Sorry for the delay in posting this... Life is crazy now that my Summer Vacation is now over! I am having some serious issues with writing the next little bit of this story!
Remember feedback is really great, it motivates me to get the next chapter written, even when I am struggling with it! I hope you all like the names!
AN: So I may have swore a couple of times in this one... Oops!
At 6pm, a full 36 hours after arriving at the hospital Steffy and Liam observed the nurse administer what would be their final dose of Terbutaline. Once the 12 hour dosage wore off the fate of the twins arrival was totally up to them.
"Well I guess this is it! Whatever happens after this dose is out of our hands, it is all up to you little ones. Even though Daddy and Mummy really want to meet you both we would prefer that you say inside for a little bit, Mummy wants to be pregnant for a little while longer, please babies can you do that for me... your Mummy."
"Steffy baby, as Doctor Caspery said, it will happen when it happens, it is almost all up to them when they arrive now. We have done everything we can, now we just need to have some faith that the twins stay put for a few more days at least!"
"Mentally, I know that they could decide that tomorrow is a great day for a birthday and there won't be anything I can do about it but emotionally, I am terrified about what is still to come. I, I, I... keep having these flashbacks of when I woke up last time... after my accident... I am so scared that something terrible is going to happen and I won't be able to protect them, that I can't keep them safe... I worry that if something happens to them we won't survive it, and even if I did survive it, it wouldn't be worth it, not without my babies and not without you!"
"Hey, I am not going anywhere, ever! You are my world, remember what we said to each other when I slid that ring onto your finger... remember 'you are my beginning and my end. You are my other half, without you, my world does not make sense. Always and forever.' No matter what happens, you are it for me, god help me if anything ever happens to you! I better die first when we are old and grey because without you by my side, my heart would stop, I couldn't go on!"
"Well lucky for you no one is going anywhere! The twins are going to stay put for a little while and you my love, are just going to have to deal with me for like the next seventy years, but even then it won't be long enough for me, I could spend 100 lifetimes with you and not get sick of you!"
"You know I feel the same way baby! Now what do you say we get some rest... this could be the last time we can nap in each other's arms without two amazingly adorable attention grabbers wanting you all to themselves."
"Sound like daddy is getting jealous of how much time and attention you two are going to get from Mummy... not to mention the attention you get to give to one of Daddy's favourite parts of Mummy."
"Oh god! Did you have to remind me! How many weeks after do I have to wait... for to you, to you know be good to go because I think we may have to book Grandma Taylor in to babysit for a little bit that day!"
"I am sorry baby, I know it has been forever. Trust me I know exactly how long it has been! I have been in a constant state of turned on throughout this entire pregnancy and we haven't been able to do anything about it since I was placed on this bed rest business! So I know your pain my love!"
"Okay baby daddy, this may be the last chance you get to wrap your arms around this belly... hell it could be the last time I have a pregnant belly, so let's relax and enjoy this moment, together, as a family."
As the hours ticked on by Liam and Steffy remained comfortably cuddled up in her bed. Liam woke to the sunlight peeking in through the blinds and noticed the time, 5.50am. It was almost the moment of truth. Had they successfully calmed down Steffy's body, would she be able to have her wish, to keep them inside for a little while longer?
"Good morning my lovely!" Liam states while giving Steffy a kiss.
"Mmmm morning. What time is it?"
"Almost 6am baby... moment of truth, the Terbutaline should be wearing off soon. So from now on it is all up to your body and the twins. If they come today, we now know that their lungs have been given the best possible chances of being ready. Whatever happens, happens and we will face it together! I love you!"
Minutes turned into hours and hours turned into days, before anyone had realised it had been a week since Steffy was admitted to the hospital. Every day that passed filled Liam and Steffy with confidence that their little ones were going to be just fine. One week turned into two and before long Steffy was 33 weeks and 6 days pregnant.
