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JORDAN

It was dark outside; I couldn't believe a whole day had gone past so quickly – and that there was now a baby in the world that was mine. Everyone had left just a couple of hours ago, and there was finally silence and quietness in the suite. She was asleep – of course she was, she had to be exhausted. I couldn't fathom how someone's body could go through all of that torture and then just recover. She'd been a champ, which I was not surprised – Violet had to be the best at everything she put her mind to.

Julie was asleep as I rocked her in my arms back and forth, pacing around the room. She had been fed, passed around from one crying grandmother to a pale grandfather, so she had to be knackered as well. I was happy to watch over her as Violet rested on her big bed.

This suite had been the best thing Benjamin Conrad had done – when he suggested to pay for it I was pissed, knowing I could stay with the two of them, bounding, now that sold me to the idea. Being able to spend the next day or two with my girls was all I wanted, really.

Julie stirred in my arms, as she stretched her little arms above her head and yawned. I couldn't help to smile; my chest felt tight, like there were so many feelings inside that my body just couldn't hold it all in. In a matter of hours, my whole world shifted and these two beautiful girls were all it matter. I couldn't give a shit about money, my bike of my car, travelling or my latest smartphone; this, right in this room, was everything, anything else could be replaced.

Violet moved in the bed and whined. I winced; she had to be in pain still, apparently things didn't go cotton candy sweet immediately afterwards, her body needed time to heal and she had to rest. She was damn stubborn so I knew even if I offered to do everything for her in the next few weeks, she would do it behind my back anyway. The good thing was that I was my own boss and I could take as much time as needed to be with the two of them.

"Shit..." I sighed, putting Julie back in her crib and grabbing my phone "I need to ask Rocco to just finish the damn kitchen."

I didn't want construction noise to be on when the girls went back home. Also, I had to remind my mom not to put up a surprise party just yet. Violet needed rest and she had been through enough as it is this week. Knowing Angela Marshall... she was going to do whatever she wanted to, anyway.

"Jordan?"

I looked up from my phone as I texted Rocco to see my future wife trying to sit up in her big blue bed.

"Hey, beautiful." I smiled, sitting next to her and holding her thin shoulders "C'mon, lean back into my chest. How are you feeling?"

"I need to... go to the toilet..." She moaned, her lower lip shaking.

"Ok, then." I chuckled, kissing her forehead and helping her stand "I'll help you."

"Huh... it's not for peeing, so I would prefer you staying here" She moaned, red with embarrassment; I tried really hard not to laugh.

"Ok, then..." I helped her get to the toilet anyway "Let me know when you're done and I'll help you get back to bed."

"Jordan..." She moaned as I closed the door "I'm scare to push..."

"Well, love, you're going to have to do it eventually. I suggest you take your time, don't rush" I winked and closed the door behind me, giving her privacy.

I shook my head and had to chuckle. Oh, the things about giving birth and being a parent that people never tell you about:

1, you can literally shit yourself during childbirth;

2, everyone in your family will want a piece of the baby and the mother immediately after the event, and you as the dad will have to control the situation and literally kick people out;

3, your wife will have trouble even going to the toilet, and you might have to discuss hard stools as easily as if you were talking about the weather;

4, your baby girl will cry every other hour;

5, your wife will be too tired to even care she is crying, so you will have to step up;

6, breastfeeding is a beautiful thing, but it's fucking hard and stressful;

7, your wife will have to wear an actual diaper, and she will feel really bad about it – try to tell her how sexy she still looks... even if it's the most horrible image you've seen;

8, the underwear packed for the mom? Yeah, no, she won't need it... it's like her privates are public propriety at this point – literally everyone in a two mile radius as taken a peek; I should be bothered but I'm just fucking glad nobody asked me to take a peek – some things are better to remain a mystery;

9, they will both be starving, and you don't matter, all it matters it's them, so man the fuck up and get her that burger – or Jell-O, as Violet was not allowed real food yet;

10, she will scream at you, she will be annoyed and tired and hormonal – she still loves you, remember that;

11, the belly is still there, which I personally had no idea – I am terrified that another baby will pop-out, but I keep this to myself;

12, everything is different, now, these two are your responsibility even if you won't say it aloud because your wife would tell you how women don't need a man to take care of them – they don't, but... you know, they're vulnerable so it's nice if you man up to the situation and make some decisions yourself.

