"Don't leave me," Caryn begged, as Abbie accepted the set of scrubs she was handed.
"I'm not going anywhere. I swear," Abbie's voice was gentle and loving. "I'm right here. I just need to change into these, so's I can come into the O.R. with you," reluctantly she released Caryn's hand. Caring nothing for modesty, she stripped down to her bra and panties, and hurriedly donned the scrubs. She took up Caryn's hand again as soon as she could. "There," she told her, as she touched her face. "I'm still here. Even if I gave the nursing staff a show."
"Lucky nurses," Caryn's voice was weak, but she was trying so hard to be brave and pull herself together. "What's going to happen?" she failed to hide the fear in her voice.
"They're gonna take us in real soon. Then they're gonna hook you up to the good stuff. And then, my darling girl, we're gonna meet our babies. It's not gonna hurt, baby," Abbie saw the tears gathering in Caryn's eyes.
"I know. I just want them to be okay," Caryn whispered.
Abbie stroked her hand, trying not to notice how swollen it was. She wiped the sweat from her brow. "You still feeling sick?"
Caryn nodded miserably.
"Let's try and focus on nicer things. You're getting off light, CW," Abbie teased lightly, knowing that Caryn found solace in humor. "Emergency Caesarian means you're not gonna have to go through labor. So you won't be unable to sit down for a fortnight. God," she laughed lightly. "I had such a sore noo-noo after Daniel."
"I've always been kinda fond of your noo-noo," Caryn tried to join in the banter, to take her mind off what was coming up.
Abbie smiled delightedly. She kissed Caryn's hand. "It won't be long now, baby," she said. "Any moment now, we're gonna meet our babies. Our Laurel and Hardy," she grinned.
"Bert and Ernie," Caryn gripped her fingers as a wave of nausea and panic washed over her.
"Thelma and Louise," Abbie smiled.
"Abbott and Costello," Caryn tried not to pay attention to the tubes and wires that were being attached.
"You're showing your age," Abbie teased. "How about Cagney and Lacey? God, she was hot, wasn't she?"
Caryn moaned, leaning on one side in pain and misery. "Oh God, Abbs," she whispered. "Make it stop."
Abbie crouched at her head, and slid one arm under her shoulders. "We're going in now. Right?" she fixed the doctor with a dangerous glare.
The doctor smiled and nodded.
"See," Abbie said, slackening her hold as the gurney began to move. "Any moment now, my darling."
"I'm scared," Caryn admitted as the bed was anchored in place in the O.R.
"I know, baby," Abbie leant down and kissed her tenderly. "I know. It's all going to be okay."
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7am the following morning
Abbie looked up, blinking in confusion. She thought she had heard something. A small tap came again, and the door to the hospital room opened quietly, and she saw Olivia's face peer round. She grinned, and gestured her in. Olivia slipped silently into the room, leaving a huge basket of fruit by the door. Attached to it was a balloon and two teddy bears.
Abbie got out of the chair and accepted a warm hug from Olivia.
"So?" Olivia whispered. "All good?"
"All perfect," Abbie gestured to the two plastic cribs, each containing a tiny, blonde baby girl, sleeping soundly.
"And Caryn?"
Abbie's eyes filled with tears. "She's gonna be fine. The swelling's already going down, and her fever has fallen a lot."
"Was it awful?" Olivia knew only too well what it was like watching your lover having a baby in a traumatic situation; whenever she remembered her feeling of helplessness when Alex gave birth after the car accident, she felt sick and shaky.
Abbie nodded. "It's okay now. And the doctors were amazing."
One of the babies whimpered. "Hey, baby girl," Abbie scooped her up tenderly. "Wanna meet your Aunt Liv?"
"It's okay," Olivia said, not wanting to unsettle the hours-old child.
"Take her," Abbie kissed the baby's head very softly, as she passed her over. "I'm gonna need the help. Her sister will be up any second," she smiled as the second child make a small, mewling sound. "I think these two are going to be doing everything in stereo," she lifted the second baby out. "Wanna help me with the feed? Caryn's still out of it," she looked over lovingly at her pale girlfriend who was, at last, sleeping peacefully.
Olivia nodded, smiling as Abbie pressed the buzzer for the nurse who would bring them bottles of formula milk. "You got names yet?"
"We've got some ideas," Abbie said. "I want to wait until Caryn's more with it. Though she'll likely want to call them Bert and Ernie, from what she was saying just before the birth."
Olivia smiled. She looked from one baby to the other. They were both like little clones of Caryn; there was no trace of their paternity. "You told Jeff?"
