Will You Love Me?

Chapter 24

"When are you going to be home?" Ben whined though the phone. "I feel like I'm looking after the spawns of Satan-Em, baby, don't!" You listened to the squealing laughter of your daughter giving her daddy a heart attack, though you didn't want to know why. "I'll be home soon," you promised. "Production has just been chaotic today and-."

"Son of a bitch! Nathaniel Timothy Cumberbatch, get in here right now!" Uh-oh. You haven't heard Ben get that upset in...ever! "Ben, what's going on?" You quickly asked. "Oh, nothing dear," he said, oozing with sarcasm. "Your son just decided to draw all over the Sherlock script! Jesus fucking Christ, I need you here! How in the hell do you do this on your own?!"

You sighed in annoyance. You've had a shit day, you're about to go on leave for your pregnancy which means you have to work extra hard these next few days because you're due to pop any week now, so you really didn't need this. "Ben, I'll be home as soon as I can, just...keep the house clean."

**

You walked in through the door, your feet swollen and hurting, your back was in horrendous pain, and all you wanted was a nice warm bath and some peace and quiet. But, of course, the screaming and squealing of your twins, combined with Ben's frustrated grunts and continuous demands that were met with laughter, that was responded with more grunts.

Great.

"Hey, I'm home," you called out. Little footsteps could be heard charging towards you from the hall, followed by big thuds. The kids came running up to you with Ben behind them, looking as if an angel was sent down from heaven. You said hello to your twins, showering them with kisses, before they sprinted off back into the living room. Ben immediately embraced you in a hug and sighed in relief.

"Oh baby, I'm so glad you're home," he whined. "I think we need a priest to come over to form an exorcism on our children. Christ, they've been horrible." You rubbed Ben's back and let him bury his face in your neck, breathing you in.

"I'll handle it," you sighed. He let go of you and watched as you disappeared into the living room. He felt bad for needing your help when you're only a month away from giving birth to yet another child, but he really needs your help! He waited anxiously for you to come back in and yell at him, or be way more stressed than you already were. Dear God, what has done; sending his pregnant wife into the battlefield!

He was about to call for you to come back when you appeared and walked passed him, up the stairs, while saying, "Mission accomplished." He gave you a double take and watched you climb the stairs.

Carefully, as to not wake the beasts, he tip-toed into the living room and peaked his head in. The kids were plopped down in front of the TV with juice boxes in there hands. What?!

He quickly went upstairs and into the bedroom where he saw you start to get undressed. "How in the hell did you just do that?" He asked. You winked at him and tapped your nose before saying, "Mommy knows best." He chuckled and followed you into the bathroom.

He sat on the toilet as you eased into the bath and sighed contently. He smiled at you and cooed, "My God, you're beautiful. Look at you, with that pregnancy glow." You blushed furiously and but your bottom lip.

"What are we doing about the kids' birthday party?" You asked, changing the subject. He sighed and leaned back against the toilet. "Well, we can have it here. We have to be careful with the lake though if there are going to be several one and two year olds running about."

You agreed and told him, "I can pick up some decorations on the way home tomorrow and order a cake. Should we get one or two?" He hummed in thought. "One, I suppose. Or two. They'll want two when they're older so we might as well start now."

Just as things were starting to wind down..."Dada!" "Dada!" "Da! Dada!" Ben groaned and stood up. "Coming, monkeys! Christ, I hope this next one is more calm than the gorillas down there."

**

After work, for the next few days, you were gathering decorations for the Twins' party. On the rare day that you and Ben both had off together, you went to order two cakes. One was pink and one was blue and you both suggested a Star Wars theme for Nate and Princess theme for Emma. The cakes would be ready the day of the party.

On the Twins' birthday, things were hectic. Very hectic. It was on the weekend, so pretty much everyone either you or Ben knew was coming, plus some of the kids at nursery school. You and Ben were up all morning trying to get things together and ready; putting up signs, blowing up balloons, setting up tables and chairs, cooking, everything. Luckily, both of yours and Ben's parents were there to help.

People started arriving about noon, including Martin and Amanda, Tom, Steven, Mark, Louise, Andrew, and anyone else you've ever worked with on Sherlock, plus some of yours and Ben's friends from outside of work.

The party kicked off swimmingly, everyone having a great time, especially the kids. They loved all the attention they were getting, which Ben warned you would turn into a problem sooner or later, as they've been more clingy lately.

When you brought out the cakes, everyone sang happy birthday (much to the twins' dismay because it was too loud) and you and Ben helped them blow out the candles. Emma, who was in Ben's arms, reached into the cake with her hand and shoved it into her mouth, getting it all over her face and oxygen tubes. Of course, Nate followed his sister's lead and did the same to his cake. Needless to say, everyone had quite the laugh.

The presents were supposed to wait until a little later, but the twins had already started opening them when the adults had their backs turned. Wanda commented how "they have the patients of their father". You laughed, earning a pinch on the bum from your husband.

The kids got lots and lots of toys. Too many toys, actually. Every time you and Ben saw a new one, you'd groan and sigh. "This little one will have to have hand-me-downs," he told you while running his hand over your stomach. "I refuse to buy anymore toys until their next birthday."

You smiled and laughed. "Yeah, just wait until Em can ask her daddy if she can have the pretty doll or pony." He grunted. "I don't want her to ask just yet. They're growing too fast as it is, I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle it when they start talking."

"And going to school," you sadly added. "Asking for the car," he murmured. "Going out on dates," you said with a smirk. You saw Ben's jaw clench. "Nate can go out with whomever he likes, but my little girl will be here because every boy she brings over will run off, pissing their pants," he defensively and (a little too seriously) told you.

Oh, those days can surely wait...