Jimmy ran into the nearest hospital Leo, Michelle, Margo, John Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Jackson, and Lauren nipping at his heels.
"Sir I need you to fill out a form of emergency then I'll need your insurance card, the means of your emergency, and you to fill out about another million forms" The secretary said as Jimmy pulled at her crisp, white, collar.
"Listen here pencil pusher my wife's in labor and our doctor is in Retroville so do what it is you do and find us an available doctor ASAP!" Jimmy growled as the secretary gulped nodding and getting on the intercom.
"Daddy I've never seen you be so rough with someone in my life it was kind of awesome" Leo said snuggling with Cindy hoping the new baby would be a brother for him.
"Well Lee when Daddy's pushed too far I push back even if it is a pencil pushing woman who thinks she owns the hospital".
Leo sat on a plastic chair as Lauren was on the phone booking flights for the rest of the dozen on Cindy's dollar.
"That's right nine seats all together they can't be separate and money is no object. I don't care what your policy is their mother is in labor!" Lauren yelled as Michelle winced hating her sister's angry voice.
"That's all I ask and half are coach and half are first class. If you can have them here by tomorrow that would be greatly appreciated or tonight's fine too".
"Wow Lee you're going to be a big brother two times over. So do you remember anything about Kennedy's birth?" Michelle asked as Margo passed out cans of soda.
"Not really I just remember almost leaving Alex behind and she was bitter during Kennedy's baby years. They reconnected when she was one and Lexi was her first word".
"Lee stay with Lauren mommy and I have to go to the maternity ward to get prepped and ready for this baby".
Leo saluted Jimmy and Lauren hung her phone up seeing a dejected look on Leo's face and she sat next to him.
"Lee what's the matter kiddo? I mean for a boy about to be a brother to another boy or girl you seem kind of down Honey".
"They forgot my birthday and it may be just another girl to add to the girls that treat me different because I'm not their gender".
"Lee I'm sure they didn't forget your birthday I mean it's still technically your B day until the clock hits twelve so maybe we'll celebrate it after mommy's pushed the baby out".
Leo just wept and stalked off mad that the new baby was going to have his birthday and might be another girl to torture him.
"Michelle stay here with John and Margo Leo needs me right now and I think he's spiraling out of control in his mind".
"This is so totally typical of them to forget my birthday I mean when Kennedy was born they forgot Alex was there half the time. She had to jump up and down and scream to get their attention".
"Lee this is totally on schedule honey the I hate the baby blues I mean. See Alex hated Kennedy because she was new and that's why you don't like the baby it's new".
"And stealing my birthday, taking a room in the house I'm sure will be my room, taking my toys, taking away the love from my family, and as it grows it'll grow to hate me like my sisters do" Leo mumbled tracing his finger across the top of his soda can.
"Lee you have a whole bunch of toys you love I'm sure. I mean you have one favorite but the rest get played with too am I right?"
Leo hesitated then slowly nodded seeing where Lauren might be coming from with this.
"It's the same with a family see they have children and those children will get played with eventually. It's the newness of the toy that gets played with first but that newness does wear off" Lauren said hugging Leo and he realized the new baby had no presents for its birthday.
"Lauren point me towards the gift shop I have present shopping to do and this baby will not have a birthday without one".
Lauren and the crew that was there walked through the gift shop as Gabrielle and the rest of the dozen ran into the gift shop hugging Leo and Angel.
"We missed you guys so much and we really mean that it hasn't been the same without you guys around" Gabrielle said watching Leo buy presents for the baby.
"Uhh guys let's go to the waiting room I think Leo and Alex should have a heart to heart from one older sibling to another".
Everybody but Leo and Alex walked out as Alex gently placed her hand on Leo's shoulder seeing tears run down his face.
"Alex-how-did-you-deal-with-being-forgotten? I-don't-want-to-be-forgotten-I-want-mommy-and-daddy-to-love-me-like-they-used-to".
"Aww come on little bro we can charge all these rockin b day gifts to the room and go get some grub because there's a lot to be told" Alex said as a bag was covering all the presents and Leo also ordered balloons to the room.
Leo and Alex found the cafeteria and Leo sat down as Alex got them food and sat down next to him handing him napkins.
"Dry those tears little bro I don't think you'll ever be forgotten because you have something I didn't back then".
Leo looked down at himself and Alex giggled hugging him as he hugged her back and she locked eyes with him.
"Your heart Lee you have an amazing heart and if you help take care of the baby that baby will always remember that".
