Iris Rhodes.

After a long and exhausting labour, Avelie was finally born at 08:03 am, weighing five pounds three ounces, and her brother Sutton made his arrival twenty-seven minutes later, weighing only two ounces less at five pounds one ounce. His sister may weigh more, but he for sure is taller than her.

I expected for them to be small, but nothing could have prepared me when I first saw just how little they are.

Avelie begins to cry beside me from the bassinet, and Nathan immediately gets up before she wakes her brother who is sleeping in my arms, "Hey, what's up, little one? Is life already so hard that you're complaining to us about it?"

I chuckle, finding amusement in their wholesome interaction. He carefully joins me back in the bed, which is thankfully a double, not a single, so he doesn't need to sleep on the chairs tonight at least.

"So, now, you're fine?" he mutters, lying her down on his chest, "You just wanted to be held, huh?"

Leaning my head on his shoulder, I respond with a yawn, "She must take after me."

"Get some sleep, baby, you need to rest."

"I doubt I'll be able to," I admit, "My adrenaline is still high, I'm sure I'll crash soon. At least Sutton's sleeping."

"He is," Nathan looks down at our son, who's more than content in my arms.

"I can't believe they're here," I whisper, still in a daze from today's events. I gave birth to Avelie two hours ago now, and time has yet to catch up to me.

Due to tearing, I was in the delivery room getting stitches for a little over half an hour, so it wasn't until twenty minutes ago that we were moved up into this room.

"You did so well, Iris, I've never been prouder of someone in my life," he tells me.

"Thank you, Nath, I couldn't have done it without you there," I look at him with a tired smile, "It was so worth it in the end, and I would do it all over again for them if I had to, but fuck me, that was the hardest thing I've ever done."

Without Nathan by my side, holding my hand and supporting me through it, I doubt I would have been able to stay sane, especially during our son's delivery. Nothing could have prepared me for how painful it was to bring him into this world; I thought it would feel similar, or even easier, but God, was I wrong. Every push felt like I was dying; the ten-second durations of doing so were the longest ten seconds of my life.

"It's all over now," he murmurs, gently squeezing my leg, "You're okay, and the babies are here safe and healthy."

"And they are so perfect," I whisper, moving Sutton from my arms to my legs where he stretches out.

Nathan looks down at our son with a smile, "You are so cute, baby boy."

"He really is," I whisper, stroking his cheek, "He looks so much like you, Nath."

"You seriously think so?"

"Yeah, just look at him," I can't pinpoint a single feature on him that resonates with mine.

"He's got your nose," he says, and I hum, staring at our baby's facial features, "Avelie, however, is your double."

"I can't deny that," I glance over to see her lying on his chest, lips pouted as she sleeps.

They may both have my nose, but everything about Avelie is a copy and paste of me; her lips, ears, eyes, even her hair is dirty blonde, like mine once was when I was born.

Sutton begins to stir in my lap as soon as the attention is directed off of him, and I can't help the laugh that bubbles out of me, "Are you jealous of your sister, little man?"

His eyes flicker open at my voice, but they quickly close because of the light above our bed, and in seconds his face screws up with a cry. 

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised, it is bright in here," I lift him into my arms, bringing his blanket with him.

After a diaper change and feed for them both, we put the babies in their bassinets, and finally catch up on the sleep we've lacked in the past twenty-four hours. Though, broken from waking to check on the babies, I successfully get two full hours, which turns out to be all that I needed to revive. As much as I try, I can't fall back to sleep, so I lay awake, catching up with the messages left on my phone.

After the twins were born, I asked Nathan to go on my phone to let everybody know they were here. He then sent everyone who mattered a picture of the twins in my arms with their names as the caption. A large smile comes to my face when I check my sister's replies, all of which were sent only ten minutes ago. 

Amelia:

'YOU'RE KIDDING.'

'OH MY GOD.'

'NO WAY.'

'LOOK AT THEM, THEY'RE SO TINY.'

'Congrats, Iris, I'm so proud of you, they're perfect!'

Me:

'thanks sis! they really are perfect, nathan and i are so in love with them. i miss you so much and we can't wait to see you at the end of this month. the babies are excited to meet their aunt!'

Amelia will be visiting for two weeks over Easter, and I simply can't wait now that the babies are here. Not only will she get to meet them, but I'll finally get to give her a tour of New York, something we weren't able to do over Christmas break because of the weather.

With my mood airy and positive, I flick through my other messages and land on Charlotte's, who's been updating me about the girls per my request since I got in the car. I scroll up, passing the picture that Nathan has sent her to read her earlier messages.

Charlotte:

'Good morning! Hope you're doing okay, honey!'

'As soon as Addie woke up, she asked if the twinies were here yet, so it's safe to say she's excited about today.'

