A/N - last chapter for now. I may do a short last chapter, but at the moment I am really busy with work. This is all I have.
Chapter 38.
It was early Autumn...
The temperatures started to drop and become somewhat cooler, the weather was definitely changing for the season.
For Vic, this made her final weeks of pregnancy just a little more bearable...
She loved the way her son would try to help her with cleaning around the cabin.
When she was relaxing on the couch, the little boy would sit next to his mother, placing his little hand on his mothers bulging belly.
When one of the twins gave a kick - he'd say "mummy he kicked me"
Vic wondered what her twins would look like, would they both be girls, or boys... or... one of each... the list of potential names was growing by the day.
Who would they favour? - would they look more like their father, or her... or would they be a mix of them both?
##
William was now back in school – he was more confident, both in himself and his learning.
He made a picture of his family and brought it back for his mother – who placed it on the fridge door.
He was a happy, self-assured little boy.
His official school photo in pride of place on the wall. He would follow his father in the early morning, out to tend to Walt's horse... Vic thought it cute.
While Vic was enjoying the last little bit of peace and quiet she could have, before the impending storm came upon them...
That was the nickname Walt had given the twins... the very lively Longmire twins...
He'd tease Vic about them being more like her, given how active they were inside her protective womb...
He joked about them being born kicking their way out... Vic just gave him a look... Vic thought back to her first pregnancy – she was sure that William was not as active, but then again – William was on his own and with this pregnancy there were two of them... the impending storm - it had a ring to it.
Walt had 'moved' in with Vic in the more spacious bedroom, allowing for his old room to be redecorated into a nursery for when the twins arrived.
William on the odd occasion; would wake them up by launching himself onto the bed, or by sneaking up on them.
Walt had finished making the cots, and Ruby had helped with the stitching and sewing.
The room was almost done with just a few pieces of furniture to sand down and re-stain.
Cady and Vic went shopping for a twin stroller; buying one that Vic thought Walt would be happy to push around. Vic had already managed to sell the majority of Williams old baby stuff - the pram, stroller, baby seat and other accessories and with the money she received for all of that, they brought matching new baby car seats and other items for the twins.
Cady threw Vic a baby shower at her place, Ruby helped with making food and keeping the younger guests fed.
Almost everyone asked Vic, if she knew the gender of the twins. Vic told them 'No – and they decided to wait to meet them...'
They asked if she'd had a list of names, again Vic told them she had a short list for boys and girls – but they would wait until they met the twins before giving them a name.
William was out in the garden playing with the other children. The little boy had come a long way since they first arrived back in Durant.
##
While the baby shower was taking place.
Walt was out with Dash, Henry, Omar, Ferg and a few others making merry and offering the new father-to-be words of advice... to which Walt told them – he'd already been a father twice before. No advice was needed. The only thing he would be doing differently this time, would be to spend more time with them while they were young, he told them that he felt guilty about not doing that with Cady as a baby. Times had changed, and he would change with them.
As a gift to her father and Vic, Cady gave them a gift of a photography session – where they'd have a set of professionally taken photos of them...
They chose a couple to be framed, but their favourite was the picture of Vic standing with her top rolled up over her bump, wearing a long loose skirt under her bump. Walt was kneeling on one side and William standing on the other – both of them planting a kiss on her bump, with Vic's hands on both of their heads.
The photographer told Walt and Vic that they could have another session half price, but the offer was only open for 6 months.
Walt took the card off the photographer and said he'd call them back.
He told Vic that it would be good for them to have a proper family photo taken, and maybe some of William with his younger siblings.
###
It was a cool early October morning when the Longmire twins made their first appearance...
Walt and Vic had dropped William off at Cady's on the way to the hospital during the late evening.
The 'military manoeuvre' of getting from the cabin to the hospital went according to plan, Vic had already packed her bags a few days previous and it had been placed by the front door.
All that was needed was making sure William had an overnight bag sorted, and making sure Vic was comfortable on the drive to the hospital.
Walt was a little unnerved for each contraction as he drove, trying keep one hand reassuringly on Vic...
He pulled up outside the hospital and grabbed the bags, while trying to help Vic waddle towards the entrance, where the receptionist called for a wheelchair for Vic.
Walt followed with the bags as they entered the birthing suite.
###
Vic had been in labour for almost 5 hours; before the Longmire twins announced themselves onto to the World.
Walt had been with Vic, every step of the way, through every contraction, encouraging her as she progressed through the final stages of labour, feeding her ice chips and putting a cold flannel on her forehead... ...
