jordyn dolan

"Knock, knock." Our doctor came into our room hours after all of our friends and family had left.

"Hi." I whispered as Xela was sleeping on my chest. The doctor came in the rest of the way to update us.

"You two holding up alright?" She asked while flipping through Jace's chart.

"As much as we can." Ethan stood up from the chair and walked closer to me.

"Your son is out of the operation and we're keeping a very close eye on his vitals. There's no say in when he wakes up, if he even does. It could be in an hour or it could be in a day."

"Is he breathing?" I asked.

"He's hooked up to a machine that helps him breathe. Before the operation, the machines had to work much harder than right now."

"That's good, right?" Ethan had his arms crossed.

"Very. I don't want to get your hopes up too much because I really don't know what's going to happen."

I let out a large sigh.

"How is Xela doing?" She closed the chart.

"Pretty well. I just fed her thirty minutes ago and she's passed out now." I looked down and smiled.

"Good. If you two need anything, just let me know." She looked to the both of us and we nodded. She walked out of the room and gently closed the door behind her.

I leaned my head back on the pillows. Ethan walked closer to me and ran his thumb on my cheek.

"Want me to put her down?" He asked softly. I nodded my head and he carefully grabbed her from my arms and put her in the little bed.

"Come lay with me. I want your cuddles." I puttered out my bottom lip and scooted over on the bed. He lightly chuckled and laid down right next to me.

He wrapped his arms around me and closed his eyes. He was peaceful. I kissed his nose very lightly and a smile grew on his face. He opened one eye and scrunched his nose.

"Imagine if I didn't meet you in high school."

"I'd rather not think like that." He grinned while he played with my fingers. "I wish I wasn't such a dick to you though." He chuckled.

"Yeah me too, you meanie." I joked.

"Wow, imagine if we never fostered you. I never would have laid eyes on you."

"Yeah you're right, thinking like this sucks." I rested my head on his chest.

"But I got you and my babies." He kissed the top of my head.

"Don't say babies. We have a baby." I looked up to him.

"Us going back and forth, trying to cheer each other up isn't going to work out." He ran his fingers through my hair.

"I just want to hold him." I turned on my back and played with my fingers.

"I know, me too."

Cries came from the baby and Ethan stood up immediately. He held her in his arms and began to walk around the room.

- - -

Later in the evening, I was getting ready to head off to bed. Ethan was setting up his bed on the very uncomfortable couch. Xela was already sleeping in her little crib.

"Hello?" The doctor knocked on the door. "Is this a bad time?" She still had just popped her head in the room.

"Not at all." I smiled and Ethan walked over to stand by me.

She opened the door the rest of the way and pushed a small crib, just like Xela's into the room. "I think someone wanted to say hello." She stopped it right in front of the bed and picked up the baby. She walked over to us and placed him in my hands. "Say hello to Jace Grant Dolan."

No words could come out of my mouth, I was in just so much shock.

"I'll leave you guys alone." The doctor smiled and walked out of the room.

I looked up to Ethan and his eyes did not leave Jace. He was in love with his baby.

"He's a fighter." Ethan whispered and kissed my forehead. He sat down on the bed, by my feet. I handed him Jace and he sunk into Ethan's arms.

I reached over and pulled Xela's crib towards me and picked her up out of it. As I let her rest in my arms, she stretched and a small smile appeared on her cheeks.

After everything I've been through, I wouldn't have done anything different. It's been a crazy ass rollercoaster, but I wouldn't change it. I believe everything happens for a reason and I'm so glad I met Ethan and his wonderful family.

I walked into their household when I was only sixteen and I was terrified. Moving houses month after month and year after year is scary. Lisa made it so much easier for me, I felt like I was in a real home almost immediately.

For weeks, I thought Ethan just didn't like me, but was I ever so damn wrong.

I looked up to Ethan and lightly laughed.

"What?" He looked at me. I just shook my head and continued to smile. He smiled back and then looked back at Jace.

I remember sneaking off with Ethan like it was yesterday. Going onto the roof just to kiss him, skipping class to just come home and make out with him like reckless teenagers.

Then being sent to that group home, that was something else. It was my first ever encounter with Josie, that wasn't fun. Ever since that she was after me, for literal years.

Then being kidnapped by Josie and being literally shot by her was probably the most insane thing that happened. I guess it just shows what someone will do for love...

And then Ethan had this insane realistic dream that really scared him. I always wondered what it must've been like to experience something that seemed so fucking real and then wake up to it not being true.

I honestly have always wondered what Ethan thinks about when we go through all of these crazy times in our life. Like our miscarriage when we graduated high school. I was heartbroken, but I never really knew what was going through his mind. For all I know, he could've been relieved. We were young to be fair.

And now this. After being taken by Josie once again and almost being shot, we have our two beautiful babies that I know Ethan and I will love so, so much.

I looked up to Ethan. After a couple seconds, he looked up to me and lightly smiled.

"Thank you." I said.

"For what?" He tilted his head, confused.

"For just being you. Everything you've done for me."

"Well, you showed me what love is."

I looked down at Xela and blushed. I couldn't stop smiling.

"I'd do literally anything for you just because that's what you deserve." He said.

I leaned over and gently placed my lips on his. As I pulled away, his gaze didn't leave my eyes.

"So, thank you, Jordyn."

My love for Ethan Grant Dolan will never fade. It's always going to feel like it's the first ever time laying eyes on him. I know he's my soulmate.

With my whole entire heart and everything I have, I love Ethan.

don't worry there's an epilogue