"Oh, I can feel spring. Isn't it wonderful?" Iris bounced down the sidewalk in the midst of a sunny April afternoon. She and Cheryl walked back from a late lunch soaking up warm air and a light breeze.

"I think it's springing in here too. I've never eaten so much in my life."

"Growth spurt?" Cheryl nodded emphatically. "Well, you look great. I love how I can tell you that and you don't freak out."

"I'll take compliments from anybody," she admitted. "You know, having a baby sounds all wonderful, but actually being pregnant is a complete revelation."

Iris looked doubtful that she could be regretting the decision. "Come on, you love them."

"Of course I do. But since the very beginning, I've been reminded on a daily basis that I am no longer in control. My body is not my own."

The assistant shrugged a little. "Gotta be weird I guess, knowing they're in there collaborating on stuff. One's thinking "how about some cake' and the other says 'no, Mexican food'."

"That does sound good."

Cheryl snuck up on Alex at the sink while he washed paint from his hands. She ran both arms around and hugged as much as she could with the increasing bump impeding her way.

"Hmm... that's nice," he said and turned to her. "Oh, it's you."

Her mouth fell open in disbelief at the disappointment in his voice. "Excuse me?"

Terra let out a moan of protest as well, echoing her question. Alex grabbed Cheryl quickly and kissed her playfully. "Just teasing. Love me anyway?"

"Ugh. Maybe. What are you doing here anyway?"

He looked around. "Um, I live here?"

"Sometimes." The Stafford job had been draining for the first month, keeping him away until well after dark most nights. "But it's pretty early for you to be here and not there."

"Heinrich and I are experimenting. He thinks that he understands LEEDS enough now, and that I should be able to spend less time reviewing all the special requirements each evening. So, here I am. Tomorrow we'll find out if he's right and we don't have to re-do a bunch of work." The Staffords wanted to follow eco-friendly measures to the point of having the whole property certified, which meant frequent checks by the agency to see that the construction was up to par.

"So, we get you back?"

He nodded happily. "Even if there are still some issues, they've settled into a groove so it's a lot less chaotic. There should be some good progress soon."

"Maybe he doesn't like your grumpy butt around after you can't make appointments. Sounds like you should be able to make the twenty week checkup."

"Twenty? What happened to every three weeks?"

Cheryl rubbed the stubble on his chin. "Well, Deb's taking some vacation, so it was either see someone else or wait a week. After that, we'll go every two weeks. Have you been painting?"

"Yep. And no, you can't see."

Halfway through April the only off-limits area for the woman of the house was the nursery. Keeping Cheryl out of the shop had been easy, and he had presented the nearly finished rocker to her on her birthday. It goes in the kids' room, once I know how to stain it, he'd told her. The basic structure of the chair was Mission, but the back slats had been cut into waves rather than straight, as had the arms. His plans has changed midstream and the intricate carvings were left off with the exception of some leaves across the back. After she had declared the gift perfect, he closed the room across the hall from theirs and forbid her to enter until the reveal.

Alex had wondered repeatedly at what had been requested for the rest of her birthday weekend. With the warming weather and baseball season upon them Cheryl had seized upon the idea of seeing a game for the first time in two years.

"You know the nearest major league game is three and a half hours away, right?"

"So?'

"So, you... pregnant... in a car that long, then sitting at the ballpark for hours?"

She dazzled him with a smile. "The real question is, how many times can we stop to stretch or pee before you go insane?" His finger hovered over the 'confirm' button as two seats at Safeco Field waited for them.

"This will be our last chance for a while. I want to go," she assured him.

So the weekend before her twenty week visit, they packed the Jeep and headed for Seattle. All in all, Alex couldn't complain about the number of stops on the way up. It was a beautiful day and they took the Jeep's top down forty minutes out, managing only four additional pulloffs before finding their way to the stadium.

Cheryl arched her back after stepping out of the vehicle and the stretchy fabric of her top pulled across her body.

"Showoff."

She stuck her tongue out. "You love it."

Alex grinned. "Yes I do."

"Let's take a walk. My rear hurts from sitting already."

Even at the office she was up and around enough to be comfortable, but stuck in the car she had no option to change position. They took a leisurely stroll around two decks and settled in for lunch at Sound Seafood. Cheryl eyed the salmon sandwich over Alex's protests, assuring him that Deb had cleared minimal amounts of the fish. She'd had none thus far and turned on the charm, easily convincing him. They ate, breathing in the scent of fresh bay air and hot dogs roasting. Seagulls and children playing in the stands provided their soundtrack. One more lap followed their meal before Alex directed Cheryl to their seats while the Mariners and Angels warmed up.

Alex watched her fidget for several minutes trying to get comfortable in the hard stadium chair. "I'm going to go get us some water before they start. Want anything else?"

He returned ten minutes later with two bottles of water and a fully inflated cushion.

"Here, sit on your wieners."

"Isn't that how I ended up like this to begin with?" she responded coyly. Some of the fans nearby heard their exchange and snickered.

"Love you too honey."

Cheryl stood and rewarded him with a soft kiss, promptly placing the row of hotdogs on her seat with a sigh of relief.

"Much better." She settled in and scowled out across the field. "Why do you think people out here don't really like baseball?"

Throwing an arm over the back of her seat, Alex thought aloud. "Maybe they're more interested in skiing or hiking. Maybe it's the rain. And, there really are only two major cities around that could possibly support a team. Not enough people in the upper plains states."

"Hmm. Would have been nice if they were a National League team. I hate the DH. It's like... fake baseball."

Now was his turn to scowl. "But you said you wanted to come."

"Fake baseball is better than no baseball," she declared. "There are bound to be interleague games sometime, don't you think?"

"Yeah, but like you said... depends on when we can come. I wonder how much they charge for kids."

Cheryl was hungry by the time the stretch came around. Alex had no complaints, still glad to see her eating. "What do you want?" he asked.

She stood along with him. "To stretch, of course. And the ladies room. Then fries."

Alex squinted a little warning.

"I know, extra water. Geez, you're such a nag," she teased. Being wary of the extra salt did little to dim the craving. "I wonder what Megan craves."

"Never thought about it before. Why don't you call her and find out? I doubt she's craving much yet, but I'm sure she remembers the first go round." Megan had called not a week before to let them know number two was expected around Thanksgiving.

She considered it as they reached the end of the line to the restroom. "This doesn't look promising," she said uneasily. Alex estimated the line at thirty or so, not counting whoever was waiting inside.

