Chapter 11
A few hours later, I awaken to not the usual one, but three pairs of bright blue eyes staring at me. Cato is sitting next to me, holding both babies close. Immediately, I sit up, taking Veronica in my arms. "How've they been?"
Half-joking, he turns to me, exposing what seems to be tiny claw marks lining his bare shoulders. "Well, they have your fingernails." Before I can reply, they start to simultainiously hiccup. It is the most adorable thing I have ever seen them do. "Cato, go get the camera."
"Why? It's cute, yes, but they're going to do it again, right? Why not wait until they're more awake?"
"Yeah, yeah, we can get it then, too. Just do it."
And so when they grow up and ask why we have half an hour of video featuring their hiccups, that is why.
We would have had more, but eventually, they fell asleep. And that is when it really sinks in. "They're really ours. They're here, they are wonderful, and they are perfect." I watch their controlled, soft breathing for a moment. "They're ours."
Cato holds me close enough to feel gentle heat radiating from his skin. "They are, Clove. They really, really are." We press together, arms intertwined. A dull ache spreads though my lower back as I roll over in an attempt to get even closer.
"It's from yesterday." I wasn't aware of my shocked facial expression until right now. But how he knows that, I'm not sure. Still, he continues. "It hurts, right? That's from yesterday. You could've pulled a muscle. I wouldn't be surprised if you did."
"Why not? Did I do something wrong?" For some reason, I have insisted on staying in this position.
"No, Clove. You did wonderfully. It's just that it looked really hard." Our eyes lock on each others for a minute, before my head ever so slowly inclines into a nod.
I'm not sure how it happened, but the next thing I know, I am laying on top of Cato. Gently but firmly, he is rubbing my lower back. It feels amazing, and I almost wish he will continue for hours. It becomes such a repetitive motion that after several minutes, he is asleep, arms around my waist.
There is something about watching the ones you love as they sleep. Whether it is because of their peacefulness, the way they breathe, or just the fact that its okay to stare at them for long periods of time, I remain unaware. But whatever it is that makes it so wonderful, I will be forever grateful. Because this moment is truly something I would never dream of missing.