Red Side of the Moon

XX

"Daddy, you look so handsome," Luna smiled.
"Thanks, pumpkin." Phil kissed her head and grabbed her dress off the back of the bathroom door. "Okay, turn the tv off. You have to get ready."
"Okay," she sighed.

Luna was our ring bearer while Piper was the flower girl. Luna's dress was a fitted bubblegum pink with a white ribbon around her waist. Phil took the liberty to put Dutch braids into her hair and tie the end with white ribbons.

"You look so pretty," he whispered.
"Thanks," she blushed. "Daddy?"
"Yeah, Luna?"
"Why aren't you marrying dad?"
"Honey, you know why I'm not marrying dad."
"No, I really don't. You guys are perfect together."
"We really aren't, sweetie."
"And why not?"
"Because we didn't work."
"But why?"
"Because I left you guys. I was a jerk. I was inconsiderate and irresponsible. I put my job above you guys, and your father... well, do you wanna hear a story?" Luna nodded. "Your father initially never wanted kids, but I forced him into the idea. I had never seen him happier than the first moment he held you. While he was unprepared and terrified, he was still wonderful to you. He was doing his best, and at twenty-four, I left him alone with you... I was selfish. I don't deserve your father..."
"But you guys have so much in common."
"We use to. Not anymore, honey."
"No, he still likes your music and your TV shows."
"Honey, he's with Dylan now. Do you not like him?"
"No, no, I love papa, it's just... he's not my daddy," she pouted.
"Oh, sweetie..." Phil pulled her in for a reassuring hug and tried holding in his tears. "Would I have loved to grow old with your father and you and maybe some more siblings down the road? Yes, of course... but that's not how life works sometimes." He started digging through Luna's bag, but couldn't find her shoes or hair clip. "Shoot..."
"What?"
"Nothing. Stay here for a second, okay? Don't move."

He walked out of the room and headed for my hotel room. My door was propped open—Phil knocked a couple times before letting himself in.

"Hey," he uttered.
"Oh, hi," I mumbled. "What's up?" I was looking at myself in the mirror, trying to tie my bow tie.
"Can't find some of Luna's stuff and... come here."
"What?" I pouted.
"You can't tie bow ties." He helped me out and flashed me a smile. "Remember when we went to prom and you spent thirty minutes trying to tie your stupid tie?" he chuckled. "What would you have done if I didn't stop by early?"
"Probably have my dad tie it. What is Luna missing?"
"You look very handsome... hope you know that..."
"Thanks. What's Luna missing?"
"Her shoes and her flower clip."
"Check my duffle bag."
"Okay." I dug through the bag and eventually found them buried beneath some clothes. "Got 'em."
"Cool. Can you get out now?"
"Why are you being so fussy?"
"I'm nervous, dip shit."
"Why are you nervous?"
"I don't know..." I started biting on my nails—Phil saw and grabbed my wrists. "Let's run away together..."
"What?"
"Yeah, lets do it... we're the ones that belong together. What was I thinking? Pfft, Dylan? No... you're the only man for me."
"Daniel–"
"Kiss me, Phil..."
"I'm not gonna kiss you, Dan."
"Please... just once... I need to know if I'm making the right choice."
"Fine," he sighed.

I eagerly wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. He rested his hands on my hips and moved my hips towards his. Everything felt so right. When we broke apart, I wanted nothing more than to kiss him again. I leaned forward, but he immediately stepped back.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and backed into a wall. He pursed his lips and refused to make any sort of eye contact. I started to cry as I fell onto the hotel bed—Phil rolled his eyes and sat next to me.

"Stop crying, please..."
"I made a mistake," I sobbed.
"How?"
"We should be together."
"Not while I'm in a different country," he teased.
"Not funny..." I sat up and sniffed. "I love you, Phil."
"No, sweetie, you don't."
"Yes, I do!"
"No, you don't. Wanna know why? Because I'm an asshole that left you and our daughter behind for what? A stupid fucking job. What else did I do? I tried making you cheat on your fiancé. Why?"
"Cause you're an asshole," I chuckled.
"Exactly," he smiled. "So what's new in your life?"
"Well, um... Nicole's pregnant again."
"Oh, yeah? Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Two boys and a girl, actually..."
"Triplets? She's pregnant with triplets?"
"Yeah," I beamed.
"Congratulations..."
"Thank you."
"When is she due?"
"About a month."
"Do you guys have a house?"
"Yes, a very nice one."
"How many bedrooms?"
"Four."
"I would've built you one with five," he teased.
"Shut up..." I nudged him and dried my eyes. "Thank you."
"My pleasure."
"Dan!" I heard Dylan yell. My eyes widened as I ran into the hallway.
"What? What's wrong?"
"It's time..."
"For-For what?"
"Nicole's having contractions. Four minutes apart. We have to go."
"Wait, what about the wedding?"
"We can have another one. Come on."
"Okay, give me a second. Start the car and pull it around." He nodded and ran off. I headed back to the room and found Phil. "You're in change of Luna. Piper is with Dylan's sister. Please take them to the hospital tomorrow morning. If Mia doesn't let you take Piper, just call me—I'll give her the okay."
"I-I thought his sister died?"
"Yeah, she did. He has two other sisters. Now's not the time, Phil. Go get the kids, please. I'm gonna go explain that the weddings postponed to my parents. See ya."
"Yeah, see ya..."

