When I think of how quickly the years have gone by, I think about all of the things that have happened during them. In the same year, I have lost and got back the girl I love most in this world. The only difference is we found our forever home. We have a sixteen-year-old and a baby on the way. There is a diamond ring on her finger and a smile on her face that hasn't gone away.

A few months ago, we were celebrating the adoption of Chase. Now, we are laid on the couch in front of the Christmas tree, watching Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer as a flame cracks the wood in the fireplace. Bo had her head on my lap as she laid down. I rubbed over the bump on her stomach, hoping it would be sooner rather than later that the baby shows up.

Chase sat on the other end of the couch eating the gingerbread men that he and Bo baked. Our house smelled of cinnamon, pine, and a fresh bakery. Cookies were sprawled out all over the kitchen counter; snickerdoodles in the shape of pine trees, gingerbread men, and chocolate chips in the shape of a snowman.

Peppermint bark was hardening in the freezer as puppy-chow sat in a large red bowl on the shelves of our refrigerator. As I looked at the decorations and the people surrounding me, I could finally say I made it.

I could hear Bo's snores as they filled my ear. The sound of someone eating used to bother me, but as I looked over at the kid sitting in the red and white plaid pajamas that matched ours, I didn't care. I didn't mind because as long as I heard that crunching, I knew he was okay. Hearing the sound of cookies breaking against his teeth sounded like reassurance. It made me relax.

The oven dinged, telling me the cookies were ready to be taken out. Chase said he was going to get them, but Bo woke up at the sound. Despite the curls falling from the elastic holding her curls, she looked absolutely flawless. I loved everything about her.

"Momma, I can get it."

"I need to get up," she chuckles. "My feet will hurt if I lay down for too long."

If Bo wanted to get out of bed in the morning, I had to help her. Just like now, my hands were at her waist as Chase grabbed her hands to help her up. She pressed a kiss to his cheek before telling us both thank you.

"I love you both," she looked at us. "Where would I be without my boys?"

She bent down to press a kiss to my lips before she walked away. I could hear the pans sliding around as she grabbed them out. Chase sat down in his normal spot on the couch. The moment I heard her feet padding across the floor, I got excited until I heard something collide with the floor.

I turned around, expecting to see a cup of water on the floor, but Bo's shocked eyes were looking at me. "Grab the baby bag."

"What?"

"My water broke," she gasped.

"Oh my god," I shot off of the couch. "Oh my god!"

My heart skipped all of the fucking beats as I ran toward the stairs. My hands snatched the bag we readied for the baby's arrival. When I came back down, Chase said she was changing into a different pair of pants. He had a smile on his face as he high-fived me.

"Baby Maverick is on the way!"

Bo came around the corner with a mop. "Bo, what are you doing?"

"Give me ten minutes."

"Your water broke, we need to get going."

She waved me off, but Chase approached her. "Momma, I can get it. I'll meet you at the car."

"You want to go with us?" She looked up at him as she clutched her stomach.

"Of course," he kissed her cheek. "Now get going. With the way you waddle, it's going to take hours for you to get to the car."

I gave him a high-five for the joke, which landed me a smack on the chest. My arm was around her back as my hand held onto hers. She slowly walked down the steps as she asked me to call John. He wanted to be at the hospital. I sent a text to everyone, but I called John after helping Bo into her car.

"Hello?"

"The baby is coming," I shrieked. "It is coming! We are on our way to the hospital."

"Oh fuck!" I could hear Riley asking John what was going on. "The baby is coming! We will be there soon, kid."

Chase came flying out the door. "Don't worry. I turned the oven off!"

"Thank you," Bo said breathlessly as she clutched her stomach. "Kinnick, I am going to need you to hurry."

"I can't speed," I tell her as I back out of the driveway.

Her hand squeezed mine as her contractions stole control over her body. The pain coursing through her veins was one I could only imagine. She tried to take deep breaths, hoping it would help, but Bo sucked at staying calm.

We pulled in front of the hospital, leaving the car for the valet to park. She whimpered beside me with every step, and I wasn't going to make her walk. My hands dropped to her legs and swooped her off of the ground.

"Go, dad!" Chase cheered me on as we walked inside.

I chuckled as we looked at the lady at registration. "We have a baby on the way."

Not even five seconds later, doctors were coming from behind the large doors with a gurney. I laid her on top of the white sheets as they pushed her toward an elevator. They were asking how far apart her contractions were. From the way the doctor said oh, the baby was coming, and he wasn't waiting.

Chase told me he was going to wait for John. I told him to call if anything happened. The doctor looked at me, asking if I was ready for something. Honestly, I wasn't sure. I just knew as long as Bo's hand was in mine, I was ready for anything. I could do anything as long as she was there.

"Kinnick," Bo pleaded.

"What can I do?"

"Please, just hold me," she begged as tears welled in her eyes.

The doctor came back in. "Hi, Bo! I am Marti!"

She smiled at the sweet girl who walked through the door. "We are having a baby a few days before Christmas! How exciting! Now, these next few hours are going to be exhausting. Either that little babe is going to pop right out, or they are going to take their time! The nurse is on the way with the epidural."

Bo squeezed my hand as I held her. "Thank you very much."

The girl smiled. "Anytime! Now, what are we having? A girl or a boy?"

"A boy."

"Really?" Her brows furrowed. "Your paperwork says a girl."

Bo's head snapped to look up at me. "Fucking John."

Marti laughed as I looked at my wife with a smile. "I told you it was a girl. You owe me my money back."

I almost choked at the needle they were getting ready to place into her back. My phone buzzed in my pocket. Bo winced as the pain medicine rushed through her veins. She leaned back against the bed, whimpering. As I found the phone in my pocket, Chase was telling me John arrived. Miles and Trevor were also here.

"Is Chase okay?"

"Everything is okay," I promised as I kissed her forehead. "Everyone is here."

Marti came back into the room. "Alright momma, are we ready to start pushing?"

Despite all of the noise, I heard the cry of a baby and it silenced everything. Bo relaxed against the bed as her eyes drooped. A tiresome smile crossed her features as her eyes fell on the baby girl we weren't aware we were having.

"You did it," I kissed the side of her head.

"No," she looked up at me. "We did it."

"Congratulations," Marti slid the swaddled baby into our arms.

Bo held onto her as she fussed, but soon she calmed down. I reached toward the freehand that waved around in the air. Her fingers curled around mine and I felt a sigh of relief push past my lips. Every day has led up to this very moment and it was one worth waiting for.

"Welcome to the world, Collins."