Disclaimer: The Mummy movies do not belong to me.

Author: Eviefan

Summary: Life After Ahm-Shere for the O’Connells has gotten a little more crazy with the birth of Triplets.  Well lets see where we go with them.

RATED PG.

 

 

The Big Surprise

 

Chapter 1: Life as Usual

 

 

Four months had passed since the events at Ahm-Shere, and life was slowly getting back to normal.  Alex’s dreams were finally subsiding, and he was back to sleeping in his own room at night, as long as the candles on his bedside table remained lit. He had made a full recovery from his accident as well, again a fast healer.  For Rick, his life revolved around being a father, and a husband, like he had intended to do before the Bracelet, and the adventure which had taken place.  Evelyn had taken a month off to help Alex cope with what had happened, and now she was back at the museum, doing her job as head of the Egyptian Department, as well as working on her next book about the Scorpion King.  Today she was spending time working on her book.  Evelyn had been feeling very tired of late, and she knew it had to do with all the stress of what had transpired these last few months.  As she was starting to get into her writing, the phone rang, and reluctantly she put her pen down and answered.

 

“Evelyn O’Connell,”  she answered.

 

“Mrs. O’Connell?  This is head Master Flanigan at Alex’s school.”  Evelyn closed her eyes knowing that when the Head Master called it was never a good thing.

 

“What has he done now?”  Evie asked tired of his antics.  One thing that had changed in him was his willingness to fight, and she was about fed up with that behavior.

 

“We haven’t seen him today,”  came his reply.  Evelyn frowned at that bit of news.

 

“I’ll call my husband,”  she said and after she got of the phone she picked it back up and had the operator ring their house.

 

 

 

At the Manor, Rick had just gotten in from mucking all of the horses stalls, and was about to take a bath when the phone rang.  Quickly he wrapped a towel around his waist, then walked out of their bathroom to the bedside table and picked up the phone.

 

“O’Connell Residence,”  he answered.

 

“Please tell me our son is home sick,”  Evelyn said.  She didn’t want him to be sick, but she would rather it be that then for him to be skipping his classes.

 

“No, I dropped him off at school this morning, why?”  he asked, all ready knowing the answer.

 

“He isn’t there,”  she replied.  He sat down on the bed.

 

“I will take care of this,”  Rick mumbled feeling the anger rise in him.  He loved his little boy, but Alex had not been easy to handle of late, and he was tired of his antics, just as Evie was.

 

“We both need to take care of this once and for all.  I have some time now, so I’ll come home and we will just wait for him together,”  she said.  Rick agreed to that, and after he hung up the phone he went ahead and got his bath.

 

 

 

When Max had suggested they go to the sweetshop, and to the park instead of school, Alex had his doubts, but once they were at the park he was having a wonderful time.  They sailed boats at the pond, and fed the ducks, then played hide and seek with some younger kids.  When school was supposed to end, they left for their homes on the bus.  Alex made sure he had all his books in hand, then once the bus let him off near his house, he made his way there.  When he arrived he saw his mum’s car parked out front, and thought nothing of it as he walked inside.  After he hung up his coat and cap, he made his way in the parlor where his parents sat looking their normal selves.

 

“Hey mum, hey dad,”  he said feeling a bit nervous.

 

“Hey pal, how was your day at school?”  Rick asked cutting to the chase.  Alex gulped, and for a moment he was torn about just telling them what he had done, then he opted for a lie.

 

“It was fine, just the same old stuff.  I should go upstairs and start my studies now,”  he said and started off.

 

“Alex sit down please,”  Evelyn said.  He turned back to them, looking at his feet as he shuffled over to the couch across from them, and from the tone in her voice, he knew that they had found out somehow, and that he was in big trouble.

 

“Look at us son,”  Rick said keeping his cool.  He would not do what his father had done, when he himself had started getting rebellious, and he had to fight not to go over there and tan his boys hide.  Alex looked up.

 

“Tell us what’s been happening.  You’ve started fighting, and now skipping school,”  Rick said.

 

“I don’t like it there.  The kids tease me all the time, they always have because I’m smarter than they are.  I know you and mum tell me that what they say doesn’t matter but it still hurts,”  he said and with that he stood up and ran upstairs to his room.  A door slamming was what they heard and Evelyn leaned in to her husbands arms.

 

“Maybe I should just stop my work at the museum and teach him,”  Evelyn said, and she was serious about that.  Rick eased her away and turned her to face him. 

 

“But you love the museum, and now that the Bembridge Scholars have finally recognized you, don’t you think you need to stay where you are?”  he asked knowing how she had always loved to work. 

 

“Not when he’s this  unhappy.  I think I can manage both actually, have him at the museum, and teach him, as well as do my job.  Rick leaned in and kissed her. 

 

“You amaze me,”  he said, then stood and helped her up, and they went upstairs to speak with their son.  When they arrived, he was laying on his bed facing away from the door, and Evelyn walked over to him, and rubbed his back.

 

“Alex we didn’t know how bad it was,”  she said.  He sighed and rolled over.

 

“They call me Mr. Know it all because I always have all the answers, and they throw dirt at me when I’m walking to the bus stop,”  he said swiping at a tear that had slipped from his eye.

 

“Well I think maybe, if you want too that is, I’ll teach you myself,”  Evelyn said.  Alex sat up, and his sad expression changed to one of happiness and surprise.

 

“But what about the museum?” he asked. 

 

“You will come to work with me, and I’ll divide the time I teach you with my work there if you think that’s all right.  He hugged her and Evelyn laughed hugging him back.

 

“Thanks mum,”  he said.  She kissed the top of his head.

 

“Your welcome.”  Once that was decided, Rick made the call to the school, and everything was set.

 

 

 

 

A few days later, Evelyn was getting ready for work, and found that none of her skirts would button.  She had noticed that they were getting tight, but this morning they all seemed to have shrunk, and with a frustrated yell, she threw the last one down.  Her yell brought Rick out of the bathroom, his face still mostly full of shaving cream.

 

“Hey,”  he said as she turned, and he found her in tears.  He pulled her into his arms and she rested her head against his chest.

 

“Nothing wants to fit today,”  she said rubbing her cheek against his bare chest.

 

“You have a closet full of stuff, come on lets see if we can find something,”  he said.  He helped her sort through her things, and they finally found a skirt she had worn when she was pregnant with Alex that fit her perfectly.

 

“I need to start walking again,”  she said feeling frustrated that she was gaining weight, though sometimes she did this before her cycle, and now that she had something to wear, she finished getting ready while Rick wiped his face off, and went to get their son up.

 

 

 

In his room Alex was already awake playing with Siam dangling some string in front of him as his kitten batted at it. 

 

“Well I see your up,”  Rick said watching the two of them playing.

 

“Yup, Siam usually goes for my face when he thinks I’ve gotten enough sleep,”  Alex said.  He got up and started to get ready.

 

“So your usual for breakfast?” Rick asked.

 

“Eggs and Bacon, not grits again,”  Alex said.  Yesterday Rick had served that with toast, and Alex had been fairly disgusted by that.

 

“What, I’ll have you know we ate a lot of that when I was your age,”  Rick defended.  Alex only rolled his eyes, as he went into his bathroom to get a bath.

 

 

 

 

At the Museum, while Alex did his studies, Evelyn was in the library teaching the new Librarian how do to things her way.  The girl was young, like Evelyn had been when she started out, and spoke mostly French, though Evelyn was also working to teach her to speak English.  As she was going over the cataloging system she had set up, a sudden spell of dizziness washed over her.  She grasped the desk closing her eyes, then everything spun and went black. Josephine ran to the office speaking fast to Alex in her tongue, and he tried to understand her but couldn’t.

 

“I don’t speak French,”  he said frustrated.  Realizing that, Josephine took a deep breath and tried her English.

 

“Mrs. O’Connell fell,”  she said.  Alex got up from his desk, and ran with Josephine to the Library where his mum lay on the floor next to the desk in there. 

 

“Mum?”  he cried out taking her hand.   He stood up and rang the house and when his dad picked up he told him what had happened.

 

“Okay son calm down.  I’ll call Doctor Brigman, and have him meet me there.  In the mean time, get a warm blanket and put it over her all right?”  he asked.  Alex nodded, and once he hung up the phone he went to do what his father had said.

 

 

 

It was a terrible stinging smell which woke Evelyn, and she pulled her head back.

 

“Easy there,”  Dr. Brigman said as she came too.  Evelyn found herself in her office with just him.

 

“What happened?”  she asked.

 

“You had a dizzy spell I think.  Have you been having a lot of these?”  he asked as he held her wrist taking her pulse.

 

“Just this once,”  Evelyn said feeling exhausted.

 

“What about feeling sick to your stomach,”  he asked.  She shook her head.

 

“I’ve been really tired.  As you know we had a rather exciting time in Egypt,” she said as she tried to sit up.

 

“Please lay still for a little longer,”  he instructed as he got out his stethoscope and listened to her heart beat.  Evelyn did as she was told closing her eyes.

 

“I think you need to take some time off,”  Dr. Brigman finally said as he stood up.

 

“Why what is it?”  she asked.

