World Tour

Brisbane XVII

Eddy was deep in thought as he poured the egg mix into the pan. What would today be like? What would they see? And most importantly: would everything be okay? 
He was up before Brett for once again, which only seemed to happen when exciting things were happening. He knew why that was, as well: Brett was quite simply better at handling exciting than he was. 
He wished Brett would get up, actually. It would seriously help with the nerves if Brett would be sat here at their kitchen table, talking to him, joking around, putting his mind at ease just by being there. 
The ultrasound was planned for 3 pm. So there were many hours to wait still, and they had a tonne of work to do before then. He'd really better get his act together!
He slids the eggs out of the pan onto the waiting pieces of toast, and he filled the mugs with fresh coffee.
Right. Now he could reasonably go and wake Brett up.
It turned out he didn't need to though; just as he started in the direction of the bedroom he heard the bedroom door open and a sleepy looking Brett walked into the living room. Eddy didn't hesitate: he walked quickly over to him and all but crashed into him in his haste to be near him. He folded his arms around him, pulling him close, his nose in his hair, breathing in the comforting scent of Brett. 
¨Hey my love, you okay?¨ came Brett's slightly puzzled voice. 
¨I am now. It's better when you're here.¨
¨You nervous about this afternoon?¨
¨Well...¨ Eddy replied, thinking about his answer for a moment. ¨Yeah, I am, more excited than nervous though. I've seen some photos and they'll really look like babies by now. It'll be awesome to see. But yeah, I'm a bit nervous. What if...¨
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to, because he knew the 'what ifs' were also what were keeping Brett up at night. 
Having twins was awesome. But also a lot more risky, and they both knew it. More risky for the babies, and more risky for Belle. If anything should happen to them, to her... Eddy wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to forgive himself. 
¨It'll be fine, Eddy.¨ Brett said, his tone sure. ¨You'll see.¨
¨Yeah, I'm sure it will be. So, anyway, I made eggs. I hope you're in the mood for eggs.¨
Brett grinned. ¨If you made them? Always.¨
They sat down at the table and started to eat. And it was true: it was better now that Brett was up. They happily talked about their upcoming videos, about the response to previous ones, about merch details... time simply flew by now that Brett was there. 

At 2:30 Eddy closed his laptop with a satisfied sigh. They'd had a very productive day, shooting three videos, doing some editing and generally making themselves useful. Eddy looked up, and  Brett was already looking at him, his eyes both very excited and worried. 
Eddy guessed his eyes must look about the same.
¨I know, my love, it's a bit scary. But hey, at least it's time to go now huh?¨
Brett nodded. ¨Yeah, come on, let's go pick Belle up.¨

The short journey in the car was a quiet one as usual, with the image of the austere white building looming over their respective heads. Soon enough it came into view. Eddy was starting to develop a serious love/hate relationship with that building, to be honest. He'd had some of the most worried moments of his life there, but they'd also heard some of the best news of their lives there. Maybe the best news of their lives, even. 
He looked at his sister as she got out of the car. She was only 12 weeks pregnant, but you could really see it already. He smiled fondly. Depending on what happened today they could tell everyone they were expecting! 
¨I was thinking, maybe we could hold a party, to tell everyone. Just invite a few people we want to know. What do you reckon?¨ he asked as they made their way over to the building.
¨I love it!¨ Brett said straight away, and Eddy smiled at his enthusiasm. He knew very well how much Brett liked a good party. 
¨Sure thing.¨ Belle replied as well. ¨I'm not feeling sick anymore, so I'm good.¨

A few minutes later Eddy waited breathlessly while the doctor hiked up Belle's shirt and squirted some light blue liquid on her belly. Eddy's hand was firmly in Brett's and they were sat on her right side, waiting for the screen to come alive again. 
The doctor moved the wand over her belly as he peered at the screen full of white noise and... suddenly Eddy's eyes were full of tears. Oh my God, there they were! Two actual babies. They looked like... well, they looked like babies, with heads, and bodies, and limbs. Real, real babies. 
Brett gasped next to him and grasped his hand even tighter. 
¨Eddy, oh my God...¨ he whispered. 
¨I know...¨ he whispered back, staring at the screen transfixed. 
The babies were moving, as if they were dancing together, or playing, tumbling freely through Belle's womb. One of them moved its arm up and down, and it was almost like it was giving them a little wave. 
It was quite simply the most beautiful thing Eddy had ever seen in his life. He automatically lifted his hand and waved back. ¨Hi, baby!¨ he said, under his breath, wiping away a tear with his other hand.
He looked at Belle then, and her cheeks were tearstained too. 
¨Wow.¨ she whispered, and he grabbed her hand tight. 
¨Wow indeed, sis. Look at what you're cooking in there.¨
¨It's so hard to believe it's really real, until it's right in front of you.¨ she replied, her voice thick with emotion. 

The doctor turned the light on then and smiled at them as he wiped the goo he'd used off Belle's belly again. Belle got up and they all turned their expectant faces to the doctor.
¨It's all looking good, guys.¨ the doctor said, nodding encouragingly. ¨The foetuses are both doing well, and everything looks to be in perfect working order. I'm pretty sure they are fraternal twins, based on the placentas, which rules out a whole bunch of risks and all the checks are good. I'll book you guys in for another ultrasound at 20 weeks, when we'll do more checks, and if you want we can look at the genders then too.¨
¨So, that means that they won't be identical?¨ Eddy asked.
¨Yes, it does mean that. And they could both be male, both be female, or a mix.¨
¨Thank you, doctor.¨ he said. ¨It was.... it was real awesome to see this.¨
The doctor smiled kindly. ¨It's all good news. I'll see you in about eight weeks!¨

They were beaming, all of them, when they walked back out into the sunshine.
¨I say dinner's on us, what do you think, Belle? Chicken hotpot?¨
Belle smiled, and there was something in her smile that Eddy didn't understand. 
¨Can I take a rain check? I was going to have dinner with a friend.¨
Something in her eyes stopped him from asking which friend.
¨Okay, sure!¨ he said instead, and they drove her back home.