Untitled Fan Fic

[fol_fan1989]

This is my first fan fiction-- ever. Here's the first chapter of the first part. I'd appreciate any feedback anyone's willing to give. Thanks!
***
PART ONE

Chapter One

Rick had hurt her so badly she never wanted to see or hear from him again. Their marriage had only lasted a little over a year. She had loved him, but he hadn't loved her enough to not cheat on her when he was on tour. It was unforgivable. But she was sure Henry was different.

This morning, Jo wasn't feeling well. She thought about calling Casie at the community center and telling him she was sick and couldn't come in to work today, but she really needed the money to pay rent. She ran to the bathroom to be sick. She went through in her head what she had eaten the day before; nothing out of the ordinary. Then she remembered... she and Henry had slept together. It had been a couple weeks ago, but they hadn't been very careful. She wasn't sure how it happened; she had always been so careful.

Maybe if she ate something to settle her stomach... Maybe she needed to go to the drug store and get a pregnancy test. No. She couldn't be pregnant. But... she kept thinking about that night with Henry a couple weeks ago.

She picked up the phone. "Casie. It's Jo. Listen I'm gonna have to come in late today. Yeah somethin' came up. I'll be in by eleven. Thanks. Bye." She got dressed, grabbed her keys, and drove to the drug store. She paid for the test hurriedly, refused the offer for a bag, and stuffed it in her purse. She unlocked the door to her apartment and went into the bathroom. She left the test on the edge of the sink while she went to put away her purse. Jo paced back and forth in front of the couch until it was time. She walked back into the bathroom and looked at the strip. A pink plus sign.
It couldn't be right! She'd go back to the drugstore in a couple days. She'd go to the doctor, and he'd tell her she wasn't pregnant. She looked at the strip. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. She knew in her heart the test she held in her shaking hand was right; she could feel it.

She knew she should call Casie at the center and tell him she wasn't going to be able to come in at all. She was in too much shock. What was she going to do? How was she going to be able to afford to take care of a baby? She was barely affording rent as it was. She'd have to mary Henry. She was afraid to get married again. She picked up the phone, intending to call Casie, but her fingers automatically dialed a different number.
"Blair?"

[ZeldaGilroy]

I think it is great so far. I'd love to read more!

[fol_fan1989]

Originally Posted by ZeldaGilroy

I think it is great so far. I'd love to read more!

Thank you for the reply! Here's a little more!
***
Chapter Two

Jo knew she had to tell Henry, and she knew it had to be done soon. He came over the night she found out she was pregnant, but she wasn't ready. "Maybe in a week." Jo thought.

A week later she was feeling only slightly better about her situation, but she knew that if she didn't tell him tonight she never would.

When he knocked on the door, Jo rushed to answer it. She had cleaned the apartment and dressed up a little. Her brown hair hung down to the edge of her shoulderblades, she had put on a nice pair of dark-wash jeans, and she wore her red shirt buttoned all the way to the second button. She had made him spaghetti and baked garlic bread, knowing it was his favorite meal. She put on the Country album he'd left at her apartment the last time he had been over. She hated Country music, but she knew he liked it. Jo wanted to make him happy. She thought then, maybe, he would be happy about the baby; happy about getting married. And that might make her feel more happy and less afraid.

"Hi." She hugged and kissed him.

"Hi." Henry replied, putting his arms around Jo. He noticed the music and let go. "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" They walked further into the apartment.

"The music. You hate Country."

"Yeah but you don't."

"So?"

"So what? We're listening to it because you like it." Jo could tell he was still confused, but he let it drop.

Jo went into the kitchen and pulled the pan of garlic bread out of the oven. "You made garlic bread?"

"Yes."

"Well. What are we having with the garlic bread?"

"Spaghetti and a green salad."

"You... made spaghetti?"

"Yeah. It's ready. Let's eat." She made each of them a plate, and they sat across from each other at the table.

"How was your day?" Jo asked. Henry worked at a record store. His dream was to work with a big Country star, and he was saving his pennies for Nashville.

"Fine. We didn't sell much, though."

"Well. Maybe tomorrow."

They finished eating without much more conversation. "Do you have something you need to tell me?" Henry asked when they were finished eating.

"Uh, yeah. I do. But first do you want some dessert? Let's have dessert. I'll go get it." She started to get up, but Henry reached across the table and stopped her.

"Jo. What is it?"

She sat back down and looked at him. "Henry? Do you remember that night a few weeks ago when I lit those candles and we..."

"Yes."

Jo swallowed hard. "I'm pregnant." She waited for him to say something. When he didn't, she added, "And I think we need to get married." Jo couldn't stand to sit there and have a staring contest with him all night, so she got up and started to clear the dishes.

"Are you sure?" Henry asked a few minutes later.

