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It was the middle of the night and Horatio Caine was not a happy person. He had been having contractions every twenty to twenty-five minutes for a little more than four hours. His water hadn't broken yet either. It was 3am and as Horatio was trying to take deep breaths and handle the pain, while walking around to hopefully speed things up, Mac was on the phone with Alexx.

Mac had called the hospital, but since it was Horatio's first time and his contractions didn't last long or came very close to each other, they had told Mac that he and Horatio should stay home for now. Unfortunately it could take many, many more hours before Horatio was ready to give birth. They had told Mac how to check if Horatio was dilated, which was the same way as when you checked on a woman, and if Mac had done it right, then Horatio was barely dilated at all; another sign that it wasn't time to go to the hospital yet.

"Mac, I could come over if you want." Alexx said on the phone.

"Oh Alexx, I don't want to make you lose sleep; you have to work in the morning." Mac said and tried to sound as if he could handle things alone.

Alexx could hear that the man was nowhere near calm and collected. She heard Horatio groan as he got a contraction and then curse. Mac asked him to sit down, to which Horatio angrily replied that he had been told to walk around.

"Mac." Alexx said to get Mac's attention, "I'm coming over. Don't worry about my beauty sleep. You guys need me there right now."

"Okay, Alexx. Thank you." Mac sighed in relief.

He hung up and sat down on the armrest of the couch. Horatio was walking slowly around the living room table and Mac had no idea how to help. Sometimes Horatio wanted Mac to simply hold his hand and walk with him. Then suddenly he wanted Mac to leave him alone. Mac had, of course, been warned about such behavior months ago and could easily understand why Horatio reacted the way he did.

He had already chatted with several other members on an online website that he and Horatio were members on. (It was a website for pregnant men and their partners, where one could get advice and help from other pregnant men. There was also support group meetings, but Mac and Horatio hadn't attended one yet).
The others members told Mac to do just what the nurse from the hospital had said on the phone. They had warned him that Horatio could go on for the whole day and sometimes people were in labor for more than 24 hours. Mac hoped that Horatio wouldn't have to go through that.

It seemed like an eternity before the doorbell rang and Mac opened the door for Alexx.

"Alexx, hi." Mac said nervsously.

Alexx could see the worry in Mac's eyes, but also the joy of finally being at the final stage of the pregnancy. She stepped inside the house and gave Mac a supportive hug before going to the living room where Horatio was now slumped down in the recliner. His hands were gripping the armrests tightly as he tried to breathe through a contraction.

"Deep breaths honey." Alexx said and knelt down next to the chair.

She grabbed Horatio's lower arm and talked quietly to him. Mac felt completely helpless; there was nothing he could do, yet he knew that just being there was very important for his lover.

"I am never doing this again." Horatio groaned.

He panted as the contraction faded and Alexx rubbed his shoulder.

"Oh honey, I know how you feel. But think about how all of this will be worth it in the end." Alexx smiled.

"I know it will be. I just… this part of the pregnancy really sucks." Horatio sighed.

"It sure does, baby." Alexx smiled.

"What can I do?" Mac asked.

"Bring a glass of water please, and a wet towel." Alexx said and then focused on Horatio, "You're sweating and I can guarantee that a wet, cold towel will make it a little better."

Horatio nodded and Mac went to get a glass of water and a towel.

An hour later, Horatio's water still hadn't broken and Horatio's mood had switched from frustrated to sad. He was silently crying while Mac held him. They sat on the couch with Horatio between Mac and Alexx.

"When will the water break?" Mac asked.

"Hard to say, honey. For some people it breaks before the contractions, others have to wait several hours after the first contraction." Alexx said, "Some people even have their waters break without the contractions starting."

"Really?" Mac asked.

"Yeah, if it goes on for too long they have to be induced into labor." Alexx said, as she massaged Horatio's back.

She knew how he was feeling. She had been through the same thing twice and had also switched from frustrated to sad and happy and angry. Horatio hadn't said anything for a while, only his silent crying was heard as he sniffed sometimes. His tears stained Mac's shirt and Mac kissed his head.

