by L. Ann Marie
Kate smiles at them. "I will have ten kids in less than two months. There will not be an eleventh." Tess smiles at her. Oh fuck. Not the time for more fuckin kids. "Don't you even look at me like that Tessa Anne LaPonte-Karr."
Rich cracks up. "When she uses your whole name you're in trouble."
Tess' face falls. He goes over to her telling her she's not really in trouble. "He didn't have anywhere else to go. Ben has to help him." She says with tears in her eyes.
Kate gives Ben a death glare and pulls Tess from Rich. "I'm sorry, whatever happens, happens. We need for that to happen without me knowing though. Right now I can't even think of more kids." She takes Tess and Devan in the house. I'm trying not to laugh holding my balls because I know what that fuckin feels like.
"Fuckin kids." We say together. I look over; Ben is hunched over holding his balls. Rich and Patches think this is funny too.
They go in the house and leave us to our pain. The kids come up and I hug each one. I give Ally a kiss and she sits on my leg. I'm holding her so she doesn't bounce or move to the middle. She stays still and we're good. They get bored with us and go to check out the house. When Patches, Tess and Rich come back out they thank us for the room then get the kids to follow them out. Thank fuck. I don't think I can take and inadvertent hit right now. Kate puts the baby gate up and let's Devan down to play. Within five minutes he's climbing on my chair. Fuck. I sit him down and hope for the best. Thank fuck he gets bored and climbs down to play with his trucks. I get up and go for a piss. It's not as bad as I thought it would be. I walk around the house. Chris did a good job. He earned the bonus he got for getting it done before our projected finish date.
Steve and Jess are due. I wonder if they'll be here tonight or tomorrow. Kate said something but I missed it. We put the two cribs in one room knowing Devan and Elizabeth would be here together.
Kate comes looking for me. She hugs me from behind. "Thank you for doing this honey. I know it's not easy, I just want you to know I appreciate it." I pull her around and lean down to kiss her. She's moaning and I squeeze her nipples. She cries out. Ben yells from the porch. "Fuck baby, a week. I need to wait that week." She nods and goes to the porch. I smile. She'll be suffering right along with us. I make it to the porch and see Devan on Ben's chair and Ben holding his balls. I want to laugh so bad but don't. I sit and pull Devan over to me. I feel it but not so bad. He lays his head on my shoulder talking away.
Ben is telling Kate Devan kicked him. He's sucking air and his eyes are squeezed shut. I feel bad for him but only so far. He'll never joke about twenty fuckin kids again. She gets him his ice pack. I just watch staying quiet. Now I feel like a fuckin pussy. Devan falls asleep so I lean back moving his feet to the side and put my legs up. It really is beautiful out here.
Forty Four
One Month
Ben
Danny calls me, he's picking me up. He says it's an emergency. I'm waiting in front when he pulls in. "What's going on Brother?"
"Tess called me. Kate's going to have the baby early. We need to get her to the hospital now." He says it like he's giving a fuckin weather report.
"Fuck, go faster! What do we do? We need a plan." I run my hands through my hair.
He's fuckin laughing. "We pick her up and take her to the hospital."
"Good plan, hurry the fuck up!" Why isn't he going faster?
He's still fuckin laughing. "Ben I'm going seventy. We'll be there in two minutes."
Kate must be scared to death. My leg starts bouncing. Finally we're here. I jump out and run in the house. Tess points up. She let her go up the stairs? Why isn't she with her? Fuck! Poor Kate. Running in the room I see Kate pulling on a shirt. I go to her and ask what else she needs.
"I'm good. I just need my bag and I'm ready." She says calmly. She must be in shock. I grab the bag and her hand. She's walking slow. She's got to be in pain. Tess should have been with her. We take forever getting down the stairs and I lead her out.
Danny is sitting at the table talking to Tess. What the fuck? He stands up looking at Kate. He walks over like he's strolling through the fuckin park. I'm tapping my fuckin foot trying to make him move faster. "How are you doing Beautiful Kate." Like this is the time for that. I'm glaring daggers at him. We need to get to the fuckin hospital!
"I'm doing ok so far, just little pains right now. They’re getting closer together though." She says so calm. She's definitely in fuckin shock! We need to get her to the fuckin hospital.