"Am I sure about what?" Jo asked, coming out of the kitchen with a dish towel over her shoulder.

"Are you sure we're going to have a baby?"

"Pretty sure. I mean the home pregnancy test came out positive."

"Well how long has it been since you've taken it?"

"A week."

"Well those home pregnancy tests can be wrong you know. Maybe you should make--"

"An appointment with the doctor. I already have. It's in two weeks. That's the earliest they were able to get me in."

"Have you missed a cycle?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

Henry stood up and walked over to Jo. "So you think we should get married?"

"Well, don't you think that's the right thing to do?"

"Sure."

"Sure?"

"Yes Jo. I think we should get married."

"Good."

"If you don't need any more help, I think I'll go if it's okay. I have an early shift in the morning. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure." She gave him his music and watched him leave.

Jo sat on the couch, letting the left-over spaghetti get cold on the stove. He wasn't happy; she could tell. What was he? Confused? Disappointed maybe? It didn't matter. He wasn't happy. And she was still scared out of her mind. She put her head in her hands and cried.

[ZeldaGilroy]

Thanks for the fast update!

I think you are doing really well with this story. You are a good writer. I am anxious to see where you are planning to take this storyline. I feel bad for Jo that she is in this predicament, but she is a strong person so I know she will get through it. I'm eager to learn more about this Henry fellow...I'm not sure how to feel about him yet.

[fol_fan1989]

Thanks so much for your nice reply. Here's some more. Note: Rose and Charlie have recently reconciled and remarried.
***

Chapter Three

"Henry. We have to tell my parents." Jo stood barefoot in the bedroom doorway. She was barely beginning to show.
"Tell them what?"
Sometimes, Jo thought, men were so stupid it was pathetic. "About us! About the baby! What else would we tell them?"
"Haven't you talked to them, at least your mother, since you found out you're pregnant?"
"I just haven't been able to tell them yet. It's not something I want to do over the phone."
"I see. Well, are you sure you want to drop both those bombs on them at the same time?" Henry asked, taking off his work shirt. Even though he was, at times, impossible, she went weak in the knees for all his rippling muscles. She knew she was physically attracted to him, but she wasn't sure she really loved him, and that scared her.
"I don't know. I mean, we're getting married in two weeks. We're living together. We're having a baby. That's a lot to take in all at once. But I don't know... how else to do it."
He cleared his throat. "I see what you mean. So how do you want to do it?" He pulled back the covers and climbed in bed.
She went into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, and climbed into bed beside him. "What do you mean?"
"Do you want to have them over here for dinner? Or go out for dinner? Or see if they'll have us over? Should it even involve dinner?"
"I don't know." Jo thought for a minute. "I guess having them over here would be best." If they went out to dinner they'd have to pay for a meal they couldn't afford, and they needed to save all the money they could for the baby.
Henry rolled over so they were facing each other. "Hey. They know about us, right?"
"Well. They know that we're dating and that it's serious. But they don't know that we're getting married or that I'm pregnant."
"That's what I thought."
"I'll call them tomorrow and find out when they can come."
"Sounds good."
He kissed her. She sighed and snuggled down under the covers. He turned off the light and pulled her close. She relaxed in his arms and closed her eyes. She'd call her parents tomorrow and see when they could come. She hated that she had waited this long to tell them, but everything had happened so fast.


