I Found The Babies.

The story is undergoing edits to increase readability. Apologies for the inconvenience caused <3

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"Terrence!"

A loud bellow pulled me out of my hazy, half-asleep state and I opened my eyes to look around before flipping onto my stomach and trying to get some more sleep. Whatever he wanted, it could wait. It couldn't be more important than my sleep, could it? I took a look at my alarm clock.

It was freaking three in the morning!

I snuggled into the comfort of my bed once again, trying to ignore the yelling of my father from right across the room as I groaned and pulled the comforter above my head, blocking out all the noise.

So much for wanting to spend time with my family.

"Terrence! Wake up! Fast! Larissa went into labour! I need your help!" My father shouted again, his voice penetrating through the comforter as I groaned again and pulled the comforter tighter against me.

Wait!

Larissa went into labour!

My step mother just went into labour!

Why couldn't he say that earlier!? Panic coursed through me as the situation's seriousness dawned, and suddenly I was flinging the comforter away and hopping out of the bed as I ran into the room where my father and his wife of two years were supposed to be sleeping. As I went closer to the room, I become more aware of the shrieks of agony that no doubt came from my step mother.

I winced inwardly at her shrieks and took deep breaths. I, then, entered just to have my stepmother stop shouting and screaming; looking at me with a weird look on her face.

Let me give you a warning: she was only two years elder to me, and I had no interest in elder women. She was nothing but a gold digger and I never understood what dad saw in her. She was so many things: dumb but somehow a manipulating bitch, intelligent enough to never cheat on my father. She was sexy, alright, and quite provocative, too, but when the term 'stepmother' was attached to her, my dick thought it was better to respect her and always stayed down; my eyes never went below her neck or wherever they shouldn't go. It wasn't that difficult, to be honest, Larissa's types were only good for a distracting fuck, especially when I was really bored.

My dad was so in love with her that he never paid attention to her person. He was blinded by his faith in her - not that she had given him a reason to be suspicious. It was just that I never felt that she appreciated or even gave a damn about how he felt. She was after his money, no doubt, because with my dad being almost twice her age, she knew that with his heart problems, he would not live that long.

"Terrence Powers! What is this!?" I heard my father's horrified voice, "Do you think you are of any help in this state?"

"Why? What's wrong-Oh... Oh!" I had looked down and found myself standing just in my navy blue boxers. No doubt Larissa was giving me those weird looks.

I gave dad a sheepish look and ran into my room, immediately throwing on some sweatpants and a T-shirt. I grabbed my phone and a peppermint from the nightstand. I had just realised that my breath smelled horrible and I didn't want to poison the car in fear of suffocating my unborn sibling. I quickly hopped down the stairs and found dad carrying Larissa towards the garage. I unlocked the car and helped him place her inside as he whispered sweet nothings into her ear and held her hands, stroking her cheeks and her hair.

For a moment, I wondered if Larissa even cared about all the things dad did for her. My jaw clenched as I thought about it, but then shook out of it, because right now, reaching hospital as soon as possible seemed to be of more importance.

I entered the hospital premises, luckily, without a potential speeding ticket, and carried Larissa to the lobby. A nurse immediately brought a stretcher and soon she was taken to the delivery room with my father in tow.

Then I felt it.

I needed to pee.

I suddenly realised that my bladder was about to burst and if I didn't hurry, nature was surely going to leave a voicemail for me - my piss all over the hospital floor.

I didn't bother telling dad because I knew that me disappearing in the hospital would be the last thing on his mind. So I tried to locate the restroom in the vast hospital.

As I strode through the corridor, I saw the faces of the new fathers. None of them had frowns on their faces; excitement and happiness shone in their eyes and I wondered if my father was also feeling the same, if not more. When Larissa first told him that she was pregnant, he was all over the moon. I had never seen him so happy before, at least not since my mother's death.

I found the restroom and literally ran in there, but was left aghast when I saw the long line even for the pissoirs.

Didn't people have better things to do in a hospital? I was on the verge of wetting my pants in front of a large audience. Agonisingly slowly, when I felt that I couldn't control anymore, I finally had my turn. I let it all go, them, feeling the orgasmic feeling wash all over me.

Really, peeing when your bladder is on the verge of bursting is such a wonderful feeling.

I washed my hands as I looked at my reflection in the mirror in front of me.

The realisation hit me like a T-Rex sitting on my shoulders when I stopped for a moment to look at my face.

I was going to be a brother.

