Nathan rocked slowly back and forth in the rocker in the twins' room, feeding Arianna. It was two o'clock in the morning. He had just finished feeding Cecilia when Arianna woke up fussing and hungry. Thankfully Cecilia had fallen asleep after eating, and Arianna's eyes were beginning to droop as well.
Nathan was starting to get used to the relative lack of sleep. The girls were now two months old, and he and Elizabeth had just moved them from their bassinets in the master bedroom to their own cribs in the nursery. When he had heard Cecilia start crying, he'd quickly gotten up, hoping to get to her before Elizabeth woke up. He'd succeeded. He had warmed a bottle of Elizabeth's milk from the refrigerator, thankful that she pumped enough each day to let him feed their girls as well. He softly sang to the girls as he fed them.
Arianna's eyes closed completely, and her little mouth stopped sucking. Nathan pulled the bottle from her lips, pressing a kiss to her rose-petal cheek. "I love you, baby girl," he whispered, getting up and placing her gently in her crib. He quietly shut the door, then headed back to bed. Climbing in carefully so as not to disturb Elizabeth, Nathan settled on his back and closed his eyes. A moment later they opened again as he felt Elizabeth's arms slide around him.
"Thank you," she murmured sleepily. "For taking care of our girls and for being an amazing father." She rested her head on his shoulder, and he could tell by her breathing that she had fallen asleep again immediately.
He smiled, letting his head rest against hers. Parenting was certainly a learning curve, but he loved that they were learning together. Closing his eyes again, he fell into a dreamless sleep.
The next morning dawned quietly. Nathan woke first, still holding his wife. Her eyes opened soon after. She smiled at him, snuggling closer. "Good morning."
"Good morning," he responded. "I'm surprised you're awake."
She chuckled. "I'm so used to being woken up at this time, it just seems to happen no matter what." She paused for a moment. "Do you hear that?"
Nathan listened for a few moments. "Hear what? It's quiet."
Elizabeth sighed in contentment. "Exactly. No crying, no fussing. The babies are still asleep. It's got to be some kind of record so far."
Nathan smiled. "I think you're right. They have been sleeping better. Maybe that will translate to sleeping longer too."
"Oh, I hope so," Elizabeth breathed. "I could get used to this."
Nathan sat up, stretching. "Why don't you take a shower, and I'll start breakfast?"
"That sounds lovely," Elizabeth said, pushing the covers back and sliding out of the bed.
"Any requests?" Nathan asked.
"How about French toast?" Elizabeth suggested.
Nathan raised a brow as he got to his feet. "You know I won't object to that, but I thought French toast wasn't your favorite."
Elizabeth chuckled. "Normally it isn't, but for some reason it sounds really good right now."
Nathan kissed her gently, then ran a hand through her hair. "Coming right up, sweetheart," he said.
She smiled at him before heading to the shower. Elizabeth was able to ready herself for the day and Nathan was able to get breakfast made before either girl woke up. Right as he was putting the food on the table, he heard a small cry. A few minutes later, Elizabeth came into the kitchen, carrying Cecilia and looking fresh and awake.
"Arianna is still asleep?" Nathan asked in surprise as they sat down to enjoy their food.
Elizabeth nodded. She held Cecilia in a way that would let the baby nurse and allow Elizabeth to eat as well. Nathan smiled, taking in the tender way Elizabeth was holding their daughter and nurturing her while also being careful to avoid getting any syrup from her toast on herself or Cecilia. "You're a natural, Elizabeth," he said, cutting into his own toast.
She looked up. "I feel like I'm fumbling my way through motherhood," she admitted. "This is harder than I thought it would be, but it's also more beautiful than I thought it would be." She looked down at Cecilia. "Who knew this kind of love was possible?"
Her voice held the same awe Nathan felt when he looked at one of their girls. "The mystery of love," he said softly.
