New Addition

Chapter 2

“So, Dr. Oliver-Snyder, why all the secrecy, especially with Luke?”  Despite Molly’s larger belly, it was obvious she was in great shape and would have her figure back in no time after the birth.

“I don’t know how to tell him, and to be honest I’m a bit overwhelmed myself.”  Reid knew he was acting like a jackass, but the confirmation, received only that morning, that all was well with the babies meant that he really needed to break the news to Luke as soon as possible.

“I know you and Luke were hoping one of your embryos would take.  What can I say?  I was clearly meant to carry your babies.”  Molly took a sip of the glass of skim milk Henry set down in front of her.  “It was obvious you were worried that carrying twins, I was more likely to miscarry one or both of them so you kept it from Luke, but now that we’re sure both babies are growing as they should be, don’t you want to start shopping with your husband for the second of everything you’ll need.”

Reid huffed.  “The nursery is kind of lopsided, considering what we’re in store for.”

“Oh my gosh!  You’re afraid you won’t be able to handle it.  This isn’t about Luke, it’s about you.”

Lowering his head, Reid stared at the menu, not really seeing anything.

“Reid, you need to understand something very important, you have each other, not to mention Ethan.  You and Luke will be the best parents Oakdale has ever seen.”

“Next to Holden and Lily.”

Molly laughed out loud.  “You’ve got to be kidding!  Those two were completely dysfunctional for so many years.  They were great parents individually, but whenever they got together they exposed their kids to a tension filled war zone.  People don’t marry and divorce and remarry that many times without leaving scars in their wake.  My daughter is one of those examples.”

“What if Luke and I screw things up?”

“You really don’t see just what an incredible example of a functioning family you and Luke have created.  Wake up and smell the coffee, doctor.  You’re more of a model couple than Kim and Bob Hughes could ever dream to be.”

“I guess it’s time for me to give Luke the full story.”

“Long overdue if you ask me.  Give him, and yourself, credit for being able to handle parenting in the best way possible.”

“I guess sometimes even the most brilliant neurosurgeon needs a kick in the rear.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”  Molly took a bite out of the burger set before her.  “Ouch!”  Molly grabbed her stomach and stilled.

“Shit!  Are you okay?  What’s the matter?  Do we need to get you back to the hospital?”

Molly closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and smiled.  “In order of your questions, the answers are, I’m fine, one of your rugrats kicked me hard, and no.  However, I do think you should arrange for me to visit with you and Luke immediately after you tell him the big news you’ve been keeping from him for almost four months.”

“Have we really known for that long?”

Molly nodded and took another bite of her food.  “Longest secret I’ve ever kept.”  She smirked, enjoying another bite of her lunch.

Realizing he could no longer postpone the inevitable, Reid pulled out his cell phone and called Luke. 

“Hi, Reid, what’s up?”

“Hey, I’m having lunch with Molly.”  He took a deep breath.  “Can you meet me at the hospital after work today?  I’ll arrange for Ethan to visit with Jacob.”

“Sure.  I’ll be there.  Care to give me a clue what this is all about?”

“I’d rather wait to tell you what this is all about in person.  I think it’ll be good news, but I’m holding my judgment until after we talk.”

“You’re making me a little nervous with all this mystery.”

“I’m not mysterious; I just have a problem with sharing important crap over the air waves.”

“Okay, when do you want me to be there?”

“I’m the boss.  I can make myself available whenever you get to the hospital.  Mark is covering in neurology today, so I won’t be paged for any emergencies.”

“I’ll grab a bite to eat and tie up some loose ends here at World Wide.  After all this subterfuge I don’t think I could concentrate on anything anyway.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in about an hour.”  Reid disconnected and tucked his phone back into his pocket.

“I guess Luke is pretty anxious to hear your news.”

“You guess right.  I’ll call the ob-gyn and set up an appointment for you in a little over an hour.”

“Must be nice to be the boss.”

“No waiting for appointments will hopefully keep me out of the doghouse--”

“Or the guest room.”  Molly grinned.

“There is that too.  I think he’ll want to see the kids on the ultrasound.  We’ve been pretty good at making sure he was unavailable for the earlier ones.”

“I think I’ll pick up a new maternity dress and then I’ll meet you at my doctor’s office.”

“Sounds good.”

Molly left to go shopping, and Reid went to pay the lunch bill.  When he turned around he spotted Casey Hughes in the alley outside the diner.  Ready to taunt and berate him for getting drunk earlier in the week after he learned his wife was pregnant with someone else’s kid, Reid stopped short just inside the exit to Al’s. 

Watching in shock, he saw the hospital’s newest pediatrician leaving Java with two cups of whatever.  He handed one to Casey who wore a smile a lot like Luke’s.  The biggest near-surprise was when Jason, who had about four inches on Casey, bent down to give him a peck on the lips.  Holy shit!  That guy really is bi -- and I’ve been teasing him about his fake relationship with Luke for years.  Oakdale residents never cease to amaze!  Reid was beginning to think this was meant to be the day for big news all around as he finally left Al’s to return to the hospital.

