Through The Ups & Downs
Couple; Harrison X Briana
Rating; Mature
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD or any songs I might use! In addition, from this point in the story and in future chapters, I do not own the character Ella (Eira) Solveig. She belongs to a good friend, ShadowSpirit020.
45) Pleasantly Unplanned Day
[10/07/2017-Harrison & Briana's Place-9 pm]
The last three months had been amazing for Harrison and Briana. By some grace of God, Harrison didn't have to return to his special operation missions to an undisclosed location overseas at all, mainly because Harrison put his foot down saying that he was dead center of Briana's pregnancy and planning his wedding. Briana was would thirty-seven weeks tomorrow, only three more to go until the arrival of their twin boys; names were still being decided. All the wedding planning had been going great; everything was ready to go for tomorrow. Harrison and Briana were also preparing the nursery for their twins; the baby shower had helped a lot in getting things ready. It was hard to do since they needed two of everything. However, it worked out because everyone got them something the day of the baby shower.
Briana's parents and Harrison's parents provided a crib and changing table for each baby. Each set from a parent had previously belonged to Briana and Harrison when they were babies-completely reinforced and refurbished to hold the children until they could go to toddler beds when they were two or three-years-old. Addilyn, Regina, Olivia, Chelsea, and Hailey all pitched in to get bibs, bottles, burp rags, onsies, clothes, and pacifiers. Glenn got a convertible car seat and Aaron provided a rocking chair. Dexter bought them a baby swing. TJ and Frankie bought a deluxe pack and play. Trevor bought the second car seat while Syrus just got a diaper bag, diapers, and wipes for them. Oh, the parents of both Harrison and Briana also got diapers and wipes too. Harrison has spent most of his free time assembling things and arranging the nursery how Briana wanted it to be.
Tonight was the rehearsal dinner and it was being held at Harrison and Briana's place because the only people needed were the bride and groom's families and the wedding party. Harrison chose his little brother as Best Man, but since Nate wasn't eighteen yet, Syrus was going to be Harrison's witness on the marriage license form. Harrison's Groomsmen were Frankie, TJ, Trevor, Alexander, Syrus, Andy, and Trevor. Briana chose her best friend, Skye as Maid of Honor and her Bridesmaids were Jasmine, Olivia, Chelsea, Hailey, Addilyn, Regina, and Nate's friend, Emily. It was the only way to make it even on both sides, which is what Briana wanted anyway.
"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Nate asked.
"Well, Harrison can't stay here with Briana, it's against traditions and bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding," Mia informed.
"I'll stay on the couch and Bri can have the bedroom. I'll leave in the morning when the girls come to get her ready, we won't see each other," Harrison stated. "Sorry, I don't feel comfortable leaving her here alone all night when she's thirty-seven weeks pregnant," he added. "So, I'll stay on the couch and we'll be fine,"
"Seems alright to me. We'll expect you over to get ready, Harrison, shall we say 6 am?" Trevor wondered.
"Works. See you guys then. And you, you're falling asleep, babe," Harrison pointed out as he helped Briana to her feet and led her upstairs to the bathroom, and then to the bedroom. "If you need me, I'm right downstairs," he reminded. Briana and Harrison shared a kiss after she nodded and closed the door to go to sleep. Harrison watched everyone leave, he locked up the duplex and then he took his place on the couch with a blanket and pillow. Tomorrow, he'd be married to the love of his life and he couldn't wait.
[10/7/17-3:45 am]
Briana had been awake since 3 am because she was uncomfortable and in pain too. Briana assumed it might have been Braxton Hicks contractions, which she'd been warned about by the doctor at her last appointment. However, this had been going on for nearly an hour and the pain was enough to bring her to tears, she had a weird feeling about it and didn't want to take the chance of something being wrong. Briana forced herself out of bed, wincing a bit and trying to breathe through it. Briana reached the bedroom door, then leaned over the railing to the stairs some.
"Har-ris-on," Briana tried, but knew it wasn't loud enough to wake her deep sleeper fiancé. "HARRISON!" she called louder. Downstairs, Harrison awoke with a start and sat up quickly. "Harrison, wake up, please!" he heard Briana call for him. Throwing the covers off, Harrison raced up the stairs to see her in pain.
