Ashton's PoV:

That night once we got back to my moms house, Carter called us.

"Hi." She said, her voice sounding a little tired but still cheerful.

"Hey baby." I smiled into the receiver. "How was your day?"

"Uh, long." She answered. "What about yours, how were the kids?"

"Good. Gracie had a little melt down at the radio station when I was backstage but she was great other than that. She fell asleep during the magazine interview. Ender was good too, he's really interested in the job."

"That sounds like fun." She said.

"It is. I love getting to share this with them, I just wish you were here too."

"Me too. Maybe next time."

"Definitely next time." I smiled.

"I miss you and the kids." She said and heard her sigh.

"We miss you too."

"Yeah." She breathed. "Well I'm literally exhausted so I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay," I said happily, "I love you."

"I love you too." She said before we hung up, and I could picture the little sheepish grin on her face.

I left my old bedroom and went to the living room to get Gracie so I could get her in the bath and then to bed, falling asleep cuddled up to my kids again.

Morning came all too soon and Gracie clung to me like a sloth while I made coffee and then woke up Ender so he could shower.

While Ender showered I dressed Gracie in a dress similar to the one she wore the day before except that it was baby pink with a white bow and trim instead of navy blue.

I had her hair in two French braids again and tied the little bows around the ends.

After I was dressed I made breakfast and helped Ender decide on what shirt to wear before we left in the SUV to head to another radio station to do the same thing we had done yesterday.

"Daddy I wanna talk to Mommy." Gracie said to me from her car seat.

"Okay, let's call her." I smiled and pulled my phone from my pocket.

The phone rang four times before it went to her voicemail.

"I guess she's already at Aunt Ari's but she'll call us back." I told Gracie and she nodded.

I pulled up my texts and sent one to Carter.

'Call me back when you get the chance, Gracie wants to talk to you. Love you.'

We arrived at the station and just like the day before we took photos with the fans waiting outside before we went in.

"Ashton, can you show me how you sound check?" Ender asked as we made it to the live room and I smiled.

"Sure mate. Let me get Gracie set up and then I can show you."

I had her sit in the back and she got out her other colouring book that I had packed for her and began to colour again.

"Okay End, follow me." I led him up to the little stage and showed him how every instrument was plugged in and had him stand next to me while John got our levels in the sound board.

"That's so cool." Ender exclaimed once we were done and the boys and I smiled at him.

I fixed Gracie a sippy cup full of juice and we went to go get interviewed by the host of the  radio show we were on.

Gracie was chatty this morning and so was Ender which caused the guys and I to laugh.

After the interview I carried Gracie into the back room where the staff had put out snacks and I gave her a cupcake.

Once the fans were brought in I had Gracie and Ender go out to sit in front like last time.

The boys and I were talking about changing out Teenage Dream for What I Like About You and I didn't notice what was happening in the room next door.

The door had opened to that room and a girl had walked in, looking around until she found what she was looking for.

She walked over to John at the sound board and said something to him before he called out.

"Gracie Irwin and Ender Chase, someone's here to see you."

The two kids whipped around before gasping and running to the back of the room to hug their surprise visitor.

"Mommy!" I heard Gracie exclaim and that's what ripped me from my conversation to look through the window to see Gracie hugging a girl who was crouched down.

I couldn't see her face because her long dark auburn hair covered it but she was wearing my black and grey tie-dye sweatshirt.

She had her face hidden until she went to hug Ender and that's when my heart began to beat out of my chest and I felt butterflies erupt in my stomach.

Carter was here.

My fiancé was actually here.

Fans were taking pictures of her hugging the kids with their phones and I opened the door to go out into the room, all of them gasping or awing at my entrance.

Carter looked up from hugging Ender and smiled softly when she saw me.

I took a few steps towards her before she stood up and shocked me by running to me and jumping in my arms. Her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms around my neck as she buried her head in my shoulder.

All the fans awed but I didn't care that they were watching, the love of my life was here.

"Surprise." She said in a quiet voice and I tightened the arms I had around her back.

