Adaline's point of view:

I finish my lap in the indoor pool that looks like it's right from Arabian Nights. This spa looks exactly like the one from La Mamounia, the hotel where Ana celebrated her 18th birthday. It was also Wlad and mine's first holiday as a couple. I will forever remember the date night he surprised me with. A romantic dinner on the rooftop of the hotel. It was absolutely breathtaking and now every time I am here, I think of this perfect first holiday.

I stop swimming at the end of the pool. Nowadays I only feel light in the water. My ankles and fingers have swollen a lot over the last few weeks. It has gotten so bad that Wlad told me to get my wedding rings off of my left ring finger. I didn't do it until he presented me a silicone ring. The white silicone ring has a twisted band to make it look prettier but honestly I can't wait to put back my sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to my Mum and my wedding band. Being in the water takes off the pressure from my back and hips. Being pregnant with twins is no piece of cake.

Not that I eat cake a lot.

I stare at the wall across me. I love the turquoise coloured Moroccan tiles of this spa. It reminds me of our first holiday together. It reminds me of our beginning. It reminds me of how far we've come and our journey to the now.

And it reminds me of the future that's ahead of me.

"You're coming out yet?"

I turn around at my husband's voice that echoes through the room. He's dressed in grey joggers and a white T-shirt. His large feet are naked and his brown short hair is messy. His silver eyes are full of love for me. It's a look I have been getting for years, even before I made the first step by kissing him. But it took me a while to figure it out. "I don't know. It kind of feels good being here. How about you join me?" I yell back with a grin on my face. Our girls start kicking in my belly. "Your girls are quite enjoying this as well."

"Oh, so now they're my girls?" Wlad asks me back with a smile on his lips before he walks over to me. I watch how his muscles shift as his body moves. I worried he was going to become lazy on this parental leave but it's the opposite. He has been working out even harder, running even more. But at least I get to wake up next to him every morning and fall asleep next to him every night. It's a luxury I rarely enjoyed while I was still working.

He stops across me and kneels down so we're closer. "You're okay?"

I nod, "Yeah. Walking is kind of hard with swollen feet, so I'd rather spend a few hours a day in here."

"Well, lunch is ready so I hope you're hungry."

I smirk, "You know I'm always hungry. What's for lunch?"

"Grilled salmon with veggies as a side. And for dessert I attempted to make mousse au chocolat."

I smirk, "Attempted?"

He shrugs, "Yeah, you know I've never done it but I thought I'd surprise you. It's vegan and I used extra dark chocolate chips so the sugar content is at a minimum."

"That's very sweet of you. How about you hand me the towel?"

He rises to his full height and walks over to the lounge chairs. On one of the white lounge chairs is my purple towel.

I swim back to the stairs before slowly getting out of the pool. I can feel the weight shift immediately. The twin girls are getting heavier every week. I'm so ready to give birth, but I know we still have a month to go.

Wlad comes to me, holding out the purple towel to wrap around me. Not long and he's going to do that with our two girls.

The thought makes my throat tight and my eyes burn with tears.

Pregnancy hormones are real!

He quickly towel dries my skin until only the bikini stays wet. He puts his large hands on my bump and looks at it for a moment. His eyes fill with love and amazement. It's a mixture only our daughters are able to make him feel. "I love you girls." He whispers in Russian before kissing my huge bump.

"What about me?"

He looks up from the bump and stares deeply into my eyes. "I love you, too. You're my sun, stars and moon."

I grin and wrap my arms around his neck. "If you used some of that love to make the mousse au chocolat than it's going to be bloody amazing."

Wladimir's point of view:

I watch how Della finishes the big bowl of mousse of chocolat with her spoon. The mousse is all over her mouth but it makes me so happy to see her this way to tell her that. It reminds me of her younger days. When she was still a child, she'd use to eat almond butter and homemade chocolate spread straight out of the jar with a spoon. The homemade spreads always left her with a bit of a moustache. Just like now. "Is it good?"

She nods while licking the spoon clean. "Bloody amazing. How did you make it?"

"Heavy cream, vanilla paste, a pinch of sea salt flakes and vegan sugar free chocolate."

"Well you may do that more often now. This recipe is rather lovely!"

"I thought about doing it with avocados the next time." I think out loud.

"Avocados?"

I nod, "I think it's worth a try. Avocado and cacao powder."

She frowns, "I can't seem to understand how that's delicious."

"I'll give it a shot." I decide. "How about we go for a small walk through Regents Park now?"

My wife sighs, "Do I have to?"

"You'll get an extra long feet massage afterwards." I promise her. She needs movement so she won't store more fluid in her ankles.

"Okay, but I also want a back massage."

She's been having a lot of back pain lately. "Lumbar spine?"

"Yes and hips." She admits. Della doesn't like to admit any discomfort so it takes a lot of pain for her to finally cave and admit it. "It's a normal thing to go through now that I've reached the third trimester."

I've read about all the aches in pregnancy books but seeing it first hand is a different story. "Feet and back massage." I promise her. "But a short walk will be good for you."

"I know. We both could use some fresh air... Okay but let's load up the dishwasher before we go."

"I'll do the dishwasher while you get dressed." I suggest.

Della nods before getting up from the chair. Her belly is huge by now! I watch how she totters out of the kitchen and into the hallway. Her chestnut hair has grown so much in the last weeks! I hope our girls will inherit her curls and hair colour.

With a heart full of love, I rise from the chair and start putting the dishes into the dishwasher. I've been absolutely loving these last weeks together. They were filled with lots of cooking, cuddling and conversations about everything under the sun. It felt like the times in the beginning of our relationship, with the exception of the two new lives growing in her belly.

I can't wait to meet them! I can't wait for the moment to hold them in my arms, kiss and smell them. I can't wait to see how love becomes flesh and blood.

Suddenly, the sky turns dark and a growl fills my ears. A minute later rain starts clashing against the transom windows of the kitchen.

"I guess I have to put on rain boots." Della's voice fills my ears.

I look over my shoulder and stare at my wife. She's wearing Birkenstocks, her favourite pair of shoes right now. It's winter but her body is still retaining lots of water. "Definitely."

"I'll wear a pair of yours. Mine are too small."

Thank God I bought two pair of rain boots, one in black and one in olive. Della thought I was crazy for buying two pairs but I guess now she's pretty grateful for it. "Bet you're now thankful I bought those two pairs."

"They were still too bloody expensive. 300 pounds for two pairs of rain boots! Rain boots!" She waves with her hands before walking down the hallway again. She's a billionaire and I am a millionaire yet she sees the value in things. She hates anything overpriced and she usually doesn't wear luxury designer clothes. Her maternity clothes is something she asked me to get from her Mum or from the thrift store. She's not miserly, she just likes to spend her money on something else.

Usually in the form of donations to charities or Doctors Without Borders.

I chuckle and follow her down the hallway. I watch her slipping out of her slippers before picking up the olive coloured rain boots. "Do you need help with that?"

