Stas set the box down and pushed open the front door of the house. Once the door was opened, he picked up the box and walked sideways into the house. "Amelia?" He called out as he headed towards the master bedroom. Still in his mauve colored scrubs, he didn't wait to get home with the newly acquired piece of equipment.

Thank God for Sarah, her friend at the antenatal classes, that was all AJ had been able to think for most of the day. She hadn't been certain at first, thinking perhaps that the babies were stretching or that she was confusing Braxton Hicks with ordinary backache - which had kept her awake most of the night - but after a conversation with Sarah it had become pretty clear that she was in the early stages of labor. She'd promised herself, if the contractions started to come less than five minutes apart she would phone Stas at the clinic. But they hadn't, though they grew longer in themselves.

So, when she heard her husband's voice at the close of yet another contraction, she straightened up in time to see him walk into the bedroom and smiled. "Well, hello, handsome," she grinned, leaning up to kiss him affectionately. "What's got you so worked up?"

Upon entering the bedroom, he put the box down and placed his hand in the small of AJ's back and gave her a gentle kiss. He knew the look and his brows shot up. "How long and how far apart?" The piece of equipment forgotten, for now. "When did this start?" He knew better than to usher her to a chair or onto the bed. He liked his head, just where it was. "Why didn't you call?"

She rolled her eyes with a smile. "Should've known you'd guess right when you walked in, huh?" She wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned against him. "I noticed it about ten minutes after you left," she admitted with a guilty glance up at his face. "And I didn't call, because I've been speaking to Sarah and Mylene, and they both said not to worry about it until they got closer together and longer. And there's nothing you can do apart from hover over me and make yourself a nuisance, is there?" Hazel eyes looked up at him in amusement.

His lips pursed as he listened to her and when she said he'd be a nuisance, he canted his head with a frown. "I wouldn't be a nuisance." A peck to her cheek, then he walks over and picks up the box. "So, how bad is it' Are you in a lot of pain" Did you lose your plug yet?" He fiddled with the box a little bit, debating on whether or not he should open it up. With his wife in labor, now was not the time to show her the changing table he'd bought that fitted perfectly beneath the window in their bedroom. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"The plug went about three hours ago, my waters haven't broken, the pain's not so bad that I can't cope with it," AJ rattled off the list of information with a faint smile. She'd been expecting this. "So what did you buy that had you all excited when you walked i-" She stopped, pressing one hand to the wall and the other to her belly, breathing out shakily.

The box was tossed aside when she grabbed her stomach. "I can't examine you here." He glanced around as he put his arms around her for support. "Breathe, in your nose, out of your mouth. Slow, deep breaths." He didn't want to try to move while she was having a contraction.

Her face flushed as she breathed her way slowly through the contraction. Not quite a whole minute yet, she was fairly certain, but she had a feeling her opinion would be over-ridden by her professional husband's. She did lean gratefully into him, though, laughing a little when the tightness had passed. "Thanks," she smiled, looking up at him. "It's been really weird dealing with this all day on my own."

He smiled proudly at how well she handled the contraction. Kissing her cheek, he rubbed both belly and back. "Come on, love. Get dressed. I'm going to take you down the clinic so I can examine you. Call Mylene and let her know we're coming."

She nodded, trying her best not to roll her eyes as he issued his orders. "Yes, sir, right away, sir," she teased, squeezing his hand as she moved away to drag on a loose dress and cardigan. "Don't forget the bags," she remembered to call to him as she lifted the phone, waiting for Mylene to pick up.

Part of Stas hoped that Mylene didn't pick up the phone. As he whizzed through the house, gathering the bags, he felt a surge of protectiveness and possessiveness that he'd never known before. His wife, his children on the way. Hefting the bags all on one shoulder, he went back into the bedroom. He gave her an expectant look, a hopeful look.

"Okay ....thanks, Mylene ....bye." AJ put down the phone and turned to Stas with a grin for the look on his face. "She's phoning the ward for us, they'll have a bed ready for me. And why didn't you tell me I'd be delivering in what amounts to an OR?" Her expression was anything but disapproving; how could she not be touched by the sweet look on his face"

He couldn't hide the brief glimpse of disappointment, but he did try. Nodding as he listened to what Mylene the Mighty was going to do for them, he tried to shake it off. "The OR is just in case something happens." He put on a smile for her and placed his hand into the middle of her back. "I've got a car parked outside. No more walking, not where there isn't medical staff, anyway."

