June 1, 2030
I scrubbed the floors in our living quarters above the diner today. I don't know why but I felt I had to do it for the baby. Betty called it 'nesting'. Whatever it was, the place has never been cleaner.
June 8, 2030
Grandpa came by and gave me a checkup. He said it probably won't be long now. I've never felt this excited and also this terrified about the same event before.
June 13, 2030
I think we're ready for the babies, or as ready as we're going to be. We have moved the things in our room around a bit. Our bed it kind of shoved into a corner and in the opposite corner is the crib. We have a dresser that is half baby clothes, and half our clothes. Baby blankets, the books Connor gave us and the teddy bears from Betty sit on top of the dresser.
John Frye gave us an old rocking chair and it sits next to the bed.
The room is small but cozy and I think it will be a good place to take care of our babies.
Babies! I can't believe they are almost here. I wonder what they will look like. I hope they will be healthy. I wonder if they'll love me. I worry that I'll love one more than the other. I worry about everything. Bass keeps me calm, but I know he worries too.
June 25, 2030
Breathe in. Breathe out. Contractions started about an hour ago. It's late. Full dark. Bass is still sleeping.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Grandpa told me I'd probably have contractions for several hours before anything got too intense. He gave me an old pocket watch to keep track. Right now the contractions – they feel like really intense cramps – are about five minutes apart.
Breathe in. Breathe out. This hurts. A lot. Might have to wake Bass soon. Being quiet is starting to be a struggle. Honestly I want to scream.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Contractions coming faster now. Starting to worry that I should have told Bass sooner. Going to wake him now. Lots of pain.
Oh hell. Water just broke. Time to get serious. I'll update this book when it's all over. Waking Bass now.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
June 27, 2030
Everything has been crazy so I'm just now getting around to writing down the rest of the story from two days ago. To say it didn't go according to plan, would be the biggest understatement ever.
Nothing went according to plan.
The pain was intense and by the time I woke Bass up the contractions were suddenly very close. He was immediately alert. I told him my water had broken and the babies were coming. I could tell he was nervous but also excited. He said he was going to run to get Grandpa.
I hoped they would get back in time.
I was pacing back and forth across the floor of our bedroom. Walking seemed to help some. Not much, but some. The pain. I can't describe the pain. I guess something like the worst menstrual cramps magnified by a thousand. I couldn't be quiet anymore. I started to yell every time a contraction hit me.
I was surprised when Bass returned just a few minutes after leaving. It takes at least five minutes to walk to Grandpa's. No way could he have gotten down there, woke Grandpa and brought him back in the time he's been gone.
I looked at Bass's face and my heart lurched. Fear overcame me in a moment. I've never known such fear. You know how an animal caught in a trap looks? Lips pulled back. Teeth showing. Eyes wild. That's how Bass looked…like he was scared to death. Bass doesn't get scared. So seeing him like that, it terrified me. "What's wrong?" I asked.
He didn't even have time to answer before I figured it out for myself. Two men who I didn't know and had never seen before came in right behind Bass. One had a shot gun. The other had a really big revolver. Both had machetes hanging from their belts. They were dirty and disgusting and from the look in their eyes, they weren't here to wish us well.
Bass started toward me, but the taller of the two guys – he had red hair and a weird scar on his cheek – yanked Bass back, holding the revolver against Bass's temple. Red turned to me, "Hey little lady, we need your money and then we'll be on our way."
I opened my mouth to say the money wasn't there (John Frye took it to the town bank after closing just like he does every day), but I could tell from Bass's expression that he didn't want me to tell them the truth. Before I could come up with a passable lie, I was having another contraction. This one was worse than all the others. I doubled up in agony.
Bass gritted his teeth, "She's in labor you asshole. Let me go so I can help her."
"Nah. We want our money."
The contraction lessened enough that I was able to hobble over to the bed and sit down. I looked at Bass and our eyes held. He didn't look scared anymore. Now he just looked pissed. He looked completely like scary General Monroe and I felt a shiver. These idiots had no idea what they'd done. He had a plan and I understood roughly what it was right away. We've always been able to converse without words. It's strange, but it works. I nodded and saw a glimmer of relief on Bass's face.
I'm not a former General, but I'm no pansy either. Labor or no labor, I'll help my man get rid of these bastards so we can get back to what's important – having our babies.
"I'm in labor. Need a doctor." I panted out. That last contraction had been intense. My whole body was shaking.
