Three hours later saw Mouch in the waiting room flopping in to a chair knowing he had been defeated. His wife was critical. His identical twin boys had now been born and whisked away from their mother and him with no questions answered. Oscar Henry and Xander Jaylen were premature at thirty-six weeks and due to Trudy's poor condition before giving birth they had been taken to the NICU for some oxygen therapy. They also required a feeding tube inserted through their nose and straight in to their stomachs. Nobody noticed Mouch sitting in the first chair he came across slouched over, it was Jess who first saw her dad.
"Dad you, ok?"
"Huh. Yeah, princess I am ok."
"How's the battle axe?" Mav asked.
Mouch laughed. Mav had always called her that since the day they met. Mav had mentioned it and called her a battle axe when he found out the family history of his mother-in-law and she had always called him the wannabe pilot on account that his father had been in top gun naval fighting school but that Mav had never made the grade.
"She is in a critical condition. The placenta detached and had failed to work for about two weeks. The twins were slowly being starved of oxygen. They had to do emergency surgery as when the placenta detached it took part of her womb with it. The doctors lost her twice on the table. They have had to do a hysterectomy as they couldn't stem the bleed."
"Is she aware of any of what's happened?"
"No Mav she isn't, she hasn't woken up yet. That's why I was hoping that the twins could go round and see her. She might come round to familiar voices. I even shouted at her, but she wouldn't wake up."
"Ok dad Kelly and I will go seeing as though we are the only ones that can. Oh, and dad you missed it. Stella is having a little boy. Wallace Randall."
"Aww baby girl I am so proud. How has everyone else done?"
"Well Sylvie has triplets, two boys and a girl. Naomi had triplets. Donna had twins. Now mom with her twins. Ten babies to one family in one night. All within minutes of each other."
"That's amazing, I'm an uncle, father and grandfather all in one night. That's impressive."
"Yes dad it is but you are dead on your feet don't you think it would be a good idea to get some rest."
"Here Randall you can use our off duty rest room it has a bed and all the other necessities in" Maggie volunteers leaving Will on the floor on one knee looking bewildered.
"Will by the way it was always going to be a yes" Maggie volunteers over her shoulder grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Will visibly let out the biggest sigh ever. He stays in his position.
"You realise you can get up now right bro?" Jay says.
"Baby you are my whole world. Thank you. I love you" Will says.
"I love you too now get over here and put that ring on my finger before I change my mind"
"Oh god yes."
"Maggie you are my queen, and I am in awe of you. That will never change. The way you got me through the death of our dad and the way you came through after your accident. The way you fought every single day. It amazes me and I am lost for words at how phenomenal you are."
"Will you are my rock and the amount of times I came round and you had fallen asleep on my bed. No one ever knew the words you spoke to me that day. Yes. A million times yes. And one thing you need to know."
"What is that my queen?"
"We are having a baby boy."
"Oh, my fucking God here we go again. Is there something in the water round here or something?" Dr Charles voices from the corner where he had slipped in and was watching the scene unfold from.
He laughed his belly laugh as he called Mav over to the side room.
"You doing ok Mav?" Dr Charles asked when they were alone.
"Yes, I am better than fine I think the meds are finally kicking in and giving me some peace of mind and feel more settled."
"Don't get complacent with it Mav and don't let your emotions get the better of you ok."
"Yes Dr Charles. I am aware of my triggers a bit better now and for that I thank you. Jess is glad we have come through this but she is also aware that there is a very long way to go."
"Good because there is."
"I won't ever be able to thank you enough for helping me through the breakdown."
"It's my job."
Mav and Dr Charles left the room and Jess and the McHolland tribe looked on.
SIX MONTHS EARLIER DEEP IN CHICAGO
The centennial wheel at the navy pier loomed over them peering out of the mist. Maggie and Will huddled close together linking arms and holding each other like they were the last people on the earth. They looked and smiled their shy smiles reserved for each other and ventured to the admissions booth. Will had planned on proposing at the top. The wheel operator had agreed to stop the wheel at the top overlooking Chicago in order for Will to propose. Will had paid more than $500 for the operator to agree. He was so nervous, but he knew that it was the right thing. The wheel resembled the London eye and Will felt more comfortable knowing that it was safer than the original Ferris wheel that had been here. Maggie and Will went to buy their tickets and were waved on without buying one. Maggie entered the car suspiciously. As Will followed on the operator winked at him showing that everything was in motion.
As Will and Maggie started to look out over the Chicago landscape Will turned Maggie's head to his looking in to her dark brown eyes. Will kissed Maggie passionately letting his hand wander over her round bottom and grabbing it pulling her closer in to him deepening the kiss. Maggie placed her hands on Wills chest and one thing led to another. As they neared the top and now fully clothed Maggie took a step backwards. Will closed the gap pulling her to the middle of the car. Completely unsuspecting Will tried to pull something from his pocket as the car began to shake violently with the most horrendous whirring noise as well as snapping noises. The cable had snapped on Maggie's side of the car with the car tipping to one side throwing Maggie on to the glass panel. The glass had cracked and Maggie not realising was frantically trying to get back to Will begging with him and pleading with her not to let her go. He grasped on to her hands and fought to keep her up. She cried through fear and seeing the fear in her eyes Will tried to pull her up but couldn't as he was in an awkward position and was also on cracked glass. The glass wouldn't hold them both.
Will knew that but he couldn't let go of the one woman he had ever loved. Maggie screamed repeatedly to save her. Will tried and held on for as long as he could. He had been told that Squad three were on their way via a megaphone message from the operator at the bottom. Squad three were taking their time to reach them and Will thought to himself that both of them were going to die.
In trying to readjust his position, to get a better grip, one of Maggie's hands slipped and she was dangling by one hand. Will tried and tried to grasp her other hand and as he tried the glass underneath him cracked even more.
"Will it is time you have to let me go but remember I will always love you."
"Maggie don't let go I will hold you until the end but if you die then so do I."
"I will do my best. I can't let you go I love you too much."
"Will move on find someone else please. Be happy."
With those words Maggie let go of the grip that Will had on her and plummeted to the floor. He cried tears for the first time since his dad passed away not three months before. Little did he know that there had been another set of eyes watching the drama unfold. As Maggie dropped the car shook and was swaying. The little boy who had been too scared to venture out slid straight past Will. Will not noticing until the last moment tried to grab him but couldn't. The boy slid all the way across the car and out of the gap. Kelly had been on a ladder on his way up to the car as the boy fell. Kelly tried to catch the dark haired dark eyed little boy as he fell and nearly fell off the ladder himself, but he was not quick enough and the boy fell to his death.
Kelly howled at the sight in front of him where the boy lay hundreds of feet from his position on the ladder. Everyone around Kelly had begun to wonder where the noise had come from and realised it had come from Kelly. The boy laid lifeless on the floor as Kelly climbed the ladder to rescue Will.