A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews guys! I had a busy weekend, so I couldn't update until now. All my friends are getting married, I feel so old! Anyways, there seems to be an abundance of Snicker baby births lately (not that I'm complaining – I'm all for joy!), so I hope this is somewhat original. Please review, as always!
The mood in the Stokes' residence was understatedly gloomy for the rest of the evening, as Nick tried to cool himself down, and Mally spending the night moping alone in her room. Dinnertime was full of tension and sad faces, and all three were glad when it was over. Nick made Mally do the dishes, and Sara went straight back up to bed, spent from her pregnancy and the emotions of the day.
Later that night, Nick knocked on his daughter's door to check that she was going to bed like he always did, at least when he wasn't working. Mally was already tucked under the sheets, looking rather glum when her father entered. Now that she was in high school, he mostly just opened the door to check, saying 'Good night' and 'I love you', but Mally knew she was in for a heart-to-heart when he instead shut the door and sat on her bed.
Mally didn't say anything as he reached out to tuck a piece of fallen hair from her ponytail behind her ear. He offered her a half-smile as he assessed the day's events in his mind.
"You know I still love you, right?" Nick asked her when he still saw in her eyes that she was upset. Ever since she was a little girl, Nick always made a point to tell her this after giving her a punishment. He did it out of love, though sometimes she found it hard to understand that. Deep down, she was glad he was keeping her on track and didn't take any of her funny business. He taught her by example what was right, and that made her trust him completely. The only man a girl could fully depend on was her dad.
"Yeah." She replied, exhausted and not wanting to talk about it anymore. Mally felt her eyelids begin to close on their own accord and struggled to keep them open now. Nick saw this and kissed her forehead.
"Good. Go to sleep now." Nick told her, getting up from her bed. "I love you, bug."
This was the last thing Mally heard as she drifted off into a much-needed sleep.
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The encounter finally came in the morning when both Natalie and Lindsey were trying to get ready. Both happened to walk into their shared bathroom at the same time, and both were too stubborn to leave. They stood there, glaring at each other for a few moments, and then began going about their morning routines of brushing teeth and washing their faces in total silence.
"I need to take a shower." Lindsey finally said.
Natalie continued applying her make-up in preparation for school, ignoring her sister's request. She'd taken her shower last night and could care less if her sister got hers anytime soon.
"Could you please let me have the bathroom to myself?" She asked again, a hand on her hip. Lindsey was truthfully trying to be nice, but Nat wasn't making things any easier.
"Why? You don't have anywhere to be. You were expelled, remember?"
"I need to go look for a job, thank you very much." She answered shortly, trying to keep her temper in check. In that way, she was more like her father Eddie. When Natalie still didn't move, she gave a huff and started to walk out.
"I'll just go use mom and dad's bathroom."
Natalie suddenly felt a little guilty. Though she was really mad at her sister for many reasons, her parents had talked to her about being civil and putting herself in Lindsey's shoes. Well, if she were Lindsey she never would have done something so blatantly stupid in the first place. But she also knew Lindsey had been somewhat depressed. She wasn't helping the situation.
"Lindsey, wait." She said guiltily. Mally felt her heart drop when her sister turned back around with tears streaming down her face.
"You don't understand, Natalie!" She started, sobbing. Natalie just stared at her sister, probably looking very surprised and afraid at what she might say. She was a kid who hated to upset people. "You don't get it! My mother went off and married some guy and just started a whole new bright, happy new family! You don't know what it's like to feel like last life's leftover meatloaf. Do you know how jealous I am of you? The way dad looks at you and is so proud of every little thing you accomplish? I know he loves me, but I'm not his. It's not the same."
"Are you crazy?" Natalie butted in, not being able to stand it anymore. "I have had to take so much shit from them because of you! All the mistakes you made, I have to pay for."
"And what do you think it feels like to be labeled as 'the example of what not to do'? Everything mom did with her former life – stripping, my father, me, and all my actions – they're all a huge mistake. And now she has Gil and you to make it all better."
