MID MARCH

The plane landed in Madison and William and his Escalade were waiting. Joey was a month old, Fin was fifteen months, and Jack and Elizabeth had just celebrated their second anniversary.

As promised, since Grace couldn't travel, Elizabeth went to her. "Dad!" William opened his arms and invited his daughter and Finny into them.

"Hi, Bethie. It's good to see you."

"I missed you. How's Mom?"

"Lets get the babies out of this cold. We can talk in the car."

Jack put Finny's car seat in and strapped her in while Elizabeth installed the base and then snapped Joey's into place.

William looked at his grandbabies and smiled. "Joey looks just like you, Jack, but with dark hair." Elizabeth saw him turn serious and then stare out the window.

"Dad?"

"Yes?" She grabbed his hand and squeezed. "Is Mom ok?"

"Today….it's a rough one. She had chemo yesterday and the day after usually takes its toll."

"Maybe we should stay in a hotel. The kids might be too much," Jack suggested.

"Nonsense. Grace has used this visit as her focus during her treatments. She needs them nearby."

Elizabeth slipped her fingers between her father's. "Dad? How are you?"

"Just fine."

"Dad, you don't always need to be strong."

"Yes, I do. Your mother needs me to be."

"She's not here right now. You can let go, just a little."

He kissed her forehead and left his lips there for a moment. She felt him shudder with emotion. She unbuckled her belt and pulled him into a hug. Jack watched, barely staying in control, knowing they both needed to let go.

"Its ok, Dad. She's going to get through this."

"There's something about watching her sick and struggling that rips my heart out. I love her so much."

"Make sure you tell her. Every single chance you get."

…..

Elizabeth carried Fin into her childhood home, trying to keep everything as quiet as possible.

"Beth?" Elizabeth looked up and nearly dropped Fin. Grace stood in the doorway of the den, a beautiful silk scarf around her head. She had lost a lot of weight, even though she had never been someone you would consider in need of doing so. She had dark circles under her eyes and she was pale.

"Mom?" Elizabeth immediately burst into tears and set Fin down so she could receive her mother's hug.

"Oh, sweetie. Please don't cry." Grace stroked her hair as she had as a child and held her tight.

Sensing the emotion of Elizabeth, Fin sat on the floor and cried too. Grace kissed Elizabeth's cheek and squatted down to Fin's level. "Hi, pretty girl. Everything is ok." Fin looked curiously at Grace, a tremble in her bottom lip. "Can I hold you?" Grace asked, holding her arms out.

"Mmma." Fin walked over into Grace's arms, putting her head on her shoulder.

"Oh, I've missed you, Finlea Grace."

Elizabeth watched them. "Now who's crying, Mom?"

"I can't help it. Just thinking of seeing her and you and Jack and Joey has kept me strong."

As different as Grace looked, Elizabeth realized how beautiful she still was. Her smile was still there. Her quiet strength, even if a bit diminished.

Jack and William walked in with the rest of their things including Joey who was just waking up.

Grace stood up, Fin still clutching Grace. "Jack."

Jack walked over and hugged them, tears in his eyes. He was successful in holding them back though. "Good to see you, Mom. You look beautiful."

"Nonsense. We all know that's not true," she said, kissing his cheek and self-consciously touching her scarf.

"It is true." Grace set Fin on the floor.

Joey let out a squawk from his seat. William set it down and unbuckled his grandson gently. "Hi, buddy. Grandpa will get you out."

Grace walked over to William who now held the tiny baby dressed in navy blue. William wrapped his arm around her back and held her close. She snuggled into his chest while watching her grandson. "He's wonderful."

"You're wonderful," William said quietly as he kissed her gently. Elizabeth had not seen her parents so affectionate in a long time. They touched hands once in awhile and their looks toward one another conveyed intimacy but kisses were rare, obviously something normally saved for when they were alone. In this case, seeing them, made her realize how very much William loved her, how much he was relishing every moment they had together. It was truly beautiful.

….

BACK IN HUNTER CREEK

Julie was finally getting the hang of tandem nursing. She made good use of the pillows and her lap and then she even figured out how to burp them at the same time. They were a month old and time was slipping by.

She knew she had two months left before her maternity leave was over but she dreaded leaving them. At the same time, she was very grateful that they didn't have to be in day care and that Mike was willing to be the stay at home dad.

"Jules?" Mike called quietly as he walked in the door.

"In the living room."

He walked in and sat next to her, taking Kendall. "How are my girls?" He kissed her soft reddish peach fuzz and inhaled her amazing baby scent. He missed them every minute when he had to leave.

"They're fine. This girl is wondering what you're doing home, though." He kissed her and smiled.

"I know I was just going to head to the store but I wanted to see you and the twins."

"Work went ok?"

"Yep. I really just missed all of you." Kendall opened her blue eyes and looked straight at him. "I wonder what she's thinking?"

"That her Daddy is awfully handsome in his shirt and tie?" Julie suggested.

"Mmm, probably not."

"That's what I was thinking." He smirked and kissed her again.

"I wish I could stay home."

"I wish you could too. I miss you."

He had been working more because her maternity leave was only sixty percent of her normal income. So any extra shifts the store could give him, he took. "I miss you too."

"How much longer do we have?"

"I have to leave in about 10 minutes."

She nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I wish we were in Madison right now."

"I know, babe. I just don't know how we can swing it."

She understood where he was coming from. He needed to try to temporarily supplement her lower income. "What if I went with the babies?"

