| Until my last breath By Sharon Holtz Chapter Seven Last Chapter Note: This will be a Round Robin story between Dawn and Sharon "We hope you will enjoy our story" |
After entering their chamber, they began laughing because of the speed Vincent got them there.
As they settled in, Catherine lovingly looked over at Vincent, and said, "I am so happy we are finally alone as man and wife."
Vincent's heart quickened as he looked back at her, to breathlessly say, "I am as well."
Self consciously, Catherine looked downward at her growing belly, and said, "Unfortunately, I am not in the most ideal shape for a traditional wedding night. I must not look very appealing to you right now..."
Tipping his head slightly, Vincent gathered his thoughts before he spoke, and from his heart, he articulated, "You have never looked more beautiful to me Catherine...and even if I spend the night just holding you...I will have had my dreams answered and fulfilled."
He then walked to her, and tenderly embraced her as she cried sweetly in his arms. Catherine broke his heart, as she told him, "Still Vincent...I wanted this night to be memorable for you..."
Suddenly, Catherine had a pain, which was like no other sensation she had ever felt! But before she had the chance to tell Vincent, with anxious concern, he asked, "Are you all right?"
Not wanting to alarm Vincent needlessly, or jump to any conclusions, Catherine weakly answered, "I think so..."
But...as the fear of delivering twins, began to overwhelm her, she quickly added, "Vincent I don't know for sure..."
Since their Wedding Reception was still in full swing, Vincent knew Peter would be there below to assist his father if Catherine was in labor, so immediately after he carried his wife over to the bed, he urgently sent a message over the pipes, asking for help.
Meanwhile, Peter stood talking with Nancy, Jennifer, and Pascal, when Vincent's message was being transmitted. The ever vigilant Pascal shouted, "Shhhh...listen! Its Vincent and he needs Father and Peter to come right away. Its about Catherine...she may be in labor!"
At once everyone speculated, wondering if Catherine really could be in labor! Mary turned to Jacob and said, "I am coming along with you."
To which Jacob in agreement with Peter, said, "Yes we may need you Mary."
With excitement and worry, both Jennifer and Nancy followed the galloping trio, and declared they were coming too, and it would be useless to try and stop them.
Yelling over his shoulder, Peter told them, "I wouldn't dream of trying to keep you away. If this is really it, Catherine will need you with her."
As they all ran along, Mary confessed, "I thought I noticed Catherine had dropped a bit through out the course of the day." To which both Peter and Jacob admitted they did too.
With a professional, yet anxious edge, Jacob worriedly said, "I do fear this is real labor. We haven't any incubators to aid us with any premature births."
Raising a brow, Peter happily relayed, "I brought some with me tonight. They are in my van. But Jacob...the baby's gestations were both remarkably advanced, I really don't think these would be premature births."
With relief, Jacob verified, "So in accordance to the ultrasound you did yesterday, you do feel the babies are ready?"
With confidence, Peter replied, "Even though they would be a mere 6 months along, remarkably...I DO think they are ready."
Listening to every word the two Doctors were saying, both Nancy and Jennifer prayed every step of the way, hoping their friend would be fine, and have a healthy multiple delivery.
Meanwhile, Vincent held Catherine's hand, as the pains grew more extreme, and intently he looked into her eyes, lending her the strength she needed to handle her labor, assuring her, that help would be there soon.
With a tearful anxious plea, Catherine cried, "Just promise me, you won't leave me Vincent...stay with me please."
Assuredly he brushed her hair away from her eyes, and decreed, "I won't leave you Catherine...I only wish I could take on this pain you are feeling. You are remarkable to endure it as you are."
With astonishment, Catherine asked, "Vincent...you sound as if you actually know."
Realizing he was fully in tune with her being once more, he warmly smiled as he said, "I do Catherine...I do know what you are feeling...I believe our bond has returned to us..."
Having their gift restored, gave them both something else to focus on, and gave them a joy beyond words. Their bond was special to them both, because it set them apart from all others. And even though Catherine had been able to reconcile, she needed to relinquish their bond to their baby for a time, she was so thankful to have it back again.
As the labor intensified, Catherine came to realize they were really going to be parents tonight! Her time had run out to prepare Vincent for what was to come. She needed to tell him now, that the shy twin seemed to be in his likeness. So carefully she began, "Vincent, the baby we originally saw, took after me, do you remember?"