AJ caught the disappointment as it flickered across his face, sliding her arm around his back and kissing his cheek. "She's just there to help us," she murmured gently. "You're still going to be the first to hold our children, Stas."

"I know, it's just.." he shrugged and lead her towards the front of the house. "The doctor in me wants to do it all. I've never been on father's side of the bed. I've always been the Johnny Bench guy that nobody remembers their name."

"Well ..." AJ groaned and paused for a moment, rolling her eyes. "You'd think they'd stop moving when their big moment arrives, wouldn't you?" she complained lightly as she started ahead again, smiling at him. "As I was saying ....you're not just catching the baby this time, darlin'. You're the father; you're my property until they make an appearance, remember? Just don't pay any attention to anything rude I say to you."

Stas stared at her, wanting to laugh at locking the house up. Their babies were about to be born and she was worried about the house! But he kept his laughter at bay, just a smirk. But that smirk disappeared quickly. "What do you mean, don't worry about that?"

Opening her mouth to answer, AJ was forestalled by another contraction, a little stronger than before. She held up a hand to him, breathing in and out as slowly as she could, despite the strong urge to pant and panic. When it had passed, she let out a slightly ragged breath. "I mean ....I'm sitting in a puddle."

His head swivelled from watching the road to watching his wife as she went through another contraction. He breathed with her, in and out, slowly and calmly. He was so proud of how she was handling all of this. "A puddle!" he checked his watch, noting the time. His foot pressed the accelerator peddle a bit harder, the car moving sleekly and quickly along the road. Things were progressing much more quickly than he had anticipated. "When's the last time either of them moved?"

"When we were walking out the door," she reminded him, clutching onto the door handle. "Do we really have to go this fast?"

"You've been doing the breathing all day?" He didn't loosen up on the accelerator, not a bit. He was trying hard not to slip into a panic mode of his own. He didn't want to scare her though so he bit back the part where he didn't want the babies born in the car thought that raced through his head.

"Yeah, all day," she nodded, trying not to panic. If he was driving this fast, then he was close to panicking, and Stas panicking would make for a highly volatile AJ. "Started out at about six contractions an hour, then about two hours before you came home they got longer and started getting closer together."

"Amelia, why didn't you call me?" It slipped out before he could bite it back. It wasn't accusatory, not as much as it sounded anyway. "I'm sorry." He took a deep breath and stared at the road. "Why didn't Mylene call?" He was going to have words with the mid-wife when this was all over.

"Don't start." It was all she needed to say; after all, he had apologised. He was the expert here, not her. She was just the mommy. "She was waiting for me to call her when I got to minute long contractions," she explained quietly. "I wasn't expecting it to be so qui - oh!" In, out, slow breaths ....one hand slid over her bump, seeking out somewhere that wasn't a head, a bottom or a limb to press against and test the tightness of her uterus.

"She should have called." he ground out and was so glad to see Riverview Clinic just up ahead. "Breathe, Amelia." He pulled the car up to the front doors and came to a halt. He didn't jump out though. He reached over and gently pressed his hand against her bump.

Her hand gently covered his as her belly relaxed, and she looked over at him. "Unless they've somehow spun 180 degrees overnight, they're still pointing in the right direction, love," she assured him. "Scan yesterday, remember?"

He smiled reassuredly when the contraction eased and her stomach became somewhat less rigid. He wasn't testing whether the babies were turned, he was testing the rigidity of her uterus, as well. "Just wanted to be sure." He then got out of the car and reached for the bags in the backseat. The nurses had come out of the Clinic and had a wheelchair ready for her. Stas moved to her side of the car and stood behind the small flock of nurses, in the same scrubs that he still wore.

AJ giggled at the look on his face, unable to resist teasing him just a little bit more. "Mmm, a little deeper, honey," she put on a moan, and the nurse left the room, snorting in a pitiful attempt to hide her laughter.