"Let's get you to the hospital before they get bigger." He kisses her head and nods at me. It's about fuckin time. I get Kate into the truck and have to yell for Danny to hurry the fuck up.
Kate takes my hand. "I'm fine Ben. I've done this before. It will all be over soon."
I look at Danny, "is she in shock?" Kate snorts out a laugh.
"No she's really ok. We just need to get her to the hospital before she's not ok. That happens in a half hour." He drives the fuckin speed limit. What the hell.
Wait a minute. "Thirty minutes?"
He turns off the highway on to the hospital street. "Tess had a vision. It happened thirty minutes from now."
"So you're really ok?" I ask her.
She laughs. "Yes. I'm fine, like I told Danny, I've had some pain in my back but nothing major. They're getting closer though."
"Thank Fuck! I was scared to death." They both laugh. Danny says he noticed. Fuckin Brother.
We get into the hospital and I give all the information to the nurse. "I took care of it Ben. They have everything already. They just need her name and birthday." I look at him.
"What do you mean?"
He laughs. "I mean I came to the hospital sat with a receptionist and gave her all the information for when Kate delivers. It's all done."
"Ok." I follow the nurse pushing the wheelchair. "Who is going in with her?" I should have asked before this. Fuck.
"We are. We're the fathers. We both go in." Danny says over his shoulder as he helps Kate into the bed. Thank fuck one of us thought of it.
People come in and out of the room talking about everything. It's fuckin chaos. Danny and Kate are both calm. "Ben you need to hold her hand. This one has the IV."
I nod and hold her hand. She smiles at me. Fuck she must be in pain. "Are you doing ok Kate?" I’m nervous and she laughs. "I've never done this before. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do."
"Hold my hand and don't let go." She says with a smile.
Fuckin Kate. I smile at her. "I can do that."
Danny laughs. "Thank fuck."
Thirty minutes later we go into a room to dress in masks, hats and gowns. They even covered our fuckin feet. Then we meet Kate in another room. She smiles seeing us. The doctor turns and looks at us. "You have to be calm or I'll ask you to leave." I nod. Fuck she's serious.
Danny goes to the other side of Kate and bends over the bars. "No pain baby?"
She smiles at him. "Not a bit." He kisses her through the mask. I think that's the first time I've ever seen him peck her lips. Fuck. I move closer and take her hand. She said don't let go. I'm not going to.
Danny looks at me. I can tell he's smiling. "They gave her a local. She'll stay awake but not feel anything. If you're squeamish don't look over the rail. It's fuckin gory. Kate will be calm through everything because she fuckin awesome." The doctor and a nurse laugh. The other nurse gives him a look. He can't see her on that side but he wouldn't care anyway. "Ok maybe they're all fuckin awesome." We all laugh. Fuckin Danny.
"We're ready Kate. I'm going to make the incision and let your little girl meet her dads." The doctor talks as she's doing something on the other side of the screen. Danny watches.
I lean over and watch Kate. "Our little girl is almost here." She smiles and nods her head. I don't know how long we stay that way but I hear the cry and have to look. "I have to see her." Kate smiles and nods with tears in her eyes. I look over. "Fuck." She's a fuckin mess. She has black hair like Danny. There's stuff on her the n
urse is wiping.
"Would you like to cut the cord?" The doctor is talking to me. I nod yes. She moves me around. I look at Kate; I have to let her hand go. She nods. The nurse gives me scissors and tells me where.
I cut and the baby cries. "Fuck."
They laugh. "Just a coincidence." The doctor says. I nod, thank Fuck.
The nurse takes our girl to the other side of the room. I watch then look at Danny, he's watching me. "They'll clean her up some, weigh and check her out. Then we get to hold her." He tells me. I nod and hold on to Kate's hand.
"You gave us our girl." I tell her. "I'm so fuckin proud of you."
She laughs. "You cut the cord. I just laid here." She says. I nod and smile at her. I can't believe I did something to help here.
"What is our baby girl’s name?" The doctor asks.
Kate answers. "Brenna Marie LaPonte-James." She sounds so proud.
"That's the name we had, I just wanted to make sure you didn't change your minds." The nurse says. I look at Danny. He gave it when he filled out the paperwork. He throws chin. I give it back. The nurse comes over with the baby. "Eight pounds six ounces, twenty one inches long. She's perfect."
