Chapter Text
Kammi gazed fondly at her two new bundles of joy. The twins slept peacefully in her arms. She smiled at their tiny faces. An almost overwhelming sense of affection washed over her. Tears formed in her eyes and she began to silently cry from happiness. A nurse walking by noticed but Kammi politely denied her offer for help. The woman didn’t press any farther and left her to be in peace. Not long after her departure, someone knock on the open door.
“Hey. Mind if I come in?”
At first, Kammi didn’t recognize the voice. She looked to the door. A huge grin formed on her face.
“James! Of course! Come on in!” She beamed.
James smiled shyly and stepped into the slightly chilly space. A blond man followed in behind him. Kammi’s eyes locked with the strangers.
“This is my buddy Seamus.”
“Seamus.” Kammi repeated. Their eyes met again, holding the gaze a little longer than necessary. She smiled warmly. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Seamus.”
“Yeah, same to you.” Seamus said, feeling flustered. James glanced between them amused.
“Uh huh.. Well, how are you feeling? Stressed out yet?” He joked.
“Not yet.” Kammi chuckled. “They’ve been sleeping most of the day, so it’s been fairly easy.” She placed a kiss on both of their heads. “You wanna hold them James?”
James held up his hands and shook his head. “No thanks. I’m afraid I’d drop one.”
She looked at Seamus. “Seamus, would you like to hold them?”
“Uh, s-sure.” He stuttered. Seamus walked over to her beside and did as she instructed. They were carefully placed in his arms then he sat on the chair beside the bed. A look of pure terror was evident on his face as the little girl stirred. James snickered. Seamus stared daggers at him. Kammi watched him with intrigue.
“So what are their names?” James asked.
Kammi snapped out of her daydream and focused on James.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“What are their names?” He asked again.
“Oh. The girl is Scarlett Rose Marchant. The boy is Sterling River Marchant.”
A weird ambience fell over the room. James scratched the back of his neck, Kammi stared at her blanket, and Seamus hyper focused on Scarlett.
“Have you uh, told him yet?” James treaded lightly, not wanting to potentially upset her. Kammi shook her head then sighed.
“No, and I don’t plan on it. He hasn’t tried to contact me at all over the last eight months.” She fiddled with the corner of her blanket.
“Well maybe that’s because he thinks you want space.” Seamus interjected.
“Seamus–” James tried to scold him but Kammi waved it off.
“No James. Seamus has a point. I just hoped he’d have at least tried, you know?”
Kammi felt a pang in her chest. More tears welled in her eyes, but for a different reason this time. James shoulders fell. He walked over to her and hugged her tightly as she cried. Seamus looked at him as if he should say something, but was at a loss for words. All he could say was “I’m sorry.”
"Well Aleks,” his manager spoke, “everything seems to be in order! I just need you to sign one last form then all your dreams will come true!” The man slid the last page of his contract across the table. Aleks shakily grabbed the pen and signed with no hesitation. A weight lifted from his shoulders and he smiled–genuinely smiled–for the first time in months. Things finally seemed like they were picking up for him