Chapter XXIX
Before her divorce, Rachel had always hated cardio classes at the gym, because she had a tendency to be very clumsy and the instructors were impossible to keep up with; always so uncaring. They provided no motivation at all. They were basically robots who told them what to do and counted off reps. However, since she started dating one of the best personal trainers she'd ever met, that changed.
Dani was not like them at all. She genuinely seemed to care; it was hard to ignore that this girl was completely awesome. In addition to good looks, she was also wickedly smart. Not just about training and nutrition, but about people as well. They shared the same sense of humor, and sometimes got so involved in conversing and karaoke singing that they'd forget they were in the workout.
Months into dating, Rachel was 25 pounds thinner and pretty darn buffer. Dani's work was nothing short of miraculous. For the first time in her life Rachel felt SEXY. Being short, only 5'2", it always seemed like every pound looked massive on her body. During these past few weeks Dani has been complimenting her progress left and right. Rachel always told Dani she owed it all to her.
"So what do you say to getting some hard-core muscle on you?" Dani asked.
"Hell yeah!" said Rachel.
Dani walked over to the bench press and shared, "Lie down over here... You hold the bar to where your forearms make a ninety degree angle with the bar. Always have someone spot you. Always keep your feet flat on the ground. Never bounce the bar off your chest. Slow repetitions are better than fast ones. Breathe slowly and encourage yourself. Now, the bar weighs 45 pounds. I think you can do it. What do you think?"
"I hope so."
"No Rachel... say you know so."
Rachel giggled and smiled up at Dani. "Okay, you win. I know so." With that, Rachel held the bar appropriately and lowered it slowly to touch her chest and slowly accelerated it its highest maximum.
"Good job. Keep it up."
Rachel repeated the same movement five more times and struggled on the last two. "That's enough for you today. I don't want you to be hurting too much."
Rachel laid there not moving for awhile. She didn't want Dani to think she was weak. "I think I can do 8 more. Dani... I know so."
Dani leaned in and brought the bar to Rachel's fingertips. As Rachel was still looking up, her eyes caught a glimpse of Dani's underwear through her shorts. Rachel wasn't focusing after that sight and the bar seized down upon her, nearly hitting her chest, until Dani caught it.
"Geez Rachel. Focus."
"Sorry, I lost my concentration."
After that Rachel thought they were done, but then Dani snaked her arms around Rachel's body and pulled her to the sparring floor. Dani whispered in her ear, "You said in bed last night you wanted some fighting skills. So... Fight me."
Rachel smiled and breathed in sharply, a second later, she displayed determination. She tried to push back on Dani's arms and body with all her strength. Dani had her feet firmly planted on the floor; she wasn't going anywhere. Giving up this way, Rachel tried another method: tickling. She reached for Dani's armpit and tickled her. Dani squirmed a bit, but didn't lose her grip on Rachel.
This continued for about three to five minutes until Dani was now circled around Rachel in the fetal position. Rachel's breathing was shallow and light. Dani's breathing was becoming identical. Both could feel the stirring of emotion rise in their pelvises.
Dani then began to wrap her legs tighter around Rachel's lithe little body. Rachel's hand reached to touch the flexing muscle. "You're so toned and muscular."
"You really like it?"
"Are you kidding? I love it."
Dani smiled at this. "Thank you."
Rachel was able to turn her body around with no resistance from Dani until they were facing. Dani let her hands roam freely over Rachel's front. She touched Rachel's flat stomach and inquired, "You've been doing your crunches?"
Rachel laughed, "Yes, every morning."
"Wow."
Then, Rachel told her randomly, "I have a surprise for you."
"Oh yeah? I love surprises. So long as it's a good one."
Rachel giggled some and then said, "Lean back."
"Yes Ma'am," was all Dani could manage to say as she leaned back. She had no idea what to expect.
Straddling Dani now, Rachel lifted her small white T-shirt up off her body. Dani didn't say a word, but watched with intensely with her eyes. Her eyes never blinked or flinched away for a second.
Rachel lifted up her arms to take the shirt off entirely. Dani's eyes greedily drank in the sight before her. Below her prominent collar bone, were two milky white plump breasts encased by a black sports bra. She then used her finger to point to her left rib area. Dani's eyes forced themselves higher from Rachel's emerging abs. She had to sit on her hands to resist such a lovely stomach. She licked her lips at the sight even. Then, she saw what Rachel was pointing out: a little music note freshly tattooed on her skin.
