Chapter: The Race to Delivery Day
(AUTHOR'S POV)
Three weeks had passed since Mica's pregnancy announcement.
Three weeks of double the cravings.
Double the mood swings.
Double the chaos.
Jay was now three months pregnant.
Baby Raspberry growing perfectly.
Mica was one month and two weeks pregnant.
Baby Strawberry growing perfectly.
But—
There was news.
Big news.
Life-changing news.
---
The Morning – Watson Mansion
Jay woke up in Keifer's arms.
Blue beside her.
Keifer's hand on her belly.
Always.
Her phone buzzed.
Mica.
Mica: Jay, are you awake?
Jay: Just woke up. Why?
Mica: We need to talk.
Mica: Important.
Mica: Can we come over?
Jay sat up.
Suddenly alert.
Jay: Of course. What's wrong?
Mica: Nothing wrong exactly.
Mica: Just... news.
Mica: From the doctor.
Mica: We'll explain when we get there.
Jay's heart raced.
Good news?
Bad news?
Scary news?
Keifer stirred.
"What's wrong?"
Jay showed him the messages.
He read.
Frowned.
"We'll find out soon."
"Don't panic."
She nodded.
Tried not to panic.
Failed a little.
---
The Living Room – Waiting
Jay paced.
Well— waddled quickly.
Pregnancy walk.
Keifer watched.
Calm.
Supportive.
Worried.
Aries and Percy were on the couch.
Sensing the tension.
Quiet for once.
Keigan and Keiran were upstairs.
Still asleep.
Good.
Less chaos.
The doorbell rang.
Jay ran.
Opened it.
Mica stood there.
Calix beside her.
Both looked...
Nervous?
Excited?
Scared?
Happy?
All of it.
Jay grabbed Mica.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Mica hugged her.
Tight.
"It's okay!"
"Good news!"
"Different news!"
"Crazy news!"
Jay pulled back.
"WHAT NEWS?!"
Mica took a breath.
"Baby Strawberry is coming early."
Jay blinked.
"What?"
Mica nodded.
"Seven months."
"Not nine."
"The doctor said—"
"Something about my body."
"Something about the baby."
"But bottom line—"
"Baby Strawberry arrives in seven months."
Jay stared.
Processing.
"Seven months?"
"Yes."
"Not nine?"
"No."
"So— so your due date is—"
"Same as yours."
Silence.
Dead silence.
Jay's brain short-circuited.
Keifer's brain short-circuited.
Aries and Percy froze.
Mica continued.
"You're three months."
"I'm one month two weeks."
"Your baby is due in six months."
"My baby is due in seven months."
"But—"
"Seven months from now."
"Six months from now."
"Same month."
"Same week."
"Maybe same DAY."
Jay gasped.
"SAME DAY?!"
Mica nodded.
"Possible."
"The doctor said—"
"It could happen."
"We might deliver."
"The same day."
Jay screamed.
Happy scream.
Pregnancy hormones.
Mica screamed.
Same.
They hugged.
Jumped.
Carefully.
Both pregnant.
Both careful.
Both overjoyed.
Keifer and Calix watched.
Amused.
Terrified.
In love.
Calix spoke.
"They're going to be even more unstoppable now."
Keifer nodded.
"Babies on the same day."
"Mamas synced."
"Chaos doubled."
Calix sighed.
"We're so doomed."
Keifer smiled.
"Completely doomed."
"But happy."
Calix nodded.
"Happy."
---
The Living Room – Chaos Explodes
Aries finally found his voice.
"SAME DAY?!"
Percy grabbed him.
"BABIES ON THE SAME DAY?!"
Keigan ran downstairs.
Attracted by the screaming.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Keiran followed.
Calm.
But curious.
Jay turned to them.
"BABY RASPBERRY AND BABY STRAWBERRY!"
"MIGHT BE BORN!"
"THE SAME DAY!"
Keigan screamed.
"TWIN BABIES!"
"BUT NOT TWINS!"
"COUSIN TWINS!"
Keiran nodded.
"Best friends from birth."
"Literally same birthday."
Aries grabbed Percy.
"DOUBLE BIRTHDAY PARTIES!"
Percy nodded.
"DOUBLE THE CAKE!"
Keigan jumped.
"DOUBLE THE PRESENTS!"
Keiran smiled.
"Double the chaos."
Blue watched from his spot.
Unbothered.
But his tail wagged.
Happy cat.
---
The Details
Everyone sat down.
Mica explained.
"The doctor said—"
"Baby Strawberry is growing fast."
"Too fast maybe."
"But healthy."
"Just—"
"Early delivery."
"Seven months."
Jay listened.
Processing.
"So you're one month two weeks now."
Mica nodded.
"Yes."
"Baby due in five months two weeks?"
"No."
"Seven months total."
"From conception."
"So—"
"Five months two weeks from now?"
"Technically yes."
Jay calculated.
Math was hard.
Pregnancy brain.
Keifer helped.
"Jay is three months."
"Due in six months."
"Mica is one month two weeks."
"Due in five months two weeks?"
Mica nodded.
"Yes."
"That's what the doctor said."
