Ugh Monday. The start of another week. But we're starting it with Positive 2, so I guess that makes it a little better.

Anyway, big shout out to my commenters last chapter. I know a lot of you were upset... Yeah. That's all I have to say. Maybe the rest of the book will make up for it.

Thank you to:

@FredWeasleyswife1999 @jueka1 @themckenziefrenzy

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Life moved on and Lily entered her final trimester. We saw each other once a week. Either for an appointment or just to keep in touch and discuss baby matters. We always met somewhere publicly though, whether that be at the beach or in a cafe. Long gone were the times where Lily and I would be alone together.

The first moment when we'd lock eyes, after everything we had been through, would resonate a shuddering pain in my chest—a similar one seeming to echo in her grey stare. But one of us would break it with a smile, and the pain would be gone.

Because at the end of the day, we still were in each other's lives.

And at the end of the day, we'd have two humans coming into this world who would fill that void that came with not having each other as family anymore.

"How do you do it?" Jess asked as we clocked out at the same time.

"Do what?" I replied.

"Stay friends? Be peaceful with her... Every time I had a falling out with an ex, I wanted to punch them."

Smirking, I said, "She's the mother of my daughters. I can't hate her."

Pausing, bag in hand, she said, "It takes a big person to be able to look past it all. I really admire you, Cory."

As she placed a hand on my shoulder as she passed by me, an unfamiliar thump thudded in my chest, quickly followed by a churn in my stomach.

"Jess?" I called after her.

"Yeah?" she replied, pausing in the doorway.

As our eyes met, she was in the midst of yanking the hair-tie from her copper hair, the locks cascading down her back as gravity pulled them down. I had never been able to look at her properly like this before, but somehow, with the weight of my relationship with Lily removed from my chest, I felt a long-forgotten stir within me. A crush forming under the surface.

I liked her.

It wasn't as strong as Lily. And she didn't stir the same emotions as Lily had. Instead it felt safer... warmer.

But then another thought stirred within me. Was it right to move on so quickly? Was it right to even approach her, considering I'm her boss? And was it right to ask any woman for their time when they'd be dating a guy who already has kids.

Jess didn't want kids yet. She was very clear about that.

So as her innocent eyes continued to blink at me and she cocked her head to the side while a smile graced her face, she said, "Cory?"

"Nothing," I replied. "Have a good evening."

Laughing, she shook her head, turning to leave as she called over her shoulder, "You too."

"No, no, no," Jojo exclaimed. "Part eighty-four B gets four of the small lug nuts, not five of the big lug nuts." She got to her feet, taking the pieces from my hand while replacing it with the instructions. "See?"

"They're all the same!" I half shouted in frustration.

"No. One is small and one is big. Duh."

"Well you could help instead of just reading instructions at me."

"We both know I'd get hurt."

I groaned and collapsed to the ground.

"Maybe they can sleep in the drawer," Jojo offered, placing a hand on my back.

"They cannot sleep in a drawer."

"Shall I call for reinforcements?"

"Who do you know that can assemble a crib?"

But a wicked grin spread across her face.

"Cory, meet Ria and Zara. Ria, Zar-zu, meet my doofus brother, Cory," Jojo said when the two girls rocked up at our house.

Grimacing at my sister, I said, "How are three teenage girls going to help me with my furniture building problem?"

But then Ria placed a hand on my shoulder. "Leave the hard work to the real men, Cory." Hooking her arms around Jojo and Zara, Ria led the girls into the nursery. Shaking my head, I decided to make myself some lunch before attempting to build the cribs again. Because no way would they be able to figure it out while I couldn't.

Though after I ate my lunch, I ate my words. Standing in the doorway, my jaw fell down in shock as Zara and Ria lifted the second built cot into position against the wall.

"This where you want them?" Zara asked.

"Um... sure?" I replied. I was only gone half an hour... how had they...

"Good work girls," Jojo exclaimed, getting up from the rocking chair. "We will leave you to it now, brother."

"Hold up!" I said. "Jojo, did you do anything?"

"I supervised. That's good enough."

"So it was just Ria and Zara?"

The two girls in question nodded at me, tilting their heads to the side in unison, as if to ask where this was going.

"Have you eaten?" I then asked.