Violet opened the door of the toilet and moaned as she dragged her feet out. I went to her and helped her get back to bed. She sat and sighed, her head fell over my shoulder and I chuckled.

"Was it like giving birth again?" I teased.

"I'm too tired to even laugh." She sighed "But yes... hurts a lot... it's scary. Anyway... have you slept at all?"

"I'm good." I assured her, an arm going around her shoulders "I'm not the one bleeding and producing milk for a baby. By the way, she should be waking up any minute now."

"I'm all ready to go" She assured me.

"Do you want some water?" I went to the cool water by her bedside table.

"I want a pizza." She moaned "I'm starving...!"

She started to cry, hiding her face in her hands. I sighed and went back to her. I pulled her to my chest and cradled her there for a minute while she cried. It was funny, every time she mentioned food she cried – like baby like mom, I guess?

"I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me" She whimpered, cleaning her tears on my shirt.

"You're hormonal, baby." I winked, caressing her messy dark hair "I'll go flirt with a nurse and see if I can get you real food."

"Kiss her if you must, just get me a burger" She grunted, and I had to laugh.

"Priorities, right?" I winked.

"At this point, it's food, baby, you" she gestured with her hand, and at least she did a side smile.

"I'll see what I can do" I winked and closed the door behind me; I couldn't shale the big smile as I went off on a mission to find my family some food.

***

Nobody tells you how bloody difficult it is to actually get out of the hospital. As a person, you go in and out of places with your own legs, just move them back and forth – easy, right? Nope, not after you have a screaming infant and a tired mom with you. There are bags and bags of things you have no idea what they're for. There's a tired post-partum mom trying her best not to cry, a freaked-out baby in her little egg, a stressed future godmother helping you get everything in the car you realize is not big enough to engulf your whole family – no matter how hard you try to convince yourself otherwise, you will need to get a family van.

"Thought your mom would be here" Eva frowned, as she pushed the bags into the boot of my too small car.

"Oh, I'm sure she would be if she knew we were going home" I shrugged, coming around to the driver's seat.

"You didn't tell her?!" Eva gasped.

"I told everyone we were going home the day after tomorrow." I winked, turning the car on and checking my two girls were safe and sound in the back "Everything alright back there?"

"Should've fed her before we left." Violet sighed, trying to calm our baby "It's ok, sweetie... I promise you'll love it where we're going!"

"So, you lied to the grandmother?" Eva pressed.

"I had to." I shrugged, quickly getting the car onto the road and heading home "She would be around for days, and I want them to have a smooth transition."

"Aw..." Eva moaned and eyed at her friend in the back seat "I told you you had gotten yourself a winner."

"Well, what can I say, the boy is good" Violet grinned and I winked at her from the rearview mirror.

"Rocco has finished the main bits in the kitchen." I assured her "And Stella and Dread cleaned everything. No dust, no noise. All ready to go, ok?"

"Thank you for remembering that..." Violet smiled "I completely forgot about that... I can't wait to be able to have a home cooked meal tonight."

"Let me know what you want, I'll go do you some shopping" Eva offered from her shotgun seat.

"No, that's ok." Violet quickly said "I'll do it."

"Baby... you're wearing a diaper" I reminded her with a chuckle.

"Well..." Violet blushed "We'll have it delivered, then."

"Can you do that, please?" I asked Eva "I will owe you."

"Can do." Eva winked "Anything for my niece!"

"She keeps upgrading her status" Violet told me from the backseat.

"Soon she'll be the mom" I agreed.

