanted to send Ben off from the Riverwalk, not the bed. "Okay. I'm up. Just give me a sec." Sawyer flipped the covers off her legs and started to move out from under the blankets.
"No rush."
There was a rush. Ben may not have realized it, but the sooner she got ready, the sooner she could spend their last hour together. It would be another five weeks before they got to spend any significant amount of time together.
Ben walked back to join his dad and made sure he had everything he needed for the patrol. Five weeks was a long time. He wasn't so worried about his clothes. He was pretty sure he could manage if he was short a few shirts, what Ben was more concerned with was the little black and white picture he'd shoved in the side pocket of his bag to tack up next to his bunk. It was the size of an old polaroid picture, and he knew he'd put it somewhere. He felt a picture and pulled it from the pocket. It wasn't the right one, but it was another one he was taking. Instead of the babies, this one was of Sawyer. It was a headshot so to speak. Her eyes were closed, her tongue was out, her hands were spread out by her cheeks, and she was making a face at him. It probably didn't show Sawyer at her best, but for Ben it was exactly what he wanted. His other hand continued to search through his bag and he felt what he was looking for. Ben pulled out the other small photo and he admired Baby A and Baby B. He could feel his heart start to race and a grin spread across his face.
"Okay, I'm ready." Sawyer walked out the bedroom towards the kitchen with a pair of sweatpants, an old t-shirt, and her hair was up in a messy pony tail. She clearly didn't care about what she looked like and the evidence of sleep was clear as day when she yawned.
Ben stood up from searching his bag and tucked the two pictures in his wallet. "Don't you clean up nicely?" He walked over to her and kissed her quickly.
With tired, closed eyes, Sawyer nodded. "I'm up, I brushed my teeth, and I already peed..." She eyed the clock on the microwave and blinked a few times. "It's five thirty...seven in the morning. I'd say I'm doing pretty well."
She was. Ben couldn't deny that she was doing extremely well given the time and her condition. At five months along, Sawyer more or less wanted to stay in bed all the time. Especially on Saturdays. She must have really loved him to get up.
"Alright. I've got the keys, so whenever you two are ready..." Russ spun the car keys in his hand and smiled at the younger two.
Slinging his duffle bag over his shoulder, Ben put his hand on the small of Sawyer's back and started to lead her out the door. "Come on, OJ. Let's get this part over with."
The car ride downtown was a little bittersweet. Russ was at the helm of his rental car, and Sawyer and Ben were both in the back. She was leaning into him as the car made its way towards the water. Occasionally Russ would glance to the rearview mirror and catch their long looks and intertwined hands. It was kinda cute. The pair were acting a little like teenagers, but given the scenario, they were entitled to be affectionate. Even if subtle, the little things they were doing said everything their words didn't. In fact, Sawyer and Ben had hardly spoken to each other. There had only been a few whispery exchanges between them before Russ parked the car.
Once downtown, Sawyer looked out to the flowing water of the cape and knew that current would be taking Ben away from her soon. Russ popped the trunk to get Ben's bag and watched Sawyer get out of the car and head toward the wooden railings of the Riverwalk. The older Trammell handed his son the duffle and then hugged his boy. "Stay safe out there, Ben."
"I will." Ben looked to the Diligence and then back to his father. "And thanks for coming- for driving me."
"Not a problem. You know I love getting to see you two." He would be making the trip back to Memphis in the afternoon, but the days he'd been in Tree Hill, Russ had truly enjoyed. Tilting his head towards Sawyer, Russ smiled at his son. "I think she's waiting on you."
"Yeah." Ben nodded and started to make his way towards the water.
Sawyer was leaning on the rail watching the floating pieces of debris drift past her. Sticks, leaves, a couple of pieces of trash; they were all making their way past Tree Hill and away from the pier. Undoing her hair, Sawyer ran her hands through her tangled blonde curls and figured she might as well try to look a little bit better. Her outfit didn't say much, but a little effort could go a long way. She watched a few more things float by and then she heard the thud of Ben's bag as he dropped it by his feet. He rubbed against Sawyer when he took his place next to her.
He didn't know what to say or how they wanted to do this. Did they get right to it and say goodbye then and there or did they linger for a bit? Sawyer wasn't saying anything, so maybe she wanted to stick around for little while. Ben looked out across the water and started to grin. "Remember that time we went paint balling and we came back covered in paint? It was the first time I met your mom and then we came down here to eat. We were drenched in different colors and I'm pretty sure the people around us thought we were crazy."
Sawyer nodded. "We were." She turned to her boyfriend and could see the age in his face, but to her Ben was still that young, handsome twenty-four year old who'd won her over with that dumb grin and child-like antics. He was still that poor guy she ended up nailing with her juice the morning of the Diligence. She sighed and looked past him to the boat, crossing her arms in front of her chest, "I don't want you to go. And I know I've said that a million times by now, but..." Sawyer had been in this place before. She'd sent him away from those very docks, but she'd never been pregnant, it had never been for so long, and she'd never felt so vulnerable.
