70-The Cure

**Zuri's POV**

Today, we got denials in the mail regarding changing our last names. The letter says the reasoning is to avoid confusion or harm, but I don't understand what could be so confusing or harmful. We have the option to appeal this decision, so that's exactly what we're going to do. Doctor Drew still pays me every week, and my paychecks have been stacking up because Daveed doesn't let me pay any bills. Sometimes he doesn't mind when I cover groceries, my phone bill, and car insurance, but other than that, we have plenty of money put back. We're going to pay whatever we need for our lawyer to win this for us because there is no reason the judge should interfere with our lives this way.
I contact Scarlett, our lawyer, to let her know about the denials. She is one fierce woman, so I feel confident that she can get this approved. On a more positive note, we got the finished pictures from our maternity shoot, and they are flawless. My favorite is when she got a picture of the three of us laughing while we were walking out of the ocean, and she somehow made it look like there was blue smoke behind me and pink smoke behind Sav with Daveed between us. The picture wasn't one of the poses she had us do, so it was a natural moment the three of us were sharing. I think that is what makes it the most special.
"Hey, look at this one." Daveed and Sav look as I face it their way.
"That is my favorite! How many copies of that one do we have?" Sav asked.
"There are two. We can put this one in the living room," I responded.
"I need the other one because I'm putting it on my desk at work," Daveed said. Sav and I are a little surprised by that because we figured he wouldn't want his students to know about his personal life.
"Are you sure? You don't think the HR department will have a problem with it, do you?" Sav asked.
"I'll just tell them that other instructors have their family pictures up, and I should be able to have mine up too. If they have a problem with it, I'll remind them that discrimination isn't allowed on campus."
"Okay. How do you think your students will react?" I wonder.
"Well, one of them comes from a polygamous family, and he has four mothers. My students already figured out I have two wives because a few saw us together. Word got around pretty quickly after that. They're all adults; they can be respectful or get out of my classroom." I love when he's like this. After all, we did declare our love to the world. We should never have to feel the need to hide our family.
"Okay. I'll frame it for you," We went and got a bunch of frames after the photoshoot, and I ordered a scrapbook for the pictures I took while Sav was in labor. Mine will be added to the scrapbook as well when our boys arrive.

**Daveed's POV**

Today is my first day back to work since Jilly was born. I've loved every second spent with her; I miss her so much already. Sav still strictly breastfeeds, so when she gets up with Jilly at night, I get up with her to keep her company. Sometimes Zuri gets up with us at odd hours in the night, and we eat snacks while Sav feeds our baby girl. We have some of the best laughs and memories in the middle of the night. Now that I'm back to work, I might not be able to wake up with them every time, and I hate that I might miss out. I'll start going to bed earlier if I need to because it's that important.
I take the framed picture and set it up on my desk before the classroom fills up with students.
"You're back! That was a long honeymoon," Peter said.
"The honeymoon was actually cut short because our daughter decided to come three weeks early. I got married on Saturday and became a father on Tuesday," There was a mix of 'awww' and congratulations.
"Is that a family picture? I want to see!" Another student named Carlee said. I grabbed the picture from my desk and showed them which one was Saviera and which was Zuri. They passed it around so they could all get a look. I'm pleasantly surprised by their maturity.
"They are so pretty. Which one just had the baby, and what's your daughter's name?" Carlee asks.
"Saviera had our daughter; her name is Jillian. Zuri is due to have identical twin boys in January. Their names are Jackson and Julian," The last student to look at the picture brought it up to me, and I placed it back on the desk.
"You have a beautiful family. Do you have a picture of Jillian?" Peter asked. I grabbed the Polaroid picture of Jillian from my wallet. It was taken while she was in her car seat before we left the hospital, and I let them pass it around. Pride swells in my chest as everyone talks about my wives and daughter. Being able to openly talk about my family without someone making me feel like I should be ashamed is refreshing.
The rest of the day went great. The students in every class had so many questions, and everyone treated it as if my family was a normal monogamous family. That is how it's supposed to be.
When I got home, I went straight to Jilly. She was asleep in her swing, so I unbuckled her and cuddled her to my chest.
"I missed you so much today. I just want to take you to work with me every day," I sprinkle little kisses across her forehead and walk around the living room.
"Well, hello to you too, honey," Sav joked. "How was work?"
"It was really good, but I missed my baby," I hate being away from her.
"Would you like to feed her? I pumped today," Sav held up a little bottle that is already prepared.
I excitedly take the bottle and sit in my recliner. I rub Jilly's cheek, and she opens her mouth like she was trying to take a bite; she's definitely hungry. Jilly struggles a little with the bottle because she's not used to it yet, but she figures it out soon enough. Zuri sits on the couch next to Sav, and they watch me feed our baby girl with hearts in their eyes.
"I think I want another one," Sav said. I look up at her quickly because it's not even been a whole week since Jilly was born. I know she didn't forget how much labor hurts.
"Really? Don't play with me because we will make another as soon as the doctor clears you," I love being a dad. I'll happily have a dozen babies with Sav and Zuri.
"I think I'm happy with the two that I'm growing for now, but you guys have at it," Zuri said.
"I'm serious. Once I'm healed, I want to try for another baby. I think being a stay-at-home mom is what I'm meant to do after all," I know how important it was for her to find a job dealing with history. I know life changes people, but I want her to be sure.
"What about utilizing your degree? Are you sure you don't want to work? I just want to make sure you aren't choosing this because of what happened. I don't want you having any regrets." I honestly think she's been doing amazing as a stay-at-home mom, and I can tell she genuinely loves it.
"I'm positive this is what I want to do. I can't lie and say it has nothing to do with my PTSD, but I can't change the fact that I have it. I love being home. I might be getting ahead of myself here, but I'm so sure about this that I think I could stay home without you and Zuri now that Jilly-Bean is born. I feel strength and security in me that I didn't feel before. I would like to try being home alone with her soon," Sav sounds so confident. I'm not sure it's a good idea to do this, but we will never know if we don't try, and I trust that she would never make a decision that would put any of our kids in danger.
"Okay. We'll try it this evening if you're ready. We won't go as far as last time, but we'll be gone. Make sure you call me this time if you start to panic, Sav. It's alright if it doesn't work yet." Zuri looks as nervous as I feel, but she remains supportive. I put Jilly in her swing before Zuri, and I go about one minute down the road. After ten minutes, I call Sav, and she picks up the phone.
"I'm doing just fine. I felt a little jittery at first. However, when I picked up Jillian, it eased up. I truly believe I'll get past this because of her." Her voice is even, and she seems to be doing well.
"I guess you were right. We're heading back home." Sav and I hang up. "This is it. Jilly-Bean is the cure."