"Hi." I breathed into her hair. "What are you doing here?"

"Ari called me this morning and said she felt better and I didn't want to be alone so I called your mom and she called a car to come pick me up from the ferry to take me here." She said.

"Oh my God this is amazing." I spoke to her and I felt her cheeks go up as she smiled.

"So you liked your surprise?"

"I loved it. You're incredible Carter."

She hugged me tighter and I breathed out a relaxed sigh.

"I love you." I heard her say.

"I love you too."

She lifted her head up so she could quickly attach her lips to mine before unwrapping her legs from my waist and sliding off me.

I took her hand and walked her into the back room, Gracie and Ender following us.

I took notice of how she was dressed, different than any other time I'd seen her.

She wore black skinny jeans that I knew she didn't own so I assumed she borrowed them from Ari. She also wore my hoodie and her black combat boots that Ari had bought her for Christmas. Her hair was more flat but still wavy and I knew she had probably taken a shower right before she left.

"What time did you get here?" I asked.

"Just now." She laughed. "I wanted to get here before you guys went on the air but the ferry was slow this morning."

"Oh my God I still can't believe you're actually here." I grinned and she continued to show her breathtaking smile and I pulled her into another hug.

"You look cute in my sweatshirt." I murmured in her ear before kissing it and I felt her hands rest on my stomach.

"It's warm and it smells like you." She smiled up at me, her chin on my chest and I gave her a cheeky grin before going back to kiss her again.

"Mommy." I heard Gracie say and she tugged on the end of Carters (really my) sweatshirt and Carter smiled before picking her up and settling her on her hip.

"Did you miss me?" Carter asked as she began to sway her hips from side to side, lightly bouncing Gracie.

"Mhmm." Gracie nodded. "Daddy gave me a cupcake?"

"A cupcake? Wow." She said playfully, Gracie smiling happily.

Carter began to look around.

"So this is what it's like huh?" She asked.

"Kinda." I laughed.

"This is cool." She smiled. "So where do I need to go?"

"Well, you and the kids can go out there and sit and wait for the show to start." I told her and she nodded.

"Okay." She leaned up to peck my lips and then she carried Gracie back out to the room  alongside Ender where she sat down beside the fans.

I watched as all them waved at her and she waved back, and through the crack in the door I could hear her voice.

"Hi, how are you guys?"

"Good." All the fans answered back.

"How are you?" One girl asked her.

"I'm very good, thank you for asking." Carter smiled.

Gracie climbed over to sit in Carters lap and thumped her head down onto her chest.

I could see Gracie's face and she was poking out her lip.

"What's wrong baby?" Carter asked.

"I want you." Gracie pouted and Carter laughed.

"But I'm right here." She gave Gracie a cute smile and began to tickle her stomach making Gracie giggle.

"I want Daddy." Gracie then said and Carter began to trace the little girls cheeks with her thumb.

"Daddy's working, but you can see him in a minute." She told her and Gracie nodded. "First you want me, then you want Daddy, you're indecisive today." Carter joked.

"I want both!" Gracie grinned.

"Hmm, how about tonight you can cuddle with me and Daddy?" Carter suggested.

"Okay!" Gracie beamed and Carter began to play with her, holding her hands and leaning Gracie backwards until she was almost touching the floor and then pulling her back up causing Gracie to squeal and laugh.

Whenever Carter pulled Gracie back up she'd kiss her nose, forehead, cheeks, or lips; a permanent smile on the little girls face.

When she stopped she pulled Gracie in for a hug and smiled at the fans who were watching her.

"So are you guys excited to hear the boys?" Carter asked them.

When they all said yes she laughed.

"Me too. This is the first time I've heard them live."

"Really?" One girl asked.

"Mhmm." Carter nodded. "Ashton has only played for me what they've recorded so I'm excited to hear them live."

Gracie moved on Carters lap.

"Carrots." Gracie said and Carter searched the floor for the stuffed bunny before handing it to her.

