Best Friend's Brother

Chapter Twenty-Six

 After being in labour for four hours I was wishing that I'd never had sex. This was not what I'd signed up for at all. Why didn't I just adopt a child instead?

I knew I'd feel bad about it later but while I was in such pain I swore like a sailor and most of it was directed at Matt. He didn't get mad about it which was a good thing because I was in so much pain it would have only made me swear harder. He was even sweet enough to let me squish his hand during the contractions and he spoke soothingly to me when I was calm enough to listen. I couldn't ask for anyone better to help me through the horrible event that is child birth.

And by that of course I meant the beautiful event that is child birth. The very beautiful event that just so happens to be filled with excruciating pain, swearing, and violent praying for these things to be out of me already. Something I was sure that every woman in their right mind would want to go through.

Finally, after another half hour, the boys were out of me. I was left exhausted, famished, and hoping I'd never have to go through that again. I was also questioning how Whitney could go through that five times. She was a braver soul than I.

Then I saw the reason for her to go through such horrible pain so many times.

I smiled down at the wiggling baby boy in my arms. He was the most adorable thing I'd ever seen. I knew that I would love him forever, no matter how much of a pain he'd be when he became a teenager. "Hi, Jasper."

He cooed back at me and settled in my arms.

I glanced up at Matt where he was sitting in a chair beside my bed holding Sebastian. "They look just like you."

He chuckled and continued to rock Sebastian who was fast asleep. "That's funny because I was just thinking that our boys have beautiful blue eyes just like their mother."

I rolled my eyes. "A lot of babies have blue eyes when they're born. I was talking about everything else about them. Their little cheeks, their nose, their light brown hair that's barely there."

Matt touched a hand to his head. "Hey! I have a full head of hair, thank you very much."

"Sorry," I muttered suddenly feeling drowsy. My eyes drifted shut before I could speak again. "I just meant that it's the same colour and they have hardly any since they're just babies. Eventually they'll have as much hair as you."

The chair squeaked and I opened my eyes to see Matt at the door. He said something to a nurse that was walking by and she ran off.

"What was that about?"

"Nothing to worry about," he said sitting back down. "I just asked the nurse to bring the neonatal nurse. You know, the nurse that will put the boys down for a nap."

I cradled Jasper closer to me and he cooed again. "I don't want anyone to take my babies away, Matt."

He sighed. "Claire, you need some rest, too. You'll sleep better without worrying about the boys so let the nurse take them away for a while. They'll be back once you're rested, okay?"

Two nurses came into the room before I could refuse so I nodded. I tried to think of a way to kindly tell him off with people in the room but came up blank. "Fine."

Kristy – the nurse I'd met before going into labour – smiled at me. "How are you doing, Claire?"

I opened my mouth to speak but Matt cut me off. "She's tired but she won't admit it. I think it's time for the boys to get some sleep don't you?"

Kristy barely looked at him. "Sure thing. They're not going far, alright?"

I sighed and offered her Jasper. "You might as well take him now before it gets harder. Matt's going to get his way in the end."

He chuckled and handed Sebastian over to the other nurse before sitting on the edge of the bed. "You do know that I'm only thinking of you, right?"

I sighed but nodded. "Yes."

He kissed my cheek and forced me to lie down. "I'll be here when you wake up, okay?"

"Promise?" I asked half way to dream land.

"As long as you want me here."

"Always," I replied.

"Then I'll always be here."

"Love you, Matt," I murmured but I was too tired to hear whether or not her replied.