A Pinch of Cinnamon

A piercing cry roused Spencer from her sleep. A second, nearly identical voice cried out with its sibling. She groaned, still hazy from sleep and sore all over from their hard birthing.

A shifting next to her caught her attention.

“Go back to sleep, baby. I’ll get them.” She merely blinked, they have been together for years but even still, Nick always manages to surprise her. He had taken over all duties when they got home from the hospital, adamant to let her just rest. Even now, dark circles are prominent under his eyes. They were just barely cracked open, wakening slowly at the knowledge that sleep was no longer attainable. He’s as exhausted as she is.

A warmth clenches her heart as she watches the love of her life climb carefully out of bed. His movements slow and deliberate to avoid jostling her battered body. He leans down, catching her lips with his own in a soft kiss before heading to the twins’ room.

Spencer relaxes back into the bed; confident Nick will get them back to sleep. They still had several hours until daylight would wake them for good.

The door creaked open, and a soft patter of feet reached her ears. Jayden slithered his way in between the sheets, cuddling into her chest. He didn’t speak, just clung to her tightly.

He had been having a rough time. No one quite knew why. Nick thought maybe he could be jealous of the two new babies in the house, but Spencer wasn’t so sure. He clung to her as if he was scared, she would disappear at a moment’s notice.

No one had seen him. He had kept silent, creeping along the hallway in his grandmother’s house. Listening in to the conversation being spoken softly to avoid waking the sleeping children they thought were upstairs. His sister was and was all tucked into her princess bed sleeping away any worries.

But not him.

He had seen the look of pain on his mother’s face. It haunted him. He was told his baby siblings were coming and it was normal, but a feeling of dread had settled in his stomach. Especially when the day passed with no word from his parents.

“What are we going to do?” He heard his grandmother whisper. “She could die. She’s fighting for her life and poor Nick can’t leave her side. He is completely devastated.” He peeked around the corner slowly to see tears streaming down her face. Her hand clamped across her mouth to muffle her sobs. His Pop wrapped her into his arms.

“We just have to hope and pray that Spencer can make it through this. The birth was hard, but the doctors will do everything they can. In the meantime, we can only be there for Nick and the kids. We don’t mention it until we know for sure what happens. They wouldn’t understand that she might never come home or why they couldn’t go visit her now. Best to just wait and see. She’s strong, Judy. She will make it through.”

It was then that little Jayden knew the dread in his tummy was for good reason. His mommy might not come home. He knew what death was. He watched animals die on the farm. He knows his birth mother is dead. Death means you never come back, and no one can ever visit you.

He slipped back upstairs to his sister’s room. Crawling into her bed, he tucked her into his arms as he silently cried. He needed to feel some sort of comfort and his baby sister was the only one there who wouldn’t ask questions.

He knows about his birth mother only from stories and pictures. She died but gave him the best mother he could ask for in return. Now, she might be leaving him too. He doesn’t want both his moms gone from him forever. What will he do without her? He needs his mommy. She was his everything.

He never told anyone what he overheard. No one has any inkling that he was aware Spencer may die.

Spencer wrapped her arms around her son, calmly rubbing his back. She wasn’t completely positive what Jay’s issue was, but she had an idea. Even if she didn’t know he overheard that conversation, kids see pain on their mother’s face and her being gone for over a week can impact them. The kids were able to visit her once she woke up, but she was sure it could have created some thoughts they didn’t know how to deal with.

Even Octavia had had a brief clingy spell when she came home from the hospital, but it only lasted a day.

Spencer’s heart hurt. Seeing Jayden like this was breaking her. All she wanted to do was know how to help him.

“I’m not going anywhere, my little man.” She squeezed him as tight as her sore body would allow as she felt his little body shake with silent sobs. The shirt covering her slowly getting damp with salty tears.

“Hey, buddy.” She hadn’t even heard Nick come back in. The heartbreak on his face matched hers as he crawled into bed to join them. “What’s going through that head, Jayden. We can’t help you if we don’t know what’s wrong,” Nick’s voice was soft but firm. It was time to get to the bottom of this. It had been over three weeks. Spencer was able to come home after about a week in the hospital and the twins remarkably were able to leave within four. Jayden’s behavior became more of a concern when Spencer came home. They thought at first it was just because she was still in the hospital.

