DEAN POV

I didn't have a baby yet so I didn't know how to calm her, how to hold her right or do everything like a father do. I seldom faced a toddler or toddlers and young boys. But here, I was facing what I mentioned up there.

I sat in the living room watching them played with their own toys as I babysit this cutie. Nah, I helped her drinking her milk.

I was watching them but the most time I looked at this girl's hypnotized eyes. She held her bottle with her small hands as her eyes looking at me. We stared at each other. She didn't feel me bother her because she smiled while drank her bottle till empty.

She sighed contently as I put her empty bottle on the table beside me. I held her in front of me as she gave me her toothless smile. It's like she thanked me for the milk and asked me to burp her.

I put her head on my left shoulder as I patted her back softly. I watched the boys again preventing them to make chaos but you know I was surprised they played quietly into their own world.

Dexter boy still with the oldest boy and the rest was playing. They were still in this room but their position was changed. Don't ask me!

Sister Mariyah went to her office after she gave me Dianne's bottle. This baby girl had a beautiful name. And she was friendly baby. Her smile was beautiful too as if I didn't want her smile vanish. And here I thought I want to protect the little princess.

I fell in love with her.

I thought about their daily routine here. Even sister Mariyah always busy in her office they were independent boys' type. And they depended on their oldest. He was truly older brother figure. He was a big helper and babysitter too. And he had big responsibility on his hands. I appreciated at what he's doing.

I heard the loud burp. Someone had the best meal today. I chuckled as I lifted Dianne to face me. I saw her eyes were drowsy so I put her on my chest.

I leaned on the back rest on the old love seat as I stretched my legs on the floor. This was the best feeling ever. I could relax a bit.

I looked at the clock on the wall then I tried to find Allen. Before I called him, he came to me while put his phone on his breast pocket.

" I already order lunch, sir, " he said stood beside me.

I closed my mouth and I nodded. I kept on watching the boys as I patted Dianne's back.

"what is Sister Mariyah doing in her office? Is she always busy? " I whispered asking him.

"not really. I think she has important matter right now. "

"when I talked to her she had her phone office ringing. She talked in hushed tone. So I assume she has some important thing. Can you try to find it? I have a bad feeling. "

"of course, sir. "

"thank you, Allen, " I wandered my eyes around the room. "how is Valentina? "

"Mike said she's still sleeping. Everything is fine."

"so, still no sign to wake up," I mumbled.

"don't worry, sir. She will be fine, " Allen assured me.

"thank you, " I glanced at him then I kept my eyes on the boys again.

The doorbell rang and Allen headed to face who was on the door.

I heard the soft snore. I looked down and Dianne was sleeping with her mouth opened. Awe, my baby girl was so cute.

So here I was thinking suddenly. When Vee was awake, I want to discuss something with her about these children.

"lunch is here, boys, " Allen said loudly making the boys chorused gleefully. "come with me. "

The boys left their toys as they followed Allen to the kitchen I thought. Maybe there was the dining room too.

I quietly and slowly got up as I secure Dianne in my arms. I didn't care about the small fabric on my shoulder after burping her as I kept my pace steady. I tried not to make a sound so she kept in her slumber.

I put her on her crib and I covered her small body with the small blanket. I put the rabbit doll near her.

She smiled while sleeping and her fists were loosen. I thought I felt like a girl but really this sight made my heart to burst. I felt like babysit my own baby.

I wanted to check on the boys but I didn't want to leave her alone. Oh My Lord. I sounded like a clingy father. Then, I had an idea. Since she didn't have baby monitor I put my phone beside her and I set to call me on the other phone when she woke up.

I could leave in peace. I checked on the dining room and I caught a glimpse the boys eating quietly too. But they had small talk. I didn't see Sister Mariyah so I came further into the dining room.

"where is sister? "

The boys' head turned at me.

"she is in her office and she is busy now days, sir, " the oldest answered me.

I nodded. But I didn't satisfied with the answer.