Natalie decided to bite her tongue and make herself count to ten before continuing. Both girls' hearts were beating fast and they breathed heavily from all the emotions.
"Is that what you think, Linds? We're her cover up for her mistakes? She made some mistakes, but we all do, and we all work to make it better. Mom was trying to provide a better life for you when she married my dad. From what I've heard, Eddie was a terrible parent, and our dad – I would never want to trade him for the world. Mom married him because she loved him and she knew he'd be a great father to you, and any kid they brought into this world."
Lindsey was crying harder now as she listened to her sister speak, realizing it was the truth.
"And the way he looks at me, Linds? You should see the way he looks at you. He had no life before you and mom, and I know you snapped him out of whatever workaholic trance he was in before. Lindsey, he adores you. He adores us both. Can't we both adore him back and it be okay?"
Lindsey realized that all along she'd been fighting with her family, where they could have been her support, and she could have been theirs. Now her sister practically hated her most of the time and couldn't stand to be in the same room. She'd given her parents so much crap, she was amazed they still took her in.
Lindsey composed herself, wiping her eyes as she stood facing her little sister - the sister that was so much younger, but sometimes seemed so much wiser than her.
"Yeah. I'd like that." She sniffled, smiling through her tears. Natalie smiled back at her, and walked over to her sister, giving her a warm embrace. The feuding sisters had finally met some sort of a truce, for now, at least.
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Three and a half months later
The Grissoms and the Stokeses had gotten together one Saturday afternoon to celebrate. It had taken some rearranging of schedules, but somehow Nick, Sara, Grissom, and Catherine had the afternoon off to picnic. And surprisingly, all of their children chose to attend.
"I can't believe everyone is actually here." Catherine said as they all gathered around the picnic table, grabbing at food and condiments on the warm day. It was perfect weather for a picnic.
"Well two of them really didn't have a choice." Nick pointed out, gently stroking Sara's very pregnant belly. Sara had been rendered almost immobile near the end of the trimester at the size of the twins. She looked gorgeous as a mother-to-be, but it was killing her. Still, Sara kept a beaming face, hating to be fussed over or thought of as vulnerable. Sara joked that Nick had been sneaking the twins cheeseburgers at night when she was asleep.
"You know, I gained almost thirty pounds with this one." Catherine complained, lightly punching Natalie in the shoulder.
"God, mom, you're so abusive!" She complained, rubbing her shoulder.
"She is a feisty one." Gil admitted, and Catherine turned to face her husband sitting next to him. Gil smiled and gave her a quick kiss to the lips, then turning back to their meals. Sara ate two cheeseburgers, a serving of fries, three pickles, a banana, and thirty two cheese cubes.
After lunch was over, Sara sat back on her lawn chair, her hands resting on her stomach, thinking about how much she would love the two little people growing inside of her when they finally were born (she tried not to think about that). But she really shouldn't have eaten that last pickle, she thought, as she felt a bit of a stomachache coming along.
"Hey there, beautiful." Nick said, sitting down on a chair beside her. He leaned down and gave Sara a slow, sensual kiss, though he held back on the tongue with children in sight. As he almost finished, Sara let out a painful groan beneath him, and he pulled away quickly.
"Are you okay, Sar? Are you having pains?" Nick asked her, placing a protective hand on her plump belly, rubbing gently.
"Yeah, I just ate too much. It'll go away soon."
Nick studied her intently. He had no idea what contractions were supposed to feel like, obviously, but Sara didn't often complain of stomach aches after eating.
"Are you sure it's the food, sweetheart? You are eight and half months along."
Sara chuckled humorlessly. "Nick." She said seriously. "I will not go into labor half a month early."
Nick sighed, knowing Sara was one stubborn girl, especially when she was pregnant. He didn't like the sound of these pains, and knew he'd have to get a second opinion from someone who'd been through it to convince Sara to see a doctor.
