The sun warmed down on the ground, gently caressing the little heads of the flowers that danced on the golden tracks that their friend sent from the sky. The air was warm and thick, summer was in its full power causing people to hide in the shadows of their homes. Placing a pitch full of freshly made lemonade on the table on the porch, Atlantis squeezed her eyes against the sun, gentle smile playing upon her lips. She poured a glass of it and took few sips, enjoying the feeling of coolness and refreshment it brought to her senses. She moved slowly toward the fence and leaned her palms on it, gazing into the forest near by. The green colours of the trees rested her eyes and she inhaled a deep breath in, gently caressing her swollen belly.
A flashlight of the light brown flew beside her and she heard the voices of the little birds. Turning around, she looked up at the little nest under the roof of their house; the bird flew down on the edge of the nest to meet two little beaks that opened widely. Atlantis smiled at seeing a bird feeding her young ones and in that moment little footsteps were heard. She glanced at the doorway and smiled at her son "Matthew, come, come quickly!", as her little boy rushed toward her, Atlantis showed him the nest "Look. A Mum bird is feeding her little ones. See how that one wriggled to get the food?", as her son nodded his head and laughed happily watching the birds, Atlantis placed her palms on his shoulders and smiled. Life was so good.
One little bird opened its little beak wider as if it was yawning and hid its little head in the soft feathers on its belly, looking like a little ball. the other one followed the example of its sibling and silently chirping their song, they closed their little eyes and drifted off to sleep.
"They're gonna sleep? But, it's a middle of the day!", said little Matthew.
"They're still very young. After they eat, they always go to sleep", Atlantis smiled at the words her little son said "Come on, lets have a lemonade", she ushered him toward the table and poured him a glass of cool liquid.
Taking few long sips of the refreshing lemonade, little Matthew looked up at his Ma, his small feet dancing through the air as he sat on the chair "Will our baby be the same like those little birds?", he asked, causing Atlantis to smile warmly again.
"Yeah. Especially at the beginning", she replied, pouring more lemonade into her son's glass.
"I'll help you, Mummy", a child smiled, eager to fulfill his promise. Atlantis heart melted and she caressed his soft brown hair "I know. You are my big boy now", she leaned down and kissed her son's cheek.
"When is Daddy coming home?", little Matthew asked as he took another long sip of the lemonade.
"In the evening. He has to finish some work in the office. What do you think that you and I make a dinner for Daddy? Will you help me?", she asked and smiled as little one nodded eagerly "Come on, lets go inside, have some rest and than we will start cooking", she said, deciding that it was too hot on the porch. Her legs hurt and her forehead was bathed in sweat.
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"Now, I'm gonna put some jam on it and you're gonna roll them like this", Atlantis showed her little boy how to roll the mixture and he nodded, smiling. She smiled warmly at him and enjoyed watching him having so much fun as he helped her to make the dinner. They were through half of the mixture for biscuits when they heard a voice saying "What are you two up to?"
"Daddy!", little Matthew squealed and catapulted himself into Matthew welcoming arms.
"Hey, big boy!", Matthew smiled, picking up the child. Giving him a kiss on a cheek, he looked toward the mess on the table "What are you making?"
"Biscuits! Dinners is ready and we are making something sweet now to have after we eat the vegetables and meat. I am helping Mummy so she doesn't have to stand for long", little Matthew said, wriggling down to get back to his task.
"You're home early", Atlantis smiled, accepting Matthew's kiss, not missing a concerned look in his eyes after their son's words.
"Your feet hurt again?", Matthew asked, gently rubbing her sore back, relaxing her body immediately. She nodded, enjoying his movements at her sore back.
"I feel like an elephant", she murmured. He came closer to her and jokingly whispered "But, you're my elephant", as Atlantis playfully kicked him on his upper arm, they both chuckled. "Why don't you go get some rest? We'll finish here", Matthew suggested, giving her no chance to protest by gently kissing her lips and added "We'll call you once we set up the table. Go on, lay down a bit."
Atlantis nodded gratefully; she was indeed tired. It was harder and harder for her to stand and she definitely was heavier than during her first pregnancy, her belly was bigger than the first time. Leaving the kitchen, she went toward her and Matthew's bedroom and sighed in relief as she laid down. Tomorrow she'll go to see Dr. Mike for a check up and hopefully hear their baby's heartbeat for the first time. With those thoughts, she closed her eyes, smiling. In next few moments, tiredness won over and she fell into a sleep.
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Michaela smiled as she checked Atlantis' heartbeat and than asked "Shall we listen to the little one?", receiving a nod from both her daughter – in – law and son, Michaela moved the stethoscope toward Atlantis' belly and listened carefully. In next moment, her eyebrows creased a bit, her face growing serious.
"Dr. Mike?", Matthew asked, seeing her facial expression "What is it?", he felt Atlantis' fingers squeezing his palm and they shared a worried look. Michaela waved her fingers a bit signalling them to be quiet as she listened intently through her stethoscope. The clock on the wall ticked, making seconds feel like an eternity. Atlantis could feel her lips going dry from the worry as she watched a face of her doctor "Dr Mike?", she silently called.
