The c-section went perfectly. Rory delivered three beautiful baby girls: Zoey Rose, Sara Ann, and Lorie Sue Mariano. Rory starred at them as they prepared them for their overnight stay in the NICU. Because of the premature birth, they needed to be closely monitored, but the prognosis was good on all three babies. The complete joy of the birth of the girls almost overshadowed the grief of her missing husband.
"Wait….Jesse…where's Jesse?"
"Mrs. Mariano, your husband is spending the night in the ICU. He lost quite a bit of blood in the accident, but with a transfusion, he should make a full recovery."
"Oh, thank God!"
………………………………
They wheeled her into the ICU. She would be spending the night there as well due to her high risk delivery. They wanted to make sure her blood pressure had completely stabilized before taking her to the normal post-partum floor. Her breathe was taken away when she say her roommate.
"Oh, Jesse…I was so worried!"
Tears were streaming down her face.
"You were worried? You had me worried. They told me that there was a complication and that they had to take you into an emergency c-section. Oh, Rory, I thought I was going to lose you."
"I thought I had already lost you! They wouldn't give me any information. Oh, you have no idea how much my heart sank. I love you so much!"
Tears were now running down his face.
"I love you, too, honey."
…………………………………
After almost a month of visiting their daughters at the hospital nursery, they were finally read to come home as a family. Lorelai came along to help so that it would be one baby for one adult. They all agreed that would probably be the safest route for the initial ride home.
Later on that night, Rory and Jesse stood in the doorway of the nursery. All three of their beautiful daughters were sound asleep for the time-being. It was a spectacular view. He wrapped his arms around his beautiful wife and kissed her forehead. She leaned her head on his shoulder. Every few seconds he had to prove to himself that he wasn't dreaming.
"I love you so much, Rory. This…this is what my dreams are made of. You…you are perfect. I could not have asked for more."
…………………………….
And so the story goes. The past, well, the troubles in the past were forgotten. The future…well…they both learned that anything could happen to stir up their plans and that life can be short, but the present…yes, the present was absolutely perfect, and they could not have asked for more….for they lived in the house love built, filled with new life and happiness, and hand-in-hand, no matter what, they would walk through life together.
Love without end, Amen.