May 9, 1999

Nicole slowly woke up and was astounded to see a small little mini table on her bed with breakfast and a small vase of flowers. Her fingers went through her shoulder length brown hair and her mouth watered at the breakfast. It occurred to her what day it was as she glanced at the foot of her bed. Waiting there were her three little boys with lovely smiles and cards at hand. John Michael Munson was six, hair like his father and had Nicole's greenish hazel eyes. He was almost as every bit like his father; love of music, loved fantasy, and was a very wild child at times. James Elliot Munson, named after the lead singers of Metallica and Def Leppard, was four and was a very sweet child. He had Eddie's warm brown eyes and waiver brown hair. He liked music too but also art, reading, and cooking. Lastly there was Jacob Wayne Munson, the bouncing and bubbly three year old who loved his older brothers and his parents with his little heart. His hair was a bit of a dirty blonde and had brown eyes like Eddie. He was a sweetheart that loved to share, playing toy instruments like his brothers, and loved animals. This little one was named after Nicole's dad and Eddie's uncle, a great kid to live up to their kindness.

"Happy Mother's Day!" the three boys chimed.

Nicole slowly shifted up as they all went to her and hugged her. They were giving her such tight hugs and Nicole laughed as she felt kicking in her stomach. The boys felt it too and John looked at his mother's pregnant belly in amazement.

"Looks like our sisters are saying Happy Mother's Day too." John beamed proudly.

Nicole smiled as she stroked her nightgown covered stomach. She wasn't kidding all those years ago back in 86 in the Upside Down that she wanted five kids and here she was waiting for her last two children to come into the world.

"When will they be here?" James asked with a slight pout.

Nicole laughed a bit as she felt her twins kicking. This last pregnancy was harder than the rest, seeing how there were two little ones growing inside her. Still they were kinder in some ways but she was ready to have them arrive to join the rest of their family. She wanted to see her family grow one more time and for her and Eddie to be parents to two lovely little girls.

"Any day now boys and I am sure they would love to see you."

Jacob kissed his mommy's belly and spoke,

"Come out sis and sis. We want you now."

A warm chuckle could be heard from the doorway and Nicole smiled to see it was Eddie holding the presents from their boys and himself. His hair was tied in a messy ponytail and was still a bit long and curly. He was dressed in a tank top and ratty pajama pants. He wasn't as skinny as he was when they band was big but he was still in good shape with light stubble and that irresistible smile. Nicole smiled warmly at him as she slowly rose up in her bed and Eddie approached her to kiss the top of her head.

"Morning darling and Happy Mother's Day to you dear." he purred a bit.

Nicole laughed softly and kissed his cheek.

"Thanks love. Breakfast looks so good; chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, sliced fruit with whipped cream, and chocolate milk. And the flowers are lovely too."

"The boys picked those flowers up, there are two bundles of roses in the living room for you. Now boys get some food and bring it here; we're eating in here for Mother's Day."

The boys scrambled out of the room to get their plates that their dad made already for them and Eddie sat beside his wife, placing the gifts to the side. Eddie glanced over his wife and he smiled warmly. He loved Nicole when she was pregnant as it made her look very warm and adorable. She had curves to her and Eddie grinned as he rubbed her stomach. He grinned a bit and was so in love as the very first time they kissed.

"Be honest, are you feeling okay?"

"Just a bit sore, hungry mainly, but I do know these girls will be coming soon." she told him sweetly.

Eddie hoped the girls would look like their mother since she was honestly the best looking woman he ever laid eyes on. He was a little nervous to be a dad to daughters since if they looked as pretty as their mother…he was going to beat some punk ass guys' asses if they broke their hearts or mistreated them, more so if it was Steve's sons. He got Nicole's fork and fed Nicole a few bites of pancakes. Nicole blushed sweetly as she munched on the pancakes and had to suppress a moan of delight with each bite.

"Careful, you know how attractive and sexy it is when you feed me when I'm like this." Nicole told them.

Eddie chuckled as he heard their sons running back in with plates and sat on the bed to eat with their mom. Eddie left and returned with his food and glasses of milk for his boys. As they ate breakfast as a family, Eddie couldn't help but feel in awe of his three boys. He vowed when they were born he was going to love them and make sure they were happy. His own father wasn't the best so he wanted to be a better man than he ever was. John, James, and Jacob were truly gifts and made his life special.

