Random future parts Grease The next Generation

by astarte.cupid's.wingman

Just future parts to a pre-existing fic

November 17th 1985

Johnny Castle looked concernedly at his wife. In the months since the family reunion; namely since they'd returned from their vacation in L.A., she'd been out of sorts in that she'd been sick a lot longer than what was expected for jet-lag, so much so that it reminded him of the way it was during her first and third pregnancies — she couldn't be pregnant… could she? — he wrestled with the thought til she roused under his gaze.

"Mmm… Johnny, what's wrong?" Baby questioned sleepily, peeking blearily at her husband as she began to sit up.

In response, Johnny chuckled sheepishly; "Nothin' sweetheart," he murmured, rubbing small, soothing circles into the smooth skin of her back, "return to your sleep, dear one."

Baby, however, didn't go back to sleep, for she had, in the same moment as she'd heard his reply, noticed the somewhat strained expression on her husband's face, and so didn't buy his nonchalant explanation. "You look pensive, have I done something…" the query was silenced by his tender kiss.

"No, no, it's just that I'm well… concerned 'bout you, dearest." He admitted, deeply frowning.

Baby's eyes were wide as she rose to a fully seated position "And why might that be, my love?" She asked, markedly confused.

"You're not," He paused, only to shake his head and swallow uncertainly. "I mean we're not expecting again? The pattern of your sickness reminds me of the periods leading up to the births of our boys."

"I don't know, possibly, but how could we be?"

"Well…" Johnny added pointedly. "whilst we visited my sis and Gav in Hollywood, we made a whole lotta love to each other… remember?"

Images flashed through Baby's mind of the hot summer nights spent engaged in passionate lovemaking, and could only respond by flashing a most tender smile at Johnny.

"That," He concluded, carefully emphasizing each syllable; "Is the only way in my mind we could have ended with the possibility of having another, plus I was really past the point of wanting it — but I really don't have long to live." His voice faltered at the end of the statement.

His wife looked at him, mildly amused, "Johnny, you are only in your forties." She admonished him.

"I know," he sighed exasperatedly, "but you saw how suddenly my Pa passed on, and shit — I look just like him — so maybe history will repeat itself; which y'know it's got a habit of doing."

Baby's expression was extremely compassionate, "Don't dwell upon it, for in this circumstance it will not." then her brown eyes enlarged, and began to sparkle as she made one more attempt to persuade her husband. "Look at how big they are! JJ is a sophomore at Southbrook prep next fall, Megan will be in sixth grade with Vince commencing the fifth… Come on, Johnny — don't you think it would be nice to have a small bundle of joy to look after again?" The look in her eyes had worked (as it so often did, she knew fore well that Johnny was unable to resist that particular look) and relenting, one of his hands began to softly stroke her non existent bump "I hafta admit it'd be nice if we could have a little girl… with my hair, your gorgeous brown eyes, my chin, and your perfect lips and nose." Johnny whispered.

He then reached for the phone on his nightstand and dialed the number for the practice of his father-in-law, but after only reaching the automated answering device, he instead opted for the number of the Houseman residence and spoke into the receiver "Jake? It's Johnny, listen can you see us after your lunch break?"

"Why?" Jake questioned, but soon became anxious "Is something wrong with my daughter?... is one of the children?" He really had not expected his son-in-law to call.

"Remember the circumstances of my other calls to you? It's like those — because your little girl's been real sick of late, so much so that I believe she's probably carryin' my kid again…. but as before I'll need your medical expertise to really be sure." Johnny smirked and shook his head, an errant lock of silver-hinted brown hair falling across his forehead.

"It's a Sunday, Johnny— so I'm at home for the day — so just give me a chance to gather my medical supplies and I'll be there as soon as I can." He promised, placing the fork back on the hook with a grin.

In that same moment, Marj entered the parlor via the utility room, with confusion written on her wizened features "Jake? you're smiling as if you knew some life altering secret… what is it?" She questioned her husband of 44 years.

Jake wasn't able to disguise the news from his wife and sighed "I've just received word from Johnny. He is almost certain we have another grandchild — it seems like an eternity since wee had a new edition to the ranks." He answered, sauntering over to retrieve his medical bag.

His wife's dark brown eyes shone "If it's true, then you and I will be seeing a good deal more of Vince — he is an exact copy of our Frances in every way possible — Just as his older sister is a near perfect female replica of you, but can be decidedly cruel to her siblings and cousins, apart from Detective Castle's daughter." Marj said, winking at him knowingly.

He sighed. "Yes, our younger granddaughter is a lot like me, yet I don't understand from where her inherent need to be cruel comes."

The expression in her eyes shifted, as now they were twinkling almost roguishly beneath her thatch of thick silver curls "Are you comfortable with the knowledge our eldest grandson prefers the company of boys to that of girls."

The doctor's shoulders rose and fell in a casual shrug, "I guess, but I for one don't think Victor will ever forgive his middle child for being a disappointment in his eyes, he thanks the lord Dominic has remained heterosexual." He responded

"We know George's coming out is the sole reason for Johnny's cutting contact with Lisa and her family. I believe he was fearful that George would have influenced Vince, who was only 6 at the time… with it being less of a concern for JJ, who was already eleven by that point. We can also deduce that's the reason Olivia has gone to live with Victor's sister and her husband in Rhode Island." Marj said

"Don't you think that it was also due to her getting into Brown, like she's been dreaming to do since she was nine? Our oldest grandchild has always been firmly above the curve." Jake finished, stepping into the crisp fall morning.

As he approached the rather imposing Haviland Manor address, he caught a glimpse of his grandsons tossing a baseball between themselves on the lush front lawn.

Upon hearing his grandfather's approach, Vince lost his concentration, grinning at the Doctor in welcome "Hey Grandpa! Watcha doin' here?"

Jake returned the smile and found himself incapable of explaining it to the nine-year-old (in spite of how much he was a clone of his mother), and instead turned to address his nearly fifteen year old brother:

"Where's your sister, JJ?" He asked, having immediately taken note of his granddaughter's absence.

"Oh, stayin' with our aunt, uncle, and cousin in Jersey City." JJ informed him, rather dismissively at that too.

"Where are your parents then?" The grandfather continued with his interrogation

Vince answered that one, "Still upstairs. Mommy's been real sick of late, and Daddy's been real worried."

JJ artfully rolled his eyes at his brother "And hey presto, you've got the answer to your original question." He said, more than a little sarcastically, and Vince glared at him.

Their grandfather chuckled at the exchange, continuing into the house, his arrival in the main hallway was met with a door opening and closing on the upper level of the house, footsteps echoing down the hall, and finally his son-in-law descending the staircase with a tight, anxious smile on his face.

"How is she, son?" He asked worriedly, having taken note of Johnny's expression.

"She's asleep now, and it's a miracle that she's not been sick at all today." Johnny said, and turning back to the stairs, he gestured at the doctor to follow.

When they entered the master bedroom, Baby was woken, straightening to give her husband and father a confused glance "Mmm… Daddy, why are you here?" Her face was inscrutable, a dozen emotions flitting across it in that moment

"You know exactly why I requested your father to visit us, dearest." Johnny murmured, reaching out to stroke her demure face lovingly — Baby, in turn, leant her cheek into his broad palm, and her eyes slid shut, it was obvious to anyone who observed the scene, how perfectly content she was. Jake watched this exchange with a tender smile and wondered why he'd been so disapproving of the two being an 'item' back in 1963; that was purely due to Frances still being his 'little girl' as well as favorite child at that point, he realized.

"Oh… that's right." She breathed, as her father commenced with his examination, and after roughly twenty minutes, Jake smiled at his son-in-law who watched on in palpable anxiety.

"Well son, as before you're indeed correct — only this time it's slightly different…." He paused, only to be interrupted by Johnny, whose eyes and tone of voice matched completely with the total mystification he felt "How's it diff'rent Doc?" He asked, and the doctor couldn't help but smirk at his expression "Well, this time you are going to have twins." He informed the newly expectant (again) parents.

"Twins…" Johnny mused thoughtfully, "There aren't any known sets in either of our families — but Billy somehow ended having the triplets — So I dunno," his shoulders rose and fell in a casual shrug. "It must just all be down to luck." He grinned then, "How far's Baby gone, Jake? When can we expect these bundles of joy to arrive?" Johnny asked, as he sat down on the bed and threw Baby a besotted smile.

"She's three months along, so expect that they will be born sometime in the middle of May next year, congratulations!" He answered, and Baby threw her arms around Johnny's neck, fixing her mouth with his in a passionate kiss, the sheet falling to her midriff, her husband gently caressing the skin of her back. She couldn't believe she was pregnant again, she'd honestly thought it would be difficult with her being so close to forty — but then her husband had proved himself to have remained virile as ever.

The three occupants of the room were thoroughly distracted by the light rap which sounded on the wooden door — Johnny recovered first, and watched it open a crack, only for their younger son to peer in uncertainly.

"What's wrong Lil Vince?" He called over his shoulder, which was paired with an obviously doting smile — one to which Baby's only response was a roll of the eyes, Johnny was with Vince just how her mother had warned he would be "If providence shows, then at least one of the children will be your exact image and Johnny will have few if any qualms about spoiling him or her." — that made her also want a girl that looked as her husband desired — even with all his father's favoritism, Vince was no spoiled little brat.

