Chapter 9

Monday, June 22nd, 1987

Hill Valley

4:34 P. M.

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ

"Who let a swarm of bees in?"

"Crap, it's the telephone. . . ."

"I'm not answering it. It'll just be another telemarketer."

"And we were on such a good run of sleeping through the day, too."

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ

"Emmett Brown, you get up and answer that phone!"

"Make me!"

Doc found himself rather abruptly shoved out of the bed. Grumbling to himself, he got up and grabbed the receiver. "If you're from MCI, your days are numbered," he informed them darkly.

"I'm sorry for waking you up, I know you hate to be woken up so early, but I had to tell you the news!" his own voice babbled back at him. "I just had to take Clara to the hospital, she's giving birth!"

"Yeah, great, wonder -- what? Birth??"

"What's this about birth?" Josephine asked, lifting her head.

"It's Clara, she's having Verne!" Doc explained. He turned back to the phone, blushing. "Sorry about the attitude. I'm just sick of being constantly woken up so early."

"That's okay, I understand." In a softer voice, he added, "It's not easy living with a pregnant woman."

Doc chuckled. "You've got that right. So what happened?"

"Great Scott, I don't know where to begin. We're at the hospital right now. Clara's water broke about an hour ago, and she's in active labor." There was a muted groan in the background. "That's her. I tried to find a phone close by."

By now, Doc's entire family was awake and listening through the link. "Where's Jules? Is he with you."

"We dropped him off at the McFly's. Clara didn't want to bother you, what with your own family concerns."

"Thanks. Call us back when it's over."

"Will do."

"Emmett Brown, I am going to get you for this!" Clara shrieked in the background.

"My mistress's voice," Doc-2 sighed. "I'll call you back once Verne's born."

"Thanks. Good luck."

"For me or for Clara?"

"Both."

There was a soft laugh, then Doc-2 hung up. Doc turned to his family. "Well, I guess by the end of the day, we'll be seeing young Verne."

"Wasn't he not due for another week?" Jennifer asked.

"He must have gotten sick of waiting. Jules was born a few days early as well." Doc plopped down next to Josie, studying her bump. "I wonder how the triplets' birth will go?"

"The word 'pain' comes to mind," Jennifer said, a bit sarcastically.

"Once you've been nearly cremated, you fear no pain," Josie informed her. "They told me I'd probably have a Caesarean too, remember?" She hesitated. "Although I'm not sure if I want to be opened up in that manner."

Doc felt his mouth water as he imagined the scene. You are a sick, perverted bastard, he lectured himself, disgusted.

No, you're not, Josie thought. You're a vampire. Heck, my mouth is watering thinking about it.

Haven't been acting like vampires lately though, have we? We've become regular homebodies, Doc grinned.

So? This ain't like back in the bad 1985, Dad, Marty thought. We don't have to fight for survival every minute of the day. I like being a homebody.

You're right. Given a choice, I'd much rather be a homebody here,Doc conceded. I just crave a bit of excitement, I guess.

After these kids are born, ten bucks says you'll be praying for dull, Jennifer grinned.

"What isa vampire baby like, anyway?" Marty wondered, switching back to speaking. "A regular baby that just sleeps at night?"

"I repeat, if they're born with fangs, I am not breast-feeding them."

One of the triplets gave a kick just then, as if to argue with her. Everyone chuckled. "Sorry, honey, that point's non-negotiable," she informed the baby.

"That brings up a good point, though," Doc said thoughtfully. "What if they need blood in their diet? We'll never be able to feed them in public."

"Hey, we've stayed hidden for about a year now," Marty pointed out. "How hard could it be to hide the fact our new siblings drink blood?" Doc shrugged.

Josie frowned. "It is something to consider. I mean, how would we feed them blood in the first place? Mix it into their formula?" Her frown grew deeper. "And on that note, what happens when they try to stitch me up after the operation? I wouldn't actually need them, but it's not like I can tell the doctors that!"