Shit! I was going to be a brother. A twenty eight year old business tycoon was about to be a brother. It would be an understatement to say that I was shocked when I got to know about it. I had no idea dad was still young enough to ensure that his sperms made it to their destination. In fact, even Larissa seemed to be shocked, since how she so wanted to pursue her career and didn't want any distraction from her ultimate goal: My dad's money.

He had been the happiest among us.

I went out of the washroom and headed towards the delivery room where dad and Larissa were supposed to be. It wasn't quiet at all down that hallway. People were running here and there, the nurses and the doctors, too, seemed in a hurry, but only one part of the hall seemed inactive-

-Right where Larissa's delivery room was supposed to be.

I ran towards it and immediately froze when I saw the tear streaked faces of dad and his wife.

They didn't seem like happy tears.

Something in my gut clenched. Even though I despised Larissa and was in a shock all through her pregnancy, I was actually looking forward to meeting my half sibling. And looking at the grief stricken couple, I contemplated whether I should go inside or not.

I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Mr. Powers, I think your father needs you there." Dr. James, the one who was supposed to aid in delivering my sister or brother said to me, and I just nodded and stepped inside the hospital room.

I tried to keep my mind blank from the possibilities that led to this situation. It could have been that the umbilical cord wound around my baby sister or brother's neck, or maybe it was a really, really complicated delivery.

But complicated deliveries weren't supposed to be this short, right? They were supposed to be long enough for me and dad to wear down the hospital's marble floors.

I could see the look on dad's face, and I recognised it immediately. It was the same look he had on when mom died, the one which was stoic and strong, yet, pained and broken.

Please. No. This couldn't - shouldn't be happening. Dad was supposed to look happy - all flushed face, goofy grins and twinkling blue eyes.

The only twinkle that I could see was from the tears glossing his eyes.

I patted my father's shoulders comfortingly and he immediately pulled me into a hug. I patted his back awkwardly, then, not really knowing what to do in such a situation.

"The baby was stillborn."

That was all he whispered after, finally, sobbing his heart out on my shoulder. I could have sworn I never saw him look so broken in my entire twenty eight years of existence. My eyes went over to Larissa, who was crying too, her hands clutching her hair as she let out frustrated sobs, her eyes showing regret more than pain.

How was I to make her understand that it wasn't her fault?

I didn't like her at all, but this was the last thing I could have ever wished for her. It was cruel, and I had no idea how it felt for her own baby being snatched away from her.

I pulled away from dad and gripped his shoulders, saying the only thing I knew I could say in such a situation.

"Dad, you need to stay strong for Larissa."

It was a stupid thing to say, I know, but he immediately nodded and went to hold her while I just let my feet take me wherever they wanted to. I should have been the one strong enough for both of them, but my own nerves and thoughts were fogging. I had no idea when I had stepped out of the hospital and when I had started to take the familiar route towards the cemetery.

As I was walking, I saw a familiar face walking down the street, headed towards the opposite way. She was on her phone with someone and was chatting away without stopping for breath. I remembered the first time I had met her in Larissa's office - when I had to go to pick Larissa up. I had found this woman standing in her office, shooting daggers at her with her gaze, the intention of murder clearly on her mind.

Her glare had immediately shifted to me as I barged in the office without any preamble. Not that it affected me in any way, since my brain had switched positions with my other head, and my dick was oh-so-eager to come out of my pants and take a nice look at her, outside and inside.

She was still looking hot in her white blouse and skinny jeans, as her hips sashayed when she walked, her brown tresses glinting as the streetlights illuminated her features. It crossed my mind for a moment, what exactly was it that she was doing out on the streets at nearly four in the morning, but I had more pressing things to attend to.

I shook my head as she escaped my line of vision.

My chest burned and my eyes were heavy with unshed tears. My heart felt heavy and my stomach clenched and unclenched. All the waiting for those nine months, all the happiness, anticipation, excitement, hopes, dreams were crushed into bits, today. I opened the wrought iron gate to the cemetery and my feet took me towards my destination.

"Mom." I whispered.

"Oh no, Lisa! If it wasn't for the fact that I was up watching my fave hotties on Netflix, I wouldn't have even picked up your call, let alone stay up to talk to you."

My best friend stopped for a moment, and I distinctly heard the crunching sound of the chips she had stuffed her mouth with.

"By the way..." Another pause, "What the hell do you think you are doing all alone at the streets a fucking four in the morning?! Don't you know that there are bad, bad people that can harm my little baby?!"

I rolled my eyes, "I am not a baby Allie, and I told you the reason three times, already."

"My apologies, really, for being concerned for my best friend." She said, sarcastically, and I could imagine her rolling her eyes while balancing the phone between her head and her shoulder and using her two gifted hands - one of which should be holding the phone - to eat the chips. I could, again, hear the crunching sounds in between, even when she was speaking.

