"We are most alive when
We're in love."
-John Updike
The next day the doctor came to visit Mia and give her a check up. Their wasn't much he could really do without being at the office. He urged the guys to bring Mia to his office where he could perform the proper test and even take a look at the baby through an ultrasound. They booked an appointment for the following morning.
"Come on Prince let's go outside," Mia sweetly called out for the pup.
"You're taking Prince out?" Adam asked.
"We will come with you," Alex said before Mia could answer Adam.
"Yeah, we have to keep a close eye on you," Adam informed.
"Yes, your safety means everything." Alex said walking to the door.
Mia scooped up prince and carried him outside. She knew it would be useless to argue with the twins. Plus she didn't mind their company. Mia sat prince down and let him roam around, he lifted his leg on almost everything marking his territory.
Mia felt two arms wrap gently around her. She looked back and it was Adam. Mia kept her head turned and snuggled her cheek against his collarbone. Mia looked back out to prince and he was starting to run away.
"Prince!" Mia yelled, the pup was running full speed.
"Don't worry Mia I will get him," Alex ran after the pup.
"Can we still follow?" Mia asked looking up at Adam. He gave her a kiss, "yeah, just in case something happens."
Mia took Adam's hand and laced her fingers through his.
They came to a stop at the top of a small hill. Alex was knelt down holding onto Prince. Mia began to approach but Alex stood up and signaled for them to wait.
"Mia, angel stay there. Adam come look at this." Alex ordered.
Adam gave Mia a kiss on her forehead, "be right back."
Adam walked up to his brother and in the y'all grass he noticed the baby calf. It had been killed and something feasted on it.
"What do you think it was?" Adam asked.
"Not sure, Connor would probably know." Alex shrugged.
"What ever it was was big enough to drag it here. The cow pastor is well fenced in." Adam pointed out.
"Let's give Connor a ring and get Mia back to the house." Alex suggested.
"Also we should get prince a leash, would hate it if something happened to Mia's pup." Adam said turning and walking back to Mia.
"What happened?" Mia asked seeing a look of worry on Adam's face.
"One of the calves were attacked. It's best if you and prince stay close to the house and try not to go out alone." Adam said wrapping Mia in a strong embrace.
"We just want to make sure you and our babies are safe." Alex stated, sliding a hand on to Mia's belly.
"We will set something up in the yard for prince," Adam began to lead Mia back to the house.
"Just so he doesn't run off and get into trouble," Alex added.
Mia just nodded her head in agreement. She wasn't going to argue with the guys over something that would keep her puppy and unborn baby safe.
That evening at the dinner table, Mia and her eight hot fiancés enjoyed beef stew and homemade buns. Elle sent over the recipe, she said it would be something easy on Mia's delicate stomach.
"So how was everyone's day?" Mia asked. The guys all looked so tired. Except for Adam and Alex who spent the day with Mia.
"I set up a rope in the backyard that you can hook Prince up too." Eli informed her. "Don't want you running after the pup especially when your belly becomes full and round." Eli's expression began to darken. The thought of seeing Mia carrying their babies really turned him on.
Mia nodded and then looked over at Connor, Chase and Cole. "Do you know what happened to the calf?"
The triplets froze and looked at Adam and Alex.
"You let her see the calf?" Connor growled at the twins.
"Calm down Connor, I didn't see anything. The grass was too tall. I promise." Mia assured him.
Connor looked at Mia and his face softened. "Sorry, it was just a nasty sight." He apologized.
"We think it's a mountain lion." Cole said. Connor shoot him a look.
"Connor, I think it's best if she knows. Not to scare her but make her aware of any possible dangers." Chase stated.
Connor clinched his jaw and bowed his head in defeat.
"It was a mountain lion, judging by the claw marks and the size of the bite marks left." Connor shared. "They are the harder then a bear to deal with, I suggest we all start carrying and as much as I hate it even Mia should carry."
Mia didn't understand, carry what?
The guys began to debate Mia carrying.
"She has probably never used one before." Dean argued.
"It would do her no good if she didn't know how to use it." Dave added.
"Yeah but we could show her." Eli chimed in.
"Their might be a time none of us are around and she has to protect herself and our babies." Connor shrugged.
"But when is she ever alone." Adam pointed out.
"How about we just ask Mia if she wants to carry or not." Cole suggested.