"Bri, are you okay? What's wrong?" Harrison asked quickly.
"I-It just hurts, babe. I've been uncomfortable and in pain for nearly an hour," Briana whimpered a little.
"Okay, take it easy, Love. The doctor said you'd be uncomfortable towards the end, and the pain is probably the false labor pains," Harrison assured.
Briana shook her head. "Harrison, its more than that. I don't know…how to word it, but I would…just feel better if we went to the hospital to make…ow, sure," she winced a little.
"Alright. Let me grab your bag just in case we end up staying, and we'll go," Harrison told her as she nodded. Harrison grabbed the bag and helped Briana down the stairs carefully, then the two went outside to get to Briana's car-the invested in it not long ago since it would be easier to have the car seats there instead of Harrison's truck. Harrison got Briana in the car, then himself as the two were gone after assuring the dragons that it would be okay.
[Berkville Memorial Hospital]
By the time they got there, it was 4:10 am. Briana was taken right to labor and delivery to be checked over. At the moment, the two were sitting in the temporary room with Briana hooked up the monitors that kept the nurses and doctors up to date on both mother and babies vitals. Briana was checked and told she was about one centimeters dilated, but that was normal to happen this far along in the pregnancy. However, it didn't mean she was in active labor so they would likely send her home if nothing changed over the next hour. So, an hour later came as it was now 5:30 am with Harrison sitting at Briana's side, the two talking about names again. The nurse came in to check Briana's charts, readings, and dilation.
"Oh! Well, that's different," the nurse said as Harrison and Briana looked at her. "You're two centimeters now, and the readings show your contractions are still pretty far apart. Let me consult the doctor on this one," the woman stated as she removed her hand, then the glove before exiting the room. Harrison and Briana were confused but decided to just wait for answers. Ten minutes later, the doctor came in with a smile.
"So, you dilated a full centimeter within an hour but your contractions are spaced out still. What we're going to do is send you home for now and if the contractions get closer together, we want you to come back. Alright?" the doctor stated.
"What you're saying is that it's not false labor?" Harrison asked.
"Not at all, son. Quite common for first time mothers of twins to start having contractions early and dilating too. We just watch it for when it turns to active labor. Generally, active labor is when the mother reaches anywhere between four to seven centimeters. Also, her water hasn't broken, so she's just fine. Your fiancé could very well stay 2 cm until she gives birth in three weeks," the doctor informed.
"We'll keep a watch on it then," Briana smiled softly as the nurse started to unhook the machines and help Briana up and off the bed. However, that's when it happened. Briana's felt a gush of wet between her legs as she looked down and then to Harrison with worry.
"Bri, was that…what I think it was?" Harrison asked.
"Uh huh…M-My water broke," Briana confirmed.
"Well then, I guess you won't be going anywhere, Miss. Grayson," the doctor blinked, still a little shocked at the turn of events. After that, Briana was placed in a real room where she's give birth later on in the day likely and hooked back up to the monitors. By the time all this happened, it was 6:20 am when they were settled into the new room. Briana and Harrison had started talking about names, then she brought up the wedding, because with her in labor, there was no way it was happening now.
"Don't worry, babe. We'll have the babies, and push everything back a few weeks. I don't need all that fancy stuff, just you, me, few witnesses. I'm good," Harrison assured her. Just then, his cell phone started vibrating in his pocket. Harrison glanced at the screen to see that it was his father. Then Harrison remembered that he hadn't told anyone what was going on. "It's Dad," Harrison told her as he answered the call.
"Harrison Haddock, where are you!?" Spencer demanded.
"Dad, calm down, okay? I have a good reason for not being there," Harrison sighed.
"Start explaining because we're all at your house already. Answer the door," Spencer ordered.
"Uh, that's gonna be a problem. See, we're not home," Harrison informed as it went quiet on the other end of the line. "Briana's in labor, we're at the hospital," he added.
"SHE'S IN LABOR!?" they all shouted.
"Yes. Bri woke me up round 4 am, said she was in pain so we came to the hospital. She's two centimeters dilated now, and her water broke at 5:45 am. Wedding isn't happening today," Harrison stated.