"what is she doing? "

" I don't hear clearly but I think it's about this house. "

"what about this house? " my eyes found Allen's and he shrugged.

"as I said before I don't hear clearly what is that about. "

"okay. "

I was about to reach the outside of the room but Allen stopped me.

"don't you want to have had lunch, sir? "

"no. You keep eating, guys. I have something to do, " I continued my doing as I left this room.

*

Before reaching the kids' bedtime, I was standing in front of the boys who were sitting in the living room watching tv. Their eyes turned at me.

"do you guys miss Valentina? "

"yeah.. "

"we do.. "

"are you going home, sir? " the little guy did the drawing today asked me.

"yes, " their face frown suddenly. I lifted my eyebrows as I sighed. "but before tucking you guys. "

And you could guess, their face showed me relieved. So here I thought that the kids were happy someone visited them today or maybe they'd already like me. Never mind..

"so tomorrow I want to come again and I've already asked sister Mariyah to bring you guys visit Valentina. Do you want to? "

I heard them chorused cheerfully. Yeah they were happy even though this was approaching their bedtime and still they had energy.

"come on, " I clapped my hand as baby Dianne copying me.

I smiled at her. Yeah she's already awake this afternoon and she's in her moving carrier. Like usual.

"you guys know how to do before sleep, " they nodded at me. "so, come on. Get your butt up."

They got up stair and I was the last one behind them. And don't forget carrying baby Dianne to see her brothers preparing themselves before sleeping. She's very excited. I don't know why.

And Allen.. He was already in the car waiting for me and he did something for tomorrow before I asked him to do. He's efficient guy.

The second floor had three rooms. But the largest was this boys' room. There were 5 beds in same size. They already did their routine and were sitting on their respective bed as I was still carrying an awake baby Dianne. She sucked her thumb but not sleepy yet.

And sister Mariyah.. I thought she was still in her office. She was out 2 or 3 times just to grab bottle of water, food and changing her outfit. Nah you could say she had shower at 6 pm. Just assuming. I didn't see her watching me tucking these little guys.

"what are you guys waiting? " a few moments later I asked as they saw me. They beamed at me.

"you do praying before sleep, right? " the 4 years old boy asked me.

"no. Not really.. " I trailed.

"so, the devil always disturbs you while sleeping because you don't ask the Almighty to protect you," he explained.

Wow. He was a kid, right?

"who taught you? " I creased my brows.

" Valentina, " he shrugged.

Now I see. She taught them well and heard his explanation from him remind me she was a religious person.

" am I right, mister? "

"right about what? "

"the devil always disturbs you, " he told once again.

I chuckled. I didn't know what I felt while I slept. But, I was thankful that God still gave me life and let me breathing. And this moment remind me of her. She's the one who said that.

" I don't know, buddy, " I changed my arm to hold her because my other arm was numb. "so, who is the one to do the praying? "

" I think you will, " Dan boy said that.

"actually, Valentina did choosing one of us but we forget who is the last do the praying," the oldest boys told me.

"okay, how about you, big brother? " I asked him. It's my chance to know his name without asking him. I was that lazy, yeah.

"my name is Dean, sir. "

I lifted my brows to show them how I was surprise. Really I never expected this.

"we have the same name here, " I didn't have anything to say.

"and what is your full name? " Dean junior asked me.

I will call him junior now.

"my name is Dean Nathaniel West," I told them.

" I'll introduce you to my brothers. Sorry we don't do this before, " he said sheepishly.

I smiled at him reassuring that it was okay. The others were watching us.

"so, you know my name and our sister, mister," I nodded at him. "the second big brother is Daniel and he is four. "

Dean junior pointed at the boy who played the cars and Daniel boy waved at me and I thought he said hello.

"and maybe you don't see the resemblance to those trio but they are twins. "

I stared at them. Sure, they had difference. I was sure they were fraternal twins.

" I don't know who is the oldest between them but I will tell you from the right to the left," then Dean junior pointed and told me.

