All that Jazz

Hailey: Hailey had been having some contractions for the last few hours. Nothing too intense but they were present nonetheless. Looking over at Cain, who was taking a nap with Dodger, she thought to herself 'must be nice'. She knew Cain had been working a lot in preparations for the new arrivals so she didn't grumble too much. She walked into the bedroom and looked over at the area they prepared for the twins. She wished they had another room so she could decorate it like she had Dodger's room but she had to make due with this section of this room. At the sound of footsteps, she looked down the hall to see her sleepy husband. "It's a good thing you took a nap. I think we're having babies tonight."

Cain: Cain's eyes widened comically at her announcement with his hair in every direction but he was already grinning like a goon. "Really? S'good thing we set the tub up last weekend." He moved forward to take her hand in his, gently rubbing circles into the back of her hand. "You feeling okay? Should I call Carys now or wait a bit longer?" It didn't help his nerves that Dodger's birth had been completely perfect. His eyes were already doing that thing that showed that his mind was going a mile a second.

Hailey: She smiled at him. He seemed more nervous than she was. To her, childbirth was an experience. She loved it. Though she knew the pain would worsen and it won't be so exciting but right now the pain just told her it was time for babies. "Let's just wait. I want some time with just you."

Cain: "With me?" Cain laughed a little, squeezing her hand a bit. "I'm kind of boring lately, huh? Either I'm working or sleeping."

Hailey: She shook her head as she felt another contraction coming on. He was the opposite of boring. "I wouldn't have married you if you were boring," she finally spoke with a laugh. "Once I'm not a cow anymore, we can use the bed again for more fun activities." She winked at him. Cain: Cain frowned at Hailey. "Hey, you're not a cow. You're *udderly* beautiful." He grinned brightly, already laughing a little. "I'm kidding. I think you look awesome. Your ass is like 'hot damn' and your boobs are like obscenely big. It looks like you have two twelve year olds in a headlock."

Hailey: Hailey giggled at his pun. It was his humor that first made her fall in love with him. She laughed more as he continued, her eyes looking over herself as he described her. "You know how much I love you, right?"

Cain: "I do." Cain nodded. The words took him back to their wedding and it only made him happier in that moment. Sure money was always tight and sometimes they fought but their love always powered through. "You know how much I love you, right?" He repeated back to Hailey, eyes beaming.

Hailey: "I do," she smiled, her hands moving to his shoulders with her huge belly in between them. "Can you fill up the tub? I want to relax in there for a bit."

Cain: Cain gave another nod. "You got it, mama." He leaned sideways and over to give Hailey a kiss on the cheek. "I'll check on Dodger and call the house, too." When he moved back into the room, he saw that their son was just coming around so he easily picked him up. "Hey, buddy, looks like your sisters are finally arriving. Girls are always wanting an big dramatic entrance." He made sure the tub was filled up with lukewarm water and starting laughing when he thought about the inside joke he and Hailey had when Dodger was born. After Cain called the house, he headed into the bedroom with Dodger on his hip and a bowl of ice chips in his other hand. "Markcold ice chips for you, Hails."

Hailey: Hailey got in her bathing suit, not ready to be fully naked. She laughed at the mention of their joke from Dodger's birth. She had almost forgotten about that. "Thank you, baby," she smiled. "Give Mama a kiss. Are you ready to see your sisters? You're going to be my little helper, right?" she cooed to her son as she leaned over to kiss him. "Oh I just love you so much." Her heart could almost explode from the love she felt for her children. There was nothing better than being a mom except maybe for being a wife. She used the little step stool to climb into the bath. It wasn't as easy as it looked with her extra weight. As she got settled, she reached for the ice chips. "I didn't get a kiss from you," she spoke to her husband, not counting the kiss on the cheek as a real one.

Cain: Cain grinned watching Hailey get into the tub. Her confidence was definitely calming his nerves. "You are so darn cute with your squirrel butt in that bathing suit." He moved to the side of the pool, Dodger on his hip still to lean in for a kiss on the lips. "I think Dodger wants to go for a swim with his mama and sisters. We got him that head floaty thing."

Hailey: Hailey smiled and nodded. "Go with Daddy to get your suit on." It was then another wave of contractions came on. She went silent as she breathed through it.

Cain: Cain's brow furrowed. "You okay, babe? How far apart are they now?"

Hailey: "I'm okay," she nodded. "There are still far enough apart. We don't need to call yet."