"He's so excited," Abbie smiled. "He'll be in later with Daniel."
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"Amy?" Robyn tried to wake her panicked girlfriend up gently.
Amy moaned, and jerked away. Her breathing was erratic.
"Amy, honey?" Robyn was desperate to gather her in her arms and hold her tight, but she could tell Amy was in the throes of a nightmare, and she didn't want to spook her. So she stroked her face gently.
"No," Amy turned her head. "No," she gasped. "I'm sorry. Not tonight," she twisted and tried to roll away. "Please don't. I won't tell, I swear. No," she was weeping now, great gulping sobs, as she clutched at her pillow and tried to make herself as small as possible, her legs drawn up. "No."
Robyn felt sick. Deep down, she knew that Amy's problems were down to some sort of sexual abuse; why else would her attack at work have sent her into such a downward spiral over the last year? Despite her best efforts, she was barely eating, and had lost a frightening amount of weight.
Amy had also shown very little interest in making love, apart from the occasional time when she wanted Robyn with a ferocity that had scared her a little. They barely made love at all, and when they did it was quick and frantic, and Amy invariably collapsed in tears after she came. She always apologized to Robyn afterward, though Robyn had told her apologies were unnecessary. But it was clear that their previous tender physical relationship was, at the very least, on hold until Amy was ready. And Robyn was fine with that. What she wasn't fine with was watching Amy's unhappiness.
The counselor, Dr Baker, had been a great help in the past four months. Amy was talking more openly, and she seemed to be relaxed around Robyn, though she still hated it if Robyn left the apartment without her. Robyn tried so hard to be strong for Amy, but from time to time, her own resolve crumbled, and she had to hide in the bathroom to weep.
"No," Amy's movements became more frantic. "I can't. I hurt. Please don't. Please don't Daddy."
Robyn's heart plummeted when she heard the word. It couldn't be true. Amy never talked about her parents – or about her life before she met Robyn – but this was too horrifying.
"No, Daddy. It hurts," Amy was pushing Robyn away weakly. Her breathing came in short gasps, and she seemed to be struggling to get enough air in. "Please don't. No. Mom, help me. Daddy, no. I don't wanna touch... oh … Mama. Help me," she sobbed, sweat pouring off her. "No!" she screamed loudly, sitting bolt upright in the bed, her eyes staring open.
Robyn put a soft hand on her back. "It's okay," she whispered to the hysterical woman. "It's okay now. It's over." She watched Amy blink in confusion. "You're safe, sweetheart. He's never going to do anything to you again. I'm gonna take care of you. I swear."
Amy stared at her as though she was a stranger. Then her whole face crumpled, and she flung herself into her arms, sobbing hysterically.
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"Babies?" Maisie looked up in wonder at Alex.
Alex held her close. "That's right, Maisie. Your Auntie Caryn has had her babies. She had two baby girls, isn't that nice?"
"Can we see?" Maisie wanted to know.
Alex smiled. "Not right now, doodlebug. Soon. Soon we'll all go round to see them, once they're all home and settled. They're staying in the hospital for a few days, until Auntie Caryn feels strong again, and then they'll go home."
Alex looked over at her wife, who was making cookies with a very serious-looking Lily. Lily was piping the icing onto the cookies and was concentrating hard, her tongue poking out of her mouth as she strove to control the piping bag. Olivia didn't see her watching her, so intent was she on helping Lily.
Alex's heart filled with joy. Her unbelievably sexy, five-and-a-half-month pregnant wife looked so relaxed and beautiful as she took care of their elder daughter.
"Cookies!" Maisie grinned as she watched her adored older sister work.
Lily looked over and smiled at Maisie. "This one's for you, Maisie," she pointed to the biggest of the cookies. "It's got pink icing." She knew her sister loved all things pink.
"After dinner," Alex smiled, as she gently guided Maisie's hand away from the cookie. "Look how beautiful it is. You're a very clever girl, Lily," she said, and was rewarded with a beaming smile.
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Dr Baker opened the door. "Would you step in?" she asked Robyn, who sat tensely on the edge of the couch. Amy hadn't wanted to come, but Robyn knew that she needed help more now than ever.
Robyn was on her feet in seconds. Dr Baker smiled as she held the door open for her. "We've had a good talk," she explained, in a quiet, calm voice. "And we think maybe a little more hypnotherapy will help Amy remember some more details. She doesn't really want to do this, do you Amy?"
Amy sat, pale and shaken. She shook her head. "I'm scared," she whispered.
"So we thought maybe if you held her while we do it. Do you think you could do that?"
