Author's note at the end...
Two years later….
Naomi was having a good dream. It involved a certain redhead and copious amount of nudity, a beach where the sand didn't stick in places it shouldn't and fruity drinks. It was an epic dream. So when it was interrupted, it was unpleasant to say the least.
"Naomi!" Her eyes flew open then she shut them hard. She whispered the word no over and over in her head. "Naomi!" The voice was getting closer and it wasn't the one voice she wanted to hear her screaming her name. The bedroom door flew open and she covered her head with the blanket.
"No. Whatever it is Effy… the answer is no." She prepared herself for the storm that was descending on her. The blanket was pulled off her and she sighed deeply.
"You can't say no. You're my best mate. I need you to help me."
"Effy… I can't help…"
"You don't know what I need. How can you refuse?"
"It won't matter because for the better part of the last year I haven't been able to do fuck all to help you and that's your own fault." Naomi opened her eyes and steel blue eyes were glaring at her. She cursed under her breath. "Fine… fine… what the fuck do you need my help with?"
"I need you to take these out. Now." Effy pointed to her enormous belly. "I can't deal with this. I can't reach anything. They don't stay still for a second so I can't sleep, eat or even pee properly. I need them out."
"Effy… we talked about this. They're your spawn… yours and puppy's… which means.." She lifted one finger. "they will do as they fucking please and come out when they're fucking ready… and…" She lifted a second finger. "They have his energy so you're well and truly fucked." She tried staring with authority even as she knew there was no rational argument she could make that would help the very pregnant woman in front of her.
"They're a week overdue. A week. Do you know what that's like in pregnant time?"
"No but I presume you're about to regale me with the details." There was a clatter in the living room and she heard the flat's door opening. "And there's your other half in …. 3…2…1" James Fitch barged into the bedroom huffing.
"Jesus you move fast for your size." Effy turned to glare at him. "And I mean that in the best way babes… I do." He put his hands up in urgent surrender as to not get the hormonal ire directed at him. He looked over at Naomi who was lying on her bed, arms crossed over her bare breasts. She was thankful she had the wherewithal to wear briefs to bed last night. "Hi Naoms."
"Don't call me that. Your sister can call me that. Not you. And what the fuck did I tell you when you knocked her up?" She used one hand to point at Effy who was looking between them unsure who needed to be yelled at. "This…" She waved at her friend in an up and down motion. "This is your fault, your doing so you need to deal with it."
James sat on the bed. "You think I haven't tried? I even hid the keys to the door and the car. She picked the lock and hot wired it. I practically ran all the way here. Which reminds me… where's Emily?"
"Probably safer than either of us presently."
"Could the two of you please focus? I need one or both of you to solve this."
"Eff, call your doctor and see if they can schedule a C-section. Best answer I have."
"Gee Naomi why didn't I think of that? Brilliant." Naomi sat up and gave up on covering her breasts. James reached down to the floor and found a discarded t-shirt, handing it to her as if he was used to it. She thanked him and slipped it on. "Wanker scheduled it for next Monday. That's another fucking week!"
"Babes…"
"Do… not… speak…" Effy warned James. "Your bloody idea of birthing our children was stupid and I shouldn't have listened. I should have gone for the quickest and happily drugged route." Naomi heard the door and Emily talking.
"Why is the door wide open?"
"In here love… your brother and his beloved have decided to visit." Naomi yelled and she heard Emily literally stop her movements. She then heard a muffled comment about putting on the kettle. "Coward!"
"Babes…" James tried again only to be met with hostile eyes once more. "I know it's not ideal.. but we're nearly there… the finish line…"
"We? No… there's no we. I'm… I'm a whale James… I feel like I'm about to explode every other burp… it's ridiculous. How do people do these multiple times? I can't… enjoy these when they come out cause that's it. No more." He smiled at her lovingly. He could tell she was winding down. Her adrenaline finally subsiding.
"I know… I will love them and you until the end of time. I promise. No more after this." Effy started sniffling. "Come here love." He stood and opened his arms. Effy all but barreled into him and Naomi wondered how he didn't bounce off her. She shook her head and thought better than making a comment. Emily peeked around the corner.
"All safe?" She smiled. She was in her running gear but barely had any sweat on her person. Naomi was quick to think as she also thought joint shower.
"Coward." Effy echoed Naomi's words as the redhead came into the room, pausing to place a kiss on James' and Effy's cheeks. She then bounded to Naomi's side of the bed and sat next to her.
"Morning." She kissed the blonde on the lips.