But my wife is determined. She's sitting on the bench with her right ankle resting on her left knee -well, it's barely resting there because the belly is so big. "No. I can get my fat feet and calves into those shoes myself."

"Okay." I get the other pair of rain boots from the wardrobe that's build into the wall. I slip into them easily while my wife still fights with boot number one. "Are you sure-"

"Wladimir!" She hisses at me.

I hold up my hands, "Okay, okay... I'll just wait then." I lean against the wall and cross my arms in front of my chest.

She battles with rain boot and her right foot... and the belly, but I wait. I patiently wait. For a minute... For two minutes... and after five minutes she has managed to get both rain boots on. "Okay, I think we're ready to go!" Della says with a grin on her lips.

I smirk. She really is the most stubborn woman on earth.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She raises from the bench. "No. That look does not mean nothing."

"You're the most stubborn woman on earth. That's what I thought." I admit.

She walks over to me and uncrosses my arms. She places my hands on her big belly and I can feel how our girls are kicking against her belly. Feeling them like this always makes me smile. I can't wait for the day I get to hold them in my arms. God, I am so ready to meet them.

"Let's just hope they won't be as stubborn as their mother." Della whispers with a smile on her lips.

I kiss her softly, "Ready for a walk in the rain?"

"I'd walk with you in any weather."

I hold up the big black umbrella as we walk through Richmond Park. It's so peaceful with the rain clashing against the tensed fabric of the umbrella. No one is in the park and those who are, want to get out as quickly as possible. But Della and I, we waltz through the park with a smile on our lips.

Della's arm is slid through my bent arm and she's resting her head against my shoulder as we slowly walk through the puddles. We've walked a big round at a slow pace. In roughly two months we're going to have our girls. We're going to push a pram through the park or Carrie them strapped to our bodies.

We'll do exactly the same as Troy and Gabriella will be doing in a few weeks.

"Della?"

"Hm?"

"Are you scared of giving birth?"

She lifts her head off of my shoulder and stops walking. "Why are you asking me that?"

I shrug, "I've watched a few documentaries-"

"Woah, stop right there. Just because you've seen how a woman gives birth doesn't mean her experience will apply to me."

"Have you thought about a birth plan?"

She sighs, "When I make a plan, I will only be disappointed and angry when nothing is going to go according to it. And that would slow down the labour process because my body would tense up from the emotional discomfort. So, no I have not thought about a birth plan."

"But how about the frame work? Epidural?"

"I'll take it step by step, Wlad." She promises me. "But I haven't had any Brixton Hicks and the babies haven't dropped, so I think we're good for another month at least."

"Do you want to see the nursery when we get home?" She hasn't been in there since I bought the Moses baskets for the girls. She has no idea how their room has changed. She also doesn't know how much clothes I bought.

"Maybe another day. I'm dog tired."

I nod, "We should head home so I can give you the promised massages."

Adaline's point of view:

I follow my best friend through the streets of Soho. It's a chilly October evening and while I promised her we'd go out, I am reconsidering it now. I am about a month away from giving birth and I'm starting to feel rather heavy and very, very round. "Soph, are we nearly there?"

My best friend chuckles, "Oh, you're going to get to hear that question a lot from your two girls."

I smile, somehow I can't wait! I can't wait for them to start talking, walking, running, arguing, throwing things through the room... I can't wait for the ups and downs that's parenthood.

We stop at a pub that's called the White Swan, one of Sophie's favourite pubs. It's a locals' secret and usually bursting with Londoners but not tonight.

The sign at the door says closed for a private engagement.

"I don't think it's the place we're going to eat at tonight." I tell her.

"Oh we will, but others won't." Sophie says before opening the black painted door.

"You're not throwing me a baby shower, are you?"

"No, no baby shower just a get-together of all of your closest friends to celebrate the future arrival of your twin girls."

"But Soph, that's literally what a baby shower is!" My mouth drops open as I see the explosion of pink. The many balloons, the confetti and garlands have turned the pub into what, some would call, a dream of pink.

"Surprise!" I can hear my friends call out. Brooke, Marco, Vermont, Christina, Wlad, my aunts Kelsi and Miley, my Mum and some of my old colleagues have all come together tonight. I even spot Sergej in the crowd.

I put on a smile, "I had no idea!"

"I know and it was the hardest thing to keep this a secret." Wlad apologises as he walks over to me.

"Was it your idea or Sophie's?"

"No, it was all mine. I did all the planning and decorated the pub pink." Wlad tells me.

I chuckle, it's definitely pink. I have another look around and spot a table full of baby gifts and another one full of food, including a cake baked by my Mum. It's my favourite: raspberry and lemon.

I look at my Mum. She's heavily pregnant, literally about to pop any moment now and she baked me a cake?! "Mum, you baked me a cake?" I ask her as I totter over to her.

"Well, sort of. I instructed Rory and Jo. They baked it with my help before they flew back to Le Rosey."

"Jo and Rory spent their only weekend here to bake me a cake?" I ask her surprised. Rory and Jo get one weekend off each month at Le Rosey. I can't believe they spent it here!

My Mum nods before placing her hands on my shoulders. We can't really hug with the four unborn babies between us. "They made two. They took the other one to Switzerland. George's a fan of the recipe as well."

I smirk, "I like him."

"I do, too. I think they want to go public with it before Christmas."

"Really?"

My Mum nods again, "Yes, but with the full protection of the crown. They will issue statements as soon as the first photos of them together will appear. It's going to be quick and controlled."

Controlled is another word for a setup for the first photos. "And she's ready for that?"

"They both are. They're sure. In love..."

"I hope this is going to last then."

"Ana said it will, so it will."

She was right about Wlad and I as well. "Okay, then I guess we have to get ready to be chased by paparazzi."

"Luckily, you'll be spending most of the next weeks at home."

I smile at my Mum and place my hands on the bump as the girls start kicking. "I can't wait to meet them and I bet you feel the same way."

My Mum smirks, "I'm excited but I'm equally as excited to become a grandmother."

I chuckle, "Grandma..."

"Are you guys ready to make your own bodysuits?" Brooke asks us as she walks over to us. She's grinning from ear to ear.

I look back at my Mum, "Why didn't you stop Sophie and Wlad when they started planning this?"

"They didn't tell me until a few days ago. They feared I'd talk them out of it or inform you."

"Smart."

"You married a very smart man." My Mum agrees with me.

Suddenly, Brooke claps into her hands, "Ready to get to work?"

I close my eyes and inhale deeply. In just a few hours this will be over. "Under one condition." I tell her as I open my eyes again.

"Sure, any." Brooke says to me.

"We'll donate them to hospitals and charities."

"Okay, fine. But you get to bring two home. One for each girl." Brooke answers.

I nod and watch her turn on her heel. "Clear the table, it's time to decorate some bodysuits!"

My Mum shows me a proud smile.

"What?"

