And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

"Okay, you two... whose ready for a bath-"

James stepped into the room with a stack of towels in his hand, and as his eyes latched onto mine, he froze in his step. The only sound was Castor laughing and clapping her hands at the reaction before her. "Hey, James." "You're awake," he mumbled as he glanced from the twins to me, and then back to the twins. "How-"

"Do you really wanna know how, or are you going to give me a kiss?"

He didn't waste a second before he was across the room, pulling me into his arms, pressing his lips to mine in a slow, deep, passionate kiss. To me, it was only yesterday I had kissed him, but to them... it had been much longer. Pulling away, I smiled softly, wincing at the pain in my side. "How long have I been out?"

"It's been a year, Ivy," he whispered, his eyes falling to my lap as he seemed to try and hold back the tears. "No one thought you would wake up... but I didn't give up. I couldn't."

Running my hand over the side of his cheek, I kissed him again with a smile.

"Well, why don't I surprise the others?"

Furrowing his brow, he smiled at me. "What do you mean?"

"Hand me my children, and I will show you," I laughed.

"Oh, shit... sorry, sweetie," he said, jumping to his feet and striding towards the twins. They were both eager at this point to get out, and were trying their hardest to escape him as approached the bed.

wrapped around me as they snuggled into my chest, laying their heads against my breasts. They had missed me just as much as I missed

said through the link, causing James

didn't take but a second before I heard the thundering footsteps of the men racing up the stairs, heading down the hallway

that brightened my own, and as they rushed to me,

I had seen him,

ground. A sob left my throat as my red-rimmed eyes, filled with more tears,

really ever seen Damian show so much emotion as he did in those two seconds after my words left his lips. He nodded his head in silence as he approached me. Almost as if he

my tears. "It wasn't

the beginning, but for so long, I kept you at arm's length and didn't

to Hale and Talon,

the best ly could with the twins still stuck to me. You

for us, and having them all back made my heart swell with happiness. The time ticked on as the men told me about everything that had happened since

big for them," James said softly. "Maybe we

The guys

all

at each other

looking