;never give up, your happy ending is closer than you think

"Dada," my daughter babbles. "Dada,"

I grin, holding my arms out. "Come on, Faithy, you can do it." I encourage in my embarrassing baby voice. "Come to Dada."

Faith Abella Hunter - our one year old daughter who's finally taking her first steps.

"Please catch her if she falls." Bella winces, arms stretched at the ready.

I roll my eyes. "Like I'm gonna let her fall. I caught you didn't I?"

Tori snort. "That was quite possibly the cheesiest thing I had ever heard."

"Don't act like you don't love it."

Tori Adalynn Quinn was still the sexiest woman I had ever laid eyes on, and that woman was my wife, baby mother and soul mate.

Our life has been a whole world wind since the very beginning - we fought, argued, dated, fought, made up, supported each other, made memories, showed up for the important days, made love, fell in love, conquered our dreams, created a baby, bought a home and got married.

Everything a person should experience in life, I was experiencing with her.

Watching her with our daughter was like a god damn blessing. She was a natural. So caring, sweet, attentive and selfless. Loving our child like no other, I couldn't of wished to fall in love with a better woman, a wonderful mother and the perfect wife.

After Bella's graduation and our offer got accepted on the most beautiful house, we upped our life and moved across state to Chicago.

And even though Bella was seven and a half months pregnant, she still pushed her self to go on a three week book tour - originally meant to be three months - knowing she couldn't do it, but wanting this book launch to be somewhat a success, she compromised with Taylor Baker and settled for three weeks, especially since she had a bad case of nesting and wanted nothing more than to be home.

Safe to say my wife did make her novel a success and won New York Times Best Seller - such an achievement.

Maddox,

A dedication to you for all the warmth, tenderness and love you brought to my life.

Without you, there is no love.

Thank you for being my Baller.

All my love,

Bella x

The dedication my baby mama wrote in her first novel and is now signed by the woman herself and framed on my office desk for everyone to see how much love is between me and the Mrs.

"You get the car ready and I'll clean her up." my wife says. "Come on, Bella. Come to Mama." she coos to our little princess.

"Mama," Faith gaggles.

"Yes, Mama. Come on, baby."

Opening her arms, Faith stumbles unstably into her mothers arms, with a huge smile and a little giggle, Tori stands up and heads towards the stairs.

"I love you, Mrs Hunter." I call after her.

"I love you more, Baller."

I snicker. Even after being a daddy, a husband and a damn NBA player, my woman still calls me Baller - a nickname I doubt I'm ever going to get rid of.

I pack the car up, sit Faith in her seat and strap her in before Bella comes walking out with her head ducked and hand rummaging around in the diaper bag.

"Lost something?"

"Just making sure I have Eli's ring."

"Is he such a dumbass that he couldn't hold on to it?"

She raises a perfectly shaped brow up at me. "You have to ask?"

I roll my eyes. "Ask a stupid question."

Before she had a chance to round the hood, I pull my wife in by her waist and tug her closer into me.

Even after a year and dealing with her pregnancy hormones, I still can't keep my hands off her.

"How's this for a no joke rule, Bella?" I muffle into her neck, licking the soft skin before pulling it between my teeth.

"How's taking no for an answer, Baller?" she breathes out.

"Better than you could ever imagine." I groan as her hands glide up my torso.

"Better quit or we're going to end up making another."

"We're not stopping until I have a first and second string baller team lined up, baby."

"Finally, where the hell have you been?" My brother exasperated.

After Maddox finally released me, we drove down the Bulls stadium where my brother and friends are waiting.

They all flew in a few days ago to watch Maddox's championship game - thankfully they won.

He's been a great addition to the team and the coaches absolutely love him. It's safe to say Bulls were destined to find Maddox and vice versa.

Life's been amazing. My book is a huge hit with young readers like myself. Everyone loves it, especially the freaks out there who love a good couple of smutty as fuck chapters.