Thoughtfully, he said, "Yes Catherine...he was beautiful, because he looked just like you..."
Catherine nodded, and said, "Well, just as you feel he is beautiful because he looks like me, well that's how I felt when I saw the second baby...I feel he is beautiful too, because...he looks like you."
As a tear rolled down his cheek, he controllably asked, "So our twins are not identical?"
With love, Catherine answered, "No they are not Vincent."
Staring forward, Vincent stayed silent as the reality resonated with him. As the seconds ticked by, Catherine touched his face and reassured him, as she said, "We will make sure he will have a happy life Vincent. I love him so much already."
Privately, Vincent knew he had no time for self pity, or question his little baby's future. This was his time to meet his destiny with courage in honor of Catherine and his children. So lightheartedly, he questionably suggested to her, "I was just thinking, if the babies are not identical, that could mean, one of them might be a girl?"
With a wide-eyed dawning, Catherine excitedly said, "I suppose that's true! You only said you sensed a boy child. So I guess we will just have to wait and see. We just might have a daughter too."
Just then the pains kicked in again, and Catherine held onto Vincent with all she had.
Bursting through the threshold, the medical team got right to work! Mary tutored Vincent to help Catherine regulate her breathing, so she could develop a rhythm to deal with the pain. After she felt they had a handle on it, Mary then began her duties as a Nurse to Jacob and Peter.
In between the pains, Catherine said, "I wish Jennifer and Nancy could be here!"
Warmly, Jacob told her, "They are here...we uh...we couldn't keep them away."
Anxiously, Catherine looked around, and when she saw them, she cried for them to come to her. Tearfully they ran over, and with emotional supporting words, they both said they were there for her.
Joyfully Nancy added, how excited she was to be there when Catherine's babies would be born.
Catherine smiled as she looked up at Vincent, and corrected her friend as she said, "You mean...Vincent's and my babies!"
Causing everyone to tearfully chuckle, Nancy looked apologetically at Vincent and warmly smiled as she recanted, saying, "Yes...that's right...for your and Vincent's babies."
Sharing such a moment, warmed Vincent's heart, feeling he was truly excepted by Catherine's dearest friends. Which he knew would mean the world to his wife. The isolation she dreaded from them, had been melted away for good this day. And from here on out there were no more secrets from those who mattered most to her.
So with Vincent on one side, and Jennifer and Nancy on the other, Catherine gave birth to her two little round healthy babies.
Through her tears, Catherine smiled at Vincent as Peter and Jacob presented a little male Vincent look-a-like, and a little female Catherine!
Proudly they placed both of the babies in Catherine's arms, and she lovingly embraced them both looking from one to the other, then up at Vincent. Helplessly, she asked, "Well, what do you think?"
Stoically, he kissed Catherine's forehead, and stood up to look at his children. With a renewed strength and complete love, he told Catherine their children were beautiful. They both were beautiful.
In agreement she looked back at the two, and said, "Yes, they are cute aren't they?" She then worriedly said, "We haven't had time to decide on names. Any ideas Pappa?"
Confidently, Vincent answered, "We shall name them Jacob and Chandlar, after both of our father's."
Aloud, she repeated the names her husband chose for their children, and contentedly, Catherine agreed she liked the names he had picked out very much, saying, "I think Chandler is a darling name for our little girl. And Jacob is the perfect name for our son."
Proudly, Grandpa Jacob blushed, as Peter slapped him on the back, and teasingly said, "Boy oh boy, what a way to impress the old fella here!"
Then as a melancholy washed over him, Peter added, "And your parents would be greatly honored too kiddo."
Crying a few tears mixed with grief, and joy, Catherine agreed and said, "Yes, I think so too Peter."
After Catherine and her babies were cleaned up, kisses and congratulations were passed all around, as well as the babies! Everyone took their turn holding them, and it was very difficult for the three honorary Aunts, Mary, Jennifer and Nancy to give them up, but it was decided to let Catherine and Vincent, have a little time alone with them.
All was quiet within the chamber except for the sound of a soft cooing from the contented babies. Catherine smiled up at Vincent and sighed as she rested back on her pillow.
As she noticed her wedding gown draped over the back of a chair, Catherine couldn't help but giggle as she thought on the irony of the events of their honeymoon. And so she said, "This was quite a honeymoon!"
