Ashton's PoV:

"Okay Gray, let's go get some groceries." I smiled at the little girl as I unbuckled her from her car seat.

I held her hand as we walked across the little parking lot since there was no street parking available, and set her in the child's seat of the cart once I got one.

I let her hold onto the list and listened to her try and sound out the words as I pushed the cart through the store.

"Alright Gray, help me pick out some apples." I told her and she clapped her little hands together.

"Daddy get the red one!" She said as I began to put a few into the plastic bag.

"They're all red Gracie." I laughed.

"This one!" She pointed to a particularly more red apple.

"Okay, okay." I chuckled as I put the apple into the bag.

"Okay, tell me what we need next love bug." I said and she tried to sound out the word bananas.

I got bananas, lemons, and some oranges for myself before continuing.

"Oh look Gray, Mommy put strawberries on the list just for you." I said excitedly and like any other excited four year old, Gracie opened her mouth in a gasp, wiggling around in her seat.

I continued to push her through the isles getting what was on our list when I turned onto the baking one and came face to face with a group of teenage girls.

There were about five of them, and one of them gasped when she saw me, tapping one of the other girls on the shoulder.

Before I knew it they were all looking at me and Gracie.

"Hello!" One of the girls said and waved her hands.

"Hi." I said back, not entirely knowing what to do. "How are you guys?"

"Good." They all answered. "How are you?"

"I'm doing alright." I said.

"Is Carter okay?" A tall brunette asked me.

"Yeah. She's at home recovering and resting up." I smiled. "Thank you for asking."

"Tell her we hope she feels better soon." Another girl piped up.

"I will. She'll be really happy to hear that." I nodded at them, and it was true, Carter would.

I could tell Car was still nervous about being liked by fans so I knew their words of kindness would go a long way.

Gracie had turned around to see who I was talking to, and one of the girls waved at her.

"Hi Gracie." She smiled and Gracie turned back around towards me, reaching over the handle bar of the shopping cart to hug my stomach, hiding her face.

"Aw." All the girls cooed at Gracie and I smiled, looking down at Gracie and softly petting her hair.

"Can you say hi, Gray?" I asked her and she shook her head no, moving the fabric of my shirt with her head.

"She's just a little shy." I said to the fans and moved my hand to the back of Gracie's head to comfort her by running my fingers through her hair.

"So are you all from around here or did you come over from Sydney?" I asked the group of girls. I actually loved getting to interact and meet our fans because they were the reason our band continued to make music.

"We're from Sydney but we came here for a dance competition." A girl said.

"Ah cool. Good luck to you guys. So how are you enjoying the island?"

"It's so pretty here! We want to come back during summer holiday so we can go to the beach and all of that." The tall brunette girl said.

"Yeah it's pretty great here. During the summer especially." I said and then looked down when I felt Gracie move her head so that she had her chin on my stomach, looking up at me.

"What is it baby girl?" I asked her, hearing the girls "aw" again. I slid my hand to Gracie's cheek, moving my thumb across her face.

"Is Mommy going to take me to see fishes in the water?" She asked me.

"You mean take you diving?" I asked and she nodded.

"You'll have to ask her when we get home." I said and she nodded again.

She then proceeded to suck in her cheeks and pucker up her lips, making a silly face.

"Gracie Irwin, what are you doing?" I laughed as I watched her and then realised that I had called her by my last name, that thought alone making me smile even more.

"Ender said this is face fishes make." She said and I shook my head.

"Like this?" I asked her and puckered up my lips, momentarily forgetting about the fans who were watching and just enjoying a moment with my daughter.

"No like this." She made the face again.

"That's what I'm doing." I exclaimed, smiling at her.

"Daddy you have to do this." She reached up and put both of her hands on my cheeks to push them in.

"Oh okay." I laughed and made the correct face.

She made the fish face again and I laughed.

"You're so silly." I grinned at her as she went to hug me again.

"Daddy?" Gracie asked me, her voice high pitched and innocent.

