Until Time Stands Still (25 page)

            “Don’t freaking touch me!” She hollered.

            “Okay then. Let’s do this thing.” He said. “When I tell you to push, do it, but if I tell you to stop, stop.”

            “Are you kidding me?” she gasped. “That’s all you’ve been telling me to do for hours now.”

            “Isabelle, you like to sing right? Sing a lullaby to the babies.” Johnny said.

            “You’ve got to be kidding me now.” She grunted. Another pain tore through her body and she screamed.

            “Push…more…more…good girl.”

            Mykel began to hum some silly song he learned when he was a boy. It was either that or he was going to start crying.

            “Good. Push again, as hard as you possibly can, and then some.” Johnny said. She did.

            “Great. You did great. Okay, the second babies head is out. Push again, Isabelle. You’re almost done, I promise. Just give me one more.” Johnny encouraged.

            When the second baby slid free, Isabelle collapsed on the bed and cried, mostly in relief, and joy, and exhaustion.

            Mykel cried with her. Johnny set the baby on her stomach and cut the cord quickly. He was still, compared to his brother.

            “What’s wrong with him?” Isabelle cried.

            “I just need to clear his lungs and nose. Some babies don’t cry instantly.” Johnny said. He took the little bulb squeeze thingy and sucked something out of the baby’s mouth and nose.

            “Come on little man…cry for me.” Johnny said. He rubbed the babies back vigorously and gave him a little slap on the rump. He squeaked. Johnny did it again. The baby opened his mouth and howled.

            It was the most beautiful sound Mykel had ever heard. “You did it Isabelle.” He said, kissing her. “You are so amazing.” He kissed her. “I love you so much.”

            “We did it.” She said, suddenly exhausted and sleepy. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

            “Isabelle. I need you to stay awake for a few more minutes, ok?” Johnny said. “There’s still a bit of work you have to do.”

            “No. I’m done. There better not be any more babies in there.” She muttered.

            “No.” He laughed. “No more babies. Just stay awake for me okay?”

            Mykel held his first son while Danae washed the second baby. He was a red and wrinkly, like a tiny version of a grumpy old man. He laughed. “Welcome to the world, William James.” He whispered. He kissed his son’s tiny head and glanced over at Isabelle, who was smiling up at the two of them sleepily.

            “James?”

            “It was my little bothers name.” He said, swallowing, hard.

            “It’s a good name.” She yawned.

            “What should we name the other one?”

            “I want to name him Christopher, after my father.” She said. “Jacob Christopher.”

            Mykel smiled sadly. “Jacob would have bragged about that for the rest of his life…having a baby named after him.”

            “It’s a good way to honor his memory.” She said, yawning again.

            “Yes it is.” Johnny said.

            “Give me my baby.” Isabelle demanded.

            Danae brought the second baby over, all cleaned up. He was still crying.

            He calmed down instantly when he was put in his mother’s arms.

            “Your children are beautiful Isabelle.” She said, smiling.

            “We make pretty cute kids, don’t we?” Mykel grinned.

            “Someone should go tell the other guys.” Johnny said. “I know Graham is a very worried uncle, and he hates just sitting around on the sidelines.”

            “I’ll go tell them.” Danae said.

            Isabelle and Mykel sat and stared at the new lives they created, in awe.

            “What do we do now?” He said, looking down at the tiny little life in his hands.

            “You learn to survive on twenty minutes of sleep.” Johnny said.

            “Naw…these guys have tons of aunts and uncles they can keep awake all night.” Mykel said, laughing. Johnny patted her shoulder and grinned.

            “You did very well, Isabelle. Just take it easy for the next eight weeks or so.” She nodded. “I’m gonna leave you two alone for a while.” He said. “Mommy isn’t the only one who needs a nap.”

            “Did you ever think…all those months ago, that we would end up here?” She asked.

            “When I first saw you…I knew you would be important to me…and it wasn’t just because of what we were there to do, or that I saw what happened and followed the van. It was almost like…fate or destiny or something. In all the times I’ve been, all the places, and all the people I’ve met…I was never drawn to anyone like I was you. Did you know the first time I saw you, I never actually saw your face? All I saw was the back of your head and all that long hair.” She grinned.

            “I miss my long hair.” She said. “I wished I never cut it.”

            “Don’t worry, love…it’s hair, it will grow back.” He grinned. “But the point is…I was committed to you before I ever saw what you looked like. It really was a kind of love at first sight thing…when I saw you all naked tied to that bed.” He confessed.

            “I’m not sure you can call your kinky bondage fantasy love at first sight. Lust maybe.” She laughed.

            “I’m calling it love.” He said. “I’ll love you forever, Isabelle. Throughout all time…no matter where we go or what challenges we face in the future, the way I love you will never change. Throughout all of time, you are the only woman in the world for me.” She smiled, serene and peaceful.

            “I never thought I could ever be this happy.” She said, tears in her eyes. “You saved my life Mykel, in so many ways. I was so miserable before I met you, and I didn’t even realize it. You gave me my life back, and gave me a reason to hope, and look forward to the future. Now…we are holding the future in our hands.” She said, smiling down at her sleeping son.

            He kissed her forehead. “We saved each other, love.” 

            It took some creative wiggling and bending, but he managed to pick up the baby she had been holding without dropping the baby he was already holding. He sat in a chair in the corner and rocked his sons and let her rest. She drifted off to sleep almost instantly.

            “Boys, let me tell you a story. It’s about how a brave warrior searched all through time to find the love of his life, and rescued a princess.”