Page 52 of His Surprise Fiancée

“I don’t think Kyra would dream of inflicting physical harm to me any longer, not while I am pregnant at least. She knows you would stalk the earth until you had answers should anything happen to our children.”

“Or you, especially you my darling Hailey,” he stated lowering his lips to hers until he couldn’t resist from sweeping her into his arms and taking her to bed.

She lounged proudly against his chest as they came down, his hand rubbing small circles on her stomach making her smile. She felt the soft flutter inside her womb and the smile deepened pulling a sigh from her lips.

“You are purring,pethi mou,” he teased cupping her stomach. “What has you so content?”

“Feeling you touch me and our babies responding to it,” she stated turning towards him with a fuller smile. “I started feeling this little flutter inside my stomach the other night and it was incredible but since you’ve been home, loving them after loving me, they’ve been quite active.”

“That is because they know you are happy and that I love them,” he responded capturing her lips with a gentle kiss and she gladly stayed in bed letting him bring her dinner before loving her again and again until they fell asleep.

She saw Stefano’s brow furl when she dressed in pants the next afternoon and smiled at him as she fastened her blouse around her stomach. “Don’t tell me you forgot our ultrasound is today.”

“What?” he said floored as he checked his phone. “What ultrasound? You said everything was fine at your last appointment that I couldn’t attend.”

“It is and this is routine. I was going to pick you up at the airport and take you to it with me but now…well I would suggest you get dressed if you want to attend,” she teased. He quickly dressed guiding her to the car and once they were there, took the lead wanting every detail about the last appointment from the doctor making her laugh.

“I think we might need to have a conference call at the next one if you are out of town,” Abigail stated as they settled in for the ultrasound.

“I do not plan to be away for longer than a day, two at the most from here forward,” Stefano assured Hailey as the sound of their children’s heartbeats came through loud and strong.

“Would you like to know what you are having?” Abigail asked and Stefano looked to her for a decision.

“Not today, maybe before they’re here but not yet,” she stated as Theo’s words came to her about the first Zeno child born into a loving marriage would be a boy. She didn’t know if her love would be enough to keep that true and she didn’t want to worry what he would think if the babies were girls.

“I can keep it in your file in case you call and want to know later,” Abigail assured them after Stefano’s nod of agreement. “Is there anything you would like to know about them?”

“Well, it might reveal the genders but…” Hailey said needing to know if perhaps they couldn’t still appease Theo.

“I think my wife is wondering if they are both the same gender, or if we have one of each coming,” Stefano stated kissing her hand. “I think you wouldn’t mind too much if the answer spoiled the coming surprise would you,agape mou?”

“No,” she agreed, and Abigail nodded giving them a smile.

“Well, I can say with full certainty that both of your babies are the same sex. Their measurements are right on target for twins that are delivered between thirty-six and thirty-eight weeks. With multiple pregnancies, we do like to monitor for the potential of complications that a single pregnancy does not have to contend with; we want to keep them in and growing for as long as possible. We’ll have a few more ultrasounds to ensure they’re both growing at the right rate and that everything is proceeding properly.”

“You shouldn’t have mentioned the possible complications Dr. Montgomery for now he will be worrying about each and every little thing,” Hailey said settling back into the chair as Stefano demanded answers as to what she meant.

“Stefano, your wife is strong and healthy, her pregnancy is ideal for twins,” Abigail stated after giving him a narrow list that Hailey knew he’d research later. “Enjoy it and each other, the babies will soon start gaining more weight making things difficult for you.”

“Speaking of things becoming difficult,” Stefano stated holding her hand softly within his. “My wife loves to ride; she usually takes a short ride most days.”

“I wouldn’t highly recommend going for a full out gallop every day but there is nothing to be deeply concerned with on an easy ride. I believe the most difficult thing will be getting onto and off of the horse as your stomach grows,” Abigail said, and she nodded.

“Stefano has nothing to worry about when it comes to my riding. Yes, I love it but with it getting cooler out each morning and these two growing I know I’m headed to a point where it is safest for us not to be out on a horse. He just has to be doubly sure nothing will happen to his darlings.”

“You are my first and utmost concern,agape mou. Yes, I treasure our children and would never begin to let something harm them, but without you, life is pointless. And now that we have taken up so much of the good doctor’s time, we should be getting to the church for Olympia and Xavier’s wedding rehearsal.”

“I’ll see you at your next appointment Hailey, Stefano,” Abigail said giving them smiles as they headed out hand in hand.

“Is there a reason why you did not want to know what the babies are,agape mou?” Stefano asked as they slid into the car. “I anticipated having to drag you away from the infant shops to get to the rehearsal on time.”

“I just don’t want to distract from Olympia’s day or have your grandfather disappointed if they’re girls. He’s so adamant that they’ll be boys.”

“Ah, the Zeno first-born tradition, don’t let my grandfather’s nonsense upset you. If they are girls then he will quickly come to love them for I expect that he will see Grandmother in them the way Mother sees her in you,” he said calmly pressing a kiss to her temple. He had been anxious to see for himself if the babies were boys, part of him hoping it would mean that a piece of her loved him as he did her.

“Perhaps I’ll ask Abigail at the next appointment,” she mused letting it roll through her mind as the evening wore on around them.

The next morning, she helped Olympia dress smiling as she fussed over her more than letting Hailey fuss over her as the bride. Xavier had asked Stefano to be his best man as a thank you for introducing him to Olympia and she saw his eyes take in her dress as she moved up the aisle towards him, reminders of their wedding playing through her mind.

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