Sean POV

Not for a minute before now I had been so happy that grandpa had given me that car he had for my birthday last year. Because making my way from school to Lima Memorial Hospital when mama had gone into labour only God knows how it would have gone if I had made my way with it still in one piece.

Now, as I finally pulled over by the hospital, at least still in a whole piece it felt as hours after I had had that phone call from mama and left William McKinley High.

"Eliza Moraiety…" I- after running my best into the hospital and to the ER. "She's giving birth to twins…" The receptionist said something but I could barely hear what. I just proved who I was- and that I was safe from pulling up my ID from my pocket and showing it to her before a nurse showed me through the hallways, up three floors (and had elevators had never risen so slowly) then through another hallway.

"Mama…."

"Sean."

And Gordon, who seemed to want to hide in a corner while another nurse was trying to make him at least come into the hallway. Mama was obviously far gone into labor, she was bathing in sweat and lying with her legs up. I did my best not to see but it was obvious this first twin wasn't far away by now.

Exactly how long had this been going on before she even called me?

This wasn't the right time to scold her, that could wait…

And I was interrupted anyway when another person. Some sort of doctor or nurse came into the room at the same time that I went over to the head of mama's bed and stroke her head.

"Is this dad?"

I could feel myself blushing. Mama being so young when she had me…

"No. Most definitely not."

"This is my oldest son. Sean Michael… I was only sixteen when I had hi- hi…"

Mama only had a minute- or less to let the people around the room know who I was before her whole body seemed to tense in another contraction. The doctor looked towards her clock.

"Contractions aren't even three minutes apart now…" She started talking about how these were twins and it was common for their birth to come faster than what it would have been if it was only one baby. "But where is dad?"

I and mama just looked to each other. It might have been so long since that day but with mama already in so much pain and everything going on. And it was obvious this doctor wanted someone (someone as in dad) and was p*d with any dad that wasn't here to see their children being born. But if she had only known.

"He isn't going to be here." I explained dryly. "Gordon's and their dad isn't in the picture and he's never wanted to be. Let alone when we found out there were two." The woman watched me and I regretted times a thousand that I hadn't just said "dad". I might have hated Curtis all along. But what mama was feeling now was more important. She wasn't going to give in unless I gave her the answer.

"My dad isn't here neither." I said, my voice just as dry still. "He was a firefighter… in the towers. During 9/11"

There's that look that people start giving you when you mention that…

Curtis could at least have chosen to be here. Just like my dad had been when I was born…

But that shouldn't be important now because obviously the first one of the twins was close, very close on making their way into the world. And while mama switched in between panted and pushed and I did my best to support her, while Gordon was refusing to leave and hiding in the corner every second seemed to last forever.

"Here we go." At last, her screams in pain was mixed with the first screams of my little sister or brother. "This one's a little boy. Congratulations on your three sons. Sean and Gordon and this…"

None of us knew yet who he would be. Neither name nor anything. But as the second twin was making their way into the world there was obviously not going to be any time left for that.

One of the doctors had taken my youngest little brother in his hands, carrying him, he looks so little in the doctor's biggest hands. Gordon's still in that corner but I can see his brown eyes had grown big as he followed the doctor with his vision until the doctor had covered him.

"I've been in his job for almost twenty years…" I heard the doctor mumble to himself. "…It never fails to amaze me how something so small and new can make such a loud noise."

I hadn't even noticed he was making a single sound. But his first few screams were filling the air in the way only a baby's could.

"It's okay Gordon." I hadn't moved from mama's side but could notice wanting to go closer to his little brother. "You can go closer. You won't break him. Just don't get in the way and listen to if anyone tells you something."

That's was obviously something of what Gordon had been waiting for because Gordon stood, a female nurse came over to him and carefully lead him over to his brother while I turned back to mama. I was sure no one else could see how much love was shining from her eyes but I could as she looked around.

"I have three boys…" She almost whispered. "…I have three boys…. I must be the luckiest woman on earth… I have three boys."

Mama was probably not feeling so lucky right now as I could see another contraction hitting her. And I didn't feel particularly lucky, she was holding onto my hand and squeezing my fingers so hard. They were for sure going to be bright blue after this was over and my little sibling had entered the world.

"I have three boys…" Mama whispered in between the contractions, then looked up at me, then towards Gordon who seemed troll bound about what he saw in our little brother. "Sean Michael and Gordon. And…"

I hadn't even been thinking about that my little siblings would need names of their own apart from "brother" or "baby". But mama was having another contraction and obviously wasn't going to be thinking about names just now.