"Yes?"

"Are you and Mommy getting married?"

"Yes, you know that." I laughed.

"When?" She asked, giggling slightly.

"I don't know love, you'll have to ask Mommy that too."

"I want today." She nodded her head.

"Today?" I laughed. "We can't today, we have to get Ender from school and finish grocery shopping."

"Tomorrow." She said, bouncing in the seat and I let out another laugh.

"We'll see Gray."

I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead which caused her to give me a toothy grin along with a laugh.

"I love you." I told her and gave her another kiss on her lips like how any other parent would kiss their child.

"Love you Daddy." She beamed up at me, her arms still around me.

"She's so cute." One of the girls squealed and I looked up to smile at them.

"Gracie can you say hi now?" I asked her and she turned around to look at the girls, waving her little hand.

"Hi." She said softly and and I grinned as she told them hello.

The girls told her hello back and Gracie grinned up at them.

"I like your shirt Gracie." One of the girls said.

"Thank you." Gracie responded happily. She was wearing the white shirt I had bought her with the silver sequinned G in the corner and black leggings underneath. "Daddy got for me."

"Aw that's so cute." One of the girls said.

Gracie turned back around in her seat, giggling and swinging her little feet.

"Well we will let you get back to shopping, but it was nice to meet you." One of them said.

"Yeah, it was nice to meet you guys too. Do you guys want a picture?" I offered.

"If that's okay." They smiled and I nodded.

Gracie watched me as I took photos with the girls.

"Daddy I want a picture!" Gracie said from the shopping cart.

"Okay, okay." I laughed and pulled my phone from my pocket to take a selfie with her.

"Can I take picture with them too?" She asked, looking at the group of girls.

"Sure." I said and watched as the fans jumped at the chance to take photos with Gracie, the little girl loving every moment. I watched her as she would hug the fans, smiling widely in all of the pictures.

"Okay Gray, we gotta go get Ender from school so say goodbye." I said.

"Bye!" Gracie waved happily.

"Bye Gracie." They all said and I told them goodbye myself before continuing on our way down the isle throwing boxes of cake mix and frosting into the cart like Carter had written down on the list.

Gracie and I continued to make our way through the store and then checked out, heading back to the jeep.

I buckled up Gracie and then loaded the shopping bags into the floorboard of the back seat, hopping back in the front so I could drive us to the school.

We waited in front of the building for a few minutes until the bell rang and all the kids ran out. When Ender saw the jeep he ran towards us at top speed.

"Hey mate, how was school?" I asked as he jumped in the passenger seat.

"Good. Where's Carter?" He asked.

"She's at home with my mom, don't worry." I assured him and he nodded before I continued on my way back to the house.

Ender helped me carry the grocery bags down the docks and I remembered that there was a time before me when he and Carter would ride their bikes to the grocery store and put the bags on their bike handles to get them home.

"Honey, I'm home." I called out in my best Ricky Ricardo voice as we walked through the door and Carter popped her head up over the top of the couch.

"Hey!" She smiled at us.

I set down my bags on the counter and went over to the sofa, leaning over the back to give her a sweet kiss. Her cheeks flared like they normally did when I kissed her in front of people and she bit her lip adorably when I pulled away.

"Car!" Ender said and ran over to her, throwing himself in her arms.

"Hey, bro." She laughed as she hugged him.

He closed his eyes as she put a soothing hand on his face, resting his head on her chest as she held him.

Ender always acted tough around me, like he didn't need Carter, but he was still a little boy who needed to be held, and loved, and hugged by his sister who loved him more than anything in the world.

I looked at Carter lovingly as she smiled down at Ender.

She really was an amazing sister. I held so much respect for her and everything she had done to raise Ender by herself since she was thirteen.

I couldn't even imagine what that must have been like for her. Being a child herself and having to raise a five year old...she was so strong because of that, and it made me love her all the more.

I knew she was going to make an amazing mother for when she and I had children of our own, and I couldn't wait for that day.

