Disclaimer: I don't own any of the people from Early Edition, and this is not assoicated in anyway with the show, Fox Family, and Tri Star.  Gary and Toni began their lives as parents now.

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The Hobson Family
by Lori Anderson

Chapter 1

Unknown to Gary, his mother and father had come to Chicago upon hearing the news about the twins, and Lois had arranged a specail party for her grandchildren and her son and daughter in law in the bar.

"Here they come!," Emmit told everyone as he saw Gary and Toni walk towards the door with their babies.

Outside, Gary opened the door for Toni and followed her inside shutting the door behind him.

"Surprise!  Welcome home!," everyone shouted, and Gary's mouth almost dropped open.

"Who, who did this?  Mom, was this your doing?," he asked looking at his mother.

Lois smiled and nodded.  "Yes Gary.  Let me see my grandchildren," she replied.

Toni smiled and showed Lois both babies.  "We named the girl Rose, and the boy, Jeff," she said.

Lois gently picked up her granddaugther out of Toni's hand and craddled her in her own hands.

"What a lovely name.  Rose Hobson.  I like it.  What do you think of your granddaughter's name, Bernie?," she said as Berine proudly looked at his granddaughter over his wife's shoulder.

"I like it.  She sure has your eyes son, " Bernie replied.

"Thanks Dad.  Jeff has my eyes as well.  How does it feel being a grandparent?," Gary asked.

"It feels great!  You've made your mother and I so happy and proud.  Sit down, and I'll get you a beer."

"I'd like to, but I have to get Toni and our twins upstairs so they can rest.  She almost wore herself out giving birth the other day.  Go ahead and enjoy your party."

"Chuck called while you were out Gary.  He said to tell you and Toni congrulations on the birth of your twins.  He also said that he liked the names you gave them," Marissa told Gary.

"If he calls back, tell him I'll talk to him when I get the chance.  Excuse us please."

Gary and Toni each carried a baby up the stairs to the loft where Gary had their cribs already up.

"You don't have to stay up here with me.  Go down and enjoy yourself," Toni told him.

Gary gently laid his son down in the crib and looked at his wife.  "I'd rather stay here with you and our twins.  Besides, that is my mother for you.  Always planning things and not telling me."

Toni sighed as she looked down at her daughter in her crib.  "We can have our own celebration up here."

Gary went over to her and put his arm around her.  "That's the best kind."

Chapter 2

Gary and Toni were sound asleep in bed when at five thirty, one of their twins started crying.

"Go back to sleep honey.  I'll get up and feed whoever's hungry," Toni told Gary, as she got up.

"Okay.  Give whoever it is a kiss for me until I get up," Gary said smiling.

Toni nodded and walked over to the their twins' cribs.  Rose was the one who was crying.

"Okay sweetie.  Mommy's here.  I know you're hungry.  I'll feed you. Daddy's still sleeping." she whispered.

She bent down and gently picked up her daughter.  She carried her over to the chair, and sat down.

Toni opened her nightgown, and held her daughter up to one of her breasts for Rose to suck.

Gary laid in the bed watching his wife feed their daughter with love and pride in his eyes.

"That's so cute.  I should take a picture, but I won't.  I think I'll check on our son," he said.

"No.  You just relax.  I'll see how Jeff's doing when I get done feeding Rose.  You need your rest after last night."

Gary got up anyway and went to the kitchen. "I'll make us some coffee. How'd you sleep?"

Toni smiled.  "Good.  Except for your snoring once in a while.  You were lucky it didn't wake the kids."

"I wouldn't do that.  Cream or sugar in your coffee?"

"You know how I like it."  Toni put the burping towel on her shoulder, gently lifted Rose up to it, and patted her back so she could burp.  Rose did, and Gary laughed.  "That's my girl!  Good job!"

"She was hungry this morning.  I'll finish feeding her and then, go make breakfast."

Gary nodded and finished making the coffee.

Toni put Rose back in her crib and went to see how Jeff was doing.  "He's still asleep, but he'll wake up in a while wanting his breakfast as well. Keep that cat away from them and me today."

Gary handed his wife her cup of coffee.  "Here you go my love.  Don't worry about the cat."

At six thirty, Gary heard the cat and then the paper outside the door as usual .

