My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

Celeste finally opened her eyes. She felt a little better now that the anesthesia

had worn off. Her incision still hurt, but overall, she was okay. As she stirred, she realized that Peter had fallen asleep with his head resting on her hand. His curly hair tickled her fingers, which had gone slightly numb from the weight. Carefully, she slid her hand out.noveldrama

She took a moment to admire the man beside her. His face looked peaceful, relaxed-without the usual furrowed brows he had while sleeping. Today, he seemed at ease. She smiled softly and reached out, gently running her fingers through his thick curls.

The moment he felt her touch, he grinned. Celeste noticed and quickly pulled her hand away, but without opening his eyes, Peter grabbed it and placed it back on his head.

"Keep going... I was enjoying that," he murmured.

Celeste let out a small laugh and continued playing with his hair for a few more minutes. Then, a light knock on the door made them both turn toward the entrance.

The nurse who had been attending to them walked in, carrying a breast pump.

"Good morning, sleepyheads! I hope these new parents got some rest. I'm here to check on this beautiful mama," she said, smiling warmly.

"Good morning! When can I see my babies?" Celeste asked kindly.

"Sweetheart, you can see them anytime. But first, let's try to express some milk for them. They can't leave the incubator just yet, so if Moses won't go to the mountain, the mountain must go to Moses," the nurse joked.

Celeste chuckled lightly.

"Alright, I need you to uncover your chest. I'll show you how to massage yourself first, and then we'll use this pump for now. Your little ones don't need much milk yet, so don't worry if it seems like a small amount. That first milk is essential for them."

Peter watched the entire process intently. He had never seen anything like it before, but something about it fascinated him. The nurse had mentioned that he could help feed their daughters. If Celeste was up for it, they could both go see them soon.

"Relax," the nurse reassured Celeste. "Luckily, nature has done its job. You won't have any trouble producing milk. For now, this is more than enough. If we have extra, we'll refrigerate it and give it to them later."

"Is it enough for both of them?" Celeste asked hesitantly.

"Of course! Like I said, they're still so tiny. They sleep most of the time, but we'll feed them regularly. You can come with us if you'd like. Also, you need to start walking. I know it'll feel strange and uncomfortable, but it'll help speed up your recovery."

"Wait... I can already get up?" Celeste asked, surprised.

"Yes, but you need to do it carefully and very slowly. Your husband should help you because you might feel dizzy. You'll probably notice your organs shifting back into place that's normal."

Celeste was taken aback. During her previous pregnancy, she had never experienced any of this. Her baby hadn't survived, so everything about this was completely new to her.

Peter stood up immediately. "Come on, sweetheart, I'll carry you-"

"No, Mr. Palmer," the nurse interrupted. "She needs to walk. I know it sounds strange to get up so soon after surgery, but it's actually quite common."

Peter frowned. The thought of Celeste walking so soon after such a major procedure sounded painful to him.

Celeste took a deep breath and pushed herself up with all the strength she had. She knew her daughters were waiting for her, and no amount of pain was going to stop her. It was painful, but nothing would keep her from seeing her babies.

Once they arrived at the NICU, both parents put on the required sterile clothing before entering. Celeste couldn't wait another second to see her daughters. Peter felt the same. He had seen them earlier but hadn't dared to touch them, afraid they were too fragile.

The nurse guided them on how to hold their babies. She helped them position their hands correctly, showing them how to support their tiny bodies. The girls were so small that they fit perfectly in their parents' hands.

Celeste went first. Pain or no pain, she held her daughter close. The moment she looked down at her, tears welled up in her eyes. She silently thanked God and her parents for allowing her to experience this moment.

After Celeste had her turn, the nurse handed the other baby to Peter. He was visibly more nervous than if he were closing a million-dollar deal.

Then, something unexpected happened.

The tiny girl wrapped her delicate fingers around Peter's thumb.

She held on with surprising strength, as if telling him she wasn't letting go.

Peter's breath hitched. He couldn't put into words what he was feeling, but this was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

This small, fragile hand gripping his finger made him feel larger than he already

was.

Warmth flooded his chest-a sensation so intense, he wasn't sure how to process

it.

After holding each baby, Peter and Celeste took turns feeding them with tiny bottles. The babies were still so little, but even now, it was clear that one was slightly bigger than the other.

Peter gazed at his three girls with a mix of emotions he couldn't even

begin to untangle. If it were up to him, he would grab all the medical equipment and carry them home right now. Or at the very least, hé would have them moved to O Celeste's hospital room so he could watch over them every second of the day.

He needed to see them. He needed to be with them.

Celeste watched him closely.

Something in him had changed.

Something was different.

Whatever it was, it wasn't bad-on the contrary, she was grateful for it.

And as she thought about it, she realized she didn't even want to imagine what it

would have been like if Peter had never come looking for her.

One thing was certain her daughters would have been her reason for living, no matter what.

But thankfully, things had turned out differently.

And the man she was beginning to love-not for his past, but for who he was today-was standing right by her side.

And he was the best version of himself she had ever known.