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Henry is doubled over the brownstone kitchen counter with his head in his hands. He’s been stuck there for the last five minutes, trying to convince himself not to throw up.
There are footsteps coming round the corner, followed by languid sounds of claws scrapping the hardwood.
“Baby, you okay?” Alex quickens his step and lays a hand on Henry’s shoulder.
“I’m trying...” He swallows tightly. “Trying...not to be sick.” He manages out with a deep exhale.
“Oh, sweetheart. Go back to bed, I can handle school drop off.” Alex coos, rubbing large, soothing circles over his back.
“Fuck off.” Henry swats at him with a shake of his head. He rushes past Alex, holding his stomach and dives into the powder room just off the kitchen. Alex hears him retching and immediately winces at David.
“Say goodbye to papa for a while, David because I might need to live with Auntie June and Nora if daddy kicks me out.”
The little head tilt from David eases the tension a bit, and Alex rolls his eyes with a smile.
“You’re moving to Aunt June’s?!”
Alex snaps his head in the direction of their nine-year-old daughter, who is completely dressed and ready for school, backpack already on. He’s just come from their daughters’ bedroom to help get their middle daughter dressed before coming down to find his husband barely hanging on.
“No, Mija. I’m joking. Daddy is sick because of the new baby and he’s not very happy with me at the moment.”
“Gee, I wonder why. Men.” She rolls her eyes and trots over to the bathroom door.
Alex is visibly offended, “Okay, yeah, you have to stop hanging out with Aunt June and Nora.”
Her little knuckle raps on the door, and she leans in close, whispering with a soft voice. “Daddy? Do you need anything?”
A strangled, yet coherent voice replies, “No, my love, thank you. Have a good day at school.”
She nods and walks herself back to the kitchen. She steps up to Alex, resting her elbow on the counter with her head tilted up at him. “You know, studies have shown that three children in a household is ideal. Why exactly did you feel we needed a fourth?”
Alex bites the smile that is threatening to form and takes his daughter by the shoulders, redirecting her toward the hallway, “Maya, let’s talk about this another time, yeah? We’re gonna be late. Can you please go get your sister and bring her downstairs?”
“Fine, but don’t think I’m gonna forget about this.” She exclaims, raising a finger in the air as she trails away.
Alex isn’t sure how he ended up with a perfect mini-me of all things, but on days like today he regrets ever suggesting nine years ago that he and Henry spend a romantic weekend up in the mountains during winter. Snowed in for five days and not a thing to do but eat cheese, drink wine and have sex on the floor of their cabin, in front of the fireplace. Yeah, he wishes they also brought more than ten condoms.
Don’t get him wrong, he wouldn’t change their life for even a second, but his own smartass personality has come back to bite him with a vengeance. He’s even convinced himself, with Zahra being from New Orleans, that she may have found a way to put a curse on him all those years ago. She had said something fishy under her breath in passing, one thanksgiving, but Alex paid it no mind. Now he’s wondering if he should have asked her what she said.
Ah well, can’t change the past. All they can do is keep moving forward and keep moving forward is exactly what they did- three, almost four times over now.
Maya, the product of the snowed in mountains, came first of course and her big sister energy partnered with Alex’s little sibling energy has been the sole reason Alex now dyes his hair. Isla, their second born, crazy as all get out, came along after their second honeymoon to Fiji. She was not as much of a surprise as Maya was, given they weren’t trying to be careful by any means, but she left Henry symptomless and unaware of her presence until he started popping a belly at five months along.
Rose, oh sweet baby Rose. The softest, most beautiful baby they have ever laid eyes on was born two years ago and was definitely a surprise. They were happy with Maya and Isla, saying they didn’t need to expand their family again, but Rose had other plans for them. Not the product of a trip however, but a Valentines Day evening spent at home while the girls were away with Grandma and Grandpa Leo for a long weekend.
It was almost like after two pregnancies, Henry’s body knew exactly what to do and kicked it into high gear, hurling him headfirst into pregnancy symptoms not even a week after she was conceived. He was so sick with Rose, to the point he had a weekly IV drip just to stay hydrated. After the first trimester was over, it was like nothing happened. He was hungry all the time out of nowhere, glowing like never before and so adorably round that Alex couldn’t keep his hands off him. Rose was the perfect pregnancy, partnered with the most magical of births he’s ever had.
It was their first birth going unmedicated at a birthing center and is honestly the reason Henry’s head is currently deep inside a toilet at the moment. It went so well, Henry begged Alex for one more. Just one more.
Well...yeah, sure. One.
Two weeks earlier...
The doctor cleared her throat, “It’s...so, it’s triplets.”
“HA- What?” Henry barked out a wild laugh, propping himself up on his elbows. He craned his neck around to look at the monitor and demanded she show him what the hell she was on about.
“Here, here...and here. These two look like they may be in the same sac, so potentially twins.”
Alex shook his head, waving his hands around, “Wait...wait...YOU just said triplets. Now there’s twins? I’m not following, what does that mean?!” Alex blinked frantically at the screen.
“Oh my god.” Henry gulped, seeing all three babies perfectly depicted on the screen. He covered his mouth with his hand and froze at the idea of three more babies. “We said one more!”
“Well, your body said three.” She clicked her tongue, “and no, Alex. There are only three babies. I said twins because two of the babies most likely split from the same egg. So, in reality if that didn’t happen, there probably would have only been twins to begin with...but now...yeah, I can give you both a second to absorb this. I know it’s a lot.” She said, giving them the room.
“Alex. What are we to do now?” Henry, with huge, horrified eyes gaped up at his husband.
Alex scrambled for words, physically malfunctioning on the spot, “I...I don’t know. Do...do you want to have three babies right now?”
The pregnant man furrowed his brows with an incredulous narrowing of his eyes, “What exactly are you suggesting I do, Alexander?”
Alex’s eyes shot open, and he flung his hands out at his sides, “I’m not suggesting you do anything! I’m asking you what you want to do. Baby, this is...” He extended his hand toward the screen. “Baby.” He expressed exasperatedly.
Henry nodded, turning toward the screen, “I know it’s a lot, but-”
“We don’t even have room for three new babies, Hen! The baby was supposed to be going in with Rose for Christ’s sake, but I’m pretty sure this is how therapy starts for some kids, by forcing them to room with three siblings at a time.”