 

“Evelyn I think you may be pregnant,”  he said.  Her eyes got very big and she shook her head.

 

“But you said when I had my car accident no more babies, because the damage done wasn’t anything that would heal,”  she reminded.

 

“I know what I said, but I have a feeling I was wrong,”  he replied.  It was hard to take all of that in, but she knew she had too, and then she thought of The Book of the Dead, and it all made since.  The book had healing powers, and enough to heal the damage done in her ovaries.  She idly wondered how far along she was because she and Rick had not had much of a chance to make love these past few months with Alex’s accident, and with life itself.

 

“Hey there’s my girl,”  Rick said as he came over to the couch.  He knelt down and kissed her gently on the lips.  Evie reached up and hugged him close and Rick held her feeling her shake.

 

“What did he tell you?”

 

“He thinks I might be pregnant,”  she said.  Rick pulled away to look at her.

 

“But how?”  he asked as he rubbed his hand over her tummy, feeling a firmness there that he had not noticed until now.

 

“The book I guess.  It has healing powers, and if it healed the knife wound, then it could have also healed my womb.  I think I might be as far as three months along, since we have only just started getting our love life back,”  Evie said.  Rick nodded, then Alex came in, and he decided they all needed to get home.

 

 

 

A few days later Dr. Brigman called and confirmed what he had guessed.  Evelyn was still home taking it easy, and enjoying just teaching Alex.  When she came back in the parlor, Alex noticed her smile.

 

“What was that about?”  he asked.  Rick looked up from his paper, and at her nod he made room for her.

 

“Alex how would you feel about being a big brother,”  Rick asked.  All his life Alex had wanted that, and his mum had always told him they couldn’t because of a car wreck.

 

“But I thought you said that we wouldn’t have any more,”  he said confused, as he came to sit beside her.

 

“I was thinking about that, and the only explanation I have is that The Book of the Dead healed what went wrong,”  Evelyn said.

 

“This is so cool.  Is there a way you can tell it to be a boy?”  he asked, and laughed when she started to tickle him.

 

“I think a girl would be nice,”  she said, and Alex made a face and got more Tickles.  Evie pulled him into her arms and lifted his shirt despite his protests and laughed as she bluttered on his stomach.

 

“Mum thats so un-lady like,”  he said through his laugher and got tickled by both of his parents.  Finally they stopped and let him catch his breath.

 

“Do I have to finish my studies?”  he asked.

 

“I think that for today we could all use a break,”  Evelyn said.  It was a warm October day, and they all decided to go for a walk.  Upstairs Evelyn pulled on a warm dress happy to know that her weight gain wasn’t just from getting old and fat.

 

 

 

While Alex ran ahead of them toward the woods, Evelyn and Rick took a more leisurely pace.

 

“So are you ready for Two am feedings?”  He asked her.  Evie smiled at that.

 

“I think I can handle that,”  she responded.  For so long she had mourned not having a baby, and thought she had gotten over that, but now her arms ached to hold a little one, and she was looking forward to going through all of that again, even the late nights.  They walked for almost an hour before they got back to the house. 

 

“Mum may I go see Max tomorrow?”  Alex asked.  Tomorrow would be a Saturday, and while Alex didn’t miss the bullies, he did miss his best friends.  Both of them knew he missed them and agreed to that, deciding that time alone to figure things out would be nice.

 

 

Chapter 2: Disappearing Feet

 

 

Well into her fifth month of pregnancy, Evelyn was noticing that she was a lot bigger this time, than she had been with Alex.  Her feet had disappeared, and with Alex that hadn’t happened until the middle of her seventh month.  Right now she sat in what would be the baby’s room sorting through baby cloths she had boxed up, and kept in the Attic, after Alex had outgrown them.  So far she had only found three things that a newborn could wear, and she knew with clarity that she was going to have to go shopping for the rest.

 

“Hey mum?”  Alex asked as he walked in, then moved over to the bed and picked up a gown.

 

“Woe, so who wore this thing?”  Alex asked holding it up to his chest.

 

“You did,”  she said looking over at him.  She was seated on the bed with pillows propped behind her.  Alex looked at her as though she was talking nonsense.

 

“No way I’m a boy, boys don’t where nightgowns,”  Alex said as he put the gown back where he had gotten it.

 

“Well when your a new baby, that doesn’t really matter, and besides wearing gowns made it easier for me and daddy to change your diapers,”  Evelyn said.  Alex grumbled.

 

“Okay but if we have a boy baby, I’m going to rescue him,”  Alex stated.

 

“How exactly is the baby going to get out of you?”  he asked, getting to why he had come to her in the first place.  Max had told him baby’s came out the mummy’s belly button, Megan had told him that they came out of a woman’s pee hole, so he wasn’t sure.

 

“Well do you remember what daddy and I said about how we made the baby?”  she asked.  He nodded.  That had been gross enough.

 

“The Vagina is where the baby will come out,”  she said, and Alex ran out totally disgusted pushing past his father.

 

“What happened to him?”  Rick asked as he walked in.

 

“He wanted to know where the baby comes out, so I told him,”  Evie said casually as she finished sorting through the box.

 

“We have some shopping to do Mr. O’Connell,”  Evelyn informed, as she scooted to the side of the bed and stood.  Rick hurried to her side, then backed off when she glared at him.  One thing about his wife was her determination, and he knew not to make the same mistakes he had made when she had carried Alex.

 

“I think we can manage that, the rain has finally cleared up,”  Rick said as they walked out of the room, and to their own.  There Evelyn found her shoes and put them in Rick’s hands.  Without saying a word he put them on her feet, amazed that she wasn’t mad about not being able to do that on her own, though he guessed she was in some small way.  When he had done that, she stood and they headed down the hall.

 

“Alex mum and I are going shopping, do you want to come with us?”  Rick asked.

 

“Nah I’m staying here,”  he called out.  In his room, Alex was working on the New Puzzle that Jonathan had gotten him, and was too into that to really be interested in an outing with his parents.

 

 

 

 

 

It was a busy Saturday afternoon in town, and Evelyn was glad she had made out a mental plan of where she wanted to go.  First they went to Franklens Diapering Service, and she set up a time for them to start delivering diapers to the house, after the baby was due.  While she did all of that Rick stood beside her watching her work.  She took charge most of the time on things like this, and he was glad because shopping was not one of the things he really liked.  Once they had done that, they went to  a children’s clothing store called Blue Bonnets, and there Evelyn selected several things for their new little one.  They hit two more stores and Rick ended up carrying six bags of things by the time they finished.

 

“Now why don’t we find a place to eat,”  Rick said as she took a few of the bags.

 

“I think that sounds good, this little one has been moving about for a while, so I do believe I better feed both of us,”  Evelyn said.  They chose a small cafe, and with the day being unseasonably warm for October, they settled outside.  Evelyn didn’t realize how tired she was until they sat down, and then she had a hard time staying focused.  Rick took notice, and reached his hand out taking her hand in his.

 

“Why don’t we head home?”  he asked hoping she wouldn’t explode.  To his amazement she agreed, and let him hold her arm for she was feeling very tired.  When they got in the car, and started home Evelyn fell asleep, and Rick made a mental note to watch her more carefully, to make sure she was sleeping like she should be, and getting enough to eat.  When he pulled the car in the driveway, Alex came out and Rick put his finger on his lips.

 

“Will you take this stuff in and put it in the baby’s room?”  Rick asked pointing to what was in the back seat.  Alex nodded, and while he got that, Rick lifted Evelyn out of the car without waking her and took her inside to have a rest.  He managed to get her up to their room and in bed before she woke up, and she smiled at him.

 

“I think I over did it,”  she said softly.  Rick sat on the side of the bed and stroked his hand against her cheek.

 

“We just need to make sure you get plenty of rest,”  he replied.  Evelyn closed her eyes again, and once she was asleep, Rick went to check on Alex.  He found his son in the baby’s room looking at all of the things Evelyn had picked out.

 

“She got lot’s of nightgowns,”  Alex said frowning.  Rick chuckled.

 

“Son most new babies where them, and they can’t tell the difference when they are new,”  Rick reassured.

 

“I just hope this baby is a girl, because if it’s a boy he’s going to have identity problems,”  Alex stated.  Rick laughed at that and put his arm around his son’s shoulders.

 

“Come on let’s work on your math,”  Alex made a face at that, but doing math with his dad was always fun, so he didn’t mind that too much.

 

Chapter 3: OUCH!!!

 

By her eighth month of pregnancy, Evelyn was having a lot of discomfort, more so than she had ever experienced with Alex.  Her back throbbed all of the time and her feet were so swollen she couldn’t fit into any shoes.  Nights she had trouble sleeping, and the only way that was comfortable, was for her to sleep with pillows propped behind her, in a sitting up position.  She felt like she had gained more weight with the baby she carried now, than she had with Alex, and her mood swings were terrible.  Dr. Brigman had told them that she needed to stay in bed so that the baby didn’t come to early, and that put her spirits down even more.  Today she was reading a book Rick had gotten her from the Library on Ancient Egypt, one written by a man named Bert Rosenthal, who had been one of the first Bembridge Scholars.  Most of his work was based on theory, and most of it was inaccurate, though Evelyn had learned that it was due to protecting Egypt’s Secrets.  For her however, she wrote the truth, and just passed it off as legend, knowing that there were not very many people such as herself who would unleash a Mummy, or for that matter the Scorpion King. 

