The decorator loved Tris' nursery plans, Andrew and Natalie were thrilled about becoming grandparents, and they got Caleb to admit that he was still stumped by Tris' Christmas riddle before they informed him of what it meant and that he was going to be an uncle. An obstetrician named Dr. Hoxha confirmed Tris' pregnancy. For just over a week, Tris was on cloud nine.

Then came morning sickness.

Tris was miserable. She woke before her alarm every morning when her empty stomach decided to start retching. She threw up anything she tried to ingest before noon, including water. Half of the time she threw up meals later in the day, too. On the afternoons and evenings that she was able to keep food down, she didn't have an appetite.

Ginger didn't help. Roza's teas and other remedies didn't help. Dry crackers came back up like everything else. Though she tried to take small sips of water as often as possible, Tris couldn't do enough to stave off dehydration. She became lethargic and had noticeably lost weight within a week.

At first, Tobias thought it was just normal morning sickness. But after a couple days, he became alarmed and tried to convince Tris to see Dr. Hoxha. She refused, thinking too that it was just the reality of pregnancy. Her mother had talked all her life about how awful morning sickness was, so she thought it was just the way things were. When it was obvious that Tris was dehydrated and suffering more than the occasional nausea described in the pregnancy books, Tobias insisted. He had Amar call the doctor, who ordered the pregnant woman to be brought to the hospital immediately.

As always, Tris thought Tobias was overreacting and being overprotective. But she understood that his childhood and abandonment issues made him hypervigilant about her health. She also knew they could afford it. Plus, she was miserable. So she agreed to go in and see the doctor.

The car ride gave her motion sickness, and they had to stop twice on the hour-long drive to Tirana for Tris to throw up water, then to dry heave. Amar, who hadn't seen Tris all week since she was laid up in bed most of the time, became increasingly alarmed.

The doctor was alarmed, too. He saw how much Tris had deteriorated in the two weeks since she came to confirm her pregnancy. He immediately had her admitted and ordered IV fluids and nutrients even before he began to examine her.

He clucked over her weight, which wasn't much to begin with. "You've lost almost two kilos!" the doctor exclaimed. "You are supposed to gain weight with the baby, not get ready for bikini season!"

Tris chuckled, and Tobias was relieved to hear the sound of her laugh again.

A nurse connected the IV line to Tris' arm, and started a bag of fluids. Dr. Hoxha drew a vial of blood from her other arm and sent it off to the lab. He asked Tris to raise her shirt, then squirted cool gel on her flat stomach in preparation for an ultrasound.

The doctor made a clicking sound with his tongue as he moved the wand around Tris' lower abdomen. "I see the problem," he said.

Tris and Tobias looked at the monitor, but they couldn't see anything but black and grey static.

"This pregnancy is going to be twice as challenging for you." Tris detected mirth in Dr. Hoxha's voice, which confused her, but Tobias was just alarmed.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," said the doctor. "Do you see this looks like a pig's nose? We usually see just one dark circle, but you have two. Fraternal twins."

Tris gasped, and Tobias was struck speechless, his mouth hanging open.

The doctor hit a few keys on his keyboard, marking the two dark circles as "A" and "B," then printed a little copy and handed it to Tobias.

"The fathers are always the most shocked," the doctor said with a laugh. "At least you can afford two babies, Mr. Eaton."

Tris laughed. She appreciated that the doctor wasn't weird about their wealth and minor celebrity status. He continued his exam, checking this and that with his wand and printing a few more pictures, though there wasn't much to see. When Dr. Hoxha turned on the audio, they heard the speedy whooshing sound of their babies' heartbeats.

The doctor chuckled. "I should have turned on the sound first," he said. "I can hear both of them loud and clear. Sometimes twins are sneaky; their hearts beat together or they hide behind one another. Yours seem independent, but they're working together to make their mother miserable."

As he cleaned the gel off her stomach, the doctor went on to describe different things they could do to alleviate Tris' sickness. She was only six weeks along, and although twins typically come early, she still had thirty weeks or so to carry the babies. All three of them would need nutrients and fluids to stay healthy.

When the doctor left the room, Tobias was still sitting in silent shock. Tris wondered if he'd heard a thing the doctor said. She decided to call for backup and texted Amar.

T: I'm okay, but could use your help with Tobias. We're admitted, room 426.

A: I'm on my way

Three minutes later, Amar rushed into the room.

"You look better already," he said breathlessly.

"IV fluids," Tris said, pointing at the bag beside her.

"Tobias?" he asked, but Tobias did not reply.

"I think he's in shock," Tris said, handing the ultrasound photo to Amar.

