Frankie was awake early, the baby doing somersaults on her bladder. She did consider climbing back into bed beside Boyd, but he looked so peaceful she decided to leave him sleeping. If she cuddled up against him no doubt their daughter would wake him up kicking. Pulling on his dressing gown she made her way quietly downstairs and into the kitchen. She made her morning coffee, the one she took her time savouring as she sat on the settee with her feet up. She was only half way through it when she heard footsteps on the stairs, the living room door opening to reveal a very sleepy looking Boyd in just a pair of boxer shorts.
"Why didn't you wake me?" He asked as he rubbed both hands through his messy bed hair and then down his face.
"You looked so peaceful, and this one wanted me to get up." Her hand rubbing over her bump as Boyd made his way to sit at her feet.
Frankie did move her feet for him to sit down but put them in his lap as he lay his head back and closed his eyes. Frankie continued to drink her coffee in silence as Boyd seemed to fall asleep again, his hands resting on her shins. Frankie darsent move in case she woke him again, the man worked to much and hardly slept as it was. She dreaded to think what would happen when the baby actually arrived. If he stayed over he would be awake every few hours just like she would be for feeding. At last he could still go home and get a good night's sleep when he needed to, or she sent him there. Soon Frankie had no choice but to move, Amelia again playing football with her bladder.
"Pete, I need to pee." Her voice not really loud enough to wake him up. "Pete, wake up." Trying a little louder but still having no luck. "Boyd, wake up." Giving it one last try before she tried to just move without waking him up.
"What? What's wrong?" Boyds groggy voice making Frankie smile.
"I need to pee, and make breakfast, and get ready. So do you, okay, maybe not the peeing bit. Let go of my legs so I can get up please." Frankie wiggling her legs so he would let go.
Frankie managed to stand up and make her way up the stairs. Boyd looked at the clock that stood on the mantelpiece and decided he might as well make a start on getting ready. Boyd was in the middle of making coffee when Frankie came back down, or at least making a coffee for him and tea for Frankie. Frankie filled the toaster with toast, all four slices pooping up just as Boyd placed the cups on the table.
"That's disgusting, then again, I'm sure I've said that before." Boyd Watching Frankie as she took a bite of her peanut butter on toast.
"You have, and in my defence, it's not my fault." Managing to speak in between chewing.
"No, it's partially mine. It's still gross though." Taking a bite of his perfectly normal butter on toast.
Frankie chose to ignore him, eating her remaining slice of toast before wiping her hands on the towel. She picked her tea and had a sip before standing up, Boyd finishing his own toast at the moment.
"Where you headed?" Asking as he gathered up the plates on the table.
"Shower, why? You fancy joining me?" Instantly regretting the words when she saw that possessive, feral look in his eyes.
"I thought you'd never ask." Smirking as he placed the plates in the sink and came to stand beside her.
"I'll wash yours if you wash mine." Deciding that she may as well go with the flow.
"Lead the way." Indicating to the door as he reached out and groped her arse.
Somehow they managed to find a position that wasn't too uncomfortable in the confined space, Boyd doing all the work as Frankie used the wall as support. They both finished up sweaty and spent, panting for air as Boyd pulled Frankie against his chest, their breathing slowly returning to normal. After getting washed again Boyd helped Frankie get washed and dried, his hands and fingers again causing Frankie to scream his name as she lay back on the bed.
"Bastard." Frankie managed to weakly mumble as she looked up at Boyd, his smug grin showing how pleased he was with himself.
"Let's get you up, we need to get ready and start making a move if we want to find a parking space." Seeing Frankie roll onto her side then push herself to sit.
They both got ready on opposites of the room, Frankie taking way longer as she realised that more of her clothes didn't fit. Finally shrugging her way into a pair of jeans she looked around for a top that would at least cover both her and the bump. Four tops later things weren't looking hopeful. It was then she spied Boyds spare deep purple shirt hanging on the wardrobe door. He already had his blue shirt on, he didn't need two shirts. Moving casually towards the shirt she had it off the hanger and around her before Boyd even turned around. She was halfway through buttoning it up when he saw what she was wearing. He didn't say anything, just stood watching her button up all but the top three buttons, her ample cleavage just visible in the open V. When he stopped in front of her he took her arm and rolled the shelves up properly, Frankie holding out her arms simultaneously for him.