 

“Hey mum,” Alex said, as he and Rick came in with lunch.  Evelyn set her book aside and looked up as they entered, with a smile on her face.

 

“I was just about to come downstairs and get some food for myself,”  she said as Alex climbed in bed beside her.  He put his hand on her tummy and felt the baby kicking around.

 

“I don’t think this baby ever sleeps,”  Alex said as he moved his hand to the middle of her belly.

 

“Only when your daddy, or I read, or when I sing,”  Evelyn replied, as she took some of the fresh bread Rick had brought, and dipped it in the bowl of Beef Stew.

 

“Mmm this is really good,”  Evie said knowing that Alex had helped to make that batch. 

 

“I helped dad you know,”  Alex said, beaming.

 

“You did, well I think this is the best stew I’ve ever tasted,”  Evelyn said.  Alex had decided aside from the Tomatoes, Beef, Potatoes, Onions and Carrots, that they also add some Okra, and some garlic. 

 

“I like cooking but I don’t think I should tell Max, he would tell me that’s a woman’s job,”  Alex informed.  Evie frowned at that, but kept her mouth shut.  Max’s father was the typical Male, who thought a woman’s place was in the home, and a few times when she and Rick had seen him at school meetings, she had spoke her mind on his barbaric views.

 

“We won’t say a word, Rick reassured. Once Alex had gone, Rick took his place beside her.  They had two more weeks to go, and he knew she was more than ready to have this baby now.

 

“How do you feel?”  he asked.

 

“Ready to explode.  Rick why am I so big?  Dr. Brigman says often woman are larger their second time around but this is ridiculous,” she said rubbing a hand over her large belly.  Rick placed his hand over hers and for a little bit the baby seemed to settle down.  Evelyn polished off the bread, and the stew as well as a full glass of milk, and then she was ready to take a nap.  After he moved the food out of the way, Rick helped her get comfortable and settled next to her.

 

“So what should we name this baby?” he asked as he rubbed his hand over her belly.

 

“If it’s a girl I like the name Rebecca,”  Evie said softly.  She had closed her eyes, and was totally relaxed against her husband.

 

“What about you?”  she asked.

 

“I’ve always liked the name Elizabeth,”  he commented, and waited for her response, but she had gone to sleep.  Carefully he got out of their bed and put the blanket over her, then went down the hall to his son’s room.  Alex was in his bed reading the Tales of King Author.

 

“Hey pal, why don’t you and I have some of our stew,”  Rick said.

 

“Just a second,”  Alex said really in to his book.

 

“Alex, come on we need to get it put away and clean up our mess,”  Rick said.  Reluctantly, Alex left his book and went down to the kitchen with his father.

 

 

 

 

 

It was a week later while Alex and Rick were outside playing catch with the Baseball and mitt, Rick had ordered for him, that Evelyn went in to labor.  She was in the Parlor trying to write some in her book when she felt a contraction, and a strong one at that.  She squeezed her eyes shut, and took in a deep breath, then let it out, but the pain lingered.  When it finally subsided, she used her desk to pull herself up, and hobbled her way to the back of the house.  She smiled as she saw the men of her life playing catch, and was impressed at how fast her son was catching on to the idea of catch.  As she was opening the door, she felt wetness, then heard a splash as her bag of water broke. 

 

“RICK,”  she yelled as another contraction came.  Alex had just thrown the ball and when she yelled his name he looked at her and the ball hit his head.

 

“OUCH,”  Rick yelled then ran to her holding her as she cried out.

 

“I think this child want’s to be born now,”  she said gasping at the intensity of the contraction.

 

“Oh Rick something’s not right it hurts more than it should,”  she said panicking.

 

“Shh Take in a deep breath like you did with Alex and let it out,”  Rick instructed.  She did and took two more before the pain finally started to go away.

 

“Let’s get you to the hospital,”  he said. Evelyn nodded.  She knew something was different about this pregnancy, and didn’t want to compromise the health of her baby, so while Alex and Rick got her things together, she sat in the parlor focusing on keeping calm.

 

 

 

 

Day turned to night, and Evelyn was finally ready to push her baby into the world.  The hospital tried to tell Rick he couldn’t be there for her labor, but he had not listened, and now sat at her side as she started to push.

 

 

“OUUUCH,”  she cried out as another contraction came.  Rick wiped a cool Rag over her face, and held her hand as she pushed again.

 

“Good Evelyn, thats really good, I see the top of the baby’s head,”  he said as she relaxed for a moment.

 

 

 

In the waiting Room, Jonathan and Alex sat playing poker, and both of them were having difficulty keeping focused.

 

“Uncle John why is it taking so long?  I mean all she has to do is push it into the world,”  Alex said thinking that should be easy.  Jonathan chuckled remembering when Alex had been born.

 

“It’s not as easy as that. It hurts when she has to do that, well think of it this way, imagine a Watermelon,”  Jonathan said remembering when Evelyn had said that having a baby was like pushing a Watermelon through a hole the size of a Lemon.  Alex nodded.

 

“Your mum is pushing this kid out of her, and its pretty much like pushing  a Watermelon out of a hole the size of a lemon.”  Alex made a face at that.

 

“I won’t ask next time,”  he said as they continued their game.

 

 

 

The delvery room was noisy as the new baby cried, letting everyone know that she wasn’t happy about being in such a cold world.  Rick had gone over with the nurse, who was giving her a bath, amazed at how tiny she was. Then he heard Evelyn start to scream again, and went back to her.

 

“I’m having another contracting,”  she said, and Dr. Brigman also came over.  He had her lift her legs and upon a further examination found that she was about to deliver another baby.

 

“Evie on your next contraction push,”  Dr. Brigman said.  She did as she was told and after ten minutes of pushing a second baby was born, another girl.  This time Dr. Brigman stayed where he was and felt her stomach, and again called out for Evelyn to push.

 

 

 

 

It was nearly 10pm, and eleven hours had passed since Rick and Evelyn had gone back to have the baby.  Alex had fallen asleep using Jonathan’s lap as a pillow, and Jonathan was dozing when Rick walked in.  He had a grin on his face going from ear to ear as he walked over to his brother-in-law and Son.

 

“Hey,”  he said as he tapped Jonathan’s shoulder.

 

“Oh, sorry, we dozed off.”  Rick nodded and knelt down giving Alex a kiss on the cheek.  He felt bad because the nurses said that there was absolutely no way Alex could go back and see the new babies, but Rick wanted to tell him.

 

“Dad?”  Alex asked.

 

“Yeah pal,”  Alex sat up and stretched.

 

“Well don’t leave us in suspense what do we have?”  Jonathan asked.

 

“We have a girl,”  Rick said, then added,

 

“Three of them,”  Alex and Jonathan looked at one another

 

“Three?”  Alex said realizing his life was going to be ruined now that he had three sisters, and not brothers.

 

“Can we go see them?”  Alex asked wanting to go see his mother at least.

 

“Well son I would let you but they are very tiny, and the nurses don’t want them to get sick,” he said, feeling like the meanest father around for not letting Alex go see them or his mother. 

 

“That’s a dumb rule, I’m their big brother,”  he said.

 

“I know son, but we have to do what they want,”  he tried.  Alex left and Jonathan went after him.  Out at the car Alex sat on the front hood crying, and Jonathan hugged him.

 

“It’s just not fair those dumb nurses are just mean,”  he said.

 

“I know, look why don’t you and I go home and get some sleep, then tomorrow we can go out and get your mum and your sisters some presents,”  Jonathan said.  Alex nodded, but before they left, they went back inside where Rick waited.  Alex gave him a hug and a kiss then he and Jonathan left for the house.  Once they were gone, Rick headed back to Evelyn’s room.  When he had left the nurses were giving her a sponge bath, and the babies had been taken to the nursery to be watched over for a while.  Now upon his return he found three bassinets beside Evie’s bed, and one nurse sitting beside them.  When he walked in, she left, and Rick went to Evelyn’s side and leaned in, kissing her lips.  She stirred but stayed asleep, having well earned her rest after bringing three babies into the world.  Rick walked over to the bassinets and looked in on his new daughters.  Two of them weighed a little over four pound’s and one was just over five pounds, and all of them were healthy.

 

“Rick?”  Evelyn croaked.  He came to her side and kissed her again.

 

“I want to go home,”  she whispered.

 

“I know sweetheart, but they want us to stay here with them just to make sure they are all healthy,”  he relayed.

 

“Are you unhappy that we have three of them?”  Evie asked closing her eyes again.

 

“Are you kidding me, that’s three girls to wrap around my pinkie,”  he said more than happy with all of them.  Evelyn smiled briefly then slipped into sleep.

 

 

Chapter 4: Going Home

 

 

Having to stay even one day in the hospital was enough to make Evelyn crazy, having to stay for a week, was almost too much.  All of her life, she had strived to do for herself, and that included caring for her husband and her children. At the hospital she was having to go by their schedule, and she was not very happy with that.  Now while she and Rick had lunch, she voiced her opinion of things.

