52

I thought I was dead. I thought I did not make it through one of the best experiences of my life. My brain was finally working and I felt my eyes open up painfully slow. I was met with a white ceiling it was so white and pale. What I felt however was different. Ignoring the mild light headedness I felt I looked down to see two small things sleeping on my chest and I blinked a few times thinking this was a dream. It had to be. I looked at the one on my left. Wrapped in a blue blanket was a little tan baby. Travis. I let my eyes float on the baby wrapped in pink. Eve. She was tan too, but a bit darker than Travis. They had little to no hair and they just looked perfect, but I could not even think that for I had to figure out where I was or where their father was. I looked around for a moment to see I was in a hospital room. Who would have thought I would be here.

"Hey…"

I looked over to see mother standing in the door way with a small smile and I was beyond surprised.

"Mother," I said breathlessly. "How?" She only smiled and came into the room slowly.

"Your father and brothers went to war with the Bondurants, don't worry they're fine. I ran all the way to their bar to tell you and to make sure you were okay. I walk in and see Bertha covered in blood and crying and claiming you're dead. Now only a woman who has had children would know a woman having a baby would pass out. I just was not expecting you to have….twins." she explained with such a shocked face. I heard small cooing and looked down to see the babies were moving a bit on their chests.

"Did the doctors take a look at them?" I asked and looked at my mom who nodded.

"Yes two perfectly healthy little twins…all though the difference is sex are very new around here. You will also be okay so don't worry. Have you thought of names?" she asked. I nodded wrapping both my arms around their small forms. They were so fragile and had an odd smell.

"Travis and Eve." I replied and looked at her and she grinned and nodded.

"Beautiful." she answered and I smiled before looking down at my children and that's when I remembered everyone else. I looked at mother with mild worry.

"Where is Forrest?" I asked and mother looked down with a saddened face and I was prepared to think the worst.

"Forrest and Jack were shot at the standoff with that…deputy. They are in the other room and your father and brothers are out in the lobby with Howard and Bertha. They are sickened with grief and Howard refuses to see you until Forrest has seen you." she explained. I was stunned by her words. I closed my eyes trying to think.

"How is Forrest ad Jack?" I asked trying to keep a low voice as to not disturb the small babies on my chest. Mother smiled.

"They will make a full recovery. Bertha is with them now." she told and I sighed with relief.

"Can you tell everyone who hasn't been shot to come in?" I asked. "I want them to see their niece, nephew, and grandchildren."

Mother smiled even more before glancing at the kids and then leaving out the door. As I had the time to myself I looked at my kids and just gently ran my fingers over their bald heads. Both their small hands were touching each other's and I felt a tear slip down my face as I brought these two children into my world. They moved and squirmed a bit, their only warmth was the blanket over all of our bodies and they thin blanket they were wrapped in.

"Hello Eve. Hello Travis." I whispered and the door opened again. Father was the first to step through a smile on his face.

"Oh look at you pretty lady…you're a momma." he said moving in towards the bed. Ray and Arliss were behind me and they looked at my entire body before smiling.

"Is that them?" Ray asked and I chuckled and nodded.

"Yes the girl is eve and the boy is Travis." I replied Howard came in with a smile and I smiled back at him. Dad smiled with happiness and mother stood beside him.

"Who came first?" Arliss asked. I smiled and looked at Travis.

"Travis then Eve." I said happily. Dad grinned.

"Yes, my boy! He'll be a fighter I know it." he said. Mother grinned lovingly.

"Yes strong enough to protect his little sister." she informed. Howard kept smiling and I looked at him with mild curiosity.

"Howard is Rakes…"

Howard smiled almost evilly.

"Shot by Jack and gutted like a fish." he answered and I closed my eyes with happiness. So my nightmare was finally over. I opened my eyes slowly.

"When can I see Forrest?" I asked. Father smirked.

"In a couple of hours. The doctors said he and Jack are out of surgery and are doing fine…I ordered them to bring his bed in here since it's big enough." he told. I was surprised by this. A Kincade helping a Bondurant? It was almost absurd but I didn't question it. I nodded softly and smiled.