"There, that's right." Not being able to help himself from framing the bump with his hands, his shirt feeling soft under his hands. "Let's have a coffee before we go, we've got time." His hands falling away from Frankie's bump.
Frankie sat at the kitchen table as Boyd made the drinks, he wouldn't let her help and she didn't argue. When he placed the drinks on the table she saw he was miles away, his thoughts were definitely not in the here and now.
"What's wrong?" Reaching across the table and putting her hand over his.
"Nothing." His automatic reply making Frankie squeeze his hand a little harder. "Fine, it's just today, I guess I'm kind of nervous. It's all new, even though this is number three. I've been a shit dad, never there when I was needed, and even when I was there I was occupied with work." His hand tuning over so he could hold Frankie's properly. "I want to do this properly."
Frankie just watched him for a minute or so before standing up and moving to stand in front of him. Taking his hands she placed them on her bump, letting him feel the baby moving.
"Pete, you are all she needs, all she wants. You're all I want." Cupping his face with her hand as he looked down at the huge bump under his hands.
He didn't say a word, his throat seemed to close up. Instead, he nodded his head and turned to nuzzle her hand with his nose, kissing her palm.
"Come on, let's go so we have plenty of time to find a parking space." Leaning towards him and kissing the top of his head.
When they arrived at the hospital Frankie was glad they had left earlier, the hospital car park full with a traffic jam to get in.
"Stuff this crap." Boyd losing his temper as he reached in front of Frankie and pulled out a piece of card that was in the glove compartment.
Boyd did another lap of the car park and found a spot that had parking chevrons on, and from what he could tell they weren't actually there for a reason. Parking the car he got out and checked the road was clear before slotting the piece of card on the dashboard.
"Right, let's go." Opening Frankie's door and holding his hand out to her to help her out.
"Why didn't you just park in the multistory instead? And what the hell does that say?" Indicting the note on the dash as she got out. "Police matter! Really, Pete. The car park would have done." Glaring at him after reading the note.
"I'm not having you walk miles when it's not necessary. Come on then, lead the way." Holding out his hand for her to take.
Frankie took the proffered hand and they walked side by side into the hospital. When they exited the lift Frankie felt Boyd stiffen, his eyes glancing towards the ward on the left. Frankie understood his discomfort, that was the ward she had been on when she went into early labour. They took a seat in the waiting room after Frankie had handed her notes in, Boyd never letting go of Frankie's hand. He was nervous, his foot tapping as Frankie smirked. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear.
"You're drawing quite a few looks, Mr Boyd. Apparently, I'm not the only woman in her that likes the look of you." Frankie watching as Boyd's head whipped towards her.
"It's more probably to do with the fact that someone as young and good looking as you has ended up with an old bloke like me, and they are trying to work out if the kid is mine." Boyd looking around and seeing Frankie was indeed right.
A few of the women and even a couple of the men were looking at both him and Frankie.
"Your daughter disagrees with you." Making a show of placing his hand against her side as the baby moved.
"Frankie Wharton." Frankie going to stand and pulling him with her.
Instead of walking by his side, Frankie slid her arm around his waist and settled against his side. Even as they entered the small room she didn't let go until the door was shut.
"So, Frankie take a seat up on the bed, dad, take a seat beside her." The midwife smiling at them both.
Frankie did as she was asked, Boyd helping her up before sitting down.
"Rights lets do some basic measuring of your bump, have a listen in, then I'll swap with another midwife who will do the scan. Just lie back and let me see that impressive bump you've got there." Watching as Frankie lay back and Boyd helped her shift his shirt out the way.
They both watched as the midwife measures Frankie's bump, having a good feel about before turning back to her notes on the bench.
"You've only had one scan according to this, is that right?" Looking at Frankie as Frankie reached for Boyd' shand.
"Yes. I did have some monitoring due to early labour but everything's settled and we went home. What's wrong?" The panic in both Frankie and Boyd.
"Does twins run in your family by any chance?" Frankie looking straight at Boyd.
"They do on my side." Frankie now squeezing his hand so hard he thought it might break.
"Well, I'm going to get my colleague now and we can see exactly what's going on in there. Your bump is measuring large for your gestation, and I can feel at least a couple of sets of limbs." The midwife smiling at both sets of shocked looks on Boyd and Frankie.
When the midwife left the room Frankie just stared at Boyd, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"What if it's twins?" I can't deal with twins. I'm not prepared for twins. Fuck, Pete!" Frankie's eyes swimming with tears.
