A Future to Live For

CHAPTER 17
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5 Months Later

"Jason, I'm due any day now. Trust me, I'm not going anywhere. Except maybe to help Carly out with Morgan, but that's it," said Courtney.

"You shouldn't even do that. You're not supposed to be on your feet,"

"OK, OK. Just go do what you need to. If anything happens, I promise I'll call you. Love you,"

"Love you, too." he leaned down and kissed her gently. Then he turned and walked out the door.

Courtney struggled to get herself and her huge stomache off the couch. "Come on, babies, help Mommy out a bit. We need to go visit Aunt Carly," she said as she waddled across the hall.

"Hey, Michael. Is Mommy home?" said Courtney, as she entered the penthouse.

"Courtney? You should be off your feet," said Sonny, coming out of the kitchen. "Sit down. I take it Jason isn't home, because he would've never let you get off the couch. Stay here, I'll get you something to eat," he said, disappearing back into the kitchen.

"Hey to you, too...anyway. How are you Michael?"

"OK. Don't worry, Daddy did the same thing to Mommy when she was pregnant with Morgan. Speaking of, that's where she is. She's putting her down for her nap," said Michael. Then a loud wail came from upstairs.

"Well, apparently she's not having any luck. Why don't you go help her?"

Michael ran upstairs just as Sonny came out of the kitchen again with a plate of eggs.

"Thanks, Sonny, but I am too tired to lift a fork to my mouth,"

"Eat what you can," he shook his head. "Morgan hasn't been going to sleep all day."

"Yea, I have to deal with two." said Courtney. "Thanks for the eggs, Sonny, but I think I'm going to go back home and sleep." She slowly got to her feet, hugged her brother and started to the door. She stopped, turned around, "On second thought," picked up the plate of eggs, and then proceeded out the door.

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Jason walked in the penthouse later to see Courtney sitting on the couch reading a magazine. "Hey," he said, sitting next to her. "It's late. Let's get you to bed."

"OK, OK. But I am too tired to walk. . ." she looked at Jason as he got up to start to pick her up. "I was just kid- -" he already picked her up and was headed to the stairs.

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"Jason, I'm scared." Courtney lie awake that night, thinking about her two little babies.

"Don't be. We'll take care of these guys together. Sonny and Carly will help out, too. Don't worry," he replied.

"Oh, ahh...I..." Courtney sat up straight and grabbed her stomache, wincing in pain. Jason sat up too and stared at her, panic-stricken.

"I need to go to the hospital - NOW." she said.

"OK, OK, I'll call Sonny and Carly and..."

"Nevermind, nevermind - these babies are coming NOW."

************

"Sorry, hon, we have to wait till you're 10 centimeters dialiated," said Monica. She, Courtney, Jason, Sonny and Carly were in the bedroom. "Sonny, Carly, I'm going to ask you two to leave while she is actually giving birth." They both nodded.

"TEN CENTIMETERS? WHAT AM I NOW? LET ME GUESS, 2, RIGHT?!?!" screamed Courtney.

"Sshh, it's OK, it's OK. . ." said Jason, sitting beside her, holding her hand.

Monica continued. "Actually, you're 9. OK, next contraction, push." she nodded to Sonny and Carly as they exited the room.

"One. . . two. . .three. . . PUSH!" yelled Monica. "Keep going Courtney, you're doing great."

Courtney winced in pain as she squeezed Jason's hand. "Shit, shit, shit! Oh God . . . DAMMIT this HURTS!" Suddenly fatigue overtook her. "I can't do it anymore!"

"Keep going Courtney, I see the head. . . that's it, here's number one!" She laid in the towel on the table next to her. "OK, let's do it again. . don't worry. . . he's ready now . . ."

Jason couldn't help but stare at his child, sitting right there in his bedroom. He wanted to go over to it, but Courtney needed him to stay with her. She was now screaming in pain, and scaring him.

"It's OK, Court, keep going. . ." he said, trying his best to offer words of comfort.

Courtney suddenly just went limp in his arms as a loud cry filled the room, followed by a second.

"Here's number two!" announced Monica. She cut the umbilical cords, wrapped them up in blankets and handed one to Courtney. "Here's your little girl-" and one to Jason - "and your little boy." Courtney laughed with happiness as she kissed Jason.

"Hello, little babies! Here you are!" she said.

Sonny and Carly entered the room. Carly ran over to the bedside and gave Courtney a kiss on the cheek. "Congratulations! Oh, they are so beautiful! What are you going to name them?"

"I don't know. We'll decide later. I just want to hold them now."

**********

Later that night, Courtney and Jason lye awake in bed together, facing each other, with their two little babies in between them. "I've got it," said Courtney. "This little one-" she patted the little girl's toes "-is going to be Emily Caroline Morgan. Do you like it?"

Jason nodded. "How about. . . Michael something Morgan?"

"Yea, Michael. . . Benjamin Morgan." she leaned over and passionately kissed Jason until the little cries made them realize they weren't alone. And so began the Morgan's life of parenthood...

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FINAL!
5 YEARS LATER. . .

Courtney, Jason, Emily, and Michael walked out of their penthouse over to Sonny's and Carly's for dinner.

"Mommy can I play with Morgan before dinner pleeeaase? She got a new Barbie dream house!" Emily whined.

"OK, but only for a little. And Michael, your cousin wants to show you this new CD he brought." Courtney replied.

"Oh cool!" said little Michael.

"Just make sure it doesn't have bad lyrics!" Jason joked.

"Hey, you guys! Morgan and Michael are upstairs. Courtney, I desperately need to talk to you about this new place opening down the street. . . Saturday, you me and the girls - shopping all day." Jason rolled his eyes and made his way into the kitchen to find Sonny there with Thomas in his carrier on the counter.

"Jeez, I can't believe you two just had ANOTHER one. Look at us now!" he said, pointing to the framed picture of them all on the wall. Courtney, Jason, Sonny and Carly were standing together while Morgan, Emily, and the two Michael's were kneeled down in front next to a baby Thomas in his carrier.

"Yeah, well it's great to have family," said Sonny.

"I know. It gives everyone a future to live for."

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Sorry about the corny ending! I hope everyone enjoyed it, even though I didn't get ONE OUNCE of feedback! BTW, sorry I got more "story-like" when I said it was how I wanted the "storyline on the show" to be. But everyone enjoys that, right? ;o)