Chapter 16: "It's just a promise on-one ever keeps"
Hey I apologize for the delay on this chapter. I got a new computer for Christmas, and as always chaos ensued with the other one, and my stories got kinda screwed up. Well review I really want to know what you think. And I want to wish you guys a happy holiday, even though it is kind of late!
~ Haley
The next morning Marissa was due to leave, Kirsten and Dylan were going to go with her. She was allowed some time with the girls before Kirsten would take her back to Newport to check into a clinic.
Marissa knelt down next to the two clear incubators. The children inside were so small they could each fit in the palm of her hand.
"Hey Piper, … Maddie…" She said wiping her tears. "You guys are more beautiful than I could have ever imagined."
She watched the girls small chests slowly rise and fall.
"I'm going to have to go for a little while… But I will get better real soon so we can be together." Marissa promised them. "I will miss you guys…" She kissed each incubator.
For the first time it did not matter that the girls were Lukes, or that she had no idea where her father was, or that she was depressed out of her mind. In that moment all that mattered to Marissa was her babies, it was hard for her to think of herself of a mother, but she felt a love for Piper and Madison that she had never felt for anyone before.
The doctor motioned through the window that it was time to go.
"Bye loves." Marissa said stepping out of the room.
She slowly made her way down the hall. She was wearing a pair of her jeans, a fitted blue shirt, but most importantly Ryans trade-mark black jacket.
"Hey." Ryan said when Marissa approached the desk where Kirsten was signing her out.
Ryan held her close in his arms and kissed her.
"It will be okay. I promise." Ryan assured her
Marissa nodded.
"I love you." Ryan said as Kirsten led the silent Marissa out of the hospital.
Seth came up behind Ryan and put his hand on his shoulder.
"It will be okay man." Seth said.
Dylan stood against the far window with her arms wrapped protectively around her.
"I hope so." Ryan said turning away.
"Where are you going man?" Seth asked
"I promised Marissa I would stay with Piper and Maddie." He said leaving
Three hours later Marissa was sitting in her room at the clinic. Kirsten was putting her clothes away in the drawers for her.
"So you're settled." Kirsten said wiping her hands on her pants. "Is there anything you need?"
Marissa shook her head no.
Kirsten sat on the bed next to her.
"Look honey. It is not always going to be this hard. It will get better. And you and Ryan will give the girls a wonderful life together."
"I hope." Marissa said
"Have you tried to speak with your mother honey?" Kirsten asked her
Marissa shook her head no.
"I just want you to know that I think of you as a daughter, the one I never had in fact. I want you to get better just as much as everyone else does."
Marissa then broke down into tears. Kirsten held her close as she sobbed. Marissa later fell asleep with Kirsten lovingly stroking her hair.
Later that day: Newport
Kirsten and Dylan sat in silence, there was nothing to say…
"So… are Ryan and Coop going to have the pool house?" Dylan asked breaking the silence.
"I guess, … I mean, it is hardly big enough but they have nowhere else to go so… Actually on that note the girls have nothing. We were all too worried about Marissa to think about buying them anything!" Kirsten realized.
"Yeah, … truthfully, I didn't think that Marissa or the babies would survive…" Dylan paused, "but I am happy they did and all but, I am just worried about what kind of pressure this is going to put on Marissa."
"Yeah." Kirsten agreed
"And there is one factor that we forgot to take into consideration." Dylan stated
"Oh yeah? What is that?"
"Luke…"
The two became uncomfortable. What would Luke do if he found out that the twins were his? Would he try to take them from Marissa too? No. Nobody would let him, … even if he did realize he might not come forward because of the circumstances under which Marissa conceived the Piper and Madison, … right?
"I know one thing that will make us feel better." Dylan said pulling Kirsten out of the house.
"What is that?" Kirsten asked
"Baby shopping!" Dylan said
Kirsten and Dylan were at the mall within fifteen minutes. Kirsten was running around the store grabbing everything off of the shelves.
"Wow, excited much?" Dylan said
"Well I have always wanted a little girl to dress and now there are two!"
"When Seth was a baby I wanted him to be a girl so badly that when he was born I was convinced that the doctors gave me the wrong baby." Kirsten said.
"Well Seth is a good kid." Dylan said blushing
"You guys are cute together." Kirsten said
"Oh, Seth and I aren't like that. We are just really good friends."
Kirsten looked at Dylan and raised her eyebrow and smirked.
*Pylema
Ryan sat next to Piper and Madisons incubators. For the first time the doctor allowed Ryan to wear gloves and touch the babies.
"Hey guys." Ryan said. He smiled as he gently stroked Pipers sandy brown hair. "I know you have heard that you are beautiful a lot since you were born… even if it was two days ago…" Ryan smiled.
He leaned back.
"You are going to see your mommy again… she loves you, she is just going somewhere to get better so she can take care of you guys the best that she can."
Right then Seth and Summer came in.
"You mind?" Seth asked
"Nah, come on in." Ryan said to his friends
Seth and Summer walked in cautiously. Seth knelt next to an incubator.
"Hey, I am your Uncle Seth." He began "I am going to teach you all how to skate, yes I am." He cooed at the babies. "This is Auntie Summer, she will… well she will attempt to corrupt you but so long as I am here that will not happen."
"Shove it Cohen." Summer said.
Sandy knocked on the window, motioning for Ryan and Seth to come out.
"Stay with them Summer." Ryan said standing up
"But I am not good with-" The door shut "babies…"
Summer sat in the rocking chair adjacent to the incubators.
"Hi." Summer dumbly waved. "I am Summer…" She paused. "What am I doing, they can't hear can they…? Oh well, they will never remember this."
She scooted closer to the incubators.
"Your mommy is one of my best friends in the entire world… She has been through a lot… but she tries so hard. Whenever you need her sure enough Coop is there… But I guess you will call her mom not Coop huh? Wow, Coop is a mom, it's weird. Well anyway what I was saying, she is always there, ready to help… Never EVER take that for granted, … I did once, and it was the loneliest time in my life… just know that. You guys have so many people who love you… Me, your mom and dad, Sandy and Kirsten, Seth, Dylan and I. You are never going to be alone. Seth will give you the friend he never had growing up, Dylan I will give you the big sisters that we never had, Kirsten and Sandy will treat you like the little girls that they never had, and Ryan will be the father that he never had… and Marissa the mother that she never had…"
Summer leaned back into her chair wondering how she was so deep.
"So that's my bit." She stood up. "Oh yeah."
"Whichever one of you is Piper-" she added looking at the incubators to see the names, "… well I don't know which one you are but make our name proud."
Summer nodded her head satisfied and knew that everything was going to be good. She leaned out of the door.
"Cohen, Atwood, where you at? I don't do well with small children for long periods of time. I have flashbacks of my childhood!"