"I think that Mummy has more control over the little ones than she realised!" Liam quietly whispered to Steffy one morning.
"I think you might be right! You know I think I am ready now... emotionally, I think I now know that while they might arrive early, they are going to be okay. I know that now! So little ones whenever you are ready, Mummy and Daddy are ready!"
At that moment Doctor Caspery enters Steffy's room.
"Good morning Steffy, Liam, how are you feeling today?"
"I am feeling good, huge but good! I don't know how much more this belly can stretch though!"
"You would be surprised what the body can do! Heck just over 3 weeks ago we were ready to deliver your twins, 10 weeks earlier than their due date, but with a little bit of intervention we managed to keep them in! You know Steffy, you have surpassed all of our expectations, all the staff thought that the second the last round of Terbutaline wore off you would go into hard-core labour, with the twins being born very quickly, but they have held off! Everything is looking really good, your blood pressure is still a little on the high side but it is stable so if you and Liam decide to have more children in the future it is something that we will monitor very closely."
"Doctor when I came in three weeks ago you said that you thought I was in labour since early the day before, you said that the pains in my back and the niggly cramping almost like period pains were probably early contractions... is that what I should be aware of now... are they the signs that I am in labour."
"Yes Steffy they are, for a majority of this pregnancy you have been carrying towards the back so I would expect that you would again start to feel labour pains in your back."
"Um Doctor Caspery... I think you better examine me then..."
At this point Liam head pops up, having been listening to everything while working through a mountain of emails.
"Steffy, baby are you okay? Are you in pain? Why didn't you say something?"
"Liam I am sure it is nothing to worry about, heck I have been uncomfortable for weeks now, if I were to react to every single niggle or pain Doctor Caspery would never get to go home."
"Steffy while it is probably nothing, I am still going to examine you and see what is going on. I am just going to get your nurse and let her know what is happening, that way if I need something she can get it for me."
Doctor Caspery leaves the room and promptly returns with Steffy's nurse.
"Alright, let's see what is going on shall we... Steffy are you by some chance having one of these pains now? Do you happen to know when they started?"
"Yeah I am... it's not bad or anything, just like when I get my period, ever since I had that accident I have experienced pretty severe period pain so I guess I am just used to it, it is no worse than what I normally experience. I know I woke up at around 5.30 this morning in some discomfort if that is any help."
"Nurse, can I get you to hook Steffy up to the monitors please, we will need 2 foetal heart rate monitors and one on mum too. Steffy, you have nothing to be concerned about, the pains you are feeling are indeed contractions, in fact you are already 4cm dilated. Based on this I can tell you now the your pain threshold must be quite high, now I cannot guarantee that the twins will arrive today, but at the rate that you have dilated so far over the past 4 hours, my guess is that by later tonight this family will have two new additions."
"Doctor are you telling me that my wife is in labour and has been for the past 4 hours and we had no idea."
"Liam I can tell you this, either today or tomorrow you are going to be holding your children in your arms."
"Wow!"Liam states slightly in shock "Steffy why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to worry you until I knew for sure! Doctor, the twins, so far, are they doing okay?"
"Their heart rates are normal, just like yours is. Now while these contractions are mild and you can handle it I would suggest getting some rest and maybe giving your mother a call Steffy, telling her not to come and visit... tell her your resting today. We can also have the desk tell people that you are not having any visitors today. I will be back to check on you in an hour, if anything changes or you need anything push your buzzer and the nurse will be in. Take that nap; you will need your energy later!"
Doctor Caspery left the room and Steffy started to cry.
"Hey baby, talk to me, what is going on in that pretty head of yours?"
"I should have already done this once... We should be having to call mum to tell her not to bring Aspen in to see us today. We should have an 18 month old at home... this whole process scares me to death. I thought I was ready, but every twinge of a contraction is making me think of her, of how badly I ruined everything when we lost her. I, I don't know if I can do this Liam!"