"I'll do whatever she needs," Robyn sat on the couch next to Amy and took her hand, hating that she could feel her shaking. "Amy, I'm here for you," she addressed her directly. She kissed her very tenderly on the lips. "I'll be with you all the way. And then we can go home."
Amy swallowed a wave of nausea.
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"What about this one?" Casey looked up from the computer, and pointed at the screen.
Wheels smiled and came over. She rested one hand gently on Casey's shoulder, relieved that, for once, Casey didn't flinch. She had come such a long way in the last few months, but she still tended to panic at the first hint of physical contact, until she could be sure she was safe.
Casey's finger pointed at details of an art class that was set to start at the Gay & Lesbian Center just three blocks away from Wheels' apartment.
Casey had tried to move out from Wheels' place a month before, but as soon as she had started to research new apartments, she had found herself starting to panic. Her nightmares came back with a vengeance, filling almost every night with horror. Wheels had been worried – latterly, Casey had only had her horrifying nightmares occasionally, sometimes making a full fortnight before she woke up screaming in terror. So Wheels had put her foot down, and insisted that Casey stay with her for a while longer. Casey had been surprisingly easy to persuade, and Wheels realized it was only Casey's concern for her that had made her offer to move out.
So Wheels had sat her down, and told her truthfully that she hadn't been so happy since May had died. Having Casey to take care of was almost like having her own daughter, she had explained. And she didn't miss her alone time at all; they both had plenty of time to themselves. Casey's workload was full, and Wheels' social life was also thriving.
Wheels worried that Casey didn't have anything outside of work, apart from her friendship with Alex and Olivia, so she had suggested that they take a class together once a week. So now Casey had found a class that encompassed learning about the practicalities of oil painting with lectures on the history of art. "I've always wanted to paint," she told Wheels wistfully. "Just never had the time. Charlie didn't like me to do other things in the evening."
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"This is very formal," Alex was surprised to find herself nervous as she sat in the hotel meeting room in mid-town Manhatten.
Her brother Graham squeezed her hand. "You don't need to worry," he reassured her. "Carolyn will be here any moment, and we'll explain," he gestured to all the paperwork on the large, wooden table in front of them.
"Why here?" she hated that her voice shook. She had no idea what this was all about, but in her experience, anything related to her late mother was bad news. She was so happy right now, with their beautiful daughters and her insanely hot, pregnant wife, she just knew something would go wrong.
"Allie-Cat, relax," Graham's voice was almost stern. "Christ, Alex, you look like you're gonna be sick. This is nothing to worry about. I swear to you. The only reason we suggested meeting here is that there's plenty of room for all this paperwork," he gestured to the table. "And we don't want all of our kids getting in the way. And Richard's office is round the corner."
"Richard?" Alex wondered what Carolyn's boyfriend had to do with all this. "Why is Richard coming?"
"Because he's had a great idea what to do with Mom's house," Carolyn said as she came into the room. She hugged Alex tightly, and kissed Graham on the cheek. "Graham, what have you been saying to her? Lexi, you look terrified."
"Just waiting for the other shoe to drop," Alex said glumly.
"You're crazy. Sit down," Carolyn was firm, but she continued to smile. "Richard's gonna be here in a half hour," she reached out and started pouring the coffee. "So we want to run his idea by you, see if you agree."
"What idea? And why do you need my approval? Mom left everything to you two, not to me," Alex was getting antsy.
"She left it to her children. She had three children, and if she forgot that, then she's a fool," Carolyn said. She touched Alex's hand. "We want to do something useful with that big house. And Graham and I agree that we don't want it, and we don't need any more of her money. So," she smiled, "we were just trying to find something good to do with it. To give something back. And Richard and I were talking one night," she caught the grin and the wink that Graham gave to Alex, and she rolled her eyes. "One evening," she clarified. "At dinner. And he suggested that, with a few alterations, we could make it into a rehabilitation center for children. They could stay, with their families. We had an architect look at the house, and he says he could turn it into eight small family apartments, with communal areas. We could provide nursing staff, rehab staff, teachers for longer-stay patients. And the swimming pool would be perfect for a lot of them to get hydrotherapy. So kids like Tommy," her eyes softened as she thought of her adored grandson, "they can get better in a safe environment that isn't a hospital. Being sick, or hurt, is bad enough when you're that small. What do you think?" Carolyn was almost breathless after her long speech. She peered anxiously at Alex, worried what her reaction might be.
Alex was wreathed in smiles. "I think that's perfect. Are you sure that's what you want to do? I mean, it's worth a lot of money to you both," she looked over at Graham.
"We have enough money," he said quietly.
"But you have five kids?"
