AN: shoutout to GOODWIFEFAN, thanks for your wonderful review!
Breathe your gift of Love to me
July 17th
The whole house was full of baby stuff. Three little, nice decorated cribs were standing in the spare room, which would be the bedroom for the triplets. Avery had some baby clothes from her boys left which she gave Carol. The cupboard was full with packs of diapers and Tess and Kate gave away some soft toys for their siblings. Doug and Carol did a lot of shopping for the triplets until Carol got too big to do anything.
She was lying in her bed and couldn't even see her own toes. The babies inside of her took her last nerve. Just one week before she had her last ultrasound exam and the babies looked fine, but really active already. Too less space for three babies. She couldn't wait to have them. Not only because she was more than exhausted, but also because she couldn't wait to hold her babies in her hand. "Care?" she then heard and focused on Doug again. "Hm?" she asked. "I asked you if you want to take these too", Doug said and showed her some sexy underwear. "Very funny, Doug", Carol smirked and tried to get up a little. Doug chuckled and almost jumped into the bed. "I'm excited", he said and put his hand on Carol's stomach. "I can see that", Carol chuckled and looked at him. "I'm nervous. And excited, of course…they'll be a lot of work, I'm sure", she smiled and Doug nodded. "They'll keep us busy", he sighed and looked at Carol again. Just when he wanted to kiss her, Tess and Kate came running into their bedroom.
"Mommy, we painted you a picture", Kate said and handed her the piece of paper to her mother. Tess crawled on the bed. "This is daddy, this is you, this is Kate, this is me, and these are the babies", she explained to Carol. "Aww babies, that's so sweet! Did you paint that in kindergarten?" Carol asked and Tess nodded. "It's beautiful, thank you! Give mommy a kiss", Carol then said and Tess kissed her, as well as Kate. "Mommy? When they get the babies out, will you be hurt again?" Kate then asked as she took a seat in Doug's lap. "Oh honey, don't worry too much. I won't feel anything when they get the babies out", Carol explained. "Okay…and we don't have to go to kindergarten tomorrow?" Kate then asked and Carol laughed. "No honey…you don't have to go to kindergarten tomorrow. Tomorrow will be triplets' day", she chuckled. "That means we can't go swimming…" Tess said to Kate who made a face. "Yeah well, maybe you can go swimming with your grandmothers the next days", Doug answered and Carol chuckled. "What?" he asked. "Do you really think that they'll ever leave the hospital?" Carol asked and Doug shrugged his shoulders.
"Just call if you need anything okay?" Avery said as Doug brought the twins who stayed with the Lawrence family this night. "I will; thank you. The girls should go to bed early because they have been a pain in the ass this afternoon", Doug answered and Avery smiled. "We'll manage that, don't worry. Oh, and call me immediately when the babies are here", she answered. "I will", Doug said and wiped his hands on his jeans. "Oh come here", Avery said and hugged him. "It will be okay. Don't worry", Avery said and stroke over Doug's back. "I know…I'm just really, really excited", Doug answered as they separated again. "Want a beer before you go?" Jason asked who came around the corner. "Ah, no thanks. We have to go soon. We could drink one tomorrow, to celebrate", Doug answered and Jason nodded. "Of course. Good luck, buddy", Jason said and hugged him too. "Thanks guys…alright, I gotta go. I'll call. Thanks guys", Doug babbled and smiled. "Tell Carol we'll visit her sometime the next days", Avery said and Doug nodded before he left again.
Damn, he was nervous. Excited, but nervous. He would be a father of five kids soon. Doug couldn't wait to hold that babies in his hand, to hear their crying for the first time, to feel their soft skin. Two years ago he wouldn't even have dreamt to be a father again. He didn't even know the twins, for God's sake. Tomorrow he'd be father of five kids. Smiling, he ran his hands through his hair and shook his head. Five kids.
Oh, he was in love. He was in love with Carol since the day he entered County for the first time. He didn't realize it back then, but today he knew that she was his soul mate, the love of his life. She didn't even have to do anything; he just loved her the way she was. Carol was so beautiful, intelligent, romantic and fun. He loved to hear her laughter. Well, he loved everything about her.