"You listen to me, you are Steffy Forrester Spencer! You are the strongest, bravest, smartest, most badass woman I know. YOU are already an amazing Mum to our children. YOU can do anything you set your mind to, this, this right here and now is just the last little bit of hard work. You have said it yourself, you are a type A personality, if I thought I could do this to your standard I would do it all myself but there is no one in this world who can do this like you can! Let's not worry about the things we cannot control, let's focus on the here and now, because that my love, is all that matters!
"Oh my perfect husband...ggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" Steffy starts to say but abruptly stops and grips her belly.
"Oh wow, okay that one was stronger, like lots stronger!" She says while glancing at the clock over Liam's shoulder. "It might be best if you call Mum, tell her I am sleeping otherwise she will know as soon as I open my mouth that something is up if I speak to her and I don't want anyone but you here. This is our time, the others can come later, once we have had a chance to be a little family first. Plus that way we will know all the facts!"
"Whatever you want my love. Will you be okay for a little bit while I call your mum... you will have to stay quiet or she won't by it!"
"I will be fine... I have had my freak out, now go call her before it is too late and she is walking through that door!"
As Liam walked over to the window to call Taylor, Steffy was hit with another strong contraction, this one lasting twice as long as the previous one. As she breathed through the pain Steffy once again took note of the time, realising that the pervious one was only 3 minutes ago. At the sound of Steffy gripping the bed rail as she panted through the contraction, Liam ended his conversation with his mother in law and made his way to Steffy's bedside.
"Another one baby, the last one wasn't that long ago..."
"Shut up Liam! I don't tell them when to happen, they just happen! Oh god... I hate you so much right now!"
At that very moment one of the alarms on the monitors goes off and both Doctor Caspery and a nurse burst into the room and move Liam out of the way.
"Okay Steffy talk to me, what just happened"
"I had another really strong contraction... I have been...ahhhhhhh ffft fttt fttt."
"My contractions are getting longer and closer together... " Steffy pauses as she screws up her face as another one hits her and she reaches out for Liam's hand.
"Alright Steffy it seems that some little people are in a big rush this morning, Liam I am going to get you to put a gown on. Steffy I am going to quickly examine you to see how dilated you are. Nurse based on these contractions we aren't going to make it to the delivery suite, have 2 Neonatal Intensive Care teams paged to this room and get another nurse in here too..."
"I think I need to push!" Steffy states as her hospital room is flooded with people, ready to help with the twins if needed.
"Okay Steffy, you don't muck around when you set your mind to a task do you! Liam help me to make her more comfortable, We are going to sit this bed up a bit. Now Steffy on your next contraction I want you to bear down and push. Nurse continue to monitor all the stats please."
As Steffy bears down Doctor Caspery ask twin A's team to stand by, ready to work on the tiny infant if needed.
"Steffy you are doing really well, your baby is crowning, on your next contraction I want another one of those big pushes and the head will be out. Here it comes 1, 2, 3 push... I want you to push for 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1! Great job Steffy."
"Oh baby you are doing so well, I love you so much! Not long now!"
"Here comes the next one Steffy, one big push and baby A will be here!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!"
"That's it Steffy keep going."
In that instant a soft whimper fills the room, as Steffy and Liam's baby enters the world. Eyes open and looking around at everyone.
"It's a BOY!" Doctor Caspery announces.
"Baby, we have a son" Liam says as he drops a kiss on Steffy's sweaty head,
"Dad would you like to cut the cord?" Liam steps forward and cuts the cord while Steffy looks down towards he little boy
"Why isn't he crying? Is he okay? LIAM he's not crying! What is wrong with my son?"
"Steffy, he is alert and looking around, he is doing well, I am going to give him to the NICU team to check over okay."
"Liam go with him, don't let him be alone..."
"Steffy you have another baby to deliver yet! I am not letting you do that on your own!"
