Written and edited by Mahima Rathod

(Half of this episode was already posted, so if you read chapter four from beginning, you might assume that you have already read the episode, but there is new content next in the other half.)

Lead Characters-

Tristan Flemington, Marissa Flemington, Landon Stanford

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Two heart-bonded friends, a super mom and two extremely cute babies

It was Monday again, the day when people whined to let go of the relaxing weekend, and also start counting the remaining days for the next weekend. The same was for Tristan and Marissa.

Tristan Flemington and his wife Marissa Flemington, were already up at six in the morning, for different reasons. Tristan was supposed to visit a magazine company which was two towns over and takes three-hour drive to reach. Marissa woke up earlier because one of their twin daughter, Amber, started wailing loud enough to wake up entire building. Although Pearl, the second twin daughter, didn't start crying like her sister, she was awake and trying to get to her sister through their crib's bars. Their cribs were placed adjacently along the purple and white walls of their bedrooms which made reaching for her sister easy for Amber.

By the time Marissa fed the babies and put them back to sleep so that they won't wake up until ten, Tristan got himself ready to leave. He had already said byes to his daughters while their mother was feeding them, since he knew they would be asleep when he would leave.

Tristan was stood near the door just as he put his duffle bag on floor and typed the message to his friend if he was ready to leave. He heard Marissa's footsteps when he pressed the send button, and he looked up to see her walking towards him, clearly exhausted. That is what happened every day. Every day, the twins would wake up at six, sometimes at five, and Marissa has to leave her non-existent peaceful slumber and feed them. She has been doing this for almost a year now, and it had successfully disrupted her sleep for rest of her life, and also Tristan's. When the twins were born, Tristan and Marissa had decided that they would look after them alternate days, but slowly the work began increasing and Marissa felt bad every time Tristan had to wake up in spite of being exhausted. So, she decided that she would do her work from home, while Tristan could carry on his work until late night.

Tristan pocketed his phone and hugged Marissa back when she slumped/hugged him.

"Girls asleep?", Tristan whispered while his head rested against Marissa's.

"Yes", Marissa nodded and broke away from hug. "Where is Landon? He was supposed to be here already, ten minutes ago", Marissa said and walked around the couch for pouring herself water.

"He is arriving in two. And when has he ever come on time babe. That man wouldn't reach on time even on own funeral", Tristan said with annoyed tone. It merely made Marissa chuckle, it was so obvious that Tristan never like his friend's habit of arriving late or 'Fashionably late', as Landon called it. She put her glass of water down and sat on the couch, folding her legs under herself.

"Don't bother. Anyways, have you taken your laptop, and charger?", Marissa asked and he nodded while making himself comfortable on the couch beside her.

"And did you confirm the address? Didn't they tell you that a person would be receiving you at the end of our town, what about that person?", Marissa asked again.

Tristan nodded and said, "I confirmed it last night, and I don't know about any person from their side, maybe Landon has talked to them about it."

"Okay", Marissa nodded and rested her head on Tristan's arm that was extended behind her on the head of the couch, "But be careful".

Tristan smiled and kissed her forehead just before the bell rang.

"Finally!", Tristan exasperated dramatically and got up from the couch to open the door.

Hastily he opened the door and was greeted with the figure of his friend just as he had expected. Landon was standing outside the door, one hand in his hairs and one hand holding a large bouquet.

Tristan groaned, but opened the door, before calling out to Marissa, "Baby, Landon is here, with your hundred and thirteenth bouquet".

Landon ignored his friend's sarcastic remark and muttered, "Shut up Grumpy," before entering into the house. Marissa walked halfway and met him in the hug, since he was already walking with his arms wide open.

Marissa laughed as Landon hugged her tighter, and said, "God, I missed you so much, darling".

He let go of Marissa, but not before kissing her cheeks, and handed her the bouquet saying aloud, "and... here is your hundred and thirteenth bouquet my lady".

"Why, thank you my lord," Marissa said imitating the fake accent.

