TITLE    : There's More Inside
STORYID  : theres-more-inside
SUMMARY  : More surprises and answers.
AUTHOR   : slow_n_gentle@lit
DATE     : 2010-02-06
CATEGORY : adult-romance
FLAGS    : h
TAGS     : |valentine's day|twins|love|


<i>My thanks to psyche_b_mused for making this a better read.</i>



*



"So have you told him yet?"



Megan had a disgusted look on her face as she held the phone out and looked at it before putting it back to her ear. Her sister had asked her that same question for weeks. It was now beyond annoying.



"Give it a rest Julie. We've been married less than a month. You saw what Rob was like at Christmas. The man's on information overload. Unlike Paul Harvey, Rob's not ready for the rest of the story yet. Besides, the morning sickness is almost gone now and I need sex again."



Megan heard her sister's laughter. It irritated her. Julie had been pregnant; three times in fact.



"That's it, laugh big sister. You should remember what it felt like when you were pregnant."



Julie chuckled. "Yeah, I remember. The first time, when I was pregnant with Nicole, I was insatiable. I used to attack Jeff as soon as he walked in the door. I think he pleaded for overtime so he could have a break from me. Enjoy it while you can, it'll change. Once that baby comes out of your body, you'll lose all desire for Rob's little friend to come visiting any time soon."



Megan laughed. "I'd love to talk, but I've got to go to Big R's for some maternity jeans. Mine are getting tight on me."



It was Julie's turn to frown. "Sis, when do you see the doctor next?"



"In a couple of weeks. Why?"



"No reason, you just seem to be getting big early, that's all. I didn't need maternity clothes until much later, but then I only gained around ten pounds."



"Rub it in," Megan laughed, "I've got to go. I want to pick up the pants before I meet Rob for lunch."



Megan hung up the phone. Her brow wrinkled as she thought about what her sister had said. Julie had sounded concerned about her sudden gain. It concerned her too; she'd never gained five pounds in one month in her life.



She parked the Avalon in the lot of Big R's. The cashier waved as soon as she entered the store. Since the story came out, she'd received mixed reactions from the town folk; some waved, others shunned her. She picked out five pairs of maternity jeans and headed for the check out.



The cashier beamed when she walked up to her counter. "How are you Ms.Langford?"



Megan smiled. "It's Mrs. Coleman now."



"Oh, okay." The cashier lowered her head like she'd been rebuffed.



Megan saw the dejected expression. She wanted to make it right, but didn't want to end up in a lengthy discussion.



She ran her credit card through and collected her merchandise. She glanced at the cashiers name tag.



"I wasn't scolding you Tracy; I'm just Megan, the wife of the local insurance man. If you watched the show, you know I gave up the rest for Rob. Just treat me like one of the regulars."



Tracy half smiled and nodded her head. "Okay, Miss, I mean Megan. You have a good day."



Megan used a soft, pleasant smile to smooth over the misunderstanding. "You too Tracy."



*~*~*~*~*



Rob saw her pull up and moved his project to the back room. The bell tinkled over the door as he put the last tool away.



"Say insurance man, you ready to take your starving wife to lunch?"



Rob came from the back room to see the most beautiful twinkling blue eyes in the world. She was always beautiful, but now impending motherhood just seemed to make that beauty glow.



He stole a quick kiss before wrapping her in his arms. "Have I told you lately how beautiful you look and how lucky I am to have you in my life?"



She softly kissed his scarred cheek. "This morning when I woke you before the alarm went off."



A little smile appeared as he recalled this morning. "You can wake me like that again any time you want."



She lightly kissed his lips, her tongue running over his lower lip. "You continue to snuggle with your stiff friend and I'll be waking you a lot."



Rob grinned. "Let me feed Mooch before we go." He removed an open can from the fridge and put the contents in a bowl. Thirty seconds in the microwave and the happy freeloader was swishing her tail as she ate.



Rob observed the different expressions from the passersby as they walked to the diner. Since the Betty Winters Show, it seemed there was everything from excited waving to veiled disdain toward Megan. Their preconceived opinions of Megan from what they read in the tabloids really irked him, and saddened her.



Rob held the door as she walked into Pepper's Grill. The usual noise dimmed as heads turned to look at her. Rob watched as she walked through the room smiling and returning the greetings of strangers and recent acquaintances alike.



She picked a table along the wall so they could eat without someone tapping on the window to get their attention.



"You know dear, the way you just worked the room, you should run for mayor. Dave Richards hasn't been opposed for years. Unfortunately it only pays a hundred dollars a month."



Megan grinned. "That would definitely keep our lives private. I could just hear the nightly news." Megan grabbed the salt shaker and held it like a microphone. "Actress gives up career to become wife, mother, and mayor of Maple Grove. Details after the weather." She chuckled and set the salt shaker down. "Let me get use to the wife and mother part before you start running me for office." As close as they lived to Chicago, it would bring a reporter or two to Maple Grove and she didn't want that.