The door swung open, revealing the nine-year-old in question to be perched in its frame. "Daddy, Is mommy alright? Is she still sick — she's not…" the boy's lower lip quivered "Dying?" He asked fearfully, brown eyes as large as saucers.

Johnny chuckled under his breath at the question, and sighing, shook his head "No dear boy… she's far from that — as a matter of fact I believe

your mom and I've got some important news for you and your siblings."

Hearing this, the lithe brunet boy skittered toward his parents' and sprung onto the mattress, stretching out cat-like between the two adults.

"So, what's it then?" He asked excitedly, looking between his parents with brown eyes which seemed almost yellow in the early afternoon sun.

It was then Johnny chose to explain it in a way he thought only Vince could understand, which in reality the child was unable to grasp. "It seems that while we were visiting your aunt, uncle, and cousins in L.A. , your mom and I did the deed — so now she has what she desired, two-fold."

Baby gave her husband a vaguely chastizing look as she spoke up "What Daddy meant was that by late next Spring, you are to have two younger siblings." She clarified, noticing the confusion which replaced momentarily the excitement on their son's small face.

Hearing that, the boy once again leapt — this time from the bed — and landed skilfully on his feet and ran from the room, his footsteps echoing as his feet pounded the wood of the stairs.

As he entered the living room, he saw his brother sat on the couch, watching a rerun of a Yankees vs. Orioles World Series game. Upon the small glass-topped table sitting between the couch and television set, sat a plate with what looked like the remains of the previous evening's meal and a half-full glass of soda — obviously in the meantime JJ had gotten himself some lunch.

His stomach growling, Vince looked again at the plate and asked his brother "JJ, is there anything left for me?"

JJ sighed, pausing the recording with a remote, and addressed his brother with a casual shrug of the shoulders and a sidelong glance "Why don't ya go check for yourself, kid."

On his way to the refrigerator, the preteen was intercepted by his grandmother, whose eyes twinkled green beneath the platinum blonde sweep of her hair (only in the years since the death of her husband had her hair begun to lighten);

"Vincent," she asked him, mischievously, "Why is it your eyes are glinting so brightly… could it be you've got something important to tell your brother, sister, and I?"

Darn. His grandmother Castle could read him like a book, and unlike JJ, he was a poor liar "Well, grandmother — I have and that's —" whatever the boy would've said was drowned out by the distinctive burbling of a Diesel engine.

In the living room, JJ stood from his place on the couch; "Ah… it appears Megan's returned from Jersey City with Uncle Brady and Allie." He remarked, at almost 15, he was rapidly approaching his father's height. His parents both suspected him to be crushing on Lena, Chris's sister (a fact about which he was blissfully unaware); whilst Vince was only nine — and as far as Johnny and Baby were concerned was content to soak up his childhood. He'd shot up over the summer and now stood at 5'4" (which meant he was now taller than his mother, even though it was only by an inch), the height made strangers think him as almost eleven, and were surprised when he told them he was younger.

He walked over to the front door and unlatched it, and sure enough, found Brady, Megan, and Allie to be all standing on the porch. His sister — though she'd turned eleven just over a month ago — was petite, only 4'9", and had inherited all physical traits from their Grandpa: she had long black hair, deep gray eyes and pale white skin. She already dreamed of studying medicine in order to take over her grandfather's practice when she grew up — this however, didn't earn her any such favoritism from her dear Grandpapa, who spoiled her younger brother the same way their Daddy did.

"Hey there, J." Brady Castle greeted his teenage nephew, ashy blond locks falling across his forehead and into his amberite eyes, an identical smile was worn by his preteen daughter who stood alongside him.

"Hiya Uncle Brady!" The boy returned the greeting, grinning at his uncle, "Any big breaks?!" He asked excitedly, over the years his focus had changed — and on his twelfth birthday he'd informed his father, that instead of becoming a dancer, he'd rather study criminal law at college and become a great policeman — like the uncle that stood before him, and who was a great influence on him — and was surprised when Johnny smiled at him and said "Son, I'm proud of you, whatever you choose to do."

"Yep." Brady confirmed, "We arrested a notorious bank robber this past Thursday afternoon." He informed his nephew, his eyes then scanned the room, and when he realized the man of the house was nowhere to be seen, he returned his attention to the teenager and asked "Where's your Pa, J?" as if in reply to the question, there was the sound of a door on the upper storey of the house opening then closing again, footsteps echoing down the hallway, and finally with Johnny's reappearance at the foot of the stairs, a mysterious smile on his countenance.

"Hey there, Big bro!" Brady enthusiastically greeted his oldest sibling, with a grin.

"Hi yaself, Kid." Johnny returned laughingly — if Anne-Maria was the favorite sister, then this 37 year old was most definitely the favorite brother. The thing which marked them as siblings was their hair color, as both had inherited the blonde hair of their mother (though his was by far the lightest, and was even lighter than their aunt Marina's)

"Daddy?" Megan questioned her father "Where is Mommy?" and Johnny sighed looking upon his only daughter — for the moment — for he was certain one of the twins would be a girl and look just as he said she would.

"Your mother's upstairs, your father's been concerned because she's been sick a lot lately." A new voice cut the afternoon air, and the girl turned to find her grandfather standing where her father had minutes before.

"Hi, Grandpapa!" She cried in glee, embracing him tightly, "How are you?!" she was a petite mousy thing, who was extremely cruel at times, and looked like him in every way.

"I'm just fine sweetheart, and I can see that you are, too." He paused, to place a kiss on the top of her head. "How was your stay with your cousin in New Jersey?" He asked, with an enthusiasm that seemed almost genuine.

"It was great! Uncle Brady bought me the newest Barbie doll, and the outfit which I am currently wearing." The youngster chattered excitedly. Nodding, her Grandfather released her and saw that said outfit was comprised of a ruffled, three-quarter sleeve blouse, a two-tiered skirt, knee-high socks and thigh high boots, all in varying shades of pink.

With that greeting complete, the girl turned again to her father and repeated her earlier question "Daddy?" she asked, this time anxiously, "Where is Mommy?"

"I'm right here, sweetie." Baby said, — smiling warmly at her daughter — as she appeared at the base of the stairs herself, and Megan went to tightly embrace her mother, but was stopped by her father's voice:

"You go easy on your mom, alright?" Johnny cautioned her and then added so low she hadn't a hope of hearing: "You may hurt them."

"Why?" Megan asked once more, gray eyes glinting like the still waters of the local pond at midnight.

Johnny sighed exasperatedly at the preteen, and pushed her in the direction of the hallway which led to her bedroom. "We'll tell everyone who isn't already in the know at dinner…" he winked conspiratorially at Vince, whose lips twitched with mild amusement. "But for now, you'd best go and unpack."

When she was safely out of sight, Johnny returned his attention to his brother — flashing the blond man an inviting grin; "So how's about you and Princess Allie dine with us tonight?" He questioned, the smile turning a little coy.

In response, Brady glanced down at his wristwatch, somewhat uncomfortable. "I dunno — I think we should be getting home soon, I mean Lois will be more than likely preparing supper as we speak, and — and I…" He began, in an obvious attempt to excuse both himself and his young daughter.

Allie suddenly interrupted her father — a thing which was very uncharacteristic of her, " Daddy, why can't we stay and have dinner with Aunt Baby and Uncle Johnny? Mommy won't mind if we call and see if it's okay with her." she ventured. Allie adored Johnny the most of all her uncles — and was anxious to hear the latest family news, since it would indirectly affect she and her parents.

Brady finally relented, after gazing into the sparkling amber eyes of his little girl (which were the exact shade of his own). "Alright, alright," He sighed and turned to Johnny "Dear brother, where do ya keep the phone? I've just gotta call the wife, and tell her not to wait supper for us, since we're eatin' here."

Johnny gestured to the room across the hall "There's one on the end table in the living room." He informed Brady, who went to call his wife with the change of plan.

In the meantime, Allie felt a pair of warm, loving, and tender arms wind themselves about her slim waist, partnered with a warm voice which resonated in her ears "Is this my little angel Allie?" it asked sweetly. In response, the youngster squeaked — and turning about, found her smiling grandmother to be standing mere inches from her.

She giggled — her laughter sounded like the peal of bells — "Oh grandmother, you've startled me!" She exclaimed, kissing the aged woman's cheek. "How are you, by the way?"

Mabel smiled lovingly at her granddaughter "Just fine, dearest. Your cousin here was just about to tell me something which would bring a much needed dose of joy to this ole heart o' mine, but your showing up did just that, honey."

Allie then turned a quizzical pair of amber eyes on her slightly younger cousin. "And what was that, young Athos?" and Vince would've most likely spilled it, if not for the timely reappearance of her father, which made her forget about the question and skip over to Brady.

"So what did Momma say, Daddy?" She asked excitedly, her eyes twinkling.

"She has given us permission to stay for dinner, baby-girl." He answered, and turning to address his brother he asked "Would you kindly tell us what's for dinner, your lordship?" and Johnny chuckled good-naturedly:

"Hey, I ain't a member of that stuffy British aristocracy, — uncle Grant's the closest the family has to that — I'm just Johnny your oldest brother."

Brady grinned again "I was only kidding — what are we eatin'?"

"Burgers with homemade French fries, JJ and I picked up the ingredients on the way back from the studio the other night." Johnny told his brother.

"They're daddy's specialty," Vince bantered, winking saucily at his father, earning a horrified look from his mother; "about the only thing Mommy allows him to cook in the kitchen."

