[Backdated to September 2025, Just forgot to post it xD]

Idri sat at the dining room table with sketches and blue prints scattered over the top of it. He’d been looking at them for an hour and yet saw nothing. Instead, his hair stuck up at odd ends from him running his hands through it. Even his eye was currently uncovered in his distracted state. He knew he shouldn’t worry, that Dr. Bello had everything under control and would call them if anything went…awry. And yet, he couldn’t help it. The twins had been born two months early, and they hadn’t even been able to hold them yet. He and Noa had both spent hours in their room, reading to them and helping whenever the nurses would let them. Their clear enclosed cribs had places where gloves extended inside, and he and Noa had both made use of them whenever possible, but it wasn’t the same as holding their babies themselves.

Noa wasn’t taking the twins’ hospitalization well at all, either. He tried to calm her and help her relax whenever he could, but it wasn’t easy for either of them to relax. And yet, he had to finish going over the blue prints so the architect and the builders could get started. As much as Idri wanted to build their house himself, the most he was going to be able to do was help the professionals. He just didn’t have any experience with building a house from the ground up. Renovating? He could do that with his eyes closed.

A break. He just needed a break. With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair and wondered if Noa had woken up from her nap yet.

All Noa could do was nap ever since the twins were born. She was constantly upset, always crying, and just depressed in general. Dr. Bello did recommend her to a therapist for postpartum, but she knew that wasn't the case. Her babies were in those clear cribs you see in horror movies that are all about isolation and disease [which she knew this wasn't the intention]. With a sigh, she got out of bed and brushed her teeth, not caring that she looked like a crazed bush lady.

She did post a hiatus on her OnlyFans page so she could take these next couple of months off, but if anything she was starting to go crazy on top of everything else. Often, she would just hiss and swipe at anyone that chose to come near her, which meant most everyone in the household avoided being around her with the exception of Idri since apparently he often had a death wish. Walking barefoot in nothing but one of Idri’s t-shirts, Noa made her way into the kitchen to see if she wanted another cup of yogurt again for dinner.

It's not like she could keep anything else down at the moment.

After sending a message to Dmitry asking a few questions, he heard movement in the kitchen. Since Ainsley was at a friend's house with Alexis and Leiko was out somewhere (he hadn’t gotten a straight answer out of the kid when he left but figured he was old enough to get into and out of trouble himself, and knew to call if he needed extra help), it could only be Noa. He stood and headed toward the kitchen.

“Babe? Are you hungry?” She’d only been able to stomach yogurt lately, her nerves messing with her and making her feel nauseous about anything else. He thought he would try some barely seasoned chicken and white rice if she was up for it. He’d been the only one able to get any kind of close to her since the birth, and that was only because he was used to her claws. (There was also the possibility of a small piece of masochism clinging to his dominant nature.)

She immediately stiffened, messy hair covering much of her face while she reached into the fridge. “Getting yogurt.” was all she could manage to say, pulling out her choice dinner and holding it close like it was going to leave her. Strawberry dannamals just like what she used to eat when she was pregnant. “M’fine.” she tried to walk past him as carefully as she could, pace quickening just in case she had to dodge. They couldn't see the babies today so she would just sleep until they could on Monday.

Idri sighed quietly as he came toward the fridge and slipped an arm around her waist, having anticipated her dodge. He worried about her just as much as he worried about their babies. He tugged her close and held her against his chest. “You can’t sleep all weekend, my love,” he murmured. “And you should try eating something more substantial than strawberry yogurt.” He suspected the fruity cups were attributing to her upset. He knew she wasn’t fine, neither of them were, and wouldn’t be until their babies were home safe and sound.

Normally, Noa would have leaned back into the big embrace of her boyfriend, but lately all she's wanted from anyone was to be left alone so she could wallow in her misery. “I'm a grown a** woman Idri I CAN sleep all weekend. It's all I ever do anyway.” At the mention of her eating something other than the yogurt cup, Noa hissed, “It's all I WANT to eat. I don't want anything else.” Knowing if she asked verbally for Idri to let her go he wouldn't, so she dug her nails into his arms, all in an effort to get him to let her go. “Leave me alone…” she frowned and took a deep breath, dipping down and out of his grip while she crawled on her hands and knees for a bit till she was clear, speed walking to their room.

If she got there first, there was a lock.

