DESTINY
CHAPTER 16
Lucas and Dara's first wedding anniversary approached, with Dara taking the day off in order to prepare a special dinner for the two of them. Lucilla was busy, as usual, helping Dara in the kitchen. Since Dara's condition had made her ungainly, she was infinitely grateful for the fact that the older woman had volunteered to stay with them until she gave birth. Although Dara liked the woman she had seen that underneath all of her friendliness, she like Lucas also had a darker side to her nature, but since she had never been anything but caring and concerned towards Dara, she had never dwelled on that particular issue.
When Dara heard the front door open, she panicked, "Oh mama, go stall him while I check dinner. I don't want him to see the table till everything's ready."
Lucilla shook her head as she smiled at the younger woman, "All right, honey. You just take your time." Lucilla marveled at Dara's enthusiasm as she headed up the hallway, grateful in her grandson's choice for his wife. When she reached the entryway, she smiled at the dozen roses and wrapped package Lucas had set on the table so that he could shrug out of his coat.
Lucas turned when he heard his grandmother approach, "Where's Dara?"
Lucilla shook her head, "You'll just have to wait a few minutes, she doesn't want to ruin the surprise. So just hold your hors..." A loud crash and the sound of breaking glass punctuated by a sharp, short scream interrupted her statement.
Without a word, Lucas bolted up the hallway, followed closely by Lucilla, to find Dara with one arm braced heavily across the top of the counter for support, while she was holding the other protectively across her stomach. He could see that she was using the method of breathing they had been learning in the classes they were taking. Looking at the floor he could see a puddle of liquid on the floor at her feet. Rushing over and holding her against him to support her, he asked gently, "Tell me it's not what I think it is."
Dara leaned against him, weak from the aftermath of what she now realized had been a labor pain. She wasn't sure when she had felt an earlier twinge, thinking it had just been a kicking action, but when she had felt the rush of liquid run down her legs, followed by a pain so sudden and sharp that it had caused her to drop the baking dish she had been holding, as well as to wrench a sharp scream of pain from her, she realized that her labor had indeed begun. Looking up at him now, she nodded as she replied somewhat weakly, "I think I'm in labor, my water broke."
Lucas glanced over his shoulder to his grandmother, ordering sharply, "Get Crower. NOW!" Focusing his attention back to his wife, he could see by the tension on her face that she was gripped in another pain, watching as she was attempting to breath through the pain as she had been instructed, but he could see that the pain was overcoming her attempts, especially when she sagged weakly against him in the pain's aftermath.
Just then Lucilla rushed back into the kitchen, "Dr. Crower said to get her to the hospital immediately."
Lucas focused his attention on his wife, who was once more overcome by a labor pain. He knew that something was definitely wrong, the pains were coming too close together and had started too suddenly for there not to be. Waiting until she was once more relaxed, he explained, careful to keep his own voice calm, "Darlin, I'm taking you to the hospital. There isn't anything to worry about, this is probably false labor."
Dara narrowed her gaze, as she ground out through the onset of another spasm, "I am not stupid, I work in a hospital, remember. There is something wrong and this is not false labor."
Lucas clutched her tighter to him, supporting her so that she leaned heavily against him as he tried to guide her down the hallway. When she was seized by another pain and almost collapsed from weakness in its aftermath, he realized that she wasn't in any shape to hold herself up, so he bent down and swung her up in his arms. The severity of her agony was apparent in the whiteness of the hand that she was using to grip the front of his vest when the pain became overwhelming.
When Lucas pulled up to the entrance of the emergency room he wasn't shocked to see Crower there waiting with a stretcher to rush Dara to maternity.
Once he had placed her on the conveyance and they were headed for the appropriate floor, Matt began his inquiry, "When did she start having pains?"
Lucas answered him quickly, "Couldn't have started more than twenty minutes or so ago."
Glancing over his shoulder as they continued rushing through to the elevator, "She didn't complain about feeling bad, or having any kind of pain at all?"
Lucas shook his head, "No, as a matter of fact when I spoke to her earlier this evening, she said she felt fine." Remembering the sight of her holding the door handle in the car with a death grip, as well as the small whimpering sounds she made when the pains were overwhelming, Lucas inquired worriedly, "She's going to be all right, isn't she?"
Matt shook his head as they reached a labor room, ushering the team in he turned to Lucas to explain, "I wont know until I examine her, and I'm sorry but for right now you're going to have to stay out here. I'm going to be honest with you though, I don't think she's in false labor, the pains came to sudden and are too close together, not to mention the fact that her water broke." With that he turned and entered the room to conduct his examination.
Watching as Crower closed the door he began pacing worriedly. He had never prayed in his life, everything he was and has been taught and believed in went against the idea, but he knew that Dara had a lot of faith when it came to her belief in God. He had always respected her belief and had never tried to interfere, just as she never questioned or interfered in his own beliefs and views, but he grudgingly admitted, if it would help her now he would gladly offer up words of prayer for her sake.
Matt reappeared, not looking particularly thrilled, "It's not false labor, she's going to have to deliver. And we have one other problem."
Lucas raised his eyebrow caustically at the physician, "Only one, Harvard. How did we manage to get so lucky?"
Matt looked at him in censure, "Sarcasm won't help the situation or your wife."
Lucas sighed in regret of his words and nodded his agreement, "You're right, I'm sorry. What's the problem?"
Matt sighed in agitation, "The babies are in a breach position, normally I would say do a c section, but she's already in a severe weakened state from the intensity of the pains, not to mention the fact that her vital signs aren't all that great at the moment. I don't think she could handle the anesthetic, and if we tried to do it without benefit of it she could go into shock."
Lucas looked at the man in disbelief, "There's no other options? You mean to tell me that only route we can take is for her to suffer like she is now?"
Matt nodded his agreement of the observation, "I'm sorry, but that's all we can do. I don't want to do a c-section unless there just isn't any other way. I think we can get her through the delivery, if we are very careful. She's already dilated up to seven centimeters, she could be ready to deliver at any time."
Lucas reluctantly accepted the man's diagnosis, not thrilled over the prospect of the amount of pain his wife was about to endure. "All right, let's do it your way. Can I go in now?" Matt pushed the door open, allowing him to enter.
He had to brace himself when he saw her. She was lying in the bed in a reclined position, at that moment; she was gripped in another fierce pain. He could see by the grip she had on the bed rails and the way she was gritting her teeth that she was fighting it for all she was worth. Finally, when the pain eased, she relaxed.
Dara leaned back against the pillows piled behind her, when she glanced to the door and saw her husband standing there she held her hand out in a silent plea.
