Chapter 25

~.~

December 23, 2031

(Eret's POV)

Becky's and my 15-year old daughter is at my parents' until our twins are born.

With the previous miscarriage and stillbirth, and the risk of us having more than one baby, we've decided to go the hospital route this time. The only reason we didn't go that route with Ruby is because Becky had a perfect pregnancy. Well, as perfect as it could get.

We've since left for the hospital, have gone through triage and are now in an operating room for delivery, once Becky's fully dilated.

I haven't told her because I don't want to scare her more, but I fear for my wife during this delivery, with it being twins.

What if she doesn't have the strength to deliver naturally?

What if one or both of the twins is injured during birth?

What if my wife doesn't make it?

What if I'm left with three kids and no clue how to raise them?

What if I faint during delivery?

I know Becky's strong. I know she is. But I also know her strength may give out during labor, and I'll have to be her strength.

Her parents and siblings are allowed in the room, but Becky wants it to be just me and her this time because that's how she wants it. She doesn't need a better reason than that, if you ask me.

I'm currently feeding Becky ice chips so she can conserve her own strength for the rest of labor and delivery.

"You okay, babe?" She asks me.

She's in labor with twins and she's asking if I'm okay?

"Yeah. I'm fine. Why?"

"You seem nervous."

"I have every right to be, honey. You're delivering twins. And I wish I could deliver them for you. So you wouldn't have to be in pain."

"Thank you, Eret. That means the world to me."

"You're welcome. How're you doing?"

"Uncomfortable. They both keep moving."

"They're just getting ready to greet the world. You excited?"

"As excited as I…can…be." My wife breathes through the next contraction, closing her eyes and gripping my hand. A tear slips through her closed eye. I wipe it away with my free hand.

Soon, the contraction ends.

"That was a bad one."

"I could tell."

"Sorry. Is your hand okay?"

"It's okay. I'm okay. Share your pain with me. I don't mind."

"Thank you."

Soon, Becky can't stand lying in the bed anymore and she begins to pace around the room, me following her with one hand on the small of her back.

Soon, the moment we've waited for for the past few hours comes.

Her water breaks.

And the contractions become more intense. When she seems to get a break from them, another one arrives.

"Honey, if you want the epidural, there's no shame in asking for one."

"No. If I can survive a madman, a stillbirth, a miscarriage and a homebirth, I can survive giving birth to our twins naturally."

"Just let me know when you need me to be your strength."

"Thank you for respecting my decision."

"You're welcome."

She sits on the bed during one of the contractions, her forehead on mine, gripping my forearms, just breathing. The same tactic we used during labor with Ruby.

That contraction ends with a shaky groan, as it did during labor with Ruby.

My poor, dear wife begins to sob into my shoulder. I rub her back to keep her as calm as possible.

"I can't do this. I can't do this."

"Yes, you can. Yes, you can. Every contraction brings you closer to delivering our twins."

"Brings us closer. I can't do this without you, Eret."

"I know, honey. I know. I'll be your strength when you can't be strong."

"Don't leave me, Eret. I need you more than ever."

"I won't, love. I promise I won't leave you."

Over the next few hours, the contractions increase in strength and decrease in distance between them.

During a bout of them, I'm sitting behind her in a chair, her squatting in front of me, rocking back and forth on her heels, all the while I'm keeping her steady so she doesn't fall.

Our midwife, Cynthia, comes in to check her dilation.

"Keep breathing, sweetheart. You're doing so well."

Becky nods.

"How dilated is she?"

"She's six centimeters. She'll be in transition soon. It's the most difficult part of labor before delivery."

"Okay. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Have you eaten, Eret?"

"No. I've been so focused on her."

"I understand, but you need to keep your strength up so you can support her. I'll bring in some tomato soup for you, and more ice for her."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'll get the anesthesiologist in case we need to do a C-section. I know your birth plan, but it's just a precaution we take with multiples."

"I understand." Becky says.

As soon as Cynthia leaves, another contraction arrives.

"Just keep breathing, my love. You can do this."

The anesthesiologist soon arrives and places the epidural catheter in Becky while she squeezes my hands as it's placed.

"Just keep still, love. You can do this. Focus on my voice. I'm here and I am so proud of you, my darling. So so proud. We need to think of names for them. Regardless if they're fraternal or identical or one of them is a boy and one of them is a girl. You think of a few names and I'll think of a few names, too."

Soon, the epidural catheter is in, and Becky and I have both thought of names for our twins, two for two boys, two for two girls. We'll pick from those options if it turns out we have one of each.