Mama was obviously exhausted, all of her was shaking and clammy with sweat.

"I can't do this anymore."

"The second twin usually comes fast." A female doctor told us in between the contractions. "I think the next one will do and then a new little person is here."

Mama didn't exactly look like she wanted to take that one. If I could have only taken the pain she was feeling right now I would without a flash of hesitation… Instead I could do nothing else but to stay by her side and she'd hopefully- hopefully know that I was there.

"There we go…." At last the doctor could get the second baby out and another scream filled the room while mama breathed out. "… one little girl with three older brothers. You're always going to be protected. Always."

"A girl" Mama almost whispered while the doctor laid mama's daughter in her arms the male doctor came with my baby brother and laid him on the other arm. "Oh yes… If any boy ever dares to cheat on you…"

I could see on the way mama looked she was trying to say something, I knew what. And before she had the time to say it the doctor had taken my brother again and I carefully took my sister.

A sister! My sister!

"Hey guys." All of a sudden grandpa came running into the room. "Oh? Did I miss the fun part?"

Mama didn't seem to think as much…

"Mrs. Moraiety?" The male doctor left my brother- well, both of my brothers and my grandpa and went over to mama. "Are you feeling faint? Nauseas?"

"No… I'm okay." Mama had suddenly seemed like she fainted and leaned back, while getting into a slightly more comfortable position. "Just exhausted… But I guess that's only to be expected. This body just made not only one, but two new little people."

By the time Gordon was born I had been really fascinated for the first time about how mama grew another person inside of her- just like that it turned into a new little life.

"All vitals are looking normal." The male doctor said. "And I guess you've learnt to breast feed… or would you rather feed with a bottle?"

"It's a bit… It's a bit too much right now. Thank you doctor but can I just be alone for a minute. With my boys and my little girl."

Little girl it was… she really did seem tiny in my arms, and how on earth could something so little make so much noise. I rocked her in my arms. I had just never thought about before how scary it must seem to be born. So bright, so many noises and smells all around…

"Was I crying when I was born mama?" Gordon suddenly asked. "Like… well like him and her…."

"Oh yes you bet you were…" She answered. "And you were always screaming at night too." Mama turned her vision towards me. "You were quiet though. You'd fall asleep, wake up around the same time on every night and want a meal. Then you'd fall asleep again…"

"Now…." Another nurse had suddenly come in. "Are there any certain names you want? Of course, you don't have to think about them now… You'll find the right ones."

"It feels like we've been going through two thousand ones." Gordon said, the nurse just laughed at him and left. "But now they are here I don't know. None of them feels right in my belly when I look at them. What do you think Sean?"

All I knew was that Curtis didn't want any say in the matter so…

Well I too was looking at mama. Who was as exhausted still, but still had a smile on her lips.

"Shouldn't we get along all three of us for their names?"

That seemed to be some sort of signal Gordon had been waiting for. Because he lit up.

"I want to name the boy!"

I hesitated, if mama wanted all of us to say something in that matter… well. She had a way with getting what she wanted… Well, so did I!

"Besides, Sean got his name from his dad so you didn't name him. Not really."

"I already named two boys. And I decided for one to be a junior. Then Gordon…." Gordon bit his lip and his eyes were shining in that way they only did when he had some kind of mischief going on- that could never be something good for me or mama.

"Well then Gordie." Mama smiled tiredly and played with his hair. "What is it that you want to name him?"

"Ryan."

There wasn't half a second of hesitation in Gordon's voice so he had probably been thinking about this name for a while. I was also pretty sure I had heard that name pass his lips before- actually it had quite a lot!

"Ryan…" Mum hesitated. "Isn't that the name of a boy in your school?" Gordon smirked. "Aw. Gordie, are you in love?"

We all knew the answer on the way Gordon only looked back at us with a smirk.

"That's okay… Do you want to decide on a middle name as well?"

"Archibald."

I was pretty certain Archibald was the name of the old teddy bear I had given Gordon when he was a baby.

"Ryan Archibald?" Mum questioned and Gordon nodded so much his afro hair seemed to bounce towards his forehead. "I guess that's it!"

"Mama!... I don't know…" I looked towards Gordon who was turned back to grandpa and his new brother and tasting the name. "This might or might not have been a good idea… Archibald? His old teddy bear? And if Ryan finds that out I'm not so sure he'll ever forgive you. Or Gordon for that matter."

