Beautiful Love

Nine

Jax

We got back to Maggie's place rather late and all the kids were asleep in our arms in the back of the Uber we called.

Maggie and I got out and she lifted Sam up while I got Mikey and Emmy. We carried them up to the house and she unlocked the door. As we walked in I took the chance to look around since this is my first time being in her house.

The walls were lined with pictures of her and the kids and framed drawings that they've drawn. There was one picture that caught my eye on the wall and it was of Maggie on the floor with three babies in bouncers, bottle feeding them by herself.

So she's really been doing this alone this whole time? I'll never understand how she managed with the help of only her friends but she did. That right there is a strong woman.

"Emmy's room in upstairs to the left and Mikey's is down the hall from it." Maggie told me softly as to not wake them up. She walked down the hallway downstairs and into her room with Sam while I made my way upstairs to the other rooms.

I got to Emmy's room first and pushed the door open with my foot. The walls of the room were a light purple color with butterflies on them. Around the room was different princess things and fairy tale things. I walked over and laid her down on the bed gently.

I'm pretty sure that Maggie's gonna come and change them into their PJ's so I'll just get them into bed. I went down the hall and peeked into another room that had two race car beds in it.

On the wall was Mikey and Sam written in wooden letters. I set Mikey down on the bed that was under his name and looked around at the room. It's obvious that this is both of the boys room but it looks more like just Mikey's.

Sam's bed is made perfectly while Mikey's looked like it had been slept in. There was a bunch of toys on the ground and a dresser off to one side. I looked at the walls and walked over to a shelf that had pictures on it.

I looked over all of them and stopped on one. It was Mikey and Sam in a hospital bed playing with some toys. Sam was in a little hospital gown so I'm assuming it was during one of his treatments. They both had wide grins on their faces.

Another one honestly made my heart swell. The toy boys were in a hospital bed again but this time they were both asleep. There was a blanket draped over them and Mikey had an arm over his brother.

"That was during one of Sam's overnight visits." a voice from behind me made me jump. I turned around and jaw Maggie standing there but instead of wearing her dress she was in an oversized shirt and shorts.

"Sorry, I was just looking at them." I cleared my throat.

"It's okay." she smiled and walked over. "Whenever Sam would have to stay overnight Mikey refused to leave his side. He's always been that protective over brother by three minutes." I laughed and looked down at the little boy who was snoring.

"How does Sam handle that stuff?" I asked softly. "I mean-- he's only three."

"It's hard for him, yes," she nodded and crossed her arms, "but he has the love and support from all of us. Emmy and Mikey are probably the most amazing brother and sister he could have asked for and Amanda and Crystal have been there through all of it."

"What about you?" I asked.

"Hm?" she looked up at me.

"You're his mom and by the looks of it he's attached to you more than anyone. It can't be easy to watch your baby go through this." I said.

"It's the hardest thing I've ever faced and I've gone through a divorce and lost my dad at 15." she laughed dryly and I looked at her with a soft expression.