Carlo scoffed, "If you can talk like that, I guess you are alright. You freaked us out."
"My babies…" She started to speak When Carlo touched her forehead and frowned. He solemnly said, "You are burning, kid." He looked at Mu Liang and asked, "Didn't you notice?"
Mu Liang was dumbfounded. He didn't notice at all.
Pedro stood up and walked over. He checked her temperature and then her pulse. "The fever came from the pain. How are you feeling?"
"I don't know." Mu Lan answered. Truthfully, the pain was so much that her body felt numb. But her eyes looked for her children. "But my babies-"
Carlo interrupted her, "Relax, they are sleeping. It's time for you to feed them."
Pedro sighed. He gave her the bowl of medicine and said, "Drink it." Seeing Mu Lan's eyes vigilantly looking at the bowl of medicine, he eased her saying, "I put sugar. It tastes sweet."
"Let me help you." Mu Liang helped her to sit up. Mu Lan flinched feeling the pain. She looked at the tired Mu Liang. She smiled mildly and said, "Next time, you have to give birth to our children."
Mu Liang nodded. "Alright." His heart clenched seeing her tired smile. She was in pain and it was so vivid even though she tried to hide it from him. And he could do nothing to ease her pain.
He took and a bowl of medicine and fed her slowly. After that, he gently wiped her mouth.
Mu Lan glanced at Pedro and asked, "Can I feed the children? Won't my fever harm them?" She looked worried despite being in pain.
Pedro frowned. "Who do you think I am? Do you think I will let them fall into danger?"
Mu Lan relaxed. "Give them to me."
Carlo woke the firstborn. The moment he woke up, he started bawling. He carried him to her. Mu Lan carefully took her child. There was a soft smile hanging on her lips. She tenderly looked at her son, her firstborn. She said, "Shh, don't cry, mommy will give you milk."
Mu Liang was gazing at the mother and son deeply. He saw her unbuttoning her maxi and breastfeeding her child. He thought that he was watching a movie.
While she was feeding, Pedro was checking other children's pulse and then started making some medicines. Carlo helped him. They didn't bother the family.
After she was done feeding her four children, they started to doze off. She was holding the youngest one and put the third one on her lap. On her left, Mu Liang was holding the other two in his arms. Mu Lan felt emotional when she looked at the four newborns. She whispered to him, "Liang Liang, look at them. They look like angels."
"They are angels." Mu Liang said in a low voice with a smile. He kissed her left temple. "You did a great job, Lan. You have done your best. I'm so proud of you."
She said with a smile, "Did you see that three of them got your eyes? Only the third one got my eyes. They look just like you. Now I know what you looked like when you were born. You looked just like an angel. You are my angels' father."
He said, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't become a father. I got a family and children because you are here by my side. It wouldn't happen if it was someone else."
"So, did you like my surprise?" She asked.
Mu Liang sighed. He put his head on her left shoulder. Instead of answering her question, he said, "I would rather not be surprised at all. For a second I thought that I was losing you."
Mu Lan nudged her cheek against his head. "I'm sorry I made you worry. But I didn't endure the pain for you, Liang. I wanted it for us. That's why I selfishly bore with it. It's not your fault."
Mu Liang slowly shook his head. "It's partially my fault."
Mu Lan pretended to think about it. Then, she spoke in a serious tone, "Liang Liang, since you wish to bear the consequences of your deed, then you have to do only two things."
Mu Liang looked up to her. "What do I have to do?"
She seriously said, "Take care of the children when I can't take care of them and cook whatever I want to eat."
Mu Liang started chuckling. "Sure, I will do it for you darling wife. What do you wish to eat?"
Mu Lan instantly replied, "*Onigiri with meat in it."
Mu Liang pecked lightly on her lips and said, "I'm going to make them right away." He put down the sleeping children beside her and before leaving he asked, "Aren't you feeling uncomfortable sitting with two kids? Do you want to lay down?"
Mu Lan denied, "Nope, first I want to eat your onigiri. I don't want to move more than necessary."
"Okay, don't move too much." Saying that Mu Liang left.
Pedro came with another bowl of medicine and said, "Drink this. It will help you to lessen your pain. That way, your fever will subside."
Mu Lan put down her sleeping son on her right side and asked, "What did you give me before then?"
Pedro replied, "It was to regain your energy. I did put what you need the most. By the way, when do you want your children to take vaccines?"
She took the medicine bowl from him and said, "You decide. You understand their condition better than I do."
Pedro looked at her for some time before asking, "You do realize that from now on you have to move carefully. You cannot afford to make enemies anymore, kid."
Mu Lan sipped in the bowl and then licked her lips. "I don't understand what you mean."
Carlo spoke this time, "Do you think we are a bunch of stupid? You have never made a single mistake when you are on a mission and this time, suddenly you fell asleep in the plane and didn't try to escape from Li boy's cage. What do you have to say about it?"
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*Onigiri- Japanese word, it means rice ball