For the first time, Aurora was staying the night. Bo volunteered to take her home to pack a bag, so Chase left with them. Now I am home alone with Maverick and Collins. Collins fell asleep on the ride home, and Maverick refuses to lay down if Bo isn't here.

I wasn't sure why I gave him candy - other than the fact that he wanted it or thought that he wanted it because I told him he couldn't - but I did, and now I'm dealing with the consequences. He's wired. His little feet are making footprints in the comforter as he jumps around. His brown hair is flopping all over the place, making it look like he just woke up.

I'm not Bo. I keep making the wrong decisions and feeding him things he shouldn't eat. How could I say no to his quivering lip and teary eyes? It was as if Bo and I combined eye colors. He has hazel around his pupil, and my blue filling up the rest.

Years ago, I begged Bo to have kids, and we have three with a fourth on the way. Now that we finally have them, I can't help but think I am doing something wrong. He won't let me put him to bed at night, and most of the time he refuses to hang out with me. He's a momma's boy to the fullest extent.

She reads to him, every night. Whenever Bo would go shopping, she would bring home bags full of books. There's a baby book she hand-crafted, with every book she's read him logged in. She told me how much she would have loved to see all the books she's read.

Maverick will be a bookworm, just like his mom. If he's not already. He practically begs for Bo to rock him in the rocking chair. Before she goes into his room, there's a book lying on the seat, ready for her. He knows the drill. We know he can't fall asleep unless he finishes one. His mom would never turn down the opportunity to read a new book, even if it's way below her reading level.

"Maverick," I sigh, watching him spin in circles. "Maybe we should lay down."

He turned to me with a disgusted look on his face, then turned back to his bunny hops. I swooped him off his legs, dropping him on the bed. His face scrunched up with happiness, little fits of laughter leaving his lips. It warmed my heart. I never thought I'd love the sound of someone's laughter like I did Bo's.

The second he wasn't interested in me or I couldn't make him laugh, he stood back up and began jumping. He knew his mom wouldn't allow this and that's why he's doing it. I have to give him props, I would be afraid of getting beat by Bo too.

I leaned on my hand, flipping through the channels. His loud shriek filled the room. My heart stopped as my head snapped to the side to see if he's okay. He is. His hands are pressed to his cheeks. Those round eyes of his are peeled, staring at the Paw-Patrol characters on the screen.

When I changed the channel, his shoulders dropped and his chubby cheeks fell. I snickered, loving his look of disappointment. He looked so much like his mom that every time he gave me an attitude I saw Bo.

"Dadda," he stuck out his bottom lip. "Pease?"

I roll my eyes - this kid is going to get whatever he wants. I turn it back, letting the Paw-Patrol theme song flood the room. He fell onto his butt, staring at the screen with adoration. He has over thirty different Paw-Patrol shirts. Bo insisted on getting them. She assured me he needed all of them.

He's three and Paw-Patrol is his whole world. Well, Paw-Patrol and his mommy. I scrolled through my phone, occasionally looking at Maverick as he bounced on his butt, pointing at the screen.

I saw his sippy cup lying on the bed, with nothing dripping from the tip. I snatched it up, realizing it's empty. Even though he wasn't listening, I let him know I'd be right back. The dark didn't scare him, neither did being alone. He's definitely my kid.

He didn't know I only filled his cup up halfway with chocolate milk. He didn't need to know either. His farts smell the worst after a full cup of chocolate milk.

"Here, buddy."

His eyes stayed on the screen but his hands reached for his cup. "Sanks."

I kissed the top of his head when my phone started ringing. "Hey, babe."

"Did you need anything while I am out?" Her tired voice came through the phone. "I needed to stop at the store. Chase wanted to get snacks."

"Snacks? Our pantry is full."

"Not of snacks."

I chuckled. "Whatever you say."

"How are the babies?"

"Collins is still sleeping," I looked over at Maverick. "And Mavs is sitting next to me."

"What are you doing?"

"We're watching Paw-Patrol."

"You hate that show."

"It's not that bad," I glare at the dogs as they run around the screen. "I think it's pretty good."

"Mhm," she knew I was lying, she always did. "They are coming out, so I will see you when we get home."

"Drive safe," I told her. "I love you."

"I love you," she said before the line ended.

Cries erupted from down the hall. I shot off the bed with Maverick on my side. All he wanted to know is why his sister was crying. Even when they didn't get along, they loved one another and would always make sure each other were okay. He followed by my side, curious as I pushed open the door. Collins was sat up in her bed.

"What is wrong?" I asked as I scooped her up.

She cried into my chest. "I got scared, daddy."

"What scared you?"

"My dream," she clung to my shirt. "Someone tried to get me."

Even if it was a dream, I tensed because nobody is going to get my kids. I pet her hair as I ran my hands over her head. She sucked in uneven breaths as it hitched. Maverick was sitting next to me with his head lying on my shoulder.

"Baby, I would never let anyone get you," I promised as I kissed the top of her head.

"Will you lay with me?" She whimpered. "I am scared."

"Of course."

Although my six-foot-four body didn't fit on her small ass bed, I slid under the covers that didn't go past my shin as Collins climbed onto my chest. Maverick snuggled into my side. Collins laid on me like she did ever since she was a baby. She loved when I ran my fingers up and down her back. It was one of the only things that have helped her sleep.

My eyes were fluttering as I laid down with them. I could feel the tiredness rushing over my body as I held them both. Then someone came through the bedroom door. My eye popped open to see Bo standing there with a smile on her face.

"Are they sleeping?"

I nodded. "I think so."

She came toward me, lifting up Maverick as I laid Collins back down on her bed. She laid him down on his own bed across from Collins. Her hand grabbed onto mine as we walked toward the bedroom.

"Are you feeling okay?"

She nodded. "I am just tired, baby."

I knocked her legs out from underneath her, lifting her up to carry her toward the bedroom. Her laughter filled our room as I laid her on the bed. In three months we were having another girl. Our house is going to be full of kids. Bo wasn't aware yet, but with the money Chase has made, he planned on moving soon. It was going to break her heart.

He told me earlier. It had nothing to do with us, and everything to do with wanting to move out with Aurora. They found an apartment he could afford from the matches he was booking. It saddens me to think he has only lived with us for four years and he was going to move out, but I understood why.

After buying his own car, he thought he was an adult. He acted like one. Honestly, I knew he would do great on his own. Although I worried, I didn't worry about him not being able to do it. I worried that he would no longer be under my roof, and I couldn't look after him as closely as I do now.

"After this one," she rubbed the tummy. "I don't think we should have anymore."

I chuckled. "Well, we have had kids back to back."

"I hate seeing them grow up," she whimpered. "Chase just graduated."

"I know," I held her.

I never tried to laugh at her emotions during pregnancy. She was hilarious, though Yesterday, she cried about a spider she killed in the bathroom. I didn't know it bothered her so much until I realized she read a post on the internet. Now she worries about the spider's parents, and wonders if they worry about him not coming home.

"What if they don't need me anymore?"

"They are always going to need you."

"Chase didn't even need my money to buy snacks," she cried into my chest.

"But he needed you for a ride, right?"

"He has his own car."

"That is my point," I chuckled. "He still wanted you to take them."

"I just love all of them."

"They love you too," I snickered. "Where is this coming from?"

"I am just tired," she sniffled.

"Go to bed then," I kissed the side of her head. "Then we can talk about this all tomorrow."

"I love you."

I tightened my arms around her. "I love you."