"I've raised a wonderful young mother."

She did indeed and I hope I will as well.

I walk down the hallway of St. Mary's as slow as a snail. I've just become a big sister for the 7th and 8th time a few hours ago and honestly, I can't wait to be back here. But this time hopefully with very strong contractions, an open cervix and my husband by my side.

We're just a few weeks away from that moment.

I stop at the closed door before knocking and stepping in. This was the room my six siblings and me were born in. This will be the room I'll give birth to my girls.

This is the room where it all started.

My Mum is laying in the bed with one boy in her arms while my Daddy is holding the other boy. They look sleep deprived but over the moon. I reckon Wlad and me will look the same, radiating with love and battling the sleep deprivation. "Good Morning!" I greet them as Wlad follows me inside. My brothers look very cute but they're both asleep as the last hours were exhausting for every party in the room.

"Say hello to your new brothers!" My Mum greets us with the biggest smile on her lips.

"They're so cute!" Wlad breathes out as he looks at the twin that's being held by my Daddy.

"They're so tiny!" I breathe out. In just a few weeks I'll be in that bed and holding my girls. The thought makes me cry.

"Oh, Della don't cry!" Daddy's bright blue eyes fill with worry immediately.

I wave with my hand. "Hormones. I've been crying a lot lately. Ask Wlad. I cried over the deep green colour of my celery juice this morning. Who are you holding?"

"That's Calloway Nicolas Ethan Bolton. He's the older one." Daddy says with a proud smile that makes my heart skip a beat. Wlad will look just the same in a few weeks. Daddy hands him over to me. He is so light! So small! "He's gorgeous." I whisper. He has that fresh baby smell.

Wlad walks over to my Mum and looks at Cal's little brother.

"And this is Gideon Leopold Clive Bolton." Mum announces as Wladimir's silver eyes are still glued to the baby in my arms.

"Did you choose the names before they were born?" I ask them.

"Yes. We did it with all of you." Daddy answers.

"Really?"

"Yeah." My Mum says with a nod. "What about you? Do you guys already have names for your girls?"

"Actually-"

"We won't tell until they're born." I interrupt my husband.

"That's only fair because we didn't tell anyone either." Daddy says before looking at him. "Give Wlad Cal."

"Are you sure?" Wlad asks him.

"Yeah, you need the practice. In a month you'll be holding your own daughters."

I gulp down there golfball in my throat. Seeing the two most important men in my life finally getting along is all I ever wanted.

Wlad parks the silver Aston Martin in front of our home. "I think I'm ready to see the nursery now." I breathe out. I've been avoiding it because I didn't want to kick in that nesting phase, but now that we're a month away from bringing our girls home, I think it's fine for me to go crazy on buying clothes, washing them and folding them like crazy. I still haven't packed a hospital bag, but perhaps it's time to pack one now. Seeing my brothers really switched a light switch within me.

"Okay." My husband says before getting out of the car.

I open the door of mine, but there's no way I can make it out without his help. I can't even bend down anymore. I wait for him to round the car and grab his hands before he pulls me up. Together, we walk into our home. In just a few weeks, there will be two more people living under this roof.

I slip off my moccasins in the foyer, before we walk up the white marble staircase that leads to the other floors. We walk on to the first floor, that has hardwood floors and white walls with panelling. Wlad stops at the white door of their nursery. "I asked Marco to design it. If there's anything you want to change, we still can." He says before opening the door.

To my surprise, the room is not a big fluffy pink cloud. It's held in monochrome colours, with the bright colours coming from stuffed animals, books or paintings. One big baby bed is standing on the left. Their names Caroline Lydia Grace Bolton and Isabella Elizabeth Rose Bolton are written on the wood of the bed with a curly handwriting in black. A big changing table is next to me. "I'm surprised it's not an explosion of pink."

"It is not until around the fifth month that the eyes are capable of working together to form a three-dimensional view of the world and begin to see in depth. So I chose black and white. We can always inject colour by furniture or paintings." My husband explains to me as I look at the bookshelves that's between the two transom windows. It's full of fairytale books and stuffed animals. There's even a photo of Lydia, Sergej and Wlad when he was still a baby. Next to that is a photo of my parents with me when I was still little.

"Did you take that photo?" I ask and nod towards the photo of my parents and me.

"No. I think that was Miley or Ryan."

On the hardwood floor is a big white carpet with the alphabet and numbers on it. I look to my right and see a big drawing on the whole wall. It shows various animals. There's an elephant, a giraffe, a lion, penguins, swans, hummingbirds, bees, dragonflies, bears, monkeys... it's a whole zoo behind the white rocking chair.

"Ana painted that."

I frown, "When?"

"When you were still working in the hospital." Wlad explains before opening the door to their closet. It's fully stocked with clothes in different colours and sizes. There are a zillion burp cloths as well. "I bought some stuff already."

By some stuff, he means everything.

"No shoes?" I joke.

"They won't need them in the first time. The potential effects that baby shoes could have on developing feet has been debated among paediatricians for decades. So I don't think they should wear some until they start to walk and even then we should only put on shoes when they go outside."

The knowledge he has on raising our girls doesn't surprise me at all. He has been reading one educational book after another in bed lately while I was doing research on Alzheimer's. "Okay." I nod and open the door to the en-suite bathroom. It has a window that's facing the backyard, a big bath, shower, sink and toilet. Everything in white marble. Noting spectacular in here.

"What do you think?"

I close the door and turn around, "I really like it. I thought you would go all out on the pink, but to my surprise you didn't."

"Well, we can always change the nursery when they can see colour. I just wanted it to be practical and logical. I mean, chances are high they're going to come after their Mum."

I pray to God they won't come after me too much. I want to have normal daughters, not a pair of girls that start uni before twelve, like I did with Ana. I don't want to have to use the complete human body book for bedtime stories like my Daddy and Mum did with me. Medical books, physics and chemistry books should be read in school, not as a bedtime story.

But at the same time, my gut is telling me that these girls will be special. Just like their Daddy and Mummy are. And I know I can deal with anything if I've got Wladimir by my side.

Wladimir's point of view:

I flip the blueberry pancakes in the pan on this cold early morning. It's a little after seven so it's still pitch black outside. After my morning run I decided to make some breakfast. Della is fast sleep upstairs with Lily and Luna watching her. She's been filling these last days of pregnancy by studying everything related to Alzheimer's. She's determined to find a cure for this disease.

And if I learned one thing over the years than it's if Della has set a goal, she will reach that goal. No matter how many years it's going to take.

"Wlad,"

I wince at the sound of my wife's voice. She's standing in the doorway of our kitchen. She's in one of my black T-shirts and grey joggers. The shirt is the only thing that fits her and the big bump. "Why are you up so early?"

"It's starting." She says with a wide grin on her full lips. Her chestnut curls are still messy from rolling around in bed all night.

"It is?" I ask her with wide eyes. She hasn't even had Braxton Hicks yet!

