Page 75 of Unbreakable Bonds (The Boston Romance #2)

Cole nods before striding back to the car. I glance up at the nurse. "I'm Alisha Walker. That's my stressed husband, Cole."

"Nice to meet you, Alisha. I'm Eve." She starts wheeling me inside. "Don't worry, nine out of ten soon-to-be fathers react this way."

We chat until another contraction hits. I grip the wheelchair arms, cursing. "Oh, fuck! FUCK! Please tell me this won't get worse?"

Eve squeezes my shoulder, coaching me through breathing. "You're doing really well, Alisha."

On the third floor, Eve speaks with a colleague about directing Cole to the right room, then wheels me down the hallway. When she pushes open a door on the left, I nearly cry seeing a bed.

"Want to lie down?"

I nod gratefully. "Can we remove my leggings first? They're soaked."

"Of course."

Once I'm settled on the bed, I let my head fall back. "This is better." Moments later, the door opens and Doctor Johnson enters with Cole right behind her. My husband immediately comes to my side, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"Hello," the doctor says warmly. "So today's the day. Ready to meet your twins?"

"I'm ready," Cole says, though his nervous smile says otherwise.

"Let's see how far along you are."

I send up silent prayers during the examination.

"More good news - you're five centimeters."

Eve hooks me to fetal monitors for the babies' heartbeats and checks my blood pressure. Cole holds my hand the entire time, watching every move they make with laser focus. The doctor prepares the ultrasound to check the babies' positions.

"You're a lucky woman. They're both head down." She pauses. "You're sure about no epidural?"

I nod firmly. "Yes, but can I have laughing gas?"

"Absolutely."

Cole squeezes my hand, and I smile up at him. We'd discussed this thoroughly - ever since David drugged me, the idea of not feeling part of my body triggers anxiety. I need to be in control. The doctor understood completely and explained all alternatives, leading to my choice of gas.

"Now we wait for full dilation. Call me when she hits ten centimeters or if anything changes," she tells Eve before leaving.

The next hour is pure hell. My fingers dig into Cole's flesh with each contraction while I suck desperately on the gas. When he dares to smile during one particularly brutal wave, I snap.

"Why are you smiling? I'm in goddamn labor! And it hurts like hell!"

His eyebrows shoot up. "I'm—"

A vicious contraction cuts him off as I cry out. "Oh, get these babies out, Bulldozer. I can't do this. I—"

"Alex, look at me." His commanding tone catches my attention. "I've said it before - you can do this, sweetheart. You're the strongest woman I've ever met. If anyone can deliver twins, it's you."

Looking into those intense blue eyes, I feel my panic subside as the contraction eases. "This is so hard."

Eve and another nurse check on us regularly, monitoring the babies while Cole replaces the cool cloth on my forehead between contractions.

After another excruciating half hour, the pain waves speed up until I'm nearly delirious.

Suddenly, intense pressure builds, and my body starts pushing on its own.

"I can't stop it," I gasp.

Eve checks quickly. "Wonderful - you're fully dilated."

Doctor Johnson returns with another nurse within minutes. She checks the monitors before addressing us.

"Okay, Alisha, you're doing amazing. With the next contraction, I want you to push. Cole, if Alisha agrees, you can support her by holding one leg behind her knee, bringing it to her chest. It helps open the birth canal."

"Oh god, here comes another one!" I grab for the gas.

"Deep breath in and push," the doctor encourages. Desperate to end this, I follow her instructions.

"Yes, that's it," she praises after several minutes. "You're a natural, Alisha. Good, very good."

"Oh fuck, why is it burning?"

"That's because your first baby is crowning. Next contraction, push as hard as you can, and we'll see if it's a boy or girl."

I look up at Cole, who kisses my sweat-dampened hair. "You can do it. Let's meet our children."

The next contraction is brutal. "Ah, fuck!"

"Push, Alex!"

Closing my eyes, focusing entirely on my baby, I push with everything I have. Just when I think I'll split in two, a cry pierces the air. My eyes fly open to see the doctor holding up a tiny, squirming body. She places the baby on my chest.

"Congratulations! It's a boy!"

* * *

Cole

My jaw drops at the doctor's words. A son? I have a son?

Alisha's joyful tears fall as she cradles our boy. "A boy," she sobs. I kiss her lips, both of us mesmerized by this perfect little person.

"Want to cut the umbilical cord, Dad?"

I nod, following her instructions with trembling hands. The nurse comes to take him for examination, and suddenly Alisha grunts in pain. Oh fuck, we're having twins.

"Okay," the doctor says calmly. "His brother or sister is ready. You're doing amazing, Alisha. A few more pushes and you'll have your twins."

I take my wife's hand, whispering against her temple, "I love you. You can do it."

She finds renewed strength, tucking her chin to her chest and pushing with everything she has. I watch in awe, gaining a whole new respect for women. The things they endure, the strength they possess - it's incredible.

Three contractions later, the doctor calls out excitedly. "Yes! One or two more big pushes and we're there. Cole, want to help deliver your second child?"

Adrenaline surging through my veins, I move into position. The doctor explains what to do, and with our son's cries still filling the room, I hold out my hands as the head emerges. Alisha gives one final push, and suddenly I'm holding our second child as my wife collapses back against the pillows.

