Bringing Home Baby, Havar 2012

Havar, fall, 2012

It had been hours and still no news.

Ilila shifted to her side to be more comfortable and Brandon held her hands. They were both silent, not daring to speak and break the delicate thread that they were holding onto.

Hours ago Ilila had delivered their twins and just as quickly they were snatched from the room and rushed to NICU. There wasn't any crying and the doctors and nurses were moving so fast. Now they were stuck in this room with only the occasional visit from a nurse who would check Ilila's vitals, but offered no information on their babies.

"Mr and Mrs Peterson?"

They jerked their heads to the voice, Suzanna McMillian gave a small smile. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, but how are the babies? How are they doing?"

"Audrey is doing well. She is breathing on her own, but she is a bit underweight. However she is eating and I anticipate that she will be able to go home in a few simdays. I can have her sent in here once we're done talking if you'd like."

"We would like, yes, please."

"Good, see if she will nurse and if you have any questions or concerns, a nurse will be in here to assist you."

"What about Zachary?"

Suzanna sighed. "Zachary isn't doing well. He flat lined on us three times already. He is in critical condition and we have a few machines assisting him. Unfortunately, it will be a waiting game with Zachary. Some babies do just fine after a few simdays. We can take you to see him in NICU, if you'd like."

The parents nodded and a few minutes later they peered at their baby boy through layers of glass.

"He's so tiny..."

Suzanna nodded, "Audrey is the biggest twin by far."

They watched as little Zachary turned towards them and blinked his tiny eyes.

"Hi baby...it's mommy and daddy..."

Zachary grunted and then a shrill alarm pierced the air. Suzanna pushed the couple aside and nurses came rushing to baby Zachary's bed.

"What's going on!?!"

"Get them out of here!"

"I'm sorry, you have to leave," a nurse explained.

They were so scared when they returned to the room. Baby Audrey was wheeled in shortly and Ilila cradled her in her arms.

"Hi baby...it's mommy and daddy..."

---

Ilila peeked in on the sleeping baby once again. She just had to see for her own eyes that Audrey was still breathing.

"Come on," Brandon tugged at her hands. "Let me make you a cup of coffee. She'll be fine, we have the baby monitor on."

Ilila nodded and followed him downstairs.

"Why, Brandon?"

Brandon stopped mid-step. He didn't have an answer and his heart cracked seeing his wife in pain, knowing that he couldn't fix her sorrow, his grief, their pain. He opened his arms and Ilila  collapsed in them. Her sobs made her tiny body rock and he surrounded her with his arms, squeezing her tight so she wouldn't fall.

"Why did Zachary have to die?"
---
Blame me and an old backup for Zachary's death. The first pregnancy they delivered healthy twins-Zachary and Audrey-by surprise since the scanner said one child.


A crash and a restore to a previous backup meant I had to redo the pregnancy. Same situation, the scanner said one child and the multiple odds were the same, only this time, they only had one child-Audrey. I could have forced twins, but I decided to just play with what the game had given me and write in the other twin's death.