Moment in the Sun

40. Future

Nick POV - Four years later

"Are you sure it's done right?" Charlie asks me for the thousandth time. I lean past him to check the straps securing the baby seats in the back of the car again.

"Definitely. These seats aren't going anywhere." I tell him but he still doesn't seem convinced. "Char, trust me. This I exactly how the guy in the store showed me to do it. I took pictures, see?"

"I'm sorry." He doesn't look at my phone when I show it to him, instead looking up at me with embarrassment in his eyes. "I do trust you. It's just that I want our babies to be safe."

"I know. Me too. And they will be. Nothing will happen to them."

We're about to go and meet our babies for the very first time. We'd gotten the call from our surrogate a few hours ago that she'd gone into labour but she had insisted that we wait a bit before coming in as her labour was progressing slowly. So Charlie and I have been trying to keep ourselves busy by making sure we have everything packed and ready to go. Charlie has fretted over every little detail, something that might have annoyed any other person but I find it adorable.

Once the car was packed and ready to go, we don't have much else to do until Charlie's phone buzzes with a message from our surrogate.

Michaela Dyson: Babies are coming soon. You'll want to be here in the hour.

"Are you ready?" Charlie asks, showing me the message.

"Let's do this."

We get to the hospital just in time. Michaela is just preparing to start pushing when we get there. Her husband is in the room too, by her side as he coaches her through the process.

"Nick, Charlie, you're just in time." She smiles briefly before her face contorts in pain.

"Is there anything we can do for you?" Charlie asks, moving closer. Michaela doesn't say anything, just breathing slowly. 

There are suddenly a lot of people in the room so Charlie and I move to stand by the head of the bed. While this is a big moment for us, we know that Michaela is doing the hard work so we do our best to keep out of the way.

It feels like only moments have passed before the shrill cry of a baby fills the room and I look over to see a nurse holding a tiny, screaming baby in her hands.

"Do one of you want to cut the cord?" I blink, realising that the nurse is speaking to Charlie and me. I'm frozen to the spot but Charlie steps forward, taking the scissors passed to him and cutting the umbilical cord of our first baby as instructed. 

The baby is then whisked away for checks and our attention goes back to Michaela who is preparing to push again for the second time.

**********

An hour later, Charlie and I are waiting in a private room. I'm sitting on an uncomfortable plastic chair, my knee bouncing impatiently while Charlie is pacing the room, occasionally biting at his fingernails. A knock at the door makes us both look up and we see two nurses coming in, each with a baby bundled in their arms.

"Nick and Charlie Nelson, here are your babies."

If holding Tara and Darcy's son Greyson had been scary, this is absolutely terrifying. The little girl placed in my arms is tiny and I feel an intense wave of love, protectiveness and complete devotion wash over me as I take in every part of her tiny features. Beside me, Charlie is cooing at our son, a look of adoration on his face when I glance over.

"We'll give you a few minutes to get acquainted before we start on paperwork. But did you have names picked out?" One of the nurses asks and I look at Charlie who nods.

"Yeah, um, baby girl is Isla Charlotte Nelson. And baby boy is Finley Jack Nelson." I say and the nurse smiles.

"Cute names." She notes the names on a piece of paper before leaving the room, leaving Charlie and I alone with our babies.

"Char, we did it. We're dads." I say quietly, gently stroking a finger down Isla's little face. The baby stirs in her sleep but doesn't wake, just opening her tiny mouth in a yawn before settling back in my arms. "Oh my god. She's so perfect."

"I can't believe it, Nick. I can't believe I'm actually holding our son." His eyes are trained on the bundle of blankets in his arms that our baby boy is wrapped in. "This feels so much better than holding Greyson."

I let out a laugh, "Well that's partly because Greyson is a nearly five-year-old little terror with endless amounts of energy."

"True. But even when we held him as a baby, it didn't feel like this." I know what he's talking about. I move to stand beside him, my shoulder bumping against his as I lean over to kiss his forehead.

"Fatherhood suits you."

"You too." He smiles. "We should tell everyone that the twins are here."

We call a nurse back into the room to take a photo of the four of us, attaching it to a message that we send out to all our friends and family.

Charlie Nelson: We're happy to welcome our children to the world. Isla Charlotte Nelson, born at 4.17pm  and Finley Jack Nelson, born at 4.56pm on Saturday March 30th. We have so much love in our hearts right now.

In moments, our phones blow up with messages from our friends and family, gushing over the twins and sending congratulations.

Tao Xu: Cutest twins in the world. Congratulations guys.

Elle Argent: OMG! they're adorable. big hugs to you both, can't wait to meet them.

Darcy Olsson-Jones: so cute. congratulations from me, Tara and Grey.

Sahar Zahid: love, love love. you two make cute babies

Isaac Henderson: good looking family. congratulations to both of you.

Sarah Nelson: my first grandbabies!! aww, i'm so happy for you boys. sending love and hugs.

Victoria Spring: I'm officially the world's best Aunt! prepare for those kids to be spoiled rotten!

Jane Spring: oh wow! Julio and I can't wait to meet our grandbabies.

Rebecca Scanlon: oh my gosh, you two have the cutest kids. sending love. we miss you in Leeds, please bring them to visit soon.

********

As the years go by, Charlie and I only strengthen our relationship. We're as unbreakable as we were on the day we got married. We love watching our children grow up; little Isla and Finley bring so much joy to our lives, and so do their sisters who are born a couple of years later. Astrid Eleanor is two years younger than the twins, followed a year later by our youngest, Rosalie Grace. With our family complete, Charlie and I settle into our perfect life. It's a life filled with love, laughter, friends and family. It's perfect. 

The End

A/N: Thank you to everyone for reading this story. It's been a wild ride. What started out as me scribbling down some ideas during downtime at work, has turned into this fully fleshed out story. I'm going to miss writing this version of Nick and Charlie but I think that their story is wrapped up perfectly, and I already have plans for a new story with our favourite love birds. Until then...Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.