Roger pulled into the hangar where Beck was finishing up lubricating the joints on Big O's left arm. He looked over the lift railing and shouted down at Roger.
"Yo! Did you find out anything?"
Roger groaned. "Why are you still here?"
"I'm fixing your megadeus, Crow Boy! Show a little respect. By the way, your Crow Bird isn't feeling good. I took over doing maintenance at the request of Gramps."
Roger massaged his temple, annoyed. "If you stole anything from my house, Beck…" Roger made his way to the lift.
"Geez, between you and your megadeus, can't you cut me some slack?"
Big O flashed his eyes and moved the lift, causing Beck to lose balance and grab on to the railing.
"HEY! I already apologized! Why can't you just leave me be?!"
Roger shook his head, smirking, climbed inside of the lift, and pressed the button for the main floor. The lift arrived a short while later with Norman standing ready with a valet tray. Roger took off his jacket, tie, and gloves and placed his keys and wallet on the tray.
"Has she said anything to you?" he asked.
"Unfortunately, no, sir. She didn't want to talk to anyone, except you, but that she didn't want to disturb you at work."
Roger frowned. "Did Dr. Plebanski or Carlye say anything to you?"
"Unfortunately, they quoted me patient confidentiality, and said it was up to Dorothy to tell us if she wanted us to know. But on the ride home, she just stared out the window and didn't say much. Frankly, I haven't seen her like this since…well… she found out she was human, sir."
"I see. Is the tea ready?"
"Of course, sir. Shall I bring it or…."
"I'll do it. Thanks Norman."
Norman bowed and gestured over to the tray sitting on the table on the hallway. Roger picked it up and walked to the living room and out through the French doors. Dorothy was leaning on one of the concrete column trellises, the wind whipping her hair. Roger sighed and continued walking, setting the tray with the tea on the table closest to her. Dorothy didn't take notice, being lost in her thoughts.
What am I going to do? What are we going to do? I mean, I'm happy, sad, mad! I'm happy that I'm carrying our children, but should I be? What happens if we don't win? What happens if the world resets? What will happen to them? I want to help Roger, and help him fight. But with me being pregnant now, I won't be able to be in the cockpit with him. So, how? How can I help him fight? Dorothy Wayneright, you're such a fool to have been so careless!
"Dorothy?" Roger called apprehensively.
She turned to look at him. Her eyes, trembling with apprehension, hesitation, and uncertainty, as the wind blew through her hair and her skirt. She had changed into it when she came home as the elastic on the skirt was more comfortable than her pants, since they were tight. He approached her, taking her hands.
"Now there's a look I haven't seen in a bit. You want to come sit down? I had Norman make you your favorite tea," he said softly.
Dorothy bowed her head, a small smile forming briefly, but disappeared. "Roger… I…"
He titled his head, raising an eyebrow at her. "What's wrong?"
She avoided looking at him. "I… I got sick today."
Roger's confusion showed on his face. "I'm not understanding what you're trying to tell me. Are you ashamed about it?"
Dorothy pulled away from him and turned away, looking up at the sky. "No! No… I know it's only natural… but… well…"
She sighed and pulled something from inside her blazer jacket and turned around, avoiding Roger's gaze. Roger saw she was holding two small pieces of paper in her hand. She handed them over to him. Roger took them from her gently and looked them over.
They were pictures of the ultrasound Dr. Plebanski had taken earlier. Two circles appeared in both photographs, showing two small fetuses. Slowly, it began to dawn on Roger what was happening, but he still studied the photographs, in disbelief at first. Then his disbelief slowly turned into elation as Dorothy confirmed what he was thinking.
"Roger, I'm pregnant."
In one motion, Roger picked up Dorothy by her waist and twirled her around in the air. Dorothy looked confused at first, then a small smile formed. Roger set her down gently and kissed her passionately for a moment, then broke away. He was grinning.
"You're pregnant?"
"Yes, I'm pregnant."
"And there's two circles… two babies… so that means…"
"Yes… twins."
"We're having twins?"
