2025:
It was a bright, breezy, and chilly December morning as Jared drove up into the driveway of his house in Sacramento. He had sold the house his grandfather had gifted him—the one his mother had chosen—and gone out with Dahlia to find one they both liked, a house of their own. Okay, so maybe it wasn't exactly in Sacramento, but close enough. It was also better because he was able to commute to the hospital where he was working now.
He could hear the TV was on in the living room as he came through the doorway.
“Look for the bear necessities! The simple bear necessities! Forget about your worries and your strife!”
“Rosie?” He called out and heard a shriek and pattering of feet as a little blur came to throw herself at him. “Oof!”
“Hi daddy!”
Jared rubbed his stomach where his daughter had headbutted him. He picked her up and she threw her arms around him, planting a loud dramatic kiss on his cheek.
“What are you doing up so early?” He asked her with a smile. Her hair had darkened from the color she was born with into a honey brown. Her eyes were still hazel, more green or brown depending on her mood, it seems. With the exception of her loud mouth, she resembled Dahlia. Thank God, he thought, as he still didn't consider himself such a great catch.
“It’s Saturday, daddy. I’m watching cartoons.”
“Okay, but it’s earlier than normal for you to be up and about. Where’s your Mom?”
“In the bathroom.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you’re up so early.” Jared mused as he carried his 6-year old daughter to the kitchen with him. “Have you had breakfast yet?”
“I had a waffle.” Rosie explained as she climbed off him and onto the long bench he set her on. “It was blueberry.”
“Okay. Do you want some pancakes or something? Milk?”
“Hmm. Can you make them blueberry pancakes?” She asked happily, leaning against the wide counter.
“Yeah, alright.” He went to the downstairs bathroom to change his scrubs into a pair of sweat pants and a clean t-shirt. When it had been about fifteen minutes and Dahlia had still not come downstairs, he felt a little concerned. “Was she taking a shower?” he asked Rosie who shrugged.
“Nope. I think she was throwing up.” Rosie went back to the batter she was mixing. Dahlia had let Rosie help her in the kitchen with simple things since she was about three and it just seem to stick. Now, it was hard to get her out of the kitchen.
“Uh. Okay.”
For a minute, Jared panicked. Morning and vomiting did not sound like a good combination. Dahlia wasn’t one to be usually sick, so that was a little strange. He mentally counted back to her last period and felt relieved.
“Morning.” Came a voice from the doorway and they both turned to find Dahlia there, looking rumpled and pale.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hey, you.” Dahlia waved at him and came to sit on one of the kitchen stools. “Not looking so hot.”
“Head is pounding, dizzy, nauseous. Ugh.” She groaned as she laid her head down on the counter. Jared came over and leaned over to kiss the top of her head. She groaned again, burying her face on his sweater.
“You probably caught a bug.” Jared commented as he stared at her pale face.
“Maybe she’s pregnant.”
Both adults turned to their daughter who didn’t notice the panic in their eyes.
“Rosie!”
“Huh?” She finally looked up to see her parents looking at her funny. “What?”
“I am definitely not pregnant. Why would you think I would be?”
Shrug. “Dizzy and vomiting? I heard Amy tell Phoebe that she heard Aunt Mel tell their mom that she was dizzy and vomiting in the mornings and now she’s pregnant.”
“Melanie is pregnant?!” Both adults asked surprised. They turned to each other excitedly.
“Does Cal know?”
“I don’t think so. I wonder if it’s true?” Jared wondered aloud.
“So, maybe you’re pregnant.” Rosie continued as she threw some berries into the batter. With another shrug, she added. “Whatever that means.”
Dahlia went back upstairs for her phone and came back with a grin on her face.
“Who are you texting this early in the morning?”
"Facebook stalking Melanie's account, to see if there's anything there..."
Jared just shook his head.
When they were done with breakfast and Rosie had been sent back to bed (it was only seven in the morning), Jared and Dahlia headed back upstairs to their room as well.
Dahlia crawled back into bed while she waited for Jared to brush his teeth and shower.
“You know, maybe Rosie has a point.” Jared called from the bathroom as he brushed his teeth. “How do you know you’re not pregnant?”
Dahlia groaned and turned to face the bathroom. “Why would you ask that?”
“You do have a habit of stopping your pills halfway.”
“I do n…Okay, fine. Maybe I do, but it’s just that I hate taking pills. I have so much going on to remember to take them.” She muttered into the pillow. Jared walked out drying his hair with a towel.
