“It doesn’t seem real,” I murmur. “That they’re both here.”
Love fills my heart, overflowing into every part of my body. “Where’s Nash?” I ask. “And Leah?”
“Leah is probably outside,” Max laughs. “And Nash won’t be far behind.”
Bastien pulls his phone out and shoots off a text. “I give it three minutes.”
“Thirty seconds,” Luc says gruffly. He’s leaning over Emery, her tiny fingers wrapped around his thumb as he watches her, enraptured.
Leo starts to make little smacking noises, his mouth pursing, and I glance at Max in a panic. “He’s hungry?”
Max grins at me. “He is. Are you ready?”
I wanted to try breastfeeding, but Max warned me that it might be difficult with the two of them. But as Nik helps me out of my gown and Max carefully positions each twin to a breast, they latch on easily, and I suck in a breath at the feeling of relief. I didn’t realize how strange it would feel.
Bastien leans over me, his eyebrows waggling. “Can I try some of that?”
I can’t stop the snort that comes out, and I press my lips together firmly. “Bastien!”
Although…
There’s a banging at the door, and Nash’s voice comes through clearly. “Ava!”
I twist my head to grin at Nik. “Go get our boy.” Smiling, he presses one last kiss to my cheek, swapping out with Max, who settles behind me with a contented sigh. “As much as I loved delivering our kids, I wish I’d been able to hold you,” he admits quietly, pressing his forehead to my shoulder. I lean back into him, carefully adjusting the babies in my arms as they pull away from me, their tiny bellies full.
“You can hold us now,” I say with a smile. “All of us.”
His arms sneak around me to gently touch a finger to Leo’s cheek. Leo turns his head a little with a coo, and my heart melts.
“Am I biased, or are these the most beautiful babies you’ve ever seen?” I ask, and Max laughs against me. “They are, just like their mother.”
“Smooth,” I grin. “Nicely done, Doc.”
Bastien and Luc gently scoop up the twins, and Max pulls my gown back into place as the door opens, Nash’s excitement sweeping into the room.
“Ava,” he babbles, rushing to the bed. “Where are—,”
He skids to a stop, his eyes rounding as they move from Leo to Emery and back again. He swallows. “Wow,” he whispers, moving his eyes to mine. “They’re so small!”
He looks a little uncertain as he glances round, and my heart squeezes.
“Can you get me a pillow?” I murmur to Max. When he passes me one, I place it on the bed and motion Nash up. “Come on, sweetheart. Do you want to meet them properly?”
He nods, and Nik helps him up, carefully positioning him. “Just like this, Nashy.”
Luc carefully places Leo into Nash’s arms, and he blinks as a grin spreads across his face. “Hi, Leo,” he whispers. “I’m your brother. Do you like your name? I picked it for you. Leonardo is the best turtle.”
Hormones are clearly riding me hard right now because I can’t stop the tears from coming as Nash continues to explain his favorite ninja turtles to Leo. Max wipes them away as I sniffle.
Leo stares up at Nash, his blue eyes unwavering as he gurgles, and Nash laughs. “He’s talking to me!”
Nash is entranced, and Bastien kneels next to him and carefully adds Emery to the mix. “This is Emery,” he explains, and Nash nods. “Just like my mom,” he says, his voice wondering as he looks down at her. My throat tightens as I watch the three of them together for the first time. Nash bends down and gently kisses Emery’s forehead. “I’m gonna look after you,” he promises sweetly.
There isn’t a dry eye in the room. Leah edges into view, her face crumpled with emotion. “I need hugs,” she announces. “All the baby hugs.”
Reluctantly, Nash relinquishes Leo and then Emery to Luc. “Careful, Uncle Luc,” he scolds. “They’re only tiny.” Luc’s lip twitches as we all bite back our laughter. “You’re a good big brother, Nash,” I reassure him, and he grins widely up at me. “I know,” he says smugly, and the laughter spills out into the room as Leah takes Emery in her arms.
“She would have loved this,” Leah says. Her chin quivers as she bites her lip, staring down at the baby. “You’re gonna be a heartbreaker, Em.”
