Chapter 26
"I simply can't do this for another day!" I screamed.
"Stephanie, it's necessary," Bones explained.
"My babies need me and I'm not permitted to pick them up," I sobbed. You would think having all these extra hands should make me feel better. Something simple like lifting your baby from the crib was forbidden. I could hear their giggles and it was making me sad.
Tank entered the bedroom carrying Kenni in his left arm and Rici in his right. "Come on momma, time to feed them," he stated. I carefully shifted to the side of the bed to stand up. Manny entered the room to give me assistance.
"I don't need help Manny," I stated as he shifted his arm around me.
"You may be only 28 weeks, but you look like you're ready to go into labour. Dr Portman wants you to keep the babies growing for another 8 weeks. We don't want anything to happen to you," he said as he guided me to the wheelchair.
I took my seat as he wheeled me to the living room. My babies were sitting in booster seats on top of the coffee table. It was the perfect height for me to feed them. I opened the container of mashed carrots and fed some to Kenni before giving Rici a spoonful. Kenni loved the carrots, but Rici spat them out.
Hector placed another container into my hand and said, "He likes peas."
The kids were giggling between bites. I could feel Tank and Manny sitting on the sofa behind me. They were making faces at the children as they waited for their next bite. My children ate until they had enough. When they turned away from the spoon, I knew it was time to stop.
"They want dessert," Manny joked as he passed me the container of mashed pears. Both Kenni and Rici whined when the other was being fed. It was very cute.
Tank and Hector grabbed a child after they finished eating to bathe them before bed. They left the bathroom door open so I could hear them. "Da da da da da," I heard echo in the bathroom.
"Ma ma ma mamma," was the answering reply.
"Are you calling for your momma Rici?" Tank asked.
"Mmmmamama," he said followed by a giggle.
I laughed when I heard a splash followed by Hector's reprimand in Spanish, "No splashing little Angel."
"When did they start saying mama and dada?" I asked Manny.
"It's the first time I heard it," he admitted.
Hector and Tank looked a little wet after bathing the children. Rici reached for me when Tank brought him to me for a kiss goodnight. He gnawed on my chin. His sharp bottom teeth dug into my chin. "Are you getting another tooth Rici?"
He continued slobbering on my chin until put my hand on his cheek. I gave him a kiss and let Tank lift him from my arms. Hector quickly placed Kenni on my lap. Instead of gnawing on my jaw, she nuzzled into my neck.
I kissed the side of her head. When Hector attempted to move her, she grumbled and held on tight. "Leave her for a few minutes," I told him. Kenni's grip relaxed and I felt her body quickly follow. "She's asleep, you can take her now."
Hector easily lifted her from my arms. I instantly missed the weight of her body. My babies kicked as I rubbed my abdomen. 'Carlos my love, I need you home with me. Our children need you. Please stay safe. Grandpa Plum, please protect them,' I prayed. I'm not sure what made me ask Grandpa Plum for help. Grandma's been keeping me safe and talking me through important events.
This routine continued for the next few months. I was huge and ready to have these babies. I'm now 36 weeks, the same number of weeks when I went into labour with my other children. In two weeks exactly, it will be Carlos' birthday. I really hope he could make it home soon. I want him home for the birth of our children.
The men kissed my cheek before I went to bed. I had a feeling Manny was sleeping on the sofa. When I finally fell asleep, grandma visited me again. She was wearing a very pretty sundress. We were sitting in a park a few streets outside the Burg. Grandma used to take me to this park when I was little.
"I used to bring your mother here too. Stephanie, I know you're frustrated and you want to hold your little ones. Let the men help you little one, they love you. Your other children need you too. Kenni and Rici know you love them. It would kill Carlos if anything happens to you or your unborn children. Keep the faith and stay calm. General Plum will keep your men safe on their mission. Please let them help you little one," she said before giving me a hug and leaving.
My dream shifted and I was seeing a place I've never visited before. Instantly, I knew something was wrong. Carlos and Lester were being guided away from a dangerous area. I knew I was safe because nobody could see me. Bobby had Ram slung over his shoulder. From his inverted position, Ram lifted his service weapon and shot it off to his right. Someone fell to the ground. His empty eyes were staring towards the sky as blood trickled from the spot on his forehead.
"I have them little pumpkin," he said.
"To the left!" I shouted. Grandpa shouted out an order and the five men quickly fell to the ground.
