There's Fire

Just Getting Started

Janae's POV

I looked up and saw his eye fluttering as if he was struggling to open them and keep them open. Carmine, Jade, and Ronald scooped the girls off of the bed. He briefly made eye contact with me and started gasping for air. Everyone was rushed and pushed out of the room as the EKG came to life. Before anything could be said the door was in my face. I'm not sure who pulled me out, but I know I was pulled out before I had a chance to say anything. I began pacing while everyone was confused. Nurses kept bringing things to the room rushing in and out. I looked around and everyone looked as on edge as I felt. Bella was pacing just as much as I was to the point where Gianni had to physically take her shoes because the clicking was getting to him. After about two hours of waiting Ronald and Jade rushed away from the room without a word. Another hour passed by and Carmine eventually came out. I walked over to him and he squeezed my hand. "Nae you may come back in now." He motioned for me. I followed him and there was Roman was awake. His eyes were closed. He was hooked up to oxygen and an IV, but the life support machine was now gone. That's all that mattered. His bed had been lifted so that he could be sitting up slightly. "Can I touch him?" My voice was shaky.
"Of course. Be careful though." Carmine smiled. I rushed to Roman and just looked at him. His face was still flushed and slightly cool, but he was looking at me. His beautiful green eyes drowsily open. My tears just spilled over. The dam that was holding them captive shattered and could no longer hold them back. His beautiful eyes. I loved those eyes. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too." His voice was low and very horse, but I didn't care. "Happy Anniversary."
"You know what today is?" I smiled at him.
"I thought it was October still. I was told it was May though." He looked over at Carmine.
"Oh my love." I kissed him. All I could do was kiss and hug him. My sobs just racked though my body. There was no holding back. He slightly rubbed his face against mine trying to soothe me. "Don't cry. I'm okay. I'm here." He said softly in my ear.
"I swear if you ever pull something like this again I will kill you myself. Don't do this again Roman Lorenzo!" I looked him in his eyes. He nodded and smiled. He looked behind me as if expecting someone else. "The girls. I want our daughters." He looked at me. I nodded and rushed out. I scanned all of their faces and found Adrian hugging her mom. "Adrian grabbed your sister and come here." I called to her. She jumped up and took Eva from my mom. She rushed over to me barely letting her feat touch the ground. I took Eva from her arms and closed the door. By the time I turned around Adrian was squeezing her dad crying. Roman was doing his best to soothe her. All of her words were rushing out, but she couldn't stop. I had never heard her speak so fast. He nodded along. "I'm okay my sweet girl. I promised you didn't I?"
"Yes daddy you did." She wiped her face.
"Eva." He looked over.
"Daddy!" She clapped and giggled
"Yeah, daddy. She's getting so big." He was surprised by how clearly she spoke.
"Yes daddy." Eva giggled. "Ri sad." She reached for Adrian
"No Eva, I'm happy now. Say happy Eva." Adrian laughed.
"Yappy Eva." Eva said confidently.
"That works too." Adrian laughed softly.
"She talks now." Roman just stared at her.
"She's figuring it out." I smiled wiping my cheeks.
"Where's Tati? I'm missing a daughter." He scanned the room again.
"She is with Val at home." I hugged myself just staring at him.
"Okay." He nodded
"You can see her tomorrow."
"Okay, that's fine. Tomorrow. My mom!" He made the realization and looked at me.
"How about your mom, Gianni, Bella, Zariah will come in and everyone else can see you later." Roman smiled. I sat Eva against the rails as she began to babble to Roman about life. He clung to every word as if to avoid miss any more. I stepped out and cleared my throat. "Um he's awake everyone. He's awake." My voice cracked. "He's very much awake. You all will get to see him eventually. Angie, Gianni, Bella, and Zariah he wants you three now though." His siblings and niece rushed to help their mom and get her into the room. Everyone else was hugging and celebrating. I looked over at Alessia and she motioned for me to go back in the room. I went back in there and just watched them interact. Angie was firing off in Italian and Roman had tears running down his cheeks. "Mom English." He chuckled.
"My sweet boy." She sighed and held his cheek.
"Oh finally English. None of us have spoken so much Italian consistently in our lives." Bella smiled. "Twin you scared us all. How about we don't do that again."
