Idri hadn’t told Noa where he’d gone this morning, but Dr. Bello had called him with good news. The twins were ready to come home. They had both been so stressed and worried about them since the day Noa went into labor. He wanted to surprise her by bringing them home along with the two small bouquets of her favorite flowers tucked in beside them in the carriers. He had just gotten home and was still in the car when he called Noa.

“Baby, can you come out to the car for a minute? I’ve got something I need your help with,” he said, a soft smile on his face. He left the car running, keeping the warm air on so the babies would catch a chill. They had been taken off of all the equipment, a sight he had wanted to spare Noa. They had seen the babies hooked up to monitoring equipment enough. She needed to see them healthy and whole, out of the hospital. They were still sleeping, having dozed off on the drive home.

Noa did not want to come outside…It meant she had to get dressed somewhat lest she wanted to expose her nethers to the cold outside. She groaned over the phone, “No. I'm fine where I'm at. I’ll leave when Halloween comes around.” then she would be happy because the babies would be around and she could busy herself by being a mother.

He held in a quiet sigh. “I know, but I have a surprise for you, and I can’t carry it all in by myself,” he said softly. “Please? I really think you’ll be happier when you see what I have. Just throw on one of my hoodies and a pair of sweatpants.” If she still said no, then he would take them in himself. He just didn’t want them to be crying when she saw them at home for the first time. There would be plenty of crying in their future, and as strange as it was, he was looking forward to all of it.

If he was in such a hurry for her to come outside…

Noa sighed and dressed in one of Idri’s hoodies and sweatpants, slipping into her bat slippers and making her way outside. She stopped outside of the door with her arms crossed, looking down at her feet. Did he need help with groceries or something? “Well, I'm outside….”

He smiled when he saw her and hung up the phone before getting out. He made his way to her and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Come here, my little goth bunni,” he said, taking her hand to pull her toward the car. He pulled the back door open to reveal both car seats and flowers. “So? How do you like your surprise?” He carefully lifted Haji's carrier from the car so she could see him, whole and healthy. “Our babies are home, and they're healthy. Want to help me get them inside?”

Hummn?

Noa did blush a little at the kiss and the nickname Idri gave her, following his lead to the big SUV [considering Idri’s size, she could see how he would need it] she was expecting something like a whole bag of Danimals but what she saw instead brought tears to her eyes. Their babies? They were healthy and home? Idri lifted Haji’s carrier and she really broke down, but at least she was smiling. “H-Hajime?” she looked at the small human being in the carrier and brought a shaking finger to his cheek. So soft…This little human being, him and his sister, that she carried for seven months was finally home.

Looking up at her boyfriend, Noa smiled brightly and quickly ran to the other side to grab Gabbi, turning her smile towards her little princess. “Welcome home baby girl~” she held the carrier confidently, making her way back over to Idri. “Thank you, for everything Idri.” She leaned on the side of him that wasn't holding their son, nuzzling her face against his arm.

God, the look on her face when she saw Haji. It broke his heart and put it back together again all at once. Haji stirred only slightly when Noa's chilled fingertip stroked his cheek. This time, when she cried it didn’t hurt him. It was a relief to see the weight lifted from her small frame, to watch her race to the other side of the car to get Gabi out and carry her so confidently.

She was beautiful, smiling as she carried their daughter. He leaned down when he felt her weight against him, kissing her head lightly. “I would do anything for you,” he murmured. “Come on,” he said, sliding an arm around her. “Let's get these two inside and settled in.” Finally, the cribs and clothes they had bought would be put to use, and their home would be filled with the sound of babies laughing, crying, playing. It would be the most incredible chaos, and he couldn't wait.