I spend the night at the hospital.

By the morning, the colour’s returned to Hayley’s cheeks. The blood transfusions have worked a treat for her, and all she has to really worry about now is resting to recover from her C-section.

We just have to wait for the all-clear so I can grab a wheelchair and take her to the NICU.

As soon as the ward opens, Sonya appears in the doorway with a bouquet of flowers and two congratulatory balloons, one blue, one pink.

“Mum.” Hayley tears up again. She’s shed tears on a fairly regular basis since the babies were born yesterday. It makes sense. Her hormones will be raging, plus the added stress of surgery and being separated from the twins. There’s nothing I can do to help but be there for her.

Sonya enters the room, followed by David. While the two women hug and chat, he comes toward me, hand extended. “Congratulations, Dad.”

I grin. “Thanks, Grandad.”

He grips my arm. “You did well, Drew. That they all got through it is testament to the man and doctor you are. I keep thinking if we’d only checked on her more thoroughly earlier …”

“I’m not sure when the bleeding started. And it’s perfectly reasonable to be tired that late in a pregnancy. Especially a multiple pregnancy. You had no reason to think otherwise.”

He nods. “I know. I just wish we’d been able to do something to reduce the trauma.”

“Once she’s reunited with the twins, she’ll be so much better.”

“How are they?”

I pull out my phone. I sent them some photos by text yesterday, but there is a whole heap more on there now. I’ve been the one travelling back and forward to feed them. Hayley’s persisted with using the breast pump even though she’s been exhausted.

“They’re young enough that they might not have the reflex to breastfeed, so they’re tube-fed right now. It’s the best way to feed them directly, and it gives them a better chance of learning to breastfeed. We don’t want them getting used to a bottle unless we have to.”

He nods. “Hayley was a little early, but nothing like this. They’re getting the best of care?”

“They are.” I huff. “Though you might not like who her doctor is.”

“Who?”

“Marcus Johnson.”

I don’t need to explain any more as his jaw drops. “You’re kidding. Was there no one else?”

Shaking my head, I sigh. “I made it clear if he put a foot wrong I’d ruin his career.”

The corners of David’s mouth curl, and he gives me a proud look.

“And then I hit him.”

“You did what?”

“After the surgery. Once I knew Hayley was safe. I smacked him in the face. It’s probably a miracle I didn’t get thrown out of the hospital.”

David laughs. “I would have sorted that out. It’s nothing that man doesn’t deserve.”

“I couldn’t help it. I watched him perform the C-section, deliver our children, stitch Hayley back up, but it wasn’t enough. He caused so much damage to her.”

He grips my shoulder. “She’s so much stronger now. I’m so proud of both of you.” Letting go of my shoulder, he nods toward Sonya. “We’ve decided we’ll wait to see the babies. It’s not fair if we spend time with them when Hayley hasn’t been able to.”

“My brother arrived yesterday, and we went to the NICU. He spent more time worrying about his daughter back home and not a lot looking at the babies, but he did come up with the idea to FaceTime Hayley from the NICU. It works a treat.”

David grins. “How is Adam?”

“Oh, not that brother. Owen.”

His eyebrows knit. “I thought only Adam had children.”

“It’s a long story. Short version is that after the wedding, Owen ended up with a daughter he didn’t know he’d fathered. She’s living with him now, and I’m so glad because that poor kid got shipped around after her mother died. It’s reinforced the fact that I’ll have everything sorted so that Hayley and the kids are provided for after I’m gone.”

He nods. “I’m going to make sure you’re all well looked after, too. And it sounds like Owen’s daughter’s in a better place now.”

“Very much so.”

“And now you have two of your own to raise.” He smiles. “I’ll be retiring later in the year. It’s time. There’s nothing I want more than to be able to spend time with my grandchildren.”

“I’m sure Hayley will love that, too. We might have to stay at your place for a couple of days before we head home. I don’t want to rush her.”

“When will she be able to go home?”

“Maybe in a week or so. The babies are doing well, but we need to get their feeding established, or at least on the way to that, and they need to gain weight. But I think they’re a little bit further along than we thought, just small, so that might not be too tough a battle.”

He nods. “Anything you two need. Between you and me, Sonya is more than ready to go out and buy two of everything for our place so you can stay whenever you need to.”

“I can buy portable cots. At least the car seats are sorted and in the car, so I don’t have to go and do that.”

David claps me on the back. “Leave it with us. We’ll sort everything out.”

It’s hard to say yes to. The one thing I’ve been looking forward to doing is being able to support my family without help. But I know under current circumstances, it’s easier to swallow my pride and let him and Sonya take care of things.

Then I can focus on Hayley and the babies.

It’s nearly midday when Marcus appears.

“Sorry I’m late. Another emergency. But I’m pleased to tell you that from what I’ve been told, you’ll be able to get out of bed and see your children today. I know it must have been hard.”

Hayley’s all tears again, and I slip my arm around her shoulder.

He turns to me. “There’s a wheelchair being brought in. Hayley can go to the NICU to see the babies. Just don’t let her do any lifting.”

I grin. “I’ll make sure I hand her the twins.”

“I know you’ll take the best care of her.” He turns to walk away, looking over his shoulder as he reaches the door. “For what it’s worth, Hayley, I should have listened to you. You’re an excellent midwife.” He nods toward me. “And I reckon you’ve found a good one here.”

She reaches for my hand as he disappears. “I never thought that would happen.”

“Maybe I punched some sense into him.”

Her mouth falls open. “You did what?”

“I couldn’t help it. He understood. It wasn’t the most adult thing I’ve ever done, but it felt so good.”

A smile spreads across her face. “I love you.”

“I love you. And I’ll always do whatever it takes to protect you and the kids.”

“I know.”

Five minutes later, a wheelchair is brought in and I help Hayley into it. She’s in tears before we make it all the way into the room. She moves to stand, and I place a hand on her shoulder, pushing her gently back into the chair.

“I’ll get them.”

I go to our daughter first. The nurse smiles as I open the incubator and take her out. The twins are developed enough that they can come out for us to hold. They just need help keeping warm to stabilise their blood sugar. “Here she is.”

Hayley gasps, and I place one baby in her arms. Tears roll down her cheeks as she holds our daughter close, and my eyes prick with my own tears watching them.

“Do you want a minute with her before I get the other one?”

She nods. I think if I place both twins in her arms, she’ll melt down.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispers, raising the baby to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“She’s missed her mum. But she’s doing so well. They both are. It won’t be long before we can all go home together.”

Hayley nods, reaching for me with her free hand. “I’m sorry if I’m crying a lot right now.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, princess. The last few days have been a rollercoaster.”

“She’s so beautiful, Drew. We made her.”

“We did good.”

She lets go of my hand and strokes the baby’s cheek. “She’s my princess.”

I lean over, pressing a kiss in her hair. “Yes, she is. Want me to get our little prince?”

“Yes, please.” Her eyes shine, and I love how happy she looks. After a very stressful couple of days, Hayley has all she needs right here.

Going to the incubator, I take our son out. Hayley holds her arm to take him, and for a moment, she’s holding both our children. It’s the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever seen. “I’ll take her in a second, but I want a photo.”

Tears stream down her face again, and she laughs. “Don’t you dare show anyone what a mess I am.”

“You’re allowed to be. And no one needs to see this. It’s for me.” I snap the picture with my phone. “The three loves of my life all together.”

“Drew,” she says softly.

“Love you all.” I reach for my daughter while she studies our son. My heart swells at the sight of this tiny creature with her perfect fingers and toes, her big blue eyes. She’s just as beautiful as her mother, and she owned me at first glance.

They all do.

My family.