"I know." He nodded pulled her into his arms. "You'll keep yourself busy, though. Maybe it won't seem so long."
She rested her head against his chest. "It's five weeks. Most celebrity relationships don't last that long. I can't keep a plant alive that long. I barely know how to count to five." She laughed and wiped her eye with a smile.
"Well if that's the case, I better find a new baby mama. My kids are required to count to at least...six." He laughed and started to grin with that sweet, boyish smile.
"Oh stop... You know you don't want anyone else having your kids."
He started to make a face as if he were thinking of the other possibilities but looked back to Sawyer seriously. "You're right." His hands found her stomach and he started to grin wider. "And if it's two boys, two girls, one of each, or a Leprechaun and a one of Snow White's seven dwarfs, I'm just excited to be their dad."
She looked up to him and nodded with a smile. "As soon as I find out, I'll let you know."
"And until then, always wear your seatbelt, eat even when you're not hungry- especially the green vegetables so our shortstop and center-fielder can start off on a good foot, and call Keith or Jamie, or your Dad, or anyone else for that matter if you ever need anything..."
"I will." Sawyer loved how he could mix in humor. It made the situation a little less bearable.
The booming horn of the Diligence blew and Sawyer and Ben knew what that meant. It was time for him to go.
He took a deep breath and raised his brows. "That's me. I gotta go."
Sawyer nodded and could feel her emotions start to cloud her vision with tears. She raised up on her tip-toes and kissed him and held onto him as long as she could. Ben made sure to let his hands rest on her belly for a minute and then left a lingering kiss on her forehead.
Sawyer watched him turn away but she stopped him. She pulled on his neck and kissed him one more time. When she moved away, she locked eyes with him. "I love you."
"I love you, too." He softly smiled and then turned around and started walking towards the boat.
Fighting the urges to throw-up, follow him, or cry in the middle of the Riverwalk, Sawyer took a few deep breaths and headed straight for one of the empty benches near the fountain. She could feel her lips quiver, but Sawyer was trying to be strong. Damn those pregnancy hormones. Normally she wasn't such a sap. A couple minutes passed and then she saw the Diligence start to make its way to the coast. The bench shifted and Sawyer turned to see Russ sit down. He handed her a muffin and a little carton of orange juice from the nearby coffee shop. Seeing the orange juice was the nail in the coffin. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the gesture, of course she did, but the orange juice was too much. Her mind flew to Ben and the fact that he'd be gone for five weeks. At first her tears were few, coming and going as she blinked, but when the boat turned towards the bridge, Sawyer all but lost it.
Russ hadn't meant to make her upset. He was trying to take care of her. The vet scooted close and put his arm around her shoulders. "It's gonna be alright, Sawyer. He'll be back in no time."
She couldn't speak, she could only nod. Russ was so gentle-hearted that it almost made it worst, but she was glad he was there. Sawyer wasn't going to be able to do this alone. For the next twenty minutes or so Sawyer and Russ sat on the bench and watched the Diligence get further and further out of sight until they couldn't see it anymore.
Once they got back to Sawyer and Ben's house, Russ offered to cook breakfast. When it came to steak and eggs, Russ could compete with the best chefs. It had been nice to have Ben's dad around for the first few hours the Coastie was gone. Sawyer wasn't ready to be completely alone, so the slight transition was a nice. Mid afternoon came around and Russ said his goodbyes, told his grand-babies they better behave while he was gone, and that he'd see Sawyer come November.
The next few days weren't as hard as she thought they'd be. Sawyer kept herself busy at work, stopped by to see Charlotte and the kids often, and ate dinner with her parents most nights. Her initial thoughts on being alone while Ben was away were quickly dismissed as the days continued to roll on.
Pretty soon that all important doctor's visit came along. Peyton had been at her daughter's side since Ben couldn't, and when they'd heard the news, Sawyer couldn't wait to tell Ben. She hadn't been so peppy since high school.
They'd stopped by the store before going home, and Sawyer grabbed two little stuffed animals to help in telling Ben. Once Peyton dropped Sawyer off, the blonde immediately started up her computer to see if she could Skype with her Coastie. Hopefully the signal would work, and hopefully he could talk for a few minutes. Waiting for the line to pick up was excruciating, but once the password protected page came up, Sawyer knew she'd get a chance to talk to him. Typing the appropriate codes for the Coast Guard cutter, Sawyer waited patiently for somebody to appear.
"This is USCG Diligence. Who are you wanting to talk to?" Sawyer saw one of Ben's friends come on the screen and she smiled.
"Drew, it's me. Go get Ben!" Sawyer didn't want to have to go through the normal protocol. There were more questions she was supposed to answer, but this call was kind of a big deal. Drew knew why she was calling. Everybody on the boat knew what this call would entail.
