Chapter 25 Twin Flames
Six months later…
The endless March rain continued falling along the large Compound windows.
Tyler caressed Nicki’s belly gently as he rested his head against her shoulder, sprawled out on the couch.
“See? They don’t want to kick when I’m near you, they’re already scared of their dad.”
She turned and kissed his head in the silent, tranquil moment, as the raindrops raced each other along the glass.
“One more week, darling,” she said.
“I can’t wait, baby.”
Ding!
The oven timer rang and they both jumped up from the couch— Nicki, as fast as she could wobble—to race to the kitchen for Apple’s famous apple pie.
Apple and Tommy rushed to the oven from the nearby pool table. Although they were too busy sitting on it and kissing than playing pool.
“Now, you guys, you know it has to cool first, right?” Apple warned, taking the hot pie out of the oven. Warm cinnamon filled the air.
“No need! We will eat it hot!” Nicki shouted.
“First of all, I get the first piece!” Tommy exclaimed.
“Why you?” Tyler argued.
“Cause she’s my girlfriend and I’m her favourite!” Tommy countered.
“Fine, but I get two pieces because I am making two humans!” Nicki stated.
“Of course you do, baby, you can even have my piece if you want. I’ll sacrifice anything for you, even Apple’s apple pie,” Tyler offered.
“Oh, no, honey, I could never do that to you!” Nicki said, turning to kiss him passionately.
“Awww, you guys are adorable!” Apple exclaimed.
“Sick, baby. The word you’re looking for is sick. It’s disgusting,” Tommy said.
“Now, now, there’s plenty enough for all of us. Good thing it’s Sunday so the rest of the crew isn’t here,” Apple teased, heavy pieces of pie onto the plates.
“Oh, yes! Mine’s the biggest, muahaha!” Nicki stated triumphantly.
“Enjoy, everyone,” Apple said.
“I think this pie might even be better than Nancy’s, just don’t ever tell her that,” Tyler added with a mouthful.
The two couples ate the warm pie standing up, indulging in the home-made specialty.
Nicki balanced the plate on her very pregnant belly. She shovelled in another bite.
“Mmm, I agree. This is the best pie in the world!” Nicki exclaimed. “Oh!”
She gasped.
“What is it?” Tyler asked.
“Oh my God,” Nicki said, putting her plate down. She gasped again. “I think my water just broke!”
“Christina, get the team!” Tyler shouted to her at the door.
She got on her wrist watch right away and prepared the armored SUV convoy on standby.
Nicki held her stomach and turned to head to the door.
Tyler was all-business, grabbing their go-bag and guiding Nicki out the door.
“This is it, baby, the boys are coming!” he shouted, trying to keep calm himself.
“Oh my God! OK, well, we’ll meet you guys at the hospital!” Apple shouted.
“Good luck!” Tommy added.
“Oh, man, my mom doesn’t fly in until Wednesday!” Nicki exclaimed, starting to breathe faster now, holding her belly.
“That’s OK, we will fly her in today with the PJ if you want. Breathe, just focus on that as we get to the hospital,” Tyler assured.
They rushed out the door to the armed convoy waiting for them outside, and headed to the hospital like a police-escorted royal mafia parade.
“Baby, what did you put in that pie?” Tommy teased.
Apple laughed and threw her arms around him.
“Isn’t it amazing? They’re going to have a baby! Two!” she exclaimed.
“I know, it’s crazy. Damn, I’m going to be an uncle!”
“OK, so let’s go! I’ll just grab my purse from the cabin.”
Tommy pulled her hand and she spun back into him.
“Baby, we have time! Doesn’t labour take like 24 hours?”
“Not always, sometimes it can last just a few minutes!”
“Alright, well, do you know what I can do in just a few minutes?” Tommy kissed her and pushed his hand lower, over her dress in between her legs.
“Mmmmm, I do… I guess we do have some time before we need to be at the hospital,” Apple said.
“I think we have more than enough time.”
Tommy nuzzled into her neck, squeezing her waist tightly into him.
“But you’re going to have to…”
“I’m going to have to what?” Tommy asked.
“Catch me first!” Apple shrieked, and bolted out of the back sliding door and into the rain, sprinting toward the lake.
She laughed just as he caught up to her and tackled her playfully onto the cold wet grass.
His body covered hers to protect her from the rain.
“Let’s go inside the cabin so you don’t freeze,” Tommy said, planking over her, looking into her piercing blue eyes.
She was in no rush to go inside.
“But I love the rain,” she whispered.
“But I love you, and I don’t want you to be cold,” Tommy replied.
“Do you… want me to be wet?” Apple teased.
Tommy collapsed onto her as soon as she said it. “That’s my favourite thing that you could ever be; wet and mine.” He kissed her passionately over the grass and then tickled her stomach.
Her laugh broke their kiss. “I love you, Tommy,” she said sweetly.
The hospital would indeed have to wait.
“Bro. I’m obviously going to be the Godfather,” Vinnie quipped in the hospital waiting room to all the guys.
