The cold bathroom envelopes me when I step out of the steamy shower, causing goosebumps to rise on my arms and legs while I attempt to dry myself as quickly as I can. My reflection in the mirror catches my attention and I frown as I turn to the side, dropping the towel.

It's still early morning, I haven't eaten breakfast or drank water yet, but my stomach is bloated as if I have. I gently touch my belly, expecting it to feel like usual, but it's much firmer; it's never felt like that before, which only means one thing, I'm starting to show already.

"Please just let me fit in this dress today, babies, that's all I ask," I beg, wrapping my towel back around my body.

With Nathan giving me less than a week to figure out what to wear to this wedding, I was lucky that I already had something in mind. The only issue now is I haven't tried it on since I bought it two years ago; I wasn't worried until now because it's the first morning I've seen a noticeable change in my body.

There are always other options, I tell myself, so instead of worrying too much about it, I take a seat on my bedroom floor in front of my long-standing mirror and start on my hair and makeup.

With rollers in my hair and my makeup done to as close to perfection as I can with my skills, I gently take my dress out of the closet and take down the zip. Nerves run through me as I step into the dress, it feels comfortable going up, but as soon as I try to zip it up, I can't like I used to, it won't move.

Full of frustration tears come to my eyes, and a lump in the back of my throat thickens; I just wanted to wear this beautiful, split-thigh, emerald dress and look presentable next to Nathan. I was nervous enough about going and meeting his people before this had to happen.

A knock on my door has me wiping away my tears and I take a deep breath before opening the door to Nathan, whose smile quickly drops when he sees my face.

"What's happened? Are you okay? Are the babies okay?" he rushes to ask.

"They're more than okay, which is why I have this issue," I turn around to show him my zip.

He clears his throat, and I look back with a frown, "You have no bra on?"

"What are you, twelve? Of course, I don't," I whine, turning around, "My zip won't go up, my stomach has grown overnight, my hips hurt and I want to curl up and die."

"Turn around," he whispers, holding my hips and turning me. He pulls the fabric together at the back, and I let out a shallow gasp when the zip goes up. "It was caught, it just needed a little help, Iris."

My first and only reaction is to cry, "Thank you, I thought it didn't fit me and I'd have to-"

"Shush, it's okay, wipe your tears, you're going to ruin your gorgeous makeup, sweetheart," he hands me a tissue from his pocket, and for the first time today, I take in his appearance.

"You look so handsome," I blurt out because he does; he's wearing a gorgeous black suit, and I've never seen him like this.

"And you look stunning Iris; really, you do," he says, and I take another breath as my anxiety eases slowly, "Now let me see these babies, you said they've grown?"

He lowers to the level of my belly and puts his hands gently on, and he looks up with a smile which I share with him, "I guess I'll be showing a lot earlier with twins, I thought we'd be able to hide this for a while."

"We can keep this to ourselves for as long as you want to; no one should speculate, it's not their business to do so, try not to worry," he assures me, and I nod, "I'm going to make you some breakfast, we're leaving in less than an hour, is that okay?"

"Thank you, I'd like that, and yeah, I'm going to take my rollers out and I'll be down," I tell him.

I take my time doing so and touch up my makeup as well, and before I leave, I take a quick photo in the mirror of my bump in the dress. It's small but noticeable, and I want photos to remember.

With my purse in hand, I walk downstairs and I'm greeted in the kitchen with Nathan plating up some food, "Let's hope this holds you over until dinner."

"Hopefully," I chuckle, and he looks over at me with a smile, "Do I look okay? I don't want to-"

"You're perfect, Iris; you look perfect," he assures me before he taps on the nearest seat, "Now sit, eat up, we have a wedding to get to."

"Yes, Sir," I sit down, putting my purse on the countertop.

"Oh and I forgot to mention, we're sharing a room tonight, I hope that's okay," he tells me with a sheepish smile.

I stare at him to see if he'll crack like he's joking, but he never does and I point at him with a faux serious expression, "We're making a pillow wall."

"So hot for me, you need to put a pillow between us, sweetheart?"

"More so that I don't trust you and your hands to not wander," I say, taking a bite of my trusty sandwich.

"You're only kidding yourself, I've not once laid a hand on you until you've asked or begged for it, and I doubt that will ever change."

