Slowly opening her eyes, Cordelia was greeted with the sight of her smiling husband.
"Happy Mother's Day," he said as he leaned in to place a gentle kiss upon her lips.
Cordelia smiled back then rolled from her side onto her back and said, "Xander, I'm not a mother yet."
Xander placed a loving hand on his wife's swollen abdomen and a look of excitement passed over his face. "Yeah, but you will be soon. Only a week to go."
Smiling, Cordelia gently placed her hand over his. "Thank God," she said as she tried to sit up. "Xander, quit giggling at me and help."
"Hey, now. I don't giggle, I chuckle and occasionally I snicker." Cordelia just rolled her eyes. Still smiling, Xander helped her to sit up then began to massage her back. "You know, we still haven't thought about names," he reminded.
"I know," Cordelia sighed. "I still can't believe that we're having triplets."
"Xander smiled, helping Cordelia out of bed. "Isn't it great?"
Rolling her eyes, his wife replied, "Xander, you do realize that we're going to go insane by the time we're twenty-five, right?"
"Yeah, we'll be insanely happy." Taking Cordelia's hand, Xander led her out to the dining room. Although her parents had been against their marriage, they had caved when Cordelia had announced her pregnancy. The very next night, Kurt and Marilyn Chase had stopped by Cordelia and Xander's tiny little apartment and informed them that they were buying a house for them. The change in Cordelia's parents' attitudes was staggering, but they just went with it.
Cordelia sat down in the chair Xander held out for her. Her arms could barely make it around her stomach grasp the spoon. "You made me breakfast too?" She eyed the food set out before her. "Oh, and my favorite, gooey oatmeal! So tell me, sensitive 'I can cook' man, are you planning to do this for me for every Mother's Day?"
Xander nodded as he took the seat across from her. "Yep. I'm planning on it. Next year I'll make you stake and eggs. I would have this year, but you know what the doctor said."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Yes, I remember. Something about no really good tasting food until our babies decide they've had enough of their current housing situation."
"Yeah," Xander said with a smile. "Something like that. So, what about names? I dig names that start with 'C', myself."
"I wonder why?"
Shaking his head and swallowing the bite of banana in his mouth, Xander shrugged. "I don't know. There was just some girl when I was really young..."
"Yeah? Was she pretty?"
"Gorgeous. Stunning, actually."
"Was she smart?"
"Absolutely. She could figure out how to make it from one end of the shopping mall to the other, stopping in at least fifteen stores in under a half hour." Xander shoved a spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth. After swallowing, he added, "Oh, yeah, and she was in the top ten percent of her graduating class."
Cordelia smiled proudly. "Wow, sounds like she was quite a girl."
"Yeah," Xander agreed as he returned her smile. "Too bad I let her get away and settled for you." He quickly deflected a glob of oatmeal that Cordelia had launched from her spoon. "Hey, hey! You know I'm only kidding. I love you."
"Good," Cordelia replied snobbishly. "Because I love you too."
"So we're having two girls and a boy."
Nodding, Cordelia took another bite of her banana. "I'm glad you've been paying attention, my love."
"So I was thinking about names."
"Were you? I hadn't gathered."
Xander set down his spoon. "We only have a week, baby."
Sighing, Cordelia tried to get up out of her chair. "Help," she pleaded. He quickly stood up and helped her do the same. He gave her a look, silently asking her where she wanted to go and she pointed to the living room. After sinking down onto the couch, Cordelia turned to Xander and finally responded. "I know we only have a week left, but I don't really want to pick names until they're born."
"Why?"
"It's like naming them before we know them."
"We know them. We've known them for nearly nine months now." Seeing that his wife was determined, Xander gave up. It wasn't unusual for him to bend to her will. He just wanted her to be happy. "But can we at least talk about possible names?"
Cordelia agreed and they spent nearly two hours throwing out names and getting each other's reaction. By noon, Cordelia had fallen asleep again and Xander had gone out to mow the lawn. A little after one o'clock, Cordelia woke up from what felt like a very strong cramp.
Sitting up, she clutched her stomach until it faded. Slightly worried, she thought about getting Xander but then decided against it, not wanting to worry him over nothing. Cordelia lay back down, her hand gently rubbing her stomach.
She didn't fall back asleep; rather she just laid there, listening to the lawn mower in the distance. After a while, Cordelia's stomach clenched again, forcing her to sit up. Remembering her breathing from the childbirth classes she had attended with Xander, Cordelia used the technique to help ride out the rest of the contraction.
Contraction. She was having contractions. Still not wanting to get Xander, in case it was false labor, Cordelia sat still, her eyes glued on the clock, counting the time between them.
At a quarter after two in the afternoon, Xander finished mowing. "You know, you'd think your parents could get us lawn care. That lawn is just too big for... Cordelia?" He cut himself off as he saw his wife, sitting on the edge of the couch, staring at the clock. "Baby, are you okay?"
Cordelia tried to stand up. When she failed, she looked up at Xander. "Help?" As he helped her to her feet, she cupped his cheek in her hand. "We have to go to the hospital now."
Panic flooded Xander's eyes. "Oh, God. What's wrong?"
Smiling, Cordelia kissed him. "Nothing," she said as she pulled back. "It's just that, today's the day. I'm going to have our babies."
Xander looked stunned for a moment before a large smile swept across his face. "Babies," he repeated in a whisper before he hurriedly rushed about trying to do everything that needed to be done.
**
Nine hours later, Cordelia held their little boy while Xander held their two little girls. "That wasn't so bad," Xander whispered to Cordelia, his eyes fixed on one of his little sleeping daughters.
"Speak for yourself. The four of us are pooped."
Finally tearing his eyes away from the babies, he focused his twinkling orbs on his wife. "I love you."
Flashing him a brilliant smile, Cordelia's eyes twinkled back at him. "I love you. It's neat, Xander. You're the father of my children." She giggled a little. "And I'm the mother of yours."
"You're so beautiful. They're so beautiful."
"Yes, they are," she agreed. "And I think we should name our boy Christopher."
Xander smiled. "I think that Christopher is a great name. And our first born should be called Cora."
"I love it," Cordelia whispered with tears swelling in her eyes. "And our other pretty girl?"
"I like that name you said earlier. Celest."
Cordelia sighed. "I'm so glad. I've always loved that name."
A nurse came in the room after quietly knocking. Gently, she took Cora from Xander and placed her in the tiny little bed. Xander stood, then placed Celest in the bed next to Cora's. Before the nurse could take Christopher, Cordelia placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, whispering her love.
Xander moved to the leaned down, giving his wife a kiss. "You should get some rest now, baby. They'll be fine." They were both glad that they'd be allowed to keep their children in the private room with them. "Happy Mother's Day, Cor," he said before he leaned in for another loving kiss.
~**~
The End.
Kay, I've never had children, nor do I ever want to, so I glazed over and skipped the actual birthing stuff, 'cause I haven't the faintest idea what actually happens. But Chelle's lovely mommy gave me some answers as well as some of my chat room friends. I hope you liked it.