“I-I d-don’t want y-you to die.” Jayden’s broken sobs got harder, heavier as Nick and Spencer glanced at each other in confusion.

“Buddy, I’m not going anywhere.” Spencer tried to get him to look at her, but he clung even tighter.

“Why do you think mommy is going to die?” Nick glanced at his son, concerned at what Jayden could be thinking, feeling.

“I h-heard Gram and P-pop.” Nick’s eyes squeezed shut as his confusion turned to a sad realization. His son had heard a conversation about possibly losing Spencer. His behavior made sense now.

Spencer took the lead, knowing what her son needed now was complete truth and honesty. “Listen, buddy,” she raised his face as gently as she could, wanting them to have eye contact. The tear streaked, red face looking back nearly broke her into her own sobs. “It’s true. I did almost die but the doctors were able to save me and now I am completely fine! I promise you I’m not about to leave you anytime soon.” She stroked his face, wiping his tears as they slowly stopped.

“Promise?” He weakly asked, holding out his pinky finger. She smiled before grasping his pinky with her own.

“Promise. I know it is scary, but just remember if anything were to happen to me, you have your Daddy and your siblings. Even your grandparents. They would need your help. You would need to be my strong boy and help them out.”

“I’ll try,” he mumbled into her stomach. “But you won’t leave me?”

“Not if I can help it. And the doctors fixed me from what was wrong I just need to rest and heal before I’ll be back to normal in no time.” Jayden seemed to accept that answer as she felt his body slowly relax.

She and Nick kept him wrapped in their arms, both whispering how much they loved him until they all slowly slipped asleep.

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

The next morning was much better. Jayden seems happier and much more outgoing than he had been in the past two weeks. Nick watched on in pride as Jay helped make breakfast for his sister. He really was an amazing boy. Nick still couldn’t quite believe that all this was his. Four amazing kids, a great house and farm, and an amazingly strong, courageous, and stunningly beautiful wife.

She amazed him constantly. The thought that he almost lost her still clutches at his heart, every so often nearly choking him with grief until he remembers she’s fine. She’s alive and with him.

A melodic chuckle greets his ears as his love walks into the kitchen. She still walks carefully, waddling every so often like an adorable penguin. She’s still uncomfortable, even painful where the surgical incisions are healing. He has done everything in his power to make her rest. His exhaustion means nothing to him if it means she can rest and be pain free.

The kids are all in the living room watching TV apart from the newborns sleeping in the nursery. They had raced passed their mother in a rush to watch their favorite show. Nick grabs the monitor from Spencer’s hand before placing it on the counter. He grabs her hand, pulling her into his body where she belongs. Her small arms circle around his waist as his head drops to the crook of her shoulder.

He traces the curve of her neck with his lips, relishing in the way she shivers against him. Her soft moan was music to his ears. He really shouldn’t be teasing her like this. But he loves the taste of her skin, loves feeling her soft curves against his. He has a constant need to be touching a part of her at all times.

“Nick.” She gasps softly feeling his tongue graze the shell of her ear.

“Hmm.” His attention was elsewhere, barely hearing his name pass through her lips. Relishing in the warm, pliant body molded to his. Constantly thanking whatever higher power that she is here, standing in front of him instead of far away. So far, he would never be able to reach her until his own death reunited them. He shuddered against her, causing her to glance up in concern.

She could see his eyes glistening with unshed tears, an unknown distance in his unfocused gaze. She reached up, caressing his cheek with her fingertips. She tilts her head, sadly gazing at her love who has captured her whole world.

She couldn’t begin to imagine how he had been feeling when she was on that table. Or maybe she could…just a bit. She thought about how she would feel if she suddenly lost him. That stomach dropping, heart clenching, grief. Knowing she would never have him by her side again. To have to tell her children that their father was never coming home. Yes, she could imagine it a bit. But she knew her thoughts would never come close to what he actually felt, knowing that it was a distinct possibility that she wouldn’t make it.