"Stay in line. I'll go scout the others and see if it's worth the walk."

He took off at a healthy jog around the deck and disappeared into the crowds of people. Eight minutes later he was ready to smuggle Cheryl into the Men's room, having no luck at a shorter wait. He came back to the spot he was certain she'd been standing and found no trace of her.

"Where the hell..."

A forty-something black woman apparently recognized him from earlier. "You lookin for that pretty little pregnant lady?"

"Yeah. Seen her?"

"Don't worry honey. We moved her up." He looked at her with a little confusion, checking the long line. "We've all been there. After five kids, I made an art of getting to the bathroom on time."

Alex laughed at her story and in relief. "I bet. Cher's just getting the knack of it. This is our first time, and she's got two buns in that oven."

"My cousin had triplets just last fall. That poor thing looked ready to burst by the end."

Cheryl appeared at his side. "Talking about me?"

"In a way."

"Well I felt ready to burst, but my new sorority rescued me," she waved toward the crowd of women who had let her pass.

Alex took her hand and they walked for several minutes after thanking anyone in earshot and surveyed the different snack stands for the best french fry option. She selected one that offered a natural cut with peels and sea salt, happily munching them on a circuit around the deck before settling back in their seats at the top of the eighth.

"You're sure? We could find a motel and stay overnight."

Cheryl leaned back in the seat as they sat in traffic. "Noooooo. If we go now, we can be home to sleep in our own bed by eleven." She continued to stretch her back and pull at the seatbelt riding along the bump.

"Will you stop, please. It's there for a reason."

"It rubs," she protested. Alex bit his tongue but when they stopped for gas at a travel center he scavenged the store for something, anything, that would stop her fussing. Coming back with the thickest strap cushion he could find, Alex swore to locate something better when they got home and mentally beat himself up over not having done so already. Standard seatbelts aren't made for pregnant women and you know it, he thought. After fastening it in place she made a final re-adjustment and nodded.

"Better."

Dinner consisted of a quick run through a grocery store on the way out of Olympia rather than more fast food. They were back on the road home with organic baby carrots and fresh crusty multigrain rolls. With the sun down it cooled quickly but Cheryl refused to let him put the top up, instead wrapping up in their jackets to watch the stars as Alex drove.

When he pulled into the garage she was asleep and had been for what he guessed to be around forty minutes. Alex looked at her quietly, smiling at the pink glow from a day in the sun that colored her face. The soft, spicy fragrance of her perfume drifted off her warm skin as he leaned over to gently wake her.

"Hey. We home?"

"Yes love."

"You look tired."

He felt tired after driving nearly seven hours through the day. Alex sent her upstairs while he attended to Terra's food and water. He'd left extra in the morning, unsure of when they would return and she needed little aside from some attention and a chance to go outside. The shepherd had doggie access to the walkway for emergencies but rarely used it. If the trip had extended through morning Alex would have been on cleanup duty.

Alex finished downstairs by grabbing a slice of pie from the refrigerator for each of them. Trudging slowly up the stairs he heard her moving in the extra room, likely having a quick stretch before bed. He set the desserts on her side table and flopped face first onto the covers.

"What happened here?"

He pointed toward the table without looking. "Pie."

He looked rather pitiful with his face smashed against the bedding and Cheryl carefully climbed up next to Alex and rubbed his sore shoulders.

"Not that I'm complaining, but isn't that my job?" he mumbled.

She leaned up a little and massaged his scalp. "Who says?"

"Ooh that's nice... I dunno. Thought I was the one who was supposed to rub sore parts for you."

Cheryl rolled her eyes even though he couldn't see. "I'm sure you'll have an opportunity. Tell me one thing though."

"Hm?"

"Did you intend for us to eat dessert with our fingers?"

Alex propped himself up and stared at the small plates, lacking utensils. "Uh... yes?" He turned to his side and reached for pie, expecting her to hand it to him, which she did only with the raise of a single eyebrow. "Thank you," he mouthed around a bite of lemon meringue.

She moved to rest against stacked pillows while eating her slice, watching with amusement as Alex traced patterns around the small melon sized bump in front of him.

"That tickles."

He kept at it for a few more minutes, letting the cat-like grin spread as she started to flick his fingers away in mild annoyance.

"Will you stop, please. What are you doing, anyway?"

"Thought I'd see if they waved back."

Cheryl set her empty plate aside. "You are so —"

"What?"

"Nice work. You woke them up."

A mixture of joy and guilt swept over him. "Daddy's sorry. Go back to sleep so Momma can too." He laid a hand on her belly and rubbed slow, gentle circles.

She put his plate away as well and scooted down into bed, turning onto her left side to sleep with Alex spooned up behind her.

"Weirdo," she added, after turning out the light. Alex felt the smile in her voice regardless of the jab.

"Alex, you made it."

April twenty seventh was the date of their next appointment and he'd cleared everything possible from his schedule. "Wouldn't miss this one."

"Cheryl, goodness, you are starting to bloom."

"Yup. Bump city." She popped up onto the exam table. "Let's see my kids."

Deb shook her head in the negative. "Not yet. I know well enough to get your samples now. You won't sit still enough after getting new pictures."

"Party pooper." Cheryl feigned pouting while pushing her sleeve up.

Dr. Smith smiled and carefully drew a blood sample. "So, are we looking for gender today, or no?"

"Yes," she answered definitively.

"We figure with two, we really ought to have some idea what to prepare for." Alex fiddled with some plastic models of a uterus and a baby in its placenta. Deb glanced over with a curious look and he stopped. "Sorry."

The doctor had seen more than her share of expectant parents so little surprised her. "Anything bothering you, problems you're having?"

Cheryl shrugged. "Actually, no. I feel fine. At least, no different than I'm getting used to. Varying degrees of tired one day, energetic the next. Strange food cravings, that sort of thing."

"Don't mention that pizza again. Yuck."

"Oh, no, share. What's your choice? I always loved a good barbeque shrimp and peanut butter myself."

Alex tried to block out the discussion and save his appetite. "Can't you guys save that for some day I'm not around?"

"Aww. Tough guy can't take anchovies," Cheryl teased and poked his stomach.

Deb had been around the couple enough to know this was par for the course if both were in good spirits. "Ok, ok. Let's get a look then. Lean back." It took a few minutes to get everything arranged and a picture up, but when it finally appeared both babies seemed agreeable to having their pictures taken. "Oh, very nice." She pointed to the screen, "Everybody seems to have a good amount of fluid, plenty of room to move..."

