FEBRUARY 10TH

Elizabeth was miserable. She remembered when she was about ready to have Fin and she thought that had been bad. This time, she had reached her due date and the doctor said she had been at a centimeter dilated for a week.

She had talked to numerous people and looked on the internet to find some way to put herself into labor but none of them were working.

One of the things she hadn't tried was the long walk. She just didn't have the energy.

Jack slipped into bed behind her, careful not to touch her. He had read on the internet that maybe if they made love it could help her go into labor, however, he knew how touchy she felt about how she looked and he knew how tired she was so he wasn't going to suggest it.

She rolled over slowly and looked at him. "Elizabeth? Do you need me to help you up?"

"Yes." He was by her side in a few seconds and gently held her arm to help her stand. "Thank you."

"Are you hungry?"

"No."

"Thirsty?"

"No. I need you to help me go into labor."

"How? Pretty sure going for a long walk at midnight in February isn't a good plan."

"No. No walk. I know you read the article too, babe."

"Yeah, well, you're so tired I didn't want to mention it."

She leaned toward him and kissed him. "I appreciate that but I don't want to be pregnant anymore. There's no snowstorms in the forecast and I want to meet Hadlie or Joseph. So if that means that we need to make love in order to do it, I say let's go for it!" He was choosing to ignore that her tone suggested she viewed it as an unpleasant chore, remembering she was uncomfortable at this moment.

"You sure?"

…..

Unfortunately by the next day, she was still pregnant. No real contractions, just more uncomfortable sitting, standing, or walking.

Julie, on the other hand, was contracting. It felt different than Braxton hicks and it was radiating down her legs and into her back. Her c-section wasn't scheduled until next week and she was at work and so was Mike.

Her boss noticed that she was grabbing on to chairs and breathing heavily and insisted she call her husband to take her to the doctor.

An hour later, Mike was driving her to the hospital, Charlotte and Bill were watching Fin, and Jack and Elizabeth followed Mike and Julie.

Jack reached for Elizabeth's hand as he drove. "Sweetie? Are you ok?"

"No. I feel very selfish. I'm sitting here feeling very jealous of my sister that she's going to meet her babies today when she's a month early and I'm not and I was due yesterday. I seriously feel like I'm a child."

"Hon, you've done all you could. I guess the baby just isn't ready yet."

"I guess. We could pull over and try again," she suggested.

"Try…?"

"Maybe if we keep making love…"

"Honey, we can't pull over on the side of the road and do that."

"The back has plenty of room."

"Honey."

"Fine, Jack. Forget it."

He sighed and continued driving. She could use her limited energy being angry with him. It was her choice.

….

Julie was settled in her room. The doctors verified the positions of the twins with an ultrasound. A few days before "baby A" had been head down and "B" feet down. Now, however, somehow, "B" was also head down. "Julie? Do you want to try a vaginal delivery?"

"Yes!" The last thing she wanted was surgery.

"Ok, so let me check your progress. We may move you to the operating room just in case." Mike watched her as she went through each contraction. The woman was clearly uncomfortable but a smile was never too far from her beautiful lips. He loved her overwhelmingly much.

Once they were alone, she reached for his hand. "Hon? This it," she told him. "Kendall and Claire are coming very soon."

He nodded, on the verge of tears. "I'm so proud of you."

"I love that you are finally going to have what you've wanted for so long. You're going to be a wonderful father."

"I promise you that I will try my hardest."

"Come lay here," she told him, scooting over a little. He carefully laid next to her and held her hand. "Mike I don't think that you will need to try very hard. I've never met a kinder, more patient man in all of my life. Our babies are going to grow up without any doubt that their father loves them with every bit of his heart."

"I do and their mother."

….

In the waiting room, Elizabeth paced as they waited. Jack watched her from the loveseat. She hadn't said much since they had disagreed in the car.

Suddenly, she walked over and sat next to him. "Why on earth did you pick me? I'm a miserable pregnant woman."

"Only at the end," he teased with a wink. He rubbed her back slowly and smiled. "I picked you because you're the love of my life. I can deal with a little grumpiness if it leads to more happiness and the blessing of another beautiful child."

She reached up and cupped his cheek. "I'm sorry. It must have felt that I was using you when I was acting like that. I don't want you to ever feel that way, hon. When I'm not incredibly pregnant, being with you is perfect."

"Its ok. I can't imagine how it must feel to be pregnant and be kicked and poked and feel terrible for nine months and then have to give birth. The pain must be unbearable."

"Its worth all of that to have a baby in my arms. To feel the unconditional love from them as they grow and learn. It's amazing. As far as the pain this time though, I want an epidural."

"You got it!" He chuckled and kissed her.

Mike walked in the waiting room. "Hey, Beth? If you want, Julie said you can go in. Its room 314. She's only at 4 centimeters so it will be awhile. I'm going to get some coffee."

"I'll go with you," Jack volunteered.

Elizabeth headed down the hall, waddling and trying to ignore the aches and pains. Her hips ached, her lower back, along with her feet. She told herself that each step was one step closer to not being pregnant anymore.

"Knock knock," she said as she peeked in the door.

"Hey, sister," Julie panted, smiling huge as she contracted.

Elizabeth watched her labor, amazed. As Julie let out her breath she smiled again and laid her head back. "You're amazing, Julie."