"Frankie, calm down, breath. Whatever will be will be. One baby, two babies, four babies, we'll manage. As long as everyone is fit and healthy that's all that matters." Bringing their joined hands to his face so he could kiss Frankie's knuckles.
"Well hello, I hear you guys might be in for a bit of a shock here. Let's see what we can see, then." A different midwife entering the room all happy and cheerful.
Both of them watched as the midwife sat down and flicked a few switches on the computer in front of her. Frankie looked at Boyd as she had the gel squirted on her bump, the midwife spreading it around with the wand. Frankie turned to look at the midwife, feeling as she moved the wand around as she looked at the screen.
"So, an extra congratulations is in order. You have a little surprise hiding in there. Look." The midwife pointing to the screen above the bed.
Boyd and Frankie looked up at the screen, a grainy black and white image appearing. One face was clearly visible, yet just behind it they could make out a set of feet.
"Unless that baby is double jointed that's baby number twos feet beside baby ones face. Now if I move right down here," the midwife moving the wand right to the bottom of Frankie's bump, "there's head number two, and feet beside that as well." The image showing a mirror image of the top of Frankie's bump. "That baby is head down and engaged already for birth. I'll just take some measurements and see if I can work out which baby is which, also what type of twins you're having." Making Boyd frown.
"She means identical or not. Depending on the placenta we may have one egg making two or two eggs making two. Then again, if twins run in your family it's possible identical." Seeing Boyd look between her then back at the frozen image on the screen.
"You have fraternal twins, meaning two placentas. I can definitely see a girl, she's the one head down and ready. The other one is being difficult. I can get measurements, but that's it. They won't let me see what tackle they have or don't have. I have a bum, and spine as they have their back to me." The image on the screen changing to reveal a spinal column. "Everything looks good considering. One baby is bigger than the other but that's normal in twins. As long as you don't experience any problems we shouldn't see you again until delivery. You'll need to see your midwife every week now until delivery, but all looks good in there, especially now it just got very crowded. I'm all done, I'll print you some pictures of them both as best I can, and here's some wipes to clean up." Passing the wipes to Frankie as Boyd just sat there completely dumbfounded.
Frankie cleaned herself and went to sit up, giving Boyds hand a quick yank to pull him out of his stupor. He quickly stood up and helped Frankie sit up, his eyes transfixed on her bump as she fastened her shirt.
"There we go, and congratulations again." Handing over the scan pictures to Boyd as Frankie climbed off the bed.
Boyd was totally unaware of anything as Frankie lead them both out of the hospital to the car, his mind reeling with the news. It wasn't until Frankie snapped her fingers in front of his face and spoke did he seem to snap out of his stupor.
"And you told me everything would be fine. I'm not the one walking around with my head up my arse. Let's go home, I need a coffee." Frankie nudging Boyd so he would open the car. "Give me the keys, you're in no fit state to take a pee unsupervised never mind drive." Getting the keys out his hand and opening the car.
Frankie opened the passenger door and Boyd climbed in, his mind and body on totally different wavelengths. Frankie drove them home, her bump nearly touching the steering wheel as she was so big. When they got in the house Frankie closed the door and left Boyd stood in the doorway, she needed caffeine before she could deal with him and his funk. When she came out of the kitchen he wasn't stood in the hallway anymore, nor was he in the living room. Climbing the stairs she saw the bathroom door was open so she went to go in there. As she went to go past the nursery she caught movement and pushed the door open, finding Boyd stood at the cot looking at the name on the wall.
"She definitely got us good, didn't she?" His hand raising to trace the letters of Amelia's name.
"Mel would love this, she'd be in absolutely fucking stitches right now. You've been in a trance since you found out, and I'm just waddling along here with the prospect of pushing out two babies instead of one. How the hell are we going to fit two in here? And what if they are not both girls?" Frankie saw the very little colour Boyd have drain away. "Shit, sit down before you pass out. Head between your legs, as best as you can. Deep breaths, in and out, in and out, it's okay, just breath." Frankie not even trying to kneel down beside him. "I'll go get you some water." Leaving Boyd alone until she went to the bathroom for water.
"Here, take a few sips." Passing him a glass of water.
Boyd took it, his hands shaking. Frankie placed her hand on his back and rubbed up and down, soothing him as he took a few sips of water. He shakily passed her the water back, his palms sweaty and his breathing still rapid.
