Page 178 of Fought and Freed

“Are they all right?” Maddy asked, exhausted.

“The doctor is examining them, but they seemed healthy. I’ll go check.” Skylar hurried out of the room.

“I didn’t get to see them.” Maddy glanced at the others. “What did they look like?”

“Maria has dark hair, and Lia has blond hair,” Ryder told her. “But that can change.”

Smiling, Maddy closed her eyes and fell asleep.

* * *

Crying woke Maddy. She wasn’t sure how long she had been asleep.

“Hello, my wife,” Cody said, holding one of the girls.

“Let me see.” Maddy held out her arms.

Cody placed Lia in her arms. “Hello, sweetheart, I’m your mommy.”

Giselle came over to the side of the bed. “She looks exactly like Cody when he was little. Except for her eye shape and nose, those are yours, and Maria looks like Jace. How is that possible?”

“It’s possible. Just look at Lucca and me.” Maddy smiled. “We’re twins but have different dads.”

Jace brought Maria over and laid her in Maddy’s arms.

She looked at both of her girls. They were beautiful.

Skylar walked in with Ryan in one arm and E.J. in the other and Kelly right behind them.

Skylar put Ryan and EJ on the bed. “Be careful, you two.”

“Ryan, E.J., and Kelly,” Maddy said. “Meet your new sisters, Maria and Lia.”

E.J. frowned down at the babies. “Brafer?”

“Sorry, buddy, no. But you’re a big brother again,” Cody said seriously. “You need to protect your sisters.”

E.J. stared at Maria and Lia, then moved and kissed both of their heads. “I’ll pwotect you.”

“And I’ll protect all of you.” Kelly puffed up with pride. “I’m the big sister.”

Jace ruffled her hair. “Yes, you are.”

Everyone chuckled. Tears ran down Maddy’s face. Never did she expect that her life would end up like this. She was truly blessed.

When Maddy had set off on her own, an abandoned child, she never could have imagined how much her life would change, or how full her heart would be.

Surrounded by the family she had fought so hard to keep, she finally felt free.

Free to love.

Free to grow.

Free to live a life she’d never dared to dream possible.

The end.

---