AN: If I've butchered some medical stuff here, forgive me. Tried my best to research but hey… And also, I hope this doesn't cause arguments over race etc.
Next chapter will probably come sooner, 2-3 days I'm hoping.
The room was abuzz with noise and activity. Jane's medicated state left her feeling the least overwhelmed of the pair. Words – sentences, instructions, phrases – kept swimming in Maura's mind but none could take a stronger hold over the words ''All three of them are okay''. That's all Maura had ever wanted to hear. This was another obstacle they had overcome. Ironically, Jane is the one who was now left with the duty of comforting her tearful wife.
''They're okay,'' Jane reiterated.
Yes, they were okay.
The blonde kissed her wife as she let the words comfort her, still unable to completely block the words of the health care professionals in the room. There must have been about two dozen of them in there. But behind the blue hospital covering placed just above Jane's breasts, it was just the two of them – and of course the cries of their new born babies.
''That's Mia. She's the loudest of the three,'' one of the doctors said to the parents, laughing.
It felt like sunshine after winter, hearing such joyful words.
''The boys came first,'' someone said. ''baby A, 2 pounds 15 ounces''
And he had been lifted off to the first baby station to the left of the room, where about four nurses congregated around him.
''Baby B is exactly 3 pounds,'' another said to the room, as said boy was carried to the next baby station where the women there began working on him.
''And our biggest is the girl,'' the doctor announced. ''3 pounds 7 ounces.'' He held her in his arms cutting off the umbilical cord. ''You took up the most space didn't you,'' he cooed to the baby.
Identification tags were put on the babies. The two boys had been delivered at the same time, and the girl came a minute later. Because of their slightly premature birth, all three kids needed help breathing.
Maura tried hard dividing her attention between the babies who were being cleaning and having tubes attached to them, and her wife who was looking to her for confirmation that all was fine.
After being made ready the children were each put in an incubator ready to go to the neo-natal intensive care unit for further exams. Neither Jane nor Maura had held them yet, for they needed to be seen to promptly.
While the doctor delivered Jane's placenta and stitched up her C-section wound, the nurses wheeled the babies past Jane and Maura so they could see them before being taken for tests.
And that's where things started to go a little bit complicated.
The triplets were undeniably mixed race. All three of them had a head full of curly brown hair and to make matters more questionable, their skin had taken on a shade of light brown that immediately made it noticeable for a new born to look 'not completely white'.
If there was any shock in the room, it was from Jane and Maura who knew without doubt that they had chosen a donor resembling Maura in as many ways as possible. Jane and Maura could have picked a black donor for all the medical staff knew, that aspect of everything was none of their business.
The couple watched in shocked silence as their three bundles of joy where quickly wheeled to the NICU. ''Mommy, you can join the babies if you like. Once their vitals are stabilised you'll be able to hold them. And you can take one member of the family with you if it would help,'' the doctor added that last bit knowing Maura would need an extra set of hands since it was three babies and not just one.
The blonde was torn between going to see the babies and staying with her wife while they finished up with her. It felt a little unfair, being able to hold the babies first while Jane waited for the anaesthesia to wear off.
''Go,'' Jane smiled; feeling sad to not be able to join but also wanting Maura to go and be with them.
''I won't be able to hold them now anyway,'' Maura wiped at her tears of joy. ''I'll wait with you and we can go and see them together.'' The blonde had decided.
''You're just afraid to go in there with Ma aren't you?'' Jane joked, ever the one to try and lighten up the mood.
It was about half an hour when the doctors were done with Jane in the operating room. She and Maura were sent to the recovery room where they waited for the medication and nausea to pass. After the birth Maura had snuck in 2 minutes to ring everyone else and share the good news.
The whole crew was 'patiently' waiting to be able to see them.
''Hello mommies,'' a very cheerful nurse greeted. ''Are you ready to see your gorgeous babies''
''Yes,'' they both sighed in relief.
Jane was put in a wheelchair as the nurse guided the two onto the next floor in the hospital where their babies were. Theodoreand Miawhere in the 'green' area of the NICU. Both kids were fine but were put on assisted breathing just until their lungs were stronger. Benjamin, who came first at 2 pounds 15 ounces, had low blood sugars and much weaker lungs. He needed a more careful eye on him so he was put in the 'orange' area for children with more complications. The 'green' area was just a stop over for Theoand Mia until theygot stronger.