Henry sighed and pushed himself all the way up, “Alex, I don’t know what the future will hold for us, but we aren’t tethered to this house. Perhaps...I dunno, perhaps we’re ready for a change. We’ve been throwing around the idea of Texas a bit more, why don’t we-”
“A change? What do you call this?! This isn’t enough of a change for us? Henry,” he claps his hands together, “Maya is going to write a book one day, mkay? She’s going to write a book about how we made her suffer through a private school that she hates, made her the eldest of six younger siblings and also uprooted her from the only home she’s known for nine years.”
“Six children.” Henry paled. “I hadn’t even said the number aloud yet. That does seem like a lot.” He gulped, laying his hands over his somewhat protruding belly.
“I agree. This is a lot all at once. We really have to consider our options here.”
“Alex, the only option I see is having these babies...are you implying you don’t want them?”
The heartbroken look on his husband’s face, brought Alex back to reality. It was not unlike him to spiral, but three babies are definitely more than he’s ever had to mentally prepare for. “I didn’t say that, H.” He shook his head.
“Then what are the other options you speak of, hmm?” Henry pursed his lips, waiting expectantly for him to continue. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited while Alex remained silently thinking.
“I...I don’t know.” He shrugged, scratching at the back of his neck.
“Right, so...we have plenty to talk about, but I rather do it at home. Please go get the doctor, and let’s finish up here.” Henry frowned, laying back down with his eyes fixed on the ceiling. Alex stalled a moment, trying to read his husband’s stony expression. He looked toward the door, then back at Henry, who now had tears streaming out the corners of his eyes. He was clearly desperately trying to keep it together as not to show Alex how truly upset the whole situation was making him.
“Hey.” Alex sighed, stepping closer to the exam bed.
“What are you waiting for?” He sniffled, side eyeing Alex approaching him for a split second before wiping his face. “Go, Alex.”
“Yeah, I will. In a second.” Alex softly pouted, leaning over the exam bed to comfortably invade Henry’s space.
The pregnant man groaned and kept his eyes up. Alex delicately brushed the hair away from Henry’s forehead and smiled down at him. The other couldn’t be bothered to give him the attention he was looking for.
“Sweetheart...I want these babies with you more than anything. Never in my wildest dreams would I ask you to do something you weren’t comfortable doing to your body. I’m merely suggesting that we have to consider what’s best for everyone in our family. I don’t know what that is yet but it one hundred percent involves these three. Okay?”
Henry sniffled again. “Then why–”
He gave a small shake of his head. “Don’t ask me why right now because I’m not thinking straight. I need a second just as much as you do, but let’s brainstorm together and I’m more than certain we’re going to come up with a perfect plan.”
“I’m scared.” Henry confessed.
“I’m scared too, but we’ve been doing this for years. You and me. And I’ll be the first to pat my own back and say we’re pretty damn good at navigating the unknown together.”
Henry let out a small wet laugh. He closed his eyes, blinked a few tears away and then looked at Alex.
“Triplets.” He said flatly. “God, Alex. Why do you have to have super sperm?” He rolled his eyes, which got Alex cracking up.
“Only the best for you, Baby.” He waggled his eyebrows and leaned in to kiss his cheeks. Henry attempted to fight him off but ultimately gave up and allowed himself to be attacked by Alex’s mouth.
Alex chuckled, moving his hand down over Henry’s little belly, “Come on, you can’t lie to me. The idea that I put three babies in you is driving you mad.”
“Christ, you’re still a menace to society after all these years.” The brit rolled his eyes particularly hard at that one. “Piss off and go get the doctor, go.” He playfully slapped him way.
“We’re going to revisit that idea later.” He giggled, tossing a finger in the air as he jogged toward the door.
“Ask her for a pamphlet on vasectomies while you’re at it!” Henry shouted back at him.
The girls were dropped at school and Alex made it home just in time for Rose to wake up. Henry is rendered useless the rest of the morning, stuck under a heap of blankets on the couch.
Rose toddles up to Henry’s side, stuffed bunny tucked under her arm, and her light brown hair all a mess from bed.
“Dadda?” She squeaks out in her little high pitch voice. Henry cracks one eye open and smiles at his baby. He lifts the blankets up and Rose crawls under with him. He holds her close to his chest and takes a deep breath, taking in her warmth.
“Rose?” Alex calls her name as he looks under and over everything in his path. He’s been searching for her since the second he turned away after putting her down once they reached the bottom step. “Where are you, you silly monster?” He whispers, keeping his voice low as not to disturb Henry.
He hears her giggling almost immediately and knows exactly where and who she ran to. Alex walks over to the pile of blankets on the couch and can only see the top of Henry’s head peeking out.
“Baby, is she in there?” Alex asks. The top of his head moves in what Alex assumes is a nod. He sighs out a laugh and lifts the blanket to reveal Rose curled up against Henry with her head pressed against his chest and little leg flung over his hip.
“Sweetpea, let’s let daddy rest. He feels pretty yucky.”
“She’s fine, love. Let her stay.” Henry says, moving his arm to wrap around her. The poor man is exhausted. He’s got his other hand pressed over his eyes, and he’s been in the same exact spot for almost an hour.
“She’s gotta eat before I get cracking on some work.”
“I’ll feed her...you go.” He says, unmoved.
“H-E-L-L no. You are not moving a muscle sweetheart. Let me take her.” Alex says, reaching in to take Rose by the arm. She willingly let’s go of Henry and allows Alex to drag her out like a rag doll with a huge smile on her face.
“What did I say about leaving daddy alone? Huh?” He whispers his reprimand and pokes her belly, to which she replies with a giggle and folds into him.
They broke the big news about the new ‘baby’ to their girls a week before they found out it was triplets. Since then, they haven’t had the balls to tell them the even bigger news.
A lot of talk has been going on between Alex and Henry about what the expansion will mean for them and the girls moving forward. With all of them being so young, they feel the transition to a new home may be easier than they anticipate, but they are still nervous about making that call.
