Chapter 1477: Twice Beloved

Phei bent and kissed her through the fabric. "Our babies."

"Our babies," she agreed, her fingers returning to his hair.

He remained close, smiling against her belly before looking up at her. "The best things we’ve ever made."

"Definitely."

"Better than every treasure you own."

Phei glanced towards the monitor, where the image remained waiting for them. "Pssst! Yeah, pot course." he said softly. "Nothing even comes close."

Dr. Avery occupied herself with the images she had saved. She had seen fathers faint, parents laugh until they cried and relatives begin arguing over names before an examination was finished. The Young Dragon on his knees beside the bed was a sight she would remember, particularly with Melissa trying to smooth his hair while he kept kissing her hand.

Melissa bent towards him, and he rose enough to meet her. Her lips were warm and a little damp from crying. He kissed her gently, one hand supporting her cheek, and she held him close after their lips parted.

Their foreheads rested together while she closed her eyes.

"Phei."

"Mm?" His smile faded when her fingers tightened in his hair.

"What if—"

She could not finish. The joy had carried her far enough to laugh with him, but the sight of two children still touched an old fear she could not simply set aside.

Phei held her face between his hands, waiting until she looked at him.

"Mels, I know what happened before. I know what they took from you."

She swallowed, her fingers still curled against his head. He brushed his thumbs gently beneath her eyes.

"I can’t promise the universe will never try anything stupid pom us and our children. Apparently it has developed a personal addiction to doing stupid shit around me." A small laugh escaped her, and he smiled at the sound before continuing. "But I can promise you this. I AM HERE."

She watched him closely. He spoke as quietly as he had when he thanked her, giving her time to hear him. "I’ll be here for every appointment, every stupid craving, every night you can’t sleep and every time something scares you because it reminds you of before. You don’t have to pretend you’re not afraid just because you’re stronger now."

Phei did not need to spell it out for her how he’d never let anything ever touch her and their children— ever!

Melissa drew a breath that caught in her throat. He waited, his hands steady against her cheeks, until she could let it out.

"And when these two finally decide they’re bored of living inside you, I’ll be there too."

"That’s how you’re describing birth?"

"They’re tenants."

"Phei."

"Okay, very expensive tenants."

She shook her head, smiling despite herself.

Phei kissed her forehead again, then drew back far enough to meet her eyes.

"This time, we’re bringing both home."

Melissa held his gaze. She knew how fiercely he meant it, and how much of himself he was offering with those words. She could picture him beside her at the next appointment, asking his questions and holding her hand, and beside her on a night when remembering became too much. When she tried to imagine the birth, she let herself see him there too, waiting to meet both their children.

"Both," she whispered.

He kissed the wetness from her cheek. "Both."

Dr. Avery let them stay close before speaking. "Everything I can see today gives us good reason to hope for that."

They turned towards her, and she indicated the images on the monitor. "They’re measuring appropriately, and their heart rates look strong. At nearly twelve weeks, those are encouraging signs. A twin pregnancy needs closer monitoring, especially given your history, so we’ll follow their progress carefully. Today’s examination can’t tell us everything about the months ahead, but I’m pleased with what I’m seeing."

Melissa nodded, taking in the doctor’s words. Phei kept hold of her hand as he stood.

"Closer monitoring means more appointments?"

"Yes."

"I approve."

Melissa rubbed her thumb over his knuckles. "Thank God. The doctor was clearly waiting for your permission."

"I was terrified," Dr. Avery agreed, reaching for the gel so she could finish the examination.

Phei gave them both a look and helped Melissa settle back.

Once the doctor had resumed, he devoted himself to the screen again. Knowing where to look made the shapes easier to follow. One baby lay at a different angle from the other, and he began to recognise which one Dr. Avery was showing them without having to ask every time.

Then the more restless figure shifted while she was taking a measurement, and he leaned forward. "That one moved."

"Yes."

"Why?"

Dr. Avery glanced at him. "Because babies are supposed to move."

Melissa began laughing before he could explain himself. Phei looked between them. "I know babies move."

"Apparently this one has already surprised you by doing it," Melissa said.

He returned his attention to the screen, where a small limb moved again. A grin spread across his face. "That’s definitely mine."

"Because they moved?"

"They refuses to stay still."

"You refuse to stay still."

"Exactly my point." He sounded thoroughly satisfied with his reasoning.

Melissa looked towards the other baby and raised an eyebrow.

"And what about that one?"

Phei studied the image before answering. "That one’s yours."

"How convenient."

"Very."

She pinched his hand, and he laughed, turning his palm to catch her fingers again. Dr. Avery waited for them to settle before taking the next measurement. He watched more quietly after that, though Melissa could feel him leaning closer whenever something changed on the screen.

The doctor explained the examinations ahead as she worked. They would follow both babies’ growth, look at their development in greater detail as the pregnancy progressed and eventually be able to tell them more, including their sexes if they wished to know.

Phei turned towards her. "Eventually?"

"Not today," she said, anticipating the question.

Melissa rubbed his arm. "You survived not knowing there were two until a few minutes ago. You’ll survive this."

"I need names."

"You need patience."

"I have patience."

Both women looked at him.

He sighed and turned back to the babies. "This hospital remains hostile."

By the end of the examination, Melissa had laughed enough to threaten to silence him twice.

Phei had asked questions about the measurements, about what they would see next time and about how much of what appeared on the monitor he was actually recognising correctly. Dr. Avery answered each one, then jokingly offered to print him a basic obstetrics textbook.

He accepted with such immediate seriousness that she had to explain she was teasing. Melissa laughed harder at his disappointment.

He had evidently expected to collect the entire book at reception.

When the examination was finished, the remaining gel was wiped away and Melissa settled her dress. Phei helped her sit up, keeping an arm behind her even after she was comfortably upright.

She allowed it, leaning against him while Dr. Avery prepared the printed ultrasound images.

He took the pictures carefully and held them where Melissa could see. After all his staring at the monitor, he still examined each one closely, checking which baby appeared where and turning a print towards the light.

Melissa rested her hand on his forearm, watching him smile down at the little figures.

"You’re going to carry those around all day, aren’t you?"

"Obviously."

"You have them digitally."

"Not the same."

"You can literally store objects inside the Void."

He moved the pictures away from her, taking considerable care not to bend them. "These are going nowhere near the Void."

"Fine." Melissa laughed and kissed his cheek. He turned to meet her lips, the pictures still held safely to one side.

"Thank you," he murmured.

"You’ve thanked me about seven times."

"Get used to it."

Dr. Avery gathered the last of her notes while they looked through the prints together. Melissa pointed out the little head Phei had struggled to find earlier, and he brought the image closer, smiling when he recognized it.

She leaned into him as he slipped an arm around her waist, holding the pictures between them.

"Twins," he whispered.

Melissa rested her head on his shoulder. "Twins."

He kissed the top of her head and looked down at their children again. The grin that spread across his face left him looking less like the terrifying Young Dragon of Hell’s Paradise Island and more like the happiest idiot anywhere upon it.