I Do Not Own CSI
"Hey Sara, hi Gil," said Dr. Keys as she came into the room.
"Hi, Doctor."
"So, how are you feeling, Sara? You're in the home stretch now."
"I feel like I'm as big as a house! There is no possible way I can get any bigger, right?"
"I doubt you'll get much bigger, Sara. Your due date is the 29th of December and today is the 23rd. Right now those babies in there are feeling pretty cramped."
"Tell me about it, someone has decided to keep an appendage tucked under my ribs."
"Well, if you roll up the shirt I can tell you which one it is," Dr. Keys said as Gil rolled Sara's shirt up as she started the ultrasound machine.
"Well Sara, from the looks of it, Baby B has an arm stuck under your rib."
"Is there any chance that it might move?"
"Why don't we try this," Dr. Keys said, putting the ultrasound down and gently pressing to the side of Sara's stomach, nudging the baby's arm away.
"How's that?"
"So much better! How come you didn't show me that weeks ago? It would have helped out a lot."
"Well, now you know." she replied as she turned back to her previous task.
"Everything is looking good, Sara. The babies have gained weight and their lungs are developed. Their heart beats are strong, too."
"What position are they in," Gil asked.
"They're in a good position for a vaginal delivery. Baby A is head down like we like it to be and Baby B is laying flat on top. My guess is Baby B will turn once baby A is delivered."
"Good, that's good," Sara said, gazing at the screen.
"Have you felt any contractions, Sara?"
"No, not since I had the pre-term labour a few months ago."
"How's the back pain?"
"My back is sore. There's so much weight out in the front of me that when I stand I am somewhat hunched and it strains it."
"And twinges or anything?"
"Oh, little ones here and there. I've gotten the odd one while doing something in the last couple days."
"I want you to monitor those if they start getting a lot closer together, ok?"
"Will do."
"And I think at this point that if you haven't given birth by the second of January we're going to induce."
"Do we have to?"
"I think at that point it would be for the best. But honestly, I think you'll go into labour before then. You're scheduled for another appointment on the second, so we'll know for sure that day."
"I've heard that induction births are more intense."
"I won't lie, they are and that's because contractions start coming on faster and at more even intervals. But for now don't worry about it. Just relax, get lots of rest and have a Merry Christmas. Next year you'll have two more to celebrate with," the doctor said, giving a cloth to Sara to wipe her belly.
"Can you help me, Gil," Sara asked as Gil helped pull her to an upright position on the bed so she could get up.
"Well Sara, keep doing what you're doing. Eat healthily and sleep when you can. Trust me, when these two come, you two won't have any sleep."
"Merry Christmas and I'll see you in the New Year."
"Thanks, Dr. Keys," Gil and Sara both said as the woman in question left with a smile.
"So, what should we do now," Sara asked.
"You don't want to go home?"
"Not yet, how about we go for dessert?"
"Go for dessert," Gil asked with an eyebrow raise.
"Yeah, there's this great little café not far from here that has the best caramel cheesecake ever!"
"Why not, it is Christmas, we should be indulging."
"I think the proof of our indulgence is right here, Gil," Sara said as she rubbed her baby belly with a smile as Gil held her car door open.
CHRISTMAS EVE
"Sara, go change into something nice," Gil said as Sara was cuddled up on the couch with Bruno snoring softly.
"Why, it's late and I really don't feel like going anywhere at the moment."
"Please?"
"Again, why?"
"Just humour me, put on that nice red shirt with black pants."
"Fine, fine," Sara said as she pushed herself off the couch.
"How do I look," Sara asked as she waddled her way into the living room.
"Beautiful," Gil replied, coming up close to her, almost nose to nose before he pulled out a piece of mistletoe from behind his back and hung it over their heads.
"Tradition, got to follow it," Gil mumbled as his lips softly brushed across hers in the softest of kisses.
"Merry Christmas, Sara."
"Merry Christmas, Gil." Sara said as Gil grabbed her jacket and helped her put it on.
"Are you going to tell me where we're going?"
"Soon, first we have to pick up Mom."
"You're mom? Gil, she's probably in bed."
"Trust me, she's not."
"Gil, Sara, Merry Christmas," Marie said as she came to sit in the backseat of the car.
"Merry Christmas, Mom" they both replied. Sara turned around so she could read her lips as Gil drove.
"Marie, can you tell me where we're going?"
"We'll be there soon, just hold tight, Sara."
"Church, we're going to church," Sara asked as Gil pulled into the packed parking lot.
"Midnight Mass, actually. I've come to this Mass every year since I moved here. It's the one time of year I do go to church."
"It's beautiful, Gil," Sara said as they entered the candle filled church.
"You could have just told me that you wanted to come to Mass, Gil."
"I know, but I wanted to surprise you and show you the one tradition that I have kept going since I was a child," Gil replied as Sara laid her head down on his shoulder.
"Sara, I want you to meet someone," Gil said as Benjamin Reeve, the man who delivered the Mass, came to stand in front of them.
"Sara, meet Benjamin Reeve, Benjamin meet my wife, Sara and my mother, Marie."
"Please to meet the both of you," the man said softly, shaking their hands.
"You as well," Marie said as Sara smiled and nodded.
"Gil, you've been a busy man. I was sorry to miss your wedding."
"It was small. We wanted you to perform the ceremony but I believe you were out of town that weekend."
"I was with a sick friend. It looks like your life is soon going to be blessed again."
"Very soon," Sara said.
"More like any day now, with twins no less," Marie said excitedly.
"There are two things in this life for which we are never fully prepared; and that is twins."
"Josh Billings," Gil said softly as the priest nodded.
"I hope you two are prepared. Your life will be blessed double time."
"I think we're as prepared as we're going to get," Sara said as someone called over to the priest.
"I have to go, Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year. Bring those two around after they're born."
"Will do, Father," Gil said as the man left.
"You know, people know you too well when they know to quote things just for you," Sara joked out as Gil led the two women out to the car by the small of their backs.
TBC
Ok so the next chapter is christmas day and it's two chapters long after that start to get prepared for babies!
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews you have left for me, they are all a wonderful read!
Katie