Chapter 4

ONE MONTH LATER (A/N--Jo is 14 weeks; 3 1/2 months along)-------MID-DECEMBER, PRIOR TO SEMESTER BREAK-------

Lizzie wakes up with a smile. Finally, I get off grounding today! YIPPEE! She dresses and goes downstairs. "Hi mom!"

"Morning, Lizzie," Jo greets her daughter, "You're off restriction today. Would you like to see if Miranda and Gordo want to come over?"

"Can we go to the Digital Bean and then back here for a movie and sleep over?"

"That sounds fine. You've got cabin fever, don't you?"

"Something like that." A horn honks in the driveway. "That's Miranda and Gordo. Gotta go. Love ya!" She kisses her mother on the cheek and leaves.

She gets in the car. "Hey guys! First day of freedom!"

"Yeah!" Miranda celebrates.

"So, ya wanna hang out at the Digital Bean?" Gordo asks.

"Sure! After that, mom said we could hang out at my house and have a sleepover."

"Sounds good Lizzie McGuire." Gordo announces.

"How was restriction?" Miranda asks.

"Oh, not so bad. Mom and I talked a lot."

"About the baby?"

"Some. We drew up plans for my new room. I'm taking the basement and we're turning it into a suite."

"Sounds like fun." declares Gordo.

"Can we see your plans?"

"Sure. I want your help too."

-----At the Doctor's Office----

While the kids are in school, Jo and Sam are at Dr. James' office for an appointment. "So," states the doctor, "let's listen to the heartbeat." She puts the wand on Jo's abdomen and frowns. "The heartbeat sounds a little off. I want to get an ultrasound today."

A worried look crosses Jo and Sam's faces. "Is my baby going to be all right," Jo nervously asks.

Sam reassures his wife, "I'm sure everything's fine."

Jo clasps her husband's hand, "I want this baby to be okay."

"Me too."

The doctor finishes setting up the ultrasound machine, "Let's take a look at your baby. I'm sorry the gel is cold."

Jo squeezes Sam's hand. "It's freezing!"

The doctor places the instrument, "You've got a good looking baby here." Jo and Sam are mesmerized at the view in front of them. "Here's the head, the spine."

Jo reaches toward the screen, "Sam, there's our baby girl."

A smile spreads across Sam's face, "So beautiful."

The doctor moves the instrument across Jo's abdomen, "I think we've found the reason for the unusual heartbeat."

"What," Jo asked.

"Congratulations, you're having twins!"

"Oh my gosh! Sam, twins!"

"Meet Baby B. Here's the head and spine," the doctor points out.

"Are they identical," Sam asks.

"No, they're in two different sacs."

"Look, Sam, he's sucking his thumb," tears began clouding Jo's eyes.

"Is it a boy," Sam inquires.

"It's too early to tell. If you'd like, you can find out during your next ultrasound. I'd like to schedule it in 6 weeks."

Jo keeps her eyes fixed on the screen, "Lindsay and Mark."

"Huh?" Sam asks.

"Sam, we've got a little girl and a little boy."

"How do you know?"

"I just do. That's our daughter and son."

"Sometimes a mother just knows, I know," Sam states.

The doctor finished printing out pictures. "Here are babies' first pictures." She hands them to Jo.

Sam and Jo look through the pictures, "There's Mark sucking his thumb," Jo remarks.

"Are you sure that's not Lindsay?"

"No, this one's Lindsay." Jo points to Baby A.

The doctor finishes wiping the gel off of Jo and shutting down the machine, "You can get dressed now." She gets dressed. The couple makes another appointment and leaves the office. The couple hold hands on the way to the car. "Can you believe it, Sam? Twins!"

Sam scratched his head. "Sam, what are you thinking?"

"I'm a bit overwhelmed, that's all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm really happy, but I've got to get used to this. That's all." He kisses her on the cheek.

Jo laughs, "The kids are going to freak out."

Sam smiles, "Who do you think will threaten to leave home?"

"Oh, probably Matt."

"Why not Lizzie?"

"I think she's excited about her new suite in the basement. I don't think Matt will be too thrilled having to room next door to the twins."

"So, you want to put them in the same room?"

"Why not? They're babies. They can room together until Lizzie goes to college, and then we'll either give Matt the suite or the guest room."

"When do you want to tell the kids?"

"How about tonight, after Lizzie gets home?"

"Aren't Miranda and Gordo staying over?"

"They're practically family. Or, we can tell the kids tomorrow."

"Tonight's fine. Maybe with Miranda and Gordo over, the kids won't go ballistic."

"Don't count on it." Jo pats Sam's shoulder.

----Back at Home----

Lizzie, Miranda, and Gordo walk into the McGuire house. "Mom, Dad, we're home!"

"Did you have a good time, honey?" Jo asks.

"Yeah, it was great, Mrs. McGuire," answers Gordo.

"It was fine, mom. How was your appointment?"

"Your dad and I need to talk to you about it. Can you come into the living room for a minute. Miranda and Gordo, you can come too."

"Mom, there's nothing wrong, is there?"

"No honey. Your dad and I just need to discuss some things with you and Matt." The trio accompanies Jo into the living room.

Matt sneers at the trio, "Oh, look, the jailbirds have been sprung!"

"Shut up jerk! You're one to talk, mister 'I get detention every other week' McGuire."

"Kids, don't start." Jo warns.

"So, what's going on, mom," Lizzie inquires.

"Your dad and I went to hear the baby's heartbeat today, and the doctor found something irregular about the heartbeat."

Matt asks, "Is the baby okay," looking concerned.

"Everything's fine, but the doctor did find something" Sam assures the kids.

"Well, what is it? You say everything's fine, but that the doctor found something, so what's going on?" Lizzie asked. Oh please let everything be all right!

"Are you ready for this," Jo begins, "We're having twins!"

"WHAT!" Lizzie and Matt exclaim in unison.

Miranda and Gordo exchange glances and smile.

"That's right. Twins."

Miranda grins, "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. McGuire."

"Thanks, Miranda," Jo replies.

"Yeah, congrats!" Gordo echoes.

"So, what are the living arrangements?" questions Lizzie. Please, please, please don't let Matt room with me! It's MY suite! Mine, mine, mine!

"The babies will share your old room and Matt will keep his room," Jo replies.

Sam continues, "And when you go to college, Matt will either take the guest room or your room."

"Why can't I have the guest room now?" Matt asks. "Why should Lizzie get all the good stuff?"

"Not now, Matt," Sam answers, "One construction project at a time."

"Mom, can I go show Miranda and Gordo plans for my suite?"

"Sure, honey."

"Thanks." Lizzie kisses her mother on the cheek and the trio goes to her room.

----Lizzie's Room------

"I can't believe it," Lizzie exclaims, "twins. My folks are having twins."

"Wow! I thought it was weird when Stevie was born, and I was twelve."

"I'm glad I'm an only child."

"It's not that I'm bummed out or anything. I'm happy. Mom and dad are happy, so I'm happy, but twins, it's a lot to take in."

"What do you want, a girl, boy, both?" Gordo asks

"I don't know. I hope at least one is a girl. I don't think I could take another Matt."

Miranda laughs, "Yeah, I know what you mean."

"With a girl, I could teach her make up tips and take her shopping."

"So, show us your plans," Miranda begs.

"Okay. I'm gonna have a multimedia center and living room in the front, and my own bathroom with a garden tub with jacuzzi and a shower with three heads, and my bedroom's in the back."

"Wow! It sounds great!" Miranda gasps.

"Yeah, I think I'll never leave."