Epilogue - Sophie

A month after the gala you were out doing groceries. Feeling like having an opulent dinner for no other reason than it being Saturday, you got some of the more expensive items. A decent wine. Expensive potatoes, more luxurious than you usually got, a head of lettuce from the best brand, and so on. You even got some oils for a sensual massage. Afterwards, you went to the butcher to get some prime cuts. Content you got everything you wanted for a great evening, you headed home. When you parked your car behind Sophie's you saw her standing in the front door, waiting for you. She never did that. Worried, you stopped dead in your tracks.

"Soph, is everything okay?" you asked, almost afraid to ask.

"John" she said, "I'm pregnant."

You dropped the bag of groceries on the concrete driveway and stormed forward, smiling stupidly as you embraced your lover.

"Well, Mrs. Doe, let's take a look, shall we?" the gynaecologist said. Sophie nodded and looked up at you, some concern in her eyes. She was so nervous that she didn't even respond to her being called by your last name. "Now, you know that there is some risk of having a baby at your age" the doctor said. She was a young woman named Molly Thackeray. Apparently she'd been a nurse in the ob-gyn department before she'd studied to become a gynaecologist. She was cute, too.

"Yes, we do" Sophie answered as she squeezed your hand.

"Good. That means that you know there might be bad news" Dr. Molly said. You nodded to this.

"Of course" you said, "but there might also be good news."

Dr. Molly smiled. "Of course, mister Doe."

"John, please" you insisted. Dr. Molly nodded.

"And it's Sophie" your fiancée insisted. She had never passed up a chance to have people call her by your last name so this was unlike her.

"Alright then. Sophie, John" Dr. Molly said. "Let's take a look." She rolled her chair towards trolley that held the echo device and pulled it towards her before returning. She took it, applied conducive gel to the transducer and Sophie's stomach, then began move the transducer.

"Well then" the doctor said, "this is good news. There's a heartbeat. Congratulations."

Sophie began to cry tears of happiness. You gaped at the doctor. You were stunned, but oh so happy. Then Dr. Molly held up a hand. "Hang on" she said. "Can you be silent for a moment, Sophie?"

Clearly terrified, Sophie did just that. She squeezed harder as the two of you watched Dr. Molly focus on the screen, moving the transducer hither and fro.

"You're not going to believe this" Dr. Molly said, "but there's two heartbeats."

"Two..?" you asked.

"Twins..?" Sophie asked.

"Twins" Dr. Molly confirmed.

Over the next eight months you went to Dr. Molly many a time. Because Sophie was of "advanced age", a term she hated, she warranted a lot of extra check-ups. Every single time you went you came back reassured and happy. The twins were growing rapidly and seemed to be very healthy. That they were they proved when after a c-section they came out of Sophie squalling loudly from the get go.

"Congratulations, Sophie" the surgeon said. It wasn't Dr. Molly but a different woman. Dr. Molly sat opposite you, on Sophie's other side. "It's a boy and a girl" the surgeon said.

Sophie began to cry. You wiped away a few tears yourself, intent on catching every single moment.

"Do you have names for them yet?" Dr. Molly asked. You nodded.

"Marshall and Melissa" you told her.

"They're beautiful" your mother said as she held Melissa. Rebecca had Marshall in her arms, cooing at him softly.

"And as healthy as two oxen" Sophie added. You smiled as you looked at her then nodded.

"They are. Probably as strong, too" you said.

"Don't yoke my babies to a plough, honey" Sophie teased.

"No, professor. I wouldn't dare" you replied. Rebecca smiled and handed Marshall to Dawn.

"Yes, that's it honey, come to auntie Dawn" she said, taking her turn of cooing at your baby boy. Your mom gave Melissa to Rebecca, who studied the baby with a smile.

"What?" you asked.

"They look like you" she said.

"What can I say? Strong swimmers" you said with a grin. "How else can I explain it? A woman of advanced age giving birth to not one but two healthy babies?"

"Hey, I take exception to that" Sophie said with a smile.

"Don't worry about him, Sophie" your mom said, "I think it's exceptional, what you did. To give birth to two beautiful babies that are completely healthy at our age is amazing."

"I know he's kidding, Maria" your fiancée replied. Then she looked at you, grinning. "He better be."

"Don't worry, honey. I am. It would be bad form to insult the mother of my babies, now wouldn't it?" you said. Sophie laughed and kissed you.

"Just be happy I'm not cancelling the wedding after that, young man" she said.