Feel my heart

You could hear a pin drop,

Claire in all her overdue twin pregnancy turned around slowly, jaw set as if she was on duty and had to deal with an unruly patient.

"...Vas a llamár a mi mamá?"

Voice steady and direct, she just needed to make sure she heard him correctly.

"Y decirle, que?" one slooow step forwards, having to lean an arm against every piece of furniture in the way or she would topple like a bowling pin.

Hands on his hips, it was like staring down a bull in the ring. Ready for the heavily pregnant woman to charge him.

“That you,” He continued steadily, somewhat. “Are not listening to what the doctor said is good for you.

That you even want to drive!” Insane was what it was, completely insane. But if he didn’t want this to go south he needed to change his tact.

Stepping forward himself he reached for her hands, seeing the way she needed to lean. “Baby.

Baby. I know you’re so strong, I know you could.. But, I- c’mon,” Inconvenient time for his brain to start stalling and he puffed out his lips in frustration, shook his head.

“Need you to stay here. And rest.

Where I can see you.” In case anything happened.

Damien's hands were lightly swatted away, and she took a deep breath through her nose and and ouuuuut through her mouth like she'd been taught to breathe and told numerous patients how to-

"Where you can see me? Well I'm hardly invisible, am I? Look at me.."

Gesturing at herself, the nurse looked a little helpless at the state of her.

"And and- There's things I got to do, like," her hand shot to the side towards nothing in particular, to direct his attention to something entirely else that needed to be done around their home.

"I can't just sit around and wait for them to get out." GOD they're taking forever!

Now, with that said. "Have you seen my car keys? I swear I put them over there..." last time they'd been in the fridge, so maybe that's where they were now.

He could see it, her mounting frustration, and the woman’s desperation to flee only growing clearer the more she talked. Restless, agitated.. afraid.

That was it, he was pretty sure.

“Claire, stop.”

He held up the keys, showing her he had them. “Mi amor, I need you to slow down.”

What was going on in her head? The place was unpacked, practically shining from top to bottom with every inch cleaned and ready for two newborns.

And with the days now past due..

It was all getting very real, huh? “You can’t drive.” He’s putting his foot down this time. “I’m sorry baby but it’s not gonna happen.

Why don’t you come for a walk with me instead, if you need to get out of here?”

The stern voice and the jingling of keys got her attention, and she tried to swipe at them, barely extending her arm before she was shut down by Damien's insistance.

Another long sigh left the inflated mother, lips pressing together as she fought, like really really fought to keep her emotions from flooding her eyes with tears.

"But..." quick breaths in and she's barely getting her words out through the soft whimpers and sniffles. "-itsnotevendone and we still have all of this to unpack!"

No, no it's not done and it's everything all over the place. Get your shit together, Claire.

A deep breath and she's back to arguing again.

"Why aren't they here yet,

it's like they know something I dont??"

Oh no… Claire please don’t

It was too late, and Damien exhaled softly. He hated seeing her cry, too sad too wrenching. And he reached for her, just as she’s back to arguing.

Only this time about their late babies.

Know something she did it?

“Ohh, now that’s silly. Baby.” Holding her face, trying to get her to crack a smile, to see his. “Baby, they’re just too comfy is all. That’s all they know.” He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

It was impressive, amazing actually for a twin pregnancy to go so fully to term. And here Damien and the doctors had been worried all along that they’d come early.

“And we already unpacked so much, you know what? I don’t think they’re gonna judge you.. if maybe there’s still one or two boxes around. Huh?

That what you worried for?” He teased sweetly, giving her shoulders a gentle shake. “Cause if they give you a hard time about that, I got words for ‘em.”

Oh Claire.

This was hard. What was harder was, there was no way for him to make it lighter on her. She was the one carrying all of this, hardly able to breathe as normal let alone anything else.

“Sé que estás preocupada. Sé.

Me too it’s.. been a long wait.”

But it was going to be alright. It had to be.

Tears everywhere and Claire has no idea why she's being so frustrated over everything but, she looked into his eyes and knew everything would be okay.

And it did get a smile out of her, and she couldn't wait to see Damien with their little babies, whenever they were ready to come out.

Too comfy, huh?

"..yeah?"

Of course Damien worried. Just look at him. He had been looking a little more rougher lately, and having Theo at the clinic and progressing slower than anyone hoped.. Well it wasn't easy.

"Long.." sniffle and sigh. "Can you, make me a sandwich?

With the dressing and, raisins?"

