See part 1 for Disclaimer.

Part 35

It was a warm summer day. Susan and Marcus took a walk. Susan didn't feel especially well since last evening. She had hardly slept in the night because she had strong backaches. She had hoped that some movement on the fresh air would help her. However it was the contrary. The pains became always worse. Marcus noticed that Susan suffered.

„Aren't you feeling well? Should we go back?"

„It's nothing. I have only strong backaches. Really I have thought that it gets better through some movement, but it seems like I was wrong. It gets always worse."

„Then we should rather go back. At home you can lie down and I massage you a bit."

Marcus helped Susan with going. As they were at home Susan calmed down on the sofa and waited for Marcus, who got her something to drink. Suddenly Susan noticed that it became damp between their legs. She had an idea, what this had to mean.

„Marcus?" she called.

„Yes, my treasure. What can I do for you?"

„I think I get the twins."

„I know that you get the twins. For everything else it would be too late now."

„Marcus, I get them now! My water just broke."

„What? Now? You aren't due until two weeks."

„Some things don't keep on timetables. Do you help me now to go to the camp or must I do everything alone?"

Few streets away from the training compound

Delenn had insisted on it, that they visit the education of the new rangers. John accompanied her, how every time. He left her no moment out of his sight.

Delenn had just a conversation with Sech Turval and Sech Durhan, as she felt the pain in the stomach and back.

„Delenn, is everything okay? Should I get Stephen?" John asked anxiously.

„I think I had just a contraction. We get our baby."

John brought Delenn to Stephen, who just closed a connection on the communication system.

„John, Delenn what can I do for you? Unfortunately I don't have much time, I get a patient." Stephen said.

„I think you have to change your plans. Delenn has contractions. We get our baby. I think, your other patient must wait a bit." John explained.

„Then tell her that personally. My other patient is Susan, which has also contractions. It seems like you have planned that. Get Delenn to the delivery room and I see if we get a second bed."

Stephen left the both and organized everything he would need in addition.

Short time later Marcus came with Susan and William.

„Here we are, Stephen. The pain is getting stronger. Can you do something for her? I first have to find John or Delenn. They must baby sit Will."

„Oh, I can help you with that. They are in the delivery room. John has brought in Delenn a few minutes ago. She is also in labour. Take Susan to them and I will follow in a couple of minutes."

Marcus brought Susan to the room where already Delenn lay.

„Hello, don't we have a perfect timing? Now we even give birth to our children together. And no bets who will be the first one." Susan said between two contractions.

It didn't last long, until Stephen came to the room. He had a minbari doctor following him who should assist him. And he had a second bed for Susan thereby.

For the next hours Marcus and John left no second the side of their wives. And these were painful hours for Susan and Delenn.

Susan was almost at the end of her power. Between two contractions she scolded with Marcus, because he had brought her in this situation. He understood this totally.

Delenn talked in minbari. Marcus understood what she said, however John didn't. His minbari - knowledge wasn't yet suffices for it, which was better in this case.

After almost 10 hours pain Susan was the first who gives birth to her daughter. As she was finally there Susan was facilitated. However she hadn't much time to be happy, since she had already a contraction again.

Shortly after that Delenn's and John's son were born. Delenn was much facilitated, that it was finally over and John was overjoyed, as he could hold the small for the first time.

It didn't last very long and Susan bore the second baby, a boy. Finally it was over and both women could rest.

Stephen provided the new-borns and brought them then in the room, where the young mothers recovered.

„So my little-ones, now I want to give you to your mummies. They have waited long enough for it. All three are fit as a fiddle. You have done that well. Have you already decided for names, so that I can fill out the birth certificates?" Stephen asked.

Delenn examined the small. He was a bit wrinkled but that was normally for new-borns.

„I call our son David, if it's okay with you, John." David was the name of John's father.

„No, David is a beautiful name. Thank you Delenn." He gave his wife and his son a kiss.

