"I'm leaving." Violet pulled out a duffel bag and started shoving clothes inside. "I can't live like this anymore."
Clementine sat up groggily in the bed, "What's going on Vi?"
"After what you did to me you deserve worse." Violet seethed.
"V-Violet... what did I do? What's going on?" Clementine jumped out of bed, stumbling over to her wife, still confused from having just woken up. She reached out to her but Violet pushed her hand away.
"You know what you did." Violet zipped her bag and left the room.
Clementine stumbled after her, confusion ripping her from the inside, tears began streaming down her face, "Wait Vi, please, please tell what I did, I'll do anything to make it right, anything." She felt like she was trapped in a bad dream but the pain in her foot as she smashed it into the door jam told her it wasn't.
Violet walked to the fridge and opened it up, pointing inside with an angry finger, "What does this look like to you?"
"A-A p-pizza box..." Clementine said, looking into the fridge, tears now spilling down in torrents.
"Open it." Violet crossed her arms over her chest. Clementine reached in shakily, the box was lighter than it should have been, she pulled it out and opened it up. "What's inside?" Violet asked.
"Nothing?" Clementine answered, looking into the empty box.
"Exactly! Nothing!" Violet fumed, "Why is there an empty pizza box in the fridge?! It gives false hope, I can't live in a house where empty pizza boxes are teasingly placed in the refrigerator."
Clementine's eyes widened, "You woke me up at two in the morning for that? Vi... it was an accident! Luke had me distracted, I was trying to eat while I fed him and do the dishes at the same time..." Anger flared up inside her, "You made me think... I thought... you scared me to death Violet! If you weren't pregnant with my precious babies I think I would hit you right now. I'm going back to bed."
"False hope is the ultimate betrayal in a marriage. I'm going to stay the night with my Mother." Violet said feeling vindicated.
"Tell her I said hello." Clementine waved her off as she went back into the room, collapsing exhausted on the bed. Violet joined her a few minutes later, she wrapped her arm around Clementine's middle and snuggled her face into Clementine's brunette locks.
"Nuh uh" Clementine attempted to shrug her off, "I'm mad at you."
"You're mad at me?" Violet said bewildered, "You're the one who ate the last of the pizza and put the empty box back in the refrigerator."
"And you woke me up in the middle of the night, acted like you were leaving me and-" Clementine rolled over to face Violet pouting, "and I jammed my toes hard, and it really really hurts."
Violet snuggled closer to her wife, "I'm sorry, I was just so hungry and I saw the pizza box and I got so excited thinking that you saved it for me when you could have eaten it yourself and then I opened it and nothing was there and I got so sad." Violet leaned forward kissing her wife, Clementine kissed back for only a second before pulling away. "I'm sorry for scaring you." Another kiss, "And for waking you up." Violet leaned in again, Clementine rolled onto her back dodging the kiss.
"Violet, I've only got," Clementine looked at the clock on her dresser, it read 2:30am, "three hours, four tops before Luke gets up. I desperately need sleep."
"Of course, sleep." Violet scooted closer, laying her head on Clementine's chest. Nuzzling her cheek into her wife.
"Alright..." Clementine conceded, "Just... no more kissing on the lips, you taste like cheetos and yogurt..."
"The pizza was gone! I had to eat something!" Violet cried defensively as Clementine attempted to muffle her giggles in the sheets.
"Give me that boy!" Lee said grabbing Luke from Carley's arms. "Surrounded by girls all the time. You poor poor boy! You need some time with Grandpa." Lee carried Luke over to the recliner with a chuckle and sat down with him in his lap. Luke laughed and tugged at Lee's beard, that got shaggier by the year, as he bounced him on his knee. AJ ran up to Luke and started making faces at the tousled boy.
"I think he was doing just fine with his Meemaw thank you very much!" Carley' hmph'd' with her hands on her hips.
Clementine and Violet glanced at one another from their seats on the sofa and struggled to hold back their amusement at the new grandma name Carley created. "I... needtogocheckthefood." Clementine spewed out as she quickly stood and left the room, holding back a laugh, abandoning her wife on the couch. Violet sat wide eyed, keeping her mouth clamped tight.
"I'm going to see if Clem needs any help in the kitchen," glaring at everyone in the room as she left, Violet letting out a chuckle as soon as Carley was out of sight.
"You know... you're going to doubly need to settle on a grandma name soon..." Clementine said, leaning over the stove as Carley walked in.
"Oh, I know." Carley said, eyeing Clementine as she started pulling dishes from the cabinet for their dinner. "Violet sure wasn't feeling good last week, how's she doing now?"