Cain: "All right, maybe we should have a codeword for when it's actually time to call. I'll think about it as we go change." Cain took Dodger into his bedroom to change into his baby trunks. He grabbed the floatly too. "What about 'babies away'? Ya know like 'bombs away' but they're babies."

Hailey: Hailey laughed, loving the codeword. "It's perfect." Then she reached for Dodger. "Come here, baby. Come swim with Mama."

Cain: Cain gently handed Dodger over to Hailey and grinned at them. "He's our little fish. Gummy Fish."

Hailey: Hailey smiled so big that her cheeks hurt. Then she realized it wasn't just cheeks that were hurting but her uterus. "My sweet baby boy," she spoke out of the pain, as she let him kick his legs in the water.

Cain: "Be honest with me, Hails." Cain leveled her with a serious look. "Are you completely human? Because you are seriously the most badass chick to ever exist. You're in labor with twins while playing with our one year old."

Hailey: "I won't be doing that later," she laughed. "But he's my pain relief. I just remember that I get two more just like him." Her eyes were shining with love. "Besides this is why women have babies and not men. You couldn't handle it," she teased him.

Cain: Cain nodded in complete agreement. "You're right; I couldn't." He lightly splashed at Dodger, grinning at his laughter. "Three kids... I can't even imagine it."

Hailey: "I couldn't do everything you do either so we make great partners," she smiled. Dodger's laugh was literally the best sound in the world. Nothing matched it.

Cain: "Now that I'm having not only one but two girls, I seriously feel like writing out apology cards to every girl I ever said I'd call and then didn't." Cain sighed sorrowfully. "If they look anything like you, I'm gonna need a shotgun, babe."

Hailey: Her eyebrows shot up at his statement. "How many girls is that?" she asked, trying to look serious but her lips starting to curl upward. "I think our kids are going to be in high demand. I mean look at their parents," she laughed, flipping her hair.

Cain: "I was just a jerk, ya know? And to think some kid like me hurting our girls' feelings makes me really hate how I acted, ya know?" Cain pointed his finger at Dodger. "You are the official bruiser for your little sisters, okay, kiddo?"

Hailey: Hailey knew there would be boys who were just as stupid as Cain, Rodney and all the Greaser boys had been. She agreed with Dodger protecting his sisters and Dodger just giggled. Her breathing got a little harder as the contractions got stronger. "Babies away, babe. Babies away."

Cain: Cain ran out of the room to go give Carys a call first, then the house. His mom offered to pick up Dodger but he declined, knowing Hailey would want to keep him near. He grabbed more ice chips and came back into the room, changing into his own swim trunks before their midwife arrived. "She'll be here soon, babe. What can I do? Just tell me."

Hailey: "Put on some music then come hold my hand." Dodger would have to get out of the tub eventually but it wasn't time yet. She liked how he kicked his legs while laying across her chest.

Cain: “Put on your hand and hold the music, got it." Cain turned to switch on their radio they always kept in the bedroom. He kept it fairly low but high enough that they could hear it clearly. Carys knew to just come on back into the bedroom so he could stay with Hailey the entire time. He moved beside the tub and reached for his wife's hand. "I love you. Our family is growing. Did you ever think you'd have children with me when we first met as kids?" He snorted.

Hailey: Hailey shook her head in amusement at his rephrasing of her requests. "I love you," she whispered back as she began to get more into the zone. "Did you? I thought you were cute until you decided to be a jerk because of Rodney's influence."

Cain: "I was a jerk before that, babe. We influenced each other and not always in the best way, clearly." Cain laughed a little. "I thought you were pretty adventurous and brave. Especially when I showed you my scar on my chest and told you it was from being staked because I was a vampire and you had that look of total wonder on your face." Cain reached up and smoothed down Hailey's hair. "You tried to act indifferent towards me but I knew you'd be mine."

Hailey: She looked at him in disbelief. "Really? If we're being honest, I knew you'd be mine not the other way around," she playfully challenged.

Cain: "Let's just agree that we'd be each others." Cain leaned forward again to kiss Hailey. "Is it weird that I'm not afraid this time? I feel... I don't know completely confident and excited. I just want them here already and I want all five of us to cuddle on the bed." Hailey: Hailey nodded slowly as he leaned in to kiss her. She returned his kiss slowly. Her heart was beating a little fast from happiness not from fear. She too was not scared but excited. As she was about to respond, Carys entered the room. Hailey waved her over. "I'm ready for them to be here too," she told her husband and as that triggered the contraction itself, she moaned in pain.

