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“Are we there yet?” came a voice from the back seat of the SUV.
“No,” Caroline said, rubbing her forehead.
“Are we there yet?” came another voice.
“No,” Frank said, focussing on the road.
“What about now?” repeated the first one.
“No!” Caroline and Frank yelled together.
“Mammy! Elle poked me!”
“Nuh uh, Hannah poked me first!”
“Did not!”
“Did too!”
“Did not!”
“Did too!”
Caroline turned to Frank. “Are we there yet?” she asked her husband wearily.
“Almost, I promise,” Frank replied, squeezing her hand.
“EWWWWWWWWWWWWW!” came the chorus from the back seat.
“Mammy and Daddy are being mushy again,” Elle frowned.
Caroline rolled her eyes and kissed Frank on the cheek.
“EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! They’re doing it again.”
"Thank the Lord for small mercies," Frank smiled, as the car pulled into the Bonnar residence.
Meanwhile, inside...a riot was taking place

“NO!” six year old Lily Bonnar cried.
"Yes," responded Sharon. "I'm not picking up your mess!"
A black Mary Jane shoe with white frilly socks stomped on the ground. "But I don't want to!"
Sharon flipped through the pages in her magazine. "Well, that’s life, Lily. We all have to do things we don’t want to. I had to grow up with your Uncle Jim."
"DAAAAAAAAAAAAADDYYYYYYYYY!"
Gavin was outside barbecuing and glanced up at the heavens. “I’m outnumbered in this family. Take pity on me.”
A six year old sized body suddenly clung to his leg. "Daddy," Lily asked sweetly, "Mammy said I had to clean, do I have to? Cause I dont wanna..."
"Lil, the sooner you clean it, the sooner you can eat lunch"
Lily looked distastefully at the barbecue. "Are you cooking again Daddy?"
"Yes, and I'm going to force feed you monkey brains."
Lily stared at her father, then skipped back into the house. "Mammy, Daddy said I didn’t have to!"
Sharon put down the magazine and was about to stalk out to the backyard when the doorbell rang. She answered it and smiled at her sister. "Hi."
"Can I let them go now?" Caroline asked, as she and Frank firmly held onto the two four year olds.
Sharon leant into the house and smiled. "Yeah, I think all the valuables are out of reach."
Elle shrieked as she was released from Franks grip. "Auntie Sharrrrrrrrrroooooooooon!!!"
"Hi Elle," smiled Sharon, as she scooped her niece into her arms.
"Nuh-uh, I'm Hannah," replied the twin. “Guess again.”
"Well, you're either Elle or Hannah," Sharon said, peering at the child. She glanced at Caroline, who shrugged.
"Guess again," Elle repeated.
"Okay, I give up, who are you?" Sharon asked.
"I'm, uh... I'm..." She looked at her sister. "Hannah, I can’t think of anything..."
"A-ha! You ARE Elle!"
“Meanie,” Elle pouted. “You tricked me.”
“Where’s Gavin?” Frank asked.
“Out the back barbecuing and being harassed by Lily,” Sharon replied.
Hannah wrinkled her nose. “Is Uncle Gavin cooking?”
Caroline frowned. “How could you do that to us, Sharon?”
"Mammyyyyy," Elle whined, "Do we have any of those apples left?"
"They're all rotten, remember?" Caroline reminded her.
"I don't care."
"Yeah, if Uncle Gavin's cooking..." Hannah trailed off, when she caught Frank giving her a look.
"You have rotten apples in your car?" Sharon asked, wrinkling her nose. "And you make fun of Gavin's cooking?"
"Hello, twins," Caroline said, gesturing to the girls. She rubbed Frank’s arm. “Why don’t you go help Gavin cook?”
“Save us, save us!” the twins cried.
Sharon gave her sister a dirty look. “And where do they get that from?”
Frank grinned and gave Caroline a lingering kiss. The twins gagged and Sharon smirked at her sister.
“What?” Caroline asked.
“You have got to be one of the most nauseatingly happy couples I’ve ever seen.”
“What’s that mean?” Elle asked her sister.