"I'm sure at some point I will beg her to take her away for a minute" Violet chuckled, but her smile was the most beautiful and loving smile as she caressed our daughter's little nose.

When we finally got home, I heard Violet sigh in relief as soon we got through the front door. When I closed it, her shoulder's relaxed and she closed her eyes for a minute.

"I missed this..." Violet sighed.

"Home sweet home" I smiled at her.

"Alright, tell me what is essential out of all of this" Eva asked us as all the bags from the hospital pilled by the foyer.

"That one." Violet told her, pointing to a diaper bag "That one, it has all the medication... Hum... this one" Violet grabbed a big bag and she winced "Clothes."

"Leave it." I told Eva "Could you take Julie to the nursery? We'll tuck her in, but if you could just take her upstairs for us?"

Off she went, grabbing the egg where Julie was sleeping. Violet grabbed a hold of the handrail and I tsked. I took her in my arms and took her up the stairs myself.

"Are you joking?" I smiled as she blinked at me "You would pass out if you had to go up these stairs."

"I really do love you..." She sighed, tucking her head on my shoulder "Rub my feet tonight?"

"I'll make you a better deal: I'll prepare you a bath while you feed Julie. Bubbles, a soft jet massage... how does that sound?"

"Sounds like someone is trying to get the Husband of the Year Award!" She moaned as we got upstairs "She needs to eat."

"Go ahead." I kissed her softly "I'll bring the bags up and will make you a bath."

Jesus, I was knackered; there were a million bags to bring upstairs with diapers, clothes, medication and more diapers. I heard Eva and Violet talking in the nursery, and saw the love of my life sitting on the rocking chair and feeding our baby. She cradled Julie to her chest and smiled down at her as she suckled on. There it went again, too many feelings inside one person.

Yep, tired as fuck, sleepy and begging for a good warm meal, but I would walk five hundred miles naked, on glass, on fire, just to give those two a hug and a kiss. Violet had always made me feel stupid and like my brain didn't work properly. I seemed to be unable to form coherent thoughts every time she shot me a smile. Now... now that she had had our baby, her tiny little five-foot three body gave us that gorgeous, pink and soft baby... I felt the need to bring her a bouquet of flowers every day! I mean... how was I suppose to make up for twenty hours of labor? Was that even possible?

"She's tired..." My fiancée told Eva, as she cradled Julie to her chest, getting up from her rocking chair "I'll change her and put her to bed."

"I'll change her, don't worry." Eva assured her, taking Julie to the changing table "Go have your bath, you deserve it."

The only way I could show her, was helping her during this time. The bath was hot, bubbly, and the jets were ready for her. I closed the bathroom door from our suite, and met her in the room. Violet was taking her cardigan and winced at the pain in her entire body.

"Let me help" I smiled, as she sat on our big bed.

"I would literally kill for a glass of wine..." She moaned as I helped her take off her clothes.

"You're breastfeeding" I chuckled "but I'll get you some tea and I'll start working on dinner, sound good?"

"Oh, God... please do." Violet moaned "Thank you... sorry if I'm-"

"Don't even finish that sentence." I frowned "You just had a baby. Your body has been through a big trauma, you need to rest, to recover. Here, let's go into the bath, take the rest of your clothes off."

"Can I... do it in the bathroom... by myself?" She muttered, blushing; Violet wasn't the shy type, so this had to be because of the post-partum body changing... and the diaper and all the bandages she had.

"No." I frowned, pulling her towards our bathroom; the big white tub was waiting for her and she actually moaned at the sight "I know, right? Even I want to join you – not today, though; this one is for you alone. Now, let's get the rest out, get in there and relax. I got your book there" I pointed to the side of the tub "not sure if you want to read or just close your eyes. Whatever you decide to do... just stay here, close the door and have some time for yourself. I'll be downstairs" I showed her my phone "ring if you need anything."

Her lower lip trembled and I chuckled, accepting her hug. I caressed her back and kissed the top of her head.