She nods, "Yes. The contractions just started. They woke me up."

Oh my God! It's starting! She's going to give birth! "Are you sure it's not just Braxton Hicks?"

"No. These are real contractions. I'm 100% sure. The pain appears in my lower back, lower abdomen and down my legs. These aren't Braxton Hicks where the belly just becomes stiff. This is real!"

"Okay then. Are they strong?"

She shakes her head. "I can handle them for now."

"How often are they coming?"

"I don't know. The last one was twenty minutes ago."

"When do you want to drive to the Lindo Wing?"

My wife shrugs, "I definitely want to eat those pancakes first."

I nod, "Okay. I'll make a bigger batch then."

My wife nods before sitting down at the kitchen island. She's so calm.

"You don't seem really excited." I say as I get the pancake out of the pan before filling it up with the dough.

"It can take ten, twelve, twenty hours until I start active labour. My water hasn't broken yet. So it's going to take time. Yes I am eager to meet our baby girls but I know that this is just the start."

I put the pancake on the stack of pancakes on plate and place it in front of my wife. "Anything else you want to eat?"

"This won't be my last meal."

"So, you're going to poop while giving birth then."

My wife chuckles, "It's going to happen one way or another. I might as well get all the energy I can."

"How long do you think it's going to take? Do you think we're becoming parents today?"

Della shrugs, "Mum was in labour for over 24 hours. Mine just started. It could last a day. Hopefully not more."

"Hopefully your water is going to break. That would speed things up." I say with a smile on my lips. I'm finally going to meet them!

Adaline's point of view:

Being in labour is not fun. It's not fun at all. Everything inside of me is getting ready to birth two babies.

I try to breathe through another contraction. They're getting stronger but sadly not closer together. I'm still at a twenty minute gap. That's been going on for the last eight hours. I haven't slept, I haven't eaten... all I have been doing is breathing through contraction after contraction.

It's going to be a long time until I get in active labour.

"Do you want to head to the Lindo Wing?" Wlad asks me.

I shake my head before letting go of the backside of the sofa. I've been walking around the house like a maniac for the last hours. Everything hurts. I am tired and hungry but I can't sleep nor can I eat. Even bloody walking hurts! I'm exhausted already and I'm nowhere close to the active labour phase.

What was I thinking wanting to do this without any epidural?!

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. We're not there yet."

My husband nods. "Okay. I trust you. We'll go when you say you're ready."

I sit down on the blue stability ball again and start bouncing to ease the pain but also to keep moving a little. I want them here rather sooner than later.

"Maybe we should go for another walk through the backyard." Wlad suggests.

I nod, "Good idea. The more I move, the quicker I'm going to go into active labour." Even if it hurts as hell.

Wladimir's silver eyes widen, "This is not active labour?"

"No. You'll hear when I'm in active labour because I'm going to scream a lot. And I apologise in advance for everything that's going to get thrown at you. And for every language I'm going to use."

"You're not planning to take the epidural then?"

I shrug, "I don't know yet. I'm starting to get tired from the contractions so maybe."

"Then maybe you should try to sleep a little."

"Wlad, my whole body is on fire. I won't sleep for a very long time." I tell him before rising from the stability ball. Suddenly liquid runs down my legs. A lot of liquid.

My water broke.

It's time to get to the hospital.

Wladimir's point of view:

My eyes are resting on my beautiful sleeping wife. The mother of my two daughters. The woman who owns my heart, body and soul.

She's a warrior. I knew my wife was incredible but this... this blew my mind. She's indestructible. She's made out of diamond.

She gave birth to our twin girls! It was a long and painful process to watch but also incredible. I'm in awe of them but I'm even more in awe with my wife. I can't believe her body grew them.

I thought there was nothing sexier than watching your woman grow your children and while watching her give birth, pathing the way to the world for them, was hurtful... it was also a miracle in itself. The female body is remarkable.

She is a superwoman.

She's my superwoman.

Suddenly, our daughters' sounds fill the silence of the delivery suite in the Lindo Wing. We're in the same room that Ella has given birth to seven of her eight children. Adaline was the first who was born here.

And this night she gave birth to our daughters.

Everything comes in full circle.

I rise from the navy armchair I was sitting in and walk over to the crib where my daughters are sleeping in. They were laying in two cribs at first but they were so fussy and restless that Sophie suggested to lay them in one bed. She said that on rare occasions the twins are so used to feeling one another all the time, that being alone out of the sudden makes them feel unease. Once we put them in one crib, they fell asleep instantly. They were even holding hands.

It reminds me of the way they hugged Della when she first felt them on her chest. I will never forget this image. She just gave birth a moment ago before Caroline was lifted and placed on her chest. Our crying girl shut up instantly and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck.

I didn't even try to hide my tears.

And when Isabella was born less than a minute later, she did the same. While her sister was getting measured and checked, Bella was enjoying her mother's comfort. She held on to Della even tighter than her big sister Caroline.

Our children are already as special as their mother.

I am the luckiest man on earth!

I pick up Isabella, who is six hours old now. Six hours... She wraps her tiny hands around my forefinger as the repetitive cry fills my ears. She already sounds a little like her mother. God, I can't believe Della and I made her!

"Is that Bella?" My wife's sleepy voice fills the room.

I turn around, "Yes. I think she's hungry." I wish I could let my wife sleep but sadly I can't feed them. My nipples are useless to her.

Della rubs her navy eyes before waving at me. "She is. I can hear it in her voice."

I frown as I hand her over to her Mum. "You can?"

"Yes. It's a low-pitched, rhythmic, repetitive cry. Every 0.89 seconds." She yawns as she opens the buttons of her pyjamas. "I'm not producing milk yet but colostrum."

"And what's that?"

"A nutrient-rich pre-milk or practice milk. In about three days my breasts will start feeling firmer. That's when the breast milk will come." She explains as Bella laches her lips around her mother's left nipple.

"Do you think you'll produce enough?" I ask because I read online that some women don't produce enough breast milk to feed their baby. In solidarity other mothers, who produced too much milk, have even started to pump down their milk to give it to the hospital for the other mums in need.

"Look at my boobs. They're huge!" She says before looking at me. "I'm almost at a 36D right now!"

I love those boobs. It's beautiful to see how my wife is nurturing our daughter, that she gave birth to just six hours ago. "Is she eating?"

"Yes." She says before looking down. With her left hand she stroked Bella's head that already has long blonde hair. I have a feeling she will come after my mother. "You're quite hungry." She says to her with a smile on her lips.

The smile of a mother.

I still can't believe we're parents to those two precious babies. The moment they were born I felt a feeling like never before. They are my purpose, their protection is the task of my life. All I want them to see are kittens and rainbows. I'll do anything to protect them from the cruel world we're living in.

"You know, you're lucky we've got two because I don't think I will ever let go of Bella." She mumbles. She's totally love drunk - just like me.

