Chapter Forty-Four

24 Weeks:

She awakened mid-morning feeling a bit worn down. At 24 weeks with triplets, her body was tiring quickly. She didn't want them born too early, but the wait was getting tedious with the heat of summer and the extra weight of the babies. She had been having Braxton Hicks contractions to top it off, at least she hoped that's what it was. They would find out at the doctor's appointment today.

Kyoko sighed deeply.

"Everything okay?" Kuon asked with concern.

She nodded. "Just a little tired and really hungry for some reason. I know I just had a big breakfast but this is getting ridiculous." She grumbled.

Kuon chuckled. "Maybe you're carrying a miniature Otousan." He suggested in jest.

A look of horror crossed her face. "Don't even joke about that." She rolled her eyes.

"Will you have time to have lunch with me after the appointment or, did you have to be home right away to go to your yoga class with Mom?" He asked as he rubbed the small of her back while they waited for the doctor to come in.

"We have time." She smiled brightly. "I will always have time for you Kuon." She kissed him on the cheek.

"Good morning Kyoko... Kuon. How are we doing today?" Dr. Kealoha asked as he swept into the room and began washing his hands.

"Good so far... I think." Kyoko told him.

He looked at her pensively and examined her chart. "Did you have any questions?" He looked up at her and Kuon.

She sighed and looked at Kuon. "Well... I think I've been having contractions, but I'm not sure."

Dr. Kealoha pursed his lips and furrowed his brow. He seemed a bit worried. "How about you describe them for me."

"Well. It feels like muscle cramps. It gets really tight right along here." She showed him along her lower belly. "and sometimes it really hurts."

He raised an eyebrow. "How steady are they?" He asked with concern.

She looked up and tapped her chin in thought. "Probably once or, twice a day. Usually for about an hour." She told him.

"When it happens... are they regular or, erratic?" He asked, writing something down.

"I don't know... They seem pretty regular." She answered, beginning to get a little concerned. Kuon was starting to worry too. She hadn't told him this part.

"Kyoko... I want you to change into this. I want to examine you." He told her as he gave her a gown. "I'll be back in shortly with Nurse Hannah." He left the room.

Kyoko began to disrobe.

"Kyoko? Love, why didn't you tell me any of this?" He was truly concerned.

She sighed. "Because I didn't think they were real contractions. I thought they were the fake ones and I didn't want you to worry." She told him as she donned the robe and he helped her back onto the examination table.

Minutes later the doctor entered with the nurse, washed his hands and put on his sterile gloves. The nurse helped Kyoko into the stirrups and Kuon stood next to her, holding her hand. The examination began.

The doctor looked at her a bit worried as he examined her. "Alright, Kyoko. Take a deep breath, this might be a bit uncomfortable." He told her and put his other hand on her belly.

After the exam was over, he removed his gloves and told her to get dressed. "I'll be back in shortly to speak to you."

She nodded. They were both worried now.

Kuon helped her back up after she was dressed and gently rubbed her belly as he wrapped his arms around her. "Don't worry so much. It's going to be okay." He reassured her.

The doctor came in and shut the door behind him. He sat down with her chart in his hands and looked up at her. "Well Kyoko... Kuon, it seems as though you are dilated a bit. Only 1cm, but that does mean that those contractions you've been having are the real ones. I'm going to prescribe a couple of medications for you to take to calm your uterus and prepare the babies' lungs for an early birth. Just in case. I want you to start taking them today and I want to see you in here every week to check on your progress. I want you completely off your feet and absolutely no extra curricular activities. I don't even want you making a snack. If you have any discharge... You come to the clinic immediately and call me. There will always be someone here that can help. This clinic also serves as a fully functional private hospital for our kind, so you needn't worry." He smiled gently at her and patted her hand when he noticed she was starting to stress out. "And don't worry. These medications and instructions are to slow this down or, stop it. Alright. I just want you in every week to make sure everything is going smoothly. Now... Make sure she stays off her feet, young man." He smiled and shot a look to Kuon.

Kuon nodded. "Yes Doctor Kealoha. Thank you very much."

"Doctor?" Kyoko started and he nodded. "Can I still do my maternity yoga stretches?"

He nodded. "As long as you take it easy and it helps you to relax. Like I said... Nothing strenuous. I'll send in Hannah with your instructions and send your prescriptions downstairs to be filled. You should be able to pick them up in the next 20 minutes." He left the room.

Kuon turned to look at Kyoko and he could see that she was starting to get upset. He quickly pulled her into his arms and held her closely. "Shh... It's going to be okay Sweetheart. Don't worry so much, it's not good for you or, the babies."

She breathed in his scent and it calmed her, like it had so many times before. She nodded into his shirt.

"Are you still hungry?" He asked, she nodded. "We'll go get some lunch when we're done here. Do you have anywhere special you want to go?"

"Can we get Ono Tacos?" She said in a small voice.

He smiled gently. "Of course." He told her as Hannah entered the room and gave her a page of do's and don'ts for the precarious weeks ahead.

After lunch, Kuon made sure she took her medications and that she was taking her afternoon nap before he gave the news to Kuu and Julie.

"Is everything going to be okay?" Julie asked with worry.

Kuon nodded. "The doctor gave her a couple of medications to take to get the babies ready for an early birth and said that we need to keep her stress free and make sure she doesn't over-exert herself. She can still do yoga, but it can only be for relaxation now... Not exercise. He wants to see her every week from here until they're born. He said that if she has any discharge, she needs to go to the clinic immediately. The paper he gave us has a bit more on it about everything. I'll copy it later and give it to you so you can read it. Right now... I'm going to go check on her and probably join her." He informed them.

Kuu patted him on the back. "Alright son. If you two need anything let me and your mother know." He offered.

Kuon smiled. "Thanks Dad... Mom." Then left to join Kyoko in her nap.

Kuon entered their darkened bedroom to find her curled into a ball sobbing. He lay next to her and pulled her into his arms. "Shh.. It's okay. Everything's going to be alright Babe. Stop worrying about it. They'll be alright." He whispered as he held her closely.

She rolled over in his arms and snuggled into his chest. "I know... I don't know why I keep worrying about it."

He breathed in deeply. "It's okay. I'm worried too. I think that's normal, but the doctor did say the medicines will help, so we'll just have to take it one day at a time. He'll make sure they're okay."

She nodded.

He kissed her forehead and swept the wisps of hair out of her face. "I love you." He whispered as he rubbed her back. "I'm sorry you have to go through all of this."

She looked up at him. "Kuon... It's not like I didn't participate." She giggled. "It does take two." She gave him a small smile.

He chuckled. "I suppose you're right." He kissed her forehead again and then they both drifted off to sleep in their air conditioned bedroom in the mid-afternoon.