"Tell me about it," Cheryl quipped. "They must be good swimmers."

"Actually, that's true. Speaking of which, are you still swimming?"

"Not as often, but I the pool I go to has time specifically for maternity swims."

"Good. Well, I think I've seen enough. Ready?" Alex hovered expectantly while Deborah made her pronouncement. "Right here, Baby A is most definitely a little girl."

Alex's mouth fell open, staring at the picture. "That's my little girl?" Cheryl smiled silently and squeezed his hand, wordlessly hoping for the opposite diagnosis for Baby B.

"And this one... I had to watch a little. My first thought was that you had two girls."

"I can live with a house full of beautiful women," he grinned.

Deb pointed, "But after a minute, he turned just right for me."

"He?"

She turned to Cheryl's question. "Yes. He. Congratulations, you get the mixed pair."

"Perfect."

Alex nearly vibrated with excitement the whole way home while Cheryl maintained a smug comfort in now knowing they had the outcome she had hoped for. They settled in the house for only a few minutes before she broke the peace and asked once more.

"Now can we talk about names?"

He sighed slightly. She'd asked more than once in the past several weeks but he'd put her off. How do you name someone you haven't met? I don't get how people do that, he had complained.

"Alright. But only because you're so beautiful. It's taking everything I have not to just hug you to death right now." Cheryl held her arms out as if to say, 'so what's the holdup?' He stepped forward and closed himself around her, then stooped and swept her off the floor for a swing around the room. "Ok, I need to calm down, don't I?"

She nodded. "But just a little."

"Why does it feel so different now?"

Cheryl looked down, still suspended in his arms. "Maybe because now they have some identity. They'll have more when we pick names," she hinted.

Alex tipped his head backward to look at the ceiling and set her down. "Make me a deal?"

"Maybe."

He trotted off to the kitchen while she leaned against the counter from the other side. Wiping off the message board, he made his proposal. "We don't decide what we will pick, but what we won't."

The doorbell rang as she thought about it. "You mean, we list out the names we absolutely hate? What does that accomplish?" she asked, turning for the door. Tiffany stood at the stoop in front of her.

"Oh my goodness, look at your tummy!"

"Tiff!"

Cheryl was surprised at her own relief in seeing her sister, enjoying an extended embrace and relaxed while Tiffany rubbed the swell of her belly in awe. "You look so fantastic. And happy."

"That's me."

Alex appeared and got a hug for himself. "What brings you out here?"

Tiff waved nonchalantly. "Well you know I was in L.A. on some business and just thought, I want to see my little sister and those babies. So I just had Philip fly me on up."

"And you didn't get lost?"

"How dare you suggest such a thing. I can find my way around just fine." Tiff pretended to be offended.

"Your phone has GPS," Cheryl stated.

"Of course it does silly. How else do you get around in the woods? Now, tell me about my nieces or nephews."

Alex whipped out the pictures. "Wanna see my baby girl?" With a quick flip he offered the other. "Or my son? Look, you can even see his little package."

Tiffany stared at him until she burst out laughing. "Darlin you are just out of your mind, aren't you?"

Cheryl caught her breath and wiped tears of laughter away. "We just found out. He'll settle down. I think." To be honest, she was hoping his giddiness would last just a little while. While she knew he was happy, this was the first real participation he'd been able to have. Although they were just photos Alex had been able to discover their genders along with her. "Maybe when he does, I'll get to see the nursery."

Alex stepped very close and kissed her full on the lips. "Nope. We still have to make a final decision on the furniture. Then I can finish shopping, put everything together, blah blah blah... then you can see."

Tiff looked at them in amazement. "You mean to tell me that he's decorating the nursery?"

"Just for that, you don't get to see either. C'mon Terra," he called. "Let's go play. At least you don't make fun of me."

After he went outside older sister attempted to conspire with younger. "Let's go look."

"We can't. He already caught me trying to peek and locked it."

Alex stood behind Cheryl, rubbing her belly while she and Tiffany read the notes he'd scribbled on the 'not-name' board. "Feels like you've got a little balloon stashed under there," he giggled. It was just the right shape and size.

"Trust me, it doesn't feel like a balloon."

"Places?" Tiff wondered.

"Paris, London, Montana..."

Cheryl considered. "Some of them aren't so bad."

"Blech," Alex countered.

"I have to agree with the second one. No rhyming names. God that's annoying."

Tiffany scowled at the next entry. "What's wrong with matching initials?"

"It's pretentious, but still manages to lack creativity. It's like you didn't really think about them as individuals and were too lazy to come up with something good." Alex looked sour thinking about it. There was only one left by his hand and Cheryl laughed reading it.

"Junior? Come on, I'm not allowed to name my son after his father?"

"Absolutely not. And no Alexandra either. That's cheating."

She turned and gave him a mildly cross look.

"No," he emphasized. "Now, your turn." he handed her the dry erase marker and waited.

Cheryl thought for interminable seconds before approaching the board, finally writing:

Weird spellings

Double names

Fluffy names

"Fluffy? What does that mean?"

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Buffy, Brittney, Mandy..."

"Ew. Got it. I'm going to assume the weird spelling thing includes the upper-lower case mixing."

"Absolutely."

They looked at each other and then Tiffany over the only remaining addition.

"Bobbie Sue?"

"Billy Joe?" They each voiced a sample.

"Elsie Mae? There's a reason I changed my name, honey," she quipped.

Cheryl hugged her hard and refused to mention that "Tiffany' counted under the 'fluffy' category as well.

The next weekend Cheryl napped through much of Saturday in a desperate effort to catch up on missed sleep from the week. No matter what she or Alex had tried she had not been able to get comfortable for the past three nights, getting only a few hours sleep during each. Alex tiptoed through the house to check on her from time to time as the only place that seemed to work was the living room sofa. At twenty-one weeks he assumed the rest of their journey would be similar with two growing babies creating any number of discomforts.

Retreating to the office with a fresh drink he stopped briefly to lay the softest of kisses on Cheryl's belly and forehead. He snuck around some more and tended to Terra as needed to keep her quiet, although so far she had adjusted to all the household changes very well.

Another foray to check on her found Cheryl waking with a stretch and a little extra effort to become upright. She wasn't so big yet as to need help, but Alex always wondered at the strange contortions that were becoming necessary on her part to move around.

"Hey you. How's everyone?"

"I feel much better. They are strangely quiet today." Cheryl rested her hand on the bump with a slight frown.

"Maybe they just knew Momma needed some sleep."

