Looking forward to the twins
*****DAMIAN*****
The moment I found out I wasn't just having a baby, but two, was... let's just say, a shock. Celine had looked at me with that innocent smile, as if she were telling me we were ordering pizza. Instead, she said, “By the way, they're twins.”
My heart had skipped a beat. I mean, one baby – sure, that was a big deal. But two? Two little Damians who would need diapers at the same time, scream and probably search my closet for the perfect mini leather jacket at some point? That was a whole new dimension.
Now I was sitting here, in the middle of our little club, surrounded by my friends, trying to stay cool, even though the thought of two little babies still seemed surreal to me. Jax was once again trying to make Yasemin laugh with some exaggerated words, and I watched the scene with a broad grin that I couldn't hide.
“So, did I actually tell you that I'm going to be a daddy?” I asked, leaning back and crossing my arms behind my head.
Jax didn't even lift his head from his drink. ”Oh no, Damian. That's an incredible surprise. I don't think you've ever mentioned that. Maybe you should say that more often.”
“Maybe ten times an hour,” Yasemin interjected, without looking at me, as she sipped her drink. ‘Oh, wait, you're already doing that.”
I grinned broadly and shot Celine a glance, who just shrugged in amusement. ’Well, but I haven't told you the best part yet.”
That finally got them to turn their attention to me. Jax put down his drink and looked at me skeptically. “What else could it be? Is the baby a unicorn?”
I laughed. ”Not quite. But it's twins.”
For a moment, there was absolute silence. Yasemin almost choked on her drink, and Jax stared at me as if I had just told him I had decided to become an astronaut.
“Twins?” Yasemin finally managed to utter the word, staring at me in disbelief. ‘As in... two babies? At once?”
I nodded proudly. ’That's right.”
“Oh my God.” Yasemin covered her face with her hand. ‘Poor Celine.”
“Hey!’ I protested. ‘What does that mean?”
“It means that Celine has to deal with two mini-Damians,’ she explained, pointing at my girlfriend, who was now shaking her head and laughing.
Jax leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “You know what this means, Damian? It means you'll lose twice as much sleep, change twice as many diapers, and have twice as much chaos. Congratulations, my friend. You're officially screwed.”
I pretended to think about it and then nodded. “Yes, that sounds pretty much like what I expected. But you know what? I'm looking forward to it.”
Celine put a hand on my shoulder and smiled. ”That's the right attitude.”
“Stop encouraging him,” Yasemin murmured, taking another gulp of her drink. ‘He'll make us all babysit.”
“Of course!’ I grinned, pointing at the two of them. ”You'll be the honorary uncles and aunt. I mean, who would be better suited to teach my kids nonsense than Jax?”
Jax raised his hands. “Oh no, I'm out. I have no idea how to deal with babies.”
“Oh come on.” Yasemin punched him lightly in the side. “You teach them how to annoy people with bad jokes. That's your contribution.”
“And you?” I asked, looking at Yasemin challengingly. ‘You could show them how to master karaoke.”
She laughed out loud. ’Oh, Damian. It will be my pleasure to teach your children. But only if you go on stage first tonight.”
I groaned softly. ”I can't do that. I'm not ready yet.”
“Nonsense,” Jax interjected, raising his glass. ”If you're ready to become a father of twins, then you're ready to belt out a song in front of a few people.”
“I'm not sure that's the same.”
“Yes,” said Yasemin, standing up. ‘That's exactly the same. You're standing on a stage, everyone's looking at you, and you can only hope you don't totally fail.”
Celine laughed softly next to me. ’I think she's right.”
“That doesn't really help me,” I muttered.
Half an hour later, I was actually sitting in Blue Moon, the loudest and shrillest karaoke club in town. The room was overcrowded, the music was deafening, and I wondered how I had ended up here at all. Oh yes, it was my wonderful friends who had practically forced me.
“I hope you know that I'll never forget this,“ I said when my name was finally called.
“You'll be great,” Celine said with that loving smile she always put on when she knew I was nervous.
I took a deep breath, got up and marched to the stage. The crowd clapped, and I tried not to be intimidated by it. The microphone felt oddly heavy, and the first notes of Livin' on a Prayer began to play.
I don't know exactly how I did it, but somehow I pulled it off. Jax and Yasemin howled, the crowd cheered, and when I finally came off the stage, I felt like a superstar.
“You were great!“ Celine said, hugging me.
“Great?” I asked incredulously. “That sounded like a dying whale.”
“A very charming dying whale,” Yasemin said with a grin. “I filmed the whole thing. Your twins will love this someday.”
