Notes: These are a little short. This whole story will be a bit short really. If I keep going with this series, the next story will be about their private investigating stuff. But that plot bunny hasn't started hopping around my brain just yet, so I'll be working on my other stories for now.
Chapter two
They had finally decided on Cambridge. They would be close enough to London that they could help out Torchwood if needed. They'd also be close to Rose's family, which was important to both of them for the children's sake. The twins were extremely stubborn during all ultrasounds and they had no idea if they were having boys or girls or even one of each. It meant that the nursery was painted a neutral, soft yellow with blue accents, that would be welcoming no matter the gender.
Rose was reaching the end of her pregnancy now and their new little house was quite crowded with all of the "help" that had arrived over the last few days. Jackie had come to support her daughter through the birth, which meant that Pete and Tony were there as well. Beth Latimer was visiting since Rose had been there for her during Lizzy's birth. With the baby still so small, she came with her mother as well. The little house would be perfect for the four of them, but with three extra adults, one rambunctious boy and a baby, they were feeling a little cramped.
At the moment, Alec was rubbing his wife's back with firm circles. She groaned in relief at his ministrations.
"Rose! You want spinach or broccoli with dinner tonight?" Jackie shouted from the kitchen.
"Pizza!" she called back petulantly.
"Now, sweetheart, you know those little ones need healthy food," her mother chastised.
"Don't care, mmmm," she replied, still enjoying Alec's massage. "They tell me they want pizza."
"But I made shepherd's pie!" Jackie protested.
"Ugh, mum, you know I can't eat that while I'm pregnant. It makes my stomach turn," Rose argued.
"Fine. Eat your pizza then. Don't know why I even try anymore," she grumbled and returned to the kitchen.
"Can I get you a salad or something to go with your pizza, love?" Alec questioned, hoping to more gently urge her to eat some healthy foods.
"I suppose," she acquiesced. "Can it be Caesar though?"
"Of course," he replied with a kiss to the back of her neck.
Alec pulled out his phone to order the pizza that Rose had been demanding through the whole pregnancy. Mushrooms, pineapples, bacon, and extra cheese. She wanted it so often, that he had the number saved on his phone, the employees not even needing him to tell them what he wanted, just who it was for. He told them to add the salad before going back to rubbing Rose's back soothingly.
"Got the birthing tub all set up in your room, Rose. How you feeling?" Beth asked, sitting near them on the sofa with her little one perched on her hip.
"Everything hurts. I just want it to be over," she grumbled.
"Soon, love. Should be any day now," Alec assured her.
"Why don't we go for a walk while we wait for dinner?" Beth suggested, knowing that the exercise might encourage labour to start.
"But my feet hurt," Rose whined.
Beth rolled her eyes, but Alec tried to bribe her a bit, "How about I promise a lovely foot massage waiting for you if you can manage a twenty minute walk with Beth?"
"Oh alright. But there had better be some ice cream left in the freezer," she agreed and both Alec and Beth helped her up from the sofa.
While the ladies were out for their walk, Alec made sure that his wife's favourite ice cream was indeed in the freezer and poured himself a cup of tea from the pot Jackie had made earlier. He sighed exhaustedly and leaned against the countertop.
"Just you wait. Think you're tired now, but those babies will have the two of you up constantly," Jackie teased.
"Aye. I remember. I'm getting too old for this," he acknowledged.
Only ten minutes after Rose had left the house, she and Beth came back in the front door. Tony ran to the kitchen ahead of them, having been outside when they came back. "Alec! Alec! It's time for the babies!" the youngster shouted loudly.
"Really?!" he gasped as he dashed out of the kitchen to help support Rose through a contraction. Her trousers were wet, showing that her water had broken and she was leaning heavily on Beth as she breathed through the contraction.
"I'll phone the midwife," Jackie called from the next room.
"Are we ready for this, Alec?" Rose gasped once she could speak again.
He took all of her weight, wrapping her arms around his neck so that Beth could go get a few things ready for the birth and wrapped his arms around Rose's waist to massage her back again. "No one is ever quite ready, but you make due because you have to," he told her, remembering his first years as a parent.
"We haven't even picked names yet," she whimpered against his chest.
"Don't worry about that right now, love. You just focus on doing what your body needs to do and tell me how I can help, alright?" he told her soothingly. She nodded silently and tried to walk toward their bedroom, where the birthing tub was waiting.