Later that evening both twins were extra clingy and wanted to cuddle with mommy.

Robert read them a story, and the twins snuggled up under the covers.

"Read loud so the babies can hear da tory too!" Joseph says.

"That's very sweet of you, Joe.  Oh and remember, it's just one baby." Arvilla giggles.

"Maybe not." He looks at her bump and softly traces his finger over it.

Arvilla laughs. "You know something we don't?"

"Silly mommy!" Joseph looks up and laughs.

Soon Robert starts reading.

"Dis a pwincess book?" Heidi asks.

"No it's not a Princess book.  It's about a little duck.  See?  A little baby duck."

"Oh das a cute ducky!  Mama can I have a ducky?"

"Why don't I just get you a whole farm?"

"YEEEAAAHH!"

"No!" Arvilla laughs.

"Heidi, I twying to hear da tory!"

"JOE!" Heidi makes a face and swings at him.

"Hey you two stop it!" Arvilla says as she feels a flutter in her belly.

"Oh! I think I felt the baby move!"

Joseph gasps and touches her bump. "Da baby move, mommy?!"

"So what? I moving too. Look!" Heidi wiggles making her mother laugh.

"You felt it move?" Robert smiles.

"Yeah!" Arvilla chuckles. "Wow, they're moving a lot! Wow.."

Joseph and Robert place their hands on her bump.

"Heidi, do you want to see if you can feel the baby?" Arvilla asks.

Heidi crosses her arms and turns her head.
"No!"

"You stinker!" She laughs.

"Mama da baby getting bigger and bigger?" Joseph asks.

"Yep! They feel super strong too."

"I no can feel it."

"Well soon you'll be able to."

"Yeah Mama. Soon."

"I don't wanna feel it!" Heidi shouts.

"Okay! Goodness, try to be nice, Heidi."

"I da nicest and most pwetty person I know!"

***

20 weeks pregnant.

"We going on a twip! We going on a twip!" Heidi sings as she stuffs her little bag with things she wants to take with her.

"Mommy, who should I take? Mr. Monkey? Or my elephant named Bear Stinky Toes?"

Arvilla chuckles. "I know who will not be naming the baby! I don't know, sweetie. Who do you think needs a little adventure in their life?"

"Definitewy Mr. Monkey!" She says dropping her elephant and stuffing "Mr. Monkey" into her backpack.

Arvilla laughs and continues packing.

"Oh goodness!" She breathes breathlessly as she places her hand on her growing bump.

"Was wrong, mommy?"

"Nothings wrong. The baby is just growing and growing so fast, it's hard for mommy to breathe!"

"Oh no! Dat not good mommy!" Heidi nods.

"I'm okay, baby. It's normal for mommy's to feel that while pregnant. I'll be okay, I promise."

"Good! NOW!" Heidi holds up two more stuffed animals. "Lammy Lamb? Or Booty Hole?"

"What?! Little girl, stop being weird and naming your stuffed animals things like that!" Arvilla laughs.

Heidi pouts. "I love Lammy Lamb."

"I was talking about Booty Hole."

"Oh." Heidi giggles loudly. "Ya I so silly!"

**

"We flyin' high in da skyyyyy!" Joseph says looking out the window.

"Mhm! Are you excited to see Hawaii?"

"Yep!  I gots my new little shorts!"

Arvilla laughs. "The girls are gonna love you in those little shorts, Joe Joe."

Joseph rolls his eyes and gets an embarrassed look on his face. "MOOOOOMMYYYYYYY."

"You're blushing!" She giggles.

"Stoooop!" Joseph buries his face in her belly.

Arvilla then looks up to Robert and smiles.

"Why are you staring at me?"

"Because I can't get over how beautiful you are.  You're glowing."

"I'm sweating.  My ass is hot in this damn plane."

Robert laughs. "Well a sweaty ass looks good on you, baby." Robert leans in and catches her lips with his.