He didn't answer. She could almost see the wheels turning but she also noticed his ears turning red. That meant he was upset. It didn't happen often but she knew the sign.

She slipped her fingers between his and squeezed, prompting him to voice his concerns. "I don't like the idea of you being so far away."

"I don't like the idea of my mother suffering through chemo and I can't even be close to her."

She stood and gently put Claire in her swing and walked to the kitchen to make them each a sandwich. She wiped at the unwanted tears falling down her cheeks. A moment later he walked in too.

He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "One week. I can't be without you and the girls for longer than that, Julie. I'd be lost."

"Thank you. I'm just worried about her. I don't want to lose her, Mike."

"She caught it early. There's no reason to think she won't make it." He wiped her cheek and turned her to face him. "I love you."

"I love you too." She kissed him and then turned to finish making his sandwich. A moment later she wrapped his turkey sandwich in a paper towel and handed it to him.

"Thank you. I'll be home around midnight."

"Ok."

As soon as he left, she felt guilty. He didn't feel comfortable without them and she had thrown in the statement about her mom. She called him.

"Honey?"

"Mike, I'm sorry. I won't go. I shouldn't have done that."

"Done what?"

"I know you don't want us gone but I said that part about my mom. I'm sorry."

"We need to be able to tell each other our feelings. Don't worry, sweetie. I think that going will help you and your mom."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Why don't you call your dad and arrange for the jet?"

"Ok. I love you."

"I love you. Now I'm going to go to work."

"Ok. Bye."

"Bye."

Julie took a deep breath and looked at the clock. The twins would be good for another hour so she grabbed the baby monitor and ran down the hall to take a shower.

After that, she called her dad and they decided she would fly out the next day and they would do it as a surprise to her mom.

….

Mike drove his girls to the airport. It took all he had not to stay on the plane with them after he buckled their seats in. "Bye, girls. I love you." He kissed them on their heads and stared for a moment. "What about their ears? When you gain altitude?"

"I have their pacifiers. They will be fine. If not, I'll nurse them."

"Will you let me know that you've landed safely?"

"Yes. I promise. Now give me a kiss and leave or you'll be going to Madison with us." He looked at the babies again and then gave them another kiss.

"Julie? You ready to take off?" the pilot asked.

"Give us two minutes, Frank."

He nodded and walked back into the cockpit.

"Mike, I will call you when we land and I'll text you when we get to the house and then we will Skype each night."

He nodded and kissed her. "I love you, Julie. See you in a week."

"Yep. We will be here."

He hesitated another moment and then walked off the plane.

…..

The plane ride was smooth. The babies slept the whole two hours, pacifiers doing the trick. As soon as they touched down, Julie called Mike.

"Hey, babe. We made it."

"That's good."

"Where are you?"

"At dispatch. I'm about ready to clock in for the day."

"Ok. I'll text you as soon as we get to Mom and Dad's."

"Ok. Love you, sweetie."

"Love you."

William walked on the plane when the door was open.

"Julie."

"Dad! It's great to see you."

"You too, dear. Now let me see these girls." He walked over and looked at them closely. "How on earth do you tell them apart? They look identical."

"This is Claire. She's the quiet, laid back one. Plus, she is always in yellow. Kendall is more demanding and clingy and she wears pink."

"They're beautiful, Julie. They look just like you did."

"Let's get going. They'll be hungry soon."

"Ok."

They each took a car seat and loaded the suitcase and baby bag into the Escalade to head home.

…..

Grace sat in the bathroom on the edge of the tub, fighting to keep her lunch down. She took deep breaths through her mouth and let them out through her nose.

Three more weeks of misery and then she could concentrate on getting stronger.

"Grace?"

"In here," she told William.

"Hey, you ok?"

"I'm trying to be."

He sat next to her, kissing her smooth bald head. He didn't care that her hair was gone. He only cared that she was alive sitting next to him. She was still gorgeous in his opinion.

"I have a surprise for you."

"What kind of surprise?"

"Visitors."

"Will, I'm really not up to seeing anyone right now."

"I know, but I promise, you will be happy once you see who it is."

She looked up at him and smiled weakly. "If you say so." She stood and walked slowly to the sink, picking up her dark purple silk scarf. "Will you tie this for me?"

"Of course." He stood behind her and smoothed the silk over her head and then tied it in the back. "Beautiful."

She turned and adjusted her kimono that Will had bought her as a gift when she started chemo. He knew she was struggling with how she looked underneath her clothes after the mastectomy even after his repeated assurances to the contrary, so he bought her three silk kimonos and matching head scarves. It touched her heart deeply to have his support.

"Alright, hopefully I won't lose my lunch all over these visitors you've brought me."

"Try your best, dear," he said with a chuckle as he took her hand and led her into the den.

….

"Julie." Grace walked over and hugged her youngest daughter. "Did I know you were coming?"

"Nope. Surprise. I wanted to see you."

"It's a lovely surprise, dear."

"You look great, Mom."

"Thank you. Now let me hold one of the girls. I've been waiting for this." Grace sat down in a rocking chair by the fire and held out her arms, accepting Claire.

"Which do I have?"

"Claire. They just ate so they should sleep as you hold them."

"Let me hold Kendall too then."

Elizabeth handed her niece to Grace and then took out her phone to snap a few pictures. Julie did the same. Then Elizabeth turned and snapped a few of her own kids with Jack. He was reclining on the couch with both kids asleep on his chest.

"Smile, babe."