The Duck House, Montreux

"Have you got the car booked?" Monica called from the bedroom, zipping up the last of the baggage.

"Yes, but Roger offered with his rental car, you know." He rushed in.

"I know, but I don't want to bother him with his work, especially with the icy roads." She sat down on the mattress, her hand pressing onto the bottom of her spine.

"His new songs both sound the same," he lifted her bag. "A lot of metallic percussion... too much for my liking, actually."

"I thought More of that Jazz was good though."

"That's only because I'm not in it," He winked, helping her stand back up. "Anyway, he's too busy with his new missus to notice."

"Oh? Is that the one who is working for that entrepreneur we met at The Ivy? You know, the one with the beard?"

He nodded as he walked her out the door, "Richard Branson? Yes. He will never get anywhere if you ask me."

"Give him a chance! He seems rather ambitious, and his record store is good."

"Yes, but the thing about the hot air balloon... my god!"

She just laughed, "I didn't know you were afraid of heights."

"I'm not!" He whined.

"You're just jealous then?"

"No!" He marched out to the waiting car as the driver loaded bagging into the trunk.

"Oh, so you're just going to leave your heavily pregnant girl standing out in the cold then?" She crossed her arms playfully.

He groaned, and walked her to the car door so that she wouldn't slip.

"Thank you, dear gentleman."

He scoffed, getting in after her as she just giggled.

He slammed the door shut, anxious yet excited for the hours ahead...

Clinique des Grangettes, Geneva

The ride on the motorway laced along the north shoreline of Lake Geneva took up to two hours, but for Monica the scenery made it seem a lot quicker.

She took the window seat, the sparkling blue surface of the rippling water as the alpine sun hit it, boats a sailing on the icy breeze as rustic little houses that she'd only ever seen in story books and Disney films rushed by. Freddie slipped his arm around her as she gazed out through the glass.

"Remember this" he whispered in her ear, tenderly and continuously rubbing her bump.

She placed her hand over his and smiled, "I will."

He kissed her lips before leaning down to plant two kisses on her stomach.

When they finally arrived to the city, and the car weaved its way through the streets and to the private hospital they met Freddie's financial company manager Mary Austin waiting on the steps at the entrance, as expected and arranged.

"Were you here long, Mary?" He asked as he got out.

"Not long," the woman said. "I had time to fill you in... staff are on their way down to reception to escort you both to your unit."

"Oh good, thank you dear." Freddie nodded approvingly, putting his sunglasses on and opening Monica's door.

Mary winced a little at what she was seeing; the way he held his hand out and helped the girl step out of the car as she rolled her cable-knit cardigan sleeves down her arms, for she didn't have time to put on a proper coat. He protectively adjusted the pashmina shawl slung around her head, looking around to make sure there wasn't a prying paparazzo lurking behind a nearby lamppost or bus shelter as he walked her up the icy concrete steps.

"That should've been me" she thought sadly as she watched, then turned her back on them and rushed ahead.

"You alright, dear?" He whispered to Monica.

She nodded, "I think I'm getting a little short of breath."

"We will get you water it a hot drink when we go in there... Thank god for central heating." He opened the door for her.

They were met with a team of nurses, who picked up their baggage and lead them through the building and to the private wing.

"This will be your room, we have nurses on call 24/7 and a food menu sitting on the table." the midwife led them into an ICU equipped with two glass cots, leather seating, modern decor with a vase of flowers sitting on the coffee table next to the cabinet of tea facilities. Sunlight spilled through the blinds with colonial wooden shutters to brighten the room.

"Look at all this." Monica whispered. "I'm here to have a baby-sorry, babies, not a holiday..."

Freddie chuckled, placing his large hand on her bump, "I though that they might as well get the most comforting welcome. It's the most lavish maternity unit in the country, you know. One of the top in the world too."

She lowered herself onto the bed as staff carried bagging in, "You care far too much."

"It's all been sorted," the midwife said, holding up two pens as Mary laid forms out on the coffee table. "All you both need to do is sign and date these until the babies arrive.

"Don't get up," Freddie sat Monica back down. "Lay your feet on that bed and I will hand it to you."

"Okay" she hauled herself up as he brought a clipboard over.