Maya, as responsible and grown up as she is for nine-years-old, has a hard time with change. They have witnessed it firsthand when they moved her from one school to another because of bullying. Despite Henry abdicating from the throne well before Maya was even born, she would still get picked on every now and then for things even those children couldn’t fully comprehend. It was all, ‘my mommy said this’ and ‘my daddy said that’. It got to a point that Maya didn’t want to go back to school, so they decided to put her in a private school where she’d be better off. She hates it of course because none of her ‘friends’ are there, but her grades have been better for it.
Now, the six-year-old? They are far from worried about her. Isla could be told she’s gotta live in a cardboard box and she’d make the damn most of it. In fact, Henry’s certain she’d have additions put on to it before he can even construct a couch for her.
She’s definitely going to be an artist one day, but also, she’s such a vibrant and wild soul and they love her for it.
“You can’t wear two different multicolored socks to school, baby.” Alex sighed.
“Why not?!” She gasped, looking down at the mismatched heights of her socks coming up from her black loafers.
“Because it’s called a uniform, Isla. You can’t express yourself because you have to look like everyone else. Like we’re in a cult.” Maya commented, glaring at Alex when she finished. Her father shot her a look and when Isla asked, ‘what’s a cult?’ Alex pushed them both into the car, willing to accept and deal with the note sent home about the socks later.
But now they have to figure out if they want to stay in New York or start over in Texas. Ellen has started looking for houses and sending over plenty for them to consider. They saw a couple that might work, but it’s a lot to think about on top of welcoming three new babies.
They definitely are going to need a house with six bedrooms at least. Maya is going to need her own room pretty soon and Isla is just too far in age from Rose for it to be fair to share. The three babies will be able to share for a long time, so they aren’t too worried about that.
Moving also means packing and packing also means having to clean and having to clean means needing the time- they have none of that anymore, and it’s about to get even harder.
“Maybe you buy a huge farmhouse with a barn and start a family ranch. You’ll certainly have enough helping hands.” June teased, picking a grape off the vine out of a bowl on Alex’s counter.
“Ha-ha. I’m not buying a ranch, June.” Alex sneered at her. “But seriously, we really don’t know what to do. Mom keeps sending me houses, but it’s just...it’s a lot. We’re stressed and I’m trying to keep Henry as calm as possible throughout this entire thing.”
“You’re about to go from a family of five and a half to eight and a half in a matter of five months. I would be stressed too, hermano.”
“A half?” Alex cocks his head.
“David.” She pops another grape and then points to the old dog waiting patiently at her side for a treat.
“He’s the easiest of them all.” Alex quips, tossing him a nibble from a treat stick.
“I’m not gonna lie, I’ll miss all of you dearly if you leave the city, but I don’t blame you for needing the space. Just gives me more of a reason to come visit, other than mom.”
“I don’t think I’ll have a room available for you, so you might just have to stay with her still.” Alex laughs weakly, dropping his head into his hands.
June meets him around the side of the counter and rubs his back, “There, there, you’ll figure this out. You always do.”
“We’re just dreading telling the girls, that’s all...once we do that, we’ll probably have an idea of where to go with everything.”
June pulls his chin in her direction, “If it’s Maya you’re worried about. Don’t be. She’s gonna be okay.”
“Not without you and Nora.” He frowns. “She really leans on you two.”
“Then buy a compound and we’ll all move to Texas.” She shrugs.
“You should be a comedian, you know that?” Alex wrinkles his nose at her. June laughs and pulls her brother into a hug.
“You should have gotten a vasectomy, you know that?” she claps back, laughing. “Don’t worry little bit, you’re gonna figure it out. You always do.”
At the start of Henry’s twenty-first week of pregnancy, they sat the girls down and decided it was a good a time as any to break the news. He was starting to fill out a lot faster than the first three, which they expected with such a large pregnancy as well as it being his fourth.
“Alright girls, your papa and I have some news we’d like to share with you.” Henry begins, taking a seat on the love seat beside Alex. The girls are lined up on the couch, giving their full attention, sans Rose who is occupied with a picture book.
“Is it about the baby?” Maya asks suspiciously.
Henry and Alex exchange a look, then nod their heads.
“Actually, yes, it is.” Alex replies, taking Henry’s hand. “When daddy and I went to the doctor for a check-up, she told us something we were not expecting to hear.”
“She told us that I have three babies in my belly. We’re having triplets. You’re getting three new siblings.” Henry announces with a tight grasp on Alex’s hand and his other pressed against his belly.
Both Maya and Isla’s jaws drop upon hearing the news. They look to each other, then back at their fathers and Isla’s the first to put their reaction to words.
“Three?!” Isla screeches out. “What the heck. How’d that happen?!”
Alex attempts to stifle his laugher and eyes Henry for an answer. They’ve given Maya an age-appropriate birds and the bees talk before, but they haven’t gotten there with Isla. She was young enough when Rose was born to not ask any questions, so they may have forgotten this could be a thing.
“Erm,” Henry scratches at his eyebrow, “Well, you see when you conceive a baby there are eggs involved.”
“Eggs! Like a chicken?!” Isla raises an eyebrow at them.
Henry snorts out a giggle, “No, love...well, kind of, but not quite. It’s a wee-bit different for humans. Nevertheless, my body used three eggs to make three babies.” He explains, not even wanting to try to get into the whole ‘twin’ thing with them.
Maya is still stuck in her shocked trance, but hearing the word chickens pulls her out of it. She shakes her head and stands off the couch.
“Hold on! How are three more babies supposed to live here?”
Alex motions to her, “That’s a great question, Maya and we have that answer for you. This brings us to our next big news.” Maya furrows her brows at them.
“Yes, so.” Henry nods.
“So, daddy and I knew immediately that with three new babies, we’re gonna need a bigger house.”
Maya is quick to ask, “We’re moving?”
Henry puts his hands up and pats them in the air, “Love, just allow papa to finish please.”
Maya plops back onto the couch with a pout and waits for Alex to go on.
“We are going to be moving but we don’t want to just pick a place and move there; we want you guys to be a part of the decision making.”
“Are we staying in New York?” Maya asks urgently.
Henry begins, “We might be able to, but we also thought that Texas might be a nice chang–”
“Texas?! No! No, we can’t move to Texas!” Maya cries out, standing off the couch again.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong with Texas? Grandma and Grandpa live there and Abuelo Oscar’s house is there–”
She stomps her foot, “I don’t want to move! I don’t want new babies! I just want to stay here!” She erupts into tears and storms out of the room.
