Runaway Love

Pain. That's the first thing I take note of. Horrible pain in my abdomen and my left knee pull my focus from the soreness all over my body to those two focal points. I try to move my hands toward what's hurting, but they feel like they weigh a hundred pounds. I groan and hear a soft, female voice over me. "Josie, wake up Josie."

I groan and blink at the bright lights. A figure dressed in scrubs leans over me, and I shrink back, gasping in pain as the movement jars my abdomen. "Try not to move, honey. Now that you are awake I can set up a drip for pain medication."

I hear bustling beside me, but don't dare move as waves of pain wash over me. A button is pressed into my hand and she places my thumb on the top. I take in my surroundings more. I'm in a recovery room, I recognize it from having my nose reset a few weeks ago. My left leg is propped up and bandaged, the sheet baring my thigh down. My head flops back against my pillow, still feeling heavy, but my mind is starting to clear.

"Press it when you need help managing the pain. Don't try to be a hero and not use it. If you're hurting, use it. You've got two girls to look after, and they'll need you to be able to move and feed them. I would suggest thinking about pressing it soon, we have to get you up to the mother-baby ward, and there are a few bumps in the floor between here and there. Remember it's easier to stay on top of pain control than it is to play catchup because you were feeling brave." My girls, mother-baby ward. I hadn't even realized. Memories came crashing back on me. Flashes of the accident with Sam. Was he alright? Then being held at the warehouse, fighting with Josh. Josh shooting as I shot. Clearly, I had made it, but had he? My eyes flicked around the room, settling on Oliver who stepped closer when he saw my eyes find him. He stepped forward and rested his hand over mine.

"Sam?" I asked, my voice on the verge of breaking.

"He's alright, just a few scratches and bruises. Nothing, a few stitches, and an ice pack couldn't fix." He said with a gentle smile.

"Josh?" I asked, not completely convinced I wanted to know.

"Don't have to worry about him ever again." He said with a shake of his head while he held my gaze.

I nodded and blinked back tears, staring at the tiled ceiling. So many emotions coursed through me, anger, relief, grief, joy. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel.

Sean appeared and noticed me awake. He walked quickly to my side, taking my free hand and bringing it to his mouth. I smiled as he kissed the back of my hand.

"You don't know how much you scared us. I don't think I've ever been as scared as I have been in the last few days ever in my life. Don't you dare ever consider leaving us, not ever again." He said, leaning over and kissing the top of my head. Confusion filled my mind. Leave them, I wouldn't leave them. I thought back and didn't remember saying anything about leaving.

"You coded on us twice." Oliver filled in, clearing my confusion.

A sharp cry from the corner rang out, pulling my attention away from my response and to the cry. My eyes automatically drifted to the corner behind Oliver. He turned and picked up a pink bundle, shushing while he gently rocked. Tears burned behind my eyes again, but this time because of love and joy that filled my heart at the sight of that giant man holding my child. He turned and faced me, walking toward the bed. His face was full of love.

"Someone wants to meet their mama." He said, stopping beside the bed.

His large form leaned over the bed, gently handing me the pink bundle. A pillow was placed on my belly to help me support her without resting her on my sore abdomen. I looked down and took in her head full of red hair, and her blue squinting eyes. Her cheeks were full and her little hands in fists, being sucked into her mouth.

"Someone's hungry." The nurse said over my shoulder. "Would you like help feeding?" She asked.

I looked up at her, completely lost in what to do. I nodded frantically. She chuckled at my panic and pushed my giant boyfriend out of the way. She pulled down one shoulder of my gown and helped me latch the little bundle in my arms. I winced at the pain as she latched, but sighed as it subsided a few minutes later.

When my baby was done eating, Oliver took her back to her bassinet and he and Sean each pushed one as they followed us to the mother-baby ward. Another nurse was waiting in the room, checking everything over. They wheeled the bed over and locked it, ensuring I was settled and comfortable as they left.

I closed my eyes and took everything in. I felt a weight settle on the bed beside me. Opening my eyes I saw Sean there, looking concerned.

"How are you, darling?" He asked, taking my hand.

"Sore, but alright," I said, still processing all that happened the last few days.

"You are the strongest person I know, and we are here when you need us. We've been where you are before-well kind of. Dr. Darling also wanted to pass on his congratulations and let you know that he's in office if you want to talk. If not, he'll see you Monday at your scheduled appointment." he said, kissing my forehead before getting up and checking on the girls.

My heart swelled at the sight of my two men bent over the bassinets, just looking at my girls. Nothing but love and compassion is shown in their stance and faces. They had long ago accepted them as their own.

A knock on the door brought my attention to the couple entering the room. A smile grew on my face as Sarah and Sam entered the room. My gaze fell to their hands intertwined as they approached us. Sarah was beaming, but Sam's face was stoic as he met Oliver's gaze.

I looked over at him and shot him a knowing look. His expression fell from protective concern to indifference as he nodded at Sam. I knew he wouldn't stop them but would have a private chat with Sam threatening him to an inch of his life if he hurt Sarah.

"Congrats!" Sarah beamed as she carefully leaned over and hugged me.

"You too!" I said, throwing a glance back at their hands.

Her face heated, but she smiled. I was happy things were working for them. There had been chemistry since I came to know them.

Sally and the guys trickled through and passed on congratulations and love. I slowly realized that for the first time in a long time I felt safe, and loved. I didn't have to look over my shoulder anymore.

Around dinner, everyone had made their round saying hi to the girls and congratulating us.

The next few days passed in a haze of catnaps, feedings, and diapers. Before I knew it, we were headed home. We were packed up, the guys loaded down the last of the bags and two carriers with our girls in them. I was on crutches, which were next to impossible to use while recovering from the c-section. A nurse pushed me to the car and helped me stand and shuffle closer to the passenger seat. I was thankful that they hadn't brought my lower car, or Sean's high truck, getting into the butt-level seat of the SUV was hard enough.

Oliver had set up the car seats in his SUV, so we secured them in their bases and put the bags in the trunk. Sean helped me settle better into the passenger seat, making sure I was comfortable and secured by my seatbelt in the front seat before giving me a kiss.

"Breathe, darling. There's no danger here, the threat is gone. Trust us to get you home safe." He whispered.

I took in a ragged breath that I hadn't realized I was holding. Tears fell down my cheeks as my chest loosened from its panic. Sean's thumbs wiped away my tears and his mouth claimed mine. I held his lips to mine by tangling my fingers in his uncharacteristically long hair. He bit my lower lip and pulled away, his eyes betraying his hunger. He stood, adjusting himself before closing the door, giving me a knowing smirk.

Oliver climbed and his hand tightened on my thigh. He pulled out of the hospital, being careful of bumps and jostling the car too much. I smiled at the small consideration of me and my girls.

Before long we pulled into the driveway of our home. Oliver looked at me and smiled. He got out and opened my door, helping me to my feet, and then to the front door.

"Welcome home, Adalyn and Marie," Sean said as he carried the girls in and set them down on the floor to get them from their seats.

Home, someplace that now represented joy and love. A place where we get to raise our children, make more, and just be together. No longer did we have fear and anxiety haunting us, or my past interfering with our present. I smiled at the feeling of security that I hadn't felt in so long.