Chapter 47

"Just breathe, breathe," Nadine advised Briana as they raced to the hospital. "Dr. Edwards is supposed to meet us there."

"Did you.." Briana began before another contraction hit.

"Yeah, they're supposed to get the next flight out."

"God, of all times for these two to decide to be born," Briana sighed. "I sure hope that doctor has some serious drugs waiting for me too."

"Oh, sweetie," Nadine comforted her. "Just think by this time tomorrow it will be all over and you'll have two beautiful babies."

"Yeah," Briana sighed as they pulled into the parking lot, "but right now we better concentrate on getting the closest spot to the door possible."

An hour later:

"I can not believe that we missed our flight," Brian said shaking his head. "This is the last fucking time I'm letting you drive and taking what you see as 'shortcuts'."

"I didn't think we'd go into a construction zone and then hit rush hour after that," Paul countered. He sighed and pulled out his phone, but then put it away. Nadine probably wouldn't have her phone on if she'd taken Briana to the hospital.

"It doesn't help that you drive like such an old woman, it takes half an hour for you to go one block," Brian continued to rant. "Do you realize we're going to be stuck here another three hours? Thanks a lot, dopefuck."

"Dude," Paul replied, placing a reassuring hand on the shorter man's shoulder. "Bree will be fine. The babies will be fine. You'll be there for the rest of the baby stuff and when they go to college and shit. Don't panic."

"Don't panic. If the tables had been turned, you'd be ready to slit my throat. Be thankful I'm letting you live."

A page then came over the PA system, summoning them to the counter. "Hey," Paul grinned, "that could only mean one thing."

"That we're going to be here all night? As if this day couldn't get any worse," Brian groaned. "I have to be stuck in airport hell all night looking at your goofy ass."

"No, I actually had us put on a list in case there was any chance we could be bumped to something earlier."

Brian lit up. "You did what?"

Paul nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, what do you know; there is a brain in that bubble that sits between your shoulders. Come on, man, let's go. If it means sitting in the shittiest seats, right now I don't care. We have to get home!"

At the hospital some time later:

Nadine had turned her phone on as she sat in the maternity floor's waiting room. She had called Tina, but had gotten her voicemail.

She was feeling a little frustrated; the guys still hadn't arrived nor called, and now she couldn't reach Tina. For Briana's sake, however, Nadine managed to stay calm.

Five minutes later, her phone buzzed, and she jumped before answering it. It had been Tina. Nadine informed her that she and Briana were at the hospital, and Briana was having the twins.

"Already?" Tina asked. "She wasn't due for another four weeks yet."

"I know, but the doctor did warn her they could come early. Well, tonight's the night, and Brian's out of town. He was supposed to get an early flight back, but I haven 't seen or heard from him."

"Oh hell," Tina said. "That isn't good. I'm coming up there as soon as I can close the shop and get a flight."

"That's a good idea."

"Have you heard anything yet?"

"No, someone's supposed to come out to talk to me shortly."

"Keep me posted," Tina advised her. "This being the end of the week, I have a feeling I'm going to be stuck here for awhile longer, but hopefully I can get out of here ASAP."

"Take your time," Nadine answered. "Hopefully Brian should be here soon or at least called."

Meanwhile:

"Paul, wake up and quit drooling on me," Brian said, giving him a shove.

"Are we there yet?" Paul asked groggily.

"No, not for another half an hour at least."

"Then why in the hell did you wake me up?"

"You were drooling on my shoulder, dumbass. Lord knows I'll be dealing with enough drool and puke on me soon enough for the next few years without your contribution right now, not to mention you were snoring like a bear and have dog breath."

"Hey, I could have been moaning, spooning you, and humping your leg like some people I know."

"Just chew some gum or something. What did you eat before we left anyway?"

"Burrito from the vending machine."

Brian shuddered. "Ugh."

"Hey, check out the rack on that flight attendant," Paul grinned.

"Dude, for once, can you be in a public place without ogling women? Put your eyes back in your head."

"Oh right, if some chick came by here right now with a nice full ass, you mean to tell me you wouldn't look?"

"Look, Paul," Brian said, "not fucking ogle and undress them with my eyes. Besides, I have a beautiful wife at home about to give birth as we speak. Can we concentrate on that fact?"

Paul sulked. "Right. Now let's hope she hasn't had them by the time we get there."

Two hours:

A nurse had come out to talk to Nadine, informing her what was happening with Briana. Once she'd gotten news what was going on, she dialed Tina immediately.

"Any word yet?" Tina asked when she picked up on the second ring.

.

"I talked to a nurse," Nadine replied. "She just told me that Dr. Edwards has to perform a C-section on Briana. I have a feeling I'm going to be here awhile."

"C-section? Is there something wrong?"

"Apparently the one twin was going to be breech and there wasn't a safe way to turn it around without doing a C-section. Plus it looked like Bree's birth canal was too narrow to accommodate a natural birth."

"God, that poor girl. First she has a hard time getting pregnant, and when she does, she can't even deliver them the way it's supposed to be done."

"I'm sure she'll be okay," Nadine assured her. "You and I both know she's tough stock."

"Yes, very much so. Give her my love," Tina said. "I'm heading out as soon as I finish this last client's perm. I've already locked the doors, so I should be good to go from here."

"Good," Nadine said. "And I think I just saw Papa coming around the corner. They're finally here, thank God!"