“Maya, wait, come back!” Henry calls after her. “Oh, Christ.” Henry scrubs a hand down his face.
“Texas.” Isla whispers to herself, making calculated thoughts about it. She then pops up excitedly, “Ooh chickens! Can I have the chickens like grandma has?” She bounces on her toes, “Please! Please I can do it!”
“What is with you and chickens?” Alex cocks his head at her.
“Please!” She begs dramatically, dropping to the floor on her knees.
“Alright, Jesus, yes, we can have chickens if we move to Texas. Calm down.” Alex tells her. Isla fist pumps the air and does a little celebratory dance. She turns to Rose and points at her.
“Rosie, we’re gettin’ chickens!” She exclaims, to which Rose makes duck noises in response.
“That’s a duck, Rosie!” Isla doubles over laughing.
Alex sighs and places a hand on Henry’s shoulder. He’s resting with his elbows against his knees with his head in his hands.
“If only Maya could get as excited about chickens as Isla does, we may have a shot at Texas.”
“Ugh.” Henry groans and peels himself away from Alex. He disappears out of the living room and Alex loses track of him beyond the wall. When he turns back around Isla is still dancing and making up a ridiculous song about how she’s getting chickens. Rose is laughing at her, and trying to sing along, but there isn’t a tune to be held.
“Okay then. Glad you two are on board at least.” He nods.
Henry steps into his daughter’s room and closes the door behind him. She’s laying across her bed, sniffling and playing with the strings on her decorative pink pillow. Isla’s side of the room looks like a bomb went off, meanwhile his little perfectionist’s bed is made, toys are away and desk is clear.
“Maya.” Henry says softly.
“Go away.” She mumbles in a small, broken voice.
“I will do no such thing as a matter of fact.” Henry pouts, taking a seat on the end of her bed. “I’m going to sit right here and you and I are going to have a chat.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.” She grumbles.
“Why’s that? You and I always have the best talks.”
“It isn’t fair!” She pulls herself into a sitting position, and tucks her legs up to her chest.
“Well, unfortunately my love, many things in life aren’t fair.”
Maya shifts her eyes down to the right and hugs her legs closer.
“Why don’t you want to move?”
“Cause all my friends live here!”
Henry nods, taking a second for her to calm down again. “Right...I see how that can be a reason not to move...but darling, may I say something about that?”
“You’re going to anyway.” She sighs, tucking her chin against her knees, and for a second, she looks so insanely like Alex, he has to do a doubletake.
“The ‘friends’ you’ll be missing...are these the same friends we just had a cry over the other day?”
“What does it matter?” Maya lifts her chin.
“Are they really your friends if they don’t treat you like one?”
Maya wants to protest, Henry can see it in her face, but she doesn’t make a peep.
“Aunt Nora and Aunt June live here and if I move, I’ll never see them again!”
“Yes, Aunt June and Aunt Nora do live here, but they will always come to visit. They visit Texas more than we do.”
“It won’t be enough.” Maya pouts harder. “I don’t want to be away from them.”
Henry takes a sigh again and shifts his leg up onto the bed. “Love, you can always call the two of them. You do the same thing now. Will you have to wait a while to see them in person? Sure, but it doesn’t mean you’re never going to see them again.”
“I don’t want to move. You all can move and I’ll live with them.”
Henry shrugs, “I’m sure they would love to have you stay, but we’ll all miss having you around.”
“No, you won’t. You’ll be too busy with the new babies!” Her forehead scrunches in anger as she turns away from Henry.
“Ah, I see...you were so excited about a new baby before-”
“When there was one. One baby meant we get to stay.”
Henry rubs a hand over his belly in thought. “I know you’re frustrated about this news. Having five younger siblings feels like a lot and being the eldest is a hard job. But it’s a job that you happen to do quite well.”
Maya doesn’t respond, just continues to pout away and listen.
“Papa and I have had to do a lot of thinking about this over the past couple weeks. It was a surprise to us as well, and we’re still trying to make everything as easy as it can be...Three babies is a very big deal, but we still have time for you and your sisters. Our love will continue to grow, and you will never be left out or forgotten. Papa and I love you and we want you to be happy. It’s just that sometimes we’re going to make choices that we know will be beneficial to all of us, and you may not like it at first, but that’s okay.”
“I still don’t want to move to Texas.” Maya drops her eyes. “Why can’t we find a new house in New York?”
“If we did, it still might not be big enough for all of us.”
Maya wiped at her nose, “There has to be somewhere we could go!”
“And why not let it be Texas? Grandma and Grandpa live there. You love when we go to Texas.”
“To visit. It’s different.”
“Yeah, I supposed you’re right...but you’ve never lived there before. How do you know you wouldn’t like it?”
Maya shrugs and drops her arms, keeping her hands around her ankles and her knees still tucked up tightly to her chest.
“You know how when we go to visit grandma, you like to ride the horses next door?”
“Yeah?” Maya flashes her eyes up at her dad.
“Well, what would you say if I said you could start full on riding lessons? What do you think? Think you’d like to do something like that?”
Maya’s head pops up slightly and she blinks at her dad, “W-wait, really?”
“Sure, why not?” Henry shrugs, joining his hands in his lap. “And not only that but Maya, if we could find a really nice house, you’d be able to have your own room.”
“My own room?” Her eyes grew wide at the mention. “Are you serious?”
He nods with a smile, “That was the plan, and you’d be able to decorate it anyway you’d like. You want stars on the ceiling? I’ll paint them myself. You want the walls to be pink? Purple? Green? Your choice. Whatever you want.”
“Does Isla get her own room?” Maya asks skeptically.
“She would.” Henry nods.
“And... Rosie?”
“She may have to share with the babies at first, but the goal is to find each of you a bedroom. The house would be much bigger than this, which means twice the amount of space for all of us.”
Maya chewed at the corner of her lip and dropped her eyes to the side. “Would I still have to go to private school and wear a uniform?” She asks quietly.
Henry contemplates how he should answer without Alex present. If it were up to Henry, he’d homeschool all his kids, but he understands the importance of socialization amongst one’s peers.
“No.” He answers firmly. “No, you would not. Not there, you wouldn’t need to.”