"I'd like to say she's all better but I think she's twice as sick as she was last week..." Clementine turned and raised her eyebrows at Carley, leaning back against the counter, ladle in hand.
"Clementine..." Carley said sternly, giving Clementine a pointed look.
"Carley?" Clementine tried to keep a straight face as Carley gave her the stare down.
"Do you have something you need to tell me?" Carley huffed, tapping a foot impatiently and folding her arms.
"I do..." Clementine sighed, "I should have told you this a long time ago..." Carley clasped her hands in front of her, a grin already tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Violet and I... we... we really like Cici best as a grandma name. I think you should stick with that." Carley's face dropped, Clementine turned back to the stove, poking at the food unnecessarily while trying to hide her grin.
"Clementine I swear!" Carley pulled at her hair like she was going mad.
Clementine chuckled as she set the ladle down. She turned around and walked up to Carley, placing her hands on Carley's shoulders. "Violet is pregnant."
"I knew it, I knew it!" Carley grinned wrapping her arms around Clementine, "Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Clementine smiled, as Carley ran out of the room, Clementine moved to the doorway so she could watch Carley hug Violet, Violet raised an eyebrow at her wife. "The cats out of the bag, Carley knows that you're pregnant." Clementine winked at Violet and she nodded back in understanding.
Lee stood up, Carley grabbed Luke from his arms and spun him around, "Who's going to be a great big brother! Say meeeeeeeee!"
"Meeeee!" Luke screamed to the applause of everyone around.
"That's wonderful Clem!" Lee wrapped Clementine in a hug, Violet stood from the couch offering a hug to him as well as Clementine went to set out the plates. Violet hugged Lee and as she let go, he held on tighter, placing a kiss on the top of her head. "You've been a part of this family since the day I met you," Lee said softly so that only she could hear, "but you doing this for Clem..." Lee faltered, Violet returned her arms around the man again, leaning into his chest.
"I'd do anything for her Lee." Violet mumbled into him, hugging Lee was like hugging a giant teddy bear, she couldn't help but feel safe in his arms.
"I know you would, thank you for looking after my little girl." Lee gave Violet a teary smile as he pulled away. Seeing the tears in his eyes brought tears to her own.
"Don't cry, you'll make me cry!" Violet nudged him playfully as they headed into the dining room.
"I'm not crying, I just got some dust in my eye." Lee laughed and Violet joined in as she shook her head.
"Dinner's ready!" Clementine announced, bringing the food from the kitchen and setting it in the center of the table.
Everyone eagerly sat around the dining room table. Luke in his high chair with AJ and Carley on either side of him. Carley bubbled with excitement as they ate, news of Violet's pregnancy keeping the smile on her face.
"Oh I am so excited!" Carley said as she grabbed her fork.
"One or two?" Clementine asked, serving the enchiladas.
"Just one please." Carley smiled, "Do you have a due date yet."
"It's January 15th." Clementine answered, turning to face Violet, "one or two Vi?"
Violet rolled her eyes but played along, "Two please, I've always liked things that come in twos."
"Me too." Clementine emphasized the too, laughing cheesily at her own terrible joke.
They continued to chat throughout dinner, Clementine mentioning the word, two or pairs or double as often as she could. When everyone finished eating Clementine dumped a box of twinkies on the table and several full sized twix bars.
"Sorry, I didn't have time to make dessert, hope this is okay." Clementine smirked at Violet who shook her head at her wife.
"Yeeeees!" AJ cheered grabbing one of each and unwrapping them eagerly.
"Twice the enjoyment." Clementine said as she opened a twix bar, holding a bar in each hand. "You know I've always found that the best things come in pairs, shoes... socks... babies..."
Carley, who had been more or less ignoring Clementine's odd rant in favor of sneakily feeding Luke a twinkie, suddenly snapped to attention, "Babies?" She asked quietly, Clementine grinned as she could see it click on her face. Carley looked from Clementine's grin to Violet's as realization dawned on her, "Babies?" She repeated, "Violet... are you having... are you... twins... are you having twins?!" Carley managed to get out, jumping from her chair, nearly knocking it to the ground as she asked. Lee's eyes widened, not having picked up on any of the clues.
Violet nodded, "I am." The scream that pierced the room was one of pure joy.
"Cici's going to be a grandma again! Times two!" She rushed around the room, hugging Violet, then Clementine, then Lee before grabbing up Luke and dancing around with him.
Violet chuckled at her excitement, "We've settled on Cici have we?" She raised her eyebrows to Clementine in question.
"We've settled on Cici." Clementine affirmed.
"Cici!" Luke repeated as he grabbed onto Carley's face, making her smile even brighter if that was possible.
"You're about to have your hands very full." Lee chuckled as he stood from the table, collecting plates to bring to the sink, "I'll do the dishes."
