Violet laid back on the stiff cushion of the doctor office table, paper sheet crinkling underneath her as she shifted uncomfortably. Clementine stood beside her, leaning her elbows on the table. She eyed her wife's squirming and pressed knowing lips against the blonde girl's temple, "You look so worried, don't be, it's not painful or anything."
"I'm not worried about me." Violet admitted, rubbing her stomach unconsciously. Clementine set her hands on top of the one on Violet's stomach to stop her anxious fidgeting.
"The baby's going to be fine." Clementine said in a soothing voice, pulling Violet's hand up and massaging it between both of her own.
"I know." Violet shrugged, but Clementine could see the worry in her eyes.
"They've tested for all the most common things that could go wrong before they even implanted the egg, the odds are that everything is fine." Clementine continued to rub her hand.
Violet smiled at Clementine, squeezing her hand back, "Thanks Clem, you're right. I'm sure everything's going to be fine. I'm going to crush this." A confidence shown on her face, a confidence that only Clementine seemed to give her.
"Yes you are."
A small knock came in the room and the ultrasound technician walked in with a cheerful smile. She directed her attention at Violet. "Hello Mrs. Everett, how are we doing today?" Her peppy voice made Violet feel nauseated, she glared at the girl, automatically not liking her.
Clementine patted Violet's hand, smiling at the woman, she answered for her wife, "She's crushing it." Violet rolled her eyes at her wife.
"My name is Sarah, I'll be taking some pictures of your baby! I love taking pictures." Violet scowled at the girl, "You can pull your shirt up now." Violet looked offended at the idea, crossing her arms across her chest. Clementine sighed, reaching for the hem of Violet's shirt. As Clementine pushed it up, she could feel the taut, raised surface of Violet's stomach, revealing her very slight baby bump. Clementine's face lit up, pure joy spreading across every feature.
"Violet, our baby's in there..." Clementine said, realization striking her as she reached out, gently placing her hand on Violet's stomach. "Right here!" Clementine's eyes were glistening as she looked up at Violet. "Vi, I didn't know you were showing yet." Clementine grabbed Violet's face in giddy excitement, staring into her eyes, kissing her firmly on the forehead, "This is real. Be happy with me."
"I'm happy." Violet said, unable to hold a smile back at the look on Clementine's face.
"Let's get this started, I'm sorry but this is going to be cold." The technician said as she grabbed a bottle of jelly like fluid and squirted a copious amount on Violet's stomach. She winced as the freezing cold gel touched her skin. Clementine held Violet's hand in anticipation, both girls staring at the empty television screen hanging on the wall in front of them. The technician unhooked the ultrasound tool from the device and slid it around on Violet's lower abdomen.
All that could be seen was blackness on the screen, grey lines appearing and disappearing as the technician moved the device around. Just before frustration could set in, Sarah settled in one spot. "What a clear picture, you have a nice uterus."
Violet and Clementine both scrunched their faces up at the odd compliment, keeping their eyes fixed on the screen. "Why are there two black circles with grey blotches inside them? Clem, didn't you just have one black circle? Is something wrong with the monitor?" Violet asked leaning her head forward, confusion settling on her face as she attempted to make sense of the image. Clementine held Violet's hand tighter.
Sarah grinned cheerily at the couple, "Looks like you're pregnant with twins!"
Violet's head slumped back onto the table, paper crunching at the contact, "t-twins...?" she said, swallowing hard, eyes going vacant, no longer seeing the screen though she continued to gaze in that direction.
"Twins!" Clementine squealed, jumping up and down, clapping her hands slightly. "Vi! Vi?" Clementine looked at Violet's face, wanting her to join in the celebration, but instead of glee she was met with a shocked expression, and a pale face. "Violet? Are you okay?" Clementine moved her face between Violet and the monitor as Sarah continued moving around the device, taking pictures and labeling them using the attached keyboard.
Violet continued to stare through her wife, "Twins?" she repeated in an empty voice.
"Yes, Vi, twins, isn't that great?" Clementine kissed Violet's nose, trying to snap her out of it.
"Great." Violet said, nodding numbly, "Yeah... great..."
