Chapter 54

Babies are like little suns that, in a magical way, bring warmth, happiness and light into our lives. – By Kartini Diapari-Oengider

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Erica

"Happy Birthday Honey." I rained kisses on Ethan's face while he was in half sleep.

Today was Ethan's 28th Birthday. We had celebrated his 27th birthday by morning sex and then we had a party with our family and relatives. It was the same for my birthday too. But that was before I got pregnant. We had stopped making love about three months ago because I was due in next two days and Ethan didn't want to risk anything. So we just settled for making out for long and cuddling.

"Thank you, baby." Ethan's eyes opened fully and he gave me a heartwarming smile. I leaned forward to kiss him on the lips with as far as my pregnant belly could let me. My belly was huge with the twins. I felt a kick in my stomach and I gasped breaking the kiss.

"What happened?" Ethan asked worried.

"They kicked." I told him. Ethan got excited whenever I told him about their activities just like the first time they had kicked and he had felt it on his palm.

"Hey! No troubling mommy." He said to my belly as if they could hear what he was saying.

Again they kicked and this time it was hard. It was painful but I tried not to let my face give away my pain. Ethan would get worried and I didn't want to stress him.

I made my way towards the bathroom and Ethan followed me in. We had a bath together, mostly because he wouldn't let me alone in the bathroom and secondly because, it was his birthday. We came out half an hour later fully washed up. Ethan had taken the day off and we were going to have a small party at home itself because he didn't want to exert me especially when the babies would come out anytime soon.

I got dressed in one of my loose dresses that reached up to my knees and the sleeves up to my wrist. We emerged downstairs and saw that every was almost there. It was just a few days back that we had gathered here for the gender revealing celebration and now here we were again. My babies kicked in my stomach probably because they were excited to see their grandparents from both sides and uncle and aunts.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten that it was Ethan's birthday because they all rushed to my side asking me my whereabouts. Seb wished him first and then one by one everyone wished him.

I was seated on the couch with a pillow pressed behind my back. I tried to smile at everyone when they gave me a warm smile. I know why. I was full nine months pregnant with a huge belly, more huge than any another pregnant woman and I had grown a lot of weight and my cheeks were chubby and Ethan said I looked cute. But today though it was Ethan's birthday my heart was fluttering like crazy. There was a strange uneasiness that had settled over me.

Alex came and sat besides me offering me a glass of juice. I took it from her and the cool sweetness did wonders to my parched throat.

"Give it to me." Alex said when I was done.

"Alex, come here for a minute." My Dad yelled at from the corner where he was working on a set of speakers.

"Its okay, I'll do it. Anyway my muscles have cramped from sitting for too long." I said and got up from my seat. I went in the kitchen and placed the glass back. When I turned around, my elbow hit the box of tissues and it fell on the floor. I bent to pick it up and just then I felt a sharp pain shoot through my belly. I gave out a cry and tried to straighten myself. But the pain got worse and in an instant I felt some liquid gush out of me. I gasped seeing what it was.

My waters broke.

One more shot of pain and my body weakened. I leaned on the kitchen island for support or else I'd fall.

"Ethan." I cried out hoping he would hear me over the people chatting over there.

Suddenly there was moment of silence outside and the next second everyone was inside the kitchen.

I heard gasp coming from someone but I was in too much pain to look up.

"Oh God! Erica. Baby?" Ethan rushed to my side holding my sides.

"Ethan my tummy hurts." I said clutching my belly.

"Is it time? Are they coming? Oh God! They aren't supposed to come in another two days? Maybe its just a false alarm." He said tucking my hair behind my ears.

"No, my waters broke." I said to him.

"Take her to the hospital Ethan. Looks like she has started the labor pain. Quick." Mom said with a worried face.

I moaned in pain again and my knees gave out. If it weren't for Ethan holding me I would've fallen down.

Ethan carried me in his arms and somehow we reached the car. All the others guests stayed in the penthouse while Ethan, mom and Alex came with me to the hospital. I was sitting between Alex on one side and Ethan on another. Ethan wiped the beads of sweat formed on my forehead and patted my hair reassuringly.