"How are you doing, love?" Mac asked.

"Fantastic." Horatio said.

"I'm sorry this is so painful."

"It's not your fault." Horatio sniffed, "I just really want the water to break and us to go to the hospital so I can push these babies out and be done with it."

"Me too." Mac said.

-I-

When Alexx arrived at work after spending the night with Horatio and Mac she was surrounded by the team. They had of course gotten texts with updates from Mac, but they knew that Alexx had been with them during the night.

"Well, his water broke six hours after the first contraction." Alexx said and poured herself some coffee.

They were all in the break room and listening intently to their medical examiner.

"They've just gone to the hospital since Horatio's contractions are now only ten minutes apart. However, the contractions have to come closer and he has to be dilated enough to give birth. I don't suspect that will be the case yet." Alexx said.

"I've been awake all night." Calleigh smiled, "I couldn't sleep when Mac texted us all after Horatio got the first contraction."

"She was checking her phone every minute." Eric said, "Just waiting for any updates."

"I suppose the New York team is just excited as we are." Ryan said.

"Yes, they are." Calleigh smiled, "I talked to Sheldon earlier. Apparently there is an update to the baby poll about when the babies are going to be born, instead of guessing which day everyone is now guessing which hour it will be. Most of them seem to think it will be around three this afternoon."

"I hope so for Horatio's sake." Frank said, "Nobody wants to keep on for too long."

"He's only three hours away from having been at it for 12 hours." Ryan said.

"Poor man." Calleigh said and the others nodded in agreement.

-I-

13 hours had passed since Horatio's first contraction. He was half-way dilated and his contractions were coming six minutes apart. He had been given an epidural that hadn't worked for him. He was exhausted and frustrated.

He was lying in his hospital bed and tried to relax. The doctor had hoped that the epidural would allow Horatio a few hours of sleep, but since it hadn't worked he couldn't sleep. Mac was sitting on the chair next to the bed, holding his lover's hand.

"I want to go home." Horatio said tiredly.

"I know, love. But you can't."

"I don't care. I want to go home and I want to stop being in pain."

"I wish I could take the pain away." Mac sighed, "I really do."

Horatio nodded and closed his eyes. His head fell to the side and the only indication that he was still awake was that he kept grimacing in pain with every contraction and he would squeeze Mac's hand tightly and groan.

Mac's stomach grumbled and Horatio opened his eyes.

"Go get something to eat." Horatio said.

"I don't want to leave you."

"Mac, you need to eat so that you have some energy when it's time for me to push." Horatio sighed, "I'll be fine for a few minutes."

Mac hesitated, but then stood up. He gave Horatio a kiss before he left. Horatio closed his eyes again and tried to relax. Mac hurried to the cafeteria and while he was there he also called Stella. She picked up quicker than she ever had before.

"Mac, how is it going?" She asked.

"Slow." Mac sighed, "The epidural didn't work either. He's exhausted and frustrated."

"Oh, that's too bad." Stella said, "Did he kick you out of the room?"

Mac chuckled, "No, he told me to get something to eat."

"Shouldn't he eat too?"

"Yes, but he keeps throwing up when he tries to eat. Right now, he doesn't even want to see food anywhere near him."

"Poor guy, he's having a really tough time huh. I know this is tough for you too, Mac."

"Yeah, but there is nothing I can do to help." Mac sighed.

"You help more than you realize. You know Horatio is so grateful and happy to have you there. You give him strength." Stella smiled.

"You're probably right." Mac said, "I need to get back to him. I'll call you later."

"Just focus on Horatio." Stella smiled, "Bye Mac."

"Bye."

Mac hung up and sighed. He ate a sandwich and had some coffee before hurrying back to Horatio's room. Doctor Melinda Carter was examining Horatio when he got there; she smiled as Mac entered the room.

"Any change?" Mac asked.

"Unfortunately no. I'm sorry to say that this is probably going to take a lot longer than we first thought." Melinda said, "The babies are fine though so that's good."

Mac nodded and sat down on the chair next to his lover's bed. He grabbed Horatio's hand and kissed his cheek. Horatio smiled gratefully at Mac.