"Okay okay, enough now. We have to leave, Landon. NOW," Tristan's irritated voice reached Landon and he rolled his eyes before turning to him.

"Chill dude, no need to get jealous. You know I am not into your wife, or her gender overall," Landon said before taking out his phone. As soon as he opened the screen, he shouted, "HOLY COW! Tris we are late. come on, we need to leave NOW."

Landon Rushed out of the house suddenly, which made Tristan and Marissa stare at the empty space and the doorway, with their mouth open. Tristan suddenly shook his head and looked at Marissa, "Okay. I think...I should go, yeah?"

Marissa nodded her head, still staring at the door way, "Okay, you do that". She looked at him when her mind actually processed what he said, "Oh, yeah, come on."

Tristan and Marissa walked to the door hastily, they had a feeling that Landon would come back if Tristan delayed the departure a second longer, on his part, obviously.

"Take care, Babe, and tell the girls I'll be back with some amazing gifts," Tristan said picking up his bag from the side of door. Just as he was about to exit the door, he turned around and placed his lips on his wife's.

Marissa was taken by surprise, when she felt the familiar warmth, but she quickly reciprocated the gesture.

Tristan pulled back hastily and exited the door. Marissa leaned out of the door and shouted, "Take care hon, Love you!!".

Tristan was just rounding of the hallway of building to climb down the stairs when she heard him shouting, "Love you too".

Marissa chuckled and locked the door. Now, Tristan had left, the twins were asleep, and she had no other work today, which meant that she had enough time to sleep. Marissa smiled to herself and yawned while walking towards her bedroom, but her relieved happiness didn't last any longer.

One of the twins started crying, it was Amber again, she realised. This happened sometimes, they would go to sleep and then wake up immediately after, Marissa then has to double her efforts to make them sleep. An almost frustrated groan escaped her mouth as she waddled her way to her daughters' bedroom.

'There goes my beauty sleep...', she thought in her mind, and as if on cue, Amber started wailing louder, and Marissa rushed forward to quiet her before Pearl would wake up, "hey, hey baby... you still hungry? No? come here, come here," Marissa picked her up and walked out of the room swaying crying Amber.

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"Yes, we are on our way...three hours probably, depending on the traffic...don't worry mister Bell, we will be there on time... yeah, see ya' later", Tristan ended the phone call and rested his head back on his seat, with his eyes closed.

"Trust me Lan, the minute this interview is done with, I am going to ring that mister Bell so hard that he would fear introducing himself as mister Bell," Tristan said with his eyes still closed, making Landon chortle, "Seriously. This man has no mind of what the time it is. It is seven in the morning, and we don't have to be there until 12. We are going to be there two hours early, still this Bell wouldn't leave us in peace. Bl**dy old man," Tristan grumbled and put his mobile phone back in his shirt pocket.

Landon eased the car into the right direction and replied, "I will help you, but, it would be good if we do the 'ringing' part after the interview is published. You know...", he glanced at Tristan who had closed his eyes once again, "we wouldn't want to create issues with the interviewer even before it gets published."

Tristan nodded and his eyes followed the scenery outside, "You are right. This is the first bigger opportunity we have got. I just hope this Interview gets successful".

Landon managed to morph a smile, "It will be hit, brother, I tell you. It's 'The Landon Stanford's' prediction", he said exasperating the last statement. Although he was trying to make the situation lighter, only he knew how nervous he was. This was going to be the first time he would be exposed to the questions directly. Although he was ready, but no one could predict what was going to be the reaction of audience, and that's what he was worried about most, how would people react.

The ride eventually got silent as Tristan fell asleep. Reason? Obviously, he was father of two children. Daughters, to be specific. Landon grunted annoyingly, when Tristan refused to reply to Landon's illogical questions, and put on music to fill the silence in air.

Silence, Landon chuckled sarcastically to himself, the one thing or the only thing he hated, was silence. Not that anyone would understand.

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"Thank you very much mister Flemington, mister Stanford. We appreciate your time and we believe that your company would be greater success than it is now. We wish you all the best for your future assignments," mister Bell said – fake – excitedly, and nodded at the directors and co-workers to end the interview.

