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“Breathe, Vik” Jayce says for what has to be the millionth time, and Viktor tries, god he tries but it’s so hard. The hospital around them is busy and noisy and on top of the pain in his stomach and back, and Jayce talking to him, and the beeping and the people-
“Fucking- shut up!” Viktor hisses, hands tangling in his own hair and pulling, “Jayce, Jayce, my sweet, I love you so much, but if you tell me to breathe again I swear to all that is holy I will punch you in the dick.” Jayce’s mouth snaps shut with an audible click, and Viktor tries to ease the blow by taking Jayce’s hand and squeezing it tightly.
The rush of guilt after the outburst hits hard and fast, and he shakes his head, squeezing Jayce’s hand again, just as a cramp stabs through his stomach and makes him wince. “I’m sorry,” it comes out as a whimper, “I’m sorry I just-”
“It’s okay,” Jayce’s arm around his shoulders gives him a gentle squeeze. “You’re hurting. You’re scared. Yell at me if you want, or hit me, or whatever you need. I’m here, I’ve got you, Viktor.”
Viktor sniffles, leaning into Jayce. He’s so good. So, so good.
He held Viktor all the way here, the moment they got out of the car Jayce had his hand, he held him close and encouraged him as they made their way to the emergency room. Jayce was so wonderful, doing all the talking when Viktor couldn’t find his voice through the sob caught in his throat. He held Viktor’s hand as they got him into a wheelchair to get up to the L&D ward.
Now he’s being just as wonderful as always as they wait for a check up, Viktor’s changed into a hospital gown and he’s leaning on Jayce’s shoulder in the bed. “I’m scared, Jayce.” Viktor whispers.
“I know.” Jayce says softly, “I am too. But… But it’s going to be okay.” He sounds like he’s trying to convince himself. Viktor wishes it could convince both of them.
The curtain swings open and a nurse steps into the room, “Mr. Talis?”
“Yes?” Jayce looks up.
“Mm?” Viktor looks up as well.
The nurse looks between them for a beat, then looks down at the chart in her hand. “Viktor Talis.” She clarifies, smiling at Viktor as she sets the clipboard down
“Oh. Yeah, him, of course.” Jayce shakes his head, and then lets go of Viktor, slipping off the bed, but keeping a hand on Viktor’s thigh.
The nurse smiles softly, “We contacted Dr. Young, she’ll be here soon. For now we need to get the monitors on you, so we can keep track of the baby’s heart rate.”
“Rates,” he corrects, and the nurse nods.
“Rates. Becca is on the way with a second monitor.” She nods, crossing over to him to start setting up the first, wrapping the straps around his stomach. She adjusts it until she gets the right readings, and when the second monitor shows up she repeats the process on the other side.
She messes with one machine and adjusts the monitors again, then presses a button and a quick, pulsing flutter starts to play from the speakers. “That’s one heartbeat.” She says, then turns to mess with the other machine. She fusses with it for a while, or at least it feels like a while. Viktor watches her as she clicks and looks at readouts and then finally, finally he hears it. Another heartbeat, but, but it’s not as fast, and Viktor’s heart climbs up his throat. “There’s the other.”
He should have come sooner. He should have come sooner and made Jayce meet him here, he shouldn’t have waited, he waited and now one of them-
“Viktor,” Jayce’s voice catches his attention, and he blinks out of the spiral he was going down. He looks to Jayce, and the other squeezes his hand again, bringing him back down to earth as Viktor tries again to even out his breathing. Just in time for another stab of pain to cut through his lower stomach.
Jayce holds him through it, soothing him as best he can, guiding Viktor’s breathing. The nurse looks between him and the monitors. The pain eventually passes and Viktor slumps on the bed, panting softly.
The nurse makes sure he’s comfortable enough before she leaves. Viktor lays back in the bed, still holding Jayce’s hand tightly, scared to let go. “They’re going to be okay,” he whispers, “they-they have to be.” He tips his head to look at Jayce, whose eyes are locked on the readouts from the monitors and the notable difference. “Jayce?”
