Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 1043 : Precious Therapy

*Leo*

I tried to rest like Bianca and her mother suggested but I found myself still awake in the early hours of the morning, watching my fiancee and our son sleep peacefully.

I had attempted to lean back in one of the padded chairs by the window but after a couple of hours of tossing and turning, I gave up and returned to the chair that was by Bianca’s bed.

The hospital dragged in a crib for our son. He looked so small in the stark white hospital blanket. He was healthy though and for that, I was so grateful. He was born premature as well but he was already doing well considering. The doctors and nurses were pleased with his numbers.

I couldn’t be more relieved.

I made my way over to the crib and peered inside. My son was completely swaddled, his eyes closed. I felt the need to touch him but did so slowly and carefully so I didn’t wake him. I settled for just stroking the top of his head with a couple of fingers.

I couldn’t get over how tiny he was. I knew babies were small but I felt like I could hold my son in just one hand. He looked so fragile as well even though I knew he was healthy.

I had spent hours staring at him since I held him for the first time. It was like something clicked in me. It was the first time I truly felt like a father.

I was still coming to terms with it in a lot of ways but I knew that I would do anything for this little person. I knew that went for his sister too. I didn’t think I could love someone just as much as I loved Bianca and yet here I was, staring into my son’s crib with this powerful sense of wonder.

I leaned down so that I could place a kiss onto the top of his head.

After brushing the tiny wisps of hair on his head, I stepped away and returned to Bianca’s side, sitting down and just watching her sleep. It was tempting to reach out and stroke her cheek as well but she was conscious now. I didn’t want to risk waking her up. She needed all of the rest she could get.

I heard firm footsteps behind me and looked up, my body tightening automatically, prepared to protect my fiancee from any possible threat.

I felt foolish as soon as I saw that it was just Dr. Hawthorne. He smiled at me and nodded politely. I could tell that he had just gotten there by the way his hair was perfectly combed back and not a single wrinkle on his white lab coat.

“Oh, forgive me,” he said in a low voice. “I was just going to go over some of Miss Bianca’s lab results but everything came back pretty well so it can wait until she is awake.”

I was going to thank him when I remembered something. “Could I speak to you in the hallway?” I asked.

The doctor nodded and gestured for me to lead the way.

“How can I help you?” he asked once we stepped out into the bright hallway.

I met his gaze steadily. “I was wondering if it would be possible to have our daughter transferred out of the NICU and into my fiancee’s room,” I said carefully.

The doctor’s expression was grim as he considered this. I could see him making his medical calculations behind his eyes. “Your daughter is still developing,” he said finally. “It wouldn’t be without its risks to transfer her but she is mostly out of danger now. I’ll see if we can pull some strings and have that taken care of for you.”

“Thank you,” I told him sincerely. “My fiancee is very worried about our daughter so I know it will help both of them to be together.”

It took almost an hour for the doctor to get everything sorted out but he was able to get it done. Within the hour, my daughter was being wheeled into the room. My heart broke at the sight of her incubator. It was a small box but somehow, she looked smaller and more fragile than her premature brother.

As the incubator was brought closer to me, I realized that it was true. Our daughter was much smaller than our son. I wondered why that was but didn’t dare speak. I wasn’t sure I wanted Bianca to wake up and see this.

It clearly wasn’t my choice. The squeaking from the wheels and the couple of nurses coming in was more than enough chaos to wake Bianca. She stirred and then opened her eyes warily. It took her a moment to register what was going on but when she did, she sat up with difficulty.

I rushed to her side. “Slowly, love,” I told her, setting a hand on her shoulder to keep her against the pillows.

Bianca’s eyes were impressively wide considering she just woke up. “Our daughter,” she said with a whimper, her eyes on the incubator.

I was sure that the pain and devastation in her eyes was perfectly mirrored in mine. I felt my throat start to close up. “I know,” I told her, trying to be strong for her and for myself. “Stay there, we’ll bring her to you.”

Bianca met my gaze and it was the most stubborn expression I had ever seen on her. “No,” she said with the strength that she shouldn’t have been able to muster. She stared at me unflinchingly. “I want to stand up and see her.”

I understood exactly what she meant by that so how could I deny her this even though I knew that she shouldn’t be getting up yet?

I couldn’t.

“Careful, love,” I murmured, putting an arm behind her shoulders to support her.

Bianca completely ignored me, shifting to the side of the bed as quickly as she could. All I could do was keep my arms around her so that she wouldn’t hurt herself.

“Miss Bianca, you shouldn’t be getting up,” one of the nurses protested.