'Nathan's messaged me to let me know that you're fully dilated and the babies will be here soon, so this is my little message to wish you luck, you're going to be incredible!'

'Bailey jumped in the pool and I had to stop Nova from joining him; is it always this chaotic here?'

I snort out a laugh, bringing my hand to my mouth in shock at the last message. Oh, how I love this crazy life.

Seconds after she sent that, Nathan shared the picture of me with the twins, and her response warms my heart.

Charlotte:

'Oh, I can't stop crying, they are both absolutely adorable and I can't believe I finally have a grandson. I'm really proud of you, honey, you look so happy and you have done extremely well. Sending you so much love, tell Nathan and the twins that I love them also. I'm such a lucky grandmother, I couldn't be happier for you both. The girls are going to be over the moon when they get to meet their baby brother and baby sister.'

As I come up with a reply, I quickly shift my gaze between Nathan and the babies, who are all sound asleep.

Me:

'you don't know how much that means to me, it was hard, but they're here and i did it!'

'nathan and the babies are currently asleep, but if you'd like to come and visit us with the girls, i'd love that and i'm sure you all will too.'

'ps. if you do come, can you please bring taco bell?'

My stomach rubbles at my own question; lunchtime is just around the corner, and I can imagine that Taco Bell will be much nicer than the hospital food. If Charlotte doesn't come, I'm sure I can convince Nathan to pick some up for us.

The sound of Sutton waking with a cry snaps me back into reality, and I quickly put my phone down, giving him my full attention. The twins are due a feed any minute now, and I'm not at all surprised Sutton is the first to wake up for it. He may be the fussiest when it comes to taking my breast, but he's definitely the hungriest between him and his sister.

When I pick him up from the bassinet, Nathan begins to move beside me, and I gently rock our little boy back and forth in my arms to console him, "Hey, hungry boy, try to not wake daddy, he's sleeping."

"No, he's not," Nathan mumbles with a hoarse voice, his eyes fluttering open after the words.

"I'm sorry," I apologise, shyly looking down at him.

"Don't be," he insists, sitting up in bed, "Did you get some sleep at all?"

"I got two hours," I say with a beaming smile.

"Oh, I'm so glad. Do you want me to take him for five?" he offers and I nod, gently passing Sutton to his father.

"While he's content I'm actually going to go to the bathroom, I need to freshen up, I look like such a mess," I get up out of bed with achy muscles.

Nathan's hand reaches for mine, "Iris, you look so beautiful, don't allow yourself to think otherwise."

"I have yet to brush my teeth today and it's past noon," I laugh, picking up my wash bag, "I'm going to do that, as well as sort my hair out, and do some skin care; I think it'll make me feel more me."

"Take your time, I've got this," he smiles.

Having a moment to make myself look and feel better is exactly what I need after the events of today so far. After I agonizingly pee and wash my hands, I do as he offers and take my time, starting by brushing my hair. Once my hair is scraped back in a claw clip, I wash my face, apply some skin care products and brush my teeth.

At what sounds like both babies crying, I quickly put on some lip balm to revive my cracked lips and walk back out to tend to them.

"Twins, what is all this fuss about?" I find amusement in how quickly they can get riled up.

"Do you feel better?" Nathan asks, sitting back on the bed with both babies now in his arms.

"Much better," I carefully climb onto the bed, sitting down beside him.

Settling into our little routine, I take one of the babies, this time Avelie, and change her diaper, while Nathan takes care of Sutton's. Once her sleepsuit is zipped, I unbutton my shirt and get comfortable for their third feed to commence.

Twenty minutes into it, my phone begins to ring and when I look down, it's Charlotte's name staring back at me.

"Baby, your mom's calling, can you get it for me?"

Nathan stretches around me and before it can ring off, he answers and puts her on speakerphone.

"Hello, mom, is everything okay?" Nathan asks, looking at my phone with a confused, yet curious frown.

"Yes, is Iris there?" she wonders.

"I'm here," I chuckle.

"What would you like from Taco Bell, I'm about to go in the drive through?" she asks, and her words have the biggest smile appearing on my face. I think I could cry from happiness.

"Oh, I love you so much," I tell her, matter of fact.

She takes our rather large order with no complaints and lets us know she'll be with us in around ten minutes.

"You asked her to come?" Nathan grins over at me.

Sheepishly, I smile, "I missed our girls, and I really wanted them and Charlotte to meet the twins."

"And the Taco Bell?" he chortles at the question.

"I was starving," I mumble, "Still am actually."

"You could have asked me to go out, you know?"

"You were my backup option if she didn't want to go," I smile at him, "And in my defence you were sleeping peacefully when we were messaging."

He simply shakes his head at me, "I'm glad she's coming though, and the girls; they'll be so excited."