Mae, their waitress, recited the luncheon specials as she set their usual two cups of decaf on the table. Removing the pen and pad from her pocket, she waited for their order.



*~*~*~*~*



Rob and Megan slowly strolled down the sidewalk, holding hands like a pair of teenagers. They stopped and looked in the shop windows as they made their way back to his office. He'd read that walking was good for her now and with the winter season, this was the only time they had.



He stopped next to her car and pressed the fob to unlock her door. His lips brushed hers as she quickly threw an arm around his neck and melted into him. Her tongue darted between his lips as her free hand grasped his ass and pulled him toward her grinding pelvis.



Rob stepped back when a honking horn interrupted them. He saw the mischievous look in her eyes as she grinned and winked at him. "To be continued, Sugar."



Megan backed out and stopped to wave before driving off. She was still giggling a block away over the shocked expression on his face. These sudden sexual urges were partly his fault. If he hadn't opened that second bottle of wine when she made the surprise visit in October, she might have been thinking more clearly instead of succumbing to the moment. She would have remembered that she'd run out of birth control pills during the promotional tour for her movie and hadn't refilled them yet.



As soon as she got home, she changed into a pair of sweat pants and one of Rob's tee shirts and started the housework. 



Megan was almost finished with the vacuuming when she suddenly felt exhausted, like she'd been working all day. It had to be the pregnancy, she'd never felt this tired before. She left the vacuum in the hallway and slid under the comforter on their bed. It would be a short rest; twenty, maybe thirty minutes and then she would finish. A short time later, pleasant dreams filled her mind.



*~*~*~*~*



Rob walked to his office shocked, but smiling, at Megan's behavior. He unlocked the door and let Mooch out to take care of business on the side yard of the building. When they went inside, he went into the back room and resumed working on the Valentine's Day present he was making. It was the most detailed wood carving he had ever attempted. He picked up his knife and began detailing the wreath.



Rob looked out front when Mooch barked to see his clients coming in for their four o'clock meeting. He'd contacted each of his clients at the start of the year to see if any changes in insurance were necessary. Jim and Tammy Rogers were the second of eight customers he needed to meet to go over all their insurance. It was after five when Rob locked up the office and he and Mooch climbed in the truck for the trip home.



The house was dark when they entered. Rob flipped on the kitchen lights and checked the progress of the pot roast in the Crockpot. He thought about calling out for Megan, but Mooch had her nose to the floor in pursuit of the missing mistress. He turned on the hall light and stood at the doorway. Mooch was on her hind legs stretching her neck to sniff his sleeping beauty curled up on the bed.



Rob returned to the kitchen and put the Crockpot on low. What he had in mind might take a while. He rattled the dog food before putting a scoop in the bowl. Mooch's interest quickly shifted from Megan to the food bowl in the kitchen. Entering the bedroom, he lit the candle on the dresser and closed the door. He quickly undressed and slid under the covers.



Rob rubbed his hands together to warm them up before sliding one under her tee shirt to fondle her breast. His fingers cupped the underside while his thumb brushed her nipple. Her breasts were fuller and her nipples seemed larger than before. His lips kissed that special spot by her throat that soon had her purring.



Her eyes slowly opened as a smile appeared. "Mmmmmm...Nice wake up Sugar. I hope that was just the teaser." 



Rob gave her a mischievous grin as he hooked his thumbs in the waist band of her pants and yanked them toward her feet. She screeched in surprise; then giggled as he dove under the covers. He stopped to kiss the slight rise in her belly before continuing downward to find her lower lips moist and engorged. Her giggles quickly changed as he slid her clothes the rest of the way off and his lips paid homage between her thighs. 



Megan screamed as his oral stimulation delivered an intense orgasm. 



She tossed back the covers and grabbed his hair as she spread her legs. "Rob get up here."



Her other hand slid along his body, waiting to touch his stiff shaft and guide him in. Her body tingled, making her want more.



Megan settled her legs behind his as they moved in their familiar love making. She pulled his head down for a kiss. Sex felt different now. She could feel him inside her more than ever before, and the orgasms lately were better; more intense. 



She smiled and softly touched his shoulder. Rob had no idea how much loving he would be receiving.



Mooch tried to push the bedroom door open repeatedly to investigate the squeals and moans coming from inside the room. She finally curled up in front of the door for the long wait until her master reappeared.



*~*~*~*~*



Megan dangled her feet over the side of the exam table as Dr. Mary looked at the vitals the nurse wrote in the chart.



"Your blood pressure and heart rate look good. How's the morning sickness?"



"Good. Slight nausea once, sometimes twice a week. Rob researched on the internet. He's been trying the suggestions posted by pregnant women on foods to avoid and what helped them."



"That's good. Ask him to make me a list of what worked. I'll have my receptionist print it up for the new moms."



"He's become a learned scholar on pregnant women. Rob takes me for a walk after lunch. Now he rubs my belly and talks softly to the baby. He read where it keeps the baby calm."