Chapter Four

"Jo!" Jo smiled when she saw her parents standing in the doorway.
"Ma! Pop!" She hugged and kissed both her parents. "Come on in. I'll take your coats." She hung their coats in a closet. "You remember Henry, right?"
"Sure. How are you Henry?" Her mother said.
"I'm doing well." Henry got up from his place at the table. "How are you?"
"Just fine."
"Nice to see you again." Her father said. The two men shook hands.
"You too."
"Why don't you guys have a seat." Jo motioned to the living room. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"That's okay Jo. I'll get it. You sit. Charlie, Rose, what can I get for you?"
"What do you have?" Jo's father asked, taking a seat on the couch next to his wife.
"Uh... beer, water, milk, soda."
"I'll have a beer."
"Rose?"
"Just water for me please."
"Jo? Honey. What about you?"
"I'll just have water. I'll help you get it."
"No. No. Sit down. I'll get it."
Jo sat beside her mother. "So. Mom. Dad. What's new?" She wondered if everyone could tell she was nervous. Had anyone caught the fact she wasn't drinking?
"Not much is new. We're fine." Her father replied.
"I saw Aunt Evelyn the other day. She said to tell you hello." Her mother said.
"Say "hi" to her for me the next time you talk to her."
"I will."
Henry came into the room holding a tray of drinks. He handed Jo's parents their drinks and gave Jo her water saying, "Here you are Dear."
"Thanks." Henry sat on the arm of the couch and put his arm around Jo's shoulders. He started to rub her shoulder. Jo shrugged his hand off. She didn't want his hand on her shoulder. He slipped his hand into her free one, and, for some reason, she was fine with that.
"So Jo." Her father said. "Your mom said you told her you have some big news. What is it?"
Jo took a drink and set her glass on the coffee table in front of her. "Mom. Dad." She looked up at Henry and squeezed his hand. "We're getting married." She smiled.
"Oh, honey! That's great! Congratulations!" Her father set his glass on the table, stood, and hugged his daughter and new son-in-law. "Welcome to the family son."
Henry smiled. "Thank you."
"Congratulations baby." Jo's mother hugged and kissed her daughter and then Henry. They all sat down.
"Jo?" Her father asked. "Is there a reason you're not drinking?"
Someone had noticed. "Well, Dad. Um..." The timer went off in the kitchen. "Oh. Dinner's ready. Who's hungry? Let's eat." She hurried into the kitchen to take the chicken out of the oven. She put the chicken on a plate and took it out to the table. She hurried back into the kitchen and pulled the bowl of mashed potatoes out of the microwave. She grabbed the pan of green bean casserole from where it sat on the stove and took them out to the table as well. "I'm going to get more water. Does anyone else need more to drink?"
"We're good."
Jo filled her glass with water and took her seat at the table between Henry and her father.
"Jo?" Her father looked concerned. "Have you eaten today?" Jo looked down at her plate and blushed. She'd taken two scoops of potatoes, two scoops of green beans, a chicken breast and a leg.
"Yeah, she's eaten." Henry laughed. "Two bowls of cereal and half a pizza." Jo glared at him.
"Jo? Are you okay?" Her father asked.
Jo swallowed the green beans she'd just put in her mouth and took a drink. She set her water glass on the table. "I'm pregnant." As if the mound of mashed potatoes on her plate and the two glasses of water she'd consumed since her parents arrived weren't enough of a clue.
"What?"
Jo swallowed hard. "I'm pregnant."
Charlie banged his knife on the table. "What! How could you be so irresponsible!" He growled. "That's why you're getting married? You're pregnant!"
Jo felt tears sting her eyes. "Excuse me." She whispered. She stood up and went into the bedroom.
She couldn't be there anymore. She couldn't believe her father. She was hurt he thought she was irresponsible. She was hurt he wasn't excited she was giving him a grandchild. She laid down on the bed.
A few minutes later she heard a knock on the door. "Jo?" Her mother stuck her head in the doorway. She went into the room, shut the door behind her, and sat on the bed beside her daughter. "Are you okay?"
"No." Jo said miserably into her pillow. She felt her mother rub her back.
"Honey. Sit up. Come on." Jo sat up and let her mother dry her tears. "What is it Jo?"
"Mom? When you told Dad you were pregnant with me, was he happy?"
"Yeah. He was. Why? Wasn't Henry happy?"
"No... I don't know what he was. I just could tell he wasn't happy. And with Pop reacting the way he did... I don't know... I was wondering if..."
"If all men reacted unhappily when their daughters or partners told them they're pregnant?"
"Yeah."
"No. Sorry sweetie."
Jo put her head on her mother's shoulder. "Do you think Dad'll come to the wedding?"
"When is it?"
"Next Saturday."
"I'll work on him. I'll definitely be there, though. I promise."
"Thanks Mom."
"Of course. How're you feeling?"
"Hungry. Morning sickness is bad." She frowned.
"I know." Her mother put her arm around Jo's shoulders.
"I'm scared." Jo whispered. Her mother rubbed her shoulder.
A few minutes passed in silence. "Do you want me to bring you a plate?" Jo's mother asked.
"No thanks. I think I just want to lie down for a while."
"All right. I'll go clean up the kitchen. You get some rest."
"Thanks." Jo laid down. Her mother smoothed her hair, kissed her cheek, and left the room.
When Jo woke the next morning she was alone in the bed. When she went into the kitchen after her shower, no one was there. There was no note. She tried calling Henry at work, but there was no answer.
When she got home from work that evening, Henry still wasn't home. There were no messages. He had left no word, and she didn't know where he was.

[ZeldaGilroy]

Wow...great post! I am excited to see what happens next. I'm not surprised by Charlie's reaction, but I feel for Jo because I know she wants her father's approval and support. I am wondering where Henry has disappeared to as well.

Post more soon please!