“It’s how Auntie Sharon says ‘Ew’,” nodded Hannah.
“Come on you two,” Sharon held her hands out to the twins. “Let’s go make fun of Uncle Gavin’s cooking to his face.”
”Huh?” frowned Elle. “He’s cooking his face?”
Hannah looked up at her aunt. “Auntie Sharon, why is Uncle Gavin cooking his face?”
“He might as well be, it’ll probably taste the same,” Caroline muttered.
“Mammy?”
“Yes Elle?”
“I’d really like one of those apples now.”
“Is Gavin away from all things flammable?” Caroline asked, holding tightly onto Hannah’s hand.
Sharon nodded and two sets of hands were released.
“Uncle GAAAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNN!!!!!!”
Caroline groaned and rested her head against her sister’s shoulder.
Sharon grinned. “Long trip?”
“They’re so cute when they’re asleep,” Caroline mumbled.
Sharon rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it,” she said, as she eyed the Barbie campout that was still scattered on the living room floor.
*********************************************************
Andrea and Giles stood at the front door and Giles watched curiously as Andrea put her coat on.
“Andrea, you’re going to cook in that.”
“It’s just for greeting the twins. They get rather exuberant. I have bruises from the last time.”
“Where?” he teased.
Andrea carefully ignored him as she pressed the doorbell.
A very flustered looking Caroline answered it and smiled. “Oh thank God you’re here.  Gavin is trying to cook and the twins aren’t helping.”
Andrea wrinkled her nose. “Gavin’s cooking?”
Giles poked his fiancée. “Better than whatever’s making that odd smell wafting from Caroline and Frank’s car. You should have let me stop at the 7-11 like I asked.”
“Yeah, what is that smell?” Andrea asked, ignoring Giles’ comment.
Caroline frowned. “The girls are in the house so I don’t know…”
Andrea frowned. "Don't you ever bath them?"
"I was kidding." Caroline frowned slightly. "Why are you wearing a coat?"
“Your children bruise.”
"Oh believe me, I know. I've got a body covered in them. But what are you worried about? You've got a nice dashing fiance to take care of you."
"Thanks," Giles grinned.
Andrea smiled evilly. "Mmm. Although from what I've witnessed over the years, you and Frank are STILL in the honeymoon era."
"Oh, don’t you start."
Andrea was about to reply when a shriek came from behind Caroline.
"AUNTIE ANDREAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Caroline smirked as Elle and Hannah ambushed their aunt with hugs and Andrea held fast, allowing the onslaught.
"I live with that everyday," she told her younger sister.
"I don't know how you do it," Andrea replied. "And how are my angelic nieces?"
Caroline snorted with laughter.
Hannah looked up at her mother. "Mammy, you should blow your nose."
"Yeah," agreed Elle. "You always tell us not to sniff."
"Yeah Caroline," agreed Andrea. "What were you thinking?"
"That's enough from you," Caroline warned Andrea. She glanced at her two daughters. "You know, I'm sure Auntie Andrea brought her swimmers. Why don't you see if she wants to go swimming?"
Andrea sent her sister a dirty look.
"Yeah Auntie Andrea!" the girls cried.
"My swimmers have spots," Elle said proudly.
"Mine too. 'Cept mine are blue and Elle's are pink," Hannah informed her aunt.
Elle tugged at Caroline’s hand.
"Mammy, you come swimming too!"
Hannah's eyes lit up. "Yeah! Come on Mammy!"
Andrea smirked at her sister.
"Who's laughing now?" She grinned.
Caroline frowned slightly. "When little tots have disappeared..." she said, letting the threat hang.
“I’m shaking in my swimmers,” Andrea giggled.
*******************************************************************
Lily jumped up to try and get her plate, but Gavin was holding it out of her reach. "Daddy! I'm hungry!"
Sharon glanced over from the outdoor table.
"You're going to stay that way until you pick up your Barbies."
"But Mammyyyyyyyyy..."
"I told you, Lily. I want those Barbies picked up. You're six years old. Neither me nor your father are going to clean up for you."
Lily folded her arms. "You can't starve me to death."
