The irritating humming had stopped. Tina felt as though she were floating on a cloud. There was a coolness around her and a warmth wrapped around her hand. Voices having heated conversations could be heard. She wondered why they were arguing, listening to her name being called and could feel small things attached to her skin. The ache in her side and leg was almost gone; absently, she wondered what miracles had been done while she slept. A memory of the event brought her hand to her stomach.

"The babies," she whispered, "my babies."

"Tina," her name was whispered hoarsely next to her, "babe, can you hear me?"

Turning her heavy head, Tina pulled her aching eyes open, staring blankly at the man at her side. Breathing in, she sighed as emotion swelled into the void bringing memories with her.

"Craig," she whispered, "you're here."

"Where else would I be?" he swallowed hard, clutching her hand in his, "I've been here the entire time."

"How long is that?" Tina asked, looking around the infirmary.

"Almost two days," he smiled, his fingers gently stroking her cheek, "I've been so worried about you ... about all of you."

"The babies," she whispered, "are they ..."

"Everyone is fine," he murmured, "they are arguing at the moment but growing and apparently healthy."

"You can hear them too?" the question was followed by a frown, "since when have you been able to hear people's thoughts?"

"I haven't," Craig smiled, "one of them clearly has an advanced ability."

"Is it true?" Tina asked, gripping Craig's hand, "you climbed the building to save me."

"True," Craig said, kissing the back of her hand, "I would have climbed so much more if you needed saving."

"Thank you," she whispered, "I'm so grateful to have you in my life."

Craig swallowed hard. Blinking rapidly before clearing his throat, "If you were not in my life, I wouldn't have a purpose," he watched his thumb circle the back of her hand. "Since having you in my life, I've found a part of me I thought was gone for good. So I would be happy to have you around me all the time. Besides, I love you with everything I am."

Tina sobbed as she reached for Craig, "Ah babe, don't cry." Standing, he folded her gently in his arms, "I'm here."

Standing in the doorway, Jonathan and Daisy watched the pair. Daisy sniffed, turning into Jonathan's arms and wrapping her arms around his waist, burying her face in his shoulder.

"You okay, Daisy?" Jonathan whispered the question against her hair, "you're not the emotional type. How are you coping with this?"

Daisy silently shook her head, sniffing against Jonathan's shoulders and mumbling words he couldn't hear. Grinning, he gently raised her chin, looking into a pair of tearful eyes and kissing the tip of her nose.

"I couldn't hear a word," he whispered, "wish to repeat that."

"It's so intense," she whispered, wiping her wet cheeks, "Tina loves Craig and believes what he is saying. Wow!"

"That is a good thing," he nodded, "means you can ease up on the revenge section."

Daisy gurgled a laugh as the door opened, showing two children looking across the room at Tina and Craig.

"I don't think children are supposed to be in the infirmary," Jonathan said, but the pair moved past Daisy and himself toward the bed.

"Tina," the young girl whispered, inhaling before hurtling toward the bed, "you're awake."

"I told you she would be ... don't go strange. You'll hurt her," the young boy smiled, shaking hands with Craig, "I did my best, but she was insistent on seeing Tina."

"That's okay. You did a good job," Craig smiled, tousling the young boy's head, "help Gina before she pulls Tina out of bed."

Daisy looked at Jonathan, whispering, "Where did the children come from?"

"Gina, the little girl, was saved by Tina and then she turned around and saved Tina before Craig got to her," Jonathan said, "but I'm not sure who the young boy is."

Craig looked up, seeing them, waving them forward. He indicated to the young boy, "Jonathan and Daisy, please meet John," Craig turned the young boy toward them. The large eyes met first Daisy's and then Jonathan's gazes, the air shifted, and John nodded.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

"I can trust them," he said, looking up at Craig, "you trust them as well."

"I do," Craig said, smiling, "John has been helping me look after Gina and doing an outstanding job."

"Weren't you one of the refugee children from the assignment?" Daisy asked.

"We're not refugees," Gina said, lying next to Tina, cuddled against her side, "we're orphans."

Craig met Tina's gaze seeing her tiny nod. Glancing at her swelling stomach, he waited before a smile spread across his face, "Not anymore."

The children froze, awed expressions locking onto Craig. Gina pushed into a sitting position as her gaze clashed with John's. The question in her expressive face was plain for anyone to see.

"I'm not sure what he means," John whispered, and the pair looked at Craig again.

"Tina and I would like to be your parents," Craig said, gently taking Tina's hand, "since both of you seem to have attached yourself to us would you like to make it permanent?"

Gina bounced on the bed, squealing with delight, but John stiffened, staring hard at Craig.

