A week later

I'm awoken abruptly to two sprightly little ladies jumping on top of my stomach. "What are you little monsters doing?" I laugh, sitting up. 

Ashlen hands me a bouquet of tiger lilies, "These is fum Bwake! He bot tem tis morning." 

He's been getting me all sorts of little gifts lately, flowers, chocolate, stuffed animals, you name it. 

"What time is it?" I ask, stretching out my arms. 

"Noon. You seep a wot." Ash responds, still spinning in a circle. I sigh, rubbing my temple with two fingers, "You should've woken me up hours ago!" 

"Mommy says you gotta make wunch." She adds, walking out of the room. 

I go downstairs, set the flowers in a vase with water, and set it on the kitchen island, as decoration. "Natalie! There you are!" Mom exclaims, bouncing a crying Carter in her arms. 

"Need help?" I inquire, rubbing his cheek. Whenever I touch him, he calms down a little. 

She sighs, "I really need you to make lunch for everyone, I've got to go feed Mr. Fussypants. Your father is at work, so you're all I have right now." 

I nod, moving away from Carter, "That's alright, I'll just make some mac and cheese and hot dogs, the girls love it, and it's easy enough." 

She let's out a breath, "Thank you so much darling, I'll be back down as soon as I can." Mom head's to Carter's room as I grab a saucepan and a pot for the meal. Being too lazy to wait for the tap water, I just hold my hands over both pots and fill them with water. These abilities are becoming more of a help than a nuisance. 

"Who wants to help cook?" I call to the girls as they chase one another. 

They both parade over to the kitchen, and Ash speaks up, "I wanna put hot dog in!" Eliza spins her hand around, which most likely means she wants to mix up the mac and cheese. 

"Alright, Ash, come here. I'll hand you the hot dog, and you can put it in the water." I explain, grabbing the pack from the fridge. 

"Otay Nat." She takes them carefully, setting each in the water with extreme precision. Too bad she can't be this good at not running into walls. 

Once we finish getting them in the water, the pasta water has started to boil. After tossing the noodles in, I turn to the girls, "Alright, while the pasta boils, how about you watch some cartoons?" 

The two race to the living area, and I switch it to some old cartoons. While they are occupied, I stir the noodles once more, and run upstairs to change out of my pajamas. Hoping I can keep today a lazy day, I just throw on some spandex shorts and a black tank top, a Dauntless outfit, if you think about it that way. 

When I'm back downstairs, there is only a minute left on the noodles, and the hot dogs are done. I turn down the heat, and cover the sauce pan. Then, in the last minute, pull out a strainer and place it in the sink. In a few minutes, Ellie and I get the mac and cheese all finished in the bowl, and I cut up their hot dogs. 

"Can you go get Mommy and Carter?" I ask, dividing the food onto plates. 

She nods, her tiny pattering footsteps following her up the stairs. They all gather around the living room, wanting to keep the cartoons on. I serve all of their plates, the girls eating on the coffee table, and Mom with a TV tray on the couch, and Carter in one arm. 

"I'll take him Mom, he's tired anyways." I insist, leaning down to my little brother. 

She sighs, "Fine, be careful." 

I hold him in one arm, against my shoulder, and make sure to support his neck. "See, I know how to hold a baby Mom." 

She rolls her eyes, "Don't be a smart ass Nat." 

I laugh, walking back to the kitchen to get everyone's drinks. With some careful balance, I'm able to pour and serve the girls milk, and Mom and I some sweet tea. By now, they careful rhythm of me moving has lulled Carter to sleep, so I set him in his swing to nap. 

Finally, I'm able to grab my own food. We always make homemade mac and cheese, Mom's recipe, and it's always ten times better than the stuff they serve you in the Dauntless cafeteria. "It's perfect Natalie, I guess you got my knack for cooking." Mom compliments, picking up a cheesy forkful.

"Thanks, but it's all from you." I laugh, taking a bite. She flashes a warm smile before going back to eating. 

"When Daddy home?" Ash asks, after a few minutes of just cartoons and eating. 

"At four, you know that baby." Mom answers her curious little girl. 

There's a light whimper from Carter's swing, and I turn to see him with glossy eyes and a quivering lip. "It's alright little one!" I coo, immediately going to see what's wrong. 

"He probably needs to burp, he didn't much after I fed him." Mom informs me, while handing me a burp cloth. I nod, "Alright, I'll just help him a little." Carter is lain facing the burp cloth on my shoulder, and I lightly pat his back. He let's out a massive burp after only a few pats, which makes all of us laugh. 

I pull him down and rock him gently, as he smiles back with a toothless grin. He goes to pull my hair, and I push it away, "No, no." Immediately, Carter starts wailing. Mom steps in, holding him close out of motherly love, "I've got it." 

I thank her profusely, and sit back down to finish eating. Once all of us are done, I rinse of the dishes and set them in the sink to wash this evening. "Girls, did you like your lunch?" I laugh, looking at the cheese covered twins. Eliza throws her hands in the air, "Yum!" 

Again, I smile wide, "Great job Ellie! You said another word!" She hums and jumps. 

"Let's go get a bath, go grab some clothes!" I order, shooing the two of to their room. While they gather outfits, I run some lukewarm water with a little bit of bubbles, and a few tiny toys. 

"Come on girls, hurry up!" My voice echoes through the hall. Seconds later, the two come bounding in with matching outfits, black leggings, white t-shirts, and sparkling pink baby biker jackets. That outfit screams, 'Aunt Christina picked this out!' 

"Alright, it's time to get in." I instruct. 

"Yay bubbles!" Ashlen giggles, taking off her cheese covered shirt. 

They get in together, immediately playing with the light up ball. "I like bubbles!" Ashlen squeals, blowing some from her hand. Eliza nods in response, smiling at a handful. 

"I know you silly girl," I laugh, while grabbing their shampoo, "Who's hair is first?" 

Eliza scoots over to me, waving her hands in the air. I squirt a little bit into my hand, and rub it into her head. She giggles and pats the bubbles. "Is that fun?" I laugh, grabbing a cup to rinse her hair. 

She almost laughs, but it comes out more like a strained noise. She is trying, but Mom said her head injury makes the process slow. After an insane amount of splashing bubbles, and Ashlen being unbearably stubborn, they are finally clean. 

"Help me!" Ashlen tries to climb out of the tub. 

I laugh, "You need your stool sweetie!" I help them both get out, and then help dry off. 

The twins try to get dressed by themselves, but I still help with pulling their arms and legs through. "Do you want pigtails or ponytails?" I ask both. 

Eliza motions for piggies, and Ashlen requests a ponytail. I grab some little scrunchies, and brush out their fiery red hair, putting it up. I drain the tub, and clean up the wet mess as the twins run downstairs to play. 

When I am finally back down, a loud sob rings out from Dad's office. "Mom?" I shout, looking around. 

There's no response but another cry. 

"Mom!" I scream, running into the office. 

She is sitting in Dad's chair, with a sleeping Carter in her arms and tears streaming down her cheeks. 

"What's wrong?" I ask, hugging her. 

"T-Tobias h-he-" 

"What about Dad?" I ask, beginning to worry. 

"He got a p-promotion and fifty-thousand d-dollar raise!" She announces, smiling. 

"Seriously!" I exclaim, throwing my arms up. 

That's one way to scare the shit out of your daughter. 

Did I scare anyone? No? Okay, I'll go sit in a corner and think about my life choices.