Page 173 of Ink Me Three Times
A baby girl. Another girl. And a boy.
I swallow hard, the lump in my throat almost choking me. The tears well up before I can stop them. There’s something surreal about this, about the way these little beings fit perfectly in the world we’ve created.
I reach out, my hands trembling, to touch one of the girls. Her tiny fingers curl into mine, and my heart explodes. This is real. It’s terrifying and incredible all at once.
Mitchell stands beside me, eyes wide, and for once, I don’t see his usual controlled demeanor. He’s... cracking. His lips tremble, and I catch him wiping his face quickly, though it’s hard to hide the tears he’s fighting back.
Freddie’s quiet too, but there’s an unmistakable lightness in his eyes, a joy that wasn’t there before.
We all just stand there, frozen in the moment, gazing down at the babies. They’re the most precious things we’ve ever seen.
It’s overwhelming. I’ve been struck by lightning, the world has shifted beneath my feet in a way I can’t even begin to understand.
“Three,” Mitchell breathes, his voice barely audible. “We’ve got three.”
I nod, but I can’t find words. Not yet. There are too many emotions battling for dominance in my chest. Too much fear, too much joy, too much responsibility.
But the one thing I know for sure?
Ivy’s face lights up as she looks at them, her babies. Her family. It’s everything she’s always wanted, and in that moment, I realize how deeply I’ve fallen for her.
I reach over and place a hand on her shoulder, squeezing her gently. “You did it,” I whisper. “You’re incredible.”
She gives me a shaky smile, her eyes still locked on the tiny lives we’ve created.
And just like that, everything is exactly where it’s supposed to be.
Eventually, we make our way home.
The house is quiet for a moment, as if the world is letting out a collective sigh of relief. After everything, the hours in the hospital, the rush, the panic, the overwhelming joy, it all fades into this new, soft reality.
Ivy’s still exhausted, but there’s a sense of peace about her now, a calm that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. She’s a mother now, and she’s got this quiet confidence that makes her look like she could take on the world, even if she’s half asleep.
I pick up one of the babies,my daughter, and she lets out a little squeak that makes my chest tighten. I never thought I’d be here, holding a child of my own. But here I am, holding my daughter, and my heart is too full for words.
When we walk into the house, everything feels different. The air smells fresher somehow, it’s been cleared of all the uncertainty. It’s real now. We’ve made it through the hardest part. And now, the four of us, no, the seven of us, are finally home.
Penny’s already there, bouncing on the couch, she’s about to explode with excitement.
“Are they here?” she asks, her voice high pitched with excitement. She runs over to Ivy, eyes wide as she catches sight of the other babies in her arms.
Ivy smiles, shifting them carefully so Penny can get a closer look. I crouch down beside her, holding the smallest for Penny to see. “Yes, sweetheart,” Ivy says softly. “These are your sisters and brother. Meet Mia, Lucy, and Max.”
Penny’s little face scrunches up in thought as she eyes the babies one by one. She taps her finger on her chin, trying to look serious, but her excitement is contagious.
“Mia... Lucy... and Max?” she repeats, rolling the names around in her mind.
Ivy’s face softens as she looks at her, a warm smile playing on her lips. “What do you think? Do you like their names?”
Penny scrunches up her nose, tilting her head in that way she does when she’s deep in thought. “Mia’s perfect for the baby girl. But Max... hmm.” She pouts, crossing her arms as she glances down at Max. “Max needs a funny name. What about... like, Dinosaur?”
Ivy laughs, her tired eyes lighting up. “Dinosaur?”
“Yeah! Max Dinosaur,” Penny says with all the seriousness of a child giving the most important opinion of her life.
I can’t help but chuckle. It’s just like Penny to take things in her own direction. She’s the boss of this family already, no question about it.
Ivy’s face softens, her gaze flicking between Penny and the babies. “I think Max Dinosaur might be a little much,” Ivy says gently. “But Max for short is perfect.”
