The Way It Should Be
Chapter Eight
By: Carrie Verkman
carebear1025@juno.com

I think that this is finally the last chapter of my story. Thank you to all the people who have read all the way to the end. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Anna and Carter will always be my favorite couple on ER. 

Finally one last time I want to thank Cathy and Anna for taking the time to help me with Anna's character. Thank you so much!



It was August 15th. The big day had finally come. Everything was ready. The church was beautifully decorated with flowers. Anna was getting ready with the help of Carol and Kerry in her dressing room. She had to be there earlier than John, because as tradition says, it's bad luck for the groom to see his bride. Anna picked out a white sleeveless dress made out of silk. 

"Anna you look so beautiful." Carol said. 

"I look like a whale." Anna replied. 

"You're a beautiful whale." Kerry said. The girls burst into laughter.

Meanwhile in John's dressing room, John was pacing the floor trying to remember his vows he wrote especially for Anna.

"Anna, I gave you my heart and I gave you children. The last thing I can give you is… is…"

"My hand in marriage." said Mark. 

"Right. Man, I'm so nervous." 

"You'll be fine Carter, don't worry." 

"I know this breaks tradition but I need to see Anna." John said. 

"That's bad luck!" said Mark. 

"I'll just stand outside her dressing room door. I need to talk to her."  

John left the room and headed to Anna's room. He knocked on the door. "Anna, are you there? I need to talk to you." 

Anna was surprised. "John?" 

"Don't come in, it's bad luck!" shouted Carol. 

"I'm just standing outside the door. I can't see her."

Anna looked at the girls. "Can I just have a few minutes with him?"

Carol and Kerry left so Anna could talk to John. "John what do you want to talk about?" 

"Anna, you know I love you and I'm not just marrying you because of how I feel about you. I think it's good for our children to be born in wedlock. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." John said. 

"Oh John that's so sweet. I feel the same way. Thank you." 

Mark came up to John. "It's time to take your place at the altar." John said good-bye to Anna and went to the altar. 

Anna was nervous. She knew that hundreds of eyes would be looking at her as she walked down the aisle. How could they not? She was huge in front.

"Are you ready?" asked Carol. 

"It's either now or never." Anna said. She began to walk down the aisle. She could see John down at the end of the aisle smiling that cute boyish smile of his. Anna finally made it to the end. She held John's hands as the pastor began to do the ceremony.  

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to-" The pastor was interrupted by a cry from Anna. 

"Anna what is it?" asked John. 

"My water broke. It's time." Anna said, holding her belly. The crowd of guests was shocked. 

"Anna you picked a real good time to go into labor." John said. 

"Just shut up and get me to the hospital." Anna moaned as she felt her first contraction. John suddenly came up with a plan.

"Mark, get everyone here who works at the hospital back there and page Dr. Coburn in OB. Kerry, get Anna in the limo and wait for me." John then made an announcement to the guests. "I'm sorry we have to cut the wedding short, but we will let you know how Anna is doing after the twins are born. Thank you for coming and thank for the gifts." John headed to the limo.

"What about me? Do I wait for you?" asked the pastor. 

"No," said John. "You come with me to the hospital. You can marry Anna and me there." John and the pastor got in the limo where Anna and Kerry were waiting. Then they drove to the hospital. 

Doug and Haleh were waiting with a gurney in the ambulance bay. They saw a black limo pull up First Kerry got out, then John and then Anna. The pastor followed behind. Anna and John were still wearing their wedding formal wear, as were all the hospital employees who were invited. Doug and John put Anna on the gurney and rushed her into the hospital. "Her contractions are three minutes apart." announced John. "Will she have enough time to get to OB?" 

"I hope so." Doug said. 

"I don't want my babies born in the ER!" Anna cried. 

Mark and Kerry rushed to help Doug. Mark checked under Anna's gown.

"Uh-oh." He said. 

"What?" asked Anna. 

"You've dilated ten centimeters already. These babies are coming now! Chuny get Trauma One ready, Haleh page Dr. Coburn stat!" 

"I said I don't want to give birth in the ER!  John do something!" Anna cried. 

"There's nothing I can do now!" John said. "Listen to Mark, everything will be fine." 

Anna was quickly rushed to Trauma One. There was no time even for Anna to change out of wedding gown. John stood by Anna's side and held her hand. "All you can do now Anna is bring these babies into the world." Then John remembered the pastor was with him. "Continue the ceremony. Quick!" John said. 

"Do you, John Truman Carter, take Anna Del Amico to be your wedded wife?" said the pastor. 

"I do." 

"Hurry up!" Anna cried. 

Mark interrupted. "Hello, we're trying to deliver here!" 

"Not until we're married!" John said. 

The pastor continued. "Do you, Anna Del Amico, take John Truman Carter to be your wedded husband?"

"I do." Anna moaned in pain. 

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." John hastily kissed Anna on the lips. Dr. Coburn arrived. "Sorry pastor you need to leave. We'll call you back for a christening. Dr. Greene, I'll take over." 

As the doctors and nurses left they shouted out good luck to John and Anna. "Okay Anna when I tell you to, push." 

Anna nodded. She held on to John's hand tighter. 

"Push Anna!" 

Anna gritted her teeth and pushed as hard as she could. She let out cries of pain.  

"Anna you're doing great. Keep pushing." John said. 

"Okay Anna keep pushing." Dr. Coburn instructed. "There you go. Good girl. I see the head. It's almost there. Okay now stop pushing for just a moment. Good. Now one more push." 