"She's so cute." One of the girls commented and then the others all agreed.

"Thank you." Carter smiled. "She's a pretty special little girl."

"How old were you when you had her?" One girl asked.

"Oh, uh, well I didn't actually have her myself, she just came to live with me a few months ago." Carter answered well.

"So what is Ashton like as a boyfriend?" An excited fan asked and Carter laughed.

"He's probably listening right now." She chuckled. "But he is very romantic, and a perfect gentleman. Very sweet and loving, and funny as well."

"So did you know he was going to propose to you?" Another question was flung at her.

"I had no idea. I was honestly so surprised, but it was very sweet and perfect, and I couldn't have imagined it any other way."

"Can you tell us about your first date?"

"Sure." Carter smiled. "Let's see, he picked me up at my house, and we went out to dinner at this little diner in my hometown, and then we went roller skating, and after that he took me home and we just sat on my roof and talked for a very long time, and then he gave me a goodnight kiss on the cheek."

The girls awed.

"How many people did you date before you met Ashton?" Someone else asked her.

"None actually, Ashton was my first boyfriend." She answered.

"But had you kissed another boy before him?"

Ender made a disgusted face at that question.

"Nope. Ashton was my first kiss."

They all gasped and then began to talk excitedly which Carter laughed at.

"That's so surprising because you are so pretty." A fan complimented her.

"Thank you so much." Carter smiled at her.

"I think so too!" I called out loudly so they could hear me from the back room and they all laughed, Carter turning around to look in my direction before shaking her head with an embarrassed smile.

Gracie finally moved in Carters arms so that her head was against her chest and moved her thumb to her mouth.

"Are you tired baby girl?" Car began to caress her behind her ear.

Gracie shook her head no and Carter laughed lightly.

The little girl then reached her hand over to Carters left hand, touching her engagement ring.

"I want one." Gracie said and the rest of the girls in the room laughed alongside Carter.

"You want an engagement ring, you're four, who are you going to marry?" Carter chuckled.

"A prince!" Gracie grinned. "Like Daddy."

Every single person in the room awed and my heart seriously melted at her words.

"You're Daddy is a prince isn't he." Carter laughed.

At this point Lucy and Clarke exited the back room and entered the lounge, the girls sitting up straight and Gracie sitting up in Carters lap as well.

Carter clapped alongside the cheering fans when we walked in and suddenly a wave of nervousness came over me.

This was the first time she would ever hear me play live.

"I'm nervous." I spoke into my microphone and everyone laughed.

"You're nervous?" Calum asked me.

"Yes, I'm about to play in front of my fiancé for the first time." I exclaimed and they laughed again.

Car gave me a soft smile.

"I think Carter should give Ashton a good luck kiss." Luke said in the mic and everyone cheered.

I saw Carter blush heavily but they continued to cheer so finally she moved Gracie to Ender's lap and stood up, making her way over to me.

She pointed her finger and narrowed her eyes at Luke but stepped around the mic stand and placed her hand on my cheek, ducking down to attach her lips to mine.

When she pulled away I went to kiss her back which made the fans cheer again. I could taste the honey flavoured Chapstick on her lips, and smiled into it.

As we broke the kiss a laugh escaped her and she winked at me.

"Good luck rock star." She whispered and then patted my knee before she and her blushing cheeks made their way back over to her spot on the floor.

"Mommy kissed Daddy!" Gracie laughed and the whole room did too at her words, me blushing as well.

Carter continued to blush heavily as she took Gracie back in her lap, a soft smile on her lips.

"So this first song is called Out of My Limit." Luke said and I took a deep breath, counting us off and starting the song.

Every time I looked up Carter was watching me, her lip between her teeth but a happy look on her face.

When we moved onto Beside You she pulled Gracie into a tighter hug, the little girl leaning her head back on her moms shoulder and Carter pressed her lips to her cheek while she sang along, swaying Gracie from side to side.

It was sweet and I couldn't fight the smile on my face.