"Oh, please," I roll my eyes, and he raises his brows.

"Is that you rehearsing...?"

"Just eat your sandwich, FIelds," I take another bite into mine, moving swiftly on.

✯✯✯

Conversation between wedding guests floats around the room, with only one topic in mind; the groom at the top of the altar with his groomsmen, waiting for his bride who will walk down the aisle in mere minutes. I look to Nathan, who smiles and takes my hand as we sit down in our seats.

"You feeling okay?" he asks me in a whisper.

I frown, "Yeah, why? Are you?"

"I meant because of your sickness," he chuckles and I shake my head with a little laugh, I forgot I was pregnant for a second, "So, they're behaving for you?"

"As of right now, yes," I whisper.

"I hope it stays that way," he squeezes my hand a little.

Sleeping At Last's 'Turning Page' starts to play and we stand, ready to welcome the bride to her soon-to-be husband. As soon as Charlie turns to see his bride for the first time, my tears fall for the strangers in front of me. My emotions and hormones are a complete mess because of the visible love shared between these two people, and I only wish one day I'll get this type of love and my mind will allow me to it.

Their vows between each other are beautiful and once they say "I do", I turn to Nathan and he has a bright smile on his face for his friends.

After a few short minutes, they have signed their marriage license and photos start to get taken of the newlyweds. Once we all leave the ceremony, we're greeted with glasses of champagne and I take one with no intent to drink it, but just to be polite.

"Do you want me to drink that, or are you ditching it somewhere?" Nathan asks quietly.

"I thought you were hardly drinking?" I ask.

"I'm not, but if you want me to drink it for you, I will," he offers, and I nod, passing him the glass and he hands me his orange juice.

"Thank you," I whisper, taking a sip to refresh me, which it seems to do immediately.

"Let's go congratulate the pair," Nathan says, and I smile, following his lead, his hand dangling back as if he wants me to take it, but I don't this time; I feel too seen.

"Nathan," Charlie greets him with the biggest smile, pulling him into a hug.

"Congratulations, man," Nathan pats him on the back before pulling away, "And best wishes, Elle, you'll need it with him."

"Thank you, Nathan," she smiles brightly.

Nathan turns to me, "This is my friend, Iris, I'd like you to meet her."

"I finally get to match the face to the name, it's nice to meet you," Charlie says, which means Nathan has been speaking about me; an occurrence between two people now.

"It was a lovely wedding, I'm very happy for the both of you, it was truly beautiful," I say sincerely.

"Thank you so much, it's already such a whirlwind, but I'm very happy," Elle gushes, her voice bright and bubbly.

"Oh, we're getting called for photos," Charlie looks towards the beautiful gardens, "Nathan stick around, you're getting in a few, yeah?"

"Okay, will do," Nathan nods, and as the happy couple walk off, he turns towards me, "I did not know I was getting pictures, is my tie straight?"

With a laugh, I hand him my glass of orange juice and I straighten it for him, smiling, "You look very handsome, I think you may need some imperfections beside your teammates, Fields."

"That was almost a compliment, sweetheart," he murmurs.

"Don't get too comfortable with it," I chuckle, taking my orange juice from him.

"Would you like to sit down, because I have a feeling we'll be here a while?" he suggests and I nod, letting him take my hand this time.

We find a table and as soon as I sit down, I let out a sigh, my feet and hips are sore from standing. I involuntarily rest my hand on my bump, but as soon as I realise I'm around a lot of public figures, I take it off and put my purse on my lap, disguising it.

"Could we sit here, Fields?" A man, maybe younger than Nathan, approaches the table with a beautiful brunette on his arm

"Of course, Dan," Nathan tells him before turning to the woman, "Olivia, it's nice to see you again, have you and the kids been keeping well?"

"We have, how about you, and who's this gorgeous girl you're hiding?" she playfully slaps him on the arm which causes jealousy to bubble up inside of me, which I know rationally is ridiculous.

"This is Iris, she's my date, and the kids are as good as ever," he smiles as he speaks about them. Something about him introducing me as his date and not his friend like he did to Charlie, settles well.

"Damn, Fields, you're back in the dating scene, who knew the day would ever happen," Dan jokes, and Nathan laughs along with it.

