A/N: Happy New Year. Semester 2 started on Monday and the 50+ pages cases and statutes are rolling in. :/

Apologies for the length of time it took me to update this collection. Uni is...well it's quite demanding. But it's also quite fun...meeting new people, learning about different CARICOM cultures etc. Thankfully, today is Errol Barrow Day [He's the Father of Independence of Barbados] and it's a bank holiday.

Thanks to charahkids for looking this over. I hope you guys enjoy reading.

Chapter 16: Fourth Time's the Charm

Words: 4,405

"CHUCK!" Sarah yelled from their bedroom.

He was in the nursery putting together the baby's swing set and immediately rushed to his wife, discarding the instructions and tools in his hands. "I'm right here babe. What's wrong?"

Sarah sat on the bed, a hand rubbing her stomach. "I'm in labour."

With all the flutter of excitement of a first time father, Chuck rushed to the bed, and knelt before Sarah. "Are you sure?" They had had two false alarms last week and the doctor had said she was only experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions.

She held him with an icy glare. "Well I sure as hell didn't pee myself," she began to rant, pointing to her wet pants and a damp spot on the carpet a few yards away, "and this pressure on my back isn't like what I've had before, so yes, I'm sure!"

Chuck held up his hands. "Sorry," he smiled sheepishly. He then helped Sarah to remove her wet clothes and change into a different set of underwear and a floral patterned dress. Together, they made their way down the stairs. Chuck left Sarah at the door and dashed to the kitchen for her water bottle and grabbed the grey carry on that Sarah had clearly labelled 'Hospital' from the coat closet.

Sarah looked at Chuck seriously as he helped her into the back seat of his car. "Don't you dare start freaking out on me now Charles!"

He flashed her the closest he could manage to his Chuck Bartowski winning smile. "Of course not, dear." Despite her warning- her death threat- his hands began to feel clammy and he could feel the sweat accumulating on his forehead.

At the hospital, the nurses and an orderly whisked Sarah to her room, Chuck following behind. By the time most of their family members arrived, Sarah wasn't fully dilated and they took turns walking around with her.

"Do they really think I'm just going to walk this baby out of me?" Sarah complained to her mother as they ambled down the hall. "Why can't I be one of those women who just sneezes and before you even say 'God bless you' she's had the baby?"

Emma chuckled. "Think of what you'd miss out on- reminding your child about all the long and painful hours that you endured just to bring them into this world."

Sarah snorted. "I think I can get some mileage out of that." She looked down at her belly and smiled wearily. "I'm kinda scared," Sarah admitted to her mother.

"It's normal sweetie. Just remember you're healthy and you're strong. You and Chuck went through all the Lamaze and birthing courses…"

Sarah cut her off, "No, I don't mean about having the baby…. I'm talking about being a mom." Emma nodded and wrapped an arm around Sarah, letting her know that she was listening. "What if I stink at it? And the worst part is I won't even know until it's too late. She'll come home, she'll scream that she hates me, then in rebellion she'll get some part of her body pierced that's inappropriate, get an infection and wind up on antibiotics which we'll find out ten years later causes an eating disorder and I'll end up in therapy trying to save my whole family. I mean what if some people aren't cut out to be parents?!" The realization that in a few hours she and Chuck would be responsible for a new life hit her hard and left her panicked. She didn't want to ruin the poor child's life.

"Well, the fact that you already thought about all this tells me that you're gonna be just fine," Emma tried to reassure her daughter.

"I'm freaking out aren't I?"

"I have utmost confidence that you and Chuck will be good parents." It felt good to know that her mother was confident in her parental skills and Sarah beamed at her. They rounded a corner and continued to walk in silence until Sarah cringed when another contraction began. "I'm gonna kill Chuck," Sarah growled.

Inside Sarah's room, Chuck was freaking out. "What if she has twins Morgan? You've heard those stories about women who think they're having one and then bam! Multiple births!" His eyes were wide as he thought of the possibility. "You've seen Sarah right? She's HUGE!"

"Whoaaaa Chuck! It's a good thing Sarah isn't here to hear you say that."

Chuck shrugged. "She knows it," he replied absentmindedly. He'd never say that to her face though.

"Relax, you got the ultrasound. It's not twins," Morgan tried to settle Chuck's nerves. "You are going to be okay."

"No…no. I'm not. I'll probably be going through cardiac arrest while she's giving birth," Chuck said seriously.

/\

Sarah's screams died down as the wail of the baby took over. Chuck kissed her on her clammy forehead. "You did it babe."

