Chapter Fifty-One
She been in the lab, cooking you up. Damn, you growing fast, it's like you in a rush. Don't know if you can hear, that's why I get close. Singing to her belly just to let you know. Somebody loves you, you got a friend. Even if you don't know it yet. Somebody loves you, we're making plans. Waiting for your spaceship to land. Spaceship ~ Andy Grammer
Some sounds have a way of sneaking into a heart and lodging there. Like a favorite instrument or a loved one's footsteps in the home. She smiled at the soft clunk her husband's shoes made as he kicked them into the coat closet. She set the book she was reading onto the nightstand as he entered their bedroom.
"The hospital bag is in the back seat," Rossabi announced. He leaned over and kissed her. Vincent noted the type of book she had been reading. "I thought you already picked out your name," he said.
"I need a second set of names just in case," Charlie rubbed her abdomen.
"What makes you think the one you have won't work?" Rossabi questioned.
"I picked out a boy's name. They could both be girls," she explained.
"Heaven help us," Vincent crossed himself.
"You're hoping for one," Charlie teased.
"One of each, yes," Vincent smirked, "Two of either at once spells trouble."
She shifted, "Did you pick one of each?"
"Is your back still hurting?" Rossabi frowned.
"Yeah, must be being stuck in this bed," Charlie grumbled, "I am getting sick of this condo."
Rossabi motioned her forward.
Charlie scooted ahead on the bed, giving Vincent room to come behind her.
"Braxton-hicks can't be helping," he sat down. Rossabi began massaging circles into her low back.
"Yeah, that hasn't let up either," she rolled her shoulders.
He frowned, "Did you call Dr. Quinn?"
"She said to come in if they hadn't stopped by morning," Charlie reported.
Vincent bent down so his face was next to the baby bump. "Are you two already giving your mom a hard time?" he chuckled.
Charlie laughed, "I think we've got a lifetime of that."
"Why don't we move over to the couch for a few?" Rossabi suggested.
"Nah, it's past time to go to sleep; I know you're tired," she yawned.
"Not too tired to make sure you are comfortable," Vincent contended.
"I think I need to go to the bathroom. Again," she threw the covers off. Charlie swung her legs off of the bed.
She waddled over to the ensuite bathroom and closed the door.
Rossabi lifted up his leg and crossed it over his knee. He stripped off his sock and then switched out to the other foot. Vincent heard the toilet flush and water run in the sink.
Charlie opened the door and started to come out.
Rossabi looked towards her with a smile. She stopped short as liquid rushed out of her making a puddle on the floor.
Charlie wrapped her arms over her abdomen. Her legs buckled.
His eyes widened. Vincent raced over to steady her, "Are you ok?"
"My water just broke," she revealed.
Abby's eyes fluttered open. It took her a moment to register paws walking on the bed. Summer had climbed the doggie stairs. The pup came up and nuzzled Abby with a cool wet nose. Abby adjusted herself right before Summer plopped down, curling into her mistress' stomach. Abby stroked her growing puppy's soft fur. Summer laid her head down with a contented sigh.
"We're going to need to get a California King if she keeps this up," Mike sighed. He leaned over. She angled up and met him in a kiss.
"Did you take them down without me?" Abby frowned.
"It was just to the courtyard," he pulled his t-shirt up over his head, "Summer came back in one piece."
"And Titus?" she quipped with a yawn.
"He's already back in his bed asleep," Mike grinned as he got back in the bed on his knees.
Summer got up and headed back down the doggie stairs.
"Hey!" Abby called after her.
Summer paid her no mind and strolled over to her dog bed. She twirled around until she found a comfortable position to lay down.
Mike had to laugh, "Guess she knew Daddy wanted Mommy to himself."
"Oh?" she flipped over onto her back.
"Yeah, I got a wedding question for you," he announced.
"Fire away," Abby purred.
He grinned before grabbing her by her legs.
She giggled as he pulled her across the bed and flush to him.
"Will I have to wear a tux?" Mike began to nimble her neck.
