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There is no view I love more than the one from my back porch. A large open yard, a lake, a dock, tiny feet dangling from the tailgate of an old Chevy pickup.

Zooey sits beside my dad, fishing poles in their hands, with giggles filling the air every time she thinks she sees the bobber move. The air is filled with the scent of summer. Freshly cut grass, daylilies, lake water, sunshine... it is my favorite time of year.

There is no other place I would rather be in the world than right here, on my porch swing, reading a good book with my family in my sight. My new home sits off an old dirt road that falls between two old Victorian homes in the colors of yellow and blue. Where once there were overgrown woods filled with raspberry bushes, there is now bright green yards, my green home and my sister's large gray home a few acres away. It is the perfect place, the place where I grew up with my family, hung out with my friends, felt loss, felt fear, fell in love with a tattooed criminal... every huge moment in my life happened in this spot, beside an old dock by a large lake. This is my spot. It is where you could find me almost any day of week.

The porch swing rocks back and forth slowly. The wind catches my hair, flipping it up into my face, blocking my view of the book I had dove into this morning. I carefully pulled it back and tied it with one of the five rubber bands that are currently on my wrist. Just as I settled back into my comfort zone within my pages, a cry echoed from the open window behind me. My eyes slowly lifted from the book at the very same time a very familiar pair of green did the same.

"It's your turn..."

His chest rises with laughter as he turns the page of his book. "Uh, no. I'm pretty sure I hear him saying mama in there."

I hold up my pointer finger and giggle. "That may be, but that's the only word he says. I don't find that very fair. It could be months before he says dada."

His face turns to a scowl. "Better not..."

"Then I suggest you go teach him."

"Books, I know for a fact he ate that entire cinnamon roll this morning. That kid's diaper is going to be catastrophic."

I purse my lips, attempting to stifle my laugh. He is so right. Wyatt is a ticking time bomb in there. Our boy loves sweets, but watch out for the diaper following that meal. Yikes.

"I can't get up anyway, your legs are on mine." He flips another page and smirks as if he has won.

"Promise you'll get the next one?"

His eyes don't leave his book as he nods his head yes.

Sucker.

I slam my book shut and toss it to the chair beside our swing and then pull my legs from his lap to stand. I tried to hide my smile by masking it with a fake pout. As I began to walk past him, Jax gently tugged on my wrist, pulling me down so our noses touched.

"I love you. Thank you for taking one for the team," he chuckles.

"I love you too." I place a quick kiss on his lips before walking inside to retrieve Wyatt.

He's going to regret his decision later. What he seems to be forgetting is that it's Sydney's daughter's, Emma's, third birthday. There is a party at my parent's house in an hour. There will be cake and ice cream, two things that Wyatt has not had the luxury of tasting yet. He's going to love it and daddy is going to hate it.

"Mama-ma-mama."

I smile at the sound of his babbles. I can't lie, I love that mama was the first word. I peek my head into the light blue and gray nursery and find my green-eyed boy wide awake, standing with his hands firmly on the railing of the crib.

"Look at you, daredevil!"

A big toothy-baby smile comes to his little round face. I quickly move to the window. "Better come in here Alfie, your son is standing on his own..."

I can't see him but I hear his book smack shut, the sound of his chucks hitting the wood porch, door opening and not shutting. Damnit Jax, bees.

"Buddy!" Jax's green eyes light up with a big, proud grin on his face. I love watching Jax see Wyatt's firsts. He missed all those with Zo (other than the traumatizing loss of a first tooth) and I know it bothers him. So it's like all of Wyatt's are extra special. I'm fairly certain the day this kid does says dada, my husband will melt into a puddle on the floor.

Wyatt lets go of the railing to hold his hands out to Jax and promptly falls back onto his butt with a thump. Jax rushes over to pick him up before he cries. I know better. I can smell that dirty diaper already and that kid just fell flat on his ass. Jax's face says it all as soon as he picks up his son; he could smell it and realized he had made a terrible mistake.

"Have fun with that, daddy!" I slap Jax on the back and chuckle as I leave the room.

<><><>

.

It is a great night for a birthday party. Cool breeze off the lake, not too warm, not too cold. We took the half-mile up the road by foot to my in-law's house. Zooey and I raced each other there, while Gabby attempted to tucker out Wyatt with a stroller ride. It worked until she arrived and everyone wanted to hold him.

