One year later
I wake up by my son crying just as my wife does.
Ci-Ace.
-Stay, I'll go.
Ci-Thanks.
Giving her a kiss I go to the baby's room.
-Come on here, my little Ace. There we go, are you hungry? Hmm, no diaper change. Nightmare?
It doesn't take long but when I realize it is very clear that he wants to stay in my arms. I sigh and taking him back to our room I sit on the bed. Cindy looks at me smiling.
Ci-My little boy. He's gotten so big already.
-I almost can't believe is been a year already.
Ci-And you have also gotten better at having him. You're an excellent father and I'm sure he thinks so too.
She points to our sleeping son and I laugh softly.
-Goodnight my boy. Goodnight Cindy.
Ci-Night.
She turns off the lights and with the baby protected by both of us we fall asleep easy.
The next day a bit later in the morning when Ace wakes up we get him ready for the day.
-Oh my, what a handsome little baby.
Ci-He did got his father's looks.
She gives me a kiss and as we go to the kitchen I put Ace in his little baby seat.
Ci-For breakfast we have eggs and bacon with toast.
-Delicious.
She comes to feed Ace but getting them from her I speak.
-I'll feed him. Please.
Ci-I feed you afterwards.
I laugh and giving her a sweet kiss I feed Ace myself. He is looking at me expectantly with each bite.
-Delicious. So delicious right? Who is the good baby? Who is? Yes you are, yes you are.
He laughs a bit as I keep feeding him and baby talk to him until he's done with it.
-Hey, you ate it all. Good Ace, very good.
Ci-I think is about time you eat.
She feeds me a piece of bacon and taking it I laugh as I eat it.
-Delicious.
Ci-Can I taste it?
-Sure.
We laugh softly before kissing for a bit until we get off but close.
Ci-You're right, it is delicious. So, when do we have to go?
-After lunch. We spend the evening there and the night. Two days there and then we come back. Are you excited to meet your aunt? Are you?
I peek Ace on the cheeks and cuddling him a bit making him laugh. We play for a bit before we go out.

As we walk by the park I have Ace in my arms looking at everything around the park while Cindy holds my arm as we walk softly.
Ci-This is nice.
-Are you enjoying it?
Ci-Yes.
-Me too and I think Ace is enjoying it too.
Ci-What?
She let's go of me and we stop as we both look at Ace as he turns in my arms looking at everything.
Ci-What do you think he's watching?
-Everything but still nothing specific.
Ci-He is enjoying it.
-Well, we should probably head home before it gets too late.
Ci-Let's go.
With that we go back home and to visit my family so they can meet our son. I already told them I would bring him after he was one and he is so, here we go.
About four hours later we are welcomed home warmly by lots of hugs and kisses, most of them being between me and Lizzie.
El-Is so good to see you. You look good, how are feeling?
-Yeah, I'm good, a bit tired learning and getting used to being a dad but, I couldn't be happier.
El-Glad to hear that, so how is the smaller you?
I laugh at her choice of words.
-Go see it by yourself.
I step back to let her pass me and look at Ace curiously watching everything from his mother's arms.
El-He's so cute. Can I charge him?
Ci-Sure.
My wife turns to let my sister charge him but as she turns to take him Ace starts crying.
El-Guess not.
Ci-Sorry.
El-Oh well, guess he prefers mommy. I will just watch him.
Ace does calm down when she backs away a bit back on his mother's arms and I let out a soft chuckle.
El-Hmm, what a nice boy.
Ci-He is.
El-He looks like his daddy.
I roll my eyes and Cindy notices because she laughs at my reaction. I sigh and stepping at her side I go at it.
-Come here, let them have their girl talk. Come with daddy.
As I take him with me he stretches his arms calling me out until he says it aloud.
Ace-Dada.
We all freeze looking at him repeat himself over and over.
Ci-He finally did it.
I can't speak so I just smile, laugh and just shrug a bit as I look back at Ace and I listen to them talk.
El-His first word?
Ci-Yes, he has been babbling trying to speak but this is the first time he makes it.
El-Well, daddy sure is happy to hear his first word.
Ci-His first word was calling him, to him, on his arms. Of course he's happy and I'm surprised he hasn't drop Ace or fainted himself.
El-I know why it doesn't happen. If he drops Ace he's getting hurt and if he faints Ace will fall with him and most likely get hurt either way.
Seeing how my dad's arm come to take Ace I step back keeping Ace with me.
-Later.
Br-As you wish.
-Sorry, he won't go with you or anyone but I can let him loose. He does crawls already. He has been trying to get up to walk but not just yet.
Ci-Let him loose.
-You heard mommy, be free.
I laugh as I put him down on the floor and staying a bit more on my knees I let him take in his environment until he feels good enough and he crawls away quite fast. I sit down with dad and my uncles watching Ace a bit on edge.
Br-Enzo relax, this is a safe space. He is not going to get hurt.
-I know but I'm still worried.
El-How did she told you that she was pregnant?
Ci-I didn't told him.
-Well, I found out myself and then she told me.
Ci-To put it simple. Do tell them the details.
I sit back on my seat and speaking softly I sigh.
-I could but, not just yet.
Ci-Hmm. I'll make you tell, you'll see. I just have to be patient.
El-Then you must have lots of patience with him.
Br-Definitely, if he hasn't told Liz about it then..........
He stops speaking and turning to him I speak.
-Dad?
He motions in front of him and when I look at what he's looking at my fear and worry consumes me as I see Ace in the chandelier up by the ceiling.
-Ace.
El-How in the world did he got there?
Br-Why?
Ci-Enzo.
-I know, I get him.
Standing up I fly to the chandelier and carefully I take Ace on my arms. He laughs coming with me but he cries as I pull him from the chandelier as he grabs it.
-No no no, let go. Come with me, come with daddy.
Ace-Dada.
-Yes, that's it.
He let's go of the chandelier grabbing me instead and holding him tightly to me I go down to the floor again and once I'm on the floor I sigh in relief as I sit leaning back on the table as I cuddle him in my arms.
-Ace.
Ci-Is he alright?
-He is, if only he knew the danger he was in. He is fearless.
Ci-And you? How are you?
-Almost had a heart attack. But I'm fine and he's acting like nothing happened.
Ci-He really is fearless.
Br-For both of your sake and peace of mind, I really hope this is just a phase or a one time thing only.
-Me too. Let's have dinner and get him to sleep now.
We agree on having dinner and we all keep an eye on Ace until we go to sleep for the night.

