Epilogue
Two years later, Sadat Sur Mer, The Palace
‘YOU SEE, IT’S all about the way you hold her. If you scoop her up like this and let her rest on her front, along your forearm, it means that she’s not fighting her wind, she’s more comfortable.’
Ares gently bounced Bella, one of his one-month-old twin girls, on his arm, the way Caius was demonstrating with her twin, Calli. Both babies certainly seemed content.
‘Where did you learn this?’ Ares asked suspiciously.
Caius tapped his nose. ‘If I told you I’d have to kill you.’
Ares rolled his eyes.
Just then their wives appeared on the veranda, which was strewn with rugs, cushions and various baby paraphernalia. A table was set up for lunch nearby.
Caius’s gaze feasted on Poppy. She was six months pregnant, with their second baby, and she carried their still-sleepy toddler daughter on one hip. Giulia had dark red hair like her mother and Caius’s blue eyes. Exactly as he’d imagined. She saw him and put out her arms. ‘Papa.’
Cassie came and expertly scooped up her baby and Poppy transferred Giulia to Caius with a rueful smile, saying, ‘Such a daddy’s girl.’ Caius smirked but behind the smirk was genuine emotion. He could have so easily let fear consume him and never have known this depth of love and feeling.
The little girl snuggled close and put her thumb in her mouth, still half asleep. Caius knew it wouldn’t last long, she’d soon be tearing around the place giving him a million heart attacks a minute with her fearless antics.
Cassie sounded amused. ‘Caius, were you showing Ares your baby-whispering skills again?’
Poppy laughed and Caius grumbled at their teasing. ‘What? The methods work!’
They settled down to lunch, a semi-chaotic affair with babies being passed around, fed, winded, and Giulia coming fully awake and demanding attention, but, in the midst of it all, Caius and Poppy shared a look that held the wealth of everything they felt and didn’t need to say.
It didn’t go unnoticed however. When the babies were both down in the twin bassinet, sleeping, Ares scooped up Giulia and said, ‘Want to come and play hide and seek?’
‘Babababa!’ she squealed, her version of yes. And then he looked at Caius and Poppy and said, ‘I would respectfully suggest that you two take advantage of this to go take your own nap. Those looks are getting a little too R-rated.’
Cassie laughed and Caius glared at Ares but Poppy was already dragging him out of his seat and into the palace and about an hour later, when they had both not taken a nap but were dozing in the sated aftermath, they could hear Giulia somewhere outside saying, ‘More, more!’
Poppy chuckled. ‘It sounds like we need to go rescue someone.’
Caius put an arm around Poppy, pulling her back against him, his hand spread across the swell of her belly. She sucked in an audible breath when she felt his erection and Caius said, ‘Maybe just a few more minutes?’
Poppy turned to him and smiled. ‘Maybe for ever.’
‘For ever it is.’ He covered her mouth with his and they moved together, committing to each other over and over again. For ever.