The Threat Of Fear

chapter 39

        We had to stay at the hospital for two weeks to make sure that the three little ones are healthy enough to go home.

Normally, that would only take around 48 or so hours from what I've learned on the job. The reason it's taking so long is because Shadow needed to have a more thorough look through.

The doctors said that she's the weakest of the three so she'll need more attention.

"Home," I sighed. "Finally."

"Should we put them in the cribs now?" Nick asked.

"Yeah." I nodded. "While they're still asleep."

"Soak it up, boys." Shade said. "I don't think it's going to be this quiet again for a while once they wake up."

"Har har." Alec sighed, rolling his eyes. "Very funny."

"Alec," Nick murmured, placing a hand on his arm. "I don't think he's trying to be funny. There are now three babies added to the four adults and young teen."

"Indeed." I hummed. "You two left before they started to cry. They can get quite loud when and if they want to."

"There's so much we still have to learn, Nick," Alec whispered.

"There is still so much that all of us still have to learn." Shade chuckled, placing Onyx in her crib gently.

"Obviously." I agreed, rolling my eyes. "I mean, Shade, we've only been parents for two weeks. What did you expect? For us to know everything immediately?"

        "Marino." I gasped once I opened the door, "hey."

"Hey, Cookie." he laughed. "I just stopped by to check on how you're doing. I hope you don't mind me just dropping by unannounced like this."

"No, no, it's fine." I giggled. "Come on in. Do you want some tea? I have the water heating up now."

"Sure," Marino nodded, stepping in. "So, how are the new additions to your family doing?"

"They're doing pretty well." I smiled. "It's difficult getting used to this. It will probably take a little while longer to get used to it."

"That is to be expected." he hummed.

"You wanna see them?" I suggested. "The water won't be done for another few minutes."

"Yeah." Marino nodded. "That sounds good."

"Follow me." I grinned, leading him to my old room that is now theirs.

I slowly opened the door.

"Onyx, Axl, and Shadow," I said, pointing at each one as I said their name.

I picked up Shadow.

"You little stinker." I murmured, hugging her to myself. "You're supposed to be sleeping like your brother and sister."

"They've gotten bigger since the last time I've seen them," Marino said.

"Yeah," I agreed. "Can you believe it? They're already five months old."

"Just wait, soon enough they'll be teens and rebelling." Marino teased. "The time just flies by."

        I heard the front door open and close.

"Hmm, someone's home." I hummed, bouncing Onyx in my arms.

"Hello, love." Shade murmured, kissing my forehead.

"Hi, Shade." I grinned up at him.

"How was your day?" he asked.

"Pretty good," I answered. "I only had three temper tantrums today."

"Wow." he hummed. "Only three, that's pretty good."

"Each," I said. "Three each."

"Ahh." Shade nodded. "That's still pretty good, I guess."

He gently took Onyx from my arms and kissed her forehead.

"Says you." I frowned. "You weren't the one dealing with three screaming five-month-olds."

"That's true," he mumbled, looking away. "So what else happened today?"

"Marino came over for a few hours to check up on me," I responded. "Other then that and the temper tantrums, everything was pretty much calm."

I heard crying coming from the baby monitor.

"I'll go check on it." Shade said, handing Onyx back to me. "It's my turn, you've been taking care of them all day."