"Baby, will you talk to Catherine for me, just to make sure? I want our babies to be safe and I know you do too." Nick was leaning over the reclined woman, idly stroking her dark curls, his hand still sitting on her abdomen.
"Okay." She agreed. Nick kissed her before getting up to find Catherine. The mother of two quickly scurried over to where Sara was laying.
"Hey, Sar." She felt Sara's forehead and stroked her hair back as Nick stood behind the chair, looking down. "How are you feeling?"
"Not so good." She admitted.
"What kind of pains are you having?"
Sara's face contorted in pain at that moment. It was the fifth or sixth time that a sharp pain had passed over her abdomen, every fifteen minutes or so. But it was just that damn pickle. She knew it looked kind of shady – damn her appetite!
"Sara, I think you're in labor." Catherine told her.
"No, no, no, no." Sara dismissed her, shaking her head. "I'm not due for another two weeks. These puppies are not ready to come out. I'm not ready for them to come out."
"Well, Sara, it's not always exactly nine months, and plus you've got two in there. Not much room. I bet they're just itching to spread out."
"Well, my cervix is not prepared!" Sara argued. "Nick and I still have another Lamaze class to go to!"
"Sara, sweetheart, babies don't care if you're ready or not. They're coming out. Today."
Nick walked around and squatted next to Sara, who was looking petrified. This was not happening.
"Sara, I think we should go to the hospital."
"But I don't want two giant baby heads ripping through my vaginal cavity! I changed my mind!" Sara was now really starting to feel some pain. Geez, they didn't lie when they said childbirth was the most painful thing ever. She would really have to kick Nick in the balls later.
Nick chuckled a little, though he knew Sara wasn't finding it funny. Catherine bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"You can get an epidural. It won't be so bad."
Natalie, Lindsey and Mally came over to see what the commotion was about, followed by Gil.
"What's going on, dad?" Mally asked of her father.
"I think Sara's going into labor." He told his daughter, looking up at her. Mally's face lit up and she looked so happy that she squealed.
"Hey!" Sara was a little offended. "You're not the one pushing a watermelon out a strawberry!"
The smile immediately left her face. "Sorry."
The team of two families managed to walk Sara over to Nick's Denali and cart her into the front seat. Nick got in the driver's seat and Mally threw herself in the back. The Grissoms cleaned up the mess and then got into their own Denali to head to the hospital.
"Heee heee hoooo! Heeee heee hooo!" Mally was leaning around the passenger seat, trying to get her stepmother-to-be to breathe. "Breathe, Sara, breathe!" She commanded her, like she was in a medical drama. Nick was surprised at how good Mally was at this, because Sara was actually starting to do as she asked. She overemphasized her breathing, trying to calm herself.
"That's right, Sara, keep doing that. Keep going." Nick encouraged her, but he was freaking out. He was going to be a daddy – again – twice over. He couldn't wait to meet the two children that had been developing inside of Sara these past nine months.
"Shut up, Nick!" Sara snapped.
Mally started demonstrating the breathing again for Sara, and then Nick joined in, and then Sara. All three were doing Lamaze breathing as they drove quickly down the street to hospital. And all three seemed to need it.
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An hour later, Nick and Mally were sitting on chairs near Sara's delivery bed happily munching on a box of Fig Newtons. Sara was between contractions, trying to relax as much as possible. Nick chose to stay a little away from Sara on the chairs when she wasn't contracting, because she was a bit moody, to say the least. Not that he could blame her.
"Ugh! How can you guys eat a time like this?" Sara complained, her hands resting on her belly. Her feet were resting on the stirrups, a sheet covering her legs. She'd been told it would be a few hours before the real action, so the family was going for endurance.
Nick nibbled at his Fig Newton, looking thoughtful.
"Whenever my fiancée's having a baby, I like to enjoy delicious Fig Newtons. Now fat free!" He rattled off like he was in a commercial. Mally burst out laughing, and Sara couldn't help but giggle a little. Maybe she wouldn't kick him in the balls later after all.
