Opening night rose upon us. We were starting with Oregon, and then doing ANI the next night. We managed to get each of them together by that time. I wasn't as nervous as I was for Twisted, until I received a phone call from Darren.
"Hello?"
"Elle, the twins are coming," I heard him say, before cursing under his breath.
"What?"
"Julia's water broke. When's the soonest you can come?" He asked me. I thought quickly.
"Monday morning. Damn it," I said.
"It's okay. I'll figure it out in a little bit. We just have to get to the hospital," Darren said.
"Okay. My thoughts are with you guys. I'll call during intermission and after the show," I said, hanging up. I sat onstage and held my phone to my chest, lost in thought. Julia and Darren had chosen to not know the gender, instead hoping to be surprised. Would it be two boys? A boy and a girl? Or maybe two girls.
"What's up?" Clark asked, laying down next to me.
"The twins are coming," I said, putting my phone face-down next to me.
"That's great!"
"I just wish I could be there," I said.
"Hey, you're going to be backstage the entire time. You can talk over the phone," he said, hugging me close.
"Right. I just want to be there, but I have to wait until Monday," I said.
Both opening nights went seamlessly, except for Joey forgetting the beginning of his part in Independence! Besides that, everything went perfectly. Sunday night, I announced that I was leaving, and the reason why. Everyone was fine with me leaving as long as I kept in touch, which I would undoubtedly do.
I landed in LAX and called Darren. "I just landed," I said.
"Okay, good. I'll be right out your gate, but we're running. The twins are here and I don't want to leave them for long," he said.
"I'll be there and do my best to run. Cross my heart," I said. I met Darren right away and we took off. We didn't talk on the way to the hospital. Darren refused to tell me anything about the twins since he wanted my first moments with them to be special. It was really sweet. We burst through the doors and found Julia with Sophia on her lap.
"Hey!" Julia exclaimed. I went over to her and hugged her. Sophia noticed me and climbed onto me.
"What's it like with three?" I asked, holding onto Sophia.
"Not too chaotic yet. I'm just waiting until we get home," she laughed.
"Well, I didn't tell Elle anything," Darren said.
"Can I just tell her genders and names?" Julia asked, almost visibly bursting to tell me the news.
"Okay," he said.
"So, we have two boys. Harry Elijah and James Blake. Yes, after Harry Potter characters," she said as the doctor came in with two nurses holding swaddled babies in their arms.
"Are you doing alright?" The doctor asked.
"Yes," Julia said.
"Well, they're cleared to go home tonight. Is that okay?"
"Yes."
"May I ask both of you parents to sign this paperwork? After signing it, you'll be cleared," the doctor said. Darren and Julia signed the papers quickly and they each took a baby. I carefully held Harry as Darren strapped Sophia into her carseat. After handing Harry back, I drove everyone home. We talked the whole way there about how Sophia (now asleep) might handle not being the only child anymore.
"It'll take some getting used to," Julia said. I nodded in agreement.
"But she'll learn to love them," I said.
"You've always had us, though," Darren said.
"But for most of my life I didn't. I don't blame you guys at all. The closest I ever had to a sibling was Robert, so I grew up an only child. When I learned about Sarah, it was weird. I could only remember wondering what it would be like to have a sibling, one that much younger than me at that," I said, "But from the moment she was born, I loved her, even before I met her."
We arrived at home and I helped Darren and Julia with getting the twins out of the car before picking up Sophia. "Hm?" She asked, startled by the sudden environmental change.
"It's okay," I said, entering the house.
"Elle, would you mind getting her to bed?" Julia asked.
"Not at all," I responded, waking Sophia up. "Can you brush your teeth? You'll go to bed after that," I said. She nodded and we headed upstairs to her room. I tucked her into bed and lay with her until she was asleep.
I went downstairs, where each Darren and Julia held a twin. "Do you guys need any help? Sophia's fast asleep," I said.
"We're good. Go to bed," Darren said.
"Okay. Goodnight," I said, hugging each of them.
The next morning, Darren and Julia both had dark bags under their eyes. "I'm taking it you guys got two hours each?" I asked.
"That's right," Darren said, serving himself some more coffee.
