? ンユル? ンユ゚ ? ンユメ? ンユヨ? ンユレ? ンユワ ? ンユヨ? ンユᄂ ? ンユᅠ? ンユᆬ? ンユユ ? ンユᄄ? ンユᆰ, ? ンユメ? ンユン? ンユᆪ'? ? ンユメ? ンユヨ? ? ンユᆪ? ンユメ? ンユᄂ ? ンユメ? ンユン?.
"? ? ンメᄊ? ンモノ ? ンムメ? ンムメ,"
"ꜱᴡᴇᴇᴛɪᴇ, ʜᴇ'ꜱ ɪɴ ᴀʟᴀꜱᴋᴀ,"
"? ? ンムワ?'? ? ンメᄊ? ンムメ, ? ? ンメᄊ? ンモノ ? ンメᄒ?!"
With good news came bad news. Pete's deployment had been reduced to three weeks, instead of the original nine-week posting. Something about extra soldiers arriving. So, Taylor stupidly thought, he'd be around for when her waters broke and their daughter made her entrance.
Wrong.
Taylor had woken up, a week before Pete was due back, with her waters breaking in their bed. She'd panicked herself into an anxiety attack, having to phone Carole at 4 am to talk her down. After several minutes of reassurance, Taylor calmed down and ran herself a warm bath. Carole arrived an hour later, saying Bradley had been left with their neighbour.
"Carole, I'm scared. I'm only thirty-six weeks! She's not due for another month!" Taylor cried. Carole stroked her hair. "Sweetie, don't worry. Babies only come when they're ready. We'll ring the hospital when you get out of the bath,"
Taylor showered herself off while Carole made the call. "Tay, honey, they said we should head in." Taylor wrapped her hair up in a towel. "Did they sound worried?" She asked. Carole hummed. "Not really. Technically, you're full term. Officially, not for another two weeks," Taylor pulled her clothes on. "But they said we should head in any way. If your water breaks, the baby will be born within the next day." Taylor sighed loudly. In truth, she was really worried. What if her daughter is born with problems? What if her lungs aren't good enough?
"Tay, relax. Women go into early labour all the time. She's gonna be fine,"
"Ok, Taylor, I need you to stop pushing," The midwife said from her feet. Taylor cried softly. "Why? Is something wrong?" Carole rubbed her shoulder. "No, no. Your daughter is just fine. She's being cleaned over there," Taylor panted, trying to recover from her recent contraction. "What then?" She asked.
"It would appear that you had another hiding,"
Taylor sniffed. "What?" She shut her eyes, repressing the urge to push. "You have another baby to deliver,"
Taylor's eyes widened. "No. No, I-I can't have twins! I didn't sign up for twins!" She dropped onto the pillow, fisting her eyes. "I'm too tired, I can't do it," She cried. The nurse made a sympathetic sound. "I'm sorry honey, but you need to deliver this one. It looks like they're breach, so you'll need to push even harder,"
Taylor sobbed. "I don't wanna do this anymore Carole, please," She cried. "Oh honey, I know. But you don't have a choice, you've gotta get the baby out," Carole pushed some hair out of Taylor's face.
"Thirty seconds and then I need you to give me the biggest push you can,"
Taylor cried quietly. "I want Pete," She sobbed. Carole tutted. "Sweetie, he's in Alaska," She said. Taylor sniffed. "I don't care, I want him," She cried.
"Are you ready?" The nurse asked. Carole grabbed Taylor's shoulder. "Taylor, you listen to me." Taylor shuddered. "He may not be here right now, but I am. And I need you to give it all you've got to get that baby out safely. Can you do that?"
Taylor looked up and nodded determinedly. "On three,"
Taylor woke up slowly. The light burned her eyelids, and her throat felt gammy. Was it all a dream? Did she have a nightmare?
She squinted at the white room. "Ah, Mrs Mictehll. You're awake!" She turned her head. "What happened? Where am I?" She mumbled. She pushed herself up, wincing a little. "You're in San Diego Maternity Ward, ma'am."
Ah yes. She'd had twins. "My babies! Are they-"
"They're fine," The nurse smiled. "Your sister is with them now." Taylor sank back into the pillows. "Good... good. What happened?" She reached for her water. "Well, there was a small complication with your baby boy. He was breach and twisted in the birth canal. They had to do an emergency c-section to save you both," Taylor noted the pain in her stomach.
She nodded, her head falling against the pillows. "When can I see them?" She mumbled, suddenly feeling very very tired. "I'll bring them in after you've had some rest. You're only just coming off the anaesthetic," Taylor nodded, her eyes already shutting. "Ok,"
Taylor woke up to somebody's snoring. She shifted up the bed, noting it was dark. "Carole?" She called. She must've gone home to Bradley. She thought. Her babies! She frantically looked around. "Taylor?" The snorer mumbled. Taylor gasped happily. "Pete! What're you doing here?! I didn't think you were due back for another week!" She said. "The soldiers arrived early, so I was let off." He smiled back.
"Oh! I'm so happy you're here! There's so much I have to tell you!" She smiled. "I know. Carole said we had twins," He grinned. "A little girl and little boy," Taylor smiled. "I'd show you them, but they're in the nursery," She said. Pete shook his head and pointed. "When I arrived, the staff brought them in. I've already met them,"
It was then, that Taylor noticed the two incubators in the corner, one with pink edging and the other with blue. "She has your eyes, Tay." He smiled. "And he has Goose's,"
Taylor flushed. "I haven't actually met them yet... I was... asleep of sorts,"
Pete chuckled. "I know. I can't even imagine how hard that must've been," He stroked her hand. "I'm so proud of you," Taylor flushed brighter red. "Do you have any names in mind?" He asked softly. Taylor cast a look over to her babies. "I do... but what do you have?" She asked. "Well, for our son, I was thinking Nicholas," Taylor gasped softly. "For Goose," Pete finished. "Oh, I love it," She whispered.
She gazed to her daughter. "And for our daughter?" She asked. Pete hummed. "I'm not sure... what do you think?" Taylor stared for a moment longer before answering. "Madalyn..." She said. "Madalyn Mitchell," Pete tried. "I love it," He smiled. Taylor smiled softly. "I want her middle name to be Carole... she just... she was by my side from day one, and helped me thorugh labour," Taylor said. Pete rubbed her hand again. "She can have whatever middle name you want,"
Taylor smiled at her babies.
"Nicholas Duke Mitchell and Madalyn Carole Mitchell... our children,"
