Chapter Twenty Seven

Stephen

Stephen - (Phone call) Mom, what’s happening?

Trinity- (Phone call) Sweetie, don’t freak out. Just bring Clint back here as soon as you can. Mia’s water broke.

Trinity - Mia, are you having contractions yet?

Mia - Nothing too bad, honey. Just the usual backaches and cramps.

Trinity - (Phone call) You’ve got plenty of time, darling. Just get Clint back here.

Stephen - (Phone call) I’ll call you back, sweetheart. I need to sort things out here. I love you. Keep me updated if anything changes.

Trinity - (Phone call) I love you too, talk soon.

I end the call with my wife and quickly dial Lachie to fill him in. I also ask him for a favor. After hanging up, I wake the guys and let them know what’s happening. Clint panics at first, but after I give him a joint and a cup of coffee, he calms down and calls Mia.

Clint - She’s not picking up, Bro! Didn’t you say Trinity would call back if anything changed?

Stephen - She will, bro. I’m sure everything’s fine. Just call Trinity before you start panicking again, mate.

He dials Trinity’s number and she picks up after two rings, which calms him down. He chats with Trinity while I finish packing up, then talks to Mia. As I walk back in, I hear him telling Mia to hang on, that he’s on his way.

Clint - (Phone call) Okay, baby, I’m coming, I promise. I love you. You’ve got this, and I’ve got you, okay?

Clint - (Phone call) Okay, baby, see you soon.

Stephen - Everything okay?

Clint - Yeah, Mia left her phone inside. They were just out in the yard walking around. It’s helping with her back cramps. It’s like last time with Willie, very slow moving. Nothing much has changed since you spoke to Trinity.

Stephen - Not so good for Mia, but good for you, bro. Gives us time to get you back.

Clint - Yeah, what’s happening with that?

Stephen - Lachie’s on it, bro. You’re good.

Clint - Give me another joint, mate, and I’ll be good. My heart rate’s almost back to normal.

Dave - Well, here’s one I rolled earlier for you.

Clint - Thanks, bro.

Dave - She okay?

Clint - Yeah, mate, just spoke to her.

Benji - Has anyone ever told you guys that none of us know what an easy life is?

Stephen - Tell me about it, mate.

Benji - So what’s the plan?

Stephen - Lachie’s sorting things out, mate. He’s trying to arrange a private flight so it won’t be logged and we can fly direct to get Clint back quicker.

Clint - Still going to be the longest nine hours of my life, mate.

Stephen - I know, bro. Let’s just hope this one takes after their brother and isn’t in too much of a hurry.

Clint - I feel bad for saying it because I know it’s harder on Mia, but I hope so.

We all sit and have a quick smoke while we wait for Lachie to call back. Thankfully, it doesn’t take him more than an hour to get everything sorted. We’re picked up and rushed to the airport before we know it. Despite Benji’s protests, we decide he’s coming with us. We’re not comfortable leaving him in his current state, and Clint understandably has to get back to his wife.

Stephen - Benj, stop arguing and get on the damn plane.

Benji - Mate, I have responsibilities here. I can’t just run off because I’ve got personal stuff going on.

Stephen - Get on the plane now, Benj, or I’ll knock you out myself and carry you on.

Lachie - Benj, get on the plane. This is in your best interest too. Do I need to remind you that they were aiming for you? Because I’m sure you don’t want to have that conversation again, given how the last one ended.

Benji - For fuck’s sake.

He just shakes his head and gets on the plane.

Lachie - Luke and Todd have the dogs. Tell your wives and kids not to worry, that’s sorted. I’ve also added extra security for Luke and Todd without them knowing, so it won’t draw attention, but it’ll keep them safe and give you all peace of mind.

Stephen - Appreciate it, Lachie. I’ll be in touch to let you know when we arrive, and how that one’s doing.

I point inside the plane, indicating Benji.

Lachie - Thanks, Stephen. I’ll be in touch too and keep you updated. I’ll fly out in a few weeks so we can have a briefing on the case and investigation. Just bear with me until then, okay? There’s a lot going on with this now.

Stephen - Of course.