He went over, opened the door, and picked up the paper closing the door so that the cat couldn't get in.

"I see our son's awake.  Probably the paper woke him up," Gary said seeing Jeff in Toni's arms.

"No.  It was your alarm clock that woke him up.  Want to give your son a good morning kiss?"

"Sure.  Good morning Jeff," Gary said kissing his son on the head.

"I hope you don't have anything too exciting today in that thing."

Gary opened the paper and read the metro section .  "Yeah.  Two kids fight over the other one's shoes which are nice and one of them pulls out a swtichblade and cuts the first kid.  It happens at nine in the school yard."

"I don't like the sound of that.  Be careful Gary."

Chapter 3

Gary went downstairs and saw Marissa motioning him to come into the office urgently.

"Morning Marissa.  What's wrong?," he asked smiling at her inside their office.

"A letter came for you yesterday.  I forgot to give it to you due to all the excitement.  It's from Niki," she replied handing him the envelope that she had taken from her purse.

"I'll read it later.  I've got to get to the school yard and stop a fight over a pair of shoes.  Would you do me a favor, and check on Toni while I'm gone in case she needs anything?"

Marissa nodded.  "Sure.  How are things going so far with the twins?"

"I love being a father.  Toni had to feed Rose this morning, and then Jeff at six thrity.  I got the paper, and didn't let the cat come in because of her allgery and the twins.  See you when I get back."

He put the envelope in his jacket pocket and went out the door.

Gary took a cab over to the school to get there in time, and looked at his watch.  It was almost 8:30.

He paid the driver, got out of the cab, and walked over to the playground.

Sure enough, the two boys were in one corner of the playground yelling and throwing punches at each other.

Gary saw a glint of light from one of the boy's pocket and knew it was a stichblade coming out.

"Hey!  You don't want to hurt this guy over a pair of sneakers.  That's a good way to get yourself expelled and him in the hospital.  Do you want that to happen?  You pull that switchblade out, and that's exaclty what'll happen.  Why don't you ask him how much his shoes cost, and then, you can get the money for your shoes in your size.  No one gets hurt and expelled
this way.  Sounds fair to you both?," he told both boys.

"Sounds fair to me mister.  I sure don't need to be expelled.  Okay.  I'll ask how much his shoes cost, and write it down to remember later.  Thanks for stopping me from making a big mistake," the first boy said.

"You're welcome.  Remember, fighting and hurting someone doesn't solve anything, it only makes things worse.  Have a good day."
Gary left the schoolyard and looked at his paper again.  The story about the fight was gone.

He returned to the bar and told Marissa how the save went.  "The first guy is asking the second one how much his shoes cost, and is going to get the money for the same shoes in his size later," he said.

"Good.  At least they know that fighting doesn't solve anything.  I checked on Toni like you asked, and she's fine.  She's waiting for you upstairs."

"Thanks Marissa.  See you later."  Gary turned and went up the stairs to the loft where his family was.

"Youre back.  How did it go sweetheart?", Toni asked as she smiled at her husband.

"I prevent one boy from being expelled from school and the other one from going to the hospital.  I got a letter from a girl I helped a few years ago. Her name's Niki, and she has a specail gift as well," Gary replied.

"Really?  Go ahead and read it.  I'd like to hear about her."

Gary sat down besides her on the couch and took out the letter from his pocket.

"Dear Gary," he began, "I finally told my parents about the special gift I have the other day, and like I thought, they were shocked at first.  When I explained about it to them and how it happened, they understood and promised not to tell anyone about it.  I read about your marriage and your twins in the paper here in Denver. I want to tell you congrulations on both accounts.  I am so happy for you and Toni, and so are my parents.  We might come and see you sometime when my
foster dad has some time off.  Well, gotta go for now.  Love your friend, Niki."  Gary smiled, and looked at Toni.  "She touches someone and knows when something's going to happen.  That's her special gift.  Her real parents died in a car crash a few years ago, and she blamed herself for it. I told her that it wasn't her fault, and that her father was drunk at the time."

"I've dealt with the same thing at times myself.  I'm so proud of you for helping her see that it wasn't her fault about her parents.  I want to meet her and her adopted parents when they get here."