“I don't understand why you just didn't stay with the shot," he commented as he observed. "So, are you sure you’re not?”
“I’m sure I’m not.”
“Okay.” He climbed into bed next to her, dragging the blankets to his chest. His calmness unnerved her. He was being way too nonchalant about the issue.
“Dang it.” She exclaimed before jumping off the bed and running to the bathroom. He could hear her vomiting and he counted to thirty before calling her name.
“Are you okay?”
She moaned back a response, and he could hear her rustling through the drawers and shelves in the bathroom. That peaked his curiosity and he climbed out of bed as well, knocking on the door before he went inside. He found her sitting on the toilet with the seat down and staring at a stick in her hand.
“Seriously?” he chuckled with a smile, even though part of himself was terrified to think that she could be pregnant again. Even more so terrified to think that the possibility of twins existed in his family. She shushed him and stared firmly at the stick, almost as if she was telepathically telling it to be Negative. “I thought you were sure.”
“Yeah, well, with your very productive and reproductive genes, I don’t think I want to risk it.” She glared up at him momentarily. “And you have an issue with keeping your hands to yourself, so yeah.”
“Ha!” Was his reply as he leaned against the counter and waited for the results with her.
They'd had the conversation regarding future children again after they've moved in together again. She had said that she would like to have more children with him and he had agreed, they just hadn't really given it a thought afterwards. Between work and raising Rosie (who turned out to be quite smart, but sassy), they had their hands full. She had gone back to working the floor after taking a year off to spend time with Rosie, and now she was working long shifts, which she'd cram into a tight three day schedule just so she could have more time to watch Rosie.
Jared had started working in the hospital again since it seemed to give him a little more flexibility for spending time with the family. All in all, they weren't quite ready for another kid...
“Should be done by now… Op! There it is!” She said and sighed heavily.
“What’s the prognosis, Fertile Myrtle?” He asked, earning himself another glare and a roll of eyes.
“Negativo, old man. Now stop with the Juno lines and go to bed.” She told him as she washed her hands and headed back into the room. “You’re stressing me out.”
He had to smile at that. Never a boring day with her around. Glancing down at the empty pregnancy box on the counter, he went back to the room as well. “Why do you have pregnancy tests in the bathroom, by the way?”
“Because you can’t keep your hands off me.” She replied from her end of the bed.
“Should I be concerned?”
“No. Goodnight.” She replied as she cuddled into her pillow.
He was dozing off when he felt her turn over and hug him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled against his back.
“If I was, I promise I’d tell you this time,” she murmured into his back after a while, but he didn’t hear anymore because he had already dozed off.
…A year later: 2026
Melanie had turned out to be pregnant, and not with one baby, but two, given the twin genes in the Dale family. She gave birth to two identical baby girls who resembled Caleb in coloring, hair, and attitude. Naomi and Callie Dale came into the earth on a sunny July day, and just like the day they were born, they were bright and sunny babies who always had a smile on their face and a giggle for whoever carried them.
Karinne had declared that "The Factory Was Closed" after she spent Christmas 2019 cradling the toilet bowl and puking her guts out. On New Year's Day she had made the announcement that she was pregnant and Nathan had nearly passed out. They had their older daughters, Matthew who was almost two, and a new baby on the way. Their third daughter was born August 2020 and they named her Lilah.
Amber and Andrew were content with the number of kids they had, especially with Amelie and Phoebe who seemed to have the energy of six kids. Savannah turned out quieter child, content with immersing herself in books and art while her older sisters preferred the boisterous school bands.
"Hey, man, thanks for coming."
"Hi, Uncle Cal!" Rosie exclaimed as she came over to greet her uncle. He was carrying one of the twins while Melanie carried the other. "Oh, she's so cute...Which one is she?"
"That's Callie."
"Aww, Callie's cute. Need help?" She asked, pointing to the bags he carried.
"Sure, kiddo. Thanks."
"Where's the birthday girl?" Melanie asked as she came into the living room. They were celebrating Dahlia's birthday. Andrew and Amber couldn't make it since they were in Washington, but Karinne and her family were already there, helping Amanda out with the food.
"She said she was going inside for a sweater," Rosie explained.
"Go tell her that the babies are here. I'm sure she'll be excited." Jared said. Rosie nodded and headed into the house to find her mom.
