Wasting no time, Angel rushed Zara to the hospital leaving his brothers to celebrate the marriage without the couple.

"It's too early," she whimpered.

"Doctor said it might happen," he said in an attempt to ease her concern. "Didn't he?"

"Multiples are always early but not 31 weeks early," she explained, taking slow deep breaths to keep calm.

"It's alright," he said, less than confident. "It's a green light, asshole," Angel suddenly shouted at the driver ahead of them.

"Oh my god," Zara laughed a little. "You're a living cliché, babe."

"Is it cliché is it's a real reaction to pricks who can't fucking drive?" He snapped, glaring out the windshield. "How are you so calm?"

"You're helping distract me," she said, closing her eyes.

"Z, it's gonna be okay," he promised her.

"I hope so," she said, her voice cracking. "I can't deal with another loss, Angel. You and my dad are the only two people I have left. Everyone else is gone."

"Hey," he reached over and grabbed her hand. "I...I don't know what else to say but it's all gonna be fine, I promise."

Zara nodded. "Just drive."

—

A few hours after the wedding ceremony, EZ and Coco arrived at the hospital as a show of support. The duo could tell by the look on the nurses' faces that men looking like them are uncommon among their halls.

"We're here to Zara Osbourne," EZ said with a sweet smile.

The nurse's cheeks flushed, easily charmed by a sunny smile, as she looked at her computer screen.

"We don't usually allow visitors in labor and delivery but I know her situation is slightly different. You can pop in for a few minutes. I'll just need your names for the log."

"I'm Ezekiel Reyes," EZ said then pointed to Coco, "And this is Johnny Cruz."

The nurse scribbled down the names and double-checked that Zara's visitor preferences before pointing to the hallway. "231, she's on the left. Try to keep it under fifteen, if you don't mind."

They nodded and once she buzzed the doors Coco and EZ went down toward room 231. There were some moans and whinnies, women obviously in active labor, and it made both men uneasy and slightly nauseous.

"I don't like it," Coco said quietly. "Shit sounds awful."

"Yeah, I'm gonna assume it is," EZ chuckled. "She's right here."

The door was open a few inches but it was much quieter in that room than any others in the hall. Coco stuck his head in to see Angel sitting at a sleeping Zara's bedside, resting his forehead on Zara's thigh, while his lips moved.

What the couldn't hear was Angel's supportive and desperate words to his unborn children. He begged them to stay put, to grow bigger and stronger before making their entrance while reinforcing his daily message of how much he loved them.

"Hey," Coco said quietly. "We good?" He asked, pointing into the room.

Angel's head shot up. "Huh. Oh shit. Uh, yeah."

"What are they saying?" EZ asked as he greeted his older brother with a hug.

"They gave her something to help her sleep," he said sadly. "Now they're monitoring shit and they gave her a steroid shot in case the babies come early, it'll uh, help their lungs or something," he explained in a whisper. "There details but, ya know," he shrugged.

"You okay?" Coco asked with concern.

Angel nodded. "Gotta be."

"Everyone else wanted to come up but Bish figured all of us turning up here would be too much," EZ explained.

"Yeah, I get it," Angel said. "We're trying to keep her calm anyway, she was really upset. Doubt you assholes would help with that."

EZ looked at Zara with an odd kind of longing. Not that many years ago he was, or he thought he was, madly in love with her. He knew they weren't right for each other but there was suddenly pang of jealousy.

"You need anything just let us know," Coco offered. "We're taking care of Bob, we're gonna get his ass drunk and laid," he added with a laugh.

"He's gonna need that," Angel laughed. "You mind giving us a minute?" He said to Coco while gesturing to EZ. Once Coco slipped out of the room, Angel gave his brother a hug. "You been updating Pop?"

EZ nodded once the hug ended. "Yeah. I know I'm, I know you," he sighed. "You're both too fucking stubborn."

"Yeah and I'm not fucking wrong," Angel said defensively. "What he did to Z was fucked up. You apologized, you helped get her back that night," Angel shook his head. "He hasn't even called."

"I'm sorry, Angel," EZ said shamefully.

"This ain't on you," Angel swallowed hard. "You can tell once they're born and shit, just, keep the details to yourself. He doesn't deserve to know their names after what he did to me and their mother."

EZ nodded, although he felt painfully guilty for his role, and agreed. "Of course."

"Thanks," Angel forced a smile.

"You okay?" EZ asked sadly.

Angel shook his head. "We wanted one baby, E. Now we got two and if they can't keep em' in a few more weeks they're gonna need help and it's gotta come from me."