Chapter 4

Gary looked at his sleeping son and daughter in their cribs and sighed. "They're so cute when they're asleep.  I don't want to leave you alone up here, but I have to go downstairs and take care of the bar.  Are you going to be alright up here while I'm down stairs?," he said.

Toni nodded.  "I'll be fine.  If I need you for anything, I'll buzz you on the intercom.  Gary, I can tell that Niki's letter is bothering you somehow by the look in your eyes.  Tell me what's wrong," she replied.

Gary went over to his wife and sat down.  "Before she left with her new parents, she told me that we'd meet again.  I'm worried that if someone finds out about her gift, that they might expolit it and her."
 
Toni touched his hand.  "I'm sure that she and her parents will never let that happen.  Just like I know that I won't let Chuck or anyone else use you and the paper for their own gain.  Now, go downstairs and take care of your customers.  I have things I need to do here.  I'll buzz you when I need you."

"Okay.  You're beautiful.  Have I told you that before?"
Toni laughed.  "Yes, and I love it everytime.  Give me a kiss and get downstairs."

Gary kissed her on the lips and promised he'd be back at closing time.

He went downstairs to the bar and saw Crumb sitting at a table sipping a beer.

"Hello Crumb.  This is a surprise," Gary said smiling at his friend.

"I was in the neighbor and thought I'd drop in to see how you're doing. I heard about you getting married, and having twins.  Congrulations," Crumb told Gary.

"Thanks.  Can I get you another beer?"

"Nah.  Sit down.  I've got some news that might interest you."

Gary sat down after getting a bottle of beer from the bar.  "Okay.  What's the news you have to tell me?"

Crumb took another sip of his beer.  "It concerns your ex-boss from the office where you quit."

"Pitchard?  What about him?"

"I did some investigating for the new lady boss there, and discovered something very interesting about your old boss.  It seems that he was pushing the workers too hard, and one almost went crazy.  He also was only interested in your ex-wife because of her money."

Gary took a sip of his beer.  "That's nothing new Crumb.  Marica was here one day trying to find out about Toni and mine coming marriage.  I told her off which felt really good.  She was nothing but a user."

"You can say that again kid.  She's trying to get her hooks into another guy from your old office."

"Can we drop the subject Crumb?  She's no longer a part of my life."

"Okay.  I won't mention her anymore.  Pitchard is another matter.  He tried to get his old job back and didn't get it done.  He was trying everything he knew how to woo the head lady, and she wasn't buying."

"I know.  I had a run-in with her one time.  So how's your lovelife these days?"

Crumb smiled.  "The lady we were in the play with.  If that's who you mean, here's the real news I came to tell you about.  We're going steady.  I haven't asked her to marry me yet, but we're still together."

"That's great Crumb. Let me know when you set the date."

"I will Hobson.  Again, congrulations on your marraige and  your kids."

Gary smiled again and went back to the bar.  "I think Crumb's really in love this time," he told Marissa.

Marissa nodded.  "I know he is.  I'm happy for him.  So how are the twins?," she asked.

"They're asleep.  Toni said she'll buzz me on the intercom if she needs me."

Chapter 5

Gary went upstairs at closing time to see how Toni and his twins were doing as Emmit helped Marissa close the bar.  "I ran into a friend of ours downstairs tonight honey." he said smiling at his wife.

Toni put her paper down and looked at her husband.  "Who was it Gary?," she asked.

Gary went over and sat down besides her on the sofa.  "It was Crumb.  He told me that he and that woman he's dating are getting serious.  He said to tell us congrualtions on our marriage and our kids."

"That's what I like about Zeke.  He says what he means.  He was in a play? I somehow can't picture it."

"He was, and so was I. (Spolier information: The Play's the Thing).  It was when I saved an actress from being hurt by a falling stage light.  Crumb was there.  How are the twins doing?"

"Go see for yourself.  I just feed them a while ago before I put them to bed."

Gary went over to the cribs and smiled down at his children.  "Sleeping like little angels"

"Yeah, until three o clock in the morning.  Rose almost woke me up this morning at that time."

"Mothers are supposed to get used to strange hours with babies."

"Next time, one of them needs changed, you're helping me change him/her."

Gary laughed.  "Okay.  I'm their father.  I know it 's part of my job."

He went over to the refrigator and took out the cartoon of mikl.  "You thristy honey?  I'll pour you a glass of milk."