"they were Dan, " he had brown hair and honey eyes. " Davis, " the second was friendly who drew and had the same hair and eyes. "and the last one who attach to me is Dexter. " The quietest boy.

I nodded at them as then I smiled. So, I concluded the triplet had same hair and eyes but their face.. They had their own characteristic. And their manner too.

"okay, you guys follow what I say. This praying is the usual I do before sleep long time ago. "

"why? You don't do the praying now?" Dexter boy asked me curiously.

"no. Because I always tired and when I am on the bed my eyes immediately close."

"that is not good, " Daniel said and I gave him my wide smile.

"okay, just follow me, " I said didn't want to prolong our talking. "thank God for today. You allow us to have food. You allow us to have an air to breath and You give us energy to do our routine. I hope tomorrow is better than today. And please give us Your blessing for tomorrow. Ameen. "

The boys follow what I said and they said ameen after me. They were under their blanket and their eyes were at me waiting.

"what again? "

" Valentina always do the goodnight kiss," Daniel boy said.

"you don't mind me? I am a man. "

"why not? " Dean junior chirped.

"okay, I don't usually do this, " I scratched my head. "but for you guys, I'll do it. "

I started from the youngest. Yes. The triplet. I held baby Dianne when I kissed their head and I helped her to do the same. And I chuckled when she did that because she gave them sloppy kiss. And the boys kissed her back. They loved their adorably baby sister.

Dean junior was the last one I said good night. And they were happy when I did that.

I saw them closing their eyes and they were already in deep slumber. I shook my head smiling. They were good kids.

I turned off the light. When I was about headed to the door I heard Dean junior said.

"thank you, mister."

I stood still and smiled in the dim light. Baby Dianne still sucked her thumb but her head was already on my shoulder.

"you are very welcome, buddy, " I said and closed the door.

I was walking to Dianne's room and thought. Their name started from D letter. Wow, I realized that now. And to think about the oldest of triplet I guessed Dan was the one following Davis and the last was Dexter.

What did sister think when she adopted them? And how could they abandon the triplet? And the kids here were orphan.

I passed the closed door. This was the third room after Dianne's and the boys. I opened it and it was full of things. I didn't know because it was dark and I could see from the shadow that this room was storage room. Nah I didn't need to check.

I closed again the door and continued to walk. I didn't saw any pictures on the wall so it was plain house. But the kids were happily living here. Sad to say they didn't had any photos just to remind them how they looked like when they were kids and captured the moment.

I changed her diaper because I had a feeling she pooped. And my guessing was right. I was a little bit confused because she was so calm about it. Literally she was happy baby right now while I finished changing her sleeping outfit. I guessed this outfit was right one.

"why don't you make a sound just to tell me your diaper is full? And why are you so awake now? Don't you feel sleepy? "

I talked in baby voice and it sounded weird. I acted like school girl having bad screeching sound. It was already night I did something stupid right now. And she giggled at me.

I gushed at her and she cooed at me. It's like we had something important and didn't stop to talk about it. And finally she yawned. Yes. She was sleepy.

I carried her in my arms as I bounced her walking around the room. I stopped at the window just to look outside. It was dark. I didn't know how long I stood but I was out of my dazed when I saw her. She slept with little snore and her cute lips were opened.

My baby was cute. I gave kiss on her forehead and lied her on her crib. I put the blanket on her body and gave her rabbit doll. Again this scene was replaying.

I was out and went downstairs. I met sister Mariyah walked out from her office.

"thank you for today, Dean, " she smiled and hugged me. She obviously was tired and still she was the last one awake here.

"you're welcome, sister, " I hugged her back. "don't forget to be ready tomorrow to visit Valentina. "

" I know," she smiled.

She waved as my car was out from her driveway. From the rear mirror I saw her smile was dropped.

Okay, what is going on?

___

I was so focus this afternoon while I made this chapter
So it suddenly stopped when I received a message and poosshh! My concentration disappeared
Then I lost my mood :D
Thankfully it reached the end of the chapter
Enjoy guys😃