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Starting Over Again	By : gallygaskins Category: 1 through F > Clocking Off (BBC) > Clocking Off (BBC) Views: 1117 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Clocking Off and I do not earn any money from this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
Chapter 19 – The final push.

Mack awoke to find Sophie’s side of the bed cold and empty. Panicking, he pulled himself from under the covers and went in search of her, they’d been told to expect the birth date to be nearer 37 weeks and Sophie was now within 2 weeks of that.

He found her, curled under a blanket, a book opened out across her very large bump, gently snoring as she slept on the large sofa they had in the living room. He sat down next to her, not wishing to disturb her but wanting to touch her all the same.

Her eyes slid open as the weight changed beside her. “Good morning,” she smiled lazily.

“Good morning,” he returned, laying a tender kiss on her forehead. “How are you, petal?”

“Tired. Not that there’s any change there, eh?”

“Sorry for disturbing you.”

“No, don’t be, not really comfortable here. Not really comfortable anywhere. When did I become so grouchy?”

“When you realised you were having twins and knew your lifestyle was going to be restricted. Couldn’t you sleep earlier on then?”

“I did, for a bit. Got backache then, turned on my side hoping that would help and then the heartburn started up. Hence the reason I was here reading. That diversion obviously wearing me out so much that I fell asleep down here.”

“I was a bit shaken when I woke up to find you weren’t there. Thought you may have gone into labour.”

“Not a chance. See this?” She pointed at her bump, “wouldn’t be surprised if they were late.” She laughed.

“What are you laughing for?” He smiled at her, unable to fathom what had entertained her.

“Because if I didn’t I’d end up crying. I want this over with now, Mack. I want these beasts out of my body so I can at least have a decent night’s kip.”

“I only wish I could do some of this with you.”

“Mack, you’ve been the best husband I could have wished for. You’ve been there every step of the way and you’ve spent so much time away from work.”

“I knew Trudy and Martin would work out well. And I’m only doing what I thought was necessary.”

“Yes, precisely, so attentive to my every need. A truly wonderful husband and soon a wonderful father too.”

He placed his hands on her bump, smoothing over the blanket. He watched her close her eyes, it was a little massage he’d introduced to calm her when he felt she’d needed it. “Is this better?”

“Much, thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

“And of course it will be a lot better when we can make love again. I miss you, Mack.”

He bent down to her, kissing the exposed skin between her neck and cleavage. “It won’t be long, petal and then we can make love as often as you want.”

“As often as I want?” He nodded, her grin widened. “Shouldn’t promise things like that, might not let you ever get back to work.”

“Now there’s an offer.” He stood up, helping her to do the same before placing his arms around her and walking closely behind her as she mounted the stairs and climbed back up. He helped her back into bed, shedding his dressing gown and taking his customary place next to her. He let her get comfortable against him, his arms around her body again. “I miss you too, you know. Can’t wait to show you how much you mean to me, again.”

“Yeah, can’t wait.” She giggled, “Mack, give me your hand.” She placed his hand over her exposed tummy awaiting the next random kick.

Another kick ensued, Mack’s hand laying over the spot and waiting for it to come to rest. “You know, that never ceases to amaze me. I still can’t quite believe we’re having twins.”

“It’ll hit home when they’re here.”

“Yeah, I suppose it will. At least we’re ready for them?”

“Mack, we’ll never be ready for them, not really. Not when they’re screaming at all hours of the night, pooing all of the time or being sick.”

“You make it sound so romantic,” he teased. “Sophie, look at me.” She turned around to face him, “there are going to be times when we’re going to want to throttle one or the other or both, but we’ve got friends, lots of incredible friends that will help us even if we ask them not too. And then there’s always your family, I mean if it gets too much we could always send them packing to France.”

She laughed at his suggestion. “We’re going to be fine then. I love you so much.”

“I know, I love you too. Do you think you can sleep now?”

“Yes, Mr Mackintosh, I think I can.”

“And if you wake up, please let me know where you’re going, I don’t want another fright, not just yet anyway.”

“Ok, night.”

“Night.” He kissed her before allowing her to get comfortable and switching out the light. “Sweet dreams, petal.”

.oOo.

“Mack?”

“Mmm,” he groaned, still half asleep.