This woman, I swear!

"What if you come across those awful, terrible people that roam around the city at night like zombies who would eat you up?" There she goes. "Do you think a handsome, charming man would come to your rescue and then you two would instantly fall in love with each other? Do you think he would be hot? Rich? Damn! What if he is like Christian Grey?! He would take you to his playroom-"

"Oh shut up, Alexandria! I know you are a freaking editor but you need to keep the things that cook up in your brain from coming out of your mouth! And please, I am not a desperate virgin to go after a hot guy who just wants a hard fuck! I want more..." I tried to search for the right word, "Substance."

"Well, then, I think I come in the category of desperate virgins. But Hey! I'm not a virgin. Wait! You changed the topic!" She said in an accusing tone, "Now tell me again! Is something wrong with your biological clock that you forgot that it's more than four hours past bedtime?"

Remind me why was she my best friend, again?

I rolled my eyes, "No, nothing's wrong with my biological clock, Allie. I told you, I got locked in the office."

"But who the hell gets locked into her own office? Where was the security in charge?"

"I don't know, there was no one when I came outside. Wherever he was, it took him long anyway." I sighed and kicked a stone on the pavement. The road was eerily silent with no sign of life around me. The whole city seemed to be asleep, leaving the advertisement boards and the street lights as the only source of light for me.

"Yeah, he looked a bit constipated in the evening when I saw him. Seriously, but what you were doing for so long in there? I mean, your shift ends at five, right?"

"Oh, it's all because of Larissa. You know her, that bitch. Since she has become the Head Editor of our publishing company, she has been flying castles in the air and now she has taken a nearly year long vacation from work." I scoffed. "Being her assistant, I have to take up all of her job at editing and other publishing stuff she did. I don't know how but she somehow managed to fuck up everything in the company. The moment she's gone, I'm the one handling it. It's been freaking five months and I still haven't been able to to sort the shit out! She isn't even sending someone for assistance! And the worst thing is, since she has married into the Powers family, she thinks she is some kind of a queen and she keeps bitching around, ordering me and provoking me all the damn time! With Larissa around, I almost feel the desperation to learn the art of voodoo, and now that she's not around- Hey! Allie! You there?"

I groaned. No wonder, I was wondering why she hadn't started interrupting me to talk about Larissa's hot husband, Terrence Powers, because I remembered her crushing on him ever since she saw him for the first time.

She bloody fell asleep while talking to me! I hoped that her face fell right into the popcorn bowl and got stuck right into it!

I hung up and sighed. Now there was absolutely no one to keep me company while I walked down the lonely street. To be honest, I liked the silence that was surrounding me, soothing and comforting. I heard the rustling sound of the trees, the chirping of crickets and the wailing of babies, and -

-Wait!?

Wailing of babies!? But there was no one other than me around. I focused, trying to find in which direction the source of the wails was, walking towards it as I could hear the clicking of my heels at the pavement. I walked as fast as I could, my heart thumping in my chest.

Surely the babies would have their mother with them, right?

Still, I felt like I had to go to them, to see if they were alright. I blindly entered an alleyway, not caring where I was going. Panic rose in me, as my brain conjured up all the images that I couldn't imagine happening to the babies.

Oh god! I hoped that I wasn't too late.

I was nearly running when I felt that the wails were closer than ever, but still there was not a single living being in sight. I looked around for any clue, and I paled when I found the only thing around me that could hold a baby. Anger, fear, anxiety bubbled up in my chest as I ran towards it, feeling the source of the voices come closer.

It was a dumpster.

No! No! No! No! No! Let the cries be only my stupid hallucinations! Please! No one could be that vile to throw innocent babies in a dumpster, right?

Right?

A sob built up in my chest as I pushed its lid open, to find nothing but stinky trash and a big box inside. The cries had quietened by now, but I opened the box anyway, only to find two pairs of blue, shiny orbs staring at me with innocence.

Oh my! They were so beautiful!

The sob that had lodged itself in my throat had now escaped as tears pooled in my eyes. I immediately threw the lid and took the box out of the dumpster, taking my emergency shawl out of the handbag that I kept for whenever I felt cold.

They were two blue eyed angels, a boy and a girl, looking at me, even though I very well knew they were not able to see my properly. They were so beautiful, their orbs shimmering in the only source of light, and their mouths open in a silent cry. They were not even a day old, probably not even an hour.

Wondering how I knew that?