"No kidding. Although now I'll probably not feel tired when I should."

Alex was less than concerned about the possibility. "I've been thinking."

"Uh oh."

"Smartass," he countered. "If you feel energized, we could go make a decision on the furniture and find some dinner."

Cheryl looked down at herself. "I can't go in my nightshirt."

"Looks fine to me," Alex grinned, giving a pointed look at her bare legs.

"Ugh. Don't tell me you think this is attractive." The increasing roundness of her form had put a dent in Cheryl's self confidence.

"Are you kidding?" Alex knelt in front of her. "I have the most beautiful, sexy, irresistible wife imaginable." He leaned close and kissed her long and deep to make his point. When he pulled back she let out a little gasp. "What?"

"Somebody has the hiccups," she answered.

"Really?"

"Really. Here," she took his hand and placed it over her left side, hoping he could feel the rhythmic twitch.

Alex's eyes widened as their hands rested side by side against her tummy. "I feel that. Our little guy's hiccuping."

"You sure it's him?"

He laughed in delight. "Well, that's the side Deb pointed to."

"They certainly seem to be moving around well enough. I'd hate to guess who's who from day to day." She waited while Alex sat enthralled by his children and the movements subsided. He squeezed both hands and smiled before kissing her again.

"Just imagine, this is the last Mother's Day that you won't qualify."

Cheryl glanced up from her work at Iris as they chatted. "Alex thinks I already do. he went for a run Sunday and came back with flowers."

"Ooh. What kind?"

"A full dozen red roses, plus two white buds." She suspected the gift had as much to do with being stuck at the Stafford house late much of the past week as it did his notoriously loving nature. Maybe he'll still be as relaxed when he finds out about today's appointment, she thought. Her blood pressure had measured a bit higher than normal although Dr. Smith had not seemed too worried. There was an expectation that it would rise, simply because of the extra blood in her system and the added weight of two babies, which so far was well within norms.

"Flowers might be a good idea for me, come to think of it."

Cheryl's concern was obvious. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, I think Mel's just really frustrated with me. Thank goodness the semester is nearly over and I can pay attention to her instead of work and grades."

"Don't you have some vacation time scheduled?"

Walker sighed. "Yes, finally."

"So haul her out to the beach and lay in the sand. If I can get my husband away from that ranch for a while, I certainly plan to do the same myself." While the project was moving along as planned, he was spending unexpected hours guiding the Stafford's interior designer around the details of maintaining the eco-integrity of the house once in her hands. She had to understand what choices could be made through the planning and finalization of the designs and Alex was the person best able to work through the information.

Iris considered the idea. "That does sound nice. Are you one of those 'look at my belly' pregnant women who wears a bikini anyway?"

"Oh god no. I feel huge as it is. But that doesn't mean I can't squeeze sand between my toes and smell the ocean."

"You are not huge," Iris contended while snapping a picture of Cheryl with her cell.

Cheryl cringed not only at the photo but at the line of bull she felt was coming her way. "I've seen women ready to give birth that looked like this."

"But they're freaks. And they don't have twins. Besides, they aren't that big. You're exaggerating."

"Well, maybe a little," Cheryl admitted with a grin.

Alex tromped in after six while Cheryl was cooking dinner. His mood was remarkably bright considering the long day he'd spent on site and the fact that he missed their appointment.

"So, what's the report?"

"What report?"

He scowled at her back so hard she could feel it. "Don't play dumb with me, woman. I want to know what Deb said about you today." He stood next to her and pulled her chin around to get good eye contact. She chewed her lip and looked guiltier than necessary.

"Everything's fine," she hedged.

"And?"

Cheryl stuffed a raw carrot into his mouth. "And... my blood pressure was a little elevated."

Alex plucked the carrot out. "Was she concerned about it?"

She shook her head with certainty. "Not at all."

He chomped on the snack happily and sidled up close so he could rest both hands on her rear. "Well that's normal. So if Deb's not worried we shouldn't be, right?"

Cheryl squinted. "Who are you and what did you do with my husband?"

He answered by pulling her into an extended kiss, completely rerouting any thoughts aside from the feel of him against her body.

"I know something that will help with that blood pressure," he said suggestively.

"Oh yeah?" Her voice was nearly a whisper.

"Absolutely."

Cheryl flashed to one of her conversations with Megan, who complained of Todd's lack of sexual interest when she was pregnant with Marcus and felt a pang of sadness for her sister-in-law. It lasted only a second until Alex's fingers at the back of her dress refocused her attention.

"What about dinner?" she wondered as he nibbled her collarbone.

Alex covered her mouth with his to stop the diversion. "Later," he mumbled as she melted willingly into him.

The remainder of May went by in what seemed a blur as Cheryl dealt with the reviews of the last tutoring group and Alex hovered back and forth from Stafford Ranch to a new contract job. After a few trips back and forth from the office, bedroom and garage to settle in for the evening Alex confronted Cheryl about the sharpness of her attitude since getting home. He'd absorbed a few bites and hoped she would simmer down as the evening progressed but heard the unhappy slamming of drawers in the kitchen when he descended the stairs. He camped quietly against the counter and waited.

"What?"

"That was gonna be my question," he answered easily.

She moved uncomfortably and made a visible effort to calm down. "I'm hot, my legs hurt and my back hurts. And I'm not discussing the other things that just don't feel right at the moment."

Alex raised an eyebrow and smothered a smile that would have earned a scorching look in return. "Well, that took long enough."

"Excuse me?"

"You, finally admitting that you're miserable. For cripes sake honey you can't be the glowing pregnant woman all the time."

Cheryl pressed her hands to her face in frustration and when they dropped Alex saw the tears start to run. He leapt up and had her in his arms in a heartbeat.

"I don't want to be miserable," she groaned into his chest. Even that was a challenge considering the bulge between them.

"Shhhh. I think you're doing pretty well. Only fifteen more weeks at most, right?"

Her impatient nature reappeared. "Why does it have to take so long?"

"Because. There's a lot of stuff to make... little hearts and eyes and toes... things that can't be rushed." Alex led her toward the sofa and threw the mass of pillows that had accumulated there onto the floor. "Lay down. Let's see if I can work some magic on your back."

She let him help her down and spent twenty minutes gratefully absorbing the attentions he provided. Terra laid herself alongside in sympathy.

"How about we get you set up in the tub? Maybe that will help too." His offer was genuine but also served to get her upstairs. She agreed and led the way, letting him provide moral support as she made the trek up a full flight of steps. Cheryl was still strangely reserved about letting him just hang out while she undressed, but he wouldn't go.