"Definitely," I can just picture them giddy in the car.

After nursing them for twenty-five minutes, Avelie unlatches from my nipple and only a few minutes later, Sutton follows her lead, not wanting any more. Nathan burps Avelie over his shoulder, while I start with Sutton, holding him up with my left hand as I rub his back with my right.

Once they give us what we're after, I lay them on my chest, with a light blanket draped over them.

"That's better, isn't it?" I whisper, stroking Avelie's dirty blonde hair.

All of a sudden, the door to our right opens and in walks the girls with big smiles on their faces.

"Mommy!" Nova runs over to the bed with the strings of a congratulations balloon clasped in her hand.

Something tells me that the peace the two of them have just found will be sweetly interrupted for the foreseeable.

Nathan rounds the bed to greet everyone, "Thank you for coming guys, we've got some babies who are waiting to meet their grammy and big sisters."

Elise and Addie are shyly waiting by the door next to Charlotte, and I wave my hand over, "Come and see them."

"They've washed their hands," Charlotte assures me.

"Thank you," I grin.

Nova tries to get on the bed, but Nathan quickly stops her, "Be careful, Nov, can I take your balloon first?"

Happily, she hands it over and attempt to get onto the bed, but again fails miserably because of how high it is.

"How about you meet the babies on the sofa?" I offer, as it'll be easier for everyone that way.

"Perfect idea," Nathan agrees.

In seconds, the girls are all sat nicely on the sofa in the corner of the room, waiting to meet them. Nathan scoops up Avelie from my chest, allowing me to move with Sutton. I could take them over myself, but I'm still quite nervous holding them at the same time. 

Nathan hands Avelie to Elise and crouches down in front of the sofa to introduces her to them, "Girls, this is Avelie, your baby sister."

"Baby," Nova whispers, gently pressing her finger against Avelie's cheek.

A giggle bubbles out of me when I approach, "And this, girls, is your baby brother, Sutton."

"A boy?" Elise gasps, looking over.

"We have a brother?" Addie asks, her eyes wide.

I nod, "You do, would you like to hold him, Ad's?"

"Please, yes, please," she holds her arms out.

One after another, each of the girls hold the twins, but only when Charlotte has them in her arms do I find my way back to my bed and dig into the bag of food.

"Can I join?" Elise asks.

"Of course you can," I tap the empty space beside me.

Elise climbs onto the bed with a burrito in hand and she settles closely next to me to finish her food, "What did you get?"

"The question should be what didn't I get," I peer into the bag, "I got a lot, but I'll join you in eating a burrito."

"It's really good," she mumbles through a mouthful.

"It smells it," my stomach hasn't stopped rumbling.

An exaggerated moan leaves my mouth after my first bite, and Elise laughs, nodding her head, "Told you."

"You did," I say before taking another bite.

Elise's gaze drifts over to the sofa where everyone is gathered before looking at me, "You are a great mom, Iris."

"You really think so?" I whisper, my heart warming at her words.

"I know so," she says, and a moment later, she nervously starts picking at her nail polish, "And, um, only if you don't mind, I think I'm ready to call you mom, too."

"Oh, Elise," I purse my lips to stop myself from crying, "I would love that, but only if you want to, sweetheart, there's no pressure for you to do so, not ever."

"I want to," she nods, so sure of her words, "You won't leave us right?"

"I won't leave," I promise her that, pulling her into a hug, "I love you so much, El."

"I love you too, mom," she whispers back.

Tears spring to my eyes as I glance around the room at a family I now call my own. I've been chasing the dream of having a family since I was a little girl, and it may have taken twenty-four years, but I've finally reached it. My neglected upbringing will always have an impact on my life, but it's not the first thing I now think of when family is mentioned, this one right here is.

Everything I went through to get us to this moment; the sickness, the discomfort, the fatigue, the sadness was truly worth it. I may have been miserable at times, but now that the twins are here in good health, all is forgotten. Our family is finally complete, and for the first time in my life, I feel so too.

My heart has never felt so full prior to today, and I can't put into words how thankful I am for being blessed with my pregnancy. Without the twins, I wouldn't have Nathan or my girls, and ultimately they're the ones who saved me.

There are silver linings in almost everything, but it's your responsibility to determine if you want to see the bright side of a situation or not. Nathan shun daylight into the stormy clouds of my life, where no silver linings were able to be found. Slowly but surely, he drew me out of the darkness with the warmth of his trust, and I've been thankful ever since.

THE END.

~~~~~

A/N

AND THE BOOK IS COMPLETE!

I've never loved a fictional family more, and I'm so sad to be finishing this book. Originally this book was supposed to end two chapters after this, but this was the perfect ending for them.

I hope you enjoyed their story! x

Epilogue coming soon!!!