"You watch yaself, lil' Vince." Johnny half- sternly told his son. It was true, his Baby was a particularly gifted chef and the kitchen was her sacred turf, and was later overseen by his mother.

"Sorry Daddy." Vince murmured, his brown eyes a little misty.

So just over two hours later, they gathered in the dining area, and after everyone had been served — Mabel Castle turned an inquiring glance on her firstborn:

"So Jonathan, What is it that you have to tell us?" She questioned him. Though she'd be seventy the following Valentine's Day, in her blue-green eyes still remained a certain sparkle — that of girlish innocence and mischief.

Johnny grinned at his mother. "Well, you dear mother o' mine, you're to become a grandmother again, sometime in May next year; I just received word from Jake that Baby's pregnant again — with twins." He told her, and silently gauged everyone's reactions:

"Cool." JJ murmured, a little excitedly "I'll be on hand to babysit, Mom and Dad." He smiled at his parents, who seemed all too surprised at this kind of reaction from him. "It'll be great practice, I want to have kids one day."

Allie stood from her chair and squealed, delighted. "Uncle Johnny, you'll be seein' a lot more of me — I wanna help out with my cousins when they arrive." She announced, and Johnny chuckled, reaching across the table to ruffle her ashy-blonde locks affectionately "We'll appreciate the extra help as well as energy, princess."

Megan looked annoyed, "Babies make too much noise, and I won't be able to study for exams!" She cried indignantly.

Johnny chose to ignore his daughter's obviously negative feelings towards the news and turned back to the adults "I'm a bit apprehensive that this delivery will be as difficult as Megan's was — and as you know, I can't bear to come that close to losing the love of my life again." He fretted aloud, and Mabel, Jake, and Brady all exchanged concerned looks with one another.

Baby spoke up then, her brown eyes glinting with a grit and determination which no one had seen prior — 'I assure you, Johnny Castle…" she smiled at the love of her life, reaching beneath the table to give his hand a reassuring squeeze — "that I don't plan on leaving this world without you at my side." he gave her a small, tight smile in return.

Brady sensed the tension, and smirked: "When they're born, this one'll most definitely pitch a fit if her Mom and I don't let her go." He noted, watching as his daughter's heart-shaped face (the only thing she'd inherited from her mother) went crimson at his remark.

Everyone else burst out laughing at Allie's expression, and after, Brady turned to Johnny and casually asked "So, by-the-by, how long have you and Baby been together?"

Johnny blinked, a little taken aback at the sudden question: "Together in general, or 'together' as in married?"

"Both." Brady clarified, nodding his blond head singularly "I was wonderin' if you were plannin' on toppin' Ma and Pa? I mean they were married 41 years."

"We've been together on-and-off for over twenty years — married almost fifteen and a half — and yeah, we do plan on being with one another until one or both of us is deceased." Johnny answered, and everyone resumed eating, and after all had finished, Mabel grinned at her oldest:

"Jonathan, is there anything going on between JJ and Penny's girl, Lena?" She asked him, eyes shining as clear a blue as the cloudless summer sky.

"Yup." Johnny replied, nodding at his mother. "She's been harboring a massive crush on him since she was 'most six. My son, of course, is blissfully unaware of his own growing affection for her." Johnny chuckled — as his oldest son ducked his blond-brown head, trying-and-failing to hide his face as it went crimson.

"She's got some stiff competition, Victoria Goodman." Vince interjected; and when that only garnered confused looks from the adults, the 9 year old clarified, " Her dad — Joseph — is an executive at Apple in Emeryville, the kids live with their mom in the heart of Manhattan, but they see their Dad at least twice a year — Three weeks in Summer break, and Easter— their parents keep their marriage strong — though they live on opposite sides of the country."

JJ suddenly scowled darkly at his younger brother "Who told you me and Vicky were out with each-other, Huh?, were you being uncharacteristically sneaky or something?"

Vince looked calmly at his brother, unaffected by the look JJ had just given him "How would I possibly know? Your forgetting I'm buddies with her little bro, Rylan — and those two are closer than close, to the extent that they know all each other's secrets." The expression on his face changed, and he playfully chastised his brother "Shame on you JJ! Imagine how poor Lena feels - she's been in love with you since she was younger than I am currently." and JJ, for his part had no idea how to respond… so instead he turned to their father and asked "What's for dessert, Dad?"

Johnny smiled. "Your grandmother made a couple of her famous apple pies the other day and your mother will undoubtedly make coffee and I think your old enough to graduate to coffee."

So after they had dessert Brady muttered "I think Allie may already have an admirer."

Johnny's eyes widened at this, and he shared a glance with their mother; "How so, kid? Allie's way too young for love — she ain't even eleven yet!" He replied

"That's what her mom and I've said — but then there's this teenage upstart called Ryder Adamson in eighth grade who seems to be crushing on her. I really have a problem with him because the neighborhood bullies are the kids he hangs with — the ones that steal cigarettes from their parents and smoke em."

"But Daddy," Allie whined, rising from her chair to stamp her foot for emphasis "Ryder's not a thing like his buddies — he's nice —, and you're friends with his Papa who runs the local milk bar in town."

Brady sighed in exasperation, and eyed his daughter wearily "Yes, Thomas and I are quite familiar with each other, every time I visit his business he voices his concern about his son one day becoming as mean spirited as those he chooses to associate with — and as your father I can't stand around waiting for that behavior to start, which inevitably it will."

Johnny decided to tease his younger brother in a low aside "Betcha wish Allie was a boy, dontcha?"

"Sometimes, sometimes." Was the equally low response.

December 20, 1985

Baby pulled into the driveway, glad to be done with all the Christmas shopping. She was exhausted, while she could usually deal with crowds, she'd found it harder this year — given that she was four months pregnant, and just starting to show.

As she stepped in the house, she placed the bags by the door, and took her coat off.

As she stepped into the kitchen/dining area, her mother-in-law smiled at her:

"Do you need any help Mabel?" She asked, and the older woman shook her head:

"You look worn out as is — any further exertion could result in you passing out. I saw that many times with Alexander's old patients. Jonathan would be really upset — he wasn't keen on letting you do the gift shopping alone." Mabel answered, looking up from the cinnamon cake batter she was mixing.

Baby giggled "He's truly the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I love how generally protective he is of me; especially whilst I'm pregnant."

Mabel smiled again, "He was the same while I was pregnant with Elliott, he was only eleven and copied his father."

Baby walked to the couch and lay back on it, promptly falling asleep.

Johnny came in a couple of hours later, and immediately went and knelt beside his wife, caressing her belly with a tender smile on his countenance.

Baby's eyes slowly opened and she started to sit up, but her husband pushed her back gently, "I didn't mean to wake you." He murmured, pulling her blouse up so he could kiss her small bump softly. He smiled at her again, "How are you, sweetheart?"

She took his hand and pressed her lips to his palm, "Tired." She paused, and gave a large yawn "I returned from the mall around four hours ago — it's a madhouse there this time of year."

"You should've waited for me to return — knowing how much more difficult it was for you this year." He playfully admonished, rising to his feet and lifting her into his arms. Baby squeaked in surprise but wrapped her legs around his waist, arms encircling his neck, Johnny then fell back onto the couch, causing her to giggle, and snuggling into his lap, she rested her head on his shoulder. He sighed in contentment, his hands resting on her bump, he couldn't imagine a life without Baby in it in some way. He had picked a Christmas tree, with the help of their boys, who had gone round the back to initiate a snowball fight. He would ask Brady to help him with bringing it in tomorrow morning.

"We'll need to stock up on supplies, you'll be craving all sorts of junk, won't ya?" He asked playfully, kissing her cheek

Baby exploded into a peal of girlish laughter. "I know I will…" she paused, and smiled at her bump. "after all, I'll be eating for three." and with that her eyes closed again.

Later that night, after the children were tucked into their beds, Johnny smiled at his wife:

"Now, Mrs. Castle," He started, pulling her close as she got in his reach "May I have this dance?" He asked huskily, kissing his way down her right side.

Baby giggled "Of course, after all you're my husband and the man of my dreams since I was seventeen and saw you for the first time."

He dipped her back, admiring every inch of the gorgeous woman who he'd been fortunate enough to call his wife for 15 and a half years. Time had been kind to her, small laughter lines were visible beneath her lower eyelids — to him she was, and always would be, a natural beauty.

"Johnny, I need you!" She suddenly moaned, and he chuckled and led her to their bed, and she sighed when he positioned himself above her.

"Hmmm, sex with a pregnant woman — I haven't really done that before." He pondered aloud, leaning down to capture Baby's lips in a passionate kiss.

"You know I'm going to get fat soon — I hope you'll still love me then." She muttered beneath his kiss, causing him to break the kiss and stare at her as if she was insane.

"I made a promise to love you no matter what, so you'll still be beautiful to me no matter your physical appearance…" He trailed off, as he noticed tears in her eyes and quickly wiped them away, and caressed her bump gently.

"Johnny, I don't know what I got right to deserve you." Baby sniffed, and smiled up at him.

"You were just being yourself — and I was being to put it bluntly… dense, my mind didn't want me to believe someone so far outta my league — yet simultaneously so far in — could actually love me." He smiled lovingly at her and pressed his lips to her bump. "My parents had no idea I had a job at Kellerman's and how I'd created another identity — my sister knew our idyllic upper middle class life was shattered the moment My girlfriend's brother took advantage of our cousin — El found it hard to trust anyone outside of our family, that's why the male portion of the family was suspicious about her 'relationship' with the continental red-haired gremlin." Johnny finished, resuming the kiss.