"I've seen all your parts sweetheart, and I'm not leaving you to get in and out of the tub by yourself." Alex nevertheless passed a towel for her. Even after three years together he also appreciated the specialness of seeing her nude.

"What I'd give for a really hot soak right now," Cheryl sighed, slipping into the warm water. "Still, it does feel good. Bubbles even," she managed a slight smile for him at that. He'd done immeasurable research on whether baths were safe at all, and even gone so far as to locate an organic bubblebath for her just to be safe.

She reclined and let the water buoy her body some, and Alex reached in to rub her legs. Cheryl's grey eyes shut as he worked.

"Better?"

"Mmm."

"Good. Maybe I won't have dreams about being offed mantis-style tonight."

She flicked water on him without bothering to open her eyes. The humid air helped the soft waves of her hair fall gently from the carefully done arrangement from morning, a look Alex always liked for it's natural appearance. He continued to rub her legs until she fussed at the cooling water and released the drain, making her wait until the water was gone before standing. Once she was safely out Alex left her to dry and dress alone. The last thing he did before going downstairs to make dinner for them was to crack open the nursery door and turn on the light, making sure her attention would be drawn there.

Cheryl pulled a clean nightshirt on and gave her belly a little rub knowing the twins were lulled to sleep by her time in the bath. After a quick step back to the bathroom to hang her towel she headed for the stairs but stopped short at the doorway, noting the change in the room across the hall. It had been locked for weeks and she'd hinted periodically about getting a look, only to be thwarted repeatedly.

He didn't leave it open by accident, she reasoned, and stepped toward the crack of light showing around the door. Pushing slightly a wash of subdued greens and rich purples greeted her. Both new espresso colored cribs were assembled and placed on either side of the window with the selected changing table between. The organic cotton mattresses he had insisted on were laid in each bed, one adorned with the seahorse and the other with the manatee Alex had purchased four months earlier. Each had a mobile above, either butterflies or frogs. Along the wall by the door he had placed a loveseat, and her rocker sat in the middle of the room ready for use.

Cheryl looked closer at the walls and noticed the leaf and swirl designs scattered throughout the paint, in shades lighter and darker than the main green that occupied the north and east sides. On the south and west walls purple dominated and the area rug Alex had selected connected everything. She opened the folding closet doors and found a complete storage system that would suffice for any number of clothes and supplies along with the smaller dressers at the end of each one of the babies' beds.

"So, is it ok?" Alex asked from the doorway. He'd stood there watching without comment while she explored.

Cheryl turned with an expression he couldn't quite read. "Why on earth would you pick these colors?"

"Well, both are gender neutral. Green is peaceful. Calming. Relieves stress. All good things for babies, right?"

"And the purple?"

He shrugged slightly. "It's pretty." Alex worried a bit that she didn't like it and waited again as Cheryl turned to finger the frosted glass shade of the lamp atop the nearest dresser. "I can repaint. It shouldn't take long..."

Cheryl stepped closer and shushed him with a finger over his lips. "It's beautiful," she said. "I love it."

Alex beamed with pride.

"Can I have it now?"

He nodded. "All yours. Nest to your heart's content."

Deb checked the scans carefully. "I'd say they're right on schedule for size. Just a bit smaller than singles for the beginning of the last leg, but pretty typical." She traced around the image, measuring. "About twelve inches for the boy, and let's see... twelve and a half for the girl. Of course that's an estimate. Curled up in there its a bit hard to be certain. Pound and a half each, give or take."

"That's all?" Cheryl wondered. "What else am I carrying around?"

Dr. Smith laughed. "Extra blood, amniotic fluid, a uterus ten times bigger than normal..."

"Ugh."

"Any more contractions?"

Alex shook his head. "A couple, but nothing prolonged, right honey?"

"All within what you outlined was ok, Deb."

The doctor sat at her desk checking test results. "Honestly I have to say I'm surprised. I figured to see a few spikes in your protein levels by now, but Dr. Chu keeps sending me clear reports. And not even an inkling of gestational diabetes."

"You can credit the french fry nazi here. He won't let me have any unless they're unsalted. What's the point of french fries without salt?"

Alex went on the defensive. "Now, that has nothing to do with either diabetes or your kidney and you know it. If Deborah can tell me your blood pressure hasn't gotten worse, I'll get you fries."

"Hmm. Well, all I can say to that is that right now she's within range. Unfortunately BP is one thing that can change in a very short amount of time. There are too many factors involved in that one for me to give a generalism."

Cheryl shared a dirty look with the both of them.

"But, I don't see why an occasional treat of fries shouldn't be ok, as long as you don't notice any side effects."

"Hah. Fries tomorrow!" she gloated while Alex shook his head in apparent defeat.

Deb smiled at the duo. "Alright. Out of here, both of you. Keep up the good work and come back in two weeks for your thirty week check. After that, every week."

"Ok, the Fry Guy has arrived," Alex called out to the house. When he'd left for a meeting with a potential client earlier Cheryl had requested fries from the local diner. Terra ran out from the office, pacing around his feet. "No, none for you."

He set the bag from the hardware store on the dining table, prepared the glass of ice water he knew she would want and glanced over expecting her approach. When she didn't come he figured her to be hard at work. Gathering the still hot fries and glass, he started across the room to the office with the dog leading the way.

"I thought you would at least stop for these." When he crossed the threshold into the office Alex found her in tears, with one hand pressed against her back and the other gripped solidly against the edge of the desk.

"Jesus Cheryl, what is it?" He quickly set everything on her desk and crouched in front of her, cradling her face. "What's wrong babe, talk to me," he rushed. The pain was obvious in her eyes, and she struggled to settle herself enough to speak. "Something wrong with the babies?"

"I don't think so," she managed. "Aside from one of them standing on my kidney." Cheryl took as deep a breath as she could, letting it out slowly. "It's a little uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable?" he repeated, incredulous at the understatement.

Finally she admitted, "Ok, it hurts. A lot."

"Christ," Alex swore under his breath. "How long?"

"Um, half an hour, I think." Terra whined from the position she had assumed in the corner, out of the way but watching everything closely. "Maybe a little longer, but it didn't start this bad," she confessed.

"Can you move?" he probed, thinking up a plan of action. She closed her eyes, waited a second, and shook her head no. "Ok... we need to change position. Can I pick you up?" Another hesitation and a quick nod. Scooping her up, he was careful to put as little pressure on her back as possible. "Terra stay," he commanded. The last thing he needed was to have the shepherd in his path to the couch. "Come on sweetheart." She bound both arms around him tightly as they maneuvered toward the living room.