All eight men were now looking at Mia.
"Mia do you want to carry?" Eli asked gently.
"I'm confused, carry what?" Mia questioned.
"A firearm." Connor told her.
"A firearm? Like a gun?" Mia gulped.
"Yes, the choice is yours." Eli said, "their are hand guns, riffles and shot guns. Eventually you might want to learn how to use one since this is a large ranch and predators see it as an easy target."
"Can I think about it for a couple days?" Mia asked.
"Whatever you need, we will not pressure you kitten," Dean said with a warm smile.
"All of us will start to carry and the farm hands. Mainly because of the mountain lion problem but also with winter fast approaching bears and wolves tend to come closer to the ranch." Cole informed Mia.
Soon the guys were at easy finishing up their dinner. Mia felt something wet on her ankle. Looking down in was Prince giving her feet kisses. Mia looked around at the guys who were all lost in chatter. She grabbed a piece of beef from her stew and gave it to Prince. He quickly ate it and begged for more. Mia looked up again and thought no one was watching, she grabbed a carrot and gave it to Prince he seemed to really enjoy that. Mia looked at her leftover stew again and seen she had one more piece of beef, she grabbed it and tossed it down to Prince and smiled as she watched him enjoy it. He licked her toes causing Mia to giggle.
"What are you doing Mia?" Dean asked in a teasing tone.
Mia snapped her head up, "nothing!" She squealed.
"Hahaha she's feeding Prince!" Connor laughed.
Mia shook her head no.
"And she's trying to hide it!" Dave said peeking under the table.
"Noooooope." Mia said trying to hold back a grin.
"She's trying to lie to us brother." Adam said to Alex.
"Should we punish her?" Alex asked back.
"I.... ugh.... I need to clean this up," Mia shot up from her seat and started clearing the table.
The guys helped clear the table and helped wash up the dishes. Before Mia knew it the kitchen was clean.
"Thank you all for helping," Mia said turning around to look at the guys.
"Ummmm, what are you doing?" Mia questioned as the guys slowly approached her.
Eli swept Mia off her feet and into his arms. Eli marched to Mia's room with his siblings right behind him.
"We will go easy on you because you're with child but that doesn't make you completely off limits," Eli whispered into Mia's ear. She let out a soft moan and laid back onto her bed.
The next morning Mia woke up surrounded by her men. She looked around to see Prince had cuddled up with Connor. Mia shook her head, he really was an animal whisperer. Mia strategically climbed out of bed and began to get ready for the day. She needed breakfast and then head off to her doctors appointment. Mia snacked on some crackers while she cooked to keep her morning sickness at bay.
Mia heard shuffling and turned to see the guys and Prince enter the kitchen. She quickly filled coffee cups and passed out pancakes, bacon and eggs. Mia went to let out Prince and stopped. Will one of you come with me. Connor got up.
"I will," Connor walked to the door. "Let me peek out first and then we can hook him up to his leash."
Mia nodded.
Soon they were both outside watching Prince run around as far as the rope let him. Mia leaned against Connor and laid her head on his chest.
"I love you, and waking up with you and your brothers everyday." Mia began to feel tears sting her eyes.
"I love you too angel but why are you crying?" Connor asked, he wrapped his arms around her as if he could protect her from her feelings.
"I don't know," Mia began to sob. "I just feel so happy and I really love you."
Connor ushered Mia inside and went to fetch Prince from the yard.
"Mia what's wrong!" Adam and Alex rushes to her sides.
"Why is she crying?" Dean asked get agitated. He did not like the thought of someone hurting Mia.
Connor came back in with Prince.
"What did you do?!" Cole began to yell at Connor.
"Nothing I swear!" Connor said throwing his hands up in defense.
"She just said she loves us and started crying I swear!" Connor said sounding confused.
"Everyone calm down" Eli started to defuse the situation. "It's hormones. Y'all don't remember but I do because I'm the oldest. When momma was pregnant with the triplets she was like this too. Her hormones wrecked havoc on her emotions. One minute mom would laugh like someone told the funniest joke then cry like she lost her best friend."
"Oh Mia," Adam and Alex both chimed and started planting little kisses.
Mia began to giggle and dry her eyes, "you two!" Mia chuckled. "Is everyone going to the doctor with me?"
