Here is the next update enjoy. The story is going to start to really pick up the next chapter. You will start to understand why I picked my title. Desperation comes in many forms. Amber

Chapter 6

It was the middle of the night. Vanessa couldn't get comfortable. Her back was killing her. She rolled over for what had to be the hundredth time. Joe rubbed her back. "What's wrong baby?"

"I can't sleep. I know you have work tomorrow. I'll go downstairs."

Joe gripped her hand. "You will not? Are you in any pain?"

Vanessa rolled her eyes. "My back has been killing me."

Joe turned on the light. He rubbed her stomach affectionately. He was surprised at how hard her stomach felt. "Vanessa. I'm going to get my mom."

Vanessa really had to pee. "No! It's one in the morning!" She stood up and felt a pop. She took two steps and water started streaming down her legs. She shrieked. "Oh gosh! My water just broke!"

Joe was already getting dressed. "We are going to have our boys."

Vanessa's eyes filled with tears. "Oh gosh! Joe!"

He pulled her against him. "I know baby."


Frank and Callie headed to the hospital. They wrote a note to the girls. Callie insisted on going to the hospital. Callie went into Vanessa's room. The nurse had just finished hooking her up. Laura was already there studying her contractions. "I'm going to check you Van." Laura said. "I am ordering an ultrasound but it feels like both your boys are breech."

Vanessa's eyes widened. "Oh gosh! Does that mean c-section?"

Laura nodded. "Yes dear."

Callie took Vanessa's hand. "What's important are two healthy babies. Look at it this way, labor will be short."

Vanessa nodded. "You're right. I know you're right it's just a disappointment. Is my mom on the way?"

"She is." Callie soothed. She applied a cool cloth to Vanessa's forehead.

Joe brought Callie a chair. "Sit down sis."

Callie immediately complied. She held the hand that had Vanessa's IV and watched the monitors. Her memory of Brooke's birth coming back to her. The ultrasound tech came in. Laura and Joe both stood behind her looking at the monitor as she did the exam. Laura confirmed. "They're both breech honey. I'm going to call Dr. Wagner. In the meantime we need to prep you for surgery."

Vanessa nodded. "Okay." She took Joe's hand.

Joe leaned down and kissed her. "It will be fine baby."

A knock on the door interrupted them. Frank and Fenton peaked in. "Guess who's here." Fenton said. He opened the door and revealed Andrea Bender.

Vanessa squealed. "Mom the boys are coming!"

Andrea rushed to the bed and hugged her daughter. "I came the minute Fenton called me. Honey I'm so proud of you."

Vanessa smiled. "Thanks mom!"

Vanessa's nurse Gretchen came in. "We are prepping her for surgery."

Andrea kissed her. "You had to come by c section too."

Joe was holding his wife's hand. Vanessa started moaning. "Oww! Is this a contraction?"

Joe looked at the monitor. "Yes love, moan through it. You're okay."

Vanessa squeezed his hand tightly. "Did you find someone to cover you tomorrow?"

Joe nodded. "Yes Dr. Pike, don't worry baby. I'm not leaving you or our boys."

Dr. Wagner came in. He was a tall african american with balding hair. "Hello Mrs. Hardy. Are you ready to have your babies?"

Vanessa who just finished that whopper of a contraction nodded. "Yes...Oh yes. Can we go soon? I don't think I can take these contractions. Callie, I don't know how you did this naturally."

Another Doctor this time a woman came in. "Hello Vanessa I'm Dr. Evans I'm the anesthesiologist. I will be performing your spinal block. Do you have any questions?"

Vanessa shook her head. "Nope just get me in there. I'm ready."

A big black man came in. "Hi Vanessa I'm Dr. Evans assistant Lewis. I'll be assisting her. Are you ready?"

"Yes...Joe is too."

Laura handed Joe a bunny suit, booties, and a hat. Joe put them on. Frank took several pictures of him donning his outfit and a picture of him holding Vanessa's hand. The nurse came in. "We're ready to move her into the surgical suite."

Fenton, Frank, Callie, and Andrea followed the bed as Joe walked beside his wife. Vanessa was a little scared. She started to tremble a little. Joe sensed her tension. He smoothed her hair. "It's going to be okay baby."

Lewis tapped Joe. "Do you want to brace your wife? Normally dad's aren't in here for this but you're an MD."

Vanessa spoke up. "I want him next to me."

Joe kissed her. "She told me."

Lewis smiled. "A woman who knows what she wants. Just like my wife." He stood in front of Vanessa. "Okay Mrs. Hardy. I want you to crunch your back in a C and lean forward. Let me make a small adjustment." He moved Vanessa a little. "There...now. Vanessa you can squeeze my arms, you can scream in my ear. But don't move!"

Vanessa didn't know what to expect. Dr. Evans said. "I'm going to clean the area honey."

Vanessa mumbled against Lewis's shoulder. "Okay."

Joe was rubbing her arm careful not to get in Dr. Evans's way. He watched fascinated as she expertly inserted the first needle with the anesthetic.

Vanessa yelped as a small burning pain was felt on her back. Then her legs started going numb. Vanessa gasped. "Oh this feels weird!"

Joe and Lewis helped lie Vanessa on the table. A curtain was put up and Vanessa's gown was lifted up over that. Vanessa didn't like feeling exposed like this. She gripped Joe's hand. "Joe is this normal?"

Joe kissed her reassuringly. "Completely normal babe."

Vanessa didn't feel a thing.

Joe was peering over the curtain. He smiled. "We're about to have baby A. Alexander Fenton."

The next second a cry was heard. Vanessa's eyes filled with tears. "Oh he's here! That was fast!"

Laura took him so that Dr. Wagner could focus on the second baby. Gretchen stood waiting for Allen Franklin. When the second cry was heard Joe smiled happily. "Our babies are here Van." He leaned over and kissed her soundly. Laura took a picture of them. She brought Alexander to them first. "Here's your first son Joe."

Joe took Alexander. He was wide eyed. Joe's heart melted. "He's perfect. Hey Alex! Mommy and daddy love you."

Gretchen came over. "Here is baby number two."

Joe took his other little baby boy. He was just as wide eyed. "Hey Allen, welcome to the family. You're going to love playing with your brother." Joe was looking at them. "They look identical."

He leaned over so that Vanessa could see them. She couldn't hold them yet but at least she could see them. "They're beautiful. Oh Joe!"

"Just like their mother." Joe whispered emotionally. He nodded to Dr. Wagner. "Thanks Dr. Wagner."

"My pleasure. Now take those fellows out to see their grandparents and aunt and uncle."

Joe put them in one bassinet. They were so small. He pushed the bassinet beaming from ear to ear down the hall with his mother right behind him. She gave him a kiss on the cheek as they walked towards the waiting area. "They'll be right outside the door."

She was right of course. Fenton, Andrea, Frank, and Callie were right outside the double doors heading to the surgical area. Callie squealed. "Oh Joe they're perfect. They look just like you did as a baby. I remember your baby picture."

"They are handsome." Andrea hugged Joe tightly. "How's Vanessa?"

Joe smiled. "She's perfect. Over the moon."

Fenton had one hand in each bassinet, each grandson was gripping a finger. "They have a strong grip."

Gretchen said. "We have to get them to the nursery to do some things, and put them under the warmers for a bit. But you can observe through the glass."