Dr. Mary smiled. Some new fathers went 'all-out' for the first one. "It's good for all of you. You need the attention as much as the baby and I'm sure you give hubby attention in return. Let's scoot you back on the table so I can hear how the baby's doing."



Dr. Mary spread the gel over Megan's abdomen before placing some on the Doppler probe. She slowly moved it searching for the tiny heartbeat. Megan heard a lot of racket, but suddenly could hear what sounded like a rapid heartbeat among the noise. She relaxed and smiled until she saw Dr. Mary's forehead wrinkle as she moved the instrument around her slightly raised belly.



"Megan, have you been more tired lately?"



"Quite a bit, why?"



"Just curious, it happens to some women. I'll do a blood draw and we'll run a couple of tests. I need you to come to my real office tomorrow afternoon for an ultrasound."



"What's wrong? I saw you frown."



"Nothing's wrong Megan. It's still a little early, but I'm not picking up a clear heartbeat. It could be the way the baby's laying. The ultrasound will tell me a lot more, and I'll see how the baby's progressing."



Megan parked in front of Rob's office and sat in the car. She felt nervous and a little frightened. Dr. Mary had answered her questions, but there was that frown and a hesitation in her answers as if she was about to say more but at the last moment changed her mind.



Rob wasn't in the front when she entered, but Mooch happily greeted her. She heard him talking in the back. He peeked around the doorway holding a phone to his ear before she could walk back to him.



"I'll be out as soon as I finish this call."



She nodded and sat at his desk to wait. She heard him opening and closing drawers like he was looking for something while he carried on his conversation. Megan removed his day planner from the center drawer and looked at his Thursday schedule. Her heart sank; she really wanted him with her, but his Thursday had three big appointments and Friday a couple more; even Saturday morning he had one. She smiled noticing she was listed as his eleven thirty to one each day. She put away the planner when she heard him end the conversation. 



"What'd the doctor have to say?"



Megan held out her arm to show him the Band-Aid. "She's running some blood tests. She said you were doing a great job taking care of me and I should show you my appreciation more."



Megan winked and smiled suggestively. "How about we have a light dinner and go to bed early for some appreciation?"



Rob grinned. "I'm sure the doctor recommended this appreciation."



Megan feigned innocence. "She said I should return the wonderful attention you give me and the baby. She didn't exactly say how; just that you would appreciate it."



Rob kept a straight face as he shrugged his shoulders. "I guess it's a light dinner and early to bed. We wouldn't want to go against doctor's orders."



She leaned in for a quick kiss. "Feed Mooch so you can take us to lunch." She rubbed her belly. "We're hungry."



Rob stifled a chuckle as Megan flipped up her hood and tied it for their two block walk. They slipped on their sunglasses as they stepped outside. 



They'd walked a block when Rob shivered and pulled the knit cap over his ears. The reflective glare of the sun gave a false impression that it was warmer than the twenty degree reading the bank's new sign showed. She chuckled and slipped her gloved hand around his arm.



"Thought I was silly tying my hood, didn't you?"



"Brrrrr. When did it get so cold?"



"A couple of hours ago. The lady on the radio predicted sub zero temperatures tonight."



Rob patted the hand on his arm. "Don't worry, we'll make it. I'll grab a blanket and hold you close."



Megan trembled as she looked at his calm smile. He'd said those exact words before, many years ago, only it wasn't about the cold, but hot as in fire; lots of fire. 



She felt his hands on her and heard his voice. She blinked and saw concern on his face. "What?"



"Are you okay? You stopped and started shivering. Let's get you in the diner. After lunch you wait there and I'll get the car."



Megan nodded her head and snuggled into him. Now wasn't the time or place to tell Rob 'the rest of the story'.



Lunch was uneventful if you excluded the fact that Megan was quiet and seemed to be concentrating on something a million miles away. She'd even walked back to their table without returning the usual greetings. As he walked back for the car, Rob tried to think of what caused his usually talkative wife to suddenly become withdrawn. One minute they were talking and the next quiet. Other than her shivering from the cold on the way to the diner, nothing came to mind. 



He picked her up in front of the diner and left the car running when he stopped in front of his office. Rob looked at her closely, seeing neither happy nor sad; just a nondescript expression as she looked out the windshield. "You want me to close up and drive you home?"



Megan blinked before turning to look at her husband. She smiled to put his mind at ease. "No, I'm okay. I'll go home and take a nap."



"I'm worried, I've never seen you so quiet".



Megan looked at him, forcing a smile. "I didn't mean to be."



Rob watched her for a moment. "If you don't want me to drive you, then take Mooch with you."



"Hun, I'm just a little tired, but if it'll make you feel better get Mooch, she doesn't care if she naps here or at home."



Mooch ran to the side of the building to take care of business before settling on the blanket Rob laid on the back seat of Megan's car. Rob closed the back car door and tapped on Megan's window. "Call me when you get home."



Megan nodded and drove off. She waited until she was on the edge of town before calling Julie.



