Aria's P.O.V.
The police arrived not long after to collect the dead body of my father who should have been in his coffin, buried deep down in the ground where I never had to see his face again. No matter how dead he was, he still haunted my thoughts.
The police tried to question Niall and I as to how the body could have gotten there, but both of us were practically speechless. We were shcoked, and I was terrified. So damn terrified.
Every night for two weeks after the incident with my father's body, I had gruesome nightmares about him every night. Three times a night. I would dream of him, stripping my clothes off, violating me until I screamed and begged him to stop. And every night, I woke up crying, gasping for air.
Of course, my nightmares disturbed Niall. Not only mentally, but also literally. He woke up every time that I woke, and so we both became stressed and snappy with lack of sleep. There wasn't a day where I saw my children and smiled, because my muscles were too tired to muster up even the tiniest grin.
Things only became worse a week later, when I began to wake up from the pain of my nightmares, and also he pgysical pain of a lovely thing called contractions. Sharp aches to my lower back had me up at unimaginable hours of the night, and Niall would be up, too, pressing a warm heating pad to my pressuring pelvis and I cried in pain.
I wanted out on the pregnancy the fifth day of contractions. At a point, I got down on my knees and prayed to God to end my pregnancy and get my baby girl out of me, alive and healthy, as soon as possible. God must have been listening, because three days later, it finally happened.
My water broke.
At first, I hadn't noticed it happen. I was in the shower, trying to ignore to small, sharp pain of the contractions going on. I took the feeling of warm liquid running down my thighs as the shower water, but the minute I got out of the shower and entered the bedroom, I realized that it was something more.
Suddenly, a contraction for more painful than any other I had experienced hit me hard. I fell to the floor, crying in pain. The baby was coming. The baby was coming. I screamed in agony as the baby kicked, like a nail stabbing into my stomach.
Niall ran into the room looking alarmed. When he looked down and I looked up and our eyes met, he knew it, too. The baby was coming.
He rushed me into the car and buckled the confused twins in the back seat while I continued and moan in pain at the contractions. Nicolette and Nate kept asking repeatedly if I was okay, but I was too tired to answer them.
"Mum is going to be fine." Niall told them, looking at the children through the rear view mirror as he spoke. "You guys are going to have little sister soon."
"I want to name her Chocolate." Nicolette grinned. I laughed, even in my pain, sweat trickling down my forehead.
"I think Vanilla would be better." Nate argued. "Chocolate is too dark."
"Vanilla is too light." Colette protested. "We're naming her Chocolate!"
"Our kids...are racist." I panted to Niall, who chuckled and grabbed my hand, squeezing it gently.
Upon entering the hospital, I was rushed into a wheelchair and pushed towards a room elwhile Niall checked into the hospital for me. Nicolette recognized the hospital surroundings from the time she had been here, and began telling Nate stories about her experience all over again, while Nate just stared off into space.
For the next three hours, I screamed and cried as the contractions worsened, and all Niall could do was hold my hand and whisper soothing words to me. I looked up at him, to see that he was scared.
"I hate seeing you like this." he admitted, brushing a tear away from underneath my eye
"It hurts, watching you cry."
All I could do was scream louder as another contraction hit me.
"Mrs. Horan," Dr. Phillips announced. "It's time for you to begin pushing."
The next seven hours were filled with me screaming and crying as I pushed out my baby daughter. Niall continued to sit beisde me, not complaining when I dug my nails into his hands to cope the pain, only dabbing at my sweaty forehead with a towel and giving me an encouraging smile.
"Come on, just hang in there." Niall rubbed my hands, pressing his lips to my damp forehead. In my pain and stress, I suddenly went ape shit on him.
"Shut up!" I screamed, causig Niall's eyes to round. "Just shut up! I can't do this! It fucking hurts!"
Pain struck my lower half as I pushed as hard as I could with a loud cry.
"Here comes the head!" Dr. Phillips cheered me along. A few nurses gathered around him to suvtion out the mucus from the baby's nose. I could see from the mirror in front of me, a tiny nit of brown hair. Niall squeezed my hand even tighter.
"Come on, princess." He grinned, looking from the baby's head and back to me. "Just a bit more."
Half an hour later, the sound of a shrill cry rung in my ears. My vision was blurry and I was weak, but still I held my hands out, asking for my child. My third child.
Niall stood up from my side and took the baby from a nurse who had just wrapped her in pink blanket.
"Baby, baby, baby." Niall whispered, and in that moment, it was just him, myself and our newborn daughter. He brought her over to me and sat down in the chair beside my bed, rocking her in his arms. Suddenly, I didn't want to hold her. Just watching him hold her was enough to satisfy me.
