After Xin and Yini had been working hard for two whole weeks to show their two fathers that they are there, stay there and what they want by simply keeping their fathers awake every night, they made a silent peace treaty and let their fathers sleep more and more overnight from that point on. And this has been going on for a whole 6 weeks now.

The twins are now 3 months old and the Xiao-Wang family has been living under one roof for two months now. In the first two weeks Zhan and Yibo hardly got any sleep. It was always the same. They fed them, they changed their diapers, they put them to bed and half an hour later the twins were crying. Night after night it was the same.

Only a tip from the midwife, brought relief. She suggested that before putting the babies to sleep, they should lay them on her chest for half an hour and let them cuddle there. And so they tried this out. Zhan took Yini on his chest, Yibo took Xin and the twins fell asleep immediately. They cuddled with them for half an hour, then carefully put them in their crib, where they still slept together, and suddenly they slept for a full hour.

Three nights later it was already two full hours and by now it is 5 hours that they sleep through the night and in which Zhan and Yibo also get sleep.

At three months old, the twins sleep most of the time, but when their fathers take them for a walk or when visitors come to their home, they are awake and very interested. By now they are aware of their surroundings and also differentiate people around them. So they can be held by Yanli without any problems and with pleasure, but when her husband tries, they start to scream.

It is similar with Cheng and Hai Kuan. They cuddle up to Cheng and let him kiss them, but when it comes to Hai Kuan, only Xin lets him hold her. Yini always starts screaming hard right away, as if her life is in danger. And then, she lets herself be calmed down the fastest only by Zhan.

Again and again Zhan and Yibo are asked how they can keep the twins apart. After all, they are identical twins. Yibo then always grins, pulls their caps off their heads and says, "Simple. Xin has lighter hair than Yini." This evolved over the past month. Xin's hair became lighter and lighter. Before, Zhan and Yibo actually relied on their bracelets, which they put on their hands after they were born. Little silver bracelets with their names on them.

And while things couldn't be going better for Zhan and Yibo, Hai Kuan has had his problems with Cheng, whose strong pregnancy cravings have cost Hai Kuan some nerves. For example, two weeks ago Cheng woke up in the middle of the night and demanded a cookie filled with chocolate. This craving was so bad that Hai Kuan had to drive to a gas station whose store was still open just to buy Cheng a pack of cookies.

But it's not just the pregnancy cravings that are bothering Hai Kuan, but also Cheng's changeable moods. One minute he's sitting peacefully next to Hai Kuan watching a movie with him, the next he's yelling at Hai Kuan for breathing too loudly. Or they cuddle together and suddenly Cheng doesn't want to be touched by him anymore.

Since Cheng's belly has grown visibly and he can already feel the baby's movements, which is going to be a boy as they found out during the last examination, he doesn't like it anymore when Hai Kuan tries to get intimate with him. He feels fat and unattractive and thinks that the increasingly round belly might be disgusting to Hai Kuan.

Hai Kuan, by now at a loss, even turned to Zhan for advice. "How did you do that with Yibo? No matter what I say, Cheng won't let me get close to him anymore."

"Mhhh, Yibo was scared too, that I don't like him and his body anymore when his abs are out of sight. I made him understand that I don't love him because of his abs, but because of who he is. I showed him that I don't mind if his belly gets bigger and bigger and reminded him why that is. And now that Cheng's belly is getting bigger, you should also rub baby oil on his belly regularly. Then Cheng will also see that you don't mind if he has a big belly." Explained Zhan.

"You know A-Kuan. My Hubby told me every morning that he loved me and gave my belly a kiss and said hello to the twins. He went to shower together with me and even washed me, through that I also realized that he didn't mind that I gained weight. He bought me bigger clothes. And explained to me with every kilogram that I gained that he was proud that our twins were growing so well in my belly. And to make me laugh, he told me that if I did become round like a ball, he would build a ramp on the stairs and then roll me up and down all the time and still love me as much as he always did." Explained Yibo, who overheard what his brother and Zhan were talking about.

"Do you think that will help with Cheng? He's very different from you Yibo." Asked Hai Kuan.

"Cheng's body is changing a lot right now and he needs to get used to that. Also, his hormones are going crazy. But it will get better." Explained Yibo.

"Oh yeah, was there also a phase with you during your pregnancy where Zhan wasn't allowed to touch you and you didn't want to have sex?"

