Maximus

My hand rested on my bouncing leg, my body ready to jump out of this car so I can find my woman and make sure that she is okay. Mentally and physically.

The second the car stopped I was out of it, my fists balled in anger. I need to find her and I need to find my unborn child.

It seems anytime I leave, something happens to Stella. Every fucking time! There shouldn't be an 'if I leave', it has now happened what, twice? First time I left she got kidnapped and now her Nanna died. And she was alone, alone with her Nanna and having to bear the weight of her dying beside her.

Stella won't be alone much longer, she won't have to carry that weight by herself.

"Where is she?" I demanded walking into the estate seeing Tate waiting for me.

He motioned me to follow him. "Lorenzo had us bring her here after he heard, she has been in the rose garden for the past couple hours. No one has disturbed her and she hasn't spoken to anyone since leaving the hospital."

"What the doctor say? You said she had to have an emergency check-up from pain." My heart broke for Stella when Tate called telling me that Alerica had passed and that in the next couple of minutes she had a face-off with her mother then because that wasn't enough, she needed to be seen by the doctor.

And I wasn't there!

Tate stopped at the door that will lead me to the garden, Sebastian standing guard even back at the estate. "Stella is healthy, the doctor said she needs to watch her stress levels."

I swallowed. "And the baby?"

Tate glanced at Stella. "They are fine."

Nodding I motioned for them to go. "Leave us." With that, I put my hand on the door then called back to them giving thanks for watching her and then finally headed outside to my woman and child.

I stopped when I was a few feet from Stella, unsure if she needed the space at the moment. She sat on a stone wall as Anastasia's cat purred on her lap.

I took a moment to appreciate her, she had a soul that most people lost.

She felt my presence, her head slowly turning to look at me. Seeing the silent tears coming down her face, my feet moved on their own to get to her. Slowly and carefully to ensure I could tell if she wanted me close.

Stella picked the cat up, placing him carefully on the wall and then stood up. The next second, she was in my arms, one wrapping around her waist while the other cupped her cheek. Bowing our heads together, I felt her hands wrap tightly round my waist. Her belly right between us, safe.

"I should have been here. When Anthony told me, she had taken a turn I tried to get here in time but..." My voice trailed off. There were no words, no excuses I could give her to help lessen the pain of her loss. It's not about me right now, it's about her.

Stella took a shaky breath and her arms tightened. "You were on your way, that's what matters to me. She went quick and peacefully, and she wouldn't have wanted anyone else there."

I kissed her forehead. "I am sorry Stella, I know how much she means to you."

"She is no longer suffering, that is what I'm focusing on." Her voice was soft, a slight tremble at the end.

Always trying to see the good in the situation. Maybe it's her still in shock over losing Nanna but if she wants cry and scream over this I will be here to hand her an object to throw and break.

I took a slow breath. "Do you want to talk about it or take time to process today?"

Stella didn't say anything. The wind softly rustling through her hair and letting the leaves blow in the wind.

"I think," Stella began slowly, "that I need to process. I knew she was dying, knew her time was going to end and that the five years since her diagnoses was lucky. But still... I don't know what to feel, think or even say. Is that okay?"

I smiled against her skin. "Of course, it's okay. You feel, think, and say whatever you want, whenever you want. And if you want something to break, Vinzo has some weird sculptures from Italy that the family wouldn't mind needing to be thrown away."

That got a small chuckle out of her. "What kind of sculptures?'

I snorted. "I have no idea how to describe them. Some kind of dark, twisted sculptures that make you think some type of underworld god is coming to drag you down. So, let me know and if you want you can use a bat. We can blame it on Sebastian."

Another small chuckle. "Why does Vinzo have those kinds of sculptures?"

I shrug. "Who knows with that guy. He probably walked by it in some weird alleyway and thought of himself."

"Sounds legit." She said, her voice a little lighter. "I don't have the energy to break shit now, but maybe later."

Moving my hand up and down her spine I felt her relax against me, the cold on my chest telling me the silent tears from earlier have returned. "Tate also said you had to see the doctor, are you okay?"

She nodded against my chest. "Yeah I was just over stressing, the babies are fine."

"Good." I mumbled against her head before freezing.

Wait did she say' babies'? Is that why Tate said 'they'?

BABIES? PLURRAL?

My heart began to beat rapidly, my mind trying to understand what she meant by babies. How do you even have two babies? One is hard enough?! Though it makes sense why she has been larger than what the books have mentioned.

"Did you say 'babies'? As in plural?" I said, finally voicing my questions. My lips pressed together, hoping that my voice came out calm and not at all panicky.

