I think you deserved a quick update seeing as I've been so slack. Here you go!
"Vick." Judd whispered over his wife as he gently roused her from her sleep. "It's time to get up. Appointment's soon."
Vicki groaned as she rolled over, "Do I have to go?" she pouted.
Judd laughed, "Yep. And don't think you're gonna win me over with that cutesy face."
Vicki rolled her eyes and smiled as she flung her legs over the side if the bed and sat up. She was so tired. This baby was really wearing her out already. Seeing herself in the mirror was strange. She still wasn't used to seeing herself so… round. She slipped on some clothes and head out the door.
"I'm nervous." Vicki said as they settled in the car.
"It's okay." Judd said, "That's understandable. But I'm going to be right there, by your side, the whole time."
Vicki smiled.
The drive to the doctors seemed long, and by the time they arrived, Vicki's heart was racing. She squeezed Judd's hand as they walked into the office.
The gel was cold on her stomach and she giggled when it went on.
"How have you been feeling Mrs Thompson?" Doctor Carson asked.
"Fine." She said, "Tired."
"Any nausea?"
"No. I've been okay so far."
"That's good." The Doctor smiled, "It seems that pregnancy and childbirth has been a little easier on women since the Millennium started."
"Really?" Judd asked, surprised.
"Oh yes." Doctor Carson replied, "Not many women claim nausea anymore. And there seems to be significantly milder birth pains."
"That's something to be thankful for." Vicki smiled.
"I have something else here that you'll be thankful for." The Doctor replied, checking the ultrasound on the screen.
"What is it?" Vicki asked, squeezing Judd's hand.
"Looks like you two have not one, but two little bundles of joy on the way."
"What?" Judd said as Vicki's jaw dropped.
"Yep." Doctor Carson said pointing at the screen, "See. Here are the two heartbeats. Congratulations."
Vicki grinned at Judd, "Twins?"
"Twins." Judd smiled.
"Did you want to know the sex?"
Vicki and Judd looked at each other and smiled, "Do we?" Judd asked.
"Yeah." Vicki said.
"From the looks of things," the Doctor said, "We have one of each."
A flood of emotion washed over Vicki and she began to cry quietly. Judd wrapped an arm around her and kissed her head.
"I'm so happy." She half sobbed, half laughed.
"This is so amazing, Vick." Judd said. "We are so blessed."
"We need to tell our families." Vicki said.
"Marc and Marcie are gonna flip out." Judd laughed.
On their way home, Judd and Vicki stopped by at the Thompson and Byrne houses to tell their families the good news and show them pictures of the ultrasound. Everyone was ecstatic. They had already planned with Lionel and Ryan to have dinner at their place that night, and figured that it was only right that the second group of people they told after their families were their closest friends. The four original Young Trib Force members had decided to have dinner together once a fortnight for old times sake. When they got home, Judd offered to get the dinner ready so Vicki could grab a little more rest.
She kissed him and smiled, "You're such a good husband."
Even after all this time, seeing Lionel and Ryan made Judd's heart happy. They had so many memories together. They'd been through so much together and Judd was thrilled that they could finally hang out as friends without the apocalypse hovering over their heads.
"Hey man." Lionel said, slapping high-fives with Judd.
"How you guys been?" Judd asked.
"Pretty good." Ryan replied.
"Yeah, pretty good," Lionel said, socking Ryan on the shoulder, "This guys doing pretty good since he and Darrion started dating."
"Shut up man." Ryan said. "We're not dating. We're just hanging out."
"Whatever." Lionel replied, "They're pretty much dating."
"Where's Vick?" asked Ryan, changing the subject.
"She's in our room." Judd replied, "She's pretty wiped most of the time but she should be out soon."
"I'm here." Vicki replied, as if on cue. She came out of the bedroom in sweatpants and one of Judd's t-shirts which she found were the most comfortable things to wear now she had expanded. "Sorry I didn't dress up for you."
"How you doing, Vick?" Lionel asked.
Vicki yawned, "I'm good. But I'm exhausted like 90% of the time. And hungry 100% of the time." She said as she joined them at the dining table. "What did you cook babe?"
"Mexican." Judd replied.
"Yes!" Vicki punched the air, "That's why I married you!"
"So when are you due again?" Ryan asked.
"June 24th." Vicki said.
"I can't wait to meet the kid that you two managed to make." Lionel said, "I have a feeling the poor thing is gonna be real stubborn."
"Hey!" Judd and Vicki said in unison before bursting out in laughter because they knew he was right.
"Actually, we have a bit of news we wanted to share on that front." Vicki said, grabbing the sonogram picture out of her pocket. "We got a sonogram today and got the first picture of our babies."
