When Ashton and I awoke later that morning we were completely blissed out.

"I'm going to miss this when I leave for tour." Ashton murmured as he lightly stroked my bare back.

"Having sex with me?" I laughed.

"Yes." He chuckled. "But also waking up next to you every morning, and holding you," he squeezed me tighter, "and kissing you." He brushed his lips across my forehead.

"I'm gonna miss that too." I smiled, pressing my lips to the base of his throat. "It's going to be weird without you here all the time."

"I know." He sighed. "Not being home with you or the kids...I've just gotten so used to being here. I don't know what I will do."

I lay there for a moment just thinking before an idea came to my head.

"So I know this is going to be a weird question since you practically already do...but would you want to move in to the house, and we can make this our home?" I asked shyly.

"Are you serious? Carter, I'd love to." He smiled dazzlingly and leaned down to kiss me until I was dizzy.

This made me incredibly happy that we were going to live together. I wanted us to really act like an engaged couple, not just boyfriend and girlfriend.

"We should probably go shower now before we get caught by Ender and Gracie again." He laughed after we were done kissing.

"We should...but I don't wanna." I said and he chuckled.

"Come on." He stood up, pulling on his boxers while I slid on my underwear and a tee.

We hurried to the bathroom and started the shower, both of us sharing the water and the small space and actually were able to get through the shower even though I had to swat away his wandering hands.

Once we were done we hurried to get dressed and then wandered downstairs where Gracie woke up only to fall back asleep on my shoulder.

"So would I be moving into your room?" Ashton asked.

"Yes." I laughed.

"I am a musician, and I do have a lot of equipment though." He said.

"We can figure it out."

"I'm really excited, this is going to be my home." He grinned.

"Dork." I leaned over and kissed his nose before handing him his cup of coffee.

"I could go to my mums and pack my stuff and bring most of it back today." He suggested.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"And have Michael take Ender to school since he has his car and pick him up, and have the guys stay here with you so you won't be alone."

"Works for me, room mate." I winked at him and he laughed.

Ashton texted Michael and worked out the plan for today and once the kids were dressed, Luke, Calum, and Michael showed up, Michael taking Ender off to school.

"Okay, I'll be back tonight." Ashton came forward to hug me as he was leaving.

"Alright, I'm excited about this." I smiled.

"Me too." He bent down and kissed me sweetly, swaying me in his arms.

I placed my hand on his cheek, relishing in the feel of his lips.

"Love you." He said once he pulled away.

"Love you too." I pressed one more kiss to his lips then stepped out of his arms.

"Bye Gray, I'll see you either tonight or in the morning when you wake up." He hugged Gracie.

"I don't want you to go." She frowned as he hugged her.

"But I'm only going to get my stuff from Grandmas house so I can move in to this house." He placed a hand on her cheek. "Don't cry baby girl. I'll be back before you know it."

She nodded solemnly and he gave her a little kiss.

"Love you." He smiled at her.

"Love you Daddy." She smiled back and he tugged playfully on her braid before standing up.

"See you guys later." Ashton waved.

"Bye." I smiled as he left and he pressed one more kiss to my lips before I closed the door behind him.

Calum and Luke were sitting at the bar and I set Gracie in the stool next to them.

"Have you guys already had breakfast? Because if not I could make you guys something." I offered.

"That'd be awesome, thank you." Luke smiled and I returned it, getting started on pancakes for them.

Then I realised that this was the first time I was alone with Ashton's friends.

"Mommy can we play dress up today?" Gracie asked me as I was mixing the batter.

"Sure." I looked up and smiled at her.

"Do you want to play dress up too?" Gracie asked Calum and Luke, and I held back a laugh.

"We'd love to." Calum poked her nose causing her to giggle.

I finished making their food and got them some coffee before cleaning up the kitchen.

My cellphone started to ring from where it was laying on the counter and I walked over to it, not recognising the number but answering anyways.

"Hello?" I said in a happy voice.

"Hi, I'm looking for Carter Chase?" A girl with an American accent asked.

"That would be me, may I ask whose calling?"

"Yeah, um it's Jenna Taylor."

"Oh." I froze, my head snapping up to look at Calum and Luke.

"Jenna." I mouthed to them and they waved their hands to put it on speaker.

I did as such and held the phone in my hand, biting my lip.

"I know this is probably really unexpected and I'm sorry, but I wanted to talk to you about this whole Ashton situation." She said and I raised my eyebrows while Luke threw his hands in the air dramatically.