Jayce looks scared. His eyes dance between the readings and eventually to Viktor’s belly, and then to Viktor’s face. Viktor reaches with his other hand, cupping Jayce’s cheek. Jayce chews on the inside of his cheek as he sighs and leans in, pressing his forehead against Jayce’s.
It’s quiet like that, for a while. The sound of their combined breathing, interspersed with the soft sniffles they can’t hold back as they both try to grapple with the worst case scenarios.
Viktor shifts a little and makes a face, feeling something wet between his legs that he’s sure wasn’t there before. He pulls away from Jayce and looks down, tugging at the gown to get it out of the way so he can see-
His breath catches hard in his throat at the red, and he distantly hears Jayce curse next to him, but the entire world seems to fade out at the edges after that. He drops the gown back into place, he feels a hand in his and he hears a voice but he can’t make out the words over his heart pounding in his ears, and then the pain starts to come rushing back in.
He’s shaken, shaking- shaking- he can’t- can’t breathe, his heart is pounding so hard-
“-or!”
He flinches, his name, his name, someone is yelling-
“iktor!”
He looks up, hazel eyes, concerned, hands on his face. Jayce.
Jayce.
“Viktor?”
He touches the hands on his face, Jayce’s hands are warm compared to how his own feels, and the world slowly seems to fade back into focus. Dr. Young is standing at the foot of the bed, one of her hands resting on his shin.
“Hey,” she greets gently, “we’re going to take you for an ultrasound, okay?”
“Please,” Viktor murmurs, though his voice is stronger than he’s expecting it to be, “please tell me what’s happening.”
Dr. Young looks at Jayce, then Viktor again. She squeezes his leg, “One of their heart rates is very low. I’m worried you might have a placental abruption, and they aren’t getting enough oxygen. Once we see what’s going on we’ll determine next steps, but chances are we’re going to have to send you for a c-section.”
“No!” Viktor gasps, “Y-you can’t, they can’t- they- they’re too little-“ He looks up at Jayce, with wide panicked eyes, as if the other can do anything at all to change this. Jayce just squeezes him and kisses the top of his head, murmuring soothing words as Dr. Young continues.
“Viktor,” Dr. Young soothes softly, squeezing his hand, “it’s going to be okay. We’re gonna give you a steroid shot to help their lungs, and we will wait until the last possible moment to bring them into the world. First thing’s first, let’s get you to the ultrasound to confirm what’s going on.”
Viktor nods weakly, and watches as they detach monitors from the machines and pull the arms of the bed up to move him along to the ultrasound.
Jayce stays by his side, holding his hand as they walk away from the intake area and down a hall into a darkened room with an ultrasound machine set up. It’s different, though, than the ones they’re used to. No monitors around for the expectant parents to watch.
The tech gets set up shortly, tugging Viktor’s gown out of the way and unclipping the monitors for easy access to his stomach. Jayce’s lips press to the back of Viktor’s hand and hold it there as the tech starts scanning.
Dr. Young joins them after a few minutes and stands behind the tech, watching the monitor over her shoulder. She murmurs something softly to the other, and points, and Viktor almost feels lightheaded at the scowl on her face.
He feels… He feels nauseous. He feels pain, and it’s getting worse and he shakes his head, trying to focus beyond it. “Dr. Young?” Jayce’s concerned voice cuts through the building ache and Viktor tips his head to the side to look at him, then over to her.
“It’s alright,” she raises a hand, looking at Viktor, “he’s just having a contraction.” But her face tells them something is wrong. “Viktor, we’re going to have to deliver, alright? Dominik’s placenta has partially detached and his heart rate is dropping. He’s not getting enough oxygen. We need to give you a c-section, now.”
Viktor shakes his head, chest tight, his heart feels like it could pound right out of his ribs. “Y-you, you can’t, they can’t, Jayce,” He pulls on Jayce’s hand, as if he could even change it, “Jayce they’re not big enough, they can’t come out yet, they have to stay inside.”
