Finding Them

Daniel sat down next to his youngest children. He was watching them and remembering every little thing about them. He wanted to learn where every freckle was and if they had dimples. He needed to memorise their little faces. Dakota and Darcy were watching Daniel and waiting for the food they were supposed to get for letting the doctor look at them. Darcy turned her head sideways and pointed to the bag that was next to Daniel. Daniel looked at what she was pointing at and smiled. "You want something to eat?" He asked his daughter. Both twins nodded their heads. Daniel took the bag placing it on the bed in front of the twins. "What would you like?" He asked them.

The twins peeked in the bag at all the food. They had never seen so much food and it was colourful as well. They were used to bread and that's about it. They hadn't eaten the hospital food because they didn't know what it was or how to open it. "Colours" Darcy whispered pointing to the cup of fruit salad. Daniel peered into the bag looking at what his daughter was pointing at. "Oh fruit salad, would you like that?" He asked. Darcy nodded her head so Daniel took it out of the bag opening it for Darcy and putting on the table with a fork. What would you like Kota?" He asked his son. "No Da Kota" Darcy said causing Daniel to chuckle. "Ok, so I can't call him Kota or you Cc. Dakota and Darcy, it is then" Daniel said earning a nod from both twins. "Dakota, what would you like?" Daniel asked. "Me eat too?" Dakota asked. Daniel nodded "Yeah mate you can eat anything you like whenever you like. Just let me or your brothers know and we will get it for you. Ok?" Daniel replied. The twin's eyes went big, they had never been able to eat whenever they wanted ever but now they were told they could. Dakota pointed to a pack of plain chips which Daniel took out and opened for him placing them on the table next to the fruit salad.

Darcy tried some of the red stuff, watermelon, which she liked as the juice ran down her face she giggled and so did Dakota. Daniel laughed at them both before taking a cloth and gently wiping Darcy's mouth causing her to flinch. "I won't hurt you baby. I'm just catching the juice" Daniel whispered "Otay mister" Darcy whispered. "You can call me Daddy, both of you can" Daniel replied. "Addy?" Darcy asked. "Daddy" Daniel corrected. "Yeh addy" Darcy replied. "Ok addy it is" Daniel replied just as his phone rang. "Hi Mitchell what's up?" He spoke into his phone. "Dad, what do I get? Like what size and stuff?" Mitchell asked his father staring at the clothes in front of him. "I'd go a size 2 shorts for Dakota with a size 3 shirt maybe a size two underwear and some pjs and grab a jumper in a three. We can take him for shoes later. For Darcy, I would go for a size 2 shirt and a size 1/2 underwear. I would also get some size 1 shorts and pjs or even some size 2 dresses. I would also get her a size 2 jumper. Also, grab some pull-ups for them. We can get some other things later" Daniel told his son. "No problems, I'll be back shortly. How are they doing?" Mitchell asked. "They are having something to eat. See you soon son" Daniel replied hanging up the phone.

"You talk funny," Dakota told his father. "That's because I'm from Australia. You will be talking like me soon" Daniel told his son. Dakota picked up a chip taking a little bite out of it and studied the chip as he slowly chewed the thin piece of potato. "Do you like it?" asked Daniel. Dakota nodded his head and took a bigger bite offering some to Darcy. Darcy took a little bite and chewed it slowly, her eyes lightening up as she finished it. "Have you never had chips before?" Daniel asked his kids earning a firm shake of the head no. Darcy offered the watermelon she was eating to her brother who took a small bite getting juice all over his face. Daniel smiled and realised he was witnessing a first for his twins. They had clearly never had watermelon or chips before and he was here to witness this first. Both twins preferred the watermelon and took the other piece from the fruit salad. They had juice all over their faces and Daniel couldn't help but snap a photo of the pair with watermelon juice all over them while laughing at the twins.

The twins ate three pieces of watermelon before telling Daniel they were full which he accepted without forcing them to eat more. He also made a mental note to get watermelon for the twins when they got home to Australia. He would get them to a healthy weight as soon as he could by providing food that they liked to eat. The chips had been forgotten after they ate three of them but he didn't care at all.

Mitchell came walking into the room just as they finished eating and laughed at the sight of his baby siblings. "Someone enjoyed the fruit" he chuckled. "Yeh, they love watermelon. Ok, kids let's get you cleaned up and dressed so we can leave the hospital as soon as the doctor comes back" Daniel told the twins. "I got wipes too" Mitchell stated pulling out a packet of baby wipes from one of the bags and taking a few wipes out to clean the twin's face and hands. "Ok Dakota I'm going to wipe your hands and face and Mitch is going to help Darcy do the same ok?" Daniel told the twins earning a glare from Dakota. "I help Cc" Dakota stated. "Big Kota not scary" Darcy told her brother who nodded his head to his sister glaring at Mitchell. "Otay, gentle" Dakota firmly said to Mitchell earning a smile and a nod from Mitchell.

Mitchell cleaned his sister's face and hands gently of course and then pulled out some clothes for her to change into. Daniel had already started to dress Dakota. The clothes were a little big but they were ok and he hoped the kids would grow into them quickly. "Ellie?" Darcy questioned looking for her elephant which was now under the gown she had taken off. Mitchell handed her the elephant and she snuggled it to her body. She was getting a little sleepy. Mitchell picked Darcy up causing her to go floppy and shut her eyes. "Put down" Dakota called out. "Shit Dad, what's happened?" Mitchell panicked. "Put down put down" Dakota chanted. Daniel was worried, "put her down and get a nurse" Daniel stated. Mitchell put Darcy down and Dakota quickly went over to his sister climbing on the chair to get on the bed taking her face in his hands.

Darcy opened one eye peeking out at her brother before opening her other eye "I do good Kota?" Darcy asked. Dakota nodded his head. "Ah, what was that?" Daniel and Mitchell asked the twins. "Otay dead when scary man touch," Darcy said like it was the most normal thing ever. Dakota nodded his head at his sister. He had taught her to go floppy and play dead if she was picked up so the scary man wouldn't hurt her and he would distract him and take the punishment instead of his sister. "Scary man hit Kota, not Cc" Dakota told the two. "No one will hit you again. I promise" Daniel told his youngest children looking at how broken his babies were was heartbreaking. "Big Kota no hurt?" Darcy asked. "I won't hurt you and I won't let anyone hurt you" Mitchell replied to his sister. Both the twins nodded their heads and held each other. "Can I hug you both please?" Daniel asked his youngest kids. Dakota nodded once but didn't let go of his sister. Daniel wrapped his arms around both of the twins and brought them close to his chest while tears ran down his face. He felt their little bodies tense and he was heartbroken his babies thought that he would harm them.