Kate and Stephen were going to Dr. Russo's office for her 26-week appointment. Now that she was well halfway into her second trimester, her appointments were once every two weeks since they were expecting another set of fraternal twins.

She hates to admit it, but coming to terms with her pregnancy has been a journey filled with unexpected challenges. The realization that she was once again having twins weighed heavily on her heart, and she found herself slipping into a sadness that she couldn't easily shake.

However, Nathan and Naomi's recent birthday celebrations in June provided a much-needed distraction, and now they were getting ready to celebrate Claire and Stephens'.

"Are we all set for Claire's birthday party next Thursday?" Stephen asked as they merged into the single lane, heading towards the office.

The thought of Claire's upcoming third birthday filled her with such excitement. A soft smile spread across her face as she imagined the sheer excitement that would light up Claire's eyes when she entered the fantastical SpongeBob-themed party they were planning. For months, Claire had been completely entranced by SpongeBob SquarePants. Her obsession had blossomed to the point where she could belt out the theme song with a surprising talent for someone so young.

"Just about; I still need someone to wear the SpongeBob suit. Carol's boyfriend canceled at the last minute; what a surprise there," she said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.

It was infuriating that she expected anything different, but they didn't have many options, as hiring a professional was out of the question due to money.

As she caught a glimpse of Stephen through the rearview mirror, she noticed a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

"Well, how about I wear the costume for the party?"

Kate felt bad for letting out a snort of laughter at his expense, yet the mere thought of him clad in a colorful, whimsical costume made her chuckle. The memory of similar past episodes, where he had clumsily donned a full-body outfit, added to her amusement.

"Honey, do you not remember back in Junior year at one of the football games when you substituted for Alex Stone to be in our mascot costume? You didn't last even 5 minutes in the costume because it got too hot for you."

She observed Stephen's expression closely, noting how his brow furrowed slightly, and his lips pursed. It was clear that he knew she brought up a good point, yet he seemed hesitant to admit it openly.

"I don't mind. I think I can handle it better now that I'm about to be 30. Better me than one of our dads, especially if it will be almost 70 degrees. Besides, having SpongeBob there will make Claire happy, even if it's for only an hour."

Kate couldn't help but smile as she bit her lip playfully. She wasn't sure if he would be able to stay in it for long, maybe just long enough to join in singing Happy Birthday and snap a few pictures.

"Alright, I guess you will be SpongeBob then. You don't have to stay in the costume the whole time, just long enough to sing Happy Birthday and get pictures taken."

"I think I can do the whole hour no problem, as long as I have a break or so in there."

She raised her eyebrows, somewhat skeptical about that, and it certainly wasn't for lack of effort; she understood her husband well enough to know that he struggles with full-body costumes that cover his head.

"Alright, Stephen, how about I make you a deal?"

I hope I don't regret this, but I'm confident I will win.

"If you can last at least an hour in the suit, then if one of these babies is a boy. We'll name him Michael."

As they stopped at a red light, he turned to her, his eyes wide with disbelief at her words. The incredulity etched on his face was so amusing that she couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you serious?"

"100% serious, but that's only if you make it an hour, including any break you may need."

Stephen laughed and smiled widely. He leaned forward and reached out his hand for a handshake.

"You're on," he said, sounding excited.

She laughed and shook his hand, firmly sealing the deal with an unwavering confidence that she would win. However, their top priority was to ensure Claire had an unforgettable time at her party.

(Doctor's Office)

Kate sat on the plush bed in the doctor's examination room; the sterile walls surrounding her felt confining as time dragged on, amplifying her anxiety. This visit was meant to be a routine 26-week checkup for her twins.

However, the atmosphere shifted when the nurse recorded her blood pressure at a concerning 140/90. Now, instead of a straightforward appointment, she found herself facing additional tests to determine if she was experiencing pre-eclampsia, a condition that added layers of worry to what should have been a simple checkup.

"You heard what Dr. Russo said. The babies are developing right as they should be for 26 weeks, and remember, he said it's quite common for a multiple pregnancy to have high blood pressure." Stephen said, sitting beside her and trying to reassure her.

Kate rubbed her head, not from a headache, but from being irritated and scared of how her luck was going.

"I know that it's just my blood pressure was never this high, not even when I was pregnant with Nathan and Naomi. What if I have to be hospitalized because of this? My mind is going to who's going to help you take care of the children while I'm away, and what if the babies have to be in the NICU?"