I've never been great at meeting new people, which is hilarious considering I worked the bar in a very popular club, but when it comes to people who matter, that's daunting. On the day of a wedding, I feel like Nathan and I are in for more conversations with the guests than the bride and groom do.

After a while, the men get called for photos, leaving just me and Olivia and a very awkward silence before she breaks it.

"So, how long have you been dating?" Horrible start.

"We're just friends, he only invited me as his date because he didn't have one," I'm telling no lies technically.

"Oh, I doubt he only sees you as a friend, you're gorgeous, Iris," she compliments and I smile.

"Thank you," I say, because I simply don't know what else to say. As I said, I'm horrible with new people.

✯✯✯

Once dinner concludes, I find myself in the bathroom ten minutes later and praying my nausea away, the smell of distant salmon still keeps causing me to gag. I didn't even think about the nausea, I haven't been sick yet, but my tolerance to the smell of food is very slim.

I take a deep breath, look in the mirror and whisper to myself, "Mind over matter."

Nathan is waiting outside the bathroom when I leave, and he looks at me with sympathy, "Would you like to go to the room if you're not feeling great?"

"Mind over matter, Fields, I'm pushing through," I smile, "Could I please have a drink, though?"

"Of course, I'll get you anything."

We head back in, just in time for the first dance, which I'm glad I didn't make us miss. We watch quietly to the side, him holding me close, his hand on my waist, and I rest my head against his bicep as I watch the beautiful couple.

"I'll get you a drink once they've finished, but if you'd like to sit down with Dan and Olivia when I do, you can," he offers, in a hushed whisper.

"Okay, thank you," I'd appreciate sitting down for at least five minutes.

Once the newlyweds finish their first dance, the music cranks up and the party of the night starts, and we make our way back to our table in the corner.

"Dan, wanna come with and grab a few drinks from the bar?"

"Yeah, will do, ours are almost finished," Dan stands and turns to Olivia, "Another white wine?"

"Please," she nods.

I smile, taking a seat and I sigh, stretching my legs out underneath the table. I've never felt so uncomfortable in heels as I am today.

"The men have it so easy wearing flats all day," Olivia comments and I laugh, nodding.

"I feel like I should have trained myself to wear heels this long," I'm not particularly joking; I think my feet would have benefited greatly from it.

"When I get married I will be wearing Crocs underneath my dress and no one will be able to tell me I can't."

"No one will even know," I laugh, "It's kind of genius."

Soon enough Nathan and Dan arrive with our drinks on a tray, and Nathan carefully puts them down on the table. He places two glasses of what looks like Sprite next to me, so I take one and before Nathan can stop me, I take a sip through the straw and my eyes widen at the taste of vodka.

"How much of that did you drink?" he asks immediately, but I haven't even swallowed it. "Spit it back in, I'll get another."

So, I turn and spit the drink back in from my mouth, and he passes me my drink with the white straw.

Olivia looks confused, whereas Dan blows the entire cover, "You've only gone and got her knocked up, haven't you?"

"Not that we're telling anyone yet," I laugh, taking a sip of my drink to get rid of the taste of alcohol.

"Oh my God, you're having a baby together?" Olivia asks in a hushed whisper, before looking at me and slaps my hand, "Just friends, my ass."

"Technically not a lie," I say, stirring my drink, "It's still very early, so I'd appreciate no one else knowing."

"Of course, wow congratulations," she says.

Dan pulls Nathan into a side hug, "Daddy of four now, man, you may need to invest in condoms one day."

I laugh at the remark and he looks at me as if he's wanting permission and I shrug, "Well, technically not."

"Technically not what?"

"I'm going to be a dad of five," Nathan admits and I sip my drink, hiding my smile as I watch him speak about our babies.

"Good God, have you ever got those swimmers checked, dude?" Dan asks and I laugh, watching Nathan get hounded by his friend.

"I don't know how you've survived today pregnant," Olivia admits, turning towards me.

"Oh, I barely have, I was just gagging over the smell of salmon twenty minutes ago," I admit and she chuckles. "It's weird that you guys know, not even our parents do yet."