I groaned. ”That's all I need.”
But deep down I knew that it was a moment I would always remember – an evening full of laughter, friends and the anticipation of the greatest adventure of my life. Twin dad. Who would have thought?
Chapter 2: Better safe than sorry
There are moments in life that remain etched in your memory, like your first kiss, your first big success – or the moment you are told that you are expecting not one, but two babies.
After a karaoke evening that was a triumph for my friends but a moment of humiliation for me, we were sitting again at our usual place in the club. The conversation was lively and I tried not to think about what was coming up for me in a few months. Two babies. Two tiny beings who would be completely dependent on me and Celine. Two lives that we would shape. To be honest, the responsibility was intimidating. But the anticipation was stronger.
“So, Damian,” Yasemin began, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. ‘Twins. How does it feel? Are you panicking yet?”
I snorted and took a sip of my drink. ’Panic? Never. I mean, it's only two babies. How hard can it be?”
Celine, who was sitting next to me, turned her head slowly to me and raised an eyebrow. “Just two babies? Damian, have you ever seen a newborn?”
“Of course,” I said with a casual gesture. “I mean, on TV. They always look quite peaceful.”
Jax snorted with laughter and banged his hand on the table. “Oh man, Damian. You really have no idea what you're getting into, do you?”
“Come on, how hard can it be?” I shrugged and tried to look casual. “You feed them, change their diapers, put them to bed – isn't that it?”
Yasemin stared at me as if I had just claimed that the earth was flat. “Oh my God. You're in for a rough landing, my friend. Babies are not machines. They are small, loud, stubborn creatures that will keep you up until you no longer know what your own name is.”
“And you've got double that,” Jax added with a grin. ‘Double the diapers, double the screaming, double the sleepless nights. I hope you've said goodbye to your sleep.”
I looked at Celine, hoping for support, but she just smiled slightly. ’I've already told Damian that he should build up his sleep reserves from now on.”
“You're making way too much drama out of this,” I murmured, leaning back. ”I mean, how hard can it be?”
A few hours later, as we were leaving the club, I was finally able to enjoy a few moments alone with Celine. The night was cool, and we walked slowly down the street. I held her hand, and she looked at me with that look of hers that was both loving and slightly concerned.
“You know, Damian,” she began softly, ‘you always talk as if this is all going to be a breeze. But I know you're secretly worried.”
I paused and looked at her. ’Of course I'm worried. I'd be an idiot not to be. Two babies... it's no joke.”
She smiled slightly and placed a hand on my cheek. “But you'll be a great father. You know that?”
I took a deep breath and placed my hand over hers. “I hope so. I mean, I have no idea what I'm doing, but... I want to do it right. For you. For the twins.”
Her eyes glistened, and she stood on tiptoe to kiss me. It was a gentle, quiet moment that made the whole world disappear around us.
The next few days were a whirlwind of planning, shopping and more planning. Celine was incredibly organized. She had lists upon lists: what diapers we would need, what baby clothes were most practical, which strollers had the best reviews. I, on the other hand, felt like I was trying to fly a plane without ever having been in one before.
One evening, we were sitting on the couch and Celine was scrolling through baby products on her tablet. “What do you think of this twin stroller?” she asked, showing me a picture.
I looked at the thing, which looked more like a futuristic vehicle than a stroller. “Um... sure. It looks... sturdy.”
She laughed and put the tablet down. ”Damian, you're hopeless.”
“Hey, I'm doing my best!” I put an arm around her and pulled her closer. ‘I'm more of a practical guy. Let me set up the stroller when it arrives.”
“Oh, I want to see that,’ she murmured with a smile that was both loving and slightly mocking.
Preparations for the babies picked up speed in the weeks that followed. Our house was slowly being transformed into a baby paradise. The first pieces of furniture were delivered, and as promised, I set about assembling the stroller.
It was a disaster.
“Damian, that's upside down,“ Celine said, laughing as she watched me.
“I know that! I'm just testing the stability,” I muttered, trying to get one of the screws in the right place.
Jax, who had dropped by, sat down on the couch and watched me with amusement. “You know, Damian, if you can't even manage that, how are you going to change diapers?”
“It's completely different,” I said, trying to turn the part in the right direction.
“Of course,” he said with a grin. ”I look forward to the day when you're in the diaper explosion of your life.”
“Very funny,” I muttered. ‘I bet I'll be the best diaper changer the world has ever seen.”
“I'd like to see that,’ Celine said with an affectionate smile.
And so time passed, the tension and anticipation grew, and even though I knew that life with twins would be anything but easy, I couldn't wait to finally meet them.