"Let's go lie down, I think it's nap time for all of us." Taking Boyd's hand and leading him out the nursery and into the bedroom.
Frankie stripped off her clothes, sitting on the bed in just her underwear. Boyd was still in shock, dropping his clothes on the floor as he turned to look at Frankie. His eyes instantly dropped to her bump, his baby, his babies. Frankie was having twins. Two babies, two little versions of Frankie and himself. Two new lives to screw up instead of one. Without thinking he moved around the bed and stopped right in front of Frankie, slowly getting down on his knees even though they protested. Frankie watched him, totally confused at what he was doing. He hesitantly placed his hands either side of Frankie's naked bump, his eyes never leaving her body as he leaned his head down and rested it on her bump like he was using it as a pillow.
"Twins." He murmured against her skin, his fingers moving up and down gently on her sides.
"Twins, Pete. Our twins. Our little girl, and a surprise all in one." Covering one of his hands with hers she used the other to stroke her fingers through his hair. "Pete, look at me." Nudging his head a little so he'd lift back up. "This isn't a problem. As you said, one, two, or four babies, they are ours, and we'll love them the same. It's gonna be a squeeze in here for a few weeks after they arrive until we can shift the nursery around to make room for them both. We can just buy another Moses basket, another car seat, and double the supply of clothes and nappies for now. Pete, this is a blessing, a gift. We have been given the chance to make something wonderful come out of such a horrific tragedy. Two babies, two perfect little people who will be a legacy to both their parents and their auntie Mel. This was meant to be, for me, for you, for us. An instant family, for us to love and cherish from the minute they are born until the minute we take our last breaths. You can do this Pete, we all have absolute faith in you, all three of us." Tears rolling down her cheeks as she saw a single tear roll down Boyds check and land on the top of her bump.
Boyd reached up and wiped away her tears, then used the bed to support him as he stood up. Taking Frankie's hands he stood her up, unclipping her bra and throwing it with his clothes.
"You need a bigger bra, this one's digging in." His fingers skirting under her breasts as he rubbed at the deep red lines.
"And they'll only get bigger. Feeding one baby was daunting, imagine how big they'll get feeding two." Frankie watching as Boyd gentle cupped both of them and started to massage them, only stopping when he saw creamy coloured liquid appear on both nipples.
"Shit, sorry, I didn't know, I didn't think, how can they do that already?" Boyd swiping his thumb over one of Frankie's nipples, the creamy thick liquid coating the pad of his thumb.
"Getting ready for when they arrive. Did you never have this with Mary or even Jenny?" Frankie amused by the fact Boyd had never coming across leaking pregnancy breast.
"No. Mary never let me near her when she was pregnant unless it was on her terms of course. And Jenny, Jenny would let me do everything else but touch them, said they were too sensitive." His other thumb swiping across Frankie's other nipple as she shivered.
"The sensitive part I fully understand. They go from sore sensitive to sexual sensitive in seconds. Like now." Seeing Boyd grin at her just before he flicked his tongue over one of them, Frankie actually moaning as a rush of desire shot straight from her nipple down her spine and settled between her thighs. "Don't start what you don't want to finish." Her voice coming out deep and husky.
"I can finish what I started, but can you get in a position to do anything?" Boyd watching as Frankie's eyes glinted before she started to shuffle up the bed.
"Show me what you've got then." Her body across the bed so Boyd could get to her from behind or from below as they made a cross shape.
As the lay side by side sweaty and panting, Frankie cuddled back against Boyd as she placed his hand on the babies.
"Our mystery child doesn't like us getting it on." The baby still head up moving about under their hands. "Then again, neither does our daughter. The pressure of her head is uncomfortable, more so now she's in place and ready. I felt when the midwife gripped her head with her fingers, she could actually feel the outline of her head." Boyd's eyes closing as Frankie explained.
"I thought we came in her to nap?" Quickly trying to change the subject after what they had just done.
"We are, we did. Then you started playing with my boobs and here we are, still awake, just." A huge yawn escaping Frankie as she closed her eyes.
"Sorry, go to sleep. We can talk later about everything." Snuggling her closer as she fell asleep.
He stayed awake a little while longer, playing over the scan images in his head when the midwife said it was twins. A mix of awe and panic sweeping over him. Then he remembered Frankie's words and smiled as he closed his eyes. Frankie was right, they could do this, together, as a soon to be family of four.