CHAPTER 57 - FULL CIRCLE

Romeo POV:

Its been an interesting few months to say the least, Alina is now about two weeks away from her due date, and business all round has been doing well, we have had a few people trying to take over but I'm always one step ahead. Keeping Alina and our babies safe has been a major priority, I recall the day Alina had to go on maternity leave, I swear there were more mood swings than I have ever seen in a woman in one day but the baby shower her employees threw her made her cry every two seconds, but happy tears.

She's had an easy pregnancy, well about as easy as it can get when you are carrying twins. One day I had a shoe thrown at me because she couldn't fit into a dress she has bought a week before and I told her she looked beautiful and to try something else, heels can be used as weapons I swear. We have so much things for the babies that three guest rooms are full beside the babies' room. It looks amazing Jake and Alina had decorated it. My mom and dad flew out with Isabella as soon as they could to be here when the twins are born, and rented a house nearby.

Mari is in remission, and it came as a welcomed relief to us all, would you believe it if I said that her and Leo are engaged and so are Jake and Luc. I guess we all found our someone after all, except Dario, he and Kelsey remain friends, he still isn't over the love of his life Gabby. Right now I'm sitting in my home office, I don't want to be away from Alina working out of the casino in case she goes into labour. "Romeo?" I hear my sweet wife call as she waddles slightly walking into my office.

"Bella? Everything alright?" I ask a bit concerned, but smiling at her in a big shirt of mine and yoga pants.

"Si, I need help with the...." Alina pauses and breathes out and I frown slightly and she rubs her belly. "This has been happening all morning, I swear your boys don't want to give me a break today."

"What's been happening?" I ask concerned as I make my way to her.

"I don't know, its like cramps, been happening for a few hours now. Its not bad just uncomfortable," Alina says shrugging. As I reach her she looks down and we see a puddle forming at her feet. "Romeo, I think my water just broke," Alina says calmly and freeze. Oh God this is it.

"Romeo? Romeo!" Alina snaps me out of it. "I need to change and get to the hospital," Alina says and I nod, actually I'm panicking on the inside, something that never, ever happens. Alina tends to have this effect on me. Alina had to talk me into letting her have a shower and that there's enough time, so I waited patiently for her to finish and put her in an oversized hoodie and new yoga pants and flats, the look I got was not pleasant due to the outfit choice. "Romeo grab the baby bag and my suitcase by the stairs," Alina says noticing I'm walking around like an idiot trying to find my phone that's in my hand.

"Right, fuck where are the guys?" I ask to no one in particular.

"Romeo they are already waiting outside, I asked them while you were searching for your phone that's in your hand. My contractions aren't slowing down, we need to move or these babies will come right here on the marble foyer!" Alina says a bit irritated. I grab the bags not wanting to poke the mommy right now or she will go off at me or worse cry.

Dario, Leo and Vince are waiting by the car and Leo grabs the bags and puts them in the trunk as I help Alina in. "How are you doing bella?" I ask fully aware that it's a stupid question, as Alina glares at me.

"What do you think?" Alina says as she grabs my hand as the contraction hits, "it hurts," she says holding her round belly.

"Dario please just get us there soon," I say a bit flustered and Leo starts chuckling, Vince ever the marble statue even broke a smile. "Not a word Leo, or I will shoot you, you will understand when Marissa has a kid," I say annoyed and he holds his hands up. We arrive about fifteen minutes later at a private hospital where we meet doctor Bennett, she immediately takes Alina and wheels her to the maternity ward, with Vince and Leo, while I fill out the paperwork. This is going to be the longest day but I'm sure the most rewarding. If I'm honest, I'm slightly terrified but excited. I'm ready for this, we are ready for this, our baby boys.

As I walk into the private room a few minutes later Leo is standing looking pale, but smiling at the door and practically bolts. Thanks! The nurse is helping Alina into a hospital gown and Alicia is hooking her up to all sorts of machines, not long I hear something that stops me in my tracks as I hold Alina's hand, the sound of our babies heartbeats. This has got to be the most beautiful thing have ever heard. "Alina, I love you so much and I'm sorry you're in so much pain, I wish it were me," I say as she squeezes my hand.

"I think you would rather take a bullet than this, but I appreciate it, and I love you too," Alina says with a tired laugh.

"Right Alina, I need to see how far you're dilated," Alicia says, as Alina nods. "It seems you're further along than I thought, your already at seven, which means you have been in labour a while," Alicia says frowning.

"Yeah, the cramps only got worse this morning but I thought it was just me expanding again or something, those pains are terrible," Alina says with a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead.

"Well it's too late for an epidural now, I'm sorry dear, but it's going to be natural birth, I wouldn't risk it so close to ten," Alicia says and I actually feel like I'm about to lose my cool, she's in so much pain. I can't shoot the doctor, she's a woman and your twins need to be born. "You definitely won't be too long, I will come check on you in a little while," Alicia says and we both nod.

"Alina, I need to give the guys instructions. I had Leo call Jake and Mari, so they are here, I will let them in, I will only be a few minutes," I say apologetically.

