A.N. I wanted to thank all of you who have taken the time to reply to this tale of mine, it does inspire me to write faster. It is because of all of you great people, this story is getting told. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Chapter Seventy-Eight

"You know, I was prepared to talk about one name, but how in the world are we suppose to decide on four." Jason said, leaning back against the couch.

"Jason Morgan, are you whining?" Elizabeth asked playfully. Lowering her face to his, capturing his lips in a chaste kiss.

"Well, maybe a little, but can you really blame me, this is nuts!" Jason replied, a little shell-shocked.

"What do you want from me, I never decided to make a deal with God or something, I never said, 'hey, let's drive Jason nuts, knock me up with four kids instead of one, lets see how he takes that'. They are names for goodness sake, not the declaration of independence, or the ten commandments." Elizabeth said as she hastily wiped the tears from her eyes.

Before Jason could even comment, she was up and running for the stairs.

That wasn't what I meant, he thought to himself, already hating the way it came out. He loved Elizabeth more than he could ever say, but the mood swings and tears were hard to handle. And it wasn't like he wasn't enjoying the pregnancy, just something's left him baffled.

And for the second time that night, he chastised himself for not thinking before he spoke. On their way home he had pulled another blunder and had had to soothe a distraught Elizabeth. And all because he had had the audacity to ask her if she wanted Chinese or Mexican tonight. Yes, he was going to have to watch his words very carefully…

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Brenda was enjoying a comforting back massage when Sonny suddenly stopped. Sitting up, she quirked an eyebrow, hoping it was enough of a sign, saying she wanted to know what was up.

"Well, it's just that I am a little concerned with the way things have been going. It is not like this business to be so tame, and while I know one should not rock the boat, I cannot help but feel we are in a lull that will soon shatter." Sonny said, finally voicing his concern. "Especially considering, how many of us are expecting."

"I hate to break it to you dear, but you ain't expecting anything, us women are doing all the work, you men are only waiting for us poor pregnant women to have a breakdown over something stupid, or a ludicrous craving. You have it easy… But honey, when one starts looking for trouble, one is likely to find it. Let the lull in activity stand, when and if it does break, we will deal with it then. Besides, weren't you busy doing something." Brenda said, turning around, offering her shoulders and back to him once again.

Sonny couldn't help but laugh, Brenda was so much like Carly sometimes that it scarred him. But then again, she was so much like her own person, it was just awe inspiring to think that they had finally gotten it right, and the slight swell of her stomach, just intensified his worry, but for her sake and his peace of mind, he would let sleeping dogs lie.

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Jax hadn't stopped laughing since he walked through the door. He would start to say something, then all of a sudden burst out in laughter.

After an hour of prodding him for an answer, Carly finally threw her hands in the air, claming it a lost cause.

Carly mini tantrum only spurred him on more, peals of laughter resounding through the house. It made matters worse when both Michael and Morgan were joining in on his hyena like laugh.

"Jasper Jax, what in the world is so funny?" Carly demanded, unable to handle the noise any longer.

"The poor, poor pitiful soul." Jax said, breaking down laughing again, after several moments and many heated glares from Carly he continued, "That poor man, four babies. That's just cruel and unusual punishment, how is he ever going to make it to the deli…" Unable to hold back any longer, the peals of laughter once again rang through the house.

Carly couldn't help it either any longer. She loved Jason dearly, but Jax had a point, the poor guy, he didn't have a clue as to what was to come. "Talk about payback and retribution, think he's being punished for something."

Jax took his wife's hand and pulled her onto his lap, their laughter slowly dying.

Michael and Morgan saw the look pass over their parents and ran pell-mell for the stairs. A single parting word descending the stairs, "Ewwww!"

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Jason cautiously went up the stairs to their bedroom, where he could still hear her quiet sobs. Learning from the past, he didn't come alone, he brought butterscotch pudding and chocolate covered strawberries.

Elizabeth didn't hear his approach, but felt his nearness by the bond they shared. It seemed to grow stronger the further along in her pregnancy she got.

Unwilling to give in so easily, she kept her head buried in the pillow, but the bed shifted with his weight and the smell of butterscotch, slowly had her sitting up.

Not giving him time to even think, she grabbed his face, her lips crushing against his, a silent apology for her over active emotions.

When they finally parted to draw breath, she spoke, "I'm sorry, I know you didn't mean anything by it, I just, well this is scary for me too."

"No, I'm sorry, I was an a$$, however unintentional it was, I should have thought before I spoke. All I really meant was, well, how do we decide on something so pivotal. We are talking about our children's name's, name's they will have to live with, forever!" Jason said, handing the first bowl to his wife.

"I know, I understand that, just over the last couple of days, it feels like you aren't happy that we are oh so pregnant. I love you, and while giving birth to four children, scares me beyond reason, I couldn't begin to explain the amazing feeling within. Because once again, I am carrying your children, our home is growing and we are still going strong. I love you, there is nothing else that matters, you know?" Elizabeth explained, unsure of her own emotions, only knowing that they had to talk these things out, she would not grow to be a bitter woman like Audrey.

"Baby, you misunderstand, I am very happy about the babies, and while I knew this kind of thing could happen, I just never, well I never thought it could happen to us. I know, stupid, but I just need a few days to wrap my mind around this. And if baby names are what you wish to discuss tonight, then so be it, have any ideas?" Jason said, soothingly rubbing her shoulder.

"Actually, I do have a few ideas…" Elizabeth said, suddenly worried Jason would hate everyone of her suggestions.

