:: Emma's POV ::

My eyes slowly fluttered open taking a moment to adjust before I looked around at my surroundings, forgetting for a moment where I was. I lay in a hospital bed, a sterile gown replacing the street clothes I had remembered arriving in; IVs and wires connecting me to machines that flashed beside me.

My eyes continued to scan the room until they landed on JJ who sat on a chair in the corner of the room, a small bundle wrapped in one arm and one arm wrapped around Noah who sat on his lap. I felt a smile slip across my face and I only hoped I'd go unnoticed a little bit longer, I could watch him in daddy mode all day. Fatherhood looked so good on him.

"Hi princess..." JJ's voice was soft, a smile on his face as he stared down at the tiny sleeping being in his arms, "its daddy..."

"And your big brother." Noah chimed in; JJ softly chuckled at his outburst as he looked on proudly.

I felt myself growing emotional as the tears brimmed in my eyes, a simple realization suddenly hitting me; my whole world fit into that rocking chair. They were all I needed in this world to feel whole and to be happy. Truly happy.

"Mommy!"

Noah had looked in my direction and noticed I was no longer asleep, JJ's attention now falling on me as well. Noah slid off JJ's lap and ran towards my hospital bed as if he hadn't seen me in ages. He wasn't the baby anymore and in some ways it was a bittersweet feeling. I had only hoped he'd settle into the role of "big brother" with ease. I never wanted him to feel left out or neglected.

"Hey munchkin." I smiled at him as I sniffled back my tears.

"I have a baby sister!" His small voice was booming with excitement, "Daddy has her, do you wanna see?"

"I do." I kissed Noah's forehead as I watched my husband get up from his chair and make his way over to us.

JJ sat on the bed beside me, a little pink hat covered her teeny head as she slept soundly and I knew she had already learned that there was no place safer for her than daddy's arms. I knew that JJ was definitely going to be in high demand around the Watt household. I laid my head on his shoulder as I looked down at her peaceful form.

"What do you think of your baby sister Noah?" I was curious to hear what was on his mind and what he was making of all these changes that were coming about in his life.

"I love her so much!" He answered as he tried to get a look at her once again all wrapped in her pink blanket, "What's her name?"

"Avery Lynn Watt."

"Hey she's a Watt too!" Noah seemed so proud of that and JJ and I laughed at his appreciation, "Is she like us daddy?"

JJ smiled at Noah's question, "Yeah buddy, she's just like us."

"We made a beautiful baby." I spoke softly into JJ's shoulder.

"Yeah, we did." He agreed, "Five hours old and she's already as beautiful as her mommy."

"I love you."

JJ kissed me sweetly, "I love you too baby."

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:: Emma's POV ::

2 years later

"Noah, wait for me and your sister!" I called out to him as I lagged behind with Avery who insisted on carrying around a stuffed Minnie Mouse that was nearly as big as she was. Ever since we returned from our "end of the off season" family vacation to Disney, she has been attached to the thing.

"But mom, daddy said if we're early I can go on the field!" Noah whined in frustration that he had to wait for his sister and me to catch up.

"I know babe but I promise you we're going to be early." I assured him that he had nothing to worry about as I reached down and pulled Avery into my arms hoping to speed up our journey to the field, "Are you excited or what?"

"Yeah." Noah replied, giggling and high fiving the security guards we passed as we walked down the tunnel that lead us towards the field.

"I go see daddy!" Avery squirmed in my arms as she struggled to free herself from my grasp, "I see daddy!"

Her eyes had spotted JJ before mine or Noah's had and the moment I set her feet on the ground, she was off. Running as fast as her little legs could take her to the towering football player she called daddy. She was definitely a daddy's girl, her world began and ended with JJ, it was quite heartwarming to say the least.

"There's my girl."JJ smiled as he squatted down to catch the tiny little tot that ran towards him at full speed, her dark blonde curls bouncing with her steps. Her giggles filled the tunnel as he tickled her, "How's my little man?" JJ looked down at Noah as he pulled him against his side in order to hug him the best he could with Avery in his arms.

"Can we play catch?" A hopeful Noah looked up at JJ who nodded his head in response, I was never sure who was more excited for football season these days, my son or my husband but I absolutely loved that it was just one of the special things they had to bond over.

"Hey momma." JJ's attention turned to me as he pulled me against him, his lips landing on mine. I never got tired of the affection he wanted to show and I was more than thankful that having 2 kids didn't put a damper on our love life. If anything, it created more affection between us.