I shake Lachie’s hand, get on the plane, and before long, the doors are closing and we’re in the air. I manage to close my eyes for a bit before my WhatsApp starts ringing. I quickly grab my phone, seeing that we’re six hours into the flight, so not much longer to go.

Stephen - (call) Baby, is everything okay?

Trinity - (call) Hi, darling. Are you guys okay?

Stephen - (call) We’re a little over three hours out now, sweetheart. Are we going to make it in time?

Trinity - (call) Unless anything drastic changes, yes. She’s only dilated 4cm. Little peanut obviously wants to wait for daddy to get here.

Stephen - (call) He’ll be pleased to hear that. And Mia’s okay?

Trinity - (call) She’s doing great. She’s getting her epidural soon, so she’ll be on cloud nine, especially when she sees Clint.

Stephen - (call) Are the kids behaving?

Trinity - (call) They’re getting a little restless, darling, but they’ve been good, bless them. Livy’s being a mother hen to Mia, of course. I’ll send you a photo when I get off the phone.

Stephen - (call) Okay, beautiful. I love you and can’t wait to see you.

Trinity - (call) I love you too, baby. See you soon. Can you put Clint on for a minute so Mia can talk to him?

Stephen - (call) Okay, sweetheart. See you.

I hand the phone to Clint and let him know his wife is on the line. He takes the phone and heads to the back of the plane for some privacy. He talks with Mia for about half an hour, helping her through a slow-moving contraction and promising he’ll be there as soon as he can. He comes back, hands me my phone, and settles back down.

Stephen - Is she okay?

Dave and Benji share our concern for Mia, and Clint too, hoping we make it in time for the birth of his child. This time, they’ve decided to keep the baby’s gender a surprise until the birth.

We chat for the next few hours until we hear the announcement that the plane is ready to land. Once we touch down, our security detail meets us and rushes us to the hospital to see our wives and kids. I call Trinity to find out where we need to go, then check in at the reception desk. I let them know Clint is the father, and they quickly guide us through to pick up the kids and meet Trinity and Felicity. They also give Clint and Mia some privacy.

As soon as he spots the room, Clint dashes in.

“Mia? Mia? Baby, are you okay?”

“Oh, thank God, Clint. I was so worried you wouldn’t get here.”

She breaks down, sobbing and clinging to him as he holds her close.

“Shhhh, baby girl, I’m right here. We got this, okay?”

She nods at him as he kisses her softly and bends down to pick up Willie, who is throwing himself at his dad.

“Hi, Daddy.”

“Hey, little man. Have you been looking after Mommy for me?”

“Yes, Daddy. Mommy was sad because her belly hurts.”

“It’s alright, buddy. Daddy’s going to look after Momma now, okay?”

Willie gives him a big hug, wrapping his arms around his neck. I smile as I see my twins racing toward me while my wife holds Jay. Dave and Felicity are standing on the other side with Belle, hugging, when Benji pokes his head around the door.

“Got room for an extra stray?”

“You mean family, right? Come here, you.”

Trinity gives Benji a huge hug, asking if he’s okay and if he needs anything.

We chat for a bit before deciding to take the kids back to the house for some rest. It’s been a long night of waiting for them, and we’re all a bit worn out from the flight.

“Willie, do you want to come with Uncle Stephen and Nate and look after the house for Mommy and Daddy?”

“And Livy and Jay and Belle come too?”

“Oh, I don’t know, buddy. Do you think we should let them?”

“Yeah, Uncle Stephen.”

“Alright, buddy. Come on.”

We get the kids all sorted, wish Mia and Clint luck, and then Trinity, myself, Benji, Dave, and Felicity head back to get the kids some food and rest before they turn into little monsters.

Once we get the kids settled, we all sit down for a coffee before deciding to take a rest ourselves and wait for a call from Clint. I help Benji get his stuff up to the spare room, and when I finish and head into our room, I find my wife in bed with our three kids. It’s the most beautiful sight to me. She hears me shut the door and turns around to look.

“You okay, my love?”

“I am, baby. I’m here with you now. I love this sight.”

“What sight?”

“You, with our kids. The beautiful mother and wife you are. It makes my heart ache for you all the more.”

“There’s one thing missing, though. Come here. We need our Papa Bear too.”