A chuckle. "Is the big, bad, underboss of a mafia getting intimated by two babies? Can't handle the idea of double the diapers, because you will be doing work with these babies."

"Stella?" I warned, my hand pinching her perky ass making her bounce.

She chuckled, her chin laying on my chest so she could look up to me. "We are having twins, that's why I am so fat."

Silence.

I stared into her eyes.

My heart stopped beating.

"Twins." I slowly said.

Stella bit her lip. "Yeah. Twins. Two babies. One girl, one boy."

Another moment passed, the information slowly infiltrating my brain.

Twins.

Slowly my lips pulled into a smile. "A boy and a girl?"

"Mhm." She hummed, a nervous smile tugging her lips.

A moment of silence passed between us. I know her Nanna had just died but I couldn't help the joy filling my chest. The arm that was around her waist moved allowing my hand to rest on her stomach where our children are.

"Either you are an over achieve and need two babies for your first pregnancy, or you really are a gold digger making sure to land a rich Sorrentino brother." I teased, her lips quirking up.

She shook her head. "You're right, though I meant to grab one of the other brothers, the ones with class."

I wiggled my brows. "Please, you may look like a class lady, but you want the ass."

A groan came out of her. "That was horrible, never become a poet."

Stella moved her head to nestle under my chin. "I'm sorry I looked at them when you weren't there. I wanted to wait for you, but when I had that pain Tate began freaking out yelling at nurses to check me out to ensure that I was okay. I seriously thought he was going to pass out from panic. Guns and shoot outs, no problem. Me and babies, he has a panic attack."

I chuckled, trying to picture it. "Remind me to tease him about that later, though I am glad he cared to ensure you got checked out."

A couple minutes passed where neither of us said anything. Stella taking the time to relax, get her thoughts in order. She is feeling the loss of her Nanna while also the celebration of having twins.

Part of me wanted to say something, anything to help her settle those conflicted thoughts, but I will give her space, support and let her voice those emotions when she is ready.

"I was thinking." She started as I brought her head to look up to me, my thumb wiping her cheek. "What do you think of the name 'Alaric' for our son? After Nanna's name Alerica?"

My hand went back on her stomach. Our son. "Alaric? It's a strong name, after a strong person."

She smiled and tightened her arms around me, her lips wobbling. "That way we can name our daughter 'Sofia', after your mother."

My chest tightened, my throat swallowing thickly. "I love it."

She quickly rushed out. "I really am sorry, I didn't mean to find out the genders or get a picture without you, but the boys let it slip when they checked to make sure I was okay. Once they said something I had to know, and I can show you the photo of them."

Chuckling I kissed her forehead. Only Stella would call her mafia body guards 'boys'.

I looked into her bright blue eyes. "Alaric and Sofia, are perfect names."

Its true what people say, that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Fuck did Stella have a beautiful soul. She is someone who cares, only wanted to love others. Someone I will protect from my last breath.

She, my son Alaric and daughter Sofia.

All of a sudden panic hit me like a train.

My head snapped back. "Oh god, we need a house for our twins."

She snorted. "As I said before, when you get Carnellio I will choose a house."

I shook my head. "No, we need one now. I'll call my relator. Did you look at the houses I sent you, I know you talked to me about it but did you look at them seriously? Do you have a favorite?"

Stella gave me a look, shook her head and began walking towards the house. "Nope, not dealing with this. You find Carnellio, I will then choose a house. End of that conversation."

I growled. "STELLA! You're picking a dam house and we are getting settled before you give birth!"

Slowly she stopped and turned to me. "I'm sorry what?"

I cleared my throat. "Would you please pick a house, for our beautiful family?"

Her lips puckered. "That doesn't sound like what you said a second ago, it sounded like you were giving me an order like I am some kind of lapdog needing an order to do something. Because if you think you can order me around, I will cut off your balls."

Hormones.... It's like I have a momma bear in front of me and I threw a can at her.

I slowly shook my head. "It was more of a suggestion. We will have two babies, so twice as much space will be needed and twice the items. It would be good if we got a house, settled in and we can start to prepare for them before your pregnancy gets hard on you."

"Seeing as I have to go through my Nanna's wishes and be a stress level of zero, I won't be looking at houses." Her tone made me nod, I swear she might give Romano a run for his money right now.

Walking towards her, I wrap my arm around her waist. "No houses for you. But if you want you can write a list of things you do and don't want for a house and I can search."

She gave an unconvinced hum but I was going to take it, I'll find two houses and have Anthony choose.