"And Carla and I want them to make their own way in the world. We've seen what happens to spoiled brats, and we don't want that to happen to our kids. Anyway, the business is doing real well. Carla thinks this is a great idea, she's behind us 100%."
"Then so am I," Alex hugged her brother and her sister in turn. "And I know Liv will be in favor."
"Richard's been talking to his hospital administrator. She's got lots of contacts, and she knows some people who have set up similar charities. If we run this as a charity, there are lots of tax breaks. And we can do lots of fundraising, maybe make it into a proper foundation. He's going to talk us through some initial ideas, if you're okay with that."
Alex nodded, enthusiastically.
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Wheels rang on the doorbell, and waited. A few moments later, Robyn came to the door. Wheels held out a large bouquet of flowers. Robyn smiled, and put her fingers to her lips.
"Sleeping?" Wheels asked quietly.
"At last," Robyn said. "She's had a strong sedative; she should be out for hours."
"And how are you?" Wheels wanted to know.
Robyn's eyes filled with tears. "Sad," she admitted. "It's worse than I ever imagined."
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Casey looked up as Wheels came into the apartment, and saw that her elderly friend was clearly shaken. She leapt up from her seat, and engulfed her in a hug. "Was is bad?"
Wheels nodded.
Casey guided her to the couch, and returned a few moments later with two steaming mugs of tea. "Wanna talk?"
Wheels nodded again. "It was her father," she said, proud that her voice didn't falter. "Her damned father."
"Oh Christ," Casey said.
"It gets worse, though. Her mother knew about it. She facilitated it," Wheels spat. "She gave them the time and the room. Amy begged her to stop it happening, and she did nothing. Nothing!"
"What age?" Casey wanted to know.
"Four to eleven," Wheels told her. "And then she went to live with an aunt. Apparently she was kind, but Amy was so fucked up by then, she never settled. She ran away at 17, changed her name – from Amelia Horton to Amy Green – and hitchhiked to Canada. She did odd jobs, lived rough, and was lost until they took her on at the hotel."
"The hotel where you got married? Where you met Liv and Alex?"
"The very same," Wheels said. "They took her in, gave her a job, and her whole life changed. And then she met Robyn. And it looked like they were getting their happy ending, until that bastard attacked her and it brought it all back. She'd repressed it so deep that she had no memory of it at all until she started hypnotherapy."
"How are they?"
"Shattered," Wheels said sadly. "But they're both determined to get better. At least they have the money from the settlement, so they had the time to work at it. They love each other. That's something, isn't it?" she looked up at Casey, tears in her eyes.
"It's everything," Casey said softly, trying to put her own assault to the back of her mind.
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"They're three days old," Abbie said, as she helped Caryn adjust her breast to a questing mouth. "We've gotta give them some names."
"They have names," Caryn grinned. "Isn't that right, Bert?" she stroked the baby's cheeks lovingly. "Hey, you'd better get Ernie," their other daughter started to grumble from her plastic crib next to the hospital bed.
Abbie tenderly lifted her out, and held her to her. "It's okay, baby," she whispered. "I won't let your naughty Ma call you Ernie. We all know," she fixed her girlfriend with a mock glare, "that she has some much nicer names for you both. Isn't that right, CW?"
Caryn smiled lovingly as she held her nursing daughter to her. "Well," she said softly, "if you agree, I thought maybe we could call this one Laurel," she glanced up to see Abbie's scowl, "and maybe we could call Ernie Madeleine? What do you think, Mommy?"
Abbie smiled. She had imagined Caryn was going to tease her further and suggest Laurel and Hardy for the twins, but when she heard the name Madeleine, she realized that the names were perfect for their precious babies. Very gently, she kissed Caryn on the mouth, trying to convey all the love that was bursting in her heart. "Yeah," she said softly. "Laurel and Madeleine. I like it."
"Laurel Elizabeth, and Madeleine Abigail," Caryn said, watching her girfriend's face.
Abbie's eyes filled. She nodded.
"One more thing," Caryn said.
Abbie quirked an eyebrow.
"You are going to marry me, right? I mean, now that you've knocked me up and all," Caryn's words were teasing, but she was in deadly earnest, and she watched Abbie's face anxiously to gauge her reaction. Abbie looked first startled, and then delighted.
Abbie kissed Caryn again, more passionately this time. She pulled back, and balanced on the edge of the bed, one baby in her arms, watching the other suckling at her lover's breast. "I dunno," she pretended to play it cool. "It's gonna have to be an expensive ring."
