Thanks to everyone for their reviews on the last chapter hope you are still enjoying the story. Love you all!

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Chapter 27:

"Morning" Peter chimed as he waltzed into the kitchen.

"Why do you sound so happy?" Craig asked from his seat at the table.

"Because son, it's Christmas eve and I love Christmas!" He ruffled Craig's hair as he sat down at the table smiling at Katie. "Where's Kelly?" he asked after a moment noting her absence.

"She went for a walk, said she had to clear her head," Katie said.

Peter just nodded.

"Dad, umm is she ok?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well she is really quiet the last few days especially since you guys went shopping and she just seems distant and…umm…I don't know…fragile I guess." Katie said in a concerned voice as she watched her father's expression sadden.

"You guys noticed it too huh?" He asked quietly.

They both nodded.

"Honestly, I know something is up, I tried to ask her last night but she changed the subject and distracted me. I haven't really had another chance but I need to find out what it is because I'm getting worried." Peter rested his head on his hand and rubbed his forehead.

"Yeah we are worried too," Craig began, "Well me and Katie are out from ten today until late for that party so you will have plenty time to ask her today." Peter looked at him in shock and Craig read his mind. "Dad you have to cheer her up before Christmas because we will all enjoy it better if you do."

Peter just nodded as Katie and Craig got up from the table and headed to get ready leaving Peter alone to think. How was he going to get Kelly to open up to him. Usually it wouldn't be difficult but like Katie said she had been unlike herself and a bit different. What was it about that family in the mall that triggered feelings that Kelly didn't want to discuss? What was she thinking? Where her worries about them, the babies? He just didn't know. He rested his arms on the table and then his head on top of his arms exhaling a deep sigh and closing his eyes for a moment.

-

It wasn't long until he heard the door open as Kelly returned. His head sprang up immediately as he rose up off the seat to greet her.

"Morning honey!" he almost whispered as he took her into his arms and felt her relax against his chest. Her eyes were red and puffy, she had been crying. "You okay?" he continued, pulling back slightly to look at her properly.

"Yeah I'm just tired, didn't sleep much." She lied "I'm going to go have a bath."

He leaned down and caught her lips with his for a brief moment before watching her walk away towards their bedroom. Peter waited for Craig and Katie to leave before he followed her into their en suite bathroom. It was now or never he though as he approached her.

-

He lightly chapped on the door before pushing it open and giving her a warm smile as he entered.

"Hey."

"Hey" She whispered back.

Peter sat on the step next to the bath and giggled slightly at her belly which stuck out of the top pf the bubbles. He placed his hand on it and rubbed gently as he rested his chin on his other arm so that he was facing her. He waited until her eyes caught his before he spoke.

"So…you gonna tell me what's going on?" He spoke softly showing his concern for her.

"What do you mean" she tried to play the innocent.

"Baby come on, something is bothering you, even the kids have noticed." He stroked his hand over her cheek gently and forced her eyes to meet his again. "Don't shut me out Kelly"

She sighed. "It's nothing honestly, I'm just being daft, it's not important."

"If it's important to you then it's important.". He was dead serious.

"I'm scared Peter" She conceded speaking so softly he barely heard her.

"Why?" He just wanted to grab her in his arms and comfort her but it wasn't practical with her being in the bath.

A tear fell down her cheek and he automatically whipped it away with his thumb.

"What are you scared of honey?" He tried again.

"Everything." Was her answer. "I'm scared of having these babies, that maybe something will go wrong, I am scared that maybe I won't love them, or worse they won't love me, I just want them to grow up with two parents unlike I did and to have the happiest childhood possible but what if I can't provide that." She paused to take a breath hoping Peter would jump in and stop her from saying the next bit, "I'm scared that maybe I'll screw up and do something wrong or forget something important, what will it do to us? Will they stop us from being the way we are now but most of all, I am scared that you won't find me attractive anymore if my body doesn't go back to the way it was and you might leave because you don't think I'm beautiful anymore." Kelly was now crying freely, not hysterical but definitely weeping.

Peter allowed her to finish her ramble before he opened his mouth.

"Aww sweetie…" he was upset because she was upset, he lifted himself up slightly so that he could wrap an arm around her letting her rest her head on his shoulder. "Didn't I tell you when we found out that you were pregnant that I didn't ever want you to doubt the fact that you are going to be a great mother? Remember when we left the doctors having found out we were having twins and we sat at the pier?" He felt her nod her head against him as she remembered that conversation. "Well I meant it. I have no doubt in my mind that you are going to be the best mother they could possibly hope for. You are gonna be fine, it's a hurdle for everyone when they have a baby but you just have to kinda learn things as you go along."