They had those tags intact, the ones that held their weight and other details, but somehow these ones didn't have information of their parents. It made me sure that the babies were not lost and were dumped purposely; the one that did thought that they would die anyway if they weren't found. This was the lowest any person could go, dumping innocent babies.

Even if I felt like the babies were left here with the intention of someone else finding the,.

The babies were, fortunately, healthy. A friend of mine was a doctor, and watching her do this stuff was helping me now with being careful about the things I should do.

The babies had me captivated in their gaze as they looked at me with something that resembled probably hope: hope that they would be fed and taken care of. They could feel my presence, and I hope that it was the only thing that calmed them down. Their eyes were drooping now, and even though a part of me didn't want them to fall asleep hungry, fearing for their life, I knew I was helpless.

The tears steadily ran down my face now.

How could someone be so heartless?

I held up the little girl - I wrapped half of the shawl around her and held her in the crook of my arm. I then held up the boy, managing to wrap the other half around him so that both were equally sharing my shawl and were resting in the crooks of my arms, snuggling into my chest as they closed their eyes, completely.

I sniffed; my heart was hurting for them as I felt the need to protect them more and more with each passing instant. There was no choice or seconds thoughts on what I was going to do with them:

I am going to take them home.

I walked back home, guessing it was now around five in the morning so I sat on the porch of Mason's House, which was just one street away from mine. No, he was not my boyfriend or something, nor was I remotely interested in him. He was a total douche and that wasn't me being judgemental here. He had absolutely nothing out of of place in his life. A perfect, rich family, a perfect job in the police department, good looks, nice house and stuff like that.

But, he was a dick.

At least, he took his job seriously and that was why I was here, sitting on his porch, gazing down at the two little bundles snuggled peacefully in my sore arms. I desperately needed his help in this situation where I had absolutely no idea what to do. So I did the first thing I could think of.

Report a police officer.

I knew that his night shift ended at this time, so he would be back here any minute. And speaking of the devil, I heard the noise his Jeep's engine made as he entered the driveway.

I held the babies tighter to me as he stepped out of his Jeep, his eyes immediately falling on me. Confusion marred his features, which was soon replaced by his charming grin. I stood up and walked over to him. Before he could even mumble a greeting, I blurted, "I need your help, Mason."

A frown etched into his features at my words but it was soon replaced, this time with shock, as his eyes fell on the two cuddled up infants in my arms.

"Come in," was all he said as he walked towards the door and opened it. He walked inside the house with me trailing behind him, my tears threatening to spill out, again. As soon as I entered the living room, I spotted the couch and carefully placed the two babies there and arranged the cushions around them so that they wouldn't fall off it.

He offered me a cup of coffee but I refused because my nerves were already too damn high. I narrated him how I found the both of them and he listened to me, sipping his coffee from his mug in between. When I was finished ranting out the curses which I wished to throw at the person behind the condition of the babies, I found him staring at his mug, looking deep in thought.

"Look, Alyssa," he started, "There isn't much we can do, here. We will do our best to find the parents, but we wouldn't be able to do anything if the both of them are actually unwanted. There is one thing we can do for sure is to take them to an orphanage and ensure that they are provided for well. But you still have the option to keep them if you want to."

You still have the option to keep them if you want to.

Was sending them to an orphanage a good idea? I didn't know. I knew that I wanted to burn the epitome of cruelty in the deepest pits of hell. My maternal instincts had kicked in, and I wanted to be the one to ensure they were safe and well fed.

I didn't have to think twice before saying:

"I think I will keep them with me."

I picked up the twins and rested them in the crook of my arms, comfortably, ready to run out of the door.

"I thought so too. Well, that's good then?" He said, his charming grin returning.

"Thank you so much, Mason, for helping me out. I think I should go now, to a hospital to see what I can feed them." I said nervously and turned, ready to ignore what he was just about to say.

"You owe me a date, Reynolds!"

I strode towards my apartment as I was suddenly aware that it was past six in the morning and I had barely gotten any sleep. I had to report to work in three hours and I had two more little beings to take care of. I also had to go to a doctor as soon as possible because I didn't know if they were fed when they were born or not.

There were so many things to take care of, and I, Alyssa Reynolds, had sworn to take care of the little angels as my own and protect them with my life. I knew it wasn't going to be easy.

Hell, it takes just one baby to get yourself look like a zombie run over by a train in just a week, the two were definitely going to keep me awake all round the clock.

I could as well become a blood sucking insomniac vampire.

Honestly, I didn't mind the thought of staying awake all night and taking care of Raine and Ryan, changing their diapers and feeding them.