It was going to be a long day.

-I-

16 hours had passed since Horatio's first contraction. He was more than halfway dilated now, but his contractions were still not coming close enough and he had to be a bit more dilated before he could push. The doctor had tried to give him another epidural to give him the chance to get some sleep, but to no avail; the epidural hadn't worked.

Eric, Calleigh, Ryan and Frank had gotten the chance to end their shift early and were enjoying each other's company at their favorite diner. Alexx had gone to the hospital earlier for a quick visit to see how the boys were doing.

"H must be so tired now. He's been going on for 16 hours." Ryan said.

"Can't he have a c-section?" Eric asked.

"He doesn't want one. Of course if too much time goes by he will have no choice." Frank said and drank some beer.

Just then Alexx arrived and she sat down next to Calleigh with a big smile.

"I never knew Horatio could curse so much." She chuckled.

"He cursed at you?" Ryan asked stunned.

"Not really. He mostly curses at Mac or the hospital staff." Alexx smiled, "I was just the same when I have birth to my children."

"How is Mac doing with it all?" Frank asked.

"He's nervous and worried about Horatio. He wishes it would be over so that Horatio can rest." Alexx said, "Their doctor, Melinda, seems quite confident that things will speed up soon, which is good."

"I can't even imagine going through labor for this many hours." Calleigh said.

"Does this mean that we're not having any babies?" Eric joked.

"No. I just admire the strength Horatio has and all other people that have to be in labor for so long or even longer." Calleigh said.

The others could only nod in agreement.

-I-

"This is so boring." Adam sighed, "It's taking so long."

"Imagine how Mac and Horatio are feeling." Sheldon said, "It's been 17 and a half hours now."

The New York team was gathered at a bar, waiting for any news about their friends' babies. Adam had been asking all day about any updates. Everyone knew that although Adam was nervous around babies, he did like them very much. One day Adam would be a great father.

"Last time I spoke to Mac, Horatio had almost sprained two of his fingers." Stella said.

Everyone couldn't help but to laugh at that. They knew that it was hard for Mac to wait for the babies too. Even if he wasn't doing the physical job of bringing them to the world, he was there mentally and emotionally. It was an experience that was both joyful and difficult for both parents.

"Afraid of giving birth yourself now?" Don asked Lindsay.

Lindsay was almost two months pregnant with her and Danny's child. She hoped she that wouldn't have to go through as many hours of labor as Horatio, but she wasn't afraid of giving birth.

"Maybe Mac and Horatio will let your practice with the twins later." Sheldon said, "Especially when it comes to changing diapers."

"We see dead people at work, I'm sure we can handle a dirty diaper." Danny said.

"Don't be too sure." Don said, "I heard a baby's diaper is absolutely horrible when they're newborn."

Danny and Lindsay rolled their eyes. The team loved to these them about things involving their future family of three.

When a little more than 19 hours had passed since Horatio's first contraction everyone in the New York team (and of course the Miami team as well) got a text message from Mac.

"It's time to push." Stella read out loud and then grinned," Guess it won't be long now."

-I-

Horatio had been pushing for thirty minutes. He never used to scream but now he couldn't help himself. He was too tired and cranky to care anyway. He just wanted the babies out now!

Mac held his hand and encouraged him to push and breathe.

"I am breathing you moron!" Horatio growled.

"Just reminding you, love." Mac smiled.

He couldn't believe it; it was finally time! They had been waiting for months and now it was finally time for the babies to come out. Horatio was pushing as hard as he could and Melinda Carter was ready to take the babies. A team of nurses stood prepared behind her as well.

"Come on, Horatio. You're doing great." Melinda said.

"It's not like I have a choice." Horatio mumbled and panted.

His head fell down on the pillow behind him and he sighed. Mac kissed his cheek and gently ran his fingers through his hair.

"You can do this." He said.

"I need to catch my breath." Horatio panted.

Mac grabbed the oxygen mask that Horatio had been using a little while previously from beside his bed and put it over his lover's mouth. Horatio hadn't thought he would need it earlier, but now it felt damn good to have it. As he got his next contraction he screamed and pushed. Melinda and Mac encouraged him to keep on.

