Chapter 25
Cato POV
Here I am staring at your perfection in my arms, so beautiful.
Clove is the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen, her bright green eyes, her fair porcelain skin that sends chills all over my body every time I touch her, the way she smiles, she makes the world brighter and I am lucky enough to have her sleeping right in my arms, with her head resting peacefully on my chest.
I watch her sleep for a while until she slowly opens her eyes and stretch her arms; she looks up and smiles before giving me a kiss.
-"Do we really have to get up now?"- She covers herself with the blankets again.
-"I think we still have a few minutes before the twins wake up"- I put my arms around her tiny waist and pull her closer.
-"Do you want to tell them the truth? I mean like right now when they wake up? I don't want to keep this any longer and I think they are going to ask why mommy is sleeping with Cato don't you think?"- The words rushed out and she sounded nervous.
Clove was like that, worry is in her nature, even when there is nothing to worry about she will found something and that is why I love her, so I kept quiet for a while to make her anxious.
-"Will you marry me Clo?"- I didn't know what to expect, and I simply popped the question.
She sighted heavily and then answered- "Probably"- A wide smile appeared in my face as I heard those words, she answered so calmly and that was just what I needed to keep on with my plan for later.
As I predicted we heard little footsteps running down the hall, and a few minutes later Cade and Clair opened the door and jumped in the bed to snuggle between us, we stayed quiet for a while until Claire finally spoke.
"So are you like mommy's prince now?"- My mouth dropped when I heard her question and Clove was trying very hard not to laugh.
"Actually honey, Cato is a little bit more than that, remember a while ago when you asked me why does your eyes are alike to his eyes? And when Cade asked me why didn't you have a daddy? I told you that you did have a daddy but he had to go far away when you two were still in my tummy, but the truth is that daddy never knew that you were growing in there"- tears start streaming down her face as she tries to tell them but I interrupt her and continue with it.
-"But now your daddy knows that you two are his babies and he loves you so much, you are the most important thing in the world for him and he will never let you go again and…"- Claire throws her arms around my neck before I can finish.
-"I knew it; I knew that you are my daddy! I love you so much dad"-now I am the one who is crying, Claire just said the one word that I have been expected to hear: she called me daddy.
Cade is staring at us, his expression is blank and I start to think that he is mad at me but just when I'm about to ask him a wide smile spreads across his face and he joins us in the hug.
-"Aunt Mags was right! Christmas wishes do come true because last night I wished to have a daddy and now I have you"- I hugged them tighter and looked at Clo, who was contemplating the scene crying but also smiling at the same time, I pulled her in the hug and I finally got my kids and the love of my life in my arms, together as a family.
-"mmm can we go open the presents now?"- Claire asked hesitantly and we all laughed.
-"Of course we can princess, come on I bet that I'll beat you two in a race downstairs"- they giggled and rushed to the door, I was about to follow them but I saw Clove standing up only to sit in the bed again.
-"What's wrong love?"- She looked pale so I quickly went to her side to see what was wrong.
-"Don't worry I think I got up too fast, the dizziness already faded"- I lifted her in my arms bridal stile and started walking downstairs.
-"Are you really going to carry me all the way down? Put me down now Cato Ludwig!"-
-"Aren't you enjoying it lovely?"- I gave her my heartbreaker smile and she blushed but didn't say another word.
The twins were a whirlwind of energy and were already ripping up the envelopes to see what toys were inside; okay maybe I did went a little over the top with the presents but it was a way to make up for the Christmases that I wasn't with them. I bought every princess item that I was able to find and football equipment for Cade along with toy swords and shields to play with him.
The door opened and Aiden came in followed by his parents, Annie looked terribly tired today but she still had a big smile on her face, the doctor had told them that the baby could arrive any time now, that's why they decided to stay here in four.
We keep on opening presents and Johanna and Alec joined us, then Enobaria and Brutus arrived, the presents were slowly disappearing and I took the small box in my hands, it was my mother's wedding ring, before she died she gave it to me and told me that when I found a girl who will put up with me I shouldn´t let her go and that I will knew that the ring will belong to her. Clove was definitely that girl so I just took the ring to the jewelry to clean it, it was a real piece of art, it is a three stone circlet dazzles with tiny diamonds around brilliant stones.
So this was it, the moment that I have waited practically all my life, Clove was watching the kids lovingly and I handed her the box without saying a word, she smiled at me and then looked down to open it and as she was taking away the ribbon I got on one knee.
Clove POV
I ripped the envelope and found a small blue velvet box, I looked up only to find Cato kneeled in front of me, he carefully took the box from my hands and opened it. I gasped, it was his mother's wedding ring, I remember that she showed it to me many years ago.
-"I have loved you since the first time I saw you, from that day until now the feeling have only grown deeper, I love you for everything you are, when I'm with you the world stops turning and gravity disappears, I want to be the one to hold you forever, I want your face to be the first thing that I see in the morning, I want to be the one whom you will argue about stupid things and then make up with a kiss. You gave me the greatest gift of all, our beautiful kids and if I'm lucky enough I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so Clove, will you marry me?"-
I was speechless, I heard everyone in the room gasp but I was only able to watch his eyes, those blue eyes that trapped me since the very first day, the love of my life was standing in front of me asking me to marry him, I feel the warm tears running down my cheeks once again.
-"Of course I will"- I was finally able to speak, Cato lifts me and spin me in his arms, then we share a kiss full of passion, happiness, tenderness but mainly true love. One my feet touch the ground the twins hug us.
-"Mommy is a princess and daddy is her blue prince"- Claire claps happily in her father arms.
-"And we are going to live happily ever after"- Cade adds, placing a kiss in my cheek.
Everyone congratulate us, Johanna hugs me tightly and Alec warns Cato to take care of us and then they also hug Finnick puts his arms around us and pulls us into a big hug. That's when I see Annie, breathing heavily near the couch; she is squeezing her hand so hard that her fists look white, Finn immediately runs toward her rubbing her back to calm her down.
-"I think the baby is coming now Finn"- Finnick gets all nervous and starts babbling things.
-"Move it Finnick Odair! Your wife needs you, or don't you want to see your baby?- Johanna slaps him hard and he seems to think clearly again.
-"Her bag is in the bedroom in Cato´s room and the baby bag is in the laundry, can you get those?"- he asks us as he and Cato carry Annie to the car.
-"Go ahead Jo, Alec please help her and we'll be there in a minute let me get the kids ready, we'll see you at the hospital"- I quickly grab three jackets from the closet and send the kids to put on a pair of shoes. As I am buckling up their jackets, Aiden keeps bouncing all over the room.
-"Are you happy because you are going to meet your baby sister or brother Aid?"- I ask him as I put on my coat.
-"Yes, I can't want to see him or her! Auntie Clo?"-
-"What is it honey?"-
-"Aunt Mags was right, Christmas wishes come true, last night I asked to have my baby little sister or brother soon, but I didn't tought it will be so fast".
I laughed and left with the kids to the hospital to wait for the baby Odair.