"I'm sorry ma'am. I'm not sure who let you in but it's immediate family only."

"Look, I already explained to the nurse outside that-"

"Then I'm sorry but she shouldn't have let you through. We have very strict rules about-"

"You made it!" She looked around the bird faced nurse to see Stacey heading towards her. And she was glad to see her because she was moments away from cutting the next bitch to take one look at her and decide it wasn't even worth listening to her explain who she was before turning her away! After walking out of her job she was feeling pretty damn fearless.

Instead of getting the hint the nurse turned to Stacey "I'm sorry Miss Evans she can't be up here!"

Stacey met her with steely blue eyes of her own and used her height to stare the older woman down while simultaneously grabbing Mercedes' hand. "I think you'll find that she can be here and she will be staying right here with me. She is our sister-in-law and part of our immediate family."

"But-"

"No buts! You had no problem letting me through as sister-in-law. I'm as much a blood relation to Holly as Mercedes is. If she has to go then I have to go, and believe me, if that happens, my brother will take it up with your supervisor, your supervisor's supervisor, the board of directors and the media. The world will know that you denied Holly access to the woman she's been asking for simply because of her color. She is the mother of our niece and will forever be our sister and if you have a problem with that I suggest you go take it to someone who actually gives a shit about your narrow minded opinions!"

Damn, thought Mercedes, is it even possible to love this pixie haired girl more right now?

There was the sound of the private room door opening and a doctor and nurse started to back their way out, still clearly speaking to Holly. The three of them turned towards the now open door and the nurse who'd been blocking said something in a weak voice about only one visitor at a time but Stacey held up her hand. "Again, my brother, your supervisor, one call, your choice!"

Accepting defeat she waved the two of them in, only for them to be stopped at the door by the doctor. Stacey looked ready to murder him too. "This is Mercedes. She's coming in."

"Hey, that's fine with me. The epidural's all up and running but I'm going to have to ask you both to get scrubbed and gowned up before you go back in."

Stacey noticeably calmed down. "Okay. That we can do!"

They followed the nurse to the side room, where she showed them what they needed to do and handed them surgical gowns. As they scrubbed their hands and nails Stacey was still seething. "I can't believe the nerve of that bitch. I'm still tempted to report her skinny birdlike ass anyway!"

"I'm just thankful for the way you stood up for me. Do you really see me as your sister?"

"Of course I do. So do Stevie and Holly."

"And Sam?"

Stacey stayed silent for a moment as she scrubbed vigorously at her nails. "We all care about you very much."

Mercedes didn't know what to make of that answer and Stacey clearly wasn't about to elaborate so she allowed it to drop. For now. "So where did you learn to let rip about attitudes like that?"

She smiled wickedly. "Did I forget to tell you my new boyfriend Jake is bi-racial? Half black and half Jewish! I'm already prepared for all sorts of shit!"

Mercedes was never more glad to have walked out of her job once she saw Holly. The blond looked hot, sweaty and exhausted although thankfully no longer in pain. Her eyes were puffy from crying and her usually pale skin was flushed from exhaustion. She looked up at Mercedes with a smile and reached out her hand. "You came!"

"Of course I did. I promised I would didn't I!"

"I hope it wasn't too much trouble getting out of work!"

She grinned, "Nothing I couldn't handle. I'll tell you about it afterwards. How are you feeling?"

"Like shit!"

"Yeah well you can't say I didn't warn you!"

"I thought you were exaggerating!"

"Everyone always does. But the best part is knowing that it's all worth it at the end. Where's Stevie?"

Tears streamed down Holly's face and she attempted to speak, only to be halted by her breathing through a contraction.

Stacey came forward, phone in hand with the answer. "His plane just landed. He'll be here in thirty minutes."

"Oh thank the- ooooooohh..."

Mercedes allowed Holly to hold her hand in a bone crushing grip as she guided her through the breathing exercises. "We argued this morning," Holly began, when the wave subsided, "he had a meeting to attend first thing this morning which he wanted to cancel because I had a bad night but I insisted he went. It's a one hour flight on his jet and he didn't want to leave me alone and be so far away but it's a foreign investor who still believes in the power of a literal handshake and I talked him into going, saying with the private jet he'd probably be back before I even got out of bed. We said words before he left. Then just as his flight would have been half way there my water broke. I thought I still had a few hours and I didn't want to worry him but it everything's moving so fast and now he might not be back in time..." She struggled to fight back the sobs.

"Oh Holly, he will be. He won't be mad at you for this. And he'll definitely be here in time for you and the boys."

"That's what Stacey said. But it's all happening so quickly. I wanted to wait for him before having the epidural but the doctor said there was a chance I'd be too far along to have it if we waited much longer so I had to go ahead."

Mercedes and Stacey stayed each side of the bed, holding one hand each as the contractions came faster and stronger. Even the midwives had been amazed at the speed of her progress. "I don't think we have long to go now!"

Holly shot Mercedes a panicked look and she reassured her. "He'll be here! He wouldn't miss it for the world."

"I don't know, I really need to push… Aaaargh…"

Mercedes decided to check and wished she didn't. She immediately hit the alarm button. "Stacey, go get the midwife. Holly's crowning!"