I smile at her and strip down to my pajama bottoms, then climb into bed behind my wife, cuddling into her and reaching my arm across to wrap around my children.

“Now rest. It’s my turn to look after you.”

She turns her head over her shoulder, reaching back to wrap around me and stroke my hair.

“Mmm, okay, baby. That feels nice.”

“You feel nice, baby. I missed this.”

“Me too.”

I kiss her softly on the head and bury my face into her neck as we hold our kids and she strokes the back of my hair with her nails until we fall asleep.

I don’t know how long we’d been asleep when I woke to my little princess bouncing on my hip, trying to wake me up.

“Hey, monkey bum, what are you doing?”

“Cuddles, Daddy.”

“Hmm, I don’t know. I’m cuddling Momma Bear right now.”

“Daddy cuddles.”

She pouts at me, and it’s so adorable that I wrap my little girl in my arm, pulling her down onto my chest and cuddling her. She automatically goes to suck her thumb, and I take it out of her mouth.

“Naughty Daddy.”

I pinch her thumb off her and suck it, and she starts giggling.

“She has you wrapped around her little finger, you know.”

“It’s because she has her mother’s eyes, and I can never say no to that.”

“Hi, Mommy.”

“Hi, princess. Are you looking after Daddy?”

She nods and reaches out to start playing with her mother’s hair. We lay in bed for a while, waiting for the boys to wake up, when I get a message on my phone.

“That’s Clint. The baby is here. He said if we want to get sorted and head up in about an hour, Mia and the baby should be ready for visitors.”

“Stephen, stop saying ‘baby’ to me. What did they have?”

“Hahaha, little Miss Impatient. I don’t know. He wrote ‘baby,’ so get that beautiful butt up out of bed, and let’s go to the hospital, and we’ll soon find out.”

We get up, taking turns getting ready while I let the others know. We all head downstairs for a quick coffee before we head to the hospital.

On the way, we stop and get some flowers and a fresh fruit basket for Mia. I remember that was all Trinity craved after giving birth. With all the medications and anesthetics they pump through you, she said she needed the fresh fruit to help get her system back to some normality. And of course, I grabbed my bro his favorite scotch.

We arrive at the door and see Mia and Clint sitting on the bed, holding their new little bundle. Before we can even knock to let them know we’re there, Willie goes racing in.

“Mommy and Daddy, you got me a baby!”

“Hahaha, hey, buddy, we did get you a baby. You want to come see?”

Clint picks his boy up, giving him a big cuddle as we all walk in.

“Daddy, boys don’t wear pink.”

“Hahaha, buddy, boys can wear pink, but your new baby isn’t a boy, mate. This is your new baby sister.”

“But I wanted a brother like Nate.”

We all laugh at Willie, not fully understanding it doesn’t quite work that way.

“Well, you’ll have to speak to your mommy about that one, mate.”

“No! You keep that thing away from me!”

“What thing?”

“Hahaha.”

“Don’t you laugh, Stephen Luciano, if you know what’s good for you.”

“Yes, dear.”

“Hahaha.”

“You behave too, Dave.”

We all gather to meet their new baby girl, and Mia finally gets the chance to embrace Benj, checking if he's okay.

Olivia greets her, “Hi, baby.”

Mia asks the little one, “You wanna have a little cuddle, princess?”

Livy nods her head. Clint lifts her up to sit beside Mia, passing their new daughter to her to hold.

I wrap my arms around Trinity, watching our daughter cradle her new cousin.

“You know, babe,” I say to Trinity, “I think we might have to give her another sibling. Look how good she is already.”

Trinity laughs, “Or you can wait until she's grown up and can have them of her own.”

“Nope! Nope! Not happening, ever. She is not having sex,” I declare.

Trinity and Clint both burst into laughter.

“So, Benj,” Clint starts, “I have a question for you, mate.”

Benji looks at him, “What's up?”

Mia interjects, “We've picked a name for our baby girl, but we wanted your blessing first. If it's okay with you, we're going to name her Maddison Lillie.”

“I think that's a beautiful name,” a voice chimes in.

All our heads whip around to the door, jaws dropping throughout the room.

“Maddie?” Benji stammers.

“Hi, baby,” Maddie greets him.