"All done!" Sarah announced, using a paper towel to clean the gel off Violet's stomach. Clementine frowned worriedly at her wife as she pulled her shirt down, sitting up on the table. Clementine took the ultrasound pictures that Sarah was waving excitedly at Violet.
"Thank you." Clementine said, annoyance shining through her words as she took Violet in her other hand, leading her wife out of the room.
"You can make your appointment for next month at the desk." Sarah said, waving at the front of the office.
"Yes, thanks." Clementine said, walking away from the girl. At the front desk she quickly scheduled Violet's next appointment for her before taking Violet to their car. She opened the passenger door and Violet got in, even though Violet usually drove when the two were together.
Clementine shut the door, worried for her wife, quickly moving around the car to get in the drivers seat. As soon as she was in the more private space she turned her body to face Violet. "Violet, it's okay to be scared. I know this is a lot to handle, it's not something we were expecting... but it's a good thing... two babies!"
Violet spoke in a stupor, "Two babies crying, two babies to feed, two-" Clementine grabbed Violet's face, pressing her lips firmly on Violet's, stopping her tirade.
"And they'll have two Moms, they'll be the luckiest kids in the world!" Clementine pulled Violet into a hug and held on tight, rubbing her hands up and down her back until Violet slowly leaned into the embrace, reciprocating it. "And you're going t s. You're Victory Violet! You can do anything!"
Violet pulled back from the hug so that she could look into the brunette's eyes, "Yeah, you're right. Thanks Clem, I've got this."
"No, thank you for carrying our babies!" Clementine squeaked as she emphasized the end of the word, Violet rolled her eyes and smiled at Clementine's excitement. The curly haired girl cranked the car and pulled out of the parking space. Violet raised an eyebrow when Clementine turned left out of the medical complex instead of right.
"Why are we heading towards home? We have to go get Luke from Carley's house." Violet asked.
"Not home, we're going for chicken nuggets and milkshakes first." Clementine said, unable to keep the smile off her face, "The pampering starts now!"
"Maybe this pregnancy thing won't be so bad after all." Violet grinned in the passenger seat, rolling down the window to enjoy the breeze.
Violet leaned over the toilet, Clementine pulled her blonde locks into a hasty pony tail to keep it out of her face.
"This is going to suck so bad." Violet moaned as another wave of nausea hit her. Luke toddled hesitantly into the bathroom, wanting to see what his Moms were doing in there.
"No no Luke," Clementine swooped him up into her arms, "Mommy's not feeling well." Luke cried as Clementine carried him into the living room, setting him inside a baby gated area full of toys. She grabbed a wash clothe, wetting it under the faucet and ringing it out. She crouched down next to Violet, wiping her face with it.
Violet groaned, "I'm never eating chicken nuggets again." She flushed and leaned back against the bathroom wall, no longer feeling the immediate need to vacate her stomach's contents.
Clementine sat next Violet, leaning into shoulder. "I talked to the doctor, she's going to call you in some anti-nausea medication. I'll go pick it up first thing in the morning."
"Thanks." Violet leaned her head onto Clementine's shoulder, Clementine leaned her head on Violet's. Luke could be heard crying for his Moms from the living room. Violet sighed, "You should go get him... I'll be fine."
"You're sure?" Clementine asked, Violet nodded. Clementine stood up, "I'll get you some ginger ale, fruit, and other stuff that I found helpful when I was pregnant when I go to the store too." The brunette added as she left to grab Luke up.
Violet stood slowly, trying not to get up too quickly and trigger her nausea again. She brushed her teeth and trudged out of the bathroom. Clementine walked by carrying Luke. "I'm feeling exhausted, I'm going to lay down." Violet yawned. She walked sluggishly to the bedroom. Eyes drooping, hair falling from her haphazard pony tail in chunks.
"Of course." Clementine kissed her quickly on the head, glancing at her watch that read 6pm. "I'm going to feed and bathe Luke. Call for me if you get hungry or need anything."
"Thanks." Violet pulled her clothes off, not even bothering to put on pajamas, she climbed under the covers in her underwear. Clementine frowned after her, remembering how tired she had been during her first trimester of pregnancy. Her heart swelled at everything Violet was willing to go through to keep her safe, to make her happy.
