Page 81 of Triplets for the Barbarians

Cynthia measures my vitals again, her eyes darting curiously across the screen. “I’ll take some blood samples and run some tests, but you’re looking good now,” she says. I’m just glad you’re back—so glad.”

“Yeah, me, too,” I sigh deeply, trying to understand a near-death experience I can’t remember. “Yossul, Fadai?”

“They’ve been here nonstop.” She groans and rolls her eyes, feigning frustration. “I had to clear a private reserve for them to sleep in. They’ve been taking turns watching over you and looking after the girls, too. I never imagined I’d see that soft side of theirs… too sweet, even for my taste.”

I can’t help but laugh lightly.

Moments later, Yossul and Fadai burst through the door, all starry-eyed and relieved. Without a single word, they shower me with love and affection and a flurry of kisses, whispering everything they’ve been dying to tell me.

“You’d better not do this again,” Yossul warns, his brow furrowed. “The scare you gave us, baby…”

“It’s not like I planned it,” I shoot back with an innocent shrug.

“Hey, cut her some slack,” Fadai tells his brother. “She’s okay, she’s awake. Let’s put the whole thing behind us, huh?” He turns to smile at me. “Welcome back, my love. How are you holding up?”

“Oh, I’ll tell you how she’s holding up,” Cynthia says as she reenters the room. I didn’t even notice her leave, but my heart expands at the sight of her pushing a big cart. My babies are neatly swaddled in the finest white fabric and sleeping soundly on top of it. “She’s been dying to see these three little miracles, so move out of the way. Coming through,” she adds in a softer voice.

“Oh, my God...” I burst into tears, suddenly overwhelmed with so much love that it might make my heart explode altogether. You’re so right; they’re perfect.”

Three pink-skinned angels with bright red eyes and tufts of curly black hair. They’re definitely bigger than a human baby, which leaves me speechless since I carried them in my womb for seven whole months. No wonder I was so sluggish and tired all the time. But they’re so beautiful; I feel their life emanating within me, their little heartbeats echoing mine. Their tiny fists balled as they rest in sweet silence, their chests rising with each breath.

I see my nose on each of them. Bits and pieces of me and their fathers settling like a perfectly designed puzzle. They’re the best of both worlds, and I know they’re going to make us so happy and so proud.

Their strength resounds through every fiber of my body. I only hope they get more of Fadai’s warm nature, more of Yossul’s stoicism, and all of my spunk.

“Oh, they’re going to be such adorable handfuls,” I laugh and cry at the same time.

Fadai, Yossul, and Cynthia gingerly pick each of them up so I can hold them. It’s hard to do this with three babies, but my men stay close to make sure our angels rest comfortably in my arms and on my chest. My breasts feel tender, filled with mother’s milk. I can’t wait to feed them, watch them grow and see them go on to live the most incredible lives.

“You were incredible,” Yossul tells me. “You carried them with such strength and grace.”

“We’ll be okay,” Fadai says. “The hardest part’s over. You’re all right, baby. We’re all right.”

“We are, aren’t we? We did it,” I manage, tears of sheer joy rolling down my cheeks.

Cynthia can’t help but laugh. “Until they start walking. Then you’re all screwed.”

We burst into laughter just as the door opens again. Suddenly, the room is flooded with familiar faces. Our families have gathered for this momentous occasion, each of them carrying flowers and gifts for us, each of them so genuinely happy to see me awake.

Amber with Izzo and Binzen. Kai and Maur. Alicia with Helios and Kharo. Their kids are all gleeful and chatty, cooing and babbling, while Valen, the poor sport, tries to keep the older ones in check.

It’s hard and messy and loud. My girls wake up because of the noise, but I don’t mind it one bit because now they get to see me, to meet me, their mom. Time flows differently now that they’re born.

“What are their names?” Alicia asks.

“Oh, that’s easy!” I am beaming with excitement, unable to take my eyes off my daughters as I officially introduce them to the world. “This here is Emm. And this is Ket. And Essa.”

Yossul smiles broadly. “Our precious moons.”

One minute, you’re skinny-dipping in the Atlantic Ocean after a night out with the girls, and the next, you’re zapped onto a starship and carted off to another planet. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though. Every minute has counted. Every minute has changed my life and my character for the better.

And every minute that comes after this… well, it’s the most precious minute I will have ever lived through.

Epilogue II

Jewel

Minutes turn to years in the blink of an eye.

---