"Well I wanted for all of us to name them. Sean Michael, Gordon Curtis and Ryan Archibald… This doesn't sound so bad. Does it… now. Sean? Do you want to think of a name of your sister?"

I thought of it, for only a few seconds. We had really been sitting with that book of names for hours and hours. But now when we were here I couldn't think of a single one. Maybe I would be like Gordon and name my little sister after someone special.

But it wasn't like I had to think of one at exactly this moment.

I kept on having a feeling that there should be one very special name. Yet, I couldn't think of what it was. And what if I chose the wrong one and only came up afterwards it was the wrong one. What if she hated it herself? Or was bullied for it? And it was my fault?

"You really should be able to name at least your daughter yourself."

I really didn't have to tell mama about all of my problems, not right now- not ever really. I knew that she was worrying about the same things I did but as a mother only a billion times worse. Now mama hesitated, and while she looked me in the eyes someone from the outside as if we were fighting a silent battle.

"Well." Mama started talking at last and I knew I had won. "There is one… If I ever had a daughter, which I do now as you know. She was going to have one name planned I wanted her to have that one only."

"What was it?"

My sister had been wrapped in a pink blanket while I rocked her close to me. Mama showed me to come closer so she could see. Obviously to see if she looked like the right name.

"Jasmin."

"Jasmin?" I repeated and tasted the second name. "Are you Jasmin? Well.. I'm a Junior and Gordon's middle name is Curtis after his dad. So do you want her name to be yours? Because Jasmin and Eliza goes quite well together."

"It does… But no. No I don't want that. It doesn't sound right. But you are right, so maybe something... something alike… Jasmin… Jasmin Alyssa?"

"Jasmin Alyssa." I carefully rocked her. "Does that sound good to you…" Jasmin made that exact moment to stop screaming and make some few, gurgling noises. "Sounds like a yes…" I could feel myself smiling- my cheeks were starting to cramp but I couldn't help it. "Ryan and Alyssa…"

I was waiting for mama to say something, but suddenly she started whimpering and once again crouched as she had while giving birth.

"Mama? What is it?"

Through the whole pregnancy, when mama had been vomiting as good as every day. I knew the look on her face, and just had the time to carefully hand Jasmin to grandpa, then grab a sick bag from a hanger on the wall and held it in front of mama just in time for when she started heaving.

"It's okay." I rubbed her back and wished, for one more time I could have taken this from her. "It'll be okay."

With shaky hands she reached up and held the bag herself when she kept heaving and obviously no one else was going to… It seemed all staff had let us be as a family so I ran outside into the hallway and looked around for anyone I could catch the attention of.

"Something's wrong…" I panted, to another woman. "It's like she's gone into labor again…"

I didn't have to hesitate, mama had started everything at once- screaming in pain, crying and vomiting. The woman, another doctor laid down what she held on a rolling table on her side but seemed annoyingly calm.

"It's probably some afterpains." She explained as she went into the room while I had a feeling something was going terribly, terribly wrong. "They're painful. The uterus has expanded from the pregnancy… So, of course- now it wants to shrink and pull itself inside again. And that's made worse and worse depending on whether it's one baby or twins etc."

"No, no, no…" Mama sobbed, but at least the vomiting had stopped. "There's something else. There's something else…"

The doctor still seemed annoyingly calm, and was only doing her job. But then she froze…

Something must be going wrong…

"Did you know that these were triplets?"

"Triplets?" Mama's voice was somewhere weird in between a whisper and a yell. And I had a feeling that as soon as this was over she'd have something more to say. "Ah…" She was overtaken by another contraction, which one I did not know- I had lost count. But with it I held out my hand and knew that despite her clearly hurting my fingers since long it was barely a little bit by the pain running through her…

"How can this be happening? Why didn't we know there were three?"

"Let's not worry about that right now." The doctor pressed a button on the wall for more help. "Right now, here's another one who wants to enter the world and it's going fast. Very fast…"

Mama had a contraction again, she was screaming louder than ever. As from another world I was seeing Gordon covering his ears and grandpa looking about as worried as I felt- if even possible.

"There we go." The doctor from before had taken the third, and hopefully last baby as they came out. Then took them carefully and ran away to another baby crib. And it was just so quiet, everything was quiet

It was so quiet, but so loud still and the little, little triplet seemed even smaller in the hands of a doctor and a nurses.

