*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter they were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
"Hey, Baby Girl," says Joe as he comes into the bedroom after our long Thanksgiving Day entertaining our families. I am exhausted not only from cooking but for housing two residents in my uterus. My energy level has diminished since I found out I was pregnant. Putting together a whole dinner and entertaining completely wiped me out. He crawls into bed next to me as I am laying down on my side of the bed. I feel his warm body up against mine before I feel his arms wrap around me making me smile as I take in the scent of his cologne.
"Hey," I say softly.
"Are you okay?" he asks.
"Yeah, I'm just really tired tonight, Joe. This took a lot out of me."
"I know," he says comforting me. "I took care of all the cleanup everything is put away, the dishes are washed and dried. The kitchen is spotless."
"Your mom helped didn't she?" I ask with a smile.
"Yeah," he says and I can hear his smile through his voice. "Are you feeling okay about tomorrow?"
"Yeah," I say. "I'm just a little nervous. Are you feeling okay?"
"Of course I am nervous. The last time we had one of these done we didn't get good news. I just want the babies to be healthy. I am prepared for anything."
"Me too," I say. "I hope everything is all right with the babies especially since we already lost one of them. How are we even going to explain that to them when they are older? Tell them they aren't twins but triplets their sibling just died in the womb?"
"We don't really have to tell them," he says, "they may never know the difference."
"You should ask Jon how it is like to be a twin," I say. "As a twin it is hard to describe but you can feel the bond with your sibling outside of the womb. Gun and I had our own language that only we knew. I could feel his pain and he could feel mine. It was like we could read each other's minds. It is just a bond and a feeling that twins know identical or not. If you're a twin you know it and you feel it. You think they won't always be searching or wondering where the third part of their union is? I am sure it is the same for triplets. They will always feel that there is someone out there that they aren't just two but three."
"That's a good point. I don't know how we'll explain it to them but we'll find a way. Have you thought of any names yet for the babies?"
"I can't say they have really crossed my mind at all but the moment I found out I was pregnant I did get the idea to name a little girl Malia. I don't know I just really love that name and it means Bitter Sea in Hawaiian. I also like Moana call me cliché because she is a Disney princess but that movie was so great. I would name a little girl Moana after her because she wasn't like any of the usual princesses she was more independent and headstrong. She was different. I like Malia and Moana for little girls," I say. "Bitter Sea and Ocean," I say with a smile, "what do you think?"
"I like it," he says making me smile. "I was thinking of naming a little boy Jeremiah," he says, "do you like that name?"
"It sounds good," I say with a smile. "Are you sure you want to know the sex of the babies this time?"
"Yeah," he says, "that way we can decorate the nursery however we wish. I know you're not into gender roles so I am not talking about pink and blue but more like lavender and green or something like that. Do you think they should share a nursery or have their own room? I am sure there's going to be plenty of room in the house."
"I don't know. I think for the first couple years they should share a room then when they are 3 give them their own bedroom. It's going to be easier for us especially during late night feedings and late night diaper changes. Although the first month they will be with us in our room."
"Good idea," he says. "Are you sure you're okay about everything?"
"Everything is in God's hands. He will make the final decision on what they discover on the ultrasound tomorrow. We can't stress ourselves worrying about it. I still don't understand Koa and his condition. I may never understand it. I love that little boy. Just like no matter what I am going to love our twins. I'm prepared for anything after all that we went through with Koa. I am prepared for the worst news possible, I mean after all it doesn't get any worse than hearing that your child died before you even got a chance to enjoy them."
"I know," he says. "We'll be okay but damn this whole thing was a surprise. I didn't think you would get pregnant that fast."
"Neither did I and to get pregnant with triplets that was insane. I don't know how we are going to manage twins let alone how we would have handled triplets. You're going to be on the road most of the time and I am going to be home alone with them. That's what I am worried about."
"I know but we'll figure it out and you'll have Michelle to help you as well as your dad but I will try to get my schedule cut down for a little."
"No," I say. "I don't want you to lose out on opportunities that will help us in the long run. We'll figure it all out Joe but right now I need to sleep. I need to sleep," I say.
"Okay, Baby," he says. "Goodnight, I love you."
"I love you too," I say as he cradles me in his arms. I close my eyes and drift off to sleep waiting for our ultrasound for the next day.
The next day; my 26th birthday, came and I was woken up with breakfast in bed and presents from my wonderful, amazing husband. He bought me some gift cards to my favorite places to shop and he bought me a brand new necklace for my birthday that is in remembrance of Koa. It is an angel charm with his birthstone on it. It's the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen. I put it on right away after I take my morning shower. Once I am showered and dressed Joe and I head to the hospital to have our ultrasound done. To say I am nervous is an understatement because even if I am prepared for the worst nothing can really prepare you for the words your child will have a disability. It's scary but in our case it's even scarier. Joe holds my hand the entire way, everything is done in silence as we reflect back to when I was pregnant with Koa.
Joe finds a place to park in the hospital parking lot and we walk into the hospital. We take the elevator up to the floor they will be doing the ultrasound which is also the labor and delivery floor. We sign in with the receptionist and take a seat in the waiting room, nervously waiting for them to call us back. "This is like déjà vu," I say to him as we wait.
"I know," he says, "it's kind of eerie feeling. You think they are girls, boys or one of each?" he asks.
"Honestly?" I ask. "I think they are both girls. I had a dream that we had twin girls so we'll see."
"I could go for one of each or twin boys," he says.
