Chapter 13

In the midst of a deep sleep Marlena awakens with severe cramps. She gasped softly trying to prevent waking John next to her. When the fetal monitor begins to beep rapidly John awakes alarmed by the sound. He glances over at his wife she was fighting a cramp he knew that and immediately he jumped out of bed. Racing to the door to get help Marlena prevents him from leaving her side.

"No John, its nothing it's just a cramp it will pass."

"I don't know Doc I think a doctor should look at you. He couldn't do the sonogram this morning because he had back-to-back emergencies there could be something wrong with the baby?"

"John I'm fine its nothing."

When the monitor continued to beep rapidly though Marlena's cramps John wanted to get a doctor but the look in his wife's eyes pulled him back to her. In a few minutes the baby's life signs stabilize and Marlena breathed a sigh of relief as the pain slowly diminished.

"Are you sure there's a doctor right outside he door I can have him look at you."

"No John really I'm fine it was just a cramp. I've always had cramping during my pregnancies you have to relax you can't bother the doctor every time I have some discomfort he won't get anything done."

John returned to the bed with Marlena taking her lovingly in his arms.

"I was so scared that something was wrong. When I heard the monitor beep like that I was afraid you were having a miscarriage."

"John look…she points to the monitor showing a steady 120 beats…the baby is just fine it probably just wants to go home."

"I have never been so frightened in my life. It was as if my whole life just flashed before my eyes. I guess I was getting a little carried away it's been a long time since there was a baby in the family. I guess I just forgot that some things you experiences are relatively normal."

"Wasn't Isabella's pregnancy a lot like this one?"

"I guess so; she didn't have the cramps you were having. I just didn't think before I reacted."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you. In a few hours the doctor will do the sonogram. Then it will put all your fears to rest the baby and I are fine."

John nods and gives Marlena a soft kiss and takes her into his arms. Together they try and get some sleep before the sun comes up.

A few hours later the doctor comes in with the equipment needed for the sonogram. John takes his seat on the other side of the bed as Marlena reaches for his hand.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Black, my name is Dr. Lee. I'll be your doctor until you leave the hospital but I want you to follow up with your regular OB/GYN once you get back to Salem. I already notified Dr. Baider of your condition she'll be expecting you right away. Now are you ready to see the first pictures of you new baby?"

"Oh we're ready it's been a long time coming."

" I'm sure after all there years you're looking forward to a new baby?"

"You bet I'm ready for anything. I can't wait until I'm changing diapers again."

"John it will be a long time before you need to do that. Lets just see the baby okay."

"Right, I'm ready when you are."

Marlena pulled the covers down just below her abdomen then lifts her gown exposing her abdomen taking a few deep breaths both she and John turn to the doctor and nod.

"We're ready."

"All right then lets see how the baby's doing."

Dr. Lee puts gel on Marlena's stomach she jumped slightly from the warmth of the gel surprising her last time it was still cold. John turned to her feeling her flitch.

"Oh its warm now, you think they would have thought of that year's ago."

"A lot has changed in 20 years, now lets see if we can get a good picture of the baby, see when it was conceived, and your due date."

"We're pretty sure when it was conceived."

John said with a twinkle in his eyes. He exchanged glances with Marlena and soon turned to the screen. After a few sweeps across Marlena's abdomen they see a clear picture of the baby.

"Ah there it is, now it isn't that big right now but you can see the outline of the baby. It looks strong and healthy. I'll take a few measurements and in a few minutes we can find out your due date."

With a few clicks of the button on the machine and several measurements later Dr. Lee smiles.

"When do you think the baby was conceived?"

John is mesmerized by the image and doesn't here the doctor. Marlena breaks the silence and answers her question.

"We're guessing around the end of October maybe the 26th?"

John pulls away from the monitor and turns to Marlena.

"Well were we right?"

"Right to the exact day must have been some day."

Marlena laughs lightly with John.

"It was…memorable. Though at the time we didn't think that months later we were going to have a baby, it was the last thing we thought about."

"Marlena woman are waiting until they are your age to have their first child. Surely you knew it was a possibility that you could get pregnant."

"I know it's just our children are grown we never dreamed we would ever have another baby. After our youngest was born we discussed having another one but well it never happened so we just never thought it would happen."

"Are you disappointed about the baby?"

"Oh no I'm overcome with joy I keep thinking this is a dream and that my alarm will go off. It just seems so unreal."

