[Sam260]

Once Silas was sure Sidney was out of the room, he turned his head and looked at Marc with an equally serious expression on his face, "Marc... I can't feel them moving anymore... They've been active all day, twisting and squirming in what little space they do have..." Silas said quietly, biting on his bottom lip "I haven't told Sidney that they'd started moving... that I could feel the movements... It's been about a week since I've started feeling those fluttering sensations... And now I don't feel it anymore..."

Silas was absolutely worried about the babies, especially with the lack of movement - of course, it was a new development and he wasn't sure how or when they stopped moving, he hardly noticed the flutters unless he was being absolutely still and the room was quiet, like he and it was right now. "Please... I'm just... I don't want to lose the babies, Marc..."

[hockeypreg2]

Marc squeezed his hand tightly. "I know. And I'm going to do everything I can not to have that happen. I don't want to take you to the hospital unless I have to so I want to do an ultrasound first. We can do that at the clinic. If we have to go to the hospital, we will after that."

Marc put his arm around Silas's shoulders to help him sit up. "Let's get you to your feet. Sit up first and then we'll use the bed to get you standing."

[Sam260]

Silas almost wanted to shout at the idea of going to the hospital - the last time, when he got arrested after Calla was born, was still a fresh and painful memory to him; having almost lost all of his hard work as a restaurant owner because of the gossip circles that had filtered out about his arrest. He may not have been as famous as the TV Chef's on Food Network, but he was a pretty well known pillar in New York City for his authentic Greek cooking and his arrest really had damaged his reputation, at least for a few months "Promise me we won't have to go to the hospital..."

He was sitting on the edge of Calla's bed, slowly working his way into a standing position "Or, if we have to go to the hospital... Just... don't let anyone touch me, except for you, or Sidney... I can't face another assault charge, Marc."

Marc nodded his head and smiled softly at Silas - he couldn't exactly promise that to Silas, not now at least, they had to figure out if there had been any damage internally before making any major decisions "Let's just take it one step at a time... starting with standing, and then getting you downstairs and into a car... and then we'll see what we're looking at with the ultrasound."

Silas sighed but nodded his head and with one last breath, he and Marc got him back up onto his feet; he was definitely unsteady and off-balance, likely from the lack-of-oxygen for so long, making him lightheaded, but Marc - while not as strong as Silas - did have a good grip around his waist and was able to keep the muscular man steady and upright.

[hockeypreg2]

Sidney came back upstairs in time to help Marc get Silas down the steps. "My parents and Sirius will handle everything. Taylor has calmed down Calla and I think she realizes that she did something very bad. Kris said he would take care of your kids, Marc."

"Great," Marc said. "We're taking your car, but I am driving. You can sit in the back with Silas."

Sidney cradled Silas in the back of the car as Marc drove them to the clinic, spending the whole time reassuring Silas that everything will be fine while not actually believing it himself. Marc was quiet and Silas was obviously still in pain, clutching Sidney's hand way too hard.

[Sam260]

The drive to the clinic seemed to take longer than ever, the pain was still unbearable and Silas had no idea why it was hurting so much - whether something was seriously wrong with him, or the babies - He had been punched in the guts, and lower, and had never experienced such pain like this before. Sidney was trying to soothe him, reassure him, but Silas could hear in his husband's voice just how worried he truly was, and how much he didn't believe the words coming out of his own mouth as he spoke them.

Marc pulled the SUV up into the front of the clinic, not even bothering to park in a proper space; He and Sidney managed to move Silas out of the backseat together and then they were holding onto him as they entered the employee elevator and moved quickly up the few flights to the Clinic level.

Marc got them into the office and guided Sidney and Silas down the semi-dark hallway and into the exam room "I don't think he's going to be able to get on the exam table without being in any further pain... It's unorthodox, but we can to do this standing up..." he scrubbed the back of his neck in frustration "but, if I can't see anything from that angle, Silas, you're going to have to endure the pain of moving onto the table."

