Chapter 87

As the alarm stopped, both the nurses and Benjamin seemed to have a new, calmer sense about them, and she knew the baby was okay for the moment.
"You just missed your daddy in action," she whispered to Jack as his eyes opened. She smiled down at him.
"Sorry," Benjamin said as he sat back down.
She turned to him. "Come here," she called with a tilt of her head. Benjamin pulled his brows together but leaned forward. As soon as he was close enough, she kissed him. "You were amazing," she whispered and he smiled shyly.
She could see a hint of a blush on his face, too. She looked down at Jack when he stopped sucking. "Are you all done?" she asked but Jack yawned.
"I think he's tired himself out by feeding," she said. "You want to burp him before he goes back down?"
Benjamin grinned, his eyes sparkling. Pandora carefully passed Jack to him.
"I have good news." She looked up at Claire, who was smiling happily at them. "You can hold Micheal. You can do it now while Jack is still outside of the incubator."
Pandora clapped her hands and turned to Benjamin, who looked just as happy as she was.
"Here you go," Claire said and she took Micheal from her. Unlike when she held Jack for the first time, Pandora was not nervous or scared… just delighted to be able to hold him.
"Hi, my little munchkin, you have no idea how long I have waited to hold you," she whispered to him. She looked at Benjamin, who turned his head to her at the same time. He quickly kissed me and they both look down at the boys.
She stood up, knowing that it was time for him to go back to his bed. As she placed Micheal down, Benjamin placed Jack down as well.
"Here you go," Claire prompted as she handed Pandora the picture she had taken of all four of them together.
"I love this," Pandora commented, showing it to Benjamin. He looked equally taken by the photo as she was.
"Think we'll need a few copies of that, love?"
Nodding at him, she walked into Benjamin's arms; they opened instantly as she moved to him.
"Come on, let's get some lunch while the boys sleep."
"Mommy and daddy will be right back," Pandora cooed to the boys, kissing her finger and placing it softly on both of their heads. Benjamin said his goodbyes, and then his hand went to the base of her back as they walked down to the cafeteria.
"Hello, you two," Benjamin's dad said as they walked to the table where he was sitting with Caleb. "How are the boys?"
"Great. I got to breastfeed Jack, and then I got to hold Micheal," she told them excitedly.
"That's great," Peter said as she covered her mouth, realizing she just spoke to him about breastfeeding.
"I'll get our lunch," Benjamin cut in while holding back the laugh he wanted to let out.
"Pandora, we are both doctors, you can use the words breastfeeding, period, discharge, and a multitude of other personal words, without us acting like typical men," Peter advised her.
"Eh... we'll see," she told them with a shake of her head.
"I was thinking of asking your dad and Nina to sleep over at our place?" Peter voiced out of the blue.
"Oh?" she asked, wondering what was going on.
"I just thought it might be nice to give you and Benjamin some time alone."
Pandora laughed nervously as embarrassment rushed over her. "We... I..." she stuttered, unsure of how to say she and Benjamin were sharing a bed but not having sex.
"We're doctors, Pandora; we are aware you can't have sex yet," Caleb said bluntly. "What Peter is trying to say is that he would like for them to stay with him and Lana so that when Jack and Micheal get home, you and Benjamin can start being a family without interfering with in-laws. We'll all be here to help the first several weeks because obviously Jack will be home and Micheal will still be in the NICU. Even after they're both home we'll still help, but you and Benjamin are their parents."
"Okay?" she replied, having not thought about the boys being home at different times. She rubbed her face as the overwhelming feelings started to take over.
"Love?" Benjamin called as he sat down. She found that she was unable to say anything so his eyes flickered away from hers.
"I think I was a bit blunt when I was explaining the plan for when Jack gets sent home," Caleb said sheepishly.
"Love, it will be okay," Benjamin reassured, clasping her face.
She cleared her throat and nodded at him. "I know, I just never thought of them being home at different times. It's stupid really."
Benjamin shook his head at her. "It's been a long week, love."
She sighed and nodded at him in agreement. She started to eat the salad that Benjamin brought her.
"How is Maisey getting on?" I asked.
"Doing well, just bored silly, but Nina's giving her a new project to work on."
"Oh, what is that?"
He winked at the end and she couldn't help but feel this new project has something to do with her.
"Hi," Alexis greeted, sitting down. "Do you mind if I drop in on the boys when my shift ends at five?" she asked as she started eating.
"You don't need to ask; they're your nephews," Pandora reminded her and she grinned.
"I know that but I still don't want to throw anyone out."
She shook her head. "You're fine. Ron and Keira are not coming until early this evening, and Sia is coming tomorrow. My dad and Nina are not planning to be here until later tonight. Lastly, your mom is due to join us..." she trailed off as she peeked at Benjamin's watch.
"Actually, Mom's already gone up to the NICU," Alexis smiled at her.