Work Text:
Two hearts
Greg and Rochelle had grown up together, fallen in love, and were now a happily married couple. A few months after their wedding, they learned they were going to be parents, and at their first prenatal appointment, they were surprised to find out they were expecting not just one baby, but twins. This filled Greg and Rochelle with joy and love, as they had created two new lives, two hearts with two beats that were eagerly awaiting them. Wirt and Sara, Greg and Rochelle's older siblings, who had been married for over ten years and had two adorable children—Elaine, who was born when her parents were only 16, and Patrick, a creative and cheerful boy—congratulated them on the news. The months passed, and the expectant parents made sure everything was ready. At one of the ultrasounds, the doctor revealed that the twins would be a boy and a girl.
Finally, when she was nine months pregnant, one day while Greg and Rochelle were calmly watching television, Rochelle felt some small twinges in her belly.
- "Greg, I think I felt a contraction, it's time," Rochelle said, nervous but very excited.
- "Oh, Rochie, very well, everything is ready, I'll just call Wirt and Sara to let them know," her husband replied.
The two drove without incident to the hospital, where their older siblings, as well as Elaine and Patrick, were already waiting. Rochelle was quickly examined and told that everything was fine, and she was admitted to room 206 on the second floor.
Several hours passed as labor progressed. The contractions grew more intense, but Rochelle endured them while Greg, Wirt, and Sara encouraged her. Greg had never been so serious, which was noticeable to anyone who knew him. He stood beside the hospital bed, holding Rochelle's hand as she felt a contraction and breathed as the pain subsided. He held her with both hands, as if afraid the world might take her away if he let go. She inhaled and exhaled as she remembered being taught in the prenatal classes she'd taken with Greg, firmly and decisively, with that look she'd always had since she was a child.
- "Hey, Rochie," Greg said quietly, "just to clarify, I still think having two babies at once is an amazing idea."
Rochelle let out a short laugh, which ended in a funny grimace.
- "Well, it's an amazing but somewhat terrifying idea, but I know we'll be the best parents our babies could have," Greg corrected.
On the other side of the bed, Sara carefully approached and gazed tenderly at her younger sister. She was no longer the nervous young mother she once was, but someone who understood this moment intimately. She gently tucked a strand of Rochelle's hair behind her ear with an almost maternal gesture.
- "You're doing great, little sister," Sara told her. "You don't have to rush. Let your body and your babies set the pace when they're ready to come out. Breathe and stay here with us."
- "Thank you so much for your words, Sara. Now I understand what you went through when your children were born. It's not easy, but I can endure it just as you were able to," Rochelle replied, nodding gratefully.
- "Remember that you are not alone and that we love you very much, Rochelle," Sara said, feeling very emotional.
- "That's right, Rochie, we're all here," Greg said, glancing at Wirt and Elaine, who were looking back at the expectant parents. They approached and looked up at them.
- We wouldn't miss it, Greg. You were there when Elaine was born, and it's only fair."
- "I wasn't in the room, but I did see her on my phone when she was born, and it's one of the most beautiful memories of my life," Greg replied with a big smile.
- "How are you feeling now, Uncle Greg?" Elaine asked.
- "I'm going to be a dad of two, darling, of two," his uncle replied excitedly.
- "I know, Greg," Wirt replied, "and you're going to be incredibly good at this."
Greg swallowed and his eyes sparkled.
- "Sometimes I'm afraid," he admitted bluntly, "not for myself, but for not being up to the task."
Sara approached her husband and said to him:
- "That's exactly what you thought when Elaine was born, remember?"
- "Yes, but when I saw her and held her for the first time, all my doubts and fears vanished," Wirt replied, affectionately stroking his daughter's hair.
Greg smiled at his brother and felt more confident. But before he could say anything else, he felt Rochelle squeeze his hand as she let out a groan of pain at another contraction.
- "Greg, don't let go of me, please," Rochelle said as the pain made her suffer.
- "I'm never going to let you go, love, look at me, we're all here with you," her husband replied.
Soon the pain subsided, and Tiffany, the obstetrician who had delivered Elaine and Patrick, entered the room to check on Rochelle. She was already 9 centimeters dilated; it wouldn't be long before she met the babies. Tiffany mentioned that the first baby was breech and asked if she wanted a natural birth or a cesarean section, to which Rochelle replied that she wanted to try a natural birth. Greg was proud of his wife's courage and reminded her that he wouldn't leave her side for a minute while the babies were being born.
Half an hour later, Rochelle felt a very intense contraction. She squeezed Greg with one hand and Sara with the other, unable to stop herself from screaming in pain, which also caused her water to finally break. Tiffany and another nurse checked her again and told her she was fully dilated, so they carefully moved her to the delivery room to prepare her. Greg and Sara followed, while Wirt and Elaine stayed in the waiting room.