Oooooooohhhh…contraction. Sara took back her last statement. Nick could tell instantly she was in pain by the way her face contorted. He was off his feet that second, by her side. Taking her hand, he allowed her to squeeze it as she closed her eyes and threw her head back in pain.
"You're doing great, baby. Just breathe. That's right." Nick told her, looking into her eyes, even though they were closed. Mally watched in fascination from the chair, a Fig Newton stopped on its journey to her mouth, as she observed her father at what she felt was his best. He was being so caring and attentive to Sara, even though she was really crabby. She was going to give birth to his children; her siblings.
When the contraction was over, Nick could visibly see Sara's shoulders relax and she took a deep cleansing breath. He gave her a loving kiss on the lips and wiped some sweat from her brow with a towel.
"Good job, Sara. You're doing perfect."
"Thanks." She managed a smile.
Just then, the anesthesiologists came in with her kit. Sara absolutely hated needles, but with this pain, she could stand it this time.
"Oh, thank god!" Sara exclaimed when she saw the doctor.
"Are you ready, Miss Sidle?"
"Hell, yes."
Nick helped Sara sit up and untie her hospital gown. He watched, rubbing the top of her back soothingly, as the doctor prepped her spine and then inserted the amazingly large needle into his fiancée's back. Damn, he was glad he wasn't a woman.
"Daddy, where do babies come from?" Mally asked in jest, trying to sound like she was a little kid again.
Nick helped Sara lay back down, giving his daughter a look.
"Mally, this is actually a lesson to teach you to never ever have sex. This horribly painful, messy, not remotely sexy thing happens." Sara told her. She was in a smug mood and wasn't ashamed. "Never let a dick anywhere near you, you got that?"
"Sara!" Nick admonished her. Sure, he liked it when she talked a little dirty, but not to Mally.
"Sorry." She apologized. "It fucking hurts."
Nick just had to shake his head and smile. Guilty as charged.
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"Mom, does it always take this long?" Natalie moaned, snuggled up with her mother in the hospital waiting room. It had been almost four hours since they'd arrived. She really wanted to be there for when the twins were born, but this was just horrible.
Catherine kissed her daughter's forehead, now reminded of just how precious her own children were to her as Sara was delivering her first; and second.
"I was in labor with you for fifteen hours."
Natalie sat up and looked at her mother, her mouth now wide open.
"Fifteen hours? How did you survive?"
"Hey, some women are in labor for a lot longer. Plus, I had your dad there to help me. And for me to punch around."
Gil grinned from the other set of padded, uncomfortable chairs across the row. Lindsey was curled up next to him, looking deep in thought.
"This one was the worst though, wasn't she?" Gil asked, looking down at the blonde. Catherine nodded and smiled.
"Twenty-three hours. She just wanted to take her time."
Lindsey smiled as she gazed at her mother from her spot under her dad's arm. Catherine couldn't help but think she was looking strangely juvenile. Maybe something about childbirth that sent people back into their family roles.
"But she was a beauty. Couldn't take my eyes off her for hours." Catherine reminisced. "And she just stared back at me, all wide-eyed." Just like she was doing now. Gil tightened his arm around his daughter at the memory. He had been there for Lindsey's birth also, because Eddie was out of time and she needed someone there with her. They'd been best friends for years, and Cath couldn't think of anyone else she would rather have with her.
"What did I do when I was born?" Natalie inquired.
"You went straight to the breast." Catherine patted her hip lightly. "You had the most beautiful blue eyes, just like your dad." Natalie's eyes were one of Catherine's favorite features of her daughter.
The family of four just sat there in silence for the next few minutes, Gil holding Lindsey, and Catherine holding Natalie. Catherine couldn't help but think this was how it was supposed to be.
