Refuge

And Then There Were Five

"Alright, well everything looks to be great," the doctor concludes. "You're measuring right on track, and mom and baby look healthy. Did you all want to find out the gender during the scan?"

"Yes, please," Veronica responds, bracing herself for the cold gel as it hits her stomach. She squeezes Archie's hand, not out of pain, but just knowing he's there.

"Alright then, it looks like you'll be having a...."

Veronica thinks the next few seconds are the longest of her life, sucking in a deep breath.

"Well, it looks like I've been mistaken," the doctor finally says, and Veronica looks confused.

"Is everything alright? Is the baby okay?" Archie asks, holding Veronica's hand.

"The babies," Dr. Williams emphasizes. "Are both excellent. It just appears that we didn't see baby B there in the back."

"I'm sorry," Archie asks, his face as white as a ghost. "There's... there's two?"

"Yes, Mr. Andrews," the doctor confirms, showing the couple the two babies on the screen. "One of them has been hiding."

"No kidding," Veronica mumbles under her breath. Her bump was sizably larger than when she was at that stage with Charlie, but she chalked it up to Archie feeding her every little craving she came up with.

"And, it looks like you'll be having two baby boys," she adds, wiping Veronica's stomach and leaving them to process the new information.

"Oh wow," Veronica says, looking over at Archie's smile. He has barely taken his eyes off of the monitor the only time, just now to look at her. "This is a surprise."

"We're gonna have two babies," Archie smiles, kissing his wife softly. "I can't wait."

"I know this wasn't in the plans," Veronica notes, letting Archie caress her belly. "And it will be a lot more work than just the one, but I think it will be okay, and I can take a longer maternity leave, and-"

"Babe," Archie cuts her off her rambling. "I don't see a single bad thing about this. We're having two baby boys, who are both healthy and safe, and you're healthy, and I'm so excited."

"Good," Veronica lets out a sigh of relief. "I was worried about what Charlotte might feel if she didn't get a sister, but I think she'll be content considering she's getting two new babies."

Once they get home, they let Charlie color a picture while Archie calls his mom to tell her the exciting news.

"I know Mom," she hears Archie as he paces around the kitchen. "They just must have missed it until now. Yes both boys."

She hears him let out a laugh, while she helps Charlie finish her pink blob of scribbles.

"What did you draw, bug?" Veronica asks, pulling the little girl into her lap.

"This was supposed to be a picture that I have been dreaming about for my baby sister," Charlie huffs, way too much frustration for a four year old. "But now I'm not getting one."

"Oh sweetheart," Veronica kisses her head. "I know you're sad, but think about it this way- all of our girl secrets and tea parties and dress up will just be for us, and you don't have to share that Mommy time."

"Well I'm not happy about it," Charlie whines. "I don't want two brothers."

"Oh, don't be upset," Veronica pulls her into her chest. "You're gonna love your baby brothers so much, you know that? Do you wanna do something special?"

Charlotte nods, but the frown doesn't leave her face. Veronica takes her little girls' hands and places them on her own belly.

"That little kick?" Veronica watches her face as she discovers it. "Those are your brothers. And they're excited because they know their big sister is waiting for them."