Lock her in. Call her mom. You know what?? You know what? If he had to, for her own safety!

“Claire I’m serious I will..”

Not look terrified of the very very pregnant woman in front of him as if she were some sort of stampeding bull liable to be set off.

“—Call your mother.”

“Let’s see what she’d have to say about this?”

@heartbeattemple

You could hear a pin drop,

Claire in all her overdue twin pregnancy turned around slowly, jaw set as if she was on duty and had to deal with an unruly patient.

"...Vas a llamár a mi mamá?"

Voice steady and direct, she just needed to make sure she heard him correctly.

"Y decirle, que?" one slooow step forwards, having to lean an arm against every piece of furniture in the way or she would topple like a bowling pin.

Hands on his hips, it was like staring down a bull in the ring. Ready for the heavily pregnant woman to charge him.

“That you,” He continued steadily, somewhat. “Are not listening to what the doctor said is good for you.

That you even want to drive!” Insane was what it was, completely insane. But if he didn’t want this to go south he needed to change his tact.

Stepping forward himself he reached for her hands, seeing the way she needed to lean. “Baby.

Baby. I know you’re so strong, I know you could.. But, I- c’mon,” Inconvenient time for his brain to start stalling and he puffed out his lips in frustration, shook his head.

“Need you to stay here. And rest.

Where I can see you.” In case anything happened.

Damien's hands were lightly swatted away, and she took a deep breath through her nose and and ouuuuut through her mouth like she'd been taught to breathe and told numerous patients how to-

"Where you can see me? Well I'm hardly invisible, am I? Look at me.."

Gesturing at herself, the nurse looked a little helpless at the state of her.

"And and- There's things I got to do, like," her hand shot to the side towards nothing in particular, to direct his attention to something entirely else that needed to be done around their home.

"I can't just sit around and wait for them to get out." GOD they're taking forever!

Now, with that said. "Have you seen my car keys? I swear I put them over there..." last time they'd been in the fridge, so maybe that's where they were now.

He could see it, her mounting frustration, and the woman’s desperation to flee only growing clearer the more she talked. Restless, agitated.. afraid.

That was it, he was pretty sure.

“Claire, stop.”

He held up the keys, showing her he had them. “Mi amor, I need you to slow down.”

What was going on in her head? The place was unpacked, practically shining from top to bottom with every inch cleaned and ready for two newborns.

And with the days now past due..

It was all getting very real, huh? “You can’t drive.” He’s putting his foot down this time. “I’m sorry baby but it’s not gonna happen.

Why don’t you come for a walk with me instead, if you need to get out of here?”

The stern voice and the jingling of keys got her attention, and she tried to swipe at them, barely extending her arm before she was shut down by Damien's insistance.

Another long sigh left the inflated mother, lips pressing together as she fought, like really really fought to keep her emotions from flooding her eyes with tears.

"But..." quick breaths in and she's barely getting her words out through the soft whimpers and sniffles. "-itsnotevendone and we still have all of this to unpack!"

No, no it's not done and it's everything all over the place. Get your shit together, Claire.

A deep breath and she's back to arguing again.

"Why aren't they here yet,

it's like they know something I dont??"

Lock her in. Call her mom. You know what?? You know what? If he had to, for her own safety!

“Claire I’m serious I will..”

Not look terrified of the very very pregnant woman in front of him as if she were some sort of stampeding bull liable to be set off.

“—Call your mother.”

“Let’s see what she’d have to say about this?”

@heartbeattemple

You could hear a pin drop,

Claire in all her overdue twin pregnancy turned around slowly, jaw set as if she was on duty and had to deal with an unruly patient.

"...Vas a llamár a mi mamá?"

Voice steady and direct, she just needed to make sure she heard him correctly.

"Y decirle, que?" one slooow step forwards, having to lean an arm against every piece of furniture in the way or she would topple like a bowling pin.

Hands on his hips, it was like staring down a bull in the ring. Ready for the heavily pregnant woman to charge him.

“That you,” He continued steadily, somewhat. “Are not listening to what the doctor said is good for you.

That you even want to drive!” Insane was what it was, completely insane. But if he didn’t want this to go south he needed to change his tact.

Stepping forward himself he reached for her hands, seeing the way she needed to lean. “Baby.

Baby. I know you’re so strong, I know you could.. But, I- c’mon,” Inconvenient time for his brain to start stalling and he puffed out his lips in frustration, shook his head.

“Need you to stay here. And rest.

