Margaret sat in the same plastic chair as she had on her first visit. This time however she was totally engrossed in a baby book.

Toby paced up and down the small waiting room, his tiny notepad in one hand as he committed his thoughts to paper. His constant sighing and hand waving was driving the receptionist insane.

“Would you like a coffee, Mr. Ziegler?” she finally asked.

Margaret’s head shot up. “Oh, please, no. The last thing he needs is a caffeine infusion.”

The receptionist grinned as Toby growled something inaudible.

“Please sit down, Toby. You’re wearing out the carpet,” Margaret tried softly, closing the book and sliding it back in her purse. “There’s nothing to be worried about.”

“Do we need one of those bouncy things that hang on the door?” Toby mumbled, glancing at her then back to his notepad.

“Not another bloody list?” Margaret wasn’t sure when the sudden role change had taken place but it drove her up the wall. Every since they had found out she was pregnant, Toby made lists for everything, he kept the house immaculate and spent every free second he had in the Roosevelt room watching her.

“Things we need to buy.”

The door to the surgery opened and Dr. Maggie Reynolds appeared. She smiled at Margaret and looked Toby up and down. “Hey Margaret.”

“Hey, Maggie. How’s things?” Margaret greeted her doctor, getting to her feet and waddling towards the door. “Toby? Are you coming?”

He sighed and tucked his pad into his jacket pocket.

“This is Toby? So, the Yankees didn’t make it to the World Series? Bummer, eh?” Maggie grinned, motioning them both inside.

She received a snort in response.

“Shame really. The Sox would have kicked their ass.”

Margaret rolled her eyes as she watched the two of them engage in a staring competition. “Guys, can we get this over with and get back to work?”

Maggie grinned and smoothed the fresh white sheet over the exam table. “Jump up and untuck your blouse.”

Toby loitered just inside the door, his eyes drifting around the various posters and diagraphs around the walls. He shuffled unconsciously as he caught sight of the model of the uterus.

“Believe it or not, Toby is the Communications Director,” Margaret said, settling herself on her back.

“What?” Toby exclaimed, looking around suddenly.

“Toby, come here and sit beside Margaret. I won’t bite, I promise.” She indicated a chair to the side of the table. “Not on your first visit, anyway.” Maggie chuckled as she lifted Margaret’s blouse and dropped the gel onto her tummy.

“Ow.”

“Are you okay?” Toby asked, grabbing her hand and squeezing it tightly.

“Cold.”

“Yeah, meant to warn you about that,” Maggie grinned. “Okay, let’s take a look at this baby.” She moved the equipment over Margaret’s stomach, smearing the gel as her eyes watched the screen. A small smile formed at the corners of her mouth and she peered more closely at the screen.

“Is something wrong?” Toby asked, frowning at the grey and white blobs he could see. His fingers laced with Margaret’s in concern.

“Maggie?” Margaret asked fearfully.

She turned in her seat to face both of them. “You remember what we discussed in your first appointment?” Her smile widened at Margaret’s confused expression. “About the possibility of more than one?”

Toby’s jaw dropped and he looked between the two women. “More than one. . .? One what?”

Margaret lay in silence, her eyes wide. “Twins?”

“TWINS? Are you telling me, we’re having twins?” He jumped out of his seat and began to pace like a caged animal, his fingers massaging his scalp. “We can’t be having twins,” he muttered. “Then again, we got pregnant so anything’s possible.”

“It’s not twins,” Maggie finally announced. “Take a look at this.” She waited patiently for him to shuffle over behind her and lean forwards. “That’s a head and that’s a heart.”

Toby took a sharp intake of breath as a torrent of emotions hit him.

“And that’s a second head and heart.”

He reached out for Margaret’s hand, oblivious to the wide smile forming on his face.

“And we have a third. . .,” Maggie trailed as she heard the sob escape his lips.

“Three?” Margaret gasped, shifting position. “Three babies?”

“A third of a Baseball team.”

The room fell silent but for Toby’s hiccupping as he tried to muffle his sobs. He was in shock, that much he knew, but there was also a little bit of admiration that they had managed to conceive three babies.

Margaret lifted his hand to her lips and smiled, “Okay.”

“Okay what?” Maggie asked, confused.

“Okay, what’s next?” Margaret asked, her grin widening. “I guess we get photos.”

Maggie nodded, “Yup. How many copies?”

Margaret looked at Toby as he swiped at his eyes. “How many copies?”

“One for us,” he coughed. “Sorry, one for each of us, one for your folks, that’s it.”

“Er, Toby. You don’t think you’ve forgotten someone?” Margaret groaned, wondering how the latest news was going to go down in the West Wing. Something else occurred to her. “What are the chances of delivering early?” She could just imagine Leo’s reaction if she had to take longer maternity leave.

“One in four with triplets,” Maggie said matter-of-factly. “Anything over twenty eight weeks and the odds are good for the babies.”

“Toby?” Margaret called as she watched Toby sway suddenly and release her hand. She sat up to help as he fell backwards.

“I’ve got him,” Maggie cried, grabbing him and easing him into a chair. “Happens all the time.”

“Something tells me I’m gonna need a back up birthing partner. Preferably a catcher,” Margaret said, shaking her head. “Is he okay?”

Maggie looked over her shoulder and nodded as she forced Toby’s head between his knees. “Nothing smelling salts and a glass of water won’t cure.”

“I’m still here,” Toby growled, raising his head suddenly and lowering it again as his vision blurred.

“You better be, seeing as you got me into this state,” Margaret moaned as she slid off the bed. “How far along am I?”

“Approximately nineteen weeks.”

Margaret blushed as she mentally calculated her dates.

“Okay, so three photos or are we going for four?” Maggie asked, sitting at her desk and filling in paperwork.

“Would nine be too many?” Margaret asked quietly.

Toby rolled his eyes and reached in his pocket for his wallet. He could only imagine who all the photos were for.

Maggie continued to fill in paperwork, pushing various sheets towards Margaret and grinning. “Right, there’s a prescription for vitamins, another appointment, a list of Birthing classes and my home number in case you have any questions, either of you. You can pick the photos up in reception.”

Margaret folded the sheets and put them in her purse. “Come on Batman, time to go home.”

“Batman?” Maggie mouthed.

“Yeah, he’s my very own superhero,” Margaret grinned, entwining her fingers with Toby’s. “He has the suit and everything.”

Toby growled something incoherent as he rose shakily to his feet and followed her to the door.

“Guess he forgot the rubber suit that night?” Maggie laughed as the door closed behind them with a thud.