Bright laughter in my ear was the only thing that stopped me from stabbing the end of my high heel into my assailants foot and they let me go after a second.

I knew that laughter all too well.

"Harry I almost hurt you!" I turned around to see my best friend Harry laughing hysterically.

"Sorry." He laughed. "Your expression was priceless."

"It was actually pretty funny." Ashton chuckled.

"I just saw you guys walking by and I thought i'd say hey." Harry smiled.

"Uncle Harry!" Gracie came up and beamed at him.

"Hello there little one." He touched her nose and she laughed.

"Hey we still on for Wednesday?" Harry asked.

"Sure." I smiled. "Well we've got to get this little munchkin in the bath, but it was good to see you."

"Yeah. Have a nice night you guys." He waved and then walked away.

We got into the car and made it back to the hotel where Ashton ended up cuddling Gracie who started to get whimpery and then the two of them got into a bubble bath.

I chuckled at the two when I walked in to see the two of them trying to make animals out of the bubbles.

"What are you two doing?" I smiled as I leaned against the door frame.

"We play bubbles!" Gracie giggled.

"You two are silly." I smiled at them.

As they covered themselves with bubbles I managed to get a cute photo of the two of them.

As they got out of the bath, Ashton and I dressed Gracie in her pyjamas and then put her to bed alongside Ender.

A few minutes after they had laid down we curled up into each other, my head against Ashton's chest.

"So, tomorrow, would you guys like to come to the studio with me?" Ash asked me.

"Well I was going to go shopping with Gracie."

"I know, but we are doing something kind of special and I had some ideas and I want you guys to be there."

"Okay." I smiled and he squeezed my waist.

A few minutes later I adjusted my position and when I felt what was immediately recognised as an "excited" Ashton against my bum.

"Damn it, baby." He groaned.

I failed to stiffle my giggles and turned around in his arms.

His cheeks were flared up in a blush and he tried to hide his embarrassment by burying his face in a pillow.

"Is someone in the mood?" I playfully traced his exposed cheek with my fingertip and he whined.

"Sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" I laughed.

"Because you're not and I was going to take care of this once you fell asleep." He admitted.

"Or, you could just kiss me now and we can escape to the bathroom and I can help you take care of it."

He looked at me in amusement for a moment before pressing his lips to mine in a sweet kiss.

"Come on, let's go." I took his hand and drug him to the bathroom where as soon as he locked the door and turned around I put my arms around his neck, kissing his lips happily.

"Jesus, Carter, why do you always get me like this." He panted between kisses and then placed his hands under my bum and lifted me up to set me on the counter where I wrapped my legs around his waist.

His hands went to the hem of my tee shirt and he yanked it over my head and then dropped his mouth down to my chest where he began to kiss.

I arched my back in pleasure and enjoyed the feel of his lips touching every inch of skin on my bare chest.

Tugging him back up by his curly locks I attached my mouth to his before he moved his hands to tug on my sleep shorts, pulling them and my panties down.

"Wait, Ash." I said and he glanced up before realising.

"Oh." He jerked open the bathroom door and came back in two seconds with a foil packet in hand.

"Can't forget that." I smirked as he prepared himself and he shot me a grin before lifting me up, pushing my back to the wall before beginning to give love to me like only he could.

Afterwards we cleaned up and then snuck back into the bedroom, the two of us curling up in the sheets.

"I am exhausted." I breathed happily.

"Me too. You were going pretty hard in there." He smirked.

"Shut up." I pushed him away playfully.

"So I have a question for you." He trailed off.

"What?" I smiled up at him.

"With everything that's happened lately, it's just had me thinking about us and our future...and I was wondering if you might have thought about us and our future..."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm asking if you have thought any more about marriage?"

"Oh." I widened my eyes in realisation. "Um, I haven't really. I mean, we're just still so young."

"Carter your parents were married at our age."

"I know that. But I just want us to be sure and ready before we start getting married and having children."

"Well I honestly think we're a little past that."

