6 months pregnant. Becky woke up from a nap on the couch with sharp pains. She pulled herself up and looked over at Darlene.
"Darlene?"
"Yeah?"
"I need to go to the hospital."
"Becky? What's wrong?"
"I think I'm in labor."
"You can't be in labor. You're six months pregnant."
"Please get me to the hospital."
"You need an ambulance?"
"I don't know, Darlene."
Darlene grabbed the phone and dialed for help.
"Tell them to hurry, please. It's too soon, I can't have these babies."
"Relax. Just relax."
Darlene was allowed to ride with Becky to the hospital. "I'm scared."
"There's nothing to be scared about. We'll be at the hospital in a couple of minutes and they'll take care of you."
"What if they can't stop labor?"
"Stop. Right now we're going to be optimistic. They're going to stop this."
Becky took a deep breath and tensed up as a wave of pain hit.
"You're going to be okay. I know it's painful."
"I don't even care about the pain. I need to keep these babies in, that's what I'm worried about right now."
Once at the hospital, Becky was taken to an exam room. Darlene was shown to the waiting room.
"You're definitely in labor and it's definitely too early. There's a drug that we typically use to stop labor. I'd like to administer it through an IV."
"Just do whatever you have to. These babies can't come yet, it's too soon."
"I'll have a nurse come start the IV."
"Alright guys. You have to stay in there. Please." Becky said, her lips trembling as her eyes began to tear. "Please. I want to be a mom so bad. The longer I keep you in there, the better off you are."
After the nurse started the IV, Becky fell asleep with one hand over her stomach. When she woke up hours later, Darlene was there.
"Hey."
"Hey, you doing okay?"
"I'm not feeling anything right now."
"Good. They got the contractions to stop, so that's the good news."
"Is there bad news?"
"Well, I'm not sure if you'll consider it bad. I talked to the doctor, they're keeping you overnight for observation."
"Good, I feel safer. Babies are both okay?"
"As far as we know."
"What do you mean as far as we know?"
"Well they haven't done an ultrasound because you were asleep. But see the monitor strapped to your belly?"
"Yeah."
"That's monitoring for contractions, and it's also monitoring babies' heartbeats."
"Heartbeats are okay, at least?"
"Heartbeats are fine."
"I hope they're both sleeping because neither baby is moving."
"I'm sure the medication they gave you to stop the contractions knocked both babies out cold."
"I need to keep them in there for a few more months."
"Trust me, this whole family is ready to help in any way we can. None of us want premature babies. We went through that with Harris, we refuse to do it again."
"Did they tell you why this happened? Is it something I'm doing wrong?"
"Becky, you're doing everything perfectly."
"Then why am I in the hospital?"
"Because your twins want out early. It's not uncommon for premature labor to happen with twins. Thankfully, we got here quickly and got it under control and you're okay."
"Does Emilio know?"
"He's been in the waiting room with the rest of us. He wants to see you."
"It might be the medication, but I'm exhausted. Let me get another nap in before I see anyone."
"Good idea. You need rest."
Darlene waited until Becky was asleep. "Hey little guys...or gals...you're so dang stubborn, I don't know what you are!"
"Hey, you two gotta hang in there for a few more months. I know you're probably running out of room and it's uncomfortable, but it's honestly the best place for you."
"Nobody in this family wants to see you guys too early. We're all really excited to have new babies in the family but we all want you to come when you're ready."
"I haven't seen my sister this happy in a really long time. You guys have managed to steal her heart. She needs the two of you to hang in there."