"My head." Samantha moaned faintly, her hands going to her head. Someone was holding her. "Shaun?" She heard the sharp inhale, and her eyes fluttered open. Noah's concerned face came into focus.
"You fainted. Are you okay?"
What had happened flooded back into her consciousness. Shaun drugged, Noah's presence, the paternity kit, and the shocking revelation that Shaun was probably Liam." Her head started to throb with the pressure of it all, and she tried to sit up and push out of his arms with a sob.
"Samantha!" Noah's arms tightened around her, and he hugged her to his chest, refusing to let her go, attempting to soothe her.
"Let me go. I can't....I can't handle all this." She exclaimed, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face, and she started gasping for breath.
She was panicking. "Samantha, focus on your breathing. Take slow, deep breaths." Noah instructed and gently turned her head to face him when he realised her panic attack was intensifying. His eyes searched hers, demanding her attention. "Look at me," He demanded. "Breathe slowly and deeply." He kept repeating holding her gaze intently. "Follow me. Slow and deep.....slow and deep."
Samantha followed his instructions, her breaths short and rapid at first, but gradually slowed down, to where she took deeper and steadier breaths. After what felt like an eternity, the panic ebbed, and she slumped against him and cried.
He didn't let her go, his arms around her protectively, one hand stroking her hair. "It's going to be okay. Just let it out. We're going to get through this."
In Noah's arm, she felt a small measure of peace. His slow, steady repetitions had anchored her. The warmth of his body surrounded her now, his smell familiar and safe. The overwhelming emotions started to fade away. They remained like that, wrapped in each other's embrace until she stopped crying and fell asleep.
As Noah held her cradled in his embrace, nothing mattered, for now, everything would wait, the questions, revelations, and uncertainty. He made a quick decision and stood, balanced her in his arms, her weight against him feeling so right, and carried her to his car. Noah opened the car door, placed her inside, making sure she was comfortable, and returned not too long after for the twins. They stirred when he placed them in the car seat but didn't wake up. When they were strapped into the car, he gathered up toys, fomulas bottles, and some clothes in their baby bags. The quiet stillness of the house felt heavy as Noah navigated through their living space. They belonged with him, This should have been his life.
If Samantha kept her same habits, she should have a packed bag somewhere. Since the day her parents threw her out, she always kept a packed bag of belongings just in case she had to leave suddenly. Although he and Liam had reassured her that their parent's home was considered hers as well, she still kept a packed bag somewhere. Noah searched, and of course, he found it.