 

“I don’t understand why we can’t take them home,”  she started, as she took a bite of soup.

 

“Dr. Brigman just wants to make sure that the girls get a good start sweetheart.  I’m sure he will let us take them home any day now,”  Rick said, trying to help her see that it wasn’t some sort of conspiracy keeping her there.

 

“I know he wants to make sure their all right, but I’m their mother, and I’m the one who nurses them, and they are all eating just as they should, and I think they would be happier at our home.  I just can’t handle it when they come in and take them to the nursery,”  Evelyn said, and swiped angrily at a tear.  Rick stood, and walked over to her bed, and was glad she let him comfort her.

 

“I know it’s hard baby, and I’ll go talk to Dr. Brigman if you want me too, and see if we can’t go home tomorrow.  It will be Saturday, and not to much should be going on at the house,”  Rick said rubbing her back.  After a moment she moved away from him and lifted her head for a kiss, which he gladly gave to her.

 

“Now we have names for Elizabeth and Rebecca, but we need to figure out what to name our last daughter,”  Rick said as he sat down in his chair.  Evie sighed.

 

“Why don’t we let Alex decide,”  she said.  He nodded liking that idea, and before either could say more, the door opened and the nurses brought the girls in.  Since they were so tiny, they all shared the same bassinet, sleeping in it side to side instead of length wise.

 

“They’re all ready to be fed,”  Margaret informed.  Evie thanked her, liking her the best out of all the nurses that helped take care of them.  Once she left Rick went to the bassinet, and lifted out the baby they had decided to call Elizabeth.  They all were identical, and the only way to tell them apart at this point was the different color blankets.  Elizabeth was wrapped in a pink blanket, and was starting to get more restless.  Aside from the blankets, both parents were beginning to tell them apart by their personalities, and thus far Elizabeth was more demanding than her other sisters.

 

“Here’s mum,”  Rick said giving his daughter a kiss while Evie got a pillow and placed it on her lap.  Once she was ready Rick handed her to Evelyn.

 

“Shhh,”  Evie whispered as her little one started to cry.  In a moment Evelyn had her nursing, and that calmed her down.  While she did that Rick picked up their other daughter Rebecca who was also awake, and starting to get agitated.  she was also demanding, but more easily settled if she was held.  With Elizabeth, the only thing that calmed her so far was nursing.  Their last daughter was the one they had not chosen a name for, and she was content to sleep, though both knew it wouldn’t be for long because none of them liked being apart from one another.  Rick cradled Rebecca in the crook of one arm, and lifted the other baby in the crook of his other arm and sat in the rocking chair.  As he rocked them, Evie watched glad she had a husband who loved his kids.

 

“How would you two like to go home tomorrow?  You can meet your big brother Alex,”  Rick told them.  Rebecca had her eyes open, though she was not happy and in a moment she started to cry. 

 

“Bring her over here, I can try to nurse both of them,”  Evelyn said.  Rick complied and when she was ready he helped her get the baby into position then all was well.

 

“I wish Alex could come see them,”  Evelyn said as she closed her eyes.  Another thing she didn’t like was that the nurses woke her up every hour to make sure she was doing all right, and that with a combination of having to feed her girls was exhausting her.

 

 

 

 

Saturday morning rolled around, and Alex woke up to Cleo asleep on his pillow above his head and Siam asleep beside him, both purring like crazy.

 

“Okay okay I’m getting up,”  he said and stretched, then got on his robe and slippers and walked downstairs with both cats trailing behind him.  They were both ready to be fed, and when Alex got in the kitchen he got out some browned meet Marie had left for them, since the weekend was her time off.  Once he had them eating, Alex made a couple slices of toast for himself and decided to go curl up in the parlor and read The Tales of King Author.  He had already finished it, but it was such a good book he wanted to re-read it.  In the parlor, the fire was still going, though barely, and he knew he was supposed to have an adult present to start a fire, but Uncle John was likely passed out again, and Alex decided he could handle it.  He opened up the curtain and placed in a few logs and some paper and got it going pretty good, then all was set.  As he was settling down to read, he thought he heard voices in the front entry and went to see.  As he approached, he heard his mum’s voice and ran the rest of the way.

 

“Mum,”  he said and hugged her close.  Holding her first born against her felt wonderful and Evelyn rubbed his back.

 

“I missed you soo much,”  he said as he pulled back.

 

“I missed you too.  Daddy and I have a request for you,”  she said as they all went into the parlor.  Ahead of them Rick carried in the bassinet, and when they got in the Parlor he noticed the fire and the lack of his brother-in-law, but decided he would deal with Jonathan later.

 

“We need a name for your sister.  Elizabeth and Rebecca have names but we can not figure out what to call your other sister,”  Evelyn said as she and Alex went to the little bed.  Alex peered in, and looked at the tiny babies all wrapped in warm knit blankets.

 

“They all look the same,”  he said.

 

“Well the baby asleep on the right is Elizabeth, Rebecca is the one in the middle, and this little one is without a name.  Alex thought for a moment going over girls names, thinking of all the stories he loved to read, then he thought of a wonderful name.

 

“What about Louisa?”  he asked.  That was the name of his best friend in Egypt, and he had always liked that name.

 

“Louisa.  I like that,”  Rick said.  Alex nodded and asked if he could hold her, and after he was sitting down, Evelyn brought her to him.

 

“Now just support her head,”  Evie said.  It took a moment but only that before Alex was comfortable holding his new sister.

 

“Hey Louisa,”  Alex said giving her a kiss.

 

“Hey Al...Oh your home,”  Jonathan said looking exhausted, and looking as though he had been into things he should not be when responsible for the welfare of his nephew.  Rick stuck to his guns, and decided the two of them would have a talk later, right now he was too happy to spoil the mood.  Jonathan walked over and took a look in the Bassinet at the other two sleeping babies.

 

“So what did you guys name them?”  he asked.  Rick told him while Evelyn sat with Alex and Louisa

 

“Isn’t she going to get warm with all of this stuff bundled around her?”  Alex asked.  Louisa as well as the other two babies had on warm knit sweaters over their night gowns, and were wrapped in knit blankets.

 

“Well I think we might be able to shed some of that,”  Evelyn said.  Alex let his mother take her, and Evie placed Louisa on her lap and unwrapped her, then unbuttoned the sweater, and untied the tiny hood and removed that, which got her agitated.  Once Evelyn had wrapped her in the blanket again, she relaxed,  remaining asleep.

 

“How will we tell them apart?”  Alex asked getting up to go see his other two sisters.  Evie had thought of that, and had already sent Rick out to order them bracelets with different gem stones in the middle, at least until everyone got used to them the way she and Rick had.

 

“Daddy and I ordered some Bracelets, and we will tell that way, though they all have different personalities,”  Evelyn said through a yawn.  Rick walked over to her.

 

“Why don’t we get you and the girls upstairs and maybe you could take a nap,”  he suggested.

 

“I think that sounds nice,”  Evelyn admitted.  While Evelyn carried Louisa, Rick got the bassinet, and the two of them with the babies left for their room.

 

 

 

 

A little later Rick came back downstairs and found Alex and Jonathan playing a game of chess.

 

“I need to talk to both of you.  Alex did you start that fire by yourself?”  Rick asked.  Alex nodded.

 

“But Uncle John was sleeping and I thought just this once,”  Alex defended.

 

“Son I don’t make up the rules to be mean, I just don’t want you to get hurt, and fires are very dangerous.  Please got get an adult the next time,”  Rick pleaded.  Alex nodded.

 

“Now truth Jonathan did you have girls over while we were at the hospital?”  Alex left to go upstairs.  He hated it when his dad got angry with his uncle, and when he got to his room, he went past it to his parents room.  Quietly he opened the door, and walked in finding his mum asleep on the bed, and his three sisters asleep in the cradle.  Having missed her something terrible, and feeling a bit tired himself, Alex snuggled in bed with her, which woke her.

 

“Dad is mad at uncle John so I decided to come sleep with you.”  Evelyn smiled and kissed the top of his head, then once he was under the covers held him close and the two of them fell fast asleep

 

 

Chapter 5: Life with Three Babies

 

 

 

The first few days home were not bad. The babies were all still sleeping most of the time in the same cradle, and Evelyn finally got enough rest to feel like being on her feet again.  Monday brought time for Alex’s studies, and in the Parlor Alex recited to her the poem he had written about his dad.  Evelyn had been teaching him Poetry for his English, and told him to pick a topic and now Alex read it.  Evie was proud of him, it seemed he was excelling having her as his teacher, and she was glad they had made the decision to home school him.  When he finished Evelyn clapped.

 

“Oh Alex you should share that with your father,”  she said as he sat down at her desk.

 

“Well maybe I will on Fathers day.  I was thinking about making a frame for it so that he can put it on his desk in his study,”  Alex replied.