Patting Gracie on the head I had her follow me to the kitchen and help me put groceries away.

"Hey Car, would you please explain to me why I bought half the baking isle at the store?" I asked with a laugh as Gracie started to hand me boxes of cake mix.

"I wanted to make a cake for the guys and for your mom to thank them for being there at the hospital for me." She looked up and smiled at me and I sent one her way as well.

Carter was so thoughtful and sweet to every single person she met, and that was one of the reasons why she was so beautiful not just physically, but mentally. She had the most beautiful and breathtaking soul, and that was why everyone instantly fell in love with her, including me.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Her voice cut through my thoughts.

"What?" I shook my head.

"You were looking at me funny." She laughed.

"It's just sweet of you to do that that's all." I smiled at her and she returned it.

She and Ender stood up and joined us in the kitchen, giving Gracie a hug.

"How was going to the store with Daddy, Gray?" She asked our little girl.

"Fun!" She answered with a big toothy smile. "We took pictures!"

"You took pictures?" Carter asked, grinning at her.

"Yeah, we ran into some fans at the store." I answered for her.

"That sounds like fun." Carter continued to smile.

"They told me to tell you that they hope you feel better." I told her and watched as her look of happiness went to one of being excited.

"That's so sweet." She responded.

She helped us finish unloading the groceries and then pulled out the ingredients for dinner.

"How ya feeling?" I asked Carter as I came up beside her.

"Good. Really good." She nodded her head. "I think I just needed to be home."

I smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek before moving on to help her make chicken piccata for dinner.

My mom stayed for dinner which was nice and I could tell Carter was really happy she was there. I knew she wouldn't say it directly to me, but Carter missed her mom terribly and I knew having my mom around made her feel like she kind of had a mother again. And my mom loved Carter too, and I was excited for when she would officially become Carters mother in law.

After we had eaten, Carter invited my mom to stay for breakfast in the morning so she didn't have to go back to Sydney so late, and Ender offered up his bed and said he'd sleep on the sofa downstairs with Gracie.

Carter then started on baking the cakes, enlisting the help of everyone.

She sat Gracie on the counter and put the red mixing bowl between her legs, letting her mix the cake batter.

I took a few pictures with my phone while Carter leaned in front of the counter looking at Ender and Gracie who were now both sitting up there mixing batter.

"It tastes like chocolate!" Gracie exclaimed as she tasted a bit of the batter.

"That's because it's chocolate cake Gracie." Carter laughed and kissed the little girls nose.

I then helped pour the cake batter into the pans and Carter placed them in the oven, teaching Gracie to never go near a hot oven.

When the cakes were done we let them cool before all of us began frosting them with the cans of chocolate frosting.

I got a little frosting on my finger and swiped it across Ender's face causing him to gasp before a smirk came across his face and he reached over to swipe icing across Carters face.

"Oh you are so on!" Carter said back and dipped her finger in the icing, chasing Ender around the room.

Gracie laughed at the funny scene before her and I got an idea.

"Hey Gray, go get Mommy with the icing." I said and spooned a bit onto her fingers.

She nodded happily and I watched as she ran into the living room where Carter was currently sitting on top of Ender trying to fight him off.

"Mommy!" Gracie exclaimed as she stopped next to Carter and Carter turned to look at her only to be met with Gracie swiping a big glob of chocolate frosting down her nose.

I busted out in laughter at Carters surprised face, Gracie giggling wildly next to her.

"I'm gonna get you." Carter said to Gracie who immediately took off to hide from her, and by hide I mean run back to me.

She hid behind my legs and I stifled my laughter as Carter snuck up behind her and smeared a bit of frosting on her cheek.

Gracie squealed and all of us began to laugh.

I took a selfie of the four of us and captioned it 'Frosting fights' and then helped clean up our faces and finish icing the cakes.

Carter swept up Gracie and took her upstairs to give her a bath while Ender and I got his room ready for my mum to spend the night in it.