"Can you open my gift first mom?" John asked.

"No mine!" James whined.

"No mommy mine, pwease!" Jacob hollered.

Nicole smiled and rubbed their heads softly.

"I will open everyone's gifts, including daddy's." she told them.

Eddie smiled and handed Nicole his present. She smiled softly as she unwrapped the gift and inside there was a lovely red bathrobe and new slippers.

"How thoughtful Eddie. I had to throw out my old robe and it feels so cozy, thank you."

John was next and he gave his mom a red and black bead necklace with a matching bead bracelet. Jacob gave his mom some painted rocks painted in many colors and had warm messages like 'I love you' and 'Mommy rocks'. James was the last one to give his gifts and it was a little make shift book with his drawings. Nicole sniffled at her sons' gifts since they were all so creative and sweet. When she got to the last page of James' book, she saw a drawing of their family including two pink bundles and she glanced at James. He pointed to them and spoke,

"Sisters. Don't know what they look like. Just made them sleep in blankies."

"Oh boys…all of you, I love this. You really know how to make a mother feel loved."

The boys hugged her and kissed their mom's face. All of a sudden, Nicole winced a bit and felt like something had just burst. Her eyes widened and she glanced over to Eddie with a light yet worried smile. She rubbed her stomach and sure enough she felt her body starting to contract.

"I think two more gifts are on their way." she told him, clenching her stomach.

Eddie's face beamed in excitement and he needed to get to a phone. Their daughters were coming and the boys needed their aunts to watch them. Thank god they lived in the same city as them.

"Boys, I'm having Aunt Simone and Aunt Robin come to take care of you. Your sisters are coming!" Eddie told them.

The boys looked stunned but also very happy as they hugged their mom.

"You are coming back right?" Jacob asked.

"Of course she is Jake." John told him confidently.

"Will we be able to see them?" James asked.

"Of course you will but first mom needs to get them out first. Be good for your aunties boys." Eddie told them, kissing and hugging them before he had to get Nicole's bag ready and to get her to the hospital.

Nicole's labor was very exhausting as she had delivered two beautiful girls into the world. After hours of labor, the last of her family came into the world and she couldn't be prouder. She held one of her daughters in her hand while Eddie held the other. Both girls were nearly identical in looks; hazel eyes like their mother, brown hair, a warm peach complexion, and the cutest noses. Eddie was all choked up like he had been for his other children, but holding the little girl in his broad arms just lit his heart on fire. Their family was complete as he looked at the tiny bundle in his arms.

"You did it Nicki…the girls are healthy, safe, and wonderful." Eddie told her.

Nicole smiled as she stroked her daughter's cheek with her thumb. She glanced over to Eddie and the daughter in his hands was cooing lightly and holding on close to him.

"The one you're holding is definitely going to be our Christine Anne...our Chrissy..."

Nicole teared a bit since she was honoring her dear mother and Chrissy with this little one. She appeared to be as sweet as her own mom at just a very tender and new age and seemed to enjoy Eddie like Chrissy had from their interactions. She then glanced down to the daughter in her arms and she was a bit harder to name. The names she thought up before the arrival didn't seem to fit her at all. She rocked her little girl and hummed softly and Eddie recognized it was the tune of Stand back by Stevie Nicks. His brain worked a bit and recalled Stevie's whole name and suggested,

"What about Stephanie?"

The name wasn't lost on her, but she also made another connection. She chuckled and shook her head as she wanted to avoid clear talks she would get from Robin and Simone about that name. Besides if they were going to adopt, they would perhaps want that name for themselves.

"We won't be calling her that since we would be calling her Stevie for short a lot of the time. Uncle Steve is going to get a big head about it if we do that as well. I mean I like her music but I want this one to thread her own little path. Plus Simone and Robin would comment on how she's sharing a female version of a name from her dingus uncle...which I think they would want their daughter they may want to adopt someday."

That made Eddie laugh since she had a point. Eddie sat at Nicole's bedside and glanced at his other daughter. He lingered on the daughter and smiled lightly. They were going through first names until the girl in Nicki's arm cooed at one of them and babbled happily. Nicole's eyes widened and she asked the newborn,

"Alana? Is that what you want to be called?"

She cooed again and Eddie laughed a bit.

"We can have the boys call her Ali…but Alana Mae sounds lovely."