Gracie hugged Carters neck when the song was over and smiled when Carter pressed a long kiss to her forehead.

We finished out the set the same as the day before and Gracie tried to get Carter to dance with her to which she did a little bit, Ender laughing at the two of them.

They were adorable together and once the set was over and we had left to go to the back room again, Carter came in all smiles.

"Oh my God you guys were so good!" She squealed excitedly and I laughed as she hugged me.

"Seriously Ashton, you're amazing." She smiled and I hugged her tighter.

"Thank you."

She moved her face back to which I obviously had to kiss her, and then I watched as she went to hug the other guys.

"What's next?" She asked as she came back over to me.

"Well we have a magazine interview to go to and then a photo shoot for it."

"Ooo, exciting." She smirked and I laughed.

"Okay, so let's get Gracie's stuff together and then we can go." I said and she nodded, finding the little girls back pack while I helped scour the studio for anything she'd left behind.

Gracie had her bunny and her sippy cup in her hands and Carter wanted to hold her so she did, the two of them following us outside alongside Ender where fans were still waiting.

I personally wanted to get to the car so I could talk to Carter but being the stubborn person she was, she insisted on taking photos with everyone there who wanted one, talking with them like she normally did.

I admired her as she did that, and finally she came over to me when she was done, and I led her into the SUV.

She buckled up Gracie and Ender sat in the back with Calum while she and I took the seats next to Gracie.

"So where's your stuff?" I asked Carter.

"The driver took it to your moms house." She smiled and I reached over to take her hand.

"Come here." I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her into my chest, her hair flying to cover her face.

I tucked the strands behind her ear and leaned down to pepper kisses across her cheek causing her to giggle.

When we arrived at the building downtown for the magazine interview, we all piled out of the car, Carter holding Gracie's hand and Ender's.

She followed us in the building where the young girl who was interviewing us for the magazine greeted us.

"I'm Carter, nice to meet you." Carter stepped forward and shook the girls hand, introducing herself.

"You're Ashton's fiancé, it's so nice to meet you too." The girl smiled. "I'm Brinn."

She led us back to a conference room, Carter still holding Gracie who was wrapped around her, her head on her shoulder. She was happy that her mom was here.

In the conference room Carter took the seat next to me, Gracie curling up into her and nestling her face into Carters neck. Carter pressed a kiss to her cheek then wrapped her arms snugly around the little girl, knowing she'd be asleep soon.

I gazed at the two of them as Gracie stared up at Carter then placed her little hand on her moms cheek, Carter looking down at her to smile.

"Go to sleep love." She whispered to the little girl and began to brush her lips across her face, pressing a little kiss to her lips once she was asleep.

I reached over to place my hand on Carters knee and she looked up at me; a soft smile was etched into her features and I swore I had never seen anything so beautiful.

Keeping my hand on her leg we returned our attention to the girl who was about to interview me and the boys.

"Carter would it be okay if I asked you some questions as well?" Brinn asked Carter.

"Sure." She smiled up at her.

"Awesome okay so let's begin. Ashton and Carter I'm going to start with you since you two have been the hot topic of social media for the past two weeks. How's everything going for you guys?" Brinn asked us.

"Good, we're doing good." I smiled and moved my hand to take up Carters, sliding her fingers between mine and giving it a squeeze.

"Yeah." Carter smiled. "We're doing great."

"There's been a lot of talk about your sudden engagement, some of it positive and some of it negative. I really think it shocked a lot of people because no one even knew you were dating until I think a day before, and some of your friends, Ashton, didn't even know you had a girlfriend. You two were obviously very private about your relationship so why come out now?"

"Yeah, well we kept things very private for I think as long as we could, but Carter and the kids were also a big part of my life and the guys lives and I just wanted to share that with the world, and I think announcing that we were engaged was kind of our way of going public." I answered.

"So Carter this must be all very new to you, how are you adjusting to this sudden celebrity status you've been given?" Brinn asked Carter.