"I love you, I love you, I… love… you." Baby repeated, peppering her husband with gentle, nonetheless passionate kisses "And if I don't tell you so enough daily, I love you — you've given me everything I've ever wanted, a home, a family and enough love to last me this life and the next." She whispered, snuggling into his chest, as he stroked her back. In a year's time, moments like this would be few and far between, with two babies to take care of.

December 25, 1985

As suddenly as it did every time, Christmas Day arrived, bringing with it a majority of the clan: Nico and Erin brought Bob, Anne-Maria and Gavin brought Jack, Leah, and Seb — Brady and Lois brought Allie, and Eli brought his girlfriend Trudy (who was eager to bond with her boyfriend's family). Penny, Ricardo, Chris, Lena, and Dio were there too. Johnny was surprised when there was a knock upon the door which signaled the unexpected arrival of Reilly, Louisa, and their brood: Levi (16 and practically a man), Sammy (who was still wild, naive and unpredictable — even at 13), twelve year old Becky (who immediately ran to Lena and squeaked in delight, embracing the slightly younger girl — who giggled and returned the hug) the twins, Josiah and Isaiah, who were already in deep conversation with Vince and Dio, and the small Judah, who was five and rather ill at ease amongst strangers.

"How is it you had the Athos of the connection a decade ago, and almost ten years later announce you are to have the D'Artagnan?" Anne-Maria teased her brother.

Johnny chuckled "Just lucky, I guess…" he paused and looked over to Baby, smiling to the subtle bulge in her midsection "and with my angel now starting to show — that will soon be a reality."

Baby's stomach growled and she walked over and wrapped an arm round her husband's waist "Johnny, we're all hungry." She said

"We'll eat soon, sweets, but come upstairs, I have a surprise for ya…" He winked and led his wife up the stairs to their bedroom, Baby looked at her side of the bed and could see piles of sweaters (arranged according to color, pattern, size, and thickness of material).

Johnny smiled lovingly at her "I want to maximize your comfort throughout the pregnancy — so I spent a small fortune on these for ya." He explained, and she squeaked and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Do you want to model one today?" He asked playfully, leaning down to press his lips to her bump, and she giggled, nodding her curly head.

"Which one though?, we've got several contenders." He asked, and she went through one of the piles until she saw a thick, woollen boatneck sweater, with green and red stripes.

"This one," She decided, pulling it on over her blouse, and immediately feeling warmer. "It fits the season so well."

Johnny released her, and admired how good she looked in it: the sweater fit her snugly, emphasizing her growing stomach just enough.

Her stomach growled again, and her husband chuckled, rubbing her belly gently, and led her back downstairs and out to the snow covered backyard, where her father was waiting, her mother had gone to spend Christmas with Lisa and her family, sans George — whom all but Lisa and her parents deemed a disappointment.

Johnny filled a plate of food for his wife, who immediately veraciously devoured the food

Johnny watched her eating and shook his head, she'd never eaten so much so quickly before, and resting a gentle palm on her bump — He suddenly exclaimed "Whoa there! Slow down, sweetheart, you might make yourself ill again."

After the food was all done, Lois, Penny, Anne-Maria, Erin, and Louisa all headed inside to clean up before the gifting, and Jake took Johnny and Baby aside to relay to them an important message:

"I would like to inform you that by early next March, I'll have formally retired."

Baby was suddenly frightened, the first sign of the hormonal imbalances associated with pregnancy, "But… Daddy, who's going to deliver the twins?" She sniffed, nearly to tears.

Johnny pulled her into a reassuring hug, "Calm down, sweetheart…" he murmured, "I've got that under control, don't worry." He added, with a mischievous grin playing upon his lips.

"How so, my love?" She asked, still not entirely calm; yet the shakiness had ceased.

"Well… let's just say someone that I'm close to works at the hospital 15 minutes from our house." he answered

"Who is it Johnny?" She whispered, laying a hand on his chest as one of his hands stroked her bump.

"My Uncle Lincoln — you've met him already, honey, remember how JJ broke his arm a couple of years ago?" and Baby nodded, resting her head on his shoulder. "well my uncle was the one that treated him."

"So that was why our oldest trusted him so readily." She noted.

January 24th 1986

Baby's stomach was growing on track, She and Johnny had seen his doctor uncle the previous day, and he was quick to assure them that everything was going to plan — though he'd be keeping a close eye on her, given that she was almost forty and pregnant with twins, which were revealed — to no one's surprise — to be a boy and a girl.

She rested in their bed, knitting a pair of booties, when she heard their bedroom door open and Johnny approached the bed carrying a pepperoni pizza with double toppings and a pint container of mint choc—chip ice cream, over the last couple of weeks, the cravings had consumed her with a vengeance.

He sat down beside her, putting the food in front of her and smiled lovingly at her

"How are you, sweetheart?" He murmured

"Hungry." Was her simple reply, and putting her knitting aside to begin eating, Johnny simply smiled tenderly at her growing belly.

When she'd finished eating, her husband admired her again, though she was five-months pregnant — she was still perfection to him.

Johnny disposed of the trash and then knelt beside her on the bed — smiling lovingly at her, as he undid the last three buttons of her blouse, in order to tenderly caress her belly, his smile grew larger as he felt a light fluttering against his palm.

Baby gasped in delight, beaming at her husband, "Those were the first kicks!" She squealed, and threw her slender arms around his neck. Johnny chuckled in response, rubbing her back as he kissed her lips softly.

Breaking the kiss, he straightened and smiled at her "So should we share a bath? — you've not been downstairs yet, have ya?" He asked

His wife giggled, shaking her head, "Of course I haven't — you'd have a panic attack if I'd even tried descending the stairs on my own." she answered, rolling her eyes.

"I'm worried for all of you, and you know it." He replied, caressing her belly again.

She nodded, knowing he was referring to the growing babies in her womb, "I don't want a thing to happen to the twins… this was definitely my last chance to become pregnant." she replied.

Johnny then went into their bathroom, and began to fill the bath with warm water, as soon as she heard the water running, Baby pushed herself up from the bed and followed him into the en-suite, and pressed kisses to the space between his broad shoulders, he smiled, reaching to finish undoing her blouse. She shivered as it fell to the tiled floor — she hadn't worn many layers, their bed was cozy enough on its own.

After removing his own shirt, he sat Baby on the toilet, and in one swift motion, he removed her pants and brought his head up to kiss the bulge in her midsection, and she stroked his head. He then removed his jeans and boxers, throwing them haphazardly aside.

Once he'd helped her into the tub, he carefully lowered himself in behind her.

Baby leant comfortably against his broad chest, and sighed contentedly, Johnny stroking her bump lovingly. They spent a fair while just enjoying each other's company, until Baby wanted to get out and as she did, she reached for her bathrobe and Johnny's mind went places that it probably shouldn't

He got out too and put his clothes back on and huskily whispered, "Wait for me on the bed… I wanna try a little somethin' with ya." feeling a sudden surge of desire of the physical kind.

She blinked, confused, but still did as he requested.

He came and positioned his body atop her own, one arm snaking its way around her back with the corresponding hand supporting her bump "Johnny!," she squeaked in surprise, "what are you doing?" She noticed him grinning at her like a dog who'd been given his favorite bone, right before his head dipped to between her thighs, where he kissed her passionately, sucking on the soft flesh "Ooh Johnny!" she moaned and panted heavily — the moment of bliss was short-lived, however, as the babies decided to kick again, and he felt Baby move beneath him, Johnny then sat straight, and looked at her belly in mock-sternness "You two go easy on your mommy." He released Baby and she put on some pants and went to the wardrobe where the sweaters were hanging and selected a navy sweater, with complimentary green and purple stripes and sat back on the bed in front of her husband, who lifted it up to place gentle kisses on the swell of her abdomen.

They then headed downstairs, and found Vince waiting at the foot of the stairs, when they were in reach he fiercely hugged his mother, who kissed him on the cheek.

"It's great to see you down here, Mommy… how are you?" He asked, and Baby smiled at her son "Just fine, dear boy — your siblings finally decided to make their presence felt today."

Mabel walked over to the couple "They'll start to kick more regularly over the next month or so." She said, hugging her daughter in law as well.

"Don't you think it's time to start discussing names for the twins?" Baby asked, laying a hand on her belly.

Johnny smiled at her, eyes twinkling "Yes, sweetheart — I do believe it is." He agreed, kissing her cheek, before he led her to the couch, and sat down, Baby sat beside him, though she would much rather have been on his lap.

"I was thinkin' of naming our baby boy Collin Zander Castle…" he suggested, and she looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Why should our son be called so?" Baby asked, confused

"Ma suggested it a week ago…" Johnny started, pausing to throw his mother a conspiratorial glance. "It's a kinda private joke: You remember how my Pa's name was Alexander?" He asked, and Baby nodded. "Well, my middle name is Alex — after him — and I wanted at least one of our boys to be named for him in some way."

"But what of our little girl's name?" She asked, moving further into his chest as the babies kicked again.

Johnny smiled down at her bump and rubbed it gently "Well first thing's first, I wanna name her after her beautiful mother." He said, and wiped away the tears that suddenly fell from his wife's eyes, Baby was modest to a fault and had never been one to consider herself pretty — let alone beautiful.

