Falling For You [ Ryan Rees - Twin Paranormal ]

21

Ryan Rees rubbed a towel through his damp hair, glancing in the mirror at his own reflection. The past six months had been transformative for him in more ways than one. He could hear Winter's soft laughter coming from the bedroom and imagined him lying there, probably reading one of those novels he adored so much. Life had a way of throwing curveballs, but finding out Winter was a carrier, capable of conceiving, had been the most astonishing surprise of all.

At twenty-two weeks pregnant, they awaited the baby's first movements with a mix of excitement and anxiety.

Most of the day had been spent lazily lounging around, cherishing the rare moments of peace. Winter lay in bed, absorbed in a book, while Ryan brushed his teeth in the bathroom. Suddenly, a strange sensation rippled through Winter's belly. He froze, recognising the feeling he'd been waiting for—the baby was kicking.

"Ryan!" Winter called out, his voice filled with a mix of astonishment and joy.

Ryan hurriedly shoved his toothbrush into his mouth and rushed out of the bathroom, still half-dressed with his pyjama pants hanging loosely around his hips. "What? What is it?" he mumbled around the foam.

Winter's eyes sparkled with excitement. "The baby kicked! I felt it for the first time!"

Ryan's eyes widened, and he quickly spat his toothbrush into the sink before leaping onto the bed. "Are you serious? Can I feel it?"

Ryan held his breath, his palm flat against Winter's stomach. For a few seconds, there was nothing, just the warm, smooth skin of Winter's belly beneath his hand. Then, there it was—a gentle, fluttering sensation, like the brush of butterfly wings. "Oh my God, I felt it!" Ryan exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with pure elation.

The door burst open, and River and Wyatt rushed in, both wearing expressions of eager anticipation. "What's going on?" River asked, his eyes darting between Ryan and Winter.

"The baby kicked," Ryan said, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might break the magic of the moment.

"Seriously?" Wyatt's eyes widened with the same mixture of joy and curiosity that Ryan had just experienced. "Can we feel it too?"

Winter chuckled, nodding at his twin. "Sure, come over here."

Wyatt and River scrambled onto the bed, positioning themselves carefully so as not to crowd Winter too much. Winter took their hands one by one, placing them on his belly. "Right here, just wait a moment."

They all sat in a reverent silence, the room thick with anticipation. And then, the baby kicked again, a stronger movement this time, as if it knew its uncles were waiting. Wyatt's eyes filled with tears, and River let out a laugh of pure delight. "That's incredible," River said, shaking his head in wonder.

As they sat together on the bed, feeling the gentle movements of the baby, the room filled with a profound sense of unity and love. For Winter, this moment was more than just a milestone in his pregnancy—it was a testament to the strength of their bond and the promise of the future they were building together.