 

“I think he might like that,”  Evelyn said back, then both of them heard one of the babies start to cry, and Evelyn had a pretty good idea of who it was.  She walked across the Parlor to the bassinet and lifted Elizabeth out before she woke her other sisters.  They had all learned to sleep through one anothers crying, though sometimes all three of them cried at once, and that was very nerve racking.  While Evelyn tended to her, Alex worked on his long division, which was also coming along better now with his mum’s teaching.  It stayed quiet for all of three minutes then Louisa started to cry, which meant she needed a clean diaper, and Alex went over to her.

 

“Shhh you’ll wake up Rebecca,” he said rubbing her back.  Louisa cried louder, and that did wake Rebecca.

 

“Mum,”  Alex said looking over at her.  Evelyn was in the middle of nursing Elizabeth, and as much as she hated not being able to tend to all three of them, she had little choice in the matter.

 

“It will be all right,”  Evie reassured, though she was feeling awful for having them cry so much.  Alex rubbed both of their backs, then took Louisa’s hand and placed it at her mouth trying to get her to suck on that, and amazingly enough, she did catch on to that, and sucked on her two middle fingers.  With one baby calmed down, Alex tried to get Rebecca to do the same but she was really ticked, and no finger was going to satisfy her.

 

“How about a hand,”  Rick asked as he returned from going to the market, as well as dropping off a load of soiled diapers to the Diaper service.  With three girls once a week pick up wasn’t enough.  He noticed Louisa sucking on her fingers, and Alex told him that he had taught her that.

 

“Well that was a nice thing for you to do.  Hey Rebecca shhh,”  Rick said as she cried into his ear.  He took her to Evelyn who was about to burp Elizabeth and made a trade.  Elizabeth snuggled against his shoulder and for a moment was content as he sat down next to his wife and started to pat her back for a burp.

 

“Can I hold Louisa?”  Alex asked. 

 

“I think for now your doing good getting her to stay where she is,”  Evie said as she adjusted the pillow on her lap to better support Rebecca while she nursed.  He nodded, and kept rubbing her back. 

 

“When you get older I’ll show you how to ride the horses,”  Alex said to her.  She went back to sleep while he talked to her and rubbed her back, her fingers still in her mouth, and Alex put a blanket over her, then went over to where his parents sat. 

 

“Do you think by this summer we can take them to the park?” Alex asked.

 

“I think so,”  Evie said as she nursed both of her girls.  Now that his hands were free, Rick went over to the cradle to check on Louisa.  Upon lifting her out, he felt a wet bottom, and Alex followed him upstairs to help him get a clean diaper on her.

 

“Who taught you to change a diaper?”  Alex asked, as he went to the dresser in his sisters’ room, and brought back a clean diaper and night gown.  Louisa was laying on the bed starting to get fussy, and Alex helped her find her fingers again.  Once she was sucking on them she settled down.

 

“Well when you were born I didn’t know one thing about taking care of you.  Neither did your mother.  The nurse who helped to deliver you showed me how to do it, though I was slow at first and you were not very happy with me,”  he explained as he poured warm water into the wash basin.

 

“Your good at it now, but they still get mad,”  Alex said watching his dad get his sister undressed.  Louisa did fine until Rick had to take her fingers out of her mouth so he could get the gown off of her, then she let him know that she was not happy.

 

“I know, I’ll be fast,”  Rick said, as he got the clean gown and put that over her head.  Once he had her arms in the sleeves he let Alex do his magic, and in a few moments she quieted.  She didn’t even make a peep when he changed her diaper.

 

“Alex I think you found a way to help us with them,”  Rick said as he lifted Louisa into his arms.

 

“Well Rebecca wasn’t all that interested in doing that,”  He said as the headed back downstairs.  When they arrived the found Evelyn asleep, with Elizabeth still at her breast and Rebecca against her shoulder.  Louisa was still awake, and Rick wished Evie would let him try bottles but she was adamant about feeding them herself.  Rick let Alex hold Louisa, and lifted Rebecca from Evelyn’s shoulder placing her at his own, which woke Evelyn.

 

“I must have drifted off,”  she said through a yawn.

 

“Yeah you did,”  he said leaning in to kiss her.  Elizabeth was sound asleep and once Rick had both of them Alex brought Louisa to her.

 

“She likes her fingers now,”  Alex informed, as Evelyn took them away from her mouth and replaced them with her breast.

 

“I think so, thank you for helping with her,”  Evie said.  He nodded then ran off to get ready and play with Max, who would be there very soon.

 

 

 

Outside the boys made snowmen, then decided to try and make tunnels under the snow.  There was enough there for it to come up to Alex’s knees, and the two of them worked at that for almost two hours.  Now they sat in their little fort, or rather lay in it since they couldn’t sit up.

 

“This is so cool,”  Max said.

 

“Yeah I think so.  So how are things at school?  Do any of the other kids ever ask about me?”  Alex asked.

 

“Yeah Joe and Marcus want to know why the coward hasn’t come back.”

 

“We should sabotage them,” Alex said wishing he could.

 

“Well you could you know. Sneak around during recess and throw snowballs at them, and then leave. They can’t follow you, and both of them almost got expelled because they let frogs lose in science class.”   Alex liked that a whole lot and decided tomorrow he would do just that.

 

 

 

It was a little past one in the morning, and Rick was awake with Rebecca against one shoulder and Elizabeth against the other walking them while Evelyn let Louisa have her turn at her breast.  They were both content as long as he was walking, and he was tired.

 

“Can daddy sit down?”  he asked, and tried the rocking chair.  For a little bit they let him rock, then both of them started to making grunts and squeaks, which meant that if daddy didn’t get up, he would have two very unhappy babies to contend with.  Rick stood up, and started to walk, but they both started to cry anyway.

 

“She’s ready for a burp,” Evie said, and Rick sighed relief.  Evelyn laid Louisa on the bed beside her, and took Elizabeth first placing her at one breast then got Rebecca and the room was finally quiet.  Rick took Louisa over to the Rocking chair and within five minutes both of them were asleep.  Evelyn got both Elizabeth and Rebecca fed and burped on her own then placed them beside her.  Very carefully, she got up, and walked over to the rocking chair easing Louisa away from his chest.  Rick mumbled something but stayed asleep, and she knew he had done way more than he should have.  After she got their three girls settled in their cradle, she went back to the rocking chair and settled on his lap.  That woke him up, but he only smiled and pulled her closer to him.

 

“We need a vacation,”  he said kissing the top of her head.

 

“We could get Elaina to come help out,”  Evelyn said.

 

“You wouldn’t mind?”  Rick asked.

 

“Not at all.  She has always been wonderful with Alex, so I think she would be wonderful with the girls,”  Evie said closing her eyes as he started to rock them.  They both fell asleep that way having well earned their rest.

 

 

 

 

After Lunch the next day,  Elaina was there, and since his parents were busy telling her about the girls, and how to tell them apart, Alex made an easy get away.  He went to the school yard and found his classmates out, and stayed on the other side of the fence.  He made snowballs and saw Joe and Marcus and yelled at them then bombed them with snowballs.

 

“O’Connell your going to pay for that,”  Joe yelled charging the fence.

 

“How?  You guys can’t leave,”  Alex said, then saw one of the teachers looking their way and took off laughing.  He decided to go by the museum and as he walked up,  Ernie the door man greeted him.

 

“Hello there Alex how is your mum doing?”  he asked

 

“Great, we have three girls, and you know what they are really fun, except for when all them decide to cry at once. Then they are not so fun.”  Alex reported,  then went up to the Egyptian section.  He phoned the house to let his parents know where he was, and got scolded from his mother for not telling her where he was going, but she told him he could stay.  Now in the library, Alex sat reading a book she had written when he was two, about the curse of Hamunaptra.  He wondered if there was a way to raise the city, because the Curator and his group had dug to find things, and according to what his mum wrote, there was a way to raise the city.  He didn’t realize how late it was, not until Ernie came and told him the museum would be closing in five minutes.  Alex gathered his things and headed out into the cold wintry night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As he walked to the bus stop he became aware off foot fall behind him. Then all at once he was on the ground his face being pressed against the cold side walk.

 

“So you think you can get away with tormenting us and not pay for it?”  Marcus asked turning him over.

 

“Look it was just a joke,”  Alex tried, knowing he was in serious trouble.

 

“Well now the tables are turned, and we get to have some fun.”  They stood him up and pulled him into the park.  Once they were there, they took his coat and shoes and threw them in the pond, then left him.  Alex knew his parents would kill him for loosing his shoes and coat, but they were all the way out in the wet cold water and he couldn’t get them.  His feet hurt standing in the cold snow, just wearing his stockings, and he knew that he had missed the last bus to the house.  It would take him two hours to walk home, but he knew that was his only way. 

 

 

 

It was getting late, and Evie had phoned the museum finding out that Alex had left nearly an hour and a half ago.  Now she and Elaina were getting the girls changed, waiting for Rick to return.  They were up in the Master bedroom, and Elaina was Rocking Louisa who was sucking her fingers almost asleep, while Evelyn finished getting Elizabeth into a clean diaper.

