Happy Thursday!

Big thanks to last chapter's commenters for lifting my spirits through your engagement: @themckenziefrenzy @jueka1

Though some of you... not naming anyone...  I'm super concerned you will become murderers one day based on the abundance of death threats towards Tyler.

Enjoy!

____

After getting the epidural, I fell into a state of calm. Now we only watched my contractions on the monitor and I was able to get some sleep every now and then.

I nodded off with his hand in mine. But when I awoke, I found him bent over my bed, head resting on my leg.

Pulling my hand from his grasp, I jostled him slightly. "Cory," I said softly. But when he didn't respond, I said his name a little louder.

"Hmm?" he said, lifting his head, blinking the sleep away. "Did something happen?"

"You'll hurt your back like that," I said, my eyes still heavy. "Go sleep in the pull out bed."

Shaking his head, he stretched and leaned back in his chair. "I'm okay. I'm awake now."

"Cory," I said sternly.

"You're not the boss of me anymore," he grinned at me, turning to his coke that still sat on the bedside table and taking a sip of it.

"When was I ever the boss of you," I grumbled.

"How are you feeling?" he asked after some moments of silence passed between us.

"Better now that I have the epi."

"I mean emotionally."

"Oh... all sorts. Excited. Really excited. But, also nervous."

Biting his lip, he nodded.

"The last time I was here..." I whispered, but then I turned my eyes downwards.

I didn't have to say anything though. Because Cory knew what I was going to say though without having to.

I knew he did when he reached over and grabbed my hand in response.

The look in his eyes when I met them said he knew I was scared of it turning out like the last time. Though the last time, our child had already passed away before they were due. I had been too far along for the miscariage to be suctioned out. So I either had to opt for a c-section or birth them. I chose the later, too fearful of the surgery at the time, not thinking about the trauma that comes with birthing a lifeless child.

"That's not going to happen this time," he said, pulling me from the memory. "Our girls are troopers. Both ready to come out fighting their dad and complaining about all my terrible jokes."

Laughing, I fell back into the bed. "I hope they have your eyes."

"I hope they have yours."

"One of each?"

"Deal."

"I like us... now. We get along."

He nodded back at me. "We work well as friends."

"I still think we're partners," I then said, glancing over at him. "Not romantically, but as parents. And I think that's why we work."

We didn't speak for a moment again, and I let myself drift into my thoughts, imagining little dark haired, blue-eyes kids running around. How would it look for us? Would we do birthday parties together? Would we spend Christmas together? Or when you're separated, do the holidays also have to be apart?

This whole time, I still allowed myself to think that these pieces would have Cory in them. But now that we weren't together... how many of them would have Tyler instead? Or perhaps some other guy. Because let's be real, there's no way Tyler's going to stick around much longer after the kids are in the world... surely.

"Do you think..." I started, but I didn't finish that sentence.

"What? You can say it," he said softly.

"Do you think that you and I might ever end up together again?"

Brows coming together, he cocked his head to the side. "Why? Are you having doubts about Tyler?"

"Not exactly. It's just... for a while I thought you and I would always be together. But when we broke up, I guess I began to realise relationships are so fragile. A part of me thinks as nice as what I have with Tyler is... surely it will end too. All things end, right?"

Shrugging, he said, "I suppose they do. But it also comes down to how willing you are to fight for it."

"Did we stop fighting for each other?"

"We... we did. But we also had so much more to fight for." His eyes trailed up to their heartbeats, then down to my stomach.

"In the distant future, if Tyler ever turns out to be a jerk, do you think..."

"Why are you asking this, Lily?"

I shrugged this time, unsure the right way to phrase it without seeming like I was leading him on. "We don't work now. But we did for a while. It's like people grow apart and together. I just wonder if you think that's something that will ever happen... If we will ever give our kids a complete home."

A sigh escaped him. "You and I never will be together for the sake of the kids."

My heart winced at that comment, but he wasn't done.

"I don't want to hear that. It would have to be because we just can't deal with not being together. Because we actually want each other."

My eyes warily met his blue orbs. "Sorry for bringing up painful memories. I just... Guess I'm feeling very reflective now that everything is about to change. A part of me wishes they would come into a stable home."

"We're more stable like we are now."

"That's true..." Our conversation trailed off again for a while, with only the beeps filling the room. "I forgot to ask how you are."

He leaned back in his chair. "I'm getting on. Same as you, excited and nervous. But not because of the birth. Mostly that I'm going to mess up this dad thing."

"Never. I won't let you. You will be an exceptional father, Cory."

"How do you know?"

"Because I've seen you with your sister."

"Jojo is much older."

"Not mentally," I laughed.

"She can be... She just uses it as her cover a lot."

"I know."

"I just... what if they grow up to hate me? Like I hated my father?"

"Just don't walk out on them."

Biting his lip, he averted his gaze, suddenly becoming more interested in the fleck of skin on his thumb. I knew he was still doubting himself. But I don't think there was anything I could do in that moment to quell his fears. Only time would show him how exceptional he already is.

"I'm not looking forward to coming home with two babies on my own," I grumbled, trying to distract him from his thoughts.