I look, she's fuckin tiny. She's smaller than Little Ben was. The nurse hands her to me. I look at Danny. He nods. I hold my baby girl and feel my eyes burning. "Brenna, our baby girl is Beautiful Kate. She has your almond shaped eyes." I kiss her head and hand her to Kate.
She has tears running down her face. "Welcome to the family Brenna." She whispers kissing her head. She gives her to Danny.
He kisses her and looks at her. "She's beautiful like her momma." He looks at Kate giving her back. Brenna looks at Kate. "Her eyes are ice blue. I've never seen a baby with that color eyes." He looks at the doctor.
I forgot all about them. They're doing something on the other side of the screen. She looks at him. "They'll turn very light blue or grey." He looks at me smiling.
I smile back. Kate's almond eyes, my eye color and Danny's black hair. How the fuck does that happen? I don't want to ask and sound like an idiot so I keep my mouth shut.
They finish whatever they're doing and tell us they need to put bands on us. We all get bands with Brenna and Kate's names and move to another room taking the blue stuff off.
The nurse and doctor talk to Kate but I'm looking at my girl. I can't get past how fuckin beautiful she is. I love her and she just got here. Kate and Danny are laughing. I look over at them. The doctor turns and leaves. I bring my girl to her momma. I wonder if that's what we call her? Momma, I like it. "Here little momma, your girl is watching everything with her pretty blue eyes."
Kate holds her staring down. Fuck she's beautiful holding our beautiful girl. "Is it me or is she really beautiful?"
Danny laughs. "You're both beautiful baby." He leans over kissing their heads. He's so soft with them.
"We should call the boys." She says.
"Tess was giving us two hours. They'll be here. I left a text with Rich to text me when they get here." He tells her.
"Do you need anything Kate?" I ask because I don't know what else to do. She's so beautiful holding Brenna I lift my phone and take a picture. She has that big smile on. "Fuck I love you." I tell her. She smiles bigger and I take another picture. I send it to Jess, Peg, Digs and Anita.
Danny pulls his phone and smiles. "The boys are here. I'm going to get them." He kisses Kate, it's his signature kiss. I smile watching them. He throws chin and walks out the door.
"Do you need anything?" She never answered me.
"No. I'm good Ben. I love you. I'm so freakin happy she's here and we could be together for it. It made today perfect."
I kiss her. "I don't know how but I love you so fuckin much Kate; it feels like it's more." She nods with that big smile.
The boys come in running to Kate and their new sister. They let Jessie in, I watch them amazed at how quiet they are. Jessie leans in and kisses Kate's cheek. Then he touches Brenna and kisses her head. "She's beautiful. My baby Brenna is so pretty." He kisses her again. "I love you baby Brenna. I'm Jessie. You're my new sister. I'll take care of you always. Be strong baby." He moves over for Darren. They all take turns saying something to her. Kate sits Darren down and puts Brenna in his arms. He has tears on his face as he's holding her. He kisses her head and makes a sound in his chest. We all just watch. Rich, Patches and Tess stand back watching. "He's singing to her. That's what he does when Aaron or Alex are scared. He rocks and sings to them." Jessie says so soft. We all look at him then back to Darren; he's smiling with his tears singing to Brenna.
Rich goes to him and squats in front of him. Darren looks at him, he signs, 'it's a beautiful song you sing her.' Darren smiles and moves his arms to give Brenna to Rich. Rich stands with her. Darren signs 'sing to her for me, sing that she's beautiful and we love her.' Rich nods with tears in his eyes. He sings 'What a Wonderful World' to her. Darren puts his hand on Rich's chest. I look at Danny. Patches sings with him. These fuckin kids are unbelievable.
Danny walks toward me. "He's feeling the vibration. He once asked me what singing is like. I showed him then told him it was the most beautiful sound in the world. Like angels touching our ears. He wants his mom to touch her ears." He says it so low that only I can hear him.
Rich and Patches finish and Darren smiles. Tess is holding Kate's hand. They all have tears running down their faces. Tess signs to Darren, 'she's watching and loves your song.' He nods smiling. He thanks Rich.