 

“I know I’m finished now,”  Evie said as she picked her up.  Elizabeth calmed down once Evie started to sing to her, and Rebecca as well.  She had just put both of them down and was starting to put Louisa down in the cradle with them,  when Rick walked in with Alex cradled in his arms crying.

 

“What happened?”

 

“Some of the bullies ganged up on him and took his shoes and coat from him,”  Rick said putting him in her arms, then left to go call their parents.

 

“My feet,”  he said sobbing against her.  Evelyn carried him to his room and put him in his bed then took his socks off of him, and found his feet a grayish color, which meant frostbite, and she remembered when that had happened to Jonathan.

 

“They hurt mum they hurt,”  he said.

 

“I know baby,”  Evie said and she held one in her hand starting to rub it between her hands making him cry more. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Rick came back he was asleep, and Evelyn was stroking his cheek.

 

“How are his feet?”  He asked.

 

“They will be fine.  He was lucky,”  she said softly.  She stood up, and Rick pulled her into his arms.

 

“He went looking for trouble,”  Rick informed as they went to get Elaina off to her house for the night.

 

“Why what did he do to deserve that?”  she asked always defensive when it came to her baby.

 

“Apparently he went to the playground and threw snowballs taunting the boys who took his shoes and coat,”  Rick said.  In their room, Elaina had the girls sound asleep.

 

“Thank you for helping,”  Evelyn said, disturbed by the bit of news her husband had given her.

 

“I had fun, I can come back tomorrow,”  she offered.

 

“That would be very helpful,”  Evelyn said.  Once she had gone,  Evie and Rick got ready for bed, and as they were settling in bed Alex walked in.

 

“My feet itch,”  he said.

 

“I know baby, but you need to keep the socks on them,” Evelyn said and made room for him between she and Rick.

 

“Alex why did you go to the school today?  You know they are always looking for a way to cause you pain,”  Evelyn said wanting to know why Alex would do something so foolish.  He snuggled against her.

 

“They just make me so mad mum, all they ever do is say bad things about me and anyone else who isn’t in their group, and for once I want them to see what it’s like,”  Alex stated.

 

“Son, Revenge is not the answer. Guys like that end up in a lot of trouble, and trust me they will end up regretting their bad ways,”  Rick said thinking of himself before Evelyn came into his life.  Alex nodded and for a while everyone got some sleep.

 

 

Chapter 6: The Common Cold times Four

 

 

 

For a long while, Alex had begged for his parents to let him have Max and Megan over for a night, and finally he was getting his way.  The girls were now six months old, and doing better about sleeping at night, mostly because the slept with mummy and daddy.  When his buddies arrived, Alex was the only one at home.  His parents had gone to a board of trustees meeting at the museum, and the babies had gone with them.

 

“So where are your sisters?”  Megan asked having only seen them a few times.

 

“Oh Mum and dad had a meeting at the museum, so they went, and took Elaina with them,”  Alex explained as they all headed up to his room.  When they got there, they all sat around for a little bit.  It was a warm August evening, and finally Alex decided they needed to go outside and have some fun.  They all got jars and went after fire flies for quite some time, then sat around in the garden while Alex told them about The Scorpion King.

 

“You know we need to go there and see if we can find that place again,”  Max said up for an adventure.

 

“No way.  You can go if you want to but I’m not even going to try,”  Alex said, having had is fill of Egypt for a long while.

 

“We need adventure,”  Max said.  Out of the three of them he was always the  one, at least of late, to get them into big trouble.

 

“Hmm the last time I did anything that involved one of your ideas, I got my shoes and coat thrown in the pond at the park, and got frostbite, I’m not thinking thats going to be anything I do,”  Alex said.

 

“Your getting boring,”  Max whined.

 

“We could go get Seti out and ride bareback,”  Alex suggested.  Megan liked that idea, Max did not.

 

“Look Max I’m not going to do anything stupid,”  Alex said finally getting tired of him.

 

“Well fine I’ll call my parents and have them come to get me.  You know what?  You’ve gotten to be to much of a sissy now that your mum is teaching you all the time.  Maybe you should just wear a dress,”  Max said laughing.  His remark cut to the core, and Alex stood up.  With one hard punch he knocked Max to the ground, then sat on his stomach and started to beat him up, punching him hard on the face.  Megan stood watching, horrified, and heard the car pull up out front.  She ran as fast as she could, and as Rick got out she grabbed him.

 

“Alex is beating up on Max,”  she said.  Rick ran with her, and found Alex was beating him up.  He lifted Alex away, and that did not make him happy.

 

“Noooo let me go let me go,”  he yelled as Rick hugged him.  Max was a mess, all bloodied up, and Rick knew he would hear from the boys father, but right now his own son was who needed him.  Evelyn came from the side of the house.

 

“Take care of Max,”  Rick said as he lifted his now sobbing son in his arms.  Rick carried him back to his car, and climbed in the passenger side front seat.  There he held him.

 

“He told me I was a sissy dad, just because I didn’t want to do anything that would get me into trouble.  He was supposed to be my best friend,”  Alex said and cried harder.  That had truly hurt him, and Rick just let him cry.  Some minutes later Alex calmed down, though still held on to his dad.

 

“I shouldn’t have beat him up, but he made me so mad,”  Alex said softly.

 

“You have my temper, and it’s something you need to watch.  If Max or any other boy teases you, you just need to turn around a walk away all right,”  Rick said kissing the top of his head.  Alex nodded and looked up at his dad.

 

“Are you mad at me?”  Rick shook his head.

 

“No I’m glad you decided not to go off and do something crazy, but we need to go in and check on Max,”  Rick said.

 

“You go.  I don’t ever want to talk to him again, not as long as I live.”  Rick hugged him again about to say more when a car pulled up and Mr. Daniels stepped out.

 

“O’Connell what is the meaning of this?  My boy comes over here to have an overnight and your son beats him up,”  Charlie yelled.

 

“Charlie settle down, you’ve said yourself boys will be boys,”  Rick said, knowing that his words would shut the man up.  He left Alex in the car for now.

 

“I....Well yes, my son will just have to watch out for yours,”  Charlie huffed as Evelyn brought Max out.  He was all bruised up, and Rick winced.  Alex was getting good at punching, and he knew they were going to have to help him watch his temper.  Once they had gone, Evelyn walked to the car and led their son inside.  Rick stayed outside for a little bit, until Elaina walked out ready to leave.

 

“See you tomorrow,”  she said.

 

“Yeah drive safe,”  Rick said and went inside to help with his daughters.

 

 

 

 

A little later Megan sat in Alex’s room, both of them playing a game of chess.

 

“Are you really never going to talk to him again?”  Megan asked.

 

“Not ever,”  Alex said as he made his move.  Megan frowned.

 

“But you have known him as long as you have known me,”  she pointed out.

 

“Megs, please just let it be okay?”  Alex asked.  She nodded, and made her move, then groaned as Alex won which put a smile on his face.

 

“Well you always beat me,”  she said sighing.

 

“I know I’m good what can I say,”  Alex said.  Megan tackled him and they laughed, rolling around, then the door opened.

 

“You two need to be quiet,”  Evelyn reminded, glad to see a smile on her son’s face once again.   They straightened up, then once she left started to laugh, and had to cover their mouths with pillows so they wouldn’t make too much noise.

 

“Lets go downstairs and listen to the radio show,”  Megan suggested.  Alex nodded and they walked out of his room to the stairs, then down to the Parlor and Alex tuned in the station to listen to the Knights Adventures.

 

“Do you ever think about being a knight?”  Megan asked during a commercial break.

 

“Nah.  I think when I’m old enough I want to be a teacher,”  Alex replied not seeing Evie coming down the stairs.  She smiled when she heard that, thinking Alex would make a fine teacher.

 

“Really, but what would you do if you had a bunch of kids who fought?”  Megan asked.

 

“Send them to the headmasters office, and they would know that they couldn’t fight in my class,”  Alex said.

 

“Would you two care for  a snack?”  Evelyn asked interrupting them.

 

“Hmm What about some of Marie’s Apple Pie?”  Alex asked. 

 

“All right,”  Evelyn said and went off to make that for them.

 

 

 

 

Upstairs, Rick lay in his and Evelyn’s bed with his three daughters who were all still awake, though all very tired.  Evelyn had just finished feeding them, and had gone downstairs to fix Alex and Megan a snack, which left him with his ladies.  Louisa lay against his chest content where she was, and Rebecca and Elizabeth lay on either side of him, babbling about something.

 

“How about if we all Rock,”  Rick said as he sat up.  Louisa lifted her head, then placed it back against his chest, and after a bit of maneuvering, Rick managed to get all three of them to the rocking chair.  He settled in it, and held all three of them sitting on his lap, then began to rock.  Louisa sucked on her middle two fingers, Elizabeth on her thumb, and Rebecca bent her middle finger in, and sucked on it that way.

 

“Now I know daddy doesn’t sing as good as mummy, so I’ll tell you a story,”  Rick said kissing the tops of their heads.  He told them about when Alex was born, and how he and Evie had to learn about being parents.  By the time he finished all three of them were sound asleep, and he realized he would have to wait for Evelyn to come back, before he could get up.

