Chapter 15
One Month Later (Steph is 20 weeks, in other word 5 months)
My next Doctor's appointment was rather traumatic. I had rung Joe, when he had gotten out of hospital, and he had insisted on attending. I was expecting a pelvic exam, so was not that eager to have him watch. But Doctor Wheeler put me at ease and proceeded to explain certain aspects of the pregnancy which was followed by all those tests - blood, urine, heart rate, blood pressure, blah, blah, blah. Then the most amazing thing happened. We listened to the baby's heart beat. It was so amazing. Sounded like horses galloping along . Made it seem truly real.
"Stephanie, I am a little concerned about the rate of this baby's growth. Have you been watching your diet?'
Hell, yes. I watch everything go in one small piece of cake at a time. What was she talking about? "Yes. Of course" I answered. "Why?"
"Well, I think I'm going to order an ultra sound right away to make sure we have the due date correct. We had thought your baby was due on the 1st of August, but we may be off by a month at the rate this kid is growing."
A month, a fucking month? Holy crap, that's when I had moved in with Joe after my apartment was firebombed. "Okay. Sure. When?"
"Well, how about this afternoon. I'll have my assistant make the appointment before you leave. Joe will that work for you?"
"Sure. Whatever you say." He was holding my hand acting just a bit nervous and his hand was sweating. Uck.
I was instructed to drink eight glasses of 8-oz water an hour before the ultra sound. I don't normally drink that much water - seems what I do drink comes out ten minutes later. But with Joe's help, I drank it all and managed to only pee twice in one hour. We met the doctor at the appointed place and time. I was starting to feel rather water logged when the doctor suggested that I go to the bathroom. She also gave me a Dixie cup. "What's this for?" I asked.
"I only want you to release that much urine."
"You've got to be kidding?! No way. You expect me to stop once I get started? Impossible. Why even bother?"
"Your bladder is too full, but we need it full in order to see the baby. Now, go try to release some."
Oh, boy, this is going to be fun. Besides trying to hit that itty bitty cup with a steady stream of urine, I was going to have to stop. Okay, I can do this. I can do this.
Five minutes later I had pee all over my hand, but I had succeeded in stopping mid stream. Oh boy.
Laying on the table, the doctor squirted what felt like Jello all over my tummy and proceeded to rub. Joe was transfixed on the tinny screen behind my head.
"Oh, oh, I didn't expect this" the doctor said.
"What, what" we both said at once. "What's wrong. What's wrong!"
"Well, look at this." Using her finger she pointed to an area of the screen that looked like a blob of nothing. "Right there is the baby's head. Aaaannnd, right there" pointing to the other end of the blob "is another head."
"WHAT" I screamed. "Oh no, our baby's deformed! How can this be. We have crazy people in the family but not deformed people. Joe, is anyone in your family deformed that you haven't told me about. I admit I was a little concerned about the baby inheriting Grandma's genes, but never did I think it would be deformed in any way. Oh, God, what are we going to do." I was about ready to cry when I noticed that the doctor was smiling. "What are you smiling about, this is serious. Our child will probably have to go to work for the Circus or a traveling side show. Other kids can be so cruel. I don't think I would be able to handle that. Geeze, what are we going to do." I was just about ready to cry when the doctor shook her head and cleared her throat in an attempt to talk instead of laugh.
"Stephanie, Joe, your babies are not deformed. They look just fine."
"Babies? Did you say babies as in two?" I asked
"Yes. Two as in twins."
Just then I heard a loud thud. Joe had fainted. Dead on the floor. I was leaning up on my elbows looking down at him and back up at the doctor who was now laughing.
"Men." She leaned over and felt his pulse, then pushed a button on the intercom summoning an assistant with some smelling salt. She then proceeded to show me the "rest" of the babies. Four arms, four legs, two hearts, fingers, toes, and a profile of each one's head. She also took pictures of each one to show Joe when he came to his senses.
"Would you like to know the sex?" she asked?
"You can tell that now? Already?"
"Well, at least the one in front I can. You see right there," she said pointing to a darker spot on the screen. "I believe that is the scrotum sack, and right there," pointing to an appendage pointing straight up "I believe is his penis." Great, Joe's kid has a little bitty hard on for everyone to see. He would be proud of that. "The other one is behind and unless it moves, I won't be able to tell until delivery. We will probably be doing more ultra sounds as your pregnancy continues to keep a check on the size of the babies and condition of your uterus. Any questions?"
