"Okay, it's time to say goodbye to Daddy." I said to Gracie as she was running about the room and she ran to Ashton.

"Bye baby girl, I'll see you later." He smiled as he picked her up to give her a kiss.

"Bye Daddy." She hugged him and he set her down, called out bye to Ender and then moved to me.

"Hey, if anything else happens call me." He said and I nodded.

"I will."

"Okay." He smiled. "I love you."

"I love you too."

He leaned down for a kiss which lasted for a minute before we pulled away.

I watched as he left with a little wave and then was gone.

After Ender finished his homework I was going take the kids out, so while I waited I slipped into the bedroom and decided to call Ari.

"Hey doll! How's LA?!" She answered almost immediately.

"Good. It's really pretty." I smiled.

"Well what's up?"

"So yesterday Gracie was sick and you know how when you were little and your mom would hold you like skin to skin?"

"Like when I was a baby?"

"Yeah. Like that. Well I took a bath and had her take it with me and held her like that, and it was really sweet and she loved it, she wants me to hold her like that all the time...but now she's started to try and...um like breastfeed from me."

"Are you serious?" Ari asked, her voice sounded shocked.

"Yes."

"Wow. Uh what are you going to do?

"I don't know. I mean the first time she went to do it I freaked out and moved her away, but Ashton said its natural and we looked it up and it says it is, but I don't know how to feel about it."

"So she actually breastfed from you?"

"No. She tried but I didn't let her, I gave her a sippy cup instead."

"Yeah. Well maybe you should go talk to a doctor about it, see what they think." She suggested.

"Yeah, that's probably what I'll do. I'm just scared that she will get upset if I won't let her."

"Well of course she'll be upset, it's what she wants, but you're the mother and you call the shots."

"You're right."

"You'll let me know what ends up happening?"

"Yeah. I will."

"Okay. I love you."

"Love you too."

I set down my phone and ran my hands over my face.

"Car I'm done with my homework!" Ender called out to me and I stood up, leaving the bedroom.

Since it would just be me walking around the city by myself, I used the stroller we had bought for Gracie so I wouldn't have to worry about her running off.

Downstairs once I got a car the driver put the stroller in the back while I put Gracie in her car seat.

I had the driver take us to a shopping district downtown where I got Gracie buckled into the stroller and then began to walk around.

I mostly window shopped as I walked around, not looking for anything really but somewhere in the back of my head I remembered Ashton's birthday was coming up soon.

I needed to start figuring out what to get him.

"Mommy lookie!" Gracie exclaimed and I looked ahead where there was a Disney store.

"Oh, let's go look inside." I smiled and pushed the stroller along, Ender following beside me.

The kids had a blast in the Disney store where I ended up purchasing several things for each of them before we moved on to lunch.

I found a restaurant with an outside patio where we ate.

Gracie climbed into my lap as we waited for the check. When she started to pull on my shirt I knew I'd have to set up some boundaries.

"No Gracie, stop." I told her.

"But cuddle." She pouted.

"I know you want to cuddle and we can cuddle later, but right now I need you to stop pulling on my shirt and be still." I scolded her in my motherly tone, but she did as I said and sat still in my lap, leaning her head against my collar bone.

I paid the check and then we continued to walk around.

"Can we go see Ashton?" Ender asked me.

"Uh sure. I can have the driver take us there." I said and called the driver.

We loaded back in the car and were driven to a building on the outskirts of downtown. Once there we got out of the vehicle and walked inside, following the sound of music.

We got to a door in the hall where I could tell the music was coming from and opened the door, slowly going in as to not disturb them.

All of their backs were facing me and Gracie put her hands over her ears because of the loud noise, making a grumpy face.

I laughed and took her picture as the boys continued to practice without noticing us.

My eyes were of course drawn to Ashton who was behind his drum kit, completely focused.

They finished the song and I started to clap, all of them turning around to see me.

"Hey!" They shouted in greeting.

"Hi." I smiled.

"Daddy you loud." Gracie pouted and he busted out laughing, everyone else doing so also.

"Come here girly." He patted his lap and she walked over to him, Ashton picking her up and setting her on his legs, kissing her cheek.

"How was your day?" Ashton asked her.

"We go to Disney!" She grinned.

"Disney?" He raised an eyebrow and looked at me.

"Disney store." I explained and he nodded.

"That sounds fun Gray." He smiled. "Oh and guess what, Uncle Mikey is going to take you on your date tonight."

"Wow Gray, that's exciting." I smiled, sending Michael a wink who just laughed.

"Yay!" She cheered.

