Thanks everyone! A bit of angst at the beginning. I've always wanted a scene with Anna's mother, but this was the only story where I felt I could fit it in. Enjoy!

Chapter 13

John pulled into a parking spot at the hospital. As he placed the car into parking, he turned his eyes to his wife. Her eyes lingered on the tall building and her fingers fidgeted over her growing belly. Gently, John brought one of his hands over hers. Anna's eyes lifted, met his, and she gave him a shaky smile.

The evening before, Anna had told him everything. She told John about her stepfather and how he would linger near her, making her nervous. How his hands would brush against her in inappropriate ways. The time that he went farther and Anna stabbed his leg with a knife. But that hadn't even been the worst of it. After she stabbed him, her mother convinced him not to press charges and to say he had fallen on the knife. When they came back from the hospital, Anna's mother refused to talk to her and the inappropriate touches didn't stop. So that was when Anna began to go to dance for longer hours.

To be honest, John wasn't too thrilled about Anna going to see her mother. He would never tell her that or refuse her. Based on what Anna told him about her mother's reaction to her abuse, he'd rather that woman not be in their lives. He did know that he wouldn't trust her with their children, not alone anyway.

An uneasy sigh left Anna's lips. She turned one of her hands so that it could take John's in hers and she shut her eyes.

"Are you in pain?" John worriedly questioned. He watched as Anna's free hand rubbed over the top of her belly. He was relieved when she shook her head no.

"I'm nervous," Anna admitted, fluttering her lids back open. John's hand brushed against her cheek and he cupped his hand against her jaw.

"You don't have to do this," he strongly stated.

"We drove over two hours to get here," Anna countered, licking her lower lip anxiously. John's thumb ran against her wet lips and he sighed.

"That doesn't matter. We can go back home. I'll make us dinner," John offered. Anna's head shook.

"No, I need to go. If I don't I'll always wonder…." Anna's voice faded and she inhaled sharply.

"Anna?" Anna glanced up at him and smiled, pulling his hand to her stomach.

"They are active today," Anna stated. John's lips curled up into a bright smile at the feeling of his children moving around in his wife's belly. It was a feeling he knew he would never tire of.

"I'm ready."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-

The walk into the building took more effort than Anna had ever imagined. It had been over ten years since she had seen her mother and five since she had spoken to her. At eighteen, she left home and never looked back. It hadn't been easy, but Anna knew she couldn't be near that man anymore. For years, Anna tried to keep some sort of connection with her mother, but it had only hurt her. Any time they had spoken, her mother refused to speak of the past and she never left the man. Emma had told Anna that he had passed away two years ago. Anna wondered if her mom would be asking to make amends if he was still alive. And Anna wasn't sure her mother was truly sorry.

Anna regained some of her confidence when John's hand fell to the small of her back. She was so grateful to have him, their babies, and the friends that had become her family. At the end of the day, blood didn't make a family. The people that stuck around, who stood up for you, they were the real people who loved you.

When she stepped into the hospital room, she saw her mother watching television. At the sight of Anna, her mother's face lit up and she reached her hands out for Anna to come to her. Allowing them to have their own reunion, John remained at the door. Anna slowly walked up to her mother and allowed her mother to take her hands in hers.

"My baby, my Anna," the woman murmured with a smile. Her mother dropped her hands from Anna's and then placed them over Anna's belly. "A baby?"

"Babies," Anna informed her. "I'm having twins."

"Oh! How exciting! I am going to be a grandmother," the woman happily stated. Anna forced herself to take a deep, calming breath and tried to smile. However, her lips just quirked up slightly to the side. "Is it girls? Boys? One of each?"

"I…I don't know yet," Anna honestly answered. She kept herself from telling her mother about the gender reveal party the next day.

"I bet its girls," her mother gushed. "We come from a long line of girls. You can name one Carrie after me." Anna's lips twisted and she shrugged her shoulders.

"Perhaps," she responded. Her mother's eyes glanced over at John.

"And who is this?"

Anna motioned for John to step closer. He came up beside Anna, taking one of her hands within his own.

"Mum, this is my husband, John Bates. John, this is my mother, Carrie….." Anna turned her lips and narrowed her eyes. She wasn't sure if her mother had kept her most recent last name or had changed it.

"Johnson," Carrie filled in for Anna. "I'm Carrie Johnson. You're a handsome fella. You look older than my Anna, though. How old are you?"

"Mum," Anna said, shaking her head.

"I am older than, Anna," John answered. Carrie's chin rose and she gave a knowing smile.

"Anna always did like the older men," she responded. Anna froze against John's frame.

"I….." Anna's voice faded. John's head tilted slightly to the side and his eyes narrowed in on her mother.

"What are you…" Before John could finish his sentence, Anna had stepped forward and was wringing her hands in front of her.