"Well done, Dad." My eyes scan the tiny being in my hands and go wide.

"It's a girl!" I choke out, looking at Alisha. "We have a boy and a girl!"

The doctor helps me place our daughter on Alisha's chest. After cutting the second cord and cleaning my hands, Eve returns with our son.

"This little guy wants to meet his dad," she says, placing him in my arms as I sink into the chair.

"Hey buddy." I kiss his tiny head, wiping tears from my face.

Looking up at Alisha cradling our daughter, my heart nearly bursts. "They're perfect," she sighs.

"What are their names?" the doctor asks.

Alisha meets my eyes with a tired smile. "You tell them."

I touch my son's cheek. "This beautiful man is Axel, and our pretty girl is Harley."

"Welcome to the world, Axel and Harley Walker," the doctor says warmly. "A healthy set of twins. Well done, both of you."

Eve takes Harley for her checkup while I place Axel in his mother's arms. The pure love in her emerald eyes as she gazes at our son makes my throat tight. After delivering the placentas without complications, the doctor examines my warrior wife one last time.

"Alright, Alisha and Cole, congratulations again. Rest and enjoy your new family. I'll check on you tomorrow, and if everything looks good, you can go home."

Once the doctor leaves, Eve returns with Harley, placing her in my arms. "I'll be back shortly," she says, leaving us alone with our miracles.

"You were amazing, Alex."

We lean toward each other, sharing a soft kiss that holds all the words we can't express.

Axel chooses that moment to open his eyes, and I grin. "You've got your mom's gorgeous green eyes, son."

Looking down at Harley, I watch in wonder as she follows her brother's lead.

Two bright blue eyes - my eyes - stare up at me.

When I touch her cheek, she grabs my finger with surprising strength, and something in my heart shifts and settles.

This moment, this feeling, will be engraved in my soul forever.

"I love you, Harley, and I promise Daddy will love and protect you, no matter what."

A soft knock makes us look up. My heart swells seeing Samantha hovering in the doorway. "Hey," she whispers.

"Oh, honey, we're so glad you're here," Alisha says, frowning slightly. "But how did you get here?"

"A cab," she explains, moving closer. "Dad gave me money and said if you went into labor while I was at school, I could take a cab straight here." She stops beside the bed, her eyes widening as she takes in the twins. "Oh god, they're so tiny."

"You've got a brother and sister, sweetheart. Want to hold your sister?" I ask.

When she nods, I stand and gesture for her to take my chair. Once she's settled, tears fill her eyes as I place Harley in her arms. "This is Harley Walker."

My beautiful teenage daughter stares at her baby sister in awe. "Hey, Harley, I'm Samantha, your big sister, and I'm so happy to meet you."

I kneel beside the chair, wiping away her tears. "She's adorable," Sam whispers.

"And this little man is Axel, your brother," Alisha says softly, lifting his tiny hand.

Sam breaks down completely. "Thank you for making me part of this family, Dad."

"Oh, honey." I squeeze her shoulder, kissing her forehead.

"I love you, Samantha. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

" Taking Harley back, I watch as Sam stands and Alisha beckons her closer.

My heart nearly bursts hearing my wife's words: "You're our daughter, Sam. We love you and always will."

Standing here, watching my family, reality hits me hard. Just over a year ago, I was a grumpy bachelor craving an organized, controlled life to keep my demons at bay. But life had other plans, sending two angels to disrupt my carefully structured world in the most beautiful way possible.

I look down at Harley sleeping peacefully in my arms, then up to meet my stunning wife's emerald eyes.

She sends me that heart-warming smile - the one that first cracked my walls all those months ago - and I realize something profound: no matter how much you try to plan your life, sometimes the best things are the surprises you never saw coming.

The ones that make you happier than you ever thought possible.

My soul overflowing with contentment, I walk to the bed and place Harley next to her brother. Leaning down, I kiss my soulmate deeply. "You're mine, all rights reserved."

Alisha touches my cheek, her eyes sparkling despite her exhaustion. "What about we change it to: This family is ours, all rights reserved?"

My lips curve as I take in the scene before me - Samantha hovering protectively over her siblings, Axel and Harley sleeping peacefully side by side, Alex glowing with motherly pride. A year ago, I was lost in my own darkness. Now I'm surrounded by more light than I ever dreamed possible.

"Perfect," I whisper, and for the first time in my life, I truly mean it.

Harley stirs, her tiny hand reaching out to grab her brother's. Even in sleep, they're connected. Just like all of us - bound together by something stronger than blood or circumstance. Love. Trust. Family.

I settle on the edge of the bed, one arm around Samantha, the other hand linked with Alex's, our fingers resting between our sleeping twins. Four heartbeats that make mine complete. Four souls that give my life meaning.

"I love you," Alex murmurs, her eyes drifting closed. "All of you."

"Sleep, baby," I whisper, watching my family rest. "We'll be right here when you wake up."

Because that's what family means - being there, no matter what. And as I sit guard over my sleeping treasures, I send up a silent thank you to whatever force brought us together. The grumpy bachelor and the sassy blonde. The lost teenager and the surprise twins.

Sometimes the best stories are the ones you never planned to write.