Suddenly, another cry starts filling the room. Caroline's cry builds in intensity very quickly.

"She needs a diaper change." Della yawns again. She must be exhausted after giving birth but somehow she hasn't fallen asleep yet.

I pick up our firstborn, "How do you know?"

"It's her voice. She's crying more whiny and nasal. The cry is also building in intensity. It's quite different than from the cry of her sister."

"I don't hear it. They sound the same." I lay her on the changing unit and start changing the full diaper. I thought changing diapers would be hard but it's actually pretty easy.

"Yeah, well you're not a wonder child. You don't have the absolute hearing so don't worry. You'll hear it in time. It's quite different."

I look over my left shoulder. My wife is still nurturing our oldest daughter. "You're amazing."

"I know." She smirks at me.

Adaline's point of view:

I am so exhausted. I just pushed two babies out of my vagina and somehow I still manage to feed them every three hours. It's like I'm working on autopilot. Somehow, I know instantly what Bella or Carrie want as soon as they give me a vocal signal. It's almost magical. I'm embracing motherhood although all I want to do is sleep. Wlad is changing the diapers, so I can at least take some naps.

But I'd really like a shower. A long hot shower... at home. Not here, in the hospital. I'm glad I chose the Lindo Wing and although Dr. Ross couldn't be here for the delivery, she's still a pretty good doctor.

Just like Sophie. She managed to talk me through the whole labour process without getting scared by my screams. Giving birth to twins without an epidural was a Herculean task but once I wanted the medication, it was too late. It was time to push.

So I pushed. I pushed through the pain. I pushed and pushed until they were both born.

And now I feel and look like a train wreck.

But at the same time I have ever felt more love. I thought I loved them when I was Carrieing them but now, watching them sleep and seeing them interact with us... I have never fallen in love so quickly.

"They're so beautiful..." I whisper as I stare at our daughters who are sleeping in one cot.

"You should try to sleep a little as well." Wladimir's deep Russian voice fills my ears.

But I can't even tear my eyes off of them. "No, I don't want to go to sleep and wake up without them here."

"I promise you, they will not go anywhere. They're very real. You're not dreaming."

"I can't believe we created them..." I don't know what I expected to feel after giving birth but it definitely wasn't this bliss.

"I know I feel the same way."

I tear my eyes off of our daughters and look at my husband. Wlad is sitting in a navy armchair across my bed and next to our daughters. His silver eyes are full of love for our daughters and me. If I told the sixteen year old me that I would end up married to Wladimir, my bodyguard, and have twin girls with him, I think she would call me crazy. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He whispers back.

Wladimir's point of view:

Driving my daughters home, Carrying them in their car seats and walking up the staircase to their nursery is by far the best feeing ever. Della and I made these tiny humans and they couldn't have turned out more perfect.

Della sits in the armchair of their nursery and swings from side to side while feeding Caroline. "I could stare at them all day."

It's remarkable to see a mother nourish their daughters. Her body grew our girls for eight months and now her body produces nutrients for them. It's mind blowing!

I stare at Isabella, who is sleeping in her crib while he sister is getting fed. "I know what you mean. I feel the same way." They're a day old but I swear they've already changed and grown so much! Bella and Carrie have bright blue eyes but Sophie told us the eye colour will change within the first year. I hope their eye colour remains this stunning blue.

"You should try to get some sleep." I tell Della as she finished feeding Carrie.

"I could really use a long hot shower." My wife mumbles while holding Carrie against her chest with a burping cloth protecting her clothes.

"I'll watch them while you shower. Take your time."

Della chuckles, "Take my time? I have maybe ten, fifteen minutes max until Bella wakes up and wants to eat as well."

I hold my arms out, "Then maybe you should hurry."

She hands me our daughter before kissing me softly. "I'll be quick. If anything happens call me."

"You don't think I can take care of our two daughters by myself?"

"I think your nipples are no use to them." She says back with a smirk on her full lips.

I watch her leave the nursery and walk down the hallway while holding on to Carrie. "Don't worry, Daddy's still here."

She burps on my shirt in response. Yeah, there's still a lot to learn.

Adaline's point of view:

I enjoy the hot water that runs down my body. My body, that has grown two babies. My body, that has pushed two babies out of an opening that's normally way too small. It's fascinating what the female body can do. Seeing my Mum pregnant was one thing but experiencing it first hand is another.

I don't know how she handled so many children. First me. Then Ana when she joined the family... and then came the triplets. Honestly, how my Mum and Dad managed five kids under ten - it's a bloody miracle we made it out all healthy!

I pick up the loofah and pour shower gel on it before I start cleaning my body. I feel sore and everything's soft and squishy. Especially my belly. It's still quite big but there's a clear difference to the belly from a day ago. It's no longer firm. It's like a ball that's not fully inflated.

And vagina... boy, it feels like a truck got pushed out of there.

But seeing the faces of my daughters was worth it. In fact, I would do it again. Just not right now. Probably not for another year or so. My body needs a break and looking at me right now it's going to take a while until I look anywhere close to how I looked like before I got pregnant.

I wince as suddenly a knock against the glass doors of the shower fills my ears. I turn around and stare at my husband. He is holding Bella, who is sucking on his pinkie finger. We've tied a light green ribbon around her wrist to be able to keep them apart. Carrie is wearing a sunny yellow ribbon to stay fair. Honestly, they might have to wear that green and yellow ribbons for the first year or so. They're identical twins after all. "Your nipples are needed."

I nod, "Just a minute." I say before washing off the shower gel.

"I'm sorry, I really wanted you to have a shower and some time for yourself."

I turn the water off and open the door of the shower. Wlad hands me a towel that I use to dry my body before wrapping it around my wet hair that's still soaking up the hair mask that I put in. I pick up a white fluffy bathrobe and put it on before taking Bella from Wlad's arms. "It was enough time to get myself clean. Don't worry about me. They're more important."

They always will be.

Wladimir's point of view:

I watch how my wife finishes her bowl of veggies. She's had a big salad as a starter, a chicken soup and a bowl of mixed cooked veggies. She's eating even more than when she was pregnant. Bella and Carrie are fast asleep in a cot in the living room. Our two white Persian cats Lily and Luna have been quite curious about their new sisters. After some careful sniffs they have accepted them so much that they won't leave their sides now.

"What?" Della's asks me.

I shake my head, "I like seeing you with a healthy appetite."

"I've always had a healthy appetite. I just never had the time to eat as much as I wanted to." She argues back as she collects the dirty dishes and walks over to me, to the kitchen island.

True. When she was still working in the hospital, she was barely eating it sleeping. She was exhausted all the time.

"When's your Dad suppose to come?"

"Half an hour." I answer as my iPhone vibrates on the countertop of the kitchen island. I look at it. "15 minutes."

My wife sighs, "I need to shower. I've got all sorts of things in my curls."