After that whatever happened was a blur. I was in the hospital room lying on the bed. My pain was lesser than before but the doctor said that it would be a few more hours until my actual labor started.

"Are you sure you aren't in pain?" Ethan asked.

"Yes. I feel slightly better." I said.

Few more hours passed with me occasionally crying out when the pain started in my lower abdomen. The doctor would come, check me and say that my cervix wasn't fully dilated for the baby to be delivered. This happened a couple of times and I was physically drained by now.

******

"Oh God! Ah! It hurts so much." I cried clutching Ethan's hands for support.

"I am sorry baby you have to bear all this. Its all gonna be okay. Just relax." He side apologetically.

Suddenly anger clouded my vision.

"Sorry? All you have to say is sorry? Here I am dying of this pain and you say sorry. This is all your fault. Its because of you that I am in this state. Couldn't you wear protection?" I said slapping his hand way. I suddenly hated him.

"Go away! I hate you. You don't love me anymore." My sobs turned into hiccups. Ethan looked seriously offended and I immediately regretted saying that. He turned to leave and I panicked.

"Wait! Where are you going? I need you with me. Please stay. I love you." I moaned in protest.

He came back and kissed my sweaty forehead and said, "I love you too baby. Just take a deep breath and think about good things." He said.

I tried to do as he said and that actually helped me to calm down. But almost immediately my screams rang in the hospital. This time I was sure that it wasn't a false alarm. Ethan immediately called the doctors and then all I heard was the doctor saying that I was ready to give birth.

The doctors began yelling motivating words and telling me to push harder. I was trying, I was really, but that wasn't enough.

"Oh God! I feel like I'm dying. I don't want to die." I said wiping my tears.

"You'll be fine Mrs. Monroe. No one dies. Just keep trying. A few more pushes and your baby will be born. You can do this Mrs. Monroe." My doctor said. I could see Ethan besides me encouraging me to do the same.

Sweat tickled my forehead and my palm were sweaty.

"I don't want to be pregnant again Ethan." I said to Ethan who looked just as worried.

"Of course baby, whatever you want. I do not want to see you in so much of pain." He said rubbing my hand in a soothing manner.

After that all that I remember is pushing hard and crying out and the next moment,

A cry.

A baby cry.

My eyes watered at the sound of my baby coming into the world.

"It's a girl." The doctor said. I managed a weak smile and through blurry vision I saw my baby girl covered in blood.

The nurses wrapped my girl in a clean sheet and took her away to clean her.

"Come on Mrs . Monroe, one more push and your baby will be in this world." The doctor said.

I pushed again. My body was weak, exhausted and I was worn out but I still tried and one more cry sounded in the room.

"Its a boy. Congratulations Mr. Monroe, Mrs. Monroe."

I felt Ethan's cool lips on my skin and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"I love you so much baby. You were so strong. I'm proud of you." He had a bright smile on his face. I knew how excited he was for the babies.

"I am sorry I yelled at you." I said.

"Its okay." He kissed my temple.

"Mr. Monroe can you please leave us alone. We have to clean your wife and the newborns." One of the nurses said. Ethan left.

Ethan

I felt the true feeling of becoming a father when I opened the door to the room where my wife and newborns were kept, and I bent down to pick them up in my arms. They were so small, so tiny and so fragile in my arms. I felt an instant urge to protect them from every evil of this world. They were asleep and looked so adorable. My vision blurred with my own tears.

"They are so beautiful." I whispered. Erica was looking at us with tears in his own eyes too. I went by her side and she spread her arms to hold them. One by one I placed both our babies in her hands.

"The most beautiful sight I've ever seen." She agreed.

"Can I call everyone in. They've been waiting to meet you and these little bundles of joy." I asked her.

"Of course."

Our families came in and the first thing I knew I was shoved away from my wife and kids by my own mother. She sat besides Erica and took her grandchildren one by one in her arms.

Everyone was saying how beautiful my kids were.

A cry rang in the room followed by another and then I felt like my heart just broke into a million pieces. My babies were crying.

I went near then bed and saw them frightened by so many people here. Erica was trying to soothe them.

"They have the same eyes like that of my Ethan." My heart swelled in joy at the fact that my mother just announced. Both my babies had my eyes. I couldn't be more proud.