[fol_fan1989]

Thanks for the reply! Here's some more.
***

Chapter Five

Jo stood at the counter tearing up lettuce for a salad when Henry waltzed through the door. "So. This how it's gonna be from now on?" Jo's voice was quiet, but very firm. She was looking down at the bowl of lettuce, but if he had looked in her eyes he would have seen the anger in them. "I look at you wrong and you bolt?" She tore up a lettuce leaf into smaller and smaller pieces until there was nothing left. She made extra noise pulling out the trash can to throw away the uneatable parts of the head. "cause I can tell ya right now, when we're married, that's NOT going to work!" Her voice was rising with every word.
"Jo. I'm sorry. Look. When you and your mom were in the bedroom, your dad went off on me. He told me about how responsible I had to be to be your husband and the baby's father. And he told me you were special. As if I didn't already know. And he told me if I hurt you, he'd hunt me down..."
"Henry! I don't care what he said!" She took a bottle of salad dressing out of the refrigerator and slammed the door.
"Jo! I got scared. So I left. I had to clear my head."
"You don't think I'm scared? I'm scared out of my mind! I've never been so scared in my life!" She poured the dressing on her salad and put the bottle back in the refrigerator.
"Jo. I'm sorry. I was scared... so I ran..."
"Henry!" Her voice and her eyes pleaded with him. "Take it from someone who knows. You can't solve your problems by running away from them. It doesn't get you anywhere. You just get out of breath." Jo sat at the table and began to eat her salad.
"Jo. I don't think I can--"
"Henry! This baby needs you! I need you! Why can't you ever think about anyone but yourself for more than two seconds a day!" She was still yelling at him. Tears spilled from her eyes. She hated these stupid pregnancy hormones.
"I didn't mean to make you cry, Jo. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. It's these stupid pregnancy hormones. Oh, wait! This pregnancy is your fault! So, yeah, you should be sorry!"
They didn't say anything else. He sat across the table from her and watched her eat. She got up and set her bowl in the sink.
"Do you want to watch TV or something?" Henry asked. She could tell he wanted to be with her. Maybe he even wanted to make this whole thing work. And he was putting up with a lot. She was hormonal and had just been mean to him, and he was offering to sit with her and watch TV.
"All right." They sat on the couch. She leaned against the arm and was asleep half-way through the thirty-minute show.
The next thing she knew, Henry was shaking her shoulder. "Jo?"
"What time is it?" She mumbled.
"10:30. Let's get into bed, okay?" He helped her off the couch and into bed. She lay on her side, but that seemed to upset her stomach. Or did it upset the baby and that was what made her feel uncomfortable? She rolled onto her back, but that didn't seem to help much. She rolled onto her other side, but that still didn't offer relief. She decided, out of the three, lying on her right side was most bearable.
"Are you all right?" Henry must have noticed how much she was tossing and turning.
"My stomach's just a little upset, that's all." He crawled into bed beside her. He placed his hand on her stomach and slowly rubbed the baby belly she was growing. Jo was still a little upset with him. She didn't really want him to touch her, but she had to admit she was starting to feel a little better. "Thanks." She relaxed and closed her eyes. He was still rubbing her stomach when she fell asleep.

[ZeldaGilroy]

Great job! I can't wait for your next post. I am completely hooked on this story

[fol_fan1989]

Thanks for the reply. We're jumping ahead in time a little bit. Here's more!
***
Chapter Six

“Hi Blair.” Jo smiled when she opened the door and saw her friend.
“Jo.” Blair sounded astonished. “You look so… so… I mean I haven’t seen you in a while. You’ve…”
“I’m enormous. I know. I looked down one morning and couldn't see my feet. I’m also hungry. Let’s go eat.” They’d made plans to have lunch that afternoon.
“Are you sure you feel up to it?”
“Blair. I feel fine. Now, I’m hungry. Can we leave please?”
“All right.” Jo locked the door behind them, and they went to lunch.


"Henry?" Jo opened the door to the apartment a few days later and set her keys on the table. "Henry? Are you ready?" She filled a glass with water from the sink. "Are you even here?"
"Hi Honey." Henry came out of the bedroom wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt.
"Why aren't you dressed!"
"Where are we supposed to be going?"
"Where are we supposed to be going! We have a sonogram appointment in forty minutes!"
"That was today?"
"Yes! That’s the whole reason I’m home so early. We get to find out the sex of the baby today! So, unless you don't want to know the sex of your baby, you'd better go get ready. I'm leaving in ten minutes. If you aren't dressed and ready to go I'm leaving without you. And if I leave without you you'll be sleeping on the couch, possibly for a very long time."
"I'll be right back." He came back five minutes later wearing Khaki pants and a button-down shirt.
"Let's go." Jo said.
"I'm driving."
"Okay." She handed him the keys.