"What Ashton situation?" I asked, still being polite.

"Well about how he and I used to date." She said.

"I really don't mean to rude, but I don't see how that concerns me."

"It concerns you because it was supposed to be Ashton and I who ended up together, not him and some random nobody from an island in the middle of nowhere." Her voice suddenly became dark and hateful.

"Well I'm sorry life didn't work out like you planned." I said.

"Don't patronise me." She growled.

"Listen Jenna, I don't know you, but I really am sorry, I know life can treat people badly at times."

"You know nothing about life." She fired back.

"I know more than you think." I sighed.

Both Calum and Luke were staring at me with wide eyes.

"Just leave Ashton alone and let him see who he really wants more."

"Oh Jenna," I sighed, "I feel sorry for you, I really do. Whatever made you so bitter and spiteful must've really hurt you. But I hope you find the person who you're meant to spend forever with like I have with Ashton. Everyone deserves to find their Prince Charming and I know you'll find him someday. But anyways, I hope you have a nice day." I said before hanging up the phone.

"What a bitch." Luke said and I shrugged.

"Whatever, I'm so done." I dropped my phone onto the counter.

"You did good there Car, really held your own." Calum commented and I gave him a shy smile.

"Can I ask you guys a question, and I don't mean to pry?"

They nodded.

"What was it like when Ashton dated Jenna?"

Luke sighed.

"Not fun. She was nice at first but then she started to get rude and mean and treated Ashton horribly. I think he thought he could change her and that's why he stayed so long, but finally he'd had enough of her and broke it off."

"Did he um, did he love her?" I asked nervously.

"I don't think so, but if he did it didn't last long. Definitely not like how he loves you. You're his whole freaking world."

I smiled.

"Well he's mine too."

"Don't let Jenna worry you, she'll stop eventually." Calum assured me.

"Ashton just texted me and said to block her number and that you did the right thing." Luke added and I gave him a cheeky smile and a thumbs up before finishing cleaning up the kitchen.

After speaking to Jenna on the phone for two minutes I realised she must have a lot of jealousy and control issues, and I honestly did hope she was able to find happiness someday.

Michael came back shortly after and we told him of my phone call Jenna which made him slightly angry but he got over it.

We sat around the bar and talked for a long time just about different things when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"That's weird." I quirked an eyebrow but went to answer it anyways.

When I opened the front door there was a man outside holding a glass vase with a beautiful bouquet of red roses inside.

"Hi, I have a flower delivery for Ms. Chase." He said.

"Oh, wow." I said and he smiled before handing me the flowers.

He then bent down and picked up a smaller vase with little pink roses in it.

"This is for you as well." He said and gave that to me too.

"Have a nice day." He smiled again before leaving and I turned back inside, setting the vases on the counter.

"Oh who sent you flowers?" Michael asked.

"I don't know." I said with a giddy little smile and pulled off the little white card that was clipped to the luscious red roses.

Carter,

I'm so excited for this life that you and I are going to spend together, and all of the adventures that will come with it. You're the most beautiful, amazing, and special girl in the world, and I'm so happy I get to call you mine. I love you so much.

-Ashton

"Who were they from?" Luke asked when I finished reading the card.

"Who do you think?" I laughed happily.

I noticed they had their phones out and realised something.

"You knew he was going to do this didn't you." I narrowed my eyes playfully at them.

"He texted us a while ago, he wanted to see your reaction." Luke admitted and I smiled.

"He's so sweet." I sighed, biting my lip to hide my idiotic grin.

"Who's the other one for?" Michael smirked and I went to look at the card, smiling when I saw Gracie's name.

"Gracie, come here." I called to out to where she was playing in the living room. She ran over to me and I picked her up.

"Look those are for you." I pointed to the vase and she gasped. "It came with a note, do you want me to read it to you?" I asked her and she nodded up with a grin.

I took off the card and opened it.

"To Daddy's little girl, It makes me very happy to say that you are my daughter, and even happier that I get to watch you grow up into the beautiful and smart girl you are. I love you so much Gracie. Love Daddy." I read to her and watched her smile even wider.

"Aww Gray, wasn't that nice?" I kissed her cheek and watched her beam up at me, nodding away.

"You'll have to give him a big hug when he comes home." I said and she nodded.

I set her down and took both of the cards and used the magnets on the fridge to hold them on the refrigerator door so I could see them every day.

"Want us to send you the pictures?" Michael asked and I said yes before taking my phone and going upstairs to call Ashton.

"Hey baby." He answered on the second ring.