"Hey Sis, I need a favor. I have to go to my doctor's main office tomorrow and I need you to come with me."



"What time? I have to show some houses to a couple in the morning, but my afternoon is free."



"Afternoon's perfect. If you make it here before eleven thirty, meet me at Rob's office and we'll treat you to lunch. One more thing. When I shipped you those packages from California there was one about the size of a shoebox. Could you bring it with you?"



Julie chuckled. "You mean the one I had to sign for with the 'don't open' written on the sides in red marker? I'll bring it if I can see what's so important in that box. It weighs next to nothing and doesn't rattle when you shake it."



Megan gasped. "You didn't shake it did you? It's old and fragile."



Julie heard panic in her sister's voice. "No, I'm just kidding. Megan what's really wrong?"



"Just a second while I pull the car in the garage."



Julie heard the garage door close and Megan call Mooch out of the car. She heard her enter the house and a couple of seconds later tell Rob she was home and going to take a nap.



"Okay, I'm back."



"Megan, what's upsetting you and why did you have to call Rob? What's going on?"



"I went to the doctor today. She told me everything was okay, but I know it isn't. I saw her frown when she was using that machine to listen to the baby's heartbeat. Now she wants me to go to her office tomorrow for an ultrasound and Rob's got clients scheduled tomorrow. I know he'd cancel his plans for me..." Megan sniffled and wiped the tears with the back of her hand, "but he's really busy right now and I don't want to bother him but I don't want to be alone if it's something bad."



"Megan, it'll be okay, I'll go with you. I had to have an ultrasound with little Jeff because he was lying funny and they couldn't hear a strong heartbeat. The ultrasound showed everything was fine. I know having your first baby can be stressful because it's unlike anything that's ever happened to you and you get upset over the littlest of things, but something besides the doctor's office is bothering you. What is it?"



"It was Rob's answer when I told him about it getting really cold tonight. He used the same words and sounded just like he did at the fire. Even his facial expression was the same."



Julie remained quiet for a few moments. "Sweetie, you were four. You couldn't remember that night. I can barely remember it and I was almost nine at the time. This doctor visit is upsetting you, and you're starting to let little things become major problems. Go take that nap and I'll see you tomorrow."



"Okay. Julie, don't forget the box. I really need it now."



"I'll bring it Sis. I'm writing myself a note right now. See you tomorrow. Bye."



Megan lay down, but sleep was slow in coming. She finally called Mooch in to snuggle next to her before she dozed off.

<hr pg="2" />*~*~*~*~*



The room was dark when she first heard the yelling in the hallway. She clutched her bear to her chest and lay still. The yelling continued and she cried out "Mommy" but nobody came and soon a crackling noise replaced the yelling. She climbed out of bed and opened the door only to find the other side very hot and smelled terrible. Thick smoke covering half way down the walls nearly blocked out the ceiling light in the hallway leaving just the flickering of fire lighting the downstairs. She climbed back on her bed and began crying for her "Mommy".



She became quiet; she saw a stranger walk into her room. She held her bear tight as he picked her up and held her close. "I scared" she said and began to cry.



"Don't worry. We'll make it. I'll grab a blanket and hold you close." He leaned over and pulled the blanket off the bed and walked across the hall to the bathroom. He held them both under the shower before setting her down and drenching the blanket. He tried to set her bear down but she kept picking it up and clutching it to her chest. He finally tucked it inside his shirt and tossed the blanket over her.



"Wrap your arms around my neck and hold on tight. He made sure the blanket covered her arms before holding her against him. His left arm was under the blanket holding her close as the right one was outside the cover keeping the wet blanket covering the little girl.



She heard his voice telling her it was okay as he walked down the hallway. She felt the heat and saw flickering light through the blanket as he walked down the stairs. She heard his voice becoming strained as he comforted her. She tensed up when he started to moan, but he quickly whispered everything would be okay.



Suddenly it felt cold and the flickering light was gone; replaced by bright white lights and a deep voice saying "Let her go, I've got her now. Let go son, you're hurt."



Megan sat up trembling, drenched in sweat. The house was dark. She reached over and turned on the lamp on her nightstand. She began to strip the bed hoping to have it finished before Rob came home.



*~*~*~*~*



Rob set down the fine point paint brush and slowly turned his work looking for even the minutest of flaws. It was worth the effort he put into it. The stand looked like real marble with its slight imperfections. The laurel wreath with its crisscrossing red ribbons had random shade differences of the leaves making you want to reach out and remove the occasional yellowing one. 



The large three dimensional heart with 'Megan' carved on one side and 'Rob' on the other opened on small gold hinges to reveal a small heart inside hanging from a tiny gold hook waiting to be finished with the name of their first child. He calculated a total of five small hearts would fit inside if he could convince Megan. He moved it carefully to the center of the table. He would bring it home early Sunday morning before she woke up along with his other surprises.



Rob called for Mooch and looked around when she didn't come before realizing she was at home with Megan. He locked up and drove home.