"All of yours are so sexy, I couldn't resist one of my own."
Dani smiled wide. "I love it."
Rachel just giggled and responded, "Well, don't you want to touch it?"
Dani didn't need any more of an invitation. Her hands traced the new ink, then, she gave into the temptation and planted a kiss on it. Rachel was giggling and her whole body was squirming by this point. Dani blew on it and then kissed it one more time to get the same reaction.
Another moan left Rachel's mouth and then her lips were pressed against Dani's: wet and hot and firm. Then Dani's hand, stealthy as a snake, managed to slip up under Rachel's bra to grope her breast. Rachel gasped and felt a wicked smile beneath Dani's continuing kisses. Her other hand joined the other, so that both of her hands were working at kneading Rachel's breasts.
Rachel let out a soft moan to drive her on further. Dani's fingers expertly found and pinched her nipples delicately. both then moaned louder, quickly pulling off each other's clothes. Rachel was surprised that they both ended up naked as fast as they did, considering the flurry and confusion of appendages and twisted clothing.
"Mmmm fuck..." she mumbled unintelligibly, engrossed in Dani's beauty. However, the moment of admiration only lasted for a short while and soon they were back to intense kissing.
Soon Dani's hand was working wonders between Rachel's legs. She was furiously rubbing up and down her pussy, which begged for her attentions. Occasionally she would pause at Rachel's clit, other times she would slide her fingers inside, pump them in and out hard and deep, and then go back to rubbing. Her mouth and free hand continued working tag team with Rachel's nipples, making her back arch with pleasure. Rachel was soon growing ever closer to orgasm,and then, without warning, Dani slid down her body and put her tongue where her fingers had been. So with both hands working at Rachel's nipples, Dani vigorously licked.
Rachel screamed and came inside Dani's mouth. Yet she didn't stop. She continued shoving her tongue in and out of Rachel, all around, licking and sucking at every internal crevice. Rachel bucked wildly, screaming and grabbing at the back of Dani's head as she came again.
Soon Rachel collapsed and Dani giggled proudly, slinking up to Rachel's body to wrap her arms around her still shaking form. Once Rachel had regained her breath, with a wicked smile on her lips Dani asked, "So, how did you enjoy your workout?"
...
On a Friday, when Brittany, Sugar, and Quinn were nearing a full nine months pregnant, there were a ton of guests visiting Avalon. Not even three pregnancies would have made them forgot about that wonderful tradition.
The dinner itself included lively conversation.
"So," Rachel said at one point, "the Tri-state LGBT community has learned that I performed two successful same sex marriages, so now I'm getting more jobs doing that than actual lawyer jobs."
"Wow," replied Holly amazed. "So you're doing a lot?"
"I'm booked solid for the next ten weekends."
"That actually reminds me of something," interjected Dani. She got out of her chair and turned towards Rachel. She pulled a ring box out of her pocket and got on one knee. "Rachel Berry. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone else. In front of our friends I ask you, will you marry me?"
Rachel shrieked out the word, "Yes!" and lunged at Dani to hug her. The two women fell over onto the Dining Room floor and Rachel smothered Dani in kisses.
There was much rejoicing.
"So," Quinn asked after the newly engaged couple returned to the table, "if you're the bride, then who'll perform the ceremony?"
"Who knows.. I won't even be available 'til June," said Rachel.
"I'm ok with a June wedding," said Dani.
"You ladies are having the wedding here, of course," said Quinn. "I won't take 'no' for an answer."
"Do you ever?" asked Rachel.
"Usually not," agreed Quinn.
After dinner, the large group made short work of the clean up. They headed over to the Living Room and tried to pick a game everyone could play at once. The game would not go very far, however. April was about to get up and sing a showtune when Rachel noticed a huge puddle on the Living Room floor.
Rachel asked, "Where'd the water come from?"
"Oh, my God, it's me," said Brittany. "My water broke!"
"Uhhhh, I think it's me," said Quinn.
"Oh, shit," said Holly. "Both of you?"
"Yes," was answered by more than one voice.
