First things first I am very very sorry for the long wait. I had writers block and then everything just got crazy.

Second you may need some tissues handy


WHISPERS IN THE NIGHT

OCTOBER 30, 1955

"ATTENTION ATTENTION!" Came Ward Stuckmeyer's voice over the loud speaker of the Erie Westlake Rollercade. "Would the Flanagan boys please report to my office for an important message."

Fatso, Farrell, and Farren were skating with Daisy and Dora McClaren and their sister Danielle. The boys stopped short and caused the girls to skate into them and they all collapsed on the ground. The boys then went into coughing fits.

"Boys your medicine!" Dora chastised them using the same tone that their mom and Finley used.

"Right right!" The boys replied wheezing. They took their asthma medication out of their pockets. They rolled their eyes at the fact that their medication now came in perfume bottles.

The girls stood up to give them some cover as they opened their mouths and squeezed the puffer and sprayed the medicine into their mouths.

"I wish they'd come up with something else to put the medicine in!" Farren replied as the girls helped them up.

"That's something to consider when you all become doctors someday." Daisy replied as they skated to Mr. Stuckmeyer's office.

"Boys!" Came the voice of their aunt.

The boys blinked. Their Aunt Meara was their mom's twin sister who coincidentally married their dad's twin brother Doctor Finbar. Aunt Meara was currently standing by the lockers while Uncle Finbar was talking with Mr. Stuckmeyer.

"Boys get changed immediately your mother's in labor!" Their aunt replied sternly.

The boys looked at each other as they fell onto a bench and started undoing their skates.

"The Gilligan's are on their way to the clinic with your brothers and sister." Their Uncle replied as they hopped towards the door. They got their shoes on right as they got to the car. "Torrin and Lorcan couldn't get a flight in but Orla and Etna are meeting us there."

0o0o0o0o

The Flanagan's cousins, 20 year old twins Orla and Etna, defied the odds. They skipped several grades and breezed through college and medical school. They were currently applying to hospitals for residency positions. They would be assisting with Mona's delivery. 16 year old twins Torrin and Lorcan skipped a few grades as well and were currently studying abroad.

Fatso looked at his watch as they walked into the clinic. It was 4:00pm.

"Hiiiiii!" Orla and Etna squealed as they pulled him and his brothers into a hug.

"Everyone else just got here as well. They're in the waiting room." Orla replied.

"Sit back and relax it looks like it's going to be a few more hours." Etna replied. "But we do have some news to share!"

"What!" Everyone asked hesitantly.

"We took X-Rays earlier today and saw that it's twins!" Orla replied excitedly. "The streak continues!"

"WOW!" The Gilligan's exclaimed.

"YAY!" The rest of the Flanagan's exclaimed unenthusiastically.

"Oh goodness!" Meara sighed looking exhausted as she follows her family into the other room.

Everyone in the waiting room sighed. In the middle of the room there was a huge red velvet two seat sofa. It had a really high back and thick arms. Will practically collapsed into the sofa and yawned. Finley held up a blanket and shook it. Then she sat down next to Will covering them both with the blanket.

"Ugh stupid wig!" She huffed as she tossed it up and over the sofa. She shifted her legs onto the sofa and rested her head on Will's shoulder. Will looked like he was about to fall asleep just as Aunt Meara's cat, Whisp, hopped up onto Will's shoulder out of nowhere and began nuzzling Will's face and purring.

"Will you're a regular old cat whisperer!" Fatso replied as his brothers settled into a corner and started a game of cards.

Mrs. Gilligan chuckled and settled into an armchair by the door. Whisp continued purring as she moved from Will to Finley. Then she hopped down and curled up behind her knees.

"Ugh it's too bright in here!" Finley replied as she pulled the blanket over her head. He took the opportunity to settle into the lounge chair by the window and started reading a book.

0o0o0o0o

Fatso hadn't realized that he'd fallen asleep until a loud clap of thunder startled him awake. He held up his wrist as close to his face as possible to try and look at his watch. 12:15am Halloween. He looked over at Mrs. Gilligan who was asleep in her chair. He looked over at his brothers who were all sleeping on the couch in the corner. He looked at Will who had just stirred and was rubbing his eyes. His sister was still under the blanket but had slipped onto Will's lap.

All of a sudden there was a flash of lightning as Whisp jumped onto Finley's hip. Behind him the rain started pounding against the window. Whisp began meowing and was staring at something on the ceiling then looked back and forth as if she was watching a tennis match. He and Will looked up at the ceiling to try and see what she was seeing. A huge gust of wind sounded from outside along with a flash of lightning. Whisp looked right at him as her pupils became big.

'MOW-OW' Whisp meowed loudly as a loud clap of thunder came from outside and before he knew it she was on the window sill. She whipped her head to look outside then back at him.

'MEOW-OW!' Whisp meowed loudly again and seemed to paw at the air.

Another flash of lightning lit up the window and then he saw a flash of red streak across the window. His heart leaped into his throat.

Was that his father and uncle outside? He asked himself as he kneeled on the chair, gripped the arm and stopped short. His jaw dropped as another flash of lightning lit up outside. And right outside the window he could see plain as day Finley. She was just standing there all dry and looking like she had never been sick.

'Meee-ow!' Whisp meowed quietly. There was another flash of lightning and Finley was gone. A loud clap of thunder.

Fatso opened and closed his mouth as he looked at a wide eyed Will's reflection in the window. He saw his hands shift under the blanket. Another flash of lightning, a loud clap of thunder. Will's lower lip began trembling as they began to hear babies crying from the other room.

"M m mom!" Will's voice cracked as Fatzo fell back into the chair and shook his head as he hugged his knees.

He shook his head as tears welled in his eyes. His stomach joined his heart in his throat as the door opened and he looked up and locked eyes with his father.


A.N. Asthma treatments and methods evolved many times over the centuries. The use of the perfume bottle was inspired by a 13 year old girl in the mid 50's.

There have been stories in the media about cats that live in hospice nursing homes that can sense when residents are about to 'leave' and will curl up with them to give them comfort until it's time to go.

Also again I'm so sorry for the long wait and I promise the next chapter will be more upbeat. Thank you for reading.

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