"Look in the side pocket of my purse," Caryn smiled, laughing as Abbie withdrew a velvet box. "Well open it," she instructed, laughing as Abbie's eyes grew wide as the huge diamond was revealed. "That expensive enough for you?"
Abbie looked at the ring, then looked at Caryn's smiling face, and then looked back at the ring. "Yeah," she said hoarsely, her voice cracking with emotion. "I reckon that'll do." She passed the box to Caryn. "You gotta put it on me. I mean, that's gotta be the least romantic proposal ever. At least put the ring on my finger."
Abbie held out a shaking hand, cursing as her body betrayed the emotion she was trying to hide under her flippancy.
Caryn slipped the ring on her finger, and then pulled her hand to her lips. She kissed it softly. She looked deep into Abbie's eyes. "There isn't a single thing I don't love about you," she whispered.
Abbie thought her heart might explode. "Right back at you, Counselor Wright," she said quietly. "Right back at you."
"And you have fabulous tits," Caryn teased, laughing at the look of horror on Abbie's face as a nurse entered the room.
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"You don't have to do this every night," Sarah said gently to Jay, who was doing crunches in their spare bedroom for the tenth night running.
"I wanna get back in shape," Jay said, as she flopped on her back, sweat glistening off her body. She wore boxers and a tight wife-beater that rode up to reveal rock-hard abs.
Sarah sat on the floor next to her wife, and ran a hand appreciatively over the smooth, soft skin. "I like this shape," she said, in a sultry tone. She slipped her hand under the damp cloth of shirt, letting it slide up her damp skin to reach the black cotton bra Jay wore to work out. She pushed her fingers insistently under the elasticated edge, her heart beating faster as she felt her bejeweled nipple harden instantly at her touch. "I'm thinking," her breathing hitched as Jay let out a strangled moan, "that you have honed this body to damn-near perfection," she smiled at Jay's whimper of disappointment as she withdrew her hand. She grasped the edges of the damp shirt, and pushed it up over Jay's head, smiling with delight at the sight before her.
"I'm all sweaty," Jay tried to sit up, laughing as Sarah peeled off her bra and took her small, firm breasts in her hands. "I should shower," she felt Sarah's lips on her nipple and her resolve melted away.
"I like you like this," Sarah whispered, reveling in the salty taste of her overheated skin. "Tommy's asleep. We won't be disturbed," she hooked her fingers in the waistband of Jay's boxers and slid them down athletic thighs. She cupped her center lovingly, feeling the sudden surge of moisture. "Wanna taste you," she whispered, peering into Jay's eyes, searching her approval.
Jay loved that Sarah never did anything without permission, whether implicit or explicit. Even in moments of the greatest passion, Sarah unfailingly sought to ensure that Jay was comfortable. She smiled, and cupped the back of Sarah's head, guiding her gently to where she wanted her most. The first touch of her tongue made Jay buck with pleasure.
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Lily held shyly onto Alex's hand, as they waited outside Abbie and Caryn's house. In her other hand was a large bag, which held gifts for the new babies, as well as their mommies. In Alex's other hand was a large, plastic fire truck for Daniel, who, she was told, was delighted to be a big brother, even if his sisters had disappointed him by not being ready to play yet.
In a moment, Abbie answered the door, looking tired but happier than Alex had ever seen her. At her side was Daniel, who smiled with pleasure at the sight of Lily, who was his hero. He loved playing with her when they were at the park together, and she was always keen to climb the tallest climbing frame in the play area, and swing further than anyone else. Being with her was exhilarating.
Lily approached Caryn, who sat on the couch with a mug of tea, as Abbie fussed around her. Caryn smiled widely at Lily, and patted the chair next to her. Lily climbed up carefully, having been told by Alex that she had to be gentle with Caryn. "Hi Vilanti," she said with a smile. "Are you feeling all better?"
"I'm great," Caryn grinned. "And I'm real pleased to see you."
"Mommy said you were sick," Lily was concerned.
"Only for a little while. I'm getting better every day."
"Did you have some babies?" Lily looked around.
Caryn laughed. "I did, I had two baby girls. Wanna meet them? Abbie's just bringing them in after their sleep," she looked up to see Abbie holding Laurel and Alex carrying Madeleine. She reached out for Laurel, and held her carefully so that Lily could see her. "This," she stroked Laurel's cheek, "this is Bert!" she said.
Lily looked surprised, and then she laughed. "Mommy said you'd be all silly. What's she really called Vilanti?"
"She's called Laurel. Laurel Elizabeth," Alex said, crouching by the couch, so that Lily could see the second child. "And this gorgeous girl is Madeleine Abigail."
Lily smiled. "Hi," she said, shyly.