The amount of worry and stress I experienced over the babies possibly coming early was for nothing because three weeks later, I'm still as pregnant as ever. With every day that passes, we get closer to the safe zone for these babies to be delivered in good health, which is my only priority.

They'll come when they want to, and for now, they're still happy in my belly.

I have bigger worries on my mind because, unfortunately, the day has come for Nathan to return to work and I can't say any of us is happy about it.

"Daddy stay," Nova frowns, pointing to the sofa with an annoyed huff.

"I can't, baby, I need to go to work, but I'll be back before you even wake up," Nathan crouches to her level, but instead of accepting his goodbye, she runs off to her bedroom screaming. He sighs, standing up and turns to me, "Are you going to be okay with her?"

"Of course, I'll let her have a moment to herself first before I go in," it's not my first rodeo with Nova's tantrums.

She's gotten so used to Nathan being home from work the last six weeks that her reaction to him leaving again for the first time was to be expected.

"I'll message you when I get to the arena," he kisses me swiftly before he turns to the girls who are sitting on the sofa, watching television, "Behave for Iris please and help her with your sister. Remember, I love you, I'll be back later."

"Please be safe," Elise begs.

"Yeah, don't get hurt again, daddy," Addie adds.

"I'll be safe and won't get hurt," he agrees, picking up his gym bag from the floor. He looks at me, guilt written over his face, "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"I've got it, baby, just go, you're going to be late," I don't want to rush him out of the door, but it's better he isn't here when Nova comes back out; it'll only cause more upset.

"I love you, I'll see you tonight," he kisses me again.

"We love you most, have a good game," I murmur back, which earns me a grin-eating smile before he leaves.

Once the door closes behind him, I exhale a deep breath and brace myself to face Nova. However, as I approach Nova and Addie's room, the noise seems to have settled and when I walk in, she's fast asleep, stretched across her pillows.

"Of course," I mutter to myself.

Despite the fact it's still quite early in the evening, I'm going to allow her to sleep because it's only half an hour before bedtime; she's had dinner, so she won't be sleeping on an empty stomach at least.

Without waking her, I tuck her into bed and make sure her bunny is in arm's reach if she wakes throughout the night.

"Good night, sweetheart," I kiss her forehead.

I swiftly leave her room and waddle my way back into the main area of the house, where Elise is in the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. Behind her on the windowsill is a large bouquet of tulips, which Nathan had bought me for Valentine's Day simply because they're my favourite, and only now, after two weeks, are they beginning to wilt.

"Nova has fallen asleep, so it's just me and you girls tonight," I announce.

Elise laughs, putting her glass down, "I'm glad, she's been extra evil today."

"I can't really disagree," I lean my elbows against the island, stretching my back, "So, what do you fancy doing?"

"Well, you need to lay on the sofa," she tells me straight, taking me off guard, "Dad told me that we're not allowed to bake and all you should do is lie down."

"He is so," I am speechless.

She shrugs, picking up her glass of water again, "I'm happy with only doing that; we don't always have to bake, as much as I love that we do."

"Are you sure?" I double-check, and she nods with a tight smile, "Shall I put dad's game on for us to watch later, so we can keep an eye out?"

"Yes, please," she answers quickly.

"Just don't tell him I let you stay up late, deal?"

"Deal," she agrees, holding out her pinky finger.

After hooking my finger with hers, a sharp wave of pain begins to spread from the top of my uterus, and my hand quickly goes to my bump, which is now rock hard, "Ah."

"What's wrong?" Elise frowns, "Are they kicking?"

"No," I shake my head breathlessly as the agonizing pain begins to subside, "I'm sure it's nothing, it's probably just Braxton hicks again."

However, none of the Braxton hicks contractions I've had previously had ever felt like this.

"Please lay down now," she insists, putting her glass of water on the island and grabbing my hand, "Addie, move over, Iris needs to lay down now, daddy was right."

"What did daddy say?" I'm the first to hear of this.

"It doesn't matter," she shakes her head, pulling me towards the living room.

"Wait, can I at least go to the bathroom before I get comfy?" I ask with an amused giggle.

"Fine," she sighs, "Don't have the babies in there."

"I won't. I'm okay," I assure her, taking her hand, "They're not coming yet, don't worry about that. Go sit with your sister and I'll be right with you."

After using the bathroom and washing my hands, I walk out to find a blanket, snacks, and a bottle of water waiting for me on the sofa next to the girls.

I shake my head in protest, "El, I'm fine now; you didn't have to do this."

"Yeah, I do, it's what you'd do for us," she pats the sofa next to her.

"Well, thank you, I appreciate it," I happily sit down, getting comfortable in the corner of the sofa.

"Are the babies coming now?" Addie asks excitedly.

"No, they're not y-" I'm cut off by another surge of pain and my hand flies to my bump, my breath getting knocked out of me, "Okay, maybe they are."

"You need to go to the hospital now," Elise tells me, and I shake my head with a laugh, "You do!"