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"RRRRRRrrrrrrrraaaaaaaahhhh!" Sara screamed as she tried to push the first baby from her body. Nick was by her side, holding her hand and stroking her hair. He felt so helpless and guilty that Sara was having to go through all this pain. The epidural had helped, but she still felt a fair amount of pain. Mally was still in the room, behind her dad. She didn't want to see what was going on, but wanted to be there when her siblings were born. This was enough to convince her not to have sex for at least a few years.
"You're doing great, Sara." The doctor told her from between her legs. "The baby's head is out. Just one more push and the first will be out."
Sara nodded her head, a tear falling from her eye as she tried to concentrate on Nick's hand and the supportive kiss he placed on her forehead. Nick took a moment to look between Sara's legs and saw the beautiful head of his second child.
"Come on, baby. One more push." He whispered. Sara closed her eyes in concentration, took a deep breath, and pushed with all her strength. She let out a painful noise and finally let her body relax as she felt the baby come free of her body. The unhappy cry that followed was music to her ears. She allowed herself the first smile in a few hours now.
The doctor pulled the squealing baby into his arms and placed it on the waiting cart. Nick got teary-eyed and emotional as he saw his child for the first time.
"You have a little boy." The doctor informed them as the nurses took over.
Nick and Sara both cried as she watched the nurses tend to their new son. Nick kissed her passionately, loving her now more than ever for bringing a life into this world. Their love for each other now seemed complete and endless with a son they had created together. Nick turned to his daughter and brought her into a hug. Mally looked a little shocked, but proud and touched as she hugged her dad back.
"You're officially a big sister now!" Nick told her, kissing her head. When he pulled back, he could see she was crying from all the emotion. He kissed her again, and pulled her tight to his chest.
"Dad, would you like to cut the cord?" One of the nurses asked.
"I would be honored." Nick said, giving Mally one last squeeze, then heading over to the cart. His bouncing baby boy was still crying as he gently snipped the cord. He was still a little messy, but Nick reached down and rubbed his belly a bit, trying to calm him. Since she still had another baby to deliver, the nurse took him over to Sara and let her hold him for a few moments as a morale booster, still another hard delivery ahead of her. Sara was quietly weeping in joy as she held her son, snuggled up safe in a blanket. Mally came over and gazed down at her new brother, amazed at just how small he was.
"I'll go get him cleaned up now." The nurse smiled, and Sara gently handed her the baby.
"Bye bye, for now, baby boy." She wished him, her eyes following the tiny head until he was out of sight. Sara finally looked back down between her legs, where the doctor had been working the whole time. Nick returned to her side.
"Well, the second one should be along in just a few min…"
The room filled with loud beeps, coming from the monitor that was keeping track of the baby's heartbeat. Sara and Nick looked at each other in fear as the doctor and nurses scrambled around them.
"Sara, your baby's heartrate is dropping." The doctor informed her. "If it doesn't get back to normal in the next minute, we might have to go in and get it."
"Do whatever you need, doctor." Nick told him, as he tried to sooth his wife. The most joyful moment of his life was now followed by the most fearful one. How could it take a turn for the worse so quickly?
A minute later, the heartbeat was still off the wall, and the doctor had no choice but to start a C-section.
"Alright, Sara. We're going to have to go in." He told her reluctantly.
"Okay." She whispered. The nurses brought in a sheet attached to two poles and placed it just above Sara's belly, making both parents more worried. Nick looked back at Mally, who was looking pretty scared.
"Mally, baby, why don't you go to the waiting room with the Grissoms." Nick suggested, leaving Sara momentarily to take his daughter by the hand. Mally seemed frozen in place until her dad's hand brought her back to reality. This was really scary. If Nick hadn't pulled her along, Mally would have stayed stuck in that spot. He gently lead her out of the room and pointed to the waiting room just down the hall, giving her a kiss before he ran back to Sara.
Sara held onto Nick's hand and squeezed hard as she tried to concentrate on his face. Nick was scared, and his eyes showed it as he gazed down at Sara. Sara felt her belly go numb and heard the sounds of metallic objects working fast. She was so scared.
A/N: Tee hee. Sorry! I'll try to update soon.