***

"Ah! I can't do it!" Nicole cried.
"Just give us the word and we'll get an O.R. ready for you," the doctor said.
"No, no, I wanna do this naturally," she panted.
"Okay, but do we have your permission to do a c-section if your life or the babies are in danger?"
"Yes, of– ah!" she screamed.
"Honey, just get a c-section," Dylan said.
"No, I did this once. What's three more times?" she strained.
"Someone get an O.R. ready," another doctor sighed.
"What? Why?"
"Don't worry. Just try not to push right now. Boys, help her focus on breathing."

***

"Congrats, daddy," Dylan smirked.
"You too, Papa." I gave him a quick kiss. "We have five fucking kids," I chuckled.
"Oh my god," he grinned, "we do, don't we? And every last one of them are bastards."
"Yes, yes they are."
"You look very handsome."
"Gotta look good for the kids," I laughed. "You look quite good yourself."
"I try," he smiled. "Hey..."
"Yeah?"
"There's a chapel downstairs... and I have our marriage license..."
"Go, go, go."

***

"Hey, there you two are," Nicole said groggily.
"How're you feeling?" I asked.
"'M okay. Still a little nauseous and sore, but other than that, I'm fine."
"Are the babies in the nursery?"
"Yeah," she grumbled. "I really thought I could give birth three times, naturally, within the day. Pfft, such an idiot," she smirked. "Anyway, they're in the nursery."
"Thanks."
"Do you have names for them yet?"
"Yes..." I looked to Dylan and smiled. "Yes we do."

My lovely husband and I walked into the cramped room and observed our new, beautiful children. The nurses grabbed us some chairs so we could hold them comfortably. Time seemed to slip away from us—out of nowhere, we seemed to have an abundance of visitors. The nurses moved everyone into Nicole's room so the nursery wasn't overcrowded.

I couldn't see who was exactly in the room, but from who I could make out, there was my parents, Dylan's parents, Phil, then our girls. Dylan and I sat on the extra bed in Nicole's room and surrounded ourselves with the hospital cribs.

"Everyone, welcome the new additions to the Howell family. This little angel here," I gestured to our girl, "Ruby Nicole. Our seven pound stud," I pointed to the older of the two boys, "Liam Michael. Then the runt of the litter, last, but not least is Caleb James," I beamed, "but you can call him CJ."
"They're gorgeous, Dan..." Mum gasped. "Thank you for telling me about them this time."
"My pleasure," I giggled. "And a special thank you to Nicole. Without her and her amazing selflessness, our beautiful children wouldn't be here."
"Anytime, sweetie."
"Who're the godparents?" Dad asked.
"Well, we haven't formally asked them yet, but..." Dylan looked to me and I nodded, "Phil? Mia? Would you guys–"
"You want us to be godparents?" they simultaneously asked.
"Well, yeah... we trust you guys. And the little ones adore you."
"We actually asked them who they wanted and they said you guys," I added. "So, congrats, guys."
"Okay, so who wants to hold the babies?" Dylan smiled.

All at once, people seemed to lunge at the cribs—Dylan and I nearly had to fend all of them off. Once everything was settled, Phil and I made our way into the hallway to talk. I leaned against the wall and grinned—I really couldn't seem to stop.

"Congratulations, daddy."
"Thank you," I whispered.
"Last chance... wanna run away together?"
"Mm, I gave you your chance, Lester."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Besides, you don't wanna pull a 'me'."
"Damn right I don't."
"I'm proud of you."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome in my home in New York at any time..."
"Don't you just live in an apartment?"
"No, I, uh... I actually moved. It's this gorgeous house just outside the city. Plenty of room for your family."
"Thank you, Phil. That really means a lot."
"See you around?"
"See you around..."