The first twin – a boy weighing 5lb 3oz made his entrance into the World while Vic was in the birthing pool during the very early hours of the morning, his twin brother arrived just over 5 minutes later... weighing in at 5lb 5oz.
Walt thought that Vic was amazing for delivering twins without any pain relief... just gas and air.
The midwife had told them previously, that the birthing pool was great for natural pain relief. Vic wanted it to be as natural as possible and so took the midwifes advice - using the birthing pool in her birth plan.
This was the first time Walt had witnessed the birth of his own children... he arrived too late to see Cady into the World and he was not at Williams birth.
Walt shed more than a few tears at the sight of his youngest children being born; cutting the cords and keeping a watch over the pair of them while the nurses were 'cleaning' them up and noting down measurements and weights. Listening intently to the sounds of them, taking in their first breaths and giving their first of many cries...
They had a good set of lungs on them Walt remarked... He told the nurses the twins took after their mother.
Vic said that she heard that, and that he was an asshat.
Vic apologised to the midwife for the use of her earlier colourful language while in the very final stages of birth.
The midwife told her, "you do and say whatever you need to, to get you through it... you did an amazing job Victoria... your baby boys are beautiful."
The suite that they were moved to a short while later, allowed them the time to bond as a family, it was more similar to a hotel room – a double bed, twin cots, a sofa with en-suite.
Breakfast was served while Vic was feeding the twins for the first time.
Walt popping a little bit of the food into Vic's mouth, as the twins suckled.
The midwife came in to check on the newborns... asking them both if they'd decided on names yet – the tags on the babies simply read...Moretti- Longmire Boy A and Moretti-Longmire Boy B...
She offered them a tip of painting the toe nails of the first twin, in order to identify which twin was which...
It seemed as though the whole of the maternity ward staff popped by to check on them – Vic's midwife told her that it was their first delivery of identical twins for a long time, and that the Longmire twins were little celebrities.
She asked the happy parents' if they could take a photo of the boys to put on their wall of successful deliveries' – Both Walt and Vic said in unison – yes..
Both parents were smitten by their identical boys.
While Vic was taking a toilet break with the help of one of the nurses, Walt had both twins snuggled on his bare chest, the pair of them sleeping soundly – Walt knew that skin-to-skin contact was important to establish the bonding process early on. Well he had read it in a book over the last few months.
He enjoyed this precious bonding time.
Walt waited to call Cady at a reasonable hour of the morning...
When Vic had got herself dressed, she took one of the boys off Walt, to allow him to call Cady..
##
It's early morning at Cady's.
William is perched on the sofa between Cady and Dash... when the phone rings.
Dash passes Cady her phone.
"Hi Dad!"
Dash is tickling William next to him.
"Oh... wow... yes... Is Vic okay?... okay we'll bring him by ... yep, see you soon... love you"
Dash looks at Cady expectantly... "And?"
"Baby boy weighing 5lbs 3oz... and Baby boy weighing 5lb 5oz "
"How's mum doing?" asks Dash.
"She's fine, according to Dad... 'mother and babies are amazing' were his words..."
"Wow...(Dash gently squeezes the little boy).. I guess you are officially a big brother William!"
Dash said to the boy sat in between the pair.
Cady tells William ... "Come on munchkin... your mummy wants to you to meet your brothers... let's get you dressed and take you to see her"
Cady moves off the sofa...
Walt called Henry and then Ruby to let them know of the happy news...
##
In the mean time...
Dash had driven Cady and William to the hospital, with a bag of gifts.
They arrived at the suite that Vic was in, gently knocking the door.
Walt opened the door and picks up his son.
"Come and see your little brothers" Walt said proudly to his son.
Both twins were swaddled and in their cots sleeping...
William reached for Vic and Walt relinquished his son to let him spend time with his mother.
Vic kissed and cuddled her oldest son.
"I've missed you...Have you been a good boy for Cady?"
William nodded 'Yes'
Dash offered his congratulations to Walt, and Cady gave the gift bag to Vic along with a congratulatory embrace between friends..
"What's in here?" Asks Vic; while William was perched on the bed next to her.
Unwrapping the paper, she held up the first onesie "aww" , she then opened the other package – a second onesie... both had written on them "Deputy in training over a Sheriffs badge"
Walt looked and gave his usual 'nod'... with a look of slight apprehension.