Jayce squeezes his hand again, pushing up to pull Viktor against him, “I know, I know, but-” Viktor’s eyes snap to Jayce when he hears the other sniffling, and Jayce’s eyes are rimmed red, “but it’s going to be okay. It’s gonna be okay, Viktor.” Jayce pulls him in and kisses his forehead, “It’s going to be okay.”
Viktor just wishes he believed him.
The doctor talks quickly with a few others, and Viktor is moved again. Jayce never leaves his side, the saint, as they go through the motions. Viktor feels numb, barely present in his own mind as they take him from one room to another. They park him in a delivery room and Dr. Young informs him that they’re getting someone in to give him a spinal block, Viktor hears her explain it, but the words go in one ear and out the other.
Jayce sits on the edge of the bed by Viktor’s side and the gentle brush of his fingers on Viktor’s forehead, brushing hair out of his face, brings some focus back to his body.
He blinks a couple times, before he looks at Jayce. He’s holding himself together the best he can, but Viktor can see through the cracks. Little flashes of a face he wishes he’d never have to see, pain and fear but Jayce valiantly swipes tears off his face and gives Viktor a crooked smile. Viktor reaches for him, catching his cheek and wiping a tear off with his thumb. Jayce leans into his touch and slumps. Viktor pets him as he cries. He kisses Jayce’s face softly again and again as Jayce hiccups through his feelings.
Viktor is crying with him by the time they come back with the steroid shot and the anesthesia. Viktor is instructed to sit on the edge of the bed with his back to the doctor and to hold still, but every little touch makes him flinch, and a stabbing contraction hits harder than the last and has him curling away in pain. It’s hard to still his shakes until Jayce gets in front of him, wrapping his arms around Viktor and holding him close, burying his face against Viktor’s neck and murmuring encouraging words to him, soothing Viktor and helping him stay still as the block is set up.
He’s guided to lay back down once it’s finished, and within minutes he’s numb from the chest down.
The doctor leaves, and the nurse who was watching his vitals last leaves, and then they’re alone again.
In the quiet of their brief moment alone Viktor feels like he’s floating in his own mind. Jayce’s hand in his is the only anchor he has to keep him in reality even as his mind fights to get away from the fear and the pain.
“Jayce?” He says softly, and it feels like it’s the first time he has talked in ages. Like coming up for air. He hears Jayce sniffle, but he hums, resting his head on Viktor’s shoulder.
“Yes, mi vida?” Jayce’s voice is soft, ragged from crying. But Jayce has always been a ‘let it out’ guy. Viktor learned that quickly. Jayce is always more comfortable confronting the feelings than Viktor, who does his level best to shove down anything negative into the darkest depths so he doesn’t have to deal with it.
“I love you.” Viktor turns his head, looking at Jayce, and the other picks his head up off Viktor’s shoulder to look at him.
Jayce gives a shaky nod, and he gives Viktor a kiss, “I love you too.”
“It’s going to be okay,” Viktor says, trying to tap into Jayce’s earlier confidence. Jayce swallows hard and nods, dropping his head to press his forehead against Viktor’s.
“Alright. We’re headed to the operating room,” Dr. Young’s voice cuts through the room with authority as she shoves the curtain aside, others flood in the room with her and she starts giving orders, guiding the others as they get Viktor carted off to the next place.
Jayce stays by his side, they’re led into an operating room, and the flurry of movement continues. They get Viktor set up on the operating table with a big curtain across his chest and the stupid caps to keep their hair contained and Jayce stays right there. “Not going anywhere.” He says softly when he catches Viktor watching him again.
Viktor nods and gives his hand a tight squeeze. He focuses on him, even as the doctors talk over them, as his body is exposed and his skin is touched and cut and spread and the feeling of hands inside him makes him queasy, “It’s okay,” Jayce’s voice cuts through, “I’m right here. I’ve got you.”
