April 12, 2030

So I've been busy helping Bass at the diner. It was weird at first seeing him in that role – cook, restaurant owner, and mostly friendly local. People have accepted him just as if they didn't line the streets not a year ago to watch him die. People are strange.

Not that I'm complaining. Bass has changed so much since those darkest days. Its good changes too. Connor is here and Miles is close by and Bass has me. Being surrounded by people he loves is just what Bass always needed. And the baby – well, I think that's icing on the cake.

Bass won't let me in the kitchen. Well, that's not true. John Frye won't let me in the kitchen. He's just such a damn fine cook (Miles's words) that Bass lets him run that kitchen any way he likes. Bass helps too when we have a rush, but mostly he takes orders and schmoozes with the customers. I can see why he excelled at politics – for a while anyway. The man can work a room.

So, you are wondering what I do to help? Well, I walk around with pitchers of water and sweet tea. I ask if folks want pie or if their dinner was all right. It's not difficult and I kind of like it to be honest.

Connor stopped in today. It was good to see him. He seems genuinely happy for me and his Dad. I know that whole mess is ten kinds of weird, but we're all managing to make it work. Connor called me Mom as a joke. I told him that had better not happen again. He just laughed and said he'd see me later.

April 13, 2030

Today I haven't been up and around as much. My back is killing me and I swear this baby weighs ten pounds already. She's active too. Yes, I think the baby is a girl. I think that just as much as Bass thinks it's a boy. Obviously one of us will be a little disappointed, but the truth is if the baby is healthy – we don't care about anything else.

Stephanie came in for lunch and said she's worried about me. She made me promise to go visit with her and Grandpa for an official check up. I'd meant to do it as soon as we got here, but we've been so busy.

April 14, 2030

So you know when people talk about days when their lives changed? Most folks will tell you exactly where they were when the lights went out or when the bombs fell on Atlanta and Philly. I remember things like the day Danny died and when they tried to execute Bass.

Today I added another of those life changing days to my personal calendar. It happened at Grandpa's office. I'd gone in for the check-up that Stephanie had been hounding me about. She was there and Grandpa was also there of course. The check-up felt pretty routine to me – not all that different from the ones I'd had with Betty.

I knew right when it went sideways though. There was a shift in the room and Grandpa and Stephanie locked eyes and then he pulled her aside for a moment, talking quietly. They both looked at me and the way they did it made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up.

"What's wrong?" I asked, trying to keep panic out of my voice.

"Nothing is wrong Charlie." Grandpa said to me, but to Stephanie he nodded toward the door. She left without a word.

I was getting really nervous. "What is it? Why did she leave?"

"It's nothing. I just realized that Monroe should be here with you."

"Why?" Tears were streaming down my face and I was struggling to sit up, my hands wrapped protectively around my belly. "Why does he need to be here?"

"Shhh." Grandpa started to rub the hair on the top of my head just like he did when I was a little girl and would visit him and Grandma Charlotte.

Bass was working at the diner which is just across the street and down a few doors so it wasn't long before he came in. Miles and Stephanie followed. They all looked nervous.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" I yelled. I'd had enough of this bullshit. They were scaring me to death.

My Grandpa ignored me and turned to Bass, "Monroe, I have a question for you."

Bass's eyes looked a little wild and he rushed over to my side. I grasped his hand so tightly, he's probably going to have bruises, but he was gripping right back. The message was clear. We were in this – whatever this was – together.

"What's your question?"

Grandpa took off his reading glasses, and looked Bass in the eye, "Do you remember there ever being twins in your family?"

"Huh?" Bass looked confused. "Well, yeah. My sisters were twins -" He stopped and turned to me. His eyes were suddenly wet and I could tell he was just barely holding it together. "Why Doc?"

"Well, there are no twins in Charlie's family, at least there weren't until now." Grandpa smiled then.

"Oh my God." I said. "Oh my God. Two? Two babies?"

Grandpa nodded. "Sorry I scared you. Just figured he'd want to hear the news too."

Bass had pulled me into a hug and he was kissing my cheek and whispering in my ear. He was saying how much he loved me and how he'd be with me every step of the way. I clung to him for dear life.

Miles looked just as shocked as I felt. "Twins? How the hell did the midwife miss that?"

"My guess is that her equipment was subpar. I almost didn't catch it myself, but it's there. Definitely two distinct heartbeats."