„And have made a decision?" Stephen asked the other couple.

„I would like to call the girl Sophia, after my mother."

„I like that; however I would like to call her Chantal, after my favourite aunt. Let us call her Sophia Chantal. And we name the boy Alexander." Marcus proposed.

„And as second name he gets Jeffrey. Therefore I may present you Sophia Chantal and Alexander Jeffrey Ivanova - Cole."

The news, that Entil'Zha Delenn and Isban'Tho Susan had their children spread like a fire on Minbar. Stephen had all hands full to get rid of the visitors and congratulator

The only ones who were allowed were the closed friends like Sech Turval, Sech Durhan and Tilaan.

Stephen kept both over night in his provisional clinic; however at the next day he dismissed them with the babies.

Susan and Delenn were glad to have everything behind them and to be again at home.

At the next evening John with family and Stephen with Tamara visited Marcus and Susan.

The news of the birth was meanwhile known in the whole Galaxy. John and Delenn received constantly calls from foreigners, who wanted to give them their congratulations.

„John and I have considered going back on the station for a few days. There we have the possibility to baptize David. Marcus, Susan would you accompany us?" Delenn asked.

„Well I don't think I have an alternative since you asked me to be the godmother. And it's a good occasion to see the others again. I'm sure they want to know if there is any news of Stephen."

„Oh, I can tell them on my own. If you all travel to the station, we would like to join you. And we can immediately connect our wedding with it."

The others didn't believe what they had just heard only Susan who had know this fact previous because of her vision.

„Congratulations. If you do some of the preparations now, you can marry immediately when we arrive on the station. And we must invite Michael and Lise. I miss them."

Susan went to the communication unit and called Mars. It lasted a bit until a sleepy Michael answered the call.

„Susan, do you know how late it is? Two o'clock in the morning! I'm just gone to bed!"

„Excuse me Michael, but I think, you can stay awake and get your ass in the next ship to the station. We all want to meet there for some parties."

„What are the reasons for the parties? Perhaps I think about and come."

„There is nothing to consider, you must simply come! We baptize David, Alex and Sophia and there is still a wedding to celebrate."

„Wedding, who is going to marry?"

„That's a secret. You learn it first, when you come to the station. I would be happy if you both come."

As Susan closed the line, John called the station. He spoke with Commander Lochley personally.

„Hello Elizabeth. You must do me a big favour."

„John, what can I do for you?"

„You must convince Brother Theo to do three baptisms and a wedding on the same day. Let us say next Sunday. Then you have still a week time to take care of everything. And can you take care of all other preparations. And please have three rooms for us ready. The best would be Delenn's, Susan's and Stephen's old quarter." John told her.

„I will see what I can do. But I can promise you nothing."

„Thanks Elli. I know you will do it. We fly tomorrow with a White-Star-Ship to the station. We will arrive in approximately two days. Perhaps Mr. Garibaldi and his girl-friend will come, too."

„Okay, I will keep a room free. I am happy to see you and the others again. And congratulations, I have heard it on ISN."

„Yes, we want baptize to him on Babylon 5. See you in about two days, Elli."

„Elizabeth will worry about everything. We will go now, so that we can pack for the journey. Let us meet tomorrow about ten o'clock at the airport."

John took his son and led Delenn to their shuttle. Also Stephen and Tamara left.

Marcus and Susan spent the remainder of the evening to pack some clothes for the twins and William.

„We must inform Tilaan that we travel to Babylon 5 for a couple of days."

„Lie down and relax. I will settle that."

Marcus opened a canal to the temple.

„Tilaan, we will travel tomorrow to Babylon 5 for some days. Can you take over our tasks so long? There are important things, we have to take part there and otherwise we would not leave so quickly."

„Of course I will represent you, Fari'Moh. It is me an honour. Just tell me when you are back here."