He stopped at the end of the driveway and collected the mail. His concern for Megan faded when he noticed the kitchen light reflecting off the snow. He saw her silhouette dart into the hallway as he drove up the lane. 



He heard the dryer running as he entered the kitchen. Mooch made her entrance from another room and barked to let Rob know dinner was late again.



"Okay my cranky lady." Rob scratched Mooch behind the ears before filling her food bowl. He checked the fridge for supper, but disregarded last night's uneaten pot roast since Megan requested a light dinner. He removed a container of frozen vegetable soup from the freezer and placed it in the crock pot along with a cup of vegetable broth.



Rob let Mooch out for her after dinner stroll as he unloaded the dishwasher. He got a mischievous grin when he heard the shower turn on. He called Mooch in and headed for the bedroom.



*~*~*~*~*



Megan stood under the shower letting the hot refreshing spray rinse the shampoo out of her hair. She has to disagree with Julie. Her dream felt real. She may have only been four then, but she remembered what happened that night.



She screamed when a pair of hands pulled her back in to a bare chest. She turned to see those cool blue eyes looking down at her again. She laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her tight as the water cascaded over them. Megan closed her eyes, trembling as she thought about that frightened four year old girl held under a shower while that same calm voice comforted her.



"Babe, are you okay? You're shaking like you're cold. Let's get you dried off and in some warm clothes. You might be coming down with the flu."



Megan shook her head. "Not the flu. You surprised me and a cold chill ran down my back."



Rob wrapped her in a towel and got her flannel nightgown out of the bedroom. He carefully dried her off and dressed her before laying her in bed and covering her up with the down filled comforter he removed from the top closet shelf.



"I have soup warming up, but it will be awhile before it's ready. Stay under-"



"Rob, get under the covers and hold me. It's what I need right now." He saw those wet frightened eyes. No words were spoken for many minutes as he lay under the covers with her snuggled against his naked body. His hand softly stroked her back.



He felt Megan wiggle back and forth before sitting up. She pulled the flannel gown over her head and tossed it to the foot of the bed. She softly kissed Rob's lips before whispering her simple request; "Love me."



Rob placed gentle kisses from her lips downward. Her breasts beckoned him to stop and sample their fuller size with aroused darkened nipples just waiting to be feasted upon.



His hand drifted over her mound to find her already wet when his fingers slid between her lips. Two fingers began their rhythmic movement as his thumb circled her nub. Megan's hips picked up the movement as her hand moved between them to get him ready.



It was close to midnight when they dressed just in their thick cotton robes and ate soup in front of the fireplace. The dessert of kisses and cuddles brought on adolescent laughter as they returned for another amorous adventure in the bedroom before they fell asleep.



Mooch happily licked clean the bowls left on the living room floor before curling up on the rug next to Rob's chair for a well deserved rest before breakfast.



*~*~*~*~*



The annoying buzz of the alarm brought an arm swinging out of the warmth of the covers to silence the menacing contraption. A playful giggle turned into a purr when an unsuspecting breast was suddenly sucked into a warm mouth. Megan parted her legs as a hand stopped at their junction. Her fingers traced down his hairless chest to find her target stiff and eager. He moved above her as she guided him in place. Their movement was slow and gentle as they bathed in the feel of one another. The kiss, long and loving; each silently communicating their desire for the other. 



The change in breathing brought about an increase in movement as bodies began to slap together. Rob's lips fastened onto her exposed neck as he thrust to meet her rising hips. Her internal grip sent him over the edge as she cried out her pleasure to the world. They clung together as their hearts raced and their bodies cried out for air.



Rob showered as Megan rested. He dressed for work and started breakfast as she showered and readied herself for the day. Rob softly whistled as he donned his apron to prepare sausage links and French toast. After last night, today was already starting off to be a great day.



Mooch stretched and made her way to the back door as Rob filled the coffeemaker. He let her out and filled her food bowl so the grouch would stay quiet on such a wonderful day.



He was standing next to the stove enjoying his coffee when the hand landed solidly on his arm, spilling hot coffee down his apron and the left sleeve of his shirt. He turned to face a very upset wife who was pointing at the very pronounced mark on her neck. It took every ounce of control he had to refrain from grinning.



"Just how am I going to explain this to the doctor?"



Rob furrowed his brow. "You were at the doctor yesterday."



Megan hesitated. She'd forgotten to mention today's appointment. "I have to go to her main office today for an ultrasound."



Rob was upset. He had a full appointment calendar today. "Why didn't you say something so I could have moved my appointments? I'll have to try and call them now."



Megan realized she had to defuse the situation. "Its okay, Julie's off and she's gonna take me. Julie told me it's routine now. She had it with little Jeff. If our clinic had the machine, Dr. Mary could have done it yesterday. I guess its one disadvantage to living in rural America."



"Still, I could have taken off you if you'd let me know in time. Julie didn't need to drive all the way up here when I could have taken you."



