Steve went to the hospital and saw the girls in the incubator. They were so small and fragile, and Steve felt such a love for them that he didn't accept the idea of losing them. He stood there for a while admiring them, then went to see Catherine.
He arrived her room and found her sleeping. He sat in the chair beside her bed and thought of the day they conceived the girls in that bungalow. "There is no more us!" Catherine had told him. And he pressed her against the wall, looking into her eyes, seeing that the love that had brought them together one day was still there.
When she woke up, Steve was at her side, looking at her fondly.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. And our daughters, did you see them?" Catherine asked.
"Yes, I saw them, they're very small but beautiful, and I really love our little girls," Steve said, smiling at her.
The girls spent almost three months in the hospital. Every single day, Catherine went to the hospital and stayed with the girls during the day and the night went home to take care of the boys.
"Mom, when are we going to meet Debby and Dhay?" Steven asked.
"When the doctors send them home, my love," Catherine replied.
"Steven's birthday is coming," John said.
"I know, dear. Your father and I are taking care of this," Catherine told John.
"I wanted my sisters to come to my party," Steven said.
One week before the party, Steve and Catherine took the girls home. Junior was taking care of Steven and John when Catherine and Steve arrived with the girls.
Steven and John were very happy when they saw the sisters, and the girls smiled at the boys.
"Mom, Debby smiled at me," Steven said.
"And Dhay smiled at me," John said, smiling.
"Yeah, they already know how to smile, but it's the opposite: Dhay smiled at you, Steven. And Debby smiled at you, John", Steve told the boys.
But how do you know, dad? Steven asked.
I don't understand either, dad. How do you know? They're the same. John said.
I'm their father. There're small differences that you will still notice. Steve replied.
A week later, Catherine was with the girls at Steven's birthday party when Danny arrived with Rachel, Grace and Charlie.
"Oh, they're beautiful, Aunt Catherine!" Grace said as she approached the baby carts.
"Thank you, Grace! You look beautiful too. we haven't seen each other in a long time," Catherine told her.
"It's true, Aunt Catherine, I missed you."
"I missed you too, dear."
"They look a lot like you, Catherine," Rachel said.
"Yes, they look more like me than they do with their father. Sometimes I think I've wasted so much time, Steve and I have known each other for so long, we could even have a child almost Grace's age, and we have two babies now", Catherine told Rachel.
"Everything has its time, Catherine."
"It's true, Rachel. Can you take care of them for a few minutes? I need to go and say hello to the guests."
"Of course, and Grace will love to help me take care of them."
"Thanks". Catherine said, heading toward Steve who was welcoming the guests.
As Catherine walked, Steven came rushing toward her. "Mom, thank you so much for my party, I loved it all here," Steven said, hugging her legs.
"You deserve it, my love. Mommy does everything to see you happy," Catherine replied.
8 months later ...
Steve went to the children's room to wake Steven and found the girls standing in the crib.
"Hey, sweethearts! Good morning! Mommy's coming to take care of you guys", Steve said, kissing the girls, and then he sat on Steven's bed.
"Wake up, son. Today is the day we pick up your brother at the airport."
John had gone on vacation with his grandmother and Steven was missing his brother.
Steven looked at his father, still sleepy. "Is he coming back today, Daddy?"
"Yes, son, let's all pick him up at the airport, Uncle Danny is bringing him."
Steven got up without complaining and Steve dressed him.
Catherine dressed the girls and one hour later they were at the airport.
Steven looked anxious for John, until he saw him, walking hand in hand with Danny. Steven released Steve's hand and ran to John.
"Hi brother, I'm glad you're back!" Steven said thrilled, and hugged him.
"Hi, Steven!" John hugged him too.
Steve and Catherine came up and put the girls down, and Debby and Dhay took small steps toward John.
John hugged them too. "They're walking!" John said, surprised.
"Yes, son, your sisters are walking, and I missed you a lot, champ," Steve said, taking him in his arms.
John hugged him and kissed him. "I missed you too, Dad."
Steve put him on the floor to thank Danny for bringing him back, since Danny had gone to visit his parents.
Catherine was afraid that John would come back differently and reject her, but John opened a huge smile when he saw her. "Hi Mom! How I missed you!" John said reaching out for her.
Catherine crouched down and hugged and kissed him.
"I missed you too, my love".
Steven approached with tears in his eyes.
"If I go, Steven cries. If I come back, Steven also cries," John said, gesturing and making Steve, Catherine, and Danny smile.
"Steven is sensitive, let him cry when he wants," Steve told John fondly.