For that, Stas grinned and ran his thumb over a certain tender part of her intimate anatomy. He could play this game, too. Then he pulled his hand out and took the gloves off of his hands. Straight to the anti-bacterial stand, he put on a good dollop, then rubbed his hands together. "You're doing good, really good." His smile showed the pride in his eyes. "Just try to relax until your real doctor gets here."

She shivered when he did that, smirking back at him. Her legs relaxed as she let her head fall back with a soft sigh. "He is here," she murmured, reaching out a hand to lace her fingers through his. "Did you phone your mom?"

He smiled and lifted her hand to gently kiss her knuckles. "Not yet. Do you think I should?" He pulled up a stool and settled onto it beside her bed. "How are you feeling?" His free hand gently pushed the hair back from her face.

"I get the impression I'm gonna feel much worse before this is over," she smiled, biting her lip as another contraction took hold. Her eyes squeezed shut along with her fingers, tight around his until his skin turned white. But it was over soon enough - again longer and stronger than before, but not unbearable. AJ opened her eyes and her smile returned. "You're the expert. When do you think they should be told" I'll lay good money on your mom getting here first."

"Don't close your eyes." He gently coached her, not once complaining about his hand being squeezed so tightly. When the nurse rolled the monitor into the room, Stas stood back and let her do her job of getting AJ strapped into it. The internal wires weren't to be inserted, as Orla wasn't as far down as Seamus was. Stas took a moment to text both sets of parents. He didn't want to waste a second talking to them when he could be at Amelia's side.

"Oh geez, does this mean I gotta stay here now?" AJ complained faintly, watching with interest as the monitor was strapped across her belly. It was a huge relief, however, to hear the two heartbeats, especially since she hadn't felt them move much at all today. "Stas ....I forgot to do my fetal kicks today, is that a bad thing?"

Stas misted up at hearing the sounds of the dual hearts beating within her. He squeezed her hand and lowered to kiss her softly. "You're doing everything just right, Amelia. I love you so much." His big blue eyes gazing into her hazels. "It won't be much longer."

"You're a bad lia- uhh!" Again her hand clamped down on his, as tightly as she could, and for the first time, she completely forgot the breathing exercises, doing what came naturally, a shallow panting that actually seemed to make her want to push. But no one had told her to push yet, so she somehow managed to refrain. "Please tell me the whole ouch business going on down there is one of them trying to get out ..."

He held her hand and remained close to her face when the contraction slammed into her. "Yes, it's Seamus, he's in a hurry to meet his mom and dad." When the contraction ended he glanced to the door, then back to her. He didn't like not knowing what was going on every second. Had she finished dialating" Was the baby crowning" So badly he wanted to know these things. But, as it were, he was glued to Amelia's side.

Her fingers released his. "Have a look, you know you want to," she gasped, relaxing back against the pillows. Already sweaty and flushed, and she had a feeling they were nowhere near done yet. "Just don't prod, or I'll kick you."

The heartbeats slowed during the contraction and then sped back up as it waned. This was to be expected and a good sign that things were progressing as they should. He gave her a grin and bent to the side to peek under that dressing gown. No head to be seen. Sitting back upright, he took her hand again. "So when you breathe, keep your eyes open. You don't want to internalize anything, because you'll start pushing too soon."

"Too soon?" AJ was aghast at that. "You mean it's not time yet?" She whimpered and shifted onto her left side, burying her face in the pillow to have a small scream of frustration without disturbing anyone else on the ward. "And where the hell is the damn midwife?!"

"Not yet, you'll know. It'll feel like you've got to defecate, only about a hundred times stronger." He rubbed her back and sighed softly. "Amelia, don't get worked up, love. It's not good. Keep your cool. You can do this, you're strong."

Stas' good natured grin was back at her complaining about the IV sting. Gently, he moved with her as the contraction hit. "Look up at me, Amelia." He gently coached as his hand pressed more firmly into the small of her back.

Breathing deeply, she lifted her head, hazel eyes meeting the baby blues of her husband as she groaned in relief at the expert pressure on her back. There were definite advantages to having an OB/GYN for a husband.

Several hours later, in the early hours of the next morning, a very familiar voice was heard approaching along the corridor as the first of the parents arrived. "Oh, don't be ridiculous, the boy'll need a rest by now ....George, go and find a coffee machine, there's a good man." Alyson Ryan pushed open the door quietly and grinned at her son. "Morning, sunshine. How's it going?"

