True Love Never Goes Away Ch. 09-11

Steve hurried back over. "Mel, I know this is going to be a little awkward, but I need to check you, okay?" he murmured. Melanie took a deep breath and nodded.

"Steve?" Melanie asked before Steve could look. "Yeah sweetie, what's going on in that head of yours?" Steve wanted to know.

"Something doesn't feel right," Melanie told him. Steve patted Melanie's knee. "I need to check you Mel," he repeated. "Jason, help Mel lift up her bottom," Steve told his son. Carefully, Jason helped Melanie lift herself up enough for Steve to pull Melanie's jeans and panties off. "Contraction," Melanie gasped, reaching for Jason's hand again. Jason slipped his hand back into Melanie's and winced as she squeezed it hard.

Steve got back on the phone again. "This baby is coming now," he said into the receiver before hanging up and tossing the phone away. "Mom, I need for you to go get me several clean towels or blankets. Put a towel under Melanie and have Dad put the rest in the drier to warm them up. Carol, go get my stethoscope from my office," Steve instructed. The contraction subsided and Helen slipped a towel under Melanie, with the help of Jason and Steve. Steve looked at Melanie. "Mel, with the next contraction, you need to push, do you understand me?" Steve asked Melanie. Melanie nodded but Jason stood up. "Dad, you can't deliver the baby, not here, not now! We still have six weeks!" he exclaimed. Steve hid his smile. "Come here son," Steve said to Jason. Jason stood behind his father. "Do you see that?" Steve asked. Jason nodded. "That's your son's head. This baby is coming now, and there is nothing I can do to stop it," Steve told Jason. "Now go stand by your wife, she's going to need you," he added. Jason knelt back down by Melanie and reached for her hand. Steve watched Melanie's abdomen closely. "Push Mel, push now," Steve instructed as her abdomen tightened with another contraction. Melanie pushed until she thought she would explode. "Slow down a bit Mel, you're doing fine," Steve said. Melanie cried out and pushed again. "Stop Mel, just for a second," Steve told Melanie. Melanie shook her head. "I can't," she panted, pushing again. The baby slid out into Steve's hands and he smiled. "He's big for being early," Steve told Melanie. "Dad, I need those warm towels now," Steve called as the ambulance pulled in the driveway. Steve wrapped the wailing infant in a towel and placed him on Melanie's abdomen. "He looks perfect," Steve told Melanie. Melanie began to cry as the paramedics loaded her onto the stretcher and into the ambulance.

"I'll see you at the hospital," Jason promised, kissing Melanie's forehead. "I love you," he murmured. Melanie waved tiredly as Jason jumped out of the ambulance and the doors shut behind him.

When Jason arrived at the hospital, he was surprised to see Julie standing just inside waiting for him. "They took Mel up to the labor and delivery unit," Julie told him. Jason nodded and made a dash for the elevator. When he got to the unit, Jason asked the nurse behind the counter where to go and she led him back. Doctor Keys looked up as Jason entered the room. "I'll be back in a few minutes to check on you Mel," Dr. Keys promised Melanie before leaving the room. "Hey," Jason murmured, sitting down next to Melanie and reaching for her hand. Melanie smiled and grabbed Jason's hand. "How are you doing?" he wanted to know.

Melanie shrugged. "I'm okay, but well, there's been an interesting development," Melanie answered. Jason looked at Melanie curiously. "There's a second baby," Melanie told him. Jason's eyes widened as Dr. Keys walked back into the room.

"How did you miss this?" Jason wanted to know.

"Sometimes one baby can hide the heart beat of the second baby. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen," Dr. Keys answered, grabbing the wand of the ultrasound as a nurse squirted the gel on Melanie's abdomen. Dr. Keys studied the ultrasound for a moment before turning back to look at Melanie and Jason. "I think we're going to have to do a C-section to get the second baby out, he's still pretty far up and he's kind of sideways, I don't think we'll be able to turn him enough to get him out vaginally. We can have this baby out in a half an hour," he told them.

"Can we try vaginally?" Melanie asked nervously. Dr. Keys shook his head. "You've been in labor all day, the back cramps you were experiencing earlier is called back labor, and your water has broken, I don't think we should wait, I want to get you into the OR ASAP," Dr. Keys answered as the anesthesiologist walked into the room. Both doctors gave Jason and Melanie some consent forms to sign and they got Melanie prepped for surgery.

Jason's parents and grandparents were waiting anxiously in the hall when Jason stepped out of the room. "What went wrong?" Steve wanted to know.

"We've been here for hours and Melanie seemed okay," Carol added. Jason smiled. "Nothing went wrong, come on and see for yourself," Jason told his family, leading them into a recovery room where Melanie was propped up in bed while the doctors took the measurements of the twins. Steve's eyes widened. "Well hell Jason, what did you do to the poor girl?" he joked. Jason laughed.

"How in the hell did you manage to have twins?" Carol asked. Jason shrugged.

"I have no clue, ask dad, he's the MD," Jason replied. "Both boys, and they're both healthy. Baby one weighed four pounds twenty ounces and is 19 inches long, and baby two weighted four pounds 10 ounces and is 18 and a half inches long," Jason rattled off the statistics. Melanie stifled a yawn.

"How are you feeling Mel?" Steve asked. "Other than tired," he added.

Melanie laughed slightly. "I feel okay, a little sore. I won't be able to pick up Mari for awhile," she answered.

Steve nodded. "Don't worry, we'll help out as best we can," Carol promised. Melanie smiled slightly and yawned again. The nurses brought the boys back to Melanie and Jason. "I need everyone but the parents out so mom can get some rest," the nurse told everyone.

Steve nodded and led his wife and parents out of the room.