Laura scribbles her signature across a piece of paper before handing it up to Billy.

"Anything else?"

"I don't think so, we managed to get through everything we needed to," Billy smiles, "And I can get out of your hair."

"You don't have to leave," Laura says as she pushes herself into a sitting position, "I'm going out of my mind being cooped up in here all day."

"Where's Aurora?" Billy inquires as he files everything they'd gone through back into his bag, taking a seat next to his boss.

"School. We finally got her to start going again."

"That's good. I mean not that I minded hanging out with her..." Billy backtracks. Laura laughs and smiles at him.

"I know what you mean. As much as I cried her first day of preschool I eventually came around to the idea of not having her hanging off of me all day. Though your brother was probably the luckier out of the two of you, she was a baby for most of the time she was hanging around at my office. Milk drunk instead of sugar high, still took naps."

"Danny loved her," Billy tells Laura, "Thought she was the cutest thing."

"Do you miss him?" Laura asks, tilting her head to the side.

"Of course. I think I feel a little guilty that I'm here and he's not...he worked for you for so long."

"He did, but he would feel guilty if he was here and you weren't," Laura assures Billy. She looks over as the hatch opens, smiling when she sees Bill with two lunches.

"Commander," Billy says as he stands.

"Billy, it's good to see you," Bill comments before looking at his wife, "She staying put?"

"Yes, sir."

"Bill, he's not my keeper," Laura grouses as she glares.

"I should go," Billy says, excusing himself. Laura looks over at him, her look softening into a smile.

"Thank you for coming, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Have a good afternoon," Billy says before escaping out the hatch. Bill walks over and leans down, kissing Laura's head.

"Hungry?" He offers her one of the bowls.

"Starving," Laura says as she takes the bowl, "Thank you."

"Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, you worry too much," Laura comments as she starts to power her way through the lunch he had brought her.

"I worry just the right amount," Bill tells Laura as he takes a seat next to her. She smiles and kisses his cheek before finishing her lunch. Bill takes the bowl from her and sets both of them on the desk. Laura pushes herself up and pads over to Bill, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"You aren't supposed to be up."

"Love you too," Laura rumbles against his back before letting him go and heading towards the bathroom with a grimace on her face, "I have to pee. It's been approximately fifteen minutes since the last time I went."

Bill chuckles and shakes his head as he sorts through some of the files on his desk, pulling a couple to the top of the pile.

"Bill!" Bill's head snaps up at Laura's panicked tone before he sprints around the desk towards the head. Laura holds up blood covered fingers to him with panic in her eyes.

"Frak," Bill curses before leaning down and lifting Laura into his arms, "Arm around my neck."

Laura wraps one arm tightly around his neck and shoulder, groaning as she grabs her stomach with her other hand. Bill navigates them out of their quarters before starting to rush his wife towards Life Station.

"Make a hole people!" Bill bellows.

"Bill...take care of them...," Laura whispers before her eyes roll back and her head drops against his shoulder.

"Come on, Laura, don't do this to me," Bill whispers as he turns the corner, using his foot to open the door to Life Station, "Cottle!"

Cottle looks away from the patient he had been talking to, immediately jumping to action.

"Someone grab me a gurney!" He barks out as he sprints over, checking Laura's pulse and pupil reaction before helping Bill get her laid out on the proffered gurney. Bill watches in shock as they wheel her away, immediately starting to prep her for surgery. A moment later a nurse pulls him over and shoves him down onto a stool next to Laura's head.

"Sit, don't touch anything below her neck," The nurse commands him. Bill nods silently and swallows hard, wringing his hands in his lap before reaching out to brush Laura's hair back from her face.

"Don't leave me," Bill whispers quietly, "Don't leave them."


Bill sits up straighter as he feels Laura's hand tighten around his. He leans over and presses a kiss to her hand before smiling at her as her eyes flutter open.

"Hey beautiful." Laura lets out a dry chuckle before wincing as she tries to sit up.

"Not so fast," Bill tells her. Laura groans as she sinks into her pillows. Bill squeezes her hand, "How are you feeling?"

"Less stretched out," Laura rasps. Bill grabs a glass of water for her, putting the straw between her lips. Laura takes a couple sips before letting go, "Thank you. What happened?"

"Cottle did a c-section, there was some bleeding, they gave you a couple transfusions...I was wondering if you were even gonna wake up," Bill says, holding the cup out for her again, "It's been two days."

"Two days? Are they okay?" Laura asks as she sinks down against the pillows again.

"They are perfectly fine," Bill assures her with a small smile, "Two feisty six pound, eighteen inch boys."

"Boys?"

"Mmhm. Damn near impossible to tell apart."

"I wanna see them."