When the door was pushed open, three sets of tired eyes moved in unison to see who was there. Stas smiled tiredly and Mylene nodded to Mrs. Ryan before going back to look at the monitors. She had just examined AJ and found that she was nearly completely dialated and fully effaced. They had put up a mirror so that Stas could watch from his post next to AJ's head. Her hand was still in his. "Hey, Mom." he grinned and waved her over. "It's going good, she's doing so good." He was so tired and excited, at the same time.

"Hey, Mrs - whoah!" AJ bit the pillow as another contraction hit. She didn't think she had ever felt so tired as she did right at that moment, whimpering into the material. The contraction was slow to pass, strong and painful even as she struggled to keep her eyes open as Stas had continually told her to over the last God only knew how long. "God ....make it stop ..."

"Oh, sweetheart, you're doing so well." Alyson was quick with the praise, gently disengaging her son's hand from his wife's with a perfunctory kiss to his cheek. "Seems I'm just in time." She smiled encouragingly at Stas. "Go and wake up a bit, Stas - get changed if you've got anything. If she's this far along, it'll be a little while before she's ready to start pushing." She perched on the edge of the bed and stroked AJ's hair from her face. "Easy, girl ....with any luck you should get a chance to doze a bit now."

Stas really was in no mood for this. "Mom, go sit on the couch, where you'll be comfortable." He attempted to take his wife's hand from his mother. "I'm fine. We're both doing fine. And she's far enough along that she'll be pushing within the hour. So please, let me be with her." He looked down into his mother's eyes.

Mylene just grinned as she watched the drama unfold. As another contraction hit, she watched AJ carefully. She hoped that the mother/son scuffle that was about to ensue did not upset AJ. The labor was progressing beautifully and she knew AJ would not appreciate a set back.

"And I suppose you think you'll be all the help in the world half dead on your feet and smelling like a sweating horse," Alyson answered her son, not raising her voice but definitely using the tone that had always worked on him as a child. "Don't make me call your father in here to drag you out, it'll only upset her." She slapped his hand away gently, and smiled affectionately at her son. "You'll only be a few minutes."

AJ wasn't entirely sure she was happy with the fact that her mother-in-law had barged in and taken over, but she knew Alyson was right about Stas. Between the contractions, she'd been trying to make him go and at least have a drink, if not something to eat, herself. She lifted her head, managing a smile for him. "Go on, darlin'," she told him quietly. "I promise, no pushing til you get back."

Stas came back into the room a bit rejuvenated after that cup of coffee and a stolen cigarette. He had made sure to rinse with mouthwash before coming into the room. "What's happened, what?s going on?" He quickly went to AJ's side. "I'm here, love, I'm here." he tried to calm her, the best that he could. Her tears frightened him, though. "Breathe, soft pants." His eyes went from his mother to Mylene, then back to AJ.

As she rolled onto her side, AJ thought she'd never been so relieved to hear Stas' voice as she was at that moment. She reached out blindly for him, grabbing onto his hands as she slowly calmed down, lifting her leg up to let Mylene have a good look at what was going on in the undercarriage department.

"Easy, Stas, she just needed a cry." Alyson was pretty quick to get out of the way, though; if Stas was anything like his father, he'd commit bodily harm to get to his wife right now. She squeezed his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "Soon, lovey, soon." With one last gentle rub of her fingers against AJ's cheek, Alyson retreated to the couch, and pulled out a magazine. She was only there, really, to keep a lid on Stas.

With one hand, Stas resumed rubbing his wife's back. The other hand was a bit swollen and painful, but he uttered not a sound when it was grabbed. He just barely heard his mom's words, merely nodding to her as he leaned to whisper into AJ's ear. "I'm so proud of you, Amelia. You're doing so good. Not too much longer." He pressed his lips to her cheek. "Not much longer."

Mylene took a peek and smiled. "Not much longer is right. I'm can see some hair." She pulled up a stool and ran her finger along the baby's barely there scalp. "He wants to play peek-a-boo." She mused as the top of the baby's head disappeared.