He stared at it for a minute. "Is this? Is… Are they…"

"Twins," Tobias said.

Tris laughed. She felt a lot better now that she had some fluids and nutrients in her system. She wasn't feeling sick at the moment, either, though she was tired.

"I'm hoping for one of each," Tris said. "Then I can have my boy and my girl and be done in just one pregnancy."

Beside her, Tobias nodded.

"What if you have two boys?" Amar asked. "How will you decide who is Tobias the fifth?"

"I don't know," Tris said, suddenly concerned. "I hadn't thought about that. Maybe whichever one is born first. Or maybe the one that looks more like Tobias. They're not identical; the doctor said that. Maybe twins are a sign that there have been enough Tobias Eatons and it's time to give them different names."

"You don't want to continue the tradition?" Tobias asked.

Tris could hear the hurt in his voice, and she hurried to reassure him. "I do," she said. "I really do. I just don't want to choose between them if both babies are boys."

Tobias nodded thoughtfully.

"How long are they keeping you here?" Amar asked in an effort to change the subject.

"I don't know," Tris said. "Maybe they'll let me go when this bag is gone."

"No, no, not that fast," Dr. Hoxha said as he walked back into the room. "Mrs. Eaton needs to stay longer. We need a second bag with more nutrients, then we start her on anti-emetic drugs. When we get her eating and drinking again, then I will feel good about sending her home to grow those babies."

"But…" Tris stammered.

"No," the doctor interrupted. "This is not about you and what you can put up with. You are an incubator for two tiny lives. We need that incubator operating correctly to take care of them. Carrying twins is hard, and you are tiny and already struggling with the Hyperemesis Gravidarum."

"The what?" Tris asked.

"Hyperemesis Gravidarum," Dr. Hoxha repeated. "It is the really bad morning sickness. More common with twins. I'm guessing your mother also had bad sickness."

Tris nodded.

"It goes in families," the doctor explained. "You are going to be challenged carrying twins. You need to be extra careful. Lots of rest, no heavy lifting or strenuous exercise. Watch out how much salt you eat. Lots of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, like that."

Tris blanched at the thought of food and scrambled to grab the container off the table beside her before she started retching again.

"You see?" Dr. Hoxha pointed at Tris. "I can't send her home like that. She would be back here tomorrow."

.

Tris ended up staying in the hospital for two nights. She thought it was more than a little ridiculous, and completely unnecessary, but her overprotective husband, his clueless-about-pregnancy assistant, and the doctor prevailed. The first day, they pumped her full of IV fluids and nutrition. The mere mention of food continued to turn her stomach, even after Dr. Hoxha administered the first anti-nausea medication. Tobias insisted on staying with her overnight, and they both managed to get a little sleep.

In the morning, the doctor tried a second anti-emetic. Within an hour, Tris was actually asking for food, which excited everyone. A nurse brought her some broth and crackers, and she ate both, trying not to rush. When she kept it down for over an hour, they brought her toast and a banana. Tobias breathed a sigh of relief when that stayed down as well, and Tris perked up.

Tobias worked from Tris' hospital room that day, thrilled to see her coming around. She was brought a bland-looking dinner of unseasoned rice, a chicken breast, and peas, but she devoured it like it was steak and lobster. When that also stayed down, Tobias agreed to go to a hotel for the night.

The next morning, Tris ate more toast and fruit, and Dr. Hoxha agreed to let her go home. He sent along her new prescription, and a whole packet of recipes and instructions to help her fight the nausea while nourishing the babies.

When they arrived at the estate, Roza and Rebekah met the couple at the door. They fussed and tutted over Tris, commenting repeatedly about how much better she was looking. Tris didn't appreciate the attention, but Tobias looked as proud as a peacock when he told the women that they were having twins.

.

Within a few hours, the whole staff knew that Tris and Tobias were expecting twins. Within a few weeks, Tris swore that the whole village knew. She had a little more fun telling her family and friends back in the US. She ordered matching shirts for her parents that said "Grandma/Grandpa to-be" with "Twins" written beneath it. She didn't say anything to them, but waited impatiently for them to call.

She was not disappointed. About a week after her hospital stay, Tris got a call from Natalie at eleven o'clock at night - mid-afternoon in Chicago.

"Twins!" her mother practically screeched over the phone.

Tris laughed. "You scream like Christina," she teased her mother. "Yup, we're having twins."

Beside her in the bed, Tobias chuckled. He had also been eager for Natalie and Andrew's call.

"I can't believe it," Natalie laughed. "Twins. That's so exciting!"