Where I can see you.” In case anything happened.

Damien's hands were lightly swatted away, and she took a deep breath through her nose and and ouuuuut through her mouth like she'd been taught to breathe and told numerous patients how to-

"Where you can see me? Well I'm hardly invisible, am I? Look at me.."

Gesturing at herself, the nurse looked a little helpless at the state of her.

"And and- There's things I got to do, like," her hand shot to the side towards nothing in particular, to direct his attention to something entirely else that needed to be done around their home.

"I can't just sit around and wait for them to get out." GOD they're taking forever!

Now, with that said. "Have you seen my car keys? I swear I put them over there..." last time they'd been in the fridge, so maybe that's where they were now.

Did you try and talk her out of things with Damien?

"Ay, mamá... Las veces que traté.

Pero.. Esta niña, she wouldn't listen. She did not want to listen to reason. And she kept on saying how much she loved him and cared about him and tara-tatara- That she would rather be all alone than without him"

The deepest of sighs only a worried mother could let out.

"He better not hurt my baby. Because if he does, there will be hell to pay. Te lo digo."

Mrs. Temple, what do you think of your daughter’s choice in men?

What did she think?

"My daughter sees the good in them.

However dead beat hijos de mierda they are. I have yet to know of anyone that's good for her. And I've met a couple over the years.

I've told her that to her face. Because she deserves to hear it, from someone who knows."

wildspringday

liza colón-zayas via instagram

Lock her in. Call her mom. You know what?? You know what? If he had to, for her own safety!

“Claire I’m serious I will..”

Not look terrified of the very very pregnant woman in front of him as if she were some sort of stampeding bull liable to be set off.

“—Call your mother.”

“Let’s see what she’d have to say about this?”

@heartbeattemple

#itworksifyouworkit #Y DECIRLE QUE? AH??

You could hear a pin drop,

Claire in all her overdue twin pregnancy turned around slowly, jaw set as if she was on duty and had to deal with an unruly patient.

"...Vas a llamár a mi mamá?"

Voice steady and direct, she just needed to make sure she heard him correctly.

"Y decirle, que?" one slooow step forwards, having to lean an arm against every piece of furniture in the way or she would topple like a bowling pin.

cosmicretreat

thegreatobbo2

Have you ever counted his scars?

Counted? There were so many.

"I don't think he's even let me see them all. I don't need to, I just know.. Each one is a struggle, his way to survive. The only way he knew how to.

They're part of his story, and if he wants to tell me about them, I'll listen."

How are you handling it all? Do you get enough of him?

Did she get enough of him..

"I don't think I could ever get enough of him. Even when I'm exhausted or sad and my hormones are waging war inside me and all I want is to be left alone because he doesn't understand what it's like.."

There comes that selfish feeling again.

Did she wish she had him all to herself and not have to share with Theo or the people he sponsors?

"Physically, he's here.

But I can tell his mind is elsewhere, sometimes."

“Claire, baby?”

What was she doing up? Restless again, a craving? Definitely past time to be up and about. “-Hey,” He spoke gently, not to spook her.

“..It’s late.”

@heartbeattemple

The soft approach disrupted her train of a myriad of thoughts, her head turned slightly to let him know she had heard him.

"...sorry, did I wake you?"

She had tried to keep it down, but maybe the pacing and tidying up and constant need to keep moving distracted her from the mission.

It was late.

"Go back to bed," she encouraged, swiftly padding across towards him, leaving him with a quick kiss on his forehead and a brush to his cheek before heading into the kitchen.

"I'll be there in a minute."

Or an hour, or three, or...

“nah, nothing like that.” He murmured to reassure her.

He actually had, light sleeper he was, stirred at the bed lifting. Reached across to find her missing, and then the quiet steps out in the apartment.

Pacing.

Catching her hand gently, he closed his eyes to the quick kiss and just as soon she disappeared into the kitchen.

Nahh..

Slowly, sleepily, he follows her in, leans into the doorframe. Watched her move about, the mother of his children. What was going on in that beautiful head of hers?

“Make you something?” He offered, dark eyes studying the woman as she moved. Maybe she was hungry.. “C’mon, c’mere..” Whatever it was, let him help.

Penny for her thoughts?

Opening the cupboard, the very pregnant woman started to look for her bags of tea, stopping short when they were nowhere to be seen.

"..no I'm okay. Go back to bed." again, but she knew damn well he wouldn't. They were too perfect for each other.

