Our Invisible String (Complete Version)

53 (Travis Version)

"Alright, here's your first little girl!" Isla said.

"Travis." Taylor breathed. "Travis."

I just squeezed her hand, taking her unspoken question with a nod. Moving down, I took the scissors Isla handed to me and carefully cut the cord, my eyes wide as I stared down at my daughter. My second daughter.

Belle was so tiny, her eyes closed as she wailed, covered in all sorts of things. Once Isla had clipped something against the tiny end of the cord, I lifted the screaming baby into my arms. Taylor started sobbing as I carried Belle up, resting her down on her mother's chest. Belle quieted slightly as Taylor clutched her close, tears running down her face.

"Oh hi." She sobbed, rubbing her hand gently against our baby's back. "Hi baby girl. You're so perfect. Hi." Taylor looked up at me. "Travis we did it."

"You did it." I rested a hand on her shoulder, and Taylor cried harder.

"Shit!" She gasped. "Alright, impatient baby number two wants her turn now." Her eyes blinked, lips pressing together as she tried to focus. "Travis can you take her?"

I nodded, reaching out. Taylor passed Belle into my arms and my heart throbbed as I looked down at the little girl in my arms. Isla offered me a baby blanket, which I took and tucked it around my daughter. She was still fussing a little but I rocked her gently, stunned as I stared down at her, in shock that she was in my arms. I'd known we were having two more little girls, but it hadn't hit me until now.

Trying to continue to be there for Taylor, I cradled Belle close with one arm and placed my other hand on her back where it had been before. She smiled gratefully at me, leaning forwards to push.

Twenty minutes later, our little Evie was born. Taylor collapsed back against the bed, her eyes fluttering closed with exhaustion. She reached out and I placed Belle back into her arms, moving down to help cut the second cord. Once I had, I carried Evie up into Taylor's arms, resting her down next to her sister. Taylor couldn't stop crying, cradling both babies close as they both burrowed against her neck, relaxing in the arms of their mother. They knew they were safe with Taylor, and I fought tears as I looked down at my three girls.

I couldn't believe it. All of a sudden we had three little baby girls to call our children, to take care of and love for the rest of our lives. No one had ever made me want this before, but Taylor was different. She'd flipped my life upside down, and I never wanted to spend a single second without her.

"Travis look at them." Taylor sobbed, and I crouched down next to her bed, rubbing her arm gently.

"I'm so proud of you princess." I told her. "You did so well."

"Thank you." Taylor sniffed, and I moved to drape a little blanket over both of the little girls snuggled against her chest. "God I'm so fucking tired." She sighed, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"You can sleep my love." I murmured.

"I...I mean don't they...won't they be hungry?" Taylor mumbled.

"It takes them a little while to get used to the idea that they've been born, so it might be an hour or so until they want to breastfeed." Isla told her. "We just ned to get you to pass the placenta and then if you're feeling okay, you should be good to sleep for a while."

Taylor nodded tiredly, her hands slowly rubbing against our daughter's backs. She looked absolutely exhausted, and sure enough once she'd gotten through everything, her eyes drooped and she quickly fell asleep. Isla took the babies one at a time, weighing them and cleaning them up before taking them for a quick hearing test.

"Okay, she's all good." Isla whispered, coming back with Evie and passing her into my arms.

"Thank you." I murmured quietly, not wanting to wake Taylor.

"When she wakes up, she'll be really sore and she'll probably want a shower." She told me. "There's a seat in there so she doesn't have to stand, and if you guys need any help you can come and get me. Otherwise, I'll come to check her over and see how she's doing."

I nodded, watching as she left us alone. When the door closed behind her, I turned and placed Evie down in one of the tiny cots we'd been given. Belle was fast asleep already, and as I watched, Evie's eyes drooped and closed as well. My eyes were trapped on my sleeping daughters for a few minutes, and then I looked up at Taylor. She was completely out, breathing heavily. I was glad she'd been able to fall asleep, because she had to be so sore after giving birth to two babies.

I sat down in the chair next to her bed, taking out my phone to text Andrea and my parents. I just told them that the girls had been born, that they were perfectly healthy and Taylor had done amazingly well, and that she was asleep now. They could come and visit probably in the morning, when Taylor was ready.