"No. There wasn't. Besides, Zhan and I sleep with each other every day. I was even more crazy about him than I already was."

"Every day? What does that mean?"

"Every day means every day. Sure, we couldn't for four weeks after the birth. But since then, every day again. That's just the way it is with us. Right Hubby?"

"That's right my cute prince." Replied Zhan with a smile.

"If you have sex every day, won't it get boring eventually?"

"Boring? Mhhh, no. We're just crazy about each other and love to make love." Replied Yibo.

"I'm sure Cheng would never go along with that."

"How would you know if you haven't even tried?"

"Never mind. Say, do you know if the house at the end of your street is still for sale?"

"Mhm it does. There's still some work to be done on it, so no one wants to buy it." Explained Yibo.

"Really? Damn. Cheng totally fell in love with the house and thinks it's a great idea to move in there and raise our son while letting our kids grow up together."

"Yeah, the house needs some repairs. Zhan and I had looked at it. We were going to buy it, restore it, and then sell it. But then we found out about the pregnancy and let it go. And we've only just finished the other property, too."

"Oh that was the house you once told me about?"

"That's right. Zhan and I are planning to start our own business. We want to buy houses, restore them and sell them. But for now, we want to wait until the twins are one year old. Then they will go to daycare. After all, we can't take them to construction sites."

"Ahhh, Henry had told me that the other day. He already told me that you two were planning to start your own business. But he didn't tell me with what."

"Mhm, but like I said, we want to wait until the two of them can go to daycare. We already have the place secured. Fortunately. You guys should take care of that as soon as possible too. The waiting times are tough. At least at the good daycare centers. Say, where did you actually leave Cheng today?"

"Cheng went to buy baby clothes with Yanli. Now that she knows she's having a girl, she's dying to buy new baby clothes. But think what a coincidence it is that the two of them are only 1 week apart in pregnancy."

"Yeah right? When Yanli called us the day before yesterday and told us she was having a girl she freaked out with joy and her husband was cheering in the background too. They want to move into this street now, too. They've even looked at a house already and want to buy it."

"Great, when Cheng hears that, he'll want the house at the end of the street even more."

"Then buy that and tell him when the twins are a year old, Zhan and I can restore it for you. Right now it is very cheap to have. And the money you save on the purchase, we can then put into the restoration and the garden."

"Mhhh, that's a good idea. Yes, we should do it that way. And until that time comes, I'm sure Cheng will be able to be patient."

"I think so too. And moving during his pregnancy would be too stressful now anyway."

Zhan who just returned from a long phone call from his writing room told Yibo, "Yibo I have incredible news. You remember that the adoption agency rejected us because we have a same-sex marriage and it's not accepted in this country, right?"

"Yeah, how could I forget?"

"Well, just now I was informed that our marriage was officially accepted."

"What, is that true?"

"Yes. I got a call from the registrar's office and they said our marriage is officially registered as of today, with all the rights like any other married couple has."

"Really?"

"Yes. And right after that, the adoption agency called me and asked me if we might have room for a 4-year-old boy named Yuan."

"Wait a minute. Now that we have the twins, our marriage is all legal and official and we can adopt a child?"

"That's right. And right now there is this 4 year old boy looking for a new home and the adoption agency thought of us. However, we have our twins now and so much to do with them already."

"Hubby, we should at least meet the boy. I know it's a lot of work with Xin and Yini, but we could still give the boy a home."

"Are you sure? We'd have three kids already. And don't forget, you can still have children."

"So what? We have enough space and love for many children."

"Yibo my cute prince, I want you to think this over carefully. We should..."

"I want to meet him Hubby."

"We should..."

"No, I want to meet him."

"Ah, all right. Then I'll make an appointment Okay?"

"Yes please. As soon as possible."

"But tell me, why do you, despite the momentary stress, want to take in another child?"

"Because this boy may be meant to be with us. It is destiny. I'm sure of that. And our daughters could use a big brother to look after them."

"All right. I'll call there and make an appointment." Replied Zhan. He immediately called the adoption agency and made an appointment in three days, to meet the 4-year-old Yuan.

Even though Yibo is fully aware that there will be more work for them to do then, he is sure he and Zhan can do it. He wants to get to know this boy and if they get along well, he wants to give him a loving home. Because that was always one of his wishes, too. To give a child without a family a home and a loving family.