George was the first to see his in-laws arrive. He smiled at the two of them and pointed towards Amelia's room. Then he lifted the magazine and began to read calmly. Lillian gave Richard a kiss on his cheek, then marched into the room. "My baby's having babies." She smiled to all those in the room already. Quickly she moved to AJ's side. "Momma's here now, baby. It'll be alright."

Alyson almost laughed when AJ groaned aloud on hearing her own mother's voice. "Oh geez, mom ....I love you, but go away," she protested, her tears drying up as she used Stas to find herself the most comfortable position. It was time, she could feel it. And being the unconventional young woman she was, she was soon up and off the bed, one foot firmly on the floor, the other knee bent up onto the bed, and both hands around Stas' neck as she leaned into him. "Come on ....any minute now ..."

Richard had poked his head in just in time to hear AJ's greeting to her mother, and smothered his own laugh as he ducked straight back out again, closing the door behind him. The grandfathers were probably going to wander off to the canteen for the next hour or so.

As for Alyson, well, she managed to bite down her laughter to smile encouragingly over at Lillian, patting the couch beside her. "Best come over here before she starts scratching," she joked quietly, and lifted a tupperware container. "Have a sandwich, you've had a long drive, Lillian."

Lillian looked a little hurt, but wandered over to sit beside Alyson. Really, no need to be rude. She blinked rapidly at the offered sandwich. "No, thank you." She smiled graciously and sat back on the faux leather couch. The snob in her wanted to scream at them about the deplorable conditions, but her daughter's antics had her attention directed to her, her jaw dropped.

Outside, Richard pushed himself out of his lean on the wall with a grin for George. "One down, one to go." He pulled a couple of cigars out of his jacket pocket. "Fancy a smoke, Pops?"

George grinned and opened up his jacket to show off the cigars he'd brought. "Congratulations Grandpa. Let's go have that smoke. Keep us from barging in before they're ready."

"Yes!" Stas felt his wife sag against him and he gently helped her to lay on her side. He was torn, wanting to hold his son, but worried about leaving her side. He settled on a compromise and when Mylene handed the screaming baby boy over, he held Seamus so that AJ could get a good look at their boy.

Mylene had cradled Seamus upside down on her arm, letting the fluids drain naturally as she rubbed his pinkening skin vigorously. "That's it, such a good boy." She cooed before wrapping him up and handing him over to Daddy. She prepared for the second arrival.

Lillian's eyes went wide as saucers and her face went pale. When that squirming, slimey little lizard came out, she passed out cold on the couch.

Tired but somehow completely elated as well, AJ took full advantage of the opportunity to rest on her side, unaware of the afterbirth for her son, but very much aware of the baby girl's heartbeat over the monitor as she looked at her son. "Hey, lil' guy," she whispered, stroking her finger down Seamus' cheek and laughing as he turned his face with his mouth open towards her fingertip. "Be patient, I gotta get your little sister out first." She smiled at Stas warmly. "Look what we did."

Beside Lillian on the couch, Alyson was all but bouncing up and down excitedly. She spared one withering glance for the unconscious Madam Drake before turning her attention back on the squirming, screaming baby boy in her son's arms. She'd never felt so proud of him as she did at that moment.

Stas was all smiles and tears as he held his son in his arms. A small, happy laugh as Seamus turned towards his mommy with his mouth opened. Bending over, he kissed AJ sweetly. "Look at what we did." He smiled from ear to ear.

"Stas," Mylene had been watching the monitor and delivered the afterbirth without a single problem. The placenta was placed in a small pan for weighing later. "Come cut the cord." Her smile was radiant. Stas quickly stepped over and snipped between the two plastic clamps. Still with Seamus in his arms, Stas then walked over to his mother. He bent at the waist and presented his son to her. "Meet your grandma." He grinned at his mother, the tears still in his eyes.

Taking every opportunity to at least doze between babies, AJ could hear everything going on as she closed her eyes with a happy smile. One baby out, safe and healthy ....her ears focused on her daughter's heartbeat, still beeping cheerfully from the monitor strapped around her middle. One to go.

Alyson was up on her feet as Stas bent down to her, kicking Lillian sharply in the ankle as she took the tiny boy into her arms. "Well done, lovey," she murmured to her son tearfully as she kissed his cheek. "He's beautiful ....what?s his name?" Alyson knew Stas well enough to be certain that both twins had their names long before they were born.

