The Darkest Hour

Chapter 12: Addie and Hope

"Joseph, what is the matter?"

Clarisse asked sniffling.

"Nothing. I will be right back, darling."

Joseph didn't want to get Clarisse's hopes up if the baby wasn't actually alive, but he was pretty sure it was. He ran out into the hallway asking for a doctor or nurse. Dr. Nash finally came into the room and asked what the matter was.

"This child is not dead. Watch."

Joseph tickled the little girl's foot…and nothing.

"She was doing it just a few seconds ago, I swear!"

The doctor believed him, so he touched her foot and again got nothing.

"I am sorry sir, I think it was just wishful thinking. If anything else happens, feel free to let me or one of my nurses know. I am sorry."

Joseph stood there in complete shock, knowing it was not only 'wishful thinking'. That child's foot twitched and he knew it. He touched the bottom of her foot again, and again it twitched.

"Did you see that Clarisse? Did you see her foot twitch? She's alive I tell you."

"Yes darling, I did. Go get the doctor, please."

Joseph ran out of the room and went to fetch the doctor.

"Dr. Nash! It happened again, and this time, Clarisse saw it herself. We confirmed it. I am not going crazy."

"Alright Joseph. I will check."

The doctor went into the room and did the same thing as last time, and again got nothing.

"I don't understand what is happening? She will twitch her foot when you aren't in here, but when you arrive, she stops. She twitched, I know it."

Joseph said, with tears in his eyes. His daughter was alive, and nobody believed him but Clarisse. The doctor couldn't see it with his own eyes, so he didn't believe it. Joseph tried hard to fight away the tears, but he blinked hard and one solid tear fell down his cheek. He couldn't believe his daughter was alive, and nobody believed him. The doctor again told the couple he was sorry, but there was nothing that could be done. He started to leave the room and heard a small sigh. He turned around and asked:

"Clarisse, was that you?"

Clarisse shook her head no and the doctor went over to look at the baby in Joseph's arms. She had opened her eyes and was smiling. The doctor seemed shocked. He had never encountered something like this before. A baby had been pronounced dead and then miraculously recovered? Maybe this was a child sent from God. Joseph felt that this was a sign telling him he was meant to have a child.

"We will get her cleaned up and put in the nursery! I will be back soon with a birth certificate to fill out."

The doctor said as he quickly hurried out the room and down the hallway.

Clarisse looked at Joseph with tears running down her cheeks. She couldn't believe this had happened. The child was dead and came back to life. How is that possible? Unless it was a sign.

"Clarisse, what should we name her?"

"How about Hope Catherine? Hope because of the miracle baby she was."

"I love that, darling. Hope…it fits her perfectly."

Joseph looked down at little Hope as she wrapped her petite little finger around Joseph's large pointer finger. Hope was already wrapped around his finger, so to speak.

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Clarisse and the girls stayed in the hospital for about three or four more days. Joseph stayed with her every day and as long as he could. He couldn't get enough of being a dad. He loved it. He would just coo and caa over his girls. It felt good to say 'his girls'.

"Joseph, Clarisse just needs a few more tests ran to see if she is healthy enough to go home and you can take the girls and her home. Just be sure she gets enough rest, and I don't care if you have to force liquids, she has to drink water, and juice. She cannot dehydrate herself."

The doctor gave him a prescription to get filled if she did dehydrate. He hoped she wouldn't though. Joseph nodded his head saying he understood and the doctor went in to check Clarisse's vital signs and he came out with a smile and said that as soon as they got the babies out of the nursery, Clarisse could go home, if they had a proper car seat for both infants. Joseph hadn't thought about that, so he ran out to the store and bought the most expensive ones he could find. In his mind, the more expensive it was, the better it worked. Clarisse tried to explain to him over and over, just because something is more expensive, doesn't mean it works better. With that thought, Joseph just laughed.

"What is the matter? What is so funny?"

Asked Dr. Nash.

"Oh just something Clarisse said."

The doctor rolled his eyes and just walked away. Joseph sat in Clarisse's room just holding her hand and they had a few moments to themselves before the doctor came back in, carrying the two infants.

"Here is Addison Renne and Hope Catherine."

The doctor handed them to Clarisse, and her eyes just lit up. She was so glad to be a mother again. Joseph walked over to his three girls. He put his hand on Clarisse's shoulder and gave her a soft kiss to the forehead before the nurse took their picture and gave the new family a copy. Joseph helped Clarisse out of the bed and got her dressed as they put the babies in the little incubator. Joseph phoned Shades and told him to bring the car around so they could leave.

Back at the palace, the ballroom was decorated with banners, streamers, and everybody was awaiting the new family's arrival. Mia had bought diapers, bottles and formula for the later months. Lord knows they would need it. When Mia told Helen about the babies, she told Mia to make sure Clarisse got enough diapers because those babies would go through diapers fast! When the door opened, everybody yelled surprise, but only shocked the queen's assistant, Charlotte.

"Charlotte! We thought you were grandma and Joe!"

Mia playfully slapped Charlotte's shoulder.

"Why does everything have to be ruined by me, all the time?"

Charlotte, along with everybody else in the room, laughed loudly. When the door opened this time, it was Joseph and Clarisse, each one carrying a carrier with a baby inside.

"Oh hi Grandma, Joe…GRANDMA!"

"SURPRISE!"

Everybody yelled at the couple. Clarisse just laughed and Joseph saw that Addison woke up.

"Come here, my sweet."

Joseph picked her up and let everybody see her and her sister.

"Aw they are soooo cute!"

Mia exclaimed.

"I can't wait to have kids."

"Oh yes you can!"

Joseph and Clarisse said together. Then smiled at the other person.

"I am rather tired. Here, darling. Give me Addie, and we will go upstairs and I will try to put her back to sleep."

Joseph nodded and gave Clarisse the small child he held in his arms. The two went upstairs and finally about an hour and a half later, Joseph walked upstairs and saw Addie in her basinet and Clarisse asleep on the bed. Thankfully, Hope had fallen asleep as well, so he put her in her basinet and snuggled up to Clarisse on the bed. The two slept soundly until both the babies cries woke them up.

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Alright guys! I am thinking maybe two more chapters…What do y'all think? Thanks for the reviews!