When he entered the bedroom, he bent down to her and stroke over her cheek. Carol opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Ready to go?" he asked and Carol managed somehow to get up. "I don't really have a choice, do I?" she chuckled and Doug helped her up. "You don't. Are you okay?" he asked and put his hands on her stomach. "I'm tired…exhausted…fat…and excited. I'm glad you're here", she answered smiling. "I'm glad too", he smiled and kissed her shortly. Carol took his hand in hers and was ready to begin their future.
July 18th
Doug didn't sleep any minute. Carol was sleeping so peacefully and he only watched her all night. The more time went by the more nervous he got. He just hoped that everything would be okay with Carol and his babies. It had to be okay. Suddenly the door went open. "Hey Dr. Ross", Steph whispered who came in with a cup of coffee. "Hey Steph…what are you doing here so early?" he asked. She handed him the cup and sat down. "Well, I knew that today is the day and I knew you'd be here, so I wanted to say hello and good luck. I have to work anyway", Stephanie answered. Doug smiled. "Thank you", he answered and looked at her. "How are you, Steph? We didn't get to talk lately", Doug then said. "Oh, I'm in love and feeling so good", Stephanie answered and smiled. "Wait, I have a picture of him on my cell phone", she added and showed him a picture. "His name is Mark", she told him. Doug smiled. "Is he good to you?" he then asked and Stephanie nodded. "He is. We talk a lot and he's so gently, so nice. He's a good man", she answered. Doug then leaned back and smiled again. "I see…you're really in love and I'm happy for you. I hope you'll invite me to your wedding", he chuckled. "You'll be the first one", Steph answered smiling. "Okay…I'll leave you alone now. Good luck and…well, have fun with the babies", she chuckled and got up from her seat again. "Thanks Steph", Doug said and got up to hug her.
Right when Stephanie left the room, Carol woke up. "Good morning", Doug said and smiled at her. Carol turned around. "Good morning. How late is it?" she asked and Doug looked at his clock. "6:45…we have 15 minutes left", Doug smiled. "Oh no. I want to have a PDA. I don't want to sleep while they do the c-section", Carol hesitated. "Alright Care…I'll ask the anesthetist what he can do", Doug answered and got out of the room.
Oh damn she was nervous. So freaking nervous. Today she would give birth to her babies. These 8 months went by so quickly. Again she closed her eyes and let them past through her thoughts.
She remembered the ultrasound when they found out about the triplets. She remembered the first kicks she felt. She remembered Doug talking with her stomach. She remembered the shopping she did with Doug and how excited he was. How would their life be with the twins and the triplets? It would be the most exciting life ever…for sure.
When she opened her eyes again, Diane showed up in the room. "Hey Carol…Doug told me you want to have a PDA?" she asked and Carol nodded. "I do…and I know the risks", Carol smiled. "Alright. We'll manage that", Diane smiled back. "Where's Doug?" Carol then asked. "Oh, he's kinda nervous, running up and down outside", Diane laughed and Carol chuckled.
"Starting with the cut now", Diane said and put the scalpel on Carol's stomach. Carol's heart was racing like hell and she squeezed Doug's hand so tight that she might break his bones. She was only minutes away to see the first of three babies. "You okay?" Doug asked who was probably as nervous as she was. He didn't even focus on anything else except Carol's open stomach. "Feeling okay…don't worry. What do you see?" she asked. Doug couldn't see anything. "First baby is out", Carol then heard Diane and she looked at Doug. His eyes…god, she wished she could remember this moment forever. "We have a boy, Carol", he chuckled and wiped away a tear that ran down Carol's cheek and kissed her quickly. Only moments later the baby let out a strong and loud cry. Doug looked at his son. "Go look at him", Carol smiled and Doug went to the baby.
His son. He had a son. Doug couldn't explain the feeling he felt in this moment. He couldn't breathe or smile, or talk. "Congratulations, Doug", he heard a nurse and then he finally smiled. "Is he okay?" he asked and the nurse nodded. His boy was so small but already so beautiful. "Can I?" he asked and the nurse handed Doug a blanket. "Oh God…you're…man, welcome on board, Mister", Doug said and he couldn't hold back his tears anymore when he touched the little hands of his son, then his little nose and his soft cheeks.
