Arvilla's contractions picked up and were now about twenty minutes apart.

"You want me to take you home?" Robert asked.

"No." Arvilla breathes deeply. "I'm okay.. swaying like this helps."

Robert supported Arvilla as she held him around his neck.

Suddenly Arvilla let out a moan.
Robert tightened his grip on her and continued swaying.

After her contraction passes Robert heard Arvilla crying.

"You okay?"

Arvilla let's out a sob. "I.. need.. him!" She struggled to speak.

"I know.  I'm so sorry."

"Joe should be here!  Robert, how in the world am I going to give birth to our babies without him?  I can't.  I can't do it!"

"Arvilla, yes you can!  I've told you many many times, but I will continue to tell you because it's true!  You are so strong.  God has given this to you because he knows you can handle it.  There's no one else in this world that I know who even comes close to being as strong as you.  Your babies are so incredibly lucky to have you as their mom.  You're gonna raise Joe to be a great man, husband and father.  You'll raise Heidi to be a strong woman just like her mother.  She'll be a great wife and mommy one day too."

Arvilla cries and wipes her cheeks. "I'm gonna be a grandma.." She chuckles through her tears.

"Let's get the mommy part going first." Robert chuckles and places his hand on her stomach.

Arvilla laughs.  She then hugs him tightly.
"I love you, Bobby."

"I love you too."

Arvilla kisses his cheek and looks into his eyes.
"I'm sweating like a whore in church."

Robert couldn't help but laugh.
"The fact that you're laboring in that dress is pretty impressive.  If it were me I wouldn't want any clothes on my body.  AT ALL.  I wouldn't want anyone speaking to me, I'd be freaking out!"

Arvilla laughs. "It is pretty uncomfortable.  I guess I should go home, take a shower, and try to get some sleep before they really start making their entrance."

"I'll dive you whenever you're ready."

"Thanks.  Let me just go tell the girls."

"Alright.  You gonna be okay walking over there by yourself?"

"Yeah, I feel okay right now."

"Okay, I'm gonna grab our things."

Arvilla waddled her way over to Margene, and waved Carol over.

"Hey sweetie, having fun?" Margene smiles.

"Yeah!  I'm in labor." Arivilla chuckles.

"WHAT!"

"Early labor!  Bobby's gonna take me home so I can get some rest."

"Oh my gosh!"

Just then Carol makes her way over. "What's going on?"

"Arvilla's in labor!"

"WHAT?!"

"I've been having pains on and off throughout the day.  I'm heading home to get some rest before things intensify."

"Wow!  Let me go with you so you're not alone."

"It's okay.  Thank you, but I'd rather be alone right now.  I want to go home because.. I always feel Joe's presence most at home.  We just need to.. Connect.  I need a moment alone with my Joseph."

"And the babies!" Margene smiles and holds Arvilla's belly.

"Yeah!  They're comin so soon!" Arvilla giggles. "I'm gonna go tell the boys and tell them to head home because it's late!"

"You're such a momma already." Magene smiles.

**

"Tia Villa!  I just danced with some girl!"

"Oh Miguel, you are such the ladies man!"

"I guess I am!" Miguel laughs.

Arvilla giggles and pulls them to the side.
"Boys, it's getting late, you better start heading home."

"Why are you so sweaty?" Miguel asks, scrunching his nose.

"Stop!  Leave her alone." Alan says.

"It's okay.  Boys, the babies are coming."

"NOW?!  I know you were having pains but.. NOW?!" Alan's eyes were wide.

"Soon.  I'm gonna go home to shower and get a little sleep."

"This is wild!  Let us know when you go to the hospital,"

"I will.  You boys please be careful going home." Arvilla kisses their cheeks.

"You too, Mrs. Holden."

"This might be the last time we feel the babies move while they're still in you belly!" Miguel says as he and Alan feel the twins kicking like crazy.

"I know!  Soon you'll be able to hold them!"

"YEAH!  I can't wait to hold them and tickle their little feet!" Miguel says making Arvilla laugh.

"They're gonna love you boys so much!"

**

Robert drove Arvilla home, and in that time Arvilla's contractions seemed to have worsened.

Arvilla held onto the handle in Roberts car as slumped back into her seat, and moaned softly from the pain.

"Aghh.."

"Breathe."

"I AM!"

"Sorry!"

"SHUT UP!
.. Oh my gosh, this is so painful." She whines.

Robert stayed silent.  He didn't want to make Arvilla angry.

Once the pain settled, Arvilla relaxed her grip and turned to Robert.
Breathing heavily she placed her hand on his arm and said, "I'm sorry.  That one was tough."

"No, don't apologize!  I'm sorry!  I just feel so bad for you."

"I'm okay." Arvilla wipes her tears. "I've gone through heartbreak.. The worst type of pain there is.  This type of pain won't last.  I'll be okay."

"Yes you will be.
.... Gosh Arvilla, I've never driven so carefully.  My mom is Hispanic, and I'm driving like I have a pot of her menudo in the back seat!"

"Why are you so scared?" Arvilla laughs.

"Uh because you are holding two babies inside of you that are literally about to rip through you really really soon!"

"Let's not use the word rip.  Get that negative word out of the air!" Arvilla waves her hand in the air.

"Oh sorry!" Robert chuckles. "But anyway!  I want to drive super careful because I'm holding precious gold here.  Joe's precious gold!"

"Aw." Arvilla looks at him with a pout. "Thank you so much.  I know that Joe really appreciates everything you've done for us."

Robert smiles softly. "I'm happy to help."

**

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you, Avilla?  What if you need someone?"

"Then I'll call you, but I just want to be alone right now."

"Okay.. Seriously, you call me no matter what time it is!  Got it?"

"Yeah." Arvilla nods. "I will."

Robert gives Arvilla a hug and kiss on the top of her head.
"Will you just unzip me, please?"

"Sure!" Robert chuckles.
Robert slides the zipper down, revealing Arvilla's bare back.  Robert's finger softly ran down her soft skin.  It sent chills down both of their spines.

Arvilla then smiled at Robert over her shoulder. "Thanks.  I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow.. or later tight, mommy!"

Arvilla giggles. "Bye!"

**

Arvilla took a nice warm bath.  She washed her hair, brushed her teeth, and cleaned her face.

Relaxing in the water, Arvilla closes her eyes and breathes through her contraction.
Arvilla pictured Joe there with her.  Helping her through each pain, coaching her with encouraging words.

"I love you, Joe.  I can do this.  We can do it together.  We're still the best team."

**

3:40 am.

"AHH!" Arvilla groaned and moaned loudly as pain rolled through her body.

Leaning forward on the bed and swaying her hips, walking back and forth, bouncing on her labor ball.  Those were just a few things that somewhat eased her pain.

What Arvilla didn't know is that Robert never left her driveway.  He couldn't get himself to leave her.  What if Arvilla needed someone and she was all alone?

Robert looked up and saw Arvilla walking back and forth.  He wanted so badly to go up and help her, to just be there with her.  But he honored what Arvilla wanted and stayed away.

Now all he was waiting for was the phone call to take her to the hospital.

*Cellphone rings*

Robert looks down and sees Arvilla's name lit up on the screen.

Robert takes a deep breath.
"It's showtime."