We've been home alone for a week. Della and I didn't want any visitors for at least a week and as much as it bothered my Dad to wait this long to see his granddaughters, he respected our decision and waited as patiently as he could. But now that the week is over, he can't get to us fast enough. Ella and Troy will visit us tomorrow evening. They will bring Troy's famous lasagna that's a favourite of Della. "Take that shower. He's not coming to see either of us anyway."

Della chuckles, "True. I'll be quick."

"I'll do the dishes." I offer, open the dishwasher and pick up the dirty dishes before filling the dishwasher. I can feel my wife's eyes on me for a moment before she walks into the hallway and up the stairs that lead to our master bedroom.

After wiping the kitchen surfaces clean, I pick up the baby monitor and walk back into the living room. Lily and Luna are sleeping in the form of two balls on the navy sofa while my daughters are sleeping in their white moses basket. I walk over to the moses basket and stare at what Della and mine love created. It's surreal that my longtime dream has come true. Being a father was always my dream, even before Della and I happened. But no matter how many women I met, none seemed to be a fit. Until Della kissed me five years ago. One kiss and my whole world changed. The path ahead of me, my journey suddenly became crystal clear. My vision, my focus, my life's purpose... it's all led me down to these two in front of me. My daughters. The loves of my life. The perfect products of our love.

The front door opens and I can hear my father stepping in. "Anyone home?" His deep voice rings through the hallway that's getting followed by heavy footsteps. Quick, heavy footsteps. Patience has never been a characteristic of my father. "Oh my God! They're gorgeous!" He breathes out without even seeing them yet.

I turn around at my father's voice. His grey eyes are focused on the moses basket next to me. He doesn't even see me. "Hi, Dad!"

My father rushes over to us, eager to see his first two granddaughters. He stops next to me without acknowledging me. His large hands move closer to their faces but I grabs his hands.

"Never wake sleeping babies."

My Dad chuckles, "You learned that lesson pretty quickly, huh?"

I smile, "Yes. We made that mistake once and we'll never do that again."

"They're beautiful. They look like your Mum." Sergej says before looking back at them. "And your grandma."

I can feel how my throat tightens at the mention of these two women that I love so much. "I can't really tell whom they look more alike."

"What are their names?"

I lick my lips, "Let's wait until Della comes out of the shower."

"How are you guys doing?"

"We've been having sleepless nights, doing shifts... when the girls sleep, Della eats or sleeps as well. We're exhausted but beyond happy. We feel a kind of bliss and joy... Why didn't you tell me I'd feel so much love? Why didn't you prepare me for that?"

My father smiles at me, "Nothing can prepare you for fatherhood."

I guess that's true. Suddenly, my baby girls start stretching and yawning before opening their eyes, revealing the breathtaking royal blue colour that they've inherited from their mother.

"Can I touch them now?" My father's anticipation is clearly visible.

I nod with a smile on my lips. I can't get enough of them as well. I never will. They're my own flesh and blood. They're the reason why I came to this world. They and their mother are my purpose.

My Dad picks up Caroline and I pick up Isabella. "I'm your dedushka and I will spoil you and your sister with everything you desire." He promises them in Russian as Caroline wraps her fingers around his forefinger. I think he has waited a long time to say that. "They're so little, so... so beautiful."

I stare at Isabella. I can't see my mother or grandmother in her. I wish I could but I only see Della's eyes... and my thin lips... and her high cheeks... and Della's almond shaped eyes. Her tiny hands reach out to touch my nose, that's so similar to hers. She's no doubt mine. I stroke her cheek and feel how my heart swells in size until it nearly bursts with love for her. I never thought I could love someone more than Della, but these two... these two I love even more. It's a deeper and different kind of love. It's the love of a father.

It's a love I've never felt before.

"Who was born first?"

"The girl you're holding."

"How was the labour?"

"Ask Della. I was just there, totally helpless. All I could do was hold her hand and press pressure points. I didn't do the work. She did."

"I remember the day you were born. Your Mum was in labour with you for 16 hours... Let me tell you those were the longest 16 hours in my life! Sitting in the waiting room in the hospital felt like forever!"

I smirk. There were different times when I was born. The men didn't accompany the mothers to the delivery room. They waited in the waiting room. "Well, I was with her the whole journey and it was magical. Absolutely magical."

"Your life will never be the same again." My Dad tells me. "Enjoy every single moment. Every single fight. Every single disagreement. Enjoy the joyful times and save them deep in your heart. They grow up so fast! And one day they won't need you anymore."

"I still need you." I disagree with him.

"But not like you did when I taught you how to ride a bike. It's different. And one day your daughters will have babies themselves and that's when... that's when you feel a whole new kind of love."

"I'm not looking forward to becoming a grandpa anytime soon. I just became a father a week ago."

My father chuckles, "Of course."

"I see you couldn't wait to get here fast enough, Sergej." My wife's calming voice fills my ears.

I turn around and watch Della walking over to us. She's put on jeans and a white T-shirt after she blow dried her hair. It's now silky straight and very long. It's grown past her hips. She looks much fresher. It's a wonder what a shower can do.

"Adaline!" My Dad smiles at my wife, "They're so perfect!"

The proud smile of a mother washes over her face. "Did you expect anything less?" She jokes as she reaches me. Della places her left hand on my shoulder and looks at Isabella. "Have you told him their names yet?"

"No. I wanted to give you the honour."

"Tell me their names already!" My Dad demands.

Della licks her lips, "You're holding Caroline Lydia Grace Bolton and your son is holding Isabella Elizabeth Rose Bolton."

"You named your first born after your Mum?" My father asks us with tears in his silver eyes.

I gulp and try to fight the emotions but fail.

"Of course we did." Adaline squeezes his hand. "She and I never met but she was a remarkable woman that will always have a place in our hearts."

"She's be very proud of you. Of both of you." My father says with a smile on his lips.

Adaline's point of view:

Strolling through Regents Park with a pram is the best thing ever! It's early in the morning so we're nearly alone in the park. A few joggers pass us by and the smile on their faces when they see the pram makes me very proud. The ducks are quaking and the birds are tweeting as the sun slowly warms up the frosted grass and trees around us. It's early December but no snow has yet fallen. I hope we're still going to get a white Christmas.

The days have been split between feeding time, diaper changes and breaks in between when they sleep. Luckily, the girls are gifting us about five hours of sleep at night and I take a nap in the afternoon. Wladimir's been doing all the cooking and most of the diaper changes. He hasn't been complaining but I think it's only a matter of weeks until he does. The girls are changing so quickly!

"You know, I think I should carry the girls in one of the baby carries for at least nine months." Wlad tells me as he pushes the pram through the park.

"Why?"

"You carried them for 38 weeks. I think it's only fair if I carry them the same amount of time."

I chuckle, "That's really sweet of you, but you won't be able to carry them until they're ten months old. They'll be too heavy and they'll want to move too much to want to sit in a baby carrier, strapped to their Daddy."

