Her fingers grasped the sheets, squeezing them tightly and Atlantis screamed in pain. Exhausted, she fell back on the pillows, trying to catch a breath. Her hair was completely wet from the sweat. She felt like she will fall apart from the pain "I can't", she silently sobbed "I can't…"
"Yes, you can, Atlantis, yes you can! Come on, push!", Matthew tried to encourage her and she obeyed, grimacing and crying out in pain. "I can see the head!", she heard Matthew's voice and for a second, the pain was forgotten as his words dawned on her. She caught his eyes for a moment and smiled, feeling how he gave her strength…"Okay, I can do this", she took few breaths in and gave another push. Yelping in pain, she collapsed on the bed again, her body shivering from exhaustion "That's it! The shoulders are out!", Matthew exclaimed "One more, Atlantis, one more, come on, darling, you can do this!"
She supported herself on lower arms and elbows and the world broke in million pieces in front of her eyes as a sharp pain crushed her body and made her scream loudly, her eyelids tightly squeezing shut. Gasping for air, she suddenly heard little muffled sobs of a newborn baby and as her lashes fluttered, opening her eyes, she heard her husband's voice "It's a boy!"
Atlantis opened her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks as she laughed happily watching Matthew cleaning their little baby, cutting the navel cord and wrapping the little one up. She knew this wasn't over yet, she knew that the other baby had to come out too, but at this moment, she felt like the strongest and the most happiest woman ever. Pulling herself up a bit on the pillows, she extended her shivering hands toward the bundle in Matthew's hands, crying even more as she saw tears on her husband's face.
Matthew felt like something broke inside of him as he gazed at the lightly pink face of a baby in his arms. Their newborn son opened his eyelids and identical crystal blue eyes glared questioningly at Matthew, completely disarming him and he broke down in happy tears "He has my eyes!"
Atlantis' heart thumped faster and she happily laughed while Matthew went toward her and placed a baby in her arms "Say hi to your Mummy", Matthew whispered.
"Heeey", Atlantis smiled as one little hand jumped up from the bundle and she gave it a gentle kiss, admiring the perfection of it. She felt Matthew wiping her tears away and she looked up at him, inviting his lips. He leaned down and kissed her, their tears and smile fading into one. As they both looked back down on the baby in Atlantis' arms, she whispered "Oh, Matthew…he's perfect", she slightly grimaced at the feeling of pain coming back to her and she swallowed hard "Take him…", she closed her eyes and Matthew understood. Slowly, he took their son from Atlantis' arms and quickly put him down in one of two cribs near by. Turning back, he knew it was time. He took away several locks of Atlantis' wet hair from her face and kissed her forehead. She caught his right hand and kissed the inside of his palm, sobs coming up from her lungs. Atlantis opened her eyes, and Matthew could see fear in those hazelnut orbs "Don't worry. It'll be fine", he wiped her face and neck with a cloth and she slowly started to calm down "Trust me."
She nodded and positioned herself lower on the bed, taking few deep breaths in. Her legs trembled and she cried out in pain. Another push…the world started to spin around and Atlantis felt fresh new tears rolling down her cheeks. She opened her eyes and saw that Matthew's face turned into deadly serious "Matthew? Matthew, what's wrong?", she gasped. He didn't reply, just fumbled with the instruments on the bed beside him and that set Atlantis into a panic "Matthew, tell me!"
"The cord", he said, not looking up "It's wrapped around the baby's neck. I have to cut it", Atlantis gasped in fear, but Matthew quickly said "Don't worry. This also happened with Katie. Sully told me how he did it. Just stay calm. I promise you, it'll be fine."
Whole Atlantis' being transferred into her eyes. Matthew took the scissors and supporting a baby's head, he quickly picked up a cord a bit and cut it open. Atlantis yelped in pain as she pushed again one more time and in next second the baby was out! Her eyes shot wide opened "It isn't crying", Atlantis mumbled "Matthew…", she watched in horror as he turned the baby upside down, held it for its legs and slapped it. One time…second time…and after third time, a loud cry was heard. Atlantis let out a deep breath of relief and Matthew smiled "My Ma told me Dr. Mike told her to do this when our friend Emily's baby didn't cry", he freed the baby of the cord and cleaned it. Atlantis smiled, feeling tiredness washing over her. "Is it okay?", she whispered.
"Yeah. She is okay", Matthew smiled, wrapping the baby up.
"She?", Atlantis widely smiled and pulled herself up on the pillows, accepting a baby in her arms. Little eyelids opened, revealing the sapphire blue eyes and Atlantis felt her heart filling with love. They both had their Daddy's eyes, just like she wanted. As their newborn daughter touched her arms, Atlantis gently caressed a bit of dark brown hair and looked up at Matthew as he gently placed their daughter into her arms. His pale face told her volumes "I'm fine, Matthew", kissing his lips, she whispered "Don't worry, I'm fine."