"You don't have to do that Lee." Clementine stood to help but he gently pushed her back down.
"Trust me, it's the least I can do." Lee smiled as he left the room.
"When do you find out the gender, do you already know the gender?" Carley glared over at the two girls. AJ listened in curiosity as he continued to eat all the twinkies while Carley was distracted.
"No, we'll find out in about a month." Clementine answered.
"I want to know immediately, a phone call from the doctors office. None of this waiting weeks to tell me business, understood?" Carley berated.
"Understood." Clementine answered, feeling like a reprimanded child again.
"We have to have a baby shower!" Carley squealed, Violet didn't look quite as excited. "Or more like babies shower!"
"Nonono," Violet held her hands out, "I don't want one of those. Everyone wanting to touch my stomach, and cooing over me, no thanks..."
"But Violet, we could really use the help, we need a lot of stuff for the twins." Clementine looked imploringly at Violet, "Another crib, a double stroller, another car seat, twice the clothes, twice the diapers..." Clementine ticked off, looking more and more frantic as she realized everything that would be needed for twins. Violet rose from her seat seeing her wife's overwhelmed expression and put her hands on her shoulders from behind, rubbing them softly.
"Okay, we can do a shower, it's fine." Violet sighed, "You're right, we're really going to need the help... Oh and Carley, don't tell anyone about the twins yet, we still have to tell everyone else. Only Sophie knows already."
"You told someone before me?!" Carley yelled.
Clementine and Violet looked at each with wide eyes. "uh oh."
Telling Marissa went much the same way, they visited her house, dropped lots of hints before finally revealing that Violet was pregnant with twins. The joy was palpable in the room as she doted gleefully on her daughter. She promised to get with Carley and plan the best shower possible for her, Clementine assured Violet that she would make sure that it involved as little belly rubbing as possible.
That weekend Clementine and Violet invited all their friends over. Louis and Sophie arrived late with boxes of donuts for everyone. As Sophie hugged Violet, who was wearing a big loose hoodie to hide her baby bump, she held on longer than usual. As she pulled away, her eyes were wide.
"Are you..." Sophie glanced over at Louis as he set the donuts down, joining everyone in the dining room. "I know you're pregnant" she whispered, "but are you pregnant with-"
Clementine grabbed Sophie's arm and pulled her into the kitchen, away from prying ears, "Violet, if you could start bringing the food out?" Violet nodded with a questioning look, grabbing trays of hot dogs and toppings bringing it to the dining table.
"Is she having twins?!" Sophie whisper yelled, doing an excited dance.
"How do you know? No one knows!" Clementine said, frustration evident in her voice.
"As a twin myself I've been granted with the gift of twin-dar." Sophie said waving her hands in the air as if she had a super power, "So it's true? She is?"
"Yes."
Sophie squealed and continued to dance excitedly around the kitchen when Violet walked back in to get the chips. "Violet! I am so happy for you! I am buying your babyies entire wardrobe! They are going to match, all the time!" Another squeal.
"You told her?" Violet looked at her wife in frustration.
"No! She just knew!" Clementine defended herself.
"Twin-dar!" Sophie said again.
"Well the main reason we had everyone over was to reveal that Vi's pregnant with twins so you can help." Clementine whispered her plan to Sophie, the red head agreed with huge grin on her face.
The three girls headed back into the dining room trying not to look suspicious. Louis was feeding Luke tiny unchokeable pieces of hot dog. After dinner Clementine bathed Luke and put him to bed as everyone else sat and chatted in the living room. Brody, Marlon and Violet were on the couch, Ruby and Aasim on the loveseat and Louis and Sophie tangled together on the recliner.
As Clementine came back into the room she discretely nodded at Violet. "Hey Lou, how about a game for old times sake? We don't all get together like this much anymore." Violet suggested as Clementine came and sat on the floor between Violet's legs, leaning against the couch.
"I couldn't agree more my dearest Violet." Louis reached in his pocket and pulled out his ever present pack of cards, "How about some old school truth or dare?"
"How about never have I ever? We used to play that all the time and now that we're adults it opens up a whole new line of questions." Sophie proposed. Everyone in the room agreed. "Why don't you start us off Brody?" Sophie said as everyone held up three fingers.
"Alright then," Brody agreed, "Hmmmm, never have I ever gotten married." She looked pointedly at Marlon who scratched the back of his neck nervously. Aasim, Ruby, Clementine and Violet each lowered a finger. Louis and Marlon looked at each other nervously before each of them lowered a finger as well. "Whhhhhaaaat?!" Brody fumed.
"Remember that trip to Vegas a couple years ago?" Marlon asked Brody timidly. Brody's eyes widened in horror.
