Chapter 28:

Toby's POV:

We arrived from our holiday in Australia about 7 days ago. Spencer eventually told me that she got a bit of bleeding, nothing major. I took her to a local hospital, and got a scan done. Everything was fine.

Spencer: Come on Toby! We are taking to kids for their sleep over at Hanna's and then we are going to a baby scan. I spoke to my doctor who told me to have one as soon as possible after we get back.

Toby: Ok.

We are now in the doctors clinic.

Doctor: Ok, everything seems to be fine. You need to come back in 3 months.

Spencer: Ok.

Now that we are home, I start making a snack for the two of us and Spencer lays on the couch.

Spencer: God,mi want the next 8 months to hurry up.

Toby: Me too.

I take over some sandwiches for me and Spencer. We finish eating and my wife falls asleep on the couch. I hate waking her, so instead of moving her, I get a blanket from the closet and lay it on her. A few hours later, she wake up. I go to hug her, but she runs to the bathroom. As she gets to the top of the stairs, I hear her shout…

Spencer: Next time you come upstairs, can you bring some cleaning stuff.

Toby: Consider it done.

I instantly realise that she didn't make it to the bathroom. Fill up a bucket with hot soapy water, grab a cloth and get some anti-bacterial spray and wipes.

I make my way upstairs with the items and find Spencer crouched down against a wall.

Toby: Hey, it's ok.

Spencer: The carpets gonna smell. We are gonna have to get a new one. We are supposed to be saving money, not spending it.

Toby: Don't worry. If it gets cleaned properly, it won't be a problem to us ever.

Spencer's POV:

It's been 5 months since the holiday. I'm around 6 months pregnant. Everything is going fine, at the moment… Anyway, Toby is now at work, the kids at school and I'm at work as well. I'm sitting behind the front desk, reading a magazine.

Hanna: How is baby one and baby two?

Spencer: They are doing fine.

Hanna: How far along are you?

Spencer: About 25 weeks.

Hanna: Oh ok. When are we having your baby shower?

Spencer: I have already told you that I don't want one!

Hanna: Fine.

Spencer: Look, I know your excited that your gonna be an aunt again, but you just gotta deal with the fact that I don't want the stress of a baby shower. Especially with all the people that I want there.

Hanna: Ok, but who would you want there that would make you stressed?

Spencer: I was about to say don't ask.

Hanna: Ok. What names have you got?

Spencer: For boys, Tommy and Joe and for girls, Lily and Rose.

Hanna: Cute. I'm gonna go to the store and I'll be back.

Spencer: Ok.

Hanna returns from the store. I needed to go to the bathroom. As she walks through the door, I step out of the bathroom. One hand on the wall to keep me standing and one hand in my head.

Hanna: Hey what's wrong?

Spencer: I've got a really bad headache. I think I pissed myself by accident.

Hanna: Don't worry. I did that loads of times when I was pregnant with my girls.

Spencer: Ok.

Toby's POV:

As soon as I got the worst phone call of my life, I race to the hospital, where I meet my wife who is in early labour.

Spencer: It's too soon, I'm only 25 weeks!

Doctor: We need to perform a emergency c-section as your babies are in distress.

Spencer: What?

Doctor: I'm afraid, you can't come in. Say your goodbyes because there is a chance that she won't survive.

Toby: Don't say that, she is a fighter!

Spencer: I love you Toby!

Toby: I love you to baby girl!

The hand of my beloved wife is pulled away from mine. The next two hours were agonising, but eventually, I notice that Spence is being taken to recovery. Before rushing to her side, I try to get into the room. I manage to catch a glimpse of my children's limp body's.

Toby: They're not breathing are they?

Doctor: It was a difficult delivery!

Toby: Let me see them!

Doctor: Please, you have to step back.

Toby: No, not until I see my kids!

He turns to a nurse who lets me see them. As soon as I'm as close as I'm allowed to be, I start to cry. The doctors manage to get them breathing. I say goodbye and go to see Spencer. I try to get more time with my little boy and girl, but it's refused. I'm now sitting at Spencer's bedside, holding her hand.

Spencer: Where are they?

Toby: It's ok baby.

Spencer: Where are my baby's?

Nurse: , you must calm down. Your children are in the ICCU.

Spencer: Why what's wrong with them?

Spencer's POV:

After finding out that my babies have a 50% chance of survival, my whole world starts to fall apart.

Toby: They are gonna be ok.

Spencer: I think we should get them named asap.

Toby: Instead of choosing one of the two names, how about Lily-Rose and Tommy-Joe?

Spencer: Your so sweet.

Toby: I'm gonna go home, get some things for you. You need to rest, you haven't had much sleep since your surgery.

Spencer: Don't leave me, please.

Toby: If that's what you want.

Spencer: Of course it's what I want.

Toby: Ok. I love you so much.

Spencer And I love you more.

Toby: Not possible.

Nurse: Knock, knock.

Me and Toby quickly break from our love filled kiss when a nurse walks in.

Nurse: We have updates about your children's conditions. Your daughter-

Spencer: Just so you know, our daughters name is Lily-Rose and our son is called Tommy-Joe.

Nurse: Ok. Lily-Rose and Tommy-Joe, their organs haven't been able to develop properly. They're lungs are smaller than average and their brains are not getting enough nutrition. They are in incubators and under 24 hour observation. They will most likely be left brain damaged if they make it.

Toby: is it just brain damage or is there more?

Nurse: Yes, Tommy-Joe is blind in both eyes and Lily-Rose is deaf in her left ear.

Spencer: Ok.

Toby's POV:

The twins have been fighting for life for the past 19 hours. Spencer is sleeping and all I can do is stay awake and think. Just as I get up to go the bathroom that is on the other side of the room, Spencer starts to wake up again. When her beautiful eyes flutter open, she just cries.

Spencer: There was probably something I could have done to stop the early labour.

Toby: We've been told that there was nothing that could have done to prevent it.

Spencer: Really, are you sure?

Toby: Look, they are going to pull through.

Just as I tell her that they will pull through, a doctor bursts in.

Doctor: Mr and Mrs Cavanaugh, I'm so sorry.

Spencer: No.

Spencer immediately jumps out of bed and runs out the room. I follow her and she's heading towards where our children are staying. When we get to the door way, the nurses are unhooking all their wires and tubes. Lily-Rose is wrapped in a punk blanket and Tommy-Joe is wrapped in a blue one.

Doctor: I'm so sorry.

We walk towards them. We stare at their pale faces, no colour in them at all.

Spencer: What happens now?

Doctor: Well, we keep them here until a funeral is arranged.

Toby: Do you want a funeral?

Spencer: Of course.

Doctor: Would you like us to call anyone for you?

I shake my head as Spencer screams into my chest.

Spencer: They are our babies! Do something!

Doctor: There's nothing we could have done, they were just too small.

Spencer: But they can't be gone, they just can't be.