The Key To Living Is Love

recovery

I lie back against the hospital bed, the sterile scent of antiseptic still lingering in the air, mixed with the faintest whiff of baby powder. It's a sensation I know well—after all, this is my second time in this bright, bustling place that feels both comforting and strangely alien. My body is sore, every muscle feeling as if it's been pushed beyond its limit, but as I look down at the two tiny bundles in the clear crib beside my bed, it's all worth it.

"I can't believe we actually did this again," I mutter to myself as I shift slightly, wincing at the ache that flares up momentarily.

As if on cue, the door swings open, and in walks Nico, my husband. He carries a practically overflowing plastic bag in one hand, and an amused expression on his face. His dark hair frames his face, and his eyes—those piercing onyx orbs—seem to sparkle with exhaustion and relief. "Guess who's officially a snack-fetching husband," he jokes, tossing the bag onto the table. "They were almost out of all the good stuff at the vending machine. You should've seen me hunting for those sour gummies you like."

I raise an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. "You're a true hero, Nico. I'm convinced that getting bagged snacks out of a hospital vending machine deserves a medal or something. You've outdone yourself."

Nico rolls his eyes, a smile creeping up despite himself. "Yeah, yeah. I'm still getting sushi, you know. They better let me back in here with that." He opens the bag and starts pulling out the various snacks—gummies, chips, soda, and an oversized chocolate bar designed to reward the ultimate sacrifice of venture to the store and back.

From the other side of the room, I hear a soft "Mama!" and my heart instantly swells. Bianca, our spirited two-year-old, stands at the entrance holding her teddy bear. Her curly brown hair bounces as she rushes towards me, the bright pink dress she chose to wear today swirling around her little legs. "Baby! Baby!"

I chuckle, the soreness forgotten for a moment as I open my arms wide. "Yes, sweetheart, come see your sibling!"

With a bright grin, she sprints toward me, and I sweep her into my arms, careful of my sensitive midsection. "You're such a big sister now! Look, you have two baby sibling!" I whisper, nudging her toward the cradle.

"See?" I point, and she leans in closer, eyes wide as she gazes at the tiny faces of Sabrina and Charlie, each swaddled snugly in pastel blankets.

"Hi, babies!" she chirps, a huge grin plastered across her face. "I'm Bianca! I love you!"

Nico chuckles softly, joining us at the bedside. "They don't know how lucky they are yet," he remarks, glancing at me, that proud gleam flickering in his gaze.

"I know, right?" I smile back, nudging him playfully. "They've got the best big sister ever. Just like how I have the best husband."

He shakes his head, still looking a tad skeptical. "I'm not so sure about that 'best husband' status, especially after I forgot to grab ginger ale."

"Ginger ale?! What's the matter with you?" I laugh. "What were you thinking?"

Bianca tugs at my arm, her excited chatter returning. "Can I hold the baby? Please?"

"Let's wait just a moment," I respond, letting her know how delicate they are. "They're very tiny, and we don't want to wake them, okay?"

"Okay, Mama," she agrees, her brows furrowing in concentration as she stifles a yawn.

Nico interjects with mock seriousness, "I think we need to keep the baby-holding process safe and organized. We can't have Bianca's teddy bear trying to cuddle with the twins unexpectedly."

Bianca's face lights up. "Teddy can come too!"

"Maybe later," I say gently. "Right now, we just want to look at them and say hello. Isn't that enough fun?"

She nods, her enthusiasm still radiating our little corner of the room. I can't help but reach for her hand, squeezing it in shared excitement. "After all, you're setting a great example. How about we have a little family chat with the babies?"

Nico leans against the wall, an affectionate smile playing on his lips. "What should we tell them?"

I glance at Sabrina, then at Charlie, considering how to tell them about the world they've just entered. "We can tell them about our adventures! How you've already heard so many stories about your big sister and her wild imagination. And about how your dad is going to take you guys on amazing trips to the Underworld when you're older," I say with a teasing grin.

"Yeah! I wanna ride shadows!" Bianca chirps, her eyes sparkling. "Can they ride shadows too?"

Nico chuckles, his arms crossing over his chest. "Well, they will need to learn how to walk first. But when the time comes, you can show them all the secret places."

There's a moment of comfortable silence as we all gaze at the babies. My heart swells with affection. "It's going to be an adventure," I whisper, looking between my two beautiful daughters and my husband, feeling that sense of warmth permeate the hospital room.

After a moment, I clear my throat, gaining my composure. "So, Nico, where's my sushi?"

"I thought you might never ask," he laughs, still searching through the bag. "Don't worry. I made sure to stop at that place you love, the one with the salmon rolls. I even got an extra side of wasabi just for you."

"Perfect. You know me too well," I say, a grin breaking through my exhaustion. "I'll reward you with some of those gummy snacks for your efforts. But I'm still waiting for that ginger ale."

Nico smirks. "My quest isn't over, my lady. I'll retrieve the ginger ale at once!"

As he theatrically moves toward the door, Bianca giggles and chimes in, "Go, Daddy! Go, go!"

With a flourish, Nico exits the room, leaving us with the twins and the benevolent glow of hospital lights. I can't help but feel a sense of peace as I cradle Bianca against my side, watching the siblings—Sabrina, with her wispy lashes, and Charlie, who snores softly in his sleep.

"Do you want to sing them a song, sweet pea?" I ask Bianca, and her eyes brighten with the idea.

"Yeah!" she exclaims, and I help her get close enough to the crib for her sweet little voice to carry.

She begins to sing a soft tune, something I've heard before. As her gentle voice fills the space, I can't help but close my eyes, allowing the sound to wash over me like a soothing balm. I relish the moment—a cozy little bubble of family that envelops us.

Finally, after what feels like a blissful eternity, I hear the soft click of the door swinging open again, and Nico returns, ginger ale in hand, as well as my beloved sushi.

"Did I miss the concert?" he asks with feigned sorrow, setting the food down with practiced gentleness.

"No—you just arrived as the encore was about to start," I reply with a knowing grin.

Bianca beams up at him, animatedly recounting her song, her energy obvious even after all we've been through. Nico listens, engaged, and I can't help but feel immense gratitude.