"A nurse will be in with a heart monitor and attach you to a drip shortly." The midwife switched on the bed light as Freddie sat on the mattress.

"Here and here..." Mary pointed a guiding finger for the girl at the bottom of the two contracts, gulping at the sight of her bump.

"Mary, can I talk to you privately for a moment?" Freddie suddenly asked.

The woman looked up, startled, "of course."

She looked down at her feet and tucked a blonde curl behind her ear as she followed her ex out of the unit, looking over her shoulder as the girl who snatched him up concentrated on the form.

"Mary, I just wanted to say at I really appreciate you doing this, seeing as Jim [Beach] is handling things with the band right now." He put his hands on her shoulders. "Thank you."

She nodded, mouth twitching, then lifted her head as a nurse rushed into the room with the requested jug of water.

"Well, it is part of the job you gave me." She crossed her arms.

"But watching me move onto and with someone else... a girl, even. I know it must absolutely hurt you."

"You're not wrong." She avoided his eyes.

She felt more jealousy towards Monica than a sting of what could've been, but she knew that there was no changing Freddie once he had his heart and his mind set on something, be it old or new.

"Thank you for being here," he pulled her into a hug. "I hope you're well and that the staff are looking after you in your hotel."

"Very much so," she pushed away lightly and glanced at her wrist. "I shall head on. I'll be here when you sign out."

"You alright for a cab?" He called after her.

"Sorted" she swallowed, her eyes beginning to sting as she rushed down the corridor.

Freddie noticed, that the funny but sad thing was she wasn't wearing a watch.

1:23am (nighttime)

"It feels like some sort of hospital." Freddie murmured under the sheets in the dark.

The couple were unable to sleep, waiting for any sign of their arrival at any moment.

"It is a hospital!" She laughed.

"I know. It's nice with the good cotton bedding and the trees outside the window and all, but with all this medical equipment it's seems eerie, like people come here to die."

"People do come here to die, Freddie." She said.

"Not this very building I hope!"

She laughed, "No, Switzerland!"

"You can be a morbid little madam." He muttered, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He picked up a box of earl grey tea from the cabinet.

"Hey, don't go." She pouted playfully. "I didn't mean frighten you, don't drink that or you won't get to sleep."

"Keep talking the way you're talking and I never will." He sat down on the leather chair in the moonlight.

She sat up a little and admired the way it fell on the chains draped on his chest and the contours of his bone structure.

"Such a shame," she sang. "You look so terribly attractive sitting there. If I wasn't in the state I am in now I would come over there and-"

"Oh, shut up!" He marched back over and dived under the sheets with her.

She laughed and he snuggled back up to his original spot under her arm and closed his eyes.

She kissed the top of his head as he sighed in content, smiling as he heard her heartbeat in his ear.

All their late night foolery, of course, had triggered something.

Monica's hands grabbed the dampening cotton between her legs as she felt a strong spasm searing through her body.

"Shit... F-Freddie..." she gasped inaudibly, tugging at his side of the sheets.

His eyes fluttered back open, and he bolted upright when he saw her slouching over, clutching her lower abdomen.

"What the-" he switched the wall light on.

"My... my waters..." she let out with great difficulty, face contorted in pain.

"Oh fuck..." he thought, leaping up and running to the doorway as he pulled his shirt on and stepped into his trousers .

He saw a nurse at the reception area at the bottom of the corridor, and frantically waved him over before darting back into the room.

He rushed to her bed and sat her up, propping pillows up against her back as the nurse lifted her wet sheets.

"Start counting the length of time between of your contractions," he instructed, pointing at the clock on the wall. "When they get stronger and more frequent you're ready."

"They're coming," Freddie rubbed her head. "Oh Monica, we're on our way."

She looked up at him, "you better start telephoning your parents... and the boys."

"What about yours at the hotel?" He asked.

"But they're sleeping! There's no rush."

"I suppose. It's mine that are out of the country, they might as well be prepared."

"True, more than my mother would be."

"Well, lets hope she will be ready for another set of twin grandchildren," He kissed her head. "Because I certainly am not."

"Oh would you stop!"

He shuddered slightly.

"I bet you're hoping that this labour lasts three days then! Convenient for you but not for me!" She called after him jokingly as he left to find the payphone.