"We're having twins. Roger, what's gotten into you?" she asked, laughing.
Dr. Plebanski was right, and as Dorothy began to realize Roger was happy about the news, she felt her woes melt away as Roger's smile and happiness became contagious, and she too began to feel elation. Roger dropped to his knees, putting his ear against her belly, then kissed it.
"We're having twins! I'm gonna be a dad! And we're having twins! Can I tell…?"
"I guess? Who?"
"Uh Norman, heck even Beck! Dastun and Angel will want to know! This is… WOOO!"
Roger whooped for joy, calling for Norman.
"NORMAN! NORMAN!"
Norman ran quickly to the back courtyard.
"Yes sir, what is it?"
"Dorothy! Dorothy's pregnant! Dorothy's pregnant with twins!"
Norman mustached twitched as he broke into a wide smile.
"WONDERFUL NEWS! Miss Dorothy and Master Roger, congratulations!" and he began to clap softly.
Roger picked Dorothy up once more, bringing her head close to his, nuzzling it.
"Roger easy, be gentle. Dr. Plebanski said I had to be careful."
"Okay," and he set her down gently.
He grabbed her hand to lead her back inside, making calls to announce the news with those who were close to them, while Norman grabbed the tray with the tea and brought it in with them.
That night, we celebrated. Beck invited his entourage over and Dastun and Angel came over. Pictures were taken. I said I would never drink so heavily again, but the news was infectious. Beck gave me a weird look when I offered him a drink, but he accepted and then… well… between good food and drink, it seems we forgot our hostility to each other. Apparently at some point, Beck and I were on the piano, me trying to play and sing. Dastun even joined us. Norman got a picture of all of us trying to sing while drunk on the piano with Dorothy trying to play a straight tune, Angel and Dastun laughing at how ridiculous we were, Beck and his entourage enjoying the mood, and Norman barely making it in time before the timer snapped the photo, managing a quick smile. I was to be dad and the fact Dorothy was sharing this with me, all my woes from the months fell away.
Of course, elation gave way to reality, and later that night, I woke up curled next to Dorothy, nursing a hangover, with Dastun, Beck, and his people passed out on my couches, and Angel sleeping in Dorothy's old room. I went to the kitchen to fix me something to eat, trying to lessen my hangover in the morning.
Roger yawned as he opened the fridge. Apparently, he went to bed in his undershirt and pants. His hair was messy, and his suspenders were still on him. He shook his head, feeling embarrassed about his behavior.
Well, so much for not drinking heavily again.
Roger was looking over the fridge and began to pull out the ingredients to make a sandwich, pausing when he couldn't find the pickles and mayo.
"Are you KIDDING me? Not again!"
Roger kicked the door shut and grumbled.
"Why is it so hard to keep pickles and mayo in this mansion?"
Roger began prepping his sandwich as Norman, who heard his commotion, walked into the kitchen, in his pajamas and night cap.
"Is everything alright, sir?"
"Oh! I'm sorry, Norman. Just, there's no pickles again and mayo. Sorry for waking you."
"It's quite alright, sir. Truth be told, I couldn't sleep either. I'm very excited about two future young masters running around in the household."
"If we make it that far…"
The words escaped Roger before he could stop them. He sighed, his shoulders dropping as he sat down by the butcher block, slumping on to it.
"Ah… so I see then. Would you like a drink, sir?"
"If you're making a Gin and Tonic, make it heavy on the Gin, please."
"Understood," and Norman began making two Gin and Tonics, while talking to Roger.
"Master Roger, do not fret, sir. You will win the day when it does come to pass. Of this, I have the utmost confidence in you. You had Miss Dorothy to protect, now you have Miss Dorothy, plus two. There's no greater blessing than the birth of the child. You have all the strength you need. And, there is no greater power than love on this earth. You have the love of a wonderful young lady, and now, the love of two lovely children along the way. Whatever the enemy has, it will not compare to what you have, sir. You are much stronger now than you ever realize, and I know Big O will bring out that strength in you."