They sat in the waiting room. Henry's hand was on Jo's knee. "Jo Johnson." A nurse called. Jo and Henry stood up. "Follow me."
"Mrs. Johnson? I see two." The doctor said, taking her eyes off the screen and looking at Jo.
"Two what? Two arms. Two legs. That's good. There's supposed to be two of those." Jo replied, confused.
"Two heartbeats. Congratulations. You're having twins."
"Twins!" Jo beamed up at Henry. "Oh Henry! We're having twins!" He bent down and kissed her.
"Can you tell if they're girls or boys? Or one of each doctor?" Henry asked.
"It looks like you've got yourselves two little girls on the way."
"Girls. Oh, Henry, girls!"
"Girls." Henry smiled. Jo was beaming. He was smiling. He was happy. Maybe it would all work out after all.
"Congratulations." The doctor said as she gathered up her things. "Here are your sonogram pictures. I'll see you at your next appointment." She handed the pictures to Henry and left.
"Thank you doctor." The couple said.

Later Jo sat on the couch. Henry sat beside her with his arm around her shoulders. "How do you feel?" He asked.
"Happy." Jo replied. "We're going to have twins! Two little girls. Twins!" Her face fell a little. "Twins." She repeated less cheerfully.
"So I've heard. What's wrong?"
"We're going to have twins! That's twice the number of diapers, twice the feedings, twice the bottles--"
"Jo. Slow down. It also means twice the smiles and twice the "I love you"'s. Let's just try to stay happy for now. We'll figure out the rest later."
Jo put her head on his shoulder and smiled. She closed her eyes. "We're going to have twins." She repeated quietly.
"Are you asleep?" Henry asked.
"Almost." Jo said groggily.
"Let's go to bed, okay?" Jo nodded. They turned out the lights and locked the door.

[ZeldaGilroy]

TWINS??? Double the trouble and double the fun! I understand them being nervous, but I am sure everything will be fine. Great job! I am excited to see what happens next!

[fol_fan1989]

Thanks so much for your reply. Here's a long post; enjoy!
***
Chapter Seven

"We need to go buy things for the babies." Henry sat beside his wife on the couch.
"With what money?" Jo asked, not even looking at him.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just tired."
"You know. These babies are going to need a lot of things. Blankets, toys, clothes..."
"Henry! We've been through the list a hundred times. I know these babies need a lot of things, but we also have to make sure we have enough money to keep a roof over their heads."
"I know you're concerned about money." He put his hand on Jo's knee. "But you said so yourself the other day that we have some money saved up."
"Yeah. Some money! Not enough for all the blankets and baby toys and car seats and bassinets and clothes..."
"Jo."
"We can't get all this stuff at once!"
"I know. I never said we were going to get everything at once. That would be crazy. If you feel up to it, why don't we just go out tomorrow and see what we can find?"
"That sounds nice." Jo did want her daughters to have everything they needed, but she also knew those needs included a roof over their heads.
"How are you feeling?"
"Hungry. You know what sounds good?"
"What?"
"An apple. With peanutbutter. And hot fudge. Oh, and a pickle."
"That craving sounded almost normal until you added the pickle." He laughed.
Jo frowned at him. "It doesn't sound bad to your wife and your daughters."
Henry got up and rummaged around in the refrigerator. "Do you want your apple cut up?"
"Yes please."
Henry came out ten minutes later with her snack. "Thank you." She didn't bother telling him she wanted a green apple instead of the red one that sat cut up in the bowl. Things were calm between them. Besides, she wasn't even sure they had any green apples.
"You're welcome. I'm going into the other room. I can't watch you eat that."
Jo sat alone, eating her snack. When she had finished, she tried to hoist herself up off the couch. She couldn't do it. She sighed miserably. "Henry?" There was no answer. "Henry!" She started to cry. She was such a whale she couldn't even get up from her own couch without help.
Henry hurried into the room. "What?" He noticed she was crying. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"I'm so fat I can't even get up off the couch myself!" Jo blubbered.
Henry put his arms around her. "You're beautiful." She pulled away from him. How could he lie to her like that? How could he say she was beautiful when she was the size of a cow and was so moody she was impossible to live with? He helped her up, and she headed for the bathroom. "Where are you going?" Henry asked.
"Your daughters are using my bladder as a trampoline!" She slammed the bathroom door behind her. Maybe she should just camp out in the bathroom for the rest of the pregnancy. It seemed like she had to go every few minutes.
A while later Jo climbed into bed next to Henry. She hoped tonight she could actually get comfortable enough to get some sleep. "Henry?"
"Hmmm?"
"I'm sorry."
He rolled over to face her. "Don't worry about it." He kissed her and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She hated that she cried at the drop of a hat, sometimes not even knowing why she was crying, since she'd gotten pregnant. "Try to get some sleep." He rolled over and was asleep in a matter of minutes. She hated how she was the one carrying their children inside her and he could fall asleep and sleep all he wanted. It wasn't fair that she couldn't get comfortable enough to sleep. And when she did sleep, it wasn't long before she'd have to get up to go to the bathroom.
The next afternoon Jo decided she felt well enough to go look for baby things with Henry. They went to a few stores and found two cribs for a good price. "Why don't we just get one big crib? They could share." Henry suggested.
"And where do you think we'll find one big crib that doesn't have an extremely big price tag?" She insisted they get two cribs. "We'll put them right next to each other. They'll still be able to see each other all the time. It'll be fine." She didn't tell him the reason she wanted to get two of everything was because she was afraid their marriage wouldn't last after the twins were born.
"Fine." He gave in.
They stood in front of a wall of baby sheets. "What about this one?" Henry asked, picking up a sheet with pink bunnies on it.
"No pink. These girls aren't going to be surrounded by pink frilly lacy anything."
"What if in a few years they want to be surrounded by pink frilly things?"
"I'll give in and let Blair pick things out for them." She figured Blair would give these girls pink frilly things no matter how much Jo protested. "But as long as I have a say in it, no pink."
"All right." Henry sighed. "How about this one?"
"Ducklings?" Jo asked disapprovingly. "No thanks, Papa duck."
"Okay. How about this one?" He picked up a sheet with a background of green and white checks and tiny red flowers scattered on it. "You can hardly tell they're flowers."
"Actually. That's kind of cute. But we need two. There's only one."
He picked up a similar sheet, but with blue checks and yellow flowers, that hung beside where the green one had been. He held it up beside the green sheet.
"Do you like it?" Jo asked.
"Yeah. I do." They smiled at each other.
Jo looked down and noticed her swollen ankles. "Um. Are we done? My ankles..."
"Sure. We'll pay for this stuff and go right home."