“Mack?”

He sat up abruptly from the force she’d used with her tiny hands to shake his shoulder. “What?” He looked around for a bit trying to recognise where he was. He looked at the clock, 6.47 am. He looked back over to Sophie. “What’s up?”

“I think my waters broke about an hour and a half ago, I was lying in bed and I felt some liquid, went to the toilet and there was more fluid than normal. Anyway, I’ve had a bit of pain since, think its contractions but if they are they’re not very regular at the moment.”

“Are you ok?”

“Yes, just you said I should let you know if I’m going to wander off.”

“Sophie, can’t you stay here, I can keep an eye on you then.”

“I want you to go back to sleep.”

“I don’t think I could even if I tried. Sit with me for a bit?”

She nodded, laying back against him and the pillows. “Ouch, ohh.”

“What?” Mack asked nervously.

“Would you like to take a bath with me, the midwife suggested it to help ease this constant backache I have and I feel like I’m having a period too.”

“Ok,” he got out of bed, “I’ll come back for you.”

“Have to go to the toilet, again.” She moved as quickly as she could, Mack giving her her privacy until she called for him to go in. “I’ve just discharged.”

“Is that good?”

“Well, it means things are starting.” She looked down at her feet, “Mack, I’m scared.”

He pulled her to him, his arms enfolding her body to his, “this is going to be fine, everything is going to be ok. Do you want to speak to the midwife?”

“She said to phone her when my contractions were about 6-7 minutes apart.”

“And they’re not yet?”

“No, have you got your watch?” She watched him walk from the bathroom and brought a travel clock back in. “At least I can time them properly now, thanks.”

“Come on, let’s get in this bath.” He helped her out of her clothing before dispensing with his own, he held out his hand which she gladly took. They sat down in the warm water together, her back against his chest, his hands massaging gently over her skin to help her focus on something other than the pain. They both kept an eye on the clock as they measured her contractions. He kept on asking her how she was feeling, always considerate and loving, making sure that her every need was seen to.

Even when they’d arrived at the hospital he kept up his devotion to her, walking around the corridors with her, sitting with her as she knelt or bent over on all fours on the floor, helping her sway her hips to relieve some of the pressure and the pain and helping her onto the bed when the midwife wanted to examine her. “Not long now Sophie,” she’d said, “you’re nearly fully dilated.”

He watched her as she looked between the midwife and himself, she looked petrified and he made it his task to try and allay her fears. “I know we’ve talked about this, until we’ve both been blue in the face but if there is something you want or need just tell me, Sophie. We’re going to make this happen in the best way for you, ok?” She nodded, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes as she knew that Mack wouldn’t allow anything bad to happen to her.

“There is one thing,” she whispered, as fresh sweat appeared on her forehead.

He wiped it away, “what, petal?” He smiled reassuringly.

“I think I want to get on the floor, I was comfortable kneeling on all fours, do you think they’ll let me give birth like that?”

“They said it was an option, when the midwife comes back in then we’ll ask.” She nodded.

Once they’d been given the go ahead, she knelt down with him, leaning against him at first before taking up the position that she felt she and the first baby would benefit from. She moaned as the contractions started up again, crying in agony as she felt the first head solid between her legs, a burning sensation erupting as she was encouraged to make her first pushes. Mack held onto her trying to get her to focus on something other than the pain, massaging her shoulders and breathing through it with her.

His heart broke as he watched her screaming out, pushing when she was told to, attempting not to when she was told to stop, Doctor Shaw now helping out with the procedure as finally the first baby’s head crowned as it was beginning to be born, the body following. The midwife took the baby away to one side as Sophie was examined by the Doctor. “It’s a girl,” she shouted.

Mack beamed, “we’ve got a little girl, Sophie,” she nodded slightly unable to do much more as he drew nearer to her, mopping her brow and kissing it.

“Ok, Sophie,” Doctor Shaw said, “I need you to stop pushing. Mack help her.” She got up from her position on the floor.

“Is something wrong?” He asked.

“No, no,” the doctor moved over to the nurse, whispering orders to her and another nurse that had arrived. The room was set in motion as a few more bodies came in a prepped up the room. A nurse came over to Mack and Sophie, helping Sophie to get to her feet and motioning for Mack to do the same. The assisted Sophie to get onto the bed, another nurse depositing a needle into her abdomen and the liquid inside pushed inside of her.