Cain: Cain turned to Carys with a big smile. "Just in time. Here, I'm gonna take Dodger now and dry him off. He'll go in his pack and play for now."

Hailey: Hailey whined slightly as Dodger was taken from her. She knew she couldn't give birth and keep her son with her. "Cain, lay down this plastic over the bed and a piece on the floor by the bed," Carys told him. "I'm going to let her labor in the tub but for safety, I want to have her out of the tub for the birth."

Cain: Cain nodded to Carys' instructions as he quickly changed and dried Dodger before setting him down in the pack and play with a few of his toys. He moved to grab the extra sheets of plastic they had and covered both the bed and floor. "All right, do you want me to help her out of the tub for now to check on her?"

Hailey: Carys smiled and nodded to his question. One baby and he was already experienced. "Yes, that would be great." Hailey hummed in pain with the next contraction, turning to her side. The pain was intensifying.

Cain: Cain moved to the step and reached for Hailey's hand. "Here we go, my love." He smiled encouragingly at his wife. "You need more ice chips or do you want me to shut up?"

Hailey: After the contraction, she took his hand to get out of the tub. "Maybe say a few less words," she told him softly with an attempt at a playful smirk. She wasn't as focused as she needed to be and that was making everything more painful. With Cain's help, she laid down on the bed to be checked by Carys. "Good. Both heartbeats are where they should be. She's dilated to 6 so we have a little ways to go but she's making great progress."

Cain: Cain held Hailey's hand as Carys checked her over. He hummed along to the music in the background. "Are we super sure it's two girls?" He playfully asked Carys.

Hailey: Carys laughed softly. "Unless they are hiding their boy parts from me," Carys answered quietly. Hailey's eyes watered from the pain. "It hurts. I don't want to do this. --Maybe tomorrow." She tried to joke through the pain but she was very serious. "I'm going to dim the lights," the midwife told her as she turned on a lamp and turned off the main light.

Cain: Cain's nerves started to get the best of him now. Hearing the people he loved in pain was his absolute biggest weaknesses; it scared him more than anything and it was even worse when he felt helpless in making her feel better. He reached up to smooth her hair back. "I'm so damn proud of you, Hails. You're doing so good. You got this, baby."

Hailey: She breathed in and out deeply. She had to do this twice and she didn't feel ready. Cain's encouragements are exactly what she needed. She didn't want to talk anymore because she needed to focus not on the pain but on the pressure and the fact that she was going to have two new babies today. She reached for Cain's hand. "I want to sit up."

Cain: "All right." Cain helped Hailey sit up and immediately moved right behind her so her back was against his chest. He kissed her shoulder blade and looked to Carys.

Hailey: Hailey laid her head back against Cain. "You're doing great," Carys told her with a reassuring smile. Hailey grabbed Cain's hands and squeezed through the next contraction. With the next check from the midwife, she gave them a nod. "Okay we're ready to have a baby when you are," she told Hailey.

Cain: Cain took in a deep calming breath at Carys words. His first thought was to be slightly panicked but he needed to be strong for Hailey. He squeezed her hands right back. "You tell us what to do, babe. You're running this show." Hailey: Hailey nodded, staying quiet to focus on her children inside her. She was bringing herself to a state of self hypnosis. She shifted herself to the edge of the bed so she could squat comfortably. Her hands held onto Cain's to have him move with her in the change of position. Their first little girl was ready to come out and she was ready right now. "I want to push." Carys knelt down between her legs. "Then push and meet your baby."

Cain: "Here we go. You got this. You're my queen." Cain started to do some of the breathing exercises as he settled closely behind Hailey, squeezing her hands softly. He couldn't believe the time had come. His eyes already started to water from sheer joy. "I love you. Our girls are gonna be dancers just mommy."

Hailey: Hailey felt tears on her face as she pushed with just a low moan. "Come on, baby," she breathed as she reached in between her legs to feel the top of the head. With the next contraction, she pushed their first daughter into the world. "Hey Cailey, it's your mom," she cooed to the child as she was placed on her chest. Carys quickly dried her off before placing a blanket over them. She wanted a few minutes to enjoy her first one but her sister wasn't far behind. "Cain, look at her. Oh she's beautiful." Cain: Cain was taking in deep breathes as their first daughter came into the world. "She's never allowed to leave the house." He let out a watery laugh. "She's perfect." His heart was pounding in his chest and it was a good thing he was already practically sitting down or else, he'd fall down. "Hi, baby girl."

