"Aww, look at you, little Tris." Valerie exclaimed blissfully as her hand managed to stroke the little boy's tiny head as he had somewhat more hair than his sister.

The young red-haired maid couldn't help but smile at the both twins who eventually put them to sleep in their bassinets a few minutes prior. She bathed them and changed their outfits so quickly as she was agile, besides she knew how to take care of a baby as she get used to Shona when she was their age even younger.

A broad smile diffused on her shining, youthful face as her eyes clarified, watching efortlessly Ellie and Tristan.

"How about you, Ellie?" She poked with index her shoulder as she giggled sweetly to her babysitter, relishing the love, warmness and attention that she earned. Likewise, Valerie didn't want to disappoint the another baby for lacking of attention, subsequently fussing.

"Yaaaaaa-aaaah!" The baby boy squealed satisfied as she stroked the twins' heads in the same time. Tristan was beyond blissful for earning attention, love and warmness just like his older sibling though he sensed something was missing. It wasn't just missing. It was like a fragment. A fragment of the family.

"Oh, sweethearts. Aren't you already tired?" She enquired, noting their pout faces when she just mentioned the word "tired". She knew right away that they weren't sleepy at all. Otherwise, they wanted to play more and their parents.

"Naa, mama." Ellie replied as her other tiny hand reached for her large one compared to their, reclining them on her palm as she sensed the softness.

Afterwards the young lady stared down at the little girl as her hazel eyes moved from the first to the second twin reluctantly, offering her a smile.

"Mama isn't here, sorry, Ellie. I am Valerie. Your Mommy's and Daddy's friend."

"Nana." The younger boy squealed louder than his sister for Ms.Volkova's surprise as she looked down with amused face.

"Aww, Tris! You are so cute. Just like your parents, you know that?" She inquired as he started babbling to her, enforcing her megawatt smile to curl up across her lips. "Good. Because your sister is cute too. Making no exception."

After Ellie heard how Valerie was discussing her even mentioning the keyword "cute" as it indicated her including her brother, she couldn't be more delighted as she giggled.

On other hand, the red-haired maid was further off heartbroken for not being with her real family, Shona and Velika. Despite the circumstances, Velika was looking after Shona whenever her chances allow her, not because of anything. It's crucially because of her hectic shifts in the hospital. Either morning or night shifts, she is an occupied lady.

***

The couple were already in the airplane, travelling to Dublin, Ireland, as they must survive a several hours though they sat next to one another. Furthermore, they weren't hungry at all especially Jude. There weren't plenty of people in the plane whose destination is actually Dublin. As an addition, the former nun have never been travelling to another country or even different location with an airplane in her entire life. It was like a miracle for her to travel around the world, whereas, on other hand, she had a motion sickness that she had developed when she journeys longer distance journeys.

"Auuurghhh." Jude refrained herself from vomiting as she held her closed mouth with a hand. "Timothy? Darling?" She poked him as he watched through the plane's circle window.

"Yes, my love?" He turned to face her as she noted her current condition.

"I cannot handle it with that nausea." She grumbled.

"It is the second time you are nauseating since we are here." He exclaimed calmly. "But do you want some help?"

"No, thank you." She got from her seat as she hasted to the resting room.

Thereafter she shutted the door as she crouched down, sitting on her knees as she opened the toilet seat, throwing up as she grasped firmly the toilet by both sides.

Then she stood as she released the toilet water, cleaning the toilet seat as she walked up to the sink, washing her mouth and nose. Further, she washed her hands and face.

Once she was done, she checked her own reflexion in the mirror that perfectly indicated her face. She inhaled reluctantly, studying her face as she approached the mirror. She didn't notice anything out of the borderline. Everything was fine after washing.

The artificial light illuminated every inch of her weary face, mildly wild hair, forming a halo around her face.

When she left the resting room, she sat next to Timothy again as he comforted her by wrapping an arm around her shoulder, whilst his another hand took hers into his. She didn't even sob. What she was feeling was actually ginormous fatigue, encircling her body that was betraying her.

"Don't worry, my love. All you need is a fresh rest until we land, okay?" In the meantime, she rested her head on his shoulder, sensing her eyelids growing heavy as her eyes were half opened.

"Mhm." She hummed softly.

"Good. Do you need anything?"

"N-No." She stammered a several seconds before falling asleep.

"Alright." His lips pursued for hers as he pressed his on hers in a deep, loving kiss.

"Good night."

"Night, rare bird."

***

"Good morning, sweethearts." Valerie lifted the twins in her hands from their bassinets, saying with soft voice.

"Nana." The both babies said as one.

"Have you had a splendid sleep, haven't you?" She walked away from the children's room as she descended the stairs, heading to the kitchen as their hands were on her shoulders.

"Yaa." Ellie replied boldly, hence, giggling.

"Great, Ellie." She pat lightly her back. "How about you too, little daredevil?" She questioned the another twin, placing each of them in their highchairs.

"Yaa." Tristan answered as he scarcely squealed, smiling to Ms. Volkova.

"Excellent! Let me see what do you have for breakfast?"

In the interim, she approached the refrigerator as she opened it, looking for the baby food that they started eating for a month as they have already weaned.

"Nana." Ellie's significant hunger was indisputably evident as her squeal floated in the kitchen, whereas Tristan waited patiently for his breakfast.

"Ellie! Nana Val will feed both of you." She rummaged every corner of the fridge as much as she could.

When she found the jars with baby food, she grabbed them by closing the refrigerator, taking petite silverware spoons to feed every twin as she walked up to them,  bending as she opened the jars' caps, spooning some baby food.

***

13th of August, 1966

"Mr. and Mrs.Howard, we had already landed on Irish territory." One of the stewardesses sternly informed them as Jude snored as her head rested on Timothy's shoulder, who was asleep as well. 

Then the couple stired as they rubed their eyes, emitting a yawn as the stewardess glared at them for not being awake earlier, crossing her arms as she kept gazing them. They stretched their bodies as they got from their seats as they took their luggage, excusing themselves to the exasperated stewardess, leaving the plane immediately as they established inside the biggest airport in Dublin.

"Morning, Judy." Timothy said in velvety voice.

"Morning." She exclaimed as she lurched awkwardly, feeling that she is going to roll on the ground quite soon. Luckily, she has her husband by her side who to poise her.

It was approximately 8 o'clock in the morning, as a result of the shining sun rays that illuminated the airport through the transparent gigantic windows. from every corner of the facade. The sea of people who crowded the airport even outside, were encircling the couple as they darted their eyes to the Howards family especially Judy. Initially, they thought she was far intoxicated though she was just weary and sleepy for not gaining enough sleep in the plane. The couple attempted to ignore the strangers' perplexed looks that they had already caught. As he held in his hand his suitcases, his another one tightly held hers, aiding her to keep her balance.

"How are you, babydoll?" He questioned concerned about her, as soon as, they left the airport, arriving outside as they weren't certain where is the nearest hotel that they might find in no time. 

"Tired." She answered idly, her hazel eyes as they sparkled past sun rays, acquiring more amber greenish hue. Thus, a bland yawn escaped her as she covered her mouth with a hand.

"Don't worry. I will find the nearest hotel to book for both of us and I will speak to Val, whilst you are napping, okay?"

"Okay." 

"That's how I want to see my lovely woman. Persistent!" 

To be continued...