"I feel great." She admitted as she snuggled against him. "They're beautiful, aren't they? But tiny." She was determined to stay positive.
He kissed the top of her head gently. "The doctors all agree that they will grow very fast. And it's good that they will only be staying in the NICU for a week. After that, we get to take them home."
"For now, we hold off on hiring a nanny. I want to bond with them."
"Of course." He brushed back the long flow of braids from her cheek. "My parents are staying for a month, and your mother has offered her services."
Lifting her head, she stared at him, a whimsical smile touching her lips. "Who knew that it had to take me delivering two babiesto have her becoming human? I do believe she really loves them."
"You should see her in the nursery. She did not want to leave. She stood there staring at them as if they were the most precious things in the world."
"Well, of course they are." His wife declared stoutly. "Oh, Oscar. We did it. We made those two perfect little creatures and we're completely responsible for them."
Tilting her chin up, he brushed his lips against hers. "And we're going to make sure we don't screw it up."
She laughed shakily, her hand gripping his wrist. "Know what I discovered?"
"What is that?"
"That no amount of avid reading will do it. Yes, it's nice to drink in all the knowledge and watch all the videos about the best way to take care of our babies, but I think it's just natural born instincts that come with being parents."
"Does that mean we get a break from all the books and videos you forced me to watch?" he teased.
"Not so obsessive, but we will be reading. Most of all, we will know what to do to make those two little people whole and healthy in a broken down world. We have each other and a village. Eric and Deborah have declared themselves godparents. Did you see how they were staring at each other?"
"Kiara."
She grinned at him, moving into his arms. "I'm not too busy to play matchmaker. And they're good for each other."
"Stay out of it." He warned, kissing her firmly on the mouth.
"You know I can't."
With a resigned sigh, he gathered her close and just breathed her in.
"I can't believe how damn good you are at this." Deborah stared at her friend in amazement as she tucked the blanket securely around her daughter. The twins were three months old and were growing in leaps and bounds.
The pediatrician, one recommended by Dr. Greene, had expressed genuine surprise at how they were thriving. Aside from a few niggling ear infections, they were doing very well.
"I think I was born to be a mother." She threw a grin over her shoulder as she snapped the diaper secure at the waist. "What do you think, baby girl? Is Mama a natural or what?"
She could swear the baby smiled her approval. "I don't give a flying fig what the so-called experts say, that's a smile right there."
"I agree with you." Coming alongside her, Deborah peered at the baby. "She's so beautiful." She sighed.
"Thinking of motherhood?" Lifting the baby up, Kiara cradled her, inhaling the baby powder and nuzzling the soft skin. Oscar had taken their son out for a drive along the countryside, declaring that it was time to do some guy bonding.
"If you take him to the pub, we're going to have some serious words." She warned before he left.
"How little you think of me." He had tried to look offended but had not been able to pull it off.
"I think so." A shy smile curved her lips as she thought of Eric. The man had been right there in front of her, and she never really noticed him. Now he was the focal point of her life. She was happy, well and truly happy.
He was big and strong and completely protective of her.
"He asked me to marry him."
Lifting her daughter to her shoulder, Kiara turned to give her friend a one arm embrace. "That's wonderful."