Becky lay on her back, finally able to get some rest.

Labor progresses more smoothly over the next two hours.

I feed Becky ice chips as labor progresses, and, soon, Becky is fully dilated.

"All right, Becky. Let's deliver your twins." The doctor says, fully ready to help.

Becky puts her feet up in the stirrups, and I put one hand under her thigh and one hand behind her to help her push.

"On the next contraction, hold your breath and push as hard as you can."

Becky nods, slightly shaking.

"You've got this, my love. We've got this. Together. You and me. As one."

Becky nods at me, determination crossing her face.

The contraction comes and my wife pushes for ten long and agonizing seconds.

Agonizing for her, not me. Not physically, anyway.

"That's it. That's it. Keep at it."

Becky pushes again, holding her breath as instructed.

"Come on, love. You can do this. You've got this. Keep going."

"Alright, things are looking great. I can see the head. Small pushes for me."

My wife pushes small pushes and her knuckles are turning white from gripping the side of the bed so hard.

"Keep going, honey. Keep going."

Soon, the head is delivered and Becky is allowed a break for a few moments.

"You are absolutely amazing, darling. I am so proud of you."

"Thank you."

"All right. We should have this baby out in a couple more big pushes. You ready?" The doctor asks.

Becky nods.

"Chin to your chest and push, push, push, push, push!"

She pushes as hard as she can and our second born, our…our…

"It's a boy!"

Our son is delivered, with a great pair of lungs. His cord is cut by me after being placed on Becky's chest.

"Oh, my love. He's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful." I say, happy tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Do we have a name for your son?"

Becky and I look at our son and then each other before looking at the doctor.

"Dustin. Dustin Kensley."

"Welcome to the world, Dustin! Your little sibling is on their way. Let's get your vitals, little man." One of the nurses says. After Becky and I both plant a kiss on our son's tiny head, the nurse takes him over to get his vitals and is then placed in a bassinet, where he waits for the returning warmth of his little sibling.

The first placenta is soon delivered, and then, it's time to meet Dustin's little sibling.

"Alright, let's get ready to meet Dustin's little sibling! Dad, would you like to go check on your son?"

"I'd love to, but my wife needs me to be her strength."

"I completely understand."

Becky nods at the doctor in response to her statement, still euphoric after delivering our son.

"Now, this baby will come a bit faster, so be easy with your pushing, okay?"

Becky nods again.

"Alright. Here we go. Here comes the second twin and your fifth child. Push!"

Becky bears down, slowly, and soon, our third child's head is close to crowning.

"Slowly push for me there."

Becky slowly pushes.

"Good. Good girl! The head is crowning. Keep at it!"

Becky keeps pushing, and the head is soon born, giving my wife another chance to rest.

"You're so amazing, Becky. You are so amazing."

"Thank you, Eret."

"You're welcome, darling." I kiss the top of my wife's head.

"Keep pushing for me, sweetheart. The baby is almost out. Give me a really good push."

Becky pushes hard.

"Okay. One more really strong push for me, and we'll know if this baby is a boy or girl."

"Eret?"

"Yes, my darling?"

"Can you catch them?"

I look at the doctor, and she nods, and a nurse turns to get me a smock and a pair of gloves.

"It'll be my honor to catch our third child, my love." I say after I don the necessary things.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Do I direct pushing, too?"

"That's up to you, Dad."

"My love?"

"I'd love for you to tell me to push."

"All right. Here we go. Last big push, darling." My strong wife steels herself for the last push, placing her hands under her thighs.

"Push, my love!"

Becky pushes as hard as she can, and I carefully and gently pull my…daughter…from her and place her gently on her mother's chest.

"It's a girl! We have another daughter. Ruby's going to be thrilled to have a brother and a sister."

Tears slip down my wife's face as she and I both help clean our newborn daughter – a luxury we were deprived of with our son – after I cut her cord.

We decide to name her Eira Shelby.

After the second and last placenta is delivered, and the twins' and Becky's vitals all look good, we are all taken to our postnatal room.

Becky soon falls asleep, my son in my arms, his sister in her bassinet.

There's a sign outside the door that says "Shhh! Newborns and mother sleeping". Our firstborn Ruby made it as soon as Becky started having contractions. I had one of the nurses post it outside our room after retrieving it from our bag.

After putting my sleeping son in his bassinet, I text my mum to tell her the news.

Me: Mum, our twins, a boy and a girl, were both safely delivered.

Mum: Oh, son. That's fantastic news! I'll tell Ruby. How's Becky?