Chapter Eight

"Blair. I really don't feel like shopping." Jo complained as she squeezed into the front seat of Blair's car.
"Jo. You said you wanted me to go with you to look at bassinets for the babies."
"No. You insisted I go with you."
"Oh shoot. I forgot something at home. Do you mind if we stop?"
Jo was annoyed with Blair for dragging her out of the house looking the way she did and then making the outing even longer by forgetting something at her house. She was about to protest and tell Blair she just wanted to turn around and go home, but one of the babies started jumping on her bladder. Stopping anywhere there was a bathroom sounded like a good idea. "Fine. Can I use your bathroom when we get there?"
"Of course."
Jo rubbed her stomach and tried to get the baby to stop using her bladder as a trampoline.
"So what'd you forget?"
"My wallet." Blair answered quickly.
"Why isn't your wallet in your purse?"
"I switched purses last night. I forgot to put my wallet in it." Jo sighed in irritation. "What's your problem?"
"Blair. I didn't even want to come out with you today!" Blair helped Jo out of the car and they walked up to the front door. "And I have a baby bouncing on my bladder! And I'm pregnant! And I'm gonna be the size of a house forever!"
"You're not going to be pregnant forever." Blair put her hand on Jo's shoulder and steered her to the bathroom door.
"Are you ready? I want to go so we can get this over with." Jo said to Blair as she turned off the bathroom light. Jo followed Blair towards the living room. "You know, Blair. If you're gonna take forever you could've just come and picked me up later."
"I just have to do one more quick thing." Blair turned on the light as they entered the living room.
"Surprise!" Jo burst into tears as she took in the sight of Blair's living room full of her family and friends. Their mother was there as well as Aunt Evelyn. A few women from her Lamaze class were there. A group of women Jo worked with at the center-- both center employees and a few center regulars-- sat on the couch. The greatest surprise of all, however, was that Natalie sat in a chair on the other side of the room.
Jo smiled through her tears. The babies moved around in her stomach. They must have been excited too. Maybe they could sense her surprise. "Blair? What is all this?"
"It's a baby shower, silly!" Blair grinned at Jo, obviously pleased that she had pulled it off.
Natalie stood and walked over to Jo. "Jo!"
"Nat!" They hugged. "I'm so glad to see you!"
"It's good to see you, too. Tootie wanted to come, but she's shooting a movie in L.A. She said to tell you congratulations and she sends her love."
Jo smiled.
"Jo. Honey. Why don't you come sit down." Jo hugged her mother and let her lead her to a chair.
A few hours later, when the gifts were open and the girls from the center and Jo's Lamaze class were gone, Jo sat on Blair's couch.
"Blair. Thanks for doing all of this for Jo. If you're sure you don't need me to do anything else, I think I should be going." Jo heard her mother say from the kitchen.
"No thank you. I'm just about done."
"And you're sure you don't want me to drive Jo home?"
"No. She's in the opposite direction of where you are. You have a long enough drive as it is. "
"I'm going to go say good-bye to Jo and head out."
"Thanks for coming."
Jo's mother sat beside her on the couch. "How are you feeling Jo?"
"Tired." Jo's eyes were heavy with sleep.
Her mother smiled. "Did we ware you out?"
Jo gave a little smile in return. "It was worth it."
Jo's mother patted her hand and kissed her forehead. "I'm glad. Blair said she'd drive you home. You go home. Get some rest. I'll talk to you soon. Okay? And don't hesitate to call if you need anything."
"Thanks. I will. Drive safe all right?"
"I will. I love you sweetheart."
"I love you too." Jo yawned.
They stood and hugged. Jo waddled into the bathroom. She heard the front door close behind her mother.
When she came out of the bathroom Blair was waiting for her. "I'm going to load your gifts into the car, and we can go. Okay?"
Jo yawned. "Okay." Normally Jo would have protested and insisted Blair let her help load the car, but tonight she was too tired.
Jo nearly fell asleep on the car ride back to her apartment. "Blair?" Jo asked as they pulled into the parking lot of her apartment building.
"Yes Jo?"
"I'm sorry about this afternoon. I was..."
"You're pregnant. It's okay. Don't worry about it." Jo was too tired to argue with her. "What do you say we get you inside and into bed."
"What about all that?" Jo motioned towards the backseat full of the gifts from the shower.
"I'll have Henry help me take them upstairs. You need sleep."
"Blair?"
"What?"
"Thank you... for everything you did today. The shower and everything."
"Consider it my baby gift to you." Blair helped Jo out of the car and into the apartment.
"Hi Honey." Henry said when Blair and Jo walked in. The TV was on and an empty beer can sat on the coffee table. He kissed Jo on the cheek. "How was the shower?"
"You knew?"
"Yes. How was it?"
"Great." Jo said quietly.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Just tired. I'm gonna go to bed. Thanks again Blair."
"Of course." They hugged. "Get some rest."
Henry helped Jo into the bedroom. She changed into the pair of drawstring pants and one of Henry's old t-shirts she'd been wearing as pajamas. She had outgrown her regular pajamas months ago. She was glad Henry didn't make comments about her massive stomach like he sometimes did. "Are you comfortable?" He asked when she was lying in bed.
"I'm never comfortable anymore." Jo said miserably.
"Get some rest."
Jo sighed. "The babies are all hyped up on cake from the shower."
"Do you want me to rub your stomach?"
"No. Blair wants you to help her unload the car though."
"Okay. I'll come in and check on you later." He kissed her forehead and left.
"Come in and check on me," Jo thought. "As if I'm a sick child." She realized maybe she should think nicer thoughts about him. After all, he was being sweet.
She heard the apartment door open and close a few times as Blair and Henry brought things in from the car. Jo rubbed her stomach to try to get the babies to calm down.

