Nathan stepped out of the Infirmary; his stride determined. He was so intent on collecting Allie and picking up the things he and Quinn would need he barely heard someone calling out his name.
"Nathan. Nathan!"
Nathan spun toward the person calling his name, frowning.
"Sam, Hi; I didn't realise you were there," he said shortly. "I need to go; I am sorry."
"Nathan, wait. Please," Sam called, not offended by his dismissive tone. His behaviour was endearing; she was glad her friend had someone who loved her and their baby to distraction.
Nathan paused; lips pressed together as he tried to hide his impatience.
"Nathan, Bill has gone to your home to check on the animals for you. Can you bring him back here with you and he and I will look after Allie. I will wait here for you to get back, so Quinn isn't alone."
Nathan shook his head, "Thank you, and I am sorry I was rude; it's ..."
"Understandable," Sam interrupted, smiling. "Now go, and hurry back but be careful."
Nathan stepped forward and gave Sam a quick hug, surprising them both.
After watching Nathan hurry toward the car to collect Allie, Sam turned and walked into the Infirmary, knocking softly on the door as she opened it.
"Faith, it's me, Sam. Can I come and sit with Quinn until Nathan gets back?"
"Please, Faith, it would be good to have company, and I know you have things to prepare," Quinn pleaded.
Faith looked at Quinn, then nodded to Sam and gestured for her to enter.
"I certainly do need to prepare, especially if what I suspect is true and you are having twins."
"Twins?" Sam squeaked, her eyes widening as she heard Faith's comment. "Why haven't you said anything, Quinn?"
"Because Faith couldn't be sure, and I didn't want to worry anyone. Nathan is worrying enough for the whole Town."
"So, Nathan is prepared that there could be two children coming home from the hospital?" Faith said, shocked that Quinn had kept something so huge from everyone.
"As prepared as he can be," Quinn tried to smile, but another contraction came. Sam held Quinn's hand throughout it, her face twisted in sympathy.
Quinn lay back against the pillow, grateful when Sam wiped her brow with a cool cloth. "Faith said the possibility of having Twins is low, but I did show signs. I was exhausted during the early stages of my pregnancy, and the way the baby moved made her suspect it would be two."
Quinn looked at Faith and smiled, her face weary, "is labour worse for two babies?"
"No, Quinn, it's the same, but I want to be prepared for any possibility."
Nathan tried to resist exceeding the speed limit, but he could feel his foot pressing down on the accelerator the further out of Town he got. He looked over to the passenger seat where Allie sat, pleased to see the enormous smile on her face.
"Can you believe this is finally happening?" he asked her.
"No! Now that it's finally here, it doesn't seem real." Reaching over, Allie squeezed her Father's hand, "thank you for coming and getting me, for not leaving me in School to find out later."
"Of course, we want you there with us, Allie; although you won't be in the room, Faith won't let you. I haven't convinced her to let me in yet." Nathan explained. He left out the part where he was going to be with Quinn, whether Faith gave him permission or not.
When they reached the house, Allie raced in to gather the bag Quinn had set aside for herself and offered to collect some things for her Father as well. Nathan agreed and stood on the verandah waiting for Bill, who had come out of the Barn when he heard them drive up.
"How is Quinn doing, Nathan? Equally important, how are you?"
"Quinn is amazing; I am a nervous wreck." Nathan smiled; "I can't believe people do this more than once."
"Women are amazing creatures, that's for sure," Bill said, chuckling. "Did you convince Faith to let you be there with Quinn?"
"Not yet, but I figure she will be busy, and I'm bigger than her." Nathan chuckled, too and said, "If I plant my feet and refuse to move, it's unlikely she'll be able to throw me over her shoulder and carry me out."
"I wouldn't be too sure, Nathan. Faith is pretty determined."
Allie burst out of the house, Quinn's bag in one hand, another hastily packed bag containing Nathan's in her other.
"Hey, Uncle Bill, I guess you heard the news. I am so excited. Can we go, Dad? We need to get back."