Anna gave one more like she was told and then heard a soft cry. 

Dr. Coburn held up the baby. "Congratulations Anna, it's a boy!" 

Anna smiled. "I have a baby boy? He's really here?" 

John said. "I have a son." He ran out to tell the other doctors who were waiting outside the trauma room. "I have a son! I have a boy!" he shouted. The doctors cheered him on as he ran back to Anna. 

"Anna let's deliver your second baby." said Dr. Coburn. 

Anna was exhausted. She leaned back on John's chest. "But I already had a baby." 

"Come on Anna, push." John said, holding her hand. 

Anna pushed until she heard another cry. This one was louder. 

"Say hello to your baby girl!" announced Dr. Coburn. Anna began to cry tears of joy. 

"I have a son and a daughter. I can't believe it!" John kissed Anna. "You did a great job, mom." 

Anna leaned back on her bed. "You weren't so bad yourself, dad." 

John and Anna were brought up to the nursery on OB. Anna did eventually change out of her wedding gown to a comfortable hospital gown. John however was still dressed in his tuxedo. The two of them were settled in their own room. 

John sat in a rocking chair holding his daughter, while Anna was still in bed holding her son. 

"This is a day we'll never forget." said Anna. 

"Boy will we have stories to tell all our relatives." John said with a chuckle.   

There was a knock on the door, and Kerry poked her head in. "Can we come in?"  

Anna smiled. "Yes, of course. There is someone we want you to meet." 

Kerry walked in along with Drs. Greene, Ross, Corday, Doyle, Benton, Jeanie, Carol, and all the nurses. 

Anna spoke up. "John and I would like you to meet John Truman Carter Junior,"

"…And Julia Christine Carter." said John. 

The nurses cooed at the babies. "Can I hold one of them?" asked Jeanie.

Anna handed her John Jr. John gave Julia to Elizabeth. The babies were passes from doctor to doctor.     

"Oh they are so tiny!" Kerry exclaimed. 

"John Jr. looks just like you, John Sr." said Peter. 

"Thank you for all the help and support you've given us." said John.

"I'm sorry you didn't see a romantic picturesque wedding." 

"Who cares?" said Maggie. "All that matters is that you were with your closest friends and two babies were brought safely into the world." 

Just then Dr. Coburn poked her head in the room. "Dr. Carter, the pastor wants to know if he can christen your kids." 

"Which Dr. Carter?" asked Anna. "No, I'm kidding. Tell him he can come in." 

The pastor walked in. "If I have joined two in holy matrimony, I might as well christen these children under the name of God as well." 

"What about Godparents?" asked John. 

"Just pick someone." said Anna. 

"Okay I pick Peter Benton as their Godfather." 

"And I pick Kerry Weaver as their Godmother." said Anna. 

John Jr. and Julia were christened there at the hospital, before all the visitors had to leave. Finally John and Anna were alone with their kids. John kissed Anna. "I love you Anna." 

Anna kissed back. "I love you too. Thank you for the most wonderful wedding gift ever." 

This time John was holding his son. "Today was a perfect day, with the perfect woman and the perfect children." 

"I agree. I've never been so happy." Anna said. "Let's hope it always stays this way." 

John looked at John Jr. sleeping in his arms. Then he looked at Anna." It will always stay this way. This is the way it should be."

Epilogue


"Carter? Carter are you awake?" asked Kerry.

John woke up. "I'm awake Anna! Does one of the babies need me?" 

"I'm Kerry." 

John turned towards her. He had fallen asleep in the lounge. "Oh sorry Kerry." 

"I assume things are busy in the Carter household." Kerry said, pouring coffee. "Do you want some coffee?"

"No thanks. I've had too much already." John said. "John Jr. and Julia don't sleep through the night. Both of them have colic." 

"Really?" 

"Yeah, the doctor says they'll grow out of it, but when? I haven't had a full night's sleep since they've been born. They wear Anna and I out, but it's all part of parenting. I'm happy with my family." 

"That's good to hear. When will Anna be back at work?" 

"In three weeks." 

Randi poked her head into the lounge. "Dr. Carter, Anna is on the phone for you."  

John left the lounge. "Duty calls." John picked up the phone. "Is everything all right Anna?"

"No," she said. "Do you know where Mr. Blankie is for Julia? She's crying for it." 

"I thought John Jr. liked Mr. Blankie." John saw Doug looking at him. He chucked when he heard John say "blankie". 

"No, John likes his teddy bear." 

John saw Doug leave. "I remember that Mr. Blankie was left behind Julia's crib." 

"I'll go look for it in their room. John is sleeping in there and I don't want Julia to wake him up, so I'll put her ear to the phone and you talk to her." Anna said. 

"Okay." Doug had returned with Mark by his side. He whispered something to Mark that made him laugh. 

"Hi Julia!" John said in baby talk. "Mommy's going to be right back sweetie-pie. Don't cry Julie- wulie." John began to blow raspberries into the phone, Julia began to giggle. John looked up and saw Doug and Mark laughing at him. 

"Found it!" Anna said, who had picked up the phone. "I see you made Julia laugh." 

"Yeah, not to mention Doug and Mark  I got to go Anna. Love you, bye."

John looked at Doug and Mark.  "What?" 

Doug said, "I didn't say anything, dad." 

The End!

Comments are appreciated!  cverkman@juno.com