The Best-Laid Plans – Chapter 8

Author's Notes – Refer to Chapter 1 for all the thank yous. I've really appreciated everyone that has read this so far. You get another chapter today. Reviews are always appreciated.

Disclaimer – Refer to Chapter 1

Linda smiled at the new parents. "I like both of those names." She gazed at the people around them. "All right, let's give the new parents some privacy." Everyone returned to where they had been sitting. The older woman then looked at Ev. "Would you like me to go tell Lieutenant McDonald that the babies are here? I know the people in the other caves are gonna want to see them too."

The Colonel responded, "That would be great, Ms. Wilson. Thank you. And I really appreciate everything you did to help too."

Nodding in response, Linda stood up and put her hands on her hips. "You know, Colonel, if you really wanted to thank me, you would call me Linda like I have asked you to do for the last two months."

Ev softly chuckled. "All right, Linda. As long as you call me Everett. Besides, we're in a whole new reality now. Things don't need to be formal between us—especially since you're gonna be Grandma." He pointed to the babies. "That is, if you want to be."

Tears came down Linda's face, and she saw where Missy was nodding in agreement. "That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. I don't mind being called Grandma at all."

"Great!"

"I'll be right back." She went to the entrance to the cave where she found Mac. "You've probably already heard the two newest members of our group. I was sent to tell you that the new parents would like to see you."

Gazing at the other officers who were with him, Mac said, "Thanks for letting me know, ma'am. Okay, who did we decide would come back with me first?"

Lieutenant Peterson replied, "I think it was Reynolds and Baker. Also, while you're back there, find out what the Colonel wants to do about sending people down to that water source now that the storm is over."

"You got it." Mac and the others walked into the cave and made their way to the back of it where they found Melissa and Everett sitting next to each other holding their children. "Hello, Sir, Melissa. Congratulations."

"Hi Mac," said Missy with a warm smile. "Thank you."

The others congratulated them too as Ev spoke up. "Thank you. How are things going out there?"

Mac replied, "Going well, Sir. The storm is over, and I've had several people inquire about going down to the lake, and I think the people in the other caves would like to see the babies too."

"We do need to get water up here." He motioned to Melissa. "How long do you think it is until nightfall?"

"Several hours, Sir, and the lake's not far."

"Ok, go ahead and get a group together and send them that way. And we can let people come in here too and take a peek at the babies. We'll probably be in here for a while so I want to make sure Missy gets as much rest as she can." He smiled softly at his wife.

"Yes, Sir." Mac and the others headed out of the cave with Mac making the team assignments, and Sergeants Reynolds and Baker starting the process of directing people inside the cave where Everett, Missy, and the children were. They spent the next hour visiting with their friends and letting them see the babies. By the time Mac came back, Ev could see that Missy was starting to tire and told the last group that they would let people see the babies again the following day. Mac, who had an excited look on his face, came and sat down next to them. "Guess what, Sir. The water's perfectly safe." He handed Ev a full canteen.

"Really? That's great." He took a sip and then handed it to his wife. "There you go, honey." He looked back over at Mac. "How much did you get?"

"About twenty canteens full. I've sent another team back for more. But it won't be a problem to resupply. It was very easy to walk down there."

"Cool!" Everett gazed at his wife who still had the canteen propped up next to her. "Why haven't you started drinking that yet?"

Melissa looked up from where she was holding her son and noticed where the canteen was. "Why am I getting this first?"

Shaking their heads, the men both chuckled. "Because you need to drink so you can feed the babies. Listen Missy, you just gave birth to twins. People are gonna be doing for you for a while. You need to get used to it."

Softly smiling at her husband, Missy said, "All right." She opened the canteen and drank from it. "I was thirsty. Thank you. I'm also tired." She gave her husband a concerned look. "How are we gonna sleep with the babies now? I keep seeing that cradle Sergeant Reynolds made for us in our room on the ship."

"Don't worry about it." He handed Katie to Mac. "I thought I'd go outside and take a look around, and I'll take Katie with me. You can lie down." He helped her lie on the blanket. "And either put Matthew on your chest or right beside you. When I come back, I'll do the same thing with Katie. They'll be fine."

"I think I want him beside me." Missy stroked Matthew's cheek and then gazed at her husband. "Matthew seems awfully small to me. Do you think he's gonna be okay?"

