Kelly looked around the room and saw a crib with blankets and pillows arranged neatly. There was a musical mobile overhead that was swirling around and the music filled her ears. Apparently, Nick and Brian had programmed it so that the mobile played Backstreet Boys songs because “Back To Your Heart” was playing when she walked in. There was a rocking chair and a lamp beside of the crib with a teddy bear blanket draped over the back of the chair and a pillow in the seat. There were stuffed animals all over the room. In one corner, there was a bookcase with children’s fairy tales and other children’s books. There was a small night light plugged in under the window. Everything was so nice…so perfect. Kelly was on the verge of tears when someone came up behind her and wrapped their arms around her and hugged her tightly.
“Nick!” Kelly screamed, turning around and falling into his arms.
The two shared a warm and passionate embrace. Kelly buried her head against Nick’s chest and let the tears flow, while Nick pressed his face against hers and took in a deep breath of the pear scent, the enchanting fragrance that he had missed so much.
“I missed you so much, baby,” Nick said, pressing her body even closer to his, if that was possible.
“I missed you too. I’m sorry that I left, I love you,” Kelly held her hand behind his neck, stroking the back of his hair.
“Nick, we’re going to be late. Please hurry!” Kelly shouted, pulling the keys out of her purse
“Okay, okay…let’s go!” Nick said hurriedly, rushing down the stairs.
“This is so exciting!” Kelly squealed delightly, interlocking her fingers with Nick’s.
“What is?” Nick asked distracted.
“Ya know, like our baby’s first doctor’s appointment,” Kelly grinned.
The couple walked back to the doctor’s office so that Kelly could have her first sonogram.
“Okay, where is he?” Nick looked at the screen anxiously trying to locate his baby.
Kelly smiled at her husband’s joy and silenced him so that they could hear the hearbeat. “Is that normal?” Kelly asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
“Actually, that heartbeat is irregular,” the doctor said. The female obstetrician looked at the screen again, and noticed something.
“What do you mean irregular?” Nick asked, getting worried, and clasping his hand with his wife’s.
“That heartbeat would be irregular for one baby, but...since you’re having twins, it’s perfectly normal,” the doctor grinned from ear to ear, sharing the good news.
“Twins?” Kelly and Nick said simultaneously.
The doctor laughed slightly and nodded. “Yes, congratulations and Mr. and Mrs. Carter, everything else looks fine. You’re free to go anytime you’re ready.”
“Hey Kel, how was your doctor appointment?” Ang asked her friend over the phone, several months after Kelly’s getaway to New York.
“Everything went well. Nick and I have some really big news!” Kelly said excitedly.
“You found out if it’s a boy or girl, didn’t you?!” Ang squealed delightly.
“Mmm…yeah, something like that. We’ll come over and tell you and Bri about it, ok?” Kelly suggested.
“Okay, see ya in a few! Bye!” Ang said, hanging up the phone.
Kelly and Nick walked up the Littrell’s driveway and rang the doorbell. Nick noted that certain sparkle that was in his wife’s eye and the way she carried herself now that she knew she was going to be a mother.
“Hey guys! Come on in,” Brian greeted the Carters. “Ang is in the kitchen making some brownies.”
“Mmm…sounds good! I’m gonna go see Ang!” Nick patted Brian’s shoulder and briskly made his way into the kitchen.
Brian and Kelly laughed and stood in the foyer talking for a minute, until Nick and Ang called them into the kitchen so they could all have brownies.
“So, what’s the good news?!?” Ang asked, excitedly, her green eyes wide with anticipation.
“Well…” Nick began.
“We’re going to have twins!!!” Kelly gushed, jumping up to hug Ang and then Brian.
“Wow! That’s so great, you guys! I’m so happy!” Ang smiled happily.
“Yeah, congratulations man. That’s great!” Brian said, hugging Nick.
“Wait, there’s more!” Kelly held out her hand to silence their cries of joy.
“We’re having a boy and a girl,” Nick informed the Littrell’s, their best friends.
There was basically the same effect of ‘wow’ and ‘congratulations’ from everyone.
The couples talked all afternoon and well into the night, before Kelly got tired.
“Well, I guess we’re going to get home. My lovely wife is getting tired,” Nick smiled helping Kelly put her black leather coat on. It was October, meaning Kelly was about 5 months pregnant or so.
“I’m glad you two came by. We’ll go out for dinner tomorrow or something, ok?” Brian suggested.
“Sounds great! Goodnight and thanks for the brownies, Ang!” Nick called as the couple left.
The couple was lying in bed that night, both too excited to sleep, but almost too tired to talk.
Kelly broke the silence, “So have you thought about names?”
“For who? The twins?” Nick asked.
“No, Nick, for our fish!!” Kelly said sarcastically. “Yes, the twins.”
“Very funny, Kel. I think the boy should be named Nickolas for me and the girl should be named Nicole, for you, your middle name, ya know?” Nick rolled over on his side and propped up on his elbow to face his wife. “What about you?”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. I thought about their full names, too, though. How about Nickolas Preston Carter and Nicole Paige Carter?” Kelly suggested, searching Nick’s face for a response.
“That’s really pretty! I like those names!” Nick said with enthusiam.
“Seriously?” Kelly questioned.
“Yeah, I do,” Nick reassured her.
The moonlight was pouring in through the window, casting a bluish glow on his wife’s face. He watched her sleepily blink her eyes. Her long eyelashes batted up and down, until they stopped and she had fallen asleep. Nick watched his wife sleeping. He stroked his hand along her milky white, flawless complexion and ran his finger over her pouty, peach colored lips. He leaned over and gently kissed her warm, moist lips and inhaled her bittersweet pear fragrance. When Kelly felt his lips again hers, she opened her eyes to find Nick’s face inches away from hers. She could feel his warm, sweet breath against her neck. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. The couple finished their long, sensual kiss and pulled away from each other.
“You know, you’re going to make a really good mother,” Nick said, staring lovingly into Kelly’s crystal blue eyes.
“And you’re going to make a really good father. I love you,” Kelly said, kissing her husband softly on the lips.
“I love you, too. Goodnight honey,” Nick said as Kelly rolled over, her back toward him.
“G’night, sweet dreams,” she called back, drifting off to sleep once more.
Nick slid closer to her and wrapped his arms around her once tiny belly. Her waist was still small, but her tummy had expanded quite a bit, now that she was carrying twins. He placed his hand carefully on top of hers that was placed on her tummy and fell asleep listening to the heartbeats of his family.