"What do you want to name them?" I asked Erica. She was silently watching everyone showering love to our babies.

"Do have anything in mind?" She asked me. I nodded a no. I wanted her to name them because she was the one who went through everything to bring them into this world. It was her right to do so.

Erica

"I want to name the girl, Evelyn Caroline Monroe, after my mother."  announced and saw my Dad's eyes well up in tears. I knew he still loved my mother even though she was gone long back.

".. and the baby boy, Jasper Ethan Monroe, because today is Ethan's birthday, so.. " I saw Ethan with a proud grin on his face.

"Happy Birthday." I whispered only for him to hear.

"This is the best gift I've ever had." He said.

"To Evelyn and Jasper, my cutest little neice and nephew." Seb announced and everyone cheered.

*****

Two days later I was discharged from the hospital. All the necessary tests were taken to see if Evelyn and Japser were healthy, which turned out to be positive by God's grace. Suddenly I remembered.

"Oh my God! Ethan, we haven't prepared the room for them." We were in the car going home. Ethan turned to me, gave me a mischievous smile and turned around.

He was up to something, that I was sure of. I faintly remembered him telling me about a surprise that was waiting for me when the babies would be born.

I just waited patiently for him surprise me.

I focused on Evelyn and Jasper who were peacefully sleeping without any care in the world. Their skin tone had begun to turn lighter than the shade that they were born with. During their two days life upto now, I noticed Jasper was a quiet baby who mostly slept and rarely cried unless he was hungry. Evelyn was a different case though. She was a demanding little princess. Always cried when I paid attention to her twin brother and I once saw Ethan's eyes well up in tears at his daughter's tears.

I observed that we didn't turn towards our penthouse that we were sharing since we got married. Instead the driver took a straight road leaving me confused.

I had Ethan with me so I had nothing to worry about.

Few more minutes later the driver pulled up in the driveway of a large mansion. The outsides were beautiful with a large garden blossoming with flowers and a fountain in the center of the garden.

The car came to a halt and Ethan helped me to get out taking Evelyn in his arms and I carried Jasper.

The masion was freaking huge and looked highly furnished and recently developed. I wondered whom it belonged to. Whoever was the owner it was sure that he wasn't any ordinary person. The place was plush in the outside, no doubt, but at the same time it kind of gave me a feeling of home.

"Whose house is this? Why are we here?" I asked Ethan.

"Come, I'll show you."

We walked inside and Ethan opened the door. The interiors were breathtaking. All that I had just seen in movies and read in romance novels flashed in front of my eyes. I was sure my mouth was open like a fish.

"Welcome home, my wife."

Speechless. Absolutely speechless.

"Oh My God! This.. Oh God!" I couldn't form a coherent reply to this surprise. This was our home. A freaking mansion.

"Its beautiful. Absolutely amazing. I loved it. Are we going to live here?" I asked unbelieving.

"Forever." He said and bent down to kiss me. I responded back with all my love. Ethan's lips were so soft and gentle on mine making me forget ny own name. No matter how many times we had kissed it always feels like the first time. The same butterflies fluttering in my stomach and leaves my skin tingling..

Our kiss was interrupted by Evelyn's cry. She didn't want her mommy to grab her daddy's attention. I kissed her nose and Ethan rocked her back and forth that eventually stopped her cries.

"Come I'll show you to our room. Take rest and then I'll show you the rest of our home." I nodded and Ethan showed me to our room. It was spacious and stocked with our clothes and everything that belonged to us was already present there. The bed has softest of mattress and it felt like silk on my touch.

I rested for a while and then Ethan showed me the rest of our home. The kids room was decorated in cartoon theme and I was surprised to see that Ethan had done it all without me noticing anything.

Ethan was undoubtedly the best husband in the world and I was confident that he would be the best father too.

Who knew that I would find my happiness in a man that was my boss just a year ago. But I am glad that I met him, because all that I am now, all the happiness that surrounds me is because of my husband.

"I love you." I looked into his chocolate brown eyes.

"I love you too."

---*-*-*---

Do you know who else shares the same birthday as that of Ethan, Evelyn and Jasper?

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Next chapter will be the epilogue.

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