Ev leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Honey, you're small. Matthew will be fine. I'll be back in a few." He stood up and took Katie from Mac who also stood up.

"Okay. Love you."

"Love you too." After he looked over at Linda, mouthed the words 'Watch them please,' and received a responding nod, he and Mac walked to the front of the cave. He carefully observed the terrain leading up to where they had taken shelter. "It looks like this will be an easy place to defend."

Mac replied, "Yeah, just that one approach." He pointed to the hill they had climbed to get there. "The lake is to the right after you reach that turn-off."

"That will be easy." He gazed at his daughter and lovingly caressed her face before looking back up at Mac. "I can't believe they're here."

"I know what you mean, Sir. Listen…" He motioned back to the cave. "I did notice that Matthew seemed to be small compared to the one you're holding."

"Me too. I was hoping Missy hadn't noticed. Anyway, I'm gonna talk to Lieutenant James and see if she has any suggestions, but I'm thinking our best bet is gonna be getting plenty of water into Missy and getting her to start nursing as soon as possible. Where did you put the supplies?"

They walked over to the next cave. "Here, Sir." Mac motioned to Sergeant Baker and Sergeant Reynolds. "They're gonna come around to the other caves when they're done with this one."

"Great," replied Everett. He spoke to Baker. "Could I get a couple of ration bars for me and Missy?"

"Sure, Sir," said Lindsay with a warm smile. She handed him the bars and then motioned to the baby. "She is a cutie-pie. That is Katie, right?"

"Yes, it is. Thank you."

The two officers then went to the other caves speaking to everyone and making sure things were okay with the shelters. As they were going back to the cave where Melissa and Matthew were, Ev heard an urgent voice. It was Linda who said, "Everett, come here. Something's wrong." They ran to the back of the cave where Missy was trying to comfort a fretful Matthew. "He started crying a few minutes ago, and he feels warm to the touch."

Missy interrupted, with tears coming down her face, "I tried to nurse him, Ev, but he didn't want it. What should I do?"

Mac touched Ev's shoulder. "Let me go get James and Schulz." He got up and hurried out of the cave as Ev sat down next to his wife.

Once he had handed Katie to Linda, he put his arm around Missy and used his other hand to stroke his son's forehead. "He does feel warm." He spoke directly to the baby. "What's wrong, little buddy? You don't feel good?" At that moment, the two women who had delivered the babies arrived at the back of the cave. Everett leaned the baby over so Lieutenant James could feel his forehead. "I think he's running a temperature."

Vanessa nodded. "He is, Sir." She gazed at Melissa. "Have you tried to feed him?"

"Yes," replied Missy. She pointed at her breasts where they could see wet spots. "I've got plenty, but he didn't want it."

"Okay, let's make sure it's not a problem with you." She motioned for Missy to give Matthew to Everett and for her to take Katie from Linda. "See if Katie will take it." Missy nodded and put her daughter up to her breast. A moment later, the child was sucking hungrily. "Nope, not you. Hmm." Vanessa thought for a moment and then glanced at Jessie. "Do you have any ideas, Airman?"

The other woman observed both babies for a moment and then snapped her fingers. "Maybe he just doesn't know how." She glanced at the Colonel. "Sir, I know this will be tricky, but maybe you can let him watch his sister for a minute and then balance him at Melissa's other breast."

Intrigued, Ev said, "All right." He faced Matthew so he could see what his sister was doing. After a moment, he balanced him at the other breast telling him, "Time for dinner, Matthew." The baby sucked for about a minute and then started crying again. Everett rocked him gently trying to soothe him. "It's okay, buddy. It's okay." He looked at Vanessa and Jessie helplessly. "I don't know what else to do."

"God, I don't know either, Sir," said James. She instructed Jessie, "Go soak one of those cloths in water. Maybe that will help bring down his fever."

Jessie nodded and hurried off coming back a minute later with a wet washcloth. She gave it to the Colonel, and he laid it on the baby's forehead. Noticing that the baby's cries had slowed to whimpers, she remarked, "Maybe that will help, Sir."

"I hope so," said Ev. "Go make sure the injured are okay before it gets dark. We'll call you if we need you."

"All right." The two women left the cave to check in with the people in the other caves.

