I wake up cuddled into Reed, who is rubbing my seven-month-pregnant belly. He is drawing circles around it with his fingers. I smile at his tender touch.

"Mmmm," I moan lightly.

He stops his hand momentarily and kisses the back of my head.

"Please, don't stop," I beg.

He chuckles and continues rubbing my belly. "Good morning, Beautiful."

I can feel Reed's breath on the back of my neck. I shiver, and he pulls me closer. "I hope that I didn't wake you."

"I love waking up to your touch," I admit as I push my ass back into his morning hardness.

He kisses my neck and gives me goosebumps. "What are the chances we can make a little loving before..."

Reed doesn't get to finish his question.

"Mommy, Daddy, you awake?" Our daughter Lily enters our room as if on cue.

"Yes, Baby Girl, do you want to join our cuddle party?" I love seeing her innocent excitement at the tiniest little things.

Lily claps her hands. "I love cuddle time."

Lily jumps onto our bed right in between Reed and me. Reed picks her up and goes to place her in front of me.

"No, Daddy! Baby Boy will kick me," she objects.

I scooch over to give her room between us.

I hear Reed snicker. "Lily, do you remember what today is?"

Lily quickly replies, "My birthday! I'm four years old today. I'm a big girl."

I agree, "Yes, you are. Do you remember what we have planned for you today?"

Lily starts jumping excitedly.

"Careful Baby Girl. You don't want to hurt Mommy." Reed warns her.

"But, Daddy, I can't help it! I'm super excited to go to Six Flags America! Bonnie and I have been waiting for forever," she says dramatically.

I laugh, "You can be excited without jumping on me, my sweet birthday girl."

Reed starts to get out of bed. He reaches for a pair of gym shorts to pull over his boxers. "Lily, Daddy will go down and make you some princess pancakes. Do you want to help?"

Her already smiling face gets even brighter. She hops off of the bed to race her dad to the kitchen.

"Best birthday ever!" she screams as Reed tries to get his shorts up while running after her.

I grab a quick shower before going downstairs since Reed has Lily occupied. Once ready for the day, I meet my family in the kitchen for princess pancakes, consisting of a regular pancake mix with colorful sprinkles scattered on top of the pancake.

"Mommy, Daddy said I did a great job with the sprinkles." Lily smiles proudly at me as I enter the kitchen.

I admire her work. "You did a great job, Baby!"

Lily announces, "Daddy made this one special for me. It's the number four because I'm four years old today. He made this special heart one for you, even though it's not your birthday."

I smile at Reed. "Thanks, Babe."

He winks at me while putting the last of the pancakes on a plate. We sing Happy Birthday to Lily, and she blows out the candle that Reed put in her pancake. While eating breakfast, Lily tells us about the rides she wants to get on at the amusement park.

Reed shoves his last bite of pancake into his mouth and mumbles, "What time are we meeting Kandie and Tank to leave for Six Flags?"

"Daddy, don't forget Bonnie and Tony!" Lily reminds him.

Reed apologizes, "I'm sorry; what time are we to meet all of the Fowlers?"

"The Park opens at 11:00, so we need to be at their house by 10:15," I answer him.

Three months ago, Bonnie turned four, and we all went to the aquarium. Their second child, Tony, is two years old. It took Tank and Reed to keep him out of mischief at the aquarium. Today, they're planning to keep him strapped in his stroller. We'll see how long that will last. There's undoubtedly a difference between our girls and Tony's energy levels.

"Babe, why don't you run up for your shower," I suggest.

Reed replies, "I was going to clean up first."

I wrap my arms around his waist. "I got this, Babe. I need to get snacks together for the day, so I'll clean up once I make my mess. If you could make sure that Lily gets dressed."

"Will do. Come on with Daddy, Lily. It's time to get dressed for your birthday extravaganza." He kisses me gently.

"Coming, Daddy." Lily goes to follow Reed up the stairs.

I stop her. "One second, messy one."

I wipe Lily's hands and mouth before she hops off the chair and runs to Reed. I beam as I watch the loves of my life race upstairs, giggling and laughing the entire way.

As I gather and make the snacks, I smile at how much my life has changed in the last five years. After Kandie had Bonnie, she wanted to take time away from the business. A year and a half later, she became pregnant with Tony and decided to sell us her side of the company to be a stay-at-home mother.

At that time, Reed quit and stepped in to take care of the company's business and marketing. I meet with clients and do the design side of the business. I consult with Kandie on bigger jobs, and we pay her a percentage of the job's profit.

While I will never Forgive or Forget what Todd did to me and at least sixteen other women, I don't dwell on what happened. He doesn't deserve a second of my time or my life. I don't consider myself a victim; I see myself as a survivor. I owe those women who didn't make it out of Todd's murderous grasp to live my life to the fullest and happiest I can, and that's what I'm doing!

-THE END-