"Alright. One sec..." Drew disappeared from his chair and Sawyer nervously waited.
Ben was down in the lower deck drawing up plans with a few others to grid the lower Atlantic with buoys when he saw Drew hurrying towards him.
"Come on, man. Sawyer's on the line upstairs."
If the chair hadn't been nailed to the floor, Ben would have knocked it over. He hustled up the old metal steps and quickly gathered a following of Coasties behind him. Turned out they all wanted to know the news, too.
Grabbing the head set, Ben sat down and saw Sawyer in the little box on the screen. His blue eyes were big and there was a lump the size of the Atlantic in his throat. This was it. This was the day he was going to find out what they were having.
Sawyer couldn't help but love the look he had on his face. She smirked and leaned close to the camera. "Well aren't you gonna say, hello?"
"H...hey." Ben was stuttering and it was adorable. He shook off his nerves and got right to the point. "So what did the doctor say?"
"Well..." Sawyer reached for the two little lambs she'd picked up at the store. "Baby A..." She put a little lamb with a blue bow tied around it's neck in front of the computer. "...is a boy."
A loud cheer erupted from the crowd of guys surrounded by Ben as they clapped for the news that at least one of the twins was a boy.
"Looks like you'll have at least one to play baseball with." Sawyer smiled and then started to reach for the other lamb.
"What about the other one?" At this point he was looking at having two boys or one of each.
Sawyer took a deep breath and arched her brow. "And Baby B..." She put the second little lamb next to the other one. "...is a girl." The pink bow tied around the lamb's neck was the perfect visual clue.
An even louder cheer came from the guys around Ben, and they all were congratulating him and shaking his shoulders. He tried to calm everyone down and once he did, he shoed them away so he could talk with Sawyer. Ben was staring at those little lambs so intensely and then looked to Sawyer. "A boy and a girl?"
She nodded and laughed. Putting her hands on her stomach she looked down and then back to Ben, "You get your girl. I get my boy..."
"And you said pregnancy wasn't fair." He laughed and crossed his arms.
Shrugging her shoulders, Sawyer smiled. "I can be wrong...sometimes...not often, but occasionally."
Grinning, Ben couldn't believe it. "A boy and a girl...wow."
"I guess we're gonna have to start thinking about names, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess so." The thought of naming their children had only briefly crossed his mind, but now that they knew what they were having, things were starting to feel even more real. Ben started to think of boy names as said the first one that came to mind. "Bruce is a solid name."
Sawyer laughed and shook her head. "Bruce sounds like a bodybuilder who wears a tiny pink bikini and gets spray tans." She closed her eyes and knew she would never have a son named Bruce. "We can decide when you get home. Just be thinking and then we'll start making a list."
"Yeah, okay." Ben was still letting the news sink in and he could see the glow on Sawyer's skin. She was just as happy about the news as he was. He leaned close to the screen and raised his brows. He didn't even have to say it.
Sawyer nodded and looked at their little lambs. "I'm excited too."
A thousand miles apart, but feeling the same thing, Sawyer and Ben were ready. They were excited. It wasn't gonna be easy, and things might not go as planned, but they were gonna make it work. Pretty soon little boy Trammell and little girl Trammell would come into the world whether their parents were ready or not.
OTHOTH
So...it's twins and they're having a boy and a girl. I've had this planned since chapter 3. The moments I knew I was gonna have Sawyer and Ben end up together, I knew I was gonna give them twins and that it would be one of each. I've already got the babies names, but as usual I get super nervous you guys will hate them. I legitimately think name fictional characters fictional babies is one of the hardest parts of writing. Ha. Next chapter Ben will come home and we'll probably get to the birth of the Trammell twins.
Reviewers: You guys are fantastic. You know it. I know it. I love you guys. Thanks for the feedback!
Guest 1: Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad you like the drama that had happened so far. There is more still to come! Stay tuned!
Guest 2: I hope you enjoyed finding out about the twins and that Graham was okay.
Guest 3: Thanks for the review!
Anon: Haha..I know...enough with the cliffhangers for the last few chapters, right. At least this one doesn't end with a cliffhanger. At least at this point we know everyone is okay.
CMF: Yay, I'm so thrilled to know that Sawyer is your favorite character from the entire LM franchise. That means a lot considering I made her my own. Hahaha...you're right, there really is no such thing as a drama-free pregnancy in Tree Hill. Liza's pregnancy with Bennet was probably the least drama filled and they were living in South Carolina then...lol. Yay again. I soooo happy you like Leyton. I'm most comfortable writing Naley so compliments about Leyton (and Brulian too) are great. Way to boost my confidence. We should be seeing more of them next chapter, Leyton that is.
Guest 4: Sorry for the wait. Life's been crazy. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Lucy: Sorry for the wait. I hope you liked the chapter!
Review please!