Viktor looks up when he sees someone moving to one of the incubators that are set up, his eyebrows furrow until they turn just so and he sees it, the little bundle in their hands. Oh god- oh god it’s quiet- why is it quiet?
“Jayce,” Viktor breathes out his name, but his eyes are locked on the back of the nurse at the incubator, he can see her arms moving and he can hear her talking softly but- but there’s no sound- there’s no crying there’s-
Viktor can hardly hear it over the sound of his own blood rushing in his head.
It’s like. Bubbles popping. It’s quiet and crackly and wet but then it pierces through the room, a high whine. It feels like the entire room deflates with relief.
“There he is,” Dr. Young says as the cries of their son finally pour out.
Viktor’s eyes snap to Jayce at the heavy sob the other man lets out, he sags with relief, head on Viktor’s shoulder. Viktor curls his arm around Jayce’s head and buries his face in his dark hair, doing his best to keep his own breathing even despite the heavy weight in his chest from holding back his own tears.
A second set of cries join in a handful of minutes later, and Viktor squeezes Jayce a bit tighter.
He barely feels them stitching him back together, too focused on them, watching the incubators as their babies are hooked up to god knows what.
Finally Dr. Young shows up around the curtain, “We have to take them to the NICU, but you can see them for a moment.” and then she waves the nurses over. The two incubators are pulled up to Viktor and Jayce’s side and through the plastic they finally get their first look.
The whole world focuses down as Viktor looks at them. Jayce’s grip on his hand is tight, but he can barely feel it for his breathing catching in his chest.
They’re so small.
And so pink.
Dominik looks like Jayce, Viktor thinks immediately, a tiny raisin version of Jayce, but definitely Jayce. He has a soft dusting of dark hair and when he does crack open his eyes Viktor gets just a little flash of the greenish gold of Jayce’s eyes.
Sofia has the same dark hair, but with a large swath of white on one side, and when she opens her eyes enough for him to see she has dark gold eyes.
Viktor stares at them, he can hear Jayce’s voice in his ear but it sounds far away. Dr. Young’s voice, too. The whole room around him is a blur all in favor of them.
Their little wonders.
Panic shoots up his throat when they start moving away, “W-wait!” He gasps, reaching out to the incubators as they roll away, but Jayce catches his hand and leans into his view.
“It’s alright. They’re taking them to the NICU. We’ll see them again soon, V.” Jayce rests a hand on Viktor’s cheek, brushing a thumb under his eye and leaning into his line of sight, stealing his attention from the door that closes between him and their babies. “They’re gonna be okay, Viktor.”
And Viktor believes him. For once. He nods a little, tipping his face into Jayce’s hand. Jayce leans in and presses his forehead against Viktor’s. “They're really here.” The sound of Viktor’s voice surprises himself, wet and wobbly but happy- he’s so fucking happy.
He’s only vaguely aware of them stitching him up, so focused on Jayce’s warmth against him and so buddy counting down the moments until he sees them again. The whole clean up process from the operation seems to take ages, and Viktor is already aching with the emptiness they’ve left behind by the time he’s parked in post-op.
He’s asking to see them again before he’s even fully settled.
“You’ll get to see them soon.” Dr. Young assures him as Jayce pets his hair, Viktor shakes his head and grunts in annoyance. She’s busy setting him up with painkillers.
“I want to see them, now.”
“I know, Viktor.” She smiles, sympathetic, resting her hand on Viktor’s shoulder. “They’re getting settled in the NICU right now. Plus you can’t move your legs to get out of the bed.”
“Jayce will carry me.” Viktor sniffs, and it earns him a soft huff of a laugh from his husband (who sounds positively exhausted despite Viktor’s second wind).
“V, listen to the doctor.” Jayce murmurs, still petting Viktor’s hair, brushing it away from his face. “How long will it be?” He looks up to Dr. Young.
“An hour at most. I promise you will be with your babies again, soon.” She squeezes Viktor’s shoulder, “I will personally bring the wheelchair and escort you to the NICU myself.”