"Well hell." Miles said, running a hand through his hair. "Congratulations, guys. You're having a litter."

April 15, 2030

I worked in the diner all day and tonight I was so tired, I just barely made it up the stairs. My plan had been to go straight to bed, but then I stopped when I saw what had kept Bass busy all afternoon. The truth was I'd hardly seen him all day. Now I knew why.

Candles were lit and a bouquet of wild flowers was sitting on top of my bookshelf. I could hear Bass singing softly. It was a song I didn't know, but it was very pretty. I followed the sound and found him in our room. He'd found an enormous metal tub and set it in one corner. He was sitting next to it, wearing only jeans and stirring something into the water. It smelled like vanilla.

"Come here." He said, his smile melting my heart.

"Okay." I was not going to fight him on this. A warm bath sounded heavenly. If my man wants to pamper me, who am I to deny him?

He stood and walked to me. I was feeling self conscious, but he carefully began to pull my clothes off. He moved slowly and took breaks so that he could touch and kiss me. Once I was naked, he helped me settle into the bath.

"Is the water too warm?"

"No. It's perfect. This is perfect." I looked at him. He was kneeling by the tub again. "You are perfect."

Bass took a cake of soap and slowly began to lather my body. The feel of his fingers on my skin was crazy erotic. My hormones have been a roller coaster to be sure, but right then they were on high alert. He seemed to understand without my asking. Once I was clean, he moved his hand low over my belly and down farther still. Slowly he began to stroke. It felt so good, but the angle was weird.

He helped me out and dried my body before leading me to the bed. I lied on my side and he spooned me from behind. Somewhere along the way, he'd stripped to nothing and I could feel his cock hard against my back. He reached around and began to stroke me again. My body responded wildly. I was moaning and begging for more.

"Is it okay if I?" he asked.

"Yes. Yes it is." I panted.

He moved my thigh up and back over his and slid into me from behind. His free hand was wrapped around my belly as he ever so slowly filled me. "Feels so good." He said against my ear.

"Oh God yes." I moaned, pushing back a little and urging him to go faster.

He ignored my hints, keeping his pace slow and sure. I guess it didn't matter because I came so hard I thought I was going to break in two. He sped up, but just for a few final thrusts. He came then, filling my heat with his own.

"Love you Charlie." He whispered, spent.

"Mmmm, love you too." I answered, before we both fell asleep.

April 26, 2030

If I thought Bass was overprotective before we knew we were having twins, I clearly had no clue what I was even thinking. He tries to be smooth about it, and he's got accomplices lined up so it doesn't look like he's lurking all the time, but he is. Sometimes it's John Frye who comes and sits with me in the dining room. Sometimes its Stephanie who just happens to stop over when Bass has to leave the diner. Sometimes its Miles or Grandpa or Connor. Someone is with me always.

It was starting to get on my nerves, but today Aaron stopped by. Evidently he'd been convinced to join in the rotation. He seemed a little happier than he'd been when I saw him last, and I'd missed him so much that I forgave him for becoming one of Bass's minions.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked.

He looked embarrassed. "Pretty sure I'm supposed to be asking you that."

I shrugged, grabbing his hands. "You hear? We're having twins."

"I heard." Aaron shook his head. "I am glad you're happy. You are happy, right?"

"So happy." I assured him.

"And Monroe? This is hard for him maybe a little?"

I leaned back and watched Aaron carefully, "I think life has been hard for him. He lost his folks and his sisters. He lost a wife and a baby. He missed out on twenty-five years with Connor. His nation was destroyed. He blames himself for most of it. I think this – " I pointed to my belly, "is huge for him. He's giving life another chance."

Aaron frowned. "I suppose you are trying to tell me I should do the same? Give life another chance?"

I smiled, "Well, I won't tell you what to do. You're a grown up. I will say this – I wrote Betty a letter, telling her about the twins. She's coming for a visit. Should be here next week."

He tried to act cool about it, but I saw the spark of interest in his eyes, "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Maybe it's time for a haircut and a new shirt? Couldn't hurt anyway."

"No." He said slowly. "I guess it couldn't hurt."

When Aaron left, I felt a little better for him. I've been so worried. I don't know that anything between him and Betty will work out, but I have hope.

That's the key isn't it? Having hope.

A/N: Yes, I know Bass's sisters weren't twins in the show. It worked for me to change their story a bit for the sake of mine. Hope you don't mind.

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