After another fifteen minutes Horatio collapsed down on the bed and a tear made its way down his cheek. Mac understood how exhausted his lover had to be.

"I need to rest." Horatio panted.

"I wish you could love, but you have to push the babies out." Mac said.

"I'm too tired."

"You can do it. You've come this far." Mac smiled, "We're almost there."

"It's been twenty hours now. I've been in labor for twenty hours, Mac. I can't do it."

"Yes you can." Mac said, "You can do this Horatio. You know you can."

Horatio took a deep breath and nodded. He sat up and Mac squeezed his hand. As the next contraction came Horatio pushed and Melinda could finally see the head of the first baby.

"I can see the head! Just a bit more, come on." She exclaimed.

Horatio gritted his teeth and groaned. He pushed with all his strength and squeezed Mac's hand hard.

Both men froze when they heard the sound of a baby's cries in the room. A nurse quickly took the baby from Melinda for examination. Horatio and Mac glanced at each other, and then Horatio moaned as he got another contraction.

"One down, one to go." Melinda smiled, "Let's get the sister or brother out too."

Mac grinned and gave Horatio's hand a kiss as the redhead prepared to push again. The second baby went quicker and after only five minutes Melinda could see the head.

"Okay, I can see the head now." She smiled, "One more push."

Horatio let out a loud groan and collapsed on the bed, breathing and sweating heavily as their second child's cries filled the room.

"They're here." Horatio whispered.

Mac kissed him deeply and grinned. Tears were rolling down his cheek as he listened to their babies' cries. A nurse approached them with a baby wrapped in a blue blanket.

"Here's a little boy. Born at 19:03, weighing 6.8 pounds." She smiled and handed Mac his son, "Height is 19 inches."

Mac looked down at the baby in his arms. The boy looked up at him with the most amazing blue eyes.

"He has red hair." Mac grinned.

He had always wished that their babies would inherit Horatio's red hair.

"Hi, Noah." Mac grinned.

Mac handed the baby boy over to Horatio and Horatio put his finger in his little hand.

"Noah Taylor Caine." Horatio whispered.

"Here we are." Another nurse smiled and brought over a baby wrapped in a pink blanket, "Baby girl born at 19:10. 19 inches and 6.6 pounds."

The nurse placed the baby girl in Mac's arms and he smiled down at his daughter.

"Caylee Taylor Caine." He said, "Wow."

"Yeah, wow." Horatio chuckled.

-I-

After the babies had gone through another exam, Horatio had been examined and photos had been sent to the team, Mac and Horatio were in their private room holding their babies. As much as the teams wanted to call and even come visit them, they felt it was best to give the two men some privacy after 20 hours of labor.

Only one person was allowed to visit. None other than Alexx Woods. When she entered the hospital room she immidiately felt tears threatening to fall at the sight of Mac sitting on a chair next to the bed holding their son and Horatio sitting on the bed holding their daughter.

"It's almost midnight and you boys are still awake." She chided, "Oh look at them."

Both babies had a lot of red hair and blue eyes. Apart from that they looked like copies of Mac. Both Horatio and Mac had been looking at their own baby photos a week ago and now that they saw their twins, they recognized how much they looked just like him.

"Want to hold her?" Horatio asked.

"Do you really have to ask?" Alexx smiled as Horatio handed her Caylee.

Caylee whimpered a little when she left her father's arms, but soon settled in Alexx's warm embrace. Horatio yawned and rubbed his tired eyes. He was exhausted but couldn't take his eyes off his and Mac's children.

"She's adorable." Alexx smiled, "Hi there Caylee, I'm aunt Alexx."

After a while Alexx got to hold Noah while Mac held Caylee. She only visited for a little while before she left so Mac and Horatio could catch some sleep.

It didn't take long for Horatio to fall asleep. Mac stayed awake and just watched their babies in their bassinets. He couldn't believe that he and Horatio were parents.

It felt like a dream, but if it was he didn't want to wake up.

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