[hockeypreg2]

Sidney let Silas lean on him as Marc moved around quickly, getting everything set up. It seemed like time both sped up and slowed down until Marc had the babies on the ultrasound screen. Sidney couldn't tell what he was looking at from this angle and Silas was starting to breathe erratically again.

"I can see all three of them and everything looks to be intact. I see three heartbeats," Marc said quietly. "Placentas are in place." He flipped the switch for sound. "And there's the heartbeats."

Sidney let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding. "Oh thank god."

[Sam260]

Marc told Silas he could sit back down, and the second he was able, he was bending his head between his knees, and Sidney was rubbing his back and neck to get his breathing back under control. Their triplets were fine, he was fine, still in pain but otherwise there was nothing to be panicking over anymore.

When Silas' breathing came back under control, he sat up slowly and looked at Marc with a curious look on his face and in his eyes "If they... are fine... Why am I still in pain? And why do I not feel them moving, Marc?" he asked quietly, laying his head against Sidney's shoulder and soaking up all of his husband's warmth and comfort like a sponge.

[hockeypreg2]

"I think she got you in just the right spot," said Marc. "And they were moving on the ultrasound. The movements were just so small you can't feel them. I think you're just going to be bruised and sore, but everything will be okay."

Sidney pressed kisses to Silas's hair, holding him close. He felt like he'd been through the ringer in the last hour. Today had been entirely too much craziness and he just wanted to get back home and get Silas in bed. Of course they still had a backyard full of people and three kids who were still upset over what had happened.

[Sam260]

Marc prescribed a pregnancy safe pain killer for Silas, should he experience any further pain, and gave him the same drug now so that it would start kicking in by the time they got back to the house "I want you to rest for the remainder of the night, Silas. The pain killer I just gave you is no doubt going to make you sleepy, but also pretty nauseas, small meals and snacks for the rest of the night, lots of water so you don't get dehydrated..."

Silas opened his mouth to protest, but Marc held up a hand "I know you have a houseful of guests, and we can move the party inside, or if you promise to relax in something more comfortable than a deck chair, and have your brother move said chair out onto the back porch, I will allow you to stay outside with the party... but I want you in a reclined position until bed, and then I want you sleeping on your side. No pressure on your stomach, at all."

Silas nodded his head and frowned, "Okay, I can accept these terms." He looked at Sidney and sighed "Call Sirius on the drive back and have him move the recliner onto the porch? I want to be outside, it is such a nice night, I do not want to deprive anyone of the fresh air that we've got going on."

[hockeypreg2]

Sidney looked conflicted. He wanted Silas in bed, but he also knew how awful it was to be confined to bed when you didn't want to be so he nodded. "Okay, but I am calling the evening early. I am exhausted."

Sidney called Sirius on the ride back and explained everything that was going on. By the time they got home, everything was taken care of. Sidney got Silas settled on the recliner in the backyard and Calla was there immediately, climbing into his lap and hiding her face in his shoulder.

"Adda, I'm sorry," Calla whispered. "I didn't mean to do that."

[Sam260]

Silas hugged his daughter lightly, but looked up at Sidney pleadingly - he wasn't in a very forgiving mood right now; of course, he still loved his daughter and eventually he would forgive Calla for what she'd done, but right now was not that time. He kissed the top of Calla's head lightly "I know you didn't, Calla..." He said quietly.

Silas looked around at all of their friends and family, and everyone just seemed to be staring at him like he was about to lose his mind or something, it was very nerve wracking and starting to make Silas get that itchy-tingly feeling all over his body -- this was not how he imagined the reveal party going, at all. Silas was feeling edgy all over again, and he was doubting his decision to want to keep going with the party.

Reaching out to grasp Sidney's hand, he looked up at his husband with tears glazing over in his eyes - thankfully they didn't fall, had they done so, he certainly wouldn't have heard the end of it from his brother; "Can we... I..." he shrugged and bit his lip "I don't think I can do this..." he whispered, waving a hand about subtly to encompass the entirety of their party. What he really wanted was Calla off of his lap, but he couldn't exactly *say* that, not without hurting her feelings, and he hoped Sidney would get that too.