"You're the one with the oven. I'm just the baker, dearie." He winked, then disappeared out the door.

"Don't make me pinker than I already am!" She shouted, and he just let a throaty laugh.

She laid back and took a deep breath, dreading yet hoping for her next contraction.

3:30am

"How many now?" The midwife strolled in.

"We've been counting and we think approximately three every fifteen minutes, lasting around 20 seconds." Monica exhaled, nudging Freddie awake who had dozed off curled up next to her.

"We're getting somewhere then," the midwife went to the foot of her bed, pulling on latex gloves. "Can you prop her legs open for me please?"

Monica nodded and did so as Freddie stirred, her hand soothingly rubbing his head.

He lifted his face from her side, "did I miss anything?"

"No, sleepyhead" she kissed his lips.

He looked over at the woman focused between her thighs, "How's she doing?"

"Your cervix isn't wide enough, but it's getting there rapidly" she lifted her head. "All is well, no bad signs that we should go to the theatre."

"Oh good, because... agghhhhhh god!" Monica grit her teeth as she felt another contraction.

"Keep breathing" the midwife instructed, standing back up. "In the meantime our nurses are on call to check."

"Thank you" the girl huffed, and the midwife left the room.

"You're doing great." Freddie wiped her dampening forehead, pushing her hair back and forcing a smile.

"What are you looking so smug about?" She snarled. "This is all your doing!"

"Sorry" he threw his hands up defensively. "I thought that you wanted me to put it in-"

"THAT WAS WHEN I WAS IN THE MOOD!" She let out a cry as another one came.

"I don't know if I want any more after this" he thought.

"I'm glad you're not always this cranky, my dear."

"Why don't you do me a favour and go through the baby clothes?" She grunted, eyes scrunching closed. "Pick out their first outfits, you're the one with a taste for style and fashion."

"Oh alright, I'll try." He went to the baggage that contained their collection of clothes that had been gathered and gifted to the couple in previous months.

"Anything to shut you up." She let out, toes curling.

"Alright!" He started shifting through the piles and unfolding them one by one.

It was difficult to tell them apart because most of them were bought in similar and pastel colours, but mainly white white; Monica insisted that she didn't want to impose gender ideals on the two of them growing up.

"Is your sister's crocheted blankets there?" She asked.

"Yep." He held them both up in his hands. "She spent weeks on them both."

"It's such a... such a sweet idea." She panted.

"Mmmm... wait until they're wrapped up in them," He looked at them intently. "It'll only be in a few hours."

"Better be" she took a deep breath, clutching her lower abdomen.

4:57am

"FREDDIE!" She whined his name for the tenth time in the past ten minutes.

He grit his teeth irritably, sitting in the chair next to her, "yes."

"Please get a nurse or something." She puffed. "I mean it this time."

He stood up, "are you getting an urge?"

"Yes" she nodded quickly, breathing heavily.

"You mean it?" He crossed his arms.

"DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS THE TIME?!" She cried out, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him. "YES, I MEAN IT AAAAAGGHHH GOD!"

He felt tempted to get his tubes tied at that moment, but then shrugged it off once he put himself in her position and rushed out to wave the nearest member of staff over.

"Is she feeling the need to push?" The nurse asked.

Freddie nodded, "I think so."

"Hold on, sir. I will get the midwife if she's not in call." He said assuringly.

"Thank you." Freddie said before making his way back into the unit.

"Did you find someone?" Monica looked up, and indeed she was looking more strained.

He nodded, kissing her cheek, "They're sending the midwife overmirgently.

"I'm not ready for this." He thought as he held her hand, the midwife rushing in.

"Deep breaths..." she instructed, slipping rubber gloves on. "The contractions must be strong enough for you to start pushing now, otherwise we will head to the operating theatre."

Monica nodded and exhaled sharply, and Freddie stayed by her side petrified, watching the midwife working in between her spread legs.

"Freddie..." she squeezed his hand tight.

He turned his attention back to her, and rubbed her dampening forehead continuously.

"...please-please stay here... I-I don't know if I am ready to do this..." she panicked a little.

He didn't feel comfortable for what he was about to witness, but he knew he had to be there, and that he'd regret it if he ducked out of selfishness.

