Cat and Mouse

Chapter 12 Surprises and Expectancies

"Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother." Oprah Winfrey

Adam noticed the changes in the two girls first. After all he was always doing scans on them, sometimes weekly. But in the aftermath of the incident in New Orleans and dealing with some new legal issues at the Hunt/Heinz Foundation, he overlooked the initial signs until things had calmed down a little further. Course then the twins complicated things even more.

Emma was helping Mare' to deal with the death of Tabby, which proving difficult because Mare's presence reminded her of Myra, which lead Emma to several sleepless nights. She was good at hiding this from everybody but the twins.

After a week of watching their Mama not sleeping, Jori and Chessy decided that somebody needed to be done. Jori sought advise from Uncle Jesse and Chessy went to Uncle Brennan. They instinctively knew there was no sense in going to their other Mommy, Shalimar.

Jori tried first.

"Uncle Jesse? What do you do when you can't sleep?"

The question surprised him. "Why? You're too young to be having sleep problems."

She quickly reassured him, "No, it's not me. I just want to know in case I ever do."

"Let's see. I try different things. Sometimes a glass of warm milk helps. Sometimes I work out hard in the dojo."

Jori jumped up and down. "Show me some workout stuff, then. Please?"

Jesse hesitated. Emma and Shalimar had wanted to save some of the dojo stuff until much later. But he knew the first forms of Tai Chi were taught to children even younger than Jori and Chessy. He looked down at Jori, "Ok. I'll show you something basic that you can practice without getting in trouble with your moms. Go change and meet me up there."

Jori scampered off and changed into her dance leotard.

Jesse spent the next hour going over the first two forms. Jori was such a quick learner that Jesse almost started the 3rd form with her when Emma looking for Jori interrupted them. Emma frowned at Jesse and sent Jori ahead.

"Jesse, what were you two doing?"

"I was doing my kata and she was asking me questions. It was easier to show her than explain. She's already mastered the 1st two forms." Somehow Jesse knew Jori's questions were either about Emma or Shalimar and he didn't want to get in the middle of that.

"I guess its ok this one time, but check with us first next time," Emma said with tight lips. She sighed and started to yawn. "Oh, excuse me. I don't know what it is that is making me yawn today." She ran down the stars after Jori.

Jesse shook his head at her retreat. He didn't know either.

Meanwhile, Chessy cornered her Uncle Brennan and asked he about what he did if he couldn't sleep...

"Well, I dig out a book of poetry and read for awhile. Or sometimes I go take a shower and just try to relax. Why?"

"Oh, just wondering in case I ever have that problem." Then Chessy ran off to compare answers with Jori.

After comparing notes later that day, the two girls were confused even more of what to do about their Mama. They decided to put it into motion tonight and try everything. They went to their Grandpa and asked him for a book of pretty poetry. They snuck it onto Emma's bedside table. Then they put the milk in a glass in their little refrigerator. They also raided Emma's dresser drawers for something comfortable to work out in. This they put under the book. They put one of the big towels out on the vanity and set out all the pretty-smelling soaps and shampoos. Thus armed, they went to find their mothers, because they were getting hungry and suppertime was soon.

The two girls did not say a word about their activities to them. Shalimar asked what they did during the afternoon and received strange answers.

"Uncle Jesse showed me some moves." Jori said quietly.

"Uncle Brennan read me poetry," was all they got out of Chessy.

Shal raised an eyebrow at Emma who shook her head and mouthed, "Later."

"Maybe we should have Uncle Jesse show both of you those moves," she said.

"I still don't think that's a good idea just yet, Ems." Shalimar was getting worried.

"Jesse said Jori is a quick learner. Chessy is just as quick. If we combine this with dance and gymnastic lessons, wouldn't that be better?" Emma was trying to reasonable about the whole thing. The twins wanted to learn something new.

"Yeah! Please, Mommy! Please, Mama!" The twins chorused together.

"Oh, ok. But if either one of you get hurt, that's it, until you're much older." Shalimar gave in. "Have fun with it, but no competitions!" This last remark was aimed at Emma whose face just reddened.

Later that evening after the girls were in bed, Emma noticed her dresser had been gone through. "Shal, were you looking for something in my drawers?"

"No, why?"

