"What about this one?" Mel asked twirling around in a summer dress.
Lincoln walked towards her leaning down to whisper, "Love there are certain developments I don't want any men noticing at such an early stage of our pregnancy," he said gazing at her chest.
"But I like this one," she said her eyes pooling with unshed tears.
"Get it, but you will only wear it in the house," he responded. He knew he would lose this battle especially with her high hormonal levels. She was beyond excited to be carrying twins.
"Fine," she sulked crossing her arms over her chest.
"You are going to be the death of me," he sighed running a hand through his hair.

"Try this one," Megan said handing her another dress.
"Tell me why you two are also here?" Linc asked his mother and sister.
"We are shopping," her mother simply stated.
"We did tell you to go with the boys," Meg said.
"I guess he wanted to shop with the girls," his mother sniggered making Mel laugh out loud from the changing room.
"That's it I am leaving. Call me if you need anything," he ordered his sister.
"Yes, yes we will. Now leave us be," Rebecca said.
Linc spoke with their security first which consists of mostly females dressed casually.

"Is he gone," Mel whispered.
"Yes the coast is clear," Meg said.
"Finally," Mel sighed. "I thought he would never leave."
"Let's go ladies," Rebecca's said as they left the store heading to the mall.
"First of lunch, then real shopping," Meg said.
"Food, finally. Thank you," Mel said making everyone laugh.

Closing off a section of the restaurant in advance Rebecca allowed the security team to order their food even if it meant them taking shifts until they all had eaten. Mel paid more attention to her meal satisfying her hunger.
"Someone really is hungry. How you managed to combine those dishes and still keep the food down is amazing," Meg said.
"Trust me this is nothing," Mel said leaning back into her chair. "Besides I am eating for three now," she said with a grin.
"Are you going to be able to walk?" Rebecca asked with a smile.
"I don't think so," Mel said seriously before laughing at the priceless expressions on both ladies faces.

"Come on let's go, as much as I love my husband I am tired of his big shirts," Mel mumbled.
Clearing their path they headed to a maternity store, Meg recommended. Finding everything she needed from designer jeans with a stretchy waist, loose tops and dresses. Informing the sales lady to send their purchases to the villa they left the store leaving one of the guards to handle their package delivery.

Walking around the mall the security team suddenly came to a halt. Standing in a circle around the three ladies they stood ready for anything. A crowd of people came running heading towards them.
"We need to move quickly," their leader commanded guiding them away from the crown but they got separated along the way.
People were running and shoving each other to get out of the way. Mel was shoved towards the wall banging her head against a fire extinguisher before sliding into the ground falling unconscious. Rebecca fell down beside her, only for someone to step on her leg. Meg tripped on someone spraining her arm as she caught her fall. Looking up she could see their security fighting to get to them through the crowd.

-----

Lincoln's POV

As soon as Walter walked up to me, I knew something was wrong.
"Sire there was a stampede at the mall."
"Where are they?" I asked already knowing the answer to the question.
Cursing under my breath I called the others informing them what was going on. Running to the cars we sped off to the mall leaving the country club.

"Why was there a stampede?" I questioned Walter once we reached the mall.
"There were some armed robbers in the east wing, resulting in people running for their lives when shots were fired.
"Local police have just arrived on the scene and have begun extracting people from the building," Walter said.

"If anything happens to them, they will surely pay with their lives," Dominic cursed as we marched into the building. Zach had already been taken home by another car.

All around them they saw complete chaos, a little girl was crying out for her mother.
"This was sire," Walter said listening to his com.
"Help the others," I ordered my men.

Spotting Mel lying on the ground, Lincoln rushed towards them. Walter helped the security head up.
"Sir, forgive me. We could not do our job," she said humbly with her head bowed.
"It's okay. There was no way you could control this," I said looking over my mother and sister before lifting Mel into my arms.

-----

"Take us to the villa," Dominic ordered the drivers once they stepped out of the building.
Ethan and Charles helped Rebecca up as she hobbled refusing to be carried. Charles complained about her stubbornness as they headed towards the cars. Walter stayed behind to take care of his team.

