Talia barely had time to process the sudden gush of warmth before she gasped, clutching her belly. "Mia! It's happening… my water just broke!" Panic and excitement tangled in her voice.
Mia, ever the quick-thinker, sprang into action. "Okay, deep breaths! Grab your hospital bag, and I'm calling a cab, no way we're waiting for an Uber!"
Despite the chaos, Talia couldn't help but laugh at Mia's frantic but determined energy. "Girl, you sound like you've done this before!"
"Trust me, this is *not* my first rodeo, and I'm not losing you now. Twins or not, you're coming with me!"
As they sped to the hospital, contractions started to build, slow and steady. Two whole days stretched ahead, full of nerves, laughter between pain, and Mia's relentless pep talks.
Meanwhile, miles away, Ethan was locked in a boardroom, oblivious to the storm unfolding in Talia's life. His phone buzzed repeatedly with updates from his assistant , the news hitting him like a freight train. His baby was arriving, and he wasn't there.
The business trip was relentless, but Ethan's mind was elsewhere now, torn between corporate war and the undeniable pull to be by Talia's side, whatever it took.
-
Talia gripped Mia's hand as another wave of pain crashed over her. "I swear, Mia, if you tell me to breathe one more time, I'm going to strangle you!"
Mia laughed, tears in her eyes. "You can strangle me after the twins are born, I promise."
In the hospital room, the hours crawled by. Nurses came and went, offering comfort and encouragement, but it was Mia's constant presence that kept Talia grounded.
"Remember when you couldn't even sew a straight line?" Mia teased gently, "Now look at you, gonna be a mom to two little humans. You're amazing."
Talia squeezed her eyes shut, pain and hope mingling. "If these babies are anything like you, Mia, I'm doomed."
Meanwhile, Ethan's phone buzzed again , a message from his assistant with the latest update: "Labor started. Twins on the way. She's strong."
His jaw clenched. "Strong? She's a warrior. I'm missing this."
He stared out the window, the city lights blurring as his mind raced. Business could wait. These babies were his world now.
---
Talia's contractions came in waves, sometimes sharp and sudden, sometimes slow but relentless. Mia paced the small hospital room, chatting nonstop to keep Talia's mind off the pain.
"Remember that disastrous date you told me about? Where the guy brought his mom along?" Mia laughed softly. "Honestly, I'm convinced you should just stick to your fashion gigs and stay away from men altogether."
Talia groaned through another contraction. "Trust me, I'm reconsidering my entire life plan."
The nurses kept checking on her, encouraging deep breaths and steady pushes. Every now and then, Talia glanced at the clock, the hours dragging on.
Mia pulled out her phone, scrolling through photos of Talia's early designs. "Your work is about to blow up, you know? You're going to be famous."
Talia smiled weakly. "If I survive these twins first."
Meanwhile, across the country, Ethan sat in a sleek hotel suite, staring at his phone as more updates came in from the hospital. His heart pounded, he wanted to be there, but the business trip was non-negotiable.
He rubbed his face, the weight of his new reality settling in. These twins were his future. And soon, he'd have to step up, whether he was ready or not.
...
...
Talia's breathing grew ragged as the contractions intensified. Mia grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly. "You got this, T. Just a little longer."
Talia's eyes fluttered shut. "I never thought I'd be the one to bring twins into this world alone…"
Mia shook her head, voice soft but firm. "You're not alone. I'm right here. We'll get through this together."
The night dragged on with barely a moment's rest. Nurses came and went, offering words of encouragement and adjusting monitors. The hospital room was filled with the steady beep of machines and the quiet hum of fluorescent lights.
Two days felt like an eternity. Talia's strength was tested in every way, but with Mia's endless support, she found the will to keep going.
Far away, Ethan's mind raced. The images of Talia, the twins, the life he hadn't known he wanted, it all hit him with fierce clarity. He made a silent vow: when this was over, he would do everything to protect and love his family.
The pain came in waves, each stronger than the last, but Talia gritted her teeth and leaned on Mia's unwavering presence. "I don't know how you do this every day, Ma," she whispered between breaths.
Mia chuckled, tears glistening in her eyes. "Mama bear energy. It's all about the babies. And hey, when they start crying 'dada' at the wrong guy, that's when the real fun begins."
Talia cracked a weak smile, grateful for the lightheartedness. The hospital room felt less like a battlefield and more like a sanctuary with Mia by her side.
Meanwhile, miles away, Ethan's phone buzzed incessantly. Calls from his assistant, urgent texts about the trip, but his mind was elsewhere. He stared at the screen, picturing Talia's strength, imagining the tiny lives growing inside her. The business meeting blurred as his heart pulled him back home.
He couldn't shake the feeling that his world was about to change forever.
Ethan's meeting ended abruptly. He barely heard the closing remarks as his mind raced back to the hospital. Without hesitation, he booked the earliest flight home, urgency propelling every move.
The private jet was ready within the hour. As the engines roared to life, his thoughts spiraled, what if something happened to Talia? To the babies? His usual calm was replaced by a rare, gnawing anxiety.
Onboard, he stared out at the clouds, gripping the armrests. He had no idea how this woman, this unexpected part of his life, had already rooted so deeply inside him. But one thing was certain: he was coming back for them. Whatever it took.
---
The plane cut through the sky, the city lights shrinking beneath him as the minutes dragged by. Ethan's mind replayed every detail he knew about Talia, her stubborn streak, her fierce independence, the way she called people "sir" when annoyed. He realized how little he actually knew about her now that she was in trouble.
His phone buzzed, a text from Elijah.
"She's at St. Mary's. Twins doing fine, but Talia's been laboring for over almost 2 hours."
Ethan's chest tightened. The words should have reassured him, but all he felt was urgency. He needed to be there. To see her. To protect them.
As the plane touched down, he could almost hear the cries of the babies and the sharp scent of hospital antiseptic. He was racing against time and distance to reach the family he never expected to claim.