Sequel to Friday barnes the Aftermath

Chapter 16

I woke up from my much-needed sleep to the twins' cries."I think they're hungry," Ian suggested.I grabbed one of the bottles the nurses had prepared, handed one to Ian, and gently passed Ziva to him. He tilted her to the side while feeding her the bottle; I did the same with Cameron.After he got cleaned up, I could see that Cameron was a mix of Ian and me, with blonde hair fading into brunette. However, his eyes remained closed, whereas Ziva had already opened hers, revealing Ian's striking blonde hair.

As I gazed at Cameron's peaceful face, I couldn't help but feel a surge of love and gratitude. Being mother wasn't my goal but i was now ever grateful for it He glanced at me, his expression soft. "They're perfect, aren't they?"I nodded, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "They are."Just then, Cameron stirred, his tiny fists clenched. I held my breath as his eyelids fluttered open, revealing bright blue eyes that seemed to lock onto mine."Hello, little one," I cooed, my heart melting.Ian leaned in, his voice filled with wonder. "He's looking right at you."Ziva, not to be left out, began to fuss, demanding attention. Ian expertly juggled her while I tended to Cameron, our little family of four wrapped in a warm, cozy bubble.In that moment, everything felt right with the world.

Just as we were basking in the warmth of our little family, Melanie burst into the room.

"Alright, that's enough quality time. Where are my niece and nephew?" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "Mel, you're going to spoil them rotten."Melanie grinned, taking Ziva from Ian. "That's auntie privileges." She cooed over Ziva's blonde locks. "Oh my god, smart move marrying Ian on Friday – your kids got looks!"Ian smirked, his ego clearly inflated."You're just boosting his already high ego," I teased.Melanie chuckled. "Your just jealous, Barnes," Ian shot back, laughing.Just then, Uncle Bernie walked in, his voice filled with warmth. "I'm so proud of you, kiddo."I smiled, feeling grateful for his support."Are Mom and Dad... did they make it?" I asked, already knowing the answer.Bernie's expression turned sympathetic. "Work."I nodded, choosing to focus on the present and let go of past disappointments. My family, old and new, surrounded me, filling my heart with love and joy."Let's take a family photo," Melanie suggested, already arranging everyone.As we gathered around, cameras at the ready, I leaned into Ian, feeling grateful for this new chapter."Ready for the chaos ahead?" Ian whispered, his eyes sparkling
The hospital room was quiet now, the only sound the soft beeping of machines and the gentle hum of the air conditioning. I sat in the darkness, the only light coming from the faint glow of the nursery monitor.As I gazed down at Cameron and Ziva, my heart swelled with love. Their tiny chests rose and fell in sync, their soft snores a soothing melody.I gently stroked their heads, feeling the softness of their hair, the delicate curve of their ears. Cameron's blonde locks were starting to darken at the roots, while Ziva's blonde hair shone like Ian's.My thoughts drifted to Ian, who had stepped out to grab a cup of coffee and make some calls. I smiled, thinking about how naturally he'd taken to fatherhood.As I sat there, surrounded by the peacefulness of the night, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. This was what it meant to be happy.Suddenly, Cameron stirred, his tiny hand grasping for mine. I wrapped my fingers around his, feeling his tiny grip."Mom's here, baby," I whispered, my voice barely audible.Ziva shifted, snuggling deeper into my chest. I smiled, feeling grateful for these two little beings who had changed my life forever.The door creaked open, and Ian slipped back in, a warm smile on his face."How's my favorite trio doing?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.I looked up, my eyes meeting his. "Perfect," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.Ian padded over, sitting beside me on the bed. He wrapped his arms around us, holding us close.

"Don;t take what Melanie said too seriously' I playfully warned

"I'll take it" Ian replied with a wink

laughed, shaking my head. "You're impossible."Ian grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "That's why you love me."I playfully rolled my eyes. "Maybe, but don't think you're getting away that easily. You're still in the honeymoon phase, Mr. 'I'm-a-new-dad'."Ian chuckled, leaning in to kiss me softly. "Guilty as charged. But I'm loving every minute of it."Cameron stirred, and Ian gently lifted him into his arms. "My little man needs some dad time."As Ian began to softly hum to Cameron, Ziva started to fuss. I settled her back into my arms, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me."You know, Melanie might be right," Ian said, his voice filled with mock seriousness.I raised an eyebrow. "About what?"Ian's grin returned. "About me marrying up. You're the smart one, after all."I playfully nudged him. "You're just trying to get brownie points."Ian winked. "Maybe a little. But seriously, I'm grateful for you. You're an amazing mom, and an incredible partner."My heart swelled with love for this man, who always knew how to make me feel cherished.

I smiled, feeling my heart full. "I'm grateful for you too, Ian. You're an amazing dad and husband."Ian's eyes softened, his expression filled with emotion. "We make a good team, don't we?"I nodded, snuggling deeper into his side. "We always did if we drop your stubbornness"

"Oh please like you could do any better" Ian shot back 

As we sat there, surrounded by the quiet of the hospital room, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. This was what happiness felt like.Just then, Ziva started to fuss again, and Ian handed Cameron to me so he could take Ziva for a cuddle."You know, we should start thinking about names for the nursery," Ian said, his voice filled with excitement."I've already started thinking about it," I replied.Ian raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What's the theme?""I was thinking 'Little Champions'," I said, watching as Ian's face lit up."I love it," he said, his eyes sparkling. "It's perfect for our little athletes."As we brainstormed names and themes, our conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and excitement.Suddenly, Ian's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression turning serious."What's wrong?" I asked, feeling a pang of concern."It's the office," Ian replied, his voice low. "Our new sponsorship deal with Ryder Sports is hitting some snags."As CEO of Apex Sports, Ian's work often demanded his attention."Need to take care of it now?" I asked, understanding the demands of his role.Ian nodded. "I'll make a quick call. Don't worry, I'll be back to dad duty soon"

As he left I sighed and the twins started crying.loudly. Just my luck