"Lily Giorgia Bonnar, you are trying my patience," Sharon said, tapping her foot.
Lily whined as she stomped into the house, as loudly as possible.
"Don't make me come up there!" yelled Sharon.
After a quiet pause, Sharon smiled to herself. She'd won this war.
"Hi Auntie Andreaaaaa!!!!!!!!!"
Sharon put her head in her hands. Maybe not.
"Hi, Sharon," Andrea smiled, Lily hanging off one arm, a smug smile on her face.
Sharon frowned at her daughter. "Hi, Andrea."
"Auntie Andrea invited me to go swimming with her, the twins and Auntie Caroline. Isn't that nice?" Lily said, a wide grin spreading across her face.
"OWWWW! Dammit!" came a cry from inside the house.
Then again, thought Sharon, maybe she had won the war.
Sharon raised an eyebrow at Lily, who sheepishly went to put away her Barbie's.
"Hi Uncle Jim! Um... sorry about the Barbies..."
"No problem. Battles with your mother again, huh?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "She's a battle-axe."
Jim nodded. "Believe me, I know the feeling."
"She was like that when she was little?" Lily asked, packing the Barbies up.
"A nightmare," Jim nodded.
"Oh really?" Sharon inquired, standing in the doorway.
"My ankle hurts," Jim whimpered, pouting slightly.
Sharon rolled her eyes.
"He tripped," Lily informed Sharon.
"I see," she replied. "Jim, I think everyone's going swimming soon... do you have your stuff?"
"That depends. Are you swimming?"
Sharon raised an eyebrow. "Why does it matter if I swim or not?"
"Because you dunk people," he said, pouting.
Lily giggled. "She dunked Daddy once, and he chased her all around the backyard, and then he threw her in the pool."
Gavin poked his head in the door. "Lily, I told you not to spread that!"
Jim frowned at the barbeque utensils in Gavin’s hand. "You didn’t cook, did you?" he inquired.
Gavin frowned and headed back outside.
"Come on, Uncle Jim, it'll be fun!"
"Yeah, Uncle Jim, it'll be fun," Andrea mimicked, grinning at Jim.
"UNCLE JIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM!!!!!"
"Oh hell," Jim groaned.
"Watch your language," Sharon told him.
Elle thundered across the hardwood floor and pounced. "Uncle Jim! Uncle Jim! We're going swimming!"
"I see," replied Jim. "Why aren’t you dressed?"
"Elle!" yelled Caroline. "Get BACK here and get your swimmers on, or you wont be swimming at all!"
Elle rolled her eyes. “I think she’s got PMS.”
Frank ducked his head in, eyes wide. “Where did you hear that?”
An equally undressed Hannah toddled out. “You said it the other day to that guy.”
Caroline came out, raising an eyebrow at her husband, who turned red.
“I didn’t say anything of the sort,” Frank said, reddening slightly.
Caroline rolled her eyes and carried Hannah back into the spare bedroom.
“Caroline,” Frank said, carrying Elle in after her.
Lily turned to Sharon. "Mammy? What’s PMS?"
Sharon ran her fingers through her daughter’s hair. "It's when daddy's get even more annoying than they usually are, and then blame mammy’s for it."
"Oh!"
*************************************************************************
Caroline sent Hannah and Elle out with Andrea as she began folding up the twin's clothes. Frank stood silently at the side, waiting for an outburst.
"Caroline, I didn't know they were listening. I was just letting off steam. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it," he began.
There was still silence and Frank attempted to gauge just how angry his wife was. "I love you more than anything you know."
Caroline turned around to him. "Well, that's good, considering what I'm about to tell you."
Frank raised an eyebrow. "Should I be scared?"
"You should probably sit down," Caroline figured.
Frank sat down and looked at his wife expectantly.
"I sincerely doubt it would have been PMS whenever it was you thought I had it, because I can't have PMS at the moment," Caroline explained.
Frank stared at her blankly for a few moments. "Caro, I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about."
Caroline smiled. "I'm pregnant you idiot!"
Frank sat very still "Huh?"