During her high school years, a close classmate experienced a difficult situation when her mother had to deliver her brother two months early because of pre-eclampsia. Her brother remained in the NICU until he sadly passed away just a couple of weeks after his birth. Her parents chose to hold a viewing for the baby, and the sight of that baby in such a small casket will always be etched in her memory.

"You're overthinking again. I know it's scary; we can't think that far ahead. Whatever the doctor says, we'll take it as it comes day by day."

She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. "It's easy for you to say your body isn't the one that will suffer if something goes wrong with the babies."

Kate hadn't planned for her tone to come across as so harsh, but the mounting pressure of her anxiety was starting to take control of her emotions. With the nature of the test she was facing, she recognized she had to find a way to calm herself and regain her composure.

A sharp knock echoed through the room, interrupting the silence.

"Come in!" she called out

The door creaked open, and in strode Dr. Russo.

"Alright, Kate, we got the results from both your urine and your blood test, and we're looking pretty good. There is no protein in your urine, which is what we wanted to see. Liver enzymes are slightly elevated due to high blood pressure, so we're looking at a diagnosis of gestational hypertension."

Stephen scootched closer to her and held her hand. "Is she going to need to be admitted to the hospital?"

"Kate is experiencing gestational hypertension, which means she has high blood pressure. However, her urine tests show no protein, indicating that her organs are not currently being damaged. Although her liver enzyme levels are slightly elevated, I believe that as long as Kate continues to monitor her blood pressure at home, we can manage her condition. We will also schedule visits twice a week for additional monitoring, as gestational hypertension can sometimes progress to pre-eclampsia. At this time, I don't see an immediate need for hospitalization, especially with twins developing as they should be at 26 weeks."

She let out a sigh of relief. "That's good; what do I need to do? Just monitor my blood pressure."

"Yes, I will prescribe some low-dosage baby aspirin and blood pressure medication. Just try and take it easy. For our next appointment, I would like us to discuss scheduling a c-section. Obviously, with any set of multiples, we want to keep them in as long as possible. Still, with gestational hypertension, I think it would be beneficial for both your health and the twin's health that we consider delivery at 37 weeks at the very latest. Probably around the first week of October."

Thirty-seven weeks isn't bad; Claire came at 37 weeks and was perfectly healthy.

"Will there be any NICU time, do you think?"

That was her biggest concern, ensuring they stay inside her as long as possible so nothing is too underdeveloped by the time they appear.

"Both babies have very strong heartbeats and are right on track with their development if everything continues as it should. I don't see a very long NICU stay if there will be one."

He pauses for a moment before continuing.

"I can't emphasize enough, though, that if you start having headaches with blurry vision or unusual swelling, get a hold of me, and if I happen to be unavailable, then straight to the emergency room."

Her husband let out a chuckle. "I believe you don't need to be concerned about that. Kate has always been very cautious during her last two pregnancies; remember how she was anxious about every minor cold she caught while pregnant with Nathan and Naomi."

"That's why I feel completely at ease with the approach of simply monitoring the situation and addressing whatever comes as we progress, as I have full confidence in her proactive nature when it comes to these kinds of issues," Dr. Russo explained with a lighthearted laugh.

He has been her physician throughout all her pregnancies. She admits that she may have been somewhat of a nuisance, especially during her first pregnancy, fixating on every tiny detail, yet he has always demonstrated patience and compassion.

She greatly appreciates the way he offers reassurance while maintaining a balanced perspective, ensuring she feels supported rather than worried. He consistently takes the time to discuss potential scenarios whenever she has concerns about her pregnancies, which she finds very reassuring.

While she felt a sense of relief at not having to be hospitalized, managing her anxiety while coping with hypertension that poses a risk of pre-eclampsia was undoubtedly going to be tough.

With three small children to care for, getting through the next few months felt daunting. However, Kate was determined to keep her babies safe and to ensure they stayed inside her for as long as possible.

Author's Note

Here is our next chapter and we found out Kate's been diagnosed with Gestational Hypertension, and learning how Kate ended up relenting on the name Michael Myers lol. I do feel like I'd be a lot like Kate if I ever got pregnant, being worried about every little thing and not having that control over how things can go because pregnancy can be unpredictable, but so far, so good as of now for Kate.

We are now five months away from the kidnapping, so how do you guys feel about Kate compared to our initial impressions of her earlier in the story?