Hello once again everyone! Sorry about the massive cliffhanger there, but here's the next part! There may only be one part after this one, possibly two. If you guys have ideas for what you want me to write about once this little series is over, please let me me know! Otherwise, on with the story!
"W-What?!" Maxwell took hold of her arms, glancing between her face and her middle. "You mean they're coming? Now?!" He felt his heart start to race. "But it's ten days early!"
"I know, but I told you that twins tend to come early." Charlie replied, trying to remain the more-level headed member of the group. "Now, I need you to-"
"Oh, this is bad." He stepped back from her and started to pace back and forth, his hands behind his head. "What do we do? What do we do?"
She took a step towards him, trying to calm him. "Maxy, if you could-"
"I was expecting we'd already be at the hospital when the time came! That way we'd be-"
"Maxy!" She gently took his face in her hands, bringing him down to her level. "Before we can do anything, you need to calm down."
"Calm down?" He asked and put his hands on hers. "Charlie, you're having a baby. Two babies, to be exact! Forgive me if I'm finding it a bit difficult to stay calm here."
"I know, I know, sweetie." She caressed his cheek. "But they're not coming this very instant. I just felt one contraction, so there's no reason to start panicking."
He stared at her for a moment longer, then took a deep breath and exhaled. "Okay. What do you propose we do?"
She gave him a small smile, glad he was finally starting to come to his senses. "We go back to the house and get ready to go to the hospital."
It took a fair amount of effort for Maxwell to stay calm as they walked back to the house, but he remained as intact as he could for Charlie's sake. He was still almost overcome with worry whenever he felt her wince as another contraction took its toll on her body. He helped her back into the house, then immediately got to work on preparing for the trip to the hospital.
Charlie changed into a simple, comfortable dress, pausing only to wait out any particularly strong pains.
"Doctor McConnell said we can wait here until the contractions get stronger and closer together." She explained to him as they sat on their bed together.
"Stronger?" He asked, slightly concerned. "How much stronger are they going to get?"
"If the books I've read are any indication, a lot." She replied, squeezing his hand. "But for right now, we just need to keep waiting."
It was almost six hours later. Charlie had spent the majority of the time resting in their bed, and taking small naps between contractions.
Maxwell never left her side during the time. "How are you doing now?" He asked her, checking the clock on their wall.
"Okay." She took a breath as she stroked her large belly. "They're definitely getting closer together."
He put a hand on her stomach. "Do you think we should go soon?"
"Maybe." She answered. "We might be able to wait it out just a little- Agh!" She suddenly doubled over and wrapped her arms around her middle.
"Charlie?!" He reached out to support her.
She took several deep breaths, then looked at him worriedly. "I- I think we'd better get to the hospital."
The waiting room receptionist was just ten minutes into her shift when a well-dressed, almost comedically tall man came running through the hospital's front doors.
He darted up to her desk, panting rather hard.
She adjusted her glasses on her face, slightly bewildered. "Can I help you, sir?"
"My wife…is having a baby." He wheezed between breaths. "Need to see… Doctor McConnell."
"Ah." She responded and picked up a clipboard and a pen. "Could I get your wife's name?"
"Charlie." He stated, having started to catch his breath. "Charlie Carter."
"Carter?" She paused, glancing up at him. "As in, the wife of the Amazing Maxwell himself?"
He sighed, his hands raised in exasperation. "Yes, you got me." He then leaned in closer to her and lowered his voice. "But unless you want every journalist in town to come flooding in here, I think it'd be in everyone's best interest to keep this on the down-low."
Her eyes widened as she lifted her own hands in defense. "Oh no! Of course Mr. Carter. I completely understand." She scribbled a few notes on her clipboard. "I'll send for Doctor McConnell right away. If you could just help your wife inside here, we'll take care of everything else."
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. Thank you very much." He didn't wait for a response as he turned and ran back to the doors and outside.
He sprinted back to their car, pausing briefly to catch his breath again. "I'm getting too old for this kind of thing." He muttered to himself, then opened the side door.
Charlie sat in the passenger seat, her hands rubbing small circles on her stomach. She cringed from the pain as she looked at him. "Well? What did they say?" She asked breathily.
"The doctor's going to see you as soon as possible." He said, reaching out to support her. "We just need to get you inside."