"I'm sure Dr. Gardner will take care of that. You should call him and ask about the formula issue, though." Doc fell back on the pillows. "I hope he calls back soon with the news. I want to go back to sleep."

As if it had heard him, the phone chose that moment to ring again. Everyone chuckled as Josie got up and answered it. "Hello?"

"Josay?"

"Jules! What are you doing on the phone?"

"I want Mommy."

"Jules called us?" Marty repeated, stunned. "He's 11 months old!"

"Must be the Brown intellect coming through," Jennifer said, smiling at Doc, who blushed.

"Honey, Mommy's not here," Josie told Jules. "How'd you get the phone?"

"Where Mommy?"

"Mommy's gone to have Verne, Jules. Now how did you manage to call us?"

"Buttons. Pwess the buttons."

"The McFly speed dial," Doc realized, sitting up again. "Jules must have been playing with the phone, trying to get his mother."

"Honey, you shouldn't be playing with the phone," Josie gently lectured him.

"But lonely," Jules moaned.

Lorraine's voice came on in the background. "Eep! Jules, how on earth did you get up there?! Come here, you." There was the sound of the phone being dropped and Jules being picked up. "Hello? I'm so sorry for this, I lost track of him for a moment."

"It's okay, Lorraine," Josie laughed. "How are you?"

"Josephine? Oh, hi Josie. He must have gotten lucky while pressing the buttons. I'm all right. Learning that I'm very out of practice with little ones. How are you?"

"I'm good. Emmett just called to tell us about Clara, so I'm eagerly waiting for my new nephew to arrive."

"How about your babies?"

"I had an ultrasound a few days ago. The doctor said the triplets were the picture of health," Josie reported proudly.

"That's great. If you ever need any help, you know where to find us."

"Thanks a lot. Would you like some help now? Jules sounds to be a handful."

"Want Mommy," Jules complained.

"I think he's scared," Lorraine said. "His parents dropped him off pretty abruptly. He was crying earlier. I wish George was home, he's good with babies."

"I'm willing to come over."

"I wouldn't want to impose. He's a lot of work, and you're dealing with your own pregnancy. . . ."

"I'm not an invalid, Lorraine. Plus, it would probably help Jules to see a familiar face."

"Well, if you really want to. I would appreciate some help."

"No problem. I'll be right by." They said their goodbyes and hung up. "Guess I'd better get going."

"Are you sure you'll be okay, Mom?" Jennifer asked. "What happens if you fall asleep?"

"I think there's little chance of that happening. We've been woken up in the day so many times, I almost feel comfortable being awake in sunlight." She picked up the phone and started dialing. "Plus I can grab a nap during the cab ride over."

"Good luck with that little terror," Doc said, putting his head against the pillows.

"You know what, I think I'll need it."

Monday, June 22nd

5:18 P. M.

Lorraine was right -- caring for an active 11-month old was work. Josephine flopped into a chair, exhausted. Jules crawled up on her, not ready to give up. "Josay play."

"Honey, please, I'm tired." She smiled sleepily up at Lorraine. "Just think, soon I'll be blessed with three of these little monsters. Aren't I lucky?"

Lorraine chuckled. "I know the feeling. Mine were more staggered, of course, but same basic principle."

"What was it like, taking care of those three?"

"Oh, a nightmare sometimes. I could count on one hand the times Linda and Dave actually got along. And Marty could be quite the mischief maker. Did I ever tell you about the time he set the rug on fire?"

Josie giggled. "He did, actually. He said that he and his pal Eric were playing with your barbecue lighter and decided to see what would happen if they put it on the rug."

"Yeah, that's the jist of it. Half the rug was simply burned away, and other half was so badly scorched there was no chance of saving it. He was grounded for a month for that -- no TV, no friends over. I wanted to do more, but George said that was enough for an eight-year-old." She frowned. "The funny thing is, our old friend Calvin Klein warned us that might happen. He was certainly a strange one. But a nice one too. I'll always be grateful to him for introducing me to George."