"So I got my flowers." I smiled into the phone and heard him chuckle lightly.

"Oh yeah?"

"Mhmm. It was very sweet of you, thank you."

"Of course baby, I'm glad you liked them."

"No ones ever sent me flowers before." I bit my lip.

"Well then I'm happy to be the first." He laughed and I joined in.

"Gracie loved hers as well, she was so excited."

"Aww." He giggled. "The guys need to send me the pictures they took."

"I'll make sure they do. How's packing going?" I asked.

"Good. I just got some boxes from the garage and I'm packing my clothes right now."

"I know this might seem silly but I'm really happy that you're moving in. Like I know we kinda already do, but we're going to be living together, like a real couple."

"Mhmm. And we can have both of our names on the mailbox." He said and I laughed.

"Okay, well I'll let you get back to packing. Love you."

"Love you too pretty girl, I'll see you tonight."

We hung up and I went back down stairs where Calum was watching cartoons with Gracie, the little girl curled up in his lap with her pink sippy cup in her hand.

I took their picture and Calum had me send it to him.

I was on cloud nine from Ashton's wonderful gesture with the flowers and I wanted to do something in return but I didn't know what.

"Can I ask you guys for advice on something?" I asked.

"Sure." Luke sat up a bit and so did Michael.

"Okay, so Ashton always does these really romantic gestures like the date in Sydney, and the promise ring, and then the flowers; I want to do something to thank him."

"Well I think there's an obvious answer that he would quite enjoy." Michael wiggled his eyebrows.

"Okay besides that." I waved my hands at him to get him to stop. "I want to do something that is really meaningful."

"Well if you want to buy him something then get him like a nice watch or pair of sunglasses." Luke suggested.

"But sunglasses don't say "I love you and thanks for being the best thing that's ever happened to me". I want something that really says that."

"Wait I have an idea." Calum said. "So Ashton has always said he wished he was able to meet your parents, why don't you give him something of theirs that he could use."

I sat there pondering that.

"I like it." I smiled. "I'm going to go look."

I stood up from where I was sitting on the coffee table and walked to my parents old bedroom, opening the door and being sucked into nostalgia.

Everything in the room was exactly like it had been the day they died, clean and tidy like my mother liked it.

I went to their mahogany dresser and opened the drawers, looking through her and my dads belongings before I stumbled across their wedding rings that I had put in there after they had passed.

Picking up the silver band that belonged to my father, I held it up, my fingers grazing the surface of the silver.

I really missed my dad.

I closed the drawer and continued to look around, not finding anything that peaked my interest.

Leaving their room I went back into the living room, frowning at my unsuccessful search.

"Find anything?" Calum asked.

"No. Everything seemed too personal or too impersonal."

"Mommy!" Gracie ran and jumped up in my arms and I smiled at her.

And then it hit me.

When the court gave me Gracie, they gave me the option of changing the name on her birth certificate to mine and I had decided against it. But now...this could be something to show Ashton how much I loved him, and really prove to him that I needed him in my life.

I was going to put our names on the certificate, and we were going to officially become Gracie's parents.

"Hey go hang out with your uncles, Mommy's gotta go make a phone call." I told her and she ran over to the sofa where Michael was while I grabbed my phone and headed upstairs.

I spent about thirty minutes on the phone with social services and the court trying to get the birth certificate and I finally did, heading downstairs with a smile on my face.

I had also done something extra special that would make Ashton really happy, and I couldn't wait until it came in the mail so I could surprise them both.

"What are you all smiley about?" Michael wiggled his eyebrows when I walked downstairs.

"I just got Ashton the best present ever and I'm pretty sure I'm going to get fiancé of the year." I grinned as I flopped back onto the sofa.

"Oh yeah? What did you get?" Luke asked while Gracie was sat on his lap.

"Hey Gray, why don't you go upstairs for a minute." I suggested and she toddled upstairs.

When she was out of sight I spoke.

"You CAN NOT tell him this, but I'm getting his name and my name put on Gracie's birth certificate." I smiled and they all sat up with wide smiles.

"He's going to freak out, that's so cool." Calum exclaimed.

"Yeah, and I'm also changing her name to Gracie Irwin." I said and continued to smile.

"He's going to love it Carter, seriously, like he's going to be so happy." Michael grinned.

"I want us to officially become her parents, and hopefully show him that I'm really committed."

"He's definitely going to know that, he's going to be so excited." Luke said.

"But if any of you tell him, I will not hesitate to hurt you." I narrowed my eyes at them and they raised their hands in surrender.

