Snow Season [COMPLETE]

Chapter 70

"Are the seats secured?"

"Yes."

"Are the harnesses good?"

"Yes."

"Are the mirrors aimed just right?"

"Yes."

"Did we bring everything?"

He takes a deep breath and flashes you his megawatt smile. "Yes."

"Don't make fun of me, Elijah. My anxiety is shooting through the roof."

"I'm not. You're just really really adorable."

"I just don't trust myself. I'm so scared I'm gonna forget one of the steps and kill them both."

"You're not going to kill them. Stop torturing yourself like that. Don't be so hard on yourself, Hails. We got everything, the kids are secured in the car seats, the car seats are secured in the car, I can see them both through my rear view mirror, they're fed, burped, changed and fucking adorable. All the boxes are checked so we're ready to go."

"I guess so."

It's your first day home after the hospital. You're so happy to be home but also really nervous cause there's no little red button to press when you have a question or need help.

You're both passed out on the couch, each with a sleeping baby sprawled out on top of your chest. There are nursing pads, baby swaddles and diapers everywhere. You've only been home with the babies for a couple of hours but the whole apartment is already one giant baby war zone.

And you absolutely love it.

One of the babies starts crying and you both startle awake. It's Henry, who is laying on top of Elijah's chest.

"Hey, what's wrong buddy? You just ate. You want me to walk a little with you, huh? Is that what you want?"

Elijah gets up from the couch and gently walks and bounces with Henry against his chest and his giant hand protectively supporting his head. You watch him walk around with Henr, bare chested and with grey sweatpants and your heart melts.

"Sshhh sshhhh. It's okay, little man, daddy's got you." Henry starts calming down and Elijah presses his lips against his little head. "Yeah, that's right. Daddy's got you, little man. I got you."

He's moving from one foot onto another, swaying his body with a soft rhythm that Henry clearly came to appreciate. His cute little face relaxes against his daddy's chest and he slowly falls back asleep.

Emotions take the upper hand and you start crying. "I could watch the two of you all day and night."

He smiles at you and kisses Henry's head again. Letting his lips linger a little while. Rosie is sound asleep on top of you and you close your eyes again, hoping to squeeze in another power nap till the next feeding time.

You fall asleep and have the most vivid dream. You dream about taking the kids to Hawaii for your family vacation. They're about eight years old and you're all surfing together. But the thing is, Ben is there with you out on the water, catching waves on the surfboard that Elijah gave you for your birthday. When you see him, you're so startled that you fall off your surfboard and get tossed around in the water. A hand reaches down and pulls you up. It's Ben. You know he's gone so he can't be real. Can he?

"Surprise, Haileebear," he says with a big goofy smile on his face and you just look at him, in shock.

You can feel your blood turning ice cold and you feel sick to your stomach. Henry and Rosie sit on their boards and are floating next to you. They greet Ben like they've known him their whole life. They're both smiling and having the time of their lives. Elijah is there too and fist bumps Ben. This doesn't make any sense. Nothing makes sense. How could he be here and know the kids and Elijah?