"You know that I'm going to be even fatter soon, I hope me being like an elephant doesn't turn you off." Baby muttered, referring to the increasing weight of the growing children in her womb.

Johnny tilted her chin upwards and looked at her sternly, " I've already told ya that you'll always be perfect to me, no matter your physical appearance." he chastised her, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss.

"I feel anxious now when you go to the studio — I just want you home and holding me."

"I'll have to ask Jamie and Cecile to take over running the studio for me until a while after the twins are born — It might be harder to convince them to do so, since they got engaged on Black Friday, and are already planning their wedding." Johnny said, and kissed the top of Baby's head.

March 4th 1986

7:15 am

Ring, ring!

Johnny was torn from his sleep by the ringing of the phone on his nightstand

"Hello?" He asked softly

"Hey Boss, Me and Cec need your help with some routines for the teen students." It was Jamie.

He looked over to Baby, who was still fast asleep. She was six and a half months pregnant now and he worried constantly for her health, though his uncle assured him all was well.

"Okay I'll be there, How long do you need me for?"

"A few hours, see you soon." — click

He left the room and went to work, an hour and a half later Baby woke up and when she found the sheets beside her empty she let out a pitiful cry, where was Johnny?

She decided to have a shower and get dressed, she took a long, warm shower and as she stepped out, she rubbed her belly as the children kicked hard.

"It's good to feel that you two are awake." She whispered, smiling down at her stomach.

Baby went to the wardrobe and put on a thin dark blue sweater, and a pair of hip-hugging bell bottoms and sat back on the bed and started knitting a small sweater.

A while later, Baby rose to her feet "Ooh!" She moaned, rubbing her back. She was six and a half months pregnant and at the familiar stage of the pregnancy where her back was beginning to ache, her ankles were a bit swollen, and her feet hurt, making it a near impossibility to stand for extended periods.

She walked to the floor length mirror and frowned as she examined herself — with a noticeably larger stomach, she was given to being rather self-conscious about her physicality.

"I'm so fat." She groaned, frowning, and winced as the children moved again.

"No, you most certainly aren't" a voice behind her said — one she would recognize even if she were to lose her sight — and looking over to the doorway of their bedroom, saw her Johnny standing on the threshold with a frown on his lips, he then crossed the room to where she was standing, pulled her into a protective embrace, and rubbed her belly as the children kicked hard.

She looked up at him suspiciously "Where were you? I was worried something had happened to you!" She stopped as she realized she sounded demanding "Ugh," she groaned, "my hormones are all over the place at the moment!"

Johnny chuckled, and leant down to kiss her bulge gently. "I was needed at the studio today, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you… you were asleep and I didn't want to wake you. After all, you need your rest more than ever now. " He murmured, as he brought his head up to gaze into her eyes adoringly.

A small smile appeared on her face "So how long have you been home?" She asked him calmly.

"Oh 'bout an hour…" He casually answered, and the hormones rushed to the surface again and Baby glared at him "If you say you've been home almost an hour, why did you only come up ten minutes ago?"

"Well, our oldest and his two pals, Ricky and Devin kidnapped me. JJ told me that their school's hosting a spring dance next Friday and that he's already thinking of asking Vicky and the others will undoubtedly ask her two friends."

"What did our oldest need your help with?" Baby said, gasping as their unborn children kicked again.

Johnny rubbed the underside of her bulge "Are you comfortable, sweetheart?" He asked distractedly, concerned for her health.

She sighed then "As much as I can be — but our little angels have been kicking up a storm, and my back just began to ache today."

"JJ's friends wanted to know what pick-up lines to use — but I told them I hadn't really used any my charm had worked to alone secure me Roz's heart — she hardly speaks to her brother anymore, after what he did caused me to end our relationship — I'm glad I broke that off, I'd realized only a day before it was only lust that attracted us — no real sparks occurred when we kissed — not like they did when we made out." He explained, and he laid his hand on her belly.

"I still remember our first kiss…" Baby whispered dreamily, and they shared a knowing grin.

"Look where we are now." Johnny stated, caressing her belly.

Baby giggled, turning her head to place a tender kiss on his cheek "We've a strong marriage, and three beautiful children — with two more on the way."

He smiled, and carried her to the bed, and laid her down, sitting at her feet and removing her shoes.

Baby sighed, relaxing as he began to massage her feet, relieving the tension built up from standing at the mirror for half an hour.

"Your feet were sore, weren't they?" He asked, and she nodded. They were silent again for a while, until Johnny suddenly said "I lived a kinda double life… I knew money couldn't really keep us safe the moment my little cousin was assaulted. I created a second identity and Max and all the others — apart from Pen and Billy o' course — just believed me to be the po'boy and so treated me as such — Perhaps if I'd said somethin' they would've treated me with respect..." he paused, and threw his wife a loving smile, "But then, I wouldn't have met and fallen in love with you — so my life would probably be one without love."

Baby smiled back at her husband, and shook her head "That's not necessarily true; we could've grown up with one another if our fathers had their employment at the same hospital."

"Then your Daddy would've thought me perfect for ya from the start — if that were the case — you know I would've supported all your decisions." He whispered, stroking her belly again.

"I can't wait to meet them…" Baby gasped excitedly, wincing as they kicked again.

Johnny moved to lay beside her, lifting the sweater to gently kiss her bump twice, once for each baby "Neither can I," he murmured, and then added, with a smirk "We still have a while yet before they come — Uncle Lincoln said they would most likely come early, yet not this early — because you'd need a c-section and I know you're not a fan of being operated on... so that's why I'm so concerned with your health." He told her, then she rolled over, and slid herself easily into the circle of Johnny's hold.

"So, do you finally have a name for our baby girl?" She whispered, gasping as the babies kicked again, and snuggling into the warmth of her husband's embrace.

Johnny lowered his head to kiss her bulge again "Yup. I looked for a girl's name that began with "C" and happened upon Charlotte — so our baby girl will be Charlotte Frances Castle" he paused, trying to gauge her reaction, "— what do you think, sweetheart?" He asked intently, brushing his lips against the base of her throat.

"It's perfect — you've got a knack for picking our children's names, Collin Zander and Charlotte Frances… they suit each other well." Baby answered, kissing Johnny's forehead,

"They sound good together; Collin means "cub" while Charlotte means petite." Johnny chuckled, stroking her belly softly.

"They're very fitting and I believe our baby boy will be an exact copy of you, my love." Baby agreed, then her stomach growled and she whispered "Johnny, they're hungry, as well as me." She said, smiling down at her bulge.

Just then the doorbell rang "Good thing I've ordered you a pepperoni pizza with double topping and that I stopped and bought a couple of packets of double-stuffed Oreos." he stated, with a smirk.

He then left her lying there as he went downstairs where he could hear the tv playing a rerun of Jeopardy softly, he smiled at Vince, who'd be 10 in just over a month

"Why are ya inside son?" He asked, and the boy sighed "JJ says I'm too young to understand what he's got for Vicky — and he dismissed the information when I reminded him of the countless times I'd heard you and Mommy kiss and make love…"

"Is my lil' Vince a peeping Tom?" Johnny teased his son, ruffling the boy's hair affectionately, who grinned "Well, you and Mom ain't very quiet about it." Vince replied and then added "I shooed he and his mates away from the kitchen for ya — all I did was give JJ one of Mommy's signature "Don't come into my kitchen" looks and they scurried off like frightened little mice." He laughed out loud, and his father smirked.

Then an impatient knock was heard on the door and Johnny went and took the three pizzas, garlic bread and drink and sat two of the pizzas on the coffee table along with the sides and went to the back door,

"Boys? Food's up!" He called, after whistling to gain the attentions of the teenagers who were still chatting among themselves. JJ, Ricky, and Devin all ran inside to where the food was, JJ's eyes narrowed as he saw his brother:

"Who invited you, little one?" He asked snidely

"I live here, don't I?... so I've as much right to consume the takeout daddy ordered as you." And he smirked at his brother's friends who were actually quite fond of him, who both chuckled "And," he tactfully added "if anyone's "little" than it's our sister, she's even shorter than Mommy was at eleven — and I know, Grandpa's shown me pictures — and also told me Megan is unlikely to even get to Mommy's height when she's grown."

Ricky spoke then, ditching his black and blue scarf and beanie "Vince's got a point there J, and Dev and I'd rather his company to your sister's any day." He was a friendly, affable chap, who dreamed of pursuing a career in the music industry. Ever since he turned twelve, he'd gained a reputation as quite the heartbreaker, with his dark brown (nearly black) quiffed hair, darkly tanned skin and honey-brown eyes.

Devin nodded his head and said "I'm sorry to say that I actually found Megan attractive around a year ago; I'd thought her a porcelain doll but very soon realized that beauty was only on the surface — your sister is a bitch plain and simple, and treats everyone with contempt." He finished. Devin was not exactly handsome when compared with the other two — he was stocky, with milky skin, gray-green eyes and strawberry blond curls.

Johnny left the quartet and headed back up stairs with the remaining pizza and a packet of Oreos. As soon as he put the food in front of her, Baby attacked it with the veracity of a wild cat.

He walked through their en-suite, to what would be the nursery. It was only half painted with a calm moonlit valley full of cherry trees. He looked to the corner beneath the window and smiled at the rosewood rocking chair with the pale blue cable knit blanket laying on it… he could already see Baby sitting in it, nursing their newborn twins… it all was so vivid now, but in a few short months, it would be a reality. He had also built a crib for one of the babies already which sat on the side of the room with complete paintwork.