He ever so carefully helped her out of the car. "Do you think you can walk?"
"I, I'm not sure if I- AAH! Oh God!" She clutched her stomach again and clenched her eyes shut.
"Oh no, oh no, it's okay! It's alright!" He held onto her. "I can carry you." He quickly scooped her up in his arms. "It's going to be okay. I promise." He spoke to her softly, although he was also talking to himself as well.
Where he found the strength to carry his heavily pregnant wife all the way into the hospital, he'd never truly know. Although, the adrenalin rush that had been coursing through him ever since Charlie went into labor likely had something to do with it.
Charlie whimpered and buried her face into his chest as he carried her. "It hurts…"
He held her close as they approached the front doors. "I know, darling. I know it does. But just remember, when this is all over you'll be holding your children in your arms. You've been dreaming about them for so long, and now they're finally going to be here."
She took several deep breaths, and relaxed ever so slightly in his arms.
When they finally entered the hospital, there was already a nurse with a wheelchair waiting for them. Maxwell made a beeline for her and carefully eased Charlie into the chair.
Before he could say anything to her, the back door swung open and Dr. McConnell walked in. He was a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper graying hair. While a bit softspoken at times, he was very experienced, having delivered more children than any other doctor at the hospital.
"Ah, Mister Carter." McConnell smiled at him and shook his hand. "I had a feeling you two might be coming down here."
"Yes," Maxwell answered, praying the conversation wouldn't take long, "it seems the twins decided to take us by surprise.
"Mm." He nodded. "What's even more surprising is how common it is with twin cases. That being said, there shouldn't be anything to worry about. Now," he turned his attention to Charlie, "we'd better go inside and get started."
He looked back at Maxwell. "Mister Carter, we're going to need you to wait out here."
Maxwell felt his stomach drop. The idea of Charlie being carted off somewhere else to give birth without him troubled him greatly, but hospitals had policies that needed to be followed.
"Understood." He responded. "But before you go…" He knelt down onto his knees in front of Charlie.
She gazed back at him, her expression mixed with pain and fear, not saying a word.
He took her hand in his and brought the other one to her cheek. "Charlie, no matter what happens, you will get through it. I know you can." His forehead rested against hers. "You are the bravest, strongest person I know, and I love you." He kissed her forehead. "I love you so much."
She breathed. "I love you too..."
He kissed her once more. "I'll see you very soon, I promise."
Doctor McConnell gave him one more reassuring glance before he, Charlie, and the nurse pushing the wheelchair disappeared behind the hospital doors.
As soon as they were gone, Maxwell walked over to the nearest chair, and slumped into it. All of the worrying, all of the running around had finally caught up to him, and he was exhausted. At least he knew Charlie was in good hands.
He breathed again and looked up at the ceiling, trying to process the blur of events that had unfolded before his eyes. He was going to be a father.
The abstract concept of parenthood had stuck with him since the day Charlie told him they were expecting, but now it was about to become a reality. Was he ready? Could you ever be ready for something like this?
Maybe that's the point. He thought to himself. Maybe you're never truly ready.
He stood back up. Now wasn't the time to be thinking of this sort of thing. He walked back out through the front doors of the hospital in search of the nearest pay phone. There was something he needed to do.
Maxwell tapped the side of the phone as it dialed. He hoped he wasn't calling them at an inopportune time, mostly because he wanted to get this over and done with.
The phone rang three times, then a woman's voice clicked onto the other end. "Hello?"
"Hello, Charlotte." Maxwell answered. "It's me, Maxwell."
"Maxwell? What a pleasant surprise!" The voice answered cheerfully. "To what do I owe this call?"
"Well, you see," he wasn't too sure how to begin, "I'm calling from the hospital right now."
An audible gasp was heard. "You mean…"
"Yes. They took Charlie inside not too long ago."
A shriek of unbridled excitement rang from the phone. He jumped and held the device an arm's length away from himself, flinching at the shrill sound.
"OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH, Maxwell! That is so EXCITING!"
"Yes, yes, I agree." He put a hand on his chest, his heart racing. "I just thought you'd probably like to know."
"Probably? My sister is having a baby. Of course I'd like to know!" Charlotte answered. "Thank you so much for telling me! Have you got any other news?"
