Chapter 5 More Surprises

Weeks later, Tess had come back from one of her shopping trips. This time it was purely for baby stuff. She insisted since we had found out the sex's of the babies the evening before. Vincent had finished carrying the car load of bags to the nursery and Tess and I were digging through them. Vincent kneeled down to place a kiss on each side of my ever growing belly, one for each baby. Then stood up and kissed me passionately. "Catherine Chandler, I love you. I fall more in love with you every day. I love our babies with every part of my being and one day soon, if you'll have me, I will make you Mrs. Catherine Keller." Tess gasped and so did I as he knelt down on one knee and opened a tiny black box. Inside was the most beautiful Princess cut diamond engagement ring I've ever seen. "Vincent YES!" I screamed. "But how did you, where did you…?"
"Catherine, it was my mother's. I find it fitting that the next Keller woman wear it as a symbol of my undying love." He slipped the ring on my finger and kissed me.
"Cat, all that time, I didn't get it. I didn't understand what it was with you two. I get it now. I really do. That was the most beautiful thing I've ever witnessed." Tess had a tear rolling down her cheek as she said this.
Suddenly a wonderful smell hit me. JT was cooking. "Guys, mind if we go downstairs and feed the babies? I'm starving."

Vincent and Tess laughed and he scooped me up and carried me downstairs into the kitchen. "Hey JT. Smells great and the babies and I are hungry. Whatcha cookin?" JT looked up and said "Cat! V, put her down before you drop her."
Vincent rolled his eyes. "JT, do you really think I'm going to drop her? Come on man."
"V, I'm not taking any chances with you, a.k.a., Mr. Butterfingers dropping Cat and my nephews."
Vincent gently put me down and I flashed JT my ring. "I'll be Mrs. Butterfingers soon." I giggled.
JT grabbed Vincent and I in a bear hug. "You guys, I'm so happy for you."

I struggled to free myself from JT's bear hug when a pain hit my belly. It felt like a boulder had been thrown against me. I doubled over, grabbing my belly. Vincent swooped me up and ran me to the observatory and grabbed the ultrasound machine. JT and Tess running right behind him. "Vincent, it hurts!" He nearly ripped my shirt off trying to get to my belly. A massive bruise had appeared on the left side where the pain was. He guided the ultrasound to baby B, just in time to catch a glimpse of his features returning to normal. The pain was gone, but the bruise hurt like Hell. He moved to baby A who was contently sucking his thumb. "Well V, Cat, looks like at least one of the babies took after their daddy."
Vincent's eyes flashed gold for the first time in months. He was trying to control the beast. Damn it JT. Will you ever keep your mouth shut? I took Vincent's hand in mine. "Hey. We knew this was probably going to happen. I'm ok. The babies are ok. Just breathe." Vincent struggled to remain in control. A few deep breaths and his features were returning to normal. "Catherine. You're not fine. Look at your stomach. He hurt you."
"Vincent, It had to be all of the excitement from today. I was struggling to breathe in JT's bear hug. He must have sensed that and transformed to protect me somehow. Now that we know what can happen, I know how to prevent it from possibly happening again. Besides. That was the first time I felt either of the babies kick and what a kick it was." I held my bump in my hands and began to talk to my babies. "Shhh little ones. Mommy and Daddy are here. We are safe."
Both babies kicked simultaneously. I grabbed Vincent's hands so he could feel. "Oh my God Catherine. I can feel them. JT, Tess, come feel the babies." JT and Tess ran over and Vincent placed their hands where his were. "Come one little ones, Uncle JT and Auntie Tess want to feel you too" he cooed. Almost on cue, they kicked again and JT and Tess were in awe at what was happening beneath their hands.

"Sorry to interrupt guys, but now that we know everything is ok, can we please, please go eat?" I asked. "It's only spaghetti and meatballs Cat. Nothing special. You must be hungry." JT giggled.
The three of them helped me off the table and onto my feet and into the kitchen where JT fixed me a big helping of his specialty. I gulped it down like it was my last meal. "All better babies?" It felt like they were doing summersaults in my belly. "Must be a yes."

Tess asked if I was ready to go back upstairs so she could finish showing me everything she had bought for the babies. The babies. We really needed to come up with some names, and soon. Vincent helped me up the stairs and into my rocker. The cutest and Vincent thinking the most fitting outfits Tess had bought were onesies saying Daddy's little Devil and Mommy's little Angel. Well if she didn't hit that one right on the head.