[ZeldaGilroy]

Very nice post. I can't wait to read more.

[fol_fan1989]

Here's some more. I know I've kind of rushed through Jo's pregnancy. I do wonder how realistic this next part is...
***
Chapter Nine

Jo had been put on modified bedrest just before her seventh month. She was ordered to stop working at the center until after the babies were born.
Jo was lying in bed when she heard a knock on the door. She couldn't get out of bed, and Henry was gone. Another knock. "Who is it?" Jo yelled, not sure if the person at the door could hear her.
She heard the door open. "Jo? It's me. Are you here?" Blair called.
"In the bedroom Blair."
Blair walked into the bedroom carrying a bundle of bags. "Hi."
"Hi." Jo smiled and pointed to the bags. "What's all that?"
"I picked up the ice cream you wanted. And those blankets we saw last week were on sale, so I picked up some of them for you."
"Thanks."
"Where do you want me to put them?"
"Wherever you can find room. In the closet or under one of the cribs or something."
"Okay." Blair squished all but one of the bags under one of the cribs that were set up in the corner. "Do you want me to get you a bowl of icecream?" Blair held up a blue and white container of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough icecream.
Jo shook her head. "No. It sounds awful."
Blair put it back in the paper bag. "But you said you wanted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough icecream."
"Well I don't anymore!"
"Okay. I'll go put it in the freezer. Can I get you something else?"
Jo thought for a moment. "You know what sounds good?" Blair looked at her. "A roast beef sandwich. On rye bread. With mustard. And a pickle."
"I'll go see what I can do."
"Thanks Blair."
A moment after Blair left Jo felt another contraction. She'd been having them for a while, but thought they were just more Braxton Hicks. The doctor said Braxton Hicks contractions were just fake contractions preparing her body for the real thing. She'd been timing them, and she thought they were becoming more and more regular. She breathed through the contraction. She thought the last few contractions were more painful than the others. Eight minutes later another contraction came. She breathed through it. Blair was still in the kitchen. Jo suddenly felt a puddle beneath her. Her water broke all over the bedspread. "Blair! Aaaahhhh! Blair!!" Jo tried to control her breathing and tell herself that everything would be fine, but she was terrified.
"What is it Jo?" Blair came running into the room.
"It's time!"
"What?"
"It's time! The babies! They're coming... It's time!"
"Okay. We--We need to—"
"Call the hospital."
"Right. And you need your--"
"Suitcase. It's in the closet. Oooooowww!!!" Jo tried to breathe through the contraction. Blair grabbed the suitcase as she told the hospital they were coming.
Jo sat terrified in the front seat of Blair's car as they sped to the hospital. What if they didn't make it in time? She was thirty-five weeks pregnant. What if something was wrong with the babies? Would Henry make it to the hospital?
"Okay. You're only dilated to four centimeters. We'll give you some medicine to help you relax. It will be a while before you'll be ready to have the babies." The doctor said.
The medicine they gave her made her sleep. The next thing Jo knew Henry was beside her, and the room was full of doctors and nurses who were all touching her. She didn't want anyone touching her. "What are you doing? Stop touching me! Go away!"
"Jo? Jo. Honey. It's all right. They're just hooking up monitors to make sure the babies are okay. They've moved you to the operating room. Just in case. But everything's going to be fine. All--"
