Tanith Panic, thank you for your review. Ethan won't be able to give Ariel anything himself as he's not working, but he might have an idea... I thought Cal deciding not to kiss an attractive woman was the best way of showing he's in love! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

CBloom2, I think you're right about Cal being angry with Ethan. If he asks about pain relief, things could get very awkward! Cal would probably have agreed to the epidural, but Ethan likes to go by the book. Thank you for your review - not long to wait now!

Helena, the babies will be born in the next chapter, then they will feature prominently in the chapters after that. I think there will probably be 59 chapters, but I'm always wrong about things like that! Thank you for your review.

Bonnie Sveen Fan, thank you for your review. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. Cal has been released at last, but I'm afraid I can't promise an easy journey for him...

X-Sammii-X, thank you for your review. The twins will be born in the next chapter, so not long to wait. I think I started this in September, so it probably has been nine months! I think only one person cries in this chapter and it's not Ethan.

westlife4ever80, I think Connie and Elle (who have experienced labour), Zoe (who is prepared to turn a blind eye), and Cal (who's always breaking rules) would have encouraged Ariel to have an epidural - but Ethan always wants to do the right thing. Dylan might refuse if he guessed the truth, but he might be too uninterested to question Ariel! Thank you for your review.


So far, Ethan had let his medical knowledge be a hindrance, but it didn't have to be that way. It shouldn't be that way.

He could use his knowledge to help Ariel.

"Nina, I don't suppose a spinal block is an option?"

Nina looked doubtful. "I don't think Ariel's going to need a caesarean or an assisted birth."

"No, but I know they are sometimes given for vaginal births," said Ethan. "Ariel is so close to giving birth now, there might not be time for an epidural to be put in place and for it to take effect, so it would make sense to use a faster-acting form of painkiller."

"It's a possibility, Ethan, though we'd need to speak to the anaesthetist first. But what do you think, Ariel?"

Ariel didn't answer for a moment. She didn't look at Ethan and he found he was holding his breath, hoping she would agree. He hated the fact she was in so much pain because of him.

"It's not like an epidural," he said. "There are certain differences. But it will help with the pain." Ethan wished he could remember if a spinal block slowed labour too. He knew there was a good chance it did, though the slowing of labour was more associated with an epidural - not that you could ever be completely sure it had as you could only guess how long labour would have been without the anaesthetic. But either way, it was an option and perhaps the anaesthetist could persuade Ariel where Ethan had failed. "You can speak to the anaesthetist about it and I'm sure they'll be able to explain it a lot better than I could."

"Then I'd like to speak to the anaesthetist, please," said Ariel.


"Come on! Come on!" said Cal.

The car that had been provided for him wasn't a police car – and he was really wishing it was.

Not because he wanted to ride in a police car with the siren and the blue flashing light. Cal still got quite excited about riding in ambulances with the lights and siren going so a police car really should have been a treat – but he didn't care about that now.

He wanted to be at the hospital. He wanted to be holding Ariel and letting her know everything would be okay.

Instead, he was sitting in a traffic jam.

"Why do traffic jams always have to happen at the worst possible moment?" he asked.

His driver shrugged.

"Why do traffic jams happen at all?" said Cal, his voice rising.

The car didn't move.

"Why has no-one perfected teleportation yet? Don't they realise how much easier it would make our lives? It would completely solve the fuel emissions problems too."

"Maybe they'll sort it for next time," said the driver.

"Next time?" said Cal. "You mean next time Ariel has a baby?" He shook his head. "No way! I am never going through this again!"

Some of the cars ahead of them began to move.

"Unless Ariel wants more kids, of course," said Cal.


"I'm scared," said Ariel.

Ethan squeezed her hand. "Of course you are. Anyone would be. But you'll be fine. I'm right here."

"Okay, Ariel, can you put your head down for me, please?" said the anaesthetist.

Ethan helped to guide Ariel's head into the correct position. "There you are. It probably feels very odd, but it shouldn't take too long."

"I'm getting ready to put the local anaesthetic in now, Ariel. You might feel a stinging sensation. If you feel anything else, let me know, okay?"

"Okay," whispered Ariel, as she held more tightly to Ethan's hand.

"If you can just keep as still as you can for me…"

Ethan squeezed Ariel's hand. "Breathe with me, Ariel." He did some slow, deep breaths, but he could feel her tensing. "Okay. Um, they do recommend eye contact, but this position isn't really ideal. Bear with me for a minute." Ethan knelt beside Ariel, facing away from her, and leaned backwards so his head was almost on her lap. "Can you see my eyes now?"

Ariel giggled. "Yes, Ethan."

"Keep looking at me," said Ethan, between breaths. "I'm right here and you can do this. You can keep still for me; for the babies; for Cal. It's okay. You're doing really well."


Cal stared ahead of him in disbelief. "You've got to be joking!"

