AN: We decided to divide this chapter into two parts…not because it was too long, but because there was a perfect chapter ending right smack in the middle…so this chapter and the next one will be only half of the size of our normal chapters

Late that night Rae attempted to shift from one side to the other, trying to find a comfortable spot.

Sleepily, Spot turned over. "What's wrong?" he mumbled.

"My lower back hurts."

Spot leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Would you like me to get China? Maybe she can suggest something to help you?"

She sighed. "Let her sleep..."

"Well... you need to be able to sleep too, you know."

"I haven't been able to sleep much for weeks, Spot...it was the same way the last few weeks before Sam was born."

"Well, you should still be as comfortable as possible..."

"I don't want to bother her..." she cried out in pain.

He sat up quickly. "What? What is it?" he asked worriedly. She clutched the sheets tightly in her fists, her face contorted. He jumped to his feet. "I'm getting China," and he ran off to find her.

"This better be good, Conlon," China said when he banged on her door.

"Rae's in pain..." he said, seizing her arm and dragging her down the hall. "I'd say she was in labor... but isn't it too early?"

China shook her arm free and raced down the stairs. Spot ran after her. China stopped. "I need North and Molly."

"I'll get them...." Turning, he ran to, of course, get them.

China ran into the bedroom. "Talk to me," she said to Rae.

"It... hurts!" she gasped, already drenched in sweat.

China took her hand. "Breathe."

"I'm trying."

"You're too early, Rae...but I don't think these babies are going to wait."

"I don't think so either..."

North, Molly and Spot rushed into the room.

"What can we do?" North asked.

"I need boiling water, blankets...and a pair of shears."

"You get the water, I'll get the other things," North said to Molly.

Molly nodded and took off for the kitchen. Spot walked over to the other side of the bed and sat down. He took Rae's hand. "Squeeze my hand, honey..."

"No," China said, turning to him. "Get out."

"What? Why?"

"You'll just get in my way."

"But... But!" he sputtered.

She pointed to the door. "Out!"

Rae cried out in pain.

"Can't you do something?" he asked.

"I'm trying! Now get out Conlon!"

She pushed him toward the door. "Need some help China?" Sippi asked from the doorway.

"Yes... Keep Spot out of here!"

"China you can't do this," Spot said as Rae cried out again.

"Yes I can," she said. "Sippi go throw him in the lake."

Sippi grinned. "As you wish." And he hauled Spot off.

"CHINA!" Spot yelled as she slammed the door.

She hurried back to Rae. "Rae, honey? Breathe. You need to breathe," she told her as she began fixing up everything she'd need right away. Every now and then she'd take a cold wet rag and dab it on Rae's sweaty face. "Breathe," she kept repeating.

"I can't do this," Rae whimpered.

"You've done it before, you can do it again, Rae Kelly- Rae Conlon..." China gave her a stern look. "Don't start getting soft on me. I need you to be strong."

"It hurts."

"I know Rae, I know." She dabbed her forehead again. "Just breathe. You'll be okay."

* * *

"Put me down Mississippi Wayne!" Spot yelled.

"Not a chance. China told me to throw you in the lake, and that's what I'm gonna do."

"This better not have anything to do with me stealing Rae from you!"

"This has nothing to do with it. I simply think you need to cool off!" And with that, Sippi heaved him into the lake.

Spot came up sputtering. "I'll kill you for that."

"Eh now... You've got kids and a lovely wife to take care of. You can't get thrown in jail for my murder, now can you?"

Growling Spot splashed some water in his direction. Sippi just laughed. Spot climbed from the lake and lunged at Sippi.

He dodged him. "Gotta be quicker than that, Conlon!"

Spot stumbled and turned. He paused only a moment before trying again.

Again, 'Sippi dodged him. "Awful slow there! You're gettin' out of shape, don't you think?"

* * *

"It's a boy, Rae," China said, handing the newborn babe to Molly.

Rae's eyes were crossing from sheer exhaustion and pain, so she couldn't see the baby very well, but she gave a strained smile. "I wanna sleep," she whispered weakly, dropping back against the pillows.

China shook her head. "We still have another baby in there."

Rae whimpered. China gave North the rag and motioned for her to cool Rae's head.

North gently wiped Rae's face. "Come on, Rae. One more, and then you can sleep."

"She slept for two days with Sam," Molly said, gently cradling the new baby.

"I'll need to sleep four after these two," Rae joked tiredly before wincing.

"Hang in there, Rae," China said.

"I'm trying..."

* * *

Sippi picked Spot up and threw him in the lake again. Spot was out and running seconds later. Turning to Sippi, he plowed into him, sending the both of them in the lake.

"Would you cool off already Conlon?"

"I'd cool off if you'd stop throwing me in the lake!"

"Once I see that you've cooled off I'll stop!"

"I would have cooled off if you hadn't thrown me in the first time! I'm just worried about Rae, for goodness' sake!"

"You're worrying wasn't helping anything."

Spot gave him a look. "Well neither was throwing me in a lake!"

Sippi shrugged. "China thought it would be helpful."

"China doesn't like me much, now does she?" Spot pointed out

"Only when you get in her way."

Spot sighed and sat down. "I wasn't in her way. I was offering to hold Rae's hand- that was it!"

Sippi shrugged again. "I was just following orders."

"But did you have to take her so literally?"

"Well... yeah... It was kind of funny."

"For you maybe!"

"Look...it's cold out here...why in the world are we still standing in the middle of your lake?"

Spot opened his mouth to retort and then closed it. "You know... I don't really know."

Sippi laughed slightly. "Can we go back up to the house now?"

"Sounds good to me..."

* * *

As the sun peeked over the horizon Molly walked into the kitchen where Spot and Sippi sat drinking coffee.

"It's over with," she said tiredly. "You can come in now."

Spot jumped to his feet and raced down the hall. He burst into the room and China whirled, giving him a death glare. "Quiet!" she hissed, gesturing to Rae, who was very much fast asleep.

"Where are they?" he whispered.

China pointed to her right.

He crept over to the cradle. "I thought you said two...."

"I did."

"Then why are there three?"