ARI

Three weeks since Danny left, with no communication. The possibilities of where he’s at are endless. I’m only three days from reaching forty weeks pregnant, and I’m still in shock I’ve managed to carry twin babies to nine months. I pace up and down my baby girl’s nursery room. Every step is painful on my back as I take in the little details of her room—baby pink and white walls with beige furniture. The rocking chair is in the corner. A bookshelf full of Dr. Seuss books next to it so I can read them every night while I rock them to sleep. Danny built her crib from scratch. I asked him to do it before he left, and he put it all together before he deployed. He spent a weekend outside with Rooker and Lopez, having only one beer as they talked and joked. Rooker warned him about the sleep deprivation he’ll most likely experience with the twins and gave Lopez hell to stop sleeping with a different woman every other week.
I picture my little man and my little girl playing together while I stare out the window. The land on his ranch is vast, perfect for our two babies to chase each other around and play. Her room faces the backyard, and our boy’s room faces the front of his home. They’re right across from each other, while ours is down the hall.
As I walk out of her room and into the one with black and white decor. The shadowbox of our first baby is displayed on the wall by floating white shelves. A lump in my throat grows as the memories of losing our first baby hit me. I suck in a breath before I can let the tears fall. The stress of that year is too much sometimes.
Before the memories of the darkest time of my life can consume me, the doorbell rings downstairs. Turning around on my foot to head downstairs, my toe collides with the wooden dresser, and my foot gives out on me due to a shooting pain that comes from my hips—the sciatic nerve. I scream as the fear of my babies getting hurt inside me has my heart beating thudding against my ribs. Before I know it, I’m falling to the ground. My reflexes kick in and my hands grip the crib railing, catching myself.
“Ari?! Are you okay?” Emilia shrieks from downstairs.
With a tightened chest, I move my hair out of my face as my near-doomed situation fades. Her footsteps thump loudly as she rushes up the stairs. She gets to me in seconds. Her eyes widen when she finds me.
“Oh, thank goodness. I thought you were in labor!” She palms her chest and scoffs, relieved.
“Really?” 
“Yeah, I thought you were pushing, and I was going to be able to tease these little ones for the rest of their life and tell them I got to deliver them!” I join her choppy chuckles.
As soon as I straighten my back, there’s a loud pop in between us, and a gush of water leaks down my legs. A pinch of pain electrocutes me momentarily, and I whimper, holding the bottom of my very pregnant belly. fluid reach my knees and droplets fall between my feet.
“I’m no doctor, but uh, I think your water just broke.” Emilia points out with a tilt of her chin. She swallows hard and she pulls her car keys from her jeans.

* * *
“Oh, god, where’s Danny? H-He can’t miss this!” I cry out as another contraction hits me, making me lose my breath. I shut my eyes tight and grip the hospital bed bars. My vagina feels like it’s going to fall off of my body. The pressure is unbearable.
“I’ve called everyone, Ari. I’m doing everything I can. I even called someone from the USO. They hung up on me. Rude!” looking over the delivery nurse’s shoulder, pulling her own hair as she rants. “I mean, it was valid, but still.”
“No, don’t call anyone. I already contacted the FRG.”
“What? What’s the FRG?”
“Emilia…” another wave of a contraction makes my jaw shut tight, and I scream through it. Grinding my teeth as tears fall down my face, closing my eyes again until all I see is black.
It hurts so much.
When I open my eyes, I glance at Emilia, who’s rubbing my shoulders then back to my phone Wishing and hoping it’ll light up with his name.
“Ma’am, we can get you an epidural if you’d like?” one of the nurses asks.
I shake my head.
“I can do this. I can do this!” I repeat. “Did something happen to him? Did something go wrong on the mission? Emilia! He should have responded by now, right? Oh!” I screech as blood rushes to my ears. Emilia gives me her hands and I squeeze them. The contractions are closer together now that I’ve been in labor for twelve hours.
“It’s okay, Ari. Don’t worry.” Emilia forces a weak smile she swipes my clammy forehead with the palm of her hand.
Why is it so hot in this hospital room?
“Mrs. Rider, I can see your baby’s head—it’s time to start pushing!” My doctor exclaims excitedly. She scoots closer, her voice slightly muffled by the mask.
“O-Okay…but I’m scared. I’m so damn scared to do this alone.” I murmur, laying my head back as more nurses raise my knees to my chest.
“Baby, you’re not alone. There are about ten nurses in here. Your mother is in the lobby cursing at me in Spanish, and I don’t think they’re terms of endearment.”
Danny comes into view behind the doctor. My thumping heart slows as I drink him in. He’s still in his uniform, camo paint faded all over his face, and his hair is a complete mess. He smiles, flashing me his perfect teeth, the kind of smile that makes me forget the darkness. The kind that makes goosebumps skitter across my flesh and butterflies flock in my chest.
He’s back.
“Danny.”
Relief and happiness run through me.
“I’m here, baby, now push. You can do this. It’s time to meet our babies.” His voice always reminds me I’ll be okay. Warmth replaces my anxiety as he walks closer to me. He rounds the bed just as Emilia scowls at him. 
She playfully, shoves his shoulder before she rounds the hospital bed.
“Took you long enough, Rider!” she rolls her eyes angrily. “I didn’t see anything! I didn’t see anything!” she rushes out of the delivery room and closes the door behind her.
He tilts my chin and brushes his lips against mine 
“I love you.” He runs the pad of his thumb across my cheek, gazing at me like he’s proud.
“I love you.”
* * *
Tyler Rider was born first at seven pounds five ounces. Mina Rider was born second at six pounds six ounces. She’s in my arms, wrapped in a blanket, asleep as I run my hands over the back of her head.
“Looks like she has mommy’s black hair.” Danny kisses my temple, his beard tickling my skin. He sways Tyler back and forth in his arms. I made him change into his clean clothes before he held our newborns. He’s in civilian clothing–a dark blue shirt that says US NAVY across his chest paired with jeans and a belt.
I hum happily, watching my husband become a father. Even though I’m exhausted out of my mind, nothing in this world could ever take this beautiful moment from me.
“And Tyler looks like he has your blond hair.” I point out, lifting one brow with a smile.
He lifts his beanie to reveal blond hair strands.
“Yeah…they’re both perfect.”
“They are.”
“Give me twelve more babies?” He jokes and smirks handsomely.
I shake my head. This is the version of Danny Rider I fell in love with. He never thought he could change but he did in everlasting amazing ways.
Mina coos in my arms, making Danny and I jerk our heads to the soft sound. He saunters over to me as she opens her eyes briefly before closing them.
I know it’s too early to tell, but I think I see a hint of Danny’s blue eyes.
“So, are you going to tell me why you weren’t answering your phone?”
His eyes darken when they meet mine. Immediate regret fills me.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m right where I belong right now.” His deep voice softens, looking at Tyler then at Mina.
The door swings open, and the delivery nurse walks in. She stops at the end of the bed and tucks in her hands.
“It’s time for their first bath Dad.” Her excited gaze flicks to Danny. “Would you like to be there?”
He nods.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

bonus chapter

Ari & Danny’s story continues