Thanks to all my readers, and reviewers. You guys rock! We're almost done - 40 will be the last chapter.
Chapter 37
February 2nd, 2003…
7:30 a.m.
"Spike?"
"Yeah, pet?"
"Obstetrics is this way."
"I knew that."
Kara approached the front desk. Spike grabbed the first random orderly he saw.
"My wife's in labor. Get a bloody wheelchair!" he barked.
"Y-yes, sir. Just stay calm."
"May I help you?" the nurse asked from behind the desk.
"Hi, I'm Kara Browning? I called a few minutes ago."
"Yes, I'm the one that talked to you. So, you're in labor? How far apart are the contractions?"
"15 minutes."
"You seem to be handling it pretty well," the nurse commented, searching for some forms.
"I have a high tolerance for pain," Kara shrugged.
"Okay, fill out these forms. Who's your doctor?"
"Dr. Lee. I paged her before I left home."
"Alright, I'll make sure she's on her way. Orderly, take her to room 417. A nurse will be right in to hook you up to the fetal monitor, Mrs. Browning."
"Thanks."
The nurse was in the room in a few minutes. She gave Kara a gown to change into, then hooked up the fetal monitor to Kara's stomach once she was settled on the bed.
"Twins, huh?"
"Yep, identical girls. Spike, honey – go get a cup of coffee, or something."
"You sure? I don't want to leave you alone."
"I'm fine. Just go take a few minutes."
"Okay." He gave her a quick kiss. "I'll be right back."
Kara and the nurse shared a smile once he'd left the room.
"First child?"
"Yeah. He's been a nervous wreck since I woke him up to drive me here. He just needs a few minutes to process everything."
"Well, everything looks good so far. When was your last contraction?"
"About ten minutes ago. They've been running every 15."
"Okay. We'll make a note of the time for the next one. It could be a while still, depending on how you progress."
Knock, knock…
"Good morning, Kara. How are you feeling?"
"Okay so far. The pain hasn't been too bad, yet. Sorry to call so early on a Sunday," she said to Dr. Lee.
"Don't worry about it. I'm an OB. This happens all the time. Where's Spike?"
"I sent him off to calm down. He should be back in a few minutes. Can I use my cellphone in here?"
"You can use the phone on the table. Just dial '9' for an outside line. Cellphone signals tend to mess with some of the equipment. I'll stay through your next contraction, then see about the delivery room. It seems to be a slow morning, so I think we'll have a smooth day."
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Spike found the cafeteria and snagged some coffee and a brownie. He spotted the outdoor deck and went out to breathe in the cold morning air. It smelled like rain was coming, and it cleared his head. He lit a cigarette, and savored the calm that came with the nicotine. Spike hadn't had a cigarette in months, and it felt really good to indulge now. "I Wanna Be Sedated" started playing from his pocket, so he answered his cellphone.
"'Lo?"
"Spike? It's Stephanie. I got Kara's message, and I'm on my way. I should be at the hospital in…10 minutes."
"That's fine, luv. We don't seem to be in a hurry, yet, so take your time. It's misting and the roads might be a little slick."
"Have you called anybody, yet?"
"Nah. Kara just got settled in the private room. I'll let you do the honors."
"Gee, thanks. Call Tara, at least. I don't have the long-distance minutes you do."
"Fair enough, pet. See you soon."
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The Sunnydale crew started arriving around 10 a.m.
"Did we miss it?" Willow asked, as she and Tara walked into Kara's room. They'd obviously stopped at the gift shop, since Willow was carrying two fuzzy, pink bears.
"Nope. My contractions are still 10 minutes apart. It's sweet of you guys to come, but you'll probably be waiting a while," Kara replied apologetically.
"That's okay, sweetie. We're here to be supportive," Tara said.
"And relieve boredom! I brought a couple movies." Willow pulled two DVDs out of her bag. "Guaranteed laughs to distract you from the pain. Are you in much?"
"Not really, but I guess that's subjective."
"Where's Spike?"
"Pacing the halls. You know how impatient he is normally?" They both nodded. "Triple that, and that's how he's been for the past two hours. My sister lured him away with some topic from her lit course." Kara grimaced as another contraction came on. "Ow… Did my sister call you? I gave her all the numbers a while ago, figuring Spike would be too distracted."
"No, Spike did, and then we told the others. So, expect everybody to show up sometime today," Tara replied. "Does your family know?"
"Yeah, I talked to my step-mother. She said to call once I go in to the delivery room."
The nurse knocked as she entered. "Hey, Kara, sorry to interrupt, but I need to get an update on your vitals."
"It's cool. Willow, Tara, meet Mary."
"Do you need us to leave?" Tara asked.