Nodding as he sweetly stroked her hair, he then proudly looked at their little clan, and said, "Yes, it looks like you received your wish...you did make our wedding night quite memorable for me after all."
The End
As they settled in, Catherine lovingly looked over at Vincent, and said, "I am so happy we are finally alone as man and wife."
Vincent's heart quickened as he looked back at her, to breathlessly say, "I am as well."
Self consciously, Catherine looked downward at her growing belly, and said, "Unfortunately, I am not in the most ideal shape for a traditional wedding night. I must not look very appealing to you right now..."
Tipping his head slightly, Vincent gathered his thoughts before he spoke, and from his heart, he articulated, "You have never looked more beautiful to me Catherine...and even if I spend the night just holding you...I will have had my dreams answered and fulfilled."
He then walked to her, and tenderly embraced her as she cried sweetly in his arms. Catherine broke his heart, as she told him, "Still Vincent...I wanted this night to be memorable for you..."
Suddenly, Catherine had a pain, which was like no other sensation she had ever felt! But before she had the chance to tell Vincent, with anxious concern, he asked, "Are you all right?"
Not wanting to alarm Vincent needlessly, or jump to any conclusions, Catherine weakly answered, "I think so..."
But...as the fear of delivering twins, began to overwhelm her, she quickly added, "Vincent I don't know for sure..."
Since their Wedding Reception was still in full swing, Vincent knew Peter would be there below to assist his father if Catherine was in labor, so immediately after he carried his wife over to the bed, he urgently sent a message over the pipes, asking for help.
Meanwhile, Peter stood talking with Nancy, Jennifer, and Pascal, when Vincent's message was being transmitted. The ever vigilant Pascal shouted, "Shhhh...listen! Its Vincent and he needs Father and Peter to come right away. Its about Catherine...she may be in labor!"
At once everyone speculated, wondering if Catherine really could be in labor! Mary turned to Jacob and said, "I am coming along with you."
To which Jacob in agreement with Peter, said, "Yes we may need you Mary."
With excitement and worry, both Jennifer and Nancy followed the galloping trio, and declared they were coming too, and it would be useless to try and stop them.
Yelling over his shoulder, Peter told them, "I wouldn't dream of trying to keep you away. If this is really it, Catherine will need you with her."
As they all ran along, Mary confessed, "I thought I noticed Catherine had dropped a bit through out the course of the day." To which both Peter and Jacob admitted they did too.
With a professional, yet anxious edge, Jacob worriedly said, "I do fear this is real labor. We haven't any incubators to aid us with any premature births."
Raising a brow, Peter happily relayed, "I brought some with me tonight. They are in my van. But Jacob...the baby's gestations were both remarkably advanced, I really don't think these would be premature births."
With relief, Jacob verified, "So in accordance to the ultrasound you did yesterday, you do feel the babies are ready?"
With confidence, Peter replied, "Even though they would be a mere 6 months along, remarkably...I DO think they are ready."
Listening to every word the two Doctors were saying, both Nancy and Jennifer prayed every step of the way, hoping their friend would be fine, and have a healthy multiple delivery.
Meanwhile, Vincent held Catherine's hand, as the pains grew more extreme, and intently he looked into her eyes, lending her the strength she needed to handle her labor, assuring her, that help would be there soon.
With a tearful anxious plea, Catherine cried, "Just promise me, you won't leave me Vincent...stay with me please."
Assuredly he brushed her hair away from her eyes, and decreed, "I won't leave you Catherine...I only wish I could take on this pain you are feeling. You are remarkable to endure it as you are."
With astonishment, Catherine asked, "Vincent...you sound as if you actually know."
Realizing he was fully in tune with her being once more, he warmly smiled as he said, "I do Catherine...I do know what you are feeling...I believe our bond has returned to us..."
Having their gift restored, gave them both something else to focus on, and gave them a joy beyond words. Their bond was special to them both, because it set them apart from all others. And even though Catherine had been able to reconcile, she needed to relinquish their bond to their baby for a time, she was so thankful to have it back again.
As the labor intensified, Catherine came to realize they were really going to be parents tonight! Her time had run out to prepare Vincent for what was to come. She needed to tell him now, that the shy twin seemed to be in his likeness. So carefully she began, "Vincent, the baby we originally saw, took after me, do you remember?"
Thoughtfully, he said, "Yes Catherine...he was beautiful, because he looked just like you..."