Tristan smiled, not truly hiding the expression of sarcasm behind it, while Landon just nodded absent-mindedly. The interview prolonged for almost three hours including the formalities and rehearsals etc. The interview was for a well-known magazine, that encouraged and promoted the young entrepreneurs.

Tristan and Landon, when fresh out of the college with a degree in business management, wanted to do a business instead of job. With help of their friends and families(Tristan's, actually), they managed to open up a small-scale clothing line. They worked strategically and hard for almost two years before they got settled into the business and decided to make it large scale. Now five years on the line of large scale, their business was still growing.

Their story of success was inspiring enough to be published by the magazine, and they were really happy that their work was being appreciated.

"Hey Tris, you want to come with me to some other restaurant?", Landon said as they were making their way to the allotted room, "I swear I smelled Fish here", he said sat on the chair, waving his hand in front of his nose to clear any remaining smell of Fish.

"Why- oh, I forgot you have allergy of sea-food", Tristan replied as he zipped his bag, "Okay, let's go. I don't want to eat fish as well. 'm craving for some meat and fats...".

"Yeah, whatever you like. Could you please bring my bag out, I'll talk to the editor, and meet you outside. He said he wants to talk before we leave," Landon said making his way out of the room already.

Tristan shook his head, but took the bags out of the room, towards the parking lot. While he stood by the car, he realised he forgot to take the car keys from Landon, so he put all the bags on the ground and leaned against the back of the car.

Until Landon arrived, he decided to call Marissa. He told her how the interview went and also that they would be back home before sunset. Then Pearl and Amber talked to daddy Tristan in their baby voice, and just like that Tristan's bad mood lifted up. Marissa reminded him to bring some gifts for them, in case he had forgotten, but he hadn't. He was going to buy presents after the lunch, and that reminded him that Landon hadn't returned yet. It was almost fifteen minutes now.

As soon as he cut the call, Landon arrived, and the look on his face worried Tristan. Tristan frowned and asked his friend, "hey, are you okay? why do you have that face on?".

Landon frowned further, while he opened the car doors, and asked, "What face are you talking about?".

Tristan sat in the passenger seat, followed by Landon, and replied, "Like 'i-am-having-a-bad-day-stay-away-from-me-or-I'll-punch-you' face. What did the editor say?"

Landon rubbed his face with his palms twice before replying, "He said he wants one of us to be the face of this interview," Landon looked at Tristan worrying about his reaction, but Tristan only seemed confused. Landon sighed and said, "He wants only one of us to be the face of our company. You understand?! Only one of us!" Landon's voice grew an octave higher as the conversation with the editor reeled in his mind.

Tristan seemed to realise finally what Landon was trying to say and asked, "So, what's the problem? You know we already had this conversation before Lan –"

"- and I didn't agree," Landon butted in.

" – but still what's the problem? I don't understand. You know I don't want to put my face on the poster, and even if you didn't agree before, it wouldn't be bad if you put your face to the company for the magazine's sake. You know it won't mean that the company belongs to you only, it will still belong to us both," Tristan replied trying to make Landon understand his point calmly.

Landon scoffed and shook his head, "The editor said he wanted my face on the magazine only because I am a gay," Landon said and the heat in the air stilled, and silence fell upon them for a moment.

"What?", Tristan asked while anger rose slowly within his eyes.

"Yes," Landon said and glanced at him before staring straight ahead into nothing, "He said that my interview would be successful only because of the revelation to the people that I am a gay. And the magazine would receive a good response if my face is put on the magazine interview," Landon shook his head as a frowned smile settled on his face, his fingers clenching and unclenching on the steering wheel, "he said that I should introduce the company by my name, since it will excite people more that the owner of the company turned out to be a gay," Landon huffed while starting the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

Tristan didn't know what to say for quite a while, when he formed the words in his mind he said, "Landon, I think it would be better if it is your face in the poster".

Landon's face morphed into the confusion and after a moment, disbelief entered his chest. He almost lost the control over the steering wheel, so, he stopped the car on the side.