"Thanks daddy." I replied and he nodded and looked at Howard.

"I haven't been in a gun fight in many amoons. You all are alright." he stated and Ray and Arliss smiled their approval and I grinned. I had never seen such an accepting sight. Finally we were one. I suddenly felt Eve's small mouth on my chest as she yawned and then I saw Travis stirring and whining. Mother smirked.

"Oh it's feeding time. Everyone out, I think Eula needs some time alone." she told and everyone agreed and began to clear the room. Ray smiled at me.

"Now we will be checking up on you." he informed. I nodded and Arliss smiled with happiness.

"See ya, Eula." he said.

"Bye." I replied as the two left. Father and mother kissed my cheeks then the top of my twin's heads and moved back.

"We'll check on you in a few hours." mother replied and I nodded and they left the room. Howard was last and he looked at my now crying babies. His eyes watered and I grinned.

"Why Mr. Bondurant are those tears I see?" I asked and he grinned and shook his head.

"No Mrs. Bondurant. I just have something in my eyes." he said and I grinned softly and he exited the room leaving me to feed my hungry babies.

Four hours later…

I softly tapped the twin's back soothing them as they slept. I felt ready to move again. I wanted to move again. The door suddenly opened and in came a doctor who gave me a short nod.

"We've been told to bring in Mr. Bondurant." he informed and for some reason he didn't look pleased. I guess he put two and two together and found out that Forrest was the baby's father. I only nodded and the doctor turned and began to roll in a bed and on the other end was a nurse. I looked around the doctor to see a sleeping Forrest in a white gown under the white blankets. He was positioned beside me and the doctor and nurse left. I stared at his sleeping face for a moment and I knew I had to be closer. I slowly and carefully sat up and maneuvered myself up slowly while holding onto the twins. I moved my feet around the bed and gently turned my body and sat the children down flat on the bed. They shifted a bit but remained sleeping. That's when I felt the pain in my stomach from all the child birth.

"You need to be in bed." I heard his weak voice. I smiled and turned to him slowly and a part of me didn't want to take my eyes off the babies, but I had to see him. I looked down at him and he gave a soft stare. I leaned over to him and he gently took his hand and I smiled.

"Still worrying for me." I said softly and he made a raspy noise.

"It would be a crime to not worry about my wife, the mother of my children." he said slowly. I smiled and felt soft tears escape my eyes.

"Oh Forrest they're beautiful." I said. He kept a straight face before closing his eyes and groaning softly.

"Twins…" he said. I nodded.

"Yes. Travis came first. Than Eve." I replied. He nodded slowly giving the smallest of smiles.

"Let me old Travis than give me Eve." he told. I looked him over.

"You feel up to is?" I asked. He nodded.

"Just lay him on my chest." he said and I nodded and gently picked up Travis who continued to sleep and I moved him towards Forrest and he opened his arms and helped my guide him onto his chest. Forrest looked him over for a moment just scanning his face. I watched as his large finger gently traced over Travis' small cheek and lips and nose.

"My son." I heard him whisper in a low tone just looking him over. His other hand rubbed his back and I watched as Travis opened his small eyes and blinked a bit and I smiled even more and watched as he looked Forrest dead in the eye and blinked. Forrest gave his usual hard stare and then gave a small smile.

"Let me see Eve." he said lightly and I nodded and switched the babies carefully and this time he gave Eve a visual smile. "They're both light and dark…so perfect."

I smiled and nodded.

"They are." I replied. Eve cooed and began to whimper as if she was about to cry, but Forrest only ran his fingers lightly over her cheeks and nose and chin and I guess feeling his touch calmed her because she was quiet now. And I saw the little girl start to smile a bit as she looked into the face of her father. I picked Travis up not wanting to deny him attention. I cradled him softly and just stared at his little face.

"They're all ours." I replied and I looked at Forrest to see he had fallen asleep with Eve on his chest. I expected him to be tired. I slowly got back into my bed with Travis and rested him on my chest and went back to sleep.