Title: A Lifetime

Rating: For all!

Author: Cookiemonster76

Disclaimers: Vaughn & Sydney belong to J.J. Abrams

April 17, 2015

"Happy Birthday Mommy!" the boys screamed when they saw their mother coming down the stairs. Michael, the father, had helped them getting breakfast ready in order to surprise their mother with the biggest breakfast she had every seen in life.

Her face was graced with a large smile and she couldn't even hold it back when she noticed her beloved ones standing in front of her, around the kitchen table, which was nicely made up on a sunny spring morning, which happened to be her birthday. Everyone had a smile on their face and she realized again how lucky she had been in life. She was cherished with the most beautiful, handsome and most careful husband she could have ever wished for. Both have been graced with the most adoring children.

If somebody would have told her 10 years ago she would have four boys in her life, she would have told them they were crazy. That this would be something she wouldn't let happen, either to her body or what so ever, two at the most she always thought.

But life took another turn when she learnt that she was pregnant after the first two boys. Of course she, just like Michael, had hoped for it to be a girl this time. But that was not the case. The fact was that they were even rewarded by two boys, twins thus. The thought of having twins had scared her first, but 5 months into the pregnancy she noticed that this had been the best so far.

With Alexander, the first born, she had had quite some complications. Not only morning sickness was on the agenda every day all throughout the pregnancy. But there were also the headaches, backaches and anything else that came along with it. Michael had taken very well care of her. He even had requested a few months off from work to help her wherever he could.

Four months after Alex's birth, she learnt that she was pregnant again. It wasn't pleasing her very much. Just the thought of going through everything again so quick was kind of terrifying for her, yet an abortion was something she would have never been able to do. Not that she was married and deeply in love with her husband. They both had to face the fact that a second baby would be there very soon.

She had enjoyed Oliver's pregnancy much better than Alex's one. The sickness only lasted for the first couple of month and then the rest went just fine. Also the labor didn't show too many complications. From the moment her water broke to the time their second son was born, 6 hours had passed. Just thinking back on her first labor made her have goose bumps all over her body. Over 20 long hours of hard work with her husband, the new father to be, right next to her, supporting her as much as he could. She knew that if he could have taken part of the pain, he would have done it. But this was something she had to go through by herself.

Her life was defined with diaper, feeding, sleeping, and cuddling. She actually had wanted to go back to work once Oliver, who happened to be a more motherly child, was ready and old enough for the day care center that was just around the corner. Oliver 15 months and Alexander 27 months were now old enough to handle an 8 hour a day away from home.

Only life had once more decided something else. It was Christmas Season and the news was all welcome to Michael when he knew about his wife's third pregnancy. Sure it wasn't planned at all. And her plans of going back to active life had been tumbled upside down again. Kendall though had made sure for her to get some work done from home. At first Sydney was sad to have to stay home, but on the other hand she was feeling better.

While the kids were at the day care center for a couple of hours a day, Sydney took the time to do some researches on the Internet for either her husband or Kendall himself. It made her change her mind from the usual house chores she was used to day after day. They had hoped for a girl and had already chosen the name, as well as the decoration in her room. Three months along they found out about the boys who were later named Collin and Tim, born on a hot June afternoon with 2.5 months ahead of the due date.

They were both pretty tiny, especially little Tim had to be taken in to longer special care. First the doctors thought he wouldn't make it, because his heart was very weak. Apparently Tim was a fighter, just like his mother and eldest brother. Although they all had the spitting image of their father, those two boys definitely had their mother's strength. They both had a reason to fight for life, the merit to live.

And there they were Sydney's 5 boys, well 4 boys and a husband, standing and smiling at her for the 41st birthday. She was getting old she thought but that's not how she felt. Especially not today. Five pairs of green eyes staring, waiting for her to move on.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Tim came running at her and threw himself around her waist.

"Happy birthday mommy" he wished her again. "Look, we made breakfast for you" he smiled broadly at his mother he adored so much. She picked him up, cuddled him real tight against herself and then walked over to the table and greeted her still smiling husband with a long kiss.

"Morning beautiful."

"Hey" she smiled into their kiss "Hey guys" she greeted them and then tousled each ones head. "All of this for me?"

"Uh-huh" they nodded in unison.

"Yes but daddy helped us a little bit" Tim corrected her.

"That's real sweet of you Timmy and the others of course too"

"Yes but that's not all" Tim threw in again while his mother sat down on nearest chair. He jumped off her lap and ran into the living room. "Alex, come help me!" he screamed. And Alex jumped off to help his youngest brother.

In they came again with a large box they carried together. They set it down before Sydney's feet. "What's this?" she asked casually as if she wouldn't know. Of course she knew what it was, but didn't know what was inside.

"It's for you! It's your birthday present mommy" Tim held out his arms and Sydney lifted him back on her knees.

"Vaughn? You shouldn't have to...."

"It's not me....it's from your sons"

"You mean OUR sons, right?"

"Sure!" he grinned at her. It has never been her or his sons, always theirs. It was something that mattered a lot to Sydney. She hated when the children were only referred to one of the parents.

She gazed at the children "Wow, what have you planned there for me kids? Do you mind if I open it after breakfast? You know I'm kind of hungry...." they shook their heads.

"Can I have another pancake please Vaughn or Alex?" Sydney begged. Both were active again at the stove, upon Sydney's insatiable state.

"Sydney? What's up with you? You're eating for two or what?" Vaughn joked over his shoulder.

"Yes!"

Vaughn stopped dead in his track, pouring too much pancake dough into the pan. "Dad! Watch out!" Alex yelled. He then also realized what his mother had just said. As smart as he was, he knew what this meant.

The twins and Oliver though sat at the table not daring to speak a word, wondering what was going on.

Vaughn turned around to face his wife "You mean...? Are you...?" and Sydney only nodded while a tear run down her cheek. "You're pregnant? We're going to have a baby? Again?" only the last word was meant as a question and Sydney started to sob.

Worries came over her when she noticed Michael not reacting to it. At least not the way she had expected it. Sure she wondered if it was a good idea to have another child. That would make it to 5. Were they going to be able to manage 5 children? What about the money? Was it going to be a complicated pregnancy again, considering her age? She wasn't sure of anything right now and she even wished that it was only a bad dream and that she would wake up.

"Vaughn?" she asked with a trembling voice.

"Sydney! Oh my God! We're going to have a baby!" Vaughn squealed and took her into his arms and spun them around. The children followed them with their eyes all dumbfounded. "I'm so happy Syd! I love you so much!"

"I love you too Michael"

"How long? I mean when?"

"Around New Year"

"Oh my god we're going to have a baby for New Year!!!!!" he was overjoyed. He crouched down on his knees and spoke to his wife's still flat stomach. Even after three pregnancies, she had always exercised herself to keep herself in shape much to Vaughn's pleasure. Not that he would have ever bothered of her gaining some weight, after all she had delivered four children to him. But he had excepted her choice of training hard after each pregnancy.

"Hey baby, you know we love you very much. Your mommy, me and you know you have four brothers little one that will love you very much too" he lifted the hem of her pajamas and dropped soft kisses on her tummy.

"You're going to have a baby mommy?" Collin wanted to know.

"Yes sweetheart"

"Oh! Yippee!" Apparently everybody was excited about the new baby to be born and Sydney immediately felt relieved.

"You ok Sydney?"

"Hmmm, can I have that pancake now? Remember I'm eating for two"

"Anything for you" he got up and kissed his wife again before returning to his former task.