Both men laughed before Bill said, 'you know these things can take a long time."
"I know, but we don't want to miss anything important, and Dad needs to be there for Quinn," Allie stated as she walked to the car, not waiting for either of them.
"Well, what are you waiting for, Nathan?" Bill asked, teasing him.
Nathan rushed to Quinn's side; he could see from her pained expression the contractions had worsened. He smiled gratefully at Sam as she stood up, giving him her place next to Quinn. Nathan dipped the cloth Sam handed him in cool water and wiped Quinn's sweaty, red face.
"I'm back, Quinn. Allie is outside with Bill. How are you? What can I do to help?"
"Just being here is helping. How's Allie?"
"Excited and impatient," he explained with a grin, "happy to be close by for this moment."
Nathan watched as Faith approached him. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Nathan interrupted her. "You and I both know I will stay, no matter what you say."
Faith smiled at him and nodded, "I know; I wasn't going to waste my breath. I was going to tell you how well it's going."
As Quinn's labour continued, Allie sat outside with Bill and Sam. Many of her friends stopped to chat for a few minutes, and Opal stayed until she had to leave for dinner. Sam tried to coax Allie to her house to continue her wait and have some dinner, but she wouldn't budge.
"You may as well give up, Sam; she gets her stubbornness from Nathan."
Allie grinned, taking Bill's words as a compliment.
As the afternoon faded into night, Sam convinced them to let her bring them dinner from the Cafe; they needed to eat even if they wouldn't leave. Lee helped Sam carry their food back; he was getting dinner for himself and Rosie and was hoping to give her an update when he got home. Unfortunately, there was no news, so Lee left with dinner for Isobel and a commitment Sam would call in and see him and Rosie on her way home.
"Push, Quinn." Faith instructed.
"I can't, Faith." Quinn panted; she wasn't sure if she could push anymore; she was exhausted. She lay back in Nathan's arms as he sat behind her, supporting her.
"I need you to push, Quinn," Faith insisted.
"You can do this, Quinn. I know you can," Nathan encouraged her, rubbing his hands up and down her arms.
Quinn found the strength inside to push again and knew she had done enough when she felt the baby leave her body and heard Faith exclaim in excitement.
"I love you, Quinn, I love you. You are amazing." Nathan whispered in his wife's ear as he felt her slump back in his arms and heard his child's first cry. Tears spilled over his cheeks, and he let them fall unchecked as Quinn looked up at him, smiling radiantly.
"It's a boy!" Faith cried. "You have a son."
Quinn laughed through tears of exhaustion as Faith rose and, after wrapping him in a towel, placed her baby, her son, on her chest. She looked down at the baby in her arms, eyes roaming over his red, pinched face. He was so beautiful. She felt emotions rush through her, overwhelming her. At the sight of Nathan's large finger gently stroking the tiny cheek, her tears fell. Their little boy lay against his Mother's chest and nuzzled into her, his cries diminishing as he felt the warmth of her skin.
Quinn was gripped with the pain of another contraction and gasped. She looked at Faith, concerned.
Faith didn't speak, just smiled as she examined Quinn. "It appears my concerns regarding twins were warranted." Fiona took the baby from Quinn and placed him in his Father's arms. "why don't you hold your son? Quinn is going to be busy."
"Twins?" Nathan gasped. Faith said it was possible, but he didn't believe it would happen.
"Twins," Faith assured him with a smile.
Nathan gripped his son in one arm and reached out for Quinn with the other as she groaned in pain.
Time seemed to slow as Quinn gave birth to their second child. Nathan was concerned for her; she was so tired he wondered how she could do it a second time. He shouldn't have worried. Quinn found the strength she needed, and finally, Nathan heard his second child cry out as they slipped into Faith's arms.
"A little girl," Faith announced. "A perfect little girl."
Allie had leapt from the bench outside the Infirmary when she heard the door opening. Looking at the doorway, she saw Faith emerging with a large smile.