Leo giggled and looked at Alex as she stared back and she knew the story of Kennedy had to be told to ease Leo's pain.
"Did I ever tell you about Kennedy's birth? I mean that story is amazing and it'll put into perspective why you could never be as forgotten as me"
Alex was brought back to the house as a seven year old and Leo was chasing Jimmy and Cindy down the stairs with Jimmy helping Cindy with her breathing exercises.
"That's it Cin in and out in and out in and out now get in the van I'm going to do a headcount to make sure the eleven are present and accounted for".
"Daddy is my baby sister really coming like right now? I mean she's still in mommy's tummy right? But at the doctor's the baby's going to be here right?" Leo asked excitedly running out to meet Cindy in the van.
"Leo one, Britney two, Gabriella three, the triplets six, Gretchen seven, Angel eight, Alex nine, and there are the rest great fathering Jim" Jimmy told himself as the van screeched off Jimmy not doing an accurate headcount.
"OK kids when we get to the hospital nobody explores, nobody touches anything, and lastly nobody asks the nurses stupid questions" Cindy said as they screeched into the parking lot and ran into the hospital as the doctor took Cindy and Jimmy away and Britney the oldest noticed somebody was missing.
"Uhh guys where's Alex I mean she was in the van with us right? We didn't leave her home did we? Because if we did then I've got to say dad is the worst father ever" Britney said counting heads and getting ten instead of eleven.
"We are so screwed here I mean how could dad forget Alex she's the noisiest, big mouthed bass, angry girl in the Neutron clan".
Britney found a spare pair of van keys in her pocket as she looked at Angel and Angel stared back.
"Alright Ange I'll be right back but until I get back you're in charge and so help me if you see dad tell him I went to pick his five year old daughter up from home".
Britney sped off and Angel found a table all the kids could sit at and color pictures while she drank soda and ate candy bars keeping a good eye on them.
"OK your mother is prepped and the doctor kicked me out due to my freaking out so Angie where are Britney and Alex?"
"Britney went to get Alex from home who you forgot in your haste of counting heads" Angel said handing Jimmy a candy bar and a soda then she went to watch whatever was on the hospital TV.
"Very funny Angel I mean you're not much of a prankster but hah, hah that has got to be the funniest thing I heard all day".
Alex was calling Angel's phone as Angel grinned handing the phone to Jimmy and he shrieked knowing all too well what the call could be about.
"I think it's for you dad and I feel for you because Alex has been on you guys all week about leaving her behind and you promised you wouldn't".
Jimmy slowly took the phone and answered it a five year old girl's crying, screaming, screechy voice being on the other end.
"Ally I know I forgot you and for that I'm sorry but Brit's on her way there and she's going to bring you here to meet your new little sister and maybe that will ease your pain on being forgotten" Jimmy said as screaming continued on the phone.
"Alex I know mommy and I promised we wouldn't forget you but there are so many kids and we were in a rush to leave so couldn't that be a reasonable excuse for forgetting you?"
Alex bawled as Jimmy could do nothing but cry with her and Angel heard words like forgetful, unloved, disowned, and bad parents over the phone.
"You can't disown us Alex we're your family, I know you feel unloved right now but trust me there could be worse things to happen to you, I may be forgetful but you had to have heard your mom screaming and all the kids running around the house, and lastly we're not bad parents just bad counters".
Alex screamed a couple more things and hung up as Jimmy shook his head stalking off leaving Angel in charge of the kids and he found a cafeteria and a chapel as he grabbed food and walked into the church kneeling down talking to the one person he knew wouldn't yell back at him.
"God I know I screwed up and this time it's big but I'm not perfect no parent is I mean they don't have a manual for being parents so no parent could read about how to do it".
Candles flickered in the chapel as Jimmy continued to pray hoping Alex and Cindy weren't too mad at him for forgetting Alex at home.
"God I'm trying here I really am and I know being a parent's not easy but I thought it would be a little easier than this. I mean twelve kids I can't keep a vicus alive and I'm expected to keep now twelve kids alive, fed, and in the latest fashions".
Jimmy cried wiping his eyes and standing up hearing Alex's voice from the waiting room screaming for her father.
"Daddy you better be hiding because once I find you you're going to wish you were still hiding. I mean what the world do you mean forgetting me at home?" Alex yelled as Jimmy walked into the waiting room the ten other kids staring from Alex to Jimmy like they were at a tennis match.