Hailey: With a few deep breaths in, it was time for the next twin to come into the world. It took a few more set of pushes before their next stubborn little girl was out. She was placed on Hailey's chest next to her sister where she was dried and stimulated. Once Carys thought they both looked good, she place a blanket on them and let Cain and Hailey enjoy for a moment before delivering the placenta. Cain: Cain was completely speechless as he looked down at the perfect identical twins in his wife's arms. He remembered how tiny Dodger had seemed when he was born but these girls just looked like little china dolls in comparison. His eyes widened. "Oh god, what if I forget who's who?"\par Hailey: Hailey was just admiring her two babies when she heard Cain's question. Her eyes also widened. "Maybe a sharpie A and B to their feet," she suggested. Carys laughed at the two before making her own suggestion. "Cain, why don't you go grab two different color hats to put on them."

Cain: "Hats can fall off. What about socks or those weird mitten gloves? We got all kinds of those." Cain got up from the ground and grabbed a pair of teal socks and a orangey pink ones. "Teal for Cailey."

Hailey: "And pink for sweet Coralie," she cooed, kissing her second daughter. Once she was cleaned up, Carys offered to make them some snacks so they could all rest. "Cain, babe, go get Dodger so he can see them." She was half asleep but she needed to feed her sweet babies. She was so grateful for Carys to stay and help. She was terrified how they were going to manage three children. Especially with how much Cain worked.

Cain: Cain was practically bouncing up and down the hall to get Dodger. Their little boy smiled up at his daddy as he was lifted out of the pack and play. "It's time for you to meet your sister's. They're really tiny so you gotta be gentle." He brought Dodger into the bedroom and made his way over to Hailey and the girls. "Here's our guy." Cain leaned over to kiss Hailey again. "You kicked ass, mama."

Hailey: Hailey smiled at her son before lifting her head slightly to return Cain's kiss. "I know," she responded with a playful cockiness. "And I couldn't have asked for a better partner through this. I love you!"

Cain: "I know," Cain repeated back and stuck his tongue out at her playfully. "But on a serious note, I think we should home school the girls until college. They look just like you and that's just not fair on their old man."

Hailey: Hailey shook her head. "Not unless you are planning on doing it. I have way too much on my plate as it is. I think you are just going to deal with the fact that your beautiful daughters are going to be very beautiful AND protected by their big brother."

Cain: Cain snuggled closer to his little family. "All right fine but I'm not gonna like it." He was quiet for a moment as he just watched his girls and looked to see Dodger's reaction of them. He smiled. "You feeling okay, babe?"

Hailey: Hailey couldn't stop staring at her family. They were perfect. She hadn't expected to ever be this happy and lucky. Not with her history -- her illness. But Cain kept her sane. Her whole family kept her sane. "I feel amazing. I want to have hundreds of babies with you."

Cain: "Hundreds, huh? We're definitely going to need a bigger house." Cain was quiet for a moment. "We already do, don't we? I'm gonna see what we can do. Maybe we can make the dining room a bedroom for the girls. When do we ever eat in there anyway?"

Hailey: She had just assumed that they didn't have room for an extra bedroom. They certainly didn't have the money to add on to their house. The dining room option could work. "We can worry about that tomorrow," she mumbled, getting sleepy. Carys came back in with snacks and helped Hailey latch each twin on one side. They ate first then Hailey would eat and they could all cuddle and sleep for their first night together as a family of five.

Cain: Cain carefully crawled off the bed with Dodger in his arms. "We're gonna call the house to let everyone know you're awesome and we have two beautiful girls." He quickly called the house and spoke with his mom. After the phone call, Cain moved back into the bedroom and snuggled in closely. "I'm gonna be here for you, okay? I'm gonna ask Dr. Peterson for a raise or something. I can't stand the idea of not spending more time with you guys by working all the time."

Hailey: Hailey enjoyed the time she had by herself with her two newborn children. She was feeding them from her own body with them against her skin. It was such an amazing experience. Then Cain and Dodger came back in and she loved that too. "I want that. I'm going to need your help. Besides, I just miss you when you work so much."

Cain: "I miss you, too. And Dodger and now that we have the girls, I really can't be missing out on their lives. I'm gonna do what it takes to be there for you guys. I love you so much and I want us to do this together." Cain kissed the top of Hailey's head. "You did so good today. You amaze me, babe." He looked down at his three kids and grinned. "We make pretty damn good looking babies."