Yeah, that's what I named them, Raine and Ryan. They were the first names that came in my mind; there was no deep reasoning behind the names.

As soon as I stepped inside my apartment, somehow managing to juggle my keys and unlock the door, I walked into my bedroom, placed them on the bed and immediately started to search for the baby blankets, the ones my mother had kept safely for their sentimental value. I also found some towels and tissues to clean them up.

As I started wiping them carefully, I rang up my friend Lucy, who was a child specialist, and lived just a block away. She herself was a mother, and we had bonded over the morning runs in the park.

Well, it was more like I was the one jogging as she lazily walked beside me.

She picked up on the third ring.

"Hey, Alyssa! Wassup." Lucy Horne was one of the rarest people who could sound so chirpy this early in the morning.

"Hi Lucy."

"So, what made you call me up seven in the morning? Is everything alright?" She asked, her voice concerned.

"No," I sighed, "Not actually. Hey, do you mind if I come over right now? I desperately need your help."

"It's alright, come over, I'll be waiting. It has been quite sometime since I met you anyways."

"Thanks." I said and hung up. I then started wiping Ryan's backside.

Oh my god! His butt is so cute and soft!

A smile came over my face as I looked as the two sleeping bundles of joy in front of me. They were so innocent and so beautiful. Honestly, they looked like cute little chipmunks, with their eyes closed, small nose and pouty lips.

I wrapped them in the blankets I had found and pulled them closer to me, savouring the moment and the peace that came all over me. I felt like I was on top of the word, overwhelmingly happy and a new wave of emotions struck me.

It was like love, care, protectiveness, happiness, peace, pride, euphoria all combined into one. As they cuddled up to my chest, I couldn't help but feel more responsible and mature, my back straightening with my newly found responsibilities.

If this was how being a mother felt like, then I had no plans of leaving these two anywhere but keep them cherished with me.

I took the the old, rusty baby carrier, that I had somehow found with the blankets. I carefully placed Ryan and Raine inside, and I was sure that once they grew up, I would definitely have to buy a new one.

I stepped outside and locked my apartment, ready to head towards Lucy's house. As I kept walking, I noticed that people has started coming out of the streets and were looking at me quizzically, especially, with me smiling like a lunatic holding a baby carrier.

As I reached Lucy's house, or should I call it a mansion, she opened the door even before I could even ring the doorbell.

Lucy was one of this lucky ones who had a typical cliché high school love story where the rich bad boy fell for the A-class nerd and their love survived the long distance relationship while attending their respective universities and finally married when there was nothing else in between.

Then Lucy and Victor Horne had a gorgeous devil in the disguise of an angel, a son, Xavier.

Lucy smiled back at me, but when her eyes trailed down...

"Oh. My. God!" She breathed as she saw the two babies in my carrier. She immediately ushered me in and I lazily walked towards the couch, slowly placing the kids there. She made an impatient gesture by tapping her foot on the floor. The moment my ass touched the couch, she started pacing around.

I had not been even able to take in a full breath when she started. "Lisa, oh my god! You never told me you were pregnant! Is that why you were not able to meet me in the past five months?"

"Lucy-"

"You know that I am a gynaecologist too, right? You knew that you could come and ask me for help anytime but you never even once mentioned to me that you were pregnant!"

"Lucy lis-"

"And who is their father? I had no idea you had a boyfriend? Or was it a one night stand? Oh god, I told you so many times that you have to always be careful about protection-"

"No Lucy-"

"Your boobs look normal, you know. They were supposed to grow a bit. Oh! Is it why that you are here-"

"Lucy Horne! These babies aren't mine!" I whisper yelled, careful not to wake her little devil and the munchkins too.

"Oh?" Her brows furrowed and then her eyes widened, "Oh! I am sorry," She chuckled nervously, "I just assumed. But then whose are they?" She asked as she looked at them in confusion.

I sighed.

"I don't know." I said and proceeded to tell her the happenings of the night or morning, you could say. Tears pooled in my eyes again and looked at Lucy who looked at the twins sympathetically. Then I told her the dilemma and she immediately understood what I wanted.

"Follow me." She said and I picked up my carrier and followed her. She had her personal little clinic adjoining her house, where she could independently work when not in the hospital. As soon as I walked into the clinic, the fragrance of baby soaps surrounded me as I looked around the various equipments around the room and the cartoon posters on the wall.

She signaled me to wait for her and came back in a few minutes later, bringing in a carrier and a baby stroller. They belonged to Xavier who was now three years old and didn't need them. Inside the stroller, I found some clothes and milk bottles, and I immediately sent a grateful look towards her.