**

"We made it!  Mr. Monkey, this is Hollywood!"

"We're in Hawaii, Heidi."

"Mommy I jus play pretended!" Heidi shouts as she hits her mother's leg with her monkey.

"I'm sorry!" Arvilla laughs.

"Her dress and those sunglasses." Robert says. "She's such a diva!"

"For sure!" Arvilla nods.

The rest of the first day was spent getting things situated in the hotel. They had a nice meal then came back to the room to put the twins to bed.

The next morning they were ready to have some fun in the sun.

"I gots my swim suit, mommy! I look SO good!"

"Yes you do Heidi Ho!"

"N' I matching Joe! Joe looks so cute too!" Heidi grabs her brother's hand.

"Thanks sissy!"

"Aw you two are so sweet!"

"He my best fwiend." She kisses his cheek.

"You two are making mommy's heart melt!"

"He my bed fwiend. Da new baby not gonna be my bes fwiend."

"Aww, Heidi.."

"Da new baby gonna be my maid."

"Heidi!" Arvilla laughs.

"Your maid? Hey I have some Hispanic in me, are you stereotyping my child?" Robert jokes.

Arvilla laughs and smacks him on the arm.

"Ouch! It was a joke!"

"Heidi, I bet you'll love your brother or sister."

"I bet NOT."

"Okay."

"Look I holding brother's hand. They gonna tink we a mommy and daddy!"

"GWOOOOOSSSSSS!" Joseph makes a face.

Arvilla laughs.
"Come here you two. I need to put sunscreen on you."

"I don't wan cweam!"

"Heidi, you're as white as snow, you need it or you'll be as red as a lobster."

"I like lobsters!"

"Heidi Louise."

"Listen to your mommy, Princess." Robert says.

"Okay Bobby!" Heidi smiles.

"Wow. Why'd you listen to him and not me?"

"Cause Bobby's cute." Heidi smiles at Robert.

"I'm cute? Thanks!"

"You welcome!" Heidi says with a giggle.

"Oh and I'm just a big ugly monster?"

Heidi laughs uncontrollably. "You silly mommy.. MONSTER!"

"RAWR!" Arvilla pretends she's going to eat Heidi, of course making her laugh even harder.

"My mommy is the silliest mommy ever!"

**

Arvilla and Robert relaxed as they watched the twins playing in the sand. The two had just sat back from playing with them.

"Hey Bobby." Arvilla smiles.

"Yeah?" Robert asks rubbing his arm.

"What's wrong with your arm?"

"You hit me, remember?"

"Oh get over it you baby!"

"It hurts! What do you want? You big fat meany."

"Ah! Rude! I was just going to tell you that I've been researching A LOT, and I've decided that I want to have a home birth."

"You what?" Robert widens his eyes.

"I gave birth without any pain relief with twins, I think I can do it with just one baby. Plus it'll be so much more relaxing this way. I can walk out in the garden, I can relax in my favorite chair. I don't have to get a baby sitter."

"Is that why you're doing this? Because we have a lot of people who will babysit for us!"

"No! Honey, this really means a lot to me and I want you to be supportive." Arvilla gets a sad look in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I do support you in whatever decision you make. I'm just worried for you. That stuff was intense last time, Arv."

"I know but I did it. I got through it and I did well! I just feel it will be so much more peaceful at home. Besides.. my home means a lot to me.. Joe and I lived there for twenty years.. if I have the baby there it'll be special for you too. For us.
.. That's not the only reason I'm doing it, but it is a tiny reason.. our baby will be born in.. in our home."

Robert pauses for a moment.
"Arvilla Holden.."

"Yes?" Arvilla chuckles.

"You are the strongest woman I know.
I don't know why I'm nervous. I hate seeing you in so much pain, but I know how awesome you are, and I know you can do it. I can't wait to be there with you when you bring our child into this world in our home. You're incredible."

Arvilla smiles. "Thank you."

Robert chuckles and gives her a kiss.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Momma."