Chapter 34:

Sophia's POV:

I awake feeling refreshed, but, still slightly tired. I rub my eyes and yawn. I feel fingers delicately rub against my cheek. The soft, familiar tingles overwhelm my body. I know those tingles anywhere; I don't even need to open my eyes to know who's touching my cheek. A huge smile lights up on my face and I open up my eyes, revealing my perfect fiancé, Jake, who is gazing down at me with such love and fascination.

"Hi, gorgeous," he greets with a bright smile. He smashes his lips on mine spontaneously, much to my happiness. He slowly pulls back and rests his chin on my shoulder, staring up at my eyes. He leans in ever so slightly and kisses my cheek.

"You never stop being cute, do you?" I ask, poking his nose.

"You make me like this; I can't help being this way around you. I just love kissing you," he admits, nuzzling his nose against my cheek, causing me to shiver with delight. "How are you, sweetie? Do you still feel tired?"

"A tiny bit, but also refreshed. How long did I sleep? How are the twins? How was the bath?" Excitement rises within me at the thought of watching the video of them having their first bath.

"You slept for about twelve hours, it's eight P.M. now. I woke up like fifteen minutes ago and went to bed about half an hour after you. The twins are fine, honey, don't worry. I haven't seen them since they were put in the nursery but I'm sure they're absolutely fine. The bath was adorable, they were crying though, but only for a little bit. Watching them cry broke my heart, I wanted to make them happy so much. Then, after the bath, the nurses brought them to the nursery to sleep with the other babies and I stayed outside and watched them for about fifteen minutes before coming here because I didn't want to be away from you too long. Then, I gave you a huge kiss, thanked you again for the babies, told you I loved you and wished you a wonderful sleep before sleeping on that couch. And just a few minutes ago, I woke up and gave you another kiss. Then, I checked my phone and saw I had so many messages from people to come and visit us and the twins. So, I waited by your side and watched you sleep because I didn't want to reply until you confirmed if you wanted visitors."

"Thanks for being considerate, Jakey, I really appreciate it. Well, it's eight now, it's getting late. But I'm sure everyone is dying to see them, so, sure, tell them they can come. How was your sleep on the couch? Was it comfortable?"

"I'll text them right now then. My sleep was great, as soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell asleep. It was quite comfortable. I'll show you the video after I've texted everyone back, you'll love it!"

"I can't wait to see them and watch the video. When do you think they'll bring them in?"

"We can ask to see them whenever we want, I'll go get the nurse if you want?"

"Please do, I miss them so much already."

"Me too," he agrees. He gets up and kisses my forehead tenderly. "I love you, Sophia."

"I love you too, Jakey. Your hair is so cute when it's messy," I compliment, ruffling his hair.

"Oh God, I better clean it up before speaking to the doctors and visitors. Also, the twins might find me scary if I look all messy like a monster."

"You do not look like a monster at all, you look so cute. It's a really cute, natural, messy look, it suits you."

"Thanks, baby, you finish messaging everyone back for me and I'll go see the nurse." He hands me his phone and heads out the door. I text everyone back and then, when I'm finished, I put the phone down on the bedside table. Jake returns, pushing a bassinet into the room while gazing down at the little bundle of joy inside it. A nurse wheels the other bassinet inside and leaves it beside my bed. She tells me she's bringing my food in soon, then, asks if we're all okay or need something before leaving. Jake takes Arabella out of the bassinet he was wheeling and passes her to me.

"Hello, beautiful, did you have a good sleep?" I question, rocking her in my arms slowly. Jake lifts Mason from his bassinet and holds him.

"They had a wonderful sleep, the nurse said you can breastfeed them again if you want because they're hungry."

"I'd love to again. Come here, baby, I'll do you first." I pull down my pyjama shirt and breastfeed her. When she's full up, I pull my shirt back up and lean her against my upright knees. I poke her nose and play with her fingers. Suddenly, she grabs my finger and I gasp with shock.

"Soph, she's adorable, she's so perfect," Jake notes, studying her hand grasping mine with awe and wonder. "You'll be happy to hear that they've already been diaper changed twice each. They each had stool in one of them, so, we're very lucky we didn't have to deal with that yet," he chuckles.