Caroline sat down beside him and took his hand. "It's when the Mammy throws up in the morning for a couple of months, then gets moody for a while, and finally breaks the Daddy's hand during labour."
Frank winced, remembering how much his hand hurt the last time.
Caroline mistook the gesture. "Oh." She stood up. "I know it's kind of bad timing...I mean, the twins haven't seemed to grow out of the terrible two stage...but well..."
He took her hand. "No, no... I was just remembering about how you shattered the bones in my right hand last time..."
She poked him in the side. "Jeeez... that’s nothing compared to what I was going through!"
She squeezed his hand. "Are you okay with this? I mean, it's going to be 2am feedings, diaper changes, explaining to the twins..."
He smiled. "Hey, it's not going to be twice the work this time, though, is it?" Frank glanced at her. "Is it?"
She laughed. "I sure hope not!"
He shook his head. "Just imagine... two sets of twins..."
She frowned. "I'd rather not, thanks."
There was quiet in the room for a few moments. "Hey," said Frank, "When are we going to tell everyone? Because we cant really tell the twins at the same time as everyone else."
Caroline leaned against him for a moment. "Let's just keep it to ourselves for a while. Okay?”
Frank nodded. "Sounds good to me."
There was a banging on the door. "Come on you two, what are you doing in there? Or don't I want to know?" came Andrea's voice
"Why wouldn't you want to know, Auntie Andrea?" replied Hannah's voice. "I wanna know what's more importenter than swimming!"
Caroline sighed and opened the door. "Yes, Andrea, what is more important than swimming?"
"Maybe it has something to do with why Frank is grinning like a Cheshire cat and you're blushing," Andrea pointed out.
"Well what do you want me to say to that?" asked Caroline. " 'Yes Andrea, you caught us in the act!' ?"
"Not in front of the young 'uns," replied Andrea, placing her hands over Hannah's ears.
"You have a dirty mind, Andrea Corr," Caroline replied. She closed the door behind her. "And don't go in there, Frank's getting changed."
"Mhm?" Andrea said, raising an eyebrow.
"Into his togs," Caroline replied, rolling her eyes.
Sharon came into the hallway then. "What on earth is going on?"
"Caroline and Frank have been doing the dirty," Andrea giggled.
Sharon placed her hands over Andrea's hands over Hannah's ears. "You what?"
"We have not!" Caroline cried, blushing. "We were just discussing some things."
Hannah whined. "I can't heeeaaar! What are you talking about? Tell me now!"
"We're talking about how Elle's going to beat you into the pool if you don't skedaddle," Sharon told her.
"Nooo!!!" Hannah shrieked, as she skidded out towards the back yard, closely followed by Caroline.
Sharon looked inquiringly at Andrea. "Were they really?"
Andrea shrugged. "I don’t know, let's ask Frank."
*knock knock*
“Frank? So what was more importanter than swimming?”
The door swung open, and Frank walked past them with a 'dignity at all times' expression on his face.
"Oh, they so were." commented Sharon.
***********************************************************************
"Daddy! Watch me jump!" shrieked Elle.
*splash*
Elle paddled to the side of the pool. "You didn’t watch!" she scolded. "You'll have to watch me this time," she added, as she clambered out of the pool.
Caroline sat down next to Hannah, who was sitting on the highest step into the pool, sucking her thumb.
"Hey, Hannah, you want to go and join Elle?"
Hannah shook her head silently.
"Are you sure? She looks like she's having fun."
Hannah clutched her mother’s hand, with the one that wasn't conscientiously in her mouth.
Caroline picked up her daughter and sat her in her lap. "What's wrong, sweetie?"
Hannah murmured something incoherent around her thumb.
Caroline gently removed it from her mouth. "What's the matter?"
Hannah sobbed quietly and leant her head against her mothers shoulder. "I-I-I... dun... wanna... I'm... sc-c-cared..."
Caroline held her little girl close to her. "What are you scared of?"
"I dunno..." mumbled Hannah. "I dun wanna... its scary. I dun wanna drown... Mammy, I'm scared..."
Caroline hopped into the water and held out her arms. "Will you come swimming with me? I don't want to go by myself."