"Mommy!" Gracie called from the top of the stairs.

"Yes?"

"Can I come down now?"

"Yes baby."

She ran down the stairs and over to me, flinging herself in my arms, giggling away.

"I wanna cuddle." She wrapped her arms around me.

"Okay." I smiled and she melted into me, her body pressing to mine.

I pushed back some of her hair and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I love you." I murmured against her skin and she moved her head up to look at me, a smile on her face.

"Love you Mommy." She said back to me, and I pressed a few kisses to her lips and then one to her nose before pulling her back into my embrace.

Closing my eyes I reclined into the sofa, bringing Gracie with me as I curled up.

I heard the movement of someone as they stood up and then felt a blanket being placed over me and Gracie.

I creaked open my eyes to see Michael sitting back down and smiled softly as I went back to cuddling with my daughter.

"Carter." Someone said and I felt my shoulder being shaken and I opened my eyes to see Luke standing above me.

"Yeah?" I asked, waking up from the nap I had apparently taken.

"The school just called and Ender is sick." He said and I gently laid Gracie down who was still asleep in my arms so I could sit up.

"Oh God, okay." I moved to get off the sofa.

"Mommy." Gracie stirred in her sleep.

"Hey baby, Mommy has to go to the school to get Ender, but I'll be back in a bit." I told her and she sat up, frowning.

"Hey, you can hang out with me and Uncle Luke." Calum came up to her and she smiled before reaching her arms up to him so he could pick her up, Gracie dropping her head on his shoulder.

I slid on my shoes and Michael grabbed his car keys so he could drive me up to the school.

It was a passing period so a few girls freaked out when they saw the two of us walking in the school, heading straight to the nurses office.

"Hey bub, what's wrong?" I asked Ender as I went straight to the cot he was laying on.

"My stomach hurts." He groaned.

"Okay, well let's go home." I touched his face and helped him stand.

"I've got him." Michael said and picked Ender up, Ender wrapping his limbs around him and actually not complaining; he must really not feel good.

Michael and I took Ender to Michaels car and drove him home, Michael taking him up to his bed when we arrived.

I was in the kitchen getting a thermometer, nausea pill, and something to drink for Ender when I turned around to take everything upstairs and saw Calum and Gracie curled up together on the sofa, both of them asleep.

Smiling at the sweetness that was my daughter bonding with her uncle, I went upstairs to take care of Ender.

Upstairs I set everything on Ender's nightstand, Michael and Luke assisting me.

Ender sat up so I could take his temperature and it was 101.3.

"Babe." I sighed and frowned, Luke handing me the glass of water and a pill to bring his temperature down.

"Have you've felt bad all day?" I asked him.

He nodded.

"You should've told me this morning bub." I smoothed a hand across his cheek. "Get some rest okay? I'll come up to check on you in a bit."

He nodded and I kissed his hair before me, Michael, and Luke left his room.

I was almost out of pills to bring fever down so I called Ashton once I reached the kitchen.

"Hey babe." He answered.

"Hey, Ender's sick, Michael and I just had to get him from school, and I'm almost out of fever pills. Could you get me some on your way home?"

"Yeah, sure. What's wrong?"

"Just a fever and nausea. Apparently he felt bad this morning but didn't tell me."

"Do we need to take him to the doctor?"

"If he's still got a fever by tomorrow." I sighed.

"Okay. Yeah, I'll get the pills on my way home. Do you need anything else?"

"No that's it. How's it going?"

"Good. I've got my clothes and now I'm just working on everything else. I'm gonna have to come back and get my drums and stuff coz I can't fit everything in my jeep." He laughed.

"Alright. Well I'll see you tonight." I smiled.

"See you then. Bye love."

"Bye."

I set my phone down and then got all of the ingredients out to make chicken soup for Ender, hoping he'd feel better by tomorrow.

When the soup was simmering on the stove I went up to check on Ender who was passed out asleep and then went back down to finish making his food.

I turned around after ladling out a bowl of soup to take upstairs when I saw Luke and Michael standing over Calum and Gracie.

"What are you two doing?" I asked.

"Come look." Luke waved me over.

Setting down the bowl I walked over to see what they were looking at.

Calum was on his side with Gracie literally curled up into him as small as she could possibly get, Calum's arms wrapped around her and holding her to him. Gracie's head was tucked between his shoulder and head, her face pressed to his neck.

"Aw." I smiled and took my own phone out to take a picture. "She loves you guys."

"She's so cute." Luke poked out his bottom lip.