Elizabeth smiled. "Exactly." Cecilia finished eating at the same time as her parents. Nathan held out his arms for her. "I can burp her," he said. "Then you can finish your coffee and relax a bit."
She handed him the baby, adjusting her clothes once more. She winced slightly, holding a hand to her breast. "I hope Arianna wakes up soon," she said. "The feeling of one breast full of milk while the other isn't is not very comfortable."
As if on cue, Arianna started crying. Elizabeth looked relieved. "Oh, good!" she exclaimed, standing. "I'll be right back."
Nathan chuckled, holding Cecilia against his chest as he firmly patted her back. He hadn't realized how much motherhood would take a toll on Elizabeth physically. There were a lot of small things that she mentioned in passing that made him realize how much she sacrificed of herself to give their daughters life and to help them grow. It made him appreciate and love her all the more.
She came back a couple minutes later, Arianna already held to her breast. She sank into her chair once more, relief written all over her face. "Much better," she pronounced.
Nathan reached out, taking her free hand in his. "Thank you, Elizabeth," he said. "Thank you for being a wonderful mother to our girls, thank you for giving them what they need to grow and be strong, thank you for showing unconditional love each and every day."
Elizabeth blushed slightly. "Where did that come from, sweetheart? You're just as much a part of this as I am."
Nathan rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand. "In different ways, maybe," he said. "But besides being tired, us having children doesn't affect me physically. You carried them, literally growing them inside your body, and now you're feeding them and giving them sustenance with your body as well. Something that isn't always comfortable, something that is sometimes painful. But you never complain. You do it cheerfully and willingly." He smiled, holding her gaze with his. "There's a beauty in mothering that fathers can't fully comprehend because we can never experience it. Your body literally is broken to give new life and to sustain that life." He raised her hand to his lips, placing a kiss there. "So thank you."
Elizabeth's eyes were swimming with tears. "Nathan…" she choked out. The tears fell from her eyes, splashing against her cheeks in small rivers.
Nathan scooted his chair closer to her, reaching out to wipe the tears from her face. "I love you," he whispered, letting his hand linger on her cheek. "So much, Elizabeth. I always have, but now more than ever."
She didn't respond with words. Instead, she leaned forward, kissing him with emotion. His hand slid from her cheek to the back of her head, drawing her closer as their kiss deepened. Nathan loved these quiet moments of stolen intimacy. He knew that they would soon be interrupted by one or both of their children, but for now he simply enjoyed the moment.
A plan formed in his mind. He and Elizabeth hadn't had time for themselves over the past two months. The girls were now old enough to have someone watch them. He would ask Colleen if she could babysit on Saturday for a few hours.
It was time for a date with his wife.
"It feels so strange leaving the twins with someone," Elizabeth said, watching as Colleen's house faded from view. They had left Arianna and Cecilia with their aunt, with enough bottles to last until they got back. Elizabeth had been a little nervous to leave the girls, but Colleen had shooed her and Nathan out the door, promising to call if she needed anything.
"It does," Nathan agreed. His hand was resting lightly on the stick shift, and Elizabeth reached out to take his hand in hers.
"Thank you for planning this day for us, Nathan," she said. "It's been a long time since we've been able to have time together simply as husband and wife."
Nathan smiled. "That it has. I'm glad we're able to do this."
Elizabeth tilted her head. "And what exactly is it that we'll be doing?"
"A hike to start things off, and then a couple of surprises," Nathan said, giving her a wink. "You're going to love it."
"A hike!" Elizabeth exclaimed. She hadn't been hiking since she was seven months pregnant with the twins. "I've missed hiking so much. That sounds perfect."
Nathan smiled. "As soon as you said Carson cleared you for activities like that again, I knew we needed to go on one. It won't be too intense of a hike, but it's a beautiful one. The perfect way to get back into the outdoors."