"Well your secret is safe with us; Nathan's like my brother and well, Dan basically is his brother," she gestures to the two of them, chatting along. "If you need someone to talk about pregnancy and all the shit you're going through, I'm here, my youngest is only six months old, it's all still fresh in my mind."

"I appreciate it, I'll get Nathan to give me your number," and I will take her up on it.

As the night goes on, I become more comfortable with Nathan's friends and the people around me. Exhaustion catches up to me though; I'm desperate to get into bed, and Nathan notices, so we say goodbye to the table and the newlyweds before we leave to go to the room.

Once the door is unlocked, I fall back onto the bed dramatically, "I'm dead."

"You look it," he laughs, taking my foot and crouching in front of me to take my heels off.

"Thank you," I prop myself up, but the sight of him makes me regret my decision; he looks so good.

"Keep looking at me like that, you'll be begging again, Iris," he comments, keeping his eyes down and undoing my other shoe.

"I'm not looking at you like anything, don't be so egotistical," I scoff, lying back down.

"Well if you weren't looking, your body certainly wanted you to," he stands up and goes over to his bag on the chair.

"We've already been over this; you know I want you, I just can't cope with the feelings right now."

"I do, I know," he smiles at me, "Doesn't mean you should ignore what your body wants and I can't tease you over it."

"My body wants an orgasm, not you, dickhead," I throw a pillow at him and he laughs, picking it up.

"We always have our pillow wall, enjoy yourself as much as you like," he taunts, throwing the pillow back on the bed and I laugh, sitting up.

"Fields, I have the confidence to sit in that chair and go to town while you watch because it would only bother one of us, and it wouldn't be me."

"So, if I got my cock out and stroked it, watching you, you'd just sit there and be unfazed?"

"Oh, shut up," I throw the pillow back at him.

He laughs, walking over to me, "Exactly, you'd want it, wouldn't you?"

"Could you please shut up," I am begging now, looking up at him, because I fear if he doesn't, I'd be shutting him up another way, which would only prove him right.

"Fine, I'll shut up," he says, holding out his hand for me to stand, "I brought you a shirt of mine, I'll unzip you; you can change in the bathroom if you need."

"What happened to the Nathan who was talking about his cock?" I joke, turning around.

"You know I wouldn't force you into anything, you don't want to, so that means I don't, we're a team."

"There's a difference between don't want and won't," I whisper, shivering as the zip goes down my back, "Of course, I'd love to fuck you senseless, it's all my body is asking for, but I'm working on myself, and it's for you, for us and the kids."

"I know," he presses a kiss to my shoulderblade, "I'm sorry I'm messing with that, but truth be told, I was only testing you, we wouldn't be having sex tonight even if you jumped on me as soon as we walked in here."

"Why not?" I immediately think there's something wrong with me because why wouldn't he?

He holds my hips, whispering into my ear, "I'll eat you out all night long, Iris, I'll kiss you senseless, but I don't want to get pleasure out of something you only need for pleasure; I'll wait until you're ready. Right now your body is full of hormones and that's the only reason why you need me so bad. So, no, I'm not having sex with you, not until you're ready mentally."

"Thank you, but now will you stop testing me? It's very evil of you," I turn towards him, and he nods with a laugh, passing me a grey t-shirt of his, "Close your eyes, don't peak."

"Are we children?" he closes his eyes anyway.

I laugh and quickly put the shirt on, letting my dress fall to the ground, "Now you can open them."

"Perfect; I also brought you makeup remover wipes," he says and I sigh, so grateful. "Get into bed, I'll throw them to you, I know you want to get comfy."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," I praise, getting onto the right side of the bed, furthest away from the door and immediately start taking my makeup off.

He gets out of his suit and turns to me in only in his boxers, catching me looking, but he doesn't comment, "Do you want me to put sweatpants on, or can I keep just these on?"

"You're good with just them," I nod, and he walks over and gets into bed at the other side.

He shuts out the lights and we forget all about the pillow wall, lying down in our own space. I sigh happily, "I understand why people do it, you know?"

"Do what?" he whispers.

"Get married, allow themselves to fall in love," I say.

"Would you ever want to get married?" he asks me, and I sit right up. He laughs, "I meant in general, this is not a proposal, Rhodes, lay back down."