Viktor crosses his arms, “Fine,” he sighs, slumping on the bed.
It’s the longest hour of his life.
He and Jayce try to talk but of course it always wraps back around to them, what they look like, how they’re doing, how amazing they are and it always comes back to Viktor fidgeting in the bed and watching the door while he waits for Dr. Young to return.
As soon as he hears the door open again he throws off the blanket they put on him, and Dr. Young comes around the curtain by the door with a wheelchair and a smile on her face, “Ready?”
“God yes,” Viktor hisses, taking Jayce’s hand to steady himself as he pushes out of the bed. His leg and his back and his stomach are all screaming at him, hurting, but he pushes through it to get into the wheelchair.
“He needs another round of painkillers,” Jayce says, and Viktor shoots him a glare, “After! After we see Dominik and Sofia. Of course.” He smiles, and he pulls Viktor’s hand up to kiss the back of it, “You can’t hide that face from me, I know when you’re hurting.” Viktor opens his mouth to protest, but Jayce taps his chin and it snaps shut.
“We’ll bring some in while you guys are down there.” Dr. Young gestures to the handles of the chair and Jayce takes them, pushing Viktor out of the room and following Dr. Young down the hall.
They go through one set of doors and Viktor’s heart rate steadily picks up pace until they finally turn into the NICU.
Dr. Young leads them over to two of the incubators, set up side by side with one twin in each. Viktor leans forward to get a better look until he’s parked perfectly in the middle, and his eyes dart between them, they’re quiet now, and Sofia is still, eyes closed, sleeping. Viktor touches the plastic that stands between them and he forces his breathing to stay even.
“Can, can I. Touch them?”
“Certainly. You just have to wash your hands.” Viktor nods eagerly, Jayce doesn’t even need to be told to move him. They both wash up quickly before coming back and Viktor holds his hands up, eager, ready, he wants to see them, needs to touch them.
Dr. Young steps around to Dominik first, opening up one of the windows and gesturing for Viktor to go ahead.
Viktor swallows, his hands hovering for a moment before he finally reaches. It’s warm in the incubator, and Dominik is so small. He could fit in Viktor’s hands. He hears Jayce sniffle behind him as he brushes a fingertip across Dominik’s arm. The little one twitches into the touch and stretches, opening his mouth and letting out a tiny little yawn.
“He’s so small.” Jayce murmurs, “They seemed so much bigger when they were kicking me through your stomach.”
“Yeah,” Viktor breathes out a laugh, “They did, didn’t they?” He’s careful of the wires and monitors, not wanting to disrupt anything. Viktor finally pulls away, grabbing Jayce’s hand next and guiding it to the window. He looks even tinier next to Jayce’s hand, and Viktor watches the others fingers gently brush across his forehead.
“Holy shit,” Jayce sighs out over his shoulder. Viktor nods mutely in agreement.
They both spend a few more minutes admiring him before Dr. Young speaks up, “Ready to see Sofia?”
“Absolutely,” Jayce grins, and Viktor nods along. They move to the other incubator and she opens the window. Sofia twitches into Viktor’s first touch, her little fist raising up and resting against his finger.
Viktor’s breathing stutters, and a watery laugh slips out of him. “They’re…” he starts, voice catching, and Jayce squeezes his shoulder, “they’re beautiful.”
Jayce squeezes his shoulder and nods, “Yeah.”
“How long will they be here?” Viktor asks softly, looking up to Dr. Young.
“Until they don’t need support. Likely a few weeks, Dominik may need some extra time.” She nods, “They’re healthy, though. They’re strong. Best case we get them out in a month.”
“What about him?” Jayce asks, squeezing Viktor’s shoulder, “How long is he in here?”
“Four days, for now. We’ll check him over and reassess then, but you should be able to go home by the end of the week.” Dr. Young nods, “And then I fully expect to see you here all the time.”
“Of course,” Viktor smiles, tracing the white patch of downy hair on the side of Sofia’s head.