"Yeah.  Go ahead, and fix somthing for yourself while you're there."

Gary poured the milk into a glass, closed the lid, put it back in the refrigator, and took out a soda can.

He carried both of them over to the sofa, and handed Toni the glass of milk before he sat down.

"I called my parents today.  I told them about the babies and what we named them." Toni said.

"What did they say?  I hoped they liked the names."

"My mother thought the names were lovely, and my father said that Rose and Jeff sounded good to him."

Gary sipped his soda and sighed.  "Lean against me Toni.  I want to put my arm around you."

Toni leaned against him and Gary put his arm around her. "Mmmm.  I like to snuggle."

Gary kissed her and smiled.  "Why do you think I told you lean against me for?  There's going to be a lot of times we're going to snuggle like this. I feel like the happiest man in the world right now."

"I know I"m the happiest woman in the world right now.  I took the phone off the hook so it woudln't disturb the children.  We don't need someone calling us in the middle of the night and waking them up."

Chapter 5

Four o clock in the morning was Gary's first time of changing of one his twin's diapers.

"Oh boy.  Wonder who it is that wants changing at this time," he said yawining.

Toni threw her covers off as she got up to see which one of their children was crying.

"Come on daddy.  Time you learned to change a diaper," she told him putting on her robe.

Gary followed his wife over to the cribs, and saw that it was Rose who was crying.

"It's okay sweetie.  Mommy and Daddy are here.  We'll put a clean diaper on you," Toni said as she reached down and gently picked up her infant daughter from her crib.

She carried Rose over to the changing table and gently laid her down on top.

"I'll hand you the dirty diaper to throw away in the trash can, and you can help me put the clean one on her."

The smell of the dirty diaper almost made Gary gag, but he watched as Toni unfastened the tabs that held the diaper on his daughter's bottom.  "Here. Throw it away please," she said handing him the diaper.

Gary held his nose as he dropped the diaper into the dirty diaper trash can close by.

Toni wiped Rose's bottom with the babywipe and put it aside.  She put some of the powder on the spot to prevent chafing as much as comfort.  "Okay, Hand me the clean diaper please honey."

Gary handed her a clean diaper and watched as Toni put it on his daughter. "Here's how you fasten the tabs.  Watch closely.  You may be doing it next time."

Gary watched his wife securely fasten the tabs on the diaper and smiled . "You're a pro at this," he said.

"Yeah.  Let's put her back in the crib."

Gary gently picked up his daughter and carried her over to her crib.  "There you go honey.  Now you can go back to sleep with a clean diaper on you," he whispered as he laid her down.

Toni had thrown the dirty babywipe away and went back over to their bed.

"Let's go back to bed.  I'm still sleeply, and I know you are too." she told him removing her bathrobe.

Gary joined his wife back in their bed and looked at her in her nightgown..

"Remind me to buy you another one tomorrow.  One that's see-through," he said and ducked the punch she threw at him.

"Watch it handsome.  You look nice in your shorts.  Maybe I'll buy you one with poka dots on it."

"Uh uh.  No poka dots.  Anything, but that, will be fine."

"Agreed.  Let's get some sleep."

Gary put his arm around his wife and they both closed their eyes to go back to sleep  for a while.

Chapter 6

 Gary made sure that the alarm clock didn't wake his children up this time. He shut it off, and went to sleep.

At six thrity, again came the meow and the thump of the paper as usual, and he had to get up.

Gary looked towards his sleeping children and then at his wife lying beside him in bed.

"Not today.  I'm taking today off to spend time with my family, and relax. Find someone else to give it too," he whispered as he laid back down and shut his eyes to sleep besides Toni.

The cat scatched at the door wanting in, but Gary made no move to get up from the bed.

Maybe it was time he quit the paper altogether, and just be a happily married man and father as he always wanted to be.  Toni and the kids were important to him now, and the paper was only a minor thing.

Gary smiled in his sleep and ignored the cat and the paper at the door outside.

Marissa came in downstairs ready for work, and heard the cat trying to get Gary to open the door.

She used her cane to go up the stairs, found the cat and the paper outside his door, and picked the paper up.

"Sorry kitty.  Today is Gary's day off to be with his family," Marissa told the cat and took the paper downstairs.

