Intimacy

Chapter Twenty Seven: Shopping

Laurent was joking and laughing. Something that she hadn't seen much of in months. It was good to see the genuine smile on his faze again. She watched in muted fascination as he had Larry had a rapid fire argument in French over a shirt that probably cost more that a six week paycheck. She hadn't seen the Twins like this in so long and she had certainly missed it. His eyes caught her watching them and his smile seemed to widen, taking on a knowing smirk before he released the shirt into his brothers grasp who gleefully ran off like a five year old to try it on. She looked away as he sauntered towards her. There were no other words to describe it other than a predatory swagger.

"You make it very difficult to try to move on, belle." He purred, sitting down on the edge of the plush chair next to her where the rest of their shopping bags sat. "Though I do not think it is intentional on your part. You are oblivious to how alluring you really are. It doesn't phase you when men watch you walk by them."

"Why would it? I don't seek attention like that, Lau."

"I know, cherie and I think that's part of your charm, your appeal. You don't seek attention the way most other women do. You don't care about the fame and fortune, but you support us in everything that we do. You give and ask for nothing in return other than respect."

Amanda felt the burn of tears stinging her eyes. She was pregnant! He shouldn't be saying things like that to her, in public! He had to know that she was emotional and ready to cry at freaking tissue commercials!

"Stop, Lau, before you make me cry." Her voice wavered, signaling that she was close to doing just that if he uttered another sweet word to her. Why was he saying all this now when it was too late? Was he saying it in regret? Did he actually mean them?

"You taught me a very important lesson, belle. You taught me to not be afraid of how I feel and I'm not afraid or ashamed to be in love with you. I know that it's too late. You're with mon frere now. Though he and I are different in personality, I feel better knowing that he will take care of you where I failed. I will always love you, bebe. Never forget that." He reached out and took her hand in his, pressing his lips against the backs of her knuckles. Now why did he have to go and do that? She felt a part of her melt at the gesture. He lowered her hand just as Larry came out from the dressing room, flaunting his newly won shirt adorning his torso. He stood proudly, adjusting it to his liking.

"What do you think, belle?"

At her husbands inquiry, she stood carefully from the chair, and made her way towards him. She adjusted the buttons of the cranberry colored material, loving the way the color looked against his mocha skin tone.

"That color looks good on you, Lar."

"I know, right?" He stated with a grin, flashing his bunny teeth.

Amanda snorted and rolled her eyes faintly. "Alright, boys. Can we wrap this up, please? Me and the babies hunger and I'm dying to lay down and get off my feet." Just as she was about to turn back towards the chair while Larry returned to the dressing room, Laurent watched in horror as her face drained completely of all color. He was up and out of his chair, catching her as she wobbled unsteadily on her feet.

"Cherie?"

A fierce pain shot up her spine. "I seriously hope that wasn't a contraction. It's too early for them." Then again, it was up to them when they were ready to come into the world.

"Lar!" He shouted for his twin, hoping the urgency in his voice would lure his Twin out of cloud nine.

"What?" He practically snapped, poking his head out of the dressing room. When he saw his wife in his brothers arms, he felt guilt swamp him, then concern as he saw her ashen face. "The babies?" He ran towards them, reaching them in literally three strides of his long legs.

"I don't know." She confessed between long, deep breaths.

"She had a severe sharp pain in her lower back, followed by spasms in her lady bits."

"Lady bits? Really, Lau?" She snorted faintly.

"Well, what do you want me to call them?"

She opened her mouth to reply with something witty and crude but was cut of by a wave of fresh pain. She let out a loud, sharp curse in French that had both Twins staring at her in shock.

"Belle! Where did you learn that word?"

"Your sister." She growled out through clenched teeth. "Can we call an ambulance or like start driving me to the hospital before I deliver twins on the Gucci retail floor?" Though she wasn't entirely sure if she was in active labor at this point, she figured it might kick the boys in the seat of the pants to get their asses moving. She had been right though. Larry tugged on his own shirt, tossing the cranberry one at the clerk who walked towards them to ask if everything was alright.

"We need to get my wife to the hospital. Can you hold onto our things and one of us will be back to collect them?" Larry inquired, grabbing his jacket off the back of the chair she had been sitting in.

"Of course, Mr. Bourgeois. Would you like us to all an ambulance for you?"

"It's up to you, cherie." He stated, taking Lau's place and holding her hands as she gripped onto him for dear life.

"I think she fractured my wrist." The older Twin joked, shaking his right hand vigorously.

"That may be for the best. I'm not sure if I can walk right now." She breathed out through her teeth, fingers gripping hard onto her husbands arm as another wave of pain washed over her. "I just want to know they're okay."

"I know, belle." He brushed a couple of thin dreads back away from her face. He traced his thumb over the curve of her lower lip. "I'm right here with you, bebe. I'm not going anywhere and I'm certainly not going to miss this if they happen to grace the world with their presence early."

"I may cuss you out and curse you through this process, Lar, but know that I don't mean any of it. I love you more than life itself."

He chuckled softly. "I know, ma petite. I love you too, more than anything." He glance up as the paramedics came in, but he refused to leave her side.

"You're the father?" One of them inquired, but he was addressing Laurent. Why did everyone assume it was him?

"Non, I am." Larry nearly snapped, dark eyes staring daggers.

"Ignore my husband. He's cranky because I think I may have just fractured his hand."

"I don't care about that, cherie."

"You might not, but I do."

The paramedic cleared his throat faintly. "How far apart are the contractions?"

"I'm not sure, I honestly haven't been keeping track." She replied through clenched teeth as another wave hit her.

"Twenty minutes." Laurent answered. He shrugged slightly. "You two were too busy bickering."

"Did your water break?"

"No." She glanced down with a sigh. "Oh wait. It just did."

"Let's get her to the hospital." The other paramedic cut off everyone's conversation, nipping any bickering in the bud before they all got distracted.

"I'll follow in the car." Laurent offered, taking the keys from Larry when he handed them out. "I'll see you there, belle."

"I'll be waiting with bells and whistles."

He snorted with laughter as he rushed out the door. A couple of minutes later and she was being wheeled out of Gucci, a gift bag of goodies that the manager had given them as congratulations nestled on the gurney with her. He made her and Larry both promise to open the bag as soon as the girls were born and not a moment sooner. Larry sat beside her, holding onto her hand with his good one while another paramedic bandaged up his damaged one.

"We won't know if she actually fractured it until we have x-rays done, but it doesn't appear to be that bad." The older man patted Lar's shoulder. "Just be glad she didn't go for the face. My wife knocked me silly when we had our first."