“Tomorrow we’ll tell you all about kangaroo care,” she smiles, “but for now I think you should get your pain meds and rest.” She gestures to a tray, Viktor hadn’t even noticed it show up.
“Right,” he nods shallowly, “right.” He looks at Sofia again, and he’s loath to pull away. He gives her head one more gentle brush with his fingers before he finally withdraws. He closes the window and his fingers linger against the plastic for a long moment. Dr. Young messes with his IV and injects some pain meds into it, and then Jayce takes the handles of the chair as Dr Young escorts them back to their room.
Back in the bed the exhaustion hits hard. “What time is it anyways?” Viktor asks, looking at Jayce sitting on the couch.
“Almost one in the morning.” Jayce answers after checking his phone. “Shit,” he sighs, “I have to tell my mom.”
Viktor sighs, because Jayce is right, Viktor also really should tell his dads. “We’ll call them in the morning.” He sighs, closing his eyes. He scoots over on his hospital bed and he pats the spot next to him, “Come here.”
Jayce listens right away, pushing off the couch and climbing into the bed with Viktor, he’s mindful of his sensitive stomach, resting his arm across Viktor’s chest and kissing his shoulder. “You did great.”
Viktor huffs a laugh, “I laid there while they scooped our babies out of me, what exactly did I do great?” He turns his head into Jayce, burying his face in his husband’s hair.
“Everything. You did great.” Jayce smiles, and Viktor laughs again.
“Whatever you say.” He concedes. They fall quiet again after that, the room dim in the night as they try to rest. Viktor isn’t sure he’s going to fall asleep at all before Jayce speaks up from the quiet.
“I need another tattoo.” Jayce murmurs, and Viktor can hear the smile in his tired voice. He hums softly in question, prompting Jayce to continue, “For them. All four of ‘em.”
Viktor wants to laugh, at first, but the sound doesn’t make it out, instead what comes out is a breathy little gasp of surprise that gets Jayce to look at him. “What? You’re really surprised I want a tattoo for them?”
“No, no not. Not them but…”
“The first two?”
“Yeah,” Viktor sighs, “You didn’t even know me. They aren’t yours.”
“Yeah, but they’re yours.” Jayce pets a hand through Viktor’s hair, and Viktor’s sure his heart is gonna melt out of his chest. He hardly feels like he deserves Jayce, at this point He’s so good.
“Alright.” He smiles, kissing Jayce softly, “We’ll start working on ideas tomorrow. You need to go home and get our bag.”
“I know,” Jayce smiles, “But that’s for tomorrow. Go to sleep, V.”
Viktor nods, he’s exhausted but also high strung right now. Jayce’s petting helps to soothe him. “Goodnight, lasko” He mumbles as he closes his eyes.
“Goodnight, V.” Jayce whispers.
The night passes quietly. Viktor doesn’t sleep very well, tossing and turning. A nurse comes by to dose him with more pain meds. He spends so much time lying in bed and just aching to see Dominik and Sofia.
Their little cries echo in his head so clearly, the soft noises Dominik made when he yawned, the way Sofia turned into his touch. He cries quietly into Jayce’s hair as the sun is rising through the window.
The next time a nurse comes in when he’s awake he sits up, “Take me to them.” He’s careful as he extracts himself from Jayce’s arms, the nurse, Viktor didn’t catch her name he thinks it’s Katie, hesitates, but heads out to get a wheelchair.
Viktor leaves Jayce sleeping in the bed with a kiss and quietly rides down to the NICU again.
She parks Viktor between the incubators and he feels immediately better just being between them. Seeing them. They’re both awake, wiggling and making these sweet little bubbly noises that melt his heart.
He isn’t sure how long he’s down there before Jayce shows up. He catches Viktor brushing Sofia’s arm and telling her all about their home, and the room that they have ready for them. Jayce greets him softly, “Hey. Gave me a little scare when I woke up and you weren’t there.” He smiles, cupping Viktor’s chin and giving him a gentle kiss. “How are they doing?”