"Your Mommy is the best." Clementine cooed to Luke as she sat him in his high chair.
"Ma-me-ma-me-ma-me!" Luke chanted, slapping his hands on his tray. It was the first time he had ever said Mommy before, saying Mama was easier for him and he had said it many times but never Mommy, to the disappoint of Violet. Clementine gasped, reaching into her pocket, fumbling for her phone. She quickly held it up taking a video as Luke kept chanting his version of 'Mommy'.
Clementine beamed as she successfully videoed the moment. She couldn't count how many times she had pulled her phone out to tape an adorable moment, only for Luke to immediately stop and stare at her, doing nothing.
"Good boy Lukey, this is going to make Mommy so happy when she get up!" Clementine pocketed her phone and continued prepping Luke's dinner.
After Luke was fed and bathed, Clementine peeked in at Violet, finding her sleeping soundly on the bed. Blankets were askew, the blonde had her arms wrapped around Clementine's pillow, hugging it peacefully.
Seeing that Violet was okay Clementine brushed Luke's two bottom teeth with his tiny baby tooth brush and then took him to his bedroom to rock him. She sang him a lullaby, cradling him in her arms that he was quickly outgrowing. His face snuggled into her chest, closing his eyes as she rocked. Clementine knew she wasn't as good of a singer as Violet was. Her untrained voice shook as she tried to reach the right notes but Luke didn't seem to mind. After the song, Luke was laid in his crib, a light blanket draped over him, a kiss pressed to his head. Clementine closed the door as she left.
Going into her own room she quietly showered, put on her pajamas and despite the early hour she climbed into the bed next to Violet. It had been a long day. The idea of twins was slightly overwhelming. They would need another crib, another car seat, another stroller, so much. Thankfully they had an amazing support group of friends and family. They hadn't told Carley about being pregnant with twins yet. Her and Violet agreed to wait and make sure everything still looked good in a few weeks before surprising everyone.
Clementine gently pried her pillow from Violet's death grip and drifted off to sleep imagining how life with two new members of the family would be. Sweet thoughts soon turned to dark nightmares as the brunette tossed and turned in her sleep.
Clementine was in a hospital bed again. She could feel the stiff mattress beneath her, but she couldn't see it. Her vision was dark but she could hear the screaming beeps of machines all around her. Voices shouted back and forth above her head as she was jostled around. Her throat burned. Pain shot through her arm. Her mind was confusion, the last thing she remembered was her baby crying. It was like music to her ears and then Violet, she had sounded so worried. Her heart ached thinking about Violet. She needed to reassure her, she tried to speak but a mask was forced over her mouth. She felt she was going to lose consciousness, maybe for good this time. Was this what dying felt like? Terror flooded her mind, she didn't want to leave Violet, leave her baby before she even got to hold him and then silence.
Clementine shot up in bed. Beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. Anxiously her eyes shot around the room as she attempted to reorient herself. There was her dresser, that ugly lamp that Carley had given them as a house warming present years ago, her eyes finally landing on Violet, still sleeping peacefully beside her. She sighed, grateful she hadn't disturbed her. Her heart was pounding in her chest, remembering that day in the hospital when Luke was born. She didn't tell Violet how terrifying it had all been for her too. How she had thought she was going to die, never to see her wife or son again.
Violet laid on her back, blanket twisted around her legs, stomach exposed. Clementine smiled at her wife's face for minute, eyes caressing each feature that she had loved for so long before she found herself scooting down until her face was level with Violet's belly. She propped herself up on her elbow, smiling at the bump indicating life growing within.
"Hey in there. This is your Mama." Clementine whispered, not wanting to wake up Violet. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you get here safe okay? I'm going to take care of your Mommy too. We both love you very much and so does your big brother Luke. He's going to love you two so much." Clementine reached up and grabbed her pillow, snuggling into it next to Violet's stomach. "Keep growing in there okay? Get real big and strong." She began humming, the same song Violet had sung to her when she was giving birth to Luke, the same song Violet always sang to Luke as a lullaby. Clementine's heart had resumed it's normal pace, eyelids became heavy and sleep took over her once more.