Johnny was torn from his reverie by his wife softly calling his name "Johnny!"

he soon re-entered their bedroom and smiled adoringly at his heavily pregnant wife.

Baby smiled back at her beloved. "Thank you," She told him, her brown eyes twinkling "for making all my dreams a reality. You're everything to me — just as you always have been and always will be."

Johnny sat on the bed and stroking the skin above his children as they kicked again, he murmured "You, dearest Baby… have filled my cup so it runneth over."

"I'll have to ask your mother to take over the food preparation for JJ's birthday party later this month." She whispered, and her husband replied with "Knowing Ma, she probably already has… Do you want me to massage your back?" Johnny asked softly and she nodded, giggling as he placed soft kisses down her neck.

After roughly twenty-five minutes Baby kissed his cheek and whispered "I can't wait to dance with you again."

Johnny smiled, bringing her into a warm embrace "You won't be able to for a while sweetheart."

She snuggled further into his chest, and looking up into his eyes, whispered "I love how protective you are of me while I'm pregnant."

"It's only natural that I should be this way, after all both of us won't ever be the same if something happened to the twins." He replied, kissing her bump.

"You weren't like that when I was pregnant with Megan." She reminded him, and he sighed "That's because throughout I was afraid that I'd end losing you, and you know that."

April 10th 1986

8:27 am

Baby opened her eyes slowly, today she was forty — as well as very heavily pregnant and visibly showing.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart." Johnny whispered, leaning down to gently kiss her lips.

She pushed herself up, in an attempt to possess his mouth in a sudden rush of fierce passion, she groaned in frustration as she fell back against the mattress, at nearly eight-months gestation, everything was a definite struggle.

She stared at her bulging midsection unhappily and muttered "Ugh… I can hardly see my feet! You probably don't want to make love to me; I'm so, so fat."

Johnny brought her into his chest and rubbed the base of her bulge gently, as the babies that were encased there kicked extremely hard. "How many times do I have to remind you that you're always going to be beautiful to me. And for me, it's the greatest honor and privilege to be known as your one true love."

Baby was able to kiss his lips this time. "At least I didn't have to resort to other methods to get you to want to make love to me and conceive this time." She giggled, remembering what she had to do to get pregnant with Vince.

Johnny rolled his eyes "That was low of you, Miss Frances Houseman — but I forgave you entirely when I saw our younger boy's face for the first time." He kissed the tip of her nose "I've got a great birthday present for ya." He teased, and she squealed as he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the recently completed nursery.

As he set his wife on her feet, he whispered "Surprise." In her ear, before he wound a protective arm around her waist, lifting the blouse she wore to press tender kisses to the swell of her abdomen.

Baby looked about the room and looking back at her husband, she squealed, "Johnny! You finished the nursery, when?!"

"About a week ago. Allie was only too happy to help — god bless that niece of mine, she's as excited as if they were her own siblings… not her cousins." Johnny answered, and led her to the rosewood rocking chair — which Baby immediately sat down in, relieving her stiff back of the weight of her almost eight-month pregnant body. He knelt down and began to massage her swollen ankles, and she relaxed in the chair.

Baby frowned "I wish Megan was happy about it — she's the only one of the whole family that's unenthusiastic about my pregnancy. Allie makes up for it though — she's a blessing." She said

Her husband nodded "That's to be expected…., I mean my brother and Lois have done a great job with raising my niece, though she's the only child — they've never gone outta their way to spoil her, but then there's my dearest sis, who's never acted entitled even with our Pa's favoritism."

Baby yelped, as another kick from the babies left her with no air for a second "I think you'll be correct about them arriving early…" she gasped, smiling lovingly at Johnny as he rubbed the base of her bulge again. Though the babies weren't kicking quite as regularly — when they did kick it hurt immensely.

Johnny returned to the bedroom and sat her on the bed. Baby looked scared "You're not going out are you?" She asked, laying down on her right side.

Johnny knelt beside her and stroked her cheek lovingly "Of course not. I just thought about moving the reunion to the middle of July, in case the twins come early? You'll be needing a lot of rest…" He smirked "But with two newborns in the house — we won't be gettin' much of that."

Baby nodded in agreement, and leant over to kiss her husband. Seriously, she couldn't imagine being married to Leo and being this content — Though she was forty today, she still loved Johnny as much as she had when she was seventeen.

May 2nd 1986, 9:18 am

It was almost three weeks from her due date, and Baby sat on the couch with a cup of tea in her hand. Putting the cup on the table, she smiled at the bulge in her midsection "Not long now, my angels." She whispered, and moving to put her feet up, she felt a familiar pain in her midsection — only this time it was stronger than ever before, and as Baby looked beneath her, she noticed a warm, wet patch.

"Johnny! My water just broke!" She cried, "My contractions are starting… Ooh, ooh, owww!!" She groaned, laying a hand on her belly as the initial contractions began.

Johnny raced to her side, "I'll get you to the car in a sec…" he then called over his shoulder "Ma! Baby's just gone into labor and I've gotta take her to the hospital now!"

Mabel swiftly walked to the couple, knowing exactly what her son's next question would've been by looking in his eyes "Yes, I'll stay here and wait for the other three, and bring them to the hospital as soon as I can."

Johnny kissed her cheek "Ma, your a psychic." and then he lifted Baby into his arms and ran to the car, sitting his wife in the passenger seat, and as he secured the belt around her, she moaned as the next contraction came and went.

"Don't worry sweetheart we'll be at the hospital in twenty minutes." He assured her, sitting in the driver's seat and laying a palm on her belly, which made her relax.

They were barely five minutes from the main road when she breathed through another contraction "You were right, they did come a little early." and he smiled softly, stroking her stomach gently.

"Ooh, it hurts so much, Johnny!!" She screamed, as the next contraction came and went.

"I know it does, we've been through nearly the same thing three times before this." He replied.

As they pulled into the hospital parking lot, he growled in frustration as he realized he'd have to drive around for a little while, as soon as he found one he pulled in and helped Baby out of the passenger seat, "Can you walk, sweetheart?" He asked, and she shook her head, a stronger contraction coming on.

"Owww!!! Johnny it hurts so much! they're getting stronger now!" She moaned, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

He carried her to the admissions desk

"Ma'am, is Dr. Lawrence available? My wife went into labor about an hour ago — I'm his nephew, by the way."

"He should be with you shortly, just wait for now." She advised them.

Baby winced as another contraction came, and Johnny wiped the tears from her cheeks and stroked her stomach.

Twenty minutes later they heard the echoing footsteps of several people coming down the hall, and a team of ten professionals which included his uncle, his uncle's protege and eight nurses appeared,

His uncle took one look at Baby and turned to his protege "We've got to get her into the delivery room stat, she doesn't seem that far from being ready to push." The younger man nodded, smiling at Johnny

A rather pretty looking nurse with blond-brown hair and violet colored eyes offered Johnny a wheelchair, and as he sat Baby in it, she looked at him with frightened brown eyes.

"Where are you going? Johnny, I need you with me!" Baby cried. "Ooh!" She moaned, "They're coming ten minutes apart now!" she lay a hand on her belly.

Before he answered, Johnny knelt to place a sweet kiss first on her forehead, then on her bump. "I'm just gonna call your parents, and let them know you are to give birth soon — then I'll be with you, I promise."

Baby sighed, "At least I won't be fat afterwards," and her husband gave her a serious look, "You might have kept telling yourself so… but you are always gonna be the best thing to ever happen to me." He whispered and gently stroked her belly as she struggled through another contraction.

She was then wheeled down the hall, and Johnny walked to the pay phone and dialed the number of her childhood home and said "Jake? Can you and Marj get here soon? Baby went into labor a couple of hours ago and I have to go to be with her."

Then he looked over to the doors and saw his mother, JJ, Megan and Vince as well as Brady, Lois and Allie to be approaching him and smiled

"We'll be there within the hour, it's a little early for them to be born — but this pregnancy was easier for her than Megan's was… but my youngest is strong." Jake replied, and Johnny ended the call.

"How is she currently, Jonathan?" Mabel asked uncertainly.

"She was quite close to being ready to push when Uncle Lincoln examined her initially… her contractions were very soon ten minutes apart — and she didn't want me out of her sight, she's been like that a lot over the past couple of months." Johnny informed the group.

"She's been in that much pain for a few hours? Daddy, you should've been more careful!" Megan chastised her father.

"Your mother wanted them so badly… you guys are all so independent, and she adores little children the most." He told her calmly, but he soon angered. "And if we're talking about her being in tons of pain then the day you were born was way worse — your birth nearly took your mother's life — this is why you're not really my favorite."

"Vince was a mistake, wasn't he?" Megan harshly asked, giving her brother a malicious shove, who looked confused and then injured.

"Your brother was most certainly not a mistake — though your father would rather that your Mother had waited a few years before she had him — since your birth was particularly difficult for her." Mabel told her granddaughter, looking at her sternly.

"I wish Mommy and Daddy had given me a sibling." Allie murmured dreamily, her eyes starry.

"If we had had more I have the feeling that our family would've ended mimicking Ma's in every way." Brady chuckled, winking knowingly at his mother.

