Levi called Natalie to check how the funeral had gone. Colleen picked up, though, explaining his fiancée was fast asleep."Is she okay?" he asked. "Did she eat?""Yeah, yeah, she ate." Colleen quickly brushed him off and gave him a blow by blow account of the funeral, starting with the memorial service."Seriously, Nat has a huge heart. As much as she loathes Paul, she still found it in her to comfort his little girl."Levi stopped at a red traffic light, smiling to himself. It definitely sounded like something Natalie would do. Her selflessness amazed and inspired him every day, and he was so proud and elated she was the mother of his children."Did you hear what I said? Paul's ex pissed on his grave!" Colleen screeched on her end, and Levi was a little disturbed at how thrilled she sounded.The traffic light turned green, he sped off and returned his attention to his twin. "That's great, Leeny—"His words trailed off when he realised that maybe 'great' wasn't the right word choice h
Monday came too soon for Natalie. She knew something was up the moment she walked into the office. But instead of the usual whispers and stares, everyone was surprisingly nice."Welcome back, Nat!" someone yelled as she made her way to her desk. This was the fourth, maybe fifth such greeting.She was relieved to see Emily at her desk. Maybe she could explain why their colleagues were acting strange."Hey, you slept here?" she asked her friend as she placed her stuff on her desk."Something like that," Emily replied, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. "After that encounter with Aunty Viv, I couldn't sleep the whole weekend.""Where's Seth? I thought you said his dick is the best pacifier in the world, and it puts you right to sleep?""He's out of town. Working a case," Emily explained. "He'll be back on Wednesday, and on Thursday, I'm meeting his parents.""That's nice—" Natalie said and paused when her friend's words sunk in. "What do you mean you're meeting his parents?""He'
The Spanish restaurant on the ground floor at The Castle was surprisingly packed when they walked in. Levi's parents waved them over from their window table when they saw them lingering at the door.After all the pleasantries and hugs were out of the way, Levi pulled out a chair for Natalie.His mom couldn't stop gushing about Natalie's glow. The longer she complimented her, the darker the frown and the look of suspicion grew on Leviticus' face.He cleared his throat and picked up his menu. "Your mother said you have something to tell us?""Oh yes," Levi nodded. Turning to Natalie, he smiled. "Nat and I wanted to share some news with you."Cynthia looked like a Cheshire cat, and Levi wondered if her smile could grow any wider as she urged him from her seat, "yes, tell us!""We're expecting twins! And it's a pigeon pair!" Levi announced."Finally!" she squealed as she took both Natalie's hands and kissed them. "I've been dying for this moment for weeks. Now I can tell all my friends."
The next few weeks flew by very quickly. Before Natalie knew it, she was right in the middle of her second trimester, and Heritage Day weekend was upon them.The long weekend coincided with Speed Freak's summer launch and the Raven's opening game of the season at Stargazers Stadium.Her siblings called her bright and early Friday morning to let her know they were already on their way to the airport two town's over. Levi had insisted on booking them plane tickets, and both were anxious out of their minds since it would be their first time on a plane."What if the plane goes down?" Amber asked."Yeah, what if we crash into the sea?" Jamie added his concerns, and Natalie was surprised the thought had even crossed his mind. He was usually level-headed and scientific about everything."Guys, you both need to relax. Nothing will happen to you. I've flown a few times," she assured them as best as she could but neglected to mention on a helicopter. "We'll be there at 10:00 AM."She and Levi w
The party broke up shortly before 11:00 PM. Liam and their friends wanted to take Levi and Mark for celebratory drinks."You don't mind if I go, do you?" Levi asked outside the venue."Not at all, go have fun. You deserve this," Natalie reached up and kissed him. "I am so proud of you. That was an incredible sales night.""You haven't seen nothing yet," he kissed her back. "Three years from now, you'll be on that stage, revealing the sales for 'What If'.""You think so?" she stared at him in wonder."I know so," he touched her tummy, his eyes widening when he felt one or both babies kick for the very first time. "Nat? Did you feel that? I think Juno moved."Natalie chuckled, tears blurring her vision, "You silly oaf, how do you even know it's Juno? It could be Mars.""Nah," he gave her a tearful smile. "Mars is lazy. The less effort he puts in—" His words died off when he felt a few more kicks, this time more rapid and stronger than before. "Oh God, does it hurt? Are they hurting you?
Goodbyes…Levi never really liked them.But then again, who did?For him, though, this goodbye was especially hard since he'd just found Colleen, and now she was flying off to Lord knew where with Mark, and he didn't know when he'd see them again.He didn't want them to go, but asking them to stay would be downright selfish. He had Natalie and the twins, and he was so deliriously happy. Colleen and Mark deserved the same happiness he'd found."So this is it then?" he said, jamming his hands in his pockets.They were at the international travel terminal at the airport, where Mark and Colleen were about to board a noon flight bound for São Paolo. What led them to pick Brazil as the first stop on their three-month-long world tour was still a mystery. Levi had asked, but the details had remained sketchy. They seemed excited, though."Yeah, and we really have to go," Mark checked his watch and patted him on the back as they exchanged a hug.Turning to Natalie, he pointed at her tummy. "Tak
Dr Neville was already waiting at the emergency room entrance. She and her team placed Natalie on a stretcher and wheeled her to the obstetrics wing.With Natalie now safe in the doctors' hands, Levi finally collapsed under the crushing strain of the past few minutes. "Oh God, Zach! What do I do? What do I do if Natalie and our babies don't make it? I don't think I can survive—"Carlos and Zachary shook him out of his hysteria. "You have to keep it together for Natalie's sake. She's in there, fighting with everything in her to make sure your twins make it. So you need to keep it together for her.""Okay," he nodded, brushed his tears away and called Emily and his mom. They were both hysterical over the news.Fifteen minutes later, Cynthia burst through the doors, opening her arms to him as soon as she saw him. "Your father will be here soon. We've sent the chopper to pick him up."The doors shot open again, and Emily ran in with Seth."What happened? She was okay at the office today.
Levi called his assistant on his way back to the hospital and cancelled all his meetings for the week."Sir," Angela said before they could hang up. "We are all thinking of you. Norah and Natalie's team are beside themselves with worry. But she's a fighter. She'll be out of the hospital in no time.""Thank you," he smiled into the phone, praying with all his heart she was right. He'd lose his mind if anything had to happen to Natalie and their twins. They'd come too far for him to lose her now, especially after everything they'd been through.After he hung up from Angela, he called Amber. She was hysterical, and it took him a long time to calm her down and assure her Natalie, and their babies were fine, and there was no need for them to drive down to Rock Union.He was immensely relieved when he found Natalie sitting up, chatting with his folks and her bestie.Now that he was back, his parents and Emily excused themselves, promising to return later to relieve him."See, I told you I'l