Hannah hesitated for a moment and looked where her daddy and sister were playing. Her Auntie Sharon and Auntie Andrea were playing with Lily and Giles was talking to Jim and Gavin.
"I'll hold you if you want," Caroline said. "It's nice and cool in here. We don't have to splash around with Daddy and Elle."
"Pomise?" Hannah asked.
Caroline nodded. "Promise." She picked her daughter up and rested her on her hip, bouncing up and down slightly. "There, that's not so bad, is it?"
Lily squealed with laughter as Jim bombed into the pool, sending splashes everywhere.
"Thanks a lot, Jim," Sharon glared.
Jim smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."
Andrea shook her head, trying to get the water out as she swam over to where Caroline and Hannah were. "Hey."
Andrea rolled her eyes. "Why are you two all alone over here?"
"Water scary," Hannah said, clutching tightly onto Caroline.
Andrea glanced at Jim. "Definitely when Uncle Jim is in it."
Sharon cast a glance over the pool, to make sure Lily was safe. She spotted her playing with Frank and Elle, and quietly swam over to Gavin.
"Hey," she said "I need to talk to you later."
He frowned. "What have I done?"
She hit his arm. "Nothing, nothing..." she paused "Well, actually..."
He raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"
She shook her head. "Not here. We have to be alone."
Gavin followed his wife as she climbed out of the pool, escaping the notice of the rest of the tribe.
************************************************************************
Gavin trailed after her as she walked through the door of their bedroom.
"Tell me now! Tell me now!"
"Keep your pants on," she replied, checking the corridor for anyone might have followed them in. Satisfied, she shut the door.
Sharon smiled to herself. "I am so clever."
"Why?" inquired Gavin. "What have you done now?"
Sharon grinned. "No, no, just when I said 'keep your pants on'... it's just kind of ironic, is all."
"Oh," replied Gavin. He paused. "Why?"
Sharon bit her lip. "How to put this..."
"How to put what?"
"Haven't you been listening? What I'm about to tell you!"
"Yeah, that’s why I said what, because I don’t know what you're about to tell me. Tell me!"
"But..." Sharon bit her lip again. "I don’t know how to... I don’t remember how I did it last time, I wish I wrote it down or something. That would have been smart. But kind of weird at the same time..."
"Tell me!"
"... because, you know, it's just weird. I mean, what kind of person actually writes it down for future reference? I'm not that weird. Dammit Gavin, I'm not that weird!"
Gavin took her hand. "Honey?"
Sharon sighed. "I'm pregnant."
Gavin didn't say anything.
Sharon glanced at him. "Well?"
Gavin opened his mouth to say something, but Sharon cut him off.
"I know, there's a bit of a gap between this one and Lily... but, well, we wanted to have more than one anyway... and sooner is better than later, right?"
Gavin nodded, and smiled at his wife as he held her in his arms.
"You're absolutely right," he murmured. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "When are we going to tell people? And Lily - that's going to be difficult... oh well, that’s your department," he teased.
She grinned at him. "Well, that's why I wanted to tell you... so we can decide this together. But, I don’t really think that right now is the best time... so let's keep this to ourselves for a bit, okay?"
He nodded. "Okay."
"Where did you two go?" called Andreas voice. "Lily's asking for you... don’t tell me I have to cover her ears as well..."
Sharon opened the door and rolled her eyes at Andrea. "Caroline's right. You really do have a dirty mind."
"What?" Andrea said, raising her arms. "I'm not the one disappearing with my significant other every few minutes!"
Gavin kissed his wife gently. "I will let you reason with your sister. I'm sure lunch is almost ready."
"Which of those comments is supposed to make me happy?" Sharon wondered aloud.
********************************************************************************
The tribe all sat down at the barbecue table, watching dubiously as Gavin served out the meat.
Lily took her fork and prodded at her sausage.
"What is it?" Andrea asked, whispering in her ear.
"I'm making sure it's dead," Lily said.
“I’m sure it is,” Andrea replied.
“You never know when Daddy cooks," Lily said seriously.
