Maddy's last doctor's appointment was almost a month ago, but of course Elisabeth had been checking on her everytime she saw her, which really annoyed Maddy. Elisabeth was over today because Maddy had her next check up at lunch and Elisabeth wanted to spend the morning with her, Mark even got off work, so they decided to just had a family day. Mark was in the kitchen cleaning the dishes while Elisabeth and Maddy were on the couch talking.
"Mom stop doctoring me. I'm serious, it's getting on my nerves. I have a doctor and if something is wrong I will go to her." Mark could hear Maddy telling her mother. "Maddy it's just what I do, I'm a doctor, and you're my daughter." Elisabeth defended herself. "Mads, sweetheart, she is just being a good mother. Lizzie I promise if anything is wrong I will let you know, calm down." Mark said, stepping in before a fight got started, walking in the living room. He sat down beside his wife and put an arm around her shoulders, as she leaned in and put her head on his shoulder.
"Well I'm going to go. I will see you two at the infirmary at 12." Elisabeth said getting up. "No Mom, you don't have to go, really. I'm sorry. I know you are just worried and want to help." Maddy stated from the couch, not wanting to get up. "It's fine sweetie. I need to go check on some reports that are supposed to be turned in by 11, that probably aren't done. The new recruits are not very reliable." she said opening the door, "Bye. See you later." She was out the door before they could respond.
"I feel bad now." Maddy told Mark turning around and trying to stand up. "You want some help, baby?" Mark asked standing up and putting out his hand. Maddy had gained more weight and could hardly get up by herself. "Yes, thanks babe." She answered grabbing his hand, and he pulled her up like she was nothing. "You know I use to think I was kind of strong but this extra weight is ridiculous. I feel so helpless and fat that I can't move without needing help. And you just pull me up or pick me up like it's nothing." she said to her husband questioningly. "Honey, you are not fat. You are pregnant, there's a difference. And besides I am a..uh..what do you call it? A 'big strong soldier'? I lift weights everyday, twice as much as you weigh right now, minimum."
"Well that is true, but still. I hate having to depend on people and you know that." "Yes I do but you know I don't mind being here to help you." "I do and that's why I love you." Maddy said getting on her tiptoes to kiss her husband. "Well are you ready to start getting ready? Because you know it will take you forever?" Mark asked. "Yeah. I call shower first." Maddy yelled running to the bathroom. "I know you do. And don't run like that you could fall and hurt yourself." He said running down the hallway and into their bathroom behind her. "Mark get out!" "Ugh fine!" He said stepping outside and going to lay down on the bed.
An hour and a half later they were heading out to go to the doctor. Mark wanted to take the rover but of course Maddy had to make it difficult and wanted to walk. It was kind of a long walk but Mark didn't care as long as his wife was happy. They walked in to the infirmary to find Jim, Elisabeth, Zoe, Josh, and Skye waiting for them. "Hey kids. How are you?" Jim asked his daughter and son-in-law. "Hey everyone. I'm good just excited to see if we can find out what the twins are today." Maddy said. "Twins?" Jim, Josh, Skye and Zoe all said kind of loudly. "Yeah Dad. Didn't Mom tell you?" Maddy asked her family. "No." Josh answered. "Absolutely not." Jim said. "Nope." Skye said rushing up to hug her. "Why is everyone here?" Mark asked.
"We all wanted to come and support you two." Skye said. Maddy gave her and Josh a look. "Fine. We were just curious. But we did want to come to support you guys." Mark laughed lightly and said, "Well thanks guys." "Family hug!" Zoe yelled grabbing her father's and Mark's legs pulling them close, so everyone followed. "Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, the doctor is ready for you now." Everyone then separated and started heading back to the room. The doctor was already there waiting for them. She had her back to the door fixing some equipment, "Hello how are you today Madd-" she stopped when she turned around and saw the whole Shannon family. "Well hello Shannon's... and future Shannon's." she continued with a laugh.
They all laughed. "I'm good. The medicine is helping with my mood swings. I haven't kicked Mark out in almost a month." Maddy said slapping Mark's chest and he chuckled. "Yes thank you for that." Mark told the laughing doctor. "No problem. No let's see these babies." Dr. Jones said, getting out the gel to put on Maddy's growing belly. "Wow! That gets colder every time." Maddy half screamed and grabbed Mark's hand fast. Mark let her take his hand as he sat down beside her. "Mark can I sit in your lap so I can see?" Zoe asked from across the room. "Sure Zo. Come on." Mark reached out his other arm, leaving the one Maddy had resting on the bed in place. Zoe crashed into his chest excitedly and his soldier instincts kicked in and his arm shot behind her back to catch her before she fell.
"Are you ready to hopefully find out what you are having?" Dr. Jones asked. "Yes!" the whole family said at the same time. "Alright then." she said as she put the little rod like thing on Maddy's stomach, moving it around trying to find the babies. A few seconds later the screen cleared and one of he baby's heads were visible and the other's feet. "Is that them?" Zoe questioned, looking up to Mark. "Yes sweetie, that's mine and Maddy's babies." He answered rubbing Zoe's back. "They are so cute." She replied, hugging him. "Aww." Skye said as the doctor zoomed in on one of their faces.
"Well can we see what they are?" Elisabeth asked. "Not in this view." Dr. Jones said. "They are being stubborn, that's their father in them." Maddy said, looking at Mark who looked offended. "This coming from the girl who stormed into Commander Taylor's office to find out what was going on with your parents, after I told you to calm down and stay with Zoe, and could have gotten hurt because he had some memory loss virus?" He said seriously to his wife. "I was determined. That's completely different." Maddy stated. "I agree with Mark. You are really stubborn." Josh said. "How about we say it's just both of you in them, equally, because you are both pretty stubborn. I would know." Jim said looking at Mark, who nodded in understandment of what he was referring to.