"Thank you..." She whispered in my chest.

"No problem. Go" I patted her naked butt and helped her get inside the tub.

Violet winced, the water was that warm. Her body was changed, the belly was getting smaller in a weird way, like it was deflating, with the stretch marks becoming a really purple-red color. Her skin and muscles had suffered through nine months of stretching and it would definitely take some time for it to get back to normal – if ever. I knew she would like to get back to working out asap, but only when the doctor gave her the go-ahead. She snuggled under the thick layer of bubbles, bath salts and jet, resting her head on the makeshift towel for a pillow, closing her eyes and pretty much going into a state of relaxation so deep she didn't even open them again when I closed the door.

"How's she doing?" Eva smiled, as I joined her in the nursery.

"Sleeping in the bath." I smiled at Julie's open mouth searching for her pacifier "You changed her? Thanks..."

"No problem." Eva winked, patting Julie's butt and giving her the pacifier "Here we go, clean as a whistle! Want to tuck her in?"

"Yeah, I'll tuck her in" I smiled, taking my daughter into my arms and going to her beautiful wooden white crib.

To hold your baby in your arms, feeling them snuggled in your chest as if appreciating the warmth and protection, is one of the best and most unique feelings in the world. Julie closed her eyes very softly as she sucked on her pacifier; I stood over her crib and caressed her tiny little hand as she fell asleep hard and fast – my pretty girl...

Eva left not long after that. She was great, if not for her help this would've been even more difficult! Within two hours of getting home, both my girls were tucked in, one in the tub, another in her crib, and I was playing the good husband in the kitchen, preparing a quick filling meal for the bigger girl. With the baby monitor in one end of the black marble countertop, and my phone on the other, I made my best chicken alfredo on a rush. I got a text from Violet as soon as I had set everything on a tray, ready to go upstairs. She was done and getting dressed; Julie was asleep which I was incredibly grateful for.

"Good girl." I grinned as I found Violet tucked in our large bed, in her comfortable and warm pajamas "Hungry?"

"I would maul you for that food" She assured me, as her face lighten up at the smell of a proper meal.

"Here we go, then." I chuckled, sitting next to her, stretching and crossing my legs "I had to be quick, but I think it will still beat hosp-"

She took a massive, I mean... I had no idea she could fit that much food in her mouth.

"Ok...!" I grinned, getting my bowl "Glad you enjoy it."

"Sorry." Violet winced "I'm really hungry... like all the time."

"It's normal." I assured her "So, I've put all the clothes to wash, nobody knows we're home yet – I'll let my mom know tomorrow evening. How are you feeling, back home?"

"Excited." Violet smiled, leaned back into the pillows and eating a bit more "Terrified. Stressed and happy at the same time. It's... a weird mix of feelings. I feel stupid."

"Baby, you've done amazingly." I assured her, caressing her damp hair "I'm excited, but I realized something today that we overlooked."

She shot me a worried look and I chuckled.

"Relax. The car. It's not gonna work. Yeah, we need a soccer mom's car" I winced.

"Oh..." She sighed, rubbing her eyes "Shit... You're right. I don't want a soccer mom car, though..."

"We can have fun with it." I winked "We'll have a look in the next few days, find something cool and comfortable and safe, I promise."

"I'm really sorry I can't sleep with you for the next few weeks, you really deserve to get laid" She grinned, and I tossed my head back to laugh.

"Baby, to see you relax and hear you laugh hours after giving birth, is the best thrill in the world." On that note, a scream from the nursery made us wince "Someone wants company.... No, I got it." I stopped her from getting up "It's me, now; finish your meal and have some sleep. I'll let you have your turn tomorrow."

"You're going to fall on the floor, Jordan" She warned as I crossed the hallway to check on our girl.

"Nah!" I grinned pulling the moaning baby into my arms and rocking her back and forth, across the hallway "I still have enough energy to care for my babies!"

And I always would...