Josie smiled. "I bet your kids are glad too."

"Yeah. They love hearing the story of how we met." She paused. "Well, I think they love it." Both woman laughed. "It was hard, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world." She picked up Jules and began tickling him while she regarded Josie with polite concern. "I am a little worried about your living quarters. Are you sure you can fit four people into that garage?"

"I'm looking around for houses," Josie answered carefully. "They'll probably all fit in the beginning, but I know we'll need more space."

"Good idea. I wish you luck."

"Thanks."

The phone rang. "I'll get it," Josie said, standing up and grabbing it. "Hello?"

"Josephine?" Doc-2 sounded confused. "I thought I had called the McFlys."

"I'm at the McFlys. Lorraine needed help with your bouncing baby boy. How's everything goin'?"

"He's here, Josie, he's here! Seven pounds and eight ounces, 20 inches exactly, and a cute little blondie. Clara's letting me hold him."

"Oh, Emmett, that's wonderful!"

"I know! Listen!"

"Wait, you've got him right now?"

"One of the nurses is with me, don't worry. Say hello, Verne."

There were a few soft baby noises on the other end. Josie found herself smiling dreamily. "Lorraine, come over here and listen. Emmett's got Verne on the phone."

Lorraine promptly went over to listen. "Ooh, how cute," she giggled. "That's just great, Doc."

"Thanks." There was a sudden burst of crying. "Uh-oh, I guess he wants to go back to Mommy."

"Daddy?" Jules asked, hearing Doc-2's voice. "Daddy?"

"Jules wants to talk to you," Lorraine said as Josie gave him the phone. "Go ahead, honey."

"Daddy?"

"Hi Jules! How are you?"

"Want Mommy."

"Mommy's got to stay here for a little while, but I'll be home soon. Your new little brother's here."

"Vehne?"

"Yup, Verne's here."

"Want Vehne."

"Would they let us come see him?" Josie asked eagerly.

"I don't see why not! If you're all up to it, that is," he added, sounding nervous.

Josie caught on to the hidden meaning. "I'll do my best. I've managed to stay awake this long."

Lorraine put an arm around her. "I'll drive you there, and you can catch a nap on the way."

"Why, thank you Lorraine. What about George, though?"

"What about me?" George asked, coming in the front door with a bag of groceries. "I got the milk Lorraine, along with some ice cream and chips. How's the little terror been?"

"Me terror?" Jules seemed to like that.

"Don't give him ideas," Lorraine lectured her husband. "Clara just gave birth to Verne. Doc's invited us down to see the baby. Do you want to come?"

"Heck yes. Let me just put these away."

The ride to the hospital was too short for Josie's taste. This constant exposure to sunlight was wearing her out. But it was all worth it when she walked into the room to see Clara holding Verne. She bit her fist to keep from crying.

Clara stroked Verne's wisps of blond hair. "He's so adorable," she whispered.

Doc-2 came in, grinning like an idiot. "I just got in touch with Marty and Jennifer. They'll be over as soon as they can."

Jules squirmed in Lorraine's arms. "Mommy, Mommy!"

Clara smiled up at her older son. "See your new baby brother?"

Jules did. "Vehne! Hi Vehne!"

Verne opened his eyes and looked around. Jules was ecstatic. "I make him move!"

Everyone laughed. "You're going to be a wonderful big brother," Josie told him. "Clara, you're so lucky. . . ."

"Now, now, you'll have yours soon enough," Clara told her as Verne yawned.

"It'll never been soon enough. Not for me."

Marty-2 and Jennifer-2 quickly arrived on the scene, eager to see the new baby as well. Doc-2 boasted that, once again, his prediction on the time of birth had been spookily accurate. "One minute too early," he said proudly. "As opposed to one minute too late for Jules."

"Oh no," Marty-2 groaned. "He'll be bragging about that for months."

Clara rolled her eyes. "And yet he'll get lost for hours in a project."