"And literally the most cuddly person in the world." Michael laughed.

"I know." I smiled. "She's amazing."

I sent the picture to Ashton before posting it on my Instagram, making it the second picture I ever posted and captioning it 'Nap time with Uncle Cal.'

I smiled once more at my precious daughter before taking the soup up to Ender.

I checked his temperature again and there was no change.

Back downstairs Calum had woken up to find Gracie snuggled up to him and smiled happily, not moving as to not wake her. He took a selfie of the two of them and told me to check my Instagram where had posted it saying 'Gracie cuddles are the best cuddles. Love this kid and her parents.' and then tagged Ashton and I in it.

Gracie began to stir and her little eyes fluttered open, all of us looking at her.

"Did you have a nice nap?" I asked her and she nodded, noticing her cuddled up position when her head lightly hit Calum's cheek.

She gave him a toothy grin and a light giggle before putting her arms around his neck to hug him.

"Carter I'm stealing your child." Calum said as he hugged Gracie back.

"Nope, she's mine." I shook my head, smiling at the adorable scene before me.

Gracie cuddled with Calum a little longer before coming over to me where I got her a snack.

"Mommy can we play dress up now?" She asked once she was done eating her grapes.

"Sure love." I smiled and she ran upstairs to my room, dragging me and her uncles with her.

She had us sit on the floor in a circle around her tea set that Ashton had bought for her on their Daddy- daughter day, and then went to the toy chest (that he had also got) so she could pick out tiaras, and costume jewellery for us to wear.

I couldn't fight my laughter at the sight of the three tall teens wearing sparkly tiaras and pink and purple necklaces.

She wore her fairy wings and had a little wand as she skipped around us, telling us if we were fairies, princesses, or Queens.

I took a few pictures of the boys with Gracie that were super cute, and I wished Ashton was here to be with us but it was okay since he was getting his belongings so he could move into the house with me.

"Mommy you have to wear the purple crown because you're the fairy now." Gracie told me and switched mine and Calum's tiaras.

She had a grand time having the tea party and playing dress up with us until it was time for me to make dinner and check on Ender.

I had Gracie put away her toys and promised her a cookie after dinner if she did it, but she kept on her fairy wings which I let her.

After her toys were put away she wanted to help me cook so I sat her on the counter while the guys sat at the bar to watch.

"Mommy, I wanna talk to Daddy." She said and I smiled before calling Ashton, putting it on speaker phone.

"Hey babe." Ashton answered.

"Hi. Your daughter wanted to talk to you." I said and then nodded to Gracie.

"Daddy, me and Mommy and Uncle Calum, and Uncle Lukey, and Uncle Mikey played dress up and tea party!" She said happily and I heard Ashton chuckling.

"That sounds fun Gray. Did you make your uncles wear tiaras?"

"Yes! They were princesses!"

"Aw." He giggled.

"Daddy when are you coming home?"

"I'll be home tonight sweetheart." He told her.

"Are you gonna say goodnight?"

"Yes I will. I'll be back to tuck you in to bed."

"Yay!" She exclaimed.

"Alright well we will let you get back to packing, love you." I said.

"Love you guys too. How's Ender feeling?"

"He's asleep so I'll let you know when he wakes up."

"Okay. Well I'll see you guys later."

"Bye Daddy!" Gracie called.

"Bye love. Bye Car."

"Bye." I said and hung up the phone.

I set down the phone to resume making the salad to go along with our chicken that was baking in the oven when I looked up to see all three boys looking at me oddly.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." Michael smirked.

"Tell me!"

"Just you and Ashton...you guys have this family together, and it's cool to see him that way." Luke smiled.

"Well thank you?" I laughed awkwardly.

"You're welcome." Calum smiled.

After a dinner of chicken, macaroni and cheese, and salad, I boxed up the left overs for Ashton and then checked on Ender who was still asleep, before going to the living room where everyone was watching a movie.

Gracie was leaning against Luke but when I sat next to them she crawled over into my lap, her bunny in her hands.

"I miss Daddy." She whined.

"I know baby I miss him too. But he'll be back soon, don't worry." I smiled at her, nuzzling my face against hers and causing her to giggle.

"There's my smiley little girl." I grinned and she threw her head back as she laughed.

I noticed all of the guys watching us as me and Gracie smiled at each other, enjoying this moment with my little girl.

--

They're moving in together!!

Hope everyone had a great week and has a lovely weekend as well!

as always, vote and comment if you'd like!

much love xx -M