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[shawn]

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i ease avery down into her cot, trying my best to not wake her up from her deep slumber, since we both ended up falling asleep when i was only supposed to put her down. once i got avery settled, i turned on the baby monitor, and sighed softly, walking out of the bedroom, and straight past the nursery. i stop in my tracks, opening up the door, and revealing the unused room since avery's still going to be sleeping with us for the next few months. i chuckle softly, walking out of the room, and shutting the door gently behind me, before walking into the main room, seeing anya cooking something in the kitchen.

"hey gorgeous," she says, noticing me in the room, as i smile tiredly, walking towards her, and wrapping my arms around her waist, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. "sleep well?"

"mhm," i mumble, seeing her sautéing garlic and oil in a pan. "what are you cooking?"

"just some garlic veggies and rice," she sighs. "is that okay?"

"perfect baby," i say to her, letting go of her waist and turning on the kettle. "you want anything to drink, my love?"

"just a peppermint tea please," she hums, turning her head to smile at me. "is ave okay?"

"uh huh," i nod. "just put her down in her cot, i think she's knocked out," i chuckle, rubbing the back of my head. "i think we have two hours before we're gonna have to tend to her."

"oh yeah?" she grins, turning off the cooker, walking towards me. "and what do you think we should do for those two hours?"

"sleep?"

"hell yes," she gives in, grabbing my hands and dragging me to the bedroom.

"wait but what about dinner-"

"we'll order something after we wake up, i wanna sleep," she chuckles tiredly, opening up the door to our bedroom, walking straight to the bed. i breathe out a small chuckle, before quietly lying down next to anya, trying not to wake up avery who's already sleeping away.

"shawn?" anya whispers, pushing herself into my arms, as i smile softly, shutting my eyes, and letting my arms envelope her tightly.

"yeah baby?" i whisper back, smiling in the darkness of the room.

"hmmm nothing, i love you," she mumbles, letting out a small yawn. "thank you for sleeping with me that night."

"you're welcome?" i chuckle softly, making her breathe out a laugh.

"no silly, not like that," she says. "thank you for avery."

"no hunny, thank you for avery," i say softly to her. "you put in all the effort my love, i should be the one thanking you."

"i wouldn't have been able to do it without your support and love, i wouldn't have been able to do anything without you," she mumbles. "but just say you love me back." i laugh again at her, playing with the soft ends of her hair

"i love you too baby, always," i grin, kissing her head softly. "now shh, go to sleep."

"only if you do too," she teases quietly, letting out a small giggle. "i think-"

anya's cut off by a massive wail from avery, making us both simultaneously sigh, before i start to get up, wanting to quiet her down.

"she's probably hungry, lemme take it," anya says to me, pushing me down onto the bed, and climbing over me to get her hands on avery.

"hi bubba, are you hungry?" anya asks, a high pitched tone to her voice as she scoops avery up, rocking her gently. "shhh baby, it's okay, i'm here, mommas here babe," she whispers, kissing her forehead over and over again. "you want some milk my love? will that make you feel better?"

"it'll make me feel better that's for sure," i mutter under my breath, making anya scoff. "hey! pregnancy gave you massive boobs, i'm not complaining."

"okay mister 'ok boons and a nice butt' nice to see in the past eight years you prefer boobs now," she says sarcastically, flicking on the night light, before pulling down the top of her shirt and positioning avery to feed.

"since when did you find that?" i chuckle, as anya smirks softly to me, sitting in the arm chair opposite the bed.

"the boys and i are tight, they send me all your embarrassing stuff," she says, whilst avery quietens down, eagerly sucking up the milk she was probably aching for.

"i should get your girls to send me all your bad stuff," i say to her, sitting up on the bed. "and somehow i don't think we're gonna get that nap we wanted."

"oh well, i get to hold my baby, who you've hogged all day," she huffs, before making baby noises down at avery. "yes bubs, dadda is a weirdo," she grins, giggling to herself.

"she's a daddy's girl, stop trying to convince yourself otherwise," i say sarcastically, standing up from the bed and walking over to my girls, crouching down next to the arm chair. "you have me wrapped around your little finger, baby girl," i whisper softly to avery, playing with her little hands with one of my fingers.

"i can't wait till she can talk and run about," anya says randomly, smiling down at me.

"okay hunny, slow down, she's like a week old," i chuckle, standing up and stretching my back out. "i also think we should take her on her first trip outside of the condo tomorrow."

"yeah, aaliyah called, we're going to your parents place tomorrow," anya says to me, smiling again. "who knows, we might be able to finally sleep whilst they're looking after avery."

"all you have to do is pump a couple bottles of milk and we're living in luxury my love," i whisper back to anya, making her laugh, throwing her head back. "i'm so jealous of that suction pump thingy."

"shawn! your baby daughter is right here, shut up, and stop being a horny boy," she curses at me, making me laugh again. "now go make me a coffee."

"see ave? your moms crazy," i tease, making anya scoff again.

"do you want to hold your daughter after i'm done or not?" she asks me, making me raise my eyebrows at her.

"are we playing this game now?"

"heck yeah we are," she shoots back.

"i'll go make your coffee," i sigh, dropping my shoulders in defeat, and turning around, walking out of the room.

"thanks babe!" anya says to me, making me chuckle slightly to myself, shaking my head.

i think both of my girls have me wrapped around their little fingers.

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