On the Altar

Chapter 16

POV-Mystique, age 21

As soon as I landed, I hailed a cab and got to the hospital with my one suitcase, which had my homework and clothes in it. It was a little late, nearly seven. I knew visiting hours were over at nine, so I walked as quickly as I could to the elevator, and then prayed that I didn't get stuck in it.

When I reached the Labor and Delivery floor, I walked as fast as I could because I wore my heels in my hurry as I couldn't find my sneakers, and I would really love it if I met my godchildren with a non-bruised a*s.

When I reach the room Jen is in, I found her asleep and the rest of them were nowhere to be found. A young nurse came in and I ask her politely, "Could you please tell me where her husband is? I'm her friend, I came all the way from Massachusetts." Seeing my overly tired self, she took pity on me and answered, "Her husband is sitting on a chair outside the NICU observation window, and so are her parents, in-laws, grandparents and sister." She smiles a small smile which I return, and make my way to the NICU.

And there, the scene is such- Christy is sitting on a chair with Marty's head on her bump, him fast asleep. My grandparents, Jen's parents and Marty's parents are at different places near the observation window doing god knows what. I sit in a chair near Christy, who gives me a tired smile and I gently nudge Marty. "Hey Marty, how are my godchildren?" I ask him playfully.

He looks at me and stretches. He gives me a million megawatt smile, and tells me, "Come with me. I'll show you." I keep my suitcase on the chair and follow Marty to the observation window. When we reach my godbabies, he tells me, "The one on the left is Jason Alexander, and the one on the right is Jacob David. I'm calling them Jase and Jake." He looked at them with so much love and pride, but I couldn't do so. My stomach started to constrict once again.

Just stop, it's Jen and Marty's babies, be happy for them.

I smile at him and give him a hug. I say, "Congratulations, Daddy." "Thank you, Aunt Misty." he replies and it makes me smile genuinely. I pull away and say, "That's got a nice ring to it." He looks at his boys once again and says, "Jen would want to meet you. She's in room 402." 

"Be right back." I say softly and go on to meet Jen. I see Christy and ask her, "Hey, coming to meet Jen? I'm going there right now." "Sure. Help me to get up." She says and stretches out her hand. I take it and she gets up. 

The both of us walk to room 402 and see that Jen is wide awake. "Hey Misty, you came," she says, her voice a little hoarse. After all, she just woke up. "Of course I did, Jenny. You were giving birth to my godbabies, weren't you?" 

She smiles and tries to sit up. When she's successful, she says, "How are my babies?" 

"Well, Dr. Green said that they aren't fully grown up yet. They're barely two and a half pounds. She said that they'll monitor them in the NICU and keep them in the incubator for at least two months, when they'll be nine months. If they are ok, you could take them home. But if some glitch comes up in their systems, you'll need to wait longer." Christy says softly, so as to not aggravate or worry Jen. 

"Oh..okay. They're fine, though, right?" Jen asks worriedly. "Yes, they are. Their grandparents are discussing what they will be when they grow up, and their dad is trying to make them understand that they are not even ready to hold a bottle, and all that. They have people who love them all around and doctors and nurses to monitor their vitals." I say to her and she looks somewhat calmer.

Mission Accomplished.

"Can you send Marty in here?" Jen asks me and Christy and we nod. We get out of her room to get to the NICU and find Marty just as heavily engrossed in the discussion about the boys' future as their grandparents. 

"Hm, so you think Jake can be a composer?" He asks my Grandma, but before she can reply, Christy giggles and takes Marty's elbow. "Enough talking about your babies to their grandparents, Marty. Go and talk to your wife now." And she pushes him to the direction of Jen's room. He chuckles and says, "She's awake?" to which Christy nods and then he hurries away to Jen. 

Dr. Green suddenly appears out of nowhere and taps me on the shoulder. "You should probably take Christy home. She needs to rest, now that her due date is coming close." I call out to Christy and she turns to me and yawns with her mouth wide open. "Cover your mouth, Christy. Time to go home now." I tell her calmly and she nods in response. 

"Let's say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa Watson, Mr. and Mrs. Callaghan and Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher first. We should leave Jen and Marty alone, we can text them goodbye, they won't mind." She answers, stifling another yawn. 

We say goodbye to everyone and I text Jen and Marty a five-line goodbye message, then Christy and I leave everyone alone and happy in their own bubbles, not a care in the world. We go home and freshen up before bed. 

As I lay in my bed, a thousand thoughts roamed my mind. How would Jase and Jake be feeling right now if they understood what was happening? Would they be amused at their grandparents' antics? Or would they be mad at them for planning their future without their consent?

With these thoughts and those of the future, I fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.