Johnny left the group and went down the hall til he found the delivery room and went inside, and saw his wife's bulge was exposed, whilst she lay on the hospital bed.

"Johnny…." Baby said softly, relief evident in her tone, and then she screamed as another contraction hit, this one the strongest yet and the doctor stepped in "She's ready to start pushing now." He informed them, sitting himself on a chair near Baby's lower half.

"One… two… three, push." He encouraged softly, and Baby began to push, panting through each contraction, Johnny looked down and could almost see the head of the first infant already and whispered "Sweetheart, I can just about see the first baby's head, you're doing great… I love you." and he kissed the hand that held tight to his own.

Meanwhile, Jake and Marj arrived and looked to Mabel, who had risen to her feet and announced "I am glad you two are here, I can go and be with our children now."

Marj looked at her friend "You'll come for us once our Frances has birthed them won't you?"

Mabel smiled, nodding her head as she headed towards the room.

"Dear brother, do you need for me to play nurse?" She teased, and the doctor grinned at his oldest sister "I guess this isn't the first time you've done that, is it?"

Mabel shook her head "I had to many a time with my husband's patients."

"One more push… your nearly there." The doctor assured Baby, and she did and the air was pierced by the squalling of an infant

A couple of nurses came in and one smiled at The new parents "It's a boy! Congratulations!" and the cord was snipped by the other one.

Mabel gasped, thoroughly delighted "Jonathan, he is the image of you as a newborn!" She cried, and Baby smiled tiredly at her mother in law, but was scared that the second child was deceased "Is she okay?" Her husband and the doctor shared a smile "She'll be along shortly, sweetheart, right now they're gonna take our little Cole for the routine tests." Johnny assured his wife, stroking her forehead lovingly.

Not even ten minutes later Baby tensed again "Owww! She's coming a lot quicker than her brother!" She screamed in agony, before the doctor could react the baby girl came out, and Johnny instinctively caught her in the crook of his elbow, and his mother and uncle silently applauded him.

"Hello, my little Cara." Johnny whispered, and gasped — the tiny girl was almost exactly how he'd imagined her, — and then she calmly snuggled into her father's chest and let out a series of soft, kittenish cries as her slate blue eyes adjusted to the light, and her father brushed his fingers through the downy hair on her head, which was already curling around his fingers

"I think my son has lost his heart to my new granddaughter." Mabel whispered.

"I hate to disturb the scene, but we have to clean her up, and cut the cord." The doctor smiled gently lifting the infant from her father's already protective embrace.

The nurse came in, carrying a tightly swaddled small Cole in her arms and smiled at the two "Your son's 21.5 inches long, weighs 6lb 8oz and passed all the newborn tests with flying colors." She then transferred the infant into his mother's waiting arms.

Baby gasped in delight "Johnny! He's just like you!" She softly exclaimed, running a hand through the fine dark brunet hair on their son's head "I hope he remains that way and takes over the studio when he's old enough." She added, smiling at Johnny.

He chuckled softly and leant over to kiss her lips tenderly "You were more disappointed than I when JJ said he wanted to be a cop."

Suddenly the other baby was brought back to her parents, and her father immediately snatched the swaddled bundle back and stared besottedly at the dainty, elfin face before him. The nurse grinned at him "Your daughter weighs 5lb 10oz, and is 18.5 inches long, she passed every newborn test as well." She informed the room's occupants, and Johnny brushed his lips against his daughter's forehead.

Baby giggled, "You don't intend to let me hold our daughter, do you?" She joked, in response her husband smirked and transferred the child to her mother's free arm.

"I can't help it, she's the most beautiful thing to happen in my life — other than meeting and falling in love with you, that is." He matter of factly stated, leaning to kiss Baby tenderly on the forehead, letting one hand stroke her cheek.

"Yes, I agree with my son, little Charlotte is the very definition of female perfection." Mabel whispered, watching in awe as the baby girl suddenly freed one of her infinitesimally small hands from the blanket and wrapped her fingers tightly around her father's index finger.

Johnny smiled down at his baby girl "She'll always be my little girl — I'll have to polish my shotgun when she gets to be a teenager."

"Dear lord, you are going to be just the same as your father was with your sister." Mabel joked, shaking her head.

Just then, a blonde head poked its way into the room. It was a grinning, sparkling eyed Allie and Mabel gasped in shock "Alexandra Castle, how could you, go back and wait for me to give the rest of the group the all-clear." She admonished, with a giggle the youngster ran back to the waiting area.

"Ma… it appears Allie has summoned you to return to the waiting room." Johnny joked, winking knowingly at his mother

Mabel sighed and exited the room, and Baby looked at the wheelchair

"Johnny?" She asked her husband who nodded and instinctively took their daughter into his arms.

"You sure?," he whispered, noticing how exhausted she looked "you need to rest, and…" Baby kissed his lips before whispering "Yes, I want to surprise everyone."

Johnny looked to his uncle who chuckled and carefully transferred Baby, who held a sleeping Cole to the wheelchair and ordered Adelaide to push her to the foyer.

As soon as Mabel appeared, Jake and Marj approached her "Are they all right?" and as if in response to that, Johnny stood not far from his mother, a very alert Cara in his arms.

Allie cooed, and walked to her uncle, eyes focused on the bundle in his arms.

The curious slate blue orbs of the newborn met her cousin's sparkling amber ones and Johnny whispered "This, my little Cara, is your cousin Allie, she's been eagerly awaiting you and your brother's arrival as if she's your sister."

He bent over and softly asked the preteen "Would you like to take a seat so you can hold your cousin for a bit?"

Allie nodded and sat down on a chair, and held her arms out… her uncle looked surprised "How's Allie know how to hold a baby?" He asked, looking over to her parents, and Lois smiled at her brother-in-law "A lot of her friends have had infant siblings at one point or another and she was just as eager to help the parents of her friends."

As Johnny transferred the bundle into Allie's arms, the noise of wheels on the concrete floor announced the arrival of an exhausted, yet supremely happy Baby.

Her parents and sons approached her deftly, all drawn magnetically to the tightly swaddled bundle in her arms.

"Is that our little brother?" Vince asked, "I've seen baby photos of Daddy, and they look like twins."

Baby giggled "Your Grandmother already pointed that one out. And at least you will only be half as spoiled now, your baby sister has already got your father at her beck and call, and she's not even two hours old yet!"

JJ glanced at their cousin, and noticed a second bundle in her arms and walked to her.

Allie smiled winsomely at her favorite (male) cousin and whispered to the baby in her arms "Little one, this is your oldest brother, I think he might want to hold you..." and then she looked back at her cousin "Do you want to hold your sister, cousin?"

JJ nodded, holding an uncertain breath — though he had a younger brother and sister, he'd always been conspicuously absent — at either of his grandparents' houses — when his parents were busy with his siblings.

"You don't know the way to hold a baby, do you?" Allie snickered at the look on her cousin's face.

JJ shook his head, unable to hide his face as it went crimson in embarrassment.

"At all times, one of your hands should be supporting the infant's back and neck, whilst the other has to be under their bottom." Allie instructed her cousin, who looked plain shocked that she knew such a thing.

Johnny meanwhile went over to stand beside his wife and smiled at the family gathered there

"Ma, you're gonna have to call the rest of the family and tell them the news." He said, grinning at his mother.

Mabel nodded, and sauntered toward the pay phones and JJ handed the baby back to his father

Marj looked besottedly at the bundle in Johnny's arms, and gasped the child was a perfect mix of her parents — even more so than her oldest brother, who was now telling Vince how to hold their brother — was, her hair was medium brown like her daddy's, but was already forming loose curls, her eyes were slate blue, but would soon be brown like her mother's, she'd inherited the defined jawline of her daddy, and her Mommy's nose.

"I see my granddaughter has already got you wrapped around her finger." She said, and Johnny merely grinned.

"This little one, is your Grandma, she, like almost everyone else, has been awaiting you and your brother's arrival with bated breath." He murmured as he handed the infant to her grandmother.

"Johnny, you're going to have a hell of a time keeping the boys away once she's a teenager." Jake winked knowingly at Johnny as his eyes settled on his newborn granddaughter.

"I'll find it hard not to think about killing one of those kids if he were to abuse her the way Baby was by that bastard James O'Rourke, one night about five weeks ago I saw a report saying he was up for parole — I don't want him to be out of prison, because he would try and assault Baby again — and I don't want to have to consider remarrying — I love your youngest daughter more than life itself."

"We know that all too well, you've given us five wonderful grandchildren and filled our Baby's life with all she's ever wanted — before you, I think she wouldn't have actually settled with any man; she'd told us as much on more than one occasion — but then she met you, and everything changed."

"I left my family's place when I was about sixteen — I wasn't one content with living off Pa and Ma's wealth… that was more Nico's lot, my first year at Kellerman's, I met Rosamund Weston — she's the daughter of Michael Weston, a prosperous property developer — she was a year older than me and we thought that we had a few things in common — I considered proposing to her…. but, as soon as I found out that her older brother — who I'd unfortunately looked up to until that day — abused my younger cousin who was not even a teenager I realized I didn't really love her — and also had realized the night before she was always looking for someone else. Then some months later Penny's parents divorced…,"

"Was that her father's fault?" Jake asked, and Johnny noted the accusatory tone of his voice.