Roger sighed. "I know… but now I understand what Dorothy meant a while ago. There's so much uncertainty, and I feel like kind of a fool to have been so reckless when there's a threat looming over us."
"But is Miss Dorothy happy about her expectancy?"
"She told me while we were waiting for everyone to come over, at first no. At first, she felt like she had done something wrong, in light of situation, but… she said when she heard the sound of their heartbeats… she felt her opinion change…"
"Heartbeats? How far along is she?"
"At least eight weeks according to Dr. Plebanski. I'm going to clinic tomorrow with her. Dr. Plebanski wanted her back to run blood work and a panel on her. I guess, she took some time to accept the news and just wanted to get home."
"I see, sir. So then, the babies are due…"
"They're looking at the end of November, beginning of December, if all goes well."
"Well, you'll have nothing to fear on my end, sir. I'll see to it Miss Dorothy eats well and rests."
"I already told her she needs to take it easy. And, well… with everything… I asked her if she could just stay here because of the enemy. I don't think it's wise for her to be out right now seeing as they made a threat already against her. Who knows what they'll try to do, especially with her pregnant now…"
"You asked her to stop being a negotiator?"
"No, no… I asked her to stop going out into the field and let me handle it. And she could do the notes and organize things as necessary, even though we're not taking any major cases right now. Just the small ones."
"Chin up, sir. It'll work out. I have complete faith in you, and Big O, that you'll win, and you'll live to see your children being born, and maybe even grandchildren."
Roger gave a small smile. "I appreciate it, Norman."
Roger sighed as Norman put his drink in front of him. Norman looked at the entrance of the kitchen, and then back at Roger, who was taking a sip of his drink.
"So, sir… when are you going to propose to Miss Dorothy?"
Roger choked on his drink, turning red in the face.
"NORMAN! Really?"
"I have to ask, sir. I mean… for Miss Dorothy to be having your children, and not for them to share your name…"
"Eh… Norman… that's a little upfront, isn't it?"
"Well, sir?"
Roger grew frustrated. "I'm working on it! I just… want it to be perfect. That's all."
"Master Roger, you've spent more time dwelling on this particular action instead of just doing it, sir. If I do say so myself. Have you not told her that you love her?"
Roger had taken another drink of gin and tonic, and turned away, spitting it out, coughing once more.
"I'm being attacked by my own butler. What the heck, Norman?"
Norman looked at Roger, a small coy smile forming underneath his mustache. "Forgive me, I figure with the news of today, you would allow me a few jests at your expense."
"So, I see," said Roger, taking another sip of his drink, "You know how I am with words…"
"You use them at work and prefer action over them, especially in personal affairs. Though, if I may say so, I think Miss Dorothy would like to hear them every so often. But, she too is like you. Preferring action in matters of the heart."
"Norman, are you my butler or my therapist?"
"I like to think of myself as both, sir."
Roger laughed. "Okay, got me there."
Roger and Norman heard the lift coming down and Roger shook his head at Norman, indicating he wanted to drop the discussion. He heard the lift go off and a moment later, Dorothy walked in, wearing one of Roger's shirts, which was rather big on her. Dorothy was still half asleep and in her hands were the pickles and mayo Roger had been looking for. She realized that Roger and Norman were looking at her.
"I'm sorry, did I walk into something? Do I need to leave?"
"No, actually, but now that you're here, Dorothy, why do you have the pickles and mayo in your hands?" asked Roger, suspiciously.
"I've been keeping them in the kitchenette fridge. Apparently, it's craving I have related to…" and she gestured to her belly.
"So… my future kids have been eating my pickles and mayo."
Dorothy gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry."
Roger shook his head. "Is it alright if I have some with my sandwich?"
"Go ahead," and she set the jars on the table as she got herself a small plate from the cabinet and sat down next to him. Norman smiled.
"It seems we'll need to keep extra in the house for everyone to have. Would you like some water or tea, Miss Dorothy?"
"Um… orange juice?"
"Coming right up, dear," and Norman got up to go to the fridge.