Megan chuckled. She cupped her breasts with both hands and jiggled them at Rob. "In case you haven't noticed, they're spilling out of my bras. You going to help me find new bras like Julie?"



The thought of standing in a women's store for hours while Megan shopped made him shiver. He smiled and nodded his head. "You're right babe, Julie's the better choice. Coffee's ready."



The rest of the breakfast was filled with the details of their respective day. Rob went to work with Mooch and Megan began her housework to keep her thoughts off the ultrasound.



Julie called around ten thirty to say she was still working but would meet Megan about one at home. Megan went into town at her usual time and had a nice lunch with Rob. She walked with him down Main Street before returning home to find Julie waiting in the driveway. Megan parked in the garage and waved her sister inside.



"I need to use the bathroom before we leave. Did you remember the package?"



Julie leaned in the car and removed the box. "Right here sis. You finally going to show me what's so important?"



"When we get back. I want to get this test over with before I do anything else."



Julie drove through Maple Grove and took the interstate into the city of Prarieview. Dr. Mary's office was a block from the hospital where Megan would deliver.



When they entered the office it was empty except for the receptionist doing paperwork. She looked up when she heard the footsteps.



"You must be Megan. The doctor's waiting for you."



Megan grabbed Julie's hand and dragged her along. She wasn't facing bad news alone.



Dr. Mary looked at the nervous expression on her patient's face. She gave her a comforting smile and nodded at the woman Megan had in tow.



"Just slip on the paper gown so we don't mess up your clothes with the gel. Who did you bring with you?"



Megan had her pants and top off and the gown half on when she realized Dr. Mary was talking to her.



"Oh, I'm sorry. This is my sister Julie. I was too nervous to make the trip alone."



Dr. Mary moved the machine closer to the exam table and helped Megan lay down. She looked at Julie.



"You might want to stand over here to see your niece or nephew."



Dr. Mary touched Megan's hand. "Relax while I rub the gel over your belly like last time. I got the results from the blood work and it was what I expected. Now let me put some gel on the probe and let's see what we have."



Julie stared at the monitor as Dr. Mary moved the probe around. A faint heartbeat came across the speaker and increased in strength as she moved the probe and the image became clearer on the screen.



"You have a healthy baby with a strong heartbeat. Let's take a picture and move on."



The heartbeat faded as she moved the probe until she was half way around Megan's belly when it began to increase again. She moved the probe slowly until an image appeared on the screen and the heartbeat pounded loudly.



"Here's that funny noise you were hearing yesterday. Lay still and let me get another picture. Okay, got it. Why don't you say hi to your other baby?"



Megan lay looking at the screen. What Dr. Mary said hadn't registered with her, but it did with Julie.



"Oh my god, twins. My baby sister's having twins."



Megan looked from her wide-eyed smiling sister who had happy tears running down her cheeks to a smiling Dr. Mary. "Twins? Me with twins?"



Dr. Mary nodded. "'Fraid so. The blood work and ultrasound don't lie; you're carrying twins Megan." She handed the pictures to Megan. "Show your husband and tell him it's his Valentine's present." 



Dr. Mary's expression became less jovial. "I want to see you at the clinic in two weeks. We have to keep watch so you don't become anemic. Having twins is more work on your body than a singleton. Starting in a couple of months you will have to come here for a monthly ultrasound. I wish I could afford one in each clinic, but I haven't hit the lotto yet. You will also be taking some additional vitamins to keep your children from depleting your body as they grow. You're young and healthy; you should have no problems with this pregnancy. We'll keep watch and wait for delivery time."



Megan changed as Julie talked to Dr. Mary. Megan set up an appointment with the receptionist at the Maple Grove clinic. 



They stopped at a maternity shop where Megan picked up two new bras and Julie convinced her to buy three cute maternity tops for use later. When they were ready to leave, Megan asked Julie to turn left and take the old highway back to Maple Grove.



"If that's the way you want to go, so be it." Julie still wore a huge grin. "I still can't believe you're having twins."



Megan removed the two pictures from her purse and looked at them. "Poor Rob, he'll wish I never found him after I tell him this plus all the rest."



"Found him? You told me you had a flat tire and walked to the first house and it happened to be his."



Julie turned to see her sister's face was slightly red. "Megan, what did you do?"



"You'll see. It's a little farther down this road."



Megan stared out the side window deciding how to explain this to Julie. She saw it approaching.



"On your right. That's how I found him."



Julie slowed down and looked at the billboard advertising Robert Coleman's Independent Insurance Agency. She wrinkled her brow as she looked at her sister. "The sign?"



"No! His picture. I'll remember those cool blue eyes the rest of my life. Like you said, I was only four and didn't know his name, but I can't ever forget those eyes from that night. The day I saw that sign, I stopped and stared at it. My heart told me only the one that saved me had those eyes. I drove into Maple Grove and found his office. I had no idea what I was going to say, but luckily I didn't have to. His out to lunch sign was hanging in the window, so I waited across the street for him to get back. When he did, he let Mooch out and waited outside while she did her business. He was wearing a short sleeve shirt and I noticed his scars. He looked across the street at my car and I saw those eyes again. I got his home address from a phone book at the gas station. I looked on MapQuest and made my plan to meet him."