"Henry. Shut up! I can't stand to hear your voice right now." She breathed through a contraction.
"Jo?" Dr. Hubert said a few minutes after the contraction ended. "Are you ready to push?"
"No!"
"Wait a minute. Dr. Hubert just talked." Henry pointed out.
"Yeah. She can talk. Everyone can talk. Just not you. Not while I’m having a contraction."
"I can still give you an epidural, but I need to know right now or it will be too late." Dr. Hubert said. "Jo? Do you want an epidural?"
"Yes!"
The doctor administered the epidural. "All right. Push!" Jo was able to push. "Okay I see the baby's head. Keep pushing!" The nurses counted to ten. She pushed a few more times. "You're doing great. One more big push!" Jo pushed again and the room was filled with the sounds of a baby's cry. Tears rolled down Jo's cheeks. "Congratulations. You've got yourselves a little girl."
Jo smiled. “Can I hold her?”
The doctor laid the baby on Jo’s chest. She was beautiful.
“You rest for a minute.” The doctor said. “Then we’ll deliver the second baby.”
Jo looked at the perfect baby on her chest. Henry stroked Jo’s damp hair. Moments later a nurse took the baby from Jo.
"It's time for the second baby to come. Are you ready?" The doctor asked Jo.
"Okay."
"I'm going to have to help her come out, so don't push until I tell you to... Okay. Push!" Jo pushed as hard as she could. "One more push!" Jo wasn't sure she could push. "Come on Jo. One more."
"Squeeze my hand and push." Henry whispered. "Jo. You can do it. I know you can. You can do anything. You're the strongest person I know."
Jo squeezed his hand and pushed.
"Good girl! Congratulations. You've got yourselves two little girls."
But there was a moment of silence.
"What's wrong? Why isn't she crying! Is she okay?" Jo exclaimed, panicked.
The doctors slapped the second baby to get her to breathe and the room filled with her cries. Jo sighed with relief and fell back on the bed, exhausted.
"Congratulations." The doctor said. "We're going to take them and get them cleaned up, measured, and weighed. You rest. We'll bring them back to you in a while. Good job."
"Do you need anything?" A nurse asked. Two other nurses and the doctor left with the babies.
Jo shook her head. "No."
"We'll get your girls back to you as soon as we can." The nurse smiled at Jo and Henry and left the room.

"We don't have names picked out for them." Jo pointed out to Henry a while later. She held the first baby, Baby A, and Henry sat beside her holding the second baby, Baby B. They had been fighting over baby names for a while.
"What if we each pick a name."
"All right."
"You want to go first?"
"Okay." Jo looked at the tiny baby in her arms.
"She has your eyes. They both do." Henry observed.
"And this one has your ears." Jo and Henry smiled at each other. Jo looked down at the baby in her arms. "What about Jamie?"
"Jamie?"
"Yeah. I've always kinda liked it."
"All right then. Jamie it is. What about a middle name?"
"Elizabeth? After my mom. Jamie Elizabeth."
“Your mother’s name is Rose.” Henry pointed out.
“Her middle name is Elizabeth.”
"Jamie Elizabeth. I like it."
"Me too." They smiled at each other again. "Your turn. What are you thinking?"
"What about Julia? After my mother."
"It's pretty."
"Julia... Marie."
"Marie?"
"After her mother. You two will share the same middle name."
"Really?" A few tears gushed from her eyes.
"Yeah. What do you think?"
"It's perfect. They're both perfect.”

[ZeldaGilroy]

I am glad the babies arrived safe and sound. I hope all continues to go well for them. Thanks for the great post!

[PlayOn]

I'm finally caught up. This story is excellent and I'm so glad you decided to post it. Jamie Elizabeth and Julia Marie are sweet names. Can't wait for the next chapter.