"How about Sugar?" Asked a flustered Jake.
"Nothing from me..."
Quinn shouted above the chaos. "Get Kurt to take us to the hospital and the rest of you can follow in the stretch."
April turned to Holly and said, "Our dinner parties are never this exciting."
Kurt hustled to bring the car up from Quinn and Brittany. He gave the keys to the stretch limousine to Jake and told him where it was parked. Everyone piled in the stretch limo once he brought it around.
At the hospital, Santana went with Brittany to her suite, and Jake and Sugar were in Quinn's suite. Everyone else waited in the Family Waiting Room down the hall. These were friends who would want to stay and wait for the birth of the children no matter what, it was a family.
Quinn's cervix dilated rather quickly to four centimeters and the Anesthesiologist was called into her Labor and Delivery suite. The Anesthesiologist kicked Jake and Sugar out of the suite and they used the opportunity to check on everyone in the Waiting Room. The Anesthesiologist numbed Quinn's skin with a local anesthetic. He then asked her to lie on her side with her knees drawn up and her back arched. He was a bit rude and barked these commands to her.
As a nurse, she was offended by his treatment of her but she complied because the labor pains were becoming intense. She didn't feel pain per se, but Quinn felt the needle go in and felt the Anesthesiologist position the small tube of the epidural. She wondered if he'd be giving her Novocaine despite the fact she had requested a walking epidural. She checked with him and he assured her she would be allowed to walk around in her suite. He left rather abruptly after that.
A nurse checked on Quinn right after the Anesthesiologist left and she requested that Jake and Sugar be brought back in.
The Anesthesiologist then tried to kick Santana out when he entered Brittany's birthing suite.
"Yeah, I don't think so," said Santana.
"I'm a doctor and I'm ordering you to get out," said the Anesthesiologist. "Now."
"You are not going to stick a needle in my wife if I'm not present."
"Just stay out of my way," he said in a more polite tone of voice and he carefully gave Brittany her epidural. He gave her a stronger anesthetic than he gave to her stepsister. Brittany would not be able to leave the bed.
Just before Quinn's cervix was dilated to ten centimeters, Sugar's water broke. "Uh oh..." Was all she could say.
She panicked, but Quinn calmed her down. They knew that this was a possibility. Sugar was sad that she'd likely miss the birth of Quinn's child, but was happy that it meant hers would be there right after.
"Jake, I want you to stay with Sugar."
"What? No," Sugar protested. "He'll miss yours. What if something goes wrong?"
"I am a nurse. I can handle a child birth, especially my own."
In the other room, Santana was rubbing Brittany's back and shoulders carefully. Brittany was thankful that Santana refused to leave her. It meant so much even though Brittany suspected her wife's hormones were the cause of the somewhat aggressive behavior. Santana kept track of Brittany's contractions with her watch. In the grand scheme of things, it did not serve a practical purpose but it made Santana feel involved.
"Are you happy with the names we picked, baby?" Santana asked.
"If I didn't like them, you would know it by now. I'm glad we didn't find out the baby's sex. I prefer the surprise."
Santana agreed and said, "So do I. I mean, I can't blame anyone for finding out. I just think it's more fun this way."
Brittany felt another contraction and Santana noted the time and the duration.
A doctor checked on Sugar and found out that despite her late start, she was progressing much faster than Quinn or Brittany. The reality of the moment hit Jake. This was it. His first child was about to be born. The doctor and nurses took their positions. Jake held Sugar's hand and coached her breathing. Sugar gave Jake's hand a firm squeeze and followed his coaching.
The doctor told Sugar to push and she did. After a few minutes of pushing, Sugar was having trouble. "I c-can't... I... I can't breathe..." she managed to say.
"I don't care," said the nurse to her left. "Push!"
"Hey!" shouted Jake. "Do not speak to my wife like that. She can't breathe. Help her."
The nurse got an air mask and set the oxygen dial to 2. She placed the mask on Sugar's face and the pregnant woman was able to breathe.
"There," said the nurse. "Now, push!"
It was easier for Sugar now that she had air. She bore down and pushed until it was finally done.
Jake kissed Sugar on the forehead and told her how beautiful their daughter was. Jake was allowed to cut the umbilical cord and the baby girl was quickly cleaned and placed in Sugar's arms. She was very proud of Jake for staying by her but she was too tired at that moment to thank him.