"Well I think that you need to finish this world tour and let us have a few months to get some more experience, and then we can talk about it more."

"I just think that us getting married is the next logical step." He said.

"And I agree with you, I do. That has always been our next step, but we don't have to take our next step right now. We just got out of a really stressful ordeal, we have our daughter and things are going good for us; I think we should just enjoy this time and relax before we jump into planning a wedding."

He nodded.

"I just want us to be married."

"Ash, we're going to get married. Just give it a little more time, okay? Enjoy the stress free life for a little bit."

"Okay." He smiled and then leaned down for a kiss. "So part of what is happening tomorrow is that there is going to be a camera crew following us around all day, so if you wake up with a camera in your face then that's why."

"Oh, fantastic." I sarcastically smiled.

"Thank god they weren't here tonight." He smirked.

"You are so inappropriate."

"You love it, admit it."

"Whatever." I giggled and then he kissed me. "Goodnight love." I kissed him back.

"Goodnight." He hugged me to him tighter.

I woke up in the morning to voices in our room and I heard Ashton's voice.

"So it's five a.m and everyone else is asleep right now."

I opened my eyes to see a guy with a camera on his shoulder.

Sitting up in the blankets the guy turned the camera on me and I gave a little wave before getting out of the bed.

Ashton told me to pretend like they weren't here and so I did, going over to wake up the kids.

"End come on, get up." I yawned as I pushed his shoulder.

"No." He mumbled.

"Yes, lets go."

"No!" He whined and I sighed before grabbing a pillow from the other bed before hitting him with it.

"Ow! Carter! Ashton!" Ender sat up and Ashton sighed as he came over and then lifted Ender out of the bed before walking him into the bathroom and setting him in the shower.

"And that's how it's done." Ashton told the camera as he walked back over to me so we could wake up Gracie.

I carried her around for a little bit until we got her dressed and I fixed her hair, the camera following me as I fixed her hair into a half ponytail in the bathroom.

"Are sweatpants acceptable to wear? Or at least yoga pants?" I asked Ashton and he laughed.

"I'm wearing sweats so knock yourself out, baby." He smiled.

I changed into tight blank yoga pants and then put on one of Ashton's tees that was way too big for me.

"Isn't she cute?" Ashton came up to the camera that was videoing me putting Gracie's shoes on and he kissed my cheek causing me to shake my head at him with a smile.

Downstairs we met the boys for breakfast, a camera with them as well where we ate and then got in the car to head over to the studio.

Ashton and I shared his headphones on the way there while I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"I'm so tired." He yawned. "You wore me out last night."

"Shut up." I mumbled and he started to chuckle.

"Ashton got lucky last night!" Luke shouted annoyingly and I buried my face in Ashton's neck to hide my blush because the cameras were still filming.

"I hate you." I muttered and Ashton kissed my hair while laughing.

When we got to the studio we got out of the car, Ashton lifting up Gracie and setting her on the ground, buttoning up her black and red plaid coat.

"Daddy it's cold." She said as he took her hand.

"I know. It's chilly."

She jumped up and down a few times as I grabbed my backpack that contained our things and took Enders hand before following Ashton and Gracie inside.

We walked through a couple halls until we came to a room with a large board with all sorts of buttons, lights, and levers.

Gracie gasped and ran over to the board.

"Nope!" Ashton rushed forward and grabbed her, pulling her back and picking her up. "You are not allowed to touch anything little girl."

"Daddy." She whined.

"Gracie." He copied her and she pouted. "Give me a kiss."

She kissed him then put her head on his shoulder, her thumb in her mouth.

Ashton moved a hand to the back of her head and turned his face so he could kiss on her cheek.

"Daddy and his princess." I smiled as I stepped up to them and Ashton laughed.

"I princess Darcy Grace Irwin." Gracie nodded and we laughed with her.

"Yes you are little Darcy Grace, yes you are." Ashton smiled and hugged her tighter.

"Darcy big girl name!"

"Darcy is your big girl name?" I laughed.