Caroline and Frank were busy cutting up the twins lunch and Jim was considering which meat was safer to have.
"Jim, you never said where Nea was?" Sharon asked, chewing hard on her steak.
"Right," he answered, deciding against the steak. "She's got an awful case of the flu and she didn't want to give it to the kids."
Caroline whacked her brother on the shoulder.
"OW! What was that for?" he asked
"You could have at least tried to sound sympathetic when you said that!"
“We need another boy in the family,” Lily said to the group.
“Why is that?” Andrea asked, chewing on the steak.
“Because we can’t work otherwise. Hannah is Aunt Caroline, Elle can be you and I can be Mammy, but we don’t have anyone to be Uncle Jim.”
“What about me?” Jim asked.
Lily looked him up and down, tapping her foot on the ground and stroking her chin in deep thought. “Nah. Sorry Uncle Jim. You’re just not right for the job.”
”Well, how’s that for tough? I can’t even be me,” Jim said morosely.
"Why exactly do you want to be us?" Sharon inquired.
"Cause it's fun to pretend to be you guys." Lily replied. "I think we're better than you at singing though."
"I'm not quite sure how to take that," Caroline said, attempting to cut her own meat.
Elle giggled. "Lily was only kidding, Mammy," she said, spraying the table with bits of half chewed up meat.
"EEEWWWWW!!" chorused Hannah, Lily and Andrea.
"Elle!" scolded Caroline. "Don't talk with food in your mouth!"
Elle swallowed. "Sorry everyone..."
"I'm finished!" announced Hannah.
"Me too!" echoed Elle.
Caroline pointed to their plates with her fork. "You've barely touched the meat. And after Uncle Gavin was so kind as to cook it for you."
Hannah nodded. "Exactly."
"Can we play now?"
Caroline sighed. "Alright... but don’t run around for a while, alright?"
"Okay," they chorused, as they left the table, chasing each other around the back yard.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Like talking to a brick wall. Two brick walls.”
The table remained quiet for a while, as they concentrated on digesting the meat.
"Hey," began Jim, "What time does -"
He was interrupted by a sudden crash, followed by a wail.
Caroline stood up. "Damage control."
"Need some help?" asked Frank.
"I'll see how bad it is first," she replied, as she jogged over to where Elle was lying on the brick walkway, clutching her knee. "Maaammmmyyyyyyy!!!" she sobbed.
Caroline crouched down next to Elle.
"What did I say about not running?"
Elle sniffed. "You said not to... But-but-but I wanted to..."
Caroline kissed Elle's scraped knee. "See? When I tell you to do something, it's for your own good... you know that right?"
Elle sobbed and nodded, reaching out her arms.
Caroline picked her up and carried her back to the table, with Hannah trailing behind.
“Awww, Elle..." sympathized Andrea. "What happened?"
"I fell over," she frowned.
"Flashback!" commented Jim.
"Oh no," groaned Andrea.
"Remember that time," reminisced Jim "When you, Andy, weren't allowed outside, but you snuck out anyway and had a nice big scab on your face for your first Holy Communion?"
"Yes Jim," sighed Andrea. "You remind me on every possible occasion.”
Giles chuckled. "You never told me that!"
"Must have forgotten," Andrea replied.
"Or tried to block it out," Sharon smirked.
Frank sat and watched his wife cradle Elle. He smirked to himself, knowing the little secret they had. She caught his smile and blushed slightly, giving him a warning look not to say anything.
"Does anyone want anymore?" Gavin asked, holding the plate of meat up.
"NO!" everyone chorused.
"Aw, Gavin, never mind," Sharon said, patting his arm. "I love you despite your cooking inability."
"Me too, Daddy!" Lily cried.
***********************************************************************
“Can we play Barbies?” Elle asked, as she and Hannah sat down next to Lily beside the Barbie campout.
Lily scrutinised the two for a moment. “I don’t know. Have you two seen Lilo and Stitch?”
Hannah nodded eagerly. “Mammy got it for us.”
“We have all the Disney movies,” Elle grinned.
“Yeah, Mammy says it gives her peace and quiet for a coupla hours,” Hannah said, frowning slightly.