"You seriously didn't just say that, Tristan. I can't believe you right now," Landon huffed in disbelief, and rubbed his face with his palms, "you want me to put my picture on the company's face because I am a gay?! All those hard work I put into our company doesn't matter to you more? My picture should be put only because I finally came out of the closet?".

"No, no, don't get me wrong, Lan, see, listen to me...", Tristan said turning around to face Landon and getting his attention, "Don't think it like that. I don't agree with their reasons, but I think it would do you good."

Landon's face was becoming more and more visible with hurt, so Tristan hurried to explain, "I don't want you to put your picture because you are a gay, or people will be more curious about you since you haven't still made it public. I am saying this because I think it will show people that you have no problem accepting yourself publicly. And you already wanted to come out in this interview, didn't you?", Landon nodded when Tristan paused for his answer, "So, look at it this way, the magazine uses your picture as an ambassador for our company, and it will give an impression that you are accepting this part of you not because you have to, because you are willing to. It will show you in a positive way in public...are you understanding?", Tristan asked taking in Landon's confused yet calm expression.

Landon blinked and stared and then blinked twice and then frowned, "I have no idea what you just said right now, except for the accepting myself part. But, you are right. I can actually see it in a different light now," Landon glanced away from Tristan, stared off in space and then nodded, and looked at Tristan, "you are a genius, Tris. You actually managed to put that thought in my head".

Tristan sighed in relief that his friend didn't take his words in wrong way, "Thank god!", he muttered, "It would still be your decision, but I really think you should allow them to put your face to company. I have a feeling that it would make the company and you, both look good. And we do need a good-looking face."

Landon narrowed his eyes playfully but then chuckled and started the car.

"Okay, I'll think about it for some more and then call the editor," Landon said joining the traffic.

Tristan let out an 'Okay', and turned away to look out of the window, silently letting a sigh. It could have gone bad, he thought. Good, that his friend trusted him enough to see things in different point of view. He wanted to be the last person to hurt Landon's feelings about his sexuality. He knew, from the time of college, Landon had difficulty in facing people pointing him out and teasing him, so mostly, he kept to himself. Only his inner circle of friends knew about him being a gay which constantly circulated as rumours for past few years. And being a public figure now, wasn't helping him. Landon was several times asked on social media to confirm or deny the rumours, but he never interacted with people on that matter. Mostly he couldn't bring himself to reveal his preferences to public because of his family, and Tristan knew how his family would react once they would know of Landon confirming publicly that he's a gay.

Landon asked him suddenly, "Have you talked with Joel or Brandon? I haven't heard from them since they left from India."

"Marissa told me that, Olivia told her, that they both were back two day ago. And she also told me that Brandon and Olivia had a fight again," Tristan said inclining his head over his arm on window.

Landon shook his head in displeasure, "I am really tired of listening Olivia's tantrums. When is she going to grow up?! If she keeps on instigation Brandon more, one of the relation is going to get damaged."

Tristan nodded, "You should talk to her".

"I don't know man....I can only try, I guess," Landon grunted annoyingly, his mind was already reeling all the tantrums and over-dramatics Olivia would display once he would try to talk to her.

"Finally!", Landon pulled the car slowly to the side when he spotted restaurant. "You go ahead, I'll just park the car," he said to Tristan who was gawking at the restaurant which looked more like a five-star hotel.

"Oh! I didn't know you were paying for food!", Tristan cheered sarcastically.

Before Landon could say anything, he got out of the car.

Once Landon returned where Tristan was sat, Tristan's one statement suppressed his appetite.

"Oh, and by the way, we have some shopping to do for twins after this."

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Marissa was just finishing up a new outfit design on her Laptop when Pearl started crying loudly. She looked at the clock and realized it was five in the evening and she had been sitting on the couch for hours, and it was already time twins woke up. She hurriedly saved her new design before closing her laptop and walked into the kitchen to get two bottles of milk.

The twins, now almost of age one, had a habit of drinking milk first and then having little solid food. So, she always gave them bottle of milk and then readied the food.