"You could go for?" I ask. "You're talking like you're going to have a cup of coffee or a burger," I say with amusement. "We're having twins," I say. "Joe,"
"I know what we're having," he says with a small chuckle. "I just hope one of them is a boy. I already feel a little outnumbered with all my girls," he says making me smile. "So what's up?"
"I don't want to announce to the public that we are having twins. I just want our close friends and families to know."
"Why? I thought you wanted everyone to know so that they know why you left the ring."
"I don't know, Joe. I feel like you generate so much hate from everyone and granted I know some people will be happy for us but what about the ones that don't, the ones that don't know how to not cross the line what if they wish ill on the babies or me? I just can't have that," I say. "I think it's best if we keep this to ourselves. You see all the death threats you get, the things they say about me and the things they say about Alani. I can't have them talking badly about the babies. I just think it's better to be private. And it sucks it has to be this way because I want to share this happiness with my fans but then you have the fans that are so hateful and so mean. They ruin it for everyone. I don't even want their pictures posted on the internet because then you have the obsessed fans that will take them and put them on their pages, then the fakes. I always wondered why my dad was private about his personal life and I see why it was so that we could grow up with privacy we didn't' ask to be famous he did. It was my choice to be famous."
"I agree completely," he says. "If that's what you want that's what we'll do."
"Thank-you," I say with a smile. "You think you can handle twins?"
"I'm going to try," he responds. "It sounds exhausting."
"You should try carrying them," I joke. "That's exhausting."
"Aw, Baby," he says comforting me.
"It's fine," I say. "Don't worry about it."
"Willow Calaway," says the nurse as she walks into the waiting room. We stand up together and make our way to the door. "How are you today?"
"Nervous," I answer as we make our way to the room they are going to do the scan in.
Walking into the room I have never been more nervous in my life. This whole scan can go either really bad or really good. I'm hoping for the latter. The nurse asks me a few questions about how I am feeling and then takes note for the doctor. She hands me a gown telling me to take everything off but my underwear and my bra for my ultrasound before she leaves the room, leaving us to wait for the tech and the doctor. Once I put the gown on I climb onto the table and wait for the doctor. There is a knock on the door and we invite her in. "Hello, Willow," says a cheerful Dr. Grey. "How are you?"
"Wonderful," I say with a smile. "Ready to get this scan over with, I am anxious."
"All right," she says with a smile. "Did you enjoy Thanksgiving?"
"It was wonderful," I say with a smile before she shakes Joe's hand. "I'm happy to finally be off bedrest."
"I'm sure," she says, "but you know if you feel anything unusual or your blood pressure goes up we're going to need to put you back on bed rest."
"I understand," I say as I see the tech getting everything together for the ultrasound.
"While he's getting things set up I want to take a look at your belly," she says. I nod before she lifts my gown exposing my small round belly. She places her hands on my stomach feeling around and measures it. "You seem to be growing the way you should. Let's do this ultrasound to make sure everything is all right with the babies."
"Okay," I say, "but if you happen to see the sex this soon please don't say anything. We are going to have a gender reveal party to have it revealed to us."
"Okay," she says. "WE will keep it secret."
"Thank-you," I say as the tech turns the machine on.
The tech takes the wand and places the gel over my stomach I immediately get goosebumps as he squirts the cold gel on. It turns to heat as he places the wand into the gel moving it around on my belly searching for the babies to appear onto the screen. "And here is baby A," he announces and tears fill my eyes as both of the babies appear on the screen but he's focused on baby A.
"Are they holding hands?" I ask.
"It appears that way," smiles the Tech. "They appear to be very close already," he says.
"And they are identical?" asks Joe.
"Yes," says Dr. Grey. "They are in the same sac which means they were created from the same cell."
"I see," he says. "Is everything okay?" he asks as the tech shows us every part of baby A except for the private parts.
"Just doing a full scan," he says, "they have very distinct prominent lips," he points out. "This is their mouths look at those lips." I start to laugh. "What?" he asks.
"They clearly get that from their dad," I say pointing to Joe's lips. "He has the most perfect mouth and those lips every girl dies for."
"I see," he says. "Would you like me to print of pictures for you to share?"
"Please," I say.
"All right, I can do that," he promises.
"And I am just going to look over the results," announces Dr. Grey.
"Is something wrong?" I ask nervously. "Did you see something?"
"I just want to look at everything thoroughly," she says trying to reassure me but I feel like she's only saying that to make me feel better. The tech hands me the pictures of the babies so Joe and I look at them as Dr. Grey leaves the room to review the results.
"They look so precious," I say with tears in my eyes. "They look perfect."
"Well, they do have the most perfect mouths," he jokes as he looks at the pictures with me.
"Well, you do have the perfect mouth," I say with a smile. "And look at their little noses. They are so cute and they are holding hands. They're going to be best friends."
"I would say," he says with a smile as we admire the sonograms of the twins.
Dr. Grey comes back into the room and I try to read her face as she shuts the door. "So?" I ask, "is everything okay?"
"Well," she smiles which is a good sign. "Both babies look very healthy, their heartbeats are strong and there is no extra fluid. And they have a nasal bone. They are very healthy. Their hearts look great, they look great," she says with a smile and I let out a breath of relief knowing that everything is good with the babies. "Congratulations," she says, "you're going to have two healthy babies."
"Thank God," I say before I hug and kiss Joe with happiness. "Thank-you," I say to Dr. Grey. "Thank-you."
*A/N: What do you think of the ultrasound? Do you think it went well? What are your thoughts on the names they have picked if the babies are girls? Do you think Willow is going to be able to handle twins and Alani by herself when they live in Houston? Do you think it's good Willow is keeping everything private? Do you think it is for selfish reasons or for safety? Please review and thank-you for reading.