“Wonderful,” Viktor smiles, “I was telling them about their room. How we haven’t even finished decorating yet.” He chuckles softly, “They don’t seem to mind.”
“Well that’s good.” Jayce smiles, petting some of Viktor’s hair away from his face, “I’ll try to get it done before they come home.” Jayce slips away to clean up before coming back, and reaching into Dominik’s incubator to touch his hand. “I called my mom.”
Viktor looks up from their son, “Oh? Good. How is she?”
“She’s happy you’re okay. She’s happy they’re okay. She wants to come visit, I told her I’d talk to you and see how you felt about it.”
Viktor hums, “I… hm.” He frowns. He doesn’t necessarily mind the idea of Ximena seeing them, he wants her to see them, of course, but… “they’re so little. And they’re so fragile right now.” Viktor says softly, “I want her to see them, but I’m…”
“It’s okay,” Jayce assures softly, “I told her she’d probably have to give it a week or two. I didn’t figure you’d be up for visitors too soon. We should call your dads.”
“Ah,” Viktor sighs, “right. Yes.”
Jayce produces Viktor’s phone from his back pocket, and pulls up a chair to sit with him. Viktor calls Silco, and presses the phone to his ear. Jayce holds his other hand as he listens to it ring.
He picks up after two.
“It’s quite early for you to be calling me, what’s the occasion?”
“Papa,” Viktor smiles, “it’s about the babies. Get dad?”
“Ah,” he hears him pull the phone away and call for Vander, and after a few minutes he hears the phone land on a table and both of their voices over the speaker. “Is everything okay? We’re-“
“I know you’re not talking baby stuff without me!” Jinx’s voice cuts through from farther away, Viktor can hear her come closer and then her voice comes through, “My niece and nephew better be treating you right!”
Viktor breathes a laugh, “Ah, well, about them…” he smiles, “There was a complication. They are here.”
“What!?” Vander speaks up first, “Christ, kid, you’re not even-“
“I know, I know. Dominik was in trouble. We didn’t have a choice. You want to see them?”
“Of course we do!” Jinx answers, “Oh my god how big are they? They must be so tiny!”
Viktor laughs, “According to the cards Sofia is three and a half pounds. Dominik is one ounce heavier.”
Viktor turns on the camera in the call and passes the phone to Jayce. He smiles and introduces his fathers to their new grandchildren to the ooohs and aahs of the three of them. Viktor catches sight of one of the doctors nearby, smiling at them. She approaches as the conversation quiets down and she rests a hand on one of the incubators.
“Are you ready to hold them?”
“We can hold them?” Jayce asks, eyes wide as he looks at the doctor and then down to one of the twins.
“We would love to hold them.” Viktor smiles.
They take turns with the phone as the doctor helps them, she helps Viktor get his hospital gown tugged out of the way, explaining how good the skin to skin contact is for them. She talks to them gently about how to hold them, and she gets each twin set on Viktor’s chest, his hands curling over each of them.
They’re so small, they fit under his hands and he gently tugs the cotton gown up to cover them, to help keep them warm. He smiles up at Jayce (and his fathers through the phone) through teary eyes. The small weight of them on his chest feels more impactful than just over seven pounds, they both wiggle a little as they settle on him and eventually still and sleep. Viktor could stay here forever.
Jayce wraps up the call with Viktor’s dads as Viktor settles with his babies on his chest. He feels warm and wonderful and…
He looks up from them when Jayce comes back. He smiles.
“Never again.” Viktor says softly, smiling up at Jayce. It gets him a laugh. Jayce nods and sits in front of him, scooting close and kissing Viktor’s cheek.
“Never again. Not if you don’t want to.”
Viktor leans into him, resting his head on Jayce’s shoulder.
He closes his eyes and he listens to the quiet breathing of their babies. It soothes him more than he expects. He isn’t sure how long he stays like that, but eventually a doctor comes by and they have to go back into the incubators. Viktor realizes belatedly that he didn’t give Jayce a chance, but Jayce swears he’ll hold them later, and he kisses Viktor a few times to quell the upset that threatens to build in him as they head back to Viktor’s room.