Our baby girl began to cry in Niall's arms, probably tired and hungry. Niall looked up with tears in his eyes and silently handed her to me.
Upon settling in my arms, the crying seized. A tear from my eyes fell onto my daughter's cheek, causing her to wince. Her eyes opened to reveal bright, electric blue orbs. Perfect. Holding her in my arms seemed to erase every bit of pain in my body, because I realized that it was all worth it in the end.
"She's so beautiful." Niall whispered, scooting closer to me. "Just like you."
"She has your brown hair." I giggled, resting my head on Niall's shoulder. "And both our eyes."
"She definitely has your nose." Niall laughed, resting his finger gently over our daughter's nose, then poking mine.
"Mum!" Nate and Nicolette yelled, entering the room, dragging a nurse behind them. Something told me that it should have been the nurse leading them in.
"Hi, guys." I smiled, handing the baby to Niall so I could wrap my older children in my arms. "What did you two do out there?"
"We played hide and seek with Nurse Kate." Nicolette grinned a toothy grin. "I won. Five times."
"Yeah, but you cheated." Nate mumbled quietly. Nicolette turned and glared at me, solently asking me to punish him. Suddenly Nate gasped.
"Mum, what happened to your tummy?" He pointed to my flattened stomach in fear. "Did the alien get out of there?"
"She's right here." Niall chuckled, gesturing to the baby in his arms.
"Woah." Nicolette and Nate climbed off the bed and circled around Niall. "An alien baby." Nate whispered to himself.
"She's not an alien." Niall chuckled, rolling jis eyes. "This is your new baby sister."
"Wait." Nicolette held a finger out. " That means I'm a big sister?"
"And I'm a big brother?" Nate asked.
"Yes." Niall grinned at them. "And mum and and want you two to be on your best behaviors for your little sister, because you two aren't babies."
Nate and Nicolette both stood up straighter and puffed their chests out. "Yes daddy." They said together.
"Does she talk?" Colette asked, tippig her head to the side as she examined her little sister. "We can't become friends if she can't talk."
"She won't be able to talk for a while." I told Nicolette. "But I think she still wants you to be her best friend."
"Really?" Colette's eyes glowed with pride. "Okay. We're going to be the bestest friends alive."
My heart tightened as I remebered the way Scarlett and I promised to be best friends. Even thought she was nearly a decade older than me, I remembered how she would skip dates with Jace or hangouts with her friends just to take me to the park. But when she changed, or rather, when Candace took her spot, that ended. For years, I thought that Scarlett hated me, when it was all a big misunderstanding.
"Aria?" Niall's smooth voice brought my out of my paiful memories.
"Yeah," I cleared my throat. "I'm fine, I'm fine."
Niall gave me a dubious look, but avoided asking me anything more. Nate and Nicolette left the room with Nurse Kate to go get food from the restaurants downstairs. A few more nurses got the baby cleaned up, and Dr. Phillips brought her back into the room, free of blood and wrapped in a big blanket.
"She's a healthy baby, Mr. and Mrs. Horan." Dr. Phillips smiled, rolling the baby crib to the side of my bed. He began reading off his clipboard. "Born 12:25 pm on August eighteenth at seven and a half pounds, twenty ons centimeters, no abnormal signs or activity."
"That's wonderful." I smiled genuinely, glancing at my daughter asleep in her crib.
"One question," Dr Phillips continued. "What's her name?"
I looked over at Niall who nodded. "Noelle Adalyn Horan." He recited confidently, as if he had praciced saying the name over and over again when I wasn't listening.
"Beautiful." Dr. Phillips nodded, jotting the name down on his clipboard. He made sure the spelling was correct, the exited the hospital room.
"She looks like a Noelle, don't you think?" Niall asked, staring lovingly at our snoozing daughter.
"She does." I agreed softly, admiring Noelle as she slept peacefully.
An hour or so passed by, and Niall and I were falling asleep on each other. My head was rested on his shoulder, his on my head. We were awoken by Noelle erupting into tears, shortly followed by a loud knock on the door.
A nurse, one that had helped deliver the child, stepped into the room. Niall groaned softly and lifted his head off of me to see what was going on.
"Hi," the nurse smiled shyly. "I'm so sorry to bother you."
"It's okay." I smiled back at her, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. "What did you need?" I asked over the cries of Noelle.
"I just wanted to let know that it's time to give your daughter some bottled formula." She continued to speak rather softly. I sat up straighter.
"No." I protested against her immediately. "I won't allow you to feed any formula to my child. I'll breastfeed her myself."