"Sorry, traffic was chaos and your brother-in-law can't take no for an answer." I reply, digging in the diaper bag.

"You're acting like that's news to me, sis."

I roll my eyes and plant the black velvet box in his waiting palm.

"You nervous?" I ask him. Dropping the bag on a box office seat that looks over the court.

He blows out a deep breath. "Incredibly so. What if she says no?"

I snort. "Trust me, Hannah Reed is not going to say no to you. She loves you, ya big idiot."

He gives me a left sided, small smile. "Thanks, Tee." Eli lets out a sigh as he run his hands over his dark brown hair. "Here goes nothing, huh?"

"You're gonna be just fine, don't worry."

I pull my brother into a hug and send him on his way to propose to his girlfriend.

I settle in the seat as I watch Jason playfully throw Faith in the air and catch her as he makes funny noises and coos to her in his extremely high pitch baby voice that always drawl a giggle from me.

"Hey, Tee, you popping anymore out? I'll take two." He calls after me.

I snort. "Like I'm putting my body through two more just to give them away, dumbass."

"Why not? Then you can leave Maddox for me, I love a mom bod." he fires back.

Maddox snatches Faith away from Jason's arms, slaps him around the back of the head then hands our daughter back to her uncle.

"Where's Cammy? Isn't he supposed to be here by now?" I ask my husband.

He pulls his phone out his jeans pocket, "he's text me, he's on his way."

"He better hurry, Eli's about to burst he's so nervous."

Maddox pulls me up by my hand, takes my seat then pulls me down on his lap, large, rough skinned hand resting on my thigh.

"He'll be here, baby. Stop worrying." he kisses my cheek.

"Who's worrying?" Cammy deep voice peaks up from behind me.

I snap my head to the side. "About time, Cameron. You were so close to missing it." I tell him off.

Cammy chuckles. "Relax, Mrs Hunter, I'm here, ain't I?" he smirks. "Now, Cooper. Give me my damn niece."

Cammy saunters over and takes Faith is his huge arms.

It took the whole time I was pregnant for Cammy to beat his cancer, but the day he found out and Facetimed us was one of the happiest days of my life. Third to be exact.

First being Faith, second was marrying Maddox, third finding out my best friend beat the damn devil and is going to be around to be with us - to watch Faith grow up, to be able to get married and have children of his own. It was a blessing, and like I said all that time ago in my nan's NYC apartment on christmas break was too have a little Faith.

Now we all have a little Faith. A little Faith Abella Hunter.

The little girl who has these grown ass, built like treehouse, man-child's wrapped around her tiny little finger.

I nudge Maddox and nod for him to look.

The scene in front of me is one I'd never want to miss.

They're stood in the middle of the Bulls court, right on top of the red bull that decorates the centre.

Eli has Hannah's small hands in his as he looks down at his beautiful, dark haired beauty. Brown eyes full of love, hope and excitement as he drops to one knee.

Hannah's hands fly up to her mouth as she gasps so loud, even we can hear her.

Eli's lips mouth then Hannah's head nods like an out of control bobble head as Eli jumps up and takes his -now- fiancée in her arms and spins her around.

Giggles and squeals echo through the empty court as we all jump up to clap and cheer for them.

My brother is engaged!

Maddox wraps his arms around my waist as he presses his chest into my back, chin resting on my shoulder. "It seems like yesterday that was me and you, Bella."

I turn to the side and capture his full and soft lips. "And I wouldn't change a thing, Baller."

"Always?"

"Always."

"I love you."

"I love you."

And there you have it girls and boys.

The girl who had one rule - broke it.

The boy who couldn't take no for an answer - still doesn't.

The Baller and his Bella.

The NBA All star and his published author.

Husband and wife.

Daddy and Mommy.

Living their dreams, loving everyday and staying strong with their family by their side.

The Knights in red jerseys.

Thank you to everyone who has stayed with me and the FIU baller family this far and we certainly hope you enjoyed every moment you spent with us!

All our love,

Char and the Baller Family x