"One more push, Mrs. Kelly."

Sweat dotted the young female's forehead, her face distorted in agony. Her jaw clenched as she pushed, trying to hold back her cries of pain that still managed to escape. Every muscle in her body was weak and sore from the previous eleven hours of contractions and moments where they thought it was the time but turned out false.

Katherine Kelly was a newlywed to ex-streetrat Jack Kelly. Their wedding day had been the happiest day of their lives. Every moment turned out magical, from their sentimental vows to their sensational kiss that connected them as one. Katherine dropped her maiden surname, taking Jack's. Her father—Joseph Pulitzer—was the most powerful man in New York, and although he didn't approve of Katherine's decision to marry Jack, he still wouldn't get in the way of his daughter's happiness. He was a still a father, and his children's happiness was a healthy essential to him.

With one last push, Katherine tossed her head back and caught her breath. Only for a second, though, because she soon found her first child was being placed on her chest. The baby's shrill cries quieted at it's mother's tender touch. Katherine cooed at her child, letting Jack wrap the newborn in a warm crocheted blanket.

"It's a girl," Katherine whispered, looking up at her husband with tear-filled eyes. She smiled brightly through her exhaustion, stroking her daughter's head where short, dark strands of hair sprouted; most likely inherited from her father.

Jack chuckled, kneeling by his wife and holding tightly onto her free hand. "Welcome to the world, little one," he said through his thick New York accent. Katherine looked back down at her daughter and kissed the infant's head.

"Yes, welcome, Velma Jacqueline Kelly."

<><><>

Katherine was standing in the bedroom she shared with Jack, finishing with lacing her nightgown. She had succeeded in getting her newborn to fall asleep soundly. The young infant rested in the nursery, the door wide open in case the child ever awoke. Her husband was sitting at the bed, staring down at the floor as his thoughts consumed him. Katherine caught sight of this, stepping over to him and seating herself beside him. She laced their fingers together, jerking him out of his thoughts.

Katherine squeezed his hand comfortingly, looking into his distracted eyes with concern. "What's the matter?"

"What d'ya mean, Ace?" Jack responded, not daring to bring his own eyes up to her for a short moment. Yet when he did, he saw the insistent look in Katherine's eyes. He sighed, looking back down at the floor. "What if I fail ta provide for the two of ya like my old man did?"

Katherine, too, sighed, using her free hand to turn his chin to face her. "This is a two-person job, okay? We're going to do this together. I won't leave your side so long as you don't leave mine."

"I wouldn't dream on it," Jack said, stroking Katherine's cheek tenderly. Their lips met after several seconds of just observing each other, moving slowly at first before growing more passionate. The passion in their kiss wasn't for lust, instead it was for a desire to feel the comfort of the other's presence. Katherine's words weren't a lie, they'd do this together; they'd raise their child together.

Their session was interrupted by a piercing cry filling the apartment. Katherine sighed, pulling her face away from Jack's and telling him with a soft chuckle, "Your turn."

<><><>

Katherine gently set her nine month-old daughter in her bassinet. The sun set outside of the window of their New York apartment, casting a orange light in the nursery.

The young nineteen year-old mother rubbed her eyes in exhaustion, looking down at her sleeping child. The door to the nursery opened, causing her to look up at the entrance of an equally-exhausted Jack. Almost on instinct, her face broke out with a smile. The two shared a kiss, pulling apart slowly before both pairs of eyes went to look at their daughter.

"I have something to tell you," Katherine commented, bringing her eyes back up to Jack. "Good news, I hope."

Jack arched an eyebrow, bringing his own eyes back up to his wife. "What is it?" He asked.

Jack found Katherine taking his hand and placing it softly on her slightly-swollen stomach. Almost instantly, the realization crossed through his mind. Katherine smiled, revealing in a soft, elated voice, "Velma's going to be a big sister."

<><><>

Similar to eighteen months before, Katherine found herself unsuccessfully holding back short wails and cries of pain as her body attempted to birth her second child. She had expected her second time giving birth to be less painful, but that proved to be false when the time came.

Eighteen month-old Velma was sent to The Jacobses' eight hours previously when Katherine first went into labor. Seven hours later, Katherine found herself pushing for nearly another hour, pain wrapping around her body and embracing her with soreness.

Katherine gave a final cry of agony, feeling the pain in her body cease. She knew what this meant, she looked down at her newborn child, smiling despite what she had just gone through. The Kellys' midwife carefully passed the baby to Katherine, a proud grin on her lips, "Another girl."

Katherine chuckled softly at the thought of another daughter, cooing at her secondborn like she had done with her firstborn. Jack, too, knelt down beside Katherine, cradling the infant's tiny head. Katherine kissed the newborn's forehead, whispering so only Jack could hear:

"Velma and Veronica. The Kelly sisters. May your life be long and prosperous, my child."