"Our family is complete, we can go home now," Steve said.
"No, I'm expecting someone else," Catherine told Steve.
"Who?" Steve asked.
"Steven was sad because he didn't have a grandmother like John, so I summoned his grandmother to show up and I didn't accept no for an answer".
"Doris?" Steve asked.
"Yes. Here she comes", Catherine said, pointing in the direction of Doris.
"Go, my son, she's your grandma", Catherine told Steven.
Steven ran to Doris. "Grandma?" he asked when he got close to her.
"Hey, you must be my grandson Steven. I'm Grandma Doris", she said, smiling.
Years later...
It was John and Steven's first day at the Naval Academy. Catherine, Steve and the girls took them to the Academy and it was time to say goodbye.
"Mom, thank you for everything. I wouldn't be here today without your help. You taught me to like the sea, you're my inspiration. You were, are , and always will be my mom, and I love you", John said to Catherine, making her thrilled.
"I love you too, my son. I'll miss you so much! I'm going to look forward to your vacations, so you and Steven can go home".
John also said goodbye to Steve.
"And what I can say about you, my father, my best friend? I just want to be like you," John told Steve.
Steve didn't hold back the tears. "Thank you, son, I'm proud of you and I love you. I want you to be very happy and do me a favor: take care of your brother, okay?"
"I'll take care of him, dad, what can I do? I can't get rid of Steven," John said, smiling.
John also said goodbye to his sisters, hugging them both at the same time.
"I love you both. Take good care of Dad and Mom, because I know it's going to be hard for them to be without me and Steven.
"We're going to do this, right, Debby?" Dhay said.
"We'll take care of them, brother. Don't worry, and take care of Steven," Debby replied.
"Why does everyone think I'm Steven's nanny?" John told Debby.
Meanwhile, Steven was saying goodbye to Catherine.
"I'm going to miss you so much, because I love you more than anything , my queen. I've never been far from you and it's going to be very difficult for me," Steven said to Catherine.
"You can still give up, son. You can choose something other than the Navy."
"But that's what I want, Mom. I chose the Navy."
"Be safe and don't forget me, my angel of blue eyes. I want you and John to call me every day, and don't forget how much I love you".
"Okay," Steven replied and kissed his mother's forehead as he hugged her.
Steven looked at his father.
"Take care of my mother, Dad, and thank you for giving her a chance. Before I met you, I saw my mom cry many times, and I didn't understand why, today I know it's because she missed you", Steven said.
"I'm so sorry, son", Steve said.
We wouldn't be here today, if you hadn't heard the voice of your heart. I love you, my father!" Steven said, embracing his father.
I love you too, my champion! Be safe and I'll wait for you on your vacation and if I can, I'll come and see you and your brother before that".
"Okay," Steven said, very thrilled.
Steven hugged his sisters.
"I love you, my dear sisters. I don't know how I'm going to live without you two," Steven said, kissing their heads.
"We love you too, brother," the girls said and kissed Steven's cheek.
John and Steven got their bags and entered at the Academy. At one point, they looked back and Catherine and Steve waved at them, and they did the same, and then they kept walking.
"Shall we stay in the same dormitory, brother?" Steven asked John.
"I hope not, Steven," John replied, but then he regretted it. "I'm kidding, don't go crying, you know I love you".
Catherine was thrilled and cried.
"We're here, Mom," Debby said.
"We're not John and Steven, but let's keep you company," Dhay told Catherine.
"Don't talk like that, my dear. I love you two as much as I love your brothers," Catherine told them.
"Come on, let's go home," Steve said, holding Catherine's hand.
A week later...
Steve came home tired from work and Catherine was sitting on the couch listening to music.
"Hey," Steve said, kissing her quickly.
"Hey, why did you take so long to get home today?" Catherine asked.
Steve sat down beside her. "A lot of work, baby".
Catherine did a fondness on his face.
"Why is the house so silent? Where are the girls?" Steve asked.
"They're at your mother's house. Doris prepared a pajama party and invited some of theyr friends."
"Have you talked to John and Steven?"
"Yes, they called me. John got a place in Steven's bedroom, more precisely the bed next Steven" Catherine said, smiling.
"I knew they wouldn't be apart for long," Steve said.
"So, the house is ours today. I bought the food and a good wine and we have good music," Catherine said.
"That's very promising," Steve said, hugging her affectionately.
Catherine kissed him with the same passion of the beginning of their relationship, igniting Steve's desire.
"I want you more than anything, my love, my life .. ."
End.
Thank you to accompany this story. I hope you liked it.