"I'm far from being a celebrity." Carter laughed. "I mean it's definitely been weird for me and Ender I think because we aren't used to people like running up to us for photos, and creating accounts on Twitter with our names, and interviewing us, but I love getting to experience this part of Ashton's life with him. And he's been very good about making me feel comfortable and kind of easing us into this transition."

"You mentioned Ender and you have adjusted well, what about Gracie? She's your second cousin and is now being raised by you and Ashton, and is like your daughter now, did she adjust to it well?"

"I think she loves all of the attention." Carter laughed.

"She's definitely our little celebrity." I smiled. "But she loves taking pictures with fans and always hugs them and gives them drawings that she makes and it's just really nice as you know now being her father, to see her interact with the fans."

"Honestly, Gracie and Ashton are so similar, and I forget sometimes that he's not biologically her dad because they are so close and so alike, and it's been great getting to experience that." Carter squeezed my hand and gave me a smile as she spoke.

"So Ashton has spoke about you quite a bit in recent interviews Carter, about your story and your life and how he has fallen in love with you; but could you tell us how you fell in love with him and why you decided to marry him?"

"When I first met Ashton I had never had a boyfriend before so it was strange to have this person who kinda just came into my life and just literally changed my entire world for the better. He's so sweet and caring, and he makes me feel so loved, and when he asked me to marry him I guess I just kinda knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him too." She said and I smiled at her.

"That's sweet." Brinn smiled. "Now I have to ask about this since it was a pretty big story, but Ashton your ex girlfriend Jenna did an interview in which she said some very brutal things about your relationship with Carter. Do you two have a response?"

I opened my mouth to speak but Carter interrupted me.

"I don't think we do. I've never met Jenna so I don't really feel like I have the place to say anything about someone I don't know, but I hope she finds happiness one day like I've found with Ashton."

I gave Carter and impressed look and she just shrugged.

She had just managed to shade Jenna, slam all of the rumours, and make herself look even more perfect than she already was in one sentence.

Once the magazine interview was complete we went to go get dinner before the shoot.

We headed to a restaurant and I held Carters hand as we walked into the Italian place, all of us sitting at a large table to accommodate our group size.

"So I have some good news." Carter hinted after we had ordered our drinks.

"What?" I asked her with a smile.

"Ari and Jason said yes to moving in while we're gone."

"Oh awesome!" I grinned.

"Yeah, I think that helped after I told her I would be gone for seven months." She laughed. "Oh and I had to assure her I would be there for her wedding so I'm going to have to fly back for that."

"Sounds like a plan." I smiled. "So I heard you talking with the fans, I told you they like you."

"They were sweet." She giggled.

I reached over to playfully pinch her cheek and then ordered our food.

Gracie was sitting next to me playing the little games on the children's menu when she got bored and leaned her head over to rest it on my arm.

"Daddy?" She said in her little voice.

"Yes?"

"I love you." She scrunched up her cheeks in an adorable smile and in that moment she looked just like Carter.

"Aw, I love you too." I chuckled.

"How much?" She sat back up and bounced in her seat.

"Hmm...I love you more than you could ever imagine." I leaned over and said to her, bumping my nose against hers as she grinned.

"I love you more than ice cream!" She said back and Carter busted into laughter next to me.

"You love me more than ice cream?" I joined in Carters laughter while Gracie nodded happily.

"Oh my God that was brilliant." Carter dabbed under her eyes while she tried to stop laughing.

After we had calmed down for the most part I pulled out my phone and sent out a tweet.

'You know you're doing parenting right when your daughter says she loves you more than ice cream.'

We ate our meal and paid our checks before heading back outside but I had Calum take a picture of me, Carter, and the kids before we got in the car.

We stood against a brick wall, Carter next to me with Ender and Gracie in front of us.

'The Irwins' I captioned the photo before posting it to my Instagram and then gathering my family into the car to head to the photo shoot.

--

hey everyone!

So I'm going on vacation for the next week so I am going to try to update when or if I can, depending on times and wifi, but if I don't just know that the next parts are coming soon!!

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

much love xx-M