"Mhmm." She nodded happily. "Mommy I want juice."

"Okay, let's go pour you a cup." I took her from Ashton and went out to the little kitchen where I took a juice bottle and her sippy cup from the backpack to pour her cup.

I heard Ashton laugh loudly and Gracie began to whine and wiggle in my arms.

"Daddy!" She whined.

"Gracie do you want juice or Daddy?"

"Daddy." She struggled and I set her down so she could run back to Ashton.

I finished making her sippy cup anyways, knowing she would want it later and then walked back in the room where Ashton was sitting on the sofa, Gracie in his lap facing him with her head hidden beneath a side of his zip up hoodie.

"She's being weird." Ashton gave me a look.

"She started flipping out because she wanted you." I shrugged as I sat down next to him where there was a space between him and the end of the sofa.

Gracie was making whimpering sounds and Ashton had his eyebrows furrowed as he gave her a strange look.

"What is up with you?" He lifted up the fabric and looked at her.

"No!" She yanked it back over her.

"Do you want cuddles?" I lifted it up a peak and she nodded. "Then come here and I can cuddle you."

She moved out from Ashton's jacket and over to me where I let her get comfortable before wrapping her up in my arms as Ashton got the blanket we had brought with us to lay over me and Gracie so I could adjust my shirt so she could put her head against me how she liked.

Ashton had to get up and went into another room to set up his drums and I could see him through the large window.

Gracie was doing fine until I felt her go to find my bra so she could pull on it.

"No." I told her and handed her the sippy cup which she began to suck on, her head still against me.

Ender was in the room with Ashton watching him set up his drums and Calum came in with his bass, sitting next to me while Michael and Luke looked at guitars.

"Whatcha doin Gracie?" Calum smiled at the little girl.

"Mommy cuddles." She moved her sippy cup and smiled at him.

"Silly little girl." I shook my head and tucked a curl behind her ear.

After a few minutes Gracie sat up so I could fix my shirt and then handed me her sippy cup as she began to walk around to everyone in the room to ask them what they were doing.

Michael held Gracie while she helped him pick a guitar and then she came back over to me.

"Where's Daddy?" She asked me.

"He's in the other room. Look." I stood up and held her as I walked up to the window and pointed at Ashton and Ender. "Wave hi."

She waved her hand and a few seconds later Ashton looked up and waved back, a smile on his face.

"Do you see your dad Gracie?" Luke asked her and she nodded happily.

"I love Daddy." Gracie smiled.

"Me too." I kissed her cheek. "Now let's go sit with uncle Cal." We sat back down next to Calum who let Gracie carefully touch the bass.

I got out some toys for her to play with and set her on the floor beneath my feet and a few minutes later Ashton and Ender came back in.

"Ooo, someone's got their tea set and dolls out, it's a party." Ashton smiled and walked up, leaning down to give her a kiss and then having Calum move so he could sit next to me.

"So, you still haven't told me what you're doing." I leaned over and whispered in Ashton's ear.

"Give it a minute." He smiled and kissed my cheek.

"Alright, what's the name of the song?" John, who was the producer and recording engineer I had been introduced do turned around in a rolling chair and asked.

"Waste the night." Ashton said and I gasped before turning and shoving his arm as he laughed. "Surprise."

"I hate you, why didn't you tell me." I giggled.

"Purely to see the expression on your face." He smiled and I shook my head at him.

"Alright, lets get a guitar track." John said and Michael plugged his electric guitar into the board before sitting on one of the stools, pressing the pedals on the floor with his foot. Ender sat down on my lap and I wrapped my arms around him as we watched.

I couldn't help but smile as I heard the same melody from before as when Ashton played me the demo, and I leaned into Ashton, so happy.

He nodded his head along to Michaels guitar and when he finished both he and Luke jumped in with suggestions.

I listened and watched Michael play the song a few more times until Luke went and added a few more tracks while Calum figured out the bass line.

Ashton was writing things down on a sheet of paper and his face was very serious, I had never seen Ashton in his work mode like this before.

