Epilogue
Blue
Ididn't want to say that pregnancy was a bitch but all evidence said pregnancy was a bitch.
I brushed my mouth for the fourth time that morning, praying the last of my morning sickness had finally dissipated.
This was my third pregnancy, but it was definitely going to be my last. Our oldest, Matias, had been born a shade under nine months from our wedding day.
He looked exactly like his Daddy, Dane, all dark and broody with a controlling side that came out often.
Sofia had come next, Drake's baby girl. She'd inherited his tan skin, blonde hair, and his jovial nature.
This one, though? Twins. We hadn't planned on any more.
Two, and we were done. But then the morning sickness had arrived, and the sonogram had shown two little heartbeats, and I was sure this had to be some kind of dream.
But no, with the morning sickness and endless cankles, not to mention the two babies currently tap-dancing on my bladder meaning I had to pee every five minutes, this was very much my reality.
Eight months pregnant and I felt like a whale. I waddled out of the bathroom, finding my men in bed with our two munchkins. Dane handed Sofia over to Drake, exiting the bed to help me get in. I groaned on the way down, my back aching.
"Matt, can you take Sofia and bring us back a book or two?" Drake asked, setting the kids on the floor.
"Yes, Daddy." He pulled Sofia along, telling her, "Daddy is going to read to us."
"But I want Dada,” she complained, making grabby hands at Dane.
Our children may look like their biological parent, but there were no lines in this house.
"Bring me back a book, and we'll read it together, sweetheart," Dane told her, blowing her a little kiss. She caught it, making a smacking sound as she stuck it to her lips.
"Ok." She turned, skipping behind her brother as they left the room.
My men immediately turned to me, easing me onto the bed.
"You shouldn't stress yourself," Dane admonished.
"You need to let us help more,"' Drake told me, shifting down the bed to rub my feet. I groaned, eyes rolling back in my head as I felt him knead the sensitive skin. Behind me, Dane began to gently rub my shoulders, letting me lean against him.
This is why you'll go through another pregnancy. You'd do anything for them.
Bringing babies into this house had changed our habits.
We still slept together, and still regularly partook of dirty, filthy sex, but our babies had changed our lives.
They brought us joy, love, and a new adventure to share together.
I'd been worried that they wouldn't be able to love a child that wasn't their own, but my men had proved me wrong.
So very wrong. Love, I'd long since learned, had no end or beginning.
It simply was. And our love was the very best kind—limitless.
"Mama?" A voice called from the side of the bed. I looked down, seeing my two babies standing with their favourite books in hand.
"Come up here, my pequenos."
Dane reached down, helping them onto the bed. My stomach was so big that they could no longer sit on my lap, but they snuggled into me, small hands resting on my stomach.
"Are the babies awake?" our Sofia asked, her voice filled with wonder.
"Yes, Corazon,” I whispered, brushing her hair back from her face. "Would you like to feel?"
"Me too!" Matt called, shifting to place his small hands on the round of my belly.
I closed my eyes, Dane sitting strong and silent behind me, his hands continuing their rhythmic movement while Drake gently directed our babies as our littlest ones kicked inside me.
In this beautiful moment, I felt nothing but overwhelming love.
Thank the gods I took a chance.