Her husband, Emmit Brown, came in to the bar for  a cup of coffee before starting his new job.

"Morning Marissa.  I see you have the paper today," he said pouring him and her some coffee.

"Yes Emmit.  Gary needs a day off from it to spend with his family.  Lucis Snow has to understand that. Today, you are I going to be the ones helping people while Gary's enjoying himself," Marissa replied.

"Good.  He deserves to spend some time with them without the paper messing things up."

While Marissa and her husband talked about what they were going to do with the paper, upstairs Toni was getting ready to feed her children knowing they were going to start crying soon.

"Morning sweetheart.  Where's your paper?," she asked Gary noticing the paper wasn't there.

"I'm taking today off from it honey.  I'm just going to spend the day wtih you and our kids," Gary replied.

Toni smiled.  "That's what I wanted to hear. Maybe you should quit it altogether."

Gary sighed.  "I wish I could.  Nothing would make me more happier, but everytime I've tried, it comes back.  Today someone else can be a hero.  I'm all yours from this monment on until I decide I want it back."

"Can you make us some coffee please while I change the twins diapers?"

Gary got up from his side of the bed and went over to the kitchen to the refrigator.  "Black or cream or sugar?"

"Black please.  We need to discuss the house issue again sometime."

Gary nodded.  "I know.  We need to find one that's right for us the kids."

Chapter 7

Later that morning, Gary and Toni took their twins for a walk in the park since it was a nice day.

"So far, I've heard people say that the twins are cute, adorable, and sweet. One lady said that she thought Jeff had my looks," Gary said as he walked besides his wife who was pushing the baby carrigare for two.

Toni laughed.  "Did you also notice that she thought you were cute as well? I had to stop her from pinching your check.  That's my department along with a few other things," she told him.

"Like father like son as they say.  They're sure enjoying the sunshine."

"Of course they are.  Everytime someone complements our children, your eyes shine and you smile.  It's like you're almost beaming in a way."

"Why shouldn't I beam with pride?  I've got a beautiful wife and two lovely children."

Toni almost blushed when she heard the complement.  "You should take a day off from the paper more often."

"I wish I could.  I never realized how beautiful the park was before."

"Uh oh.  I don't believe it."

Gary frowned. "What's wrong sweetheart?," he asked.

Toni pointed to a lady wearing a poka dotted dress who was arguing with the hot dog vendor.

"It's Lola.  She's giving the hot dog vendor a hard time.  Come on.  Let's help him," she replied.

They walked over towards Lola and when the old lady saw them, she knew she'd been caught.

"Hello Lola.  At it again I see.  Didn't we tell you last time not to bother people when they were working?," Toni asked looking the lady in the eyes when she said this.

Lola gulped.  "Mrs. Hobson.  I was only trying to buy a hot dog.  I haven't had anything to eat all morning," she replied being honest for the frist time in a while.

"Fix the lady a hot dog mister.  I'll pay for it," Gary said taking out his wallet.

"Gary.  You shouldn't have to pay for her hot dog."

"I know how much this guy charges for one honey.  Chuck's uncle wouldn't hassle a customer."

Toni looked at Lola.  "How much did he charge you for it Lola?"

"He wouldn't let me buy one with the dollar I had in my purse.  Said I had to have the exact change."

Toni turned to the vendor. "Listen mister.  I'm still a detective on the police force, and I can easily charge you with being rude to customers.  Or I can have you licence revoked.  Now, you give her a hot dog with whatever she wants on it, and my husband will pay you for it.   If you ever do this to anyone else again, I will have your licence.  Understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes detective.  One hot dog for the lady coming up," the vendor said fixing it right away.

Gary paid the man and Lola thanked him as she took a bite of her hotdog. "Thank you Mr. Hobson.  My.  What cute twins you have!," she said looking at the twins.

"Thank you Lola.  You have a nice day now."

Lola walked away eating her hotdog, and Gary and Toni walked on theirseleves.

"Did you mean what you told that guy back there about getting his licence if he did it to someone else?," Gary asked as they went over to where the benches were at.

Toni waited until they sat down before she answered.  "I only said it to scare him.  Customers like Lola don't need to be hassled by someone like him over something so small like a dollar to pay for a hotdog.  I wanted to make him think about how he should treat his customers," she replied.