Beyond wanting to know how this had happened, and checking that the due date was still the 1st of August, nope, nada, no more questions right then. I was still in a state of shock. Joe finally came to, a bit embarrassed though. He wanted to see the same body parts I had see. He especially liked the body part that confirmed at least one of the babies was a boy.
When we left the hospital, we lingered out the front for a moment.
"We're having twins Joe, twins" I said all excited.
"I know Steph, its amazing" he replied hugging me. "Listen, um, what are you doing for the rest of the day?"
"I gotta do some surveillance for Tank, did you know that Ranger handed the business over to him, apparently he couldn't handle being around me anymore, and he left, I think Tank said he went to Australia. Why?"
"I was kinda hoping you would spend the day with me, we could go shopping and stuff like that." Joe said, suddenly looking very nervous.
"Sure, Tank wasn't really in any great hurry"
Later that evening, after several hours shopping for clothes and looking at prams and cots, we were back at Joe's place, lying on the couch together.
I sighed. "I can't wait to let my big belly stick way out there." I patted the slight mound where their babies lay growing, gaining the strength to be born.
Joe shook his head a little, amused at my exaggeration. My stomach had yet to stick out a great deal, I had a bit of a bump and Joe suddenly had an overwhelming urge to touch it. I was dressed in an oversized sports jersey and bikini underwear. Joe thought Stephanie looked without doubt better in it than anyone else ever could. Joe moved my hands away, lifted the front to expose my midriff, and placed both his hands there, slowly caressing me.
"I used to have nightmares about becoming a mother," I went on. "I was sure I'd screw it up, not like my mother or Valerie. But now," she shrugged, "I don't know why...but I'm suddenly overcome by a sense of peace and confidence. I know I'll be a good mother, Joe. I know together we'll be the best parents."
"Umhmm," Joe agreed, bending to kiss my navel. My hands rumpled his hair as Joe kissed my stomach again, his hands sliding under the shirt to find my heavy breasts and fondle them gently. His thumbs found my nipples, which grew hard at his touch.
He took my hand, pulling me off the couch and led my up the stairs to my bedroom and stopped next to the bed and pressed his lips to my neck. His hand went under the jersey and found the soft mound between my legs. Kneading it through the silkiness of my underwear, Joe kissed me on the mouth.
I gasped in pleasure, leaning into him. "Oh!" I pulled back suddenly. "Are you sure?" I asked, remembering his recent injury. "You're still recovering...." My gaze drifted down to the evidence of his ability straining against its fabric prison. "Never mi--." My comment got lost in another kiss.
Joe bent his head to the base of my throat, kissing me there, moving lower as Joe slowly lifted the shirt. Joe lifted his face to look into my wide eyes. I smiled at him and his heart felt squeezed. Joe pushed the shirt off my body and let it glide down my back and drift to the floor. His gaze went to my full breasts. They looked at least twice their normal size, dark blue veins standing out starkly beneath my translucent skin, a spiderweb of blue threads criss-crossing the expanse, culminating in enlarged, darkened nipples. Joe lifted his own shirt over his head and stepped forward so that the very tips of those lush breasts and the slight swell of my abdomen just grazed his skin. Joe closed his eyes and delighted in the sensation and the yearning it stirred in him.
I moved and Joe opened his eyes to find me stepping out of my underwear, watching him expectantly. Joe enveloped my in his arms feeling a need to possess and protect. They kissed passionately while my fingers stroked him through his pants, fumbling to free his solid member. With a swift tug on the zipper, the pants fell open, his organ springing upward against my stomach. Joe pressed against my with urgency then sucked in a deep breath as I slid downward in front of him, taking the pants with my, my lips and tongue tasting all of him in my path. Joe swayed, feeling lightheaded, delirious pleasure building quickly. Joe made me stand by gently pulling on my arms, then guided my onto my back on the bed. As I reclined against the pillows, my hair feathering across them, Joe knelt between my legs and stroked my ripe body, planting kisses and nibbling at my delicately scented skin. His lips teased my inner thighs. His tongue tasted the place where they joined, the inner parts tantalizingly engorged from the pregnancy. Joe sampled every peak and every crevice, parting my tenderly, stroking my with his tongue. Enraptured by his ministrations, I reached for him, trying to guide him into my.