"Mo-om! Aunt Melanie and the babies are here!" Rosie called down the hallway. When she didn't get an answer back, she went to the living room to see if she was there. "Mom, babies are here. Mom?" She found Dahlia sitting on the corner of the coffee table, holding a stick in her hand, looking confused and shocked at the same time. "Hey, Dad says to tell you that-- what's that?"
Dahlia blinked, looking up at her daughter. "I'm pregnant."
"What?" Rosie started, not quite getting it for a moment.
"I'm having a baby." Dahlia said, laughing nervously.
"What?!" Rosie gasped as her eyes widened. "I'm gonna have a baby sister or brother?! Oh my god!" She squealed, hugging her mom. "I'm gonna have a sibling!" She stopped. "I have to tell everyone!"
"Wait, Rosie! Dang it." She watched Rosie running out the door. She stared at the stick in her hand again, a very pink plus sign on the little screen. She'd had her suspicions that she could perhaps be pregnant, but had waved the thought away. Then, this morning when the smell of Jared's coffee had turned her stomach, she panicked and realized it could be very possible...
She'd missed her period the previous month, but hadn't been too worried since she wasn't that regular. When she'd started becoming nauseous and dizzy, she worried a little. Jared had joked that she was pregnant, but last time that had happened, it was just from the flu.
She headed out to the back and heard commotion. Jared came to meet her as she made her way out the back door into the patio. Grabbing her in his arms, he held her, staring brightly into her face.
"Is it true?" He asked as he searched her wide eyes. "Rose said that you're pregnant?" She nodded quietly and Jared grinned, "Are you serious!"
"I just peed into four different sticks. They're all positive."
"Oh my God!" He whooped, picking her up and turning her in his arms. She started laughing, feeling his excitement fill her as well. She wasn't expecting that reaction. Turning to the rest of the family who was staring at them, he said, "Hey, everyone, we have an announcement!"
"What? She preggo?" Loud mouth Caleb called from the back. Amanda and John waited. Even the kids were quietly waiting.
"Actually, uh, yeah." Dahlia started with a nervous chuckle.
"What?!" That was from Amanda who had dropped her spatula and stared wide eyed.
"I'm pregnant. Surprise!" She said and everyone began shouting and talking loudly, excitedly over each other. Amanda came over to hug her daughter tightly, crying joyfully for another grandchild. The women congratulated her, hugging her tightly while the men patted Jared on the shoulder, congratulating him.
Rosie was jumping up and down, shrieking. "This is the best birthday gift ever! I'm going to be a big sister!"
"I'm posting this on Snapchat!" Announced Phoebe, while Amelie stated this was going on Instagram as "#FAMILYGROWING, #PROBABLYTWINS".
Jared finally came over and took Dahlia into his arms, planting a big kiss on her lips. "I love you, babe." He whispered into her ear and she held on tightly.
Amelie's prediction had turned out to be right.
Micah and Caden Dale Henderson were born April 10, 2027, one month before their due date. They were identical, almost 6-lbs each, with dark hair, and similar looking scowls on their faces that Dahlia said reminded her of Jared's.
They had broken the mold of girl twins and Caleb had joked that Jared wasn't one to ever follow trends. Amanda was over the moon with her new grandchildren, and Rosie didn't miss the chance to tell anyone who would listen that she was an older sister now. The twins joined the family of nine grandchildren, taking it up to eleven. Camille didn't quite know what to do.
Although her relationship wasn't perfect with her own kids, the one she had with her grandkids was much better. She was slowly trying to make amends with her family. She and Jared had come to some sort of unspoken agreement that whatever had been brought to light regarding Gerard was going to be kept between them. Jared planned to take that knowledge with him to the grave. He couldn't hate Camille forever and Dahlia had encouraged him to try and understand his mother and her reasoning.
"I'm still shook." Dahlia said with a smile as she stared at the twins in their crib. They had finally gotten all three kids into bed and to sleep.
"How do you think I feel?" Jared asked with a chuckle, throwing his arm around her shoulders. "Hey, Lia?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"For?" She turned to look up at him.
"For everything. For Rosie. The twins." He tried to clear the lump in his throat. "Just... I'm happy. I love you, Dahlia." She smiled softly at him, putting a hand on his cheek.
"I love you, too, Jared. I never expected to be this happy."
He nodded, "You did turn out to be tough. I was right." He grinned and she smacked his arm playfully. Pulling her to him, she lifted her face up to his, heart beating loudly as he embraced her. He leaned down, kissing her tenderly.
They didn't notice Rosie giggling at them from the doorway as she sneaked past to get some midnight cookies from the kitchen.
~The End~
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