They went to see Bennyfirst. Having money had its perks. The unit had rooms with enough privacy to feel as if you were alone but also open enough to see the nurses' station and half orange walls blocking other babies from view. ''Now, he is going to be alright, we are keeping a very close eye on him.'' The nurse had hastened to say when she heard the twin gasps from the parents. ''The sling around his eyes is to block the light, and these tubes are for food and fluids, and this for breathing,'' she pointed to said tubes. Benjaminwas in a closed incubator, with two round openings on the side so that someone could put their hands through to touch him. ''You could just gently touch him; stimulation for the skin is beneficial. When you're ready I'll take you to the other two''
''How long until we can hold him?'' Jane whispered.
''Depending on how things go. Once his vitals are more stable you could hold him. Right now he needs the heat generated area of his incubator.'' The nurse placed a comforting hand on Jane as she went to the nearby nurses' station to wait until they were ready to see the other two.
''Hey Benny. Its mommy,'' Maura said as she lightly trailed her finger along his stomach. ''you're such a handsome boy.'' She tugged carefully on the protector above his eyes just so they could see him open them for a second if he managed.
Jane, struggling with a lot of pain, put her hand through the hole. She caressed his hair softly, before kissing her two fingers and placing them on his cheek. ''He is handsome isn't he?'' she directed the question to her wife.
They were not yet ready to discuss why their babies were mixed race. What was important was that they were there and they were alright.
The two spent the next ten minutes talking to him, but mostly just watching him. His eyes had opened very briefly. They were light brown, much much lighter than Jane's. They then decided it was time to meet the other two.
''Before we go to the next unit,'' the nurse said, pushing Jane through a door on the other side of the room as Maura followed. ''this your room Mom,'' the nurse told Maura. It was like a tiny apartment. Double bed, bathroom, and a little kitchenette. ''It's good for you to speak to the baby often, as well as touch him. This way you will be closer and comfortable, and you can easily pop into the next unit for the others.''
''Thank you,'' Maura murmured. Her brain was still trying to remember all the readings from Benjamin'smonitors.
''You'll be around for a couple of weeks at least,'' she smiled reassuringly at the pair.
The 'green' unit was a much joyful area. It only had small green walls between cubicles so it was easier to see other babies and parents as well. It was much noisier and more comforting hearing the cries of babies and joyful gasps of parents.
''Mommies, meet Theodore and Mia'' announced the nurse. You could easily tell their two were the new ones in the area. Other parents had had the opportunity to personalise their cubicles. There were teddies, colourful blankets, and their children were now in their own clothes not naked with a diaper like their two. On the sides of incubators or walls were stickers with baby names and so forth. Maura immediately felt a little guilty, but then again, Rome was not built in one day.
''Oh my God Maura look at them,'' Jane cooed. Theo and Miawere sharing a cubicle, both in open top incubators. Maura could have sworn she felt her hands twitch with the need to hold them. Miahad been laid on her stomach and was moving her hands and legs. As was Theo, except he lay on his back.
''I suppose here is an advantage to having more than one child at once, we each get to hold one at the same time''
''That's right mom,'' the nurse smiled. Did she genuinely not know their names or did she just call everyone mom? ''You'll need to put this over your stomach,'' she instructed Jane. ''That way holding the baby won't press on your wound.'' Jane made herself as comfortable as she could, while Maura walked to one incubator to pick up her son. ''So you'll have the girlthen'' the nurse said needlessly as she carefully picked up the child to hand her over to Jane. ''If you pull your gown down a bit you could lay her on your chest''
''I'll just look at her a bit first,'' Jane sort of whispered as she held her little girl for the first time. She was just gorgeous. They say a parent will always think their child is beautiful, but Mia, she was absolutely breath-taking.
Maura sat on the chair diagonal from Jane with Theoin her arms. Like Jane, she too just wanted to look at him first. ''wow,'' she breathed ''they look alike'' She was referring to the identical boys, who were indeed identical. It was a tad overwhelming, trying to see your daughter and trying to see your son at the same time, yet also wondering and worrying about how the other one is doing and feeling so horrible that you can't hold him and he can't be with the whole family as well, but also feeling so over joyed to hold the baby that you have in your hand. The emotions ran through them in all sorts of directions.
''They're so quiet,'' Jane said, subconsciously looking around to the noise of other wailing infants.
''I wonder where they get that from,'' Maura answered before thinking.
The pink elephant!
How long did they honestly think they would go without mentioning it?
''What happened Maura?'' Jane asked fearfully, with so much hope that her wife would have some sciency explanation that would contradict the very obvious.
