Lee and Rosie's bedroom
Rosie smiled at her handsome soldier as she laid in bed staring at him. He grinned, showing her his cute dimples and smile lines. Even at not even thirty years old, he had laugh lines.
"Honey, I can't believe you are here. That they let you leave early."
"My CO was feeling generous, I guess. All I know is I'm glad I didn't miss it."
He moved closer and put his hands on her tummy. "I did miss you though. So much."
"I missed you too."
"I'm surprised that Beth and Luke traveled all this way with Mattie and twin newborns. Well, I guess, I'm not really surprised."
"Beth told me that she wouldn't let me give birth alone so they came. I'm really grateful."
"Mamamamama!" Betsy yelled in her room.
"I'll get her," Lee said. Even though Betsy wasn't remembering him so well since she hadn't seen him for about half her life, he would do it and eventually she'd accept him again.
"She probably wants a cup of milk and if she's naked, don't be shocked."
He chuckled, thinking she must be kidding. However, she was naked and had pooped all over her crib.
"Betsy, seriously?"
Betsy frowned and started screaming, not wanting him at all. "No no no. Mama."
Lee cleaned her up and diapered her, took her in to Rosemary and then tackled the sheets and blankets.
"Need any help, bro?" Lucas asked from the doorway.
"No, I'm…I'm good."
"You sure about that? I'm here to help and that includes doing laundry or just listening while you unload whatever is weighing you down."
"Betsy doesn't know me, Lucas. I was gone for half of her life. I missed her first birthday, first steps, first words. I missed Zane's fifth birthday and I almost missed our newest child's birth."
"Kids are resilient, Lee. When she realizes you aren't leaving and that you live here and love her, she will come around. Being in the military…you almost have to expect that you are going to miss some important milestones, right?"
"Yeah. I guess. I'm just glad that this is my one and only deployment. I've never felt so lonely in my life."
Lucas squeezed his shoulder. "Well, you're not alone anymore. Try to put it in the past if you can."
Lee nodded and shoved the sheets into the washer along with some towels from the hamper. He added detergent and then started the machine.
"I could really use a whiskey right now."
Lucas chuckled. He checked his watch. "It's only 9:30. I bet there is a bar open somewhere where we can go have a drink. Beth is here with Rosie."
"That would be great, Luke. Yes, let's go."
…..
"I'd rather you didn't," Rosie told him a few moments later. "Its our first night together after you were gone nine months."
He sat down on the bed next to her and took her hand. "You're right. I don't know what I was thinking."
Next room over
"Lucas, what are you thinking? He needs to stay here with his very pregnant wife and three small children that he's been away from for nine months."
"It wasn't my idea."
She smacked him with a pillow making him laugh. "Not the point, husband."
He grabbed the pillow away from her and flung it on the floor. He moved closer, their feet and legs tangled and kissed her twice.
"You're so hot, babe." He moved to her neck, his fingers toying with the hem of her tank top.
"If you say so."
"Oh I do." His lips danced with hers for a bit, distracting them a bit before she finally leaned back.
"Keep in mind, my dear, no intimate activities for at least another month."
He sighed and kissed her one more time before moving to his side of the bed.
He picked up his phone and texted Lee that they should stay put because Rosie was so close to giving birth. Lee agreed so Lucas put his phone down.
Their door opened and in walked Mattie, rubbing her eyes.
"Mattie? Why are you awake?"
"I wanna go home, Daddy. Zachy keeps kicking me and he took my Penny and won't give her back."
"He took your unicorn?"
"Uh huh. Can I sleep in here? Please?"
Lucas looked at Elizabeth who just shrugged.
Lucas pulled back the covers and she crawled up between himself and Elizabeth.
"Night, honey bun," he whispered, kissing her forehead.
"Night, Daddy. Night, Mommy."
"Night, baby girl."
Just as the sun started coming up, Lee knocked and poked his head in. "Its time. Headed to the hospital."
"Yay! Congratulations!" Elizabeth said quietly, giving a thumbs up. "We got the kids."
"Remember Zane and Zach have school. Cammie will come get them at about 7. So you'll only need to watch Bets until about 3pm. Then it will be all of them."
"Got it! Go!"
Lee grinned and closed the door, just as Betsy started yelling.
"I'll get her," Lucas told Elizabeth.
He didn't expect to find a naked toddler but that's what he found. Thankfully, he got a diaper on her before she peed or worse. Then he grabbed her sleeper and put it on her backwards, zipper down her back.
"There you go, smarty. I think I figured you out."
Betsy reached up and patted his face and then cuddled into his neck, her thumb in her mouth.
Lucas heard the babies waking up and so did Betsy. "Bebe?" she asked, pointing.
"Yes! Wanna go see them?"
She nodded and bounced in his arms.
….
"Who who heee….who who heee," Rosemary breathed through her contraction. Thankfully, they lived very close to the hospital so within ten minutes and two contractions, they were there.
"Oooohhhhhh," she moaned as they walked through the automatic sliding doors. They stopped for a moment and then once the contraction passed, they walked into the check-in desk.
After triage, they were taken up two floors to labor and delivery to get her hooked up to monitors.
"I hope Betsy wasn't naked again," Rosemary said with a sigh as she moved from the wheelchair to a bed.
"Yeah…how long has she been doing that?" It frustrated Lee that he didn't know. That she looked at him like he was a stranger.
"A few months. She's dressed when I put her down."
Rosemary held out her hand. "Lee?"
He shook his head and took her hand. "She doesn't know me, sweetheart."
"She will. You were gone a long time. She'll figure out you're not leaving again and love you like the rest of us do."