"Okay baby, let's let Daddy get back to practicing." I said but she began to pout again.

"She's fine." Ashton told me and went back to Gracie, letting her hold the drum sticks.

He let her hit he drums, laughing at her and I went around to take a picture of them before sending it to Ashton.

Ender was having Michael explain to him what all of the pedals on his footboard did and I smiled at how interested he was.

I let the kids play around for a bit longer until it was time for me to take Gracie back to the hotel for nap time.

"Okay, time to go guys."

"No!" Gracie whined but I rolled my eyes and lifted her off Ashton's lap anyways, setting her on my waist.

"How has it gone with her today?" He asked me.

"Good. She tried to pull my shirt down at lunch but other than that she was fine."

He nodded.

"Maybe it was a one time thing baby, who knows." He shrugged.

"Yeah." I gave him a little smile. "Well I've got to get her down for her nap, but I'll see you later." I leaned down for a kiss.

"Okay, love you."

"Love you too."

He kissed me a few more times before I called Ender over and we left.

Once we got back to the hotel I took Gracie straight to her bed with her nice clean sheets and began to put her down for her nap which she began to protest.

"No!" She whined and then began to cry, pitching a fit. "Mommy!"

Ender came and tried to help me but it was no use.

"Gracie." I sighed.

"Mommy." She sobbed, reaching for me and I got in the bed with her, laying down next to her.

"It's okay." I shushed her as she came to
cuddle up to me.

"Mommy." She whined and tugged at my shirt and I sighed, sitting up and taking my jacket off.

"What are you doing?" Ender asked as I lifted my shirt over my head.

"She likes to be close to me, she wants her skin on mine, it comforts her." I explained and he gave me a weird look.

She brought her thumb to her mouth as I cuddled her, closing her eyes in contentment. I closed mine as well as we both relaxed and just as I thought she was about to be asleep she moved her thumb from her mouth and tugged on the cup of my bra.

"Don't pull." I told her and sighed again.

I nestled into the blankets more, securing her to me, shushing her and kissing her skin.

Only minutes after that she was asleep.

I moved her to the side so I could get up and tucked in the blanket around her before getting dressed again and heading out into the main room.

"Why is she being so clingy?" Ender asked me as I left and I sighed.

"Because she wants to." I shook my head and collapsed onto the sofa.

I brought my phone up and sent a text to Ashton.

'Tried to put Gray down for her nap and she screamed and cried until I did the skin to skin with her. This is already becoming a bad habit.'

'She wants to be close to you.' He sent back.

I sighed dramatically and turned over in the cushions, taking a well deserved nap.

I woke up to the sound of video games and saw Ender sitting in front of me on the floor.

"How long has she been asleep?" I heard Ashton's voice from somewhere behind me.

"Like two hours." Ender said.

"I'm up." I sighed, mumbling into the cushion.

Sitting up I rubbed at my eyes and yawned.

"Hey Mommy, how was your nap?" Ashton came over and smirked at me.

"Shut up." I fell back into the cushions, Ashton chuckling.

"Wanna talk about it?" He asked and I nodded.

He came around the sofa and sat on the floor in front of me.

"Ashton you should've seen her, she was hysterical. She wouldn't stop crying until I did it."

"I'm sorry. We'll talk to her."

I nodded my head.

He didn't say much else and I got up to notice Becca there, picking out my outfit for my night with Ashton.

I decided to drink some coffee to give myself some energy and I was only two sips in when the sound of Gracie sobbing came from the bedroom.

"I've got her." Ashton stood up from where he was drinking coffee as well and walked to the bedroom to calm her down.

I knew if I went in there and she saw me she would want me to nurse her.

"Mommy's busy right now Gracie. You're okay, stop crying." I heard him say to her in his comforting dad voice.

She sobbed something inaudible and my hands flew up to cover my eyes as I felt the tears begin to flow.

This was breaking my heart.

"Carter are you okay?" I heard Becca ask in a small voice and I sucked in a sharp breath before breaking down again.

I soon felt her arms around me, trying to comfort me.

"Hey, what's going on?" She cooed and I explained it to her between broken sobs and cries.

I could hear Gracie crying to Ashton in the other room the entire time I talked (cried) to Becca.

"Oh love." Becca frowned and hugged me. "It's going to get better, I promise you."

I nodded my head, sniffling.

At that moment Ashton walked out of the bedroom.

"Carter I can't get her to stop crying." He was shocked by the fact that he couldn't get her to
calm down.

I stood up from the chair and followed him into the bedroom where when the moment Gracie saw me she flung herself on me.