"Target neutralized," I heard whispered.
"What is she doing here?" Lester asked. At first I thought he was talking about me. When I got closer, I realized he meant the dead woman laying next to the trees.
"Probably to kill me. She didn't like my rejection," Carlos stated. "I refuse to cheat on my wife. No mission is worth losing my soulmate." I had a feeling this was the reason for his reluctance to work the mission.
"I thought she settled for me just fine," Lester complained.
"He didn't sleep with her during their first encounter either," Grandpa told me. I was happy my husband never climbed in bed with the enemy. In special ops, sometimes it was necessary to bed men or women to gather intel. "Lester, Bobby or Zero were the ones to take on that task."
"It was only to get closer to Ranger," Bobby added.
"We got her brother too," Ram stated when they turned over the last man. "I have a feeling this mission was manipulated by Sasha and Rubin to bring Ranger back. She was likely hoping she could wear Ranger down." Carlos once said he never slept with anyone after Rachel, until he met me. I could feel the truth in his words then, just like I could feel truth in the words now.
"Our mission is officially over," Ranger stated to change the subject. "We need to contact base for an extraction." He used his phone to take photos. Bobby collected samples to store in his medic bag. He squeezed a cooler pack and wrapped the samples to keep them chilled.
Grandpa said, "Follow me." He led us to a clearing where an airplane happened to be waiting. "Clear the plane. Make sure you don't find any bugs or tracking devices. It will appear on the radars, but it would be untraceable by your enemies."
I felt relieved when I watched them load into the plane and take off. Grandpa wrapped his arm across my shoulders. "Thanks for helping them."
"Little pumpkin, I did it for you and my great grandchildren. Name one of your children after me. Not my first name, we have enough Franks. Use my middle name," he said. I promised after he said the name.
For the first time since Carlos was deployed, I woke up with a smile on my face. "Good dreams, hija?" Ella asked as she entered the room.
"The best. Carlos and the team should be coming home soon," I said hoping they'll be home within a few days. I couldn't imagine the debrief taking more than a few days.
Tank gently lifted me from bed. He didn't put me down until I was seated in Ranger's office, behind his desk. My hair was a complete mess, but I was so happy to see the man on the screen.
"Debriefing started last night. We should be home later today. I miss you my love," Carlos told me.
"I miss you too and I have news," I said with a smile.
"So I've been told. We need to talk," he stated.
"Should I be worried?" I asked.
"Not even one little bit," he replied. "I'm wondering if you may think I'm crazy."
"Let me guess, General Frank Plum senior helped you and your team, saving you as you tried to leave," I said. His shocked expression was worth saying those words.
"How did you know?" he asked.
"He told me. Did he tell you anything else?" I wondered. Actually, he showed me, but I don't want to tell him that tiny detail.
"Yes. Please stand up," he half ordered and half begged. As I stood, I lifted my shirt and stood so he could see my profile. "Babe," he whispered before a tear dropped from his eye.
"Twins. Another boy and girl," I told him. "Due at the end of August."
Hector entered the room carrying the twins. "Da da da da," Kenni pointed to the screen.
"You're right, he's your papa," I told her. Rici squirmed in Hector's arms to get a closer look.
"They're getting so big. Have the men been helping?" he asked after acknowledging his children.
"Our friends have been doing everything. I'm technically on bed rest," I answered. He quickly read between the lines and understood I wasn't permitted to carry them. "I can't wait to hold you in my arms."
"Soon Babe. Very soon," he said before disconnecting the call. I leaned back into the chair and cried. Seeing him briefly via video chat made me miss him even more.
Later in the week, my water broke. Carlos was still in DC for his debrief. Tank found me standing in a puddle when he entered the apartment. Without giving me time to change, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the elevator.
The most amazing vision was standing in the elevator. Tank quickly transferred me from his arms to my husband. I nuzzled into his neck and moaned through a contraction. "It's time?" he asked.
"Get her to the hospital boss. Dr Portman said the contractions will come faster. She's been in active labour since yesterday afternoon," Tank debriefed. I was surprised he noticed.
Carlos carried me to the same SUV we used the last time. Once again, he climbed into the back with me. Manny took the passenger seat and Tank drove. I saw Hector and Lester get into the car behind us. Hector was carrying my hospital bag.
My little girl was too impatient to wait. We pulled over to the side of the road around halfway to the hospital. Tank called for an ambulance as my husband delivered our daughter. The ambulance arrived in time to clamp and cut the umbilical cord.