"Congratulations on your baby boy," one of the nurses said.

Chuck looked at her, his mouth wide. "Boy?"

Sarah, blonde hair standing in every direction slumped against the pillows. When the nurse brought the baby to her, she gently cradled him to her chest.

"Apparently the ultrasound technician got it wrong. It happens sometimes" Sarah's OB/GYN spoke up.

Sarah and Chuck looked down at him in adoration. "I don't care." He was perfect.

/\

The extended Bartowski family huddled into Sarah's room.

"It's a good thing you guys went with the jungle theme for the nursery instead of the princess one," Devon said as he held the brown haired baby.

"See, it's always best to go gender-neutral," Mary chimed in.

"Have you decided on a name yet?"

"Luke," Chuck said.

"Jayden," Sarah said.

"I guess that's a no." Casey grunted.

Once everyone left, Chuck walked around the room, gazing down at his son. He had Sarah's blue eyes and he hoped they wouldn't change colour as he grew. "Don't worry buddy, we can always get you a baby sister later."

Sarah's eyes flew open wide and she stared at him. "Can we worry about this one first, Chuck? Jeez."

Liam Mason Bartowski. June 2nd 2014.

Mary, Emma and even Molly had been briefed. Chuck had slipped into the role of team leader effortlessly, creating charts and diagrams and delegating duties to everyone. Mary and Emma were to be the primary caregivers while Molly would offer assistance in whatever capacity she could and that basically was equated to playing with Liam. The grandparents found it amusing the way he spoke to them like they had never taken care of an infant, apparently not considering that they had cared for five children including himself, his sister, Sarah, Molly and Clara…or maybe it was six since Morgan was like a big child himself sometimes.

Liam had turned two and spent a lot of his time happily garbling away to anyone, proudly showing off his expanding vocabulary to any and every one he came into contact with or playing with his toys. What amused Sarah though was that he often yammered on about a baby sister. Liam, like his father, was inclined to think this baby would be a girl. He was excited about being a big brother and even kissed her belly every day and was thrilled whenever he got to feel the baby kick.

The nursery had been touched up when Liam moved into his new room and everything was set for Bartowski baby number two. This time they had decided to wait until birth to find out the sex of the baby and Sarah was certain that most of their family was expecting a girl; no doubt spurred by Chuck's constant affirmation of his gut feeling that it was so.

/\

Eyes still heavy with sleep, Chuck groaned when he felt Sarah's fingernails dig into his arm. He caught a glimpse of the clock on the dresser and saw that it was after two.

"Babe, what's wrong?"

"It's time," she replied, inching her way out of the bed and turning on the lights.

Chuck rocketed out of the bed and helped Sarah out of her nightgown. Chuck's eyes drifted to her now unclothed round belly and smiled, kissing her on the forehead.

"I love you,"

"I love you too."

"I'll remember that when you're threatening to cut off my genitals with a butter knife a couple of hours from now," Chuck quipped as he pulled clothes for both of them from the closet. Once they were dressed, they exited the room. Chuck then knocked on two doors further down the hall, to awake Emma and Mary while Sarah slipped into Liam's room to give him a kiss. The two grandmothers decided between themselves that Emma would stay with Molly and Liam while Mary would go with them to the hospital. Mary quickly changed and joined Sarah and Chuck at the top of the stairs. With Chuck's help, Sarah ambled down the stairs. Emma reminded them to put on their sweaters as they had not too long come from the warmth of their beds and would be going into the colder night air. Mary seized the hospital bag from beside the red front door and Chuck tossed her the keys. Bidding Emma goodbye, they made their way to the car.

Ten hours and three minutes later, Chuck looked at the doctor when she declared that this baby was a boy. "Are you sure?"

He heard a few of the nurses chuckle behind the doctor. She smiled, "Yes Chuck, I'm sure it's a boy. Congratulations."

"Told you," Sarah bragged when she held her baby boy.

Chuck looked down at the blond haired baby and gently ran his finger through his hair. The baby yawned and Chuck, despite being a tad disappointed that it wasn't a girl found himself in a state of euphoria. "I think he's cuter than Liam was when he was born."

Sarah smiled down at the new-born, "Now, now Chuck, you can't go picking favourites."

"Well, to be fair he is chubbier than Liam. And it's like a law of nature that chubby babies are cuter," he grinned at his wife. "I think it's all that Rocky Road Ice-cream you had almost every night."

Sarah narrowed her eyes. "Are you trying to say I'm fat?" Her voice was deadly and Chuck was thankful when their son started to wail in her arms, ending that line of conversation.

