2:45 pm.

"Oh God, help me!"

"You're almost there, Arvilla!  Seven centimeters!  You're doing it, sister!" Margene cheers.

"Not fast enough!  I can't do it anymore!  I can't take this pain!"

"Hi Tia!" Miguel opens the door.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Holden.  I told Miguel this was a bad idea!"

"Oh no, come in!  I'm covered, I promise!"

"There's that smile!" Carol says. "Boys, you've brightened things up already!"

"My boys!" Arvilla smiles and lifts her arms.

The boys walk over and hug Arvilla.

"How are you feeling?"

"Yeah, are the babies hurting your tummy still?" Miguel asks, placing his hand on her bump and rubbing it in circles.

"Yeah.." Arvilla pouts. "They're hurting everything!"

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay.. I'm getting there."

"Have you tried pushing yet?"

Alan closes his eyes and nods his head.

Arvilla giggles quietly.
"Not yet, love.  I still have three more centimeters to go.  Remember when I taught you about that?"

"Yes!  It has to get as big as the baby's head!" Miguel says loudly.

Arvilla smiles. "Very good!  Once I'm at a ten then I can push all I want!"

"You're so close!" Miguel lays his head on her stomach and hugs her tight.

"Be careful, Miguel." Alan says.

"He's okay, honey." Arvilla smiles and places her hand on Miguel's back. "How's Robert holding up?"

Alan chuckles. "He's a nervous wreck."

"Aw bless him." Arvilla pouts.

"You've got a good friend in him, Mrs. Holden."

Arvilla smiles softly. "I know.."

**

Two hours later.

Arvilla leaned over the bed breathing deeply as a contraction rolled through her body.

"Harder, Margene!  Ahhhh.. Oh it hurts so bad!  HARDER DAMMIT!"

"I'm sorry, I'm trying!"

"Let me try." Carol says.

"Not you, Carol.  You're a damn twig!"

"Hey!"

"I need Bobby!" Arvilla cries.

"Do you want me to go get him?"

"Yes, please.  I need him!" Arvilla cries even harder.

"I'll be right back!" Carol hurries.

Robert was standing right outside of Arvilla's door.  His hands were together and he looked as if he were in the middle of praying.

"What's wrong?!" He panics.

"She wants you!"

Robert smiles.
"She wants me?"

"Yes, get in here!"

Robert follows Carol in.  When he sees Arvilla moaning and sobbing from the pain, a frown appears on his face.

"Aw sweetheart!" Robert lifts his arms and walks towards her.

"I need you, Bobby.  My hips.  They hurt so bad!"

"I'm here, I've got it.  You just close your eyes and breathe.  Think about your babies coming out and meeting their mommy for the first time."

Arvilla shuts her eyes tight as Robert presses her hips together.

Suddenly the room becomes silent.

"Well look at that!" Margene smiles.

"Don't speak, Margene!" Arvilla says.

"Is this pressure okay?  It's not to hard?"

"No honey, that's perfect.  You're perfect.  Thank you so much."

Robert smiles softly and kisses her back. "It's my pleasure."

**

6:45 pm.

Joe's son and family have all arrived and sat in the waiting room for the two bundles to arrive.

Bo is also there, along with Arlo and Emmett.

"Alright Arvilla, you're about nine and a half centimeters.  You're about to become a mom." The nurse smiles.

"What!  I am?"

"You are!"

"Oh my gosh." Arvilla cries softly. "Oh Joe.. Our babies are coming, honey.  I'm gonna meet our babies!"

Margene grabs the frame that held Joe's picture and smiled. "You know how excited Joe is right now, Arvilla."

Arvilla sniffles and takes the picture.   She kisses it softly and says, "I love you, Joseph Holden.  I love you so so much, baby."

Carol offered to take pictures during the birth so she was already snapping this moment.

Robert watched with a heavy heart.

"Bobby?" Arvilla looks up.

"Yes?"

"Will you please stay in here with me?  If you don't feel comfortable or think it's weird you don't have to but—"

Robert smiles softly and places his finger over Arvilla's lips. "I would be honored."

