That evening I’m happily warming up some of the soup Burton left in the kitchen when I hear the front door open. I turn, curious, and smile when I see that it’s Bridgette peeking through. “Can I come in?” she asks, an eager little smile on her face. She glances around our house, which is still a li
Ian looks up at me, frowning. “But he doesn’t really eat dinner anymore-“ “Just go,” I say, rolling my eyes at Ian’s lack of tact and giving him a little push. Alvin’s already heading for the back door, but Ian takes a moment to glance between me and Bridgette, figuring it all out. “Oh. Okay!” he s
“Come on, little boys,” I call to Ian and Alvin as I stand up. “Come inside with me.” “What!” Alvin protests, running forward a little. “But there might be fireflies – the first ones of the season! We were going to –“ “Nope!” I say, putting my hand out towards them. “Inside!” “Whyyyy,” Ian whines
“Okay!” Alvin says, not sharing any of Ian’s worries. Together, they push upwards on the wide window and open it fully. Then, to my shock, they start to crawl out of it. “Oh my god,” I gasp, moving forward just as Alvin’s little feet disappear into the darkness beyond. My jaw is hanging open when I
Alvin, Ian, and I all jump at once, spinning towards the room, peeking in the window to see – “Duck!” I whisper, seeing Victor standing alone in the empty room, confused as he looks for his missing family. Alvin and Ian comply immediately, tucking their heads down below the windowsill, but I am eit
I feel little tears prick at my eyes and Victor’s hand comes gently to the back of my head then, running down the length of my hair. He sends me a little nudge down our bond, letting me know that he makes that same promise to me. I send my faith back to him, the knowledge that I know that already –
I’m up first the next morning, but I decide to let Victor have a little more rest. I smile at him as I watch him sleep for a moment, wanting very much to reach out and rub my hand against the new stubble lining his jaw, but holding back. He’s been working so hard lately – he deserves this break as m
“I’m sure you will,” Bridgette replies, laughing as he takes both of her hands, spreading out her fingers and frowning. Then, Alvin looks up sharply and makes eye contact with Ian, clearly communicating mind-to-mind. “Hey,” Ian says, taking up Alvin’s questioning thought and looking between Rafe an
“Me me me,” he says, hardly able to contain his excitement. “My turn, mama. Please.” And he looks down, again, at his little girl. “Well,” I say, shifting her in my arms and leaning forward so Ian can better see her face. She frowns in her sleep, squirming a little and making me smile. “I was think
Several hours later, I’m changed and curled up more comfortably in my bed with Victor by my side, a baby in each of our arms, and our boys curled up like puppies at the end of the bed. Archie is on the bed too, cuddled between them. We sit quietly together, all still focused on the two little babie
“It’s all right, doctor,” I say, giving her a little smile and nodding towards the boys. “We found them.” “Oh my god,” she says, shaking her head and placing a hand over her heart. Then she frowns at them. “How did they…” “Window,” Victor says, gesturing towards it and sighing. “It’s all right. Th
“Come on, Evelyn,” the doctor says confidently as Victor squeezes my hand, his eyes darting between my face and the first baby, which the doula is now wrapping in her first swaddle. “One more push, and then you’ll be done, and you can hold your little girls.” “Okay,” I huff, sitting up and shifting
Slumped on the couch, Ian heaves a gigantic sigh. “What is taking so long,” he mutters, glaring angrily at the steps as if they’ve personally offended him. “You knew it would take a while,” Bridgette murmurs, running a hand over Ian’s soft brown hair and smiling fondly at her nephew. She sighs and
“Oh my god,” Victor gasps, instantly wide awake. “Oh my god,” he says again, grabbing my face and searching it like it has answers. “Are you – are you okay?” “Yes,” I say, nodding but then belying my answer with an immediate moan. I grit my teeth, my hand going to my stomach as I weather the contra
And between them, my three Alphas have kept me sane. Even though every other part of the end of this pregnancy has worked hard against that sanity. Very, very hard. Even though the TV is on, capturing both of our attention, Ian very suddenly turns his head towards my stomach, like a dog hearing a w
As it turns out…I cannot. I cannot spend 3 months in bed, waiting for my babies to be born. Two and a half months later, I’m basically climbing the walls, I’m going so crazy sitting here in this bedroom, waiting for my little girls to be born. I’ve done it this long, though. I’ve stayed in my bedr
“Why?” Victor asks, suddenly serious in the sea of merriment. “Evelyn, why aren’t you here? What’s wrong?” “Um…” she says, her eyes glancing away awkwardly. “Because…I went into early labor…and I’ve been put on bedrest…” The tablet cracks as it falls to the floor. Rafe gasps, reaching down for it