"We're not charity cases," John said, straightening to his full height, his closed expression clearly showing the offence of Craig's words.

"Neither are charity cases," Craig said, shaking his head. "The way you looked after each other and yourselves out there was impressive and showed a mature spirit in someone so young."

Craig glanced at Tina, who smiled, but the children still stared at him, "Craig is making a mess of an easy question," she said, looking at the two children, "would you two like to have us as parents?"

Gina gasped, looking at John, who paled, swallowed and stared blankly at Gina, "I think John is speechless."

John looked between Craig and Tina, "You have your own children coming ... why would you want Gina and me as well?"

"John, are you concerned about being in the way?" Jonathan asked, stepping forward and drawing the youngster's attention. John stared at him blankly before giving a single nod.

"You'll never be in the way," Craig said, "Tina and I want to add you to our family for no other reason than we want to."

"Please, John," Gina begged, "you know I've always wanted parents, and these two are the best we've come across."

John looked from one to the other as his breathing quickened. He turned pale, and his face became alarmingly clammy. Clearly, he was in distress. Daisy turned him toward her, kneeling in front of him and locking gazes with the child.

"Inhale slowly," she whispered, "breathe and look at me. Don't look at anyone else, just me."

His breathing returned to normal. Slowly, he reached out his hand, cupping Daisy's cheek and smiling. Daisy returned the smile covering his hand with her own.

"You okay now?" she whispered.

John nodded, "I've never experienced that before. Thank you. I think I was overwhelmed."

"What overwhelmed you?" Daisy asked, still whispering.

"Emotion," John said, "so much emotion, but with you, it's... peace."

"Good," Daisy smiled without looking at anyone else, "tell me if you'd like to have Craig and Tina as parents."

"Would you be my aunt?" John asked.

Daisy nodded, noting the shift behind him as Craig moved toward them, listening intently, "I'm Tina's sister, so I shall be one of your aunts. You'll have Rose, Calla and Iris as well."

"Flowers," Gina sighed, "so many adults to look after us."

"What do you say, John?" Craig asked.

John stared at Daisy before a smile spread over his lips, "Yes, it will be nice to have parents. I take it they are adults who look after you."

Daisy frowned, "I think so," she said, glancing behind him, "but I think Craig and Tina can answer that question better ... they have more experience."

Nodding, John stepped forward, hugging Daisy. Surprised, it took a moment before she slowly encased him in her arms, hugging him back until he moved away. "Thank you," John whispered, kissing her cheek, "I'll be happy to be part of this family."

Turning, he gasped as Gina flew off the bed, slamming into him as she hugged him. John staggered, barely keeping his footing as Jonathan reached out to help support his balance.

Daisy rose from the ground, unsure of how she felt or what she should do now. She glanced at the bed and saw Tina's tear-filled eyes smiling at her. Quickly moving toward the bed, Daisy grasped the extended hand.

"You were wonderful, Daisy," Tina said, sniffing, "so calm and together. Who knew my hot-headed sister would be labelled peaceful.'

Daisy chuckled, "Believe me, I didn't see that coming. You're parents ... already."

"Yeah," Tina sighed, "we are. Now I need to bring these to term, and we'll have our hands full."

Jenkins pushed through the infirmary door taking in the small group. He faltered to a stop, his serious expression quietening the celebrations.

"Ah, sorry to intrude," he spoke quietly, "I need to speak to Craig and Tina with some urgency."

Daisy looked at Jonathan, who motioned for her to join him, "We'll take the children to Craig and Tina's suite and get them settled."

"Thank Jon," Craig murmured, taking Tina's trembling hand, "thank you, Daisy."

Jenkins watched them leave before turning toward the waiting couple.

"What is it?" Tina asked, trying to lift herself but gasping in pain as she moved.

"No," Jenkins said, moving toward her, "don't move, please. You'll only hurt yourself."

"What is it?" Craig asked as he lowered Tina to the pillows, "is something wrong with Tina or the babies?"

"Not wrong," Jenkins said, picking up the clipboard, "with your army of Nano's working in Tina, it seems she is showing signs of having an ability."

"What?" Tina and Craig spoke in unison.

"The bounty hunter thing is one thing, and not much was tweaked for that to be in play," Jenkins said, "but I'm talking about something else."

"Am I going to die?" Tina whispered, swallowing hard on a dry throat.

"You were," Jenkins said, truthful to a fault, "but since Craig did the transfusion and the nanotechnology has been at work toward righting anything incorrect," Jenkins looked between them. It looks like Tina somehow has an ability."

"What kind of an ability?" Craig asked.

"An enhanced one," said Jenkins, "what I'm trying to say to both of you is Tina seems to be an enhanced being ...therefore, your babies may not be half-and-halves."