Chapter 31 - A Christmas Surprise

Everyone got up 7:00 am and went downstairs. The twins ran ahead and urged the "grown ups" to hurry. They all sat around the tree and took their first gifts. They wore their lockets they got 5 years ago and fished out the boys presents to them. Ashley jumped up and waved the package with triumph. " I got it!!!!!" Then the package fell from her hands and she wrapped her hands around her stomach.

"You ok?" Steph asked?

"Do I look ok? I think my water just broke."

"I'll go get you a glass." Duo jumped up and ran off to the kitchen. Kim grabbed the collar of his shirt and sent him a death glare.

"You idiot! She don't need a glass of water!!! She' in labor!!"

"Oh...OH!!!!" Duo said as it finally registered.

"You might want to go to the hospital." Heero said.

"Ha ha ha, I know that, what do you take me for?"

"Don't make me answer that." Heero said in his monotone voice.

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"God damn it!!" Ashley yelled in the hospital room. Duo looked at her strangely from behind his magazine. The rest of the group sat in stunned silence in the waiting room. Ashley could be heard all over the hospital.

"Kim wasn;t nearly that bad." Heero commented.

Quatre opened his mouth to say something but then closed it. Steph was that bad and there was no other way to put it.

"Drugs! Gimme Drugs!!!!!" she shouted at the doctor.

"At this point they won't go any good. It's pointless."

Ashley glared at Duo.

"This is all your fault! When we get home your getting your nuts chopped!!!!"

Duo swallowed hard. Suddenly, Ashley grabbed Duo's hand and squeezed hard as another contraction attacked her body. Duo this time was shouting along with Ashley in the delivery room as sharp pains shot through his hand.

" I can see it! Start pushing!." the doctor commanded.

"Easy for you to say!!." Ashley managed to get out before putting all her strength into it which practically broke Duo's hand.

The group in the waiting room were laughing hysterically. Well, Heero tried to laugh. They laughed more at Duo's yelling than Ashley's.

"Is Ashley really the one that is having the kid?" Steph said just before she was attacked by another fit of laughter.

"Sounds like Duo's the one in labor." Kim said chuckling. Heero grinned. He had a good idea as to why he was screaming he thought as he looked at his left hand.

Suddenly it went quiet soon broken by a "Thanks Jesus it's over!!!"

"Congratulations, it's a boy." The doctor said smiling. He handed her the child and she looked at it. "You know you hurt your mother?!" Ashley said sternly. The baby cocked it's head and made some gurgling noises as a response. :"You're just a felony waiting to happen aren't you? I bet you're gonna be just like your father, God help us."

The group in the waiting room stared blankly out into the hallway. They saw Duo leave the delivery room and make his way to X-ray while cradling his left hand. The group burst out into one more session of uncontrollable laughter. Heero's guess was right.

"Brings back memories eh?" Heero said and gently elbowed her in the ribs. She elbowed back twice as hard and knocked the wind out of him. She began to blush.

"Hopefully she never broke Duo's hand." He finished. Kim's face turned bright red.

"She broke your hand." Steph asked in amazement? Heero nodded.

"Good job Kimmy." Quatre smiled.

Ashley was able to go home after a few days. She brought the baby in her arms wrapped in a blue blanket. They had a great time over the past few weeks. They ate candy, went to the park, talked about the old times and about Christa. (By the way, Chrissy is now living with her boyfriend back in Canada on top of their own Anime/Hentai shop.) But everyone had to head home. That Christmas would be Christmas that they would never forget.

~ The End ~

Author's Note: Well, here it is, the last chapter. Finally. Well, hope you liked it. I know we did. And we would like to dedicate this story to Stephanie Gale who had to move suddenly before the story was competed. Miss you hun. Lubs ya. And to one of our art students , Samone, who is also leaving for Montreal this summer. Miss you all. ~Kimmy and Ashley~