Gracie came up to sit on Enders lap and I groaned.

"Okay I love you guys but you're crushing me."

"Don't crush Mommy." Ashton then turned and took Gracie, setting her in his lap as he went back to listening to Luke.

When Luke was done Calum laid down the bass track and then it was Ashton's turn to do drums.

"I'll be back." He kissed my cheek and moved Gracie onto the empty space of the sofa.

"Daddy, I go with you?" Gracie slid off the couch and began to follow him.

"No baby, you've gotta stay here." He turned back and crouched down in front of her. "But i'll be back soon and we can cuddle when I get back, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy." She gave him a cheeky smile.

"Okay, baby." He gave her a kiss and sent her over to me.

He left the room and went to the other room where his drums were and I watched him put on the headphones.

"Let me just try some things out." Ashton said into what I learned was the talk-back and when he spoke Gracie looked around the room for her daddy.

I let her sit in my lap after I moved Ender and listened as Ashton ran through the song several times.

"Okay, I think I got it." Ashton then said and Gracie looked around again while I chuckled at her.

Ashton then recorded the drums for real and I could literally hear the song coming to life and it was so cool to experience.

I took a few pictures and videos of Ashton recording drums and once he was done he came back in the room to cuddle Gracie while Michael added piano.

We took a lunch break where Gracie spilled lemonade on herself and cried, Ashton and I having to go change her clothes and clean her up.

"Baby girl, you've gotta be more careful." Ashton said as he held her up in his arms while she had her thumb in her mouth.

"I spill." She said.

"I know, that's why you will be using sippy cups  until you are ten. Okay let's go sing."

Gracie pouted at the sippy cup comment as we walked back in to the studio, me taking my seat back on the sofa.

"Alright, lets go." Luke said and he and the guys went into the other room where there was a mic set up and they each put on the headphones before getting their levels adjusted.

"This is cool." Ender grinned while Gracie stood up by the window, stretching up on her tip toes to see over the side.

"Mommy, I see Daddy!" Gracie pointed at the window while smiling back at me.

"Why don't you go join your sister." I suggested to Ender and he ran up to the window as well.

As the music started for the boys to run through the song I could feel the little tears well up in my eyes.

I couldn't believe they were recording a song Ashton had written about me. Me!

I stood up and watched them and Luke began to sing, his eyes looking up and when he saw me he blushed.

I looked at Ashton who winked at me.

One of the camera guys came up to me.

"How are you feeling hearing them sing a song about you?"

"It's really cool to see this whole song come together. The first time I heard it was when Ashton played it for me on his phone so this is so cool. I'm just trying really hard not to cry." I said with a laugh at the end and looked back. because they had started the chorus and Calum was singing with Luke.

My heart fluttered in my chest when they got to the last chorus because Ashton joined in to sing, tears actually escaping especially when he looked up and made eye contact with me while he sang.

When it ended Ashton put down the headphones and came into the room.

"Why are you crying?" He asked me with a smile.

"Because that was so beautiful." I sniffled as he came up and took me into his embrace. "I still can't believe you wrote that for me."

"I love you." He chuckled as he hugged me tighter and I squeezed him lovingly.

"I love you too." I said with my head buried in his chest and he kissed the top of my head.

I could feel the cameras on us but I ignored them as he rubbed his hands up and down my back.

After a few moments I pulled back so I could look at his face, a smile still on his face and I leaned up to kiss him.

"Okay, you can go back to making me cry tears of happiness again." I smiled cheekily after I touched my heels back to the ground and he laughed.

"I don't want you to cry, but I'll always be up for making you happy." He smiled and then kissed me once more.

"Go sing." I laughed and he kissed my forehead before jogging back into the sound booth. "He's so amazing." I said to the camera and then looked back at the window.

They recorded the vocals several more times, Gracie dancing to each take, then each one went in individually to record background vocals or smooth out parts they didn't like and then Ashton went in to do the entire song by himself so I could have a special track just for me.