"Brody, it was nothing. Marlon and I were drunk, we thought it would be hilarious. We got married and got annulled the next day. No big deal." Louis shrugged it off. Sophie laughed along with everyone but Brody and Marlon, Louis having already told her the story.
"Marlon, you're in the dog house, and it's your turn, go." Violet said once she recovered from her laughter, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Marlon was still looking uncomfortably at an angry Brody, "Never have I ever said I love you without meaning it, I love you Brody." Marlon said as he shot a smile at her. Everyone 'awwww'd'.
"I love you too." Brody rolled her eyes and dropped a finger, everyone 'oooooooooooh'd' at Marlon and laughed at their friend.
It was Aasim's turn, "Never have I ever lied in this game." Sophie, Louis, Brody and Marlon all lowered a finger.
"My friends are a bunch o' cheaters!" Ruby laughed, "I'm sorta surprised you didn't put a finger down Vi..."
"Maybe I'm lying?" She shrugged, Clementine nudged her leg with a chuckle.
Ruby went next, "Never have I ever fallen asleep in the movie theater." All the boys plus Sophie lowered a finger with a shrug.
"My turn, my turn!" Louis yelled, rubbing his hands together deviously, "Never have I ever punched a tall red headed woman at the beach."
"Seriously?" Clementine grumbled lowering her finger, "You know you could have gotten more people if you didn't make it so specific! Thanks telling about that Soph." Clementine glared jokingly at Louis and Sophie.
"Worth it!" Louis grinned.
"I tell Lou everything!" Sophie smiled kissing him on the cheek.
"Yeah she does!" Louis said proudly.
Clementine and Violet both raised their eyebrows at her, "uh...well... almost everything." Sophie amended.
"Wait, what?!" Louis looked at her offended.
"My turn!" Sophie ignored Louis, "Never have I ever been pregnant!" Clementine frowned exaggeratedly as she lowered her finger.
Violet cleared her throat and lowered a finger as well, everyone stared at her in shock. Before cries of congratulations erupted around the room. Everyone getting up and taking turns hugging Violet and asking questions as Clementine absolutely beamed from the floor. Rubbing Violet's lower leg as she turned red from all the attention. Only Louis remained seated, "Wait, Violet's not pregnant..." Louis said, confused, Sophie laughed and explained that Violet was in fact pregnant. He grinned and jumped up to hug his blonde headed best friend.
"Okay, okay!" Clementine yelled, standing to get everyone's attention, "I know we're excited but I'm taking my turn anyway!" Everyone froze where they stood, "Never have I ever been pregnant..." Everyone stared at her blankly, "...with twins." Silence as everyone tried to process what she said as Violet lowered a finger.
"What?" Louis asked confused. Sophie patted him pityingly on the shoulder.
"Twins?" Brody asked.
"Darlin' are you pregnant with twins?!" Ruby looked at Violet, who gave a small nod.
"TWINS!" Louis yelled running to Violet and picking her up in a giant hug, swinging her around. An even louder cheering erupted from the living room. Followed shortly by a loud cry coming from Luke's room. Clementine swore under her breath as they had woken the boy with their loud celebrations.
"I'll get him." Sophie volunteered, rushing from the room to rock the small boy back to sleep. Everyone quieted down but continued with their happy celebrations.
"Louis! Unhand my wife, you're going to hurt my babies!" Clementine swatted at Louis as he continued to swing Violet around like a rag doll. He reluctantly let go.
Soon everyone left, giving hugs goodbye, super excited for the couple. Louis hung around talking while Sophie rocked Luke back to sleep. When she came out of the room Louis got up stretching, ready to leave.
"In case it's not obvious," Violet started as they all stood near the door while Louis and Sophie put their shoes on. "We would love for you two to be the twins godparents as well." Louis and Sophie both squealed in excitement, eyes growing wide and putting a hand over the other's mouth to quiet them so that Luke wouldn't wake up again.
"Of course we will." Sophie and Louis whispered in unison with equal enthusiasm.
"I know it's a lot to ask..." Clementine admitted. "Three kids would be a handful."
"And hopefully we'll just be buying them all the presents and doing the fun stuff, but you better believe we'll step in and take care of those kids like our own, heaven forbid anything should happen to you two." Louis said, holding back tears as he pulled Violet into a huge hug. "I love you Vi and I love all your babies." Sophie and Louis walked towards the car, Louis running back for one more hug before getting in his car, opening the passenger side window where he sat, leaning out and waving goodbye until they were out of sight.
The girls shut and locked the door, letting out a soft sigh of relief. Happy to have their secret out at last and to have so many supportive friends and family.