She popped the picture on the table and Lionel and Ryan grabbed it to have a look.
"Wait," said Lionel, finally catching on, "Did you just say 'babies'?"
Vicki grinned and nodded frantically.
"Twins?!" Ryan exclaimed. "No way!"
"Yes way." Judd smiled, "A boy and a girl."
"Okay now I'm imagining two stubborn and fearless little kids with red hair running around the place fighting over leadership." Lionel laughed.
Vicki shot him a look.
"We also got an interesting email today from a couple that pastor a church in Australia." Judd piped in.
"Australia?" Ryan said, "Wow."
"Yeah," Vicki said, "They want us to come and speak at their churches marriage seminar."
Lionel burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Judd asked.
"Well, I just think of some of the times before you two became and couple of the year and still can't believe you made it."
"Hey." Vicki said, "We weren't that bad."
"Are you kidding?" Lionel said with a smirk, "Remember that time in that cave when we were hiding from the GC and this guy promised to stay awake while you slept and keep the snakes away from you and then fell asleep and you woke up with a snake on top of you?"
Ryan cracked up laughing.
"Man I wish I'd seen that!"
"And you were yelling at him."
"Uh, I think I was justified in yelling at him." Vicki smiled.
"Oh and that time I finally got you in the same room and tried to get you to work stuff out but Vicki, you were like 'what happens between us is none of your business' and I was like 'yeah it is'-"
"That's because," Judd interrupted, "I'm pretty sure you wanted this to happen more than we did."
"You kidding?" Lionel said, "Everyone knew you'd get together eventually."
"I know I did." Ryan said.
"Really?" Vicki asked.
"Sure." Lionel said, "Even back in the early days at Judd's house and you two would practically act like me and Ryan's mom and dad. I knew it would happen eventually."
"I can't believe it took five years." Ryan said.
"Probably because this guy was so stubborn." Lionel commented.
"Hey, can we quit analysing our relationship and eat some food please?" Vicki laughed.
"Good idea." Judd said standing up to get the food from the kitchen.
"But in all seriousness guys," Lionel said, "I'm so happy for you two. I'm so happy that you fought through your problems and made it work, I'm so happy you get married, and I'm so happy that you've been blessed with these little ones. You really are perfect for one another and God totally had it all worked out for you. I'm so proud of you." Lionel raised his glass of coke.
"Aww, Lionel," Vicki said, "Thank you."
"What I want to hear about right now is," Judd said, returning with the food, "What's going on with Ryan and Darrion."
Judd, Vicki and Lionel snickered. Ryan blushed.
"It's nothing really." Ryan said, shifting uncomfortably.
"It's not nothing." Lionel said, "He's constantly texting her and they hang out like every night."
"Sounds like it's more than nothing, Ryan." Vicki smiled.
"Fine." Ryan surrendered, "It's awesome."
They all laughed.
"We've been hanging out for a while now. I think we'll probably start officially dating soon, but for now we're just strengthening our friendship seeing as we haven't seen each other for a while."
"Well I'm happy for you two." Vicki said.
"This is cool." Judd said.
"What is?" asked Ryan.
"The four of us, hanging out, in a normal setting, without worrying about danger." Judd replied.
"I agree." Vicki said, "It's been a long time since we all hung out together without anyone else."
"I like it." Lionel said.
"To the former Young Trib Force." Vicki toasted with her water.
"Cheers to that!" Judd replied.
"Do you think what Lionel said was true?" Vicki asked as she puffed her pillow as they got ready for bed.
"About what?" Judd asked climbing into bed.
"Do you think we really acted like his and Ryan's mom and dad." She smiled.
Judd laughed, "I don't know. Maybe. But I was a bit of a jerk back then so it's possible. I'm still sorry about the whole snake thing."
Vicki giggled, "I think you probably made up for it since then."
"I can't believe how long ago that seems."
"We've come a long way." Vicki said patting her belly.
"We have indeed." Judd smiled, "Twins. Wow."
"I know right." Vicki laughed climbing into bed, "No wonder I've been so exhausted.
"Two babies around the house." Judd said rolling on his side and placing a hand on her stomach, "This is gonna be crazy."
"I think we can handle it." Vicki said, "Apparently we've been practicing our mom and dad duties since the rapture."
Judd laughed, "It's so great seeing Lionel and Ryan bickering again."
"Never thought I'd hear you say that." Vicki smirked.
"We certainly had plenty of adventures with them." Judd mused.
"I think our biggest adventure is yet to come." Vicki laughed, "We're gonna be parents in like six months."
"This is crazy."
"It's gonna be awesome."
Judd planted two kisses on her belly and then one on her lips.
"Yeah it is."
Boom.
Peace xo