"She's having twins," Carlos told the closest EMT. They moved quickly, yet efficiently, transferring me to the ambulance. Carlos hopped into the back as he held our daughter.
I was quickly rushed into a private examination room in the emergency department. Our son was born a few minutes later. "It's a shame," I said when they placed my son into my arms.
"What's a shame?" Tank asked. I didn't realize he was watching the birth of our children.
"Our first set of twins was born on my birthday. If they only held out for another 4 days, these ones would be sharing a birthday with their daddy," I answered.
"What are we naming them?" Lester asked.
I smiled and said, "Carlos is holding Parker and I'm holding Charlie."
"Parker Ella Manoso," Lester said.
"Charlie Henrik Manoso," Carlos added.
"I think Ella would love it," I stated.
"Your grandma too," Hector whispered before lifting Charlie from my arms.
"Give him to Tank," I whispered.
Tank's smile was completely radiant as Hector placed Charlie into his arms. "Tank, would you be Charlie's godfather?"
A tear leaked from his eye as he replied, "I would love nothing more."
"Manny," Carlos started as he placed Parker into his arms, "Would you be Parker's godfather?"
"Absolutely. I thought you'd never ask," he replied.
Lester, being Lester, removed Parker from her uncle's arms. "Hey princess. I'm your very handsome and sexy uncle Lester. Whatever you need, just ask," he said as a very pretty Latino nurse entered the room.
"That line would never work on me. Does that line ever work?" she asked Lester. He froze and his arms started to drop. Manny quickly grabbed Parker before she could fall.
"No. What line will work on you?" he asked in return. They stared at each other in shock. It appears my best friend Lester has finally met his romantic soulmate.
"Les, let nurse…" I paused to read her name tag, "Taylor check my vitals so I can be moved to the maternity floor."
He reluctantly let her do her job. Once she finished updating my chart, Lester grabbed her hand and tugged her from the room. It was nearly two hours before Lester reappeared.
"Must have been some reveal," I joked and wiggled my eyebrows. Everyone laughed. Usually Lester was the first to make this remark. Oh how the tables have turned.
I had a lot of visitors during the day. Janet and Hal brought their son Conner to visit. He's an adorable mini-Hal. Valerie, Vince and the girls arrived just after Jan's family left. I swear these men have their visits planned to the minute.
Vince laughed, "Hector produced a visit sign up sheet. He didn't want you to feel overwhelmed by everyone visiting at once."
Valerie gave me a hug and stated, "I'm pregnant again. Due on New Year's Day. We don't know what we're having, but I think this one's a boy."
"Congrats Vince," I said over Valerie's shoulder.
My next visitor was Arianna. She was alone. "Where's Manny? I know he's still here," I asked.
"Visiting Parker and Charlie. Junior and Ella brought Ken and Ric to visit with their siblings," she replied. She appeared to be a little sad.
"What's wrong Ari?"
"Manny and I are getting married at Christmas. Daddy already put the deposit on the venue," she said before stopping.
"I'm not understanding the issue," I said just before everything clicked into place. "Really? Are you sure?" I was very excited.
She removed the item from her purse and passed it to me, just as Manny entered the room. "If that stick is accurate, then yes, I'm pregnant," she replied.
Manny lifted her into his arms and swung her around. "I'm going to be a dad? Love, I have never been so happy," he excitedly said.
"But we wanted to be married before starting a family," she insisted.
"Ari, I will marry you now if it's that important to you. Whatever you want my love," he stated. "We already have the license."
"Daddy already paid the deposits," she reminded him.
"He can get them back," I intervened. "It's still early enough for them to rent the venue to someone else. They usually have a cancellation waiting list."
She used her phone to call her dad. "Thanks for understanding daddy." Ari put her phone on speaker before saying, "Oh… I almost forgot, you're going to be a grandpa."
General Masterson was quiet for a few seconds before saying, "Thank you Ari. Your mother would be so proud of you. I'm proud of you. I assume you and Manny will marry soon?"
"Yes daddy. Today if we can swing it," she answered.
"I'll call my contact. It will happen today. I love you peanut. See you in a few hours," he said before ending the call.
"Well that went better than I expected," Arianna stated. "Daddy likes to have an itinerary outlining his day. He does not like surprises."
"Ari, this is the best kind of surprise."
