FINAL CHAPTER/EPILOGUE

Reid hadn't stopped pacing the hall back and forth while Ava’s shouts and cries filled the whole hospital.




“Where’s Ava? How’s she?” Hazel, Freya, and Caleb barged into the hospital and quickly walked up to Reid, looking as worried as Reid.




Reid stopped pacing and sighed heavily, “I haven't gotten any feedback for over thirty minutes now,”




He’d given Hazel a call while he was on the way to the hospital.




“Oh no, I can hear her scream,” Freya sobbed and Caleb gently hauled her into his arms.




“Where’s Nick anyway?” Hazel asked, after some minutes had passed but there were no traces of Nick.




Reid opened his mouth and closed it, not knowing the answer to provide for that question but just then the doctor came to them. “Who’s the husband of the patient?”




The four of them swapped worried glances before Reid pointed to himself, “I am doctor. What happened to her?”




The doctor adjusted his glasses and said, “Come with me to my office,”




“Whats going on, Doctor? We are her friends too,” Hazel actually refrained from yelling.





“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I can only discuss this with her husband,” with that, the Doctor walked away and Reid followed him quickly.





“So,” the Doctor sighed, removing his glasses and settled down on his seat while Reid sat in front of him.





“The patient is having difficulty in delivering the babies and I discovered_”




“Hold on a second, Doctor,” Reid interrupted the Doctor, “Did you just say babies?” his eyes dilated.




“Didn't you know this, sir? Your wife is having a set of twins,” The doctor announced and Reid shook his head, amazed. This would be good news to everyone!




“But that’s not the problem now, sir, the area isn't opening as it should and it could be principally caused by lack of intimate during the pregnancy. Did you travel and had no time for your wife?” The disappointment of the doctor’s face was unmistakable.




Reid became awkward, “That’s not the case, Doctor. The thing is… uhm… I'm just a friend to the patient. I mean her husband and I are friends but he's traveled for a while now to deal with an important job,”




“What could be more important than his pregnant wife?” The doctor retorted, “It’s better you phone him to make himself available now. The patient has been calling out two male names so one of them should please come over and help us cajole her. I'm sure she could do it,”




Reid nodded that he got it and left the doctor’s room helplessly. Tears sprang to his eyes when he remembered Nick as he was certain the second person Ava was calling as the doctor had mentioned was Nick.




“What did the doctor say?” Hazel rushed to Reid as soon as she saw him, “Why are you in tears? Tell me, what happened to Ava?” Hazel’s chest began rising and falling in suspicion.




Reid stared at her face, not knowing what to say when his phone suddenly buzzed in his Jean pocket.




*Get her friends out of the hospital and to make it seem less suspicious, you can leave with them. I'll handle it, *




Reid read the short text over and over again and his eyes lit up. Thank you, Lord.




Then he sniffed and grabbed Hazel’s hand, “Come with me, Hazel,”




“What’s going on, Reid?” Hazel questioned but Reid didn't tell her anything. Instead, he walked over and clasped Freya’s hands too.




“You too come with me,” he told Caleb.




Before they knew what was happening, Reid had made sure he got them inside the car then he took the driver’s seat and drove away, ignoring the ladies' clamor.




Back in the hospital.


“Ma’am, you need to think about your babies life right now. If you refuse to push, the poor things might end up dying, would you like that?” the doctor coaxed a sobbing Ava.



Several minutes passed but Ava was still not making any attempt to push and the doctor gave up.



“Please prepare her for the Cesarean Section. She's not willing to help,” the doctor told the two nurses who were in the ward with him.




“That won't be necessary, Doc. I'm here now,”



The doctor and his nurses swiftly looked over at the door and saw a tall man sported in a leather jacket and a jean trouser. Powerful built structure, sharp jaw, black locks, and an extremely handsome face with full beards.




“Who are you?” The Doctor asked harshly, “You can't barge in here as you please,”




“Zac?” Ava stopped whimpering and panting and looked toward the owner of the distinguishable baritone voice.




“Did you hear that? I'm someone who has every right to be here and you can only stop me if you wish to be six feet beneath the floor now,” he threatened ferociously and the doctor gulped before moving out of the way.




“Sweetheart, I'm here now,” he moved to where Ava lay on the bed, his gaze softening while he held one of her hands.




Ava directly burst into tears after she'd confirmed the man was indeed her man.




“Why did you that, Zac? Why did you leave me all by myself during the most difficult times? I thought you love me,” she cried bitterly, her face full of tears.




Zac raised his hand and wiped her sweats and tears. Seeing her like this breaks his heart so much. “I love you, Ava, and I always will. I just had to leave if I want to be with you forever,”





It seemed she didn't understand all he was saying as she cried harder, “He killed Nick, Zac. He killed my best companion. What did he do wrong, he was only protecting me and he did so till the end, Zac,”




Zac didn't know why but he couldn't help the tears that stung his eyes, “I know everything and I'll make sure they all pay dearly for taking Nick away from us,”





“I’ll be done with my assignment soon, baby, and all this shall be over. We’ll move to a small town in the city and we will start a new life there, do you like it?”