Mae…just like Pat Benatar had that for her middle name and it indeed sounded lovely. Their daughters were going to be close she thought, closer than any sisters would be; her Chrissy and Ali. Sisters that would be there just like her own sister had been and was still. She couldn't be happier at that thought.

Two days later, Eddie got the boys and he was walking them to their mother's hospital room. The boys clung to their dad's side, glancing at hospital walls. The suspense was killing the young boys and they all but ran when they saw their mom in one of the rooms. They hugged her tightly and Nicole expressed,

"Careful boys, mom's a bit sore. But the doctor says I can come home and we can bring our babies home too."

The boys eyes sparkled at that and once their mother was dressed, they went to the nursery section of the hospital. There were so many babies the boys thought as they scanned the ward. John saw the nurses pick up two girls and smiled. Eddie ruffled John's hair and told his boys,

"Those are Chrissy and Ali, your baby sisters."

The boys looked at their sisters and they were beaming. They had been waiting such a long time and they were finally there. To them, they were the prettiest babies in this place and they were Munsons like them and their parents.

"So cute." Jacob commented.

"Very cute." James added.

"Pretty too, good job mom." John said, hugging his mom.

"Hey I helped too!" Eddie laughed.

John laughed too and hugged his dad. The happy family returned home and the boys got a turn holding their sisters.

"They look the same." John commented as he held Chrissy in his arms and glanced at Alana.

"That's because they are twins John; in this case they are identical twins." Nicole shared.

The boys were super happy that their sisters were home and Nicole was relieved that her family was finally complete. Five kids was a lot but it made her and Eddie's lives more full and complete. Eddie was setting up a camera so they could take a family photo with the twins. Nicole reminisced on her life with Eddie and how much more they would accomplish together as parents and musicians. She was so blessed with so many children and a loving husband who was warm, protective, and a very multifaceted man. Once the camera was set, Eddie ran next to sit next to his wife who was holding Chrissy and Eddie took Ali from John to hold in his arms. The boys sat close and the camera took the photo. He couldn't wait to have that picture developed and send it to his uncle. Nicole would send copies to her sister, Robin, and all of their friends they still kept in touch with.

When nightfall came, she and Eddie made sure to come into each of their children's room to kiss them tonight. Eddie Munson, family man…such a strange statement yet he loved it.

"Is it strange that every time I look at my children I just feel this intense love for them? I mean I didn't have a good life so I didn't know how a dad was supposed to be. Wayne was close but it just feels different being a dad myself and how…man I love these kids." Eddie expressed fondly as he watched his two daughters sleeping in the crib together.

Nicole smiled warmly and kissed his cheek.

"It's not strange at all Eddie, I feel the same way. It's also not strange that when I look at you, I fall in love all over again." she told him.

Eddie chuckled and he pulled Nicole into his arms, kissing her tenderly and passionately as their very first kiss. He trailed her neck with her fingertips and felt she was still wearing the die necklace from all those years and he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth.

"I love you Nicki, always have and always will."

"And I love you too Eddie."

As the couple was about to go to their room, the twins were stirring and looked like they were going to cry.

Eddie placed his hand on Chrissy's back while Nicole placed her hand on Alana's back. They both softly hummed and sang a lullaby so both girls would fall back asleep. The parents smiled and kissed the top of their girls head before returning into their bedroom to sleep in each other's arms. To think that the freak of Hawkins would end up with the music career of his dreams, with the wife of his dreams, and having children truly astounded him. In some ways he conformed but it wasn't a loss at all. In fact he was proud to have a family life and to have someone at his side. Nicole was happy, happy with her life and in some ways became the mother she wanted to be and still have her dream come true. It wasn't strange for her to fall in love and in fact, it was that loved that changed everything for the better.

The End

Very bittersweet but I can't think of a more better ending than Nicole's dream of five children with Eddie coming true. Also it occurred to me that this is also ending on Nicole's birthday, very fitting for this to be the day her story with Eddie ends. Thank you everyone that has been with this story and has undertook this journey with me. Eddie stole the show and heart for me in the fourth season and I hope this story is worthy of his talents and character. I'm proud of what this story became and I hope everyone whose read it loved the romance of Nicole Lowell and Eddie Munson. Thank you again for supporting this story and I'm open to feedback on his story concluded. Ciao for the time being ~Miranda