Alex settled her onto the leather cushions and quickly shifted the pillows, helping Cheryl lay on her side. "Better?"

"A little," she replied, wiping tears from her cheeks.

Afraid to massage anything that already had too much pressure, Alex froze for a second. Grabbing the throw from the back of the sofa, he draped it over her and stood. "I'm going to get your water, k?" She nodded again, curling up under the fleece blanket. Halfway back to the office he spun around and looked at her with a curious expression. "I have an idea. Care to experiment?"

"Right now, anything." She watched him vanish into their shared office and heard him praising Terra, who had remained as instructed. The next command was release, and the dog immediately trotted out to station herself on the floor in front of the couch. After a few minutes of audible rummaging Alex returned with her glass in one hand and his iPod and a set of headphones in the other.

"Knew I kept these for a reason," he said, displaying the cheap airline set. Cheryl sipped water while he dismantled the earpieces, separating them from the plastic band that was intended to hold them over the wearer's head. After a quick test Alex placed one end slightly underneath her belly, wedged between her body and the cushion. The other earphone rested on the opposite side, where he pressed it down with his palm. Laying down had alleviated some of the problem, enough that she was no longer crying, but he could tell that it still hurt.

After fifteen minutes of waiting, he was losing hope that the music would work. "Anything else you want to try?" He asked gently, stroking her hair.

Cheryl tried to put a positive spin on the situation. "I don't know what it would be. Good preparation for labor, maybe."

Alex wanted to accept the truth in that but was unhappy with the grimace she wore at the moment. "I'd prefer to wait until you have to go through that, thanks. And prep is why we go to class." He was unsure just how useful the classes would be, considering Deb's information that nearly half of twin births were caesarian. Frustrated, he took a more direct approach. Bending toward his unborn children he adopted the 'Dad' voice.

"Alright, whichever one of you is responsible for this, you need to get yourself under control. Enough of the nonsense."

Cheryl managed a sliver of a smile before taking a sharp breath at the sudden movement inside her.

"Whoa." Alex stared at his hand, shock coursing through him at the dramatic shift he had felt. He also sensed a release of tension from her, as she exhaled a long breath of relief. He gave her a questioning look, hoping to confirm that the repositioning had been enough.

"My hero," she whispered, letting her eyes flutter shut while she rested quietly. "What are they listening to?"

He checked the display. "You're going to love this. Joan Jett."

"I have rock and roll children?" she asked wearily. Now that the pain was subsiding sleep seemed to be next on the agenda. Alex could see it easily, and pulled the blanket around her shoulders.

"Well, at least one of them anyway." He kissed her lightly on the forehead and stood to leave her napping peacefully. The phone rang a few minutes later and he rushed to answer before it could wake Cheryl. It was Tiffany, hoping to get a status report and make sure everything was well.

"Sorry Tiff, she's asleep. Had a bit of a rough afternoon."

"What do you mean? Is everything ok?"

"Everything's fine now. We had a little adventure in getting somebody to stop standing on Momma's kidney."

"Oh I bet that felt great."

"She didn't want to admit how much it hurt I can tell you that."

"She is the most hardheaded person I know."

"Except yourself maybe?" he teased. "Seriously, all I really care about is getting through the next ten weeks with the three of them healthy."

"Wait, she's due in twelve."

"Yeah but Deborah says it's pretty common for twins to be early, so don't be surprised if you get a call a couple of weeks before the official date. The babies will be ready even then."

"Looking at the latest pictures you sent I bet she'll be more than ready. My goodness."

"It's been two months since you were here. Geez, doesn't seem that long."

"Thanks," she retorted dryly.

"I meant that in a good way. Honestly the last three weeks have just flown by. For me anyway. I think your sister feels like time is standing still sometimes."

"I can imagine. She can seem tough, but after a while the act breaks down."

"I think she waffles between wanting them to be born already and knowing that it just isn't time yet." Alex watched her sleep across the room, more aware in the last hour just how fragile she could be.

Tiff laughed. "Patience never has been her strong point."

They chatted a bit more, covering the change in cars as Cheryl had finally admitted getting in and out of the Jeep was beyond her ability. He'd worried more and more that she would get out of balance and fall until finally Alex took her keys before work one day insisting that she drive the Legacy from then on. Rather than even attempt to argue over she had only asked that he get the garage pass and her sunglasses from the Wrangler.

Alex had also hinted that getting babies out of the back of the Jeep might be more difficult than either one of them wanted to deal with, but so far she had resisted getting rid of the vehicle. Every so often he would point out a nice sedan and seemed to favor the new Volvos but had not pressed the issue. The Subaru would hold car seats fine until something instigated a change.

They were also making progress on names, although in what Cheryl had deemed a backward fashion favored by her husband. This list of those that weren't acceptable was large but hadn't been added to in over a week, with each of them feeling fairly comfortable now with what the other would like.

"Will you please go?"

Alex hedged.

"You have done nothing but work and hover over me since January. I want you to go."

"I don't want to leave you alone," he finally admitted. Heinrich, his son and another friend from the crew had invited Alex out for a fishing trip now that the Stafford house was well under control.

"I'm fine. And you'll only be gone one day."

He shook his head no. "What if something happens?"

Sighing, she picked up her phone from the counter. "Jill is right next door. All I have to do is call."

"What if she's not home?"

"So I call Iris. For goodness sake, you're only going to Hood. Even if I call you, it won't take that long. I'm fine. They're fine," she pled. "I'd actually like to have some time to myself." Cheryl threw the last bit in with a burst of honesty. Truth be told, having him wait on her non-stop was getting a bit unnerving. Even through the Fourth of July picnic at the park two days ago he'd not left her side, when she sat most of the day avoiding the heat of the sun and resting her legs.

The further along she got the less eager Alex was to leave her. Growth spurts and fluctuations in her blood pressure were to be expected and he felt uneasy about every episode. But she was right. What was the difference between a fishing trip and being away at a job site all day?

"Ok. But swear to me you'll call if you need anything?"

Cheryl made a motion of crossing her heart. Eight more weeks and he'll be dying to leave the house with a pair of newborns to care for, she mused. She'd adopted his habit of using the 'early' date to be prepared rather than assume they would make it all the way to forty weeks.