Mac also left Everett and Missy telling him he would check in with them in a little while. Once he had left, Ev noticed that his wife had finished feeding Katie and that the baby had fallen asleep in the crook of her arm. He moved next to her; Matthew whimpering slightly in his arms. "How's she doing, honey?" He pointed to the baby.

"She's okay," said Missy. "Caught onto breastfeeding pretty well." She reached over and caressed Matthew's face before looking back at her husband. "Everett, I'm scared. I don't want to lose either of them." A tear fell down her face.

Ev wiped the tear away before he responded. "I know. Me too." He shrugged his shoulders. "If I had one wish…"

"If you had one wish what?"

"If I had one wish, it would be that when Icarus happened, you would have made it back to Earth. Then the three of you would be okay now, and you would be healthy." Tears started coming down his face.

Missy leaned over and tenderly kissed his lips. "But we would be missing something very important." She continued, after seeing his inquisitive look, "You, silly. I've loved you for so long, Ev. I can't imagine having given birth to these children without you." She leaned against him wearily. "Is it okay if I rest?"

"Of course it is, baby." He helped her lie down next to him with Katie curled up next to her. "I'll watch over the three of you, okay?"

Smiling at him gently, Missy said, "All right. Wake me up though if Matthew gets worse."

"I will. I love you."

"I love you too."

Everett watched as his wife's eyes gradually closed and then stroked his son's forehead. "You still feel a little warm, Matthew. Are you sleepy?" Matthew whimpered and stared at his father with his big brown eyes before gradually closing them. Glad to see him finally relax, Ev laid down next to Missy with his son's sleeping body next to his. "Good night, little one, I love you."

They, along with the rest of the group that was in their cave, were able to sleep for several hours. In the middle of the night, Everett was awoken by a baby's crying. He opened his eyes not knowing where he was for a moment, but then remembering everything that had happened including the birth of his children. Seeing Matthew fidgeting next to him, he picked him up trying to soothe him. "It's okay, Matthew. Daddy's here." He saw his wife sit up and put his hand on her shoulder. "I've got him, Missy. Go back to sleep."

"He might be hungry," said Melissa gently smiling at him. "You're pretty amazing, Ev, but I don't think you can do that." She reached for the baby, and as he handed him to her, her hand brushed against Matthew's forehead. "Oh my God, Everett! He's burning up!" Noticing that he was also gasping for breath, she choked out, "He's having trouble breathing too." She started rubbing his back soothingly. "It's okay, Matthew. Mama's here. What do I do?"

Everett gazed at her helplessly until he felt a touch on his back. It was Linda Wilson who said, "I'll go get Vanessa and Jessie." He nodded, and she hurried out of the cave. When the three women came back, Linda reached over and took Katie from Ev. "Let me get her."

"Thank you," said Everett. He turned to Vanessa and motioned to Matthew. "He's burning up, and he's having trouble breathing now. Do you know anything else to do?"

The lieutenant indicated for Jessie to go and soak the cloth in water again, and they placed it on Matthew's forehead once more. It didn't help though, and the baby alternated between crying and gasping for breath even with Ev standing up and walking around with him. Finally, Melissa motioned for him to sit back down, and when he did, she said, with tears coming down her face, "He's suffering, Everett. Can we just hold him and tell him it's okay to go? I don't want him to suffer."

Nodding because he didn't trust himself to speak, Everett put his arm around Missy who was holding Matthew. The group that had gathered around them backed away to give them some privacy with Linda indicating that she would take Katie. She walked to the front of the cave crying. A moment later, Mac came up to the entrance and saw that she had Katie. A knife of cold dread went through his heart as he asked her, "What's happened?"

Linda told him, "Matthew's not gonna make it. They're gonna hold him and tell him it's okay to go." She started crying. "Dammit. I have looked forward to both of these children being born for the last four months. It's not fair."

"No, it's not."

He put his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into it as she cried. They then heard a soft voice from inside the cave. "Hush, little baby, don't say a word. Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird won't sing. Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring." Missy started singing another song as Matthew's cries grew softer. "Rock-a-bye-baby, in the tree top. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. And down will come baby, cradle and all." Her voice cracked at the end of the song with the people at the front of the cave hearing anguished sobs begin.

A/N: I know I left you on a cliffhanger here. Don't worry. It will be resolved.