[hockeypreg2]

Sidney gave him a subtle nod and leaned over to pick up Calla, settling her on his hip. He gave her a kiss on her forehead and handed her off to Sirius who was hovering nearby, looking concerned and for once, not ready to tease his brother about his excess emotions.

"You look exhausted," Sidney said calmly, leaning down to offer Silas his arm. "The medicine Marc gave you must be kicking in faster than we thought. We should get you to bed."

Sidney offered Silas the out, giving him the option to get inside and away from everyone. He helped him up, giving Sirius a smile before walking Silas inside. "The party can keep going without us. We have family here that can take care of the kids. I can take care of you."

[Sam260]

Silas nodded and the duo started up the stairs and towards the master bedroom. Sidney helped Silas out of his shirt and jeans, and they both looked down at the bruises that were forming on his stomach, thighs, and shins "I look like I was hit by a thousand tiny baseballs..." Silas sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed and setting his palms against his rounded middle - both of his hands entirely covered the small mound he was sporting.

"Sid, I don't know what happened today... I just..." he shook his head and scooted back a bit so he could lay down "I got so pissed off with her... and I promised you, well before she was born, and even before Theo and Titan - that I would never lose my temper around the kids... and I did." Silas rubbed his stomach slowly and shook his head "I feel like I've failed somewhere along the way... Like I've done something wrong and apparently this is my punishment." he wasn't talking about the pregnancy - but the fact that their six-year-old daughter had practically beat him up. And wasn't that a bitter pill for Silas to swallow.

[hockeypreg2]

Sidney sat down next to him and tangled their hands together. "You got mad at her because she deserved it. Did you yell at her?" Silas shook his head. "Did you hit her?" He shook his head again. "When she was hitting you, did you do anything other than protect yourself?" Silas sighed and shook his head. "What you did was not terrible. I don't think you did anything unforgivable. We've been failing her as parents because we've been letting her get away with everything. We need to work on that."

Sidney leaned down to press a kiss to Silas's lips. "Please don't fret over this. Let's just be happy that today is over and the babies are okay and you will be okay."

[Sam260]

Silas nodded and moved to lay down on his side, tugging Sidney into the bed with him "Just lay with me?" he asked quietly, he placed his head against Sidney's chest and sighed quietly - he still hated the fact that now he *wanted* to be comforted, wanted to feel that affectionate touch, where he never had before, but this was Sidney, and with Sidney he often let down all of his guards and just kind of was the needy guy that he was, deep down inside.

"I do not want to fail her as a father, anymore, Sid... but I am so afraid of punishing her, because I do not want her to... do what she did today." Silas said quietly, huffing out a breath "How do we effectively punish her, without upsetting her or making her hate us?"

[hockeypreg2]

Sidney held him close, stroking his hand through Silas's hair. "We will figure it out. We can get some help, learn how to punish her effectively. We can figure it out."

Sidney kept stroking his hair, trying to soothe him to sleep. The day had been such a rollercoaster and Sidney felt both sick and exhausted as well as excited for his future children. He wanted to fall asleep as well but he knew that as soon as Silas was asleep he was going to have to go downstairs and help straighten up, say goodbye to everyone. Smile like everything was fine. Put his children to sleep for the night. Take the dogs out and feed Jasper. Then, maybe then, he could go to sleep.

-----


Sidney wasn't going to let Silas get away with not celebrating the babies. He had a baby shower with the twins, but not with Calla since she was their second. But it had been a long time since they had infants and this was the first time Silas had been pregnant so it was definitely time for another baby shower. 

It wasn't a *huge* baby shower. Silas still had anxiety and didn't like being the center of attention. And as he got bigger, he seemed to be more self-conscious of how looked since he was gaining so much weight and losing muscle. It was their closest friends and family. No kids though which was a relief. There was copious amounts of alcohol and plenty of rides for the adults.