/\

Mary had gone back to the Bartowski residence to stay with Liam and that freed Emma to bring Molly with her to the hospital.

Molly looked down at the baby in the crib. "I thought you said it was gonna be a girl Chuck?'

He scratched the back of his head, "Well I guess I got it wrong."

"Don't even look at me Chuck, you're the one who flipped the cosmic coin!"

Chuck shrugged. Maybe he could convince Sarah to have one more.

Considering that the baby's birthdate, Casey said it was only proper that he had a good, strong American name. Chuck and Sarah shot down his Ronald Reagan suggestion before he could even voice it properly.

Samuel Luke Bartowski. July 4th 2016.

Colonel John Casey found himself in the Bartowski living room surrounded by incessant chatter. Liam was over three and his talkativeness seemed to have tripled since the last time Casey saw him which was only two days ago. Samuel was eighteen months and seemed to have the same trait as his brother and father as he too was yammering away in his baby babble, making Casey feel a bit overwhelmed. The incessant chatter from the Bartowski boys made him cringe a bit. He was unwittingly filling this temporary job without completing his training. Casey tried to listen intently to Bartowski as he listed the basic instructions for the children's care but that was a bit difficult to do when Sarah was screaming up a storm in the background.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it Bartowski." Casey grunted, "Now please, hurry up and take Walker to the hospital before she ends up delivering at home."

Chuck nodded and thanked Casey before telling the boys to be good.

"Oh, and Casey," Chuck turned back to him, "try not to go West Point on them!"

He grunted again. "It's never too early to learn the basics of being a good soldier. Samuel might be too young but I think I can get Liam to do some push ups."

'"Casey!" Chuck admonished him.

"Don't get your panties in a twist Bartowski, I am not serious."

"You better not be," Sarah said through gritted teeth. The promise of harm to him if he did behave like a crazy military instructor to her children was an undercurrent in her voice.

Casey and the two Bartowski boys walked with them down to the driveway.

"Bye Mommy and Daddy," Liam waved.

"Bye Momma and Daddy," Samuel parroted. He had tears forming in his eyes and Casey prayed that he wasn't in for a crying fest.

Chuck lifted them both up so that Sarah could kiss them on their cheeks. "Bye babies."

Chuck handed Samuel to Casey. "Good luck Walker," he offered as their mother loaded herself into the backseat of the minivan. Casey smirked. Walker in a minivan. Who would've thought?

"Uncle Casey! Let's go watch Peppa Pig!" Liam tugged on his pant leg once his parents' vehicle was out of sight.

"Peppa!" Samuel squealed in Casey's arms, conveying his happiness with his brother's suggestion.

"Alright. Fine," he conceded as they made their way back into the house. Peppa Pig! He didn't understand their fascination with the British cartoon...Whatever happened to the all American Sesame Street?

/\

When Sarah had her first ultrasound at ten weeks, Chuck had remarked that even after two previous pregnancies and a number of ultrasounds he couldn't tell the features of the baby. The technician had assured them that the baby looked healthy. However, when they went for the second ultrasound, they were in for a surprise. Sarah's doctor had been concerned that she was getting bigger than was normally expected and had bumped up her second ultrasound to eighteen weeks instead of twenty weeks. This time, instead of one amniotic sac, two were clearly visible on the screen as the technician moved the wand across Sarah's belly.

"Another one? Twins?" Chuck questioned, his head feeling light. "How is that even possible?"

"Sometimes one baby hides behind the other," the technician explained. "Or if the first ultrasound was done too early then only one would have been picked up."

They decided to find out the sex of the babies then, but the position of the second baby made it difficult to tell the baby's sex. Chuck was betting that they were fraternal twins and that the other baby was a girl.

When the technician left the room to retrieve the print out of the ultrasound, Chuck looked at Sarah thoughtfully, "Sarah, what are we going to do?" It had already been exhausting dealing with two children under five, but now they would be having four. Chuck wasn't sure how they would manage. "We're gonna have to go shopping. We need another crib...I hope we can find the same one that we already have cause that design was really popular. Two different designs might look weird right? Or maybe it doesn't matter. What do you think?"

"Chuck,"

"But of course the crib design is irrelevant if two can't even fit in the nursery. Then we'd need to convert one of the other rooms...And we'll need to start looking for a double stroller. We obviously can't use the one Alex said Mackenzie doesn't use anymore."

