| Nine months later, they sat watching the TV when Gillian suddenly gasped for air. "Gillian? Are you okay, what happened?" Nicky looked at her, alarmed. She looked back at him, and then she smiled when she understood what just happened. "My water just broke," she said, and his face turned from alarmed to a big smile. "Do you need an ambulance, darling?" he asked, and helped her up from the sofa. Gillian kissed his cheek, and shook her head. "No, you just go get the car, and I'll be fine." she said, and sent him off to get the car. She got into the bedroom and found the bag she'd packed in advance in case anything happened. "Gillian, sweetheart!" Nicky said, hurrying over to her and taking the bag from her hand. "You're not supposed to lift heavy things, let me take this." She smiled at him, and he smiled at her as he slipped his arm around her waist and helped her out to the car. "Thank you, Nicky." He ran around to the other side, and got in. "You all right? Do you need anything? Anything at all?" he asked, and stroked her stomach. Gillian shook her head and laughed. "I'm fine. Oh Nicky, my angel. What would I do without you?" He laughed, and pulled out from their driveway. Nicky sat in the waiting room, praying that she was all right. Just like he had three and a half years ago. But this time, Nicky could feel it was different. The doctor smiled as she approached him. "Mr. Byrne, congratulations. Your wife and your children are all fine. The birth was completely without complications, and you can go see them now." she said, and smiled at him. "Thank you so much doctor! I'm so grateful, thank you." he said, shaking her hand. She smiled at him, and could see how happy he was. Nicky looked from the doctor to the door; then he started walking towards the door. Then he froze in his steps, "Children?" he turned back to the doctor. "Eh, excuse me, but did you say children?" he asked, and she nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Byrne gave birth to two beautiful children. Twins; a boy and a girl." she explained. Nicky was ecstatic; he didn't know what to do. "That's amazing, thank you!" he smiled, and hurried into the room where Gillian was lying in the hospital bed, two beautiful children resting in her arms. To Nicky this picture was so right, she was made to be a mother and she was made for him. Tears welled up in his eyes as an incredible wave of love and affection washed over him; he couldn't believe how beautiful she was lying there, she looked like an angel. Gillian raised her head and saw him standing there. "Nicky," she said, and he walked over to them. "God Gillian, they're so beautiful." he said, and tears of happiness rolled from his eyes. He bent down and kissed her forehead. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you too, sweetheart." she said, and their little boy reached his arms out to his father. "Go on, hold him." Gillian said, and Nicky carefully picked up the little boy and rocked him in his arms. She looked at them, and saw how right everything was. He was the perfect father, so kind, caring and full of love. An incredible wave of love and affection washed over her, and she realised how much he meant to her and how much she truly loved him. The years went so fast, they all flew by and the twins, Jack and Joyce grew up so quickly. Their parents loved them more than anything else in the whole world, and they, as all other parents, thought that their two children grew far to fast for them. "I can't believe how grown up they are, it seems like only yesterday I sat in the hospital waiting room." Nicky said, and put his arms around his wife as they stood watching their children playing in the garden. "Yes, aren't they?" Gillian said, and turned to face him. She looked into his eyes, and was amazed to see how his blue eyes sparkled. Just like they had when she'd told him that she was pregnant. She smiled and drew her breath. "What is it, honey?" he asked. "Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about when I told you I was pregnant. After we'd lost Jessica." she said, and Nicky could see a streak of sorrow and pain when she said her name. He lifted his hand and gently stroked her cheek, and then he kissed her forehead. "I remember. We've come far, haven't we?" he said, and hesitated a bit before he continued. "And I'm sure Jessica's with us, watching over us and Jack and Joyce." Gillian looked up at him, and he saw how the streak in her eyes slowly faded. She smiled, and nodded. "Yes, you're probably right." she said, and looked up at him. "I love you, Nicky." Nicky hugged her, and remembered something he'd told her that day when Jessica had died. "I love you, Gillian, I always will. And I'm here with you forever. For better or for worse," he whispered in her ear. A single tear ran from her eye, and she hugged him tighter. It was all she would ever need to hear. For better or for worse. |