He had sent a message to Silas to meet him at Tangerine, a tapas restaurant that Silas and Sidney enjoyed. He wanted to do it somewhere other than Silas's own restaurants so they could fully relax. He had told Silas that they were just going to have a night out, the two of them, while Silas was still feeling pretty good. 

In reality, the back room in Tangerine was filled with people who loved them and tons of food and drinks. They were just waiting for Silas to show up.

[Sam260]

Silas sighed as he slid out of the driver's seat of the SUV - his stomach made it extremely difficult to get around, especially in a car, now that he was six months pregnant and just... *huge* everywhere.  Three unborn infants inside of him, only six months pregnant, and he was already looking like his stomach was about ready to just pop open.

Tangerine's was a good place to have a quiet, relaxing evening with his husband, he definitely needed it after the day he had had; work had slowed down for Silas, simply because he no longer could travel back and forth between The Saucer and Saucer II - he more often than not stayed at Saucer II since it was closer to their home, and his office was bigger at Saucer II, with a larger couch, which meant he could take naps whenever he wanted.  Plus he had everything he needed, and then some, at Saucer II - unlike at The Saucer, it just wasn't a convenient location for Silas during his pregnancy.

Silas stepped into the tapas restaurant and walked over to the Maître'd "Hey Ralph..." he said quietly, glancing around the restaurant to see if he could spot his husband - he didn't, of course "I ah... Sid texted me, and told me to meet him here... Do you know where he is?" he asked of the Maître'd - a friend of theirs, as was a lot of local restaurant owners and staff in the area, as Saucer II was only a few blocks away in basically what was called "The Restaurant District".

Ralph smiled at Silas and nodded "Yes, I know where he is..." Ralph said as he waved a hand toward the dining area "Just follow me and I will lead you there." Ralph said as he grabbed a menu and started walking toward the back room of Tangerine.  Once at the double oak doors, he knocked loudly - and in the 'code' that Sidney had set forth so that they knew Silas was here.

[hockeypreg2]

Sidney shushed everyone in the room, waving his hands. The room quieted down and Sidney went to the door, opening one of them with a smile. Everyone was crouching behind the chairs and the room was lit low.

"Hello, darling," Sidney said, reaching an arm out to Silas to lead him into the room where everyone was hiding. He leaned up to press a kiss on his lips. "It's so good to see you. I know this is last minute, but I hope you don't mind. I thought we could use a night out."

He kept his arm around Silas tightly, wanting to keep him steady. Silas's balance wasn't the best these days and the last thing they needed was Silas falling for any reason.

Ralph flicked the lights quickly and everyone jumped up, shouting, "Surprise!"

[Sam260]

Silas stumbled back slightly, but thank god Sidney and Ralph were both there or they would have been picking him up off the floor. Once he was certain his balance was under control again, he turned to his husband and glared at him "Seriously, Sid? A surprise baby shower?" Silas asked, obviously irritated about the party.

"I thought we agreed that we would not be having a baby shower for me?" He sighed and reached up to rub his forehead, glancing at the party goers in the room, the gifts that had been unveiled and all of the food and beverages - of course, he couldn't have any of the alcohol, which he now *really* wanted - He hadn't wanted a big production around his pregnancy, especially after the events of the last party they had... but, his stomach was starting to win out "We aren't staying here long." he declared, wobbling away from the entry way and over to the buffet, a plate already in his hand.

[hockeypreg2]

Sidney put his arms around Silas as they waited in the buffet line. "You don't need to open any of the gifts here. You don't need to make any speeches. No one is expecting you to do anything but sit down and eat. They'll come sit with you if they want to say hi. No one is going to make you wear a silly hat," Sidney poked him lightly. "Like I had to wear. All you have to do is enjoy the food and a night out with no kids."

Sidney could feel the triplets squirming around against his hands and he couldn't help but smile happily. They were so active during the day but slept all night so Silas could sleep. "Hi babies. Oh, they made that lamb kofta you love."