Dad's Club

Gains and Losses

Shorter chapter, but this story isn't dead yet, bitches!

Feeling my girls' arms around me always brightened my day. Nothing could ever ruin the innocent love in their eyes when I kissed their heads, or the smiles on their faces every time I made an appearance.

They would always be my babies, and I loved each and every one of them.

I did a mental count and frowned. "Mika, Coraline, Luna, Nova, Celene... where are the two munchkins?"

Someone laughed from the kitchen, and I smiled at my best friend's wife. "They went upstairs to play after brunch." Jaime stepped out of my kitchen and gave me a pointed look. "Are you going to be okay if I go back home?"

My eyes scanned over the five little girls in front of me, and I nervously ran a hand through my hair while I thought things through.

Could I really haul all seven of them to the hospital to check on Gaia and still keep my sanity?

Did I have much of a choice?

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

Coraline tugged on my jacket, and I bent to pick her up. She may have been a little old to be carried all of the time, but she was still my baby girl.

"Daddy, are we gonna go see Mommy?" I rubbed her back and nodded.

"Go get your coats and boots on, girls, we need to get to the hospital to check on Mommy." I kissed the top of Coraline's head and set her back on her feet.

Nova and Luna both hugged me again, and I picked them up to set on my hips. They buried their teeny faces in either side of my neck and I hummed.

I watched Coraline run upstairs to fetch the two little ones, and Mika groaned.

"Do we have to go?"

I shot her a glare and she shut up, stomping off down the hallway in a huff.

"Daddy, what's wrong with Gaia?"

I kissed the top of Nova's head and carried her and her sister to the door, kneeling down to set them on their feet to I could help them with their shoes and coats.

"I'm really not sure, Nova."

My daughter sighed. "I hope she's okay. I don't want another new mommy."

I winced. "Right." I forced a smile before standing up. "No more new Mommy's."

Luna, Nova, and Celene were all ready and standing patiently by the door. Coraline had yet to return with the two little ones, so I handed the triplets the keys.

"Girls, I'm going to go grab Emery and Graham, can you three go out to the car and wait?"

"Is it unlocked?" I tossed Nova the keys.

"Remember to keep the doors open, and if Mika is out there, don't let her steal the drivers seat." I figured the warning was in good taste. Mika has a habit of doing things she knows she shouldn't, as evidenced by the events this morning, and I really don't need another incident at my house today.

The triplets giggled as they skipped out the door, and I turned to run upstairs and find the little ones.

"Daddy!" Graham noticed me as soon as he heard my footsteps by the door to his bedroom. His older sister was busy cleaning up the mess of dolls on the floor that Emery had made.

I smiled and crouched down to collect him in my arms, his half sister soon following. They both hugged around my neck, and I kissed the tops of their heads fondly.

"Mmm, I love you both so so so much." I stood up, taking their hands in mine to lead them to Graham's closet. I turned and smiled at my second oldest daughter. "Coraline, the triplets are down waiting in the car. Could you go and make sure they're okay?" She nodded and ran back downstairs, leaving me to get the two munchkins ready.

I changed my son out of his pajamas and into clothes fit for leaving the house, with the help of his half sister, who picked out his outfit without any complaints from Graham.

I made sure Emery looked ready to leave before I grabbed one of Graham's backpacks, filling it with coloring books, crayons, and some small card games for the kids to occupy themselves with while we were at the hospital.

"Emery, baby, did you bring your kitty?" She nodded.

"Salem is downstairs with my blankie, Daddy. I'll grab him." I hummed and kissed her cheek before she left the room.

Graham wrapped himself around my leg. "Daddy?" I bent over and picked him up, tossing his blankie over him and the filled bag on my free shoulder so we could head downstairs to the car.

I rubbed his little back as I walked. "Yes, baby?"

"Emery said her Mommy wasn't gonna come back." He whispered, sounding scared. "Is my Mommy gonna come back?"

In that moment, I felt like I had failed as a parent.

What sort of a life was I giving my kids?

I forced a smile and hugged my son tightly. "Baby boy, I can't promise you that Mommy is okay. I wish I could, but I don't know what happened to her. I can promise you, though, that I will never ever leave you. You understand?" I made him look at me. "Daddy will always be here for you."