"Figured you might need them now. And take this," she threw a packet filled with white powder towards me and I caught it.

"That is milk powder, you can mix it in warm water and feed it to them. It isn't as good as breast milk, but they are the best that can be offered right now. I already made you a bottle if they-"

As if on cue, Ryan started crying and I rushed towards him, taking the bottle from Lucy. I didn't need to check the temperature because I knew Lucy had already checked it. By the time I had picked Ryan up, Lucy had disappeared, probably to make another bottle for the little girl.

I held the bottle in front of his mouth and he immediately latched onto it, sucking greedily and soundly as the milk disappeared in a few moments. I smiled and watched as his small hands tried to grab the bottle.

Damn, he was going to be a foodie.

He let out a small adorable yawn and I placed him beside Raine whose blue eyes were now open wide, staring at me intently. In a moment, her features twisted and it looked as if she was about to cry. At the same moment, Lucy entered and held out another bottle which I immediately took and picked Raine up.

What would I have done without her!

Just like her twin, the girl was voracious as she eagerly drank up all of the milk in the bottle. And just like Ryan, she soon fell asleep.

I looked down at the two sleeping angels who looked immensely satisfied as a small smile graced their lips in their sleep, making a smile appear on my face too.

"I think I should check them up. It won't take too long." Lucy said.

"It's fine, take your time."

As Lucy was running the checks, measuring their weights and stuff, a very important thought crossed my mind.

How was I supposed to work? There was no doubt that these two were going to keep me occupied the whole day. How could I work that way? I was sure as hell not going to leave them alone, let alone leave them with someone else in my absence. There wasn't a daycare facility at my workplace so I couldn't take them with me, too.

What if I could work from home, like having someone bring me my day's work from the office or just mail it to me? Come on, technology was far too advanced these days, it wouldn't be that difficult, would it?

My phone buzzed, interrupting me from my reverie. I took my phone out of my pocket.

Allie calling...

I picked it up.

"Hey, Lisa, while you're coming to work, can you please grab some coffee from-"

"Sorry, Allie," I cut her off , "I won't be coming to work today."

"But why? Don't tell me it is because I fell asleep while you were talking! Come on, we are best friends! It is no reason to ditch work! You know how much we need you here, now that that the Head Editor is gone! Please!" She whined.

Something was seriously screwed up with Alexandria.

"It's not about that. I just have a..." I hesitated, "Uh...a situation to sort out. Can you come over when you would be off from work?"

"Is it something serious? Should I be worried?" She said, and I could almost imagine her brows furrowed with concern.

I loved my best friend. She was annoying and a bit weird, yes, but so was I. She was the only one I had had, before the two little additions appeared in my life, who might be temporary even. Allie was the one that kept me going throughout the day, the only person who had seen me in my worst and my best.

She was the only person I could say was permanent in my pathetic, boring life.

"No, everything's fine actually, but something has happened. So will you? Come over, I mean."

"Yes, yes. I will. I will be there by five-thirty." She assured me.

I was in dire need on my best friend's pep talk.

"I'll talk to you later then, gotta work babe. Laters." She said, and hung up the phone.

I sighed.

"So what are you planning? I mean, how are you going to work and take care of them side by side?" Lucy asked as she was checking Raine up, her eyes concentrating on the digits the weighing machine showed.

"I don't know, to be honest. I am going to somehow see if I could work from home, if possible-" I was interrupted by another buzz.

Who was it now?

Whiny Bitch calling....

"Hey Larissa, how's your vacation?" I chirped.

"Fine." She said, clearing her throat. "How's work anyways?"

"It's fine."

"Look, I just called up to tell you that I am not supposed to be bothered by anyone of you for the rest of the year."

Yes! Yes!

"Why?" I tried to keep the excitement out of my voice.

"I'm going to Paris to let off steam." I scoffed inwardly.

What was she doing for the past five months then? I thought she had let off enough steam to fog up her whole mansion.

"Oh. Okay." I paused and then said, "Um...Larissa, I need some help." I asked her hesitantly. "Can I, you know, work from home or something? Actually I have to take care of my...um...niece and nephew since their mother died while giving birth to them." I had decided that only four people were supposed to know their actual story, me, Alexandria, Lucy and Mason.

"And their father?" She asked.

"He...uh...died a couple of years go when he was working in the military."

Shit! That made my bluff so obvious.

"I thought you said you didn't have any relatives?" Oh no. Her voice sounded suspicious and I could see Lucy trying to stifle her laughter.

"She is a distant cousin, actually, I had last met her when I was four, so I didn't remember her." I told her.