They arrived at their destination. Elizabeth breathed in the sweet mountain air as they got out of the car, then she and Nathan joined hands and began the climb up the gently sloping hills. When they reached the top, Elizabeth caught her breath from the sheer beauty of the view before them. "Oh, Nathan," she whispered, leaning against her husband. "This is stunning." They looked out over the forest below, which stretched out until it hit the ocean, blue as far as the eye could see. "This is so peaceful," she murmured, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Nathan leaned his head against hers. "It is," he replied.
They stood quietly for a few moments. "Thank you," Elizabeth said. "This is exactly what I needed. The exercise has me feeling refreshed."
Nathan smiled. "Good. Glad you feel that way. Ready for the next leg of the date?"
Elizabeth giggled. "'Leg of the date'? I haven't heard that one before," she teased as they began their descent.
Nathan's smile became a grin. "I came up with it myself," he said, laughing. Their teasing and banter continued down the mountain, and when they got back to the car, it only took five minutes to get to their next destination.
"Where are we?" Elizabeth asked, looking around at the unfamiliar setting.
"You'll see," Nathan said, slinging a beach bag over his shoulder. "Come on."
They walked to a path that wove its way through a dense crop of trees, and when they came through the other side Elizabeth's jaw dropped. They were standing on pristine white sand, a beautiful lagoon surrounded by forest spread before them. There wasn't a soul in sight. The beach was quiet and peaceful, the silence broken only by the gentle lapping of waves against the sand.
"Nathan," Elizabeth gasped, her hands going to her heart. "This is amazing! How did you find it?"
He smiled. "This is a private lagoon owned by a friend of mine. He has a little beach house he rents out to tourists and locals." He pointed toward the trees, and Elizabeth saw a cozy-looking home nestled among them. "Right now it's free. I asked if we could borrow this space for today, and he was happy to agree."
"Wow," Elizabeth said, in awe of their surroundings. "My thanks to your friend." She eyed the lagoon. The water looked cool and inviting after their hike. "Can we swim?" she asked. "I assume this is why you requested we wear our swimsuits under our hiking clothes?"
Nathan nodded. "Exactly." They pulled off their hiking clothes and headed for the water. Elizabeth dove right in, the cool water a delight on her skin. Her swimsuit clung to her skin as she came up for air. Nathan came up out of the water a few seconds later, shaking back the hair that was plastered to his forehead. Elizabeth giggled, swimming over to him and smoothing his hair back in place. Nathan's arms locked around her, pulling her tightly to him. His lips claimed hers with an intensity they hadn't shared since before the birth of the twins. Elizabeth felt herself getting lost in his kiss, clinging to him and feeling a growing desire inside. They hadn't been able to make love for a few months, and she felt they were long overdue for marital intimacy. As their kisses became hungrier, she knew Nathan was feeling the same way.
He broke their kiss and reached down to take her hand in his. "Come with me," he said, his voice rough with emotion. He led her to the beach house. The thought passed through Elizabeth's head that he must have been here before, because he led her straight to the bedroom and shut the door. Turning to look at her, they experienced a moment of calm before the storm. "Are you ready?" he asked. "You're healed enough for this?"
She nodded, going into his arms once more and kissing his bare chest. Nathan groaned, enfolding her completely in his arms as his lips found hers again. He delved deeply, his kiss passionate and hungry. He tasted like salt from the ocean, a taste Elizabeth found both comforting and seductive. The months apart physically drove them to a level of intensity that surprised them both. By the time their bodies were spent from loving each other, Elizabeth felt utterly satisfied and content. She lay in Nathan's arms, catching her breath. "I've missed this," she said, nestling her head against his chest, her fingers gently playing with the soft hairs that curled against his skin.
His arms tightened around her. "Me too," he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
Elizabeth tilted her head to look up at him. "Have I ever told you how much I love being held by you after we make love? It's a different kind of intimacy, but one that feels almost as important. Just being together in these quiet moments after...I don't quite have the words to describe it. But it feels good and right."