"Of course," Bill stands wheeling over the bassinet from the end of her bed. He lifts out one of the bundles and settles the baby in Laura's arms.

"He was the first one out," Bill says as he grabs the other boy, sitting on the edge of the bed and holding him up so Laura can see him.

"They're so tiny," Laura comments as she looks down at her son, stroking his cheek gently. She takes in his Tauron complexion and red hair peeking out from underneath the hat on his head. She brushes her fingers over his cheek, noticing how similar he looked to his father. Bill nods in agreement, smiling at Laura. Laura's smile widens as the baby in her arms lets out a big yawn before his eyes open slightly, "Hi my beautiful boy."

"They just had a bottle a bit ago, they'll probably be hungry again here soon."

"What time is it even?" Laura asks, turning her eyes to Bill as her hand reaches out to stroke the other baby's cheek.

"1320," Bill rattles off after looking at his watch, "Mona is going to bring Aurora down once school's done for the day."

"How did the surgery actually go?" Laura asks, "Gods know I feel like I got hit by a truck."

"It went well except for the bleeding. Cottle did a good job, put you back together right," Bill gruffs. Laura rolls her eyes with a small smile.

"Thank you, for getting us down here so fast."

"Just doing my job." Laura curls her finger at Bill, beckoning him closer. Bill leans down closer and she grabs his collar, pressing her lips to his.

"I love you."

"I love you too," Bill murmurs, "Any ideas on names for these boys?"

"Alexander and Liam," Laura suggests, looking at the little boy in her arms, "Strong names for strong boys."

"Liam?" Bill questions, "That's..."

"Short for William," Laura nods, smiling at her husband, "It's not quite a junior, but I like it...Do you?"

"I do," Bill smiles, "Thank you. So, Liam and Alex...which one is which?"

"What do you think?" Laura asks, looking at the boys. Bill shifts his hold on the baby and looks down at him.

"I don't know I'm pretty partial to this guy...this is Liam?" Laura nods and smiles, looking down as Alex lets out a single angry yell, "What's that all about little bug?"

Bill looks down as Liam starts to cry as well.

"Gods, they're just going to play off of each other aren't they?"

"Two that are one," Laura comments as she kisses Alex's head before settling him at her chest. She holds out her arm for Liam, getting him settled opposite his brother, "This is going to be fun at two am."

"We'll get a system down once we get settled," Bill comments as he strokes Alex's hair.


Laura sits up and settles Aurora between her legs before setting Liam into his sister's arms.

"He's so little," Aurora whispers.

"They are. You have to be very careful with them for now," Laura warns quietly, resting her hand on Aurora's leg before turning her eyes to Bill and smiling. Bill smiles back at her as he holds Alex.

"Are you going to be able to take me to the park now?" Aurora asks as she looks up at her mother.

"Soon, I still need to finish getting better," Laura tells Aurora as she kisses her head gently, "But I can't wait to take you to the park."

"When are you going to come home?"

"Two days. I'll be home with the boys before you get back from school," Laura assures Aurora. She runs her fingers gently through her daughter's hair as she watches her with her brother. Eventually, she trades out Liam for Alex, letting Aurora hold him for a while before the little girl yawns.

"Mmm, I think it's someone's bedtime," Laura comments as she takes Alex and lays him down in the bassinet. Aurora turns around and sits up on her knees as she wraps her arms around Laura.

"Can't I just sleep here?"

"I wish my darling butterfly," Laura murmurs as she kisses her daughter's head, squeezing her close, "Dad's going to take you home and tuck you in. And he'll bring you back in the morning before you go to school."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Sleep tight," Laura says, kissing Aurora once more before letting her go. Bill puts Liam down and holds his hands out to Aurora, lifting her onto his hip. He leans over and kisses Laura quickly before straightening.

"Get some rest, you need it."

"I will," Laura assures him, waving at Aurora as they slip out of the cordoned off area before yawning herself and covering her mouth. Cottle pops his head in with Laura's chart in his hands and Laura smiles tiredly at him.

"Surprised I haven't seen more of you today."

"Well the worst is over," Cottle says as he jots down her vitals before checking her incision, "How have you been feeling?"

"Much better."

"I'm going to have a nurse come and get you moving around. I'd like you to get at least a lap in, two would be great," Cottle explains before checking on the boys, "They're nursing okay?"

"Mmhm," Laura nods.

"That's the last surgery I'm performing on your family, young lady, I better not see any of you in here again before we land this damn thing," Cottle threatens as he looks at Laura.

"Yes, sir," Laura salutes with a bemused grin.

"I'll come back after your walk and make sure you're set for the night."

"Thank you," Laura nods, her grin turning into a thankful smile.


[TBC]