Ted, Nicole, Lawson, and Alison were all gathered together on a fine Saturday afternoon. Both of the wives were extremely huge due to pregnancy. There had been many conversations of “I’m fat!” “No, you’re just pregnant!” The men had practiced their drive routes to the hospital from their homes. Everything was ready, and change could happen at any moment.
“Can you believe this could be our last outing as a group of four?” Alison mused.
“Yes, have you seen yourself? You’re totally giving birth this week!” Lawson quipped.
“And you’re totally never sleeping with me again if you keep that up!” Alison retorted.
“This cheeseburger is amazing.” Ted deadpanned, trying to ease the all too obvious tension.
Instead, things ratcheted on up. Suddenly, both women screamed.
“My water broke!” Screamed Nicole.
“Mine too!” Screamed Alison.
It was on. The carefully planned routes were all for nothing. Fortunately, each family carried hospital bags wherever they went at this point. It was now a drag race to reach the hospital. Or so they imagined. In reality they made their way methodically through traffic until they all reached their collective destination.
Upon arriving at the hospital, both women screamed “WE’RE HAVING BABIES!” to anyone who would listen. The four disregarded the “Does this look like a sit com” comments. This was very much real life. They were quickly escorted to the delivery room where they could hear much whaling and gnashing of teeth. The men got into catching positions, before being waved off by actual doctors who knew what they were doing.
Before long it was time to push and push and push.
“Can you believe we are sharing THIS moment of our lives side by side as well?” Allison screamed.
“I guess it makes sense.” Nicole shrugged. “We can’t blame Ted and Lawson on this one though.”
“Let’s get these kids out of us.” Alison suggested.
An hour later, Fern, daughter of Ted and Nicole was born. She was immediately cleaned up from her original bloody state and rested comfortably with Nicole as Ted looked on. “Guess we won that race!” He exclaimed.
An hour and a half passed, before the four were greeted by the introduction of Leonard, son of Lawson and Alison. Four were now six. The parents immediately dreaming of what their kids might become, without putting too much pressure on them at the same time. They all spent a few days in hospital getting to know each other. Once the doctor in charge said they could leave, the four were discharged and went off to their own houses.
***
“Do you think Lenny and Fern will get together.” Lawson asked
“We shouldn’t force it. They might hate each other’s guts!” Alison replied.
“Hopefully not though…” Lawson mused. “Hopefully they are just as good friends as Ted and Nicole have been to us.
“I would definitely be ok with that.” Alison stated.
***
Ted and Nicole returned to thier home and set Fern in her bassinet. They just stood there and staired at her in silence. Nicole was happy that she would have a strong, independent daughter to take over her law practice one day.
Ted could not believe how much his life had changed in such a short period of time. Getting evicted from his apartment, to being homeless on the street, to finally landing a job, to getting married, to being a father! Ted thought it was all incredible. He never would have dreamed any of this possible. However, it was. Ted was going to enjoy every moment of being a father. Even the hard parts, through the ups and downs, Ted knew he would be a father for the rest of his life, and he found that exciting. Ted couldn’t wait to see what the future held for himself, Nicole, and Fern. It was time to dream big and accomplish things together as a family. Ted couldn’t wait to see what happened next. He was going to stay in the mix as long as humanly possible. Two had become three and nobody would be lonely. Ted hung on to that thought. He couldn’t imagine being any happier.
END