"I love you and our family and this one right here. I don't want to miss a moment of our life anymore."
She tensed as another contraction took hold. "Ohhhhhhhh," she moaned, breathing as best she could.
After she was told she was six centimeters dilated already, she asked for an epidural.
Then they waited.
…..
Lee and Rosie's house
"How am I tired already?" Lucas asked, flopping on the couch once everyone had breakfast.
"Because we've traveled pretty far and we didn't sleep a lot last night. Plus we are taking care of six little people. It's enough to make anyone tired.
"Just so we are clear, you and I will not be having six," he told her, making her giggle.
"Maybe one more…in a few years?" She asked.
"Agreed. Once the twins are like two, we can maybe revisit the idea."
She nodded, putting Betsy down by her toys. Mattie came running out of the back bedroom with tears on her face.
"Hang on, Mattie. What's happening?" Elizabeth asked.
"I want to go home. Please, Mommy?"
"What happened this time?"
"The boys won't play with me."
"The boys shouldn't be playing. They should be getting dressed for school."
"I'm on it," Lucas said, standing and walking away.
"Mattie, do you wanna help, Mommy?" Elizabeth asked.
"Okay."
"Can you please go get me two diapers for Ethan and Lilly and wipes too?"
She skipped away and Elizabeth smiled at the twins, snoozing in their car seats.
"Bebe?" Betsy asked, crawling over and pointing.
"Yep. This is Ethan and Lilly."
"Bebe," Betsy repeated, nodding.
"I don't want to go to school," Zane yelled, half dressed, running in the room. "I want Mommy!"
"Zane, come here, bud," Elizabeth told him, opening her arms. He pouted, sitting on her lap. "You know what?"
"What?"
"When you get back from school, maybe we can text your Daddy and find out if you have a new brother or sister yet. How does that sound?"
"I don't know." He shrugged. "Good, I guess."
"Yeah and maybe we can order pizza for dinner." His eyes lit up.
"Can I get ham and pineapple on mine?"
"Absolutely."
"Ok."
"Zach is ready for school," Lucas said, ushering him into the room.
"Zane, almost is." Elizabeth ran her fingers through his messy hair. "Did you brush your teeth, Z?"
"Yep."
"Okay, then go change your shirt and then Cammie should be here. Hurry now."
Ten minutes later, they were down to four kids.
"Mattie, want to watch a movie with Betsy?" Elizabeth suggested, needing to nurse the babies.
"Yes!"
Lucas was asleep in the recliner so she set up her tablet for Mattie and let her pick it out. She knew how to start the movie and everything so she felt good leaving the two girls with a sleeping Lucas while she stepped away.
She picked up both car seats, one in each hand and headed to the bedroom. She wondered what was happening at the hospital.
……
An hour later
"Push, Rosie," Lee told her quietly. "You can do this. You are amazing."
He never ceased to be amazed at the strength of the woman he had married about five years before. So strong and full of love and kindness.
He looked up when he heard a squawk.
"Its a boy," the doctor announced, holding him up for them to see. He immediately placed the baby on Rosemary's chest.
"Wanna cut the cord, Dad?" one of the nurses asked.
"Absolutely."
"Connor David," Rosemary announced. "Connor David Coulter."
"Lovely name," another nurse mentioned.
"My father's middle name," Rosie said.
"I love you so much, Rosie," Lee whispered, kissing her softly. "You did wonderfully."
"I love you too."
….
Elizabeth smiled as Zane and Zach ran in the door and headed right to her. "Can we text Daddy?" Zane asked, remembering her earlier promise.
"We can do better than that." She turned her phone around so he could see.
"Daddy! Momma! Is that our baby?" Zach asked loudly.
"Yes. Boys, this is your brother. Connor David."
"He's so little! When are you coming home?" Zane asked, switching subjects like any five year old would do.
"Tomorrow."
"Who's gonna tuck us in? And give us a bath and read to us?"
"Aunt Beth and Uncle Lucas will."
"But you do voices, Momma. Can Aunt Beth do voices?"
"I'll do my best," Elizabeth told Zane. "Uncle Lucas is awesome at it though."
"Cool."
"Zachy?" Rosie said, into the camera. "I love you, bud."
"I know."
After a little more conversation, Lucas decided to give the kids a snack and order pizza.
"Are you sure you don't need me to come home tonight, Beth?" Lee asked.
"Of course I'm sure. You stay there. Luke and have this covered."
"Alright then. We will see you tomorrow."
…..
Back in Charlotte, Reynolds House, Rehab facility
Emma Bouchard sat in her recliner staring out the window. She had no desire to be out there. Truthfully, she didn't want to be at Reynolds House either.
It was a nice enough facility but it wasn't home. The house she had shared with her love, Larry, was home. It still felt like he'd shuffle into each room there at any moment though he'd been gone now for a little over a year. She needed to be there.
She didn't tell anyone because they'd put her in a psych ward but she still talked to Larry sometimes. She lived by herself. Who else would she chat with?
Obviously, she was talking to herself but she imagined Larry with his long legs and strong hands sitting in his easy chair reading his books. Or still laying next to her in their bed. Or his soft, warm lips giving her a kiss multiple times throughout the day.
Emma sighed, touching her lips with her fingertips. She missed his affection. What a wonderful life they had created for themselves. Larry had never ceased telling her and showing her how much he loved her.
She knew Lucas absolutely took after his Grandpa in that respect. Elizabeth was a blessed woman indeed.
Emma turned as she heard a knock on her door.
"Come in," she said, knowing it would be an orderly/nurse to take her to therapy.
"Mrs. Bouchard, are you ready?"
She wasn't, but she nodded. Might as well get it over with.