Tris put her phone on speaker, and she and Tobias talked to Natalie for most of an hour. During that time Andrew arrived home from work, and Tris and Tobias got to hear his reaction in real time. When Tobias finally insisted that they hang up so he could tuck his wife into bed, Tris was beyond tired. She went to sleep with a smile on her face.

.

The next day, Tris sent out a group text to her friends.

T: Riddle time! We're small but very important. We're free to make but expensive to maintain. We're noticeable but you cannot see us (yet). We make Tris throw up (a lot). What are we?

The responses came back quickly, and made Tris laugh all afternoon.

Uriah: Are you allergic to something? I don't remember.

Christina: No, she isn't. Well, just jellyfish. You didn't get stung again, did you?

Tris: Tobias hasn't let me go anywhere near the ocean since our honeymoon, and you know it.

Lynn: It's too early in the morning for riddles

Marlene: It's an hour later in Atlanta! Were you out late partying or something?

Lynn: Maybe…

Shauna: Zeke and I want more clues

Christina: Yes! More clues

Tris: OK, we don't usually come in pairs, but we are this time.

Uriah: That didn't help

Marlene: I thought maybe it was germs or something since you're puking, but the pair thing throws that out

Christina: Are you sick?

Tris: Not at the moment. My doctor put me on something for nausea because it was really bad. I'm doing better now.

Uriah: Wait, is this a good thing or a bad thing? Because I thought it was good, but we keep talking about sick and doctors. Are you ok?

Tris: I'm more than ok, and it's a really good thing. Well, things

Christina: OMG! Are you? I don't even want to say it

A minute later, Tris got a text from Christina that didn't go to everyone, just Tris.

C: Are you pregnant?

Tris ignored the private text and replied to the whole group.

Tris: Christina guessed it! Tell everyone, Chris!

Christina: She's PREGNANT!

Marlene: OMG! Congrats!

Lynn: Cool! Congratulations

Shauna: No way! Hold up, you said PAIR! Are you having TWINS!

Tris: Yes! Twins coming in November

Marlene: Aghhhhhhh! I am literally doing a happy dance!

Uriah: She is

Marlene: Shut up, so are you!

Uriah: It's so cool!

Christina: Will wants to know how you're feeling. You said you've been sick?

Tris: Yeah, they're ganging up on me already. I'm only like 7 ½ weeks along, but I've already been hospitalized because I had no appetite and I was throwing up so much I got dehydrated. But they put me on something, and I've been good for the last week or so. I even gained back the weight I'd lost.

Shauna: Are you really ok?

Tris: I really am, I promise. I'm eating and drinking now, and I feel good most days. Sometimes I get a bit nauseated, but it's not nearly as bad as it was. Apparently bad morning sickness runs in families. My mom had it too, and having twins makes it worse. Tobias, Roza, Rebekah, and everyone are spoiling me rotten. They make me nap, eat healthy, and not do too much. Everyone here is really excited.

Tris chatted with her excited but concerned friends for a while more. She assured them over and over that she was alright and being well cared for. They gushed eagerly, joked about bad baby names, and just enjoyed being able to talk to one another like old times.

.

Because of her small size and the fact that she was carrying twins, Tris started showing early. By the nine week mark, Tobias could easily see the slight swell of his wife's normally flat belly. By twelve weeks the pregnancy was visible in most of her clothes, but could still be hidden in a baggy sweater.

At the end of her first trimester, Tris was still struggling with morning sickness, though the prescription from Dr. Hoxha helped tremendously. She ate and drank enough to stay healthy and out of the hospital, but it wasn't easy. On top of that, she was bone-weary most of the time. She had to switch to mornings at the center because she was too tired by afternoon, and she napped to get through each day.

Tobias was a wreck, though he tried to hide it. After finding out that his mother had been alive and living on the street in Rome, he'd channeled his grief into planning for the future and the family he and Tris wanted. But he'd badly underestimated the stress and anxiety of having his wife pregnant.

Although his rational mind knew that Tris' pregnancy was going well, and that an ectopic pregnancy had not killed his mother as he'd grown up believing, Tobias' nightmares were stuck on the fear that something bad might happen. Some nights he dreamed of Tris doubling over in pain as she bled out before his eyes. Other nights he dreamed of an attacker breaking in as Caleb had done, and stabbing his pregnant wife.

When Tris was fourteen weeks along, Tobias accompanied his wife to Tirana for a routine checkup with Dr. Hoxha. The doctor's first words on seeing them were to remark about how much Tris' stomach had grown since her last appointment.

"Twice the babies," he'd remarked with a merry chuckle, "that's a lot for such a tiny mama."

Though the doctor seemed unconcerned, Tobias felt uneasy.