She barely made it to the door when a stricken looking Stevie came running in, his gown flapping in the wind. "Am I too late?"

"You're right on time. Your wife was about to crush every single bone in my hand!"


It was getting worse. Every time Sam closed his eyes she was right there in his dreams.

As usual her scent filled his nostrils and a couple of tendrils of her hair were in his face. She moved slightly in his arms, clearly trying to get comfortable against her body pillow and groaning when she couldn't.

"You awake honey?"

"Humph!" was her grumbled reply.

He reached forward and rubbed small circles on her extremely swollen belly. "How's our little one doing?"

"He's lazy, that's what he is. Should have been here a week ago but nope, it's warm and cozy inside so he'd rather stay there!" Yep. She was definitely in a grumbly mood.

"Well I can't say I blame him." Sam spooned her closer to her and nuzzled her neck, "He clearly gets the whole cozy pressed up against you thing from his daddy."

"His daddy is a fool!"

He nibbled the lobe of her ear. "For you, every time!" Running kisses down her jawline he adjusted himself slightly, nestling his hips closer against her luscious ass.

"And will you quit poking me with that thing!"

"Hey, that's not what you were saying nine months ago!"

"I was out of my mind nine months ago."

"Damn right you were. I remember it clearly… 'Oooh Sam… right there… yes… theretherethere…. More…oh baby… don't stop… just like that… I'm cumming… cum with me Sam…' It was hot!" He was now peppering those small kisses on her neck that he knew she was never able to resist.

"I don't sound like that when we make love!"

"And how do you know? You're always too busy seeing stars!"

"Yeah well I'm never letting you touch me again!"

"Really?" He leaned his head forward and she turned her head back towards him so that they could kiss as he caressed her, gently skimming over her swollen and hypersensitive breasts.

"Yeah, really," she said breathlessly.

"Your body tells me something else entirely." He slowly ran his hand up her thigh and underneath her nightdress and she moaned in response. "You know there's always that article we read online that says semen can help trigger labor."

"It said you'd need loads of it to contain enough of the hormone to do that."

"Yeah? And since when do I ever have a problem providing you with loads of it?"

He ran his fingers along the outside of her already damp panties. Pregnancy had made her constantly horny and he was loving it. He kissed her again, deeper this time until she moaned.

"Wanna try?"

"Hmmm…"

Moving her panties to the side he lifted her leg over his and slipped carefully into her wetness from behind, starting a slow and gentle rhythm, making sure he didn't go too deep as his hips collided with her soft ass over and over again-

"Sir? Excuse me sir?"

He opened his eyes to see a male steward leaning over him. "Sir I'm going to have to ask you to return your seat to the upright position and fold your table away because the seatbelt lights have come back on and we've begun our descent into JFK."

"Of course."

Never had Sam been so glad of the blanket bunched over his nether regions, keeping the effects of his dream hidden from view.

By the time he reached the Medical Center it was all over. Holly was in an exhausted snooze and a tearful Stevie was walking around in circles trying to work the adrenaline out of his system. He literally picked Sam up as he hugged him. "They're beautiful Sam! They're amazing!"

"Congratulations Stevie!" He had never felt prouder of his brother than he did at that moment and he watched as Stevie could do nothing but just nod with happiness before squeezing him again. Stacey ran in to join the hug and the three of them squeezed each other tight.

He then spotted Mercedes standing in the corner, watching them with a soft smile. "Come on!" He called her over and included her in the family group hug. "Thank you for being here."

"I would never have been here if it wasn't for you," she replied softly.

Sam was more affected than he realized by his brother's tears. It took him back to that awful day when he'd told him of their first miscarriage. It was the day that their own relationship had taken a turn for the better. And it was the day that he'd first met Mercedes. Surely it wasn't a coincidence that they were all tied up together like this?

"How are the babies?"

"They're going to be okay. Ben was out first. He's 5.2 pounds and healthy. Jack was twelve minutes later and 4.8 pounds. We're just waiting to hear back about him because the doctor says he looks jaundiced. He told us not to be concerned but they want to do further testing. But he's really impressed with their birth weights considering they're still slightly early. Holly says it's all the full fat Halloumi cheese she's been craving and she's probably right!"

"How long are you staying Sam?" Stacey looked at him eagerly and he felt bad to be the bearer of bad news.

"Not long. I have to get back to London for tomorrow. I left an extremely important meeting to come here right now and they've rescheduled it for 24 hours later because the client needs to leave the country after that. I'm here the rest of the day but have to fly back first thing tomorrow morning for an evening meeting there. I know it sucks but when I this is all over I know our wonderful CEO…" he nudged Stevie, "will reward me with lots of time off which I will gladly accept!"

Stevie grinned and rolled his eyes but pulled him close. "I'll always owe you for this!"

"And I'll never let you forget it!"

They were interrupted by a polite cough and they turned to see the doctor who had examined Jack waiting for them. "Mr Evans, I'd like to speak with you and your wife please."

Stacey, Mercedes and Sam cast each other looks as the doctor led Stevie back into the room and closed the door behind them. "I hope everything's okay…" mused Stacey quietly.

Mercedes took her hand. "It will be honey. It will be."

Sam took their free hands in his and hoped along with them.