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2 - restless nights

Rose

After thinking for a bit, the perfect name popped into my head.

"Angel," I said out loud.

"What?" Riker asked, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"That's what I wanna name her; Angel, Angel Meredith." I smiled.

Riker's lips stretched out into a big smile and he squeezed me softly.

"That's perfect," he whispered to me.

3 days later

Riker helped me inside while Rocky and Ellington carried the girls right behind us.

He helped me lay down in my bed in my new room. Brandon had traded rooms with me in order for the crib/s to fit since his room was bigger than mine.

I watched in awe as the three of them played with the babies before putting them down for a nap.

"Well," I said as I noticed the girls were about falling asleep, "I think I'm gonna hit the hay." I got comfortable in my bed.

Ellington checked his watch before saying, "But it's only 4:30?"

Everyone in the room have him the 'are you stupid' glare, but he was still lost.

"Ellington, a few days ago, I had to push two humans the size of watermelons out of my vagina. So until you know the pain and exhaustion of that, let me nap when I want to, please."

Ellington looked frightened and looked at Riker.

"Post-labor hormones," Riker muttered to him, "completely normal."

Rocky and Ellington exited the room, and Riker came towards me and kissed me on the forehead before walking out himself.

11:30 p.m.

I woke up to the feeling of another body snuggling next to me.

"Sorry, baby, didn't mean to wake you," Riker muttered, slinging his arm around my, now shrunken, belly.

"It's fine. Have the twins bothered at all?"

"They started fussing about three hours ago, but luckily I had the baby monitor so I heard them before they got louder. Are you hungry? You haven't eaten anything."

"No I'm good," I replied. "I'm still tired though."

"Alright, if they wake up again, I'll get them. Night."

"Night, Riker," I said and he kissed me on the head before I dozed off again.

3 a.m.

Riker

The shrill baby cries woke me up suddenly. I got up and walked across the room. Peering into the crib, I picked up Vianne first and nestled her into my arms.

Shit, I thought to myself, how am I gonna pick up Angel?

I began reaching down with one hand when all of a sudden I saw two extra hands reach down and pick up Angel and I look over to see it's Rose.

"Sorry if we woke you," I said, gesturing to the girls.

"It's fine," Rose chuckled, as she sat down in the rocking chair, "I already slept a lot anyways. Can you pass me a bottle that's in the microwave?" she asked, motioning to the microwave across the room.

I walked over to it to find two pre-prepared bottles inside. I took them both out and handed one to Rose and she started to feed Angel while I fed Vianne.

After a while of pure silence, Rose spoke up.

"You know," she began, "I'd understand if you got tired of this one day and wanted to leave."

I looked up from Vianne and down at Rose, surprised.

"What?" I asked her. "Tired of what? What do you mean?"

"Come on, you're bound to get tired of this baby thing sometime," she replied sadly.

"No, wh--" I looked down and noticed that Vianne was stirring, as if she was ready to go to sleep so I put her down in her crib and set her bottle on the table.

I walked towards Rose and kneeled down beside her.

"I'm here to stay, Rose. No matter how hard things get, I'm never gonna leave you or the girls. I'm always gonna be right by your side ... alright?"

She chuckled.

She spoke up a few seconds later.

"I love you."

I looked up at her suprised.

"I love you too, Rose."

I cupped her cheek and kissed her, which lasted for what felt like hours.

I felt so insanely happy, complete. I realized my love for Rose just as she did for me. The thought of helping Rose raise her daughters made me feel all warm inside.

Ross, you're missing out man.