This is the last chapter for this. It had gone into a different direction then I planned but I like where it went! As with all my stories, I leave it happy and open-ended. It may get picked back up at some point(maybe).
Another Father's Advice
Chapter 18-2 years later
"Come on, Madeline. You can do it!" The doctor encouraged as Madeline pushed. Mike was on one side and Kara was on the other and Madeline was delivering twins. They hadn't found out what they were having, and Mike was beyond thrilled. Mike leaned down and kissed Madeline's hand, which was apparently not a good idea.
"I told you not to touch me. When this is all over, you'll be lucky if I don't castrate you!" Madeline screamed at him. It was not the first time she had threatened it and it was humorous to everyone but Mike.
"Right, I forgot. Sorry." Mike said.
"Oh, Maddie, remember he had the surgery, so you can have all kinds of fun now." Kara reminded her, effectively teasing Mike at the same time.
"Always more fun making the baby then having the baby…or babies in this case. Okay, Madeline; one more hard push for this baby and you're halfway done…one…two…three…push, push, push!" The doctor encouraged, and Madeline began baring down. It seemed like the push went on forever but within just a minute or so, they were greeted with the sound of a shrill cry. "Perfect baby girl. Here you go." The doctor said as she put the baby on Madeline's chest. Sure enough, the baby was absolutely beautiful.
"Look what we did." Madeline said as she looked at Mike. He kissed her forehead and touched the baby's hand.
"She's perfect, just like her mommy." Mike said. Kara had been snapping pictures until the baby was whisked away so Madeline could have the baby's twin.
"Alright, Madeline, it won't take much; one…two…three…push!" The doctor said, and Madeline complied. It took slightly longer but within just a few moments, another baby was being laid on Madeline's chest; a baby boy. Like his sister, he was absolutely perfect.
"Thank you. They are perfect." Mike said as he gave Madeline a kiss. She was holding the baby boy while the doctor finished up with her. Kara walked over with the baby girl and handed her to Mike. It was a rush of emotions.
"I love you." Madeline said as she looked between the two babies. Mike leaned over and kissed her again.
"I love you too." Mike told her. They were in their own world. Kara had gone out to update their family and friends that Madeline and the babies were okay.
"Oh, that is much better then threatening to castrate him. I was beginning to worry." The doctor teased.
"Oh, I would never castrate him. That would be no fun at all." Madeline responded as she concentrated on the two babies.
"Oh, thank goodness. I was really holding my breath on that one." Mike said. He balanced on the edge of the bed, next to Madeline and held the baby girl for her. She and the babies were cleaned up and the babies were ready to be presented to the world.
"We really need to figure out names." Madeline stated.
"I think the kids have ideas." Mike argued.
"We'll see what they are and go from there. Elizabeth wants to name everything either dolly or daddy, because those are her two favorite things." Madeline said as she kissed their son.
"See how I rate." Mike teased.
"More like me. I gave birth to her and she likes you better." Madeline commented. It was a running joke.
"You have Joey. He will always be your little man." Mike told her as he gave her another kiss.
"That's alright, don't be jealous. He's just so cute and sweet but you…I have other uses for you." Madeline teased.
"You are benched from that for six weeks, my lady. However, at the end of that six weeks, your wish is my command." Mike said. He could hear their excited kids approach but he loved the time with Madeline and their babies. The flirting was typical for their relationship.
"I will spend the next six weeks thinking about that comment." Madeline said just before the kids ran in. Hannah was now fifteen but was still so happy-go-lucky and a total joy to be around, Joey was now eight. He was still a momma's boy, but he and Mike were really close too. And Elizabeth was a typical two-year-old.
"Babies look like dollies! See 'em?" Elizabeth asked, and Hannah picked her up and gently sit her down on Mike's lap. Elizabeth looked at the babies and seemed shocked when the baby's hand was warm.
"Mom, are you okay?" Joey asked, obviously more worried about his mom.
"Yes, sweetie; I am okay. So, tell us; what are the names you and Hannah picked out?" Madeline asked.