It was only now that Matthew felt that he could breathe properly and everything that occurred in past few hours flew through his head. He let out a deep breath of relief and gazed down at their baby daughter. Little girl yawned a bit and produced something close to smile causing both of them to laugh "She's perfect", Matthew whispered, gently caressing baby's little arm. Atlantis kissed baby's forehead and gently pressed her cheek against the softness of her skin. Matthew went toward the crib and gently picked up a sleeping baby boy. In his sleep, he snuggled closer to his Father, his little hand catching Matthew's shirt. Smiling, Matthew gently caressed baby's little fist with his index-finger and slowly sat down on the bed beside his wife and daughter.
Atlantis looked up from their daughter to the loving eyes of her husband and son.
"Thank you", she whispered.
Matthew smiled at her "I told you we'll be fine. We were always a great team", he said with a smile. Atlantis smiled back at him and they gazed down at the twins who were slowly falling into sleep. As Matthew positioned himself closer to her, Atlantis looked down at their baby boy "They're finally here", she whispered, smile never leaving her face.
"It's like a dream coming true", whispered Matthew.
"It certainly is", Atlantis looked up at him. Matthew gazed down at her eyes and whispered "I love you so much!"
Her eyes filled with happy tears "I love you, too. So much", she accepted his kiss, savoring the feeling of him near by.
One baby gurgled silently and they both looked down to see their son opening his little fist and letting go of his Father's shirt. Smiling at that, Atlantis looked up at Matthew again and saw his gaze fell upon their daughter "What are you thinking about?", she silently asked.
Matthew was lost in watching their daughter's face. Thinking how she didn't cry when she came out and how the panic overwhelm him just for a moment…and than he remembered his Mother's words 'I turned the baby upside down and slapped it few times. Breath came into its lungs and it cried! It was a miracle!' he could still see her smile as she said that and sent a prayer of thanks to his Mum for helping him in this crucial time of his life. Looking up at Atlantis, he silently said "I'd like to name her Charlotte…if it's okay with you."
Atlantis's hand found its way up toward Matthew's cheek and gently cupped it, wiping his tears away "Of course. It's perfect name for her. And your Mum helped us; you remembered what she told you and it saved our daughter's life."
Matthew was moved beyond words; it was like she could see right into his heart and know what was he feeling and thinking every single second. "Thank you", he whispered, kissing her fingers that moved across his cheek.
A baby in her arms stirred and Atlantis looked down, gently rocking her "Heyyy, you like it? That was your Grandma's name. Charlotte Cooper", at those words, the little one opened her eyes and gurgled happily at her parents "I think this means she likes it", Atlantis stated in her matter – of – fact tone of voice.
The sound of another baby was heard; little boy protested because his sister got all attention "Already with an attitude", joked Matthew.
Atlantis laughed "I'd like to call him Jimmy. After my Dad", she looked up at Matthew and he smiled, nodding.
"Perfect", Matthew said and started to get up "Okay, Jimmy, Charlotte, time to give your Mum some rest. You surely exhausted her", with an ease of somebody who was a big brother three times and a Father of three now, Matthew took care of both babies and placed them in the cribs. After making sure that they're asleep, he went back toward the bed and putting a cloth in a water, he gently washed Atlantis' face and neck, than changed the sheets and gently tucked in his beloved wife.
Atlantis tried to fight back the tiredness that was slowly making her senses numb. She wanted to stay awake and tell to Matthew how much she loves him, how thankful was she to him for delivering their babies safely…But, her eyelids started to close against her will "Matthew…"
"I know", he whispered, his lips lingering on her hair "Sleep, my love. We have a whole life in front of us."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matthew was sitting in armchair placed between bed and the cribs. He was reading a book, his senses always on alert for any sign of discomfort either from Atlantis or their children.
Their children… Looking up from his book, he glanced toward the cribs and slowly got up. He couldn't resist not to steal another look at the little ones.
Jimmy was softly whimpering in his sleep and Matthew leaned down, placing a soothing hand on the baby's back. The child calmed down immediately at his Father's touch. Matthew gently massaged little back of the baby and in next few seconds, Jimmy was breathing calmly, his slumber undisturbed.
Little Charlotte was awake and when Matthew looked down at her crib, the baby gurgled happily.
"What are you doing awake, Charlotte?", whispered Matthew with a smile, picking his daughter up in his arms. A baby caught her Dad's index-finger and at that simple little touch from his newborn daughter, Matthew's heart melted. He went back toward the armchair and sat down, gently rocking his baby daughter in his arms. He looked at Atlantis' peaceful face as she slept. If it was even possible, he loved her even more today. She gave him three beautiful children, fulfilled his dream of being a Father. She married him, loved him unconditionally. She healed him completely and made him happier than he ever was.
"Thank you, God", he whispered "Thank you for bringing Atlantis back to my life", he gently kissed his daughter's cheek and smiled at her.