I remembered the first time I had ever been in labor, and then Nate and Colette were born. The doctors had urged me on and on to give them formula, but I just couldn't stand the idea of fake milk and other unatural chemicals going into the body of a newborn infant, not even a day old.
"My wife and I would appreciate if you laid off the formula." Niall spoke more calmly to the nurse, who seemed frightened by me. I couldn't help it. I didn't want artificial chemicals in my baby's body.
"Of course." The nurse nodded quickly. "You've had previous experience with breastfeeding, correct?"
"Yes." Niall and I answered together. I turned and raised an eyebrow at him, while he blushed and averted his eyes. I giggled.
"Okay." The shy nurse smiled. "I'll leave you to it, then." She nodded politely at us and left.
Niall stood up and went around my bed to pick up Noelle, who cried and cried of hunger. Niall rocked her, rubbing her back while I unbottoned my hospital gown letting the cool air of the hospital room reach my chest. I caught Niall's eyes lingering on my exposed breasts, but he said nothing.
I rolled my eyes and smiled, letting Noelle latch onto my breast and begin sucking. It felt harsh for the first few minutes, but soon it felt familiar and quite comfortable.
"Does it hurt?" Niall asked awkwardly, watching Noelle drink up my breastmilk. I had to laugh at his downright awkwardness.
"No." I chuckled. " Then again, I did this for two babies at the same time."
"Oh..." Niall nodded slowly. "It...looks like it hurts."
"You're adorable when you're embarassed." I laughed, reaching when one hand to squeeze his cheek. Niall blushed even harder.
He bent down and pressed his lips just above my free breast, then placed another kiss on my neck. Noelle grabbed onto my breast and sucked harder, as if she wanted all my undivided attention.
"Ni, stop." I laughed. "Noelle's getting jealous."
Niall chuckled and kissed my lips befire letting me continue my job.
Niall's P.O.V.
"Shit." Aria cursed softly as Noelle tugged a bit too hard on her breast. I tried to cover my smile as I watched the two of them, a surge of pride flowing through me.
On some type of level, by Aria having my child, it made her special and extremely attractive in my eyes. A woman who had given birth to three of my children now, yet still managed to deal with me was hot.
There was really nothing as sexy as someone able to give birth to three of my hildren and now be feeding my child, nurturing our baby with love and care. Everything motherly about Aria stood out to me, attracting me too her, not in lustful way, but more through pride of having her by my side, for having her be the mother of my children.
Aria rested her head on the back of the hospital bed as Noelle continued to feed off of Aria's breastmilk. I realized Aria was falling asleep, and I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. Surely she was tired after being in labor for nearly ten hours, and now she had to breastfeed.
"Babe," I shook Aria's shoulder softly. She jolted up, looking around rhe room in alarm.
"What? What happened?" She gasped. "Is..."
When she looked down and saw that her daughter was still breastfeeding, safe and sound, she settled back on the bed.
"I just didn't want you to fall asleep while you were feeding." I gestured to Noelle who rested on her breast.
"Oh," Aria nodded, and the two of us watched Noelle slowly pull her mouth away from Aria's breast and yawn, stretching her arms out over her head before bringing them back down. "I think she's done."
I nodded and carefully lifted Noelle from Aria's arms and tool her back to the crib, blowing her a kiss before walking back to Aria's bed. Aria had already passed out. I smiled and shook my head, bending down to pull the fabric of her gown over her breasts and button the gown up. It made me giddy just how good Aria could make a hospital gown look.
I gingerly kissed Aria's lips before collapsing in the chair beside her, closing my eyes to rest after a long day. I held Aria's hand as I slept, and for once in a very long time, I believe we both had sweet dreams.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I had forgotten just how hectic it was, having a newborn in the house.
I had forgotten just how much lack of sleep there would be, for months. I had forgotten how exhausted and unpleasant Aria and I both got, causing things to get rough between our relationship.
The crying started the day we took Noelle home, up until now, a week later. Aria and I both woke up to he sound of crying, and Aria broke down. It was too much for her. She was exhausted, hell, she was too worn out to even get out of bed.
I exhaled and kissed her forehead. "I got this." I whispered, tiredness clear in my voice.
I got out of bed and made sure Aria was covered by the warm blankets before I made my way across the room the Noelle's crib. She was wailing, her tiny face covered with tears. I picked her up and bounced her gently up and down, patting her back as I tried to sooth her.
"Shh, princess. don't cry." I whispered to my daughter, my fingers grazing over her soft, brown hair. Noelle screamed in response.