"You can come in now," Faith said, reaching out to Allie. "you too, Bill, Sam."
"Are you sure?" Bill said
"Really?" Sam asked at the same time.
"They asked you all to come in." Faith assured them, stepping back to allow Allie to race past her and holding the door open for them.
Allie stood next to the bed, staring at Nathan and Quinn. Her eyes were wide with shock and awe. "Twins. Oh my, Twins!"
"A little boy and a little girl," Quinn said wearily.
Allie reached out and stroked the cheek of the baby in Quinn's arms first, "who is this?"
"This is your brother," Quinn responded. He is the oldest."
"This is your sister," Nathan said, gesturing to the baby he held tightly, "she sure surprised me."
"They are beautiful," Allie said, her voice thick with tears. A brother and a sister at the same time were more than she ever dared to imagine. She had wanted this for so long; it was almost too much.
"Sit down, and you can hold them," Quinn said. As Allie dropped into the chair, Nathan walked over and placed her sister in her arms. He reached over, took their little boy from Quinn, and put him in her other arm. The look of adoration on Allie's face caused tears to well up in Nathan's eyes again.
Bill cleared his throat, not to get Nathan and Quinn's attention but because he was overcome with emotion as he watched the family scene before him. He felt someone squeeze his arm and saw Sam standing beside him, smiling at him through her own tears.
"Congratulations, you too," Sam said. "You two certainly don't do things by half."
"I am as surprised as you, Sam," Nathan said. "I was not expecting to take two babies home, despite Faith's warning."
"I heard what you said to Allie, one of each," Bill said, clapping Nathan on the shoulder before placing a much gentler hand on Quinn's.
"Have you finally decided on names?" Allie asked, "they haven't been able to agree on any yet," she explained to Bill and Sam.
"We have," Quinn said, smiling at her. Quinn looked at Nathan, and he nodded, letting her know she should tell them.
"Let me introduce you to Avery Gabrielle Grant and Samuel Colin Grant."
Nathan watched Sam and Bill as they realised he and Quinn had named their children after them. He saw Bill drop his head, looking at the ground to hide his emotions. Sam's mouth dropped for an instant before her face lit up with delight.
"I love their names," Allie exclaimed. "Hello, Avery," she dropped a kiss on her sister's head. "Hello Samuel, I think I'll call you Sam for short," she said, kissing him too. "I love you honoured my Mother by including her name in Sam's middle name."
"Okay, everyone," Faith said as she bustled into the room and heard the babies fussing. "You need to let Quinn and the children rest; it's been a big day."
Faith ushered everyone out except Nathan, allowing him time to say goodnight to Quinn and the children. She glanced at the new parents as she closed the door behind the others. The vision before her brought a smile to her face. Nathan was lying beside Quinn in her hospital bed; they each cradled a baby in their arms and stared back and forth between them. Faith watched as Nathan leaned over and whispered something to Quinn, something she couldn't hear but made her light up.
Sighing, Faith decided to leave them to it and turned off the light in the office area of the Infirmary. Allie had gone home with Sam, so Nathan didn't need to rush home. He would be sure to lock up when he left - if he left, that is.
After gathering her things, Faith tiptoed out of the building, closing the door softly behind her. As she turned to walk to her apartment, she heard footsteps and turned to find Joshua walking toward her. Faith was unsure whether to stop and talk to him or keep walking. As she hesitated, he lifted his hand and waved to her, and she felt obliged to wait.
"I hear you had a busy day?" he said, smiling at her.
"I certainly did, but the best kind of busy," she said, smiling. Glancing back to the Infirmary, she said, "I left Nathan there; I didn't have the heart to ask him to leave."
"That was kind of you; I can't imagine any big hospitals allowing the Father to stay the night or even be there for the delivery." Joshua hadn't spent much time in small towns, but even if he had, Hope Valley was different, in a good way.