"Fine. Can you just go and discuss this with Terrence, I'm kind of busy right now. I'll let him know, he'll figure something out." She hung up immediately.

I looked at my phone in shock.

Rude bitch.

So this woman wasn't going to let off steam in Paris with her husband? I thought she would take Terrence with her too.

Oh, that reminded me. I was officially going to meet the infamous billionaire Terrence Powers for the first time.

*******************************

"You are nothing less than an angel for the twins, Alyssa; not everyone is able to do what you are doing. I, for once, know that you have taken the right decision. You will surely be an amazing mother to them, and I'm sure whatever you will do will be more than what any orphanage can do for them."

These were the parting words - the much needed pep talk that Lucy gave me. I had no idea that I actually had apprehensions about my decision, but Lucy's words eased my mind to a certain extent. I might be good with kids, but it necessarily didn't mean that I could be a good mother without any prior experience.

Well, everyone had a first time.

I was sitting cross legged on the floor of my balcony with my two babies in my lap, breathing in the fresh air to clear my mind. It was past five-thirty and I was waiting for my dearest bestie to make an appearance because I so wanted to pour out all the curses that I had stopped myself from blurting out in front of Lucy and Mason.

I had no idea how she would react. She could call me stupid and reckless for taking the decision to raise them on my own if we didn't find their parents. She already knew about the stress I had to face due to the increased workload since Larissa was vacationing. Now, adding two newborn babies to the equation, she would definitely lecture me about not thinking twice before deciding on something important and life-changing like this.

No matter what, I was definitely not going to give up on them. I had already fallen in love with them, their deep blue eyes and their cute butts - so much that even the idea of giving them back to their parents left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I knew that was selfish of me.

I couldn't help but feel possessive about them. They say that a child gives birth to a mother within you - and that is what the blue eyed twins did to me. They had cast a spell on me, and had me wrapped around their little fingers before I could even properly see them.

I sighed, feeling the cool breeze surround me as my fingers traced circles on their heads, watching their blue eyes, that were open wide, surveying their surroundings carefully, although I knew that all they could see was me.

I had changed them into the clothes Lucy had given to me and decided to avoid diapers on their first three days. I had already fed them twice or thrice, and got their cute, little butts cleaned - I mean not just their butts, but their chubby cheeks, their tummies and did I mention their cute little butts?

Honestly, I barely remembered anything about today. I walked like a corpse the whole day. I know that corpses don't walk, but I literally felt like one, dead and unfeeling. I was ready to sacrifice my sleep for the two, but it didn't mean that my sleep wasn't dear to me. In the list of my hobbies, sleep and food were at the same position, that is, they got the topmost position.

I lived to sleep as much as I lived to eat.

I could sleep just anywhere, you could throw me in a swimming pool and I might sleep there too; not that I actually tried it, you know, there are chances that I would have slept for, like forever and I was too young to spend the rest of my life sleeping.

I was jolted out of my reverie when I heard the doorbell ring.

Finally, the woman's here.

I balanced the two munchkins in my arms, and then got up walking towards my bedroom and kept them there, placing the cushions on their sides.

I need to get a crib ASAP.

By the time I reached the door, my visitor was mercilessly pressing the buzzer. The sound had become so annoying, and I was afraid the munchkins would start crying, I ran to get the door and opened it - only to find an impatient Alexandria standing and scowling in front of me, her foot tapping on the floor. I gave her a sheepish smile and opened the door wider to let her in. She lazily moved her ass inside and threw her bag on the couch and plopped down. This house was hers as much as it was mine. And her house was mine as much as it was hers.

Man, that woman looked exhausted.

"One leave! You took one leave, woman, and the whole publishing house was turned upside down! Never! Never do this- wait? Did you just fart?" She had her face scrunched up in a funny expression.

"No, I didn't."

I knew who the culprit was. To be honest, I couldn't smell anything, or maybe I had gotten used to the wonderful fragrance of baby potty in just a day.

"Oh come on, don't lie. I remember once-"

Before she could continue on my farty anecdotes, she was interrupted by loud, screeching wails.

"Holy shit!" was all she said.

She narrowed her eyes at me and stood up, once again bursting with energy as she followed the direction of the wails.

As soon as she entered my room, all that came out of her mouth was,

"Oh. My. God."

*********************

"So you mean to say that.." Crunch, crunch, "...those motherfucking bastards..." crunch, crunch, crunch, "...left these little angels in a dumpster?"

"Yes, and mind your language in front of them. I don't want 'fuck' to be the first word that comes out of their mouth."