"I'm not budging," he kissed her head. "You can do this."

"Well, your cervix is dilated, and I can feel the first baby's head," the midwife lifted her head and nodded. "You're ready."

"Whatever you do, don't look down there..." Freddie told himself, feeling his stomach fall.

Monica nodded, following her body's sudden urges to push. Freddie leaned in close as kept his eyes focused on her as her eyes clenched shut, gritting her teeth.

"That's it... keep going..." the midwife murmured.

She panted in pain, face reddened. Freddie was too anxious to care about her fingernails digging into the skin of his hand.

"Push more... breathe and push..." the midwife encouraged.

Monica's head fell back and tears streamed down her face, the overwhelming sting making it difficult to concentrate. Freddie struggled to bring himself to keep her strong.

"Don't stop, the head is almost out... that's it now, breathe!" The midwife continued as she silently forced another push.

"Oh fuck... this is all getting too real..." Freddie thought as his thumb slid against her knuckles soothingly.

"That's it... more pushes, you're nearly there..." the midwife pressed on.

"I can't take this, I need to see!", Freddie's curiosity got the better of him as his eyes immediately darted to her open thighs, only to see a baby's head within the midwife's hands as the body and umbilical chord swiftly followed.

So many feelings arising in a second at the image as he felt Monica's hand and the sound of the baby's cries slip away-

THUMP!

Everything went black.

***

"...he's coming around... " a voice said hesitantly.

"What-What happened" Freddie's eyes fluttered open.

"Up you get... that's right... you had a fainting spell. It all became a bit too much." a nurse said, sitting him up off the floor.

"Monica! Did she... where is she-" he looked around frantically.

"Awww I fucked up!" he thought as two people pulled him up off the floor.

He looked up to his right. The room was filled with up more with a few nurses who were attending something in the corner of the room, and Monica was still on the bed with her legs parted.

"The girl was the first to come out," a nurse explained, pointing to the nurses in the corner. "The boy is on his way now."

He wanted to go and see his daughter, but he tugged himself over to Monica's bedside, "Shit! I am so sorry-"

"JUST... GIVE ME YOUR ARM!" She yelled, yanking him over as she was about to push.

He held onto her as she gripped onto his forearm for dear life, this time letting out a strained cry.

"One more push!" The team said.

"Come on, my love... our boy will be here" he kissed her forehead, and despite her temptation to whack him in the face for getting her into such a state not nine months before she nodded.

She gave a final shove, and as she let out a gasp for hair she heard another set of cries.

Freddie didn't faint this time. He felt his eyes become bleary as the room cooed in delight, the midwife laying the crying boy onto Monica's chest.

"My-they're-they're here" he blubbered, overwhelmed with emotion.

"Here is your daughter" a nurse appeared next to him, holding her in a loosely wrapped blanket.

When the nurse placed his baby into his cradled arms nothing had prepared him for the feelings of immense love and responsibility. He blinked through the tears as he stared back down at his own flesh and blood, leaning down to gently kiss her little pink face and small hands curled around his finger with his trembling lips.

He glanced over to Monica as she held their newborn son close to her chest, the midwife coming over with clamps.

"Monica" he sobbed, looking back and forth at the both of them and unable to avert his eyes. "They're beautiful..."

She just smiled through her exhaustion, relieved and ecstatic as she planted a kiss on the boy's head. Her feelings were mutual.

"Let me see her..." she let out, peering to their other bundle of joy in his arms.

He made himself comfortable next to her level.

"Oh my... she has your hair, he has mine" she whispered.

He giggled through his tears, "wait until their eye colour comes through... if at least one of them has those blue eyes of yours then that's all I could ask for"

She held his hand, "I'm sure they'll be perfect."

He kissed her lips gently before glancing back and fourth at the two of them.

"We... we made them," he murmured, in awe. "Those are our babies."

"Yes... We did" she responded, gently squeezing his hand. "They're ours."

Over a year before, Monica was a young woman stepping into London to find opportunities to begin her life. But she never imagined a day like this would come one winter's morning; two of the most beautiful beings in her arms, only minutes old, with the man she loved by her side.

It was then that she realised what she'd already accomplished was perfect.