Chapter 14

A few days later...

"Crap." Zoe muttered as a sharp pain shot down her back. The triplets had been kicking up a storm inside her, she was trying to rest but kept tossing and turning.

She briefly wondered if she was going into labour, but quickly dismissed the idea.

"How are you doing?" Max asked as he made his way into their room with a sandwich and a drink of water for her.

"Not very well." Zoe sighed. "I love you."

"I love you too." Her husband replied, laying down beside her and kissing her on the forehead.

Another pain shot down Zoe's back and she winced. "Ouch!"

"What's up?" Max asked.

"I've been getting cramps in my lower back, I'm okay." The female tried to reassure him.

His eyes widened. "You could be going into early labour." He stated.

"I'm not, I'm fine." Zoe insisted, and winced as another pain hit her.

"Yeah, and I'm the King of England. I'm going to call Ruhma." Said her husband, retrieving his phone from the bedside table.

Half an hour later...

"Mia, mummy will be fine." Ruhma tried to reassure her Goddaughter . Zoe had just gone into theatre for a C-section, Max was with her. As soon as Amelia had figured out what was happening, she had snuggled into Ruhma and refused to let her go.

The pair were in Ruhma's office, it was fairly quiet and they hadn't been disturbed so far.

"Are we seeing the babies today?" Mia questioned.

"Yes." The elder replied, rubbing Amelia's back.

"Are they going to be okay?"

"I don't know." Ruhma answered truthfully. It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon, time for Mia's nap. "D'you want to have a little rest?"

"Okay." Mia replied, and Ruhma laid her down on the purple armchair in her office. The little girl quickly fell fast asleep.

Ruhma paced up and down, wondering whether to nip to theatre.

"Ruhma." Serena's voice caused the midwife to halt.

She turned to the consultant."Yes?"

"You go and check on Zoe, I'll keep an eye on Amelia." Said Serena.

"Okay, if she gets hungry there's some crisps and a drink in my bag." Ruhma responded.

The other woman nodded. "Okay, now go. We're all hoping for some good news."

Ruhma left the room and made her way down to the maternity wing. She then hurried up to the nurses' station.

"Hi, Ruhma Hanif, midwife. Can you tell me if one of my patients, Zoe Walker is still in theatre?" She asked.

"Yes." Replied a woman whom Ruhma recognised as Susie, one of the doctors whom Zoe had seen at an antenatal appointment. "I think that second of the triplets is just about to be delivered."

"Thank you, could you point me in the right direction please?" Ruhma asked.

Susie directed Ruhma to theatre, Ruhma scrubbed in and stepped inside.

"Ruhma!" Max said with a smile. He was sat on a stool next to Zoe, and was holding a baby wrapped in a white blanket.

"Hello." Ruhma stepped towards them.

"Hi." Zoe responded. "Would you like to hold him? I think that our second is about to arrive."

"Yes please."

Max slipped the tiny life into Ruhma's arms.

"Hello, little one." The midwife cooed, chuckling as the baby fussed a little. "It's okay, I'll hand you back to your daddy in a second, he's got to look after your younger brother or sister!" She murmured, rocking him gently.

"I'm so proud of you." Max smiled, giving Zoe a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you, I couldn't exactly have done it without you." Zoe chuckled.

Their tender moment was interrupted by the crying of their second baby.

"Here we are, you have a daughter." Said Diana, who was carrying out the caesarean.

The baby girl was cleaned up by a nurse and then placed next to her mother. She immediately stopped crying.

"Hello, sweetheart." Zoe smiled. "I'm your mummy."

"She's absolutely beautiful, just like you." Max murmured, lifting his daughter into his arms.

The third triplet was delivered, a baby boy. They were all placed in cots whilst Zoe was sorted out, Ruhma and Max went out of theatre to wait for them.

"Thank you for being there, Ruhma. She won't admit it but Zoe was terrified in there." Max said.

Ruhma rubbed his arm. "That's what I'm here for. It's a miracle in itself that the triplets are healthy, considering that they're so early."

Max nodded. "I agree. I can't wait to see them, and Zoe soon." He beamed.