Lucas rushed over to take her hand in his, noticing that she had been gowned as well as that her hair had been tied back to fall down her back, in an attempt to make her more comfortable. He could see the fear in her eyes when she beseeched him, "Please, don't leave me. Promise me." Lucas gently pushed a stray curl away from her pale face as he vowed, "I promise, we're in this together. I'm not going anywhere." Another pain clutched her, when she attempted to release his hand he refused to allow it. "You hold on to me, that's the least I can do considering what you're dealing with." He was surprised by the amount of strength she had in her hand as she grasped his when the pain became intense. After the spasm had passed she fell back against the pillows, now weaker from her struggle.
Matt appeared at that moment to check her monitors, "Dara, I'm going to check you again. I don't think you're much more dilated than before, but the monitor says your pains are increasing." Raising the sheet, he began examining her once more, looking up in disbelief, he walked to the door to yank it open and shout, "Rita, get in here. NOW!"
Rita came rushing in, "What's the matter, Matt?" Matt motioned for her to examine Dara as well, looking up in disbelief she stated, "You have to be joking, how?"
Lucas, becoming quickly frustrated at not knowing what was exactly taking place, demanded, "One of you want to tell me what the hell the problem is?"
Matt, seeing Dara's agitation, glared at Lucas, who could also see his wife's panic rising. "It's all right, honey. Calm down." Dara silently nodded as another pain gripped her in its clutches, following the pattern set, it was more intense than the previous one before.
Matt glanced at the monitor as he sternly instructed, "Dara, what ever you do, don't push until I tell you." Turing to Rita he instructed, "Get a delivery room. NOW!" Rita hurried out to fulfill his order, leaving Matt to explain the situation to Lucas. "To answer your question, she is crowning." Seeing that he didn't comprehend what that entailed, he supplied the answer, "She is ready to deliver, but the babies are in a backwards position and have to be turned around, but I cant do it here."
Rita reappeared, "We're ready when you are."
Matt nodded as he instructed, "Get the Sheriff a scrub outfit and show him where to change."
Dara, only hearing that Lucas was going to have to leave her, shrieked, "NO!" Grabbing at him with all her strength, which was now considerable due to the pain that had started once again, she begged him frantically, "Please, don't leave me. You promised me that you wouldn't."
Lucas glanced at Matt, who was glancing at the monitor. Matt weighed the options, "Forget the scrubs, we cant wait any longer, let him go like he is."
Once in the delivery room and situated on the table, Dara had begun to think that the pain would never subside, especially as she watched Rita position her legs into the stirrups. To her way of thinking that final step meant that she was at the mercy of the torturous pain she was experiencing, that until it was satisfied with ripping through her body, there was nothing she could do to fight it.
Lucas continued holding her hand in an attempt to help ease her through the pains, but he could see by the look of intensity on her face that it wasn't working very well. The fact became even more apparent when the next pain hit and Rita was attempting to help coach her through it.
"OK, Dara. Breath now." With that she began going through the motions of the breathing exercises.
Dara turned her head and narrowed her gaze at the woman as she inquired, "Are you a cooling device of some sort?" Rita's face took on a look of puzzlement as she shook her head. Gritting her teeth through the pain she was gripped in, Dara ground out, "Then quit blowing in my damn face, would you please." All present stopped to look at Dara in surprise at her outburst.
Lucas, never having been present during a child's birth, glanced at Matt, "This is normal, right?"
Matt, finding the first bit of humor in the situation, nodded as he grinned, "Oh just wait, it's probably going to get much more interesting." With that he proceeded to begin repositioning the first baby to be delivered. "OK, Dara. Now I'm going to count to ten and while I count you push. All right, push."
Dara focused her attention on the task at hand, and put everything into doing as instructed, clutching her husband's hand, certain that he was the only thing keeping her grounded in sanity, despite the pain she was enduring.
Matt nodded, satisfied with her progress, "All right, stop a second and catch your breath." Dara leaned back against the pillows at her back, taking the opportunity to get her second wind.
Lucas watched her struggle with a cross between pain and intense love tearing at his heart. Pain for the agony he was watching her endure, and intense love for the fact that she was willingly subjecting herself to it in order to bring the two lives they had created into the world.
An hour and several more colorful comments later, Matt was trying to encourage Dara along, "You're doing fine, Dara. Just one more push and we'll have this baby out."
Dara glanced at him, as she demanded, "Oh just quit lying to me, Matt. Just be honest, I'll still be trying to deliver this baby when he's eighteen."
Matt shook his head, "No, one more. I promise."
Dara positioned herself and began pushing as she ground out, "LIAR!" Giving her all she did as instructed and forced more energy into the task at hand. Thinking the pain was about to rip her in two, and despite her vow that she wouldn't, Dara uttered the words that millions of women who've given birth the world over have. "LUCAS BUCK, YOU ARE NEVER TOUCHING ME AGAIN AS LONG AS I LIVE!" Finally, she heard a tiny cry and opened her eyes to catch a glimpse of her child. Leaning back she looked over to her husband, the relief evident on her face.
Matt smiled as he reminded her, "OK, good job. We just have to deliver this little one and you're all done."
Dara looked at him forlornly as he motioned for her to position herself to begin pushing. At his nod she focused her attention once more and repeated her efforts. Much to her surprise it only took her another ten minutes to bring her second child into the world. When she heard the tiny wail coming from the small being Matt was now holding, she leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief. Glancing at her husband once more she smiled tenderly as she held his hand close to her, "Well, this wasn't what I had planned, but happy anniversary." Then remembering her words earlier, she felt a stab of guilt. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said."
Lucas shook his head and smiled lovingly at her, placing his hand along her cheek he kissed her tenderly as he inquired, "Do you have any idea how much I love you? And after what you just went through you have definitely earned the right to cuss me up and down this hospital."
Dara looked at him and smiled, "As much as I love you, I hope."
Lucas was waiting in the hallway to talk to Crower. Since they were moving Dara to a room, as well as giving her something for the pain, Lucas had been asked to wait outside to allow the medical staff to finish working on Dara. He had to shake his head at her stubbornness, even though she agreed with the plan to place the babies in an incubator, she had been adamant about holding them first. Since Matt had stated that it was merely a precaution anyway, with both weighing in well over six pounds, she had demanded to hold both before the nurses took them away.
Matt came from the delivery room to find Lucas waiting for him in the hallway, already knowing what was on the other man's mind, he began the discussion. "She's doing fine, they're taking her to a room now, and I've ordered something for the pain. Both your son and daughter are fine, but since they are a little early, I thought it would be better to put them in incubators for the first twenty-four hours. Dara will be fine too, in time, I had to make and incision to reposition the babies, and despite the fact that she had one of the hardest labors I've ever seen, she came through it like a champ. Any thing I missed?"