"Well?" Jason asked, allowing his voice to remain even, no trace of impatience inflicting his voice, he didn't wish to set her off again.

"Well, I was thinking about Jake, as in 'Jakes' bar, where you rescued me, it just sounds like a good name, and it has such meaning to us, and that got me thinking and I started liking the name Kelly, kind of a throw back to 'Kelly's', seeing as how we eat there often and we spent a lot of time there together, early in our friendship and so much now, but that was just one idea. What do you think?" Elizabeth asked.

"I kinda like it, although I hope no one else knows that two of our four babies got their names thanks to a restaurant and a bar." Jason replied with a laugh. "Any other ideas?"

"Actually, yes I do." Elizabeth said with a smile.

"And, do you plan on telling me?" Jason enquired, wondering why she was smiling so devilishly.

"And my dear, you have two names to come up with, it's all you. Did I mention lately, just how much I love you?"

"You are actually buttering me up, you minx. Do you really want me to name two of our children?" He asked, his fear coming back with a vengeance.

"I do."

Jason sat there for a few long moments, his mind a complete blank, then the wheels started turning and he couldn't help the grin that surfaced.

"What are you smiling about love?" Elizabeth asked, suddenly fearful of what he was thinking.

"Well I was thinking, and you can say no of course, but what if we named one of our daughters after Carly?" Jason said.

Elizabeth was about to respond when Jason could hold the straight face no longer. So instead of saying anything, she smacked him.

"Actually, I was thinking about the name's Kyra and Kia. And yes, I know it is kinda cheesy, but Kia means rejoice or ocean and Kyra means lady or ladylike. What do you think?" Jason asked.

Elizabeth was completely dumbfounded, "When did you think of these names and how in the world do you know what they mean?"

"Sonny, a long time ago, had a baby book in his office and one say I was bored out of my gourd and was flicking through it, and those names popped out at me, I guess I had a reason for liking them, so what do you think?" He asked again.

"Besides thinking it odd that we plan on naming our girls all with K names, I like it, I love it in fact, because you thought of them. The only thing I want to know, did you ever for one moment, contemplate using those names with Sam's baby?" Elizabeth asked, not wanting to be petty, but the feelings were there, she wasn't going to dance around them.

"Nope, not once. I swear to you." Jason said, taking her hand in his. Understanding that would have been a big no-no, had he said yes, but it wasn't a lie, it had never been discussed. He hadn't even realized till now that he liked the names so much.

"Then I cannot think of a reason why we can't use them, they are beautiful!" Elizabeth said, smiling momentarily, only to have the smile slip from her lips as she gasped.

Already knowing what was up, Jason slid his hand from hers and rested it on her ever growing stomach. He had to laugh and grimace when a sharp kick was placed to his hand. "My god, are they playing soccer or something. That must hurt!"

"I won't lie and say it doesn't, but it is worth it." Elizabeth replied, taking joy in his amazement. It really was amazing when you thought about it, she had found the perfect man, and for some reason, he found her to be worthy to love, she would never take his love for granted. And while her hormones made her do and say things on occasion, she hoped he always knew just how much she loved him.

"So did we just agree on four names?" Jason asked, yawning.

"I think we did, now what?" Elizabeth asked, trying to stifle a yawn herself.

However, the decision was taken out of her hands went Alan began to cry. Just as she was about to get up, Jason gently pushed her back down, going to see what was up. Alan was doing so well with sleeping through the night, she wondered briefly why he awoke, but sleep overtook her and she surrendered to its sweet call.

When Jason returned, after settling Alan down, he found his wife, fast asleep, a pillow sandwiched between her knees. This pregnancy was causing her more discomfort than the others, but that was understandable, he still couldn't figure out how four babies fit inside her, she was so tiny and even though her stomach was growing, he still couldn't fathom it.

Jason tossed his clothes on the bench at the end of the bed and climbed in beside his wife. Spooning his body to hers, his hand finding it's natural spot. Every night as they slept, his hand lay splayed over her stomach, almost as if he was guarding them. Which wasn't all that odd, seeing as how he would guard them with his life.

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Emily couldn't sleep, she was wide awake and driving Nikolas crazy. Since she woke that morning, she had done nothing but clean, and seeing as how large the house was, she had been at it for hours. And only half the rooms were done.

The sad fact was, she was cleaning rooms that never even saw people. He had read in some book that Sonny gave him, that this phase was called nesting, and while he understood it to a point, he didn't understand why she couldn't relax and let the maids clean, it seemed like a much simpler solution and one where she didn't have to stress.

Emily only laughed, "That's nonsense dear, why in the world would I have the maids do this, I am to be your wife and the mother of your child, I should at least clean. Besides, no one knows how to clean this house better than me."

He had contemplated arguing again, but he didn't need to cause a fight, at least not over cleaning. So he shut up, tried to stay awake as he moved from one room to the next, keeping a close eye on her, but saying nothing. He had discovered she wanted silence after the second room.

Emily was a whirlwind of motion, that was until she descended on Nikolas desk, he jumped up and intervened, not loving the idea of her cleaning his desk, he had an order to things, if she started cleaning, he would never find anything. 'Em, how bout you the desk just as it is, I have a system and would hate to have it changed." Nikolas said, hoping he wasn't going to offended her.

Finally after two in the morning, Emily and Nikolas headed upstairs to their room. She was now exhausted, but she knew there was more to do tomorrow. Yawning, she slipped beneath the covers and promptly fell asleep.

"I love you." Nikolas whispered, kissing her hair as he took her in his arms, quickly joining her in slumber.

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