I felt my head pound as I panicked. I was clueless on how to stop the crying. When Nicolette and Nate were babies, I would just sing to them. But when I sang to Noelle, she just cried louder, and louder, and louder.
I took Noelle on a wall through the house, hoping maybe a change of scenery would sooth her. I switched the kitchen lights on as I walked through the house wth Noelle crying in my arms. I tried to make some funny faces at her, even tickle her.
Nothing was working.
I slammed a fist on the counter in frustration, while Noelle wailed. I wanted to cry. I really and truly wanted to break down like Noelle. I was upset, she was upset, and that was that. I started rubbing my finger in a circular motion on her tummy, trying to figure out what to do.
Damn, all I had to do for the twins was sing a few tunes and they would be knocked out.
Perhaps I could give her a toy to play with, but her vision was still too blurry to tell what it was. Maybe I could feed her some emergency formula in the refridgerator, but then Aria would get pissed at me. It was only for emergencies. Maybe if I took Noelle out for a walk, she'd be calmed by the fresh air.
And then something occurred to me. Noelle wasn't crying anymore.
I looked down at Noelle whose eyes were closed, and she was completely out. I stopped rubbing Noelle's tummy with my thumb and realized that that was the key. Noelle liked tummy rubs.
I had to write that down.
I carried Noelle back upstairs to our bedroom and set her down in the crib, covering her with a blanket. Thank god she was asleep.
For a second there I thought I was going to go crazy.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I woke up to the sun shining straight into my eyes, nearly blinding me.
"Morning."
I turned to see my wife sitting in a chair by Noelle's crib with her robe undone, Noelle latched onto her breast. I smiled tiredly and ran my hand through my hair.
"Hey."
"Rough night?" Aria smiled sympathetically.
I snorted. "That's an understatement."
"Well, this is my second time breastfeeding her this morning." Aria laughed, adjusting Noelle on her breast. "She's a hungry one."
"I'm sorry." I frowned. "Are you tired?"
"Yeah," Aria sighed, "But breastfeeding is actually kind of relaxing. You should try it some time."
I smirked, throwing my legs over the side of the bed. "In your position or Noelle's?"
Aria laughed, shaking her head at me. "You're such a pervert."
"You just suggested I start breastfeeding."
"I was kidding!" Aria laughed heartily, and for the first time in a long time, she actually looked a bit refreshed. "Come here and kiss me, you idiot."
I grinned and stood up, grabbing Aria's chin gently and tilting it up so our eyes met. "I love you, Ari."
"Wish I could say the same, buddy." she rolled her eyes, pressing her lips eagerly against mine. I kissed her plump lips tenderly, having missed the feeling of her lips. Aria's hand lifted to rest on the back of my neck, pulling me closer to her.
Her free breast grazed over my bare skin, making my breath hitch. I don't think she noticed, because she just kept kissing me passionately while the baby fed off of her other breast.
"I love you, too." Aria whispered against my lips, before putting a hand to my chest and pushing me away with a small smirk. "Now go make me breakfast, you slave."
"Eggs and bacon sound good to you?" I asked, walking backwards towards the door. "Or pancakes and syrup?"
"Eggs and bacon." Aria chose. "And don't forget, I hate apple juice."
"Gotcha." I winked, blowing her a kiss before leaving the room.
As I got closer to the kitchen, I heard soft whispers and voices. I quieted my walk and peeked into the kitchen. Nate and Nicolette were crouched down, covering something on the tile floor with a large piece of paper towel.
"Guys?" I raised an eyebrow, stepping into the kitchen. Nicolette and Nate looked up, alarmed.
"D-daddy, please don't be mad." Nate begged, while Nicolette just looked away guiltily.
I glanced at both of their worried faces before bending down and pulling the paper towel away. Under it was a broken glass bowl and dry Cheerios.
"We were just trying to help mum." Nicolette's lips quivered. "But then I dropped the bowl."
"Yeah," Nate nodded, taking Nicolette's hand. "We were just trying to help. And mum likes cereal, right?"
I smiled, shaking my head at them. "It's okay." I heard both of them exhale. "But please, tell mum and or me if something like this happens again, deal?"
Nate and Colette looked at eachother, then back at me. "Deal." they agreed in unison. Both of them ran out of the kitchen, while my smile grew. It made me happy that they were atleast trying to make an effort at helping Aria and I out, even if it failed miserably.
Plus, Aria hated Cheerios.
But they didn't need to know that.

Notes

Notes
Hiiiiiiii. So Noelle is finally born after forty two chapters of this story. This story will be coming to an end soon, but no fear, because this is a triology!!!

Hope you enjoy. Comment what you think will happen next!

Again, sorry for the close spacing!