Lucas looked at the man in amazement at his efficiency, "No, but something bothers me. If her labor was short shouldn't it have been easier on her?"
Matt shook his head, "That's a common misconception. If anything that made it harder on her, you have to consider, she's a small woman, not to mention, those babies were ready to be born and they were coming hard and fast and in a backwards position. Even if they were early they were still good size for twins, it might be a blessing that she went into labor early, if they had gotten any bigger." Matt left the statement unfinished, not wanting to consider that possibility.
Lucas considered his words as he asked cautiously, "If she wants to, can she have more children?"
Matt looked at him in disbelief, "I don't believe you, she just had twins, are you already planning on another one?"
Lucas glared at the man as he ground out, "No. I'm just wondering if we need to take precautions against her having any more children."
Matt looked sheepish as he offered his apology, "I'm sorry, it's just that I know how you can be. I shouldn't have jumped to the wrong conclusion, but yes, if she wants to she can have more children."
Once the nurse had informed them that Dara had been settled in a room, Matt led the way and explained before allowing Lucas in to see his wife, "I imagine she wont even know she's in the world before too much longer, so make it quick. Once the medication takes effect that will be it till she wakes up tomorrow."
Lucas nodded his understanding as he pushed the door open to gaze at his wife in amazement. The nurse had brushed her hair out and it was now lying against the while linen, reminding him of a reddish gold curtain. The strain of the double birth, which had been evident in the lines of pain that had marked her face, were now gone, leaving her looking young and beautiful.
Dara turned her head and caught sight of her husband, smiling weakly, she offered, "Hi."
Lucas quickly closed the space between the bed and the door to take her hand as he replied, "Hi, yourself. How are you feeling?"
Dara shrugged tiredly, "Tired, weak, worn out, but very happy."
Lucas nodded his head in understanding, "Crower said he gave you something for the pain and that it would probably put you to sleep."
Looking at him as though trying to focus through the haze the medication was creating she inquired, "Can I ask you a question?" Lucas silently nodded for her to proceed. "I know you wanted a son, but what about a daughter, are you happy about it?"
Lucas smiled tenderly at her as he placed his hand along her cheek, "I'm very happy, we both get what we want. Besides, I like the idea of having a daughter, " Lifting a strand of her now free hair, he continued, "Preferably with reddish, gold hair and sea green eyes, just like her mother."
Dara placed her hand over his and smiled sleepily, "I love you."
Lucas leaned over and kissed her tenderly, and then brushing her hair away from her face, he replied, "I know, I love you too. Now give in and let the medication do its work." No sooner had he said it than she closed her eyes and he realized that she was sound asleep.
Matt pushed the door open quietly and came to stand over the bed, looking down on her, he asked, "How she feeling?"
Lucas glanced over his shoulder, "She said that she's tired, weak and sore, but other than that, fine. I assume that she's out for the night."
Matt checked her pulse, "Yeah, I'd say so. She'll probably be really sore tomorrow, but a little more rested. Are you staying here or going home?"
Lucas ran his hand through his hair in indecision, "I suppose I need to go and let Caleb know he has a sister and brother."
Matt nodded his agreement, "Yeah, I could tell him for you, but I think that it needs to come from you." Remembering, he added, "Oh, by the way, did you know your grandmother is in the waiting room, waiting for you?"
Lucas had totally forgotten about her, "I'll take her on home and get a little sleep, I'll be back after while."
Ben was about to sign off duty when Lucilla had called, so he had decided to wait with her for word of Dara. Seeing Lucas coming up the hallway, both stood as Ben inquired, "Is everything all right, how's Dara?"
Despite his attempt not to, Lucas couldn't help but smile. "Everything's fine, we have a son and daughter. Dara is resting for the night and the babies are both fine."
Ben grinned broadly as he clasped Lucas' hand and stated enthusiastically, "I'm real happy for you both."
Lucilla wiped an uncharacteristic tear away, "Well, I guess now I have not only two great-grandsons, but a great-granddaughter to spoil too." Looking at her grandson in consideration she asked, "Don't you think you need to tell Caleb and call her family to let them know?"
Lucas nodded, "Yeah, lets head over to the boarding house."
Lucilla shook her head, "No, Ben here can take me on home, you go tell Caleb."
When Loris answered the knock on her door, she looked at Lucas in suspicion. Although she had seen a marked difference in the man since his marriage, as well as having become close friends with Dara Buck, she still had severe reservations about the man. "Something I can help you with, Sheriff?"
Lucas nodded his head to the woman, "Could I talk with Caleb a second, I have something I need to tell him."
Loris looked at him with concern, "It's not Dara, is it? Is she all right?"
Lucas held his hand up to stall her panic, "She's fine, and she's resting right now. She had the babies tonight and I want to let Caleb know myself."
Grateful that it wasn't anything catastrophic, she allowed him inside and asked, "Are the babies all right? I mean she wasn't due for a few weeks yet."
Lucas nodded, "They're all doing fine, Crower said they were OK, but he had the babies put in incubators as a precaution. Dara is fine too, just sore and tired, they gave her something for the pain, so I don't think she'll be awake much before tomorrow."
Nodding her acceptance, she went to inform Caleb that he had a visitor. When he came bounding down the stairs a few minutes later he stopped short when he saw his father. Panicking he asked, "It's Dara, isn't it? She's in a bad way."
Lucas shook his head, rushing to alleviate the child's fears, "No, actually quite the opposite. She had the babies early, but she and them are just fine. You have a brother and a sister."
Caleb looked at him in suspicion, '"Are you telling me the truth, is she really all right?"
Lucas smiled, "I promise, I wouldn't be here if she wasn't, would I?"
Mulling his father's statement over, Caleb realized that he was indeed telling him the truth, "When can I go and see them?"
Lucas sighed, relieved that Caleb believed him, "Tomorrow. She had a hard time with the delivery and they gave her something for the pain, so she's out for tonight, and Doc Crower put the babies in an incubator just to be sure since they came early. But we can see them tomorrow. You stay home from school and I'll pick you up when I go, OK?"
Caleb nodded his acceptance, and then turned to go back to his room. Once behind his door he addressed aloud, "Well, Merly, looks like if you aint going to be here, at least I got a brother and sister to be." With that he drifted off to sleep feeling part of a real family for the first time.
After Lucas had showered and climbed into bed, he lay awake; finding it hard to rest without the presence of his wife beside him as well as considering the turns his life had taken. Not only was he a married man, by choice, but also he now had a real family to call his own. Even the way he now dealt with people had changed subtly, due mostly to his wife's influence. Although he had no doubt that if she ever found out some of the things he was responsible for, or was still capable of, she would pack her and their children and leave in a minute.