"Wait! I see something." the doctor said and everyone turned, "I changed views." "Well what are we having?" Maddy asked. "Yeah Doctor what is it?" Mark said. "Marie?" Elisabeth questioned. "Congratulations, it looks like you are having a son-" Dr. Jones started. "Yes! A grandson." Jim said and Elisabeth hit him. Maddy was now crying and Mark had lifted Zoe onto the bed and was wiping Maddy's tears away and kissing her head, Zoe was rubbing her arm. "I'm sorry for my husband's interruption, Marie, please continue." Elisabeth told her colleague. "It's fine Elisabeth. You are having a son...and a daughter." Dr. Jones finished.
When the doctor looked up from the screen she instantly had a smile on her face, this is why she had become a doctor, seeing all these happy people whose life was about to change. Josh had a crying Skye in a side hug kissing her temple, Elisabeth was crying into Jim's chest as he rubbed her back soothingly, and Mark was hugging Zoe and a crying Maddy. "I'll leave you all alone. I'll be back in a minute and I will answer any questions then. Excuse me." Dr. Jones said stepping out. Mark finally let go of Maddy, so everyone rushed over to them. Zoe was the first to hug Maddy. "I'm excited. When will they be here?" Zoe asked. "Not for about 5 or 6 months." Elisabeth said letting go of Mark from their hug. Jim and Josh walked over to Mark and hugged him at the same time. Skye went over to Maddy and hugged her, Elisabeth, and Zoe at the same time. Then Josh and Jim came over to Maddy.
"I'm happy for you sis." Josh said leaning down to his sister. "Thanks Josh." Maddy said hugging her brother. "I'm happy for you too Mad. I always thought Josh would give me grandkids first. But either way I'm happy." Jim told his daughter and getting hit by his son. "Thank you Dad." "Well I think we should get going and let you have your moment and finish your appointment." Skye said lifting Zoe off the bed and grabbing Josh's arm. "Yes I agree. Let's get going." Elisabeth said grabbing Jim's arm. "But I don't want go." Zoe whined. "Zoe Shannon we are leaving...now." Jim said getting Zoe from Skye. Then they said their goodbyes. And right as they all walked out of the room the doctor walked back in.
"So any questions?" Dr. Jones asked as she closed the door. "Are they healthy?"Mark and Maddy said at the same time. "Yes everything is moving along just fine. They are both very healthy and Maddy is doing well too." Dr. Jones answered. "Now would you two like these pictures on your tags?" "Yes, thank you." they said again in unison, taking off their tags. "There is one thing though. I want you to come in weekly for check ups. Some of your vitals are worrying me a little and I just want to keep a check on them." "What? What does that mean? You just said Maddy and the babies were fine." Mark said very worried. "She is. It's just it seems that her blood pressure goes up and down." "Well what can I do to help her?" Mark's eyes growing wider with worry.
"There isn't much you can do. Unfortunately this happens a lot, especially when you have twins. Your body is trying to deal with all the changes so it messes with some of your systems or organs, mostly with blood pressure. But, you can keep an eye on her, don't let her get too upset or agitated, stress has a lot to do with it so whatever you can do to keep her stress down would help, try to stay off your feet for long periods of time, and I'm sorry to say but if it doesn't get better I will have to put you on bedrest for the duration of your pregnancy." the doctor told them. "But I think you will be fine. So just try to take it easy and I will see you next week." "Uh ok. Thank you Doctor." Maddy said reaching for Mark's hand to help her up.
"Let's go home and get you...and our babies in bed." Mark said to his now visibly worried wife, grabbing her sides and helping her up. "Yeah let's go. I could use a nap and you look like you could too." she said reaching up to softly rub his cheek, "You're worried babe." "Of course I am. I worry about you anyways, without all this extra stuff. Mads you are pregnant with our first child, which just so happened to turn out to be twins, and now you are on the verge of being put on bedrest for almost 6 months because of your blood pressure. I can't be around all the time to take care of you and you aren't going to let anyone else try and help. So I don't know what to do baby. I can't stay off work that long or I would, you won't stay off, and I don't know, it's just so much all at once." Mark said all in one breath.
Maddy jerked him forward and hugged him as tight as she could. "Mark, I know you worry but it will be fine. You will be a great father, the babies will be perfectly fine, and I will be ok. I will do whatever it takes to make sure that me and our children will be healthy and safe." she said into his ear, then pulled away and looked into her concerned husband's eyes. "It will be ok." she finished. Mark nodded and leaned in to kiss her, putting a hand on her stomach and rubbing soothing circles on it. "Yeah, it will be. Because I will do whatever it takes to keep you and our babies safe. You three are my life and nothing is going to happen to any of you if I have anything to say about it. I love you baby...and you babies too." he said bending down to kiss Maddy's belly. Maddy laughed and played with his hair a little before he stood up. "I love you too. And so will they. Now let's go home and go to bed, it is definitely time for my midday nap. Today will be a good long nap since I have you to cuddle to. I just don't sleep as well when you're not by me." "Well then let's get going. I'm exhausted." Mark said grabbing Maddy's hand and intertwining their fingers, then walking out of the infirmary, heading home to get some much needed sleep. Better enjoy it while we can. In the matter of months we won't be sleeping at night very much. Mark and Maddy both thought.
A/N: Just thought I would let you guys know again there is going to be a time jump soon. I am ready to start writing stuff with them interacting with the twins. Anyways reviews are much appreciated. Thank you! REVIEW!