Nine years later
I arrive home to visit my family once again to meet the newest member of the family. Right now our son Ace is ten,   our only daughter Gwen is seven, our second son Nile is four and the youngest son Zen is one and he's the one they don't know yet. Like we did with our other three kids we present them when they turn a year old.
Nile-Hey mom.
Ci-Yes Nile?
Ni-Why didn't they came to our house?
Ci-We like it more this way.
-We're here.
Ci-Wait for us to go in, don't run off on your own.
Ace-We won't.
As we laugh I take Nile on my arms, Cindy takes Zen while Ace and Gwen stay together just walking close to us. I laugh as Gwen holds on to her big brother's arm tightly.
-Walk inside.
Gwen-Alright.
-Ace.
Ace-Yes dad.
With that we go in and so we greet everyone.

As we have lunch later in the day I look at my kids eating their food. Cindy feeds Zen, Ace and Gwen are eating silently and when I turn to Nile I laugh softly as he struggles with his meat. He can't cut it. I get up and going towards him I speak softly.
-Easy there.
Nile-Is not breaking.
-I help you with that.
He sits back as I cut his meat into tiny pieces so he can eat it.
-There you go.
Nile-Thanksty.
I laugh and as he takes a bite I ruffle his hair before I go back to my seat.
Br-Thanksty? What does that mean?
-It looks tasty. Thanks daddy.
Br-How?
-He told me so the first time he said it.
El-How are the kids now? I'm referring to their personality, likes and dislikes too.
-Ace is creative, you never know with what he will come up next. Definitely keep an eye on him because he does wanders around as he observes the outdoors. He is on his own little world.
Br-How do you keep him, not lost?
-We have a few ways to do it. One is when he speaks as we go. He would tell us how that makes him feel and everything about it.
El-So he starts a small talk. What's the other one?
-He walks with Gwen. If it were for him and by himself he would fall behind multiple times but holding to Gwen, she is a bit more attentive and she always keeps close to us, she basically pulls him around.
Br-How is she?
-Smart, a bit shy, quiet, reserved, she has her room mostly filled with her books and her stories. She has both books with pictures and without them. She also loves puzzles, mind games, crosswords and all those things.
I shrug and looking at Nile I sigh.
-With Nile, whenever you look at him he has a different toy, he is...Cindy says his personality is similar to mine.
Ci-He is. He is a picky eater like you and he likes music like you. He has your temper too.
-I do not have a temper.
Ci-Yes you do but you have learned to control it better now.
She passes Zen to me as she gets her dish to the sink and I tickle him a bit. I smile as he laughs happy.
-Aren't you the sweetest little thing?
El-Enzo.
-Hmm. What?
El-Nothing. You are a good dad.
-You think?
El-Sure, I knew that was a fact since Ace was a baby himself.
Br-Do you plan on having more kids?
-Only if she wants to. She is after all, the one carrying them for nine months without rest. So is up to her.
El-You are such a good husband to her, very considerate.
Ci-That he is. Just look at him.
She comes to me and leaning against the back of my chair she speaks.
Ci-He is a good man, loving husband, an excellent father, I mean, what else can I ask for? As for your question, I want one more kid. I want five.
El-Why five?
Ci-Is based on my lucky number.
El-Your lucky number.
Ci-Almost, my lucky number is 550 but we can't have that many kids so, I can have five.
Br-When?
Ci-Not right now but soon.
El-Enzo. You agree with her?
-I have no reason to disagree with her so yes, I do agree with her.
I shrug and as everyone finishes lunch we go to do our own stuff but this time I stay with Zen myself. A bit more.

To be continued..........................