Arvilla smiles.  Robert then leans down and kisses her on the forehead.

"I love you, Arvilla."

"I love you too, Bobby." Arvilla smiles and takes his hand.

**

Soon things intensified and it was clear these babies wanted out.

Carol taking pictures, Margene at her left side, and Robert at her right, Arvilla spread her legs and got ready to push.

"Robert, I'm sorry you have to see this." She giggles.

"Don't apologize, this is unlike anything I've ever experienced!  I'm about to watch you give birth!"

Arvilla smiles.

"Okay Arvilla, the next contraction is coming.  Ready to start pushing?"

"Yes!"

**

15 minutes later.

"I can't!" She cries. "I can't do it!  I can't push her out!"

"Arvilla, you're doing it!  We can see her little head!" Margene says.

"You can?"

"Yes, sweetie!  Heidi is right there!  She's coming!" Robert says. "Just a few more pushes and she'll be here with her baby brother following behind!"

Arvilla smiles. "Okay.. okay, I guess I'll keep going."

"You better, sister!" Margene laughs.

With the help of Margene and Robert, Arvilla pulls her legs back and pushes as hard as she can.
"Oh my gosh!" Robert's eyes widen. "Arvilla, she's coming!"

"Ahhhh!"

"You're okay, you're okay.."

"Deep breath in and push again, Arvilla." The nurse says.

"Owwww.."

"Her head is out!  Arvilla, she's right there!" Carol says in tears. "And she's so cute!"

"Ohh!" Arvilla cries. "Joe please help meeee!" Arvilla says as she gives one big push.

"And here she is! Meet your mommy, baby girl!" The doctor places Heidi on Arvilla's chest.

"Oh my gosh!" Arvilla cries. "Look ah her! She's so beautiful! Hi baby girl.. Oh I love you so so much!"

The baby cried and cried.

"Oh I knowww.. You were so comfy in there, huh? It's okay, Princess!  Yeah, it's okay Heidi Ho!"

"She's like a little doll." Margene says with tears.

"She is, isn't she?"

"She's an angel!" Carol says still taking pictures.

"Thank you. Bobby.. what do you think?" Arvilla smiles softly.

"I think she's just as beautiful as her mommy. She's perfect, Arvy."

Arvilla giggles. "Arvy? Hey that's a cute nickname!"

Robert smiles and kisses the top of her head.

Arvilla then looks down to her baby girl.
"She's so beautiful. Her head is perfectly round! I was hoping it would be!" She chuckles.

"You did so well. Wasn't she incredible?" Robert looks at Margene and Carol.

"Oh yes!"

Arvilla giggles. "I was, wasn't I?"

**

15 minutes later.

"Is baby boy ready to be born?" Her doctor smiles.

"I hope so!" Arvilla whines.

"He's coming, momma! Ready to start pushing?"

"Yeah.."

"Alright, deep breath in and down push down hard. Harder, harder, harder. Good! And deep breathe in, and Push! Good, good, good! Keep going, keep going!"

Arvilla relaxes onto her pillow and breathes deeply.

"Keep going, little Joe is on his way!" Margene says.

Arvilla cries as she thinks about her son.

"He's coming.  My little boy..
  Oh Joe.. Joe! I need my Joseph!"

"He's with you, sweetheart. He's in this room right now!" Robert says. "Now Push!"

Arvilla groans. "Joe, please let me have this baby and be finished already!"

"That's It! Good Girl!" Margene smiles.

"Arvilla, he's coming! There's his head.. shoulders—" Robert says.

"Ah!" Arvilla gasps when she feels her son leave her body. "My baby! Oh my gosh he's so handsome! Hi honey!" Arvilla takes him in his arms.

"He looks like Joe. He looks just like Joe!"

"He sure does! Aw, welcome to the world, Joe!"

Arvilla breathes heavily and rubs her son's back.
"My Joseph. You're the most handsome boy I've ever seen."

"You did it!" Robert kisses her cheek.

Arvilla smiles and lays her head on her pillow.
She then closes her eyes and says, "Thank you, Joe. Thank you for giving me these beautiful babies. I love you forever, honey."