Gary smiled.  "That's what I love about you.  You know how to handle people like that vendor."

Toni looked down at her sleeping children.  "Aren't they cute when they're asleep honey?"

Gary nodded.  "Yeah, they are.  Sit a little closer to me."

Chapter 8

Toni opened the paper she had brought along to the ad pages where the houses were at.

"Okay, let's pick the house we want from these in here, and don't say wait until later.  We need to buy a house before the kids outgrow their cribs," she told Gary showing him the houses for sale.

Gary couldn't believe some of the prices that some of the houses were going for.

"Hon, some of these we can't afford.  Look at the prices listed," he said.

"We can select a reasonable price house and call the relator to show us it once we decide."

"Sounds good.  Right now, all I want to do is just sit here and enjoy myself with you and the twins."

Toni sighed and put the paper away.  "What time is it sweetheart?"

Gary looked at his watch.  "Ten o clock almost."

"Thanks.  They're going to be hungry when they wake up, and I'm not going to feed them here."

"You want to go back to the loft for a while, and feed them there?"

Toni nodded.  "Yeah.  Let's go back."

They got up, and started walking back through the park with their twins. They returned to the bar and had a surprise waiting for them inside, Partick.

"Patrick!  It's  nice to see you.  What are you doing here?  I thought you were teaching in Portland," Gary said shaking Patrick's hand smiling at him.

"It's nice to see you too Mr. Hobson.  I'm on vacation right now, and I thought I'd come and pay my friends a visit.  I read about your marraige and having twins in the paper out there, and I came to see for myself. Congrulatiuons Mr. Hobson!," Patrick replied smiling back.

Gary turned to his wife.  "Toni, this is Patrick Quinn.  Patrick, this is my wife Toni."

"Hello Patrick.  Nice to meet you," Toni said .

"It's nice to meet you too Mrs. Hobson.  Your twins sure are cute."

"Thank you Patrick. "

"Partrick has news to tell you  that you might find interesting Gary," Marissa said.

Gary turned to Patrick.  "Really?  What's your news Patrick?"

"I'm dating someone.  One of the other teachers from the school.  You won't believe how it happened either.  One day, I was having lunch in the teacher's lounge, and this woman walks in.  She comes over to my table, and asks if she can sit down.  I said sure, and she sat down.  She said her name is Penny, and that she's single.  I tell her my name and that I'm single too.  We get to talking and the next thing I know, she's asking me out on a date later that week.  Wants to go out to a movie or something.  I was a little shocked.  I told her I'd love to go see a movie with her, and she said she'd pick me up at six.  What do you think about that?"

Gary smiled.  "Patrick, there's nothing wrong with a woman asking a guy out. In this day and age, most women do make the first move."

"I'm happy for you Patrick.  You're a good kid.  You should go out and have some fun.  Excuse me please."

"I'll help you take the twins upstairs honey.  I'll be right back Patrick."

Chapter 9

Upstairs in their loft, Toni could see that her husband was really happy and relaxed, and she was glad.
"
That's the most happiest I've seen you since we've been married honey," she told Gary.

Gary smiled.  "That's because I have you and the kids.  I feel like everything I've always wanted to have has finally happened.  Call me henpecked if you want to, but I feel this because of you," he replied.

She walked over and put her arms around him.  "I'm going to have get high heels in order to kiss you."

Gary put his arms around her and gave her a big hug.  "I can always bend down ."

"Give me a kiss lover, and then go down and talk with Patrick.  Come back up when you're done."

"Okay."  Gary kissed her on the lips not wanting to let go just yet. He finally did, and went down the stairs to the bar to talk to Patrick somemore like he promised.

"So you and this Penny hit it off, huh.  That's great Partrick," Gary said getting himself a beer.

"To tell you the truth Mr, Hobson, I feel a little strange being asked out by a girl," Patrick replied.

"You'll get used it to Patrick.  So how did your date go?"

Patrick smiled.  "It was great.  We went to this movie that she said was really good, and ate in a resturant afterwards.  We talked about what we liked, and found out that we liked much of the same things.  I took her home and she gave me a kiss before she went in.  She also gave me her phone number."

"That means that she wants you to call her Partick," Marissa said sipping her soda.

"I know.  I want to congrulate you on your marriage to Mr. Brown."

