51. Chapter 51

Jade

4 Months Later

The shattered cries from my birthing room have died down, and my pain has quickly shifted into adrenaline. I chose to have a home birth very carefully, with Doc as my primary help and Dr. Petrov on standby outside, just in case. Doc delivered Nico, Remo, and Matteo years ago and was honest when Dmitri grilled him about his confidence in delivering our babies.

He has unmatched experiences and degrees in the medical field, and since we have all of the equipment and supplies that a hospital has, he agreed that it was safe enough to try at home. I decided to go without an epidural, which unsettled my caring husband, but the idea of a needle in my spine made me more scared than the process of pushing out two babies.

Thankfully though, the pain was bearable enough, and neither of the babies were in difficult positions. I was able to push through the worst of the contractions and breathe through all of the waves of anxiety. I was sweating uncontrollably, but Dmitri used a cold compress on my forehead while holding my hand and coaching me through it. It was messy and otherwise indescribable, but so fucking worth it.

We have two beautiful, healthy babies now. A boy and a girl, just like me and Sage. The sexes were a surprise, Dmitri and I deciding to wait but choosing two names for each option just in case.

I'm still shaking from the overflow of adrenaline and endorphins, but the afterbirth is finally over with. Doc says that my vitals look good and that I have just the right amount of bleeding. So yay, I'm not going to hemorrhage.

Dmitri is holding our little girl while our baby boy rests on my chest, taking his turn with skin to skin. They both have little bundles of dark hair on their head, and I can't even begin to explain the way my heart feels so full.

"They're so perfect," I whisper.

"You did so fucking good, Krasotka," Dmitri tells me for probably the fiftieth time.

"We did good," I correct. "I wouldn't have them without you."

He smiles like he's never been happier.

Doc is still in the room, discarding the rest of the no-longer sterile towels, gloves, and tools. He's going to stay for the next few days, keeping me monitored while I heal up. I'm so not looking forward to the postpartum pain and discomfort, but it's worth it, knowing I get to have these little babies.

"Can you let my brothers and Dad in?" I ask Doc softly. My throat is still a bit dry, but I can only have ice chips for the first few hours, or I'll throw up, apparently.

Dmitri and I switch babies, easily passing them as they sleep. I want my dad to hold my son first, and I know it'll mean a lot to Dmitri to hand him over. I'm just as eager to get my baby girl in her grandfather's hands too, but there's a method to our plan.

"Typically new moms only allow a select few people in, it can be very stressful with a newborn and a crowd," he warns kindly.

"Do most new moms typically have nine brothers?" I tease, giving him a tired laugh.

"They won't stay long," Dmitri assures him. He'll know when it becomes too much for me and won't hesitate to kick the group out.

"As long as you're sure," Doc concedes, heading to the locked door to unlatch it and let the group of men waiting in.

Apollo and our father are the first to pass through the door, Ivan and Matteo hot on their heels. Part of me wanted Ivan in here for the birth, but we ultimately went with having just Dmitri and myself. I think it was a good decision that brought us even closer together.

My husband offers our little boy to Dad first, passing him over as carefully as can be. Matteo takes the seat right at my side and reaches out to squeeze my hand.

"Holy shit, you're a mom," he blurts quietly, looking at the little bundle in my arms.

"Do you want to hold her?" I offer, smiling at his overwhelmed face.

"Oh my gooood," he breathes. "Yes, definitely."

He's so gentle in the exchange, moving slowly and cautiously. Once he has her secured, supporting her little head, he sits back down. Matteo stares at her like he can"t believe his eyes, and Ivan comes up behind him to do the same thing.

"She has so much hair," my brother says in awe.

"Her brother does, too," Ivan tells him, having gotten a quick look at him.

Each of my brothers says hello to me in their own way before they float around the room, looking at my children, waiting for a turn to hold them. Except for Cassio. He kisses me on the head and sits far away from where everyone is standing. I know he's uncomfortable, he's probably been terrified since I went into labor. I'm just happy he was able to bring himself to come see me. It means more than I can express.

"Have you named him?" Dad asks, hardly able to pull his eyes off of my son. "Either of them?"

"We did," I admit, already feeling emotional. Dmitri kisses the top of my head, and it's like his strength radiates into me. "Do you want to know them?"

"Of course," several people say at once.

I chuckle, wiping away a small tear in the corner of my eye.

"Well, Dad," I address him first since he asked. "You're holding Cesar Ivan Moretti-Morozov. He's seven pounds, eight ounces."

"Cesar?" he asks, sucking in a breath.

"After the best uncle in the whole world," I choke out, controlling my breathing to keep in the tears. "And Ivan, after my best friend in the whole world."

"Jade," Ivan murmurs. Hit with the same emotion as me, he comes to my bedside, kissing the side of my head. "It's an honor," he whispers privately.

"Don't tell me this little one's name is Matteo, or I'll drown in my own tears," my brother jokes, lightening up the room.

We all share a laugh, and I look at my daughter in his arms.

"You're holding Isobella Anla Moretti-Morozov, and she's a tiny six pounds, eleven ounces," I tell him, announcing her name to the room before turning to find Cassio. "For Isobel, the sister I never got to meet, and Anla, for your Angel boy in heaven."

His hands are shaking, but he squeezes them together, trying to hold his emotions back. He swallows, looking across the room at the pink bundle in Matteo's arms. "Can I hold her?"

"Fuck yeah, you can," Matteo answers for me, handing Isobella off to Ivan, who carefully walks her over to Cassio.

We all watch as he peers down at my daughter, free-flowing tears dragging down his cheeks. He holds her like she's the most fragile thing in the universe, never taking his eyes off of her. Ivan stays next to him, watching over her like he's already begun guarding her from whatever life may bring.

Drawing my eye, my dad hands my baby boy off to Apollo.

My eldest brother comes to my bedside, looking between my son and me.

"He looks like a Cesar," he comments approvingly. "Good choice, little sister."

"Thank you," I sniffle. "Isn't he so tiny?"

"He'll grow," he assures me.

"Not too fast."

"No," he agrees. "Not too fast."

After a while, a small cry from Isobella signals the time to clear out most of the room. Ivan and Dmitri stay while I attempt to breastfeed for the first time. Ivan keeps his eyes evaded but hangs around for moral support.

As strange as I thought this would be, it comes naturally. We have formula and a breast pump on standby just in case things start to go wrong, but for now, I just lay back and watch in amazement as I feed my babies.

"Feeling okay, Krasotka?" Dmitri asks, softly touching my face.

"Never felt better," I answer, giving him a dazed smile.

His smile is so lovely. "Me either, baby."