"Well Doc, looks like we got our miracle won't Belle be pleased."

"She's your daughter?"

"Yeah she'll be 21 in October and we have our son he'll be 25 in May. I don't know if he'll be as excited about the new baby as Belle. She's been ragging on us for a new baby brother or sister since she was three. Won't they be surprised Doc? I can just see her face now."

"They are both very lucky to have parents like you two. I'm going to take a few more pictures for you to take home to show…"

The doctor became silent which scared both John and Marlena. Marlena more then him all her worries about her time in the castle began catching up with her. When the doctor continued to scan the wand over her abdomen Marlena and John turned to each other in panic then back to the doctor.

"Doctor what's the matter is something wrong with my baby?"

Marlena cried out as John took her into his arms. He fought the tears coming from his eyes staying strong for Marlena who had already lost control or her tears.

"Doctor tell me is something wrong with the baby?"

John asked again urgently as Dr. Lee took several more pictures of the baby. Several more measurements then turned too the new parents.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to alarm you I just wanted to make sure what I saw were real before I said anything."

"Just tell us!"

John shouted with haste

"The baby is fine…both babies are fine."

"The baby is fine…really it's…"

John's voice trailed off only to be replaced with Marlena's

"Babies….did I just hear you correctly? Did you say babies?"

"That's exactly what I said. Congratulation's you're having twins"

"Twins, oh no I can't believe I'm having twins again. You would think that one set of twins would be enough for one woman and now you're telling us we're having a second set of twins."

John still trying to catch his breath after the announcement

"Twi…Twi... Twins, we're having twins?"

"Yes twins and they both look strong and healthy. But I must caution you, your pregnancy just went from high risk to very high risk. I don't need to remind you that every pregnancy at your age is high risk and with your history combined with having twins you are going to have to be careful. With shorter work days, more rest even medication you should be able to carry these twins to term and if you can't if we can get to your third trimester they have an excellent survival rate."

"Can she still work and do the things she does every day?"

"I still have my practice I have patients who need me. Does this mean I have to stop working until I'm out of my first trimester?"

"I would never keep you from working but I will suggest that you only work part time until your babies are born. No more long hours, I don't want you working 60 hours a week; you need to conserve your strength it isn't easy having a baby at your age let alone twins."

"Don't worry doctor I'll make sure she doesn't push it. If I have to call the hospital myself, I'm not going to let anything happen to our babies."

"I suppose Dr. Stevens can take most of my patients he's wanted to work more now that his children are grown and his wife passed away. I'll talk to him and see if his offer still stands."

"That's more like it. I want to do one more scan to find out your due date so we can see what kind of medication to put you on and for how long."

Marlena and John nod and look at the monitor. Dr. Lee moves the wand around Marlena's abdomen again taking a few more measurement of the babies. Within a matter of minutes Dr. Lee has Marlena's due date.

"Well judging by the length of the babies I would say you're about 10 weeks 4 days pregnant making your due date…on or around July 19, 2005 give or take a few days."

"Two weeks after our 18th wedding anniversary. That's a good way to celebrate an anniversary with a new life…or in this case lives."

"Who would have guessed we'd have 2 new babies with us to celebrate our love. Marlena you have made me the happiest man on earth."

Marlena smiles as Dr. Marlena wipes the gel from her abdomen with a towel pulling her nightgown down soon after.

"Marlena remember what I said. I'll contact Dr. Baider and tell her what we found I'm sure she'll want to see you as soon as you set foot in Salem. I'll give you a prescription for this week you'll need to take this it daily. Once Dr. Baider exams you she'll decide if she wants to continue the medication after your first trimester."

"Thanks doctor."

Lee nods and takes the equipment outside her room.

"I guess when we start something we have to make it twice as good. I'm going to talk to the doctor and see when you can get out of here. I'll be right back I promise. I can't believe we're having twins."

John gives Marlena a kiss on the forehead and heads out her door. Leaving Marlena contemplating the news that she was having twins again she place a hand across her abdomen. She takes a deep breath in and lets it out slowly.

"Twins I just hope I can do this all over again. It's been a long time since I've had a baby let alone twins. I just hope I do everything the way I'm supposed to and the babies will make it to term."

Marlena said softly as she closed her eyes to rest. This news was going to change their life forever she just hoped that Belle and Brady still wanted another baby in the house after all this time.

TBC…Chapter 14