2 MONTHS LATER
Serena was getting close to being 9 months pregnant. Rini and Maggie (Margaret) were due within the next few days. When Darien had to work, he wanted one of Serena's friends to come and keep an eye on her. Serena kept arguing that it wasn't necessary, but Darien wouldn't listen. So, Serena gave up and always had a friend of hers with her. Almost every one of the girls came to stay with Serena at least once. The only one who didn't was Raye. She was getting close to her 4th month of pregnancy and Chad wanted her to take it easy. One day, Molly came over to keep an eye on Serena. She and her long-time boyfriend, Melvin, were engaged to be married about 7 months later. Serena would be one of Molly's bridesmaids.
"I'm so happy for you, Mol," Serena had said. "I know you and Melvin will be happy together."
It was snowing outside so Serena and Molly sat in the living room.
"Serena, are you nervous?" Molly asked.
"About what?" Serena asked.
"About labor and giving birth," Molly replied.
"A little bit. I know that labor is painful, but my two baby girls will be worth it," Serena said.
"Well, when Melvin and I decided to have children, I'll come to you for advice," Molly said.
"You know I'm always there when you need me," Serena said. She then got up to get more cookies.
"Serena, sit down. I'll get the cookies," Molly said.
"It's okay, Mol. I'm fine," Serena said.
"Yes, but you should gather all the strength you can for when you go into labor," Molly said.
"Molly, you're almost as bad as Darien. I said I'll be fine," Serena said. Suddenly, Serena felt a sharp pain in her belly.
"What's wrong? Are the babies kicking?" Molly asked.
"No. The babies are coming," Serena said.
"See, I told you," Molly said. "Just keep calm and you'll be fine. I'll go get the bag you packed and you try and get your shoes on." Serena walked to the little bench by the front door and sat down. She couldn't even bend over properly. Molly then came running down the stairs carrying a duffel bag.
"Forget your shoes. Just wear your slippers," Molly said. "Let's go." Molly helped Serena into her car and they drove to Tokyo General.
"Mol, give me your cell phone. I've got to call Darien," Serena said.
"Sure," Molly said and handed Serena her phone. Serena dialed a number and pressed 'send'.
"Hello, Tokyo General Hospital," the woman on the other end said.
"Hello, this is Serena Shields. I need to speak to my husband, Darien, right away," Serena said.
"Hang on a moment. I'll transfer your call," the woman said. A few seconds later, the phone began to ring again and a man picked up.
"Tokyo General Hospital Emergency Room," he said.
"I need to speak to Darien Shields right away," Serena said.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, he's with a patient. Can I take a message?" the man asked.
"No! I'm his wife and I'm in labor! I need to speak to Darien now!" Serena said.
"Yes, ma'am," the man said. A few seconds later, Darien came on the line.
"Serena, are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm in labor. Molly and I are on our way to hospital," Serena said.
"Okay. I'll call the maternity wing and have them set up a room for you," Darien said. "I'll meet you there."
"Thank you," Serena said. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Darien said. "Bye."
"Bye," Serena said and hung up. About 15 minutes later, Molly's car pulled up to the hospital. She put Serena in a wheelchair and wheeled her to the maternity wing. Indeed, a room was all set up for Serena and Darien was waiting. Molly helped Serena put on the hospital gown and then she and Darien helped Serena onto the bed. Darien then examined Serena.
"Serena, you're not very dilated so this is going to take a while," Darien said.
"That's okay," Serena said. "At least I'm here."
"Do you want me to phone the girls?" Molly asked.
"Yes, please," Serena said. Within an hour or so, Serena's friends and family were at the hospital.
"Serena, how are you?" Raye asked.
"Fine, for now," Serena replied. "Some pain every once in a while, but I think I'll be okay."
"You're sure you're in labor?" Amy asked.
"Yes, I am. Darien confirmed it," Serena said. "He also said that I'm not very dilated and that it's going to take while for Rini and Maggie to make their appearances."
"That's okay," Ikuku said. "We're all here for you, Sweetie."
"Thanks, Mom," Serena said.
