LOGINChapter Seventy-SevenThe morning everyone had been dreaming about finally arrived.Not with panic.Not with rushing.Not with fear.With excitement.The night before, the consultant had walked into the NICU with the biggest smile any of them had ever seen.He'd looked at the four parents.Then at the three babies.And simply said—"I think it's time."No one had spoken.They'd all just stared at him."The babies are ready to go home."There had been tears.Lots of tears.Happy tears.Relieved tears.The kind of tears that had been building for weeks.Now, less than twenty-four hours later, everyone woke before their alarms.Not because they had to.Because they couldn't sleep.Roman was already downstairs making coffee when Daisy walked into the kitchen.She smiled the moment she saw him."You didn't sleep."Roman laughed."I think I managed about an hour.""Me too."They looked at each other.Then both started laughing.Today.Their little girl was coming home.Across the street, No
Chapter Seventy-SixEver since the consultant had spoken about preparing the babies to come home, everyone had been thinking ahead.The nurseries were ready.The tiny clothes had all been washed.The car seats had been fitted.Everything was slowly falling into place.Now there was just one thing left.One Sunday evening both families gathered at Roman and Daisy's house after dinner.The children were upstairs.Lillie already asleep.Theo and Poppy watching a film before bed.The fire crackled quietly in the sitting room.Everyone looked relaxed for the first time in weeks.Roman poured coffee while Noah handed out slices of leftover cake."I've been thinking."Roman said.Daisy smiled."That usually costs us money."Noah laughed."Or furniture."Roman ignored both of them."I'm serious.""So am I."Daisy grinned.Roman looked towards Sarah and Emma."There's something we'd like to ask you both."The room became quiet.Sarah and Emma exchanged a glance."What is it?"Emma asked.Harpe
Chapter Seventy-FiveThe closer the babies came to coming home, the busier everyone became.Not with hospital appointments.Not with emergencies.With preparation.The kind that made everything finally feel real.Monday morning began at Harper and Noah's house.Emma had just finished helping Poppy with her reading while Theo proudly showed Noah a picture he'd drawn at school.The house felt peaceful.Comfortable.Like everyone had found their rhythm.Harper watched Emma helping the children tidy away their toys.She caught Noah's eye across the room.He smiled.Already knowing what she was thinking."Emma?"She looked up."Yes?""Can you sit down for a minute?"Emma frowned slightly.Immediately wondering if she'd done something wrong."Of course."She sat opposite them.Hands folded nervously in her lap.Harper smiled warmly."You haven't done anything wrong."Emma laughed with relief."I was wondering."Noah leaned forward."We actually wanted to ask you something."Emma waited."Yo
Chapter Seventy-FourThe words stayed with them all weekend.Getting these little ones ready for home.Nobody wanted to get their hopes up.The nurses had made it clear.There was still work to do.The babies would decide when they were ready.Not the calendar.Not their parents.The babies.Even so...Everything felt different.On Monday morning, Roman woke before his alarm.Not because he was worried.Because he was excited.It had been a long time since he'd felt that.He slipped quietly out of bed, careful not to wake Daisy.She needed the rest.Her recovery was coming along well, but she still tired more easily than she liked to admit.Roman kissed her forehead before heading downstairs.He wasn't alone for long.Tiny footsteps padded across the hallway."Dada."Roman turned with a smile."Morning, sleepyhead."Lillie held up her rabbit.Then lifted both arms.The universal signal for cuddles.Roman scooped her up.She rested her head against his shoulder with a contented sigh.F
Chapter Seventy-ThreeSaturday mornings had always been busy.Only now, busy looked a little different.It wasn't hospital emergencies anymore.It was cereal spilled across the kitchen floor.Tiny socks that had somehow disappeared.Theo insisting he'd seen one of Lillie's toys outside.Poppy insisting he hadn't.And two dads trying to keep up.Roman had just finished making coffee when he heard a familiar giggle.He turned.Lillie was standing on a kitchen chair.One tiny hand reaching towards the biscuit tin."Lillie."She froze.Slowly turned around.Then smiled the sweetest smile she could manage."No."Roman folded his arms."You know those aren't for breakfast."Lillie looked at the tin.Then at Roman.Then held both hands out."Please?"Roman laughed."I don't even think you know what that means."She didn't.But it sounded convincing.Daisy watched from the dining table, laughing into her mug of tea.She was feeling stronger every day.Still recovering.Still taking things slo
Chapter Seventy-TwoFriday morning arrived quietly.The kind of quiet that felt earned.For the first time in weeks, nobody woke to the sound of alarms or rushing footsteps.Instead, the house slowly came to life.The smell of coffee drifted from the kitchen.The kettle whistled.Someone yawned upstairs.Then—"Mama!"Daisy smiled before she even opened her eyes.She knew that voice anywhere.A few seconds later the bedroom door creaked open.Lillie stood in the doorway.Still wearing dinosaur pyjamas.Her hair sticking up in every direction.Holding her favourite stuffed rabbit by one ear.Roman looked over and laughed."Good morning, beautiful."Lillie grinned.Then waddled across the room with determined little steps before climbing onto the bed between them.She immediately flopped onto Daisy's stomach.Carefully avoiding the healing scar.Roman had made sure everyone knew mummy still had a poorly tummy."Easy, monkey."He gently lifted Lillie onto his own lap instead.Lillie didn
Chapter Forty-OneThe following Saturday morning found both couples standing outside one of Roman's townhouses.And for once—Roman looked nervous.Not business-meeting nervous.Not billion-dollar-deal nervous.Actually nervous.Because he really wanted Daisy to love this one.The townhouse stood o
Chapter FortyThe following Sunday lunch turned into something completely different.A house meeting.Not an official one.Nobody had planned it.Yet somehow everyone ended up gathered around Harper's dining table discussing where they should live.The children were playing in the garden.Lillie sa
Chapter Thirty-EightBy the time Daisy was twelve weeks pregnant, everyone had stopped pretending she didn't already live at Roman's penthouse.Because she did.Officially?No.Reality?Absolutely.Her clothes were there.Her books were there.Lillie's entire life was there.Even the nanny automati
Chapter Thirty-NineSunday lunch at Harper and Noah's house had become a tradition.No matter how busy life became.No matter how exhausted everyone was.Sunday meant family.This Sunday, however, something was very wrong.Daisy knew it the second she stepped through the front door.The house was q