Carol watched him and cried silent tears. This was a magic moment. This was beyond description. "Meet our perfect son", Doug said as he came to Carol with the little baby in his hand. Carol looked at her baby and sobbed. "Hey baby…hey there", she whispered and snuggled her head closer to her baby. Too bad she couldn't touch him right now. "We need to finish him now", the nurse said and Doug then handed the boy to her. "Oh boy…" he chuckled and went to Carol again. "Oh boy indeed", Carol chuckled and smiled at Doug. "Sorry, do you have decided on a name already?" the nurse then asked who came back with the chart. "Liam Cruz Ross", Doug smiled and the nurse nodded.
"Number two is out…beautiful and healthy", Diane said and handed the baby to the nurse. "A girl…we have another girl!" Doug said excited and looked at Carol again. "Oh…Tess will be happy", she chuckled and bit her lip again, as the tears came back. "Doug…let me see her", she then said to Doug who went to his new born daughter. The baby was moaning and kicking like a boss already. "Welcome little bee", Doug whispered and kissed the baby slowly before he picked her up again. Then the little girl let out a loud scream. "Sounds like you scare her already", Diane chuckled and the whole OR was laughing. Carol shook her head slightly. Damn, she got tired. "Hello little princess", she said and kissed the girl too, not wanting to let her go. "Dakota?" Doug asked and Carol shook her head. "No…she doesn't look like a Dakota…she looks like an Emery", Carol answered silently and closed her eyes smiling. "Emery Iris Ross", Doug repeated and the nurse nodded.
"Carol…we're almost done. Are you okay?" Diane then asked and Doug went to Carol again. "I'm tired", she murmured and had a hard time to open her eyes. "One unit of 0 negative again", Diane ordered and then Doug got really nervous. Carol didn't open her eyes anymore. Her blood pressure seemed fine. "Carol…stay with me. Please…come on", Doug begged and bent down to her. "She'll stay, don't worry", Diane said. "Do you hear everything?" Doug asked and looked over the sheet in front of Carol's face. "I do…I have perfect ears", she chuckled and then Carol opened her eyes again. "Good…welcome back to the party", Doug smiled and kissed her forehead. "And finally, number three", Diane said and Doug took a look again. "Another boy, it's a boy again, Carol!" Doug almost freaked out. "And number four…" Diane said and Doug turned around her really quickly. "Just kidding", Diane chuckled and again, the whole OR laughed. "Oh man…" Carol chuckled and a happy tear ran down her cheek again. "Oh son…you're so small", Doug whispered to his second boy and cleaned him a little bit. "Yeah, he's the poor one…didn't get as much as his siblings", Diane said who now was finishing Carol. "But he seems fine…just a little bit smaller", she added. "Come on, let me hear your crying", Doug said smiling and stroke over the little baby's cheek with his small finger. The boy immediately started to suck on it. "He's hungry…" Doug chuckled and then the boy let out a loud cry. "Aww baby I wish I could feed you already", Carol said as Doug came to her with the boy in his hands. "Mason", she whispered and snuggled close to her baby too. "Oh, he's really hungry", Carol sobbed chuckling as little Mason started to suck on her nose. "We'll feed them later", the nurse smiled who took the baby away again.
Now it really sucked to lay here. She wanted to hold her babies, to kiss them, to feed them, just feel them. "How does her uterus look?" Doug asked Diane. "Perfectly fine. You can have more babies", Diane smiled again. "No…no, no, no. Not with me. I'm done", Carol chuckled and closed her eyes again. "Yeah, I think we're done now", Doug answered and took a deep breath. His babies were perfect. He couldn't wait to introduce them to Tess and Kate. "I love you", he whispered into Carol's ear and wiped away a tear on his cheek. "I love you too", Carol whispered back and melted into his following kiss.
Welcome on board, Liam, Emery and Mason!