“Why would you be the Godfather? It’s obviously going to be me. Don’t forget, I’m third in command,” Jake argued.
“Uh, hello! I’m Italian!”
“How are you going to be the Godfather? Tommy’s the uncle!” Tico added, shaking his head.
“Yeah, but they need a strategist to handle twin boys. Vinnie can’t even handle two girls at the same time!” Jake shouted.
“Yeah, OK, bro!” Vinnie quipped back.
Their arguing only made the wait seem longer.
Outside of the hospital entrance way, Tommy stopped abruptly and turned around.
“I can’t do it.”
“What do you mean? Honey, don’t worry, this is such a happy event! All the guys are waiting, come on,” Apple said.
“No, that only makes it worse! I hate hospitals, Apple. I hate them. I need to leave, I’m sorry—”
“No, baby, hold on!” Apple shouted after him. She touched Tommy’s arm and pulled him to the side of the entry way.
A man on a stretcher and two paramedics rolled right by them.
Tommy practically bolted down the sidewalk.
Apple stopped him there too.
“Baby, listen to me, OK?” she said in her sweet, soft voice. She reached up to cup his face gently.
“I know you have a thing with hospitals—”
“I’m a coward, that’s what it is—”
“Don’t ever say that, Tommy!” Apple shouted.
“I can’t even tell you how brave I think you are.
You are the last thing from a coward! Remember when that big creepy guy hit on me at that bar at Christmas?
You set him straight so hard, he ended up cowering and apologizing to you. And me! That was pretty brave—”
“Honey, that’s because he hit on you and I had no problem beating his face in. If he touched you, I would have taken him outside and shovelled soil into his mouth until he choked to death.” Tommy’s fiery eyes ignited when he said the last part, and it scared Apple a little.
“Baby…” she attempted again. She took his right hand gently into both of hers and caressed his scars delicately. It sent an electrical current through his body.
“Look at these scars. Every single one represents you trying to stop a knife with your bare hands to save your brother. Every single line represents your bravery and selflessness.” She traced the scars on his palm with her fingers.
He looked down, caving into her loving touch.
She then lifted his heavy hand and placed it flat onto her heart. He felt it beating.
“Nicki told me that you are a wolf. And wolves are only brave, if nothing else. And this heart that you are feeling loves that brave wolf.”
A little smile emerged from Tommy’s mouth.
“I’m here with you and won’t leave you. We will go in together and everything is going to be OK,” Apple said.
Tommy nodded, looking deep into her eyes.
Apple threw her arms around him tightly and he practically swallowed her whole.
“I love you. Thank you,” he said into her neck.
“I love you, baby. Now, come on, Uncle Tommy. Let’s go meet your nephews!” she shouted excitedly.
He kissed her before they went in. Then he gripped her hand so hard when they entered the hospital, it almost hurt.
“What’s with the commotion over here?” Tommy said, walking in with Apple by the hand as if nothing fazed him.
“There he is, the uncle! Tommy, which one of us is going to be Godfather? It’s OK, you can tell them,” Vinnie whined.
“You guys are kidding, right? Obviously, I’m the uncle and the Godfather, all in one. Boom. End of discussion,” Tommy stated and pulled Apple over to sit on his lap.
Vinnie rolled his eyes. “Yeah, let’s see what Tyler has to say. And me and Nicki are in a band, don’t forget. She’ll be on my side.”
“Hey, Apple, you got any more of that pie?” Luca whispered.
“Sorry, buddy, all out. It’s actually what made Nicki go into labor,” she explained proudly.
“There’s nothing better. Nicki’s coffee and Apple’s pie. Hey, that should be the name of a bakery; Apple’s Pie,” Luca suggested.
“That’s a sweet idea, Luca.”
“So, any updates?” Tommy asked.
“Naw, still waiting, bro,” Jake said.
Another hour later, after the Godfather argument finally subdued, Tyler came out of the delivery room, looking like he had birthed one of the babies himself.
“Two strong, healthy boys!” he announced with his arms up in the air.
The crew erupted with cheers to a very unhappy nurse staff corner.
“Sorry.”
“Sorry!”
“Congratulations, Alpha, you got two little cubs of your own, that’s crazy, man,” Jake said, giving him a bro hug.
“Thanks, man,” Tyler replied, unable to wipe the grin off his face.
“Tommy! Or should I say, uncle Tommy, why don’t you come in here for a minute, bro, you’re first up!” Tyler said.
Tommy gave Apple a peck on the cheek and went in after his brother.
“Psst,” Luca whispered to Apple.
She leaned over closer to him curiously.
“So, what is it that you put in that pie?”
Tyler put his arm around Tommy and guided him into the delivery room, where Nicki was resting. She held two little bundles in her arms.
Nicki smiled, her face flushed but glowing, her hair was damp and thrown to the side. Exhausted but overjoyed.
“Hi, uncle Tommy!” Nicki whispered.