When he awoke the next morning it shocked him to realize how quickly he had fallen asleep. When he ventured downstairs for breakfast, before returning to the hospital, he wasn't surprised to find Caleb waiting for him, eating breakfast. Smiling at the boy, he asked, "Couldn't wait to see your brother and sister, huh?"
Caleb eagerly nodded, while Lucilla poured Lucas a cup of coffee as she made her own inquiries. "By the way, you decided what you're naming them yet?"
Lucas shook his head, "Not until I talk to Dara, why?"
Lucilla shook her head, "Just curious, I suppose. Don't you think you should call her sister?"
Remembering that he had promised Dara that he would call as soon as possible, Lucas excused himself. Once in the privacy of the den he looked up the number, then dialing it waited patiently for someone to answer. Finally someone did, "Hello, Kara? Hi, this is Lucas, how are you? No, we're fine, actually better than fine, Dara had the babies last night. No, all three of them are fine, she's resting and the babies are fully formed and healthy. No, I'm about to go there now, I will you too. Bye." With that he hung up and went back to the kitchen.
Lounging against the doorframe he inquired of Caleb, "You ready to go meet your brother and sister?"
Caleb nodded eagerly, glancing at his great-grandmother, he asked, "Aint you going to?"
Lucilla shook her head, "No, I'll see them later, you go on ahead."
When they reached the door to Dara's room, Lucas instructed, "You wait out here for a second, OK?" Caleb nodded his compliance and allowed his father to go in alone.
Even though she was still asleep, Lucas went and sat on the edge of the mattress. Watching her, he could see that she was beginning to awaken, and then looking up at him she smiled as she greeted, "HI." Leaning over to kiss her gently, he returned, "Hi yourself."
Dara looked at her husband and then motioning to the roses he was holding, she inquired, "Are those for me?"
Lucas smiled as he nodded, "Unless you know someone else who gave birth to my children last night, there for you."
Smiling she responded, "Thank you, they're beautiful."
Lucas shook his head as he placed his hand along her cheek, "Not as beautiful as you are. How are you feeling?"
Dara shrugged, "A little tired and sore. When are they going to bring the babies in?"
As if on cue Matt entered and asked, smiling, "Would you two be interested in knowing that your son and daughter are healthy enough to be placed in the nursery with the other babies? I examined them this morning and they are both thriving, so on that note, would you like to hold your children?"
Dara nodded eagerly as she sat up and smiled brightly, "Yes I would, where are they?" Opening the door, Matt motioned to the two nurses to push the tiny bassinettes into the room.
Caleb followed behind the nurses and quickly gave Dara a hug, as he looked on his new siblings with curiosity. "They sure are small."
Dara nodded, "Yes, but they'll grow faster than we want them to, I'm sure." With that each nurse lifted a baby out to place in each of Dara's arms.
Dara looked down on her children with awe and wonder. She had always loved children, and had always found them to be a miracle onto themselves, but looking at her own children now she appreciated that feeling even more.
Glancing at her husband she smiled as she inquired, "Which one would you like to hold, your son or daughter?"
Lucas looked at her in uncertainty, then to Crower who was obviously finding amusement at his discomfort with the idea of holding a baby.
Despite his best attempts not to, Matt couldn't help but grin as he encouraged, "Yeah, go ahead they wont break, I promise."
Lucas glared at the man, but to please his wife he reached out to take the baby closest to him. Positioning his arms as Dara had he accepted his son as she laid the baby carefully in his arms, instructing, "Just make sure you support his head, that's it. See you're a natural at this."
Lucas uncertainty disappeared as he gazed down as the small being in his arms. Realizing for the first time what a miracle it took to bring these two precious gifts into the world, he now understood how Dara remained so reticent in her faith.
Caleb, who had come to stand in front of his father to inspect his new brother, asked, "What are we going to call them?"
Dara and Lucas looked at each other; they hadn't discussed baby names, deciding that whey would make the decision shortly. Lucas asked Dara, "Any ideas?"
Dara considered a moment then looking at their son, "How about, Lucas Alexander?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow at her, he hadn't considered naming their son after himself. "All right fair enough. My turn." Studying their daughter just as his wife had their son, he intoned, "Cherice Gwenna."
Blinking back the tears, Dara shook her head, "You don't have to do that."
Lucas smiled, "Neither did you."
Noticing Caleb hanging in the background, Dara asked, "What do you think?"
Caleb nodded his approval, "I like them both, and they both sound good."
Dara motioned for Caleb to sit on the edge of the bed, "Would you like to hold one?"
Glancing at her in fear, he asked, "Are you sure?"
Dara nodded, "You'll have to get used to it sooner or later, so why not now?" Just as she had with Lucas, she carefully laid the baby in his arms.
Smiling at his sister, Caleb looked up, "This is nice, and they sure smell good."
Hating to break up the family scene, Matt instructed, "Caleb, I'm sorry, but the babies need to be fed, so you'll have to go out for a while, OK?"
Caleb nodded, "I'll go on home." Kissing Dara's cheek, he handed her the baby as he promised, "I'll see you later, OK?"
After Caleb had left and she had assured Matt that she still intended to breast feed before his departure, allowing her some privacy, Dara glanced at her husband shyly, "Are you sure you want to stay for this? I'm new at it so I don't know quite what to expect."
Lucas nodded, "I said I wanted to be included in everything, that means this too. Besides you learn quick, you didn't know anything about making love before we married, but you're wonderful at it now."
Dara blushed at the compliment as she prepared to feed their son, who surprised her by the strength he had as he latched onto her breast and began nursing furiously. Once he was satisfied, she lifted him to her shoulder to pat his back, after she heard the tiny gurgle, she laid him back in his bassinette. Repeating the same steps with their daughter, she completed their feedings with better aptitude than she had thought herself capable of.
Lucas sat watching the whole interchange fascinated, not only by the sight of his wife's body, but by the fact that she was using it to provide nourishment for their children. Once she had settled their daughter back in her bed as well, he leaned over and kissed her deeply.
Dara had been surprised by Lucas' show of affection, when he pulled back she smiled as she asked, "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?"
Lucas looked into her eyes, "Because I love you very much and watching you breast feed our children was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen."
Dara grinned at him impishly, "Really, what was the most beautiful?"
Without hesitation, he simply replied, "You."
After the nurses had come to return the babies to the nursery, Lucas noticed a thoughtful expression on Dara's face. Not certain as to what she was considering he inquired, "What are you thinking, darlin?"
Dara shook her head in disbelief, "Seems strange, a little more than a year ago we were contemplating marriage. Now a year and a day later, we're parents. It just seems a little overwhelming right now."
Lucas pulled her close to him as he vowed, "Yes, but you're going to be a wonderful mother."