"We weren't sure who you would want to go," Dean started.
"If it that's what you want then heck yes!" Dave exclaimed.
Mia nodded, " I would like you all to go. At least to the first one and when we go to find out the gender I will want you guys there too."
"If you want us there then we will be there," Eli said pulling Mia to himself. Eli wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss on top of her head.
At the doctors office Mia couldn't help but tap her foot and chew on her bottom lip. She was nervous and it showed. Her and the guys almost completely filled the waiting room. You could fit maybe a dozen people in the waiting room. Mia was happy no other patients were there.
Mia was called back and the guys followed. If the doctor minds he didn't show it.
Mia laid back on the examination bed. First he did an ultrasound. It showed 3 little dots.
"Those are the babies, looks like 3 of them." The doctor started. "I would say you are about six weeks pregnant. How have you been feeling?"
"She has morning sickness." Adam started.
"Her hormones have been effecting her emotions." Connor pointed out.
The doctor chuckled, "that's all normal, since you are expecting ore then one you will have stronger pregnancy symptoms. You will also start showing a little sooner. This is your first pregnancy so normally you would start to show around 20 weeks but you are expecting three so maybe around 15 weeks you will show. Also around 15 weeks you will be in your second trimester so the morning sickness and tiredness should subside around then. Are you taking prenatal vitamins?"
Mia nodded.
"Good the sooner you the better. Also eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure the babies get enough vitamins. Also you might want to up your fiber. Three babies will make it harder to go once they start growing. Most importantly drink lots of water and avoid caffeine if possible. A cup of coffee won't hurt but too much can affect the babies."
Mia just nodded.
"Now if you don't mind it's standard to do a pap smear test and some blood work. It that fine with you?" The doctor asked.
Mia could barely answer, she just nodded her head. "Okay, undress from the waist down and put this over your lap and put you feet in the stirrups." The doctor got up. "I will be back to take the samples."
At the end of the doctors visit Mia was handed a picture of the ultrasound. She stared at the image, trying to grip her head around that she has three little babies inside her body.
Mia was siting in the backseat between Chase and Cole, Connor was riding shotgun and Eli drove. The two sets of twins road together in a different truck.
"You okay angel?" Cole asked placing his hand on Mia's leg.
"Yeah just trying to wrap my head around this." Mia mumbled.
"Don't worry angel, it's only 3 babies. Think about it like this 3 babies and 9 parents that's a 1:3 baby-parent ratio most families have only two parents and one baby. You see what I'm sayin angel?" Chase said wrapping his arm around Mia's shoulders.
"I guess that does make me feel a little better." Mia kissed Chase's cheek. "Thank you."
"And don't worry about remembering what the doctor said, I'm sure Eli and Connor are reciting every word." Cole teased.
Mia couldn't help but giggle looking at Eli and Connor in the front seat, they were sporting the most serious looks.
"Do y'all want to invite your parents over tonight? I could make some chicken dumplings and celebrate the three babies." Mia suggested.
"Sure I will call them now." Connor chimed in like he was listening to the conversation in the back seat the whole time. This caused Mia, Chase and Cole to crack up laughing.
Back in New York......................
Mr. Sanders paced the floor. It has been over two months since Mary left. The p/i's couldn't find her. Mr. Sanders had high hopes on one of the investigators but he lost Mary's trail in California.
"I really don't want to do this but I'm going to have to call in the body snatchers." Mr. Sanders said out loud.
Body snatchers are a group of people who literally snatch bodies. They are a large network of thugs, gang members and dealers. Some even look innocent like a senior citizen or a friendly neighbor. This was a last resort. The reason Mr. Sanders didn't call was because Vince didn't trust them handling Mary. The body snatchers didn't follow orders. They would of brought her back in a body bag and still demand payment.
"Mary, you have cost me my name, my business and my money. You're going to be sorry now." Mr. Sanders snarled, looking over a photo of his daughter.
A/N: well well well.... looks like Mia and the guys better watch their backs. Also will Mia start carrying a firearm? And do you think the babies will be boys, girls or a mix? Mia is only 6 weeks pregnant, she still has 32 weeks to go. I wonder what drama will unfold.
I figured out where this story is going the end isn't completely clear but I have a general direction so that makes writing a lot easier.
Anyways have a good day! You are awesome and deserve an awesome day!!!!!!