"Just a moment baby!! Mommy is coming...", Marissa shouted from Kitchen as she made her way out.

By the time she entered the twins room, both Pearl and Amber were crying. She frowned as soon as she stepped inside their room. Normally when they cried, Amber would be the one who's cry would be louder, but right now Pearl was the one who was crying, not as if she was hungry, as if she was hurt. Marissa's heart started beating faster, she put the bottles down and cooed her elder twin daughter while picking her up.

"Oh my God! Baby girl you are burning!", Marissa exclaimed as Pearl's body felt hot against hers.

Little Pearl was still crying as she clutched her mother's neck and rested her head on her shoulder.

"O-oh my god. Baby girl, it's going to be okay...", Marissa began swaying her lightly so that she would stop crying. She tried to feed her milk, but all she did was cried louder and pushed the bottle away.

She quickly checked Amber's forehead and neck, and she was relieved lightly since she didn't have any fever. With Pearl still in her arms, she put the milk bottle to Amber's hand and made her drink the milk. As Amber began feeding, she shakily stood there, swaying Pearl lightly, thinking what she should do now.

At the times like this she always hated to be alone. She couldn't think clearly for her life when she would get panicked. Right now, she was panicking really hard, to the extent that she had to sit down to prevent herself and Pearl from falling.

Suddenly, she put Pearl into her crib and ran out in living room to snatch her mobile phone. As she walked back to twins' room, she dialled Tristan's number.

"Hey babe!", Tristan answered, "we just entered the town. Only few more minutes and then I will be home. How are my girls doing? Are they awake?", Tristan asked, with tired voice.

"Tristan, Listen, I-I don't know what to do, I-I am panicking-", her voice was cut by Tristan's alarmed one.

"Mary, are you okay? What happened, tell me. And first calm down, okay...breathe", Tristan said hastily. Marissa pulled Pearl back into her arms and put the phone back on her ear.

She inhaled sharply as she tried to stop her lips from quivering.

"Pearl, she is burning up. Her body temperature is very high," Marissa said as her voice cracked and tears formed in her eyes, "I-I am going to take her to the doctor."

Tristan frantic voice came from other side, "Oh my god! Is she okay? Like are there any other signs, like vomiting or something?"

"No, she is crying louder", it seemed that Pearl heard her father through the phone and she started calling out to him in her baby voice, "Nothing else other than fever-It's okay baby girl, you wanna talk to daddy? Here," Marissa put the phone on speaker and Tristan cooed her through phone telling her to stop crying and that what gifts he was bringing home.

Marissa sat beside Amber's crib as she started to call out to her father too. "Does Amber have fever too?", Tristan asked.

"No", Marissa said with her now clear voice, "she's okay". Pearl had stopped crying, yet a teary pout had settled on her face.

"Okay, Listen Mary, Landon is calling Olivia and Brandon, they will meet you at the doctor's. Can you take the girls to Doctor's by yourself? They can pick you all up, if you want," Tristan said.

Marissa thought for a moment, "it's okay, I'll meet them there, it would be opposite way for them to pick me up. How much time until you reach here?", Marissa asked and stood up.

Marissa heard Tristan asking Landon the same, and then he answered, "Landon says we can make there in twenty."

"Okay. I'll call you later, I have to leave now," Marissa said hastily and ended the call once Tristan agreed.

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Pearl was inside the check-up room with a doctor and a nurse for almost twenty minutes now. Tristan and Marissa, both stood to the side inside the room and watched from the glass screen, letting doctor do his work. It was a children's special hospital, so the doctors and nurses were child specialist. The nurse kept distracting Pearl while the doctor checked her. Amber was with Brandon, Olivia and Landon, who were waiting in waiting room.

If anyone else who worried about the twins next to their parents would be Landon. The twins were like his own daughters, and he was very protective of them, maybe more than Tristan. When Marissa told Tristan about Pearl's fever, the worry inside him made them practically fly to the hospital, he drove the car in so much speed. They reached in fifteen minutes, which was supposed to be no less than twenty.