The journey to the station was very chaotic. Although they had taken the largest ship, it still seemed to be too small. Besides for William who always hid. John, Marcus and Stephen were the largest time in search of him, while the women worried about the babies.

To luck they were good sleepers. You heard almost nothing from them, except when they had hunger or their diapers needed to be changed.

Marcus and John supported their women, where they could.

In the interim Susan had gotten news of Michael, who was on his way to the station with Lise.

To an endlessly occurring flight they landed finally on the station. They were greeted by Lyta, Zack and Commander Lochley. All wanted to see the babies. They were the main attraction.

In the evening the visitors had dinner with Elizabeth Lochley. She wanted to tell them about the preparations for the wedding. She could settle everything. Brother Theo would celebrate on Sunday first the wedding and then the baptisms of the three smalls.

At the next day, the Friday before the parties Michael and Lise came to the station. Susan greeted them alone. Meanwhile Marcus worried about the new generation.

„Michael, Lise, nice that you could come. Now we can start."

„ Have you taken off, Susan?" Michael asked in his irresistible charm.

„Yes, whole 8 kilo. If you want to see them, they are with their father."

Michael and Lise followed Susan to her old quarter.

„May I present you Sophia Chantal and Alexander Jeffrey Ivanova - Cole?" she said proud.

„Oh, they are so sweetly!" Lise noticed.

„A little bit small." Michael said.

„They will get big, but in any case they have even now more hair than you." Susan told Michael.

And this was correct. Both babies had soft hair. Alex had black like his father, while Sophia came completely after her mother.

„Now tell me who the couple which is going to marry? Do I know them?" Michael asked curiously, without reacting to Susan's last remark.

„You know the groom but not the bride. She is doctor on Minbar."

Michael observed, that Susan did not want to entrust him this information. He changed the subject.

„Now tell me what had happened since last time we saw each other."

„Where should I begin? After our wedding we decided to move to Minbar, where we have a very beautiful house. Marcus tried to convince Stephen to follow us but Stephen left the station and no-one know where he is."

Michael couldn't believe it. „What, our good Doc isn't here anymore? It's hard to imagine to station without Sheridan and you, but without Stephen? Impossible! Have you heard anything about him?"

„We tell you that at dinner. What do you think about the 'Fresh Air'?", Marcus proposed, since Tamara and Stephen would wait there. Michael and Lise had nothing against it.

Little later Susan and Marcus, each with a baby on the arm were on the way to the restaurant. They were followed by Lise and Michael; who had William on the arm.

Marcus went purposefully on a table, where already two other persons sat. Marcus offered Michael and Lise a place and then pushed he the chair for Susan to right.

As Michael sat, he recognized one of the other persons. It was the former ward physician.

„Stephen? Susan just told me, that you have left the station without destination! How did you know we all would be here?"

„Michael, Lise, nice to see you. Why I am here is a longer story. But I will tell you during the meal."

Stephen told Michael and Lise the story, how he had come after Minbar and what he had experienced up until now, as well as the contemporaneous contractions of Delenn and Susan. Only the most important he left out.

„So you are now on Minbar. Wait a moment, Susan told me that there will be a wedding. She just wouldn't tell me who will marry but that I know the groom and that the bride is doctor on Minbar. You both are going to marry, aren't you?"

„Yes, Michael. I will marry Tamara on Sunday. She is the love of my life." Stephen said and examined his fiancée.

„Congratulations."

The Saturday proceeded very hectically with the last preparations. Ambassador G'Kar and ambassador Vir wanted to arrange to meeting with Susan for a personal encounter, she couldn't call off. Marcus worried about the children.

Susan enjoyed the time with her old friends however she was worried about her children.

Finally she left Vir and G'Kar to look after the babies. She was worried for nothing. The twins were fed, freshly wrapped and slept now.

William ran to her, as she opened the door to her old quarter.

The end is near. Just one chapter and the epilogue are missing.

Did you like it? Please let me know what you think.