"Just for a minute. I need to check her dilation progress." Willow and Tara stepped out to the hall, and spotted Spike and Stephanie down at the end.
"Doing well, Kara. We're getting close. Are you comfortable enough?"
"As much as I can be. I'm hungry, though."
"You can take a walk to the cafeteria and pick something out, if you feel up to it."
"Yeah…tell my husband to come in if you see him in the hall."
The four were waiting outside the door when Mary opened it. "Hey, we were just looking for you."
Kara secured her robe and slid her feet into her slippers. "Let's go find me something to eat," she told the group.
"She's allowed to do that?" Spike asked the nurse.
"Sure, as long as she makes frequent bathroom visits. I'll check back in half an hour, unless you need me sooner."
"Thanks, Mary. Come on, guys. I'm hungry." Kara tugged on Spike's arm to get him moving. The cafeteria was one floor below and close to the elevator, so it was a short walk.
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"Hey, nobody's in here," Dawn announced.
"Are you sure this is the right room?" Buffy asked.
"417, just like the lady said. And that's Kara's bag."
"Dawn, you don't have to be smart. Well, we'll just have to wait. They probably just went for a walk," said Joyce.
"Ooo, these little bears are so cute! Willow must be here. Mom, can I go get a soda?"
"Hey, guys! Welcome to my room for the next couple days," Kara said as she walked in, followed by the others.
"How are you feeling?" Joyce asked first.
"Fine. I got hungry, so I dragged these four with me to get munchies." She sat on the bed and started digging into a bowl of mac 'n cheese.
"When are the babies coming?" Dawn wondered excitedly.
Kara chuckled at the bouncy teen. "I'm not sure, Dawn. Things are moving along, but not terribly quick. I'm starting to think I should have stayed at home for a few more hours."
"Oh, now you figure that out! After waking me up by trying to bloody drown me."
"Uh…oops?" She gave her mate her cutest look, and his scowl melted. He sat down next to her and kissed her head.
"'S alright, kitten. I'm just tired. Think we can get this done by noon?" he asked cheekily.
"Oh, ha, ha. I'll get right on that," Kara responded dryly. "Rub my back. I feel another contraction coming on."
Tara looked at her watch. "Seven minutes since the last one downstairs."
"Squeeze my hand if you need to, luv."
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"You are so lucky I'm not passing this through the claim right now," Kara growled, as she panted through another heavy contraction. They were five minutes apart now, and harder to talk through. She'd been on this track for about a half hour.
"Think I can't take it?" he challenged, arching a brow. Kara leaned back against the pillows again, breathing deeply.
"Nope."
"Bring it on. Give me the next one."
"Okay," she shrugged. When the next contraction hit, she directed the pain through the bond.
Spike vamped out from the sudden shock and sensation. Bloody hell! It felt like there was a vice in his stomach, compacting his innards and trying to force them down his leg bones. He took it, though, allowing her to squeeze his hand almost to the point of breaking. They were both breathing hard as it ebbed away.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Steph…get Dr. Lee…I really feel like I need…to push," Kara panted.
"On it!" Kara's sister raced down the hall to the nurses' station.
"This is it, luv. You've been doing so well. Just stay focused a little bit longer," Spike encouraged, blotting the sweat off her brow with a cloth.
"Mmm-hmm…"
"She's on her way, Kara. She was just down in the cafeteria grabbing lunch."
"Okay…Let the others know what's going on?"
"I'm here! So, you're feeling the need to push, eh?" Dr. Lee asked as she walked in. Kara nodded, feeling another contraction. "Yep, you're ready to go. Let's get you wheeled to the delivery room." The nurses adjusted the bed and unlocked the wheels. Dr. Lee halted Spike at the door to the delivery room. "You need to scrub up, too. Come on."
"My sister, too!" Kara called.
A couple minutes later, they were back dressed in scrubs, and Kara was positioned on the bed and hooked up to monitors.
"Okay, Kara, the head is crowning, so I want you to push on the next contraction, and stop when I tell you to, okay?"
"Okay."
"Just take a minute, luv. Breathe in…and out…"
"Okay, Kara…ready, and PUSH!"
"AHHHHHH!"
"And…you can stop! Rest until the next one." Dr. Lee suctioned the mouth and nose of the baby to clear the mucous. Her shoulders would clear on the next pass.
"You're doing great, Kara," Stephanie encouraged, sitting on the opposite side from Spike.
"Here comes another one," Kara moaned. "Doctor…"
"It's alright, Kara. Let it happen."
Kara nodded, and bore down again. She felt the stretching ease as her daughter's shoulders were through. One more for the hips…
"Waaaah!" the first twin wailed, after a tap on the butt. Dr. Lee held her up for the couple to see.