Dash offered to take Walt out for a bit of fresh air; Walt took that to mean a 'wetting' of the babies heads.
Walt nodded "Thanks Dash... maybe we'll head out in a few minutes?" Walt almost asking permission to leave Vic's side.
Vic tells him... "It's okay for you to go Walt... Cady'll keep me company... (she winks at him)... you can take William with you as well"
William pouted at his mother, she whispered in her sons ear, that it was 'his job to keep Daddy safe' ... giving the boy a kiss.
Vic turned her attention back on the bag that Cady gave her and pulled out two little bears...
"I got them mummy...They're for my brothers" William piped up.
Vic gave her son a cuddle... "Thanks munchkin ...I think they'll love them, shall we ask your Daddy to put them in with your baby brothers?"
Vic passed the bears to Walt who placed a single bear in each cot.
Vic pulled out a card and some chocolates.. "mmm... my favourites.. I'll enjoy eating them later on."
###
A short while later.
Dash had taken Walt out with William to the Red Pony to help Walt 'wet the twins' head... before Henry had officially opened the bar for the day.
Henry, Walt, Dash and William were in the back office toasting the arrival of the new Longmire additions...
Walt was talking about how magical and amazing it was, and that if given the chance – both Henry and Dash should be there to witness the birth of their own child.
Dash's response was 'wow', slightly unsure of what to say next.
Walt then quickly realises what he was saying and responds 'obviously a few years from now for you Dash' - realising that his own daughter was in a relationship with the young deputy and that he was not yet ready to become a grandfather, so soon after becoming a father again.
Henry stayed silent and took another swig of his best whisky.
Dash kept to the non-alcoholic beer, so that he could drive Walt and William back to the hospital.
William asked his father if they'd be coming home today.
Walt told his son that he would be staying another night with Cady. And that they would all be going home tomorrow.
Dash told William that he and Cady would take him out later for a special treat just for Big Brothers.
Walt thanked Dash for keeping an eye on his son.
##
Back at the hospital.
Vic and Cady were talking .. each holding a twin in their arms.
"I love the smell of babies" Cady smelling the soft skin of twin B
"Careful Cady... they only smell clean when they've been changed... remember those explosive nappies when William was a baby? ... God.. it went everywhere.. I never thought that someone so small could cause so much mayhem... (Vic looks at Cady, who is far more occupied with the little boy in her arms) ...so... Dash stayed over last night?"
"Yeah...we're definitely at 'that' stage and have been for sometime... He helped with William last night...He woke up in the middle of the night.. climbed into bed with us... and before you ask... nothing like that went on...we just fell asleep ... .. You think that Dad minded that I brought Dash along?"
"No... He just wants you to be happy... He does like Dash... (she looks at Cady) ...so? ... you guys at the comfortable 'just sleeping, no playing hide the *ahem*' together stage then?..."
"I wouldn't risk William walking in on us... and Dash said the same..."
Vic smiled at her good friend...
"You up for a little more baby-sitting?"
"Why... Had enough of these gorgeous pair already?"
"No... (Vic smiles)... I mean William... I don't want him to feel left out... but knowing what a handful one newborn is... let alone two... I fear that William will feel neglected... I..I don't want that for him."
"You would never do that"
"I know.. I know... your Dad was going to ask if you'd have him again tonight? ... They want to keep us in here overnight, just to make sure everything is okay with the twins... it's just precautionary... we're taking the twins home tomorrow – hopefully we will have decided on names for them by then..."
"I'm more than happy to take munchkin off you for as long as you need.." Cady tells Vic.
"Dash doesn't mind about that?... having a small child around when you are trying have some quality one-to-one time can affect a relationship."
"No... he's fine about it...He was great with William last night..."
Dash dropped Walt back to the hospital not long after and then, he and Cady took William back home a shortly after that.
##
A little later in the afternoon Ferg brought Ruby round to visit... both congratulating Walt and Vic on their new arrivals...
While Vic and Ruby were talking.
Walt took that time to sort out some flowers for Vic – he was planning on getting her some earlier on, but time flew away from him. He was also worried that she'd think he didn't care.
He brought the flowers into Vic, while Ruby and Ferg were still in the room with her. A nurse offered to put them in a vase for Vic.
Ruby told Walt on the way out, as they were leaving, "that he'd done good, and to make sure he looked after his family".
He told Ruby that... 'he would do whatever it took to keep them together as a family'.
####
The following day..
The hospital discharged Vic and the twins, allowing Walt to take Vic and their newborns home.