Two vehicles had collided in front of them. Cal'sdriver had managed to brake in time, but one of the cars coming from another direction wasn't so quick and had smashed into the other two cars.

"I can go another way," offered the driver.

Cal sighed. "Of course we can't." He undid his seatbelt and opened the car door. "These people might need medical attention. I can't just drive off."


"My legs feel so heavy," said Ariel. "They feel bigger than my bump!"

Ethan smiled. "They really must feel massive then!"

"Ethan, you're so rude!" said Ariel. "I'm telling your brother you said that."

"Oh… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean…."

Ariel squeezed his hand. "It's okay, Ethan. I'm just joking." Her grip tightened. "Ethan, I don't think it's working! It hurts! "

"It's all right," said Ethan. "It can take up to ten minutes. Just keep looking at me and I'll help you through this."


Cal made his report to the ambulance service and walked over to one of the cars, which had just one passenger. "Hey, Lowri. How are you doing?"

"It hurts…" moaned Lowri.

"I know," said Cal gently, trying not to think of another girl of about the same age who was hurting just as much, only for a much happier reason. "I'm sorry I haven't got any equipment with me. I left it all in the car – not the car I'm in now. It's a very long story."

"Can you tell me?" whispered Lowri.

"Of course, but I will have to keep checking on the others," said Cal. "And I'll keep asking you questions too." He reached through the window for Lowri's hand. "It all started when my boss found out the real reason I'd taken a couple of days off work… have you ever taken the day off work when you shouldn't have done?"

"Maybe," said Lowri.

Cal laughed. "Go on: tell me what you did."

Lowri was clearly having trouble speaking, but she did her best. "Went to Glastonbury. Told work I was sick."

"I imagine you were within a couple of hours of being at Glastonbury," said Cal.

Lowri gave a shaky laugh. "What did you do?"

"I took my girlfriend to a One Direction concert," said Cal. "I told my boss it was a family emergency, but my little brother Ethan blabbed. Have you got brothers and sisters?"

"Got a little sister… she'd have blabbed too."

"Younger siblings, eh?" said Cal, but the main thought in his mind wasn't Ethan.

One of the twins would have a younger sibling too.


Ariel was still clutching Ethan's hand. "I can't believe it's nearly time!"

"I know," said Ethan. "It's going to be incredible."

"And I can't feel any pain at all!" said Ariel. Then her smile faded. "But I wish Cal was here."

"I know," said Ethan. "So do I. But I'm sure he's doing everything he can to get here." He smiled. "It actually might be quite a good thing he hasn't got a phone. Otherwise, he'd be on the phone to you the whole time. I'm sure he's in a complete state."

"You don't think maybe he… regrets anything?" said Ariel.

"I imagine he regrets storming off like a complete idiot," said Ethan. "I'm sure he regrets not being here for you the whole time." He put his arm around her. "But apart from that, Ariel, I know Cal has no regrets at all."


"I don't suppose you could do me a favour?" said Cal.

The paramedic had a smile on her face. "Go on. What is it?"

"I don't suppose I could ride in the ambulance with you?"

She shook her head. "I'm afraid not. You're not a relative and you do have your own car."

"It's not my car," said Cal. "But although I'm not a relative of anyone involved in the crash, I am a relative of the two beautiful babies my girlfriend is about to give birth to. The only reason I'm not with her now is because I'm a stupid idiot. Maybe you could say I don't deserve to be there for the birth, but my girlfriend doesn't deserve to be going through it without me."


Ariel shook her head. "No. I can't push. I'm not feeling the urge."

"That's because of the spinal block," said Ethan. "But Nina says it's time to push and I have to say I agree with her."

Ariel's eyes filled with tears. "I don't want to. I don't want to do it without Cal."

"I know you don't." Ethan wrapped his arms around her. "I know it's the very last thing you want, but your babies have to come first now. They want to come out and meet you and they need you to help them. Cal is an adult. He can take care of himself. Um… well, mostly he can. But your babies are so tiny and so helpless. They need you, Ariel. They need you more than anyone has ever needed you and they need you right now. Come on, sweetheart. Push for me? Push for your babies?"


Cal helped to push the trolley out of the ambulance. "Thank you for the lift. Seriously. I appreciate it so much. But I've got to go. Hang in there, Lowri, okay? I know all the doctors in the ED so I can promise you'll be in good hands."

"I hope everything goes well with the birth," said the paramedic.

"Good… luck," whispered Lowri.

"Thanks!" said Cal, as he ran towards the hospital. He burst through the ED doors and raced along the corridor. He saw Connie up ahead of him and wondered if he should slow down, but he decided he couldn't. This was too important.

Connie looked up and met his eyes. He felt a jolt of fear, but she said nothing. She lifted her hand into the air.

She had her fingers crossed.

"Thank you!" Cal shouted as he ran for the lift. To his amazement, one was standing there empty. He jumped inside and pushed the button for the correct floor. I'm coming, Ariel. I'm coming, babies. Daddy's on his way.