"For her; I like Darcy Hope. I thought you might like to name her after your Darcy. And I just really like Hope." Hannah stated. Mike and Madeline exchanged a look and nodded. They both agreed.
"And I picked out his name. Peter James. After my first dad and your James." Joey explained.
"Mike; I really like that name but…I hate to change things for you, Hannah, what about Darcy Christine Hope? A baby can have more then one middle name." Madeline asked. Mike and Hannah exchanged a look and nodded at her.
"So, Darcy and Peter. I like it." Mike stated. The names were really growing on him.
"Me too." Madeline said in agreement and she and Mike kissed again.
"I think Dollie!" Elizabeth said.
"How about this, we get you a new dolly?" Mike suggested.
"Otay!" Elizabeth said.
"Hannah, you okay with that?" Madeline asked.
"I like that better. I…didn't want to bring my mom up but I really like it." Hannah stated. As she got older, she had realized that Christine had killed Kaitlyn out of mercy and then killed herself. There had been a fair amount of anger towards her mother and there were times mentioning Christine could be a minefield. Mike didn't blame Christine and was thankful they didn't suffer. He hated that Christine had to make that decision, but he couldn't be angry at her. Hannah would eventually get there too.
"Never be afraid to bring your mom up. Just like Joey isn't afraid to bring his dad up." Madeline told her. There was a difference.
"That's right." Mike said and with his free arm, pulled Hannah in for a hug. Kara had walked in, ready to take another picture. The family posed for it and spent a little more time holding and loving on the babies. After Kara took the kids; Mike snuggled down on the bed next to Madeline. He was holding Peter while she nursed Darcy. Mike kissed the side of her head and stroked Darcy's cheek. "You are incredible." Mike told Madeline.
"You…make cute babies." Madeline teased.
"You bet I do. I was fishing for a bigger compliment, though." Mike told her.
"You are fishing for a bigger compliment from a woman that just spent the last two weeks on bed rest, was in labor for over twenty-four hours, didn't have an epidural and gave birth to twins?" Madeline asked.
"Oh, yeah. I should just shut up." Mike remarked with a smile. Madeline kept him in line and he was completely, madly; in love with her.
"You are pretty incredible too. Just don't let it go to your head, okay?" Madeline asked in a teasing tone. Mike landed another kiss on her lips and nodded.
"Yes, ma'am. I love you." Mike told her.
"I love you too. I think when Darcy gets done; I'm going to take a little nap. Peter is almost asleep, and I am tired." Madeline stated.
"You do that. Unless they need fed, I will handle it." Mike promised. Within just a few minutes, Darcy finished nursing and Mike burped her. Madeline was asleep before he got the baby's diapers changed and both babies fell asleep quickly. Mike laid back down next to Madeline and thought about the past two years.
True to his word, he retired after returning home. Initially, he was set against being a cop again, but he surprisingly fell back into it and loved it. It contributed to some long hours, but it gave him a sense of purpose, beyond being a husband and dad.
Anna and her hired hitman had both been sentenced to life in prison. It had been painful for both Madeline and Hannah when they had to testify against her. A year into the sentence, Anna had been killed by another prisoner. Madeline had not even planned a funeral for her mother, instead she had her buried in a potter's field. She was finally free from her.
Mike and Madeline had built a strong and loving marriage. They teased constantly, was each other's best friend and supported each other endlessly. No one had a perfect marriage but theirs was close.
The kids were doing extremely well, except for Hannah's unease about what Christine had had to do. Mike and Hannah had been in therapy and were slowly working through it. Joey was fine as long as Madeline was alright. He and Mike participated in every sport possible and had developed a very close relationship. Elizabeth would be dealing with some jealousy but would end up thinking the twins were like her dolls and would be alright.
Mike remembered the pain he had been in two years before, being jealous of other dad's for having their kids, and the anger about not having his own. He still missed Kaitlyn and Lucas everyday but had found a way through the grief. He had come a long way from trying to advice Tom and Danny on how to be a dad.
Obviously leaving it open. I may pick it back up at some point. I wanted to take Mike from a place of pain to a place of joy. Thanks for the reviews.