"Shh, it's okay, come here." I hugged her to me as I brought her to the bed and laid down with her.

I kept shushing her as I tried laying with her normally, tucking her into me as tightly as I could, and while this helped it still didn't cease all of the drama.

"Ash." I said and he came around to the other side of the bed to console Gracie while I took off my shirt.

"Come here." I got under the covers and she curled up to me.

I held her close, shushing her and whispering comforting words to her until she fully relaxed.

My eyes glanced up to Ashton who moved his hand over to pet Gracie's hair.

"Daddy, you cuddle too." Gracie said and Ashton smiled before moving under the blankets as well.

"I hear Mommy's heart beeping." She smiled cheekily as her face was pressed against my chest.

"Oh yeah? What does it sound like?" I laughed.

"Boom boom boom boom." She copied the rhythm of my heart beat.

"I listen to Daddies." She then moved over to Ashton. "I can't hear it."

"What do you mean?"

"No hear." She tugged on his shirt and he chuckled before slipping off his shirt.

She placed her head on his chest and smiled.

"Daddy's heart go boom boom boom too." She grinned.

"I love you Gray." He smiled down at her.

Ashton shifted over so he could put his arm around my shoulders and I curled into him, Gracie between us.

"Mhmm, we love you very much." I smiled and kissed her head.

I shivered a bit because the hotel room was a bit chilly and Ashton gave me a knowing look.

"Gracie, can Mommy put her shirt back on, she's cold." I asked her and she nodded so I sat up and slid on the fabric before laying back down with them.

"Now Gracie, I know you like cuddling and being close to me and Mommy, but you can't scream and cry every time you want to cuddle. We love to cuddle with you too, but if you keep acting like that every time you want to cuddle then we won't do it anymore." Ashton told her.

"I be bad?" She looked up at him with her big brown eyes.

"Mhmm. But I know you're a sweet little girl, and you won't do that again, right?"

She nodded her head.

"I be good girl."

"That's our baby." I kissed her face and she giggled.

"Come here." Ashton moved us over so that I was laying between his legs with Gracie on my chest.

"Cuddles with my two girls, my favourite." Ashton squeezed my waist.

He took his phone from the nightstand and held it in front of us, taking a picture. Gracie smiled widely as I smiled down at her while Ashton did the same, his other hand resting on her tummy.

'Parenting is hard. There's always moments when I question if I'm doing anything right and wonder if I am helping my kids be the best they can be, but then I lay down on the couch to watch my brother play video games and my fiancé and daughter come to cuddle with me, and I know that no matter what happens, when you have a family that loves each other then you can get through anything.'

I kissed Ashton's cheek.

"Okay Gray, let's go get ready." I told the little girl and she got up to run to Becca.

I got up as well and kissed Ashton before leaving to get ready too.

Becca curled Gracie's hair and dressed her in a cobalt blue dress. There was a sparkly blue bow that went around the waist and she put on white shoes.

Once Gracie was ready Becca curled my hair as well, did my makeup and then had me get into a tight black dress with thin straps.

"Every girl needs a little black dress." Becca smiled as I slipped on the black high heels.

"Hey hottie." Ashton smirked at me as he walked into the room wearing his signature black skinny jeans and an army green button down.

"I should be saying that to you." I laughed.

There was a knock at the door and I smiled.

"Gracie, I think someone's here for you." I said and she gasped excitedly.

We went over to the door and Ashton opened it to reveal Michael, wearing black skinnies as well and a faded light grey button down. He had a little bouquet of pink roses in his hand.

"Aw." I fawned over how sweet he was.

"I got these for you." Michael crouched down to Gracie's level and handed her the flowers.

I hurried to snap a picture of the two.

"Okay, I want her home by ten." Ashton told Michael who smiled.

"Got it. We're going to have fun, aren't we Gracie?"

"Yay!" She cheered and handed me her flowers.

"Okay, bye love." I kissed her cheek and Ashton did the same before she left with Michael, holding his hand with one arm and holding Mr. Carrots in the other.

After they were gone Ashton and I told Ender goodbye who was going to the guys room to play video games before Ash and I left.

We got a car that drove us to a restaurant.

I could already see the flashes outside the car windows when we pulled up and Ashton got out first, taking my hand and leading me inside. I kept my head down as the paparazzi snapped our picture and called after us.

Once inside I relaxed and we were led to a table that was reserved for us.

"When did you do this?" I asked as he pushed my chair in after I had sat down.

"In the car this morning on the way to rehearsal." He smiled as he sat down in his own chair.

"Well this is very nice."

