Tracy looked up when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Ned smiled down at her.
"Dillon's picking up food."
"I don't think I can eat until we know anything. When did you get here?" Tracy asked her eldest.
"I thought you might need some company. What did Dr. Wexler say?"
"That it's a simple operation and then Allie should be on bed rest for two weeks. Everything's going to be o.k." Tracy bit her lip.
"Mother if that's all it is, then everything will be o.k." Ned reassured her.
"Ned, she's 48 years old, carrying her first pregnancy, which is high risk. I just wonder if I asked too much of her. Maybe we shouldn't have started this…"
"Hey, Alice wanted a baby. And didn't she get pregnant on the second try?"
Tracy blushed. "It was more like the sixth try."
Ned raised his eyebrows. "This was in the works for longer than I thought."
"The woman I love wanted a baby and time was running out. Almost as soon as we moved in, we began trying. Which wasn't easy with Brook Lyn in the house."
"Speaking of which do you want me to come home and help you with everything. I know you started transitioning ELQ over to Brenda but if there's anything I can do to help…"
Tracy sighed. "Could you come home just to help? Brook has her driving exam in two weeks, the nursery isn't done, the cribs aren't put together, we have no clothing…"
"Wait! Did you say cribs? As in more than one?" Ned asked.
"One for the nursery and one for our room. We also have things for Alan and Monica's. We need strollers and car seats and what is taking so long…."
"Mother. Relax. I'm sure the doctors are just taking their time," Ned soothed as Dillon joined them.
"Grandfather keeps calling me. He can't get you, Monica or Alan and he's worried. Should we call the house?"
Tracy shook her head. " We don't know anything. I guess you can call to say that. I asked for too much. Oh, what have I done?"
"Mom! You didn't do anything. Allie and the baby are going to be fine." Dillon said.
"What's the bigger issue here? " Ned asked.
"What if I screw up this time, like the last two times? In case you haven't notice I'm not a good mom," Tracy whispered.
Ned and Dillon exchanged a look. Dillon finally said,
"Look, we got all our limbs, we are gainfully employed not as gangsters…"
"Although it was a close call on Dillon," Ned injected.
"…and we knew we were loved." Dillon finished.
"Mother, you're in the best relationship since, well, have you ever had a relationship this good?"
"Watch it, Edward Lawrence Quartermaine Ashton."
"What Ned is trying to say is with us, you weren't in the best situations, especially with me. Brook Lyn has really blossomed with you and Alice. Now you have a chance to get it right."
"There's a chance she could lose the babies. A very good chance. God, we named them." Tracy felt nauseous.
"Mom, are you saying…is Allie having twins?" Ned asked gently.
"Aidan and Morgan. She conceived two miracles."
"Twins." Dillon smiled. "You'll be chasing two two-year-olds."
"The siblings rivalry will be legacy. Grandfather will have two new heirs."
"Two teenagers dating."
"Two marriages to ruin at once, " Ned grinned.
"If they survive." Tracy whispered. A silent fell over the group.
"Tracy?"
Tracy's head snapped up and she went over to confer with Dr. Wexler. The doctor smiled as she was engulfed in hug.
"-should be waking up in an hour or two. A nurse will be in to take you back to Alice soon. I'll check on her later."
"Thank you, Dr. Wexler. I'll—just thank you."
"My pleasure. And Tracy, I'm serious, absolutely no pressure in that area for at least six weeks. And no slipups this time." Dr. Wexler smirked as she remembered a frantic phone call from Tracy a week and half after the car accident. Tracy blushed. Ned snickered.
"Mom, what did she mean by slipups?" Dillon asked clueless.
"It means Mom jumped Alice before Alice had the doctor's o.k. to do so. Jeez, Mom, the woman's pregnant with twins, just been in a car accident and you decided sex couldn't wait," Ned shook his head.
"Excuse me, but the woman you talk about happened to jumped your mother, claiming if she didn't get relief soon she would explode," Tracy said defensively.
"But still…."
"Could we stop talking about Mom's sex life?" Dillon asked.
"Yes we can," Tracy said.
A nurse entered and said, "Ms. Quartermaine?"
Tracy nodded and followed the nurse.
"Oh, Lion…" Tracy breathed.
"Tracy…"Alice moaned.
"I'm here, I'm here. Just need to wake up."
"Hey," Alice smiled weakly. Her hands flew to her stomach. "The babies?"
"Are fine. The boys know about the twins. You are on bed rest for the next month."
"Oh yeah because that worked so well last time." Alice smiled. Tracy kissed her gently.
"So much for going to the beach."
"Mmmmm…." Alice yawned.
" I think Ned is moving in for a little bit."
Alice's eyes flew open. "For long?"
"Just until you're off bed rest. I want to focus all my attention on my beautiful wife." Tracy kissed Alice.
"Hmmm, isn't this how we got into trouble last time?"
"I'll just settle on kissing you." Tracy kissed Alice again.
"Tracy…." Alice sighed.
"What?"
"Does Ned have to come and live with us?"
"Just for a month."
"mmm, o.k." Alice rolled over and went to sleep. Tracy settled in to watch her.