Disclaimer: Nothing…. still…

A/N: Another chapter I have a feeling that this is going to be a really good review worthy one. However, I just realized something very sad: this story is close to being over. I discovered this while listening to Death Cab for Cutie, which was fitting…depressing music for a depressing situation. But then, it switched to The Early November and I saw the good part…if you all want…I can write a sequel after this is done. I'm still contemplating if I should end a few months after the babies are born or if I should just end right after they're all born, including the other couples babies. Opinions? Ok, so I need to stop rambling and finally write. Oh and 20 CHAPTERS! And…there are lyrics in this chapter, and they are probably crap. But I write poetry; I'm not one for songs. So forgive my terrible lyrics because Roger's lyrics would totally be better than the ones I wrote.

CHAPTER TWENTY

September seventh. The day of the movie premier. Marli was very surprised she'd actually be able to go. Dr. Morgan had expected her to have the twins a week ago and had put her on bed rest, seeing as the twins may hold out for a while longer. But Marli had gotten special permission to go the premier tonight. It wasn't like she could miss it, the movie had gotten a lot of buzz and she needed to go to the premier. Of course, they decided it'd be much more important to have a New York premier rather than a Hollywood one, which was virtually unheard of. Whatever.

When she and Mark arrived at the theater where the premier would me taking place, he gave her a quick kiss before getting out of the limo. He looked absolutely gorgeous in a black suit, blue shirt, no tie…definitely ahead of the time. He reached his hand in and helped her out. She looked…well she looked very pregnant. Pretty, but very pregnant. Honestly, she just wanted to get this night over with.

They held hands as they walked to the mobs of press, Mark following her lead in dealing with the press. The first reporter that called them over was…Alexi Darling from Buzzline. She saw Mark cringe at the sight of her, but Marli politely dragged him over, gripping his hand tightly.

"Mark Cohen! Long time no see! Finally directed a movie, huh?" Alexi Darling pressed on, using over-the-top hand gestures.

"Yeah, I did finally direct a movie."

"And you're beautiful wife wrote it! That's so cute! How do you both feel about this project? It certainly has gotten a lot of buzz!"

"We're really excited!" Marli nodded enthusiastically as she said this, for effect.

"It certainly is exciting! But you both have so much to be excited about! You're having twins, right? When are you due?"

"Yeah, we're having twins. They're actually due any day now." Marli added a little giggle to end of that sentence. "It's all very exciting!"

"And how do you feel about all of this, Mark?"

"I'm very excited! A movie and two babies all in the same month!"

"Yeah, that's very cool!" Alexi seemed to want to continue to interview, but Marli had no desire to continue talking to the annoying woman. She saw Roger and Mimi walking down the row of reporters, and Marli decided to use them as her crutch.

"Alexi, it's been a pleasure speaking with you, but we have to motor. We promised E! an exclusive interview, along with some of our best friends." That wasn't exactly a lie. After all, they had offered to do a joint interview.

Before Mark knew it, all the interviews were over, and they were sitting inside the theater. The showing was due to start in about three minute, and it made him very nervous. Even though he had seen the final cut of the movie, he wanted everyone else to like it. And if they liked it, it could possible lead to Oscar's, which could lead to well, a lot. People needed to like it. In fact, he wouldn't settle for them liking it…they had to love it. They had to love it just as much as he did.

Suddenly, the lights came down and the first image was projected. It was a black screen, with white writing saying all the things such as the Production Company and studio and such. Then, the frame instantly flashed white and in black writing appeared the name: "Chasing Dreams." Automatically, it morphed into a scene of a young girl, fresh out of college struggling down a street, holding twice her weight in luggage. The setting could easily be recognized as New York City, although not a part many are used to knowing. Some of the music Roger had written for the soundtrack was playing as the opening credits were shown on the screen. Mark couldn't believe how well the lyrics fit. "And in the pursuit of dreams/ you find yourself/ alone, it seems/ but you yourself can dream those dreams/ because nothing is ever impossible/ impossible/ it's all in your head/ baby with the shining eyes."

The movie progressed with all the trauma and euphoria expected. Mark heard some of the people there crying, including some of the famous directors he idolized. It was a bit ridiculous. Finally, the movie ended. The ending was bittersweet, yet still held so much hope. As the last credit rolled, a standing ovation was given. Apparently, the movie was very well received. A brilliant work of art! Mark was relieved. This was the movie that would make him. All around him, he could already hear the Oscar buzz. Looks like nominations all around.

He hadn't planned on staying at the after-party long. He and Marli would only stay for the dinner part and leave. She had to be in bed, after all. They walked to the dinner, which would be in the room right next to the theater. They bumped into Devorah Richards, the actress who had done a wonderful job as the lead role. Before this movie, no one knew her name. Now, she was going to be a huge star. "Mark, Marli, just wanted to say thank you. For doing this movie. It turned out really great."