"Does she have a name?"
"Anna…" "Anastasia Rae," Spike interrupted. Steph giggled as Kara stuck her tongue out at her mate. "Okay, Anastasia, then," she conceded.
She was wiped off and wrapped in a blanket, then handed to Kara, as Dr. Lee took care of the umbilical cord. She let them have their moment. The cord cutting could wait.
Stephanie took a picture of the new family, the couple oblivious as they examined their first-born.
"She's beautiful, luv. Everything's so tiny," Spike said in hushed awe. He inhaled the scent of his little girl, and stroked a finger along her soft little cheek. Unfocused blue eyes blinked back at him as she waved her little arms.
"Would you like to cut the cord, Dad?" Dr. Lee asked.
"What? Oh, uh, yeah."
A nurse quietly approached Kara to take the infant. "We just have to get her cleaned up, and all, ma'am."
"Well, the good news is you can rest a bit until you feel you need to push for the second baby. It can take a while between twins."
"Can't somebody else do it for me?" Kara joked tiredly.
"Afraid not. Would someone like to update the family?"
"I'll go," Stephanie volunteered.
"Can I get some ice chips? My mouth is really dry," Kara requested. One of the nurses handed her a cup. Anastasia was placed in one of the plastic bassinets and wheeled over to the side of the bed.
She was already asleep, swaddled in a clean pink blanket. Her hair was dark brown, and trying to curl, as short as it was.
"Hey, little Ana…we're just waiting for your sister to want to come out, too." Kara lightly stroked the down-soft hair. "How much does she weigh?"
"6 lbs, though she'll probably lose a few ounces for a day or two."
"Kara, are you still feeling contractions?"
"No…not really. Is something wrong?"
"Not necessarily," Dr. Lee assured. "I'm going to check if she's still facing the wrong way. Just try to stay relaxed and breathe." Dr. Lee reached in to feel the baby's features. "Okay, I'm going to have to maneuver her slightly, so this is probably going to feel a little weird." She rotated her shoulders and head to be facing upwards, instead of to the side. "Should be good, now. She was basically stuck on your bones. Try pushing a little." The baby slid further in the right direction with the contraction of Kara's muscles. "Good, Kara. We're ready when the next contraction starts."
Spike rubbed her shoulders, sliding his thumb over his mark to relax his mate. Kara bit back the moan manipulating her scar always brought forth, and closed her eyes. She focused on reestablishing the rhythm of the contractions as Spike sent a renewal of energy through the claim.
"Owwwwwwww!" Oh, this one was bad. The pain was sharp, her muscles clenched, and the second twin all but flew into Dr. Lee's arms.
"Whoa! You can stop, Kara."
"Oh, god…" she whimpered. "That hurt like hell. It didn't feel right…" Kara muttered.
The baby's color wasn't right. Dr. Lee suctioned the mucous from her nose and throat, lightly massaging her with the other hand. The younger twin suddenly coughed, and gave an indignant yelp when she was smacked on the rear. You could almost say she was glaring at the doctor, as she was carried to her mother.
"She's alright?"
"Yeah…just some congestion. Say a quick hello. I want to check her over more thoroughly," the doctor replied.
"Out of me for two seconds, and you're already giving me a scare," Kara said softly, sniffling. She and Spike had both heard the lack of breath or heartbeat for those few agonizing seconds.
"What's her name, luv?" Spike asked. He hid the hand she broke behind his back, not wanting to burden his mate.
"Lillian Marie. It sounded pretty in the book."
"Okay, kids, we're going to get her cleaned up, and all that jazz. Kara, you only have to deliver the placenta, and then we can arrange to take you back to your room so you can rest."
The twins were taken to the nursery as an exhausted Kara was taken back to her room. She'd never felt so tired, and yet so exhilarated, in her life. She didn't know if she could sleep. The nurse gave her some Tylenol to take in case the residual cramping was too uncomfortable.
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"Hey, can we come in?" Tara asked softly.
"Yeah, yeah…oh, wow, everybody's here." She got gentle hugs or kisses from each person as they said their congratulations. There were lots of flowers, balloons, and stuffed toys. "Thanks, everyone. Have you seen them, yet?"
"They're gorgeous," Joyce replied. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I squeezed out two watermelons. Really, I'm just tired. I'm a fast healer." Only her relatives had no clue how fast 'fast' really was.
"We should let her sleep, everyone. We can come back tonight," Joyce suggested, subtly herding their friends out the door. Stephanie stayed, perched on the edge of the bed.
"Where's Spike?" Kara asked tiredly.
"Calling Melissa, I think. You said you wanted her to know right away."
