Page 250 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

Madi frowned then fixed the pillows behind her before stretching her arms out again. “Um, let me have Ethan first, he’s fussing.”

Trying their best not to jostle the babies overly much, Matt successfully passed his son to Madi.

“Hello sweetie,” she crooned softly as she cradled him with one arm. “Do you want a feed?”

Matt peered at Eva who was also beginning to fuss. “I think they both do, poppet.”

“Can you buzz the nurse? I still don’t know how to do thisproperly.”

“I can help.” Matt volunteered without hesitation. Madi cleared her throat, perhaps embarrassed, and Matt gave her a look. “I’ve seen your breasts before,”

“I know, Matt-”

“And I watched you breastfeed,” He snuck a peek at his wristwatch. “Two and a half hours ago.”

“It’s just-”

“Let me help.” Matt said firmly.

Sighing Madi nodded her head as she unbuttoned the cotton nightgown she wore and undid the clasp of her maternity bra. “Ok, but don’t stare like you did last time.”

Matt hid his smile and took a seat on the bed while Madi went about placing their son in position to feed. Once Ethan had latched on to her breast, it took him a few tries, Matt tenderly helped Madi arrange Eva on her remaining free breast.

“This is weird.” she said as she gazed at them.

Matt buttoned his shirt back up then wrapped an arm around her so he could lend some support to her other arm. “I think it’s beautiful.” He kissed the side of her head.

“You’reweird.” she mumbled then lost interest in him as she became consumed by their babies.

Matt understood completely. His focus was solely on their little faces peeking out from under their tiny baby hats as Madi held them. At 5lbs 3oz, Eva was the bigger twin. Ethan just managed to make 5lbs. Matt was again silently thankful and in awe. How had the three of them done it? Although he had portrayed a calm demeanour during Madi’s advancing pregnancy, he had secretly been afraid of all the things that could have gone wrong. Hell. Half the times he sat in board meetings the reports he implied he was reading through were in actual fact print outs from various websites and online reading material concerning twin pregnancies.

Nothing had truly prepared him for their arrival though. There were no words to express the sheer terror they’d experienced when Ethan had been born. Those first fewlongmoments of silence which should have been filled with the sound of a screeching newly delivered baby were soul-destroying. Madi had squeezed his hand tight enough to cause physical pain and he had unconsciously matched her force as they both silently prayed their firstborn wouldbe ok. The paramedics had arrived by that time with a mobile incubator and the necessary tools to deal with a multiple delivery outside the safety of a hospital ward.

Matt shook his head to rid himself of that particular memory. Eva was breech but Stuart delivered her also, he’d refused to give control to the paramedics, determined to see the delivery of his nephew and niece through to the end and loudly reiterating how good of a surgeon he was. Matt was too worried to point out his brother-in-law’s specialty laid in heart surgery and Madi simply wanted the ordeal over with. He could never forget the stark look of pain etched on her features as she experienced childbirth.

Eva had made her presence known from the get-go. A wide smile split his face as he lightly touched her impossibly tiny hand which was curled shut. Upon delivery her mewling cry had been met with cheers from the whole room. Grumps had loudly decreed their resilience was a certain Bradley trait and William Jr had been moved to silent tears at the newest additions to their family. He would, of course, deny it happened if ever mentioned.

“At least they’re no longer covered in womb gunk.” Madi mused quietly.

Matt choked back his chuckle and pressed another kiss to the side of her face. “It was quite messy.”

“Slimy.” Madi shuddered then tilted her head to look at him. “They’ll be ok, right?”

Matt nodded and bent his head to capture her lips in a soft kiss. “Yes, they will be. They’re ours, of course they’ll be alright.”

His cocky assurances brought a smile to her lips then they both turned their attention back to their babies. A couple of hours filled with their low murmurs of ahh’s and ohh’s passed in the blink of an eye. Once the babies had been fed, Madi had fixed her clothes and spent the time just cuddling them, her eyes remained wide with fascination while Matt simply enjoyed the moment of them being together. All four of them.

Soon enough though Madi couldn’t halt her yawns and her eyelids started drooping. Matt convinced her to hand over the babies, it took a while for her to relinquish them, and coaxed her into getting some more rest. It was a good thing too as it wasn’t long after when Matt’s family converged in Madi’s private hospital room. He didn’t have the heart to wake Madi who had only recently dozed off. Poorthing. She had been whisked off into surgery the moment they had arrived at the hospital to have the lacerations to her cervix repaired. It was why there had been so much blood during her labour. Matt was so damned thankful the three of them were okay.

“I’m holding one of them next.” Stuart demanded of Hannah. “While you were off on your jollies, I was busy delivering these beauties.” Stuart scowled at Matt. “I damn well hope Ethan’s middle name rhymes with,” His scowl deepened as he hovered anxiously over Hannah’s shoulder and watched her stroke Eva’s tiny knuckles. “What rhymes with Stuart, darling? They should name him after me, yes? Is there a female version of my name? Isn’t she such a darling? Come on, Hannah, stop hogging her.”

“Dad, please.” Natty groused while sneakily edging Adam out of the way when Grumps finally offered up a sleeping Ethan for adoration.

“You do know I’m going to be their favourite uncle.” Stuart smugly thumbed his nose at Adam who had spotted Natty’s incursion in the circle to hold Ethan.

“Highly unlikely,” Adam retorted as he tapped Natty’s shoulder and waved her back. “I’m abloodrelative. You just happen to be married to their aunt.”

“Quiet,” William Jr ordered before expertly and carefully retrieving Ethan from Grumps. “Before you wake Madison.”

---