Ok, this one is going to be a little full on. a lot will be happening so I've tried to structure it so you can follow along. And hopefully don't get lost. By the way I'm sorry about the delay. I did have this chapter written for a while but I was waiting for reviews. Hint-hint. Lol! XXX Shar-Lyn.

Chapter 13- Sweet Innocents

It has been a week since the funeral and I am lying awake but I don't know why. I feel the bed become wet; I lean over to Ryan

"Ryan?"

"Hmmm"

"RYAN?!"

He too notices the bed wet and with that he is up.

"Time to go to the hospital?"

I nod taking a breath almost dreading what has to happen next. Ryan jumps out of bed changing quickly. Helping up he changes me too. Locking the house Ryan unlocks that car and opens the door for me. As I go to get in the first contraction hits and I let out a yelp reaching for Ryan's hand. He is behind me in a second supporting my weight. I catch my breath

"You ok, baby?"

I nod climbing into the car. Ryan walks around the drivers' side and hops in. I know that the trip to the hospital doesn't take long but by the time we reach the bottom of the driveway it feels like it has been years. Ryan puts his hand on my knee, rubbing gently. As we pull out of the security gates another contraction strikes and I whimper. I look down to see Ryan's hand is turning purple

"Sorry"

He nods and looks at his watch "10 minutes"

I just nod. As we pull into the hospital Ryan parks the car and another contraction hits I whimper loudly as tears start to run down my cheeks. Getting out of the car Ryan holds me all the way. We walk into the front desk.

"Hi, my wife is in labour"

The nurse nods and calls someone. A doctor starts walking towards us with a wheel chair. I sit and Ryan is still talking to the lady at the front desk, filling out some forms and talking to the doctor. As I sit there the pain hits again and I whimper calling for Ryan and he is by my side in a second. The doctor walks over to us and starts to push me to the maternity ward.

"Hello, my name is Dr. Norton, Dr. Lucas is out of town, so I'll be filling in."

"Hi, my name is Ryan and this is my wife Marissa"

He continues pushing me and Ryan walks beside me. The doctor continues

"How far apart are the contractions?"

Ryan responds "about 10 minutes".

We walk into my room and Ryan helps me up to the bed. The doctor speaks as he and a nurse start hooking me up to machines

"Ok, Marissa I am going to do an internal exam to see how far along you are" I nod "You are 7 centimetre dilated" I nod and the doctor starts asking Ryan questions.

Dr.: How long has your wife been in labour?

Ryan: About 40 minutes

Dr.: Is this your first baby?

Ryan: yes, but we're actually having twins.

Dr.: Hmmmm

Ryan: Is something wrong?

Dr. No, no. It's just that the labour is moving very fast.

Ryan: Which means what exactly?

Dr.: Well it usually means that it is a lot more painful especially for first pregnancies.

Ryan: Ok, so how long do you think it will be?

Just as he asks that another contraction hits and I cry, trying not to scream. As I close my eyes I feel Ryan's hand and I squeeze, not ever considering that I might be hurting him. The doctor leaves

"I'll be back in about 5 minutes to check on you."

Ryan pulls a chair up next to my bed.

"Do you want me to call someone?"

I shake my head no "I don't want you to leave me" he nods and rubs my hand. "Ryan?"

"Yes baby?"

"I'm scared"

"Everything will be okay baby" I nod and close my eyes taking a breath as a contractions cause my body to shake in pain, I grit my teeth trying not to scream but give up trying. As it finishes I sit up a little more and catch my breath.

"I'm sorry baby, if I could do it for you I would" I nod but I wouldn't wish this sort of pain on anyone. He reaches over and tucks a stray hair behind my ear and wipes away the sweat on my brow. Dr. Norton walks in and asks

"How are you doing?"

I shrug

"Do you want some pain killers"? I shake my head. Doing another internal exam Dr. Lucas concludes,

"Okay, Marissa you are now 9 centimetres, I am going to get a nurse and by the time I get back you should be ready to start to push"

I nod. As he leaves I scream as a contraction hits. I whimper trying to catch my breath. Dr. Norton walks back in,

"Okay, you ready?"

I nod with that I look at Ryan; leaning forward as he climbs behind me on the bed so that I am laying against him, between his legs. I put my legs up and Ryan rubs them gently with his hands.

"We can do this"

I nod. He sounds so certain; so sure of himself. As another contraction hits my whole body tenses and I scream as the doctor tells my to push. A few seconds later he tells me to stop. As I stop I whimper and I can feel the baby right there

"I can't do this Ryan"

"Yes you can baby"

Another contraction hits and he tells me to push; I scream again and the doctor tells me that the head is out. I lean against Ryan and whimper

"Ryan, it hurts it hurts make it stop"

Ryan just rubs my arms

"Okay Marissa the babies shoulders need to come out next, I need you to push really hard"

"Now"

I push as hard as I can and I feel her little body leave me. I hear her start to cry and so do I. I lean against Ryan and they hand us our first little girl

"Ryan. . . . she is . . . . Beautiful."

A few minutes later the nurse takes Autumn to go get cleaned up and the doctor tells me that it's time to start pushing again. A few minutes later our second little girl is in my arms and I collapse against Ryan

"I am so proud of you!"

The nurses bring Autumn and Delilah back to us. Placing them in my arms in their little pink blankets. I look at their little faces and they look so much little the both of us, the nurse wheels in two little beds with their names on them.

"Marissa, they are perfect" I nod.