Morgan was the first to scoop him up, his giggles filled the living room as she planted a big kiss on his cheek. This kid is a total ladies' man. Between aunt Sydney and aunt Morgan, this kid will be entertained all night. Damn, I wish my kids could have known Courtney, she would have loved them and spoiled them rotten.

"Where's your husband?"

Morgan places another kiss on on Wyatt before motioning with her head to the back patio. "Dan and Vicky got a sandbox for Emma's birthday. I think Felix likes it more than the kids. Can you please tell him that if his daughter comes in full of sand he's giving the bath tonight? I don't think the heard me he first two times."

"I think I'll let you tell him that." I give her a nod. I'll stay out of that couple's argument, thank you.

My feet carry me away to the back patio where Dan is standing watching all the blonde women of his life sit around a table out in the yard giggling. I can't help but to smile at the sight of Vicky, Sydney, Emma, Gabby and Zooey. They are all so much alike - their looks, their laughs. I finally see Felix in the sandbox with Lucy, both of them covered in sand and looking happy as ever.

Dan turns and gives me a smile before bending over and grabbing a beer from the bucket of ice to his left and handing it to me. "For my favorite son-in-law."

"Thanks. I take it Kyle will not be in attendance tonight?"

The smile grows on his face. Kyle had a real knack for only coming around when he needed something from Sydney, not to see his daughter. Things must be finally done between them. Gabby thought Syd would be filing for divorce sooner rather than later.

"You were my favorite even before he turned into a prick." He knocks his beer bottle with mine and laughs.

He really is the best father-in-law I could have asked for. He keeps my ass in line but he also is a friend. He is someone I can talk to about anything and not be judged. He has seen me on my best days and on my worst and he still always reminds me that I am the best person he could have dreamt of for his daughter because I would always put her safety before my own. I proved that for seven years.

"Where's my grandson?" he looks around the yard.

"Morgan stole him. So be prepared not to see him the rest of the night. Probably for the best. I know my wife and she's planning on giving him cake tonight."

Dan cringes, knowing exactly what the night has in store for us. If Gabby thinks I'm changing two of those tonight - she is mistaken.

My gaze falls back on the table of blondes, specifically the one wearing bright blue chucks, who is lost in thought. She snaps her rubber bands on her wrist and is staring off into the yard at nothing. Something is definitely on her mind today, she's been quiet. I don't think it's anything bad, there's a goofy little smile that I keep catching on her face. Her day dream ends with the sound of Emmett entering the yard, screaming with delight when he sees the sandbox. Cole just shakes his head behind him. Gabby smiles at them and then her eyes lift to mine, another smile. Fuck, that girl is beautiful. And she's mine.

"Dad! Can I play in the sand too?" Zooey's green eyes light up and she tosses her book down to the table. I give her a nod yes and she runs off to Emmett.

"You're going to have your hands full with those two." Dan motions with his beer to Zooey and Emmett. He's not wrong. There may be a three year gap, but whatever Emmett does, Zooey does the same. He is all she talks about. She's never in trouble until she's with that kid. I already don't like him. Kid better watch himself.

"Not as much as you will with those two," I motion to Sydney. Her hand is placed on Cole's arm as she giggles; his smile is plastered to his face as he looks her up and down. Dan huffs and mutters something beside me before descending the deck and making his way over to them. I take a sip of my beer and can't wipe the grin from my face. I bet Dan never thought I would be the least of his worries.

"Thug! Game of pool?" Felix calls out as he picks Lucy out of the sandbox. His happy-space is now being overrun by the actual children it was intended for. I can't help but to laugh at the amount of sand falling from Lucy's diaper. Morgan's going to be pissed.

"You're on!"

I look back to Gabby and, again, her mind is lost, staring off and ignoring everyone at the table. "Gabby!" I call out to her. Her head snaps up to me, a big smile reappears. "Wanna kick your brother's ass in pool?" She laughs and nods excitedly.

The four of us meet in Dan's billiard room. I bring beers, Morgan brings my son, Felix brings popcorn and my wife brings her skills. No one beats Gabby. There is a chalkboard with her name and a large amount of tallies to prove it. The look on her face right now as she chalks her cue says it all - she's going to kick our asses, again.