When they arrived, Brandon and Olivia were already there with Amber sitting on Olivia's Lap and playing with her golden chain. They told them that Pearl was already inside with Marissa, so Tristan joined them while Landon took Amber in his arms.

Nurse brought Pearl outside and handed her to Marissa. Pearl immediately went into Tristan's arms, and laid her head on his shoulder. Apparently, twins liked daddy's broad shoulder to sleep instead of Marissa's small one.

They all followed the doctor and sat down in front of the table.

Tristan couldn't hold himself back and asked impatiently, "Is she alright?". He adjusted Pearl so that she was sitting on his lap and leaning against him.

"She is alright, Mister Flemington. She's a year old, right?", Doctor asked.

They both nodded, "one and half month for one year", Marissa said.

Doctor nodded, "Okay," he said and started writing prescriptions, "She may have got fever because of weather change, it's warmer today than usual. And her immune system is not strong enough, to prevent these mild fevers, so, I am prescribing some medicines for that. And for fever - " he took the syrup bottle from nurse standing beside him " – two spoons two times a day. Although she is going to be fine, but if the fever increases than bring her here again, we will need to give her an injection."

"But does that mean her Twin sister's immune system is also weak?", Marissa asked doctor as he handed the bottle to them.

"Are they both identical twins?", Doctor asked to which they denied, so he said, "Then the possibility is lesser, I am not saying no possibility. You should get their blood checked as soon as they turn year old."

Couple minutes later, Tristan carried Pearl outside, little girl was almost asleep on his shoulder. Marissa asked him if she should carry her while he did the payments, but he denied. He didn't want to let go of his daughter. He felt assurance about her being okay as much as little girl felt safe in her daddy's embrace.

While Tristan did the payments, Marissa and others walked out of the hospital. Amber had crawled back in her mother's arms, while Marissa told everyone what doctor had told them. Tristan returned and they all said their 'goodbyes' and 'take-cares', before leaving.

"Will you both be okay? I can come to your house if you want", Landon asked as they walked to their cars.

Marissa shook her head, "No, it's okay, Lan. I think she going to be good by tomorrow. And you must be exhausted from the travelling too. Get some rest, okay?", Landon nodded, not wanting to invade their family's privacy further. He hugged Marissa, and Amber, and kissed their heads, before hugging Tristan and kissing pouty Pearl's forehead. He cooed her to become well soon, and after so much time, she finally laughed.

They reached home, Tristan carrying his bag and baby Amber, while Marissa, carried Pearl in her hands. Pearl threw a major tantrum when they tried to put them in the stroller, so they had to carry both girls up to their flat apartment.

By the time they completed all their routine, and went for the bed, Pearl's fever had lessened and she went to sleep soundly.

Exhausted, Tristan and Marissa checked her temperature one last time while she was still asleep. They kissed the girls and then retired for the night.

Marissa put three alarms, each ninety minutes of intervals, so that she could check on her temperature. As they lay on the bed, waiting for their adrenaline to calm down and sleep to come, Marissa turned to her husband and said, "I was so scared today".

Tristan turned and looked at her with tired eyes. Marissa continued, "I panicked, Tristan. Good it was just a fever, harmless. What if next time something...more happens and I panic. I-I can't jus-", Marissa was cut off by Tristan hushing her.

"Baby, you did good. You did bring the girls to hospital yourself, didn't you?", Marissa nodded. Only she knew how she managed to put the girls safely into the car and drove all the way with her shaky hands and erratically beating heart. "I know you got panicked, even I did when you told me, heck even Landon managed to swerve madly. Okay, don't worry about it. I know how strong you could be when you want to. And you did today."

Marissa smiled lightly before kissing him on his lips. It was supposed to be a soft light kiss, but Tristan's hand held her closer and kissed her deeply. Marissa could feel the relief he felt through the kiss, as if he was finally able to let go of the worry and fear he was feeling before.

They leaned back and whispered each other a good night, and then chuckled at the thought of waking up after hour and half. 

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