Two months later

I was lying on the beach out the back with my lower body in the water; it was so hot and the only way I was staying cool at eight months pregnant was by living in the sea which actually had a nice ring to it. Kono was inside the house making some ice squash for us and Gracie was behind me making sand castles as she sang along to the music. The last ultrasound was yesterday and I had a clear bill of health from Malia and just had to make the decision if I wanted an epidural or not; I wasn't too keen on them as I had been temporarily paralysed before when I was taken hostage and whipped so I was leaning towards the gas and air. Malia knew my decision on other medications and I had told her that the safety of the kids comes first and she had clear orders to do what was necessary to ensure their safety, basically if I was too exhausted and needed a C-section for any reason, she was to do it. Gracie came over to where I was and sat down beside me, I nodded as she wanted to touch my stomach and try and feel the babies kick; I laid her hands on my lower right hand side and told her to press gently; moments later she was rewarded with a massive kick that had her giggling and me wincing. She saw that wince though and immediately called to Kono who came running out.

"She winced again Kono when the babies kicked her!"

"It's alright, the heat is making them anxious and they are playing football beside my liver – help me up!" I replied.

They both helped me up and I immediately felt better as I stretched my back; it was roughly 17 days until I was due and Steve had, with military precision, created a plan to get us from various locations into the maternity unit and Malia on pager within 10 minutes. I was safe knowing he knew what he was doing and he had been reading up on books and internet forums to find out little tips and tricks, I was just relaxing and doing all the hard work – he was the one who freaking out. Kono brushed off the sand from my back and belly and rubbed some sun lotion over the impressive bump that was now the size of a blow up ball – I was huge and my breasts felt like 10lb weights when they weren't supported!

"Are you feeling alright, you haven't slept much the last couple of weeks since Steve's been gone on the trip to Japan with Joe – he's due back tonight isn't he?"

"Yeah they are due back tonight and I'm alright – it's just getting scarily close to B-day and I'm a little scared – now I know what they all talk about when it's the last month!"

She hugged me and rubbed my belly while saying the old blessing again, these kids were wanted by my family and I was so thankful for their support; it blew me away that they were here even though they were still on recovery from their own injuries – I suppose the excitement gave them reasons to get back to fitness so they could keep close to their niece and nephew when they arrived. Kono pulled me into the house and slipped on my dress after I had gone for a quick shower to cool off, she had been living in the house for the last week after I broke down and cried for hours because I couldn't do my buttons up – she immediately packed a bag and came over and took me shopping for emergency dresses that I could wear during and after maternity since they were maxi style. I sat down on the chair inside and tied my hair up, I had a great tan from the last week and rubbed some after sun across everywhere and stretched my toes that made the kids kick again – I winced and Kono was over like a shot when I gasped.

"Are you sure you haven't cracked a rib, it's pretty common during pregnancy according to Malia, I'll give her a call and ask her to come around to check – just to be safe!"

I nodded in response and since I couldn't see my lower half or even my ribs at the moment, I took it with a pinch of salt that I wasn't black and blue due to the football game inside me. An hour later Malia came in and had a quick look, she nodded and rubbed some magic cream onto my skin that made the ache go away within moments, she handed me the tube and sat down beside me as I lowered my dress again.

"Slight crack on third rib, the twins are fully grown and want out, I don't think you will last the week at this rate – have you been feeling any pains?"

"More minor backaches and I get a little dizzy sometimes, that's why I have been living downstairs, didn't want to risk the stairs to be honest. So you think it could be this week?" I replied shakily.

"If you're dilated more than two centimetres and your cervix is soft then yeah it'll be within the week. Bet your glad Steve is home tonight, don't want to have to film the birth of your babies over Face Time!" she replied.

I smiled and nodded as I rubbed my stomach and willed the babies to stop moving so much, I couldn't wait to see them both and I knew Steve was the same way – speaking of backache I flinched as I got off the seat and stretched my back with a groan of relief. Malia was watching my face and she asked for Kono to take Gracie for some shaved ice so she could have a few minutes privacy with me to do a check.

