Thanks for all of the reviews. I'm thinking about doing another story when this comes to an end but still weighing up ideas. I posted my present time fic 'Get Mine, Get Yours' if anyone is interested :)

January 19th 1914

Putting away the dishes, Rose stretched as far as she could into the top cupboard. It was after noon and she was about to prepare a little lunch for herself and Maria. Today was Rose's day off from the theatre and since arriving in Santa Monica, Jack had hired Fabrizio to work in the gallery just as a sales assistant, it was something which they both enjoyed spending most of the day in each others company after been apart for such a long time. Rain beat down heavily and the black clouds promised it to continue for a while, Rose glanced out of the window and sighed heavily. She heard small footsteps coming from the bedroom and assumed that Maria had awoken. She was due to give birth any day now and Rose was growing more excited to meet the children. Seeing Maria's pregnancy had caused Rose to feel slightly broody but her and Jack were young and even though they had not yet talked about children, she hoped they would be able to have a child of their own soon. Maria approached the kitchen in her nightdress holding her swollen stomach. Rose glanced to her sympathetically knowing how difficult it was for her to get comfortable.

'Are you all right?' She asked her, as she sat down at the dining room table.

'I don't know.' Maria held her head, feeling slight pain. 'I haven't slept at all and the babies don't seem to be moving very much.'

Rose filled up the kettle and put it on the stove to boil before sitting next to Maria at the table. 'Maybe they are ready to come into the world.' Rose smiled touching Maria's hand slightly. In recent months the two had grown very close, Maria turned to Rose tears obvious in her dark brown eyes.

'I do hope so.' She smiled through her tears. 'I cant wait to meet them, to see my Fabrizio hold his children.'

Rose had never witnessed anyone to be so happy as Maria and Fabrizio. Despite Maria's past, Fabrizio had fallen completely in love with this woman. 'He will be a wonderful father.' Rose knew that he would be, somewhere deep inside though she couldn't help but feel a little jealous of the fact that Maria was having children.

'He will be. Fabri has been so great to me. After you and Jack left Paris I got into trouble with a client, he…well he raped me.' Maria glanced to Rose. 'That is why I had to make sure you got away from it all. I knew what the bastards were like and I roped you in simply because I was jealous of you and Jack.'

Rose squeezed her eyes shut, she breathed out heavily and stroked Maria's hand. 'But that's all in the past now. You need to forget about all of that now Maria.' Rose told her. Since her arrival in Santa Monica, she had not forgiven herself for what she roped Rose into back in Paris and she doubt she ever would. 'You're about to have two babies, you need to concentrate on that now, not the past.'

Maria felt a slight twinge in her stomach and her face screwed up slightly at the pain, it wasn't unbearable but she knew that soon she would be in labour. 'I can feel them coming.' Maria smiled placing a hand on her stomach feeling slight movement from the babies.

'Maybe you should go back to bed.' Rose suggested. 'Save all of your energy in case your contractions start today.'

'I think I should.'

'You go, I will fetch you some lunch, you will need it in case those babies decide to come into the world today.' Rose watched as Maria disappeared into the bedroom. She moved slowly and knew that soon there would be two newborn babies around the house. She contemplated sending John, the young man from next door to fetch Fabrizio, not wanting to leave Maria alone in the house. Pulling out a small sack of potatoes Rose thought about what to make for dinner, something simple. Rose was lost in her own thoughts of Maria when she heard her shout. Knowing something was wrong Rose immediately rushed into the bedroom to see Maria's nightdress was wet and covered in blood.

'Oh my.' Rose quickly ran into her own bedroom and pulled out a linen nightdress. 'Lets get you changed and then I will have to send John to get Fabri and the doctor.'

Maria nodded, allowing Rose to help her out of her wet nightdress. 'Ouch.' Maria fell backwards slightly, feeling her first contraction. Rose offered her hand and she held it squeezing it slightly until the pain subsided, it wasn't overly bad but she knew that it would get worse. Once in the nightdress, Rose helped Maria back into bed before running next door to ask John to fetch Fabrizio from work, he was soon to be a father.

Two hours later, the labour hadn't progressed very far. Doctor Howard had come forty five minutes before and told Maria that the labour could take a while. Fabrizio was at his wife's side, holding her hand and wiping her forehead and all Jack and Rose could do was look on and wait. It wasn't until four hours later that Maria pushed her babies into the world with Rose by her side. Fabrizio had been shooed out of the room when Maria was ready for pushing. Loud cries could be heard coming from the bedroom, and Rose emerged with tears evident in her eyes. She had just witnessed the most wonderful thing ever. Fabrizio stood, and Rose held out her hands to him before hugging him just once.