Maya snaps her head in his direction, the light returning to her eyes, “Honest?” says her wobbly little voice.
“Honest.” Henry nods with a warm smile. Maya cries out a couple tears and moves across the bed to envelope her dad in a hug. He wraps her in his arms and holds on tight.
“Thank you, daddy.” She cries into his shoulder.
“It’s alright love.” He soothes. She pulls back and her pout is as strong as Alex’s when he’s not getting his way.
“Daddy, I’m sorry I got so upset. I am excited about the babies, promise.” She says, rubbing her eyes.
He wipes the tears from her face and kisses her forehead, “My love, it’s alright not to be okay with something. Don’t ever apologize for showing your feelings. We are allowed to feel our emotions, and sometimes emotions can be very big and we can’t help but wear them on our sleeves. You can cry and be sad and feel all the things. You’re allowed. Trust me, papa and I love New York just as much as you do. We started our life here and we’ll always hold it near and dear to our hearts. We can come visit and it makes it more special that way.”
“Okay.” Maya nods, finally smiling. “I love you.” She says, taking him into a hug again.
“And I love you, sweetheart.”
Henry finds Alex in the kitchen, plugging his ears from what sounds to be the tenth verse of ‘I love chickens more than you, yes I do’. Upon seeing him walk in, Alex removes his fingers and takes Henry’s hand.
“How’d it go, is she okay?”
“Better than. She’s on board with Texas.” He beams.
“Wait- really?” Alex perks up. “How the hell did you swing that one?”
“Erm, with the promise of riding lessons and public school?” Henry clenches his teeth with a forced smile. He shrugs his hands up when Alex’s face drops and replies, “I had to do something to convince her to go!”
“You know what, it’s fine.” He waves his hands around, “Oh god, thank you.” He throws his head back with a relieved sigh.
“I mean, yeah, of course I’m ecstatic too but why do you sound so relieved?” He cocks his head at his husband’s dramatic response.
Alex takes Henry by the shoulders and spins him around to face the living room, “Because I don’t know how on God’s green earth, I would have told Isla she wasn’t getting chickens.”
Henry startles, “Chickens?” gaping at his husband.
“You made your compromises, I made mine.” Alex shrugs his hands up and walks away.
“Alex, come back here right this instant. We cannot have chickens running around on top of six children! We’ll really be out numbered!”
7 months pregnant...
In less than a week, from being put on the market, the brownstone gets sold. A week later, they settle on a house in Texas and a week after that, the house is professionally packed and the keys are being handed over to the new owner.
The transition was quick, but they needed to move fast given Henry’s impending due date. With triplets, he could technically go into labor any time, but ideally, they’d like to see him get to thirty-five to thirty-six weeks before that happens.
They find an amazing specialist in Texas that deals with high-risk pregnancies and within the first week of arriving, they meet with the team to go over his stats and to mock up a birth plan.
His weight is up to where they want it to be for a triplet pregnancy and as far as symptoms go it’s mostly some back pain, leg swelling, slightly high blood pressure and soreness in his hips as they expand to accommodate the weight of his growing belly.
Henry expresses his desire to go into labor naturally, as long as the babies are safe and to try natural birth unless otherwise necessary. They explain the risks to him about birthing more than one baby naturally and he agrees that if things are going south, he’ll do a c-section with no reservations. He would still like to try at least.
“Otherwise, these babies are super healthy from what we can see so far. I don’t have any real concerns, other than your blood pressure. We’ll check back in about a week and see where it’s at, but otherwise you look great. Rest often, but don’t forget to move around to prevent swelling.” Doctor Brick explains.
“Understood.” Henry smiles, being helped off the exam table. He continued to grow quickly back in New York, already looking well beyond due with a single pregnancy by week twenty-six.
For those who had no idea he was carrying three babies would often make comments at him like, “Any day now, huh?”
“You look like you’re ready to drop that baby!”
“Should I worry about you going into labor here?”
“I hope you know the route to the hospital. Could be any minute!”
He didn’t mind it. The less they knew, the better. He doesn’t believe anyone should say those things to a pregnant person in general, but who is he to fight them?
Henry waddles himself into their brand-new house and sets his belongings on the entry way table. He kicks off his shoes by the door and makes his way toward the living room so he can sit down. Stupidly he thought going grocery shopping after their appointment was a good idea and walked himself nearly to death.
“You good, baby, need anything?” Alex calls out, carrying in the first load of bags.
“To put my swollen ankles up.” He grunts, slowly lifting one leg and then the other onto the ottoman in front of the couch. He’s panting like a racehorse and trying desperately to calm the little lively kicks inside his belly with gentle rubs, but it doesn’t seem to be doing much for them.
They purchased a beautiful two-story, five bed and four bath home a few blocks down from Alex’s mother’s house. The house was recently renovated, so everything was up to date with a full appliance package and all the bells and whistles they were looking for. They had nothing to worry about other than wall colors and getting the girls some upgraded furniture for their new rooms.
The backyard is huge, and Henry already has ideas for what he would like to do with the space. A large vegetable garden, decent size patio, a place for Isla’s chickens- lord save him, and a playset for the kids.
Maya is over the moon about her new bedroom and already got to work on a vision board of what she’d like it to look like once they have the time to decorate and paint. Isla is actually a little sad to be rooming alone, but Henry is sure that will change in due time once she realizes her space is totally hers and hers alone.
“Here baby.” Alex says, handing Henry a tall glass of water and pops a kiss to the top of his head.
“Thank you.” Henry offers him a languid smile and takes the glass. Alex winks at him before going back to get the rest of the groceries.
“This was on the front seat; did you mean to leave it there?” Alex asks, handing him an envelope with his name on it.
“Oh, no I didn’t. Thank you! Can’t be losing that.” Henry says, taking it from him.
Curiosity eats away at him, and he has to ask, “What is it?”
“It’s the babies’ genders. I asked for her to write them down so we can read it together as a family.”
“Oh, wow...so we can just look right now?” Alex cheekily quirks an eyebrow, reaching for the envelope. Henry pulls it back and swats at his hand.
“Get back, you. We’ll look later, at dinner. I think it will be special if we’re all there together. Now help me up, I need to use the loo.”