Maura sighed, not wanting to face the truth. Things had been going well. They finally had their little babies. Why was life throwing another complication towards them? Had they not had enough already?
''They are clearly biracial, and definitely have your features. So I would say, their donor sperm was of an African American man''
''But we didn't…''
''I know Jane. We're going to have to contact the sperm bank and find out if they know what happened.''
There was no reason to think Amanda had anything to do with this. Maura herself hand picked up the sperm and all their friend had done was inseminate.
The new parents spent about half an hour with their babies before Jane had to go back and rest. The brunette was thoroughly spent but she'd never admit it. They kissed them and were then on their way back to Jane's room. She was deemed fine and was being moved to a regular hospital room where friends and family could visit.
''Once they can breathe on their own they will be brought up to Jane and taken out of NICU,'' Maura explained to Angela as they went over to see the babies. ''Theowill probably stay a bit longer since he is the weakest of three.''
''They'll be fine,'' Angela said firmly.
''They will be,'' Maura echoed. There was no room for negativity.
Angela, Frankie, Tommy, Korsak, Frost, Nina, and Patricia had all shown up. Loud and excited as usual. The ward manager had almost not let them all in, because, they were too many to be able to see a patient at once. But the crew had pulled a few strings and the patient herself had insisted on having everyone in. It was of course easier to let slip, since the brunette was in a private room.
The others wouldn't be able to see the children until they were brought over to Jane's room, but Maura was definitely permitted to take Angela over to see them.
...
''There is a slight…issue,'' Maura averted her gaze as she spoke to Angela. The two were on a sofa in the waiting area of the NICU were Maura had made a pit stop before entering with her mother-in-law.
''What issue Maura? Is everything alright?''
''Yes, I suppose.'' The task had been left to Maura to explain while Jane saw everyone else. They wouldn't have to tell the whole lot just yet, but Angela was the exception, since she was on her way to see the kids for herself.
''Maura, just say whatever it is that is wrong,'' Angela gently pushed.
''There must have been a mix up with the sperm bank,'' she let out hurriedly.
''What kind of…mix up?'' asked the matriarch warily.
''The children, they are…biracial''
Angela was silent, not having a single word available to speak.
Are you sure? She wanted to ask. Of course Maura was sure.
''Have you contacted them?'' was what she managed.
''Not yet. There is still a lot that needs to be taken care of here and… I suppose it wasn't a priority.''
''Yes, you're right,'' Angela agreed. ''We'll figure out what happened later. It's ok Maura,'' Angela consoled. The poor woman was already in tears. They were purely tears of exhaustion. The blonde had had to be strong for Jane, for the babies, and for herself as well. She'd had to be the mediator between the family and friends and the doctors. It was all so overwhelming and she was due for a good cry. At least someone else was finally there to lighten the load for her. She'd held it all in for very long, knowing there was no way on earth she could have broken down in front of her wife – who needed her the most at this time. Her wife, who'd carried three bodies inside of her for 33 whole weeks. Her wife, who's mid-section had been sliced open to take out their bundles of joy. Her wife, who had been medicated and tested and observed and screened and medicated again.
No.
She had had to be strong. But now her 'mother' was here and she could finally unload. She could finally share how terrified she'd been, and also how happy she was.
After a while Maura had gathered herself and eventually led Angela to see her grand-babies.
The babies had been born at 33 weeks and five days. It was around 4 am that morning when Jane had shot up from bed with tremendous pain. Her caesarean section was booked for a week from today, but the babies obviously had other plans. It hadn't taken Maura more than two minutes to call an ambulance, which arrived shortly. None of them had considered carrying their packed bags with them, so Jane was grateful when Patricia handed her a bag with the baby things and another with her and Maura's belongings. Inside was a card TJ had carefully written for his cousins
''Welcome Benjamin Rizzoli Isles. Welcome Theodore Rizzoli Isles. Welcome Mia Amor Rizzoli Isles. I can't wait to meet you''
Everyone was touched by the sweet gesture.
When Angela and Maura re-joined the gang, she made no mention of the 'issue' with the children. Everyone was happy to hear all that the woman had to share. Jane was surprised when they told her that the children had been crying loudly this time around, she couldn't wait to get back to her babies.
It was two days later when Theo and Miawhere brought up to Jane, and where able to meet the rest of the family. It was two days later that everyone stared at Jane and Maura with suspicion. Two days until the pair was rested enough to find out what happened. Two days later until the truth slowly started to make itself known.
AN: Sooooo...thoughts?