It's 2:38 a.m. of a cold January morning and I feel like I'm on the brink of losing it all. I'm tired but I feel like if I close my eyes, all that I love will be gone.

I'm petrified that I might lose the most important people to me on this very day. I feel guilty for feeling bad for myself because I'm not on a medical table fighting for my life, while hands go in and out of my body trying to save me. I'm not the one incubated in a small box with tubes running in and out of my body because I'm not healthy enough.

All these people have it the worst and if I could, I'd switch places with them. I'd have it that I feel the pain and not them. But all I can do is sit in a chair and wait...

I've been on this chair for hours. No nurse or doctor has come back to give me an update on Harley or the babies. My mother has even made it to the hospital and I still have no common ground. No information to make me feel like my world might not collapse at any moment.

"Mr Princely," my tired head lifts from staring at the dirty floor. My bloodshot tired eyes meet the soft brown eyes of a nurse with a soft smile.

"Mrs Princely is okay. She had a ruptured placenta, seemingly from trauma that is why she bled profusely during birth. She lost a concerning amount of blood but she'll be fine with a good recovery. We have now just moved her to her room and you can now see her," the nurse explained.

A minuscule weight was lifted off my chest. A big amount of my weight was from the worry of my sons. I still haven't gotten an update on how they're doing.

"What about the babies?" My throat is parched and groggy.

The nurse frowned slightly which only increased my worry. "I'll have to go and ask the pediatric doctor. I'll update you when as soon as I know their condition. Do you want to see your wife now or..." I stood up along with my mother beside me to signal that we want to see her.

The nurse leads us to an elevator that took us to the eighth floor. Harley's room wasn't far from the elevator. Walking into her room broke my heart into a million pieces. Suddenly, since we've found her, I could see her properly.

She was still the same gorgeous Harley, except she had a few fading bruises on her face. This explains the rupture of her placenta. She'd been assaulted the whole time she'd been taken.

I wondered if she'd be in the right head-space if she'd emotionally be fine. I highly doubt it.
You don't go through whatever horrors Harley's been through and come out peachy.

She's going to need as much help from me and professionals as she can get. If anything I just want her and the babies to be healthy and happy.

The monitors in her room were rhythmic but not soothing. They were a reminder that she was still alive but not in the best condition. Harley was still sound asleep with an oxygen mask covering her nose and mouth.

I rushed to take the seat beside her chair and held her hand while my mother took the couch.

My mother hasn't said much since she's arrived. She's tried to console me but the only thing I want to hear it that Harley and the babies are alright.

I rub Harley's hand as I try my best not to tear up again. This is admittedly the hardest day I've had to endure. Even the day we found out that we'd lost our father couldn't match up to this. The pain I'm feeling right is way worse than I felt when I watched my father's being lowered into the ground.

I felt helpless watching Harley's chest right up and down. She'd been through too much and I can't do anything about it but hold her hand.

Sitting there waiting for both an update on the wellbeing of my children and for Harley wake up felt like time was moving at an unbearable slow pace.

A knock came from the door before the nurse from earlier entered again. I stared at her with a bit of hope and she gave me a soothing smile.

"Your boys are okay. They're still incubated and being closely monitored but for now, they are fine. For the moment they are resting but we'll tell you when you can see them," she said. She then checked Harley's vitals and said, "Mr Princely, we see all of premature baby's with situations like Mrs Princely's. I can't promise anything but I can say that a lot of the times, these situations end happily."

And just like that my faith had been restored and I was more hopeful that this would simply just be a worrisome day when we look back on it in the future...

---×

Two years later...

"It's on this day that we honour the loss of a beautiful soul we lost on this very same day two years ago. This fine lady was not just beautiful on the outside but the inside too. She had so much love within her and that's what made it so painful to lose her. She fought a hard battle but because she is no longer with us does not mean that she lost the battle. In fact, in a sense, she won the battle because right now as we speak, she is in a better place without any pain. She's probably looking down on everyone gathered here to honour her memory and smiling. Evangeline Maria Snart, you may have gone soon but you will live forever in our hearts," Harley's father concluded his speech and everyone applauded.

The memorial service was honestly beautiful. Everyone had beautiful things to say about Harley's late half-sister, even Harley despite not having ever met her.

"Giovanni's getting restless. I think we should announce that we're leaving because it's only a matter of time until he starts throwing tantrums," Harley's displeased face comes into my view. She looks exhausted while trying to firmly hold onto a squirming toddler.

At that moment I can't help but let out a small chuckle and appreciate the blessing I've got in front of me.  "Take Gianni and I'll take Giovanni with me to go tell your dad we are leaving," although tired, she gave me a small appreciative smile.

I stood up and handed a heavily sleeping Gianni over to Harley. I took Giovanni by the hand and headed over to Harley's father.

Two years ago on this day, I was in a hospital, scared that I'd lose all that I have now. It was the early mornings the day after the boys were born. I felt helpless that day like I was going to lose everything, myself. I probably could've but I was blessed to have everyone safe and Harley make it out of the operation room alive.
I don't think I'd be able to have done this whole parenting thing alone and for that alone, I have limitless respect and love for her.

It was later that day when Harley had awoken and we could see our children that Evangeline passed on. We didn't find out immediately but eventually, Harley's father reached out to me to tell me that he'd lost his ten-year-old daughter a few days ago. He invited us to the funeral and despite the doctor telling Harley to take it easy, she attended the funeral. From that day forward, Harley and her father's relationship only got better.

"Hey, Donald," I casually great Harley's father. He gives me a small smile and briefly hugs me with a pat on the back before greeting Giovanni beside me in a manner that makes him smile.

"Beautiful service, man but unfortunately Harley's drained from yesterday and little man down here isn't making it any easier. I'm afraid we're going to have to call it early," I explain to him and he understands. We bid goodbye and part ways.

When I get back to the car, Gianni is perfectly strapped in his car seat while Harley seems to be asleep like her son. I strap Giovanni in his car seat and secure it before hopping into the driver's seat.

A look at Harley sleeping makes me happy. She's so beautiful it's surreal. The boys are blessed to have a mother like her because she's always doing her best for them.

One last look at a sleeping Gianni and a tired Giovanni bring joy to my heart to see how much they look like their mother. The boys have my eyes and most of Harley's features. The only problem is that they're identical. Sometimes we can't tell which is which.

I fasten my seatbelt and turn on the engine of the car beginning our journey back to our home.

I can't help but be grateful for how blessed I am. Before I used to think Harley and I were enemies. I hated the way she made me feel, the way she challenged me.

I can proudly say that we're not friends. We were never friends. We are best friends, soulmates and most importantly, we're family.

We've reached the end after so long.

I hope you guys enjoyed the story. Please do tell me what you think, I don't mind constructive criticism despite my stubbornness.

BUT I most definitely won't tolerate blatant rudeness.

I hope you all enjoyed Harley and Valentino's story. I didn't really want to end with the typical wedding but I might write  a bonus chapter of their wedding if they do decide to take a step in that direction.

Thank you to those of you who left funny comments that truly showed how involve you are with the story. I'll be writing a few bonus chapters and then I'm afraid it would be the end of the road unless I wake up happier tomorrow.

I will also be releasing new books soon. I can't say much about them right now because I'm still figuring out their direction and all that but they'll be nice.

Thanks again for joining me on this journey. Stay safe. Love ya'll.