"Alex I know I forgot you but you need to calm down because the whole hospital doesn't need to know I forgot you at home by accident".
"How did you not notice your five year old daughter was not in the car with your other children? I mean I'm the loudest Neutron for that reason so you don't forget me".
"Alex I apologized more times than I can count and I know you'll never forgive me but you can't blame your mom or your new sister for this it was all me".
"I can blame who I want I was the one left at home and you're lucky I don't call DSS and tell them your bad parents".
"If you do that we'd have people observing us like monkeys and the next slip up would get all of you in different homes and you'll never see each other ever again is that what you want?"
Alex refused to answer Jimmy and she wept sitting by herself at the coloring table hoping this day would end soon so she could hope that the next day would be better than the last.
"Alright since all of us are here I think the fact that I forgot Alex at home could be between us and nobody else meaning mommy and Kennedy your new sister" Jimmy said as everybody but Alex nodded.
"Ally mommy is on edge right now her mood swings at the drop of a hat so if we tell her I forgot you then she's going to fly off the handle and daddy's the one that has to deal with her not you".
"I think forgetting your daughter at home should at least be brought into a conversation because I'm never forgiving the both of you for forgetting me" Alex said sniffling as Jimmy just shook his head.
"Fine everybody but Alex can go meet the baby and mommy and when Alex can agree to not make a scene for an obviously sorry father and a very angry mother then she can see Kennedy".
"Fine with me I don't want to see the crying, puking, spit up, peeing, pooping, drooling machine anyways I hate her just as much as I hate you and mommy".
Jimmy walked off and we're brought back to Alex and Leo as she's ending the story wiping her eyes and smiling at Leo.
"Long story short I snuck into the room mommy was in that night and I told her what daddy and her did. Daddy was right she was so angry a nurse had to come in numerous times and tell her to calm down but she wasn't hearing it.
Leo wiped his eyes feeling sad for Alex for being forgotten at home and she hugged him as he hugged her back the both of them in agreement in their minds that if it was a boy or a girl they would love this baby unconditionally.
"So let's go to the waiting room with everybody else and we can talk what else there is to do in this popstand while mommy has the baby".
Leo ran back to the waiting room with Alex and Jimmy was there talking to everybody else again being kicked out of the room because he was freaking out.
"Well, well, well look who it is my son and my daughter still getting along I see. So if anybody's hungry I'm up for some food and then we can play waiting game" Jimmy said as the kids followed him to the cafeteria and gorged out on junk food.
"Daddy is this day special in another way too? I mean yea the baby's on the way but isn't there another thing that makes this day extra special with special sauce?" Leo asked as Alex and Lauren hummed Happy Birthday under their breath and Jimmy was clueless.
"Oh for Pete's Sake dad I mean forgetting a child is bad enough but forgetting a birthday that has got to be the lowest thing ever and Leo's already scared of being forgotten".
Leo wept as Jimmy gently walked up to him it finally dawning on him that Cindy and him forgot his birthday.
"Lee I know this can't help with the pain your feeling but I'm really sorry and I'm sure mommy is too. Lee you've got to understand that there are a lot of things on our plate right now and birthdays are not on the top of our list.
"Whatever at least you can remember the stupid babies birthday it's August 8th the same as mine I bet you'll never forget his or her birthday".
"Leo we'll do something just the three of us after the baby is born but right now we need to make sure mommy is healthy, happy, and never finds out about this".
"Oh no Alex told mommy you forgot her at home and I'm telling mommy that you and her forgot my birthday all because another baby was being born I mean sheesh thirteen what are you going for twenty?"
"Leo when Alex told mommy she was forgotten we were kicked out of the hospital because mommy's blood pressure was through the roof because Alex blamed her as well as me for forgetting her".
"Right and the both of you forgot my birthday because you were all caught up in baby drama to know that you even had a son" Leo said running off with Alex and Jimmy chasing after him.
"Dad are you completely absent minded to forget his birthday I mean he has a great big heart for mom, you, and his twelve siblings. And all's he asks is for you guys to remember one day for him and you couldn't even do that".
Jimmy and Alex looked up and down the hospital and still found no sign of Leo and things got desperate as Lauren, Michelle, Margo, John, and the rest of the dozen screamed Leo's name trying to find him.
"I'm dead Alex your mom is going to cut my heart out, feast on it, drink it's blood, then stick it back inside me so I can feel it's pain".