 

 

 

 

Evie sat downstairs with Alex and Megan eating pie, and listened to their radio show with them.  Once it was over she ushered them upstairs, and waited for them to get ready for bed in their separate rooms.  Once they had, Megan went in to Alex’s room, and both snuggled in his bed.  They had always slept in the same bed when she spent the night, and no one thought any different of it now.

 

“You two get some sleep,”  Evelyn said giving both of them a kiss.

 

“We will,” Alex said.  The two of them snuggled together and fell fast asleep.  Evelyn smiled, and opened his window a bit, then headed in to the room she and Rick shared with their three angels.  When she walked in, she found a sweet sight of him asleep with all three of them on his lap.  She managed to get a few pictures of them without waking them.  Then once she had put her camera away, she walked over to them, leaning in to give daddy a kiss.

 

“I managed to get stuck,”  Rick said softly as Evelyn lifted Rebecca away from him. 

 

“Shhh,”  Evie said as she lifted her head.  Once she realized it was mum, she snuggled against her shoulder and remained asleep.  With just two of his daughters, Rick stood up holding them against his chest with their backs against him and walked to the bed.  Evelyn laid Rebecca down, then took Louisa who woke up and cried a little.

 

“Shhh,”  Evelyn said again cradling her in her arms, swaying a bit.  When she didn’t show a sign of wanting to go back to sleep, Evelyn carried her back to the rocking chair and let her nurse which calmed her.  Rick slipped into bed with their other two daughters, and try as he may, he could not stay awake, and sleep found him fairly fast.  Evelyn rocked Louisa, but she kept pulling away, getting fussy, so Evie gave up on nursing her, and lifted her to her shoulder, and tried rocking.  Louisa was restless, and that just wasn’t like her.

 

“How about a bath?”  Evelyn asked softly as she stood up.  Even her soft whisper woke Rick, and he sat up.

 

“Need a hand?” he asked.

 

“No, I think we will be all right,”  Evelyn said, and walked over to the bed giving him a kiss, then left going to the girls room, which had yet to be used.  In their bathroom, Evelyn ran warm water into the tub, and while it was filling got herself undressed first, while Louisa lay on the big bed sucking on her fingers.  Once she was ready, she got her daughter undressed and settled in the tub with her.  None of the girls liked having baths by themselves, so most of the time Rick or Evelyn got in the tub with them, like now.  Evelyn held her daughter on her lap, and Louisa splashed a little then started to cry.

 

“Did you get some in your face?”  Evie asked as she cradled her daughter against her.  Louisa nursed again which calmed her, and this time put her to sleep.  Evie was trying to figure out the best way to get out, when Rick walked in, towel in hand.

 

“You always know,”  Evelyn said with a smile, then yawned.

 

“Daddy’s always know,”  Rick said grinning, then draped the towel over his shoulder.  Carefully he lifted Louisa away from her, and wrapped her in the towel without a fuss, then waited while Evelyn got out and dried off.  When they were all ready they went back to their room.  Rick got Louisa in a clean nightgown and a diaper without a peep and settled her in the bed with her sister’s.  He snuck behind his wife who was starting to put on her nightgown, and surprised her.  Rick pulled it away and pulled her against him nuzzling her neck.  It was rare that they got time alone with three babies, and a growing son, and Rick was ready to take advantage of this quiet time.  Evelyn tilted her head back, and gasped as her husband nibbled on her ear lobe.  His hands reached in front of them, and he rubbed them against her sides, then moved both of them up to cup both of her soft supple breasts.

 

“I think we need to go to their room,”  Evelyn said having a difficult time breathing properly.

 

“Hmm, or we can just be extremely quiet,”  Rick replied as he reached one hand down to her center and began to rub her.  Evelyn bit her lip trying to stifle the moans, and found that she could not.  Knowing that she was always noisy when they made, love,  Rick turned her in his arms to face him,  and kissed her, and continued to rub her until he felt her wetness slipping over his fingers.  His own thick shaft had hardened, and he wanted to make love to her.  Carefully he led her over to their bed and got a few pillows without waking the babies, then settled them on the floor.  When he had that ready, as well as their comforter he eased her down, and for a while the world only existed with them in it.

 

 

 

Somewhere in the night Rick came awake hearing Louisa, who was right next to him start to cough, and it was all congested sounding.  He sat up, and as he lifted her in his arms she started to cry, coughing more, which woke Evelyn.

 

“She’s warm,”  Rick said as he let Evelyn take her, then kissed Rebecca and Elizabeth’s heads, not feeling any warmth on them.   Evelyn went to the rocking chair, and got Louisa to nurse, and Rick came to them.

 

“Do you want me to call Dr. Brigman?” 

 

“I think so,”  Evie whispered working on keeping her little one calm.  Rick went back to their bed and dialed the operator, and had her ring the number to the Doctors house.  The phone rang twice, then his wife picked up, sounding tired.

 

“Hi Maggie, this is Rick O’Connell.  I’m sorry to call you but Louisa is awake with a fever and a bad cough.  Yes please do.  Thank you,”  Rick said and hung up.  He heard Louisa cough again, and walked over to Evelyn who had a tear slipping down her cheek.

 

“Hey, shhh,”  he said.

 

“I should have nursed them all the time.  I know it’s difficult but Alex never got sick, not until he was eleven months old,”  she said wiping the tears away.

 

“Evelyn, Doc said that they would likely be more susceptible to colds because of their size, and you getting us to help you with formula isn’t the end of the world,”  Rick said.

 

“I know, I still feel bad,”  she said.

 

“We’ll get her through this.  I’m going to wait downstairs for Dr. Brigman,” he said.  She nodded and after pulling on a robe over his semi nude form, Rick went down to the Parlor to wait for their friend to arrive.

 

 

 

Both Alex and Megan woke up when they heard the loud cries coming from the room across from Alex’s.  They both got out of his bed and went to the girls’ room, and inside found Doctor Brigman with both of his parents taking Louisa’s temperature.

 

“Mum?”  Alex asked.  Rick came over to them.

 

“It’s all right buddy, she just has a cold and a fever,”  Rick said trying to reassure him.

 

“I remember how that feels,”  he said, recalling being in the hospital twice, and having nurses stick thermometers up his bottom.

 

“Why don’t you two go sit with Rebecca and Elizabeth for me,”  Rick said.  They both jumped at the chance and ran into the Master bedroom.  When they walked in both of Alex’s sisters were awake though neither of them were being fussy.

 

“Hey Rebecca, and Elizabeth,”  Alex said as he climbed on the bed.

 

“Well come on Megs.”  She climbed on the bed with him, and they made the girls laugh, with a game of peek a boo.

 

“They are so cute,”  Megan said as she kissed Rebecca, and frowned.

 

“She feels warm, well hot,”  Megan said.  Elizabeth was hot too, so they carried the girls in where Dr. Brigman was packing up to leave.

 

“I think their sick too,”  Alex informed.  Evelyn was nursing Louisa, and Rick confirmed what Alex had said.

 

 

 

 

By morning everyone was finally asleep.  All three of the girls had a cold, and Rick had just left to take Megan home.  Now Evelyn was settled in their bed singing to her girls when Alex walked in.

 

“Mum I don’t feel so good,”  he said.  He walked over and upon feeling his head, Evelyn found him with a fever.

 

“Climb up,”  she said praying she and Rick didn’t get sick.  He did and snuggled in bed on the other side of his sisters.  With the girls asleep, and Alex well on his way,  Evelyn got up and headed downstairs to see if Marie had arrived.  The smell of good food confirmed that, and her tummy grumbled.  When she walked in Marie greeted her, along with her daughter Madelyne who sometimes came to help out.

 

“Good morning,”  Marie said.

 

“Good moring Marie.  I’m afraid all of my children have fallen ill, so you may want to go ahead and go home.

 

“Not to worry, I’m a strong woman.  Why don’t you get some rest, and I or Madelyn will bring breakfast to you,”  she said noticing how tired Evie looked.

 

“Thank you,”  Evelyn said and headed back upstairs.

 

 

 

A little later Rick returned with Megan.  Her father had left a note on the door saying he had been called away on business and left Megan under their care.

 

“I’m really sorry,”  Megan said feeling bad that her father had left without asking.

 

“Don’t you worry,”  Rick said as the got out.

 

“You are always welcome to stay with us, and I know Alex loves having you around,”  he added as he let them back in.  He and Megan had packed extra things for her to wear, not knowing when Paul would return.  When they walked in the parlor,  Marie was making a bed on the sofa, and Alex stood with a blanket wrapped around him.

 

“I got sick,”  he informed.

 

“Okay buddy,”  Rick said walking over to him.  Once the bed had been made, Rick helped his son lay down, and Megan put a blanket over him.

 

“Is Evie all right?”  Rick asked.

 

“Yes, the girls are still asleep, but Alex said they were all restless, which is why he is down here,”  Marie explained.

 

“Al, is it all right if...”  When Rick turned around he found his son asleep, and sighed.