"That's what I love about this Town, why I didn't want to leave for a bigger hospital or town." Faith raised an eyebrow as she asked, "you aren't bored yet?"
"Definitely not bored, but I am hungry." Looking around the almost deserted street, he said, "I have just finished for the evening and was going to the Cafe to get something to eat. Would you join me? I would appreciate the company."
Faith's heart raced, she would love nothing more than to join Joshua, but she was still reluctant to become involved with anyone again. She had meant what she said to Fiona and Quinn, she was worried there was something wrong with her, and that's why relationships didn't work out.
Faith knew she was staring and had to respond, but she was fighting an internal battle over what she should say. Her heart and her head were telling her two different things.
"Please."
"Yes," Faith answered. If he had pushed her or tried to convince her, she probably would have said no, but the gentle 'please' coupled with the sincerity she saw in his face made her agree.
Joshua smiled; his delight was evident by his broad smile. He didn't say anything but held his arm in front of him, indicating she should walk ahead.
Faith was shocked by how good it felt to have finally said yes. Fiona and Quinn were right; he was intelligent and kind and had a great sense of humour. Walking beside him felt natural, their strides were in sync, and Joshua walked slightly behind so their hands didn't bump.
"So, can you tell me about the baby?"
"Don't you mean babies"
"There were two?" Joshua's raised his eyebrows in wonder, "I hadn't heard; Lee only said she was in labour."
"That's right, Lee left before they were born, although I am sure he knows now." Faith smiled, remembering Nathan's surprise at having twins. "Let's just say you weren't the only one surprised; although I had tried to warn them, I don't think Quinn or Nathan believed me."
"I imagine Quinn took it in her stride much easier than Nathan did."
"Oh yes," Faith said laughing, "Nathan can face down a dangerous criminal without flinching, but twins ..."
"Well, I am glad they are all doing well. Do they have names yet? And more importantly, who is older, that's very important for twins."
"Yes, lovely names. Avery and Samuel, Samuel is the eldest," she explained. "You seem to know about twins," she said, her statement serving as a question.
"My sister's children. She has twins, a boy and a girl, and my niece is always bossing her brother around because she is older than him. It doesn't matter it's only by minutes."
Faith laughed, "I am sure the same will happen with the Grant twins."
Joshua held the door to the Cafe open for Faith, smiling down at her as she walked under his arm. "Thank you for joining me, Faith."
"Of course," she whispered.
"I can't believe how tiny they are," Quinn whispered, her voice full of love and awe.
"I know; I don't remember Allie ever being this small, although she must have been." Nathan's face was soft as he gazed at his daughter cradled in his arms. "You were incredible today, Quinn. I knew you were strong, but today you were exceptional."
"There is nothing I would not do for all our children," Quinn stated fiercely.
"Me either," Nathan agreed. "Do you need me to put the babies in the cot so you can sleep? You need to sleep."
"I don't want to let them go," she said, looking up at him. "I don't think I will ever be able to let them go. What if they need me?"
Nathan got off the bed and placed Avery into the cot before turning to Quinn and gently taking Sam from her, putting him next to his sister. He re-joined Quinn on the bed and took her in his arms, "you sleep, and I will stay awake. If they need you, I promise to wake you."
Quinn knew she could trust Nathan to keep his word and let herself relax, head on his chest; within moments, she was asleep.
Nathan tightened his arms around Quinn, glad she was getting some rest. He meant what he said to her about admiring her strength. Although she was exhausted, she kept going, fighting to bring their children into the world. Looking at his sleeping children, he shook his head, unable to believe they were finally here, that he could see them and hold them. He loved the way Allie responded to the twins, her love for them evident. He had no doubt she would be another fierce protector for Avery and Sam.
As he lay in the quiet of the Infirmary, he said a prayer of thanks to God for his son and daughter. He thanked the Lord that Quinn had made it through the delivery and that she would be by his side raising their family in Hope Valley. He prayed for guidance and strength and that he would always know the right things to do to care for and protect his family.