Time to pop that p.o.r.n cherry, baby girl. He chuckled.

I hate you right now, I muttered. I grabbed a pillow and set it in my lap, ready to cover my eyes any minute.

Oh G.o.df.u.c.k a girls squeamish voice echoed through the room. f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k, yeah!

Oh my G.o.d, Michael! Turn the volume off! I smacked his arm. He laughed as he muted it.

There better, prude? He rolled his eyes.

What the h.e.l.l is she doing to him? I squealed. d.a.m.n, the didnt look comfortable. How can that feel good?

What did you think p.o.r.n was? He giggled.

Im glad you find this amusing. This is gross.

Its the circle of life, sweetie.

That! I pointed a finger at the flat screen. Is not the circle of life. You cant get pregnant like that!

I dont even want to know why youre watching this, Drakes voice came from the doorway. His arms and ankles crossed as he leaned against the frame.

Its an experiment, Michael lied.

Yeah rightto see how long it takes before I vomit from watching this.

I noticed Drakes eyes were no longer focused on me. Should I leave you two alone? I snapped at Drake, motioning to the TV. Need a little alone time?

Michael laughed as I busted Drake. Hey, I dont promote p.o.r.n cheating.

p.o.r.n cheating? Drake and I asked in unison.

Im gonna leave you two alone now. Night. Michael squirmed off the bed and left, shutting the door behind him.

I reached for the remote and shut it off. Men really get off on that?

He shrugged, not giving me a direct answer.

Gross, I snorted.

Drake sat on the bed next to me. You look beautiful. He brushed the hair out of my face, his eyes intense.

Whats wrong? I asked, sensing his mood change.

Why does something have to be wrong? I cant tell you how beautiful you are?

Well, sure you can. I prefer you say it naked though, I teased.

I dont think so, sweetheart. He winked. Its too cold up here for me.

I laughed. How much longer do we need to stay up here?

Few more days. Not too much longer, I promise, okay?

Alright.

This wasnt how it was supposed to go.

The painthe pain is too much.

Make it stop.

f.u.c.kitsits time.

Molly! Wake up!

I woke up drenched in sweat and pain. What the h.e.l.l?

Ive been on bed rest for weeks now. I was uncomfortable and havent been sleeping well, but this"this was a different feeling.

I jumped up, startled, but well aware of the pain I was feeling.

Its time. Drake, its time. I rubbed both hands over my contracting belly. The pain was everywhere"my back, my feet, my head, my d.a.m.n uterus.

What do you mean its time? Like time-time?

I dont know. I just woke up in a lot of pain and Im sweating. Theres a lot of pressure, I explained, pointing below my belly to show him where the pressure was. I think my water broke. Or I peed myself. Either way, its happening. I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to breathe through the pain that was shooting down my body. Somethings wrong.

Ill grab you some ice and a cold towel. Drake hurried.

The pain was knocking the air out of me, unable to speak. I leaned back on my hands, hoping to breathe out the pain. It wasnt working. I was about to scream out in pain just as Drake walked back in with a cup of ice.

What the h.e.l.l are we going to do? I almost screamed. I wasnt due for five weeks yet.

Drake paced the floor, thinking of a solution. We left Chicago in such a rush, we didnt pack any necessities, or anything remotely baby related.

Drake, please! Answer me! I begged, screaming. I can hardly breathe. The pain is so bad!

Okayin and out. Just breath slowly. Dont panic. I could tell he was trying to soothe me, but it wasnt working.

Get Michael! Please, I need his help.

Before Drake could open the door, Michael whipped it open. Whats wrong? I heard screaming.

Mollys in labor, Drake answered.

What? Isnt it Too soon? Yes! Now help me, please! I cried. I hadnt been in any kind of pain or distress since the last false alarm, but this was no false alarm. This was the real thing. I was in labor.

Stack pillows behind her, get her body in position, I heard Drake say. Michael was out and back shortly with three pillows. He stuffed them behind me. Everything felt in slow motion. It was as if the pain was numbing me, making me unconscious.

We have to call someone, Michael announced. Isnt there a hospital we can take her to?

Were in the middle of nowhere. The nearest hospital is at least two hours away.

s.h.i.t, I heard Michael mumble. He brushed his hand through his hair over and over. I could tell he was just as scared as I was.

How far apart are the contractions? Michael kneeled down next to me.

I dont know. Like four minutes, I think.

Youre probably dilated already. Did you call your doctor? Can you get her choppered in?

I looked at Drake for answers. I can try. But I dont think well have time. He immediately got on his phone.

Michael, please, dont leave me.

Of course not. He held my hand and kissed my forehead.

Oh f.u.c.k! I screamed as I clenched my eyes shut and breathed through another contraction. Im so scared, Michael. Its too early. We dont have anything for them here. What ifwhat if something happens to them?

Nothing is going to happen to them, okay? Were both here for you. Well help you through this, he promised.

I screamed through the next few contractions until I was out of energy to scream anymore. They came on so quickly, I hadnt even noticed the small ones I mustve had sooner. It was as if a pitchfork was going through my back and stabbing into my uterus. Times two.

Oh G.o.d, I want drugs! Please someone give me drugs!

Sweetheart, Im so sorry. But you have to do this natural. I cant get the doctor here for three hours.

Three hours!

Molly, look at me, Drake demanded. I opened my eyes and turned, facing him. You can do this. You will do this. Were right here. Understand? His eyes were intense and dark. I nodded. I had to do this.

16.

Drake I feel like such an a.s.s. Molly wasnt due for weeks, but taking her up here was a horrible idea. There was no medicine, no baby stuff, and no doctors. And now I risked everything. Molly. The twins. They were all at risk.

Sweetheart, breathe. You cant forget to breathe, I warned. She was sweating and screaming out in pain. I tried to put a pillow behind her back to ease the back pain, but no matter what I did, it didnt seem to work.

What if we tried a different position? Michael suggested. Dont some women go on all fours or walk around when theyre in labor? Help gravity do its thing?

You want gravity to pull these babies out? Molly snapped. How about you push these two tiny humans out your v.a.g.i.n.a!

Totally would if I could. Anything to avoid you screaming, Michael answered in fear.

Molly finally agreed to stand up and see if that helped with the pain. She continued breathing during her contractions, as they got closer and closer together.

s.h.i.t, theyre less than a minute apart, Michael announced. Hed been timing them with his watch over the past couple hours. Whens the doctor coming?

Should only be an hour now, I responded. Think sh.e.l.l make it?

Oh f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k f.u.c.k, Molly yelled out. She was leaning against me. I held her as she slouched down, bearing down on the pain.

Sweetheart, youre doing great.

Shut up. Both of you shut up and get these babies out of me!

Youre almost there, Michael said. When youre twenty to thirty seconds apart, you can start pushing.

How do you know that? I asked, sincerely curious.

Well, its an approximation. I took some online cla.s.ses.

About birthing? I mused.

No, a.s.shat. About human development and all that.

You two can flirt later, but right now, Im trying to push two people out of me! Molly screamed, interrupting us.

She breathed thru the pain for another half hour. She was able to stand and lean over the bed, as the contractions got closer together.

Oh my G.o.d. My water broke.

I thought it did before? I asked, confused.

Well, I thought it did too, but now I know for sure it did. Or at least, its all coming out now, I dont know! But oh my G.o.d, the pain just got ten times more intense!

Do you wanna lie down? Michael asked, guiding her to the bed.

She took a few more deep breaths and adjusted herself on the bed. Okayits time. Michael, get hot towels and blankets. Drake, stand on the end of bed and get ready.

Get ready for what? I squealed.

The babies! I have to push. I feel it.