Jeff Seifert sat next to Cheryl through the weekly meeting paying more attention to the movements under her shirt than the subject at hand. She waited as the room cleared at the end rather than hold up the entire group and he provided a helping hand to get her out of the soft leather chair.

"They seem pretty busy today," he noted.

Cheryl nodded, and walked in a near waddle back to her office. "And I'm not complaining. Whatever gets them so excited while I'm working just means they're a little less busy at night. I might get some sleep."

"Amanda had difficulty with ours up late both times, until about thirty four weeks. Then they seemed to just settle in and she slept like a rock. If she got comfortable, that is."

She saw his happiness at the memory of his wife carrying their children. "Well, we're also hoping all this movement will get everybody in the right position soon. Baby girl is good, but my son apparently does not have his father's sense of direction."

Jeff laid a caring hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure they will. Babies seem to have a knack for knowing what to do."

"I hope so." Cheryl back to her office, wondering how she would manage to stand up from her chair to go home. What am I thinking, she wondered. Iris is always hovering, just like Alex.

Alex walked carefully around the bed watching Cheryl as she slept propped up in the mass of pillows. She slept mainly on her left side which put her back to him but kept as much weight as possible off the 'good' side with her functioning kidney. At this point in the pregnancy it was uncommon to find her clothed in anything that did not stretch considerably, nightgowns not excluded. Pale blue knit pulled taut against the large mound of her belly and Alex crouched next to her with camera in hand.

"What are you doing?" Cheryl groaned, eyes shut against the day.

"Nothing," he answered quickly, stashing the camera behind his back. "How are you feeling?"

"Like a barge. A great big barge."

It certainly looked as if she could give birth any day, but just under thirty three weeks was not far enough. "What can I do?"

"Help me up. I have to pee."

They'd given up any idea of delicacy when it came to such matters. During birthing class the entire group had even shared stories of bodily noises and functions. Strangely enough it had made them both feel much more relaxed about it knowing that all couples faced the same changes. As the instructor had pointed out, they would all be seeing much worse coming out of their children soon enough.

Alex stood on the other side of the door waiting for her to ask for help again. "I'm glad Jeff told you to stay home today."

"It's not like I don't have things to do," she countered.

"Maybe so. And don't take this the wrong way, but you seem tired and I'm happy to let you rest all day instead of worrying about clients."

Cheryl lounged in the living room as Alex worked in the office, exchanging a few words here and there but generally leaving him to the jobs at hand and wondering at the general quiet with which he kept his days. She hadn't had much time throughout their relationship where he was working and she was home with little to do. Terra took full advantage and spent the day at her side. Alex did emerge just before lunch out of curiosity, wondering what the low 'boof' coming from their beloved pet was about.

Sticking his head out the door he could see the shepherd sitting in front of the sofa where Cheryl had been reading but now giggled intermittently at the dog's behavior. Terra would lean in, nearly touching her nose to the soft white shirt covering the twins as they apparently practiced gymnastics. Each visible movement drew the shepherd's gaze and suspicion, eliciting a timid bark of wonder.

Alex watched the sequence three times before finally crouching next to the dog to rubbing her ears. "What do you think of that Ter?"

She cocked her head to the side and wagged her tail against the hardwood floor after slurping his face happily. He couldn't tell if it was some sort of affection or simply that she thought it was a game, but in either case she continued to seem positive about the upcoming changes around the house. Both he and Cheryl had made efforts to introduce the babies' things to the dog and allow her free access to the nursery rather than exclude her presence.

"Well, you keep an eye on them. They're bound to cause trouble."

"Hey," Cheryl protested as he retreated to the kitchen.

"Oh, give me a break. Just remember what Deb said about the football and the living room window. Some day, some how they will each find a way to drive one or both of us nutty. That's their job."

She saw the grin hiding under his words. "And that's why I have you. You get to be the heavy around here and keep them in line."

Alex grabbed two bags from the passenger seat and one from the back as he let out a satisfied breath for being home. He'd run errands, visited two potential clients, turned over a set of sketches on a contract job, and taken Terra to the vet and back. Basically the entire day had been spent going from one place to another... the kind of day that he hated for feeling as if no actual work got done.

He trudged through the unlocked back door knowing Cheryl was home by the Subaru parked in what was normally the Jeep's spot closest to the door. At nearly seven pm she had to have been home an hour at the minimum. The bags were unceremoniously left in the first place available as he settled at the dining room table. Terra ran to him immediately and licked the hand hanging next to his leg as he pushed the hair back from his face.

"Oh good, she can pester you now," Cheryl offered from her cozy chair.

The dog let out a small whine and turned toward her voice.

"Huh?"

Obviously worn out herself, she let out a frustrated sigh. "She's been weird all day."

"What do you mean, weird?" The concern was valid for Alex as Terra rarely acted out of her norm. He watched as she paced back to Cheryl and looked at him, then her and back again before sitting down in front of the chair.

"See? If I get up, she's in the way. If I'm walking she's underfoot. And I've never heard her whine like that, even during storms. She's driving me crazy."

Alex knelt next to them both and noted just how close Terra leaned against Cheryl's legs, almost as if trying to prevent her from getting up. His mind flashed to the night he'd come home to the Treehouse after house shopping only to find her sick with the flu. Terra had whined then, but he paid little attention and never thought about it again. Then he recalled the afternoon one of the twins pressed against her kidney, and once again the dog had reacted with nervousness and what could only be recognized as worry. Now she was actively working at it, and she had Alex's full attention.

"What's the matter girl?" he asked, looking more at Cheryl than the dog.

Terra pawed at his thigh and yipped once before turning to stare at her mistress.

"Ok. I hear ya." He stood with obvious concern. "When did this start? You said all day."

Cheryl's brow furrowed. "I got home around two. It wasn't long after that." She watched as his face turned more serious than she would have imagined necessary for a strangely acting canine.

"Where are your shoes?"

She slumped in disbelief. "Are you kidding? Alex, I don't want to go out. I'm tired."

"No, I'm not. And I know you are, but we're going."

Her head pounded and Cheryl wanted nothing more than to have a soak in a warm bath and put her feet up.

"Trust me," he said, and with a heavy sigh she pointed toward the cubby near the stairs where she had left her loafers. She made an attempt to stand but Terra held her ground and Alex waved her off. "I don't want you walking any more than necessary."

Cheryl started to grasp just how serious he was and sat quietly while he slipped them onto her swollen feet. "What are you so worried about?"

Alex rubbed Terra's head with love. "Good dog," he praised and scooped his wife up off the couch, carrying her to the door.

"Alex?"