He hissed when she dug her nails in but tried to hold her tighter. Unfortunately for him, Noa could wiggle out of his hold. He tried to grab her once she was on the floor, but she scuttled away before he could. “Noa!” he called as he chased after her. He couldn't let her get into the bedroom before he could grab the door. She would lock him out physically as well as she had mentally. ******** speed walking, he ran as he chased her and grabbed her around the waist just before she could hit the bedroom door. “Baby, stop running from me. Please.” He hugged her tightly against him, needing her to lean on him. He knew that she was taking the twins’ health crisis worse than he was, since she had been the one carrying them for seven months but they were still in this together.

She knew this is something couples do, they lean on each other in times like this. But how do you tell the one person you love most in the world that you're a ******** up? She had one ******** job, and that was to make sure she carried their babies to full term so they could be healthy….All she had to do was sit there and incubate two little souls that depended on her, and yet? She did something wrong along the way and put their lives in danger. Usually Noa was the one trying to get Idri to open up about something which caused her to feel even worse.

Which is why she felt her whole body shake before lashing out, throwing her yogurt cup against the wall along with the spoon. As soon as she saw it splash against the wall, her face fell, her lip trembled, and she let out a wail full of heartbreak and sorrow. Why did she do that!? The whole reason for the damned yogurt was because that was one of the foods she often craved when she was carrying her babies. At this point she was ugly crying, trying to sink to the floor.

She was a horrid mother.

Idri held her against him, feeling her shake and hating that he couldn’t just make everything better. Noa, the babies, everything they were stressed over, but Noa most of all. It hurt his heart to see her so distraught and know there was very little he could do besides tell her he was there for her, and always would be. The wail she let out broke his heart into tiny pieces as he sank to the floor with her and pulled her into his lap, holding her tightly.

“Let it out, baby,” he told her. “Let it all out, and give it to me so I can help you bear the weight.” He would carry all of it if it meant he could see her smile again. He wanted her to tell him what it was that had her so upset. It couldn’t just be postpartum, or over the twins being in the hospital. “Talk to me, Noa,” he asked, a desperate tone in his voice. “Please…”

As Idri sank down with her to the floor, Noa curled up in his lap, sobbing brokenly into his chest. “I-I'm such a ******** horrible mom!” She wailed, “I couldn't carry the twins to term and they're in plastic cribs in the hospital because I couldn't do my job right and keep them healthy!” she continued, “I miss them! I miss Haji kicking my bladder and Gabi squiggling behind her brother.” She clung to him like a lifeline, “I want them home….I want to hold them without barriers. My ******** tits leak and I cant feed them either…Because I ******** up. They hurt, my stomach feels empty…I want our babies…” she started to go quiet, “I knew I was going to be a horrible mother. I'm so sorry Idri..”

“Oh, love…” He held her close and rubbed her back as she wailed, listening to her explain. It was all wrong, but to her mind it was true. “No!” he said, not harshly but hard enough to make her listen to him. “None of this is your fault, Noa.” He tilted her head up to look at him, one arm holding her while his other hand cupped her face in his palm. “You’re going to be an incredible mother. It wasn’t because of anything you did, or didn’t do. These things happen sometimes, that’s all it is,” he promised. “We’ll have them home soon, and you’ll be a great mother.” He knew she would. Those babies would never want for anything between their parents, godparents, other family, and friends.

They would be the definition of spoiled rotten.

“They’re going to be fine, mi amor. We’ll have Haji and Gabi crying at all hours of the night for one reason or another, and you’ll be there to give it to them. We’ll be there for them.” Always.

She felt so small and helpless while Idri held her, looking into his eyes while he explained that she would be an incredible mother and that none of this was her fault. Deep down, she felt like she knew this but it still felt…wrong. Noa buried her face into Idri’s shirt, hiccuping softly, “Can you sleep with me please?” As much as she's been sleeping alone lately, she missed the comfort and presence of her boyfriend. “Don't wanna be alone anymore.”

He could see in her eyes that she didn't quite believe what he said and held her close while she buried her face against his chest. “Of course, amor. Anything you need,” he said softly, kissing the top of her head. She might not believe him now, but she would when the twins were finally home. He didn't really believe in a higher power, but he had faith in the doctors, faith in their babies, and faith in the love he had for Noa. They were strong enough to get through this and anything else that came against them, he knew it.

After holding her there for a little while longer, he shifted her just enough so he could stand with her still in his arms. They could sleep now, and maybe he would be able to get some food into her in the morning. And maybe he would bother Dr. Bello for an update or a picture.