CHAPTER SXITY-FOUR

'Congratulations Astra," her sister said as she entered into the room. Her mother and father were not far behind. Astra smiled as her family came in. She was happy that her sister was there for her, that she was willing to be there for her. Astra was grateful that she was able to fix things with her family.
'She looks very beautiful, she looks more like Nicholas though, maybe she might grow to look like you," Charise said as she studied the baby.
'Would you like to hold her?" Astra asked looking at her sister. She was looking at the baby in awe.
'Oh of course. It has really been so long since I saw a new born baby, it never does get old," Charise said and Astra stretched the baby to her carefully. Her sister extracted the child from her hands and held on the baby. She looked like she was in love.
'Maybe I will have another child after all," Charise said softly.
'She does look so precious. You did very well Astra," her mother said to her. Things were not so rosy after everything that happened between them. Astra's mother still kept a distance from her. Astra understood it but she did not like it all, it was not easy though to just fall into normal. It was hard to just forget everything.
'Thank you mother," Astra said to her, and her mother hugged her, Astra could see tears in her eyes.
Astra barely even noticed that Nicholas had left the room so that they could have some time together.
'Another grandchild to the brood," her father said with a laugh and Astra laughed with him. Her mother looked so very moody though, Astra wondered what was wrong.
'What is the problem mother?" Astra asked her mother.
'I was not a very good mother Astra. I was not a good mother to you. The more I think about it I blame myself for all that you had to face. I favored one child over the other, and when I knew that I was doing, when I git to understand, you were old enough to know what I was doing. It was like a habit then that I could not stop, I took out too much on my Astra, and I am really sorry. I am sorry for my shortcomings as a mother and I am grateful that even with my shortcomings you still turned out to be a very good person and a mother too," her mother said, tears were going down her eyes. Astra felt pain at her mother's words. The truth was that was a little bitter, the pains of her childhood still affected her. To think that her mother still felt bad too after all these while made her know that she was still loved.
'You do not have the cry mother. You do not have to be so sorry. It is alright, everything is okay, I am fine now mother," Astra said to her mother and drew her into a hug. There was something about the birth of a child that drew mother and daughter closer.
Astra held on to her mother before she finally let go.
'You are right, the past in is the past, let us look forward to the future," her mother said and wiped her eyes.
'So what are you naming the latest addition?" Her mother asked. Her father had come closer and was now holding her baby.
'We have not decided a first name yet, but her middle name will be Brianna, for the child that we lost," Astra said. She had a sad moment as she remembered Brianna.
'That will be very nice," Charise said. Her eyes were misty too.
'So when are you marrying Nicholas again?" Her father asked, in an obvious bid to lighten the sour mood.
Astra, laughed together with her mother and Charise.
'I only just had a child father," Astra replied her father.
'Well you don't have to if you do not want to. I have a feeling though, that you do want to marry him," her father said and Astra nodded with a smile.
'I am waiting for him to ask," Astra said and both her mother and sister donned twin smiles.
'Well if he wastes too much time you should ask him yourself. It is the twenty-first century," Charise said and Astra smiled.
'I am sure he will ask me very soon, he doesn't just want to rush me," Astra informed her. It felt so good to be able to just talk to them without any reservations and any shame. It was so easy to blend into conversation.
'Awwn," both her mother and sister said. Astra was about to reply when she heard a knock on the door.
Nicholas opened the door after the knock and peeped in.
'Sorry to disturb this family reunion but you have more guests," Nicholas said and Astra wondered who else had come. Stephanie, Sarah and Jared burst into the room.
'Why didn't you call?" Stephanie asked immediately she came into the room. She was holding her three month old daughter, Isla in her arms, the cute girl was playing with Stephanie's hair.
'Aren't you supposed to be caring for your child?" Astra retorted to Stephanie.
'And you both, aren't you supposed to be on honeymoon or something?" Astra asked Sarah and Jared who shrugged.
'We have been back for a while, you know that. Congratulations Astra," Sarah said as she looked at the baby. Her father had handed her over before they slowly retreated from the room.
'Thank you," Astra replied. Her child was sleeping on her stomach.
'Oh now Isla has a new playmate, we can dress them as twins as they grow older," Stephanie said and Astra smiled.
'Of course we can," Astra said. She did like the idea, she looked to Nicholas who frankly looked appalled.
They all gushed at the baby and Astra managed to ask a few questions.
'You look tired Astra, we will leave you to rest," Sarah said and they left the room. Astra was tired. She wanted to lay down.
'I hope you are not too tired for one more person. The newest grandmother is a bit excited," Nicholas said and Iris Michealson walked into the hospital room.
'Congratulations Astra. You must be so tired," Iris said. Astra had seen a different version of the woman, much more different that the one that she knew. Iris seemed to melt where Brian was involved. Astra was sure that her daughter would even do that more.