"Well… it is hot there," Abby replied.
"Yes, it is," he murmured. His lips vibrated against the soft skin of her neck as he spoke.
Before things could go any further Mike's cell rang.
Abby chuckled as she fell back into the bed.
Mike grabbed his phone and answered.
"Hey, Charlie," Mike cleared his throat.
"Mike," Charlie inhaled.
He could hear her labored breathing.
"Are you ok?" Mike inquired.
"Just about to have another contraction- we're checking in at the hospital," she answered.
"Is there anything you need?" he asked.
"We have our bag and Vinny has already called his family; do you think you can get a hold of Johnny?" Charlie requested.
"I'll call Johnny," Mike promised.
"Thanks," she said.
"We'll be over as soon as we can," he replied.
Abby got up and got out her own phone. She sent a quick text to her sister.
Abby grabbed a set of clothes out of her closet and began to change. Her phone beeped as she pulled a sweater over her head. "Nathan's going to come over in the morning and take care of the puppies," she said.
Half asleep, Johnny groped for his phone as it rang out and vibrated on Elena's nightstand.
Elena rolled off of him so he could reach it.
"Get your ass on a plane," Mike didn't even wait for Johnny to greet him.
"Charlie is in labor?" Johnny rubbed his forehead.
"I just got a call from her- they are checked in at the hospital," Mike revealed, "Abby and I are heading over now."
"Isn't it early?" Johnny frowned.
"She's thirty-six weeks, they'll be fine," Mike assured him, "Now get your ass on a plane."
"Ok, I will get on the next flight I can," Johnny said.
"See you soon," Mike ended the call.
Elena sat up, then got out of bed in search of her clothing. She found her pants off the foot of the bed.
"You don't have to get up," Johnny protested.
"It's not exactly bedtime," she chuckled.
"I don't even have a ticket yet," he sighed. Johnny picked up his charging tablet from the dresser and tapped on the screen.
"It's just past sunset, I am sure they have seats left on the redeye," Elena scooped up her shirt.
He reached out and grabbed her arm. She instinctively turned back to him.
"Sorry to bail on you two," Johnny acknowledged.
Elena bobbed her head and tucked an errant hair behind her ear. "It's not every day your friend has a baby," she replied.
"I'll drive you to the airport," Elena said, "Devon has Lorenzo until tomorrow afternoon."
"I still have to drop by the house and pack," he frowned.
"I can wait for you in the car," she offered.
Johnny deflated at the words. "You know it's not you," he insisted.
"Yeah, it's your roommates," Elena snorted.
"The last girl my friend Mike brought to the house broke up with him," he revealed.
Elena tilted her head.
Johnny could see wheels turning as she processed what he just said. "I need to check in before we go," he picked up his phone and sent a quick text, You home?
Yes
Is Briggs out of the house? Johnny replied.
Y?
Johnny rolled his eyes, I need to sneak in and grab a bag of clothes.
Charlie?
Yes.
I'll bring you a bag.
"You got the package I had shipped to you?" Johnny asked. He couldn't walk into that hospital room empty handed.
Elena brought out the shipping box, "I already added bows."
"Thanks," Johnny accepted the box.
"You can pull over up into that space on the right," Johnny motioned for her to parallel park. Elena pulled into the parking spot.
Paige was already waiting outside her car with Johnny's duffel bag.
Johnny got out. "Thanks," he reached out for the bag she held out to him.
"This is really stupid, Johnny," Paige sighed.
"You're just jealous I'm going to get to see the babies first," Johnny contended.
"Briggs is going to find out about Charlie's kids sooner or later," she asserted.
"I don't have to tell him anything," Johnny asserted.
"You shouldn't go out of your way to hide it from him either," Paige countered.
"You got a mouth," he shrugged.
"That's not fair," she shook her head.
"If you wanna drop the bomb on him. Fine. Do it when I'm gone," he slung the bag over his shoulder. Johnny paused for a beat. "But first think about what Charlie wants," he added.