“Please, I have to,” Bianca said weakly.

The two nurses looked at her, looking ready to argue but even they couldn’t go against the desperate look in my fiancee’s eyes.

“I’ve got her,” I told the two women with conviction. I made a show her putting a strong arm around her waist, pulling Bianca’s arm around my neck. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

I was able to get Bianca to a standing position without help. The nurses quickly brought the incubator over so that Bianca wouldn’t have to walk very far.

I heard Bianca inhale sharply, her legs shaky as she leaned against me but she seemed determined to stand on her own, as if shouldering the responsibility of our daughter’s condition. I just tightened my hold on her, wordlessly telling her that that wasn’t going to happen. I was her parent too. I was just as responsible for her in every way.

Bianca seemed to push out everything around her, taking a shaky step to close the gap between her and our baby girl. She had tears building in her eyes, her lips tightening as she placed a trembling hand on top of the incubator.

“Her lungs are developing well,” the doctor said.

I looked up at him. I hadn’t noticed that he walked in.

He smiled kindly, his expression sympathetic as he crossed the room to stand next to us. “If you wouldn’t mind attempting a new kind of therapy,” he began. “It has been proven that twins can gains can gain strength from one another. I’d like to suggest laying your son and daughter together to help your daughter become stronger.”

Bianca and I met gazes. It was clear without either of us speaking what we wanted to do. We would do anything for our children already, despite the fact that we had only been with them for a few days.

“Yes, please do anything you could would help,” I said to the doctor. “Anything that we can do to help her.”

The nurses carefully removed the top of the incubator and placed our son inside of it with our daughter.

We all watched as our children got settled. Our daughter didn’t move but our son started to wriggle around, seeming confused by his new surroundings.

It was shocking to see the size difference between the two now that they were sharing the same space for the first time since they were in the womb together. Our son was nearly double the size of our daughter. Our little man didn’t seem to mind the size difference at all though. As soon as he felt his little sister, he immediately curled his arms around her, cuddling her close to him.

My heart soared at the sight and I felt a smile lift the sides of my lips. “That’s my boy,” I murmured proudly.

I looked over at Bianca that she was smiling widely, tears dripping from her cheeks. I hugged her close and kissed the droplets away.

“It’s working,” one of the nurses said in awe. “Her heart rate is already stabilizing.”

We all watched as our daughter stirred slightly in her brother’s arms and grabbed onto our little boy’s hand. The nurses put their hands over their hearts and beamed at the scene.

It was the most miraculous thing I had ever witnessed.

“That was much more effective than it normally is,” Doctor Hawthorne said. He smiled at us before jotting something down on his clipboard. “If things keep up at this rate, I predict that you’ll all be able to be discharged in just a couple of days.”

I wrapped my arms more firmly around Bianca as she stiffened in surprise. “That would be wonderful,” she said, sounding like she was going to start crying again.

“Okay, young lady,” I said in a mock serious voice. I started to lead her back toward the bed. “I think it’s time you got some more rest.”

“I just stood up,” Bianca protested, looking down at our babies. “Look at them, Leo. Aren’t they precious?”

I kissed her temple but continued to guide her back to bed. She was still too weak to fight me and I easily got her back beneath the covers. “Yes,” I answered, adoration in my voice. “But if their mommy wants to come home sooner, she needs her rest as well.”

The nurses grinned at us, giving Bianca a teasing wink. “Why don’t we go over breastfeeding with you,” one of them suggested, stepping forward with a pamphlet.

Bianca pouted but nodded reluctantly. Her eyes studied me all of a sudden. “You look exhausted, Leo,” she said, her voice guilty.

I stroked her cheek. “I’m fine,” I assured her.

She didn’t look like she believed me. “Why don’t you go down to the cafeteria,” she said, eyeing me. “You look like you lost weight.”

I looked down at myself, wincing when I realized I hadn’t changed clothes in over a day. I probably could use some fresh air now. Bianca was looking so much better and I wasn’t as worried about the twins anymore.

I could leave them for a few minutes.

I nodded and then looked at the nurses. “Make sure she behaves,” I told them, causing them to giggle and wink at me before they started to teach Bianca about breastfeeding.

I felt some tension in my shoulders release as I stepped out of the room and started down the hallway when I spotted Alessandro heading toward me.

“Sorry to bother you after everything,” Al said.

I smirked. “I’m used to it by now,” I told him.

“Bianca?” he asked.

“Doing much better,” I said, a bit touched by his concern.

“Your children?” he pressed.

“Healing but doing well all things considered.”

“Good,” he said before his eyes hardened. “We need to talk.”