Alice holds her arms out. FP comes closer and Alice rests her hands on both sides of his face. She tells him softly, "This isn't your fault, FP." Alice brings his face closer and lightly kisses his cracked lips.
They both pull away when the doctor knocks on the doorway, "I'm glad to see you are awake Mrs. Cooper."
The doctor comes in and shakes hands with FP and Alice. "I'm Doctor Sanford, you can call me Mike. I'm not much into titles." He pulls a chair to the other side of the bed, "You must definitely be worried about the babies, but I am glad to report they are doing amazing. They are healthy and active. Now your injury-"
Alice puts her hand up to say something and interrupts him, "Doctor San… Mike. I don't know if I'm just a little too loopy on pain medication to hear properly, but did you say 'they?' Like more than 1?"
FP whips his head to the doctor in realization. Mike responds, "I'm sorry. I would've thought you'd have been to an appointment by now. On your way in, we did an ultrasound around the wound, which led us to find your pregnancy… Your pregnancy with twins."
FP throws his hands in the air and says under his breath, "Wow…"
Alice is in total shock. Mike stands up from his chair, "Your injury hit no vital organs. Merely a flesh wound. I will have a nurse from OB, come down to conduct another ultrasound." He shakes their hands again, "After the ultrasound, you should be able to get discharge instructions and head home."
FP thanks him for his time as Alice is still comprehending everything, "Thanks, Mike." The doctor heads to the next room. FP sits back down in his chair and holds Alice's hand.
Alice shakes her head, "I just got used to the idea of 1. I don't think we can do 2. How are we… What… I…"
FP squeezes her hand to focus her thoughts, "We got this Alice. We can do this."
"I don't know," Alice squeezes his hand back.
They turn their heads to the doorway where a small woman and a portable ultrasound machine are. "I'm here for the prenatal ultrasound." She pushes the cart next to Alice's bed. "Now because of the recent trauma to the area, it might be a little tender to the touch."
FP and Alice just listen to the woman. They are brewing with thoughts until the woman flicks the screen on. Both of them see the small little blobs on the screen and all of sudden their worries vanish. FP looks at Alice who has a small tear fall out of her eye. Alice's voice cracks, "Our babies…"
Both of them smile bigger than they have in a long time. The nurse explains the risk due to multiples and Alice's age. They get a hard copy of the ultrasound and schedule an appointment at an office for 2 weeks later.
When arriving home they see Betty, Jughead, and Jellybean standing outside, unable to go into the house. Betty runs to her mother, "Mom!"
Alice is bombarded by a hug, "Ow. Ow."
Betty backs up, "Dad could have killed you!"
"But he didn't…" Alice tries to mend the situation.
Jughead butt in, "This is an active crime scene; and a big one at that. I talked with the officer and they set us up at a motel."
"This is absolute madness! This is my home and I am staying here," Alice marches to the head officer on scene. She has a bone to pick with him. FP explains to the kids what had happened, but left out the news they were given at the hospital. Alice slumps back unsuccessful, "We're at the Sweetwater Motel. They are going to pay for a new wardrobe, food, and housing until this is over with." The 5 of them take Alice's SUV to the Sweetwater Motel where they stay for the next 2 weeks.
The last day in Sweetwater Motel is the day of their appointment. Betty and Jughead take Jellybean to the house while FP takes Alice to the doctor's office. While filling out papers in the waiting room, other expectant mothers and their partners eye Alice down. She leans in and whispers to FP, "Why is everyone looking at me like that."
FP leans in and whispers as well, "I mean I would be looking to if a woman as beautiful as you came in here."
Alice slaps his arm playfully, "Forsythe…"
Before he can answer a nurse comes out from behind the double doors, "Cooper. Mrs. Cooper." Alice stands up and notices everyone whispering and looking. Her heart sinks. FP interlaces his fingers between hers as they walk toward the nurse. The nurse takes them behind the door, "I'm going to need to do height and weight, then take your blood pressure."
Alice nods and steps on the scale. She twirls her finger at FP signaling for him to turn around. FP rolls his eyes and turns around begrudgingly. While changing from the scale to the wall with the tape measure, Alice requests, "Is there any way you could change my name in your system from Cooper to Smith?"
FP spins around swiftly. The nurse nods and replies, "I'll see what I can do." As Alice sits down for her blood pressure reading the nurse continues, "I get what it's like to have evil attached to your name."
Alice takes a peak at her name sewn into her scrubs. Under her breath, she whispers, "Julia Blanc…" Alice cocks her eyebrow with confusion.
"We're all done here. I can take you to the room now," Julia unwraps the band from Alice's arm and they walk in silence to the room. When everyone is settled in the room and the door is closed Julia takes a seat on the rolling chair and explains, "My father was Richard Angelo." Alice and FP were blank. "My father was a nurse, or 'Angel of Death,' as some people called him. He worked on Long Island. He would poison patients so he could be the hero to bring them back," she hands Alice a paper gown, "He rescued 26 people, but killed 8."
Alice looks at the 3-D models on the counter while listening, "I'm sorry about your father."
"It's okay. A wonderful family adopted me, and I changed my name," Julia shrugs her shoulders. "While I request the name change, you can put on the paper gown. Doctor Engel will come in soon. I will be your nurse for the remainder of your pregnancy," she pulls a paper out of her pocket, "Here is my card."
The door closes on her way out. Alice hops off the bed and starts to undress. FP is still shocked about Alice's request, "So you don't want to be a Cooper anymore, huh?"
With the gown on Alice lays back on the bed, "I don't want to be associated with him anymore, FP."
"What happened to him being the father of your children?" FP asks semi-jokingly.
Alice tilts her head upwards and glares at him, "You're also the father of my children, does that mean I have to take your name?"
"If you want-" FP speaks without thinking. Her eyes widen as does his.
Before anyone can say anything, Doctor Engel knocks on the door, "Mrs. Alice Cooper?"
Alice sits up, "It's Smith." She extends her arm to shake hands.
"Sorry about that. I will have someone change that for you," Doctor Engel shakes her and FP's hands. Putting on hand sanitizer she plops on the rolling chair, "So this is your first scan?" They both nod their heads yes in agreement. "Well, I'm sure Julia went over the risks of pregnancy at your age, especially with multiples." Alice kind of stares off making the room silent. Doctor Engel smiles and moves toward the ultrasound, "Let's see what we have going on."
After a completely normal and healthy check-up, FP helps grab Alice's folded pile of clothes. Doctor Engel announces, "Would you like to know the sexes of the babies?"
FP and Alice look at each as if they were not prepared to know. The doctor pulls out a piece of paper, "You know what? I will write it down, and if you want to do something special you can. If you want to keep it a surprise you can too." She seals it in an envelope and hands it to FP, "See you in 2 weeks!"
Alice puts her clothes back on and disposes of the gown. On the way out of the office, she declares, "I could go for a milkshake right now."