"No. Wait."
"No. Now."
Through a taunting grin, Joe said, "You still haven't developed any patience." Joe bent back to his pleasurable task. When soon after she moaned and shuddered, Joe conceded to my wishes and slowly entered my.
I tilted my hips, trying to take him in fully, but Joe pulled back almost disjoining them. "Slowly. Gently." And again Joe lowered himself into me, savouring the feel of moving inside my. Back again, almost all the way out. In, very slowly, not too deeply. I groaned and thrust my hips upward. "Not like that, Steph. Be careful. Not too rough. I don't want to hurt you." Joe smiled. "Any of you."
"Joe?"
"Yes?"
"You talk too much." Throwing my legs over his buttocks, I squeezed, bringing him fully into my and grunting with satisfaction.
Later, we lay sweaty and exhausted, the frenzy of their lovemaking giving way to deep contentment. I, laying atop Joe, folded my arms across his chest and planted my chin on my forearm, staring at the fullness of his mouth, the curve of his nostrils, the darkness of long lashes as they lay against his white skin, the shadow of new beard accenting his jaw.
"What're you doing?" Joe mumbled, not bothering to open his eyes.
"Enjoying the view."
Joe sighed. "I, we have to talk. Let's get marr…" His eyes came open with a start and Joe grabbed at my arms, fumbling for my hands.
"What're you doing?!" I tried to push herself off of him.
"Stop," Joe said in hushed anticipation, holding my in place. For a moment we lay perfectly still, my heart beating rapidly as I feared some coming dread. "There!" Joe said at last, a smile breaking across his face.
I popped my head up, perching on my elbows and stared into his eyes. As I felt it again, I realized Joe did, too. "Isn't that cool?" I said, a grin spreading from ear to ear.
"What's it feel like from your side?"
I thought about how to explain the fluttery, tickly feeling of a baby testing out its uterine home and came up empty. "Weird," I laughed. "Hang on, what were you beginning to say?"
"Let's get married, this weekend"
One Month Later (Steph is 20 weeks, in other word 5 months)
My next Doctor's appointment was rather traumatic. I had rung Joe, when he had gotten out of hospital, and he had insisted on attending. I was expecting a pelvic exam, so was not that eager to have him watch. But Doctor Wheeler put me at ease and proceeded to explain certain aspects of the pregnancy which was followed by all those tests - blood, urine, heart rate, blood pressure, blah, blah, blah. Then the most amazing thing happened. We listened to the baby's heart beat. It was so amazing. Sounded like horses galloping along . Made it seem truly real.
"Stephanie, I am a little concerned about the rate of this baby's growth. Have you been watching your diet?'
Hell, yes. I watch everything go in one small piece of cake at a time. What was she talking about? "Yes. Of course" I answered. "Why?"
"Well, I think I'm going to order an ultra sound right away to make sure we have the due date correct. We had thought your baby was due on the 1st of August, but we may be off by a month at the rate this kid is growing."
A month, a fucking month? Holy crap, that's when I had moved in with Joe after my apartment was firebombed. "Okay. Sure. When?"
"Well, how about this afternoon. I'll have my assistant make the appointment before you leave. Joe will that work for you?"
"Sure. Whatever you say." He was holding my hand acting just a bit nervous and his hand was sweating. Uck.
I was instructed to drink eight glasses of 8-oz water an hour before the ultra sound. I don't normally drink that much water - seems what I do drink comes out ten minutes later. But with Joe's help, I drank it all and managed to only pee twice in one hour. We met the doctor at the appointed place and time. I was starting to feel rather water logged when the doctor suggested that I go to the bathroom. She also gave me a Dixie cup. "What's this for?" I asked.
"I only want you to release that much urine."
"You've got to be kidding?! No way. You expect me to stop once I get started? Impossible. Why even bother?"
"Your bladder is too full, but we need it full in order to see the baby. Now, go try to release some."
Oh, boy, this is going to be fun. Besides trying to hit that itty bitty cup with a steady stream of urine, I was going to have to stop. Okay, I can do this. I can do this.
Five minutes later I had pee all over my hand, but I had succeeded in stopping mid stream. Oh boy.