"Everything is unfolded."

Shalimar looked over and shook her head. She then spotted the items on the bedside table. "Well, there is a stack of clothes on your bedside table." Shalimar walked over closer. "And a book of poetry. Maybe Brennan is trying to tell you something." She laughed lightly.

Emma looked at the title. "I don't know. This doesn't seem to be Brennan's type of poetry though."

Shalimar yawned widely. "I don't know about you, but I'm tired.

Emma smacked her with a pillow. "Alright, sleepyhead. I'll take the hint."

Shal lounged under the covers before answering. "What hint?"

"Emma snuggled up next to her. "This one!" She expected a response but only heard snores. She sighed. Maybe she'll be able to sleep tonight. She laid there for a while listening to Shal's breathing and tried to relax.

It didn't work. She rolled over and looked at the nightstand with the stack of clothing and the book of poetry. She remembered Chessy's remark about Brennan reading her some poetry this afternoon. I wonder if she put it there. Slipping quietly out of the bed, Emma picked up the book and went into the bathroom. She stopped to get her glass of water out of the fridge as she walked by. She stopped short when she saw the glass of milk in there.

Milk, poetry, workout clothes. Damn it. Those girls! She thought with love pouring out for her twin daughters. They just wanted to help me get some sleep. She spotted two pairs of eyes at the other door and she walked over.

The twins dove back into bed. Emma didn't miss the scrambling, but she wanted to ask them first before she either scolded or praised them for their efforts.

Jori, Chessy, I know you're still awake!" She turned on the reading light to softly illuminate the room. The girls clammed up.

"I'm going to ask you something. Were you the ones who put the milk in the fridge and the poetry book by the bed?"

They looked at each other before they nodded. "Mama, you weren't sleeping right." Jori chimed with Chessy right after with "We were soooo worried."

"Katya told us that you would have some difficulties when she was coming again," Jori said, as if it explained everything.

Emma was still uncomfortable with the fact the twins insisted that Katya talked to them. The fact that the twins knew or suspected her difficulties were because she was pregnant made it even worse for her. After all, she hadn't even shared that with Shalimar yet.

The main reason that Emma hadn't told Shalimar yet was Shalimar's insistence that they couldn't be pregnant from that encounter with Chad because she "wasn't in heat". Emma thought back to that day and that evening. Her third happiest day of her life. (The first being when she was reunited with her twins and the second when she and Shalimar decided to stop playing games with each other and do something about their relationship.) She remembered little bits and pieces from that day: smelling them on the seat of the SUV, her wanting a steak done less rarer than she normally preferred, being able to see in the dark much easier, feeling hotter than the situation called for and then being extremely tired afterwards, after Chas. What was going on with her body? Did some of Shalimar's feralness pass over to her when they bit each other that day? She heard of females' bodies lining up together when they lived in close proximity. Did that happen to her and Shalimar? Emma made a mental note to discuss this with Adam in the morning.

She turned her attention back to the twins. "All right, girls. We'll discuss Katya later. Thank you for being so thoughtful. I'll let you know in the morning if it works tonight. Now, off to bed you two." She kissed each one on the forehead and tucked them in, for the second time that night. "Don't disturb us right away! We'll come get you. Promise?"

"We promise, Mama." The twins settled back into their beds. They silently high-fived behind Emma's back as she returned to the bathroom.

Emma read a few poems and actually started to relax. She turned the lights out and slipped back into bed with Shalimar. Shalimar curled up against her and held her down in her sleep. Emma hugged her back and closed her eyes. She finally slept, the first real sleep since before they rescued Mare'.

The next morning, Shalimar tried to wake Emma up. Emma didn't respond, except to burrow deeper into the covers. Then Shalimar tried tickling her on her feet. That woke Emma up promptly.

"Shalimar! Stop that! Uncle, Uncle!" She giggled and tried to wiggle away.

"So, you're awake now. Finally!" Shalimar poised mid-tickle.

"No thanks to you." Emma smiled and then remembered something. "I want to talk to you later. Not now, though." She got out of bed, quickly dressed and ran out of the room. She wanted to see Adam before she lost her nerves.

"Adam?"

Adam looked up from the computer console and noticed Emma's nervous pacing. "What can I do for you, Emma?"