Every second was going so slow…

"There we go baby."

After what felt like a million years, my youngest little sibling made some noises and then started screaming in a way only a baby could.

"Who's going to hold her first?" The doctor had picked my youngest little sister up in his hands. "You?" I turned towards mama who was overrun by all emotions and fell down towards the mattress. "Big brother?"

"Me? No?"

The doctor only looked towards grandpa, who was holding onto Jasmin, and Gordon (Why were they still in here?) who was still starstruck by the one he had named in the crib and then she laid the youngest in my arms.

"She's so little." I whispered. "Are you sure you won't break?"

Mama carefully and tiredly smiled towards me. She was obviously feeling way more than anyone else of us right now. But what had we even been talking about before?

"Who's going to name who?"

It was like mama had known all along- maybe that was why she had agreed to name Jasmin.

"Did you know?"

"No." Mama said weakly. "How could I ever? But it feels… I feel so… whole. Now mmy oldest child can name my youngest. I couldn't think of anything more perfect."

I looked down on the smallest little sister in my arms, the feeling was back that there might be one I had forgotten.

"Well… if you're sure."

"Grandpa." I stood up- carefully not to break her and then walked over to grandpa and Gordon who were on the other side of the room. "I'd like to have your blessing."

The name was obvious to me right away! Now it was only for grandpa to say yes.

"My blessing?" He seemed confused, "For what?"

I looked down on her in my arms- then smiled as carefully as I dared. As if my lips moving were going to break her if I did it too much or too fast.

"I'd like to name her Paula."

Grandpa smiled but still tears rose in his eyes. I saw his answer in his eyes but I also remembered my uncle who had been Paul Jr. My uncle Paulie had been a firefighter like my dad. They, of course had been killed the same day as so many others. And grandma died of a broken heart not long afterwards.

"Grandma's name. Margaret would be a bit old-fashioned for a middle name. And a bit long… Maybe." I looked down on her and tasted the name. "Paula Marie."

"Yeah…" Grandpa cleared his throat but his voice was still trembling, "Paula Marie."

"Paula Marie…" Too tired to smile, but still her eyes were shining with a joy I had never seen before. "Ryan Archibald, Jasmin Alyssa and Paula Marie Moraiety…"

"Mor…" Grandpa stuttered a bit. That name she had married into when she married my dad. "Are you sure?"

"I've never been so sure about anything." She looked around the room. "I just feel so… whole!"

All of the babies had stopped screaming (I was certain it wouldn't stay like that for long though!) I couldn't see Ryan or Jasmin, but Paula laid on my arm and looked around.

"This is a scary world." I whispered to her. "I don't know if you can see it quite yet… But that's okay. I'll make sure I'm always here. We'll always be here." I laid my finger- it seemed huge! In her hand. "Look at that! That's strange!"

"At what."

"There's a line that goes straight through her palm… She's just so beautiful. And you'll have me wrapped around that little finger."

"Excuse me." We had barely noticed a nurse coming over. "Can I take her for a moment? I have to go and check something."

I didn't want to ever let go of her…

But whatever it was, it must be something- and maybe it was what had caused that feeling something was wrong.

Still, the nurse took her from my arms and almost ran out of the room. Maybe she was so used to carrying the smallest of babies she couldn't care to move carefully.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know." Trying not to worry I stroke mama's back. "I'm sure she'll be okay."

It would be okay, right? But when the evening, May sun I was just reminded of how fast everything had gone. Had I really had only one little brother a couple of hours ago?

Did these new people have names of their own just yet Did we know quite yet who they were?

"Excuse me." The nurse, with Paula in her arms came back slowly. "I had to go and check something."

I suddenly noticed how quiet it was again. In a room with newborn babies that couldn't mean anything good. But my new little brother and oldest little sister in the metal and plastic banister on wheels that stood next to mama's bed. Mama looked towards the nurse and I saw her fear shining from her eyes.

"It's okay. I'm sure she'll be okay."

I wasn't sure, not of anything…

Every second was so endlessly long. Until the nurse came back with a frown on her face.

"I'm sorry. I have some bad news."

With that Jasmin, Ryan and Paula have entered the world. But now, what does this mean?

Random fact

For Paula and Ryan I've had the first and middle names planned for the past ten years. Jasmin on the other hand I thought of while writing the chapter. I just couldn't find the right one.