“Okay well understand this. I am like Nani. Quiet, pretty and clean. You are like Stitch. Destructive.”
“I’m not sure what that means,” Elle said. “But I’m guessing it not good.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “You break things.” She held up a Barbie. “See this is Astronaut Barbie. She comes complete with deluxe spacesuit, helmet and puffy shoes. She also has her ‘portant astronauty stuff. You guys would probably break it or lose it.”
“Would not!” the two chorused.
“What’s going on in here?” Sharon asked, peeking her head in.
“I’m trying to explain to the twins the importance of understanding your Barbie.”
"We understand Barbie's!" proclaimed Hannah.
"Yeah," agreed Elle. "You play with them!"
"No, no, no!" disagreed Lily. "Keeping your Barbie in perfect condition after each use is of the utmost importance..."
Hannah looked at her sister. "What's she talking about?" she asked.
Elle frowned. "I don't know, I wanna play with Barbies! Lilyyy... what are you talking about?"
Lily sighed impatiently. "I'm just teaching you guys how to take care of your Barbies properly!"
"But..." Hannah hesitated. "Can we play with astronaut Barbie?"
"Have you been listening to what I've been telling you?"
"Nuh uh."
"Then you can't play with Astronaut Barbie."
Elle's lower lip trembled.
Hannah whimpered.
Elle started sobbing and was quickly followed by Hannah.
Sharon magically appeared in the doorway. "Lily?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lily stubbornly stuck out her lower lip. "They'll ruin it," she protested.
"Lily, what have I told you about sharing?" Sharon asked, crossing her arms.
Lily crossed her arms. "They'll ruin it! They ruin everything!"
"Lily, if they can't play with astronaut Barbie, then you cant play with astronaut Barbie," said Sharon, holding out her hand.
Lily stood up and stamped her foot. "It's not fair!" she yelled, and stomped up to her room.
Caroline came into the room. "Is everything okay?"
Hannah whimpered and took her mother's hand. "We naughty. We made Auntie Sharon and Lily mad."
"What did they do?" Caroline asked her sister.
"It wasn't their fault," Sharon assured them all. "Lily was upset because I told her that if she didn't let the twins play with astronaut barbie, she couldn't play with it."
"You didn't have to do that," Caroline said.
 "We sorry, Auntie Sharon," Elle said. "We break too many things."
"It's okay. Lily has to learn to share," Sharon said. She sighed. "She'll cool off."
Elle stood up. "We're going to find Daddy," she announced. "We want to play monkey with him!"
"Yeah!" agreed Hannah, as they scampered off to find Frank.
Sharon sighed as she sat on the floor next to her sister. Caroline rested her head on Sharon’s shoulder. "I'm so exhausted," she sighed.
Sharon groaned in response. "You're not the only one." She rested her head against Caroline’s, wishing she could confide in her sister about her pregnancy. But she wasn't going to - especially as it had been her idea to keep it between her and Gavin for now.
Caroline glanced up at her sister. "I wish I could tell her I'm pregnant," she thought. "I can't keep it for much longer. I'll have to talk to Frank about it tonight..."
Sharon stood up. "I might go and have a talk with Lily."
Caroline yawned. "You do that. I might get the twins and Frank and go home to bed."
Sharon nodded. "Go to bed. Any amount of time in a car with those two is bound to tire anyone out."
********************************************************************
Jim got home and opened the door. "Nea? I'm home!"
"Congradulations," came the sniffled reply.
Jim chuckled to himself and walked into the master bedroom, smiling at his wife who was sitting up in their bed, surrounded by magazines and tissue boxes.
"How are you feeling?"
"How does id look like I'm feeling?" she asked.
"Point taken," Jim answered, sitting down next to her.
"How was everyone?"
"Great. Caroline hit me."
"You probably deserved id."
"She said I wasn't sympathetic enough when I told them you were sick."
"I hope you weren't too rude about me," she answered, blowing into a tissue.
"I'm never rude," Jim answered, grinning widely.
Nea rolled her eyes.