 

“Well Megan, lets hope we all don’t get sick.  Will you go wake Jonathan and tell him to come sit with Alex?”  Rick asked.  She nodded, and left to do that, and Rick left Marie with his son, while he went to check on his girls

 

 

 

Up in their room Evelyn sat up in the bed singing to the girls who were all finally asleep.  Louisa and Rebecca were snuggled together and Elizabeth rested against her shoulder.  Aside from taking Megan home, Rick had also gone to the drug store to get antibiotics for everyone, and she guessed they would have to go out again for Alex’s medicine.  When the door opened, she looked up and smiled as Rick walked in.

 

“Megan is evidently going to stay with us,”  he informed as he walked over to their bed.  He leaned in and gave her a kiss, then Elizabeth who lifted her head.

 

“Hey Angel,”  he said.  She smiled at him then lay her head back against Evie’s shoulder.

 

“Well do you want to take the first shift of sleep?”  Rick asked noticing that she looked pretty tired.  Being up, and going out had woken him up, and he was ready to be awake at least for a little while.

 

“Sleep sounds wonderful, but Elizabeth doesn’t seem to want to lay down.”  Rick coaxed her away from Evelyn and carried her downstairs where Jonathan sat on one sofa asleep, and Megan and Madelyne played checkers, though the game was abandoned when she saw the baby.

 

“May I help?”  Megan asked walking over to the rocking chair where Rick had settled.

 

“Well...”  he stopped when he heard crying coming from upstairs.

 

“Yes you can,”  he said.  Elizabeth let Megan take her, and Rick woke Jonathan asking him to help out, then he left to go see who was making a fuss.  Megan sat in the rocking chair and for a little bit Elizabeth was in a fairly good mood then she started to get fussy, so Jonathan took her.

 

“Hey hey, lets be happy now,”  he tried, as he turned her to face out.  All of them like to be held facing away from the person holding them so they could see around, and Elizabeth found her thumb and relaxed as her uncle walked her around the parlor.  Megan felt useless so she went upstairs to Alex’s room and founds Siam there, and snuggled with him.

 

“Looks like it’s just you and me,”  Megan said, then she fell asleep.

 

 

 

 

The next day was worse for the girls, because all of them had runny noses and bad coughs, and all of them were miserable.  Alex was feeling better, having only a caught a mild form of what they had, and aside from a runny nose, he was back on his feet.  To help out, Elaina was there, though the girls were all really fussy, and only mummy and nursing seemed to help any at all.  By lunch all of them were finally asleep in the crib in their room, and Evelyn and Rick with Elaina headed downstairs for a break.  Rick hugged his wife close.

 

“Are you sure about no more bottles?”  he asked.

 

“Absolutely, my babies need me,” Evelyn said.  When they got downstairs, they found a fort built out of a quilt, stretched across one couch to the other, and Alex crawled out.

 

“Hey mum,”  he said and got out his handkerchief to wipe his nose.

 

“Hi baby.  Are you feeling better?”  he nodded and sneezed, and put his head against the floor, and Evie walked over to him.

 

“I think you need a rest.

 

“I hate being sick,” he said as he let her help him up.

 

“Hi Mrs. O’Connell,”  Megan said as she crawled out.

 

“Hello.  How are you feeling?”  she asked.

 

“Very good,”  Megan said, and she was.  It was rare she ever got sick, and she was sure she wouldn’t this time.

 

“Mum can I sleep in our fort?”  Alex asked.

 

“If you promise to sleep,”  Evie responded.  After he hugged her, he and Megan crawled back in the fort, and Evelyn looked up as Rick came out with lunch followed by Elaina.

 

“Chicken soup,”  Rick said as he set the tray on the coffee table.

 

Lunch was a quiet affair, and all of them were tired, but they had to keep on their toes for the girls sake.  Once lunch was over, Jonathan walked in dressed for once.

 

“Okay you two go out,”  he said.  Rick and Evie looked at him like he had gone mad.

 

“No I’m serious.  Go out.  Go for a long drive or something.  Elaina and I can handle the girls for a little bit, and you both need time alone,”  he said.  At his insistence they reluctantly left, and once they were out of the house Jonathan plopped in a chair.

 

“So has anyone ever taught you poker?”  he asked.

 

“No but Alex says you cheat,”  She said.

 

“Only when I have too,”  he told her and got out a deck of cards ready to show her.

 

 

 

It had been a long time since they had been out on their own, and Rick was glad Jonathan had insisted he and Evelyn get out of the house.  He drove them out into the countryside and off on a little used country road then stopped the car.  Evelyn smiled knowing his intentions.

 

“You know it’s a shame we have to come all the way out here for any quiet time,”  Evelyn said as Rick eased her into his arms.  He kissed her lips tenderly licking over them, tasting her as though it were the first time.

 

“Oh I don’t know I think this puts a little spice in our marriage, coming out here to make out in the back of our car, or in this case the front of the car,”  he said as he rubbed his nose against hers.

 

“As if we needed spice,”  Evie said as she reached down and unbuttoned his pants.  Rick groaned as she found his hard flesh and began to stroke him.

 

“When you do that, I can’t think straight,”  he mumbled.  Evelyn smiled then took his lips in a very passionate long kiss.  She dipped her tongue into his mouth running it along his teeth and over the roof of his mouth, then sucked his tongue into hers, all while keeping up the gently stroking rhythm along his hard flesh.  When they parted, both were out of breath, and Rick leaned back bringing her to lay on top of him.

 

“So why not make this a nightly occurrence,”  Rick said as he began to untuck her shirt from the slacks she had on.  He pulled that up, and over her head then made quick work of her other cloths until she lay naked against him.  Evelyn moaned as his fingers found their way to her center, and gasped as he began to pump them into her.

 

“Oh Rick,”  she managed.  She unbuttoned his shirt and pulled on his shoulders until he sat up then pushed it off of him.  She rubbed her cheek against his chest and he gasped out as she started to lick over his nipples. 

 

“I need us together,”  he said and she moved off of him long enough for him to get the rest of his cloths off then he leaned back against the seat and helped her lay against him.  Both of them cried out as they joined, and Rick helped Evelyn move against him.

 

 

 

 

At home The girls were now all awake and all refusing to take a bottle.  Alex was holding Louisa who was usually in good spirits though right now she was not and cried against his shoulder, and Megan was also trying to help him with her.

 

“Uncle John what were you thinking sending them out like that,”  Alex said as he bounced her some.

 

“Your right next time punch me or something,”  Jonathan said over Elizabeth’s screams.  Elaina was trying a bottle of Evie’s milk with Rebecca but she wouldn’t take it.

 

“Why don’t we try a bath,”  Elaina suggested.

 

“Only works if mum or dad is in the tub with them,”  Alex said back.

 

“Will you get in with them?”   Elaina asked him.

 

“Sure but I don’t think it’s going to make them any happier,”  he said.  They all went upstairs, and Megan ran the bath while Jonathan and Elaina got the girls undressed.  Since Alex had known Elaina for almost all of his life he didn’t have qualms about getting undressed in front of her, or for that matter Megan and climbed in the bath.  Elizabeth was the first one to get in with him and he showed her the ducks.  In a moment she was quiet.  Megan got undressed and climbed in with him to help, and once all three were in the big bath, they all settled down.

 

“Should we try to wash them?”  Megan asked.

 

“No way they are quiet so let them be,”  Alex said as he handed Rebecca another ducky.  They heard familiar voices then Rick and Evelyn walked in.

 

“Elaina’s idea worked,”  Alex said as he yawned.

 

“I see that,”  Evie said kissing him then Megan.

 

“Will you two mind staying in here While I nurse Elizabeth?”  Evie asked.  They nodded and she got a towel and lifted her away then Rick sat on a stool next to the tub and helped with Louisa and Rebecca.

 

“So did you and mum have a good drive?”  Alex asked as Rebecca started to cry.  Rick got a towel and lifted her out wrapping her in it then rocked her, and she calmed down.

 

“We did.  I think once your sisters and you are feeling better, we might start doing that more often,”  he informed.

 

“What exactly do you do on a drive, I mean thats boring,”  Megan said.  She and Alex were nine and Ten and relatively innocent as to what a drive entailed.

 

“Well we talk to one another, about how our day has been, and sometimes we even take walks, just mushy adult stuff,”  Rick said hoping they would be satisfied.  Louisa turned around facing Alex and he helped her stand up, and laughed when she tried to suck on his nose.

 

“Your just going to get boogers out of those,”  Alex said as he pulled her away.  Elaina came in then and told Rick Evelyn was ready for their other two girls, though Rebecca had fallen asleep sucking her middle finger.

 

“I want to take Louisa,”  Alex said when Elaina reached out to take her.

 

“Will you let Elaina hold her while you get out?”  Rick asked as he stood up.  Rebecca stirred and opened her eyes.

 

“Shhh, were going to see mum,”  Rick told her.  Alex let Elaina have her then once he and Megan were out and dried off, she let him have her back.

 

“Come on little girl,”  Alex said and both of them walked out of the bathroom with towels wrapped around them, and took Louisa to his parents room.

 

 

 

 

It took nearly a week for the girls to get completely well, and by then Rick and Evelyn were really ready for a vacation.  None of them would take a bottle, which made Evie’s Job a little more difficult, but she didn’t mind that, loving her time with her girls.