"Can't sleep?" asked Roger as he took the butter knife and began putting mayonnaise on his sandwich, then adding some pickles.
"No… I guess…. Now I'm excited too. Thank you, Roger."
Roger looked at her out of his peripheral vision, gave her a small smile, and began eating his sandwich. Dorothy took the butter knife and scooped some pickles out, setting them on the plate. She then dried the knife on a napkin and began taking small dollops of mayonnaise and put them on the pickles. Once she was done, she went to put the lids back on the jars, only to find Roger staring at her incredulously.
"It's one thing saying it," he began, "But it's another seeing it. Dorothy…. That doesn't look appealing."
Norman sat down her glass of orange juice as Dorothy began laughing, with Roger and Norman eventually joining in.
After everyone went their separate ways the following morning, with Beck lingering to work on Big O (though griping about his hangover), Roger, Dorothy, and Norman walked into the clinic the following day. Dr. Plebanski was manning the check-in desk when she saw them.
"Well, if you all are here, I take it the news was well received?"
Dorothy beamed, nodding.
"They want to see it for themselves, Dr. Plebanski. Is that okay?"
"Child, for you, anything. Not so much for the man standing behind you though. Too much of a troublemaker."
Roger put his hands up in the air, looking at Norman, Dorothy, then at Dr. Plebanski.
"I'm standing right here, Dr. Plebanski. Why?"
"Roger Smith, you have always been a pain in my ass, though this lovely lady calls you a louse. To be honest, I think she's just being nice about your true nature."
Roger scowled, jamming his hands in his pockets as Dr. Plebanski led the way to the exam room. Dorothy giggled. They all stepped inside as Dr. Plebanski got some chairs from the hall for Norman and Roger to sit. Dr. Plebanski began to set up the ultrasound machine once more as Dorothy undid the lower part of her blouse to show her abdomen. Compared to yesterday, she felt much more excitement, especially now that the people she cared about the most were joining her. Roger, despite drinking heavily and having a hangover, was in good spirits.
Dr. Plebanski brought the wand over after placing some lubricating jelly on Dorothy stomach. Roger watched the screen, and for the first time, he saw the twins inside Dorothy. Roger didn't say anything as Dr. Plebanski moved the wand around, taking in the moment. Norman beamed at the sight of the twins on screen.
"Judging from what I am seeing, there's two separate placentas. It looks like fraternal twins, Roger. I'll know for certain in about four-six weeks. I'm going to go ahead and run a panel on Dorothy now, just to make sure everything's fine. She'll need to come back in two weeks, so we can run some additional tests as I can pick certain things up during then, but I'm very confident that you two are going to have two healthy babies due at the end of the year."
Roger nodded. "Could we…"
"You wanna hear the heartbeat?"
Roger and Dorothy nodded.
She moved the wand around, clicking around on the screen and then turned on the sound. Roger heard rapid heartbeats beating and he felt himself catching his breath. It was real, but at the same time, it felt like a dream. All the woes and worries of what was to come, there were not in his mind. Dorothy saw the look on his face, one of amazement and wonder, as he listened to the sound. Norman, on the other hand, had a tear well up in his good eye that he discreetly wiped away.
Roger turned and nuzzled Dorothy. Roger was not usually an affectionate man, but being with Dorothy and the news of having kids… he felt himself changing. As for Dorothy, she was starting to see a side of Roger that she both admired and adored at the same time. However, despite everything that occurred so far, for the first time in a long time, both Roger and Dorothy felt hope at the sight of what was on screen. Instead of impending doom, they saw a world in which their children could grow, choosing their own path while they loved and nurtured them.
As the heartbeats of their children kept beating on, Roger held Dorothy's hand, tighter than ever before, remembering what Norman had told him the night before. Indeed, he did have a strength that the enemy did not have. And he became more determined than ever to end the war that had started so long ago.
"Dorothy?"
"Yes, Roger?"
"We'll do this, together."
Dorothy raised her head up from the bed, looking at him with a curious look, but it dawned her what he was referring to and nodded. He noticed her looking at him, and he closed his eyes and smiled.