Alex makes quick work of getting Henry to his feet and then goes to pick up Rose who is at her half-day nursery school. The girls get dropped off by the bus very soon, so Henry begins to prepare a snack for them to eat upon their return. It’s the time he looks forward to most because while they snack, he asks them all about their day and is delighted to hear everything they have to say. Whether it be good or bad, he doesn’t care. He just wants them to have what he definitely felt he lacked growing up, which was involved parents. When his dad was around, he had someone to talk to, but once he passed it was like no one cared that he even existed.
He never wants his girls to feel like that. He doesn’t care if he’s thousands of miles away in London, he will always call to ask how their days went or just to hear their voices. He’s sure their teen years will change that a bit, but he hopes that they always find comfort in their talks.
Henry is assisting in placing food on the table and Alex keeps trying to make him sit down.
“Alright, everyone has what they need?” Henry asks, slowly lowering himself into his chair.
“And if they don’t, papa will get it.” Alex shoots him a hard look across the table. Henry smirks and lays his napkin over his lap.
“Sorry for trying to help.” He jabs playfully.
“No need when you’re already doing the heavy lifting, sweetheart.”
“Fine.” Henry grins, as he begins scooping mashed potatoes onto Isla’s plate.
“Mm, papa this is so good!” Isla says, stabbing pieces of her meal with her fork. “You should make this one again!”
“Yeah, you like it, Mija?” Alex beams at her. Isla is not a picky eater in the least. In fact, she’s Alex’s number one fan when it comes to cooking. Maya will try something at least once, but if she doesn’t like it the first time, she’ll commit it to memory for life. Rose is the in-between. Half the time she takes three bites and is done before everyone else. They’ve been trying to help her get better at that, but the pediatrician agrees it’s not a big deal and that the phase will run its course.
“It’s just roast chicken, you’ve eaten it before, darling.” Henry tries to reason.
“But tonight, it must be extra good, so ha.” Alex sticks his tongue out at him.
“It’s...what?” Isla freezes mid stab of her fork. She looks to Alex and then Henry before dropping her fork. “This is...this is chicken?” All the color is slowly draining from her face and a look of horror crosses it.
“Y-yeah...sweetheart, you eat chicken all the time.” Alex tells her.
“I what?!” Isla screams, pushing her plate far away from her.
Alex locks eyes with Henry across the table, both fathers are frozen in place and unsure of what to do.
“Isla, what do you think chicken fingers are made from?” Maya instigates, and Alex gently kicks her under the table, warning her in Spanish to knock it off.
“I’m eating an actual chicken’s fingers?!” She breaks out into hysterical tears and Alex is side eyeing his daughter who is side eyeing him right back with a shit eating grin. All Henry can do is glare at the both of them and pray to God at least one of the three soccer players in his belly are like him for once. He’s rooting on Rose being kind of like him, but as her personality grows, she gets more and more mischievous like Alex. Isla may look the most like him, but her personality is...well actually they don’t really know. She’s not like either of them yet, which is really funny sometimes cause she can get both Henry and Alex scratching their heads at her antics.
“Isla, darling, it’s alright. Take a breath.” Henry tries to sooth her, but it’s far from working.
“B-but I’m eating chickens!” She continues to wail at the top of her lungs and Henry is pulling her chair out now and turning her toward him.
“Sweetheart, listen to me. That’s why chickens are here, so we can eat them. They do many marvelous things for the planet, but they are a main food source.”
“I lo-love my chickens; I don’t want to e-eat them.” She sobs and Henry looks to Alex for help.
Alex gets up and picks Isla out of her chair and into his arms.
“Okay, baby, calm down. Look, you don’t have to eat chicken, okay? You can eat other meats if thats-”
Henry frantically waves his hands at Alex to stop talking, but it might be too late.
“Other meats?” Isla sniffles, leaning back to look Alex in the eye. “What are other meats?”
“Um...well, you know other foods.”
“Are they made from chickens too?” She pouts.
“No, not all of them.” Alex continues, trying to ignore the awful glare he’s receiving from Henry. “Burgers are made from-”
Henry interrupts, “How about I change the subject? Hmm? Guess what I got from my appointment today.” Henry attempts, but is overshadowed by Isla demanding to know what burgers are made out of. Alex doesn’t want to lie, so he doesn’t.
Isla just about loses it again learning that the cheeseburgers she absolutely adores are made from cows. What was once a nice family dinner, turned into a lengthy conversation about becoming a vegetarian.
By time all is said and done, Henry is not up for sharing their news anymore. Instead, he takes the envelope with him to bed and waits for Alex to join him. Once all the baths and nighttime routines are finished, they snuggle under the sheets and open the envelope together.
“Ready?” Henry asks, slipping his finger under the flap.
“You bet.” Alex nods, shifting closer and resting his hand over Henry’s belly. He rubs, feeling their little kicks and waits as Henry pulls the card out.
“Oh my god.” Henry belly laughs. He hands it over to Alex to read and upon reading it, he practically throws himself back onto the pillows.
“Jesus, I’m gonna have to take stock in box hair dye! Six girls, Henry? Are you fucking with me?” Alex pops back up to gape at his husband who is laughing hysterically.
“I’m just as entertained by this as you are, love. Good god...six weddings.”
“Weddings? Hell no, they aren’t allowed to get married, not under my roof.”
“Oh, love.” Henry smiles, leaning over as best as he can to pull Alex’s face to his. They share a few soft kisses before holding the last and then everything feels calmer than it had before the day started.
“Six girls.” Alex repeats, like he can’t believe it.
“Six girls.” Henry grins, rubbing his belly.
“I’m getting snipped before these girls are born, don’t worry. These are the last ones.” Alex says, rubbing a hand over Henry’s stomach, which gets the pregnant man cackling.
Henry makes it to thirty-three weeks before he’s ready to throw in the towel on himself. The belly is ginormous, and it hurts. Everything hurts and his doctors are confident in him making it to thirty-five weeks, but he feels otherwise.
The strain on his back is like no other he's ever had to deal with while pregnant and as much as he wants to keep the babies in so they can mature a little more- he’s so over it. He wants them out like yesterday.
“Argh.” Henry groans, pushing himself upright over the edge of his bed. Sleeping is no longer a thing, and he can’t find a comfortable way to lay down anymore, even on the couch. He’s got a nest of pillows supporting his back, butt and belly and still he’s massively uncomfortable.