Julie chuckled. "You're telling me the famous actress stalked Rob. Why didn't you just go introduce yourself and thank him?"



"I wanted to meet him and see what he was like without him knowing I was an actress or the little girl he saved."



Julie grinned at her sister. "The white knight syndrome?"



Megan became a little irritated. "Call it what you want, but I wanted to see what kind of man he grew into. I mean think about it Julie, he runs into a burning building to save a complete stranger with no concern for his own life. There aren't many of those people out there, and he was just a kid himself when he did it."



Julie lost the grin and became quiet for a minute. "Finish your story and then I'll tell you the rest of the story Megan."



Megan looked questioningly at her sister, but getting no response continued with her tale.



"At the airport, I rented that red convertible you fell in love with and drove down the old highway toward Maple Grove. At that little rest area with the picnic table by the tree I stopped and threw away the spare tire and the tire changing stuff in the trunk. I parked about a mile from Rob's house and watched him for close to an hour with a pair of binoculars to see if he had a wife or kids. When I didn't see anyone else, I drove over a nail I put in front of the tire and then let the air out of that black thingy until the tire was flat. Then I walked to his house and you already know the rest."



Julie was shaking her head. "So you threw away the spare and destroyed a tire just to have an excuse to meet him. Kind of expensive, wasn't it?"



Megan chuckled. "You have no idea. Counting the auto expense here and what the rental company charged me for their missing stuff; add to that a ruined pair of Louis Vuitton Sandals and a new summer dress that I somehow got car grease on; plus the highlights I had put in my hair along with a mani and pedi; this plan of mine cost over a thousand to meet him. The good part was he invited me in his house for a cold drink and I got a chance to look around enough to know he lived alone. Now, what is it you have to tell me?"



Julie had a serious look on her face unlike anything Megan had ever seen from her sister. "The fire that night changed all of our lives forever. Did you know your white knight ran into that fire a second time just to save you and ended up burned because of me?"



Megan shook her head. "You said you could hardly remember that night."



Julie looked straight ahead and continued to drive. "I lied. I remember it like you remember Rob's eyes. I heard the pounding on the door that night and went into the hallway to look. The smoke was starting to roll up the stairway from the living room. I stood there and stared. I was scared to death and couldn't move. I heard glass break and Rob ran in yelling. He grabbed me and pulled me down the stairs and shoved me out the front door. I watched him run back upstairs and start yelling again. I ran over to the big tree and waited for the rest of you to come out."



Julie glanced over to see Megan intently watching her. "It seemed like forever. The smoke was billowing out and I could see flames through the downstairs windows. Finally, I saw mom and dad come out huddled together holding something and Rob right behind them. He came over to me. I must have been shivering because Rob took off the heavy winter jacket he had on and wrapped it around me. I looked at mom and dad and saw dad had one arm around mom and the other holding his briefcase from work. Mom was holding her jewelry box. They were crying and shaking. That's when I realized you were still in there. I started screaming and only Rob moved. He ran back into the house. Our parents just stood there holding one another. I don't think either one of them thought about you or me."



Megan nodded her head. "Rob picked me up and that's when he said the words about a blanket that upset me yesterday. He took the blanket off my bed and took us into the bathroom where he drenched us in the shower and then wrapped me in that wet blanket. I could see the fire through the blanket. He held me against him and kept telling me it would be okay. I realize now that when his voice changed he was hurt but kept talking to me until we were outside and someone with a deep voice was taking to him."



Julie turned off on a side road and stopped. She began to sob. "I watched him carry you out of the burning house. The fireman had a hard time getting him to let you go. When he did he fell to the ground screaming in pain. The paramedics rushed over and someone pointed a spotlight. The side he kept against the blanket was fine, but the other side..." Julie shuddered. "I never want to see anything like that again. His arm all the way up to the side of his face was a horrible black and red mess. I started crying because if he hadn't given me his coat, he would have been protected. Do you remember going to the hospital and I had to hold your hand so you wouldn't take the oxygen mask off your face?"

<hr pg="3" />Megan nodded feeling as sad as her sister now. "All I could think of was I didn't have my bear and I couldn't tell you because they had that thing over my mouth."



Julie grinned and wiped her eyes. "The famous bear. When they brought us in, I heard one of the paramedics running around asking the nurses where he could find the little girl from the fire. I went to see what they wanted. Rob made the man promise to give you that bear. It brought a smile to your face when he gave it to you."



Julie looked over to see tears running down her sister's cheeks. "It lost an eye in the fire. I was holding it when Rob found me. He kept setting it down so I could hold on to him after he covered me with blanket, but I kept grabbing it. He finally tucked it in his shirt. When they gave it to me, its eye was gone. I didn't know he made them find me. God Julie, I'm lucky I found him."