"She will be asleep for a while," the doctor said wrapping a bandage around her head after cleaning the cut and blood out of her hair.
"Thank you," Linc said holding her hand.
"When she is awake call me. I will bring in the ultrasound machine," he said with a kind smile. "From my observations there is no need to worry, everyone is safe. I shall take my leave now, I must see if my colleges are done with their other patients."
Looking at Mel he kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

Just as he was about to knock on his sisters door he heard her arguing with Dominic as he begged her to get some rest.
"Dominic I do not need any rest. Now step out of my way!"
"Agapi mou, one hour is all I ask of you."
"I will rest once I see my mother and Mel, okay?" She said placing a hand on his cheek with a warm smile.
"Very well," Dominic sighed.

----

Linc knocked on the door before Meg yanked it open.
"How are you feeling?" He asked her worry visible in his features.
"I am alright brother, just have to wear a sling for a couple of weeks," she said patting his shoulder. "How is mother?"
"I was about to go check on her."
"Shall we," she said leading the way as Dominic following closely behind them.

"She will test your patience brother, I must warn you," Linc whispered to Dominic with a smirk.
"Yes, I can see that," he said with a chuckle earning a glare from Meg before she knocked on her parents' door.
"Finally, please get me out of here," Rebecca cried out as her husband gave her a look of warning.

"You are not leaving that bed, you sprained your leg and the doctor said you should stay put," he said angrily.
"But I want to go see my children. Are you going to deny me even that one request," she said close to tears.
"I am sorry sweetheart but that's not going to work especially today," Charles mumbled.
"You are just so infuriatingly stubborn. Why did I ever get married to you!"
"You married me because you could never resist my charms or my..."
"Dad!" Linc yelled before his father said anything that would make them deaf.
"What? I was going to say manners," he said innocently.

"Mother Mel is alright. You'll get to see her tomorrow when she is awake.
"Thank you Linc. At least my son will let me see her," she said throwing a glare at her husband.
Charles left the room muttering something under his breath. Linc went to get Zach taking him up to their room. Watching over him whilst he made a few calls on the balcony, he discovered that three members of the security team had been seriously injured and were getting medical attention.

Walking back into the room he found Mel awake speaking to Zach.
"When are we going home mommy?"
"Soon baby. Very soon," she said softly stroking his head.
Lincoln remained silent not wanting to interrupt mother and child.
"Hmmm someone needs a haircut," she said gently.

"Daddy said we would go get our hair cut together," he said with a toothy smile.
"Don't you want to go with mommy?" She asked pretending to be hurt.
"You can come too mommy," he answered.
"Where is daddy?"
"He is over there," he said pointing towards Linc.
Mel turned her head slowly looking in the direction her son had pointed out.

"We should stop meeting like this," he said walking over to them.
"I must agree," she chuckled. "How are the others?"
"They are all fine just waiting for you to wake up.
Throwing off the covers she blushed noticing she was only in his shirt.

"Zach go look for Uncle Ethan," Linc said making the boy run out of the room in search of his uncle.
Helping her slip on a pair of track bottoms she stood up with his help.
"You should just stay in bed love," he murmured.
"I don't want to," she said in a tone that clearly warned him to back off.
Entering the living room they found everyone talking animatedly with Ethan being the loudest as usual.

"Seriously if anyone asks you what happened just tell them you beat up a guy who pissed you off."
"Ethan don't you ever get tired of talking. There has never been a day I have seen your mouth shut," Mel said settling into a sofa.
"I thought the knock on your head would make you leave their side and support me," he said with a cheeky smile.
"Never," she said with a devious smile making Ethan roll his eyes.
The next hour was spent with them bantering enjoying each other's company. The physician from before arrived with the ultrasound machine.

Going to their room Mel lied down on the bed before the doctor lifted up her shirt exposing her belly. Applying the gel on her belly she shivered as it was cold. Turning on the screen the doctor smiled picking up the heart beats. Turning up the volume for everyone else to hear clearly.
"They have very strong heartbeats and are doing just fine."
Looking at Linc she found him looking at her with a smile filled with love and adoration.

"Would you like to know their gender?"
Looking at Lincoln she silently asked him.
"It's all up to you love," he said.
She nodded her head yes.
"You are having...."