"Door please."

She clung to him and sighed again, trying to be patient. "Purse first."

Thus he navigated them both out to the garage, into the Legacy and down the road encompassed in a bath of cold air conditioning to ward off the humid Oregon summer. They were halfway to the hospital when she recognized the route and stared at him.

"Seriously? Honey, my head hurts and my feet are swollen. Neither of those is an emergency."

Alex said nothing, simply taking a brief moment at a stop light to hold her hand before continuing to the emergency room. The scene there turned out to be a form of loose chaos as it seemed everyone in west Portland had some need of care. A young man hobbled on a sprained ankle, another held up a hand wrapped in a bloody handtowel, and a woman sat with her husband who looked ready to fall over with some sort of summer allergy attack. Those were the notable cases but Alex was surrounded by other people in differing states of illness as he managed a seat for Cheryl while checking with the station nurse.

Cheryl sat tiredly watching the occupants of the ward and listening to Alex become irritated at whatever the nurse was relaying. She rubbed a throbbing temple and picked up words here and there as the two exchanged words. The nurse was evidently stressing the emergency nature of the room and that she did not appear to be in any obvious risk. After fifteen minutes of waiting and seeing Alex's frustration rise as he stepped up to the station again, Cheryl stood as gracefully as possible.

"Alex, come on. Can't we just..."

He turned toward her trailing voice and saw her reach out a hand to steady herself, blinking as if the room had suddenly blurred out of focus. Oh, no.

"Alex?"

She wilted into his arms, just fractions from hitting the hard tiled floor if he hadn't been so quick to reach her.

"Now will somebody help me?"

One thing Alex turned out to be grateful for was the desk nurse having called Deb in an attempt to satisfy his desire for someone to check on Cheryl. She arrived at the hospital within twenty minutes of the collapse and sprinted into the exam room where several attendants scurried around her. Dr. Smith spent several agonizing minutes hidden away with Cheryl while Alex was forced to wait in the hall, ducking wheelchairs and gurneys as they passed through.

Each time the door swung open he craned his neck to see what was going on until Deborah finally came out.

"We're admitting her," she said.

"Deb, what's happening? No one will let me near her."

The brunette held her hands up trying to keep Alex calm. "I know, but they have jobs to do. Once we get her set up in a real bed you can sit with her."

"Has she woken up?"

"No, she hasn't."

His worry escalated and he tried to find something to do with his hands.

"Alex, listen to me. The nurses said Cheryl seemed fine right up until she fainted. Why did you bring her in?"

Thinking back to their living room, he related the story. "I had to believe she knew something we didn't."

Deb's dark ponytail waved as she shook her head in wonder. "Whatever she saw, or heard, it's a good thing."

"What's wrong with her? Is she going to be ok? Are the babies?"

"She's developed preeclampsia. It's very serious, and everything depends on how she reacts to treatment."

Alex had read all the material and knew some of the basics but he needed direct answers. "What are we talking about here?"

The doctor glanced around and located a corner with a stool he could sit on. She directed him there and took a deep breath before laying it all out. "Cheryl's condition has become critical very quickly. If we can't get it under control there may be serious complications."

"Like?"

"Blindness, liver or kidney failure, seizures, heart failure. The babies haven't shown any sign of difficulty yet, but they can suffer from low blood pressure and oxygen deprivation. In the worst case..."

Alex looked up from the speckled tiles he was staring at while the words sunk in. He understood her last sentence enough that normally strong hands trembled. "No. No, she's strong... you're going to fix this, right?"

"We're certainly working on it." She leaned against the nearby counter. "Unfortunately one of the medications we'd typically use is on Dr. Chu's no-go list. I have a call out to him to check on dosages for the other one. The ER nurses are getting her set up and monitored, and blood has already been sent for protein tests. I want to see how high they are and have the results ready when Wei shows up."

The weight of the world came down upon Alex. "I want to see her."

Deb nodded. "I think I can get you a few seconds before they move her upstairs."

A few seconds turned out to be just that. Long enough for Alex to stand by her side as different monitors beeped and whined, and she lay still in front of him. There were additional leads strapped across the girth of Cheryl's abdomen, sending back signals for each of the twins as well. He leaned close to whisper in her ear, feeling the extra warmth from her as blood raced through her veins.

"We're in the right place babe, Terra made sure of that. Now you just hang on while Deb finds a way to help, ok?" Alex left a kiss on her forehead as the nurse waited. "I won't be far."

It was forty minutes later and a few after nine when the nurse came to the waiting room and showed Alex to the room where Cheryl was resting. Dr. Chu was jotting down notes on one of two charts assigned to the patient. His expression did little to ease the worry of anyone in the room.

"Tell me," Alex said plainly. There was no point hedging.

"Her counts are definitely high. I'm going to start treating, but we will be watching very carefully. To be honest, there may be too much toxin in her blood for one kidney to handle, and I don't want to wait until it fails to act."

Regardless of the thick Chinese accent Alex followed everything the doctor said. "So her kidney is still functioning?"

"Yes. It's working very hard, in fact. If the drugs I'm prescribing don't help quickly though, it could give."

Wei went on to explain that he had a portable dialysis unit on its way up to the ward as a safeguard. He planned to hook her up and let the machine act as the kidney she should have if there was no improvement, to assist the one that currently serviced not only her but their two children. Everything they created was forced into her system as well.

Deb stood on the other side of the room checking the BP monitor. She loosed the ponytail from its binding and joined Alex at the door. "I'd like to see some improvement, but let's not panic yet."

Alex looked at her wearily. Too late, his face said.

"I'm going to go make some calls, let my husband know I won't be home soon. I'll check back by ten and see where we are."

She disappeared and he was left alone with Cheryl for the first time since they'd arrived. The light blue sundress had been exchanged for a white hospital gown patterned with tiny multicolored dots. The room had been left fairly dark in hopes of reducing any external stresses, but the light from the headboard lit the fine bridge of her nose and revealed the slight knitting of brows that usually characterized her face when she was troubled. Alex pulled up a visitor's chair and sat gently holding the hand that lay limply at her side. He stroked each finger and spoke quietly to Cheryl as she rested before fishing the cell phone from his jeans. The call to New York was brief, waking Tiffany from what he assumed was a sound sleep.

"Tiffany? I'm sorry it's so late..."

"Alex? Goodness honey, what – Oh my God. What's happened?"

He took a breath and tried to form a sentence that would suffice. His hesitation was enough.

"Never mind. Where are you?"

"Portland Memorial."