“What’s that?” Mack asked, holding onto his wife’s hand, whilst she continued to screw her face up in pain.

“Mack, Sophie,” the doctor began, “the other twin is in breech and I can’t turn it. We’ll have to do a c-section in order to birth the other twin.”

“Can I stay?”

“It’s entirely up to you and Sophie, Mack. Whatever you both want. They’ll be a screen up so as not to upset either one of you. We’ve just given Sophie a local anaesthetic and once we know its working we’ll begin opening her up.”

“Do you want me to stay?” Mack asked Sophie, concern written over his face.

She nodded, “I can’t do this on my own, Mack. I want you here.”

“I’m staying,” he said, authoritatively.

“Good,” Dr Shaw concluded, “ok, nurse, see to Mr Mackintosh would you?” He was lead away momentarily, quickly returning to be beside Sophie.

He took her hand again; she looked up to him, beginning to laugh, “what?” He said from behind the facemask.

“You look kind of cute in a medical cap, gown and mask. We’ll have to remember this … ow!”

“I take it you could feel that?” Dr Shaw asked, “we’ll give you a few more minutes.” It wasn’t long before they had opened her up and had brought their second baby, kicking and screaming, into the world. “It’s a boy,” Dr Shaw remarked, as he was taken off to be seen too by one of the nurses standing by. “Well done, Sophie.”

Sophie lay back, smiling despite the amount of pain she was in. She opened her eyes up looking at Mack as he continued to mop at her brow and over her face. He’d been allowed to remove the mask and she didn’t think she’d seen him smile as widely ever before. She’d tell him later, she knew exhaustion was ready to take her and she slowly drifted off to sleep.

She awoke in another room, Mack by her side, stroking her hand as he wrestled with his own fatigue, fighting to stay awake. “Welcome back.” He said.

“Hi,” she smiled. “We did it then?” She breathed out.

“You did it, petal. We’ve 2 wonderful babies. The boy looks a bit like me, but his older sister looks like you, but they’ve both got your eyes.”

“When can I see them?”

“The nurse said she’d bring them both up when you were ready; she says you might like to have a shower first.”

“Oh, yes. That would be good.”

“I’ll go and put it on then, help you wash your back too.” He said, as he moved into the en suite and switched on the shower to get the temperature right. “You’re not allowed a bath yet, so I’m going to have to help you.” He joked, continuing “you know, so you don’t fall over and hurt yourself.”

She sniggered at him, until the pain in her abdomen became too much for her. “Are you allowed?”

“The nurse said it was perfectly alright, they’re even going to bring in a bed for me so I can sleep in here with you until they let you go home.”

“That’s good of them.”

He came back out, “ready?”

She nodded, “ready.” He helped her from the bed, walking with her slowly into the bathroom, undoing the ribbons at the back of her gown as she let it slip to the ground. She had a look around the room, Mack had thoughtfully already placed her bits around and a fresh nightshirt hung on the back of the door.

She walked under the spray of the shower as she noticed him go from the room and return as quickly. “Just locked the door,” he said, before stripping himself and walking in behind her. She turned around holding onto him. “You did us proud, Sophie.” He said kissing the top of her head.

She sniffled, “but look at me, I’m going to have this hideous scar now … forever.”

“Sophie,” he knelt down in front of her, his eye line level with the stitches. He looked up to her as he leant in and very gently kissed the middle of the sealed opening. “It is not hideous, it is beautiful. Like the rest of you and a wonderful reminder of how our children came into the world, same as these stretch marks.” He stood back up, taking hold of the flannel and soap before beginning to lather her body, “and it only serves for me to love you more. We have our children and we have each other.”

They spent the next half an hour in companionable silence, until Sophie was finally back in bed. Mack found a nurse and soon both babies were brought in to them, hungry and crying for attention. Mack sat on the bed next to Sophie, his son, Jack, in his arms looking across to his daughter, Amy, in his wife’s. “I am so lucky, may have taken a while but I have everyone I need and love in the world right here.”

Sophie looked up to him, feeling as blessed as Mack looked, “and so do I.”

Fin
- 18
- 19
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Starting Over Again