Family Life

Rusty

　　

Vincent, ensconced in his old leather chair in the corner of the study, an open book on his lap, was drinking in the sight of his two young sons playing with blocks on the floor. Jacob, now 9, and Charles, almost 2, were it seemed working against each other in the endeavor. Jacob would no sooner start working on a building of sorts only to have Charles knock it down and clap with glee.

"Hey little brother, you’re not supposed to knock it down, you’re supposed to help me build it first!"

Charles would only laugh and start to chew on the first block he could reach.

"Dad, I don’t think he is ready to build yet."

"So it seems."

"Dad…maybe you could read to him while I work on a new building, then he can knock it down when it’s finished for a change. I don’t mind him knocking them down; I just want to finish it first" he pleaded.

He checked on Catherine via their bond and found her still sleeping restlessly. He picked up Charles and decided the boy needed a diaper change before he did anything else. He walked across the hall to the nursery and completed the task, which made for a much happier Charles. He realized the time was close to his younger son’s bedtime and proceeded downstairs to get him a toddler’s cup of warm milk. While Charles drank his milk, his father read to him and as usual he fell asleep just as the last drops of milk dribbled down his chin.

Charles was a good baby, had slept through the night after about a month of his birth, much to his parents delight. He lay him in his crib, covered him with a light quilt, and then tenderly he kissed his dark brown curls.

"Sleep well, my little son."

He walked through the nursery to the master bedroom to look in on his hopefully sleeping wife. Instead he found her sitting on the side of the bed frowning.

"Vincent, I don’t now how much longer I can do this, I’m tired all the time, I’m as big as a house, I guess just plain miserable and feeling a little sorry for myself. I don’t understand how this happened, we were so careful; at least I thought we were" she sighed.

Catherine was almost nine months pregnant…with twins!

He tried his best to lighten up her mood a little, Catherine’s mood swings made it difficult for anyone to be around her of late. Poor Vincent took the brunt of her moods, knowing…or hoping they would end sooner than later. The up coming birth would truly be a blessing in more ways than one. He wanted his Catherine back.

"Well my Catherine, Father is quite sure we will have to expand the tunnels at this rate" he said cheerfully.

"Vincent this isn’t funny, he probably thinks I’m all over you any chance I get! Which of course I am, well I was until lately, but that’s beside the point."

"Catherine, I’m sure he doesn’t think it’s you fault, he most likely thinks I’m making up for lost time" he grinned hopefully.

Softly he said "you know I was wrong?"

"Wrong…wrong about what" she asked puzzled?

"Shakespeare did not know everything," he said with his arms held out wide.

"Tonight as I watched our sons play, nothing he wrote could have prepared me for the blessing of that gift. To hear myself called…Dad warms me deep into my soul.

I would never have dreamed this unbelievable gift could be mine. Not to mention the gift of our twins coming soon." he whispered.

He sat beside her on the bed, slowly rubbing her back to ease the tension and fatigue from carrying twins. At times he felt useless as if the entire burden was on her. He did everything he could to help and support her through the pregnancies; this one was exceptionally difficult for her. She had to deal with more bed rest than before with the boys, vegetating was not something Catherine dealt well with. Mary had taught her to quilt a little, but her patience and sitting still in one position didn’t go to well with carrying twins. She couldn’t get comfortable and her sleep of late was never really restful.

Vincent had taken to sitting in the corner of the couch in the study with Catherine between his legs leaning back against his chest to help her breath better. He kept his arms wrapped around her sending love and feelings of relaxation through the bond to help her get as much rest as possible. This had gone on for almost two weeks and now even he was beginning to need a little more sleep.

His classes were being shared by Father. Work projects, unless and emergency were handled by the men Below. All were glad to help Vincent and Catherine; they had always depended on him and found they could get by a lot of the time without calling him away from his family. It made them feel even more self-sufficient and pleased to be able help him for a change. They had come to realize they had always taken him for granted, and were now working on relying on themselves more.

"My love, I’ll make you some tea and after Jacob goes to bed, I’ll help you shower and perhaps the warm water raining on us will give you some relaxation."

"Vincent, my love, isn’t that what got us into this situation?"

He stood up, pressed his hands to his heart and attempted to look deeply hurt, "Catherine, I had no such intentions, my thoughts were only of your well being."

She smirked, bringing from him a small chuckle…"good thing we have the bond or I may have believed you that time my love. Please, tea would be good and send Jacob in to say goodnight. I’m sure this isn’t easy for him either; he’s turning into quite a helper trying to occupy Charles. I know he gets a little frustrated too, and when the babies finally get here… I don’t even want to think about that."

"Don’t worry my love, we have enough love for all of them and more if the need happens again" he teased."

"Vincent, you…you," she couldn’t even think and with that she threw a pillow at him as he ducked out the door.