CHAPTER 16
Lucas and Dara's first wedding anniversary approached, with Dara taking the day off in order to prepare a special dinner for the two of them. Lucilla was busy, as usual, helping Dara in the kitchen. Since Dara's condition had made her ungainly, she was infinitely grateful for the fact that the older woman had volunteered to stay with them until she gave birth. Although Dara liked the woman she had seen that underneath all of her friendliness, she like Lucas also had a darker side to her nature, but since she had never been anything but caring and concerned towards Dara, she had never dwelled on that particular issue.
When Dara heard the front door open, she panicked, "Oh mama, go stall him while I check dinner. I don't want him to see the table till everything's ready."
Lucilla shook her head as she smiled at the younger woman, "All right, honey. You just take your time." Lucilla marveled at Dara's enthusiasm as she headed up the hallway, grateful in her grandson's choice for his wife. When she reached the entryway, she smiled at the dozen roses and wrapped package Lucas had set on the table so that he could shrug out of his coat.
Lucas turned when he heard his grandmother approach, "Where's Dara?"
Lucilla shook her head, "You'll just have to wait a few minutes, she doesn't want to ruin the surprise. So just hold your hors..." A loud crash and the sound of breaking glass punctuated by a sharp, short scream interrupted her statement.
Without a word, Lucas bolted up the hallway, followed closely by Lucilla, to find Dara with one arm braced heavily across the top of the counter for support, while she was holding the other protectively across her stomach. He could see that she was using the method of breathing they had been learning in the classes they were taking. Looking at the floor he could see a puddle of liquid on the floor at her feet. Rushing over and holding her against him to support her, he asked gently, "Tell me it's not what I think it is."
Dara leaned against him, weak from the aftermath of what she now realized had been a labor pain. She wasn't sure when she had felt an earlier twinge, thinking it had just been a kicking action, but when she had felt the rush of liquid run down her legs, followed by a pain so sudden and sharp that it had caused her to drop the baking dish she had been holding, as well as to wrench a sharp scream of pain from her, she realized that her labor had indeed begun. Looking up at him now, she nodded as she replied somewhat weakly, "I think I'm in labor, my water broke."
Lucas glanced over his shoulder to his grandmother, ordering sharply, "Get Crower. NOW!" Focusing his attention back to his wife, he could see by the tension on her face that she was gripped in another pain, watching as she was attempting to breath through the pain as she had been instructed, but he could see that the pain was overcoming her attempts, especially when she sagged weakly against him in the pain's aftermath.
Just then Lucilla rushed back into the kitchen, "Dr. Crower said to get her to the hospital immediately."
Lucas focused his attention on his wife, who was once more overcome by a labor pain. He knew that something was definitely wrong, the pains were coming too close together and had started too suddenly for there not to be. Waiting until she was once more relaxed, he explained, careful to keep his own voice calm, "Darlin, I'm taking you to the hospital. There isn't anything to worry about, this is probably false labor."
Dara narrowed her gaze, as she ground out through the onset of another spasm, "I am not stupid, I work in a hospital, remember. There is something wrong and this is not false labor."
Lucas clutched her tighter to him, supporting her so that she leaned heavily against him as he tried to guide her down the hallway. When she was seized by another pain and almost collapsed from weakness in its aftermath, he realized that she wasn't in any shape to hold herself up, so he bent down and swung her up in his arms. The severity of her agony was apparent in the whiteness of the hand that she was using to grip the front of his vest when the pain became overwhelming.
When Lucas pulled up to the entrance of the emergency room he wasn't shocked to see Crower there waiting with a stretcher to rush Dara to maternity.
Once he had placed her on the conveyance and they were headed for the appropriate floor, Matt began his inquiry, "When did she start having pains?"
Lucas answered him quickly, "Couldn't have started more than twenty minutes or so ago."
Glancing over his shoulder as they continued rushing through to the elevator, "She didn't complain about feeling bad, or having any kind of pain at all?"
Lucas shook his head, "No, as a matter of fact when I spoke to her earlier this evening, she said she felt fine." Remembering the sight of her holding the door handle in the car with a death grip, as well as the small whimpering sounds she made when the pains were overwhelming, Lucas inquired worriedly, "She's going to be all right, isn't she?"
Matt shook his head as they reached a labor room, ushering the team in he turned to Lucas to explain, "I wont know until I examine her, and I'm sorry but for right now you're going to have to stay out here. I'm going to be honest with you though, I don't think she's in false labor, the pains came to sudden and are too close together, not to mention the fact that her water broke." With that he turned and entered the room to conduct his examination.
Watching as Crower closed the door he began pacing worriedly. He had never prayed in his life, everything he was and has been taught and believed in went against the idea, but he knew that Dara had a lot of faith when it came to her belief in God. He had always respected her belief and had never tried to interfere, just as she never questioned or interfered in his own beliefs and views, but he grudgingly admitted, if it would help her now he would gladly offer up words of prayer for her sake.
Matt reappeared, not looking particularly thrilled, "It's not false labor, she's going to have to deliver. And we have one other problem."
Lucas raised his eyebrow caustically at the physician, "Only one, Harvard. How did we manage to get so lucky?"
Matt looked at him in censure, "Sarcasm won't help the situation or your wife."
Lucas sighed in regret of his words and nodded his agreement, "You're right, I'm sorry. What's the problem?"
Matt sighed in agitation, "The babies are in a breach position, normally I would say do a c section, but she's already in a severe weakened state from the intensity of the pains, not to mention the fact that her vital signs aren't all that great at the moment. I don't think she could handle the anesthetic, and if we tried to do it without benefit of it she could go into shock."
Lucas looked at the man in disbelief, "There's no other options? You mean to tell me that only route we can take is for her to suffer like she is now?"
Matt nodded his agreement of the observation, "I'm sorry, but that's all we can do. I don't want to do a c-section unless there just isn't any other way. I think we can get her through the delivery, if we are very careful. She's already dilated up to seven centimeters, she could be ready to deliver at any time."
Lucas reluctantly accepted the man's diagnosis, not thrilled over the prospect of the amount of pain his wife was about to endure. "All right, let's do it your way. Can I go in now?" Matt pushed the door open, allowing him to enter.
He had to brace himself when he saw her. She was lying in the bed in a reclined position, at that moment; she was gripped in another fierce pain. He could see by the grip she had on the bed rails and the way she was gritting her teeth that she was fighting it for all she was worth. Finally, when the pain eased, she relaxed.
Dara leaned back against the pillows piled behind her, when she glanced to the door and saw her husband standing there she held her hand out in a silent plea.