"Backache again, how many times has it been today?" she whispered.

"Four or five since 7am, nothing more than minor discomfort and it goes away when I stretch; I don't think I am in labour yet but I have a feeling the next day or so!"

"How about I do a cervical check and we can take it from there, if you are over two centimetres though then you will need to come in to hospital for monitoring for 24 hours and if you keep dilating then you may need Pitocin to start labour off."

"It's just mild backache….."

"You know the signs of early onset labour and you have three of them: Backache, a slight temperature and your babies are really restless – let me check and if we need to we can take it from there alright?"

I nodded and we headed upstairs to the bedroom and half shut the door, I lay on the bed and rolled my eyes as I 'assumed the position' and Malia did her check; I sat up suddenly when she was on her phone calling for an ambulance.

"Malia you are freaking me out here!" I said suddenly afraid.

"Your four centimetres dilated and 40% effaced – you're in active labour!"

I looked at her and as she helped me off the bed the front door opened and in walked Gracie and Kono, she immediately knew something was wrong and got Gracie to get dressed and grab her goodie bag.

"She's in active labour, four cents and 40% effaced – must have started last night when she complained of the major backache. Take Gracie to the unit waiting room, she'll be coming with me via ambulance."

She nodded and went to get dressed more appropriately and got Gracie into the car and headed to the hospital after sending Danno and Chin a message.

Two hours later I was lying on the bed with the monitors around my belly and a double IV in to get some fluids and drugs into my system; I had my first taste of a contraction about half an hour ago and it felt like someone was gripping me really tightly – thank god for sniper breathing and Kono being there as I was freaked out by how suddenly it came on as I walked the room. I was dressed in a long cotton dress and trying to sleep between the increasing pressure in my stomach and the beeping of the monitor; I heard Kono get a message and then a phone call immediately afterwards – it was Steve and Joe, they had just landed and were making their way back to the hospital. I hadn't seen Joe since he found out I was pregnant as he was deployed overseas to do some training with new units, it would be good to see him again and the added support for Steve would be good. I clenched my eyes and grabbed the bedrail as another contraction hit me and this one was a full on painful SOB, I closed off my thinking and counted breathes in four as Kono walked back into the room and spotted me breathing, she went to get Malia who came in and checked the monitor.

"That looked like your first major contraction, we need to do a quick check so can you lower down on the bed?" she asked.

Kono came to stand up beside me and took my hand, she had been forewarned about these checks and it didn't bother her as long as I was cool about her being in the room, I had nodded immediately and gripped her hand as Malia did an internal check and I squeaked as the contraction eased off fully. She marked the notes on the data form and binned the gloves before washing her hands.

"Seven centimetres and 80% effaced, I don't think it will be much longer – you're doing remarkably well but you still have the option of an epidural for the next hour?"

"No, I'm doing this with gas and air and good old fashioned support from you all, if anything is needed though, you know you have full authority!" I replied.

She smiled and nodded as she let me back up the bed and checked the IVs and mild painkillers within the pouches; she told me to get some sleep since the contractions looked to be about 30 minutes apart and by the end of the next one Steve should be here. Danno and Chin walked in with some juice for me and something to eat since I was starving, Malia had cleared me to try and get some energy foods into me for help, and they snuck some burgers for me and a few bottles of water. I grinned at him and tucked in as they talked to me about possible names we had come up with and weren't telling anyone until we had the babies in our arms. It was just over half an hour later that the next contraction kicked in and I grabbed the nearest thing to me since I was on my feet coming from the bathroom – unfortunately it was Chin's hand and he was flinching in pain, Danno was at my side rubbing my lower back as it finally eased off and I let go of Chin, apologising for the damage. They helped me back up onto the bed and the door opened with Steve and Joe walking in and rushing to the bed, I grinned and gave them both a huge hug and suddenly seized both their hands as another contraction took me unawares and I squeaked in pain.