"Why?" she asked with a laugh.

"You are not the same Julie I grew up with."

"Sure I am."

"You're happy, and mature, and married and having twins."

"This is what I'm supposed to do, Beth. Being Mike's helper and supporter and being these babies' mother is why I'm here. I know it now."

"I'm so proud of you."

Another contraction hit Julie but she didn't cry out. She panted and breathed and seemed to enjoy every moment.

Julie took another breath and gazed at her sister. "You ok?"

"Sure. A bit jealous though. Now, I'm ashamed I'm jealous."

"That baby is going to come very soon."

"Yeah."

"I agree," a voice said as the doctor walked in the room.

"Hey, Dr. Brocker," Elizabeth greeted.

"I'm serious, Elizabeth. The baby has definitely dropped in the last couple days. Shouldn't be too much longer."

She looked down at her belly and smiled. "Thank goodness."

Dr. Brocker checked Julie. You've made a little progress, Julie. You are about a six now. Are you wanting an epidural yet?"

"No, thank you. I want to experience this. Every little thing."

"Strong woman. I'll be back in an hour and we will do another ultrasound to make sure the girls are still head down."

"Ok, thanks, Doc."

….

As the day went on, Elizabeth grew restless and continued to alternate between pacing and sitting and many trips to the bathroom.

After being at the hospital six hours, Elizabeth was getting anxious for Julie as well.

Jack's phone dinged. "I got a picture, babe." Elizabeth sat down again and peeked at his phone. "It says "One down, one to go. Claire Addison Hickam, 6lbs on the nose.""

"Oh, she looks so tiny. And beautiful," Elizabeth said as she wiped her cheeks. "Tell him congratulations."

Jack typed the text and kissed her forehead. "Congratulations to you, Aunt Beth."

"I can't wait to hold her."

….

Mike cuddled Claire against his chest where he had unbuttoned his shirt. They had read and been told how important skin to skin contact was with newborns. Normally, it should be with the mother, but Julie was working on baby number two. He couldn't believe he had a daughter and, in another few moments, he would have a second one.

"Ok, Julie, you ready?" Dr. Brocker asked.

"Yes. I feel a lot of pressure." Julie grabbed behind her thighs and wrapped herself around her belly, bearing down.

"Ok, again." She took another deep breath and did the same.

"There's the head. Next contraction, Julie, push again."

Julie nodded and tried to rest for a moment as she looked at Mike and Claire. He was in love with his daughter. It was a beautiful sight.

"Ok, I'm ready," she said, gearing up to push again.

After just a few more pushes, Kendall Ashlynn was born. Dr. Brocker held up the crying little girl, cut her cord, and laid her on Julie's chest, the nurse drying her a bit and slipping her beneath Julie's gown.

For the first time ever, Julie was speechless. She instantly felt like a mother.

These little ones needed her for nourishment, love, and comfort and she could not wait to give it to them. Mike stood and placed Claire on her chest too, knowing Julie and the babies needed the contact.

"Mike," she sobbed. He nodded and kissed her. "They're beautiful."

"Thank you so much," he told her, his own tears of happiness joining the party.

After a few moments, the nurses checked out the babies, making sure their lungs were doing well, being a month early. Kendall was a bit smaller, but still healthy, at 5lbs 9oz. They both had reddish blonde peach fuzz hair and identical round faces.

"How will we tell them apart?" Mike asked.

"I figured that out. Look in my bag over there. There's a little pink bag with their clothes in them." He brought the bag over and opened it. There was a pink sleeper and a yellow sleeper. Then there were tiny socks, two pink, two yellow. But the hats caught his eye. "Yes, those."

The yellow hat had "Claire" embroidered on it and the pink, "Kendall".

"These are great. Now, we just need to make sure we don't mix up the hats."

Once the girls were back in their arms, they laid them in their laps and took a picture of both of them for Jack and Elizabeth.

….

"Jack! Look." They looked at both of them and smiled. "It says "Doubly blessed. Kendall Ashlynn was 5lbs 9oz and both are healthy.""

Elizabeth stood and prepared to head to the bathroom. "Babe? Are your pants wet?" Jack whispered.

"Yeah. I wonder if my water broke. I'm going to head to the bathroom. I'll be back."

Jack walked with her, just in case. After a few moments she came out. "Elizabeth?"

"Its a lot of water. I think it's a good thing we are here today."

"Any contractions yet?"

"My back has been feeling funny but it's different than contractions."

"Lets call Mom and Bill and then head to the nurses station."

After Jack made the call, he walked over to where Elizabeth was pacing. "Mom and Bill are on their way with Fin. They should be here in an hour."

"Oh good. I've missed Fin today."

"Lets go get you checked out."

The nurses pulled some strings and got her into triage a half hour later. Dr. Brocker walked in, a smile on his face. "So, we meet again so soon, Elizabeth?"

"Yeah. I'm so ready."

"I bet. The chart says your water broke?"

"Yes."

"Any discomfort?"

"I'm achy all the time. I didn't experience anything but a persistent backache which I thought was normal."

Jack squeezed her hand and smiled as the doc checked her out. "You are about three, maybe four centimeters. Well on your way. Looks like this one might just share a birthday with Claire and Kendall."