The oxygen mask was taken off her face and Sugar smiled at her daughter and said, "Welcome to the world, Alexa. We've been waiting a long time to meet you."
Jake looked up at the clock on the wall. It was just set past midnight. The way things were shaping up, all the babies would have the same birthday.
Soon it was Brittany's turn. Santana was supportive but firm with Brittany and the baby was coming out just fine.
Santana cut the cord. The baby was cleaned. Brittany held out her arms and the baby was given to her. Santana gently rubbed the baby's back.
"Hello, Roxanne," her mothers said to her at the same time.
Quinn had her baby alone. Jake and Sugar couldn't get there in time. Despite that, she remained calm. Unfortunately the baby was not doing well. The baby was a grayish-purple color when it came out. Quinn recognized at a glance a problem with the baby's breathing. The cord was quickly cut and the baby was rushed to a table where the crash cart was. The doctor suctioned the baby's mouth several times. The baby was becoming grayer and grayer until a loud popping sound came out followed by the baby crying loudly.
It was a good sign, but the baby would still have to be whisked over to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Quinn did not get to hold her baby. She began to sob.
When Jake arrived with Sugar in a wheelchair, the spouses prayed together.
As soon as she was cleared to do so by the doctor, Quinn visited her baby in the NICU. She had to do it through a plastic bubble, but she didn't care. She just wanted to see her baby. Thanks to the protective gloves she was finally allowed to touch her child, and she cried tears of joy.
"Hello, Beth," Quinn said to her daughter. "You're gorgeous. I knew you would be."
Because Beth had ingested some amniotic fluid into her lungs during birth, she was required by hospital policy to stay in the NICU for three days so she could be observed.
Jake and Sugar heard about what happened to Beth from Quinn. They were devastated, but Quinn refused to let them feel too down. Their other baby girl was healthy so they owed it to her not to let Alexa be ignored.
One time when all three were watching over Beth together, a nurse brought Alexa in to meet Beth too. She also encouraged Sugar to start breastfeeding.
"My gorgeous little girl," Sugar said to her daughter. "My tits are huge because of you. Please have a drink."
It seemed as though the baby heard her. Alexa latched on and suckled on Sugar's breast. It hurt at first, but mother and child eventually got used to it and Sugar felt happy and proud that she was able to feed her child.
Quinn was so in love with Sugar's joy at motherhood. She wanted all that for herself though too. So she spent every second of those three days that she was allowed to in the NICU. She hardly slept. It wasn't important. What mattered was seeing her daughter get well.
After the third day of being in NICU, Beth was given a clean bill of health and allowed to go home to Avalon with her sister and her cousin with whom she shared birthdays. The three baby girls babbled contentedly in each other's presence after only a few days of meeting each other.
...
It was a Wednesday morning in early May. Santana was framing her and Brittany's Masters' diplomas. It was her due date, but her baby seemed content where it was.
Brittany had just put Roxanne down for a nap and headed to her room where her pregnant wife waited for her. The wives kissed passionately, but Santana seemed hungrier than usual. She put some pressure on the top of Brittany's head to force her lower.
"Baby? What are you doing?"
"I want this baby out, Sweetie."
"How do I help that?" Brittany asked.
"By going down on me," Santana replied with a smile. "Sex helps induce labor..."
Brittany did not hesitate. She lifted up the dress Santana had on and kissed her way down Santana's large belly.
Santana gasped when her wife reached her pussy. Brittany licked Santana's lower lips slowly from bottom to top and dragged her tongue hard against her clit. She did this several times until Santana was moaning and dug her fingers into the bed sheets.
Brittany licked and sucked on her clit and waited for sounds she was so familiar with to come out of Santana's mouth. When they did, she hardened the tip of her tongue and slid it deep inside her. She twisted her tongue in a circle, while she plunged into her wife.
Santana trembled all over and finally could take no more. She came loudly and fell back on the bed screaming Brittany's name.
Santana's water broke a few minutes later and Brittany called the hospital and then Kurt drove them there. Quinn rode up front with them and sent a mass text to everyone who needed to know.
