RONAN Is she laughing? The question echoes in my head four more times than normal while I look at her, stupefied. Sarah holds her stomach with her right hand, clutching the hem of her shirt as she almost rolls off my body. My grip on her waist becomes firmer, and I pull her closer, holding her against my chest. I will let her absorb into my body if I need to. “Is she joking?” Jaxon asks, his gaze dances between Malachi and I, as though he’s waiting for us to make sense of everything that just happened. Little does he know I’m as confused as he is. Perhaps, even more confused. “She’s laughing, that has to mean she’s joking.” “I’m not.” Sarah replies, still filled with amusement. She wipes the stray tear from her right eye, and takes in deep breaths to steady herself. “I’m not joking. But your faces, oh my goodness.” “Be serious, kitten.” Malachi sits up, the veins at the side of his forehead are the only thing that show his anxiety. Sarah’s beautiful laughter slowly and steadily dies out. “I mean it. I’m seven weeks gone according to the doctor…” another deep breath. “Twins.” I blink once, twice, unable to believe the beauty before me. I have always found Sarah Wellspring, my best friend’s little sister, simply ethereal. But today, listening to her tell us we will be fathers, she sparkles differently. She glows, painted in a golden light. Glittering—almost—like the light around her fractures into a thousand stars. There is no one like her, there will never be. Not in this life or as many lives as we have beyond. “You’re not saying anything?” She’s looking at me. I try…I try to part my lips, but they won’t budge. They quiver, heavy on my face. All I do is shake my head with a broad smile on my face. For the first time in so many years, I’m moved to tears. “Oh, kitten.” My lips finally find words, even if I’m still unable to make sense of the million and one emotions in my chest. “Are we…really?” Come on, Ronan. That’s not the best you can do. But she understands, just like she always does. She cups my cheeks with those delicate hands of hers, as brown orbs dance all over my face. Sarah’s reassuring smile makes me gulp down on my saliva. If I dampen my dry throat, I should be able to speak. “I can’t believe this.” Malachi all but screams at the top of his voice. In a flash, he carefully holds Sarah’s legs up, and jumps off the couch. Jaxon follows suit, his both hands on his head as he looks down at Sarah with tears in his eyes. Happy tears. I can tell from the way they sparkle. She chuckles when she turns to look at them. “I…I don’t know what to say…” Jaxon starts to speak, his voice breaking. “It seems like a distant dream. I never thought…we never once thought about children. I never thought I would be a father, I didn’t think I deserved it. And with the example we had…” Sarah springs to her feet. I watch her make her way to Jaxon, proud we can call her ours. Our woman. The mother of our children. She takes his right hand, and holds her other hand out for Malachi to put his. He looks down at it, and he’s hesitant for a second, but he gives in. How can he not? “Believe me when I say I understand how you’re feeling,” she says. “When the doctor told me, I didn’t know what to do. If I remember correctly, I was rude about it, thinking Kevin was trying to pull a prank on me. I went from thinking I would never have children of my own for years, to having two at once…and for you three,” she turns to me, and I nod with a smile. “Get in here, will you?” I obey, rising to my feet and taking my place behind her. She stands in the middle of all three of us now. “I’m scared too. The only parent figure I can remember having is Kevin. I’ve spent so much of my life without a mum or dad, I don’t even know what it means to be one right now.” “We see ours in you.” I say. I catch my brothers eyes on me, all two pairs in total agreement. It gladdens my heart that they see it too. “Contrary to what anyone thinks, our mother was the strongest woman in the world. And she brought light wherever she was,” My right arm encircles her waist, and I breathe in the scent of her raspberry flavored cologne. “You shine with the same light she did, even more. It’s the light you came to our world with. You lit up the whole place, it’s impossible to dwell in the darkness that made us who we are.” Sarah sucks in a deep breath. “Are you saying you’re good people now?” “We can’t be,” Malachi responds. “But we promise complete devotion to you, kitten.” “Your enemies would be our enemies.” Jaxon adds. “But I don’t want you to have enemies.” She pouts. “I don’t want anymore fighting, or killing, or shady business deals with shady people. You have so much money, more money than even our children’s kids would know what to do with. Do you really have to continue whatever it is you’ve been doing?” “Sarah…” “It’s not just me anymore, Ronan.” She retorts. “Our babies would be in danger if you make any shady moves. I need you three to promise me, no more.” I don’t want to lie to her. She has to understand that a fortune built on blood and sweat can only be maintained by blood and sweat. The HawkThorne name only matters if we continue to sit at the top, the helm of affairs. We can either be better than everyone else, or eliminate everyone else. The HawkThornes make sure to use the both methods, think of it as a two factor authentication system. For our babies, we need our name to continue to remain on top. “What? Isn’t that possible?” “Sarah…” Malachi reaches for her, but she pulls away from him. Hurt flashes in her eyes as she steps out of the circle, examining each and every one of us. I cannot say I do not understand her. She’s right. We not only have ourselves to think of now, but the lives she’s about to bring into this world. “Can you really not do this for me?” Tears shimmer in her eyes as she shakes her head. My jaw hardens. I step forward. “Of course we can, and we will.” One look at my brothers, and they’re right behind me as we slowly approach her. “We should think before we act now.” “On our best behavior, all day, everyday.” Jaxon adds, and his words send a smile to Sarah’s face. I take both her hands, placing soft kisses on her knuckles before looking into those beautiful eyes. “We would never do anything to put you or our babies in danger. We promise.”