"Liam please! I know where you are, he doesn't, I can do this remember I am Stephanie Forrester Spencer, I can't be over there please go be with our son! Let him know he is not alone, he must be so scared!"
Liam reluctantly leaves Steffy's side to be with their son.
"Okay mumma, ready for take two? Your next contraction is coming! How is that little boy doing over there?"
"He is perfect Doctor, 1 Minute APGAR of 8, 1 point off for grimace and 1 for activity, he is breathing fine on his own, awake and alert, looking around and staring at his Daddy, ready for some skin to skin. Would you like to hold him sir? "
"Hear that Steffy he is fine, he probably takes after his father and is a quite soul... now that next contraction is coming and I need you to push!"
After several rounds of pushing and contractions a piecing squeal can be heard as twin B enters the world. At this stage Liam and their son have relocated over to the chair beside Steffy, awaiting the news of the next baby.
"Mummy, Daddy, Big Brother, by the sounds of it this princess takes after her Mummy!" Doctor Caspery says as she hold the little girl up to show her off to her parents and then passes her to the doctors and nurses to be checked over.
"Liam we have a daughter, we have a little boy and a little girl... is she okay?" She queries while staring lovingly at their little man.
"Hey Mummy, meet our son!" Liam tells Steffy as he gently places the infant on Steffy's bare chest. "I am going to check on our little girl okay my love!"
"Hey little man, I am your Mumma. I love you and your sisters so very much!"
As Steffy sits staring at their son she notices that the loud shrill of her newborn daughters cries have eased. Tearing her gaze away from the precious little baby in her arms, Steffy notes that Liam is now cradling their little princess chest to chest.
"I think your little sister is more like Mummy than mummy cares to admit... in this world all of five minutes and she has daddy wrapped around her fingers!"
Liam slowly makes his way back across the room; daughter snuggled into his chest and sits himself down beside Steffy where they stare down at the little miracles that they created.
"I think Daddy needs to go and buy that shot gun now..." Liam states, "You my little princess are so much like your mother already, god help us when you are a teenager! Just like Mummy, you seem to have discovered in the brief time that you have been in this world, exactly how to get daddy to undo his shirt and snuggle your way into Mummy's favourite place!"
"Hey this little guy is doing a pretty good job at snuggling into one of your favourite places too!"
"Hey dude... you are lucky you're cute and they are your meal ticket for the next little while otherwise daddy would be extremely jealous of you!"
"Liam, we can't keep calling them dude and princess... they need names!"
"I know, I know! I have been thinking about what we would do if we had a son, I, I was wondering how you would feel about continuing the Spencer tradition... I was thinking that he could have my name... William Cooper Spencer V (the 5th). I want to continue the tradition, of having that be his name but I also think that that little dude is more of a Cooper than a Will/Bill/Liam so what do you think Mumma?"
"I think you are right, baby Cooper, officially William Cooper Spencer but known as Cooper. As for that little princess, there is someone who I want to honour with a part of her name... I was thinking that her middle name could be Kelly after your mum, if you are okay with that... I was thinking Jacqueline Kelly Spencer, it sounds like a strong name, for a independent young lady, just like her Mumma!"
"Well that was way easier than I thought it was going to be! Welcome to the world William Cooper Spencer and Jacqueline Kelly Spencer. From now until forever we are going to love you both so very much. We love you too Aspen Phoebe Spencer" a teary Liam states while looking up at the ceiling, "more than you will ever know!"
"Do you think we can hold off telling everyone for a little bit? I just want to sit here and take it all in before we become inundated with visitors! We both know our parents will not be able to stay away, let alone Uncle Thomas and Uncle Wyatt! Plus I want to take a shower and clean myself up before I see anyone else!"
"Whatever you would like my lovely, you did amazingly today, I love you so much. I love all three of you so much!"
At that moment Steffy's nurse enters the room.