"God Jake, Pen's Dad's a great dude. Her mother on the other hand… well, she had little respect for anybody, she held a special contempt for me, though — sayin' stuff life "What's a rich kid like you doin' here, eh? Tryna act like you actually give a hot damn about us po'folks and the like." But Adrian would always come to my defence "He actually cares for our daughter, I've seen him bringing her a little money so she can buy sweets — and he's never really been snooty and condescending towards the street kids, since he had cousins who aren't well off like him, and he treats them like his equals."

Penny never really saw her mother as her mother, she used to beat Penny whenever she felt like it and Pen was frightened of her and these beatings happened when Adrian was working the summer season at Kellerman's —- Penny's the image of her dad, so I know it sounds shallow and incredibly harsh, but the sole reason Penny's mom turfed her was cause she's just like Adrian in temperament as well."

"Really, I'd had no idea Penny's father would be so involved in her life. Penny never mentioned him at all." Jake mused

Johnny shrugged lightly "Pen's not really forthcoming with info — her grandmother was apparently much the same — she was Elmira Penelope — so Pen's named after her."

"As soon as Penny arrived at Kellerman's — this was a month before he left to teach over in Europe — he was trying to pair us off, but coming off the experience with Roz I wasn't ready for that level of commitment — that is, I believed myself to be but was proven wrong when your youngest showed up… I was pretty dense and it took a while for me to realize I was actually falling in love with Baby and I really didn't think she'd remember a thing about our summer together, but she hadn't really forgotten — and I felt guilty when I realized she may have found out about my going to slay commies."

"She saw your photo in the newspaper clipping and it broke her heart — she's loved you with every fiber of her being since the moment she first laid eyes on you — and she blamed herself for your going initially, and told her mother and I that you told her you loved her and how you stopped her from repeating those words. She then made herself believe you were truly not coming back — after a year she transferred to Princeton and met him — and I thought him perfect for her, and yet, she made no secret that she wasn't in love with him, though he said that he loved her at Christmas 65 and said that you were probably dead or had moved on…. right to her face, mind you, and also called you a scumbag — and she told her mother that him saying that had killed whatever chemistry she'd shared with him — but she would still keep with him, for she still believed you were dead."

"How did you come up with our names?" JJ asked suddenly with a curious look at his Dad

Johnny chuckled softly at his son "Well, You're named after me with John, because I was never the type to call my son Johnny Jr. because that's really tacky — and then Jacob after your Grandpa over here, who delivered you. Your mom named Megan after your Aunt Lisa's and her middle names, respectively."

"But what about me? — there's no one called Vincent in our family." Vince asked, furrowing his brows, and his father smiled and chuckled softly.

"When your mother went into labor with you — I took her right to your grandpa's surgery — we'd decided this was the best course of action, as your mommy had such difficulty with delivering your sister — and after my Aunt Clara coached your mother through the birth — we both saw fit, after asking her permission, of course; to call you after her maiden name Vincent." Johnny explained, and Vince simply grinned back at him.

Johnny went to Baby's side and whispered "We're gonna need to up our game — those two will be keeping us on our toes." He said, nodding towards the bundles currently being held by her own parents.

Baby sighed happily and whispered "I love you, Johnny."

Johnny leant down and kissed the side of her neck, causing her to giggle softly "As do I sweetheart, you are the only one who's been able to capture my heart, and you've never let it go." He murmured

Then their son suddenly wailed and Johnny chuckled, "hmm, something tells me Cole is ready for his first meal…" So Marj handed the infant to her daughter, and he immediately latched to her breast and began to feed.

"My lord, he's a gutsy little guy." Jake remarked, and handed Cara to Johnny, who grinned at the baby.

"You hungry, pet?" Johnny murmured, brushing his lips against his daughter's forehead and her slate blue eyes blinked up at him "You'll have to wait until your brother's finished, I hope he doesn't tire your mommy out — you two were remarkably easy for her to carry… your big sister on the other hand, nearly cost your mother her life, and I dunno what I'd have done if she'd died during the birth — I'm hardly able to look at your sister as is."

A while later Cole was finished, so the couple traded babies, and Baby gently stroked her daughter's cheek.

"My hope is that she'll grow to be as caring and intelligent as you and Vince are." Johnny whispered to Baby, leaning to kiss her cheek.

Baby smiled, "As much as I hope Cole will grow into a miniature you and take over the studio when he grows up." She whispered back.

The doctor appeared, and smiled at his family gathered in the waiting area;

"They all need to rest, Frances especially, labor is very tiring, of course I only know this third-hand, through the countless women I've assisted in birthing babies, and their significant others."

A round of congratulations then ensued and Mabel turned back to her brother "Does your protege have something to ask my son?"

"I think he may indeed, how perspicacious of you, dearest sister."

Johnny looked to where his uncle's protégé stood and asked "What is your name, buddy?"

"Jordan, sir, Jordan Philipps." He nervously answered, "Er… is there possibly someone in your connection who's been married at least once, and may have had a maximum of three children?"

"Yes. That's my cousin El, her first husband — who we all dubbed the continental red-haired gremlin — was never faithful to her. They had two kids: Vivienne who's almost 7 and just like her mother and 4 year old Andy — who looks a great deal like his grandfather, El's father but is exhibiting a personality similar to his father's."

"Where's she live?"

"With her parents in Pittsburgh, do you wanna get with her or something?"

"Kind of, I really want to find someone to settle down and have a family with, I am dreadfully aware that thatime in my life has passed, of course I dated here and there, but then most of my time was taken up with studying for exams."

"Uncle Paul might take some convincing but you being a medical intern may sway him… which college did you attend?" Johnny asked the younger gentleman who he guessed would be the age of his sister.

"Harvard. I had a flawless SAT score, a perfect attendance record and a perfect GED …. even spent some time with the Peace Corps in Central America." Jordan patiently explained, his time in the harsher Costa Rican sun had given him an enviable tan, that paired with his extraordinary height (he was a towering 6'8"), his blackish brown hair and sea-blue eyes would've made him irresistible to many although he was purely career driven.

"My wife would've been exactly like you if I hadn't come on the scene." Johnny whispered, as Baby was almost asleep.

"I'll see you more in the morning, you and your wife have got to get some sleep." Jordan excused himself.

Johnny returned to Baby's side, and kissed the top of her head. "Come sweetheart, we'd better get some rest… you've come through like a champ today…. you may be small in size — but your sheer determination belies it."

Baby felt tears gather in her eyes "Oh Johnny, I couldn't imagine being as content with another man as I am with you."

"Now, I won't see my dear wife cry, so don't." He finished, leaning further to kiss her forehead.

Baby smiled, both happily and tiredly, she knew their lives would be a lot more chaotic, but she looked forward to raising her newborn twins with her always supportive and adoring husband.

In a farther corner of the lobby Megan turned to her Grandfather "Grandpapa, can I stay with you and Grandmama for a while?"

Jake was taken aback by the question, and glanced over at Johnny, who held a now ostensibly asleep Cara in his arms, "Why would she want to live with us, son?"

Johnny sighed in frustration "She's been whining over the duration of her mother's pregnancy that the babies will be too loud and distract her from her studies, but she was never an easy child, taking a while longer to walk then either JJ or Vince, and when Vince was born she was violently jealous of him…."

"I remember Frances saying Megan once tried to push Vince's baby carriage down the porch stairs at your house, with him in it of course." Marj added, frowning.

"That day had been a fine mid summer's one and Baby planned on taking the kids to the park, Vince was two at the time, and boy did I punish her once I found out what happened… Vince — to everyone's relief had only a few minor cuts and bruises. I remember Baby's voice on the phone, I never liked hearing her that close to tears it broke my heart a little." Johnny recalled unhappily.

"I think it would be best if she stayed with you — I mean she's already transferring to a middle school in your district, and I can't risk that same thing happening to the twins, it would destroy us and we'd have to seriously consider putting our daughter in a mental institution — and Baby would hate me for it." Johnny finished, as Adelaide came to push Baby back to her hospital room.

"Why don't you come home and sleep son?" Mabel asked cautiously.

"I'd like to, but for my wife's sake I am unable to." Johnny answered, and his mother simply nodded.

"Why would that be, son?" His mother in law asked, deep brown eyes alight with a certain curiosity.

"Your daughter got extremely possessive of me during this pregnancy, you know, not wanting me out of her sight for any length of time. I didn't want to be far from her for almost the whole of the final trimester, aware that movement was getting difficult for Baby, and more often than not, telling our twins to move less frequently, I'd like to think they listened to me even then." Johnny explained, turning to follow behind his wife.

When they reached the hospital room, Adelaide turned to Johnny "Do you want me to get some blankets from the supply closet?"

Johnny nodded as another nurse was putting the twins in bassinets, one bluish green and the other pinkish-red, he immediately walked over and placed a soft kiss on each of the twins's foreheads, and settled into a recliner a few feet from Baby's bedside, and smiled at his now peacefully sleeping wife, she'd always looked like an angel when she slept, and he wondered how in hell he'd earned the right to call her his wife.

A few hours later, Baby woke up, and realizing her husband was not beside her, begun to whimper softly, within seconds she was engulfed in a pair of warm, loving arms, and her tears soon ceased, Johnny knew instinctively what Baby wanted, and carried her gently to the chair he'd been sleeping in, and resettled himself, his wife snuggled deep into his chest.

The next thing that woke the couple was a series of soft, kittenish cries emanating from the pinky colored bassinet, and Johnny grinned "Sounds like my little girl is hungry, it's surprising she's awake before her brother."