"We're on our way!" said Mia and Viviana together. Harrison hung up and shrugged to Briana, well, everyone knew now. After that, he started making calls to the places to halt things before too much was done.
[Seven Hours Later]
It was now a little after noon, Briana was dilated to nine centimeters with one to go before she could start pushing. At six and a half centimeters, she got the epidural and took a two-hour nap while Harrison was sitting with the others in the waiting room. Sure, it wasn't the best situation but, hey, the babies didn't want to wait another three weeks in their eyes. When Briana woke up again, Harrison was back in the room with her. Mia and Vivian were two visitors who did not rotate out when the other guests did. Both mothers wanted to be present when the big moment happened. Briana was nauseated and tired; she wanted to sleep more but knew it was almost time to push so she was fighting through the fatigue.
The nurse came in to check Briana at 1 pm on the dot and smiled wide. "It's time!" she announced happily. Harrison and Briana took deep breaths, this was it.
"Harrison, I want to marry you," Briana told him.
"You will, babe. Couple weeks," Harrison told her while everyone was getting into position for the birth.
"N-No. Now. I-I won't have these babies unless we're married now," Briana told him firmly.
"Bri, bit of a tall order there. I can't just make that happen," Harrison said.
"We do have a preacher in the building, usually for those who are about to pass away and want to make final peace. I suppose we could get her up here for a bedside wedding, if you two are okay with that?" the nurse offered. Briana looked at Harrison pleadingly as he couldn't tell her no, this was supposed to be their wedding day after all. Harrison nodded to her.
"Mom, get everyone in here. Nate better have those rings on him," Harrison instructed his mother. Viviana rushed out to get everyone in the room for the quick ceremony, then they'd be booted out for the birth. After five minutes, everyone was in the room and staying as out of the way as they could. Thank the Gods, Nate had the rings in his pocket as the preacher woman walked in smiling.
"I hear we want to get married in here," she started.
"And as quick as you can because I don't think the twins want to wait," Briana panted.
"I think we can handle that. Harrison Haddock and Briana Grayson, right?" the woman asked as the two nodded quickly.
"Ladies first," Harrison smiled at his soon to be wife.
"Briana Grayson, do you take, Harrison Haddock to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, through sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer until death do you part?" the woman said gently.
"I-," Briana winced a little at the pain, panting hard as Harrison gave her his hand to hold. "I…Do," she finally got out with a smile.
"Harrison Haddock, do you take, Briana Grayson to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, through sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer until death do you part?" the preacher woman asked looking at Harrison who didn't take his eyes off Briana.
"I Do," Harrison replied. Nate handed the woman the rings as she gave the respected on to the person who would place it.
"I understand you wrote your own ring exchange vows?" the woman asked softly. Harrison nodded as the two positioned their hands to exchange rings. "Go on then," she smiled.
"As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you," Briana managed as she placed the band on Harrison's finger.
"As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you," Harrison repeated placing the ring on Briana's finger now.
"By the power vested in my by the State of Arc Isle, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride," the woman said. Harrison leaned over the bed a little and cupped Briana's cheek as he kissed her deeply.
"Alright, everyone out. Mr. And Mrs. Haddock, I believe it's time we welcome two new members to your family," the doctor smiled.
"Let's do it," Briana and Harrison said together. Everyone filed out, still shocked that Harrison and Briana got married right then and there, now they were having the twins. All any of them could do was wait for the announcement.
[Forty-Five Minutes Later]
Finally, they were allowed back in the room. Filing in slow, everyone was able to see two babies present. One was in Harrison's right arm while the other was in Briana's left as the two were sitting up in the bed together.
"Everyone, we'd have two people we'd like you to meet. Colden and Cayden Haddock." Harrison informed with a soft smile.
"Or for short, Cole and Cade," Briana giggled a bit as everyone just stared in shock, amazement, joy. There were so many emotions to feel as they stood there looking at Harrison and Briana hold their twins, who had just been born after Harrison and Briana decided to get hitched right before. Well, how odd was it? Harrison and Briana were supposed to get married today anyway, who cares if it didn't happen the way it had been set to. All any of them could agree on was that this was a pleasantly unplanned day, but went perfectly.