"Yeah… leave me to the wolves why don't you?"
"I think you survived… modesty intact."
"What modesty? Your brother has seen my tits more often than my gyno thanks to the walking bag of hormones there."
"Oi!" Effy called out through tears.
"They're mint Naomi. Nothing to be ashamed of." James said and got a jab in the ribs from Effy.
"He's not wrong." Emily laughed.
"Mine are better." Effy replied.
"Yours are pregnant tits Eff. You can't compare." Naomi rattled off and wondered how they ended up here. A part of her wondered if she could get back to her dream tonight. She doubted it. "Have you fed her?" She asked James. He nodded still in a death grip hug with Effy.
"Early on yeah but I imagine she could stand to eat something."
"I'm standing right here."
"And until your brain is done with hormonal imbalances, we shall exclude you as a third party in all of the logical conversations." Naomi said as Emily laughed.
"Shit." Effy said.
"It's not that bad really…" Naomi nuzzled Emily whose eyes were on Effy.
"Eff?" She asked at the same time as James.
"Umm… I think… shit…" She had separated from James and looked down at the floor. Emily and Naomi looked at each other. James stood there open mouthed. The girls uttered a few choice curse words as they sprung into action. Naomi dove for a pair of pants as Emily went to Effy and took her by the elbow. "Is that?" She looked at the liquid running down her legs and quickly pooling on the floor.
"Yep.. that is… Effy… you're in labor." Naomi explained while James still stood still. Emily was guiding her sister in law out of the bedroom and towards the front door. She slapped James on the back of the head hoping to restart his brain. "Come one Dad… you put them in, time to get them out."
"But… she…" He sputtered and followed Naomi.
"You're the professional here mate. What the fuck is wrong with you?" They followed Emily and a stunned Effy to the elevator. Naomi turned back and managed to grab the car keys and turn off the kettle before running back to them.
"She's… she's in labor. Holy fuck!" His eyes finally blinked and cleared. It would have been funny if it hadn't been so loving when he leapt forward and took Effy's other elbow. "Ok.. ok… we planned for this… we have this.."
"James." Effy looked around at all of them. "Nope.. I can't… I can't do this." Naomi rolled her eyes as the elevator doors opened. She thankfully refrained from shoving them all inside.
"You barged into my place wanting them out. You have your wish."
"Nope… not ready… oh my god… what if I don't get it right…. What if I can't push hard enough?"
"Don't push!" The three of them yelled at once when the doors closed.
"I wasn't going to!" Her ire was back. Even as she had tears running down her face and fear was in her eyes. "I'm not doing that in an elevator."
By the time they got to the hospital, Naomi had a real headache. James was in the room as his and Effy's twins were born. Emily was sitting next to her and holding her hand. She brought it up to her lips. Naomi let out a contented sound.
"Still thinking about it?" Emily asked her. Naomi shook her head.
"Passing bowling balls out of my vagina? No." Emily laughed at her. "Adopting? Yes."
"What about me?"
"You want me to adopt you?" Naomi put her arm around Emily's shoulders.
"Nooo. What about me having the bowling balls?" This was a conversation that had come up a lot the past few months. She squeezed Emily's shoulder. It wasn't that she didn't want kids with Emily. But it was the biggest step she could undertake since they started dating. Not everything had been easy. There were learning curves for sure but it had been a full adventure. She turned and kissed Emily's lips.
"Ok." The brown eyes went wide and a huge smile broke out on Emily's face.
"Ok?"
"Ok." Naomi touched her face. "But no home births and your brother is NOT delivering them" Emily laughed.
"Deal." They kissed again and Naomi looked up.
"We're being summoned. Or your brother is having a fit of some sort." There was another round of shared laughter and kisses. They stood up and hand in hand went to James who couldn't stand still he was so happy. Effy had been a champ and ended up delivering the twins in record time and was now happily sedated.
"I love you Ems." She said as she watched Emily take hold of one of her nieces for the first time. Emily looked up and smiled.
"I love you too Naoms."
And thus endeth the tale...
I sincerely can't begin to describe my life since I started this story. So many changes. Good, bad, terrible and great. Life is a series of waves that should keep you fighting loudly for everything you want and deserve. I'm beyond grateful to this Skins community that gave me a home and creative outlet. I allowed myself to explore the dark and dreary bits of brain space and managed to come out a better writer.
Thank you again to readers and other writers (you know who are my faves). It has been life altering.
Thank you marsupial... 5ever.
Cheers mates
