Chapter One Hundred Thirty Six: The Twins Are Coming
The morning after Percy's samosa-induced pregnancy scare, the mansion was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Ella had been feeling off all week. Back pain. Cramps. Everyone told her it was normal for eight months pregnant. She was having twins, after all. Everything was bigger. Heavier. More uncomfortable.
Aries hovered constantly. "Are you okay? Do you need anything? Water? Pillow? Foot rub?"
Ella laughed. "I'm fine. The babies are fine. Stop hovering."
"I'm not hovering."
"You're hovering."
"I'm concerned."
"You're hovering."
---
She was sitting on the couch, reading, when she felt it.
A sudden gush of warmth.
She looked down.
Her face went pale.
"Aries."
He was across the room in two seconds. "What? What's wrong?"
"My water just broke."
---
The mansion exploded.
Aries scooped her up. "HOSPITAL! NOW!"
Ella grabbed his arm. "The bag! We need the hospital bag!"
"I'LL GET IT!" Akshi ran.
Keifer grabbed his keys. "I'll drive!"
Jay stood, belly first, Keifer catching her arm. "I'm coming!"
"You're six months pregnant!"
"I'M COMING!"
---
Percy ran in. "WHAT'S HAPPENING?"
"ELLA'S WATER BROKE!"
He screamed. "TWINS! THE TWINS ARE COMING!"
Honey grabbed his arm. "Babe, calm down!"
"I CAN'T! BABIES!"
---
The car ride was chaos.
Aries sat in the back with Ella, holding her hand. She was breathing through contractions, gripping his fingers hard.
"Breathe," he said. "Just breathe."
"I AM BREATHING!"
"You're crushing my hand!"
"I'M HAVING TWINS! YOU'LL SURVIVE!"
---
Keifer drove like a man possessed.
Jay held the dashboard. "Keif, slow down!"
"THE BABIES ARE COMING!"
"THE BABIES CAN WAIT FOR TRAFFIC!"
"THEY CAN'T!"
---
They arrived at the hospital in record time.
Aries carried Ella inside. "MY WIFE! HER WATER BROKE! TWINS!"
The nurses moved fast. Wheelchair. Triage. Monitors.
Aries refused to leave her side.
---
The waiting room filled quickly.
Keifer and Jay arrived. Akshi and Chethan. Shreya and Mithun. Percy and Honey. C.N. and Rakii. David and Freya. Felix and Bridget. Mica and Calix. Kuya Angelo and Ion. Tita Gemma and Tito Rachel.
Keiran was with Keigan at home, Rex and Ganesha on guard duty.
---
Hours passed.
Ella was in labor.
Aries was in the delivery room, holding her hand, telling her she was strong, telling her she could do it, telling her he loved her.
She screamed. She cried. She threatened to kill him.
He kissed her forehead through all of it.
---
In the waiting room, the family waited.
Percy paced. "HOW LONG DOES THIS TAKE?"
Honey pulled him to a seat. "Babies take time."
"I DON'T HAVE TIME! I NEED TO SEE THE BABIES!"
"You'll see them when they're born."
"BUT—"
"Percy. Sit."
He sat.
---
Jay rested her hand on her own belly. "They're coming."
Keifer covered her hand with his. "Two of them."
"Two cousins for our baby."
"The best cousins."
She leaned into him. "I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"Of them coming. Of our baby coming. Of everything."
He kissed her forehead. "We'll be ready. Together."
---
Akshi was crying. "AUNTIE ELLA IS HAVING TWINS!"
Chethan held her. "She is."
"I'M SO EXCITED!"
"I know."
"I'M SO SCARED!"
"I know."
---
Shreya sat with Mithun, one hand on her own still-flat stomach. "That's going to be us soon."
Mithun covered her hand. "Not soon. We have time."
"Seven months."
"Seven months is plenty."
She leaned into him. "I'm scared too."
"We'll be ready."
"Together?"
"Always together."
---
The hours crawled by.
Tita Gemma prayed. Tito Rachel held her hand.
Kuya Angelo stood by the window, Ion beside him.
C.N. took notes but didn't read them. Rakii lowered her camera.
Yuri was quiet for once. No filming. Just waiting.
---
Finally—
A nurse appeared.
"Aries Fernandoze?"
Everyone stood.
"Your wife is doing wonderfully. You have a healthy baby boy. And a healthy baby girl."
---
The waiting room exploded.
Percy screamed. "BOY AND GIRL! TWINS! ONE OF EACH!"
Honey hugged him. "Babe, calm down!"
"I CAN'T! BABIES!"
Akshi grabbed Chethan. "A BOY AND A GIRL!"
Chethan held her. "I know! I know!"
Tita Gemma sobbed. "TWINS! MY BABY HAD TWINS!"
Tito Rachel held her. "You're going to dehydrate."
"I DON'T CARE!"
---
Jay cried. Keifer held her.
"Boy and girl," she whispered.
"Boy and girl."
"Our baby's cousins."
"The best cousins."
She touched her belly. "Our baby's going to have so much love."
"The most love."
---
They were allowed in, one by one.
Ella was exhausted but glowing.
Aries held a tiny bundle. A baby boy. Dark hair. Aries' eyes.
Ella held another. A baby girl. Light hair. Ella's smile.
Percy was the first in. "THEY'RE SO SMALL!"
Honey followed. "They're perfect."
Akshi came next. "A BOY AND A GIRL! I'M AN AUNT!"
Chethan held her back. "Let them breathe."
"I CAN'T! BABIES!"
---
Jay walked in slowly, Keifer beside her.
She looked at the twins.
Tiny. Perfect. Beautiful.
She touched her own belly.
"Our baby's cousins," she whispered.
Keifer wrapped his arms around her. "They'll grow up together."
"Chaos together."
"Beautiful chaos together."
---
Aries handed Jay the baby boy. "Meet your nephew."
She held him carefully. He was so small. So perfect.
"Hi, baby. I'm your aunt. Your cousin's coming soon. You'll be best friends."
The baby opened his eyes. Looked at her.
She cried.
---
Ella handed Keifer the baby girl. "And your niece."
He held her like she was made of glass.
"Hi, little one. Welcome to the family."
The baby yawned.
Everyone melted.
---
That night, they drove home in a bubble of happiness.
Jay leaned against Keifer. "Boy and girl."
"Boy and girl."
"Perfect."
"Perfect."
She touched her belly. "Our baby's next."
"Not yet. We have time."
"Three months."
"Three months is plenty."
He kissed her forehead.
The night was quiet.
The future was bright.
And their family—
Was growing again.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Thirty Six