Chapter 97

"Breakfast is ready!" yelled Char from the kitchen.

I slowly got up from the couch.

Char waited in the kitchen, but Janel had still not shown up. So she walked out, and saw Janel walking towards her.

"You know what? You may say that you're fat and ugly, but I think you look beautiful carrying those two children. I love the way you waddle," she said.

"Oh, thanks. It's great to know that I walk like a penguin," I said, laughing.

"No, but it's cute," she said.

"Yeah, Nick and Brian think so too. In fact, they practice it any time they're around me, they've almost got it down," I said smiling, as I placed my hand behind my back, trying to relieve the pain.

She pulled out my chair and then helped me to sit down.

"Thanks," I said as she handed my plate to me.

"You're welcome," she said as she also sat down.

"So what have you been up to, girl?" I asked. "It seems as though every time I try to call, no one's home or you're busy."

"Yeah," she agreed. "Well, I quit Target and finished up school. So right now, I'm working as an X-ray technician."

"Really? That's wonderful," I said. "Do you enjoy it?"

"Yeah, I do," she said.

"So how are things between you and Rick?" I asked.

"Just perfect," she said as a smile spread across her face.

We finished up breakfast and then began picking up.

I grabbed our plates and then went to put them in the sink.

Just before I reached the sink, I felt a pain rip through my body, causing me to drop the plates. I reached out for the counter and gripped onto it tightly.

Char turned around and watched as the plates shattered on the tile floor. She looked at Janel and then quickly, but carefully went over to her.

"Are you okay?" she asked as she held my other hand.

"Uh, I don't know. I mean yeah, I think so," I said as I took deep breath.

"Okay, let's go sit down," she said.

"All right," I said.

She then helped lead me to the couch, but before we made it, I felt another pain.

"Oh my god," I said, hoping it would pass quickly. Luckily for me, it did.

"Call Lauren," I said. "I need her here."

I sat down and then Char headed towards the phone. "All right."

She dialed and then waited for Lauren to answer.

"Hello," Lauren said.

"Hi Lauren. It's me Char," she said frantically.

"What's wrong?" Lauren asked.

"It's Janel, she's having these really bad pains," Char said.

"Contractions?" Lauren asked.

"Yeah, I guess. She wants you to come here," Char said.

"I'm on my way," Lauren said.

"Okay," Char said, then she hung up.

"Hand me the phone please," I said.

She quickly gave it to me.

I dialed Kevin's pager number, left a message, and then hung up.

"Char, can you go upstairs and get my suitcase?" I asked. "It's in the babies' room."

"Sure," she said as she hurriedly went up stairs.

Within about 10 minutes, Lauren was walking through my door.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, just a little scared," I replied.

"Everything's going to be fine," she said as helped me up.

Char grabbed my suitcase and we were out the door, and into Lauren's car.

The Studio

Kevin was in the middle of recording when he felt his pager vibrate. He quickly looked down, checking the number. As soon as he saw that it was Janel, he ripped the headphones from his head.

The guys watched as Kevin burst through the door.

"It's Janel!" he exclaimed. "The babies!"

The guys laughed at Kevin, he looked like a madman.

"What? What's so funny?" he questioned. "We have to go! Come on, I have to be there!"

"All right Kev, we're going," Brian said as he grabbed his cousin's arm and then started leading him out the door.

Kevin ripped his arm from Brian's grip and then started to run. "Hurry up!"

Soon all of the guys started jogging, trying to catch up to Kevin.

Kevin hopped into his 4-Runner and started it. "Get in!" Kevin yelled, sticking his head out the window.

The guys all hopped into the 4-Runner and Kevin immediately took off. As he drove off, he pulled out his cell phone.

"Umm…Kev, do you think you can drive and talk on the phone at the same time?" A.J. asked, as he watched Kevin quickly grab onto the steering wheel and straighten out the vehicle.

"Of course I can!" Kevin said.

"How 'bout you pull into that parking lot over there and you and me switch places?" Brian suggested. "That way you can stay on the phone as long as you need."

"Yeah sure," Kevin said as he turned into the parking lot.

Kevin and Brian quickly went around the front of the vehicle and got back in, with Kevin in the passenger's side and Brian in the driver's seat.

Kevin listened to the ring of the phone. "Someone answer," he said impatiently.

"Hi Kevin."

"Pumpkin! Are you okay? Where are you?"

"I'm in Lauren's car. We're on the way to the hospital."

"So Lauren's with you?"

"Yeah, and Char."

"Okay, good. The guys and I are on our way."

"Please hurry."

"I am sweetheart. I promise I'll be there very soon. Don't have the kids till I get there, okay?"

"I'll try not. I'll try to wait until their Daddy arrives."

"I love you."

"I love you more."

Then we hung up. "He's on his way with the rest of the guys."

"Okay, we'll be at the hospital in about 10 more minutes," Lauren said. "Just hang on."

"All right," I said as Char held my hand.

Kevin's Vehicle

Kevin cursed as he saw the traffic backed up for miles. "Is there an accident or something?"

"No, they shut sections of the freeway down, they're trying to repair it," Howie informed Kevin.

"Ugh," Kevin groaned in frustration.

"Don't worry, we'll make it in time," Nick said, hoping that Kevin wouldn't just get out of the vehicle and start walking.

"We have to," Kevin said, determined to be there to comfort Janel and to be there for the birth of his two children.

The Hospital

Char helped me out of the car as Lauren came around to the side of the car.

"Oh god," I said as I got out. "I think my water just broke."

"It's okay, we're almost there," Lauren said.

We walked as quickly as we could to the hospital.

Once we got in, Lauren cornered one of the doctors. Then a nurse came out with a wheelchair. I sat down and they began taking me away.

"Lauren," I said. "Please stay with me."

She hurriedly caught up to us. "Of course, baby sis."

Char followed, but then they wouldn't allow her any further. So she sat down and waited in the maternity waiting room.

Then she heard Janel's cell phone ring. She immediately answered it. "Hello."

"Char?" Kevin questioned, not quite recognizing the voice.

"Yeah, it's me."

"Where's Janel?"

"They all ready took her back."

"By herself?"

"No, Lauren went with her."

"Oh, thank goodness."

"When are you getting here?"

"I don't know. We're stuck in this major traffic jam. The roads are closed down for repairs, so who knows how long it will be."

"Oh, okay."

"If anything at all happens, you contact me."

"Don't worry Kevin, I will."

"Thanks. And when you see her, give her my love."

"I'll tell her. Talk to you later."

"Later," Kevin said before he hung up.

"Ahh…another one's coming," I said, as I began to feel the pain starting up again.

"It's okay, I'm right here," Lauren said, as she held my hand.

After it had passed, I relaxed a little bit and then continued to concentrate on my breathing.

Soon Char came in.

"Hey girl," she said.

"Hey," I said.

"Kevin called," she informed me.

"What'd he say?" I asked anxiously.

"Well, he gives you his love," Char said.

I smiled, hoping that he'd be here within a few minutes.

"And he said that he's on his way, but there's a traffic jam. So he's not sure when he'll get here," Char explained.

I sighed in frustration. Then tears began to fill my eyes. "He has to be here. I need him."

Lauren hugged me. "It's okay sis, we're here for you. And we're not going anywhere."

"Thank you," I said as I wiped away my tears. "I don't even know why I'm crying, I just need him here."

"I know Kevin, and he'll be here," Lauren assured me.

"I think he should just start walking here," I said. "He'll get here faster."

The girls started laughing.

"Kevin seems like a determined guy, I think he'd actually do that," Char said, smiling.

"Anything to get to his babies," Lauren said, also smiling.