Wyatt bounces happily on Morgan's knee as Gabby breaks. She happily announces that she will be going with stripes this evening after knocking two in.

"I need your help man, we have to knock her name off that board. I've created a monster." Felix's eyes are glaring at his little sister as he whispers and sips his beer. "You need to distract her."

I smile against the lip of my beer bottle. There has only been one time where I've seen Gabby fuck up a shot and become frustrated, so I know I can distract her. I set down the bottle and move so that I'm standing behind my wife. She looks over her shoulder with confusion. "May I help you?"

I place my hand on her hip and bend myself over her, pushing my pelvis up against her cute ass. "I was thinking maybe I could help you..."

She giggles and shakes her head. "Am I about to get my sweet nothings, Alfie?"

My face hurts I'm grinning so hard. God, I love this woman. I take a finger and drag it over the back of her neck slowly, collecting her long blonde hair and pushing it out of the way. I press my lips to the space right below her ear. "You know I'm not one for sweet nothings, Books. But I do have an offer for you."

Her body becomes tense against mine, she looks back to me with fire in those blue eyes and then she bites that damn lower lip, sending me into my own frenzy. This is backfiring and if my in-laws were not in this room right now this game would have ended before it ever started. I swear I see a twinkle in her damn eye when she feels how fucking hard I am.

"What offer might that be?" She whispers and bites the lip again.

"Christ, am I about to see a live porno go down on this table?" Morgan chuckles behind us. "Could you warn us first, I need to cover your son's eyes."

"Gross!" Felix nudges her.

I laugh against Gabby's neck, taking in her scent. "That offer is for four, Books..." Her eyes go wide at the sound of that and her ass presses up against me with a little wiggle. Jesus. I'm going to lose my damn mind if I keep this going. Let her win, I don't care. She can have whatever she wants so long as I can have her. "Four diaper changes in a row. That's my offer."

She bursts into a fit of giggles and turns so that our fronts are pressed tight against each other. "I will hold you to that."

"I have no doubt," I nod.

"Or you could, offer me something else..."

She's killing me. We lost. All of us. Gabby wins. Fuck. This girl.

"Shit Gabby," I set my head against hers and press my lips to her lips. "I'll offer that later."

"Deal." She says it smugly and turns to take her shot, brushing her ass, once again, up against my erection.

I let out a groan and look to Felix. "You're losing."

His eyes roll and he mutters something about me letting him down and thinking with my dick.

"Mama-ma-mamama."

Gabby takes her shot and completely misses, sending the white ball off to nowhere. She turns with wide eyes to Wyatt. "What are you doing to Mommy?"

"YES!" Felix calls out. He picks up my son from Morgan and holds him into the air as if he's Simba. "I love my nephew! Take notes, thug! Your nine month old knows how to handle it!"

We all laugh, even Wyatt who has no idea what's going on. He hands me back the baby so he can take his shot. Gabby sits beside Morgan, wearing a stubborn face. "It was a fluke."

"Right, hun." Morgan mocks her.

Morgan holds the popcorn bowl out to Gabby for comfort. Her nose turns up and she pushes the bowl away.

Now those lost thoughts of Gabby's make sense.

Once. I have seen my wife turn down popcorn once. Her eyes lift to mine; I swear they dilate when she sees that I witnessed that. I smile and shake my head in disbelief. That lower lip of hers falls between her teeth in a cute little bite and she nods her head yes. A complete conversation without words. One of the best we've had yet.

I set Wyatt on the pool table. "Watch him."

"What the hell, man?" Felix throws his hands up as Wyatt picks up a blue striped ball.

I walk to Gabby's stool and place my hands on both her cheeks as she beams. "I need to kiss my wife right fucking now, because I just found out we're having a baby."

I drown out the sound of Morgan's squeals and Felix's grunts about the game. Before I can even move in to Gabby she pushes forward and presses her lips to mine. Her fingers tips rest gently on my neck, her smile moving in motion against my own. When she pulls away I am once again lost in her blue eyes. Never did I think I could be this happy after everything our lives dragged us through. We had found a new normal, our own normal and it was fucking perfect.

"I love you, Books."

"I love you so much, Alfie."

The End.

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