"Seamus." he spoke quietly and kissed his mom on the cheek. He gave his mother in law a quizzical glance before stepping back. "Take good care of him." He absolutely beamed before rushing back over to be with AJ. He was ready for round two and knew that once it started, it would end quickly.

Mylene stood with a stretch. "Call me when the contractions start again." She smiled to them all, then slipped out of the room for a much needed bathroom break. As she passed the grandpas, she smiled and congratulated them before running off.

"Seamus....Oliver?" Lillian smiled tightly and reached out to help give the little guy a bath. "You poor little guy. I'd be crying too, if they named me that."

Alyson smiled, up to her elbows in water with the firm grip only an experienced mother could have on a squirming newborn, leaving the actual washing down to Lillian. "Fine strong name," she grinned, tilting her head to look over at the door.

Richard was peering inside, making room for George to do the same. His eyes went first to his daughter, relief showing that she seemed well and strong, ready to go on, and then to the boy splashing in objection to being washed up. "What a pair of lungs!" he laughed softly. "Well done, Ammy. Congratulations, Stas."

Pushing herself to sit up a little and make room for Stas to sit beside her on the bed, AJ giggled a little at the antics by the bowl, looking over to smile gratefully to her father. "Don't pass out the good wishes yet, dad, there's another one to go," she grinned, relieved to give up the centre of attention as she leaned warmly against Stas, kissing his cheek lovingly.

"Yes, fine strong name." Lillian nodded and with a swift precision she didn't know she had, the little, squirming and squawking one was wiped clean of the slippery white protective coating. "He is so darling." She cooed, her heart absolutely melting. Already, Seamus had her wrapped around his little finger.

George grinned as he watched his wife and grandson, water being splashed. "He must be a Drake. Listen to how loud he is." A huge grin on his face as he turned his eyes on his son and daughter in law. "Well done you two." Then he stepped back and tugged on Richard's sleeve. "Come on then. Let them finish."

Stas snuggled up onto the bed beside her. His arms around his wife and her nearly deflated belly. He heard the conversations going on around them, but his eyes and ears were for her only.

Between the two grandmothers, Seamus was quickly washed, dried and dressed, still mewling but definitely quieter than before. Alyson was more than happy to let Lillian coo over him while she cleaned out the bowl, ready to recieve the next baby for washing before they would have to relinquish both to the new parents.

AJ rested her head against her husband's shoulder, trying to snatch a little more rest before the whole palaver started all over again. But Seamus' sister didn't seem to want to wait any longer. She tensed as her belly contracted again, and groaned. "Here she comes ..."

Stas sat up quickly. "She's coming?" He glanced around, looking for Mylene. Grabbing the emergency cord, he pressed the button and talked into the intercom. "Mylene, to room 103, Mylene, room 103." He let the cord go and went down to see just where his daughter was. "Oh.." He quickly donned a pair of gloves. "Her head is right there. Push, Amelia, Push!"

As Stas moved over to their mothers, AJ shifted around in the bed, helping the nurse get her as clean and comfortable as possible as quickly as possible. While the adults cooed over the babies, she was dressed and sponged down, thankfully only needing a couple of dissolving stitches to tidy her up. Then she settled back into the pillows, smiling tiredly over at the other end of the room. She'd managed it.

With Seamus in her arms, Alyson watched as Lillian was handed their granddaughter. "What a little precious," she cooed happily, hefting Seamus as though he could see. "Look how clever your momma is, bringing you two into the world. How much does she weigh, Stas?"

Mylene did her part in helping to clean up the mommy. When Stas was over with the grandmothers, she went to sit on the stool next to her. "Hey, beautiful work." She smiled and placed a hand on AJ's shoulder. "You take it easy, but I want you up and walking in about an hour. Okay?"

Stas stood tall and proud as he watched the women fawn and coo over the babies. "Three pounds, fourteen ounces." He smiled as he watched the pair. "Well we know who was beating the hell out of your momma, don't we?" He reached for Seamus. "I bet he's a hungry little man." He smiled at his mother fondly.

With Seamus safely ensconced in his daddy's arms, Alyson moved to help the nurse prepare the bowl and towels to clean and dress Orla, this time letting Lillian keep the baby restrained while she did the washing.