*~*~*

Like clockwork, Luke walked into Reid’s office an hour later.  “Hi, honey, I’m here, as summoned.”

“Don’t you knock?  What if I was in an important meeting?”

“Your assistant told me you were alone and waiting for me.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?”  Luke walked around Reid’s desk and planted a big, wet kiss on his lips.  “How about telling me why you needed to see me?”

“First of all, I always need to see you.”

“Nice flirtation, Reid, but I’d like the real answer.”  Luke smiled broadly reminding Reid of Casey’s reaction an hour earlier.

“First, I have to tell you about your straight friend, Casey.”

“I knew it.”

“Knew what?”  Now Reid was the one who was confused.

“You saw him with Jason, right?”

“Is that my new pediatrician’s name?”

“Reid, you really should learn the names of your employees before they get their first raise.”

“So you know about them?  I thought I scooped you this time.”  Reid grinned.

“Casey called me after his drunken stupor night.  It seems he refused to go to Chris’ directly after the bar.  He didn’t want anyone to see him that plastered so Jason took him to his place and it turned out Casey’d had just enough liquor to loosen him up.  He knew what he was doing and apparently found Jason a lot more appealing than we ever expected him to.  I didn’t get all the details, but I certainly plan to in the very near future.”

“So now he can finally admit to being bi.  It’s about time.”

“He hasn’t said anything to Allison yet.  To be honest, I’m not sure they’re even talking yet.”

“Does the slutty intern know who the baby-daddy is?”  Reid couldn’t help letting his curiosity get the better of him now that he had learned there might be a new queer couple in his midst.

“If she does, and if she told Casey, that’s still a mystery to me.”  Luke laced his fingers with Reid’s and guided him to the sofa in the office.  “Speaking of mysteries, wouldn’t this be a good time to tell me yours?”

Reid sat down facing Luke, now holding both of his partner’s warm hands in his own.  “It’s about the baby.  There’s something I’ve been keeping from you.”

“Oh God!”  Luke squeezed Reid’s fingers.  “Is the baby sick or unhealthy in some way?  Can we do something?”  The alarm in Luke’s voice upset Reid, knowing it was unwarranted. 

Before the secret could go on any further, Reid blurted out, “The babies are fine -- there’s two.”

Luke’s eyes widened.  He remained silent, staring at Reid.  His only response was, “Why?”

“I know you’re probably extremely angry with me, but I couldn’t bear having you get excited in case something went wrong with the pregnancy and we lost both our children after they seemed to both be developing, viable fetuses.”  Reid sighed, lowering his head.  “Call me a coward, but I couldn’t face the hurt for both of us if we lost two children in a miscarriage, which is highly likely in these kinds of cases.  I shouldn’t have, but I kept my mouth shut until today because Molly and I saw the doctor this morning and they’re both healthy and growing normally.”  Having said all that in what felt like one breath, Reid hoped Luke wouldn’t just get up and walk out on him for his deception.

Reid noticed Luke beginning to breathe heavier and then he practically vaulted himself at Reid, clinging to him tightly.  “Two!  We’re having twins.”  Luke crashed his lips against Reid’s.  “You were protecting me like you always do.”  Crashing lips attacked again.  “I love you!  I love our babies!”  Luke tangled his fingers in Reid’s hair and kissed him hard one more time.  “I want to see them.  Did you ever look at the ultrasounds?”

“Only this morning’s.  I was never brave enough before to actually look.  I just sat next to Molly until today.”

“When can I see them?”

“I’ve arranged for another ultrasound now if you’re not too upset with me.”

“You’re an idiot for not telling me, but your motives are one of the reasons I love you.  Now, I want to see our kids with you!”

Luke grabbed Reid by the arms and dragged him out of the office.  As they passed Reid’s assistant, Luke practically squealed.  “We’re having twins!”

“Congratulations.”  She smiled at the two of them but wisely kept any further remarks to herself.

“You really aren’t angry with me?”  Reid couldn’t believe how understanding Luke was.

“I’d be furious if I wasn’t so happy.  Be grateful and shut up, before you convince me otherwise.”

“Not another word.  Let’s head for the obstetrics department.  Molly’s probably waiting for us right now.”

As they ran down the two flights of stairs to the Ob-Gyn floor, Reid stopped briefly.  “You knew about Casey and Jason and didn’t tell me.”

“He asked me to keep it to myself until he talked to Allison.  I had no idea he’d be kissing Jason in public so soon, although since they were in an alley I’d imagine they thought no one would be looking.”  Luke winked at Reid.  “And don’t look so taken aback.  Payback’s a bitch.  Be happy you got a break all around.”

Unable to argue, Reid and Luke practically jogged the rest of the way to their doctor’s office, finding Molly had just been called in to prepare for the ultrasound.

[TBC]

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