'Thank you, Ma," Astra said to her mother in-law who walked closer to her to look at the baby.
'Oh she is so precious, and you should call me mother, that is if you want to," Iris Michealson said. Astra was shocked. She did not know what to say or how to react.
'Of course," Astra managed to choke out.
'She looks so much like Nicholas. I guess he does have very strong genes. So this is how my daughter would have looked," Iris said. She was still in awe of the child. She still stared at her as though she could not believe that she was real.
'Do you want to hold her?" Astra asked. The hard woman looked close to tears.
'Of course, of course," Iris said and Astra handed her the baby. Iris held the baby and tears came from her eyes she was smiling and staring at the beautiful child.
'Your children remind me of my late husband you see," Iris explained and Astra nodded. She was feeling quite emotional herself. Nicholas came close and held his mother. A child could really perform miracles.
Hailey Brianna Michealson was a crier at six weeks she knew how to effectively communicate using tears and shouts. Astra thought that the twins were difficult to care for as child since there were two of them, but Hailey put them both to shame, she could win the two of them combined in a crying contest.
Astra heard her daughter's cries from the baby monitor as she tried to fix lunch for Brian. Astra groaned a bit, and she left the half made sandwiches and went upstairs to meet her daughter. She was living in Nicholas' house, she had moved in after the birth since it was sensible. His place was much bigger giving them the space they needed. And Astra could admit that she could not handle the two children on her own, she did need some help. Nicholas had a lot of domestic help that helped with the basics, but the cook and housekeeper were away for the weekend, so it was a little more stressful than usual.
Astra got to the nursery and her pink faced princess was screaming her guts out.
'What is wrong baby? Why are you crying? Mommy is here," Astra muttered to Hailey as she picked her up. Hailey quietened down as Astra rocked her. In as much as Hailey cried a lot, she knew her mother's touch and loved it.
'Is your diaper wet?" Astra asked the six week old and touched her diaper. It was soaked.
'Oh my love, no wonder you are cranky," Astra said and she placed her on the changing table and changed her diaper.
'Mommy I am hungry," Brian whined as Astra wanted to start breastfeeding her daughter. She figured she could make Brian the sandwich first. She went down stairs with Hailey and put her in the sitter with toys rolling around so that she would not cry and then she quickly made a sandwich for Brian.
After she was done, Hailey was looking like she was on the verge of tears again and Astra carried her from the seater and settled to breastfeed her. Hailey latched unto her nipple and sucked hungrily. Brian was enjoying his sandwich and orange juice. Thankfully, the cancer had not returned. It had been so touch when they had to deal with that, but her baby boy was now in school and was getting bigger and taller than usual. He was healthier and Astra also knew that the kids at school also made fun of him because of his size. Her son was growing.
Astra was still breastfeeding when Nicholas got back home.
'Daddy!" Brian shouted as he saw Nicholas and he ran to hug his legs. Nicholas carried his son high. One would never guess that there were not together for the first four years of the boy's life. Her son would soon be five. Time just seemed to fly.
'How are you Brian?" Nicholas asked and Astra smiled at him.
'I am fine Daddy, I went to school and I did all my homework. Did you bring me anything Daddy?" Brian asked his father.
'Actually I did," Nicholas said to his son.
'Really? What is it Daddy?" Brian asked Nicholas could see the excitement
He brought an action figure and gave it to his son.
'Wow! It is so cool," Brian said as he held on the action figure.
'Thank you so much Daddy, I am going to add it to my collection," Brian said with a smile and started to run down to his room.
'Be careful Brian, don't fall down," Astra called out after her running son.
'He will be fine," Nicholas said to her and Astra smiled.
'You look so tired. I am guessing Brian and Hailey have been a handful," Nicholas said to Astra. He looked at her beautiful tired face and it him again that he loved her that he truly loved this woman.
'That is an understatement. I cannot wait for the cook to come back," Astra said and Nicholas smiled.
He looked at his daughter and she was sleeping soundly, her lips slack against Astra's nipple.
'Hailey is asleep," Nicholas said and then carried her. Astra arranged her dress and then smiled tiredly.
'Marry me," Nicholas said. The words just came out of his mouth, he had been planning to ask her for so long and he was not able to.
'What?" Astra asked. She was clearly shocked.
'I have a ring, it is upstairs and I plan on doing this properly, but I want you to marry me, to stay with me forever and have more of my children, and so that we can achieve our dreams together. I love you Astra, I want you to be my wife again," Nicholas said. He knew that he made a mess out of it but he said it anyway.
'I want to do that, I want to marry you. Yes," Astra said. She had been waiting for so long that it caught her off guard. She wanted to marry him, again.