“Need help, baby?” Alex asks, coming into the room with a basket of fresh laundry.
“I need you to get these babies out of me.” He whines, rubbing the massive dome attached to his middle.
“Say the word and I’ll lock the door.” Alex winks at him playfully.
“Yeah, you can piss right off if you really think I’d be up for sex right now.” Henry grunts and groans as he slides out of bed and waddles slowly to the bathroom. His belly has dropped significantly low on his frame and every step feels like fire and lighting in his crotch. He’s no idea how he’s supposed to make it past another week, but if the doctors think so, then sure.
He’s been fighting off intense Braxton hicks for weeks now, and warm baths have been his best friend. The babies are non-stop moving all the time and that definitely adds to his discomfort.
The girls have really been enjoying getting to poke around his belly and play with their soon-to-be sisters, but they’re all anxiously waiting to have them on the outside to snuggle and love on.
Mornings are slow around the house and despite the pain he’s in, Henry adores the time he gets to spend with his family before the chaos of newborns enter the equation. It’s a Saturday and the girls are curled up into Henry’s side, each with a hand on his belly while they watch a movie all together. They pause it a few times to watch the way Henry’s belly moves when the babies kick and to give him some much-needed loo breaks.
Sunday is even quieter because Ellen takes the girls to lunch, and he and Alex have the entire house to themselves. Sex has been off the table for months now, but some light foreplay and stimulation is still appreciated by both parties. However, Alex treats Henry to much more than he is expecting and takes nothing for himself in return.
Monday rolls around and Henry is done. He’s been having lightening crotch strikes every twenty or so minutes for hours upon waking and he feels an overwhelming pressure between his hips. More than his usual from the weight of the babies. He calls the office and asks to be seen, and they tell him to come right over.
The poor man can barely walk as it is, so the journey to get to the doctor’s office is a slow and difficult one. The sympathetic, pained looks he’s getting from people lead him to believe he’s nearing the end.
“Got it?” Alex asks, holding the door for him as his belly enters first. He nods and motions for Alex to check them in while he has a seat. He’s twisting and turning and adjusting his belly to lift some of the weight off his bladder, but nothing is helping the horrible pressure he’s feeling.
“Oh my god, I need these babies out of me, Alex. Ow.” The pregnant man is nearly in tears, trying to find a desirable position, but is having a harder time than usual doing so.
“I know sweetheart, let’s see what they say about it today. Maybe they’ll induce you.” Alex frowns at his husband’s pain.
“Oh gosh, I think I’m having another one.” Henry begins to pant as a contraction wraps itself around his belly. It lasts around thirty seconds and causes his belly to turn rock hard. When he’s finally called back, it takes him a moment to get up and he waddles heavily to the first available exam room.
“Alright, if you’re comfortable enough to take everything off from the waist down and get on the exam bed, just place this sheet over your lap.” She says, leaving them to it. Alex assists Henry in getting his pants off and onto the bed.
It’s about a fifteen-minute wait and when Dr. Brick walks in, Henry is working through the tail end of a contraction.
“Well, that’s a good sign.” Dr. Brick smiles, quickly washing her hands and slipping on some gloves. Both her and Alex help Henry lie back and scoot down as much as he can. His legs go up into the stirrups and Dr. Brick begins her exam on him.
“Okay, so, good news, you’re definitely in labor.” She says confidently.
“Wait, what?” Henry blinks at her over his belly.
“He’s in labor? Are you sure?” Alex furrows his brow.
“Yup, probably been for a little while. How long have you been having these contractions?”
“I dunno, since I woke up?” He offers with an uncertain shrug.
“Well, you’re four centimeters dilated and steadily leaking amniotic fluid.”
“My water broke? How didn’t I notice that? I nearly flooded the bathroom with Isla.”
“It most likely broke somewhere higher up inside your uterus, which is how we end up with that trickle instead of a gush. Doesn’t mean a gush isn’t coming, but you’re in labor. I’m gonna suggest you run home and grab your bags, make all the necessary arrangements for the kiddos and then meet me over at the hospital. Sound good?”
“I suppose so.” Henry nods, having Alex help sit him up. The doctor leaves and both fathers are speechless.
“We’re gonna have three babies today.” Alex finally breaks the silence.
Henry’s frightened expression brings Alex closer. “Are we even ready?” he asks.
“Of course we are.” Alex encourages him. “We’ve got the nursery all set up, the bags are packed...we’ve got this honey. I know we do. Come on, let’s go have some babies.” Alex smiles excitedly at his husband, rubbing his hands over the front of the belly, while leaning in for a kiss.
They arrive home and Alex rushes ahead of Henry to get the door open. Henry is slow moving his way into the house and pauses just outside their front door when he feels the start of intense pressure building up with the follow up pain of a contraction. Suddenly his pants are drenched, and his water breaks all over the front porch.
“Oh shit.” Henry gasps out, grabbing the door frame for support. “Alex!” He hollers out for him.
“What’s wrong?” He jogs back, stopping flat in the foyer while trying to size up the situation based on how awkwardly Henry is perched in the doorway.
“Waters just broken everywhere.” He groans, trying to look past his bump in every direction and failing miserably each time.
“Just now?”
“Just now.” He nods, “Got it all on video I think.” He chuckles, pointing to their front door camera.
Alex snorts a laugh, “Amazing, I’ll have to watch it back later. Come on, let’s get you changed.” He helps him into the house and shuts the door.
“Oh, no, wait. I think I have to use the loo before we go.” Henry groans, holding the underside of his heavy belly.
“You sure? What if it’s-”
“It’s not the babies, Alex.” He shakes his head, flipping on the light in their downstairs bathroom and taking a seat on the toilet. Alex hears him going and lets out a sigh, but then the trickle sounds keep coming and he’s immediately suspicious.
“Hen, you almost done?”
“Mhmm.” He groans out, ending on a more painful sounding note.
“Hen.” Alex hurries over to find Henry stricken with a painful expression, leaning his body to the right with his hand tucked under his bump. “Henry, please tell me–”
“I think you better call an ambulance. I’m about to have a baby.”
“There is no fucking way! She just said you were four centimeters!”