"Tyler's not—"

"Hell no. He doesn't need to deal with two crying babies and no way do I want him to see me in nappies and leaking boobies..." I shook my head and pretended to shudder.

Laughing, he replied, "Well... what if I bring the air mattress and put it in the girls' room? They'll be in their bassinets by your bed for a while, so I can camp out in there until you find a routine."

"I dont... I don't want to put that pressure on you."

He scoffed. "You'd be doing me a favour, Lily. I know that babies need their mum the most when they come out. And us being separated... it would give me a chance to see every waking moment of their life for a while. Before I have to give in to the fact that there will be times I don't get to see them."

Pursing my lips, I said, "You know you're welcome to see them any time."

He nodded. "But it won't always be possible. Because we live separately."

"If it's not too much trouble... I'm happy for you to take their room."

Grinning almost from ear to ear, he leaned over and pressed his lips to my forehead. "Never a trouble."

I smiled back at me, all the way to my eyes. "I love you, Cory."

"I love you too, Lily." His hand pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear as he stared back at me with such tenderness. But it was more than romance. It was the connection we shared over the lives we were about to bring into this world. The pain we had gone through together. The friendship that still hung between us.

Breaking us from our moment was a nurse coming into the room, lifting up the covers to check me again.

"Hmm," she tutted.

"What?" I asked.

"You're not progressing. I'll start you on some Pitocin and we will see if that speeds things along."

But it didn't. We hit the twenty-four hour mark and I was still sitting at a steady 5cm dilation.

Next I knew, the midwife came into the room with my OB.

"Lily, I'm afraid we're going to have to do a c-section," she said. "You're not progressing and now that it's been twenty-four hours since your water broke... well there can be many complications if we don't get them out."

"Okay," I said, my voice small. But to quell my fears, Cory gripped my hand in his.

"It's going to be okay," he said to me before turning to the doctor. "I can come in with that?"

"Of course. Lily will be awake and it would be great if you could keep her company to distract her during it. Plus, we wouldn't want you missing out when they are out in the world!"

Eyes wide, he then asked, "I won't see anything though, right?"

"Of course not. You two will be behind a sheet."

I heaved a sigh at the news, glad Cory had asked all the questions racing through my head in that moment.

While the thought of a c-section was scary, at the same time, I was a little relieved. I knew it would mean a longer recovery. I knew it came with its own risks. But at least this time wouldn't be like the last. I wouldn't have to fret as I pushed them out. I wouldn't have to worry if I wasn't pushing hard enough. I wouldn't have to look at my baby when it comes out, heaving a sigh of relief for the pain that is over, but then realise their heart wasn't beating or they weren't breathing...

Cory held my hand the whole time as they prepared their instruments. He was suited in PPE, smiling at me despite his ridiculous hair cap.

"I'm excited," he then gushed, grin spreading across his face.

"Me too," I whispered, though a part of my stomach still squirmed.

"Wait... how do we know which name belongs to which? How do we decide?"

"Rock, paper, scissors. If I win, my name. If you win, your name."

"For the first out?"

I nodded.

And so we both formed fists as the doctors began to discuss disinfecting the area.

We shook our fists as they made the incision.

And then we shot.

Cory had sprung scissors. I had gone for rock.

A wail filled the air.

Looking down at my hand then into his kind, blue depths, I felt the burning sensation stir behind my eyes.

"Here's Lexi," he whispered, gaze leaving mine and towards the incoming baby.

The nurse placed the baby on me. Covered in all sorts of weird gunk. Skin disheveled. Head a little warped. But she was perfect. She was ours. She was...

"Hi Lexi," I whispered, stroking a finger down her cheek.

"Dad, time to cut the cord," the nurse said, handing a pair of scissors to Cory.

Eyes determined, he grabbed them off her, a crease worrying between his brows as he focussed on cutting the cord. Finally it snapped and Lexi was free from me, now a part of this world.

Her cries came to a stop as her little blue orbs looked up at me, jet black hair lightly covering her scalp.

"Hi Lexi," Cory then said, face coming close to us as endless love poured out from him into her. He extended a finger down to her, and her little hand clutched onto it.

I watched him in awe as his bottom lip quivered and his heart visibly oozed out of him as he looked at our daughter.

But before we could fully enjoy the moment, the nurse was back, taking Lexi away.

My arms went cold, but it didn't last too long as the next one was placed in mine.

She had no hair. Grey eyes. And blinked at me, not really crying.

"Should she be crying?" I asked, looking around frantically.

"She'll get there. Give her some time," one nurse said. So I turned my attention back to her, not wanting to miss a moment.

"Hi Callie," I said, stroking her cheek.

Cory cut her cord, removing the final baby's connection from me, and then finally Callie also let out a shriek.

After they took her from me to get weighed and cleaned up, and the doctors took out my placentas and stitched me up, my hand found its way back into Cory's.

"We're parents," he whispered, stroking my hair.

"We are," I said back softly.

He pressed his lips to my forehead. "You did an amazing job, Lily." He rested his forehead against mine. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks for being by my side."

"Always."

Babies!

Lexi and Callie. Are we mad about their names? More importantly, DO YOU SEE WHAT I DID? 

Until next chapter!