Gracie sprinted out of the bathroom in her pink towel and I laughed at her silliness before taking her into Carters room so I could get her into her pyjamas.

I had been a little hesitant about things such as helping bathe her and dress her because I felt like that would be imposing too much, but Carter had insisted it didn't matter, and as time went on and Gracie became more like my daughter, I was fine with it.

Carter had taken a quick shower and came out looking much more refreshed and rejuvenated.

Everyone finally got into their pyjamas and then us adults took the kids downstairs.

Gracie was going to curl up on her usual sofa while Ender took the other.

"Night night Grandma." Gracie hugged my mom and then jumped into her makeshift bed.

"Good night baby girl, I'll see you in the morning." I kissed her cheek and she smiled. "Love you."

"Love you too Daddy." She said and then Carter moved in to say goodnight.

"Love you sweetheart, sweet dreams." Carter kissed her as well.

"Love you Mommy." Gracie said and Carter smiled at her before going to kiss Ender goodnight.

I turned out the lights and the three of us walked upstairs, my mom saying goodnight before heading to Ender's room.

I shut the bedroom door behind Carter and we both got into bed, her sighing as she sunk into the mattress.

"I hate hospital beds." She muttered.

"I hate seeing you in them." I commented back and she rolled over on her side to look at me.

"I know you're my fiancé and you're supposed to, but thank you for being there for me throughout all of this. You've been so helpful and caring and..." she sighed, "you're just amazing."

"Aw, babe." I laughed and pulled her close to me.

She cuddled her head between my neck and shoulder, and I could feel the rounds of her breasts against my chest as she hugged me. She still slept with a bra on under her pyjamas which I thought was cute.

"So your mom and I were talking today..." She started.

"Oh no, this can't be good." I sighed and she lightly shoved my chest.

"Shut up." She laughed. "But she was asking me if you and I had made any wedding plans, and I was just wondering...what were your thoughts on that."

Carter flicked her eyes up to mine and drug her bottom lip between her teeth.

I got so distracted by how beautiful she looked that I almost forgot to answer her.

"Well, I want us to get married in a place where all of our friends and family could be there to celebrate with us; so maybe here or in Sydney. I know you'll probably want it small and you know me id try and invite the whole world, so we will probably have to compromise." I said and she let out a quiet laugh.

"And I will let you pick out anything your heart desires," I squeezed her body,"and help you with any decisions you want me to make."

"Like any good fiancé should." She commented and I laughed, pressing a kiss to her nose.

"She's proud of you you know, your mom. She told me how happy it makes her to see you be a father to Gracie, and how much you love me and Ender and Gracie too." Carter said and a light feeling of pure happiness took over me.

"Really?" I asked her.

"Mhmm." She nodded. "And I agree."

She moved her hand so that it was playing with the hair behind my ear.

"You are the best father for Gracie, and the best brother/ father for Ender, and the best fiancé for me...and I'm so happy that you're in my life." She continued and I smiled down at her.

"I love you."  The words flowed naturally from my lips and she scrunched her nose up in her adorable little expression that she made when she was truly happy.

"I love you too."

I moved down to kiss her, her warm lips moving between mine.

Eventually when our lips were bright red, we settled back down into the blankets, her curling up into my body and falling asleep quickly.

I was so glad that we were finally home together, but it wouldn't last for long.

The Japan tour started in two and a half weeks, and I was going to have to leave her and the beautiful life we had started to create.

Leaving her at home now had me worried. With her diagnosis of the dissociative seizures and us recently getting engaged and her now knowing about the band, it didn't feel right.

I wanted her and Ender and Gracie to be with me at all times, so I could make sure they were safe.

So that was why tomorrow I was going to ask her to go on tour with me, not knowing how she was going to react.

--

aww, Ashton and Gracie though(:

hope you all enjoyed the chapter!

as always vote and comment if you'd like and I'll have the next part up soon.

much love xx-M