She shook her head clear. They couldn’t think about what ifs any longer. They needed to be present for each other and the kids. She leant up on her tip toes, softly grazing her lips against his parted ones. She felt as a tear overflowed his eye and slid down his cheek. She carefully wiped it with her thumb.

“I’m here.” She murmured. Trying to bring him back to her. “I’m here and I am okay. You can’t think about what could have been.”

He inhaled deeply, his nose nuzzled into the crook of her neck, taking in her scent. His arms tightened around her, the weight of his hold something she readily cherished. “I know. I just can’t stop thinking. I almost lost you. We almost lost you. And now to know Jayden has been living with what he heard for two weeks now. I failed him.”

“No. You didn’t. This wasn’t something we could have avoided, and no one knew he had heard that conversation. He wouldn’t tell us what was wrong. Remember, we have asked before. He just wasn’t ready yet.” Spencer knew their son. Nothing could draw those words out of him until he was ready to talk. He would either stay silent or pretend everything was fine. He was in that weird phase of his life where he was more aware of the workings of life. No longer constantly blabbing whatever ran through his head. Now, he thought about his words and the reactions they could elicit. He was a smart boy for his age.

“Yeah, I guess.” Nick gazed down at her, a new form of concern gracing his face. “I never asked…” He looked troubled, saddened even. She immediately understood what he was trying to say.

She smiled softly. “I’m fine. It sucks, yes, but I would much rather have my life than the ability to give birth. We created three gorgeous babies and have our amazing son. I couldn’t ask for anything more. Besides, periods are a bitch.” Nick chuckled at this knowing how well Spencer hated her periods. “If we ever want more kids, we can always adopt. Taking Jayden was the best thing and to be able to give another child a loving home, that would be icing on this otherwise perfect life.”

“Your brain has always been sexy.” Nick kissed her forehead, loving how large Spencer’s heart was. Adoption would be a great thing, maybe once the twins got a little older.

They gazed lovingly at one another, before leaning in a grazing each other’s lips. Nick took the liberty of grasping the back of her neck, bringing her closer. Her gasp enabling him to slip his tongue past her open lips to tangle with hers. He would never get enough of her taste.

*********

The weeks passed quickly. Spencer healed completely and life was back to normal. The twins were growing in leaps and bounds. Octavia and Jayden both loved their siblings dearly and helped with chores around the house. It was a blissful time.

One evening, after dinner, Spencer sat on the porch gazing out into the farmyard. The sun was slowly setting, basking her in a golden glow. To Nick’s gaze, she looked even more like the angel he knew she was. She slowly rocked, holding an infant in each arm with a serene look on her face. She watched closely as Jayden and Octavia ran around playing tag. Their shrill giggles cutting through the air.

A hand began to rub her shoulder, wrapping around to give her a squeeze. Nick gazed softly down at her and she could see all the love in his eyes that she knew was in hers. Life was perfect. He agreed once she murmured this out loud.

“With you, it will always be perfect.” He murmured before kissing her softly.

They stayed on the porch, Spencer still rocking Addison and Aiden while Nick watched on as they both watched the oldest children play. A few years ago, two broken souls met. Slowly mending each other’s hearts.

Now, they have a beautiful family. Love surrounding them at every word and gesture. Spencer knew deep in her soul, that she would never feel unhappy or unwanted again.

“How about some cocoa.” Nick asked no one in particular.

“With a pinch of cinnamon?!” Three voices answered and they all dissolved into laughter at how they said it at the same time. Life is perfect indeed.

The End!

A/N

A little different POV than I normally write. I truly hope you all enjoyed it. This is the last “Extra scene” for A Pinch of Cinnamon. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart to all who have read, commented, and voted. I am beyond happy that I was able to create something that you enjoyed. I started out with this tiny idea of wanting to write a romance that was basically love at first sight without much drama. I hope I succeeded with that. Let me know your thoughts! In the coming weeks, I will be editing the story more. Some sentences may change or even be added but the plot will not change.

<3 <3 <3 <3