"Fuckin kids." Danny says lifting Darren and hugging him. I go to Kate and hold her while she cries. After Patches and Tess hold Brenna the kids all get a turn. Thank fuck they don't have us in fuckin tears. They laugh and talk to us about their new baby and what they're going to teach her. I've never been a part of something so intense and full of love. It's an incredible feeling.
Tiny and Nancy come in, he hands Danny an envelope. Danny opens it and shows it to Kate. She smiles nodding at him. "Ben since the problem at the school we had a family meeting. We didn't invite you to this meeting. Jessie thought it would mean more this way. All the kids’ names were changed to LaPonte-James like Kate's. This is the paperwork making it official. There will never be another question of who they belong to." He says it with a smile. Fuckin Brother. The kids all cheer. Fuck. Brenna doesn't even flinch. I bend and hug all the kids. I have tears on my face but I don't give a fuck. I wipe my face and hug Danny and Kate. Fuckin family. I love them.
Rich and Patches hug me. Tess stands back watching. I look at her and she nods. When I hug her she says she didn't have to psych herself out for it. She loves me. Fuckin kids. Tiny hands me a tampon. I put it in my pocket making everyone laugh. "So fuckin what!"
Steve, Jess and Little Ben come in. Patches, Rich and Tess leave with the kids to get Devan. They'll stay at the house until we get home. I love my family.
Steve makes fun of me for the tampon. I keep it right where it is telling him I'll wear it proud. Tiny tells him of the name changes. Steve looks at Danny. "Bet that felt good." He says to me.
"Yeah."
He takes the tampon out of my pocket and pitches it into the barrel. "Not every fuckin day you get a baby and a whole fuckin family. You're allowed."
Tiny opens his mouth. Steve gives him a look and he shuts it. I laugh. "Thanks Brother." Tiny goes over to steal Brenna from Nancy.
Danny
Fuckin kids. Thank fuck they left. Tiny would be stuffing tampons in my pocket. Jess kisses me telling me how beautiful my baby girl is. I thought it was just me. Dads are supposed to think they're kids are beautiful. Nancy says we'll need a fuckin guard on her. With Ben as her father I think we're covered. When I tell them they crack up.
Dave and Casper come in. "How the fuck does she look like all of you?" Casper asks. It feels good to laugh after the emotional roller coaster we just rode.
I just shrug. Kate laughs saying she's ours. Doc and Sally come in. I really like Sally. She's good for Doc. She pronounces Brenna perfect and as bea
utiful as Kate. I hug her for that. She cracks up. When Brenna starts getting fussy they all leave fast making me laugh. Ben watches Kate feed her for the second time. He's never seen it before and finds it fascinating. I smile watching him and Kate. It hits me I love them. Both of them. Fuck. I tell everyone that he's grown on me but he's more than that. My fuckin Brother is our partner.
Forty Five
One week.
Danny
I walk into Devan and Brenna's room. There's fuckin boxes everywhere. Patches said Devan was trying to feed Brenna an empty bottle with a cap on it this morning. He's pulling the shit out of these boxes. I need to get them into the garage so they can be sorted. This is fuckin nuts. Once everyone heard about the kids name change they started bringing shit for them too. I tried to get everyone to give the money to the Little Brothers and Sisters programs but they don't fuckin listen. Almost two hundred baby gifts from the fuckin Club then add work, neighbors, Kate's work and the PD. Then they turned around and brought more for the kids.
I make it to the garage through more boxes in the hall and living room. Just in time to see Patches unloading more fuckin boxes. There's no fuckin room left to store them. I tell him about donating some of this shit and sorting through it but I'm fuckin pissed. We have a Chapter meet to get ready for. I open the safe room where my tools are all over the fuckin place and push another bike in. I trip on a level and call it a fuckin day. This is fuckin nuts. I need to clear my fuckin head then I'll deal with the fuckin boxes. I need another fuckin garage. I throw my leg over my bike and leave it all for later.
Once I get on the highway I think about what we should do to get it cleared out. It's not that hard and we could probably get it done in a couple of hours. Feeling better about it I think of the meet. I'm wondering about the training with the other Chapters. Ben was talking about switching people out with other Clubs. That's how we got Jonesy so I'm not real thrilled with the idea. I need more information before I can get behind it. I hear a bike behind me and tense up. I look to my right and see Tiny. I throw him chin and relax. We ride to Gooseberry and park. I look out over the water. It's a fuckin beautiful day.