Don't Leave Us (Sequel to Something Blue)

21: Beautiful Soul

Sweat plastered my hair to my forehead. It was over. Blissfully over.

Niall had stayed by my side, every second of the way. He would hold my hand and whisper how it would be over soon in my ear, calming me down. I could never thank him enough for that.

"Mattie, you did so well." Niall said, smiling down at me. Tears had run down his face, tears of happiness, I hope. I smiled back up at him.

"You look tired. Get some rest love." Niall said, rubbing circles into the back of my hand.

I shook my head. "N-no. I need to see them."

Niall smiled. "Oh honey, they're beautiful."

I smiled. "I can only imagine. Now bring them here so I can actually see how beautiful they are."

Niall laughed, and released my hand. He turned over to nurses, who were crowding around two tables on the other side of the room. My heart had jumped when I first heard my babies cries as they came into the world. But they had quieted them within a few minutes.

Niall spoke with them for a few minutes, gesturing to the tables, smilig like an idiot every time he looked down at them. I craned my neck, dying to see our children, but I didn't need to.

Niall turned, carrying two small bundles in his arms. One pink, and one blue. He took a step forword, and I got my first glimpse of their faces.

And when I saw him hold our babies in his arms, I pictured the years to come. Taking them to football practice, and teaching him to get the ladies. Nursing her first heartbreak, and making them both laugh just like their daddy. And I knew in that moment that I had never loved somebody so much, and that letting Niall take up all my time these past few years, was the best decision of my life.

His watery crystalline eyes looked up at me, still sweaty, lying on the hospital bed. "They're beautiful." he said, his voice laced with awe. A delicate smile flitted across my lips, and I held out my arms for one of my precious children.

Niall smiled, and leaned down to gently place the baby boy in my arms. Swaddled in a light blue blanket, his small fingers gripped the seams. His little eyelashes fluttered open, to reveal bright blue eyes with green laced pupils-his Daddy's eyes. He peered up at me through those tiny little lashes, and in turn studied my face. He had a little signature Horan nose, plump little pink lips- my little lips- and big eyes. He was the spitting image of his father.

My eyes teared up. Mine. He was mine. My own baby, my own little bundle of joy to care for. My heart swelled, and I knew all that pain, all those kicks, all the contractions were worth this tiny little body cradled in my arms.

"Callum." Niall said. I looked up at him. He was smiling down at me, his eyes shining with unshed tears, and his cheeks were crossed with tear tracks. His eyes were red, his hair was plastered to his forehead, but his smiling mouth pulled all the chaos together, and I was sure he wanted a little baby boy named Callum.

Callum yawned in my arms, making us look his way. His little lips stretched into a big 'O', and he sighed. He looked up at Niall, who gasped. "Mattie, he looked at me! Did you see that?"

I laughed slightly. "Yes Niall, I saw."

Niall laughed, and the baby in his arms snuffled a little. He looked down at her and smiled. "Here." He said, handing her to me.

She was a tiny little thing, only three quarters the size of her older brother. She had a long, narrow nose, Niall's beautiful lips, Niall's face shape, Niall's everything, only my nose. She was beautiful. Her chest rose and fell with each breath she took, and she opened her mouth slightly. A tiny little snore slipped out, making me giggle, and Niall to full out laugh. Her eyes fluttered open when Niall guffawed. He instantly shut up, watching his- our- daughter study us with curious- and unusual eyes.