"Thank God, I wish we never have to clean it but if we want to care for them, we'll have to do it sometime. It's going to be disgusting though, I've never changed a dirty diaper before."

"Me neither, but it will be a learning experience for both of us and we'll get into the hang of it after a few days. I forgot to tell you, I learned how to swaddle them! One of the nurses showed me because I asked her."

"Can you teach me?" I request.

"Of course, let me just put our little prince down," he accepts. "Back in a minute, li'l fellow." Jake folds out the blanket and teaches me the steps in how to swaddle Arabella. I follow his steps but I don't get it the first time, so, he shows me again until I perfect it. Again, I don't get it, so, he demonstrates it slower this time. I finally do it right without any mistakes and gently kiss my baby girl's head. "Well done! I told you you're the best mother ever."

"I'm not, it took me three goes just to get it right, Jake, I bet you got it right the first time."

"I did not; it actually took me four times! You are the best mother, Sophia, I wouldn't ask anyone else to be my children's mother. Of course we're not going to know how to do everything straight away. We've only just become parents. We need to learn these skills to care for them; we're not born knowing how to change a diaper or how to swaddle a baby. Yesterday, you were able to breastfeed them without any trouble, and today with Arabella, she latched on straight away. See, you're mother material, they love you. You're so caring, helpful, considerate, giving, gentle and loving; you've all the motherly traits. You're the perfect mother in my eyes, I don't care if you don't see it because I do and so do many other people who can't wait to visit our family. Speaking of our family, little Mace is hungry and wants his mummy to feed him if she's able. But back to what I was saying, you're perfect, not just as a mother but in all ways. I know you're going to adapt to all these things we learn so quickly and you'll develop all these skills soon. I love you, don't downgrade yourself. You're so much more than what you think of yourself, Sophia, and you don't even realise it. You always think less of yourself, even when people compliment you. They don't just say it for no reason, baby, we say it because we mean it."

"I want a big cuddle from you now," I confide, smiling uncontrollably. He places Arabella in her bassinet and then, sits up on the bed beside me, hugging me to his chest. He kisses me softly and brings my engagement ring to his lips. "I love looking at this ring, it always reminds me of how much you love me and how much I'm grateful for. I never say thank you enough, I always think it, but never say it. Thank you so much, Jake, I don't know what I would have done during all of this without you. It wouldn't have been the same without you here in my life."

"Same here, Sophia, thank you also. You've given me anything a guy could ever want: family, friends, a perfect wife, hope, strength, love, everything."

"I'm not your wife yet, silly," I remind him with a giggle.

"You will be someday soon, I don't care how long it takes, I will make you my wife if it's the last thing I do," he promises, tightening his hand with mine.

"I better feed him now before they all come in." Jake gives me Mason and I feed him too. The nurse comes in and gives me some food while Jake holds both of the twins. "You have skill, Jake."

"I better not drop them both; I'll put them down just in case."

"No, there's no need. You're capable of holding both of them at the same time, don't worry." The nurse tells me we can be discharged tomorrow and gives me a big smile before leaving. "You hear that, babies, you can meet your home tomorrow. You're going to love it there," I promise. I put my finished plate away on the bedside table and spread my arms out for one of my babies.

"Mummy wants you, sweetie." Jake gives me Mason and I rest him on my chest while kissing his perfect, little head. The skin contact brings tingles over my body and I stroke and caress his cheek. I don't know what I'd do without them really. I don't know what my life would be like right now if I didn't get pregnant. I'd probably be enjoying the Summer holidays instead of giving birth to two beautiful babies. I wouldn't change this for any option in the world; nothing has brought me more happiness, besides from Jake. A knock on the door startles me and Jake from our quiet, perfect moment and he calls for them to come in.

"Oh my God, they're so tiny and cute," Avril gasps, quickening her speed to see them up close. "I heard your name is Mason," she coos, playing with his fingers. "Can I hold him?"

"Course, take him," I say, placing him in her arms and she holds up his head carefully.

"Congrats, Sophia and Jake, they're beautiful," Danny comments.