"I don't get lost. I simply forget to apply my time sense." He kissed her. "And you know I always take time for my family." Clara smiled at him.

"I wonder what his first word will be," Jennifer said. "Wasn't Jules's 'flux?'"

Doc blushed. "Yes. I somehow doubt Verne's will be 'capacitor,' but you never know."

"Especially with you for my husband," Clara giggled. "Would any of you like to hold him?"

Josie held out her arms. Clara carefully transferred the newborn to her. Verne looked questioningly up at Josie. "Hi there. I'm your aunt," Josie cooed, rocking him gently. "Oh, kiddo, you're adorable. Simply adorable." A few tears trickled down her face. "You remind me of my little boy. . . ."

Lorraine looked puzzled by this. Clara glanced over at Josie, who nodded. "Josie lost a baby when she was younger," the new mother said succinctly. "Josephine, I'm sorry if I upset you."

"No, Clara, I'm all right." She patted Verne's head gently, then passed him to Lorraine. "And I'm very happy for you. I just still miss that child. I still don't understand why he died."

"All sorts of things can happen when you're pregnant," Clara said knowingly. "My blood pressure tended toward the high side when I was pregnant with Jules. And I was potentially at risk for gestational diabetes this time around."

Josie frowned. "Hmmm. That's something to think about, anyway. Thanks."

"Yeah, let's not have any morbid talk," Jennifer nodded. "Can I hold Verne?"

Monday, June 22nd

10:18 P. M.

Josie was waiting as her family came back from visiting Verne in the hospital nursery. "You're right, Mom, he is a little cutie," Jennifer said as they came inside.

"Too bad we couldn't get to hold him," Marty agreed, sounding a tad envious.

"Oh, you'll have plenty of chances for that," Josie told him with a smile. "Did you get to see Clara as well?"

"Only for about a minute," Doc said. "She was sleeping, and we didn't want to wake her." He kissed her, then frowned. "You're sending out some odd feelings."

"I've just been thinking about what Clara told me. About what sort of things could happen during pregnancy."

"Please, honey, you're worried enough. Don't dwell on other nerve-wracking possibilities."

"No, no, that's not what I meant. I was thinking that -- maybe, during my first pregnancy, I got something that hurt my baby. Something that's either treatable now, or that I'm naturally immune to as a vampire. If I figured it out, I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. I'd know I'd be safe."

"I see. That's some good thinking right there. What do you remember from your first pregnancy? Or would you prefer for me to go back and try to gather clues?"

"Better not to muck around in time -- we know how much trouble that can cause." Everyone nodded, grimacing. "I do remember that whenever I ate something sugary, I acted strangely. Luckily it didn't happen often, but still. . . ."

Doc pondered that for a while. "I'm not a medical doctor, but that sounds like diabetes to me."

"Clara mentioned something about that. Apparently you can get it while you're pregnant."

Doc nodded. "Give me a few more symptoms."

"Well, I felt hungry and tired more often, but that's just pregnancy. One weird thing -- I went to a wise woman to ask about my baby's health. She tasted my urine--" the teens made shocked and disgusted faces "-- and told me my baby would be sweet-natured 'cause my urine was sweet."

Doc lifted an eyebrow. "Okay. I'll be back in a few moments." He headed out to the DeLorean, and moments later, the vampires heard the familiar triple sonic boom of time travel. Marty looked out the window. "I guess he's gone to talk to that future doctor again."

"Good. I want some answers so I can stop being so nervous about my triplets."

A few minutes later, the DeLorean returned. Doc came in, looking both grim and relieved. "Well, he told me that it definitely sounded like gestational diabetes. And untreated, like yours was, it does hold the chance of killing the baby." Josie sniffled. "However, being a vampire, it's very unlikely for you to get it again. All things considered, the triplets are safe."

"Yes!" Josie jumped up and hugged him. "I'm so glad. I love you Emmett."

"I love you too, Josie."