Three Years Later

"Sadie? Where are you?" Morgan says as he's hunched over. They're playing hide-and-seek.

Well she is, he's not.

He's been trying to get her into the tub for half an hour now.

"Sadie Grace!" He stops in his tracks when he hears a little giggle from behind the couch. "Guess she's not in here." He says loudly, smiling at the second giggle she lets out. "Guess I'll check the kitchen." He tip toes his way around to the couch, creeping up behind her. "Gotcha!" He says with a playful growl, snatching her up with an arm around her chubby toddler belly.

She squeals and giggles, making Morgan grin as they head to the bathroom.

"Finally got her, huh?" Katie says, leaning against the bathroom door frame. She watches her husband get his wild child in the tub for her nightly bath. "You know she gets that from you, right?"

He looks over his shoulder and smiles. "I hope he's like you." He says, nodding at her pregnant belly.

"I pray he's like me. I don't think I can handle two kids just like their daddy."

"Pfft." He snorts. "Hey!" He scolds with a laugh. Sadie had just smacked her little hands against the surface of the water, splashing her daddy with the same laugh he has.

Katie smiles, pulling away to get ready for bed. Morgan has been kicking ass as a dad. When they found out she was pregnant again, he bumped his father skills to the next level.

This second pregnancy is totally different.

She's been told to take things easy but did she listen? Kind of.

She can't help the smile on her face when she hears matching giggles from the hallway.

"Okay, Sadie Grace." Morgan says, helping her into her jammies. "It's bedtime." She gets tucked in. "Go to sleep."

She giggles mischievously but nods, her tiny self wiggling under the light pink sheets. Morgan kisses her forehead gently then plugs her princess nightlight in and flips the lamp off.

He heads to his bedroom, yawning while pulling his damp t-shirt off.

"You are one good lookin' daddy." Kate says from the bed.

He chuckles tiredly, sitting on his side of the bed as he runs a hand over his face. "That little girl is gonna be the death of me."

Kate laughs as Morgan lays back with his head in his wife's lap. She smiles down at him, running her fingers through his hair and his eyes close sleepily.

After a while of playing with his soft brown stands, Morgan stands and changes for bed which is just a pair of boxers then crawls under the sheets next to his wife.

Almost as soon as his eyes close, there's a small giggle from the foot of the bed. He looks over at Kate, she's asleep.

Morgan stands and scoops his baby girl up, his arm around her middle as he carries her back to her bed.

"Sadie," He says, tucking his daughter in again. "Go to sleep."

She nods. "Okay daddy."

"I mean it." He pokes her in the belly. "Stay in bed and go to sleep." She nods again. "Okay, I love you."

"I love you too!" She giggles, watching him leave her room.

Morgan sighs heavily when he's back in bed, just wanting to get some sleep with his wife.

He pulls her close, his arm cradling her bump. He kisses her shoulder and is soon, quickly asleep.

The following morning, Kate wakes first.

She smiles when she sees Sadie tucked under Morgan's arm, his cheek against the top of her head. Her heart swells at the sight, brushing a few strands of soft brown hair from her daughters face.

She grunts quietly as she gets out of bed and into the bathroom. After freshening up, she's down the kitchen making some breakfast for her family.

Maybe half an hour later, Morgan comes down the steps with Sadie on his hip. She's still half asleep with her head on his shoulder, one of her tiny toddler hands playing with the ends of his growing hair.

"Mornin' baby." He says, kissing his wife's cheek.

"Mornin' handsome." She smiles back, kissing his lip before rubbing Sadie's back. She yawns in response, nuzzling her face in his neck as she wraps her arm around him tighter. "Hey baby." She whispers. "You hungry?" She nods.

Morgan passes her to Katie then gets himself a cup of coffee, making one for her too. He smiles as he watches her set their daughter in her chair, pulling her hair into a cute little bun to keep it out of her face.

He feels truly blessed to have them in his life.

He has no idea what life would be like without them by his side.

+++

Baby number one and two have been an incredibly tiresome mix. Morgan has to spend a week in Nashville to knock out some recording for his next album so that leaves Kate at home, alone, with her two wild kids.

It's been exhausting.

Kate has never been this tired before. She honestly has no idea how she's still going.

Right now, Morgan is on his way home. He missed his family so fucking much but it was nice to get a little break from the crying and screaming.

Poor Katie.

He pushes the front door open and is met with silence.

That's weird.

He quietly takes his boots off and makes his way to the living room- it's void of his family.

He heads upstairs to the bedrooms, Sadie's bed is empty as is Tyler's.

He pokes his head into the master bedroom and his heart swells at the sight.

Kate is asleep with Tyler on her chest and Sadie curled up against her side. He quietly slides into bed next to her, careful not to disturb the peace.

Kate turns her head and slowly opens her dark eyes. "Hey you." She whispers.

"Hey baby." He whispers back, his fingers finding hers. "I missed y'all so much."

"Yeah, I'm sure you did." She responds sarcastically with a smile. "I'm sure you had a nice break from the kids. Next time, take me with you."

He laughs softly. "I wish I could. Can you imagine what we'd do as a couple instead of parents?" She blushes at the thought. "I wouldn't trade this for anything but..."

She chuckles. "You look exhausted."

"I'm fine." He smiles. "I'm home now so get some sleep. I'll handle the kids." He reaches over and brushes a stray strand of hair from her face, ghosting the rough pads of his fingers across her skin and she hums. "Get some sleep, Katie."

That's all she needed to hear.

She nods sleepily, her eyes already closed and her hand relaxing in her husband's grasp. She feels at peace- where she's supposed to be in life.

She knows for a fact that if she married Riley, they probably wouldn't have kids or if they did, she'd be stuck a home with them all the time while Riley was out doing whatever.

But she also knows that Morgan is a great father. He loves his kids with his whole heart and then some but that doesn't change the love he's got for his childhood sweetheart. In fact, these changes to their lives have made their bond so much stronger.

Kate used to say she didn't want kids when she was in her early twenties but now, being almost thirty, she's so glad she has them. Tyler, the little angel asleep on her chest, is such an easy baby and little Miss Sadie is a pistol. She knows that her daughter is going to be a handful when she's older and honestly, she can't wait.

The two are incredibly blessed to finally have each other and have kids together.

They wouldn't trade it for the world.