Me: Exhausted, and rightfully so. She worked so hard over the last twelve hours, and I am so proud of her.

Mum: I'm sure you are. When can we see my new grandbabies?

Me: Maybe once Becky's up to having visitors.

Mum: I understand, Eret. You give your wife my best. And text me when Becky's up to having visitors.

Me: I will, Mum. Thank you. I love you.

Mum: I love you, too, Eret.

~.~

The next day, when Becky is all rested up, and the epidural catheter has since been removed, we have visitors, starting with our firstborn, my parents and my sister.

We had found a teen-sized Big Sister shirt.

I still can't believe we'll have a teenager and two newborns in the same house.

Speaking of our living situation, I recently inherited my maternal grandparents' home, within weeks of Becky giving birth.

My sister and parents, and Becky's siblings and parents, and Ruby and I all got us moved from our apartment to our new home just a few blocks away.

Anyway, Ruby slowly comes over to her mother and I, each of us holding a twin.

"They're beautiful, Mama." Ruby says, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Thank you, Rubes."

"That being said, I'll probably adopt."

"Are you saying I look exhausted?" Becky asks, jokingly.

"Maybe a little."

"It's okay, Ruby. I am. But your brother and sister are completely worth it. And so are you. You and your siblings are worth every pain I felt during pregnancy and labor."

"I'm glad, Mama. Can…can I?"

"Of course. Mind her head." Becky carefully passes Eira to her big sister.

"She's much more beautiful up close." Ruby whispers.

"She is, isn't she?"

Meanwhile, my dad is holding Dustin.

"Son, he's beautiful. Your wife is quite the trooper."

"I still can't believe she delivered twins like that."

"Well, believe it, Eret. She is such a warrior. You got lucky."

"More like I got blessed, Dad. I'm so blessed to have her and our children in my life. I honestly don't know where I'd be without any of them."

"You'd probably still be working for that madman."

"I'm glad he's gone. But I hate what Gustavo did to Ruby. She's been having more nightmares lately because of what he did to her."

"I'm sorry to hear that. But I know she'll get through it. You all will."

"I pray that my newborn twins will never have to suffer like Becky and Ruby did."

My dad nods at me in agreement.

"Well." I turn and see my Mum has spoken.

"Yes, Mum?"

"Becky, Eret, they're absolutely beautiful. The Thorstons are waiting outside. We'd better head home. We'll drop off Ruby when you're all home."

"Mum?" I say, following my parents, sister and daughter outside after the twins are back in their bassinets.

"Yes, dear?"

I let my father, sister and daughter walk ahead of us.

"What is it, Eret? You look troubled."

"I just…" I break down in tears, falling to the floor, and Mum follows me.

"I was so scared for her, Mum. So scared I was going to lose her. I can't lose her, Mum. I can't. It would destroy me. I know it was an easy delivery and labor was harder on her than delivery was, but I couldn't help but worry."

"Shhh. She's alright, son. Becky's alright. Tell her if you haven't already."

"I will, Mum. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I love you, Eret."

"I love you, too, Mum."

Becky's siblings and parents join me after Mum leaves and we head into the room.

The Thorstons take turns holding the newborns.

"We are so proud of you, sis. You did such a good job."

"Thank you, Tuffnut. And I'm sorry you and Ruff couldn't be in there with me. I just felt like I needed only Eret."

"That's understandable, sis. You need who you need." Ruffnut says.

After the Thorstons leave, I sit down next to my wife, our twins safely sleeping in their bassinets.

"Honey, I need to talk to you about something."

"Alright. What's up?"

"I was so afraid...so afraid I was going to lose you, Becky. I know you're strong and I know you've handled far worse than childbirth. But I just...I was so afraid we were going to lose you." I break down then and there.

My wife, my dear, dear wife, still weakened from the birth, wraps her arms around me and cries with me.

"I'm so sorry you felt that way, Eret. I...I don't regret our twins...but I feel like this is my fault."

"What? Honey, it's not your fault. I promise you. You delivered all of our children safely. And we have three beautiful children because of it, and two of our angels watching us."

Becky breaks down, at a loss for words, most likely because she's afraid of me losing her.

"Shhh. Shhh. I know, love. I know. You're okay. You're okay. And you never have to have another child again, alright?" I whisper to her.

I feel her nod against me.

We're soon all cried out and we go to sleep, our twins occasionally waking up during the night to be fed and burped and changed and rocked.

A few days pass, and we're discharged to head home.

~.~

Home. All six of us are home.