"Si, I understand, and they must be freaking out by now," Alina says laughing, but squeezing my hand, which I kiss and I move to open the door and Jake and Mari are bouncing outside, and I motion for them to go in. Guess I didn't have to tell them twice.

I step out into the hall and my parents and Isabella are here with flowers and Teddy bears, and I'm glad Dimitri was in town, he's been staying close which I'm grateful for. Alina has even let her mother be here today, so we have quite the gathering at the hospital, Luc is smiling at me like a crazy person, which is infectious. "Luc, I need you to organise a floor lock down, we can't have anyone near Alina and the babies, it's too risky. I need our best guarding the floor, reception and outside. Dimitri and Dario will help you while Leo and Vince stay with me," I say as confidently as I can.

"Sure bro, I'm on it, already called in reinforcements," Luc says winking.

"Thanks," I answer as my mother comes up to me beaming.

"So? How long?" My mother asks.

"Not long, she's at seven, so three more to go and we will be having two new additions to the family," I say proudly and realising my mother is speaking English not Italian.

"Well son, go in there and be with her, your father is here too, nothing will happen," She says and I nod and let out a breath, heading back to the room and I open the door and Jake and Mari nod and walk out quietly.

"How are you feeling bella?" I ask my exhausted wife.

"Terrible, but I would do this all over again, to meet our babies," Alina says as she squeezes my hand and breathes heavily.

I kiss her lips, she's incredible. It's been about a two hours of Alicia and the nurse coming in and checking and we are almost there. "You're at nine, Alina, it's almost time, your moving rapidly, so we are setting everything up in here now. It won't be long now maybe a half hour to an hour," Alicia says and Alina nods breathing heavily and groaning. I look outside and it's dark already, and check the clock on the wall, it's after eight, guess our boys are eager to make their way into the world.

A very slow half hour later Alicia says its time. Alina looks exhausted already and I wish I could do something. "Alright Alina, it's time to push, every time I say, you push as hard as you can," Alicia says and it dawns on me, we are about to have two little lives in a matter of minutes. Holy shit, our flesh and blood. It's like I'm watching in slow motion, holding onto Alina's hand, speaking words of encouragement.

"Romeo it hurts," Alina cries, and I dab her sweaty forehead.

"You're the strongest woman I know bella, you can do this, come on, I'm right here with you, always," I say meaning every single word. After a good few minutes, Alina gives one final push and she falls back breathing heavily and we hear a cry, oh my god, one of our miracles are here!

There's barely a break and Alina wails and she squeezes me hand. "Romeo I'm so tired, I don't know if I can do this again right now," She says tears running.

"You got this, I'm here, and our baby needs his brother," I can't help but chuckle, he can't stay in there. Alina nods and immediately feels the need to push, and Alicia gives her words of encouragement, after three pushes our second miracle is born. Alina falls back exhausted, I don't know how she done it, but she did, I kiss her forehead and she says to go see them. While they are taking care of Alina I walk over to the boys, currently baby one and baby two. They are perfect, a few pounds of pure love and joy, I can remember the first time I felt them move, it freaked me out, not going to lie but, it was amazing, but this, nothing compares to this.

They have black tufts of hair, and from what I can see their mom's blue eyes, they look a bit like me, but I can't tell for sure yet. My boys are already heartbreakers, good luck ladies, you will need it. They are cleaned off and Alicia hands them to me, ok, this is new, I have never held babies before but I'm doing alright. I walk over to Alina and she's sitting up slightly and she beams at me and giggles because I'm probably so awkward, and I hand her the babies with some help. "Romeo, they are so beautiful," Alina says and I see happy tears fall softly down her cheeks, and one of the boys gives a tiny yawn and opens his eyes and they are bright blue just like Alina and his brother has more my color blue, slightly darker leaning toward grey. She's right they are so beautiful.

"I think I want you to name baby number one, the big brother?" Alina says smiling.

"How about, Nicolo Romeo De Luca, Nico for short, and my name in there because I have my father's," I say proudly and Alina smiles brightly.

Alina looks down at our second baby with so much love, "I love it! My little baby number two, you will be Maximo Giovanni De Luca, after your uncle, and now we have little Nico and Max, I absolutely love it!" Alina says excitedly as the nurse put's it on their cribs and hospital bands. I have already taken so many pictures of our beautiful boys.

"Bella, I'm going to tell the family, you rest for a moment, and do what you need to do," I say smiling at my exhausted wife and she nods. I go out and everyone is waiting patiently and they all look up on anticipation, "they are here, very healthy and beautiful, Nicolo Romeo and Maximo Giovanni De Luca," I say feeling slightly exhausted myself, like the adrenaline rush is over. I get a series of congratulations, and they all want to see the babies, "give Alina some time, you can see them in about an hour," I say proudly.

Leo comes over to me, "good luck cousin, if they are anything like we all are you are going to need it," he says laughing and I can't help but join him. After an hour I let my parents and Alina's mother and Dimitri go in, followed by the rest of the troops, they are all in awe of our little boys, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Our babies are blessed to have this large loving family.

We are parents, and I didn't know love like this existed till now, the three of them are my life and I would die for them. I can't wait to be home with them and be the best father I can be in this life.