"Um, thanks Devorah, that means a lot. But we have to motor. Call us soon, sweetie!" Marli gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Yeah!"

They walked to the dinner and before they knew it, all four courses were done. They got back into their limo and left. Marli had fallen asleep, her blonde head lulling on Mark's shoulder. He was quite tired as well, but was careful to stay awake just so he wouldn't stir her. There was something so peaceful about the way she slept. He couldn't disturb her. He couldn't bear to! He just liked to watch her sleep. She seemed like a baby while she slept and her just loved how pacified she was when she wasn't awake. When they arrived back at the apartment building, he did have to wake her up. They went up their apartment, neither of them very awake. Once inside, they groggily got into their pajamas and said their goodnights before going to bed.

Mark was having a really good dream. He had just won the Academy for best director and he was giving his speech. Someone was screaming his name…someone who sounded oddly like Marli. "Mark! MARK! MARK COHEN!" Wait…that was real. That wasn't his dream at all. He jolted awake to find Marli curled up beside him, eyes wide awake.

"Marli? What's wrong?" He was in a panic. He hoped nothing was wrong.

"I think my water just broke." She had a bit of panic in her voice, making him freak out even more.

"Oh god! I'll call Dr. Morgan." He went and called the doctor who confirmed that she was at the hospital and would be there as they arrived. Mark then called a car, grabbed their stuff, and took Marli to the hospital.

Once they got there, they put Marli in a wheelchair and sped her up to the Maternity ward. She was breathing really heavily and was probably in a lot of pain. He held out his hand for him to hold and she took it, clenching it so tightly, he was about to loose circulation. He would've said something, but he sensed she would probably exile him from the hospital if he did such a thing. So he kept quite.

They got settled in a room, which was a sterile, white box, complete with bad retro carpet and badly framed prints of Monet's works. It smelled like extra-strength hand sanitizer and Lysol, and that alone made her want to pass out, which she couldn't do because she was in ungodly amounts of pain. Dr. Morgan walked in smiling, as always. Yeah, of course that bitch could smile. She wasn't getting ready to have two babies. Stupid whore.

"Hi there, you two. Marli, I hate to say it, but I'm actually really relieved that you went into labor. You actually have made it further than any of my multiple birth deliveries have before. Usually, they're here a little bit less than a month before their due dates!" Yeah, you of course are relieved. Marli, on the other hand, was in a lot of pain and was honestly cursing ever sleeping with Mark. In fact, she was cursing that fact that she never became a nun or something of that nature. Nuns were celibate and therefore could not get pregnant. Lucky bitches!

"Oh really? Is that a good thing?" Marli, as much as she hated Mark right now for getting her pregnant in the first place, she loved him for not making her talk to Dr. I-like-my-patients-in-pain!

"Yeah, that's a very good thing. You're babies are going to have more developed immune systems and organs and are going to be a healthier weight. I'm absolutely thrilled that you made it this far!" Marli just nodded along. She really didn't want to think about this anymore. She just wanted drugs. The heaviest drugs they could give her. And quickly, please. Dr. Morgan went on. "Now, we need to see how you're progressing."

She told them that Marli was three-and-a-half centimeters dilated and that she'd be back to check in another hour. Marli was pissed that she wasn't more dilated. The more she was, the faster the babies would be born and the faster she'd be out of this misery.

"I hate you Mark! Go away!" So she really didn't hate him. She was just pissed at him for getting her in here in the first place. Nothing wrong with that, nothing at all. She just always thought she wouldn't be one of those women who curse the day they met their husbands while in labor. Apparently, she was.

"What? Why?" Mark was obviously confused. She couldn't really blame him. A minute ago she was squeezing his hand and then the next she was telling him that she hated him and that he should leave.

"Because you got me pregnant and if you hadn't, I wouldn't be here, in a lot of pain, may I add."

"I don't recall you protesting when it happened. In fact, if memory serves, you were the one who initiated it. So don't blame this on me."

"Still. You got to have all the fun. I'm the one that actually has to give birth to these babies. Not just one, no it couldn't be that easy, two!"

"Ok, still not my fault. Twins run on your side!"

"Whatever."

The pair continued to bicker for another hour and a half before Dr. Morgan came back in. She announced that there had been no change in Marli's status. She sent another dirty glare over to Mark, who rolled his eyes and excused himself to go call everyone and tell them what was going on, leaving Marli in the room alone.

Seventeen Hours Later:

After seventeen excruciating hours, Marli got some really good news: she was finally going to be able to have those babies. Mark was absolutely relieved. He could no longer feel his hand and Marli had been a certified bitch for the last seventeen hours, even when people were visiting. Everyone had found it funny. Well of course they found it funny; they didn't have to deal with her for seventeen hours. He loved her, he really did, but he vowed to himself that no matter how hard she begged, she was never going to let her have anymore kids. At least not while they were married. It wouldn't happen. He couldn't go through this again. It was pure, sleepless torture.

