Finally, this story is done. A big thank you to everyone who has continued to read it and follow it. You guys are amazing. We have many more stories to come.
The next few months went by and Annie was soon close to her due date. Randy's parents had really made the effort and they were all getting along. Annie smiled as she watched the kids playing outside as she sat on the patio. Everything was going so well with everyone. She and Randy had told Jacob that Randy was his father several months before. Annie had never seen Jacob so happy as when they told him. Payton was doing well. Their peditrician had suggested that Payton get some counseling to deal with John's death. And she had been in therapy for six months.
"You don't look comfortable." She heard from the doorway and smiled when she saw her husband there.
"I'm not." She replied. "I'm ready for the babies to be here. I always hated the last month of pregnancy. With Payton and Jacob and now with the twins."
"It won't be much longer." He said as he sat down by her. "Are you ready to have four kids?"
She laughed. "I am." She looked at him. "I think four kids is enough."
"I happen to agree." He replied. She smiled. "How about I make dinner tonight and you rest?"
"That sounds so good." She replied as the kids came running up and they headed inside.
After dinner, Randy and Annie put the kids to bed and then headed to their room. "I'm so glad Jacob is getting ready for preschool," Annie said as they got into bed. "With him and Payton both in school, it will make things with the twins easier."
"It's only half a day," Randy said with a laugh.
"I know but it's still a help," Annie replied with a smile.
"Do you want to hire a nanny?" Randy asked her. "To make things easier."
"I was thinking about it." Annie repiled honestly. "But I want to be the ones to raise the kids. But four kids is a lot to deal with. Especially with three under five including two newborns."
"Well, how about we bring someone in just a few days a week or a few hours a day to help? Just until you get used to all four. Just for a couple of months."
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan."
"Alright. Then we will look for a nanny starting tomorrow." She nodded and kissed him goodnight.
The next morning, Annie woke up in a lot of pain. She knew she was in labor. She woke Randy up and he called his mom to come and watch Payton and Jacob and he and Annie were soon on their way to the hospital. Randy was excited because he was finally going to be able to witness the birth of his kids. He had missed Jacob's because of everything that happened. Now, he was getting the chance.
"Alright, Annie, let's see what we have." The doctor said as he walked into the room. He did an exam and looked at the fetal monitor. "Already, everything seemed to be right on track." He looked at them. "You are almost six centimeters dilated. So, we will give you some drugs to help with the pain but it shouldn't be long now."
Annie nodded and looked at her husband. "So, we are getting ready to have two babies." She smiled. "You know, we never finalized the names."
"Well, I thought Carsyn Elisabeth for the girl and Landon Keith for the little boy."
"I like that." She smiled. "And I like how you used two names I picked, Carsyn and Landon."
He smiled and kissed her. "Well, they are apart of both of us, so we should each pick a name." He smiled. "And thank you for changing Jacob's name and putting me on the birth certificate as his father."
"Well you are his father and it was the right thing to do. He is your son and he deserves your name just like you deserve to be on the birth certificate." He smiled back. After telling Jacob the truth about Randy, he and Annie had gone and changed Jacob's name and birth certificate to Jacob Randal Orton and named Randy as his father.
"Alright, Annie, let's see." The doctor said walking in a few hours later. He did an exam. "Alright, you are at ten so let's get you delivered."
She smiled as they wheeled her to the delivery room. Randy held her hand as the doctor told her to push for the first baby. "And it's a boy." He said handing the baby to the nurse, who put him into the incubator.
"Why is he not crying?" Annie asked.
"They are looking at him. Relax." The doctor said. "Now, let's get your daughter." The doctor said as she pushed again. He looked toward the peditrician, who was working on the little boy. "One more push and your daughter will be here." Annie did as he asked and soon her daughter was born. She heard her cry as she was born.
"Why is my son not crying?" Annie asked again.
The doctor looked at her. "Annie, the baby has some issues."
"What kind of issues?" Randy asked concerned.
"He's not breathing on his own. We are taking him to the NICU and they will evaluate him. Once we know more, we will come to see you." The doctor said to them. "Get her to recovery and we will bring your daughter to you."
Annie was taken to recovery while Randy followed the doctor. "What is wrong with my son?" He asked.
The doctor sighed. "He's not breathing on his own. We are doing some tests. Once we know more, I will tell you and your wife."
Randy nodded and headed to the room where Annie would be brought to. He got there just as they were wheeling her in and Carsyn as well. He picked his daughter and held her while Annie slept. He hoped his son would be okay.
"Where's Landon?" He heard from the bed and saw Annie awake.
"The doctors are examining him." He said walking over to her. "You should hold Carsyn."
She took the baby in her arms. She was so perfect. Annie hoped Landon was okay and that she could see him soon.
"Well, Mr. and Mrs. Orton." The doctor said when he walked in. "Your son is breathing on his own now. The reason he wasn't was because his lungs had an infection. We are treating it. And we feel he will be fine."
"Can we see him?" Annie asked.
"He has to stay in the NICU right now. But once you're a little stronger, you can go there and see him." He looked at Randy. "Would you like to see him?"
Annie looked at him. "Go see him." Randy nodded and followed the doctor to the NICU.
"Here is your son." The doctor said taking him over to the incubator where the baby was. "He's doing better. But he still has a way to go. The infection was very serious."
"How did he get it?"
"We don't know yet." The doctor replied. "We think he had a bowel movement in the womb and that cause the infection. Carsyn wasn't effected. So, she is very healthy and strong." The doctor looked at him. "Landon is going to be fine. We are treating the infection."
"Alright," Randy replied and looked at his son.
Over the next few days, Landon got stronger. Annie and Carsyn got to come home first. "She's little mom," Payton said as the kids looked at her.
"She is." Annie smiled. "But she will get bigger."
"Where's my brother?" Jacob asked.
"He will be home soon," Randy replied. "He just has to stay a little while longer."
A week later, Randy had everyone gathered at the house as Landon was coming home and their family would be complete. He and Annie picked up Landon and headed home. They walked into the house and everyone greeted them and smiled.
"He is so precious," Elaine said as she held Landon.
"Both of these babies are sweet," Katherine added as she held Carsyn.
"Thanks." Annie smiled. She walked to the front of the room and looked around. Elaine was holding Landon, while Bob was playing with Jacob. Her mom was holding Carsyn while her dad was playing with Payton. Careena and Justin were talking to Randy while holding their son. "Everyone, I would like to say something." She said to them. "Over the last year, my life has changed so much. And it's a great life. I have an amazing husband who I love so much." She smiled. "I have four amazing children. More than I ever thought I would have. We have an amazing family and amazing friends. You all mean so much to me and my family. I just wanted to take the time to thank you for always being here. And I hope you will continue to be apart of our lives and our children's lives. I love you all." She held up her glass of punch. "To family."
"To family." Everyone said as they did the same.
Randy smiled and kissed his wife. He never thought he would have this chance with her. After everything they had been through, they were happy. And he had gotten his chance of redemption and made the most of it. Now he had everything he had ever wanted.