"Thank you Patrick.  Do you know he's a clerk now in the law office?"

"He is?  That's great!  He passed the bar then?"

"I sure did Patrick," Emmit replied as he entered the bar and walked towards his wife.

"Hello Mr. Brown.  Nice to see you again."

"Same here Patrick.  How's your teaching job going?"

"Just fine sir.  I'm seeing one of the lady teachers."

"That's good Patrick."  Emmit turned to his wife.  "I have a surprise for you.  We're going out for dinner."

"Is there a specail occassion for this Emmit?," Marissa asked.

"No.  I just want to take you out tonight."

"Okay.  That sounds good."

Just then, Gary heard one of his children crying upstairs.  "Excuse me.  I'm needed upstairs."

He left the bar and went towards the stairs to go up to the loft to help his wife with their twins.

Chapter 10

Gary entered his loft and saw his wife trying to calm his son who was crying in her arms.

"I see Jeff woke up.  Why's he crying?  You think he's hungry?," he asked looking at his son.

"Here.  You hold him while I get his bottle ready.  I told you they'd be hungry when they woke up," Toni replied handing Gary his son so she could go to the kitchen and get the bottle ready for the baby.

"Come here pal.  Mother's going to get your lunch ready.  Don't cry," Gary said holding his son.

Jeff heard his father's voice and stopped crying. Somehow, it was soothing to him.

"Good work honey.  You got him to stop crying.  The milk's heating right now."

"He knows Daddy's here to make things better.  He gets cuter by the day."

"Don't leave our daughter out of the compliements.  I think she's getting beautiful every day."

Gary looked at his sleeping daughter and nodded.  "She sure is," he whispered.

Toni took the bottle out of the pan and dabbed her wrist with the nipple to test it.  "Just right.  Okay.  Hand me our son and I'll feed him."

Gary handed Jeff back to Toni and watched as she sat down in the chair to feed him.

"He was hungry.  Look at him drink his milk."

Toni nodded.  "A mother knows when her child's hungry.  Just like your mother knew you were hungry when you were a  baby.  She told me everything about it that one day."

Gary sighed.  "Somehow I knew she would.   Her eyes really shined when she held our twins that day."

Rose started to wake up and Gary gently reached down and picked her up. "Hello sweetheart.  Decided to wake up because your brother did. huh?  You sure do have your mother's smile," he said holding her in his arms as he sat down on the sofa.

"Gary," Toni said, "I"ve been thinking.  We should get our picture taken with them.  You know, so we can give some to our friends and family."

"Sure.  Sounds good to me.  Ouch!"

"What happened?  Did Rose bite your finger?"

"No.  She grabbed my hair, and I'm trying to get it loose.  Let go of Daddy's hair Rose."

Gently Gary pried his daughter's hand loose from his hair, and touched her hand with his finger.

Toni put the burping rag on her shoulder and put her son on it.  She patted his stomach, and heard his burp.

"Good boy!  That's a good one.  Now, you can finish your lunch, and then, I can feed your sister."

"Patrick was telling that me that he felt strange being asked out by the lady teacher."

"This is the milumeum.  Women have been asking men out since the first time they tried it."

Chapter 11

Toni finished feeding her children and gently put them in their cribs again as Gary watched smiling.

"We need to get a playpen for them during the time they're awake," she said looking for a space for it.

"Sounds like a good idea honey.  I'd better go down and take care of my customers.  I'll be back for in time for dinner, and spend time with the twins," Gary told her kissing her on the lips.

"Okay.  I'll make the appointment to have our picture taken while you're gone, and look into a house."

"Let me know later when it is.  See you around five."

Gary left the loft and went downstairs to the bar to help Marissa with their customers.

"Hows the twins doing Gary?", Marissa asked when she sensed him near.

"They just got done with their lunch.  Rose is going to be a pretty lady when she grows up," Gary replied.

"You're going to have screen her dates when she's old enough to date."

"I don't have to worry about that yet.  Did Patrick leave?  I don't see him around."

"He and my husband left to take care of something in the paper since it's your day off."

"I hope Partick doesn't screw things up.  Marissa, Toni and I are going to be looking at houses pretty soon.  I hate to leave the loft, but since the twins are here, they'll need their own rooms."