"Hi babe." Every time I was in his presence I found myself taking him in and I wasn't sure how he could possibly get more attractive, I attributed it to the way he filled the role of husband and father so perfectly.

I enjoyed my small moment with JJ before he handed Avery back to me in order to get a couple passes in with Noah before game time. He was so good about balancing his time between both kids and I wondered how he had transitioned from having no kids to having two kids with such ease. I still found myself thanking my lucky stars that JJ entered our lives when he did. We wouldn't be where we are today if it weren't for football and because of that, football will always hold a very special place in our household. We are a football family through and through.

It wasn't long before Noah joined me on the sidelines, the Texans NFL season was officially set to begin and we couldn't wait to cheer on our MVP through yet another football season. We loved to watch him play for so many reasons, mostly because he's so passionate about what he does and because it reminds us that we get to see a side of him many people don't get to see.

"That could be you out there one day." We continued to watch JJ making tackle after tackle as I wrapped my arm around Noah's shoulder and pulled him against my side, "What do you think about that?"

"I want that." Noah's eyes were sparkling with dreams of his future and the potential that lied ahead, "I hope I can be as good as daddy."

"And I'm sure you can be." I smiled at him, "But you have to work hard, just like daddy does."

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:: Emma's POV ::

"JJ! Over here!"

Reporters called out to him from nearly every direction and I stepped aside with the kids allowing them all access to the NFL's top player. Over the years we had gotten used to sharing JJ with the world and this was just the typical post game press conference we had become accustomed to. Avery's head lay on my shoulder as I held her up on my right hip, Noah standing at my side as he looked on, his eyes never losing sight of JJ.

Memories came flooding back to me and I nearly choked up as I remembered the day Noah and JJ had first met, he looked at him with those same adoring eyes and he still hung on to every word he said; time never changed that and I was beyond thankful. Not only had JJ taken on the role of dad for Noah, but his role as hero only increased the older Noah got and I couldn't think of a better role model in this world for him.

"I'm Jeff Bowman; I'm with channel 13 news here in Houston. How does it feel to be starting another NFL season?"

JJ smiled as he bobbed his head, "Feels good Jeff. You know it always feels good to be back on that field, to play with the guys and to see the way teams have grown during the off season but man I just love to hear the fans that come out to support us. It's great."

"Speaking of fans, we always notice you travel with a fan club of your own. Can you tell us about them?"

JJ was laughing before the reporter could even finish the question. His family was something he always loved talking about and it showed. The sense of security it provided me was comforting, especially when my husband was considered to be a heartthrob to many females.

"Oh man... My wife Emma and my two kids. Noah who's 7 and Avery just turned 2. They are my personal fan club. It's great. It's always tough to play a game they can't make it to though."

"You were always quoted saying you weren't going to start this phase of your life until your NFL career was over. What do you have to say about balancing football with family life?"

"Well you know Jeff, if you had told me 3 years ago I'd be standing here with you today talking about my family I would've said you were crazy. But some things aren't in my control. It was because of football that I met my wife and football is very important in our house. She knows my passion for the game. You mentioned before that I had my own fan club and that's exactly what it comes down to. My wife and kids make a lot of sacrifices in order for me to keep playing this sport I love so much. And it's my wife that has really been so supportive, she deserves more recognition and praise than I do. She keeps the house together and takes care of the kids while I'm not around and still manages to run a business... she's amazing."

My heart melted at his words. I always knew JJ appreciated me; he made it a point to make that clear to me. It was just something about the way he announced it to the world that really moved me.

"Sounds like she's the real MVP in the Watt household."

JJ dropped his head back and laughed at the joke the reporter made before nodding his head in agreement, "Yes, she's definitely the MVP in our house."

"Thanks so much for your time JJ. Best of luck this season." Jeff exchanged a handshake with him as they parted ways.

"Thanks man." JJ waited for the camera man to move out of the way with his equipment before rejoining us.

"Baby..." I walked into his arms, embracing him for the loving words he had just shared and he smiled at me. My eyes studied his face and I could feel the breath slowly leaving my lungs, the way his blue eyes sparkled, he was breathtakingly handsome and he was all mine. That would never get old, "I love you."

"I love you too babe. So much and just when I think I couldn't possibly love you more... I do. None of this matters without you, you guys are my world." My eyes slowly closed as his lips met mine and his hand rested on the small growing baby bump I had been carrying around for the last three months, "Let's go home."