"I'm sorry." Roman smiled at his sister. "Gianni?"
"I'm mad at you right now." Gianni squeezed his brother's hand. "I'm happy you're okay, but I'm mad at you Buddy." Gianni shook his head.
"Hi Uncle Roman." Zariah quietly had tears
"Hi Z." He looked at his niece. "I'm so sorry Biscotto." He looked like he felt guilty.
"How are you feeling?" Bella asked.
"I'm tired, my body is asleep and stiff. I'll take it though considering the alternative."
"That's to be expected." Carmine spoke up.
"I missed you guys. What's new? I don't want you all worried about me." Roman laughed.
"I, um, got valedictorian." Zariah looked down.
"What?" Gianni looked at his daughter.
"It slipped my mind." She shrugged.
"Graduation is in a month." Gianni was still stunned.
"Congratulations Z. What else? I need more good news."
"Mommy is moving in with me." Bella grinned.
"Why?" Roman looked over at me.
"I'm going to be needing some help for a while that's why." Bella lifted her top a little revealing a baby bump. "Well at least for the next year or so."
"Bella!" I was surprised.
"I'm so happy for you Bella." Gianni kissed her head
"That's not even the best part." Angie laughed.
"What is the best part?" Roman asked.
"I'm having triplets." The room that was once filled with pain and anguish was now replaced with joy and hope. "You're going to be a big cousin Eva." Roman smiled.
"Baby!" Eva hugged Bella's belly."
"Yes, baby. Three little babies." Roman nodded. He seemed slightly confused why she did that, but brushed it off. She had been with me when I found out I was pregnant and I told her baby. Baby was something she said a lot now. "Baby is a consistent word in her little vocabulary." Adrian shrugged.
"Okay, you guys can come back tomorrow. We want him to have some actual rest." Carmine smiled. Bella hugged him tight and kissed his head. Zariah hugged him and kissed his cheek. Angie takes the longest to hug him and speak softly enough that only he could hear. Every so often he would just say yes mama or that he loved her too. Gianni just held his brother's face and put the foreheads together. All that could be heard was Roman saying he knows. The four of them left and shut the door behind them. I looked over and notice Eva had fallen asleep on her dad's chest. "Can we stay a little longer mama?" Adrian asked.
"Ask him." I motioned to Roman.
"I'm fine Carmine. 2 more hours please." Roman looked at his uncle. Carmine nodded and left the room. He just looked at the girls. He looked content with them sitting next to him. "Wait, where's your mom?" He asked Adrian.
"Oh, I'll go get her." She hopped off his bed and zoomed out and came back in grinning with bother Alessia and Dre. "Hey you two."
"Only Roman just says hey as if he wasn't in a freakin coma for 6 months." Alessia rolled her eyes at him and hugged Roman. "I've never been so happy to see your stupid face."
"She has 50% of my face." Roman laughed hard enough to cause him to cough. I quickly got him water and he smiled at me. "I know she does!"
"Just say you missed me Alessia."
"Nope." She hugged Adrian and laughed. Roman looked over at Dre who was looking down taking a serious amount interest in his shoes. "Aye, what are you doing here?" Roman asked.
"I'm a man of my word dawg." He just shrugged.
"Thank you for taking care of my girls." Roman smiled.
"Thank you for coming back. Lil Roman right there, has an attitude problem."
"No I don't." Adrian laughed and hugged Roman. We just sat around talking. Roman didn't want to rest it seemed so we just talked. Adrian went on and on about so much I just smiled. Eva screamed potty and that startled Roman. I went and took her to the bathroom and when I came out Roman looked sad. He masked it quickly though. After a while I lost track of time. I looked at my phone surprised how late it was. "It almost 7 in the evening Adrian." I announced.
"Do I..."
"Not having it. Dre and I are going to get you two home. Mama has yet to have one on one time."
"That's not fair." Adrian pouted.
"Just cause your dad is awake again does not mean he is ruining our routine. You and your sister have to be in bed in an hour and a half. Let's go." Alessia clapped.
"Listen to you mom. I'll still be here tomorrow. You can come do homework with me."
"That's stupid." Adrian kissed her dad. "Why does mama get to stay?"
"Because I'm grown and I have to talk to the doctors. The sooner you get home and do what you got to the sooner you can talk to him on face time." She grumbled. Everyone got their hugs and kisses in and left for the night. I sat and just looked at him. "Why are you so far away?" He smiled. I went and sat next to him. I squeezed his hand and he weakly squeezed mine back. "I'm not going anywhere Paris." He rubbed my hand.