"Just going to have a cup of tea and," another cupboard and another, a drawer opened. Where had she put..

"You want one? I thought I had them somewhere here, but maybe we're out..x she sighed, hint of frustration as she rubbed her forehead, the other hand going to her belly.

Yeah, yeah..

Except they both knew he wouldn’t be doing that. Frankly the more she searched, insisted she was fine, the more Damien knew to stay put.

“Hey..” He breathed, stepping behind the tired, restless nurse and placed a hand on her shoulder, rubbed it down her arm.

A kiss to the back of her head, he tugged her hand to turn her around gently, holding the tea boxes he’d snagged from the grocery bag on the counter.

“We ran out. Got more…

Raspberry leaf or Sleepytime?”

A gentle smile, a sheepish show of ignoring her request. “G’on, sit down.” He told the woman, brushing a hand over her cheek and going to turn on the kettle.

The gentle touch takes her breath away in a long heavy sigh, her shoulders drop, feeling the tired in her body return when she's being turned around.

Claire looked down at his hands. Oh.

"Raspberry, please.."

Sliding over to the chair, she lowered herself down, trying to get comfortable. But she was wide and this chair was not it.

They needed new chairs.

She watched him work, a calm lull settled and for a moment she forgot what had been swirling in her mind for the past hours. Days. Weeks.

"..Aren't you scared?"

She knew he was... worried, like any other parent. But she needed to hear it, that she wasn't alone in this.

Setting the tea to steep, trying focus his own mind.. shake off the events of the day. Maybe it wasn’t just Claire feeling restless.

Aren’t you scared?

“…me?”

A tired smile crooked on his face, something reassuring. “Nah.. course not. When am I ever scared?” He comes over to set the cup in front of her, motioned for her to wait and not burn herself.

“I’m, uh..” Smile that much more tired he lowered himself to sit next to her, smoothed a hand down her thigh and gave her knee a squeeze. “Yeah.”

A pause, looking up at her. Realizing how scared she must be, wanting to comfort. “But we’ll be great, we’ll,

make it so good.” He watched her adoringly, hoping to see some of that hope mirrored back at him. “You, you’ll be perfect.” Not a doubt in his mind.

“And you’ve got me.. huh?” Hands down her arms again, squeezing as they went. “I got you.”

The nurse, not one to ever miss when people were lying to themselves, gave the man a scrutinizing gaze. Of course they'd be joking.

The cup settled in front of her, she felt the warmth coming from him by her side, the reassurance was taken with a hint of doubt. But she smiled.

She would be perfect.

And she had him.

She felt selfish. She hated that. Knowing Theo was going through a hard time, knowing the stress it was putting on him.

And now they had babies on the way.

Claire was scared to think about it, the possibility that this would turn things around, that Damien was going to hit that point again.

"Yeah. I got you." her gaze softened, lingered on her strong, beautiful, hopeful man.

"..How is he?" her hand reached for his.

What was that look? That sad worried something on her mind. Was it like his these days.. all of it?

Taking her hand readily, he moves his seat closer to her, seeing her discomfort in that seat, wanting her to lean into him.

How was Theo?

“He’s, uh..

He was better today, I think.”

Theo. He still had a long ways to go.

And every time asking if he could be brought home, if he was good enough, ready enough.

It killed Damien not to be able to just take him home. It killed Damien that this part of his life, might have to begin without his son being part of it.

“How about you?

They keeping you up?” The mechanic’s hand coming to rest gently against her stomach, feeling for movement.

“..Os estáis portando bien con mamá?” He whispered, clicking lightly against his teeth, his gaze flickering back up to hers.

Short, and to the point.

It wasn't for her the need to get him talking. Claire knew how painful this was. The months leading up to this had seen him crying his beautiful heart out for a boy he couldn't help the way he wanted to.

Better today. That's all one could hope for.

The tired smile of a mother would be enormous of an answer.

...he was so sexy when he did that.

"You tell me.. I thought you were pregnant with twin babies too?"

arutai

Rosario Dawson by Stephanie Diani

How do you think he’s handling it all?

"I think he's having a rough time, not being able to do much more for Theo. I know it's hurting him. That's probably what's weighing on him the most. To not have an easy fix. Regretting the past.

His relationship with his mother is still strained.

The people at his garage are all counting on him to be there as much as he was before. He's trying his best to sponsor. But I see how tired he gets after every call. It drains him now, it seems. He works so hard.

And we have twin babies on the way.

"I'm worried. I shouldn't be. I don't want to be."