"Angel, you're gonna be a good dad, you're gonna get them whatever they need. Besides, Z is gonna be there too, you're a team."

"I gotta take care of her," he said sadly.

"It's not all on you," EZ said, placing a hand on Angel's shoulder. "I got you too, you need anything, just say something."

Angel didn't want to ask EZ for help but he appreciated the offer. "Yeah, thanks."

"Did you guys find out?" He asked, wanting to change the subject to something more exciting. "Boys, girls or one of each?"

"At least one girl," Angel said with a dreamy smile. "I thought I wanted boys but the idea of a girl, a little Z, I can't wait."

EZ smiled. "Name?"

"I have some ideas," he chuckled. "Just gotta convince Zara."

"Good luck," EZ laughed heartily.

"Don't you laugh at me," Zara said, having caught the last bit of the siblings' jokes.

"Hey," EZ said with a wave. "I was just leaving."

"I appreciate it," she said politely.

"She's gonna appreciate it more if you leave now."

EZ and Angel hugged once more before EZ quickly left the room.

"You alright?" Angel asked her as he hurried back to her side.

"Hungry," she complained.

"I'll sneak out and get you some food," he offered.

She shook her head. "Then I'll need to have a c-section and puke everywhere."

"Always thinking positive," he teased. "You in pain?"

"That's what woke me up," she whinnied. "Contractions are getting worse."

"You want me to get the nurse?"

"I already hit the call button," she sighed. "Angel, I'm scared."

Angel shook his head. "You don't have to be, I know this is all gonna be okay, Z. I can feel it."

Just then Zara grimaced and screwed her eyes shut. "I can feel these fucking contractions," she whimpered.

"Miss Osbourne," the nurse burst into the room. "How are we?"

"Mrs. Reyes," Zara corrected her, "And not great."

The nurse looked at the previous contractions on the screen and checked Zara's vitals. "I'm going to get the doc here, have you two talk with him about the next few hours."

"That doesn't sound good," Angel said with concern.

"Everything looks good so far," she said reassuringly. "Your contracts are stronger now than when you came in and you've lost a lot of fluid though so we may not want to try to keep these two in much longer."

"Our goal was 35 weeks," Zara said sadly.

"Your goal is two happy healthy babies," she said with a smile, "And that's what we're going to make sure of."

"This is happening, isn't it?" Zara asked the nurse.

She nodded slowly. "In my professional opinion, those two are going to make their grand entrances in the next twenty-four hours."

—

The nurse's opinion was correct and Zara had a cesarean section scheduled for the next morning. She wanted to wait for her doctor and unless her labor suddenly sped up or the babies were in distress it was safe to wait just a bit longer.

"Should we open it?" Zara asked, holding a small envelope in her hand.

At the twenty week ultrasound, still unsure about finding out what they were having, Zara asked the tech to write the gender of each baby in an envelope. Each of them took one, allowed to open it whether they felt ready, but so far only one had been revealed.

Angel shrugged, "Up to you. I opened my envelope weeks ago, Z. This one is your call."

"I already knew we were having a girl for sure, I can't tell with the second one though."

"Mami, you're gonna know in twelve hours anyway," Angel chuckled.

With one swift motion, Zara ripped open the envelope and unfolded the piece of paper.

"A boy," she said, almost in disbelief. "A boy. Baby A is a boy. Holy shit."

Angel's face lit up. "Fuckin' perfect," he cooed. "Christ, Z, how fucking perfect is this?"

"Very fucking perfect," she giggled. "I have my list of names." Zara reached over for her purse and pulled a small spiral notepad out. "I know we've tossed a few around but I have a couple I really like."

"Wait we're doing it now?" He asked, taken aback by her positive outlook. "I...I didn't write shit down."

"It's okay," she laughed. "Okay so here are some of my favorites, don't laugh," she added sternly. "Oscar. Clementine. Daisy. Wyatt."

"No, no, no, and no," he said quickly. "Shit, Z, I love you, but you're so white. Why don't you just name them Quinoa and Brad?"

Zara closed her eyes for a moment. "The best time to tease someone is when they're in early labor with twins."

"I don't hate Oscar," he said sympathetically. "You know we kept saying we'd wait to talk about it because we'd never agree, right?"

"Yep," she huffed. "What do you think?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "I been calling her Reina for months, even before we knew it was twins I kept saying it."

Zara looked at him, a light flicking on in her head. "The book you got them, you wrote king or queen."