"Maybe it's one of those predestined things. He finds you when you need him most and you find him when he needs you."



Julie saw the blank look on Megan's face.



"Think about it Sis. Out of the whole town of Prarieview, Rob is the only person who notices our house is on fire. He saves us and we move while he's in the hospital. He ends up in a small town going through life without getting married. Then you happen to take a wrong turn; see his picture on a billboard and fall in love with the man. You seem to be the only woman who doesn't see the scars. There are too many coincidences that bring you two together."



Megan looked at her sister through misty red eyes and grinned as she shrugged her shoulders. "I can't explain it Julie, I look at Rob and all I see is a beautiful man who is gentle and loving that I want to spend the rest of my life making happy."



*~*~*~*~*



Rob parallel parked in front of his office. It was suppose to be diagonal parking, but it was Sunday and he was only going to be there a minute. He opened the back door for Mooch to jump out and run to the side of the building and mark her territory while he went inside.



He loaded the box he had carefully packed his presents in for the trip home in the front seat. Calling Mooch to jump back in the truck, he headed home hoping Megan would still be asleep.



He set the box on the kitchen table and carried the Valentine carving to the living room where he centered it on the mantle over the fireplace. He partially opened the heart so she would see the small unfinished heart inside awaiting the birth of their first born. He stepped back and judged it with a critical eye before grinning and nodding his head. She'd love it.



Rob set the bouquet of flowers in a vase of water and tried to arrange them as best he could. The combination of mixed color tulips and yellow daffodils with a few pieces of baby's breath were pretty considering the selection wasn't that great at the grocery store. His Valentine's card leaned against the vase. It was a plain red heart without the clever rhyme of the card company. Instead he had written a few carefully chosen words to express his feelings of happiness and love for her.



Beside it lay the box of assorted dark chocolate truffles from her favorite place, The Chocolate Garden. The UPS truck had delivered them to his office Thursday. 



Rob started a pot of coffee and had a small bowl of cereal while he waited. He'd make breakfast or possible brunch after Megan woke up.



He placed the empty bowl in the sink and filled his coffee mug. Moving to the living room, he opened the blinds so the morning sun could shine on the houseplants Megan had scattered in the room. His eyes slowly took in the subtle changes she had made in the short time they'd been married. His eyes paused on the bookshelves at the foot wide vacant spot on the second shelf from the top. She had rearranged those so many times he couldn't remember what use to be there.



A pair of arms hugging him from behind brought him back to the present. 



"Thank you for the flowers and the chocolates. I love your card and feel the same was about you."



Rob set his coffee down so he could properly love her. "Your other present is on the mantle."



He stood behind her as she stopped in front of the carving staring in amazement at his talent. He reached past her to fully open the heart and reveal the small one hanging inside.



"I'll carve the name and paint it after the birth. It'll hold five if you're willing."



Megan looked at him with wet eyes. "Wait here." She went into the bedroom and returned with an envelope and the box from Julie. "Here's your first present."



Rob opened the envelope to find a Valentine's card. When he opened it something fell to the floor. He read the mushy verse from the card company before reading Megan's handwritten words of love. It was signed from the three of us. He looked curiously at her smiling face and picked up the photos off the floor.



"You still have a few months to carve that second little heart. We'll talk about the other three some other time. There are the first photos of our family Sugar; aren't they beautiful?"



Rob was trying to hold in his emotions, but Megan could see his eyes twinkling as he scooped her into his arms. "They're gorgeous, like their mother."



She stepped back from him when he loosened his hug. Rob saw her biting her lower lip. "Let's sit on the couch for this next one."



Megan sat next to him and placed the box in his lap. "This is one of my most valuable possessions. I've had it for as long as I can remember."



Rob saw her nervous expression as he opened the box and carefully removed its tissue paper wrapped contents. Megan thought his breathing stopped when he removed the last sheet of paper.



He had a bewildered look as his eyes moved from her to the object in his hands. "You? You're the-"



Tears ran down her cheeks as she rapidly nodded her head. "I've wanted to tell you for the longest time, but I wasn't sure how to do it or what to say. Then the other day you mentioned holding me with a blanket and I remembered the bear. With all the trouble I gave you over it, I was sure you'd remember."



Rob brushed back tears with the back of his hand and set the bear in her lap before running out of the room.



"Rob! Honey come back. We're meant for each other. I know I should have told you after that first weekend together, but I was afraid you'd think-" She became quiet as he walked into the room. Tears were running down his grinning face. He held a round black object between his fingers. "I found it in the bag with my clothes. You'd already moved away when they released me from the hospital. I knew if I kept it, we'd meet again." He dropped it in her hand.



Megan held the button eye back in its original location with her finger. She stood and moved to the bookcase. "Rob, can you put him in the place I cleared. I'll take it into town tomorrow and see if one of the ladies at Big R's can recommend someone to sew it back on. You and I need to lie down now because there's a whole lot more to the rest of the story."