"We need your money." This time, the shorter one spoke. He had black hair but I noticed he looked a lot like Red. Probably brothers.
"Are you gonna deliver my babies?" I asked. "Cause they're coming whether or not I have a doctor here."
Black Hair shook his head, and pointed his shotgun at me. "No. You better just hold your baby inside your belly. We don't want nothing to do with that. Where's the money?"
"There is no goddamned money," Bass growled. "Now, get out."
"Liar. We sat across the street all afternoon and saw how many people were coming in and out. This place is a gold mine. We're gonna need that gold." Red chuckles at his own stupid joke and this was the first time he looked over at me, which meant he wasn't looking at Bass.
Black Hair was laughing with his brother and also not looking at Bass or me. They thought they had it all under control. This was a mistake.
Bass charged Red and knocked him down easily. He grabbed the revolver and slammed the butt of the gun into Red's head. Black Hair pointed his rifle in Bass's direction and that's when I had reached my breaking point. We've always kept daggers under the mattress. One on each side. "His and Hers," Bass had said when he'd suggested it months ago.
As Black Hair walked closer to me, I grabbed my belly with one hand. I was moaning. It hurt, so I wasn't faking the pain. It distracted him though. His eyes were wide as he looked at my huge stomach.
"Hell Lady, you keep that baby inside –" He stopped talking then. I'd pulled out the dagger with the hand he wasn't paying attention to, and thrown it with all my might. The blade buried perfectly in his chest. Black Hair looked down but didn't have time to process what he saw before he fell in a bloody heap on the floor.
"That's my girl," Bass grinned. "I'll go get your Grandpa now."
"No time," I grunted. "Gotta push."
Bass's face went white and the fear was back. I could tell where his mind was going. Shelley.
"Bass, pay attention. These babies are coming. It's gonna be okay. We both read that book. We can do this." I tried to smile reassuringly but the first baby was coming and it hurt like a son of a bitch. "BASS!" I yelled.
He came out of his memories and burst into action. He ran to the window, trying to open it. That window was always getting stuck and Bass had no patience for it that day. He grabbed Red's gun and used it to bust out the glass. He yelled out the window, "Need a doctor. Help!" Then he was back to me. "Let's see." He said, his voice was tense.
I pulled my night dress up over my belly. I'd taken off my panties when my water broke, so I was bare when I spread my legs and pulled my knees up a bit.
"Oh fuck me." Bass said as he saw for himself how far things had progressed. He sounded terrified and awestruck all at once. "I can see the head."
I was breathing in and out the way Grandpa and Stephanie had taught me. I felt like I had to push. "Need to push." I ground out through gritted teeth. Bass nodded, moving closer. He looked at me, "Push, Charlie. I'm ready."
I pushed, hard. I felt something shift, but wasn't sure if I was making any progress. I didn't want to look.
"You're doing good. Hold it right there. I'm going to clear the baby's mouth."
"You can see the mouth?" I was back to breathing carefully. My eyes were cranked shut.
"Yeah, the head is out. Charlie, you are amazing."
In just a moment he told me to push again and I did. And then again. When the baby slid out of my body, it was the strangest feeling. Bass grasped the tiny slippery thing and turned away from me a bit. I saw only a glimpse of bloody and smeary baby.
The baby wasn't moving. Wasn't crying. "Bass?" I asked, panicked. "What's wrong?"
"Not sure." He sounded like I felt. He did something and then I saw him grasp the tiny baby feet and hold the baby upside down and carefully hit the baby's back with a flat palm. He did this twice before we heard a gasping cry and then the room was filled with pathetic little baby wails. Bass turned to me and grinned. "She's okay."
"She?"
"Yeah," He was smiling so proudly as he laid our baby girl next to me on the bed. Her cord was still attached to me and that's when we both remembered what should have been obvious. Another baby was coming.
"Gotta push again," I said loudly. I had to talk loudly to be heard over the baby's cries.
Bass got into position, and this time it was easier. The second baby popped out after one push. This one wasn't shy and the screams of two tiny babies filled the room. Bass sat the second baby next to the first. Both babies were bloody and gooey. Their skin was red and scrunchy. If they weren't mine, I might have said they looked pretty awful.
They are mine though, and they were beautiful and perfect.