"What is it, Dr Mike? Is everything all right with the baby? Can you hear the heartbeat?", Matthew was beside himself from the worry and Michaela looked up at two of them, smiling widely.
"Actually…I can hear two heartbeats in there", she said through a smile.
Atlantis gasped, loosing her breath for a second "Two?", she breathed out, her heart thumping faster the next moment at this news. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely", smiled Michaela. Handing a stethoscope over to her son, she said "Go on, check for yourself", she slowly moved her stethoscope across Atlantis' swollen belly and watched Matthew's face as it transferred from worried to surprised and than blissfully happy in the matter of seconds.
"I can hear them", he mumbled, his whole face smiling as he looked at his wife "Atlantis, I can their heartbeats!", with his shivering fingers, he handed a stethoscope to Atlantis and she accepted it. Holding her breath, she listened carefully and than, as Matthew cupped her face in his palms and showered her face and lips with kisses, she laughed and cried in the same time "Two babies!" she hugged her husband around his neck, lovingly kissing him back.
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"We'll be home before the night", Nicole waved at her brother – in – law and sister and rushed to catch up with her little nephew. It was almost the ninth month of Atlantis' pregnancy and she came together with her parents to be there for her. Today, Dr. Mike and Sully invited them for a lunch and they all agreed except Matthew and Atlantis. It was very hard for Atlantis to move around even for such a short trip if it wasn't necessary. And even if she would want to go, Matthew would stop her. Atlantis watched him closing the doors behind her parents, Nicole and little Matthew and she sat down in her armchair, adjusting the pillows, casting him a smile. He was so gentle and supportive through these nine months. Her due was in two weeks and he didn't allow her to do anything at all. She couldn't count all the times he brought her breakfast to bed, massaged her feet and back to help her relax, let her sleep in while he took care of their son and prepared a meal for them…He was so loving and caring.
She still remembered when the babies kicked her for the first time; she called out to Matthew who was in the barn feeding the horses and he practically flew in the house, thinking that something was wrong. She'll never forget the smile that lit up on his face as she took his palms and quickly pressed them on her belly. His eyes filled with tears at the feeling of their babies' kicks and Atlantis felt her heart swelling up with love for him. He kissed her long and passionately, setting her whole body on fire.
She rocked slightly in her armchair , feeling her sore muscles relax under the gentle swings. Seeing her adjusting one little pillow and grimacing, Matthew asked "Your back hurt?"
"Mhm", Atlantis nodded, too much in discomfort to utter a sensible reply. Swinging in the armchair didn't help for long.
"Lets get you to the bed, it will be easier when you lay down", Matthew came toward her and Atlantis accepted his hand, silently agreeing with his suggestion. She grimaced again as she got up and letting out a deep breath, Atlantis opened her eyes and looked at her husband "It never hurt like this before", she leaned on Matthew and grumbled "Look at my feet. I look like a duck."
"In that case, you're the cutest duck I ever seen. Not to forget that you're my duck", Matthew joked and Atlantis laughed, playfully kicking him and in that moment sharp pain shot through her body, causing her to gasp.
"Atlantis?", Matthew looked down at his wife as she practically doubled over in pain "Atlantis, what is it?"
"Oh, my God!", Atlantis silently gasped "My water just broke!"
"What?!", Matthew tried not to panic.
"Matthew, I'm scared. Go see if Nicole is still here, tell her to ride and get Dr. Mike", Atlantis mumbled through tears.
Realizing that Nicole and others are far gone by now with the horses and a wagon, Matthew focused back on his wife "All right, take it easy. Lets get you in the bed. Lean on me", he could feel that Atlantis was in panic and he soothingly said "Don't worry. Everything will be okay. Come on, few more steps", reaching the bed, he pushed the covers and helped Atlantis to lay down, mentally preparing himself for what was about to come. Growing up beside his Ma who was a midwife, than later on listening to Dr. Mike and Colleen, he knew what he had to do. But, first, he had to try to calm Atlantis down. It will do no good to babies if she goes into a panic now "Atlantis, Atlantis, listen to me! Don't be scared. I know what to do. I talked to Dr. Mike and got prepared in case I had to deliver the babies. I asked her about it because she gave a birth to Katie in the woods, Sully delivered the baby. I got everything here, just…try to breathe and relax", adjusting pillows behind her back, he wiped her tears away "Nicole is gone, it's too late to get her back", he looked at her eyes and gently kissed her forehead "Trust me. It will be all right, I promise. I won't allow anything to happen to you or the little ones. All right?", as she nodded, he gently smiled "All right. Try to breathe like Dr. Mike told you to while I go get the things we need."
His soothing voice washed over her senses and Atlantis nodded, slowly coming down. She can do this. They can do this.
As Matthew came running back with everything needed, she smiled at him. He was her anchor, her steady rock and she felt herself calming down, paying attention to her breathing.