Lucas rushed over to take her hand in his, noticing that she had been gowned as well as that her hair had been tied back to fall down her back, in an attempt to make her more comfortable. He could see the fear in her eyes when she beseeched him, "Please, don't leave me. Promise me." Lucas gently pushed a stray curl away from her pale face as he vowed, "I promise, we're in this together. I'm not going anywhere." Another pain clutched her, when she attempted to release his hand he refused to allow it. "You hold on to me, that's the least I can do considering what you're dealing with." He was surprised by the amount of strength she had in her hand as she grasped his when the pain became intense. After the spasm had passed she fell back against the pillows, now weaker from her struggle.
Matt appeared at that moment to check her monitors, "Dara, I'm going to check you again. I don't think you're much more dilated than before, but the monitor says your pains are increasing." Raising the sheet, he began examining her once more, looking up in disbelief, he walked to the door to yank it open and shout, "Rita, get in here. NOW!"
Rita came rushing in, "What's the matter, Matt?" Matt motioned for her to examine Dara as well, looking up in disbelief she stated, "You have to be joking, how?"
Lucas, becoming quickly frustrated at not knowing what was exactly taking place, demanded, "One of you want to tell me what the hell the problem is?"
Matt, seeing Dara's agitation, glared at Lucas, who could also see his wife's panic rising. "It's all right, honey. Calm down." Dara silently nodded as another pain gripped her in its clutches, following the pattern set, it was more intense than the previous one before.
Matt glanced at the monitor as he sternly instructed, "Dara, what ever you do, don't push until I tell you." Turing to Rita he instructed, "Get a delivery room. NOW!" Rita hurried out to fulfill his order, leaving Matt to explain the situation to Lucas. "To answer your question, she is crowning." Seeing that he didn't comprehend what that entailed, he supplied the answer, "She is ready to deliver, but the babies are in a backwards position and have to be turned around, but I cant do it here."
Rita reappeared, "We're ready when you are."
Matt nodded as he instructed, "Get the Sheriff a scrub outfit and show him where to change."
Dara, only hearing that Lucas was going to have to leave her, shrieked, "NO!" Grabbing at him with all her strength, which was now considerable due to the pain that had started once again, she begged him frantically, "Please, don't leave me. You promised me that you wouldn't."
Lucas glanced at Matt, who was glancing at the monitor. Matt weighed the options, "Forget the scrubs, we cant wait any longer, let him go like he is."
Once in the delivery room and situated on the table, Dara had begun to think that the pain would never subside, especially as she watched Rita position her legs into the stirrups. To her way of thinking that final step meant that she was at the mercy of the torturous pain she was experiencing, that until it was satisfied with ripping through her body, there was nothing she could do to fight it.
Lucas continued holding her hand in an attempt to help ease her through the pains, but he could see by the look of intensity on her face that it wasn't working very well. The fact became even more apparent when the next pain hit and Rita was attempting to help coach her through it.
"OK, Dara. Breath now." With that she began going through the motions of the breathing exercises.
Dara turned her head and narrowed her gaze at the woman as she inquired, "Are you a cooling device of some sort?" Rita's face took on a look of puzzlement as she shook her head. Gritting her teeth through the pain she was gripped in, Dara ground out, "Then quit blowing in my damn face, would you please." All present stopped to look at Dara in surprise at her outburst.
Lucas, never having been present during a child's birth, glanced at Matt, "This is normal, right?"
Matt, finding the first bit of humor in the situation, nodded as he grinned, "Oh just wait, it's probably going to get much more interesting." With that he proceeded to begin repositioning the first baby to be delivered. "OK, Dara. Now I'm going to count to ten and while I count you push. All right, push."
Dara focused her attention on the task at hand, and put everything into doing as instructed, clutching her husband's hand, certain that he was the only thing keeping her grounded in sanity, despite the pain she was enduring.
Matt nodded, satisfied with her progress, "All right, stop a second and catch your breath." Dara leaned back against the pillows at her back, taking the opportunity to get her second wind.
Lucas watched her struggle with a cross between pain and intense love tearing at his heart. Pain for the agony he was watching her endure, and intense love for the fact that she was willingly subjecting herself to it in order to bring the two lives they had created into the world.
An hour and several more colorful comments later, Matt was trying to encourage Dara along, "You're doing fine, Dara. Just one more push and we'll have this baby out."
Dara glanced at him, as she demanded, "Oh just quit lying to me, Matt. Just be honest, I'll still be trying to deliver this baby when he's eighteen."
Matt shook his head, "No, one more. I promise."
Dara positioned herself and began pushing as she ground out, "LIAR!" Giving her all she did as instructed and forced more energy into the task at hand. Thinking the pain was about to rip her in two, and despite her vow that she wouldn't, Dara uttered the words that millions of women who've given birth the world over have. "LUCAS BUCK, YOU ARE NEVER TOUCHING ME AGAIN AS LONG AS I LIVE!" Finally, she heard a tiny cry and opened her eyes to catch a glimpse of her child. Leaning back she looked over to her husband, the relief evident on her face.
Matt smiled as he reminded her, "OK, good job. We just have to deliver this little one and you're all done."
Dara looked at him forlornly as he motioned for her to position herself to begin pushing. At his nod she focused her attention once more and repeated her efforts. Much to her surprise it only took her another ten minutes to bring her second child into the world. When she heard the tiny wail coming from the small being Matt was now holding, she leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief. Glancing at her husband once more she smiled tenderly as she held his hand close to her, "Well, this wasn't what I had planned, but happy anniversary." Then remembering her words earlier, she felt a stab of guilt. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said."
Lucas shook his head and smiled lovingly at her, placing his hand along her cheek he kissed her tenderly as he inquired, "Do you have any idea how much I love you? And after what you just went through you have definitely earned the right to cuss me up and down this hospital."
Dara looked at him and smiled, "As much as I love you, I hope."
Lucas was waiting in the hallway to talk to Crower. Since they were moving Dara to a room, as well as giving her something for the pain, Lucas had been asked to wait outside to allow the medical staff to finish working on Dara. He had to shake his head at her stubbornness, even though she agreed with the plan to place the babies in an incubator, she had been adamant about holding them first. Since Matt had stated that it was merely a precaution anyway, with both weighing in well over six pounds, she had demanded to hold both before the nurses took them away.
Matt came from the delivery room to find Lucas waiting for him in the hallway, already knowing what was on the other man's mind, he began the discussion. "She's doing fine, they're taking her to a room now, and I've ordered something for the pain. Both your son and daughter are fine, but since they are a little early, I thought it would be better to put them in incubators for the first twenty-four hours. Dara will be fine too, in time, I had to make and incision to reposition the babies, and despite the fact that she had one of the hardest labors I've ever seen, she came through it like a champ. Any thing I missed?"