"Oh, yeah. I think the adrenaline is wearing off. Do you mind if I take a nap?"
"Of course not! You just delivered two babies, silly. It's almost 3, so I'm going to go do my homework." She hugged her sister and pulled the blanket up further over Kara. "Love you. I'll be back tonight."
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"Here, Spike – let me help," Tara gently offered. He was trying to wrap his hand on his own, and fumbling with the tape.
"Thanks, Glinda. 'S not bad, just the bones cracked a bit. Be healed in no time."
"That's good. You need to be able to hold your daughters." They both looked up and watched the nurse checking on the babies behind the glass. "There, all set. Have you eaten today?"
He shook his head. "No time…she gave us a bit of a scare today – the little one. Most horrible 5 seconds of my life."
"I can imagine, but she looks okay now. She probably just wanted to be dramatic, since she's the younger sister," Tara said, infusing levity into her voice.
He chuckled. "Yeah, Kara's been saying for a while that that one is going to march to her own drum. She's not even identical to her identical twin."
"I noticed that. Well, they look exactly alike, but Lillian is the lighter version – her hair and her eyes. I wonder if it has something to do with the powers she'll grow into."
"Time will tell, Glinda. Do you mind watching over them? Kara's asleep…I probably shouldn't leave, yet…"
"Spike, it's fine. Go get some blood, take a nap, a shower – whatever you have to do. Kara will need you awake later when they bring in the babies for the first time."
"Right. I won't be long."
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Kara awoke with that feeling of not knowing where she was, before the smell of the hospital brought it all back. She stretched and sat up, noticing that her stomach was already half the size it had been prior to delivery. She felt recovered, from the few hours of sleep, and stood to go use the bathroom. Do I even want to look in the mirror? She thought, then chanced a glance.
"Ugh, I need some make-up, or at least a shower." A shower wasn't available, but her brush and a bit of concealer was. Kara changed into the pajamas she had packed into her bag, and left the bathroom.
"Knock, knock…are you ready to try nursing for the first time?" the friendly face asked. The nurse pushed the bassinets into the room. "I'm Betty, and I'm here to guide you through the first attempt at getting them to feed." She tickled the two baby tummies. "Which of you is hungrier, hmm?"
Anastasia cried upon seeing Kara. Lillian just squirmed from the tickling. She picked up her oldest daughter, and pulled the other one next to the bed so she could feel close.
"Okay, honey, just put her little mouth to your breast, and we'll see what she does. Sometimes they latch on right away, sometimes they need a little coaxing."
Kara propped herself up with a pillow behind her back and nestled Anastasia into the crook of her arm, while she unbuttoned her top with the other hand. She positioned her daughter at her left breast, brushing the nipple against her little mouth so she would know what it was. Anastasia's cries diminished to whimpers as she started to suckle.
"She's eating," Kara said happily. "Oh, that feels weird. How long should I let her do this?"
"Until she seems to lose interest, or it starts to hurt you. Your nipples aren't used to this kind of treatment, so it's normal to feel sore until they toughen up. Do you plan to breast feed for a while?"
"Definitely."
Anastasia soon drifted off to sleep again, and her mouth went slack. Kara handed her back to Betty in exchange for Lillian.
"Hello, Lillian. We didn't get much time earlier, huh? Are you a hungry girl?" Pale blue eyes stared back at Kara. There was comprehension in her gaze that Anastasia didn't possess, yet. Was Lillian not suffering from the usual near-sightedness of a newborn?
"Luv?"
"Spike! Look what I've got," she said, grinning. Kara received a delighted smile in return as he hastened towards the bed. She scooted over to give him more room to sit.
Betty looked upon the new family and gauged that she wasn't needed here. They were doing just fine. "I'm going to leave you with some privacy. Just page the nurses' station when you're ready to send the twins back to the nursery."
Kara felt a mischievous thought in her mate's mind. "What?" she asked, suspiciously.
"Just thinkin' about how much I'll be sharing these," he replied, his eyes flickering down to her swelling breasts.
"Well, those now belong to your daughters for the next 6 months, or more."
"You won't let me have a taste?" he pouted.
"I'm basically a milking cow, and this is turning you on?"
"You're doing the most natural thing a mother can do, and it's for my daughters, that you gave me. So, yeah…forgive me for thinkin' that's downright bloody sexy."
"You're totally nutty in the head, you know that, don't you?"
"Would you rather I was plain and boring? I love you, silly bint."
"Watch your tongue around your daughters, mister. They're like sponges..."
"Shut up and kiss me, Kara."
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Yay! They're born! I hope I was accurate enough, for those of you already mothers. I did some research when writing the chapter, as well as recalling old stories. And we finally have names for the twins...Thanks for reading!
