Kelly was released from the hospital to go home a few days later, but much to the Carters dismay, the twins had to stay. Nickolas and Alana had been moved from the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit into the Special Care Nursery. They still weren’t strong enough to be moved into the Well Baby Nursery, but they didn’t require the one-on-one attention that the Neo-Natal Intenvie Care Unit had to offer. For the next 25 days, the twins were required to stay in the Special Care Nursery, with their doting parents visiting as often as they could, daily. The Carters were glad that they were able to see their babies and that they were doing well, but still…they felt that a part of them was missing somehow. By them not being able to bring their children home for everyone to see and not being able to care for them in the privacy of their own home, they felt they were missing out on something. Even though, Nick and Kelly went to the Special Care Nursery several times every single day to chart the weight of their children and just to be with them.
Finally, as Nickolas and Alana’s weight approached four pounds, Nick and Kelly were able to bring their children home.
“I’m so excited! I can’t wait for everyone to see them!” Kelly gushed, as Nick pulled into their driveway.
“Kel, honey, they’ve already seen them…” Nick said, looking at her as if she were stupid.
“Don’t give me that look,” Kelly smiled playfully. “I know they’ve seen them, but now they can see them without having to look through a glass and they can hold them.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean…okay, do you want Nickolas or Alana?” Nick asked as they both reached into the backseat of their new crimson colored Suburban.
“I don’t think it really matters since they’re both sleeping,” Kelly smiled as she reached in and picked up Nickolas. The twins definitely looked like twins. Nickolas was a bit bigger than Alana, but they had the same features--the bright blues eyes of both of their parents and their light blond hair. Alana had a bit more hair than Nickolas, however.
Nick and Kelly walked into the house and people jumped up everywhere, smiling and yelling, “Welcome home!” Their house was creatively decorated in pink and blue crepe paper and other ribbons. Everyone rushed up to hug Nick and Kelly and to ‘oooh’ and ‘ahhh’ over the now wide-awake twins. Nick’s family had come--Bob, Jane, BJ, Leslie, Aaron, and Angel. AJ and Lis were there. Ang and Brian had come…it was their idea for the party, actually. Kevin and his wife Michelle were there along with Howie and his fiance, Tracy. Several other mutual acquaintances had come, as well as all of Kelly’s family. Everyone passed around Nickolas and Alana. They were being little angels and not crying whenever a stranger held them. They only cried when it was time for a diaper change or a feeding. Everyone talked and ate the orderves that were being served for several hours, then the crowd started to thin a bit. Kelly was exhausted, as well as the twins, so she was thankful when the time came for her and Nick to thank everyone for coming and say goodbye as they left.
“Thanks so much guys! This was so sweet and thoughtful of you!” Kelly beamed as she hugged her best friend, Ang.
“It was no trouble at all, Kel. Anything for my buddy!” Brian patted Nick on the shoulder.
“You get some rest, okay? Bye sweeties!” Ang told Kelly, then reached down to give Alana and Nickolas kisses.
“See you guys!” Brian called, leading his wife out the door.
“I am so exhausted!” Kelly exclaimed, plopping down on the couch.
“Yeah, you look tired sweetie. Why don’t you go on and go to bed and I’ll give the babies a bath and put them to bed?” Nick suggested.
“Nah…it’s okay. My favorite part of the day is helping you out with the kids,” Kelly smiled, her blue eyes twinkling.
“Kel, you help me all day long with the twins. Now go on and get some sleep, okay?” Nick said, pulling his wife up from the couch by her hands.
“Are you absolutely positively sure?” Kelly questioned, letting out a yawn.
“Yes, now go on,” Nick kissed his wife’s forehead and gave her a gentle push upstairs.
“Okay, kiddies, let’s go…” Nick scooped up both of the babies and headed to the bathroom.
Kelly washed her face and changed into a pair of boxers and one of Nick’s t-shirts that was nearly three sizes too big for her. She wrapped her long blonde hair into a messy bun and lied down in the bed with a magazine.
“Well, don’t you look…and smell nice now?” Nick smiled, putting a fresh diaper on Alana as he pulled her out of the bathtub.
Kelly was supposed to be asleep, but she couldn’t so she had opted to read a magazine, but was more or less eavesdropping on Nick’s little party in the bathroom.
“Now, let’s put you to bed with your brother,” Nick suggested to his daughter, carrying her into the nursery where Nickolas was snoozing peacefully.
Kelly smiled to herself as she heard Nick talking to Alana, so she quietly crept out of the bed and inched her way closer to the nursery. “Okay, Alana, this is how I feel about your mommy,” Nick smiled to himself, and kissed the top of their daughter’s head. Kelly heard her husband’s soft, angelic voice crooning the lyrics to Tim McGraw’s “It’s Your Love” to help rock their daughter to sleep.
Dancin' in the dark, middle of the night
Takin' your heart and holdin' it tight
Emotional touch, touchin' my skin
And asking you to do what you've been doin' all over again
Oh it’s a beautiful thing, don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know what it is that won't let me go
Kelly watched Nick and their daughter from the doorway. He had her cradled in his strong, secure arms and was gently swaying her around the nursery. Nick stopped momentarily when he saw his wife standing in the doorway.
“Hey, I thought you were sleeping…” Nick grinned slyly.
“I couldn’t sleep…” Kelly trailed off, moving inside the nursery and leaning over the side of the crib, smoothing down what little bit of hair their sleeping son had.
“Did my singing wake you?” Nick asked, peering at his wife with his brilliant blue eyes.
“No,” Kelly smiled, “I just couldn’t sleep. Maybe I’m too excited about having the twins home for the first time, ya know?”
“Yeah, I knew I couldn’t go to sleep either, so…” Nick trailed off, noting that Alana was now wide-awake since her parents were chatting.
“Thanks for giving them both a bath. I would’ve helped,” Kelly said, leaning over the crib and gathering their sleeping son and all of his blankets into her loving arms.
“I know, but I know you’re tired, so it was fine. I had fun!” Nick raised his eyebrows and grinned happily at his wife.
“Yeah, it sounded like you were having fun in there!” Kelly laughed slightly, causing Nickolas to stir. “Shhh…” Kelly glanced at Nick and he began to sing.
It's your love it just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough and if you wonder about the spell I'm under
Oh it's your love
Better than I was, more than I am
And all of this happened by taking your hand
And who I am now is who I wanted to be
And now that we're together
I'm stronger than ever I'm happy and free
Oh it's a beautiful thing, don't think I can keep it all in
If you asked me why I've changed, all I gotta do is say your sweet name
It's your love it just does something to me it sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough and if you wonder about the spell I'm under
It’s your love
If you wonder about the spell I'm under
Oh, It's your love
Oh it’s a beautiful thing, don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know what it is that won't let me go
It's your love it just does something to me it sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough and if you wonder about the spell I'm under
Oh it’s your love
It's your love
It's your love
It's your love
Nick reached over and pulled his wife closer to him. Kelly raised her face to meet her husband’s while his captivating eyes locked with hers and their lips brushed tenderly. Then Nick deepened the kiss, as their silhouettes were cast upon the wall. Kelly rested her head comfortably against her husband’s chest as their family…Nick, Kelly, Nickolas, and Alana…all swayed together in the moonlight.