Jay's eyes widened.
"So we're due—"
"Same time?"
"Same month?"
"Maybe same week?"
Mica nodded.
"Maybe same day."
Jay screamed again.
Mica screamed.
Keifer and Calix exchanged glances.
Same thought.
Same love.
Same—
"We need coffee."
Calix nodded.
"Strong coffee."
They went to the kitchen.
Leaving the chaos.
---
The Kitchen – Husbands Unite
Keifer poured coffee.
Calix accepted.
They sat at the island.
Quiet.
Processing.
Calix spoke first.
"Same day."
Keifer nodded.
"Same day."
"Babies on the same day."
Calix sipped his coffee.
"My wife."
"Your wife."
"Best friends."
"Babies on the same day."
"Growing up together."
Keifer smiled.
"Best friends."
"Just like them."
Calix nodded.
"Chaos partners."
"From birth."
Keifer laughed.
"We're so not ready."
Calix agreed.
"Not ready at all."
"But happy."
"So happy."
They clinked coffee mugs.
Husbands united.
Fathers-to-be.
Terrified.
But ready.
---
The Living Room – Planning Begins
Jay and Mica were already planning.
Notebook out.
Pens ready.
List forming.
"Baby shower!"
"Together!"
"Double the guests!"
"Double the gifts!"
"Double the fun!"
Aries joined.
"THEME?"
Percy added.
"FRUIT BASKET THEME!"
Keigan gasped.
"FRUIT DECORATIONS!"
Keiran nodded.
"Fruit snacks."
"Fruit games."
"Fruit everything."
Jay wrote it down.
"Fruit basket baby shower."
Mica nodded.
"Perfect."
"Best theme ever."
Grazel appeared on screen.
Video call from Denzel.
"FRUIT PARTY?!"
"I'M GRAPEFRUIT!"
"CAN I COME?!"
Jay laughed.
"Yes, Grapefruit."
"You can come."
Grazel cheered.
"BEST DAY EVER!"
---
The List Grows
Mica added more.
"Baby names?"
Jay thought.
"We haven't decided."
"Keifer wants something classic."
"I want something unique."
Mica nodded.
"Calix wants something strong."
"I want something pretty."
Aries raised his hand.
"NAME THEM AFTER US!"
Percy nodded.
"ARIES JR!"
"PERCY JR!"
Keigan gasped.
"KEIGAN JR!"
Keiran sighed.
"No."
"No baby named after us."
Keigan pouted.
"Why not?"
"Because we're not the parents."
"So?"
"So no."
Keigan deflated.
Jay patted his head.
"Maybe middle names."
His face lit up.
"REALLY?!"
"Maybe."
"Not promising."
"But maybe."
Keigan beamed.
"BEST HIPAG EVER!"
---
The Due Date Debate
Jay looked at Mica.
"So if you're due in five months two weeks—"
"And I'm due in six months—"
"We're due around the same time."
Mica nodded.
"Same month."
"Same week."
"Maybe same day."
Jay grinned.
"What if we plan it?"
"Plan the same day?"
Mica blinked.
"Plan it?"
"Like— schedule it?"
Jay nodded.
"C-sections?"
"Induction?"
"We could ask the doctors."
"Same day delivery."
Mica's eyes widened.
"THAT'S BRILLIANT!"
Jay nodded.
"BABY RASPBERRY AND BABY STRAWBERRY!"
"SAME BIRTHDAY!"
"BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!"
They screamed.
Hugged.
Jumped.
Carefully.
Keifer and Calix walked back in.
Saw them.
Exchanged glances.
Same thought.
Same love.
Same—
"What now?"
Aries answered.
"THEY'RE PLANNING SAME DAY DELIVERY!"
Percy added.
"BABIES ON PURPOSE SAME DAY!"
Keifer blinked.
"You can plan that?"
Jay nodded.
"C-sections."
"Induction."
"Ask the doctors."
He looked at Calix.
Calix shrugged.
"Whatever makes her happy."
Keifer nodded.
"Same."
"Whatever makes her happy."
Jay grinned.
"Good answer."
Mica grinned.
"Good husbands."
---
That Night – Couple Time
Later.
Everyone settled.
Aries and Percy were watching TV.
Keigan and Keiran were playing with Blue.
Calix and Mica went home.
Promising to call tomorrow.
Jay and Keifer in their room.
Jay in his shirt.
Blue beside her.
Keifer holding her.
She was smiling.
"Today was wild."
He nodded.
"Very wild."
"Same day delivery."
"Planned babies."
She laughed.
"Crazy."
"Perfect."
He kissed her head.
"Whatever you want."
"Whatever makes you happy."
"I'm in."
She looked up.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Same day delivery."
"Double the chaos."
"Double the love."
"Double the babies."
She smiled.
Tears forming.
Pregnancy hormones.
"I love you."
He kissed her.
Soft.
Sweet.
"I love you too."
"Both of you."
"All of you."
She snuggled closer.
"Baby Raspberry."
"Baby Strawberry."
"Same day."
"Best friends."
He held her tighter.
"Just like their mamas."
She nodded.
"Just like us."
---
The End
(For now.)