Bass and I were both staring down at them, amazed and completely in love. We weren't watching the guy near the door. Bass had hit Red so hard; I think we both thought he was down for the count. We both heard something and turned. Red was standing and reaching for the machete at his side.
I've never seen Bass move so fast. He charged Red and took the knife right out of his hand before shoving it up through his throat. Blood spurted everywhere as Red's eyes rolled back and he fell to the floor.
Bass was back at my side instantly, inspecting me and checking me everywhere. "What about the babies?" I asked, desperate to be reassured that they were all right.
"They are fine. Lungs like that, we got no worries. I just want to make sure you are okay. I need you to be okay." He was frantic again. I could tell he was expecting the worst to still happen.
I reached over and grasped his face in my hands and brought him closer so that his face was very close to mine. I looked into his eyes, "I'm okay," I whispered, smiling.
I felt the relief wash over him and he smiled back.
That's when we heard someone running up the stairs. Maybe more than one someone. I scrambled to get between my babies and the door. I also yanked my gown – now a bloody mess – down over my nakedness. Bass pulled the machete from Red's body and was ready, eyes wild once again.
Miles burst in, looking frantic. "What the fuck?" he asked as Bass let the knife clatter to the floor. Utter relief washed over me, and I know it did for Bass too. Now that Miles was here, we didn't have to focus on self defense. He would watch out for us while we looked out for our babies.
Stephanie came in moments after Miles and stopped short. They both stared around the room. Every surface seemed to be covered in blood. "Holy shit." Miles said in awe, "Where did the dead guys come from?"
Bass started to tell him the story while Stephanie came over and looked at the babies. "They're both perfect," she said with a smile. "You guys did a great job."
She helped me deliver the placenta and then she cut the cords, using some little scissors from the medical bag she'd brought along. By the time that was done, Grandpa had shown up too, followed by Betty and Aaron.
Miles rounded up a sleepy John Frye to help dispose of the bodies. Bass and I held the babies. They are both adorable and perfect. Grandpa said they are healthy and good sized for twins.
Grandpa ushered everyone out except for Stephanie and Betty. He told Bass and Miles to bring lots of hot water. Stephanie helped Grandpa clean the babies up. Betty helped me get into the bath. When we were all clean, Betty fashioned a giant diaper for me out of a big towel. You would not believe how much I was still bleeding. I was worried at first, but Grandpa said it was totally normal. They got me dressed in a clean night gown and settled me on the couch in the living room. Grandpa brought one of the babies over to me and said, "This little lady needs to eat."
Betty and Stephanie helped me get started. Breast feeding is an odd feeling, and I was nervous that I'd do it wrong, but the little girl in my arms knew what to do and latched on quickly. Her eyes were a startling blue with long lashes. She looked up at me and I couldn't imagine loving anyone as much as I loved this baby.
Grandpa brought in the other baby then and sat beside me. "She's going to want a turn soon too." I looked over at the second baby and felt exactly the same way that I had about the first one. How was my heart even big enough to love them both so much already? I can't explain it, but I've never felt such peace and happiness.
Miles and Bass returned. Bass took the second baby from Grandpa and took his place next to me.
Miles shook his head, watching us. "Two girls?" I can't believe it.
"Believe it," Bass said with a huge grin.
After the babies had eaten, Stephanie helped Bass dress them and Betty helped me put on a new towel diaper. I was so sore and my legs were shaky as they led me back to bed. Someone had been busy. The room was clean. The bed was made with clean sheets. Everything was like it was supposed to be. No blood anywhere.
Bass disappeared for a while but only because Miles threatened to tie him up and forcefully remove him if he didn't go on his own. They both reappeared a little while later, all washed up and wearing clean clothes.
I was settled back in my bed. Bass brought over one of the babies and then he went back and got the other one. We all lay in the bed together. Bass and I just watched them quietly while they took turns nursing.
I was exhausted – not just my body. My brain was tired too. Bass took the sleeping babies and laid them carefully in the crib before settling back next to me and pulling me close.
"You were amazing," he whispered against my ear.
"You too," I sighed. "You too."
"Our girls are perfect….just like their Mama," he said with a yawn.
"And their Daddy," I added sleepily.
As the sun rose outside our window, we drifted off. Stephanie and Miles were sitting in our living room, keeping watch so we could sleep.
Sleep is what we did too, for about two hours. Then our little angels woke us up, and we didn't mind at all.
A/N Leave a comment if you have a moment. :)