Well, now at least she isn’t feeling down and her energy level is up, he thought as he headed down for the tea, pleased with himself and smiling all the way.

Jacob with his familiar Vincent stance, his hands on his hips, came in when he heard the pillow hit the door.

"Mom, why did you toss that pillow at Dad? You know throwing isn’t allowed in the house, only outside."

He had that same little head tilt and smile as his father and knew when to use it.

Jacob you have way too many of your father’s characteristics I swear, she thought.

"Come here my big handsome son and give your fat old Mom a hug and kiss, it will make me feel much better. As to the pillow tossing, you’re correct not in the house. See what a good big brother you are, your Dad and I are so proud of you. She hugged him a little closer, "anytime you feel you need an extra hug, you come to me," she whispered in his ear.

"When these babies get here there will be a bit of confusion for a while. Remember we love you very much and don’t want you to feel left out, we need and love you too much."

"Don’t worry Mom, I’m the big brother and I can help with lots of things."

She didn’t know what to think, when had he gone from little boy to such a responsible young man? Yes of course, he is his father’s son.

Vincent came up stairs with the tea and kissed his son goodnight. The boy just smiled, hugged his father and went to bed.

He helped her undress, stripped out of his clothing, and then followed her into the shower. He put his arms around her and let her lean back against his chest, letting the warm water sooth them.

"My love even your arms can’t get around all three of us anymore, I can’t wait for this to be over with" she sighed snuggling further into him.

"Soon Catherine, soon" he whispered with feelings of guilt for him not being able to do more for her slipping through the bond.

She turned in his arms and put her lips on his, enjoying the touch and love there within. She felt his manhood against her thigh, even as he tried to control his need.

"Vincent, let me love you."

"Catherine, there is no need, I only need you to know how much I love you and wish I could take this burden from you." My love…I have no words for what you are to me."

"There is no need my love…I felt your love just now through the bond, words are not needed" she whispered breathlessly.

They relaxed and let the warm water flow over them, wrapped in contentment and love.

Eventually they got out and started to dry each other off. Vincent went into the bedroom to get their night clothes. She sat down on the vanity stool with her bath towel still wrapped around her and started to dry her hair.

She felt a little twitch and instinctively knew her water had broken, "Vincent… it’s time!"

Seven long hours later they were blessed with a son and a daughter, they were born healthy, beautiful and loud. Their daughter had her mother’s misty green eyes; their new son had his father’s brilliant blue ones. They both had Vincent’s golden hair and their Mom’s looks. They were a few days early and still a good weight for twins. Peter and Father pronounced that they and their mother were in good shape, though Mom was a little tired. Their Dad just sat there holding them, looking at them almost unbelieving and according to Peter "he was just beaming."

He brought them to her to nurse, still not sure if his feet felt solid earth yet.

Jacob and Charles came in to see their newest siblings, to touch them to be sure they were real and declared them "neat." The novelty for Charles dissipated after a quick kiss for his parents and the new babies. Mary took him for breakfast with the other little ones from the nursery.

Jacob stayed to hold each one after they had finished nursing; "I need to bond with them too, so I can help you guys" he confidently told his parents and everyone else in the room.

They just looked at their first born with wonderment and love for this special young man.

"I think our son is older than his years," don’t you think my beautiful wife?

Three weeks later at their naming ceremony, the whole tunnel family and special invited guests heard their names for the first time.

Jennifer Catherine and Joseph Vincent were entered into Father’s book, where all tunnel family births were recorded. Aunt Jenny and Uncle Joe were honored to have the newest members of Catherine and Vincent’s family named for them. Jacob liked the fact that he and brothers all had their Dad’s name, Jacob Vincent, Charles Vincent and now Joseph Vincent.

Catherine had insisted on this as Vincent didn’t truly have a family name and to the world Above he didn’t even exist. Vincent insisted that his infant daughter carry her mother’s name, because it was the most beautiful name he knew.

At the ceremony, Jacob held his sister and Vincent held his new son, it was tradition for the eldest son to hold the baby for the naming ceremony.

Since there were two new babies, in true tunnel fashion Jacob asked his father for help, and Vincent gave it willing.

"Dad, she has green eyes just like Mom, and me and my brothers have blue eyes like you, but there are still more guys than girls in our family" he said proudly.

"My son, there may be only two of them, but if your sister is anything like your Mother…we will surely be out numbered I’m afraid" Vincent said sincerely.

Everyone came up to congratulate them on the new additions to their beautiful family.

Well wishers with advice, beautiful handmade gifts and most of all love, the best gift of all.

Catherine came up and leaned into him, "Vincent, your smile tells everyone how very happy and proud you are. Even if I didn’t have the bond I would know."

"How would you know, my sweet love?"

"Your canines are showing my proud love."

END