“You should sleep, while I go get our stuff. Plus I bet they’re sending up breakfast any minute now.” Jayce helps Viktor back into his bed, and tugs the blankets over him, making sure Viktor is comfortable.
Viktor nods, “Think about tattoo ideas,” he murmurs as he settles into the bed, the exhaustion sinking in between the events of the day before and the fact that Viktor couldn’t get any sleep.
Jayce pets his hair and kisses his forehead, “Yeah. Yeah I will. I think I want it on my arm. Like yours.”
Viktor hums, smiling softly, “Wherever you want it, Jayce.” Viktor reaches up, cupping his cheek and smiling up at him. “All four of them?” He asks again, softly, a little laugh bubbling up in his chest.
Jayce laughs, he kisses Viktor’s forehead and he nods. “All four of them.” He kisses Viktor again. “Alright. Get some sleep. I’ll be back.” Jayce squeezes his hand, and lets go to leave.
Viktor watches his back, and he smiles. He settles in his bed and he sighs softly, letting his eyes slide shut. He can see them in the dark, tiny and sweet and perfectly poised to take over his whole world, and he’s so looking forward to letting them.
He drifts to sleep with the memory of their weight and warmth on his chest, and Jayce’s soft voice in his ear.
~~
“Ready?”
“Yes.” Viktor sighs, turning the key in their front door and pushing it open. He leans on his crutch as he steps inside, and he holds the door open for Jayce as he totes a carseat in each arm through the door. They step into their apartment and the door closes with a soft click. There’s a bubbly noise from one of the carseats and Viktor steps over to it, cooing softly at Dominik as Jayce sets it down in front of him. Viktor kneels down in front of it with a soft wince, and Jayce hisses softly.
“You should go sit on the couch.” Jayce smiles, setting the other carseat down next to the first. He sits next to Viktor as he works on unbuckling their son.
“Eh,” Viktor waves a hand, “I’m fine.”
“You had major surgery three weeks ago.”
“And I am fine,” Viktor says again, gently scooping Dominik out of his carseat. He tucks him against his chest and watches Jayce take Sofia out. They’ve grown a bit in the past weeks, they’re almost five pounds each now. Viktor brushes a hand across Dominik’s face, and he leans on Jayce’s shoulder as he looks at Sofia in his arms.
“Welcome home, loves.” Viktor murmurs, kissing Dominik’s forehead softly. “Papa has put a lot of work into your room since you were born. Are you ready to see it?” He asks, but of course gets no answer beyond a stare and a little wiggle. He chuckles and he works on standing. Jayce is much quicker, especially with a baby in his arms, and he helps Viktor steady himself. Viktor leans on Jayce a bit as they head to the nursery.
Viktor smiles at the room as they step into it. Jayce has been focused on it in the time they’ve had in between visiting the babies in the hospital. Now it’s perfect. Two matching beds, a book shelf full of board books and toys, a closet full of clothes that they can wear. Viktor heads over to the rocking chair and lowers himself slowly to sit in it, grunting softly.
He sighs, and watches Jayce as he carries Sofia around and gives her a quiet tour. Dominik yawns in Viktor’s arms and wiggles down in his hold, drifting to sleep with a soft little yawn and squeak. Viktor closes his eyes and he settles into his seat, the sound of Jayce’s voice and the comfort of finally being in their own home makes him feel warm and wonderful.
It’s not where he saw himself in the future. He pictured a lot of things, but ‘happily married father of twins’ was never one of them. Yet here he is, sitting in a nursery for two, watching his husband carry around their daughter, his son sleeping on his chest. It’s warm and soft, and safe. He sighs softly, laying his head back against the chair.
He drifts off to sleep like that, warm and comfortable, with Jayce’s voice filling the quiet around him. Dominik squeaks out another yawn that makes Viktor smile.
And, at least for the moment, it’s perfect.