"Honey you really need to-"

"Maybe Ellie would like to help us out with all this extra shopping we'll need to do and Devon and Casey can help me set up the furniture..."

"Chuck," Sarah finally broke through his monologue, "you're spiralling. We'll be fine."

He sighed. "I know. I know...But I really have no idea how we're gonna deal with four kids-"

Sarah kissed him softly and ran her fingers through his hair. "We'll take it one day at a time. And when the babies are born we ask my mom or yours to help out until we find a new rhythm." She was just as shocked as Chuck was that they were expecting a twin, but she was happy nonetheless. Rubbing her belly fondly, Sarah smiled as she imagined their features.

/\

The doctor had assured them that birthing twins vaginally was safe as long as the babies were in the right position, but still Chuck was anxious during the delivery. He knew that this delivery would be more taxing on Sarah's body than the others had been. Everything went smoothly and after the babies spent time engaging in skin to skin contact with Sarah, they were taken to the nursery and Sarah transferred to her room. The twin had in fact been identical contrary to Chuck's belief. Sometimes each twin had his or her own placenta, chorion and amniotic sac and that had been the case here.

"Sooooooo, two boys," Chuck struck up conversation. "What were the odds?"

"Well, you do have the Y chromosome Chuck. So technically this is all on you."

"Thank you Dr. Bartowski M.D."

"Not my fault you didn't pay attention in Biology," Sarah smirked.

Chuck looked at her thoughtfully, "So Sarah, we've got four boys. What's next?"

"Well first off, I think you might need to get a vasectomy," she said seriously. "My uterus has been occupied enough."

"Really?"

Sarah sighed. She knew how much Chuck wanted a daughter but these pregnancies had taken a toll on her body. "I think four is good."

Chuck sighed wearily. "Yeah…."

Sarah laced her hand with his. "Sweetie, I know you wanted a little girl, but it doesn't seem to be in the cards for us."

"I guess not."

"See Chuck, Ellie has two girls and Morgan has one. Maybe us having boys was supposed to even out the female to male ratio in the family."

"If you really want me to, I'll get the snip." He couldn't ask her to keep getting pregnant in the hopes that it'd be a girl. That wouldn't be fair. Plus, he knew that they were not getting any younger and as a woman aged, there was a higher possibility of complications arising during pregnancy. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happened to Sarah.

"I love you Chuck," Sarah kissed him softly on the lips.

"I love you too," Chuck replied.

Kaleb Stephen Bartowski and Kyle Jayden Bartowski. January 23rd 2018.

He hadn't gotten the vasectomy and Sarah cursed the day she told him that she changed her mind about it. She wouldn't be in this position now.

"Walker NO! Are you out of your minds?"

"Come on, you're a resp-"she stopped short when she realised just who she was talking to.

"Maybe we should call the grandparents," Chuck suggested. He glanced at Sarah who for the fourth time was in labour. This time she was relaxed and the snappish urgency exhibited the previous times wasn't present.

"Yes! Please! I'm no good at this kid stuff!" The impromptu babysitter looked desperate for a way out of the job.

One of the twenty-one-month old twins, either Kaleb or Kyle- even Sarah had a little difficulty telling them apart- began to cry from the kitchen. Liam, always the responsible oldest, came trotting from the kitchen. "Mommy, Samuel took away the twin's cereal and ate it all," he reported diligently.

"I did not!" three year old Samuel ran into the room and defended himself even though the Cheerios were still in his mouth.

Sarah sighed. "Samuel, what have we said about taking away other people's food?"

He looked to the floor. "Not nice."

"Exactly, if you wanted cereal, you just needed to ask," Sarah said. She then turned to Chuck. "Can you deal with them please?"

Chuck nodded, and taking Samuel's hand went to the kitchen.

The redhead looked at her friend's bulging stomach and huffed, "Geez Walker, I don't know if I told you before but you and Chuck put rabbits to shame! I don't know how you do it," she mused, "well actually I can see how you ended up in this position. I guess when the nerd gave you those bedroom eyes you were far gone. How did you even find time to go at it?"

"Carina," Sarah said calmly, "we are not discussing my husband's and I sex life."

"I'm still baffled that you guys still have a sex life," Carina muttered. "This is your last one right? Because I don't even want to imagine what down *there* looks like. You know I watched this documentary once where this woman had a ten pound baby vaginally and she needed like a million stitches." She shuddered at the thought.

"Yes this is our last baby." Sarah rolled her eyes. "Now, I've left instructions on the fridge. You'll survive."