Looking at each other first, they then looked back to me and shook their heads.

"Let me repay you then. Because you made my life so much easier."

"Are we going to Maccas?" Jojo gasped.

Narrowing my eyes at her, I said, "I don't know if you deserve anything since your friends did all the hard work."

"I watched them. And I found them."

But then the girls were rolling their eyes at her too.

"Come on. Let's get you three some food," I said to Jojo's delight.

Ten weeks remained until she was full term. Ten weeks most until I'd meet them. A variety of emotions swirled within me as I headed to the ultrasound appointment.

On the one hand, it was hard to feel any form of connection to them. All they were at this point were pictures on a screen. I didn't feel them. I wasn't with Lily when they kicked her. I didn't know the noises they responded to. I didn't feel them in me...

But the nursery was set up at home. The names were picked. The deadline was looming. That all felt very real.

As I walked down the hallway of the hospital towards the maternity ward, I came to a stop. Eyes landing on him sitting in the waiting room.

His wary gaze met mine, then all at once he was on his feet.

But he didn't square me up, like I expected. Instead, he was almost... fearful of me. Eyes sad and guilty, he gave me a small wave, shoulders shrugging into a retreating hunch.

"Tyler, right?" I asked as I approached him.

He held his hand out to me to shake. "Yes. It's nice to meet you, Cory."

Putting my hand in his, I said, "Though we've technically met before."

"I'm sorry," he muttered, gaze turning downwards.

Shrugging, I slipped my hand out of his and said, "Water under the bridge now. Where's Lily?"

"Room five. She only just went in."

He went to sit down, but my sudden words interrupted him."Thanks. But Tyler... if you ever hurt her, I will show you my sister's rock collection."

"Her rock... collection?" He cocked his head to the side.

Holding up two fingers, I pointed them at my eyes then at him, giving him a warning that I'd be watching.

But as his dumbfounded and fearful expression overwhelmed him, I turned away, a smirk slipping on my face.

I've been hanging out with Jojo too much, I thought as I continued walking down the hallway to the appropriate room.

"Cory," Lily beamed at me from the bed.

"Sorry. I hope I'm not too late. There was a car crash on the way here and—"

She shook her head, interrupting me. "Don't even have the gel on yet. You're all good. Take a seat."

Our OB gave me a smile and said, "Hope you're doing well, Cory."

"Yes, yes. Definitely." As I took the seat next to Lily, her hand found mine, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Saw Tyler," I said to Lily as the OB continued to set up the machine.

She heaved a sigh and said, "Sorry, I was hoping I'd be there to... mediate. But then I got called in."

"It's fine. We were civil."

"Uh oh... Did he do something?"

I took that assumption as a smug win, corners of my lips turning upwards before I said, "Some faith in your boyfriend. Don't think I was the one to do something?"

Her eyes narrowed at me. "Cory Peterson..."

"I just said if he hurts you then I will show him Jojo's rock collection. Nothing to worry about."

"Why her rock collection?"

"Well I would be showing it to him as they hit his face."

"Cory!"

"Shhh. It's okay. He just needs to not hurt you."

But even the OB was cracking a smile now. "Okay, are you both ready?" she asked.

Pulling out of our conversation, we both eagerly turned to the screen while she put the gel on Lily and moved the transducer over her stomach.

"Oh wow," the OB said.

"What?" Lily replied, almost sitting up with alarm, eyes flickering to me.

"They're sitting low. And starting to turn."

"Is that bad?"

She shook her head. "Means they're getting ready."

Eyes wide, Lily looked at me. And even I felt a swirl of butterflies in my stomach.

"Does that mean they might come early?" I asked for Lily, whose voice had apparently caught in her throat.

"They might. Let me finish measuring them and doing the check, and we can discuss what this all means."

But as the OB did her thing, normally I would have turned to Lily at this point to make sure she was alright. To ensure she wasn't freaking out over the new news. 

Yet this time, I was unable. My eyes were glued to the screen. My ears tuned in to the flickering hearts as the transducer ran over each baby.

Soon, my daughters would be in my arms.

Aww cute! Some fun developments going on in this chapter. 

Jess coming into Cory's heart...

Tyler is officially Lily's boyfriend...

I know you all begged me for these plot points so you're welcome!

Until next upload!