Lucas looked at the man in amazement at his efficiency, "No, but something bothers me. If her labor was short shouldn't it have been easier on her?"
Matt shook his head, "That's a common misconception. If anything that made it harder on her, you have to consider, she's a small woman, not to mention, those babies were ready to be born and they were coming hard and fast and in a backwards position. Even if they were early they were still good size for twins, it might be a blessing that she went into labor early, if they had gotten any bigger." Matt left the statement unfinished, not wanting to consider that possibility.
Lucas considered his words as he asked cautiously, "If she wants to, can she have more children?"
Matt looked at him in disbelief, "I don't believe you, she just had twins, are you already planning on another one?"
Lucas glared at the man as he ground out, "No. I'm just wondering if we need to take precautions against her having any more children."
Matt looked sheepish as he offered his apology, "I'm sorry, it's just that I know how you can be. I shouldn't have jumped to the wrong conclusion, but yes, if she wants to she can have more children."
Once the nurse had informed them that Dara had been settled in a room, Matt led the way and explained before allowing Lucas in to see his wife, "I imagine she wont even know she's in the world before too much longer, so make it quick. Once the medication takes effect that will be it till she wakes up tomorrow."
Lucas nodded his understanding as he pushed the door open to gaze at his wife in amazement. The nurse had brushed her hair out and it was now lying against the while linen, reminding him of a reddish gold curtain. The strain of the double birth, which had been evident in the lines of pain that had marked her face, were now gone, leaving her looking young and beautiful.
Dara turned her head and caught sight of her husband, smiling weakly, she offered, "Hi."
Lucas quickly closed the space between the bed and the door to take her hand as he replied, "Hi, yourself. How are you feeling?"
Dara shrugged tiredly, "Tired, weak, worn out, but very happy."
Lucas nodded his head in understanding, "Crower said he gave you something for the pain and that it would probably put you to sleep."
Looking at him as though trying to focus through the haze the medication was creating she inquired, "Can I ask you a question?" Lucas silently nodded for her to proceed. "I know you wanted a son, but what about a daughter, are you happy about it?"
Lucas smiled tenderly at her as he placed his hand along her cheek, "I'm very happy, we both get what we want. Besides, I like the idea of having a daughter, " Lifting a strand of her now free hair, he continued, "Preferably with reddish, gold hair and sea green eyes, just like her mother."
Dara placed her hand over his and smiled sleepily, "I love you."
Lucas leaned over and kissed her tenderly, and then brushing her hair away from her face, he replied, "I know, I love you too. Now give in and let the medication do its work." No sooner had he said it than she closed her eyes and he realized that she was sound asleep.
Matt pushed the door open quietly and came to stand over the bed, looking down on her, he asked, "How she feeling?"
Lucas glanced over his shoulder, "She said that she's tired, weak and sore, but other than that, fine. I assume that she's out for the night."
Matt checked her pulse, "Yeah, I'd say so. She'll probably be really sore tomorrow, but a little more rested. Are you staying here or going home?"
Lucas ran his hand through his hair in indecision, "I suppose I need to go and let Caleb know he has a sister and brother."
Matt nodded his agreement, "Yeah, I could tell him for you, but I think that it needs to come from you." Remembering, he added, "Oh, by the way, did you know your grandmother is in the waiting room, waiting for you?"
Lucas had totally forgotten about her, "I'll take her on home and get a little sleep, I'll be back after while."
Ben was about to sign off duty when Lucilla had called, so he had decided to wait with her for word of Dara. Seeing Lucas coming up the hallway, both stood as Ben inquired, "Is everything all right, how's Dara?"
Despite his attempt not to, Lucas couldn't help but smile. "Everything's fine, we have a son and daughter. Dara is resting for the night and the babies are both fine."
Ben grinned broadly as he clasped Lucas' hand and stated enthusiastically, "I'm real happy for you both."
Lucilla wiped an uncharacteristic tear away, "Well, I guess now I have not only two great-grandsons, but a great-granddaughter to spoil too." Looking at her grandson in consideration she asked, "Don't you think you need to tell Caleb and call her family to let them know?"
Lucas nodded, "Yeah, lets head over to the boarding house."
Lucilla shook her head, "No, Ben here can take me on home, you go tell Caleb."
When Loris answered the knock on her door, she looked at Lucas in suspicion. Although she had seen a marked difference in the man since his marriage, as well as having become close friends with Dara Buck, she still had severe reservations about the man. "Something I can help you with, Sheriff?"
Lucas nodded his head to the woman, "Could I talk with Caleb a second, I have something I need to tell him."
Loris looked at him with concern, "It's not Dara, is it? Is she all right?"
Lucas held his hand up to stall her panic, "She's fine, and she's resting right now. She had the babies tonight and I want to let Caleb know myself."
Grateful that it wasn't anything catastrophic, she allowed him inside and asked, "Are the babies all right? I mean she wasn't due for a few weeks yet."
Lucas nodded, "They're all doing fine, Crower said they were OK, but he had the babies put in incubators as a precaution. Dara is fine too, just sore and tired, they gave her something for the pain, so I don't think she'll be awake much before tomorrow."
Nodding her acceptance, she went to inform Caleb that he had a visitor. When he came bounding down the stairs a few minutes later he stopped short when he saw his father. Panicking he asked, "It's Dara, isn't it? She's in a bad way."
Lucas shook his head, rushing to alleviate the child's fears, "No, actually quite the opposite. She had the babies early, but she and them are just fine. You have a brother and a sister."
Caleb looked at him in suspicion, '"Are you telling me the truth, is she really all right?"
Lucas smiled, "I promise, I wouldn't be here if she wasn't, would I?"
Mulling his father's statement over, Caleb realized that he was indeed telling him the truth, "When can I go and see them?"
Lucas sighed, relieved that Caleb believed him, "Tomorrow. She had a hard time with the delivery and they gave her something for the pain, so she's out for tonight, and Doc Crower put the babies in an incubator just to be sure since they came early. But we can see them tomorrow. You stay home from school and I'll pick you up when I go, OK?"
Caleb nodded his acceptance, and then turned to go back to his room. Once behind his door he addressed aloud, "Well, Merly, looks like if you aint going to be here, at least I got a brother and sister to be." With that he drifted off to sleep feeling part of a real family for the first time.
After Lucas had showered and climbed into bed, he lay awake; finding it hard to rest without the presence of his wife beside him as well as considering the turns his life had taken. Not only was he a married man, by choice, but also he now had a real family to call his own. Even the way he now dealt with people had changed subtly, due mostly to his wife's influence. Although he had no doubt that if she ever found out some of the things he was responsible for, or was still capable of, she would pack her and their children and leave in a minute.