"Yeah and Reyes is kings in Spanish," he said sheepishly.

"You want to name our daughter Queen?" She asked him, her expression unusually difficult to read. "How about we name him Freddie Mercury then?"

Angel's top lip twitched. "I knew you'd hate it."

"I don't," she said apologetically, even though she did. "I love that you call her that, that you feel that way, and, meaning aside, Reina is beautiful."

"But?" He asked suspiciously.

"But you hate my picks," she reminded him.

"So I get Reina if I let you pick whatever you want?"

Zara nodded.

"Okay," he sighed.

"So we're naming her Queen Kings, right?"

Angel shrugged. "Anyone who would care is too white to speak Spanish," he joked.

"Which one do you hate the most?" She asked.

"Uh, out of the boy names, Oscar and Wyatt?"

Zara nodded.

"Wyatt," he said firmly. "I don't like Oscar but, Z, Wyatt is fucking awful."

Zara pouted. "Well, now I don't want to use it. Thanks."

"I'm sorry," he sighed. "I'm nervous, I'm scared," Angel admitted.

"I am too," she nodded. "They're going to be so small."

"I know," he swallowed hard. "I kind of don't hate Wyatt," he said suddenly. "Reina and Wyatt, I like it."

"Really?" She looked up at him with wide eyes and Angel nodded. "Reina and Wyatt Reyes." Zara covered her face and began to cry. "I can't believe this."

Angel laughed, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. "Me neither. It's about to get real."

"We can do it right?"

"Of course," he said with more confidence than he actually felt. "Can you sleep?"

"The epidural is amazing but my brain in the problem now." Checking her phone, Zara saw she had a few hours before her surgery was scheduled. "I should try though."

Angel sat back down again, taking Zara's hands in his, and tried to calm her. "Close your eyes." He ran his nails up and down her arm slowly, just like he did when she was restless or anxious in their own bed, and like magic, she was asleep in a few minutes.

"I love you," he said, kissing her forehead before running out of the room toward the nurse's station. "I'm heading out, gonna clean house and grab her bag and stuff, she just fell asleep."

"Okay," the nurse smiled politely. "It's normal to be nervous and antsy," she added.

"Yeah, yeah," he chuckled, "I know."

She laughed, gesturing for him to leave. "Hurry back!"

—

Angel thought he was quick, at least after he took a peaceful and uninterrupted nap for the last time. He grabbed a bite, jumped in the shower and, after getting dressed, stared at the car seats in the corner of the babies' room.

"Fuck," he sighed, "They're not coming home yet."

On his way out the door, he called Bishop to give an update and distract himself but their discussion was cut short.

"Bish I gotta go, the hospital is calling," his words were heavy with panic.

"Go, we'll be here waiting," Bishop said before the line went dead.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Reyes?"

"Yeah, it's me, are they okay?"

"Yes, but Zara's labor has progressed quickly. Will you be able to get in here within the next thirty minutes? She didn't want to go into the OR without you but the doctor doesn't want to wait too long."

"I'll be there in ten," he said, stepping on the gas and tossing the phone on the passenger seat.

—

When Angel ran out of the elevator he saw Zara being pushed from the delivery room to the operating room.

"Hey," he grabbed the side of the bed and hurried beside her. "What happened?"

"Rey wouldn't wait," she told him, beads of sweat across her forehead. "She's in the nursery."

"What? Rey? Reina?" He looked at the nurse in shock. "Seriously?"

"Yes," the nurse said as she grabbed Angel before they could enter the operating room. "You can't go in."

"Angel!" Zara hollered from behind the double doors.

"The fuck I can't," he snapped.

"You need to get changed and wash up," the nurse told him firmly. "Don't make me call security on you the day your babies are born."

Angel held his tongue. "What the hell happened?"

Noting his change of tone, the nurse kept her friendly attitude. "The baby is breech, they want to get him out before he's stuck."

"Reina wasn't?"

"She was head first," the nurse chuckled, pulling scrubs out of the closet. "Zara couldn't tell how close she was, because of the epidural, until she was already half out!"

"Shouldn't you guys watch for that shit?" He snapped angrily.

"I wasn't her nurse, I don't know what happened," she said with a look, "But," she lowered her voice, "You're not wrong."

The sharp sound of a baby's cries silenced his impending rant. "No," he gasped. "I missed it."

"They weren't going to let you in," she told him sadly. "It was becoming too much of an emergency. I didn't want to break your heart or see you banned. Come with me, I'll take you to the NICU nursery."