"Okay, okay." Allie was now sitting cross-legged on my bed and was holding Raine after she had changed into my sweatpants after Ryan peed on her. That was right after I narrated the whole story, even the part where Larissa told me about her letting off steam in Paris.

The look on her face was Kodak worthy. The way her face paled when she found her favourite pair of jeans soaked up in baby piss, I instantly knew that she was never going to wear her own clothes in my house ever again.

Allie, for once, had acted like a mature and understanding adult. I nearly choked back a sob when she said that she was proud of me and would stay by my side and help me whenever needed, no matter what.

My love for my best friend intensified manifolds that moment.

She now looked like she desperately wanted to say something, but just like me, food was her priority and it seemed that she was going to munch those crackers first and squeal later.

So I waited till she was done with it and when she finally crushed the wrapper and threw it in the dustbin that I had kept for the baby wipes, she wiped her mouth with the black of her sleeve and looked at me.

How attractive.

She handed Raine to me and I kept her on one side of my lap with Ryan on another.

And there she squeals...

"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh! My! God! You are going to meet Terrence Powers! Like, the Terrence Powers! God's gift to us ladies, the Greek God with that gorgeous face and that sexy body I would so like to -"

Ryan let out a loud cry, all of a sudden, and interrupted her from speaking further. I couldn't be more thankful at that time: there was no stopping her when she started describing her favourite men.

I slowly shook the leg on which he was lying, humming a random tune so that he could calm down and go back to sleep. Slowly, but surely, his eyes started drooping, his eyelids closing around those beautiful deep blue eyes. He curled his chubby hands into fists, and snuggled to my side once again, as if enjoying the warmth my body provided.

My heart fluttered as a subconscious smile graced both of their faces at the same time. It was creepy, watching Raine and Ryan wearing identical smiles on their faces at the same time, that too in their sleep.

A small part of me never wanted to find their parents, just wanted to keep them with me and protect them myself.

"Lisa?"

"Hm?" I had, for the moment, totally forgotten that Allie was still sitting there, watching the three of us with a soft smile on her face. I had still been humming the tune when she called me, so I looked up at her.

"You are amazing, you know. Did you ever babysit kids?" She asked me, as she watched Raine and Ryan, their rapid breathing filling the silence of the room.

"No. Never." I answered her, my voice still soft as I caressed Raine's cheeks.

"Then how is it that you are so good at it. I wouldn't be surprised if they already believe that you are their mother. The way you know what to do, and what they need, it's so heartwarming to keep watching you." She gushed as she held out her hand. I took Ryan in my arms and held out him to her, grinning cheekily as I saw her eyes widen for a moment. She took him anyway and held him close to her.

"Call it my maternal instinct, Allie. Even I had apprehensions in the beginning. I had a nice chat with Lucy in the morning where she explained me everything, but I think it is actually the love I feel for them that actually guides me and my decisions." I said, with my palm caressing on Raine's head.

She thought for a moment, and frowned.

"You do know that your life will completely change now, right? All your decisions and plans will have to go according to what the kids need. Are you sure you would be able to do it alone? Don't get me wrong, I'm just worried how you'll handle work and the babies together." She said and glanced down at a curled up Ryan.

I looked up at Allie and whispered,

"I know."

I continued, "This is why I have to go to meet Terrence Powers tomorrow. I absolutely have no idea how Larissa thinks he is going to help, but that is the only option I have right now. I mean, does he even know what an editor does in a publishing house?"

She rolled her eyes but asked, "At what time are you supposed to go?"

I shrugged and picked my mobile, scrolling to find Larissa's text.

U cn meet terrence tmrw at his office at noon. Ive alrdy tlkd to him 'bout it.-Larissa.

I immediately look at Allie, giving her my best puppy dog eyes, "The text says noon and, thankfully, tomorrow is a holiday. Can you please, please, please babysit them for a while? They will most probably stay asleep at that time, so-"

She cut me off, "Don't worry, I'll handle it." She said with a small smile as she uncurled Ryan's fists and wrapped his fingers around hers.

I sent her a grateful grin and resisted the urge to hug her.

Now all I had left to do was ensure that I could take care and protect my new little family with all I had.

*************************

"Check the temperature before feeding them, and also don't let them keep crying for long and-"

"I get it, Lisa, we'll be fine. You have already been droning on and on the same few lines for about thirty two times now, so you don't have to worry. Now you just go, okay?" Allie said the next morning, as I stood at my doorstep, ready to go.

"Just take care, alright?" I hollered, just as she pushed me out of my apartment and slammed the door on my face.

Wow. Such a nice farewell. A best of luck could have been fine too.