"I know how you feel about the loft Gary, but you are married and have two children now.  It's time you got a house for all of you.  "

"I knew it was coming someday.  Anyway, I'm happy, and all that matters. Toni's making an appointment for us to have our pictures taken.  I hope I don't have to wear a tie.  I hate those things."

"So I've noticed.  Everytime you put one on,  you wish you could take it off."

Upstairs, Toni was on the phone talking to a photographer about having her family's picture taken.

"That's right.  My husband, myself, and our two children.  When you can do it?," she asked.

The photographer checked his appointment book on his desk.  "I can put you down for two tomorrow afternoon Mrs. Hobson," he replied on his phone.

"Two oclock tomorrow afternoon.  We'll be there.  Thank you.  Good bye."

Toni hung the phone and wrote down the time for the appointment on the notepad on the table.

She'd tell Gary about the appointment when he came upstairs for dinner.

She sighed and looked over at her children asleep in their cribs.

You did Toni, she thought to herself.  You got the man you were after, and have his children.

Later, Gary went upstairs to have diinner with his wife leaving Marissa to take care of the bar.

"We have a two oclock appointment with the photographer tomorrow afternoon," Toni told him

Gary nodded as he went over to see his children who were sitting in their high chairs at the table.

 "Okay.  I'm not wearing a tie for it," he replied smiling at his daughter and son.

"Fair enough.  Just wear something nice.  Sit down and relax for a while. Dinner'll be ready soon."

Chapter 12

Gary asked Marissa to watch the bar while he and Toni were having their pictures taken with the twins.

"It shouldn't take very long.  I'm just glad I don't have to wear a tie," he said smiling.

"Go and have your family picture taken Gary.  I'll be alright handling the bar while you're gone," Marissa replied.

"Thanks.  I've got to go help Toni with the kids.  See you later."

Marissa sipped her coffee and knew that Gary was truly happy by tone of his voice.

"Gary's really happy being married to Toni and having twins.  I can tell by the look in his eyes," Robin said.

"You got that right Robin.  Welcome back.  How was college this year?"

Robin smiled as she poured a glass of beer for a customer, and handed it to him.

"It was okay, but I missed working here.  Especially being with you and Gary.  Is it true that Chuck's married?"

"Yes it's true.  He married that girl Amber.  Patrick's dating a teacher from the school he's teaching."

"I'm glad for Patrick.  He's a nice guy.  Here comes Gary and his family."

Toni came down the stairs carrying Rose, and Gary followed with Jeff in his hands.

"Robin!  When did you get here?," he asked surprised to see her.

"I'll tell you when you get back.  You all look so nice.  I wish I had my camera with me."

"Let's go Gary.  We don't want to be late." Toni told him, and started out the door.

Gary followed his wife out the door to the van, and helped her put their children in their seats.

"Okay,  Is everyone ready?  We're on our way," he said getting into the driver's side and buckling his seat belt.

Toni fastened her seatbelt in her seat.  "Let's go honey."

Gary drove the van away from the bar and downtown to the photographer's studio.

"Good afternoon Mr. & Mrs. Hobson.  My name is Steve.  I'm your photographer today.  Everything's ready for you.  What adorable children you have there," Steve told them smiling at them.

"Thank you Steve," Gary said smiling back.

He and Toni went over to the place where they would sit with their children on their laps for the pictures.

"Okay.  Before we start, how many pictures do you want?," Steve asked.

"Just give us the normal family price and package Steve," Toni replied.

"If that's what you want, it's fine with me.  Is everyone ready?"

Toni put Rose on her lap facing the camera, and Gary put Jeff on his lap facing the camera.

"Okay.   Give me a big smile everybody,"

They all smiled and Steve took the picture.  "Great!  One more."

Gary checked his pants to make sure his son hadn't gone to the bathroom on them.

"I'll let you know when the pictures are ready Mr. Hobson."

Gary nodded.  "Okay.  We'll be expecting your call."

"I think we better get them home.  They're about to fall asleep," Toni said. Gary thanked the photographer, paid him, and he and Toni took their children outside to van.

They went back to the bar where they could put their twins down for a nap after seeing if they needed a diaper change.  They did, and Gary helped change his son's diaper without holding his nose.

Email the author:  Lori Anderson
 
 

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