1:55 PM

As Red took off down the road, I wondered how he was able to survive all that he went through in life. Not just all of the gory war stuff, what I really wanted to know was how he was able to live with usall of these years. We all lived with him and Mrs. Forman at some time or another, and it's really hard for me to understand how they were able to deal with six teenagers. Most importantly, I wondered how Steven and I would be able to live with our twins once they were born.

"Ow!" I lurched forward in the front seat. So much for trying to have a moment. From everything I learned from the classes I forced Steven to take with me and from information from Donna and Brooke, the worst of the contractions was yet to come. But any of the knowledge Steven actually retained during the classes wouldn't have helped me then because I was diving head first into labor with no one but Red to help me.

Red smirked from his spot next to me, but his hands tensed on the Corvette's steering wheel. "Don't worry," he said, unsure of himself. "We'll get there soon enough.

"You think this is so funny," I groaned. "Why don't you try carrying two babies inside of you?" Sighing, I tried looking out the window to ease my pain. It was no use; I had too many bad memories of the town.

I was too uncomfortable also. Any position I tried to move in was either impossible or just made the situation worse. I sighed once more and leaned back in my seat. Taking a deep breath, I said, "Tell me a story."

I think I stunned Red, but I guess he'd learned a long time before to always listen to a pregnant woman's commands (especially if it was me), so he gave in. "What type of story?"

I shrugged. "Anything. I just need something to entertain me." It wasn't completely a lie, but I really just wanted something to entertain the babies. It'd become a ritual for me every night to tell the twins a story, whether it be long or short, abut my life. It was like a pre-birth bonding experience for me, and I think I wanted Red and the babies to have the same thing with each other.

"Hmm," Red's fingers drummed along the steering wheel.

Inside of me, I felt one of the babies kick and I wondered if that would be the last time I'd feel the sensation. "Tell me about the first person you were ever in love with."

"Red's eyes settled on me with a knowing, but annoyed smile. "You've known her for a long time already."

"She can't possibly be the first person you loved." I felt a tiny pang of guilt after I said it. I t wasn't exactly harsh, but I think someone might have interpreted it as me saying Red had settled with Mrs. Forman when they both could have had someone else. "I mean, even Jerry and Tallulah know that even Michael wasn't the first person I loved."

Red cringed in his seat. "Don't even name a child after Gerald Ford."

"It was just a joke," I told him. "I… we haven't picked out names yet."

"You really don't have names for them yet? Even Kitty had her children's names picked out when she was five," Red mocked me.

Wow, that really stumped me. Could it really be true that all along I hadn't planned out their names? Sure, we'd planned other things, but that was mostly what clothes they'd be wearing, what cribs they'd sleep in. We had thrown around a few, but none of them seemed fit.

"Come on," I said, trying to get back on subject. "Who was the first person you were ever in love with?"

"Jackie…" Red trailed off and looked at me. With a sigh, he started. "When I was thirteen there was this girl that sat next to me in English."

"And what was her name?" I prompted.

Red thought about it for a moment. "Julia Goldman… she was Jewish. I brought her home one day and my mom almost through her out." He smiled, "I never gave up, though."

I smiled back. "What'd you do?"

"Asked her out, of course. And we did, for a while." Red took a deep breath. "But then I went off to war, I met Kitty, and… you know the rest."

The next few minutes were just a blur of colors. We arrived at the hospital and I was rushed up to the maternity ward. I do believe I fought to get a private room, and I guess my pleading worked because I found myself lying on the most uncomfortable bed, wearing the most uncomfortable (and hideous) gown, in a room all by myself. Well, not all by myself. Red was standing outside talking to a doctor, a cup of coffee in his hands, but he still wasn't with me.

I propped myself up on my elbows and stared at the strange tubes attached to my arms. There was a nurse there, also, coming around from the bottom of the bed to the side.

"So now I'm guessing I'm a science experiment?" I said, a little too meanly, now that I think about it.

The nurse smiled and pushed away a sweaty band of hair. "No. But it looks like you might be having your babies soon."

"What?" I yelled, a tear trailing down my face. "But... Steven… he isn't here yet!"

The nurse's face looked concerned. "Is Steven your husband?"

"Yes," I managed. I started to cry, but I really had no reason to. I was acting like a baby when I would probably have to deliver two of them in an indefinite amount of time.

The nurse patted my arm. "Don't worry," she soothed. "He'll get here."

Youdon'tknowthat,I wanted to say. I didn't, though. Something inside me told me that as long as I believed anything was true, it would happen. After all, it had worked when I was desperately trying to get Steven back after our breakup.

I managed a tiny smile. "Thanks anyway."

The nurse walked out of the room and I watched as two figures dashed down the hall, running frantically past Red, then back again, and into my room. It was Eric and Donna.

"Jackie!" Donna screamed. She ran into the room, her arms flailing. Charlotte ran next to her, her tiny nose red from the outside air. "I'm so sorry!"

Eric ran in behind her, looking very Mr. Mom with a diaper bag and blanket hanging over his shoulder, as well as holding the carrier Luke was fast asleep in. "You okay?"

I, Donna, and even Charlotte all rolled their eyes.

Donna sighed and walked around to sit on the edge of my bed. "How're you holding up?"

"Horrible," I pulled on one of flattening curls. "My hair's a mess, I look completely ugly, and I'm becoming an object for science exploitation."

Donna laughed. "It happens to everyone."

"Donna, please," I groaned. "I'm not just everyone,I'm Jackie Burkhart."

I watched Donna and Charlotte roll their eyes again. Donna fixed her gaze on Luke who started to stir in his carrier seat. "Eric, can you give him too me."

"Wait," I told her. "Could I hold him?"

I saw Eric's face tense, I could tell how you wanted to make a not so funny joke, however, he carefully took Luke out and settled him gently in my arms.

I cradled look close to my body, but gave him back to Donna. I didn't know then, but I know now that I gave him up because it was hard to hold my friend's child and not my own. One thing I did decide on then, though, was that I wanted the babies to be born, right then and there.

As if on cue, the doctor walked in and smiled at all of us. "How are you feeling, Jackie?"

"Like the babies are coming soon."

The doctor pointed at me, followed by a thumbs up. "Right you are."

The sound of movement and struggle could be heard outside, and suddenly someone came into the room, but they were barely visible because of the blinding light streaming in from the windows.

"Doc, did I miss anything?"

"Steven!" I yelped, covering my mouth with my hand.

"Hey, Jacks," Steven came to my side. "How you holding up?"

The doctor turned to both of us. "She's holding up just fine. If you guys don't mind," he gestured toward Eric, Donna, Charlotte, and Luke, and then to us, "I think it's time to have us some babies!"

A/N: Whoa, 2 chapters in 2 days, I think I'm doing really well! Look for the next chapter sometime soon!