AJ smiled at Mylene, absolutely exhausted. "Oh, I can manage that," she smiled. "Hey, can I get a bottle so Stas can feed Orla?" she asked softly. "I promise, I'll use the pump later. I just don't want him to miss out on anything."

"Of course you can." She smiled and rose from the stool as Stas brought Seamus over. Stas, of course, walked with a certain swagger. He was the proud poppa, after all. Mylene simply smirked. "Looks like I won the pool." She laughed and left with the order for the nurse to bring in a bottle of warmed formula.

Stas rolled his eyes and then sat down in the now vacated stool. "Amelia, this little guy's been wanting to eat." He held Seamus, letting AJ situate herself. He knew that nursing the baby would help to recondition her uterus back into shape.

Propped up on the pillows, AJ didn't feel even the slightest shame about exposing her breast to her son in front of her parents. With Seamus settled surprisingly comfortably in the crook of her arm, and Stas helping, she got the little boy latched on and feeding with more than a slight sense of satisfaction. "Hey, the little guy likes the boob," she grinned proudly, watching as her son finally shut up and got down to the serious tasking of eating.

"Just like his poppa, no doubt," Alyson muttered for Lillian's ears only as they washed the quieter girl, glancing up in expectation of the men entering at any moment to be allowed to be manly and melt over their grandchildren.

"I heard that." Stas chuckled and watched as his son latched on, naturally. "That's a good boy." he smiled and gently caressed the top of his head. "I love you." He leaned to give AJ a gentle kiss. "So much."

Alyson froze for a moment as she was hugged, before very carefully hugging back, wary of squashing Orla, who was beginning to fuss a little more. "You're very welcome, Lilli," she smiled. "Better late than never. I have a feeling these two are going to be just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to children in this family."

Richard smiled uneasily. "I dropped Ammy once when she was tiny," he admitted in an aside to George. "Not something I will ever do again, I can assure you."

Taking the towel from Stas with a smile, AJ was just spreading it over her shoulder when the nurse returned to the room, looking around curiously at the crowded space. As she lifted Seamus onto her shoulder, rubbing his back gently, AJ grinned at her husband. "Better get comfortable, daddy, the work starts now." She nodded towards him, and the nurse advanced, bottle of warmed formula in hand.

"The work, what?" He turned to see the nurse advancing with the bottle. "Oh, I see. Sharing duties already." He grinned and got up off of the bed. Quickly he rushed over to the couch where his mom and mom in law sat. "I will be taking this." He grinned and gently pulled his obviously hungry daughter up to his chest. "Hello, you." He found a chair in the corner and settled into it. "That's it, good girl." He smiled lovingly as he looked into his daughters deep blue eyes. "Daddy's little princess, aren't you?" He bent his head to place a gentle kiss to her tiny forehead.

"I dropped Stas, too." He whispered behind his hand. "On his head." He nodded, then smiled brightly to the grandmothers who suddenly found their hands empty.

Lillian sat back once Stas took Orla away. She simply smiled happily. The word grandmother growing on her.

As his sister settled in to eat her fill with her father, Seamus burped hugely in AJ's ear, letting a little dribble of spit up spill down the towel she was glad she'd asked for. "Goodness, what a loud noise," she laughed, lowering him into her arms again, and glancing up at George. "Would you like to hold your grandson, Major?" He wasn't actually given much of a choice as she lifted the baby towards him, looking over at her own mother. "What do you think, Mom' Still mad at me for falling in love?"

Alyson nudged her husband over towards AJ, rummaging in her handbag for the camera she was sure she'd brought with her and grinning at the way her own son took charge of his daughter.

Stas laughed loudly at the sound of his son's burp. "He sounds like you after a big meal, Dad." The grin he wore, the air about him, bristled with the pride that he could not hide.

"Oh, I, I do..." And Seamus was placed in his arms. A warm grin on his face as he looked down at his grandson. "Just like your dad." He looked over at Alyson. "He looks like your dad."

Lillian stood and walked over to her daughter. "Your falling in love is the best thing to ever happen to this family." She sat on the edge of the bed and lifted a brush. She started to comb her daughter's hair. "I just wish Devon could have been here."

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