"True. But maybe I can do this for as long as they want me to. Your body needs to recover anyway. You shouldn't carry too heavy."

I smile, "Okay."

"And I can continue with the diaper changes at night. I want to give you as much rest as possible."

"You mean, you secretly want to spend as much time with them as possible." I read between his lines. He's been the best help ever. He is flourishing in his new role. He was born to be a father.

My husband chuckles, "Alright, you caught me. But I just can't get enough of them."

I place my hand on his, "You have your whole life to watch over them."

"Believe me, I will."

I have no doubt.

Sitting on the sofa and snuggling with Bella, I watch how Wladimir finishes changing Carrie's diaper. He's only been doing this for a week but he's a professional already. Perhaps because he gets twice as much practice. He insists on changing the diapers just like he insists to carry them for 38 weeks now. He's doing it to give me a break, but he's also doing it because is utterly in love with them.

But I still sneak in some diaper changes in the night when the girls wake up to get fed. Sometimes, after I've changed their diapers and fed them, I stay in the rocking chair and just snuggle with both of them, skin on skin. It still feels surreal to be with them. I carried, nourished and grown them for 38 weeks and now they're finally here... finally born. It's surreal and also beautiful and magical...

"Did someone order my famous lasagna?" I can hear my Daddy's voice ring down the hallway and into the living room where we all are. He is carrying two Tupperware boxes filled with the lasagna. The recipe is from a Nona in Naples.

I look over my shoulder and watch how he, Mum and my twin brothers in car seats walk over to us. The view makes me smiles. Carrie and Bella are just three and a half weeks older than their uncles. "Oh, yes!"

My Mum places the two baby car seats with my brothers in it next to me on the sofa before looking at my little girl. "Oh, she's so cute!"

I can't help but grin, "She's adorable. A little less during the nights."

"Even changing diapers is fun." Wladimir's proud Daddy smiles makes my heart skip a beat.

"Who's older?" Daddy asks us as he places the Tupperware boxes on the glass coffee table in front of me.

"That would be her. She's the big sister even if it's just by a minute." Wlad answers.

"What are their names?"

"This is Isabella Elizabeth Rose and Wlad's holding Caroline Lydia Grace."

"You chose some very pretty and meaningful names." Daddy compliments us. "How are the nights?"

"Rough but you guys should know exactly how we feel." Wlad answers. "It's all worth it though."

"True. Shall we eat? You must be quite hungry." My Mum says to me as she runs her fingers through my curls. Bella and Carrie are sometimes pulling on my curls when I feed them. I thought about putting on a necklace just so they something else to grab and pull on but I think it's going to be just as bad. I thought about cutting it but I can't seem to do it myself. However when I look at the drain after I shower and see all the hair that I've lost, I think about the option again. Hair loss is normal after pregnancy but I don't want them to pull even more hairs out of my scalp.

"Yes. The lasagna is still hot." Daddy answers for me. "Our women need all the nutrients they can get."

I roll my eyes at his comment and so does my Mum. "Men." We say out of one mouth.

Wlad grins at my father, "He's not wrong."

"Of course he's not but we're more than feeding machines." My Mum insists before rising from the couch. "I'll set the table with Troy. You guys watch our and yours babies."

The smirk on my mother's lips makes me smirk as well. "I bet that's a sentence you never thought you'd say."

"If life taught me one thing than it's that everything's possible."

True. In my family everything is possible.

Wladimir's point of view:

I watch how my wife puts the Christmas ornaments on the branches of our Christmas tree in the living room. Big chunky snow flakes are falling outside, forming a white blanket over our backyard. We've been decorating the tree for hours now. I attached the ornaments to the hooks before I handed them to my wife. She's standing on the top of the ladder as the tree is nearly ten metres high. This will be our first Christmas in this house.

As a family.

My Dad will come and all the Boltons. It will be quite full on Christmas Eve with 21 family members and three animals but that's why we bought this house.

And tomorrow George is going to pick Rory up from here and fly over to Norfolk for their famous Christmas morning church service.

This year will definitely end with a bang.

Della puts another royal blue bobble onto the branch of the Christmas tree before putting an angel on top. "Done. What do you think?" She asks me before twisting her upper body to look at me.

I am the luckiest man on earth. There's no doubt.

"Wlad," She waves with her hands to get my attention.

"What?"

"Do you like it?" She asks me as she climbs down the ladder. She's glowing from within. Her skin is still glowing although she gave birth five weeks ago. Her navy eyes are also sparkling. She just got cleared for exercise and sex but all she wanted to do was put up the Christmas tree. She's shining brighter than the Christmas tree. Christmas is her favourite holiday. I can't believe this is my wife.

I nod, "I love it."

Della walks over to me before tilting her head back to look at her work. Our Christmas tree is shining with the different colourful ornaments and sparkling from the many fairy lights. Ella even gave us the special family ornaments. Each family member has their own ornament with their birthday engraved on it. Gabriella has a pink peony, Ana has a white English rose, Della has a pale pink ballet shoe, Troy's ornament is a skyscraper, Nate's a blue snowflake made out of glass, Jo's a red heart with diamonds, Rory's a blue/green/purple hummingbird as that's her favourite animal, Elias' a navy plane and Cal and Gideon have two sailing boats.

Our girls don't have ornaments yet.

"I like it as well." She says with a firm nod. "It's perfect for our first Christmas here."

"I think we should get Caroline and Isabella ornaments as well." I breathe out.

"You and Sasha don't have ornaments as well." Della points out. "Oh and your Dad."

"Oh, that's easy. A gun for Sasha and a protection shield for me." I think out loud. "And a rainbow trout for my Dad." He loves fishing. He always went fishing with my Mum."

Della laughs, "Quite fitting! But what about our girls?"

I look at our daughters who are still sleeping in their cribs. Della just fed them an hour ago. Thankfully, they sleep like little angels during the day. "Angels." I whisper.

"Angels?" She asks with a raised eyebrow. "Those two came out of my vagina not from heaven. You do realise that we're not that religious, right?"

I look at her and shrug. "Can you think of something more fitting?"

She thinks for a moment. "Unicorns?"

This time I burst out of laughter. "Unicorns?! Why the hell would we get them unicorns?"

She looks at me and shrugs. "Rory once asked me how it feels when you're in love. She said that Ana would say rainbows and unicorns." She explains to me. "I still see rainbows everyday and those two... those two are my unicorns. I never thought I'd end up with a husband, let alone two children." She runs her fingers through her chestnut curls. "This life we're living right now... It's like rainbows and unicorns at once. It's surreal and beautiful... it's a dream I never had before we kissed." She whispers before intertwining her fingers behind my neck. "I gave you one kiss but you... you gave me a whole life."

My wife doesn't voice her feelings very often but when she does, it takes my breath away. "Unicorns." I whisper.

"Unicorns." She says with a shrug. "I know, it's not really like me to believe in unicorns but you... you made me see that anything is possible."