*********************************************************************
Hannah sleepily reached for her yellow stuffed bear. "Say goodnight to Yellow," she instructed her father.
Frank grimly smiled as they went through the same ritual as the night before... and the night before, and the night before that...
"Goodnight, Yellow."
"And say goodnight to Bob."
"Goodnight, Bob."
"And say goodnight to Baby Bear."
"Goodnight, Baby Bear..."
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Caroline was dressing Elle after her bath.
"Mammy? Can you read -"
"Arms up," requested Caroline.
Elle obediently raised her arms. "Mammy, can you read the puppy book tonight? We haven’t read that for sixteen months!"
"It's been two days," corrected Caroline "and besides, it's Hannah's turn to choose today."
"Awww..."
Back in the bedroom...
"And say goodnight to Miss Muffet."
Frank sighed. Where were Caroline and Elle? "Goodnight, Miss Muffet."
"And say goodnight to Elvis-Marie"
Frank smiled. "Elvis Marie?"
Hannah grinned and held up a stuffed crocodile from the zoo on the bed. "This one! I changed his name. Yesterday he was Snap. But I like Elvis Marie betterer. Say goodnight to Elvis-Marie, Daddy."
"Goodnight, Elvis-Marie..."
Elle whined as Caroline picked her up and carried her towards to bedroom she shared with Hannah. "I'm not sleepy, Mammy."
Caroline smiled at her daughter, noticing her closing eyes. "I think you are, sweetie."
"I'm nooooooooooooot..." she whinged, as Caroline plopped her down on her bed.
"One more left, Daddy!" smiled Hannah.
"Which one?" he asked wearily.
Hannah reached out her arms. "Say goodnight to Hannah, Daddy!"
"Night Daddy." Frank gave Hannah a goodnight kiss, while Caroline did the same to Elle. "Night, Mammy," murmured Elle.
They switched, and by the time they ere finished, Elle was fast asleep, and Hannah's eyes were closing, her little hand wrapped around Elvis-Marie's long, crocodiley snout.
"Quick," whispered Frank. "Let's go before they wake up and start demanding a story."
Caroline and Frank crept out of the room and tiptoed into their bedroom. Caroline immediately flopped on the bed and groaned.
Frank followed her lead. "By the way, I'm putting in my request now. No more twins."
"What if we have triplets? Or quadruplets?" Caroline said.
"Don't tell me scary stories before bedtime," Frank told her.
"When are we going to tell people?" Caroline asked. "I don't know why, but I really want to tell Sharon."
"Sisterly bond?" Frank asked.
"I don't know. But we have to work out how to tell the twins."
"I bags not telling them where babies come from," Frank chipped in.
"The stork," Caroline replied. "It's the easiest."
"Then how are you going to explain the throwing up and the ever expanding stomach?"
"I'm too tired to think about it," Caroline replied, crawling underneath the covers. "I'm too tired to get changed."
"Want me to help?"
"Yeah, throw me my pajamas," Caroline said.
Frank tossed them over and got changed and hopped in beside her. "We must be crazy."
"Yep. Welcome to the asylum," Caroline replied, cuddling up as Frank turned out the light.
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Lily shook her mother anxiously. "Mammyyyyyyyyy?"
Sharon rolled over, glancing at the glowing numbers of the clock as she did. 12:41. "What's wrong, Lil?"
Lily whimpered. "The candyman's going to come out of the mirror and kill me!"
Sharon yawned and sat up, scooping Lily into her lap.
"Did you watch that movie, after I told you to go upstairs and go to bed?"
Lily whimpered again, and clutched her mother’s shoulder. "Maybe," she mumbled.
Sharon stroked her daughter’s hair. "Honey, it's not true, it's only a movie."
Lily sobbed quietly. "Are you sure?"
"Positive." Sharon stood up, and carried Lily back to her bed.
"I'll stay with you till you go to sleep, okay?"
Lily nodded as she cuddled back down into bed, with her Goodnight Barbie.
"Night Mammy..." she murmured.
Sharon leaned against the wall and rubbed her eyes, hoping Lily wouldn't take too long to go back to sleep.
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