“Alexander, I’ve had three children. I know what needing to push out a baby feels like and it feels a lot like t-thiiiisss-Ooo.” Henry bellows, reaching out and grabbing the counter for support. “Ambulance. Fucking call it!”
“O-on it!”
Alex rings for the ambulance and the dispatch says it’s on its way. In the meantime, Alex makes a call to his mother to pick up the girls after school, as well as let David out when she can.
“I’m not pushing. I’m holding her in.” Henry grunts out.
“Well, if you have to honey, you might need to–”
“No. I won’t risk her needing intervention and not having it. I’ll hold her in.” Henry huffs and puffs, fighting every natural instinct in his body to give birth. By some fucking luck, the ambulance arrives in time and they load Henry onto a stretcher. Alex jumps into the ambulance along side him and Henry announces he can’t wait anymore. He’s gotta get her out.
“Go ahead, give it a good push.” The paramedic tells him, after determining she’s head first. Henry’s first attempt feels so good, but the efforts deliver absolutely nothing.
“If you feel like you have to push again, go for it.” Henry tries, but once again nothing. Upon pulling into the emergency bay, Henry is crying out that something might be wrong. It doesn’t feel right and the pressure is too much.
In the blink of an eye, Henry’s rushed into the OR where Dr. Brick is ready to get the babies out in under five minutes. Alex is gowned up and at Henry’s bedside before the first incision is made. The poor daddy-to-be is shaking uncontrollably and Alex tries to hold his hand steady.
“You’re doing great, baby. Just breathe.” Alex tells him, brushing his fingers at the side of his face. Henry is breathing through his tears and trying to not listen to the suction noises and surgical sounds filling the room, but it’s too distracting.
“Are they okay?” Henry asks through a shaky voice.
“Babies are just fine, Henry. I can see Baby A right here. She’s almost out.” The doctor assures him and she wasn’t kidding because a second after that she’s being pulled out into the world and her tiny squeaky cry fills the room.
“Ooh, thank god.” Henry’s a mess the second the sound hits his ears and Alex is trying not to drench his mask in tears.
“She’s beautiful guys. I’m working on getting Baby B next, for Baby C I’m gonna need someone on standby, stats are dropping.”
“W-what’s wrong with the third one?” Henry panics upon hearing they need assistance with her.
“Her heartrate keeps dropping, but we’re working fast. You’re gonna feel a lot of pushing and tugging Henry, just breathe for me.”
The next baby is in the doctors arms a moment later, needing a little encouragement to get going, but she lets out a little squeal and is placed in a warming bed immediately. Both girls so far are so tiny, but seem healthy and strong. The third gives them a bit of trouble, having been way toward the back in her own sac that hadn’t even ruptured yet. When they finally get her earth side, she’s pinking up fast and crying her little heart out.
“Congrats fellas, you have three new beautiful baby girls.”
“Oh, Alex. I love you so much.” Henry sobs, squeezing his husband’s hand.
“I love you too, baby.” They share some kisses before Henry urges him to go see the girls. Alex can’t believe his eyes when he sees all three of his itty, bitty baby girls for the first time close up. A lot smaller than he thought they’d be, but no less perfect in anyway.
They get Henry stitched up and moved to recovery as well as inform Alex that the girls need to go to the NICU for a little while. Baby C is having a bit of a hard time breathing, and Babies A and B are slightly jaundice. Dr. Brick expects them to be in and out of the NICU in no time at all, so not for them to worry.
While Henry sleeps off the meds given to him in surgery, Alex drafts the first of many baby pictures to send out to everyone. Accompanying each is their name and birth stats.
We’d like for you to meet the newest Claremont-Diaz Fox ladies:
Sage, 5 lbs 0oz, 17 inches long
Hazel, 4 lbs 7oz, 17 inches long
Lila, 5 lbs 3oz, 16 inches long
June calls her brother immediately upon receiving, “How on earth did you manage to snag all the cute baby girl names? Also, how does Isla feel about Lila being so close to hers?”
“She’s actually the one who picked it.” Alex chuckles softly, hoping to not wake Henry.
“Oh well then that makes sense. But hey, congrats they are so freaking cute. How long in the NICU?”
“Not sure yet. Lila is having a bit of a hard time breathing, but she’s getting better. Sage and Hazel need a little more lamp time and then they should be good.”
“I’m coming in late tomorrow, but I should be there to do all the house stuff you need done.”
“Thanks bug, I can’t wait to see you and Nora.” He sighs happily, wishing she was around the corner and not a plane ride away.
“We’re so happy for you, Alex.” June says with her whole heart and Alex feels it all the way from New York.
When the babies get released from the NICU, it’s almost a week later. Henry has already been discharged, but is given full instruction to stay on bed rest until he heals a little more. Alex and June are the ones who bring the babies home and Henry is waiting patiently to be reunited with them. He got to see them and hold them for a little in the hospital, but he’s been feeling like a part of him has gone missing ever since he was discharged.
The three carriers are placed on the kitchen table and everyone is ogling and cooing at them while they lay there sleeping like the cute little baby potatoes they are.
“Oh, sugar, they are just so precious. Some of the most beautiful babies I’ve ever seen.” Ellen says, rocking Sage’s carrier to keep her asleep.
“They certainly are. All of our girls are beautiful.” Henry smiles, reaching in to fix Hazel’s blanket.
“That’s the truth. Speaking of the girls.” Ellen smiles wide when the front door opens and in run the girls, excited to meet their baby sisters. Maya and Isla are first to the table wanting to see the babies immediately, so June picks up Isla and Maya pushes her way in between her grandmother and Aunt. Alex strolls in with Rose in his arms and points toward the babies to show her.
“They’re so little and cute!” Maya gasps, looking in on each of her new sisters. “Who is who?” Henry explains their name orders and then offers the girls a chance to hold one each- only after thoroughly washing up and changing their school clothes of course.
That’s when he snaps one of his all-time favorite photos of his girls. Each holding one of their sisters on the couch with some of the biggest smiles he’s ever seen on any of them to date.
It would eventually get printed and blown up by Alex for the following Father’s Day and hung in the hallway upstairs so Henry could always look at it and remember the day like it was yesterday. Their family and hearts grew three times bigger the day those girls were born and even though life is a million times more chaotic with six kids, a dog and four chickens, they wouldn’t trade it for the world.