'You have two beautiful children. A girl and a boy.'

Fabrizio jumped up and down before Jack patted his back. He was hesitant as he walked into the room where his wife had just brought their children into the world but as he saw her cradling their babies he felt tears fall freely from his eyes. Doctor Howard pulled down his sleeves, and smiled as he saw the look on Fabrizio's face. This was one of the most rewarding parts of his job, seeing the happiness on the mother and fathers face.

'Oh Maria darling. They're angels.' Fabrizio sat on the bed, and stroked his wife's soaked hair before kissing her forehead gently tasting the saltiness of her sweat.

'They were worth so much pain.' Maria couldn't take her eyes away from the children. 'Would you like to hold them?'

Fabrizio glanced to them, so tiny and fragile, he had never held a baby before and didn't want to hurt them in any way. He glanced to the doctor, worry evident in his eyes and Doctor Howard smiled. He was only thirty years old himself but had delivered plenty of babies and fathers always seemed to be the most nervous when it came down to holding the offspring for the first time.

'Don't worry, you wont hurt them.' Doctor Howard told him. Slowly, Fabrizio took his son from Maria and looked at his intently. Both were beautiful children with olive skin and dark hair, which they had obviously inherited from both their parents although their lips resembled their mothers.

'What will we name them?' Maria asked Fabrizio, tears in her eyes.

'I'd like to name our daughter Amelie after my mother.' Maria felt her daughter move around in the small blanket in her arms. The name fitted her nicely, she felt like an Amelia.

'And our son?'

'Jacob.'

'Amelie and Jacob Di Rossi.' Maria spoke almost silently waiting for reality to sink in that she was actually a mother. The children really were gifts from God. A small knock sounded at the door and Jack poked his head around the door.

'Is it all right to come in?' He asked quietly seeing the lovely scene before him.

'Of course come in.' Fabrizio whispered. Doctor Howard went to the door and took a look at the new family.

'I have to go, if you need anything just drop by the surgery. I will have one of my nurses drop by in a week of so to see how the little ones are doing.' He told them.

'Thank you so much.' Maria readjusted the way she was sitting and felt slight pain from giving birth, she would be sore for a while.

'Congratulations.' Rose bent over Fabrizio's shoulder and looked at the baby. She felt so much happiness for her friends but also felt as though this was what was missing from her life. She felt she could raise a child now, she felt the need to be a mother.

'Do we have names?'

'Jacob and Amelie.' Fabrizio told them.

Three hours later, Maria had fallen into a deep sleep obviously exhausted from the days events. The babies were asleep in their crib and Fabrizio sat in the living room with Jack. The two smoked a cigarette and Jack had opened a bottle of wine in celebration of the birth.

'I cannot believe it Jack, I am a father.' Fabrizio grinned taking a puff from the cigarette. He hadn't smoked in such a long time. Jack's lips curved into a smile.

'You're all grown up.' Jack took a sip from his glass and his face screwed a little. He wasn't a huge wine drinker and wasn't too keen on the drink.

Silence fell over them for a few seconds, Fabrizio finished his smoke and stubbed it out before turning his attention to Jack. Four years they had known each other and Jack had grown up a hell of a lot more than he had. Jack had fallen in love with Rose the first time he had met her and Fabrizio had seen the pair of them grow closer during their time in Paris. 'I'm so glad that you have seen my babies Jack.'

Jack blew out his cigarette smoke and looked to Fabrizio. 'So am I Fabri. It didn't feel right not having you around. When Rose and I left Paris I missed you so much.'

Fabrizio nodded. 'The house was lonely without you.' Jack smiled, knowing how he felt. After leaving Paris he felt like he had left so much behind but he knew he had to sacrifice everything for Rose. Jack's minded wandered back to Tommy and Sharon, the friends they had made in Ireland but who had been lost on Titanic. Jack never found out what happened to them, and thinking about the fact that Sharon died whilst been heavily pregnant made him feel sick to his stomach but he hoped they had found peace somewhere now.

'You know Fabri. Rose and I met this Irish man and his sister when we sailed on Titanic. He was Irish through and through, he was such a good guy.' Jack took another sip of his wine, closing his eyes he thought of all of the souls who lost their lives. 'He died with the ship and his sister.'

'Oh Jack…'

'I think you would have liked him.' Jack smiled. Silence fell over them for several seconds before a shrill scream of the babies sounded loudly and Fabrizio immediately stood and ran to attend to his children. Jack reflected on how different things were now. Fabrizio and Maria were parents, Rose and he had a new life in Santa Monica, they were all growing up.