"Nothing yet." He replied.
"Alright then. Can you promise you'll call me later? I want to know how Charlie and the babies are doing at all times!"
"I can't promise anything, but I'll try." He answered. "Now, I'd hate to leave so abruptly, but I should really get back inside the hospital."
"Oh of course!" Charlotte chirped. "And thank you once again!"
After saying their goodbyes, Maxwell hung up and quickly went back into the building. He had just stepped back through doors when he suddenly paused.
"Do you think this is the right place?"
"Pretty sure."
Those voices sounded familiar. Too familiar. He stepped into the waiting room, searching for their source.
He saw a couple sitting in the chairs together: a woman wearing a red blouse and a black skirt, her dark hair tied up in a bun. Next to her was a man with hair that looked like it defied gravity and slightly sunken eyes, as if he were perpetually sleep deprived.
The woman took notice of him almost immediately. Her face brightened as she stood up and trotted over to him. "Well, if it isn't the father-to-be himself." She grinned.
He fought the urge to gape at her like a fish. "Willow?" He said slightly incredulously. "And… Higgsbury." He gave Wilson a look as he got up to join them. "You're both here?"
"Of course we are!" Willow gave him another smile. "We thought you might want someone to help pass the time on this big day."
He continued to stare at them. "But, how did you know I was here?"
"We saw your car driving towards the hospital after we dropped Hazel off at school." Wilson stated rather proudly. "So, we thought we'd investigate."
He raised an eyebrow. "Charming." He sighed and walked back over to one of the chairs. "Well, as long as you're here, you might as well stay."
Willow took her husband's arm and led him back to the chairs next to Maxwell. "Certainly. We've got time to spare."
Maxwell glanced at them as they sat down next to him. "So... how long do you suppose this is going to take?"
"Probably a while, if I were to guess." Willow answered as she sat down next to him. "I was in labor for almost twelve hours when I had Hazel."
"Mm, I remember." Wilson nodded, then paused when Willow gave him a look. "What?"
Willow looked back at Maxwell. "But it varies a lot from woman to woman, so it could take more or less time than that. Then again, Charlie is having twins so…" She looked deep in thought.
"Thank you, Willow." Maxwell decided to interrupt her before things got too complicated. "I really do appreciate it." He glanced at Wilson once more. "So, did you happen to tell anyone else you were coming here? Charlie and I were trying to keep this as quiet as possible."
"I myself did not speak to anyone else of this." Wilson stated. "Willow?"
She shook her head. "Me neither."
Maxwell breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. As long as word doesn't get out too quickly, we should be-"
"I'm not too late for the gathering, am I?"
"Wha-?" Maxwell was immediately on his feet again as a certain redheaded figure strolled up to them, her voluminous hair tied up in a ponytail.
Willow gasped and stood up as well. "Wigfrid?"
A proud grin spread across her face as she gave a theatrical bow before them. "The one and only."
Willow laughed and brought the woman in for a hug as Maxwell stood there completely dumbfounded.
"How did…?" He put his hand on his head. "What are you doing here?"
"We… happened to be in town." Wigfrid released Willow from the hug and came over to him. "You didn't think you were gonna be spending your big day alone, did you?"
He raised an eyebrow. "We?"
"Oh right, I almost forgot." She looked over at the hospital doors.
As if on cue, a fairly tall man came strolling through the doors. Two giftwrapped presents rested in both of his arms, and he clutched an entire bunch of balloons in his one free hand. The balloons were of varying colors, some reading "It's a Girl!," others reading "It's a Boy!," and the rest twisted around to depict all sorts of different animals.
He trotted up to them excitedly, stopping at Wigfrid's side, an ecstatic grin plastered on his face.
Wigfrid smiled at him. "We didn't know what you're having, so Wes and I got a good variety."
The ever-silent mime nodded in agreement.
Maxwell was dumbstruck. "I…I don't know what to say… Really, I don't." Never in any of his years did he ever think these people would one day be helping celebrate the birth of his children.
"You don't have to say anything." Wigfrid replied. "All we ask in return is that we get to wait here with you."
Maxwell stared at them closely, then chuckled lightly. There was clearly going to be no arguing with these two. "Of course, let's go take a seat." He turned and led them back to the seats of the waiting room.