When he awoke the next morning it shocked him to realize how quickly he had fallen asleep. When he ventured downstairs for breakfast, before returning to the hospital, he wasn't surprised to find Caleb waiting for him, eating breakfast. Smiling at the boy, he asked, "Couldn't wait to see your brother and sister, huh?"
Caleb eagerly nodded, while Lucilla poured Lucas a cup of coffee as she made her own inquiries. "By the way, you decided what you're naming them yet?"
Lucas shook his head, "Not until I talk to Dara, why?"
Lucilla shook her head, "Just curious, I suppose. Don't you think you should call her sister?"
Remembering that he had promised Dara that he would call as soon as possible, Lucas excused himself. Once in the privacy of the den he looked up the number, then dialing it waited patiently for someone to answer. Finally someone did, "Hello, Kara? Hi, this is Lucas, how are you? No, we're fine, actually better than fine, Dara had the babies last night. No, all three of them are fine, she's resting and the babies are fully formed and healthy. No, I'm about to go there now, I will you too. Bye." With that he hung up and went back to the kitchen.
Lounging against the doorframe he inquired of Caleb, "You ready to go meet your brother and sister?"
Caleb nodded eagerly, glancing at his great-grandmother, he asked, "Aint you going to?"
Lucilla shook her head, "No, I'll see them later, you go on ahead."
When they reached the door to Dara's room, Lucas instructed, "You wait out here for a second, OK?" Caleb nodded his compliance and allowed his father to go in alone.
Even though she was still asleep, Lucas went and sat on the edge of the mattress. Watching her, he could see that she was beginning to awaken, and then looking up at him she smiled as she greeted, "HI." Leaning over to kiss her gently, he returned, "Hi yourself."
Dara looked at her husband and then motioning to the roses he was holding, she inquired, "Are those for me?"
Lucas smiled as he nodded, "Unless you know someone else who gave birth to my children last night, there for you."
Smiling she responded, "Thank you, they're beautiful."
Lucas shook his head as he placed his hand along her cheek, "Not as beautiful as you are. How are you feeling?"
Dara shrugged, "A little tired and sore. When are they going to bring the babies in?"
As if on cue Matt entered and asked, smiling, "Would you two be interested in knowing that your son and daughter are healthy enough to be placed in the nursery with the other babies? I examined them this morning and they are both thriving, so on that note, would you like to hold your children?"
Dara nodded eagerly as she sat up and smiled brightly, "Yes I would, where are they?" Opening the door, Matt motioned to the two nurses to push the tiny bassinettes into the room.
Caleb followed behind the nurses and quickly gave Dara a hug, as he looked on his new siblings with curiosity. "They sure are small."
Dara nodded, "Yes, but they'll grow faster than we want them to, I'm sure." With that each nurse lifted a baby out to place in each of Dara's arms.
Dara looked down on her children with awe and wonder. She had always loved children, and had always found them to be a miracle onto themselves, but looking at her own children now she appreciated that feeling even more.
Glancing at her husband she smiled as she inquired, "Which one would you like to hold, your son or daughter?"
Lucas looked at her in uncertainty, then to Crower who was obviously finding amusement at his discomfort with the idea of holding a baby.
Despite his best attempts not to, Matt couldn't help but grin as he encouraged, "Yeah, go ahead they wont break, I promise."
Lucas glared at the man, but to please his wife he reached out to take the baby closest to him. Positioning his arms as Dara had he accepted his son as she laid the baby carefully in his arms, instructing, "Just make sure you support his head, that's it. See you're a natural at this."
Lucas uncertainty disappeared as he gazed down as the small being in his arms. Realizing for the first time what a miracle it took to bring these two precious gifts into the world, he now understood how Dara remained so reticent in her faith.
Caleb, who had come to stand in front of his father to inspect his new brother, asked, "What are we going to call them?"
Dara and Lucas looked at each other; they hadn't discussed baby names, deciding that whey would make the decision shortly. Lucas asked Dara, "Any ideas?"
Dara considered a moment then looking at their son, "How about, Lucas Alexander?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow at her, he hadn't considered naming their son after himself. "All right fair enough. My turn." Studying their daughter just as his wife had their son, he intoned, "Cherice Gwenna."
Blinking back the tears, Dara shook her head, "You don't have to do that."
Lucas smiled, "Neither did you."
Noticing Caleb hanging in the background, Dara asked, "What do you think?"
Caleb nodded his approval, "I like them both, and they both sound good."
Dara motioned for Caleb to sit on the edge of the bed, "Would you like to hold one?"
Glancing at her in fear, he asked, "Are you sure?"
Dara nodded, "You'll have to get used to it sooner or later, so why not now?" Just as she had with Lucas, she carefully laid the baby in his arms.
Smiling at his sister, Caleb looked up, "This is nice, and they sure smell good."
Hating to break up the family scene, Matt instructed, "Caleb, I'm sorry, but the babies need to be fed, so you'll have to go out for a while, OK?"
Caleb nodded, "I'll go on home." Kissing Dara's cheek, he handed her the baby as he promised, "I'll see you later, OK?"
After Caleb had left and she had assured Matt that she still intended to breast feed before his departure, allowing her some privacy, Dara glanced at her husband shyly, "Are you sure you want to stay for this? I'm new at it so I don't know quite what to expect."
Lucas nodded, "I said I wanted to be included in everything, that means this too. Besides you learn quick, you didn't know anything about making love before we married, but you're wonderful at it now."
Dara blushed at the compliment as she prepared to feed their son, who surprised her by the strength he had as he latched onto her breast and began nursing furiously. Once he was satisfied, she lifted him to her shoulder to pat his back, after she heard the tiny gurgle, she laid him back in his bassinette. Repeating the same steps with their daughter, she completed their feedings with better aptitude than she had thought herself capable of.
Lucas sat watching the whole interchange fascinated, not only by the sight of his wife's body, but by the fact that she was using it to provide nourishment for their children. Once she had settled their daughter back in her bed as well, he leaned over and kissed her deeply.
Dara had been surprised by Lucas' show of affection, when he pulled back she smiled as she asked, "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?"
Lucas looked into her eyes, "Because I love you very much and watching you breast feed our children was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen."
Dara grinned at him impishly, "Really, what was the most beautiful?"
Without hesitation, he simply replied, "You."
After the nurses had come to return the babies to the nursery, Lucas noticed a thoughtful expression on Dara's face. Not certain as to what she was considering he inquired, "What are you thinking, darlin?"
Dara shook her head in disbelief, "Seems strange, a little more than a year ago we were contemplating marriage. Now a year and a day later, we're parents. It just seems a little overwhelming right now."
Lucas pulled her close to him as he vowed, "Yes, but you're going to be a wonderful mother."