"Did she ask you not to say anything?" Paige challenged.
"She crossed the country for a clean break," Johnny pointed out.
"So no then," she put her hands on her hips.
"I am protecting both of them," he maintained.
"He's not going to break just because she moved on," Paige insisted.
"This is Briggs we're talking about," Johnny hung his head.
"Don't you think this could be good for him? Maybe it'll help him let go," she persisted.
Johnny adjusted the duffel bag's weight, "Are you done with the lecture? Cause I got to get through security before my plane leaves."
"What are you going to tell Briggs then?" she demanded.
"Nothing," Johnny replied, "I already planned a few days off to hang with Elena."
He went to the back passenger door and yanked it open. He threw his duffel bag into his back seat.
"Is everything all right?" Elena asked.
"It's fine," Johnny straightened his shoulders. He jerked his seatbelt out and buckled.
She took the car out of park and headed down the road.
Johnny blew out a forceful breath. "Am I wrong to think she deserves some privacy?" he asked.
"Who?" Elena asked.
"Charlie. Paige seems to think we should tell her ex, who is still a roommate of ours, about Charlie having the kids," Johnny frowned.
"Does he even know she's been pregnant?" Elena's brow furrowed.
He shook his head, "No, I haven't said a word. Those two… were like fire and gas intense, Man. I mean she had to move to get away from him. You know break the cycle."
"She should have a say how when, how, or even if he knows," she agreed.
"He'll find out eventually," he acknowledged. No way was Charlie leaving the twins when she came for the wedding. "I don't want him mad at me, but it's Charlie's life. I just want her to have some peace to enjoy right now."
Abby and Mike held hands as they followed Johnny into the hospital room. He carried his two presents- two large plushies: a jaguar and a llama.
Charlie cradled a baby bundled in blue while Vincent sat with his mother cooing over a baby wrapped in pink.
"Hey, Mama," Johnny cheered.
"You made it!" Charlie beamed.
"No way in the world I would miss this," Johnny crossed to the hospital bed where she sat. He leaned down and kissed Charlie's forehead. "How are you holding up?" Johnny said.
"Aside from exhaustion, I am deliriously happy," Charlie replied.
"I think exhaustion is adding to the delirium," he quipped.
"Those are adorable," Charlie remarked.
"I hope the kids like them," Johnny answered.
"Wanna hold him?" Charlie offered.
"Me?" Johnny swallowed.
Charlie gestured Johnny forward.
He set the plushies on the bed. Johnny began to copy her arm placement in anticipation of the transition.
"Your elbow under his neck," Charlie directed as she laid her son in Johnny's safe arms.
"Hey, there little, fella," Johnny cooed.
"Jojo likes his uncle," Vincent made his way over to the new visitors.
Charlie groaned, "Now I know why you stick away from nicknames."
"I promise I'll stop before he gets old enough to remember," Rossabi promised.
Charlie just shook her head. She'd try to nip it in the bud, but the nickname more than likely was going to stick.
"Jojo?" Mike raised an eyebrow.
Charlie put both Mike and Johnny in a headlock, "Joseph Michael after my rascal brothers."
"Really?" Johnny blinked down at the baby in his arms. The little guy had his first name.
"What about this Angel?" Abby motioned to the girl that Rossabi held.
"Vinny still hasn't told me her name," Charlie teased.
"You literally told me his name two seconds before they got in the room," Vincent retorted.
Charlie blew a raspberry at him.
"Meet Charlotte Sophia Rossabi," Rossabi pronounced. He placed her into her mother's arms.
Charlie gasped. The middle name she expected, not so much the first.
"I wanted to name my daughter after the two most amazing women I know- my mom," Vincent indicated the woman coming up behind him, "And my wife."
"I can't believe you did that," Charlie marveled.
"Why?" Abby backed up Vincent, "Men name their sons after themselves all the time. Why not name daughters after their mothers?"
"I rest my case," Rossabi concurred.
"She's beautiful," Abby smiled brightly.