"What about Zara?" Angel asked desperately.

"You'll see her in recovery," the nurse said sympathetically.

The nurse lead Angel back out the way they had come and down the opposite hall. Reyna was already in an incubator but Angel was surprised by how her size. He expected an impossibly small baby, terrifyingly small, with tubes and wires but she looked much healthier than he imagined.

"First big day and I missed it," he sighed. "I'm sorry."

"You Dad?" The nurse asked, knocking on the window.

Angel nodded and showed the nurse his hospital-issued maternity ID bracelet. She waved for him to meet her at the door and, after checking the bracelet against the babies' ankle IDs, helped him her set up in a rocker beside Reina's incubator.

"How is she?" He asked, peering through the tiny walls in awe of his daughter.

"Healthy," the nurse said. "Bigger than the doctors were fearing. "She's just under four pounds, 3 pounds, 12 ounces, it's good."

"Her lungs?" He asked hesitantly.

"Good, still not perfectly developed but good," the nurse said. "The doctor will go over everything with you and Mom in a bit."

"Now is she? Zara, I mean."

"No c-section," the nurse laughed. "That boy wanted out and he didn't want to wait. She was on the table and there he was."

Angel laughed, "Figures. When can I see her?"

The nurse looked out the glass again and tapped his shoulder, pointing off toward the left end of the hall. Zara was being wheeled down toward the nursery looking exhausted but somehow more gorgeous than he'd ever seen before.

"Z," he beamed, greeting her at the door. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," she nodded. "How is she?"

"Beautiful, Zara, she's fucking perfect," he said proudly, "Like her mother."

"Where's Wyatt?" She asked, her eyes still on Reina.

"We're expecting him soon," the nurse said, "He's still with the pediatricians."

"When can I hold her?" Zara looked at the NICU nurse.

"Let me get you a stable chair and we can get her out for you."

"How are you?" Angel asked her again.

"Tired, shocked," she laughed. "I was there and I still can't believe that shit happened. I just..," Zara shook her head.

"Unreal," Angel nodded.

"Mom and Dad," the nurse who had escorted Zara down spoke as she nursery door opened. "Here's your son."

Wyatt was already in an incubator, a blue hat on his head in contrast to Reina's pink one. He had fuzz along his shoulders and arms and lots of hair on his head.

"Oh my god," Zara giggled. "Look at him. He's like a little teddy bear."

"Teddy's a better name than Wyatt," Angel teased her.

"Stop," she laughed. "He's so handsome."

"They're okay," he whispered. "Right?"

"Look at them," she whimpered. "They're more than okay, Angel, they're perfect."

Angel and Zara were able to hold their babies for a short time each before it was time for a feeding.

"I'm hungry too," she said to Angel. "Can you bring me something?"

"Too good for hospital food?"

"Yes," Zara laughed. "I am."

"You should get some rest," the nurse suggested. "Have some dinner, take a nap and come back. You've had a long 48 hours."

"I can't leave them," Zara shook her head. "Not for that long."

"You need to rest," the nurse said more sternly. "You just gave birth to twins."

"Mami," Angel cooed, "She's right."

"I know," she whinnied.

Angel kissed her something he'd been waiting to do for hours, before scribbling down her order and leaving the nursery. He was barely halfway down the hall when he saw his father step off the elevator.

"Hey Pop," he said, taken aback.

"Son," he nodded. "Your brother called, told me congratulations were in order."

Beaming proudly, Angel nodded. "I texted him."

"Congratulations," Felipe said, moving to hug his firstborn. There was a reluctance, a fear he'd be denied, but Angel hugged his father.

"Thanks," he sniffled. "A boy and a girl," Angel told him.

"A girl?" Felipe chuckled. "Good luck."

"Yeah," he laughed. "I gotta go grab some food, they're uh, right down the hall."

"Why don't I go with you?" Felipe suggested. "We haven't had the chance to talk in so long."

"Let's go, you can see your grandkids," Angel said with a shrug. "When shit settles we'll talk it out."

Felipe agreed and the men strolled to the glass. Angel pointed out the babies, Zara's presence between the incubators making it pretty obvious.

"Reina and Wyatt," he said proudly.

"They're beautiful, Angel," Felipe said, tears in his eyes. "You're mother would adore them." Turning, he hugged Angel again. "I should go. I just wanted to come by for a minute."

"I appreciate it, Pop."

Nodding, Felipe headed back toward the elevator, stopping briefly to speak seconds before stepping out of view. "You're going to be a good father, learn from my mistakes, son."