Laying on the table, the doctor squirted what felt like Jello all over my tummy and proceeded to rub. Joe was transfixed on the tinny screen behind my head.
"Oh, oh, I didn't expect this" the doctor said.
"What, what" we both said at once. "What's wrong. What's wrong!"
"Well, look at this." Using her finger she pointed to an area of the screen that looked like a blob of nothing. "Right there is the baby's head. Aaaannnd, right there" pointing to the other end of the blob "is another head."
"WHAT" I screamed. "Oh no, our baby's deformed! How can this be. We have crazy people in the family but not deformed people. Joe, is anyone in your family deformed that you haven't told me about. I admit I was a little concerned about the baby inheriting Grandma's genes, but never did I think it would be deformed in any way. Oh, God, what are we going to do." I was about ready to cry when I noticed that the doctor was smiling. "What are you smiling about, this is serious. Our child will probably have to go to work for the Circus or a traveling side show. Other kids can be so cruel. I don't think I would be able to handle that. Geeze, what are we going to do." I was just about ready to cry when the doctor shook her head and cleared her throat in an attempt to talk instead of laugh.
"Stephanie, Joe, your babies are not deformed. They look just fine."
"Babies? Did you say babies as in two?" I asked
"Yes. Two as in twins."
Just then I heard a loud thud. Joe had fainted. Dead on the floor. I was leaning up on my elbows looking down at him and back up at the doctor who was now laughing.
"Men." She leaned over and felt his pulse, then pushed a button on the intercom summoning an assistant with some smelling salt. She then proceeded to show me the "rest" of the babies. Four arms, four legs, two hearts, fingers, toes, and a profile of each one's head. She also took pictures of each one to show Joe when he came to his senses.
"Would you like to know the sex?" she asked?
"You can tell that now? Already?"
"Well, at least the one in front I can. You see right there," she said pointing to a darker spot on the screen. "I believe that is the scrotum sack, and right there," pointing to an appendage pointing straight up "I believe is his penis." Great, Joe's kid has a little bitty hard on for everyone to see. He would be proud of that. "The other one is behind and unless it moves, I won't be able to tell until delivery. We will probably be doing more ultra sounds as your pregnancy continues to keep a check on the size of the babies and condition of your uterus. Any questions?"
Beyond wanting to know how this had happened, and checking that the due date was still the 1st of August, nope, nada, no more questions right then. I was still in a state of shock. Joe finally came to, a bit embarrassed though. He wanted to see the same body parts I had see. He especially liked the body part that confirmed at least one of the babies was a boy.
When we left the hospital, we lingered out the front for a moment.
"We're having twins Joe, twins" I said all excited.
"I know Steph, its amazing" he replied hugging me. "Listen, um, what are you doing for the rest of the day?"
"I gotta do some surveillance for Tank, did you know that Ranger handed the business over to him, apparently he couldn't handle being around me anymore, and he left, I think Tank said he went to Australia. Why?"
"I was kinda hoping you would spend the day with me, we could go shopping and stuff like that." Joe said, suddenly looking very nervous.
"Sure, Tank wasn't really in any great hurry"
Later that evening, after several hours shopping for clothes and looking at prams and cots, we were back at Joe's place, lying on the couch together.
I sighed. "I can't wait to let my big belly stick way out there." I patted the slight mound where their babies lay growing, gaining the strength to be born.
Joe shook his head a little, amused at my exaggeration. My stomach had yet to stick out a great deal, I had a bit of a bump and Joe suddenly had an overwhelming urge to touch it. I was dressed in an oversized sports jersey and bikini underwear. Joe thought Stephanie looked without doubt better in it than anyone else ever could. Joe moved my hands away, lifted the front to expose my midriff, and placed both his hands there, slowly caressing me.
"I used to have nightmares about becoming a mother," I went on. "I was sure I'd screw it up, not like my mother or Valerie. But now," she shrugged, "I don't know why...but I'm suddenly overcome by a sense of peace and confidence. I know I'll be a good mother, Joe. I know together we'll be the best parents."
"Umhmm," Joe agreed, bending to kiss my navel. My hands rumpled his hair as Joe kissed my stomach again, his hands sliding under the shirt to find my heavy breasts and fondle them gently. His thumbs found my nipples, which grew hard at his touch.