"Mr and Mrs Spencer, I am sorry to interrupt but hospital policy states that all babies need to have admissions tags attached to them within half an hour of being born. We also use this time to measure and weigh the infants. Mrs Spencer, I often find that a lot of new mum like to use this time to have a shower and clean up. It also means we can change the linins on your bed and have everything set up for the midwife to come and help you to establish feeding. Mr Spencer you are more than welcome to stay with your babies while we go through the process. Have you chosen names yet?"
"A shower sounds like heaven right now! Liam do you think you can take Cooper and Jacqueline over to the nurse and then help me to get up and into the bathroom... my legs feel like jello anyone would think I just gave birth... twice!"
"Baby I will carry you into the bathroom if you need me to!"
"Mrs Spencer, I will need you to keep the bathroom door open as a safety precaution. I am also going to stress that you use both the seat and the rails in there! If you really feel like you cannot stand or need some assistance we can have another nurse come in and help you."
"I am sure Liam will help me with what is needed... being pregnant and becoming a mum has made me get a lot better at this taking advice business!"
Liam helps Steffy to the bathroom and helps her to get into the shower. Just before he turns to leave he whispers in her ear "my sexy mumma! You just literally gave birth and you're so fucking beautiful!"
"I love you too, now go be with our babies, daddy I am pretty sure Jacqueline has been crying ever since she left your arms!"
Liam returns to the room to find the nurse setting up the scales and little Jacqueline screaming while her brother lies next to her holding onto her hand. Not willing to miss capturing a single moment Liam pulls his phone from his pocket and snaps a picture of the pair, who at an hour old are already so full of personality.
"Mr Spencer, we are going to start with the eldest of the two, which is your son correct? Have you picked a name for him yet?
"Yeah we have, we decided to follow tradition, meet William Cooper Spencer V"
"Well shall we see how heavy this little man is? 4lb5oz, which is a pretty decent weight for a Premi twin! They are 7 weeks early correct? So little William let's see how long you are... 48cm (19inches) you might just grow into a tall boy Master William! Shall we measure you little sister now, she has a set of lungs on her!"
"Yeah born at 33 weeks 6 days, but they are doing really well! Doctor Caspery was really impressed with their APGAR results Coopers were 8 at 1 minute after birth and 10 at the 5 minute mark and Jacqueline was 9 and 10. She takes after her mother I think with that set of lungs!"
"Okay little Miss Jacqueline, you are a tiny one aren't you! Let's see, 4lb1oz... there isn't much to her! It's okay princess just a little bit longer and we can wrap you back up! You little one are 43cm in length (17 inches), let's get you wrapped up and back into bed with your brother shall we. Dad by the sounds of it, your wife is finished in the shower, I've got this pair, go give her a hand, she may not ask for help but it's always nice to get it."
Steffy and Liam make their way out of the bathroom, Steffy now dressed in one of her Forrester Creations Fashionable Mums ensembles that will allow her to start this feeding journey.
"If I wasn't here when you gave birth, I would seriously question if you were the twins mother purely on how amazing you look right now Mrs Spencer!"
"My wife is pretty amazing isn't she!"
"Yeah and don't you forget it! Now where are my little ones! I want to hold them both and never let them go!"
"Mr Spencer why don't you sit up next to your wife and I will pass you the twins and you can have your first family photograph. I am assuming that since you have hardly held your daughter that mummy would like to snuggle her."
"My tiny baby Jacqueline, come to mummy!" Steffy says as the nurse places the little pink bundle in her arms "oh you are so small my little one, how heavy was she?"
"4lb1oz Ma'am, 43cm in length."
"Oh Liam she is just so perfect, just like her big brother and just like Aspen!"
"Okay on the count of three...1, 2,..."
"Wait, Liam we need Aspens bear, she needs to be in this photo too! She may not be with us anymore but these little ones are her siblings and she needs to be in our family photo!"
"Can you possibly grab that bear from over there, it was our daughters, we wanted her here with us as our family expanded and since she is no longer with us this is the closest we will ever get to having a family photo with her."