The rest of the checkup went well. Dr. Hoxha encouraged the couple with news that Tris' morning sickness should start improving soon, and he promised them that everything looked good. The babies were growing and thriving. He told them that at Tris' next appointment he could try to find out the sex of their babies if they wanted to know.

Though they left feeling excited and hopeful, anxiety plagued Tobias like a song stuck in his head. Fears both logical and absurd popped up in moments of quiet, especially when he tried to sleep that night.

What if twins are too much for a small woman like Tris?

What if the babies come too early?

What if the babies get too big, and Tris can't deliver them?

What happens if one twin dies? Will Tris have to carry around the dead twin to save the living?

What if she dies in childbirth?

What if all the morning sickness hurts the babies' physical or mental development?

All the money in the world can't spare Tris the agonies of pregnancy and childbirth. I haven't felt this helpless since… maybe ever, or at least not since I planned to kill myself to get away from Marcus.

Tobias eventually dozed off, but in that half-awake half-asleep realm, he dreamed that he could see Tris' stomach growing before his very eyes. Like a balloon it inflated, bigger and bigger. Within minutes it was bigger than a full-term pregnancy. Then it was bigger than the pictures he'd seen of that American woman who carried eight babies at once. Soon Tris' stomach was so big that he had to roll away so she could fit on the bed. He backed away from his wife's expanding stomach when all of a sudden, "BOOM!" it exploded with a loud noise.

Tobias woke with a groan. He was on the floor beside the bed, and his tailbone ached.

"Tobias?" Tris asked in a panic.

"Down here," he moaned. "I think I fell out of bed."

"I… I heard a loud noise," Tris said unnecessarily, still getting her bearings.

"I was dreaming," Tobias explained. "Your stomach got so big it exploded."

Tris giggled. "Get back up here," she said.

Sheepishly, Tobias climbed back into bed. Tris reached for her husband and nestled against his side.

"You've been having a lot of bad dreams lately," Tris prodded gently.

Tobias sighed. "I feel helpless," he confessed. "I wish I could be pregnant for you so you didn't have to go through all of this."

"All of what?" Tris pressed. "The morning sickness? That's been better since Dr. Hoxha put me on pills for it. I feel pretty good, honestly. I'm tired a lot, but that's all normal pregnancy stuff. I expected it."

"I didn't," he said quietly. "I had no idea being pregnant was so hard on a woman. Or that I would be so anxious. I just wish I could do more for you. It's not fair that they're our babies, but you have to do all the work. I… I'm worried that something will happen to you. I'm worried that twins are too much for your small frame. I hate seeing you sick, and tired, and I'm concerned about how uncomfortable you'll be later on. Then there's delivery, and nursing, and all these things I can't control or even help with."

Tobias let out another loud sigh, and Tris felt her heart squeeze. She knew he'd been worrying about her, but she didn't realize just how much.

"Do you remember that first summer I came here?" Tris asked, and Tobias nodded. "You were so… well, not afraid, exactly, but anxious, I guess. You got yourself all worked up thinking that I was going to be bored, or homesick, or have culture shock, and decide that you weren't worth it. And I told you to have faith. Remember that? I told you that I was going to get bored sometimes. I was going to miss my family and friends. And I was going to struggle with culture shock sometimes. But you needed to have faith in me, and in us, because I knew those things were inevitable, but that you were worth it. The reward of being with you far outweighs the challenges that came with an international relationship. And I was right, Tobias. I've never regretted it. It hasn't always been easy - moving halfway around the world - but it's been worth every every mile - every kilometer - and the culture shock of switching to the metric system."

Tris chuckled as she nudged her husband. Tobias returned the laugh and pulled her closer to his side.

"The babies are the same way," Tris continued. "When I told you I was ready to have a family with you, I said that with the full understanding of morning sickness, stretch marks, episiotomies…"

"Epesi-what?" Tobias asked.

"Uh... let's not go into that right now," Tris said. "What I'm trying to say is that I knew pregnancy would have its challenges, but I also knew it would be worth it. You need to have faith that it will be worth it. No pregnant woman in history has ever been better cared for than I am. I have a loving husband who's passing on some very good-looking DNA, a household full of excited staff, the best obstetrician in Albania, and a mother who calls me almost every day just to see how her grandbabies are doing. My husband has more money than some small countries, and he's willing to use it for anything I need or want. What more could I ask for?"

"Hmm," Tobias hums, consoled by her words. "I don't know. But if you think of something, your loving husband will gladly spend his money getting it for you."

"I know he will," Tris said. "He's wonderful. And he's going to be a great, loving father."