"Okay, Marli, one more push and the first baby will be out." Dr. Morgan saying that snapped Mark out of making his vow to himself. Marli gripped his hand tight and pushed. Soon after, he heard a baby crying. "Baby girl number one is out. Okay Marli, time for baby number two." Within minutes, another baby was crying.

Dr. Morgan handed both pink bundled blankets to Marli, who held a baby in each arm. Mark sat down next to her, looking at his daughters. It surprised him how cute the girls were. Almost all newborn babies he had ever seen had looked like wrinkled little aliens. But his girls were so cute…or maybe he was just a tad biased. But they really were adorable little babies, only a few minutes old each.

Mark was also surprised at how tiny they were. The first baby had weighed in at six pounds even, while the second had only been five pounds, 14 ounces. Their hands were so tiny and their fingers so long, he wondered how they fit with each other. They had each been an even seventeen inches, which was supposedly really good for twins. They were so tiny and fragile and delicate, he was afraid that touching them could make them break. But they were his tiny and beautiful daughters, which made it all seem a little less weird and little more real.

How could he have known a year ago, when Marli contacted him, that by essentially the same time the next year, he'd be married to her with two brand-new daughters? If he had, he probably wouldn't have called Marli back. He would've never directed the film. In turn, he'd never gotten Roger the soundtrack gig that made him. He'd probably be at the old loft tonight filming nonsense. He was glad he hadn't known. These things that had happened, unexpected as they were, brought him back to life. He took the chance and it changed his whole life. He remembered a quote he'd heard once: "If you get a chance take it. If it changes your life, let it."

Soon, both Marli and Mark's families had left and it was time to show their friends the babies. Mark was holding Baby R in his arms; Marli was holding Baby B in hers. Both of the tiny babies were sleeping when everyone came in, crowding around both of them. Marli could tell the babies were dreaming by the way their eyes were moving under their little eyelids. She had no idea what babies so new to the world could be dreaming about. She figured it must be like one of those dreams you have when you're really sick. You don't dream about anything, you just feel stuff. And you usually wake up still wanting to sleep.

"They're beautiful," Mimi breathed. Marli couldn't say that she disagreed. They were really gorgeous babies, especially for being newborns, a breed that usually looked like aliens.

"Thanks." Marli and Mark said it in unison. They were both so tired and just wanted to sleep.

"Now for the important part: what are their names?" Maureen pressed on, probably really excited that she was finally going to get to find out the names of the babies that she had spent months trying to guess the names of.

"Well, this," she gestured to the baby in her hands, "is Blair Hillary Cohen." She smiled down on the tiny baby, giving Mark the okay to introduce Baby R.

Mark made the gesture to the baby in his hands, "this is Riley Ava Cohen." He looked back down at his little Riley, smiling and glad that the secret of the names were finally out, yet worrying how they'd be able to tell the identical twins apart outside of the hospital. They'd probably have to monogram something.

"Those are such beautiful names," the group said collectively.

"For such beautiful little girls," Collins added, looking into the blankets again.

"How are you going to tell them apart though? I mean, they're identical right?" Since when was Benny here? And why did he have to ruin it by saying that out loud? Oh well, he really was a decent guy, albeit an asshole, but decent when he was sans-wife.

"Oh we are going to make them wear bracelets, or color-code their socks or something. We haven't exactly decided yet." Marli smiled at Mark who smiled back. She concluded that he was relieved she had already figured out the issue of telling the babies apart.

Soon everyone left, and Mark fell asleep in the chair. Marli got out of the hospital bed and went over to the little crates where the babies were in the side of the room. She looked at them and smiled. They were sleeping so peacefully and it looked as if they were dreaming again. She just looked at them and said, "Goodnight Blair, goodnight Riley. Goodnight my angels." Then she turned around and went back to the bed, where she fell asleep into a deep peaceful sleep, fully aware that this may be one of the last good sleeps she would have for a while.

A/N: Wow. Huge chapter. I hadn't planned on doing all of this, but it just flowed so well. I did take something from the Gossip Girl books…that whole thing about babies dreaming except they compare it to stoned dreams. But what did you all think? Of what I made happen? Of the babies names? Next chapter, I will probably make the other babies born, just because I really want to do a few chapters of them all raising babies before ending it and starting on a sequel. So…review! I will love you forever if you do!

Oh and in case you care about the babies' vital stats:

Blair Hillary Cohen

6lbs

17ins

September 9th

Riley Ava Cohen

5lbs, 14oz.

17in

September 9th