He laughed adorably as our waiter came to take our drink order.

"So besides Gracie's little meltdowns this week, how has it been?" He asked me, his hand reaching across the table to hold mine.

"Good. I really enjoyed hanging out with Luke the other day. I'd never hung out with him one on one, and he's really nice. We had a good talk."

"Yeah, what did you talk about?" He smiled at me and I opened my mouth to answer but my froze when my eyes glanced up and landed on a person I had honestly never expected to see in person.

"Jenna."

"You talked about my ex?" Ashton quirked an eyebrow.

"No, but she just walked in the restaurant."

"What?" He widened his eyes and looked behind him to see the girl he used to date along with another group of girls waiting for a table. "You've got to be freaking kidding me."

I just squeezed his hand.

"I had this whole special evening planned and now she's going to freaking ruin it." He sighed, obviously annoyed.

"Well, what do you want to do?" I asked him.

"Would you be mad if I suggested we go somewhere else?"

"Ashton, we'll do whatever you want, but I'm not afraid of her."

"I know, I just wanted us to have a special night together."

"Ash, we could have gone to a fast food restaurant with all of your ex's sitting at the table next to us and it wouldn't have mattered because I would be with you. It doesn't matter where we go or what we do, it's always special when I'm with you."

"Then how about you and I go to this little dive I know where we won't be followed, and then go back to the hotel."

"I like it." I smiled.

Ashton called our waiter over and he paid for our drinks before taking my hand and leading me to the front door, which unfortunately meant we had to walk past Jenna's table.

"Hey Ashton." Some the girls cooed at him but he ignored them and walked me past, holding my hand tightly.

He walked me outside and I could hear the paparazzi shouting things at us.

"Ashton did you talk to Jenna?" One man shouted at him.

"Who's that?" Ashton said back to him and all of the men began shouting again, asking more questions but Ashton walked me straight to the car and we got inside.

"You shouldn't have said that." I told him as soon as the car pulled away from the curb.

"I don't care anymore." He shook his head. "Tonys Bar please." He then told the driver our new destination.

I pulled out my phone on the way there and scrolled through our Twitter to see HQ photos of Michael and Gracie.

"Aw look how cute!" I showed Ashton.

There were photos of Michael holding Gracie up in his arms, her arms hooked around his neck, some of her walking on the sidewalk with Michael holding her hand, and some of them entering a restaurant.

"She's so cute." Ashton shook his head laughing. "I think Michael was going to take her to this place where you make stuffed animals."

"That's sweet." I smiled. "The guys are so good with the kids, that makes me very happy."

"I know, they love them." Ashton passed me back my phone and then took my hand, playing with my fingers.

When we got to the street our destination was on, Ashton had the driver let us out so we could walk.

Once on the sidewalk Ashton moved his arm around my shoulders to pull me closer, his lips hitting my cheek in a cute kiss.

"Hmm...date nights with you are my favourite." I smiled.

"Oh yeah? Me too." He kissed my head several more times. "So I never got to finish asking you what you and Luke talked about."

"Mostly you." I beamed up at him. "How sweet you are and how much you love me."

Ashton paused in the middle of the empty sidewalk to take my face in his hands and kiss me. My cheeks flared at the action and he only winked before we started walking again.

"He told me you took a parenting class before Gracie came to live with us." I peeked up at him and now it was his turn to blush.

"I wanted to help you. I didn't know anything about child care for toddlers and I wanted to be able to help with any situation that came up."

"Well that was very sweet of you. It means a lot to me."

"Do you remember that first day she got there and you both were so scared? But then she let you pick her up and I could see the smile on your face; you were so happy. And then the next day she finally talked to us and asked us if we were married?"

I laughed.

"Yeah. And Ari brought the cupcakes over and Gracie spoke to her immediately."

"We were so jealous." He chuckled.

We came up to a bar further up the block and Ashton walked us inside, finding a tall table with bar stools for us to sit at.

"I'll go get us something to drink if you want to start looking at the menu?" Ashton suggested and I nodded.

"Wait, just get me a water."

"Okay." He smiled and walked a few feet over to the bar.

I looked at the menu, deciding what I wanted when Ashton came back with a water for me and a beer for him.

"I'm getting chicken bites, what about you?" I passed him the menu and he looked it over.

"I'll get a burger and then steal some of your chicken bites." He smirked at me.

"You're such a guy." I scoffed, rolling my eyes while Ashton laughed brightly.

A girl came by to take our order and I smiled up at Ashton who was looking at me.

"So are you excited for Japan?" He asked.