She whispered something in his ear. Adam's eyebrows arched but he waved his hands at the medi-bed. "I'll check that for you." He punched a few codes into the scanner and stepped back and waited for the results. Emma impatiently waited too. At his nod, Emma hugged him.

"Don't say anything yet, Adam. I want it to be a surprise, ok?" Adam hugged her back and nodded. "Go tell her!"

He logged the entry in and looked at Shalimar's latest scan too. They had identical hCg levels. He shook his head in disbelief. He made the notation and his recommendations for the two girls.

Emma ran through the halls to find Shalimar. She found her in the shower. After checking carefully that the door was locked to the twin's side, she went back to their room and waited for Shal to finish. She pulled her shirt aside and gently caressed her stomach. She was nervous and excited at the same time. How was Shal going to react? They were going to have a baby!

Shal stepped out of the shower and felt the excitement coming off of Emma. She wondered what had Emma so worked up. She quickly dressed and walked to their room to find out. She paused when she saw Emma rubbing her stomach.

"Emma?"

Emma startled and then ran over to hug Shalimar, guarding her excitement closely. "Guess what, Shal?"

"I don't know."

"Guess?" She sent an image of her with a bigger belly.

Shalimar blinked. "That's not funny. You don't look good fat."

Emma's face fell a little. "No, not that, Shalimar. How would you feel if in about say 7 months there's a 'pitter patter of little feet.'?" She looked deeply into Shalimar's eyes, trying to judge her reaction without prying.

"Emma, I'm not up for word games. Come out with it."

"I'm pregnant." Emma whispered, scared now.

"Emma!"

"Adam confirmed it this morning. That's why I ran out of here." Emma was desperate for Shalimar to be happy with this. She didn't have to wait long because Shalimar picked her up and spun her around, whooping. They landed in a heap on the bed, kissing each other in the process.

"You little scamp! You've known for a while, didn't you?"

"Yeah! But with Mare' and all that has gone on around here, I didn't want to say anything until I was certain," Emma hung her head.

Shalimar gently stroked Emma's stomach. "Ok, little one! Listen to your other Mama. You are not going to make this Mama any sicker than you already have. Understand?"

They giggled together. "Lets go tell Jori and Chessy that they are going to be the big sisters!"

The next day, Adam did his normal scan on Shalimar and compared the hCg levels to Emma's. "Shalimar? Look at this."

Shal came over and looked at the sets of figures where Adam was pointing. "What does that mean, Adam?"

"You're pregnant too, Shalimar." He said quietly, letting this second news sink in. Shalimar covered her mouth.

"How could I be? My test came up negative."

"Sometimes the urine test remains a false negative in some women up until the time they go into labor. The blood test is a lot more reliable."

Shalimar called Emma on her com-link. "Emma, would you come to the lab? I've got something to tell you."

"Be right there."

Emma walked in a few minutes later. Shalimar turned to Emma and pointed at the computer. Emma saw her results from yesterday and then looked at Shalimar's, not comprehending. Adam pointed at the two lines of data and moved away. Emma's eyes widened and she spun Shalimar in an identical spin to yesterdays. "Oh Shalimar, this is so wonderful! We're going to have babies at the same time!"

"Whoa there!" Adam cautioned when they bumped into a tray of instruments. "Now, I'm going to have to change some of your vitamins to allow for the babies. That's assuming that you want me to deliver them too."

"Oh, course, Adam. I don't trust anybody else to do that," Emma exclaimed and Shalimar nodded in agreement.

Jori and Chessy ran in then. "Mama, Mommy, what's up?" Jori quietly asked.

"Well, sweeties, it seems your Mommy is going to have a baby too!" Emma hugged the girls.

"Yippee!" They yelled, much to Shal's sensitive ears.

"But we haven't told Uncle Jesse or Uncle Brennan yet. So don't go blabbing to them just yet." Shalimar asked them.

"We won't." They chorused, much quieter now.

"Well, I guess we need to start looking at baby furniture and clothing," Shalimar looked at Emma.

"I think this calls for a shopping trip!" Emma said enthusiastically.

"Can we come too?" Chessy asked, not wanting to be left out of any shopping trips.

"Of course." Both mothers-to-be responded.

TBC