The dozen looked a little longer and still no sign of Leo as Jimmy and Alex slumped into chairs not knowing what they were going to tell Cindy about Leo.
"I'm exhausted maybe after some sleep we can find Leo who knows he could be looking at the babies or in your mother's room snuggling with her because she always was his favorite" Jimmy said yawning and everyone dozed off.
The next morning a nurse shook Jimmy awake and led him to Cindy's room where a baby girl with green eyes and brown hair giggled at Cindy and she looked up at Jimmy confused.
"Jim daddy meet Deidra Cynthia Neutron our newest baby girl so get the others in here and we can introduce this little miracle" Cindy said as Jimmy looked nervous and Cindy knew something was wrong.
"Cin I know you don't want to hear this right now but Leo's B day was yesterday and we both forgot it. He got so mad that he ran off and now we can't find him but this is a big hospital so he may turn up".
"Nurse take my baby to the Maternity Ward and get me a wheelchair I have a son to find and make it quick".
"Mrs. Neutron you just gave birth you're in no position to be going around looking for a boy. You should relax and let us find him for you" The nurse said as Cindy got red in the face and the nurse saw she meant business.
"Ok but if the doctor asks I never did this for you because I'm risking my job here to help you". There we are one wheelchair now Mr. Neutron you wheel her and I'll need a description of the boy so I can help you look".
Jimmy gave the nurse a picture of Leo from his wallet and then wheeled Cindy around hoping to find his son and he didn't get too far by himself.
"LEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOO LEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOO LEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOO LEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOO WHERE ARE YOUUUUUUUUUU LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Cindy's screams went up and down the halls and just as she was about to give up they found Leo asleep on a bench in front of the Maternity Ward all the babies crying as Jimmy ran up to him grabbing him in a hug with Leo slowly waking up and looking around.
"Don't you ever run away like that again Lee I mean what were you thinking? You could have been snatched, kidnapped, or killed buddy" Jimmy said as Leo refused to talk to him and he looked up at Cindy with pain filled green eyes.
"You guys forgot my birthday and it's my favoritest day ever even better than Christmas and Easter put together to me" Leo said groggily as Cindy hugged him and looked down at him her eyes saying it all as Leo clung to her and she cried and kept repeating Mommy's so sorry.
"He's not he told me not to tell you because you'd get angry and we'd be kicked out of the hospital. He also told Alex not to tell you he forgot her after Kennedy was born".
"I am sorry Lee but you don't know what mommy's like angry I was just trying to help you not see mommy scream at me for forgetting your birthday and he resents Deidra too he said we'll remember her birthday but not his".
"Lee we can never forget your birthday ever again Deidra Cynthia Neutron your new baby sister has the same birthday as you so if we forget your birthday we'd have to forget hers too. Now I know you'll never let that happen My Little Snugglebug" Cindy said snuggling Leo as Jimmy walked up to the window.
"Come here Lee meet your new sister Deidra and maybe the next baby we have will be a boy who knows. What I do know is with all these girls around you you'll never get lost in the shuffle you made sure of that" Jimmy said pointing out Deidra as Leo took one look and he saw love in his baby sisters eyes.
"So let's get the rest of the dozen and they can meet Deidra while we plan a big party for the both of you".
Jimmy wheeled Cindy back to her room and Leo got the dozen all of them hugging him as they passed going to Cindy's room to meet baby Deidra.
"Aww she's the cutest mama she looks just like I did when I was born. She even acts like I acted as a little baby" Kennedy said as she spied all the presents in Cindy's room.
"Those are for the baby and nobody else because this is a special day for the baby it's birthday and I will make sure nobody forgets it's birthday" Leo said putting all the presents and balloons in front of Cindy's bed as Cindy and Jimmy started opening presents.
"Lee this is the greatest thing you could ever do for baby Deidra and I'm going to make sure she never forgets it" Alex said hugging her brother as Kennedy looked on in jealousy.
"Why does the baby get all those presents? I mean what's the special occasion? I never got this many presents in my whole life".
"Sure you did Alex got you a whole busload of presents for your birthday because you said Lexi and she wanted you to know she loved you if you don't remember it then that's your own problem" Angel said snuggling baby Deidra against her as Deidra laughed hysterically at her big family.
"Alright everyone get together for a picture then we can open the rest of these presents" Jimmy said snapping a picture as everyone said cheese and even Deidra smiled.
Well that's it for now so please R&R and I'll write more and Deidra my biggest fan I hope you like the chapter and the character peace out all.