After settling her into bed and putting on the medical equipment, Tiffany gave Rochelle instructions.
- "Remember, Rochelle, when you feel a contraction, push with all your might. Don't push if you don't feel a contraction, because that will only make you tire very quickly. Focus all your strength on your pelvis and let yourself be guided by what your body tells you; your husband and your sister are here and they won't leave you alone."
- "Yes, thank you, doctor," Rochelle said, breathing rapidly at the growing urge to push as if she were going to poop. Greg held her hand and kissed it affectionately. "Here it comes, phew, phew."
- "Very good, Rochelle, push!"
The girl did so while Greg held her, using her entire body with a strength she didn't even know she possessed.
- "You can do it, love, push, don't give up," Greg told her, very nervously.
- "You're strong, little sister, you can do it," Sara also told her.
After a few more attempts, Tiffany told them how one of the first baby's tiny feet was beginning to emerge from her vulva, meaning everything was going well. Rochelle felt even more determined and pushed again while Greg and Sara caressed her to encourage her. The baby's legs emerged along with her bottom, revealing that it would be the girl who would be born first. Rochelle didn't stop pushing, and Greg didn't stop encouraging her. The baby's body emerged little by little, with only her head remaining. Rochelle felt tired, but the encouragement from her husband gave her the strength to push with all her might.
- "Aaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggh!"
The baby girl's head emerged and she immediately began to cry, with Rochelle feeling relieved and filled with love. Greg couldn't help but cry with emotion and kiss his wife affectionately.
- "You did it, love, our baby girl was born, I love you so much."
- "Me too, Greg, I can't believe it," said Rochelle, exhausted but very happy.
- "Congratulations, little sister," Sara said, also moved.
Tiffany cleaned the baby and placed her on Rochelle's chest, and the baby stopped crying as she felt her mother's warmth.
- "Welcome, my little one," Rochelle said. "I'm your mom and he's your dad."
A few minutes later, Rochelle felt contractions again. A nurse took the baby girl to a crib, while Tiffany attended to the second delivery. Rochelle pushed again with all her might, and soon the head of the second baby emerged from her vulva. Rochelle cried out at the burning sensation, but Greg and Sara held her and kept encouraging her.
- "You're doing great, love, don't give up, our baby is coming," Greg told her, while Rochelle moaned and strained in pain.
- "I know it burns a lot, Rochelle, but it's all worth it in the end, believe me, I've been through this myself, keep going," Sara told her.
Soon the head emerged and with a final push in which Rochelle put all the strength she had left, the rest of the baby came out and immediately began to cry.
- "Congratulations, Rochelle, your babies are here," Tiffany told her.
Rochelle felt the pain fade and be replaced by that unmistakable motherly love. Tiffany cleaned the baby and placed him on Rochelle's chest, while the nurse returned the first baby to her mother.
- "Our children are beautiful, Rochie, you did it, I love you," Greg said, kissing her on the lips.
- "Thank you for being by my side, Greg," his wife replied, exhausted but feeling like the luckiest woman in the world.
- "You did great, little sister, you endured it like the champion you are," Sara told her, remembering the words Whitney, Wirt's late mother, had said to her after she gave birth to Elaine.
Shortly after, they returned to Rochelle's room with Greg, Sara, and the twins, allowing Wirt and Elaine to come in and meet them. Greg's older brother couldn't help but feel happy and proud of him, and they embraced warmly.
- "They arrived together... just like they promised," Greg told his brother, excitedly.
- "I know, Greg. It's the miracle of life," Wirt replied.
Sara put a hand to her chest.
- "Look at him, Wirt... your brother is still Greg, but now he's Dad."
- "He always knew how to take care of others, he was just practicing for this moment," Wirt replied, smiling.
Greg looked up at them, tears of joy flooding his eyes.
- "Thank you for being here, I didn't want to spend this moment without you."
Sara approached and touched his shoulder.
- "We're family, and family always stays together. That's how it works," she said. "By the way, what are you going to name the babies?"
- "One day we remembered that animated series that we saw as children and its main characters, Hilda and David, and we loved those names, so that's what they will be called", said Rochelle.
- "Those are very beautiful names, very good for you," Sara replied.
And so, in that hospital room, Wirt and Sara's family grew with two new hearts that would be surrounded by affection and love for their entire lives: those of two babies named Hilda and David. Greg understood something he had never been able to put into words: that growing up didn't mean ceasing to be who he was, but rather being able to love more people at the same time.
END