I gulp as my heart bursts with love for my wife. "Then we'll get two unicorns."

Adaline's point of view:

The house is filled with our family. We had a delicious Christmas dinner and enjoyed some piano music from my uncle Ryan and his wife Kelsi. The triplets, Ana, Sasha and Sergej went ice skating on the lake that's in the backyard. But it has started to snow very heavily again, so I think they'll come inside pretty soon. Although knowing Jo, she might want to stay out in the cold until her toes are frozen. She loves the cold, just like me. I think she's really going to enjoy spending New Year's Eve in Siberia with Sergej, Wlad, her two little nieces and me. Nate, Rory, Mum, Dad and my new brothers prefer to spend New Year's Eve on French Cay, our own island in the Caribbean. My parents are watching my twin girls along with my twin brothers. I don't know who they love more, they're in awe of both of them. I love them both as well but during the night... that's when I love them a little less. Getting up every half hour to feed them is no joke. But when they smile at me or embrace me while I'm feeding them, that's when I almost forget how tired I am.

I'm so glad Wlad decided to stay home with me until January. I don't know what I'd do without him. Seriously, single Moms are heroes. True heroes.

"Everything okay?"

I wince at my husband's voice. "Yeah. Sorry. I was just taking it all in."

"Our first Christmas here." My husband smiles at me before wrapping his arms around me from behind.

"And I want many many more Christmases like this one." I voice my heart's desire.

"Me, too. With a few more feet running around." Wlad agrees with me before kissing my left cheek.

I lick my lips and look into his silver eyes, "I want to cure Alzheimer's before we try for a sibling."

"I know." Wlad nods.

"You do?" I ask him with wide eyes. He knows that finding a cure could take a long time, maybe even decades. I don't know if he can really wait that long. I don't know if I can wait that long but I do know there are people in the world that need my help. They depend on me and my intelligence. I can't let them down.

"Della, I know you inside out. I've waited for you while you worked on a cure for Parkinson's. I can wait until we have a third child. Those two will be a handful in the next years anyway."

"You're not upset about my decision?"

My husband shakes his head, "No. You were born to stand out, Adaline. Sitting at home and taking care of our daughters or standing in the OR is not enough for you. You are destined to change the world. You've changed the world for hundreds of thousands of Parkinson's patients and you will do the same for Alzheimer's. It makes me incredibly proud that I get to call you my wife. That you've gifted me with two daughters, who make no mistake will follow your steps. One way or another. I could never be upset with you, not when it's about helping sick people."

"I'll find a cure for Alzheimer's." I promise him.

"If anyone can do it, it's you." His belief in me is unshakable.

I have the most supportive husband in the world. "I love you so much." I whisper in Russian to my husband.

His silver eyes start sparkling, "I love you, too."

I tear my eyes off of his as a squeal fills my ears. It's from Isabella. She's getting tickled by Sergej. "Your Dad is the proudest grandpa alive."

Wladimir chuckles, "He's been pushing us long enough to gift him grandchildren."

"Oh, so essentially we did it for him?" I joke. "No, seriously, I haven't seen him this happy since his Mum died."

My husband nods, "I think they've definitely brought him some happiness back. He's going to want to babysit them all the time."

I lean back and allow him to hold my weight. "I don't think I'll be able to let go of them any time soon."

Wlad kisses my left cheek, "I feel the same way."

Wladimir's point of view:

I watch how my wife is feeding Caroline on this early morning. She's sitting in a white rocking chair that matches the other furniture in the sunroom. The sun is just about to rise. The light is slowly filling the room, causing a stunning colour play. The pink peonies that are in the windows get mirrored on the floor. It's absolutely breathtaking to look at.

My wife's chestnut curls start glowing as the sun starts filling the room in pastel hues. The meadows of the backyard are frozen from the cold temperatures outside. The flowers are covered in an icy blanket. It's a beautiful early Christmas Morning.

One that's absolutely life changing for everyone. It's my first Christmas as a father, the first Christmas with my daughters... the first Christmas for Rory with the Royal Family. The first Christmas that's a public royal statement. The Royals support her and we support her, but the press will be ruthless to us. They will research about us until they find the skeletons in our closets but they won't find any because I've removed them all. To protect Rory, the Boltons, my daughters... my family.

I walk over to my wife and place the baby monitor on the coffee table across her. Isabella is still fast asleep in the nursery that she shares with her twin sister. Carrie's fingers are tightly wrapped around her mother's forefinger as she drinks. Her other hand is playing the sapphire covered moon pendant that's hanging on a platinum necklace. Troy gifted it to Della on our wedding day. Seeing one of our daughters now play and pull on it gives me a high like never before.

Adaline Bolton, the love of my life, has made me a father. She has gifted me two perfect baby girls.

I'll wait however long it takes to cure Alzheimer's to have more children. She puts my needs, our needs, above her need to help people, so now she can help others again. She'll be home for the first six years and after that she's going to commute between London and Geneva. Some people use the tube to get to work, others the car but Della will use the jet. She'll be jet legged. She'll work until exhaustion. She'll divide her time between her family and work.

But she won't stop until she's found a cure. And I will support her as much as I can.

"Good morning." Della greets me with a smile on her face. "You're just in time to watch the sunrise with us."

I knee down in front of her and run my fingers through her chestnut curls. "I want to step back from work a little."

My wife frowns, "What?"

"Stefano could be my Co-CEO. I'll offer him the job next year."

"Why?" Her navy eyes are full of confusion.

"Because you need to save the world and I am your backbone."

She smirks, "Finding a cure to Alzheimer's is not saving the world."

"But it's changing it for the better. Our daughters have superwoman as their mother and I refuse to not let you shine. People need you. And I will be here for you and our daughters. I'll take care of Bella and Carrie while you take care of 44 million Alzheimer's patients."

My wife sighs, "This won't be like last time. I won't leave you to find a cure for Alzheimer's. I won't abandon you or our daughters. Ever."

"I know. But I also know you will need all of your strength and time to work on a cure."

She licks her full lips, "I'll ease into this. I'll start with research and participate in online meetings with the Swiss team weekly. I won't fly to Geneva in the first six years anyway. I'll be at home."

"And I'll be there every step of the way."

She gulps with moisture in her navy eyes. I can see the rising sun reflecting in them. She has never looked more beautiful. "I love you." She whispers to me in Russian.

"I love you, too."

I have always loved her. Back when she was a teenage rebel to now when she's a grown woman, the mother of my twin girls.

Thank you for taking the time to read this finale chapter of My Shadow!

I throughly enjoyed writing Della's story, bringing this unique character to life and unfolding her love for Wladimir. I really hope you enjoyed reading it.

If you want to know what's in the future for Della and Wlad, read Someone's Someone they will continue to make appearances in Jo's story.

I might write an epilogue, however I'm changing the story's status to complete. I'm open for your ideas for an epilogue.

Please, for the last time, review.

In gratitude,

Nicole