"Not yet, I don't," It's too early. If there's anything I've learnt from pregnancy books, it is that I shouldn't go to the hospital until my contractions are a minute long and they are at least five minutes apart for more than two hours. The only exception to this is if my waters break within that time. "I need to wait for my pains to get closer together, so until then, we can chill."

They both look at me like I've grown a second head, and Addie finally breaks, "Well, what shall we do?"

"Watch television with me?" I suggest, keeping my cool, even though I'm silently freaking out inside.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think this is how my labour would start. Not only am I alone with the girls, but I'm without Nathan for another five hours. There's no telling how far into this I'll be when he gets home; I could be close to giving birth, or I could be okay. My hopes are with the latter.

The smart decision would be to tell Nathan now and ask him to come home, but it's his first day back at work since his injury, and I don't want to jeopardise that. If my waters break, I will of course be telling him, but I've had only two contractions so far, and they could stop any minute, which is common, so then I'd be worrying him for nothing.

I can survive the five hours, I'm sure; I have my girls.

✯✯✯

It's safe to say I am in fact in labour and unfortunately, my contractions didn't magically just go away, as much as I wish they had.

My gynaecologist told me on the phone an hour ago to stay at home until they are at least five minutes apart, unless my water breaks, which it hasn't. I started timing my contractions when they became regular and with them slyly skimming the five-minute line, I'm only just holding on for Nathan to get back, which should be any minute now.

When I'm not in pain, I pace the living room with Bailey following in my footsteps, my phone in hand, timing the gaps between my contractions, and as the stopwatch flickers to 04:47 another hits me, much worse than the last.

As my brows draw together in pain, I kneel onto the sofa and lean my elbows on the top of it, getting into the only position I've found somewhat bearable. It's been my go-to since the girls went to bed two hours ago.

Tears fill my eyes as the unbearable pain continues; I've tried so hard to keep my emotions in check and to stay strong, until now when I break. A sob ruptures through me and my tears begin to spill, ricocheting down my cheeks, leaving droplets on the top of the sofa where I lay my head.

Fear and loneliness consume me fully; I don't think I can go through another contraction alone. Another sob leaves me at the thought, and just as I begin to spiral, I hear the door to the garage open, filling my heart with hope.

"I'm home!" Nathan yells quietly, keeping his voice low in order to not wake the girls.

"I'm in here," I reply, my voice breaking when I do.

"Baby, what's wrong?" his upbeat tone changes with concern, rushing past the kitchen, and his face immediately drops when he sees me leaning over the sofa.

"The babies are coming," I don't find any energy to reply properly, "I watched the game, you played so well."

"Screw the game," he puts his bag down, walking over to me. He comes to my level and gently cups my cheeks, his eyes flicking over my face with worry, "Why didn't you text or call me? I would have come straight home, baby."

"I've been relatively okay until the last half an hour, and it was your first game back, I didn't want to ruin that."

"Again, screw the game," he shakes his head, "I don't give a fuck about it, I should have been here with you, Iris."

"I'm sorry," I mean it, but I don't regret my decision.

"How far apart are your contractions?" he asks me, using his thumb to wipe my old tears.

"Less than five minutes now; we need to call your mom and get ready to go to the hospital," I'm calm now, but no doubt as soon as I get in the car the panic will set in.

"Why am I so surprised that you put my work above yourself in labour? You are so unbelievably stubborn, Iris," he stands up, taking my hands as he does.

"I'm not that stubborn," I feign offence.

He only sends me a look that has me shutting up, "I'll go get the hospital bags and ring my mom, will you be okay?"

"Of course; I have Bailey," I look over to the dog who is now sleeping in the corner, "Never mind."

"I'll be quick," he assures me.

Nathan is back with the bags just in time for my next contraction to hit; he holds my hand, talking me through it, just like I imagined he would. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that he wouldn't look after me, but experiencing it first-hand heals a piece of me I never knew needed fixing.

"I love you," I mumble, combing my hands through his hair, "So much, Nath."

"I love you most, sweetheart, and always will," he tells me, so sure of his words. He gently tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, "You're doing so well, I'm so proud."

At the sentiment, I let my eyes flutter closed, and he presses a kiss to the top of my head, holding me close during the peace between contractions. He doesn't leave my side once, not until he has to when Charlotte arrives.

When I stand from the sofa to greet her, I experience what I can only describe as a popping sensation, which is quickly followed by a gush of fluid from between my legs.

My eyes grow wide at the same time as Nathan's, "I think my waters just broke."

"Okay, yeah, you need to go to the hospital now, Iris; don't worry about this, I'll sort it, just go," Charlotte insists.

"Are you sure?" I can't believe I have to let my boyfriend's mother clean up my bodily fluids.

"Yes, you need to give birth to my grandbabies."

"Go and change quickly, I'll put everything in the car for us," Nathan tells me, and I exhale a deep breath, taking in everything at once, "You've got this, Iris."

"I've got this." 

~~~~~

A/N

The babies are coming!!!

Last guesses for gender predictions!!

Lots of love <3