He pulled back and looked straight into her eyes,

"And please don't ever think that our babies won't love you. You are their mother and they will always love you, and you will love them from the moment you first hold them in your arms."

Kelly smiled at him taking comfort in his words, she believed him just like she always did and he wouldn't lie to her about something like this. Peter bent his head down and kissed her lips lightly before he continued.

"As for us, yeah they will probably get in the way a little in terms of our time alone but it'll get better as they get older, plus nothing can keep me away from you for too long." They both shared an amused laugh before Peter cupped her face " I love you. I always will. There is more to beauty then looks and I will always be attracted to you, the beautiful person you are. If you are insecure about anything please don't ever let it be that."

Their lips met again but this time it was Kelly who initiated the kiss.

"I think you just rocked my world" she whispered watching her husband as he looked at her adoringly. "So just how attractive do you find me?" She teased lightening the mood.

"OH wouldn't you like to know" he chuckled.

"Yes I would" she grabbed his collar and kissed him hard on the lips.

"You getting out?" He asked.

"Hmmm" she pulled him closer playing along, "you getting in?"

Kelly's giggles floated through the bathroom when her husband managed to wriggle from her grasp before wrapping her up in a towel and carrying her to bed.

-

Later on after their "nap" Kelly and Peter decided to go to the living room and wrap all the presents they had got for Katie and Craig. They laughed away together as a made up CD played in the background. Songs they had danced to before, songs they loved and songs from special occasions. They laughed away together reminiscing on the old days and thinking about how different this Christmas was going to be compared to the last Christmas they had. Last year ir was just the two of them on Christmas morning Peter pointed out, this year it was going to be four of them and then next year it would be six of them. The family was definitely expanding. After all the wrapping they retreated to the sofa sitting in a comfortable silence.

"Dance with me?" Peter asked as He pulled Kelly up off the sofa gently and pulled her as close to him as her bump would allow. One of his favourite songs played in the background.


And when you're body's had enough of me
And I'm laying flat out on the floor
When you think I've loved you all I can
I'm gonna love you a little bit more

Come on over here and lay by my side
I've got to be touching you
Let me rub your tired shoulders
The way I used to do

Peter ran his hand up and down Kelly's back as she rested her head on Peter's shoulder breathing in his scent that she loved so much, closing her eyes and taking in the lyrics of the song.

Look into my eyes
And give me that smile
The one that always turns me on
And let me take your hair down
'Cause we're staying up to greet the sun.

She did just that, pulling her head back far enough to look at him she gave him a smile that only Kelly Rowan possessed that made his heart skip a beat.


And when you're body's had enough of me
And I'm laying flat out on the floor
When you think I've loved you all I can
I'm gonna love you a little bit more

Got to say a few things
That have been on my mind
You know where my mind has been
I guess I've learned my lessons
And now's the time to begin

Their eyes were locked on to each other's both of them were too afraid to break the connection.

So if you're feelin' alright
And you're ready for me
I know that I'm ready for you
We better get it on now
'Cause we got our whole life to live through

Peter leaned down and kissed her softly slowly opening his mouth and meeting her tongue with his as the kiss progressed.

And when you're body's had enough of me
And I'm laying flat out on the floor
When you think I've loved you all I can
I'm gonna love you a little bit more

The music stopped and they broke apart smiling to each other. They continued dancing as the Peter changed the CD to something more festive and they swayed along to "lonely this Christmas" around their living room.

"Are you scared about the birth Peter?" Kelly asked softly.

He pulled back so he could look at her "Yeah, but it's a natural reaction. it's a scary process baby, but we'll get through it. Together."

"So you will be there with me when I am giving birth?" She asked

"Yeah of course, if you want me to be."

"I would like you to be, I think I'll need you there." She laughed slightly before he silenced her with another kiss.

When he broke away he kept his nose touching hers "like I said we will get through it together."

Kelly felt a lot better, she was glad her husband could sense that something was wrong with her and she was glad she had opened up to him.

"I love you" she whispered.

"I love you more."

"hmmm not possible." She smiled.

She's back Peter thought.

-

Okay so perhaps not much of movement in the plot but I promise there is good stuff to come. I just wanted to show that Kelly was worried about all that stuff, Anyways…

In the next chapter I will cover Christmas and New Year before moving onto…well actually I'm not gonna tell you, if you want to find out then let me know.. Lol. (please)