His laughter settles down but the nerves in my stomach do not, that was a lot of commitment on the line.

"I would, yeah," I whisper, "I grew up with parents who were married, had kids, and stayed together; it was hostile, but they were in love. I am scared of marriage, but I believe in divorce whereas my parents didn't. I'm not the girl I used to be, the girl that stays in a shitty situation anymore."

"Anymore?" he questions.

"I was engaged before, to my best friend's brother, I refuse to be treated like that ever again," I tell him.

"Did he hurt you?"

"Never physically," I clear up, "He's bad, but he's not that bad. But he did emotionally, and I know my issues must be so exhausting for you, but there's a lot of reasoning as to why."

"Can you just answer me one thing?" he asks, and I hum, "Are we a possibility to you one day?"

"We are," I nod. "I trust you, more than I've trusted anyone in a long time, but there are things I need to work on, and I am, I am trying."

"I know you are, I can see that you are, and I'm proud of you," he tells me.

"Were you ever married?" I ask, wanting to know more about the mother of his children, I respect her a lot.

"No, we were engaged though," he tells me, "It was one of those engagements that had little to no thought about it as horrible as it is to admit it."

"Oh?" I didn't expect that.

"We were in our last year of college when we conceived Elise, but we weren't together at the time; we'd slept together a few times; I was a little bit of what you could a man whore," he admits and I laugh.

"Of course you were; hockey players, who'd have them," I tut.

He nudges me, "You would, you literally said you would, so shush, let me finish."

"Okay, okay, continue."

"So, both of us were twenty-one, had this massive life-changing thing to take on at the same time I was getting scouted, and so we started living together here in New York, we had Elise and I loved her, it wasn't instant, it was a year into living together," he admits.

"That's kind of..."

"Please don't compare this situation," he begs, turning towards me, "With Lucy, it took years, with you, it's taken weeks."

"You're not in love with me, Nathan," I tell him.

"I'm not, but I do have feelings for you, that is what's different about this. I would be with you without these babies in the picture; it's hard to say, but I don't think with Lucy, I ever would have."

"But you loved her?" I ask, confused about this.

"I did; she was a great mother to my children, she was an amazing person, and she turned into my best friend," he sighs, and I realise exactly what he's saying.

"You loved her, but not in the way..."

"I wanted to, I wanted the family my kids deserved with their mother and it was easy because she was my best friend, but when it came down to date nights, romantic gestures, it was never something I was comfortable with her... we were going to break up, we had conversations about it because it wasn't fair on her, nor me, but then... she fell pregnant with Nova. So, I tried, I asked her to marry me because I thought that would help, but it just didn't."

"So, you were never in love with her?" I ask.

"No, I don't think I was, but she was still my best friend, losing her was the worst thing that's ever happened to me, and speaking about her like she meant nothing to me hurts because she did mean a lot. I just was never in love, you can't force it as much as you try, I've found."

"Yeah," I sigh, "I know what you mean and you don't have to explain yourself to me, I understand."

"What happened with your engagement, did you get the whole massive proposal?" he chuckles and I burst out laughing at the thought.

"No, he asked me while he was fucking me," I hate to admit it, and he laughs along with me.

"You're kidding me?"

"Nope, I wish I was," I laugh, "I think I just said yes so he'd finish already, is that cruel?"

"Maybe a bit, but did you want to get married to him?" he asks.

"I never actually saw any type of future with him actually, because I already knew he'd cheated on me at the time; you can call me an idiot, I've heard worse."

"I don't think you're an idiot, I just think you give people too many chances and I'm glad you're changing because no one deserves more than two, some only deserve one."

"They do," I agree.

When I turn over, I groan as my back aches and my hips throb, today has been a lot on my body. I put my hand on my little bump and sigh.

"Are they okay?" he whispers.

"They're perfect, I'm just uncomfortable," I say

He settles behind me, leaving enough distance and puts his hand beside mine on my belly, "Goodnight, babies."

"Goodnight, Nathan," I whisper.

"Goodnight, sweetheart." 

~~~~~

A/N

 I loved this chapter so much, it could be my favourite so far. 

Nathan and Iris' banter is genuinely the best thing ever, they care so deeply but can also have fun xxx 

I'm excited for next chapter!