Nathan smiled. "I agree, sweetheart." They lay there for several long, quiet minutes, reveling in the feeling of just being together. Finally, Nathan sat up, helping her rise as well. "Maybe we should rinse off in the shower, and then I have another surprise for you."
"Another one?" Elizabeth asked, amazed.
"Yes, ma'am," Nathan said, leading her to the bathroom. They stepped into the large shower, rinsing off the salt from the ocean. They toweled off and dressed in clean clothes from the dresser drawer.
Elizabeth eyed Nathan as she put on her dress. "You came here ahead of time, didn't you? How else would my clothes be in this room?"
He grinned. "I might have been here earlier today. I had some set up to do." He took her hand as they walked out of the room. Elizabeth gasped again. "Nathan!" Rose petals lined the floor, leading to the kitchen, where a vase of wildflowers sat on the table. Nathan helped her sit, grinning the whole time. "Wait right there," he said. He went to the oven, pulling out two plates that had been warming inside. Elizabeth's mouth dropped as he placed it in front of her. Chicken cordon bleu, mashed potatoes, and green beans greeted her. She stared at her husband in surprise. "How?" she asked.
Nathan poured two glasses of sparkling cider. "My friend is a chef," he said with a chuckle. "I asked for his help in setting this part up."
Elizabeth shook her head, her heart warming. "Nathan, this has been an incredible day. And this lunch looks perfect."
Nathan winked. "I know this is one of your favorites. It seemed like a good choice."
Elizabeth laughed as they began eating. "This looks wonderful." After a few bites, she put her fork down. The food was indeed delicious, but something came to mind and wouldn't leave until she spoke of it. "Nathan, I've been thinking," she said, swallowing her nerves.
He must have caught the seriousness in her tone, because he put down his fork as well and focused all his attention on her. "I'm listening," he said, taking her hand in his.
Elizabeth licked her lips and took a deep breath. "I got a phone call from Viola yesterday," she said. "She invited us to come to New York for a visit." She bit her lip. "She wants to plan something to get us together with Mother and Father, hoping to bring about a reconciliation. And she wants to know if we could come next month. Apparently my parents will be going to Europe at the end of October, so timing is everything." She let out her breath. "So what do you think?"
Nathan studied her, hearing what she wasn't saying. "What do you want to do?" he asked gently. "I will be happy to go to New York with you anytime. You just have to say the word. But is that what you want?"
She swallowed. "I don't know. I honestly don't know. Part of me wants to, but another part of me knows that the likelihood of rejection is strong. I don't know if I could handle that."
Nathan leaned forward. "Why don't you think about it, sweetheart?" he suggested. "You don't have to make a decision now. Just take the time you need to come to a decision. I will support whatever that is, and I will be by your side the entire time if you decide you want to go."
"Thank you, Nathan," Elizabeth said softly. "That was exactly what I needed to hear."
Nathan squeezed her hand. "We're in this together, Elizabeth. I'm here for you, whatever you need."
They finished their meal and then tidied up the beach house. When they had finished, Elizabeth smiled at Nathan. "Are we ready to go get our girls?"
He nodded, looping an arm around her shoulders. "I am. I miss those babies already, and it's only been a few hours."
Elizabeth chuckled. "Yes, amazing how that works." She leaned against him as they walked to their car. "Thank you for a wonderful day, Nathan."
"My pleasure," he said. "And I do have one more surprise for you at home: a chocolate turtle cake with extra caramel."
"Oh!" Elizabeth exclaimed, her mouth watering. "You're spoiling me today, sweetheart."
Nathan stopped, pulling her into his arms and giving her a long, sweet kiss. "You deserve it," he said when he pulled back. "I'm glad today made you happy."
"So happy," Elizabeth sighed, wrapping her arms around him. "I love you, Nathan."
He pressed another kiss to her head, holding her close. "I love you too, Elizabeth."