"Sure, not a problem, that is a really sweet idea... Now are we ready for this photograph?"
The nurse manages to take several beautiful photos of the family of four, some looking at the camera, some just looking at each other and a really candid one of Liam giving Steffy a kiss. Not long after the photos have been taken the twins start to fuss and the midwife enters the room.
"By the sounds of this pair, I have arrived just in time! Now Mum, the most important thing I can stress to you while we try to establish feeding is to keep calm, everyone involved is new to this and you are all learning. Now mum since you currently have this little princess in your arms, she is going to be our starting point, it may take a couple of goes to get things happening and it isn't going to be the most comfortable sensation. Chances are that for the first few feeds once your milk comes in fully the three of you may end up wearing more milk than they drink! Now we like to have skin to skin contact when feeding so dad you might like to get the little man stripped off, just wrap him back into his blanket while we set little miss up. Steffy, it may take you and bubs a few attempts to latch on. I am going to teach you the football hold for feeding, it means that you will be able to hold and feed both babies at the same time no matter how big they are as the legs will be laying under your arms. If you place Jacqueline's head in the palm of your hand and have her body rest along your arm with her feet tucked between your arm and body. That's it excellent, now see how she is moving her head around, she is searching but isn't quite sure what it is she is looking for or where to find it."
After around 5 minutes of persevering and guiding Jacqueline's tiny mouth the little miss successfully latched on.
"One down, one to go, ready to take this feeding thing to the next level by adding your little man?"
Liam gently passes a naked Cooper to his mother, placing him is her arm the same way his sister is currently laying. Without any issues Cooper latches on and immediately starts feeding.
"That's my son! He knows when he is onto a good thing!"
"Liam!"
"He isn't the first dad to say that and he won't be the last! You should hear some of the talks the little boys get given when there are latching problems, Fathers and grandfathers telling them to enjoy it! Now Steffy it is critical that you drink plenty of water when feeding you need at least 2 litres per day."
"Baby you are a natural at this mum business!" Liam tells his wife while kissing her on the head as he pulls away he whispers "even if I am jealous as hell of our children right now!"
After the twins have finished feeding, have been burped are redressed, wrapped and sleeping in their parents arms Steffy and Liam settle into the bed to process everything that has happened this morning.
"I guess we should send out a message soon, tell the family that I have evicted the twins!"
"Yeah probably! Who do you think will show up first? Your mum or my dad?"
"I have no idea! They are both so excited for their arrival! I am sure if we had let them they both would have been in here with us... and there are just something's that I do not need your father witnessing, parts of me he shall never see!"
"Oh god! I know right! It is bad enough knowing that he has kissed these lips and that chances are he is going to see your boobs, I don't need him having full viewing access to my wife in all her glory!"
"There is just something about those Spencer men that makes me want to kiss them! Especially the ones with the middle name Cooper, they hold my heart in their hands!"
"I see what you did there Mumma, lucky you were specific! Just in case you have forgotten you are my world, and this pair, are my oxygen, the three of you are my everything, my reason to get up every day!"
"We should choose a picture message to send out to everyone! I am guessing since I am the PR queen it is up to me to create the wording..."
"See my love you aren't just a pretty face!"
"Okay let's use this photo of us and the twins and how about this...
Sorry for cancelling your visits this morning, we had other things to deal with...
Welcome to the world William 'Cooper' Spencer V born 11.15am 4lb5oz 48cm long
And his little sister Jacqueline Kelly Spencer Born 11.25am 4lb1oz 43cm long.
Mum, Dad, son and daughter are all doing really well! No intervention needed, we look forward to meeting you all!
Lots of love from the Spencer Family
Well what do you think?"
"Steffy its perfect... just like they are, just like their mother!"
"Now we wait... I give it under an hour before someone visits us... you better go and let the nurses know that we are expecting visitors!"