"Remember your breathing, counts of four – good girl! Starting to think about that epidural?" Steve asked as he stretched his fingers.

"No, but I can ask for painkillers for you guys – sorry!" I gasped as my stomach eased off.

"That was a close contraction to your last one, time to call Malia again!" whimpered Chin.

The room was emptied as she did a quick check and looked up at me over my knees.

"Need to get you moved to the delivery suite, your 10cm dilated and fully effaced – time to push on the next contraction and enjoy that gas and air!"

Over the next hour I was guided by Malia and Steve through labour, which hurts like holy hell, and during one of my final contractions I started gasping as I felt the baby move lower into position ready to be born. Steve was beside me and Malia and her team were ready for the delivery.

"Okay just breath through it Sadie, deep breathes and let the baby come out on its own – a small push for me – okay just breathe – one last push!" she replied getting Steve into position between my feet.

I sucked in a deep breath and gripped onto Steve as I cried out as our first baby was born into his hands, he was crying as he held his son out to me and lay him on my stomach; the nurses checked him over as Malia did some checking on me and then motioned for me to be ready for another contraction – and this was a huge one as my waters broke again and I felt the baby move down into position suddenly. I gripped my knees and pushed on command as the head was delivered and the rest of the body followed into Steve's hands again; I leaned back and cried as she was laid on my stomach again and I cuddled her as the nurses checked her over. Steve had moved positions and cleaned up slightly as he came back up to my level and kissed me as he looked at his daughter who was taken away for a quick check and to get weighed. Malia was busy delivering the placenta and making checks for any damage which I was thankful there wasn't; she helped me get cleaned up slightly and told me to keep my legs relaxed for the next hour so they could check for any issues on a regular basis – I nodded and we waited drying our faces so we could hold our babies.

"Commander this is your son, a healthy boy of 8lbs and this is your daughter, a healthy beauty of 7lbs – congratulations they are both beautiful and perfectly healthy."

They were laid across my arms and Steve got out the camera and started to take photos, he was still crying and he leaned in to kiss the babies and me; I kept tearing up as I saw how proud he was of us all and I knew he couldn't wait for everyone to see how happy he was. I was wheeled back to maternity suite four an hour later with orders to rest and that I could breast feed as I wanted when they woke up, I nodded and I just held them in my arms as I was resettled into a clean bed in new clothes after a quick shower; the door opened and in walked Doris who burst out in tears as she saw the babies and me in the bed.

"Sarah, oh my god look at them – look at you – your practically glowing!"

Steve took his son in his arms and pressed a kiss to his forehead before passing him to Doris, he did the same to his daughter – we had agreed that he needed to hold them first before showing them to family. He got his mum to sit down beside me and passed me my daughter back as she squirmed in her blanket for a moment and then settled down again against me.

"Have you decided on names yet?" she whispered.

I looked at Steve and he nodded as he picked up his son from his mother and introduced him officially.

"Mom, this is your grandson Connor John McGarrett." He said with pride in his voice.

"And this is your granddaughter Brianna Rose McGarrett," I replied.

"So beautiful – how are you feeling after 14 hours of labour?"

"Could murder for a burger!" I replied laughing.

Everyone laughed and nodded as she started to tell us about the time she was in labour with Steve and Maryann, it was an even longer labour than mine but well worth it – she was delighted for us both and she could see I was tired; she kissed us all and told us she would be back tomorrow as she got the rest of the team into the room.

They all gasped as they saw us sitting down with the bundles in our arms, tears were falling again and we got everyone introduced to them and they got passed about to meet their aunts and uncles. Gracie was looking at Brianna and she was giggling as the babies yawned and fell asleep with their mouths open; she was used to the fuss due to her little brother. I had given the kids over to everyone else and after a quick stop at the bathroom to check the maternity pad, I was back in bed and fast asleep on my side; everyone else was on the couches further into the room with the babies in their cots.