"Arabella is exactly like you, Jake," Bennett states.

"So is Mason, except for his mother's eyes," Brad adds.

"If it wasn't for Soph being pregnant with them, I wouldn't even have thought she's their mother because they look so much like their dad," Charlie declares and we all chuckle a bit.

"I'm glad they look like their gorgeous dad," I admit, gazing at Jake with happiness. He leans down to me and kisses me softly.

"You're beautiful in every way," he whispers in my ear.

"I wonder if they'll be little daredevils like their father too," Alex wonders with a mischievous smile.

"Oh, don't worry, I won't let them follow in my stupid, past footsteps, that's for sure," Jake promises.

"I'm going to be their fun Uncle Austin, I can't wait to teach them stuff," Austin confesses, holding Arabella.

"Hmm, depends on what you're going to be teaching them," Jake jokes.

"Hey, not fair, I want to be their fun uncle," Cameron argues.

"You will all be their fun uncles, they love you all," I chime in, giggling at them all fighting over who will be the best uncle already.

"Can I finally hold him now, Taylor?" Ty requests impatiently.

"You'll have your chance in a few minutes, just wait a minute," Taylor denies.

"You've had him for five minutes now, which is longer than anyone else has held them. It's my turn," Ty disagrees.

"Fine, fine. It's not my fault that he's too cute to let go off, blame his parents over there," Taylor winks with a smirk, passing Mason to Ty.

"Not in front of the babies, Taylor!" I mutter. "They can hear!"

"Yes but they don't understand yet, do they?" Taylor laughs. I sigh with agreement, then, laugh too.

"Be careful with him, Ty," Jake worries.

"Such a protective daddy," Liam teases, poking Jake's chest.

"You will be too soon," Jake remarks.

"I know," Liam agrees with a big smile, placing his hand on Avril's burgeoning baby bump. She smiles shakily, then, looks to the ground. Is she okay? She doesn't look it. I cast a worried glance at her and she catches my look.

"I'll be back in a minute, I need to go to the bathroom," Avril excuses, leaving the room. She definitely doesn't need to go to the bathroom, there's something wrong.

"She doesn't look good," Liam says with concern. "Did I do something?"

"You didn't, she's fine, don't worry. Jake, I need to go too," I say quickly.

"Here, baby," he says, helping me out of the bed slowly because I'm still in pain down there from today. They said it could last a few weeks, which is what I was expecting but thankfully, I had no tears, so I didn't need any stitches. He guides me up and holds onto my back as he takes me to the door.

"I can take it from here, thanks, Jakey," I say. He kisses my forehead tenderly and rubs my back before I leave to find Avril. I go to the nearest toilets first and I hear crying from one of the stalls. I call her name out and her crying stops. It's definitely her. Now I'm even more worried than before. "Please let me in, honey." She doesn't reply or opens the door. "Avril, please, I'm begging you to tell me what's wrong." I cringe as I feel a bit of pain, so, I lean against the door and emit a pained sigh.

"Soph," she sobs with worry, unlocking the door to see if I'm okay. She's crying, her make up is everywhere and now my worry has just gotten a hundred times worse. "What's wrong?"

"I could ask the same about you," I reply with concern. "But I'm fine, it's normal to experience discomfort. Now, please tell me what's wrong with you."

"It was Liam saying he will be a protective daddy. I got upset because what if it's not his baby? He's going to be protective of something that may not even be his. I have wanted and tried to tell him so many times about what he'll do if it's not his but I can't go through with it, the thought of him leaving me scares me too much. I can't do this all without him, I love him too much," she explains, breaking down in tears. I hug her right to my chest and rub her back.

"Everything's going to be okay either way. He won't leave you if he or she isn't his, he'll love that baby as his own; he already does love them. He's not going to stop loving them if you find out their Gavin's. He's already too much involved with this baby to want to leave them. As for you, he loves you too much to leave you either. I know he loves you, Avril, everyone can see it in the way he looks at you. Please don't have doubts, you don't need to be afraid or worry. You really need to have a chat with him about this though; it's been months since you first said you'd tell him."