"Yes. It should be fun, I'm ready to see you guys preform. I feel like such a lousy wife I haven't even seen you play yet except for the acoustic show and rehersal."

"Well it's totally different then those." He laughed. "But what did you say about waiting yesterday? It builds anticipation, makes it more exciting?" His lips curled into a smirk.

"Shut up." I laughed, him joining in.

Ashton's phone began to ring from his pocket and he went to get it, still laughing.

"Jason's calling me." He said and answered the phone. "Hey man what can I do for ya?"

Ashton put a hand over his ear and I could see him struggling to hear in the noisy bar we were in.

"Do you mind if I go outside for a few minutes? He asked me and I nodded. He gave me a smile and slid off the bar stool before heading out the front door.

Ashton's PoV:

"Sorry, I had Carter right next to me. What did you say?" I asked as I walked into the night air.

"So Ari and I have been working on piecing the letter back together and we've got a few sections but it's almost impossible. My uncle works for the FBI and we were wondering if we could get your permission to send it to him to see if he can get anywhere."

I took a deep breath.

"I just don't want to invade her privacy. I mean I'm just scared if we do this then Carter is going to hate me."

But I was also so curious as to what that letter contained.

"I guess go ahead and do it, and if we get anything back then we can discuss what to do with it."

"Okay. We just wanted your approval."

"Yeah, thanks for calling me. Let me know when you get anything."

"Sure will."

I said goodbye and then put my phone back in my pocket before walking back inside to Carter who was eating chicken bites by herself.

"I feel like a six year old." She frowned as she took a bite and I laughed at her.

I reached over to steal one of her chicken bites but she smacked my hand away.

"No. You can't steal my food until you finish yours."

"Fine." I pouted and took a bite of my burger.

"So what did Jason have to say?" She asked.

"He wanted to ask me something." I shrugged and took another bite.

She didn't respond and I glanced up to see her on her phone.

"Smile!" She suddenly said as I was taking a bite and I looked up at her with wide eyes to see her getting me on camera, giggles spilling from her lips.

"Wait no!" I covered my mouth, trying to swallow while I was laughing.

"You look cute!" She laughed as she watched the video she had taken of me.

I just shook my head at her, chuckles rolling off my lips in a constant flow.

I watched her post the video while I finished eating, taking the last few bites of her meal as well.

"I needed a longer nap today." Carter stretched her arms.

"Don't get sleepy on me now, we have a long night ahead of us." I wiggled my eyebrows while she beautifully giggled at me, her cheeks scrunching up adorably.

"Naps are an important part of my daily routine." She laughed and I started to sneakily record her on my phone, acting like it was just resting in my hand but it was tilted so you could see her.

"Yes, but after you nap so much how can you sleep at night?" I asked her.

"You have to train your body. It's a real thing."

"So describe your perfect nap."

"Okay. So I mean you have to find someplace warm. Beds are good, couches are good as well if it's comfy and you have a blanket. Quiet is always best. No distractions or anything and you just like relax and fall asleep and it's heaven."

I giggled at how into napping she was.

"You need help."

"You need help." She retorted, sticking her tongue out at me. "I could nap literally all day long."

"I know, I've seen you do it' You're like a sloth, all you do is sleep."

She gave me a cheeky smile.

I stopped recording and then shared the video.

'Carter giving me the 411 on napping because she's a professional. She's so cute!'

I noticed Carter look around the dark and dingy bar we were in before she pointed to the back wall.

"Oh let's go play darts!"

She seemed so excited and I grinned at her, following her to the back as she dragged me along.

I grabbed the darts off the board and handed them to her, letting her go first.

"Wait, show me how to throw it." She turned around as she was about to throw.

I smirked.

"Okay come here." I moved her closer and took ahold of her hand with the dart in it. I moved her hand back and forth a few times before telling her to go and she released the dart, it striking the board in the second centre ring.

"Yes!" She turned around to place her hands on my shoulders and kissed me.

"You just wanted me to hold you." I commented, knowing the reason behind her asking me to help her.

"I know." She winked and I laughed before we continued to play.

After a few rounds of darts we moved onto the pool tables where I taught her how to play that as well, but I had to admit I had fun teaching her how to shoot pool, feeling her press her bum against me as she bent over the table and touching her waist and arms as I adjusted her form.

Though whether she knew she was being so sexy on purpose I had no clue, but I did know I was ready to get her back to the hotel and give her all the love she deserved.

--

Yay!

Well be prepared for a drama filled Chapter coming up! Because those are always the best right? ;)

Comment and vote if you'd like!

Much love xx -M