A series of traded texts arranged for Dani to pick up Jake and Sugar at Avalon and bring them to the hospital in Southampton. Rachel was overseeing a trial but demanded updates. Holly and April were also at work and similarly wanted updates. Brittany's mom stayed with the baby girls at Avalon. She was excited that she would have another grandchild less than a year from the birth of the first.
Brittany filled out all of the paperwork as Santana was brought up to her suite. It was interesting to see the things Santana had gone through when Roxanne was being born from the other end. Brittany smiled when she thought about how fierce Santana had been when people tried to boss her around. She needed to be as strong today as Santana was that day.
She was directed to Santana's suite and the pregnant woman in the hospital gown held her arms out for her wife. They hugged tightly and Santana pressed her forehead against Brittany's. Santana pulled Brittany into the bed with her and they cuddled.
"Oh my God. This is really happening," Santana said. "We're finally going to give Roxanne a sibling. I know it was crazy but I'm so glad we did it like this. Remember the plan: If anything goes wrong and you have to make a choice, save the baby."
"Nothing's going wrong," Brittany said.
"I know. Just remember the plan, Sweetie. I'll just feel better if we have our bases covered. Things only get really bad when you don't prepare for bad things to happen."
"Good afternoon, ladies," the doctor walked in and said cheerfully. "Are we ready for baby number two?"
"I think we're very close," replied Santana.
"Okie dokie, the baby is already crowning," said the doctor. "Let's get the little one out, shall we?"
"Yes, let's," said Santana.
The doctor got into a gown, put on a fresh pair of gloves and got into position. Brittany walked over to where the nurse indicated and held Santana's hand. She coached Santana to breathe and when the doctor said so, Brittany had her wife bear down and push for a count of ten.
"Very good, Santana. You're doing just great," said the doctor. It was rare to see a birthing team this accomplished. Men were usually screaming at their wives or vice versa and they disrupted the natural flow of the birthing suite."Keep going like that and it should only be a few more. Are you ready to go again?"
Santana shook her head and Brittany answered for her, "Not yet. She needs a few more seconds."
"Ok, but we can't wait too long. Santana, I'll let you have a nice rest if you give me one more big push," the doctor said.
Santana nodded her head and she got her breath and focused. Brittany told her to push and she did until it was done.
"Oh my God," said Brittany. "It's a boy!"
"Good observation," said the doctor somewhat sarcastically. "Are you ready to cut the cord, Brittany?" Brittany stepped up and cut where the doctor specified. "Good job. Have you two come up with a name yet?"
Santana said at the same time Brittany said, "Clark."
The doctor said hi to Clark and then said goodbye to everyone. As soon as he was clean and dry, Clark was placed on his mother's chest and his other mother kissed his forehead.
Brittany pulled up a chair and smiled at her wife and her son.
"Hi baby," Santana said in a weak voice. "I'm your mama. I honestly thought we'd be four for four with girl babies, but you're a nice surprise."
Brittany sent out a mass text which simply said, "IT'S A BOY!" Within 42 minutes, everyone replied with one form of congratulations or another.
...
Quinn was the first allowed in to see the happy couple and newborn. "You look amazing!" She said to them.
"You're joking, right?" answered Santana. "I look like I just pushed a small human being out of my vagina."
"Well, yeah, that too..." said Quinn. Then she noticed the small head on Santana's chest move. "Is that him?"
"Quinn, meet your nephew."
"He looks just like you," said Quinn. Things were almost too good to be true. "Well, I'll let you get some rest. I just wanted to congratulate you two. I love you, ladies. Bye!"
Santana and Clark were discharged the next day. It was odd when the three girls who always looked so minuscule suddenly became giantesses when compared to their new relative. Clark seemed so small.
Santana learned the joy of breastfeeding. It hurt at first because she had breast implants, but then that tugging on her nipple became a source of true joy. Eventually, both her and Brittany tried nursing both babies, cementing the bond with the child they hadn't birthed themselves. It worked out for Brittany and Santana so that only one of them would need to get up each night. Things became simpler after they made that arrangement. At least one of them was always well rested, in theory. In reality though, no matter how large a house Avalon was, no one could escape the sounds of a crying child most nights.
Despite the discomfort of early motherhood, Quinn loved every second of it... because part of her always thought she'd never get to have a life like it.
To be continued...
