Save the Date (Modern Arrangements, #1)

Looking at the time. I realized that it was almost four thirty in the morning. I ushered everyone out of the room and the nurse took the babies to the nursery.

I was instructed to use the recliner next to Lilli’s bed. However, there wasn’t anyone or anything that could keep me out of that bed with her. Even if she hadn’t just given me the two most precious things in my life, I had slept next to her for so long that I didn’t think that I could ever not sleep next to her.

Two days later, we were making our arrival home. Jay, Rachel, Mrs. White and Alex were all in the foyer awaiting us.

Lilli was still sore but feeling really good. Though, she was upset that I didn’t allow her to carry anything, not even a baby. Once inside, the things were taken to the nursery and we let everyone visit with the babies before we headed to the nursery with them.

"I’ll prepare something to eat." Rachel called up the stairs after us.

"Oh, Rachel, do you know how much I love you?" Lilli exclaimed. "That hospital food has nothing on yours! At all!"

I could hear Rachel laugh as she headed toward the kitchen.

"We’re home." I announced as we walked into the nursery with both babies.

"Finally." Lilli exclaimed as she laid Livy into her pink crib.

Having already laid Walsh down, I quickly moved behind her and put my arms around her waist. She leaned back into my chest and sighed.

"I love you." I whispered into her ear and kissed her neck.

"Mmm…I love you too." She whispered back.

"You have made me the happiest man on the planet, you know that?" I turned her around.

She smiled up at me.

"I’m not sure about that, but I am glad that you are happy." Placing her small hand on my cheek while she spoke, I covered her hand with mine and leaned into her touch. Before letting her pull away, I kissed the palm of her hand.

Lilli went to shower and change her clothes while I stayed in the nursery. I sat in the reclining chair between both cribs, listening to their steady breathing and the small noises they made while sleeping. Walsh was definitely the wild child already; he was very vocal. Livy was quiet and peaceful. I wondered if it was a sign of what their personalities would be like as they grew up.

My mind started to drift, thinking of Lilli at my side while we watched our children grow. I started picturing the future years to come. Surprisingly to me, I saw Walsh with wild auburn hair and his mother’s hazel eyes, full of depth, emotion and intensity. Livy shared the same hair color with more curl, as well as my green eyes. Her skin was the mirror image of her mother’s; soft, porcelain and perfect. Then, there was Lilli. Still as beautiful as ever, her stomach swollen with another child. It was the last part that surprised me the most. I already knew that I wanted to have as many children as she would allow me, silently praying that she would want more, too.

Rachel’s voice broke me out of my daydream.

I grabbed one of the portable monitors as I walked out of the room to get Lilli. Still looking down at the monitor, I hadn’t seen the bedroom door open and Lilli walk out. We smacked into each other, her head connecting with my nose.

"Oh my god! Aidan? Are you okay?" Lilli exclaimed. "I’m so sorry…I didn’t see you coming."

I cupped my nose and blinked a couple of times to clear the spots that I was seeing. I leaned against the wall. Pulling back my hand, Lilli gasped and ran back into the bedroom.

Looking down at my hand, I saw that it was covered in blood. Lilli returned with a towel from the bathroom and held it up to me. I took it and put it to my face.

"I’m so sorry." She said again.

"It was an accident." My words were muffled from the fluffy Egyptian cotton that was pressed to my face. Lilli followed me to our bathroom.

I pulled the towel away and saw Lilli cringe in the mirror.

"I’m so, so sorry." She covered her face.

"It’s okay." I chuckled out.

Turning the water faucet to a cool temperature, I washed the blood from my face and used the towel to clean off the blood before it dried. Once I was finished, I could tell that my eyes were going to turn black. Lilli obviously could tell too.

She sat down on the side of the tub, placing her head in her hands. I turned around, focusing my attention on her.

"Lilli?" She wouldn’t look up. "Lilli, look at me?" She shook her head. "Please?" I walked closer to her. She lifted her head and I could tell she was crying.

Pulling her up and into my arms, I tried to soothe her.

"Don’t cry, love, it was an accident."

"Your eyes are going to turn black." She sobbed slightly. "It’s my fault. I’m so, so sorry."

I rubbed her back. "Calm down. It’s fine, really." I pulled away and looked at her. She looked at me and wiped her cheeks. "Okay?" She nodded, but couldn’t bring herself to smile.

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