Catherine nodded, and said, "Well, just as you feel he is beautiful because he looks like me, well that's how I felt when I saw the second baby...I feel he is beautiful too, because...he looks like you."
As a tear rolled down his cheek, he controllably asked, "So our twins are not identical?"
With love, Catherine answered, "No they are not Vincent."
Staring forward, Vincent stayed silent as the reality resonated with him. As the seconds ticked by, Catherine touched his face and reassured him, as she said, "We will make sure he will have a happy life Vincent. I love him so much already."
Privately, Vincent knew he had no time for self pity, or question his little baby's future. This was his time to meet his destiny with courage in honor of Catherine and his children. So lightheartedly, he questionably suggested to her, "I was just thinking, if the babies are not identical, that could mean, one of them might be a girl?"
With a wide-eyed dawning, Catherine excitedly said, "I suppose that's true! You only said you sensed a boy child. So I guess we will just have to wait and see. We just might have a daughter too."
Just then the pains kicked in again, and Catherine held onto Vincent with all she had.
Bursting through the threshold, the medical team got right to work! Mary tutored Vincent to help Catherine regulate her breathing, so she could develop a rhythm to deal with the pain. After she felt they had a handle on it, Mary then began her duties as a Nurse to Jacob and Peter.
In between the pains, Catherine said, "I wish Jennifer and Nancy could be here!"
Warmly, Jacob told her, "They are here...we uh...we couldn't keep them away."
Anxiously, Catherine looked around, and when she saw them, she cried for them to come to her. Tearfully they ran over, and with emotional supporting words, they both said they were there for her.
Joyfully Nancy added, how excited she was to be there when Catherine's babies would be born.
Catherine smiled as she looked up at Vincent, and corrected her friend as she said, "You mean...Vincent's and my babies!"
Causing everyone to tearfully chuckle, Nancy looked apologetically at Vincent and warmly smiled as she recanted, saying, "Yes...that's right...for your and Vincent's babies."
Sharing such a moment, warmed Vincent's heart, feeling he was truly excepted by Catherine's dearest friends. Which he knew would mean the world to his wife. The isolation she dreaded from them, had been melted away for good this day. And from here on out there were no more secrets from those who mattered most to her.
So with Vincent on one side, and Jennifer and Nancy on the other, Catherine gave birth to her two little round healthy babies.
Through her tears, Catherine smiled at Vincent as Peter and Jacob presented a little male Vincent look-a-like, and a little female Catherine!
Proudly they placed both of the babies in Catherine's arms, and she lovingly embraced them both looking from one to the other, then up at Vincent. Helplessly, she asked, "Well, what do you think?"
Stoically, he kissed Catherine's forehead, and stood up to look at his children. With a renewed strength and complete love, he told Catherine their children were beautiful. They both were beautiful.
In agreement she looked back at the two, and said, "Yes, they are cute aren't they?" She then worriedly said, "We haven't had time to decide on names. Any ideas Pappa?"
Confidently, Vincent answered, "We shall name them Jacob and Chandlar, after both of our father's."
Aloud, she repeated the names her husband chose for their children, and contentedly, Catherine agreed she liked the names he had picked out very much, saying, "I think Chandler is a darling name for our little girl. And Jacob is the perfect name for our son."
Proudly, Grandpa Jacob blushed, as Peter slapped him on the back, and teasingly said, "Boy oh boy, what a way to impress the old fella here!"
Then as a melancholy washed over him, Peter added, "And your parents would be greatly honored too kiddo."
Crying a few tears mixed with grief, and joy, Catherine agreed and said, "Yes, I think so too Peter."
After Catherine and her babies were cleaned up, kisses and congratulations were passed all around, as well as the babies! Everyone took their turn holding them, and it was very difficult for the three honorary Aunts, Mary, Jennifer and Nancy to give them up, but it was decided to let Catherine and Vincent, have a little time alone with them.
All was quiet within the chamber except for the sound of a soft cooing from the contented babies. Catherine smiled up at Vincent and sighed as she rested back on her pillow.
As she noticed her wedding gown draped over the back of a chair, Catherine couldn't help but giggle as she thought on the irony of the events of their honeymoon. And so she said, "This was quite a honeymoon!"
Nodding as he sweetly stroked her hair, he then proudly looked at their little clan, and said, "Yes, it looks like you received your wish...you did make our wedding night quite memorable for me after all."
The End