"I can watch them for part of today. You guys can get some naps," I said, "I don't think they'll need me for a while. Everyone was cool with me leaving for as long as you guys need."
"We're good. I'm sending you back Thursday. They need you. I'm off and Mom should be coming over Thursday. You might see her at the airport," he said.
"What?! I'm missing her?" I asked.
"Just barely. But you can talk to me during the show. I'm always here. I hate that I won't be able to see it live this time," he said.
"You didn't know?" I asked.
"I didn't know what?"
"They're being live-streamed. I'll send you the link because I have access to a link to watch it free," I said.
"Thanks, Elle," he said. I smiled.
"I'll miss you," I said.
"I'll miss you, too. But someone's coming over soon to meet the new members," Darren said. The door opened and I saw Chuck.
"There's my baby sister!" He exclaimed, hugging me. I hugged him back. "I hope you don't find this offensive, but I'm going to say hi to the twins."
"That's why you're here! I'm not offended!" I exclaimed.
"Good," he said, greeting Darren and hugging Julia. "How's it with three now?"
"I had two hours of sleep," Julia said, "Come meet them. And yes, we named them after Harry Potter characters."
Chuck and Julia disappeared while I checked all my notifications from the night before.
From Bobby Dazzle: Hey, where are you? I frowned and texted him back.
To Bobby Dazzle: No one told you? I'm in LAX. Twins came Friday. Honestly surprised no one told you.
I picked up Robert's call. "I can't believe no one told you," I said.
"Brian and Mere didn't and I figured they were my best bet," he said. "Why are you mad at me?" He suddenly whispered.
"Why on earth do you think I'm mad at you?" I whispered in reply.
"You've been avoiding me. You've only done that twice. When you became part of our family and when I forgot to bring your book that you left at Grandma's house to school for two weeks straight," he said, "The second time you were mad at me."
"That's only one piece of evidence. You can't base everything off of that!" I said.
"But you're mad at me."
"Fine! I am!"
"Why?"
"I think it's because your life is so great and mine's just been a train wreck since the news," I said. He laughed.
"My life isn't great!" He exclaimed.
"It is! You have everything together! A steady relationship, you're eating, you have a steady job, you live with only one other person, you've grown up. And me? It's the exact opposite!" I said, not letting my voice break.
"Everything you listed is only partially right. My relationship? It's pretty good, but Alex and I have work schedules that don't line up at all! We only have an hour a day together, but we're both too tired to do anything but go to bed early. If by eating you mean cold pizza and granola bars, you're completely right. My job is the one constant, but I feel terrible going into it every day. I do live with Alex, but it's lonely since she's at work when I'm off. We were thinking of getting a pet. And I haven't grown up. I've just grown layers and put on a mask to hide the true me to the general public. Peel away those layers and take off the mask. That's the me you know and love. But sometimes, I don't peel the layers. I keep the mask on. I need to stop doing that," he said.
"But your life is still great," I pointed out.
"Yours is too. You just have to stop comparing yourself. You're eating normally. Eating meals just isn't for you. You're a snackaholic and I know you constantly snack during rehearsals. Your job is still in the making, but I know when it comes, it's going to be great. But you're smart, you can offer up tutoring over Skype™ online. You live with a family that took you as their own. You have three families. Brian, Mere, Emma, and all the other Starkids. The Manion clan. And the Criss family. Everyone loves you. That's what makes a house a home. And, Lu, you're the adult that knows how to connect with the younger people. I know for a fact you pay a portion of the rent and utilities," he said.
"You still have a better relationship," I sniffled.
"I just told you to stop comparing. But I know you need to hear this. You and Clark and my fucking OTP. I won't let anything happen to you guys even if it requires threatening his life. Seeing each other only a quarter to half a year in real life is tough. I think it's time to make the next big step," he said.
"Which is," I prompted.
"I think it's time for you guys to move in together."
Disclaimer: I only own Luna and the plot line. Everyone here is a fictional version of themselves.
BLACKFRIDAYWASSOGREATWATCHITASAP!!!!!!! Have an awesome week, since I've only been able to concentrate on that.
--Luna :D