Serena was getting close to being 9 months pregnant. Rini and Maggie (Margaret) were due within the next few days. When Darien had to work, he wanted one of Serena's friends to come and keep an eye on her. Serena kept arguing that it wasn't necessary, but Darien wouldn't listen. So, Serena gave up and always had a friend of hers with her. Almost every one of the girls came to stay with Serena at least once. The only one who didn't was Raye. She was getting close to her 4th month of pregnancy and Chad wanted her to take it easy. One day, Molly came over to keep an eye on Serena. She and her long-time boyfriend, Melvin, were engaged to be married about 7 months later. Serena would be one of Molly's bridesmaids.
"I'm so happy for you, Mol," Serena had said. "I know you and Melvin will be happy together."
It was snowing outside so Serena and Molly sat in the living room.
"Serena, are you nervous?" Molly asked.
"About what?" Serena asked.
"About labor and giving birth," Molly replied.
"A little bit. I know that labor is painful, but my two baby girls will be worth it," Serena said.
"Well, when Melvin and I decided to have children, I'll come to you for advice," Molly said.
"You know I'm always there when you need me," Serena said. She then got up to get more cookies.
"Serena, sit down. I'll get the cookies," Molly said.
"It's okay, Mol. I'm fine," Serena said.
"Yes, but you should gather all the strength you can for when you go into labor," Molly said.
"Molly, you're almost as bad as Darien. I said I'll be fine," Serena said. Suddenly, Serena felt a sharp pain in her belly.
"What's wrong? Are the babies kicking?" Molly asked.
"No. The babies are coming," Serena said.
"See, I told you," Molly said. "Just keep calm and you'll be fine. I'll go get the bag you packed and you try and get your shoes on." Serena walked to the little bench by the front door and sat down. She couldn't even bend over properly. Molly then came running down the stairs carrying a duffel bag.
"Forget your shoes. Just wear your slippers," Molly said. "Let's go." Molly helped Serena into her car and they drove to Tokyo General.
"Mol, give me your cell phone. I've got to call Darien," Serena said.
"Sure," Molly said and handed Serena her phone. Serena dialed a number and pressed 'send'.
"Hello, Tokyo General Hospital," the woman on the other end said.
"Hello, this is Serena Shields. I need to speak to my husband, Darien, right away," Serena said.
"Hang on a moment. I'll transfer your call," the woman said. A few seconds later, the phone began to ring again and a man picked up.
"Tokyo General Hospital Emergency Room," he said.
"I need to speak to Darien Shields right away," Serena said.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, he's with a patient. Can I take a message?" the man asked.
"No! I'm his wife and I'm in labor! I need to speak to Darien now!" Serena said.
"Yes, ma'am," the man said. A few seconds later, Darien came on the line.
"Serena, are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm in labor. Molly and I are on our way to hospital," Serena said.
"Okay. I'll call the maternity wing and have them set up a room for you," Darien said. "I'll meet you there."
"Thank you," Serena said. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Darien said. "Bye."
"Bye," Serena said and hung up. About 15 minutes later, Molly's car pulled up to the hospital. She put Serena in a wheelchair and wheeled her to the maternity wing. Indeed, a room was all set up for Serena and Darien was waiting. Molly helped Serena put on the hospital gown and then she and Darien helped Serena onto the bed. Darien then examined Serena.
"Serena, you're not very dilated so this is going to take a while," Darien said.
"That's okay," Serena said. "At least I'm here."
"Do you want me to phone the girls?" Molly asked.
"Yes, please," Serena said. Within an hour or so, Serena's friends and family were at the hospital.
"Serena, how are you?" Raye asked.
"Fine, for now," Serena replied. "Some pain every once in a while, but I think I'll be okay."
"You're sure you're in labor?" Amy asked.
"Yes, I am. Darien confirmed it," Serena said. "He also said that I'm not very dilated and that it's going to take while for Rini and Maggie to make their appearances."
"That's okay," Ikuku said. "We're all here for you, Sweetie."
"Thanks, Mom," Serena said.