"We're gonna win this. For us, for them, for everyone. We will win this fight. This I promise you."
Dr. Plebanski turned on Roger, glaring at him.
"The mother of your children is not going to do diddly-squat fighting or so help me, I will end you where you stand."
Roger shook his head. "No, it's casework, Mary."
Dorothy never heard Roger call Dr. Plebanski by her first name. She softened her face, understanding the seriousness of the situation.
"I see. Well, then, Mr. Negotiator, you had better take care of her, and of those you care about. I'm particularly fond of your girlfriend here, and if anything were to happen to her, well…"
"I understand. I made a promise to protect her, and I will."
Norman nodded. "That's the spirit, Master Roger."
Later, as Roger and Dorothy walked to the entrance of the clinic, holding each other, Dorothy having completed her lab work panel, Norman lingered behind to talk to Dr. Plebanski.
"Is he ever going to propose to that girl? It's so painfully obvious now he loves her, and she loves him," she said, shaking her head.
Norman shook his head, laughing. "I believe he's waiting for the perfect moment to do so."
Dr. Plebanski rolled her eyes. "We'll be old and decrepit by the time he gets around to it."
"I've told him that, dear. But you know him…"
"Always the man of action, I know. It's amazing I've known that man since he was so little. I rescued him from that experiment in the orphanage all those years ago and found that family to adopt him. I never thought that a shy boy would grow up to be someone who believes actions speak louder than words, and live by it. And… he would be the one to change me into who I am, and why I do what I do now. I owe him so much for giving me the courage to break away from Rosewater and his experiment at a time when I was at my lowest. Now, I have found purpose in giving back to make up for my sins in the past."
"You have done more than enough to make up for those sins, Mary. Feeling sentimental?"
"I've watched him grow up and now… he's starting a family on his own with someone who's both my dear friend and someone I care about. I'm happy he found someone who's his equal in so many ways. And I have you to thank for taking care of them when I can't, Norman."
"And I have you to thank for watching over them. Had it not been for you, I would have never met Master Roger or Miss Dorothy. They are truly a great match, those two. I've said it so many times before, and I will say it again. Thank you for saving his life."
Dr. Plebanski nodded. "I will always look out for him, no matter what. It's always been a pleasure. But I guess now… I need to look out for his family too."
Norman nodded and waved goodbye to Dr. Plebanski as he quickly walked to join Roger and Dorothy, who were still holding each other. They were talking hopefully about the future to come with their children, including names, while walking down the street in the spring air.
"We're not naming a kid after me. No juniors. I feel like that's just calling unwanted trouble."
"I think it will be cute, Roger. You can at least agree to 'R' name…"
"I don't want to embarrass my kid, Dorothy. But fine, maybe an 'R' name…"
"So, let's agree to disagree on naming a son. What about if we have a daughter?"
"Hmm… Rose, since I buy you roses all the time?"
Dorothy tilted her head back and forth, weighing the name. "Okay, I like that one. Good choice."
Roger thought long and hard about a name for a son, finally settling on one, and praying it would not upset Dorothy.
"If we have a son, why don't we name him after your father?"
Dorothy stopped walking and turned to look at Roger. Roger stopped walking as well.
"I don't think…not with everything we discovered as of late…"
Roger took Dorothy hands into his. "I doubt, the man who created you, was a part of that organization, Dorothy. And if he was… well, I find it hard to believe the man who went to great lengths to resurrect you would've tolerated something as evil as they are. He would've done something about it and right his wrongs, if he committed any. He loved you too much, and you're here today because of him, and you're in my life because of him. I owe him a great debt I can never repay."
He kissed her hand, and they began walking once again, Norman discreetly keeping distance so they could have their conversation in private. Dorothy weighed the name in her head and sighed.
"Okay… I can agree to that name if it's a son."
Roger smiled.
"So, what do we do if they're identical?"
"So help me Roger Smith, I'm going to blame you for all of this if you were to bring that upon me."