Ava nodded vigorously, “I just want to be with you forever,”





“And I want the same thing too, darling. So now you've to put in your effort and let’s do this together. I'm so eager to see our baby, aren't you?” Zac cajoled, placing a soft kiss on Ava’s forehead and nose.




“Babies, actually. There are two babies in there,” The doctor butt in and their eyes widened instantly.




A big smile touched Zac’s face immediately. “You’re incredible, sweetheart. Now let's bring them out. Ready?”




Ava released a deep breath, holding onto Zac’s hands tightly before nodding her head sharply.




“She’s ready now. Doc” Zac faced the doctor and he came over immediately.




“Push now, ma’am. The baby is so close!” The doctor ordered.




Ava grunted, throwing her head back and holding Zac as though he was her strength.




“There, there, keep pushing,”



Shortly, the sound of a crying baby filled the air and Ava gasped in relief.



“One more, ma’am. Ready?” The doctor said.




Zac stared at her face and saw how tired she looked, “I love you, darling. Please don't give up. I'm here,” he kissed her face all over again.




And with all the strength left in Ava, she pushed so hard and another crying voice came on the air.



“Congratulations, ma’am, sir. You've two daughters,” The doctor grinned.



********************
TEN YEARS LATER.



Zac came up behind Ava where she sat on a dressing stool in nothing but bra and panties, impatiently applying a little makeup.




Her face lit up when she saw her husband entered the bedroom, captivating Zac even after all these years.



His hands fell to her shoulders as he leaned down and connected his teeth to her neck, feeling the magic of her body intoxicated him as it always did.




He thought within himself that at thirty-four, his wife is so pretty and keeps keeps getting sexier every damn day. They are parents to three lovely kids, and they’ve never been happier.




They had a church wedding three months after they had Chloe and Zoe.




Chloe and Zoe are ten years old and today's their graduation. While Nick is five years old. In Zac’s eyes, his little boy, Nick is the vicious and most adorable boy in the world.




Nick’s notion didn't come easily. Ava pleaded with Zac everyday that she wants to have a son. That she really wanted to name their son after the late Nick who will forever remain in their hearts.



Zac turned her down, even after five years, he never forgot what Ava went through with Chloe and Zoe.




When Ava stopped taking her contraceptives to force the issue, Zac bought tons boxes of condom and kept them in the drawers of their room. When Ava saw it, she started crying.




“Freya has two babies already! Hazel too had went to the delivery room twice and they haven't died, Zac! Please!” she had cried.




Zac also longed for another baby too. To makeup for those times when he wasn't there during Chloe and Zoe. So when Ava’d cried so hard, he lost the battle. The woman knows how much he hates seeing her cry.




Now after five more years, their babies are their world.
Little Nick, so perfect little boy with features like his father but attained some attitude such as humor like late Nick.




“What are you still doing here? And remember Uncle Reid had invited us over for dinner. Do you want us to be late?” A cute blonde boy barged into their room and notified, his brows lifting in annoyance when he saw that his parents were not ready yet.




Unlike other people living happily with their families, Reid was still not ready to have a family and live alone.




Zac scowled at his son, “How many times have I told you to always knock before barging in like that, mate? Don't you know one of us might be unclothed, like your mother right now,”




Little Nick shrugged his shoulders, looking unperturbed, “She’s my mother after all. What's there to hide from me?”





Zac’s eyes gleamed, “She’s my wife, Nick. Stop saying that,” he cautioned.





“And she's my mother, mate. So stop overreacting,” Nick took his heels after his words, knowing his father trademark which is a knock on the head.




Ava smiled, watching her husband and son banter like small children. But then, the smile vanished as soon as it came.




“I want us to visit Nick after the children party, Zac. It's a good occasion so we should go see him,” Ava suggested, tears fast building in her eyes.




“As you wish, sweetheart,” Zac closer to her and hugged her in his arms.



*****

“You’ll forever remain in my heart, Nick. The sacrifice you made will never be forgotten,” Ava crouched before Nick’s tomb, holding a bouquet while she sobbed softly.




With a heavy heart, Zac and his children stood aside, watching Ava express herself.




The children had come to know who Nick was over the years as their father’s adopted little brother and even though they had never seen Nick or recognized him, they tended to feel down with the way their mother always breaks down whenever they are here.




It seemed Nick was someone their mother cherish so much.




Ava turned her head and gestured at his son to come to her. “See, Nick,” she sniffed miserably, holding her son, “Like you wished, I gave birth to a son and named him after you,”




Then she chuckled amidst tears, “Belive me when I say he's also as cheerful and lively as you were, Nick,”




Nick pulled her mother’s head to his small form and comforted his mother before facing the white tomb. “Keep resting in peace, Uncle Nick. Thanks for giving me a nice name,”




Ava even burst into another fresh wave of tears and Zac couldn't stand it any longer. He came forward and helped his wife up and then dropped his own bouquet.





“I’ll never take your sacrifice for granted, Nick. Rest on well, bro,” Zac said simply, hugging his crying wife.





Chloe and Zoe too were hugging themselves, sobbing softly, and then chorused, “Keep resting well, Uncle Nick,”


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THE END.