"I know; I just didn't know how to break it to him. I promise I'll tell him though now, I can't hold it off any longer."

"Good, now, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thanks for cheering me up, Sophia; you do too much for me."

"No, you all do too much for me. Thanks for coming to see the twins today."

"Don't thank me for that, I was coming over to see them anyway, there's no way I was missing meeting them and their birth which someone wouldn't let me stay to see."

"You would have been awake till seven A.M., so, you should be thanking me that I forced you to go home because you would have been exhausted."

"I don't care how long I would have had to stay up to meet them, I would have done it. But, anyway, thanks again and, Soph, they're absolutely beautiful, you're really lucky for such adorable babies. Was it painful?"

"It was the most painful experience of my life but it has given me one of the best things in my life. I totally forgot about the pain once I held them, heard them and saw them. They were worth the wait and pain. Please don't get scared about the pain like I did, it's different for everyone. Yours may be so much quicker and painless. Either way, you'll feel so filled with joy when you meet them."

"Now I really can't wait, I'm not saying I'm looking forward to the pain but as you say, it'll be worth it. I know you didn't want me there during yours because I'm pregnant but will you please be there beside me during my labour. I don't know how I'll do it without you beside me."

"Of course I will, honey, I only didn't allow you to stay with me all night for your benefit because you and that baby needed the rest. We'll get through it together, okay?"

"Thank you, Soph," she grins, pulling me into another big bear hug. I bite my lip from a little bit of pain I'm experiencing but I don't want to worry Avril, so, I hold it in. I wipe away any left over tears on her face after we pull back from each other. I'm honoured that she's asked me to be there with her in the delivery room, I feel so special and loved now. I take her hand and squeeze it comfortably. "I think I want to know the baby's gender now." Initially, Avril and Liam decided they didn't want to know the baby's sex, so, they were going to wait until the birth to find out. I thought about doing that too but my curiosity was too much to bear not knowing! Wow, that feels like so long ago, it was 21 weeks. Time flies when you're having fun as they say.

"That's great! You can have a talk about that too then with him. I think it's a little girl," I admit, flattening my hand on her big belly.

"I think that too, I think Liam wants a boy though, so, he can teach football too. He hasn't said that, but, I'm sure he does. I wouldn't mind a boy; I don't care what the sex is as long as they're okay."

"They're perfectly fine in there because their mummy is taking great care of them. They can't wait to leave, so, they can finally meet you and then, they can grow up with their cousins, Arabella and Mason. They're all going to have so much fun together growing up."

"I can't wait, we can exchange notes on them too," she giggles.

"Definitely, we can bring them to the park together and have picnics!

"I'm so excited now! Are you ready to go back?"

"Yes and Liam was worrying about if he upset you when you left, so, you tell him you need to talk to him later and then, you tell him as soon as you get home, okay? Promise me you'll finally tell him."

"I promise, Sophia. I will actually go through with it this time." I give her belly a final rub and lean my head against her shoulder as I embrace her before we make our way back to my room. She goes over to Liam and he whispers something to her and she whispers back a reply. His face becomes worried at what she has to say. I'd be worried too if Jake told me he had to talk to me later on tonight. Those words are so scary to hear because you never know what it's about and how bad it is.

Ryder leans into my ear and whispers, "Is she okay?"

"She's fine, Ry, don't worry," I assure him and he rubs my back.

"It's hard not to when she walks off like that, I know how capable she is of getting upset quick and easy. Please tell me though if something is bothering her."

"Of course I will, don't be worrying though, she's absolutely fine." He kisses my cheek and hugs me carefully.

"Congrats on the twins, they're gorgeous."

"Thank you, Ryder; I'm glad you could make it."

"I'm sorry for not dropping in last night with Liam and Avril, I had work and I couldn't miss it," he apologises. "I wanted to wish you luck and early congratulations."

"You're here now, forget about yesterday! Work is more important! I'll talk to you later; I need to talk to my family."

"Bye, Sophia!" I walk over to my brothers who are gathered around Arabella, taking pictures of her.

"Look, Mummy's back, Arabella," Zach informs her. She just stares up at him with her big, curious, brown eyes.