"I didn't ask to be stuck for hours in the middle of the Bartowski Family Zoo!" The babysitter cried, throwing her hands up. "Your boys, every time I come over, they don't listen to me, they pull my hair, and they throw their food on the floor! What makes you think I'm going to be able to feed them or bathe them or make them go to sleep? I've never taken care of another human in my life! I can barely take care of myself!"

Sarah rolled her eyes at her theatrics. "Think of it like a mission. The boys are your assets and the mission won't last for more than two days." Sarah grinned, ignoring her twinging stomach. "Besides, I thought you always wanted boys hanging all over you, Carina."

Carina threw her hands up, obviously close to panic. "Maybe if I was on a beach in the Caribbean, but not your kids! Not your miniature Charahs!"

Chuck came in from the kitchen holding two struggling toddlers with blonde hair full of Cheerios. "Since they're so sticky, I think you might as well give them a bath instead of wasting time wiping them off. Make sure you wash their hair properly," he instructed and passed the children off to Carina. "And after that you can put them down for a nap."

Carina struggled under the unexpected weight of the boys, who immediately began to tug at her hair. "Chuck! This is a really bad idea!"

"Ready to go, sweetie?" Chuck asked Sarah, ignoring the redhead.

"Absolutely, honey," Sarah answered, turning for the door. "I'll call for backup, but until then you can handle them. Just keep all sharp objects out of arm's reach. And call Ellie if you need anything."

"How about a room at a mental hospital?" Carina called to their retreating backs.

"Don't be silly, Carina," Chuck answered, turning back to close the door. "You four be good for Auntie Carina." And he closed the door with a snap.

Carina growled. After this was over she was going to need a drink...or ten.

Three hours and seventeen panicked Carina phone calls later, Chuck and Sarah were once again proud parents. With the growing insanity of his household of little boys, Chuck rarely had time nowadays to drive Sarah nuts with his talk of the next one being a girl. But that certainly didn't stop him from keeping his fingers crossed.

Four pregnancies. Four boys. One girl.

"Well…" said Chuck, leaning over to look at his new baby daughter. "We did agree that this one would be the last one."

"Are you happy now? Can I shut the oven?"

Chuck guffawed and said: "Very much so and yes, we can shut the oven off...for now." Sarah sent him her death stare and he felt it. Oh, how he felt. He laughed nervously. "I'm kidding, honey! Really, I was!"

Sarah softened her features and said. "I know, you goof." Chuck was still smiling and so was Sarah.

"I love you Sarah."

"I love you too Chuck."

"Finally got the girl," Chuck smiled. Sarah could see the happiness radiating in his face. "She's perfect, just like her mother."

"The boys are gonna be so excited," Sarah smiled.

At the mention of the word 'boy', Chuck became pensive. Suddenly he had flashes of his daughter going to school, prom, puberty….boyfriends.

He shook his head. "She won't be allowed to date."

Lisa Chloe Bartowski. November 1st 2019.

/\

Since Sarah and the baby were both in good health, they were discharged in the late afternoon the following day. On the way back home, Sarah took time to gaze at Chuck who could not stop grinning. She was elated that she had given birth to a girl. She had no doubt that Chuck would have loved their last child as much as he did if it had been a boy, but she had to admit that their family did seem complete now. Her gaze then shifted to Lisa who was asleep in her car seat. Sarah smiled down at the baby in adoration. Observing the baby's blond curls peeping out from beneath her teal hat and her chubby face completely relaxed, Sarah felt a swirl of love build in her chest. Sarah used her left hand to softly squeeze Chuck's arm. There was a long line of traffic in front of them so he glanced back to her, his smile warm and loving. Her heart fluttered. She was thrilled that after all these years they were still able to make each other's hearts jump. No one had ever been able to ignite the love and passion in her body with just one glance and like she had said in her wedding vows, he was a gift that she never dreamed she could want or need, but she was grateful for him.

With a beaming smile, Sarah said, "You make me very happy Chuck." Her voice cracked a little with emotion.

Chuck's smile widened. "And you Sarah Bartowski make me the happiest man in the universe."

The vehicles in front of them began moving slowly. Chuck and Sarah shared a look before he turned his attention back to the road. There was so much more they could say to each other, so many more ways they could declare their love for each other. But with that look, words became unnecessary. With Chuck, her children and the rest of their family, she was living the life she only dreamed of.

A/N: Feel free to review, even if it's as a guest. Thanks for reading and I hope you guys have a wonderful day! :)

Until next time

xoxoxoxo

~Barbadiangirl 21/01/2016.