Where older brother William was awaiting them with Cady, Henry and Ruby...
William went out with Cady earlier on that day to pick some flowers for his mummy.
He told Cady that he only wanted the very pretty ones.
Ruby had made a casserole for the 'family' and had brought it over in readiness for the arrival of the family - knowing that neither parent would have even thought about plans for a meal that day. Henry too, had brought a few meals to keep the family going for the next few days.
As Walt and Vic pulled up outside the cabin..
Everyone came out to welcome them home as a family.
William jumped down the steps and headed towards his mother who was carefully getting out of the Ram.
Walt unhooked one car seat and placed the sleeping newborn carefully on the ground, while he carefully unhooked the second car seat out of the Ram.
He picked up the other car seat and carried both twins into the cabin.
Cady came down to help Vic with getting up the steps and into the cabin.
Henry helped Walt carry the overnight bag and the twins bag.
Walt was now a proud father of 4... He walked proudly up the steps onto the porch with a beaming grin.
They all entered the cabin and sat down...
Cady carefully picking one of the twins out from his car seat and handing him to Ruby. While Vic took the other twin and sat down with him.
"How come you're back late?" Asks Cady.
"We took a detour past the Town Hall to register the boys." Replied Walt
"So you've named them?" enquires Cady.
Walt looked at Vic - she nodded and Walt explained that he chose the name for the first boy and Vic had chosen the name of the second boy.
All of the occupants were eagerly waiting for the names to be revealed.
Walt told them that the first twin was called Wyatt Lucian – named after two great lawmen... Wyatt Earp and Lucian Connally.
Henry thought that would cheer the old bugger up...
Walt carried on saying that Vic chose the name... Logan Walter.
Cady smirked, as she understood the origin of the name...
Ruby looked puzzled but remarked it was a good name.. well Walter was... she wasn't sure about Logan.
Henry looked at Vic... and asked "Why?"
Vic replied "well I could have named him Hugh or Wolverine"
Henry realised the meaning behind the name.. "It is a good name"
####
Over the next few weeks the Longmire twins were introduced to all who mattered...
Lucian was more than delighted about having one of the boys named after him...
Omar told Walt to get a move on and impregnate Vic again with another son... so that he could be named Omar...
Walt told Omar that it was all down to Vic. And that she was in charge at home.
Omar told Walt that he'd have a word with Vicky... Walt said to Omar, that they were thinking of getting a dog for Will, and that maybe they could name him Omar?
Omar laughed...
##
The following weeks after the birth flew by.
The twins shared one of the cots in Walt and Vic bedroom, while Walt carried on with finishing off the new room for the twins.
The cots were big enough to have both boys sleeping next to each other in one cot while they were still very small.
When both boys were placed into their own moses basket during the day - they'd cry and both parents found it hard to settle them both in the early days.
It was by pure chance that Walt placed both boys into the big cot next to each other - and they slept - which meant that both Walt and Vic had a little sleep.
It was a tactic they both used... Vic would try to sleep when the boys slept. The first few weeks were mainly filled with sleepless nights.
####
A few months after the twins were born, Cady and Dash became official.
The twins were gurgling and smiling more often... they were hungry growing boys, Vic was keeping up with their demands for feeding - and was almost back to her pre-pregnancy weight, which made her a little happier, if not tired.
Walt and Vic had taken the half price offer for the photography session.
A family portrait of Walt and Vic each holding one twin and William in between them. The second frame had just William and his brothers - all three smiling.
The photographer remarked to Walt and Vic that it was easy photographing their children, as all three boys would smile on cue.
Walt took to this second chance of fatherhood, like a duck to water – quite literally... during one of Logan's nappy change; – Vic had tried to tell Walt to cover Logan, but it was too late... Walt had a face full of baby pee...
Vic remarked that "boys have no real control over their penis and that potty training would be very interesting and that she learnt the hard way as well with William..." recalling her own 'pee misadventures' with a young William.
Walt noted that little lesson down... baby boys pee all over the place.
The another lesson he learnt, was not picking up a newly fed baby while wearing a clean shirt.. He was fast running out of clean shirts for work..
Those first weeks were a learning curve for them both. The sleepless nights, 3 to 4 hour feeds, constant nappy changing.
He may have been a tired sheriff , but he was happy father of four.
Regardless of how little sleep he was getting, during those first few months... When he saw Wyatt and Logan's first smile – everything bad that had ever happened – drifted away...