"We….we're going to go. I…I do wish you well," Anna stated, her voice shaky. She bent down and pressed a kiss to her mother's cheek. Then, without another word, Anna dashed out of the room. John glanced between his wife and her mother, ultimately deciding to follow Anna outside.

When they were several paces past the door, Anna fell against the wall and placed her head in her hands. John brought his hands up to her shoulders and brought her to his chest.

"It…it hasn't changed. She…she still thinks…." Anna's breaths were uneven. John rubbed his hands up and down her back and he pressed loving kisses against the top of her head.

"Shh, she doesn't deserve you," he murmured. "Let's go."

John led Anna to the car. As he helped her into her seat, he began to frantically search his pockets.

"My phone isn't in my pocket. I must have dropped it inside. I'll be right back. He kissed Anna's cheek and rushed back inside the building.

But he wasn't heading to search for the phone. He had something he needed to say. John headed right back to Anna's mother's room.

When he walked inside the room, her mother glanced up and smiled.

"I thought you both might be back. Where's Anna?"

"She's not coming and she doesn't know that I came back to speak with you," John honestly told her. "Anna is one of the most wonderful souls on this planet."

"Well, thank you," Carrie responded, but John shook his head.

"No, it's despite you. You didn't protect her and you had no intention on telling Anna you were wrong today, either. Did you?"

"I was never wrong," Carrie replied. John's jaw clinched. "Look, Mr. Bates, you seem like a good man. My daughter, well, she gets what she wants."

"Anna was a child and your husband took advantage of her," John could feel his cheeks flushing with anger.

"Oh, I'm sure that's what she told you. She nearly ruined my marriage. But I made sure she went to dance often. That helped."

"You'll never see her again," John told Carrie. "You do realize that, right? And don't even think about contacting us to see the children. I won't let you near them. You could have had a relationship with Anna who is caring and kind. But you allowed a predator near her and then blamed her for it. And years later, you still don't see how you're wrong. Do not contact my wife again."

John turned and left in a huff. Anger boiled deep within him. He was mad at himself for allowing Anna to come today. He was just glad she hadn't heard what her mother said to him at these moments. When he got to the car, he found Anna scrolling through baby names on her phone.

John took the phone from Anna's hand and then pulled her against him.

"You amaze me," he murmured into her hair. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Anna replied.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-

They didn't speak about seeing her mother again. The ride home had been nearly silent and John knew not to push Anna. He had held her that night, however, when she had sobbed into his chest. Her sobs had been heartbreaking.

But today was a new day. Anna had woken up as though the day before had not happened. She was bright and cheerful.

"Today's the day," Anna said, climbing up and on top of John on the bed. She ran her fingers up and through his chest hair, pressing her lips against his. John moaned and his hands slipped up to her hips.

"Are you excited?"

"Yes," Anna replied, giddy. "Mary said we have to be there at noon. She'll kill us if we are late." John turned to see what time it was in the clock. It was already ten. It was the first time, in a long time, that the two of them had slept in so late.

Tugging at the edges of Anna's top, he pulled it over her head, making her top bare.

"I think we have time for a little fun before then."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"Alright everyone! Gather around!" Mary exclaimed to the guests at the party. She had two cakes in front of Anna and John. They were to cut into them and inside it would be either blue or pink.

"Do we each cut into one at the same time or do we do them one at a time?"

"One at a time," Mary told Anna. "It spreads out the excitement!"

Anna chuckled, but nodded. John was standing next to her with blushed cheeks. He wasn't sure about all of the eyes and attention on him. They both lifted the knife together and cut into the first cake. After they did the two cuts into a triangle, they lifted the piece and both happily sighed.

"A boy!" John yelled, holding it up so everyone could see. He bent down and kissed Anna. Anna giggled against his lips.

"We're having a boy, John!" She happily told him.

"Alright! The next one!" Mary egged on. The two of them walked over to the next cake and repeated the same steps. Anna gasped as the piece was lifted into the air.

"Another boy!" John called out, again. Anna felt happy tears springing to her eyes.

Everyone around them cheered and Anna couldn't stop the tears from escaping. She grabbed John's cheeks and pulled him to her, kissing him fiercely. Upon seeing her tears, John brushed his fingers against her cheeks.

"Are you disappointed? Did you want a girl?" He asked her. Anna's head shook sharply.

"No, I am so very happy." John chuckled.

"Me too. Me too, my darling." Although they both knew that no matter what the colors had been in the cakes that they both would have been as overwhelming happy as they were now. Two healthy babies were all they had asked for and they were so happy to be getting their two healthy boys.

To be continued... :)

I know I didn't write Anna's mother as redeeming, because to me, personally, she never will be. I know in the time period of the show she was likely stuck between a rock and a hard place and I'd love to think that she sent Anna away to protect her. But at the end of the day, she did send her away which implies she stayed with the man and possibly was on his side. So I'm not a fan of her mom...but that's just me. From here on out it'll be happy skies with some very minor bumps. Thank you for reading! and thanks in advance for any comments!