He took my hand, pulling me off the couch and led my up the stairs to my bedroom and stopped next to the bed and pressed his lips to my neck. His hand went under the jersey and found the soft mound between my legs. Kneading it through the silkiness of my underwear, Joe kissed me on the mouth.
I gasped in pleasure, leaning into him. "Oh!" I pulled back suddenly. "Are you sure?" I asked, remembering his recent injury. "You're still recovering...." My gaze drifted down to the evidence of his ability straining against its fabric prison. "Never mi--." My comment got lost in another kiss.
Joe bent his head to the base of my throat, kissing me there, moving lower as Joe slowly lifted the shirt. Joe lifted his face to look into my wide eyes. I smiled at him and his heart felt squeezed. Joe pushed the shirt off my body and let it glide down my back and drift to the floor. His gaze went to my full breasts. They looked at least twice their normal size, dark blue veins standing out starkly beneath my translucent skin, a spiderweb of blue threads criss-crossing the expanse, culminating in enlarged, darkened nipples. Joe lifted his own shirt over his head and stepped forward so that the very tips of those lush breasts and the slight swell of my abdomen just grazed his skin. Joe closed his eyes and delighted in the sensation and the yearning it stirred in him.
I moved and Joe opened his eyes to find me stepping out of my underwear, watching him expectantly. Joe enveloped my in his arms feeling a need to possess and protect. They kissed passionately while my fingers stroked him through his pants, fumbling to free his solid member. With a swift tug on the zipper, the pants fell open, his organ springing upward against my stomach. Joe pressed against my with urgency then sucked in a deep breath as I slid downward in front of him, taking the pants with my, my lips and tongue tasting all of him in my path. Joe swayed, feeling lightheaded, delirious pleasure building quickly. Joe made me stand by gently pulling on my arms, then guided my onto my back on the bed. As I reclined against the pillows, my hair feathering across them, Joe knelt between my legs and stroked my ripe body, planting kisses and nibbling at my delicately scented skin. His lips teased my inner thighs. His tongue tasted the place where they joined, the inner parts tantalizingly engorged from the pregnancy. Joe sampled every peak and every crevice, parting my tenderly, stroking my with his tongue. Enraptured by his ministrations, I reached for him, trying to guide him into my.
"No. Wait."
"No. Now."
Through a taunting grin, Joe said, "You still haven't developed any patience." Joe bent back to his pleasurable task. When soon after she moaned and shuddered, Joe conceded to my wishes and slowly entered my.
I tilted my hips, trying to take him in fully, but Joe pulled back almost disjoining them. "Slowly. Gently." And again Joe lowered himself into me, savouring the feel of moving inside my. Back again, almost all the way out. In, very slowly, not too deeply. I groaned and thrust my hips upward. "Not like that, Steph. Be careful. Not too rough. I don't want to hurt you." Joe smiled. "Any of you."
"Joe?"
"Yes?"
"You talk too much." Throwing my legs over his buttocks, I squeezed, bringing him fully into my and grunting with satisfaction.
Later, we lay sweaty and exhausted, the frenzy of their lovemaking giving way to deep contentment. I, laying atop Joe, folded my arms across his chest and planted my chin on my forearm, staring at the fullness of his mouth, the curve of his nostrils, the darkness of long lashes as they lay against his white skin, the shadow of new beard accenting his jaw.
"What're you doing?" Joe mumbled, not bothering to open his eyes.
"Enjoying the view."
Joe sighed. "I, we have to talk. Let's get marr…" His eyes came open with a start and Joe grabbed at my arms, fumbling for my hands.
"What're you doing?!" I tried to push herself off of him.
"Stop," Joe said in hushed anticipation, holding my in place. For a moment we lay perfectly still, my heart beating rapidly as I feared some coming dread. "There!" Joe said at last, a smile breaking across his face.
I popped my head up, perching on my elbows and stared into his eyes. As I felt it again, I realized Joe did, too. "Isn't that cool?" I said, a grin spreading from ear to ear.
"What's it feel like from your side?"
I thought about how to explain the fluttery, tickly feeling of a baby testing out its uterine home and came up empty. "Weird," I laughed. "Hang on, what were you beginning to say?"
"Let's get married, this weekend"