That of course made me cry again and Ashton had to start over because he started to laugh mid song.

He came back in and I hugged him again.

The boys then all sat on the sofa as I reclined back in Ashton's lap.

I sang along softly and Luke turned to look at me with a surprised look.

"You can sing."

"No I can't." I rolled my eyes.

"Yes you can!"

"I told her she could!" Ashton piped up and I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You should go add another layer, it would be nice to have a female tone." Luke wiggled his eyebrows and Ashton grinned.

"I think that sounds like a great idea, lets go." Ashton stood up, throwing me over his shoulder.

"Wait no! Ashton please, come on. I'm not going to sing. Ashton!"

He ignored my cries and struggles as he walked me in the sound booth and set me down before having John play the song so he could adjust the mix for my headphones before placing them on my ears.

"Okay, your voice is in three, our voices will be in four, music is in five, talkback is in six, and overall sound is in one and two. You can adjust them however you want but I think i'm pretty close and I'll tell you what to do." He explained as I crossed my arms across my chest.

"I hate you."

"Whatever. You love me." He kissed my forehead. "Okay, i'll be in the other room."

He left and closed the door and I whined as I awkwardly stood there.

"Alright, can you hear me babe?" Ashton voice was suddenly in my ears and I jumped.

"Yes."

"Great, okay so you're going to sing on the choruses. This first time just sing along so we can get your levels and then we'll do a for real take."

"Ashton I don't want anyone to hear me."

"Baby we'll have your voice deep in the tracks no one will be able to tell."

"Do you promise?" I turned around to look at him.

"I promise." He said and turned to look at the camera, shaking his head.

"Stop shaking your head!"

"How do you know i'm shaking my head?"

"Because I can see you." I said and he turned around to see me looking at him. "Will someone cover the kids eyes so I can flip Ashton off?"

"Got it!" I heard the boys say and I flipped Ashton off.

"I do almost every night." He replied to the unspoken words and I rolled my eyes before turning back around.

"Okay, here's the practice, don't worry if you mess up or if the sound gets weird just keep going." John told me and I nodded and then the music started.

I felt incredibly awkward and vulnerable as I heard the music and when it got the the chorus I squeezed my eyes shut before singing along.

Little things changed in the sound as I sang and I tried to not let it throw me off.

Once it was over I let out a breath and awkwardly shifted around.

"You're sounding great Car!" I heard Luke say and the door to the sound booth opened behind me and Ashton walked in and over to me before lowering the microphone a little bit.

"You sound amazing, trust me." He smiled and then kissed my head.

Once he left John told me this was now recording time and I nervously said okay before singing the choruses again.

"Sweet!" I heard Ashton exclaim and I laughed. "Do it one more time babe."

I waited for the music and when it didn't play I turned just as Ashton was opening the door.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he sat down.

"I'm just gonna take your picture and video while you sing. Just ignore me."

I rolled my eyes at this and John asked if I was ready and I gave him a thumbs up.

I sang it through once more, Ashton smiling at me the entire time and once I was done he took my picture by the mic and then let me go back in the control room.

"Mommy you sing!" Gracie jumped into my arms when I walked in.

"I know." I kissed her cheek.

"Okay, so for my other surprise, I thought it would be cute to get a recording of Gracie singing her lullaby." Ashton said and I made a surprised face to make Gracie excited. "Do you want to sing, Gray?"

"Mhmm!" She nodded eagerly and I followed her and Ashton into the sound booth where he lowered the mic all the way down and angled it so it could be at Gracie's height and I sat on the floor to take pictures.

"Okay, you are going to hear Daddy's voice in the headphones." He told her as he placed them on her ears and she nodded up at him.

Ashton went into the other room and I could hear him when he spoke.

"Okay, Gracie."

"Daddy?" She furrowed her eyebrows and looked around the room.

"I'm in here Gray." He laughed and she looked over at the window where Ashton was sitting behind the board.

"I see you!" She giggled.

"Aw, you're funny. Okay, so Daddy is going to play the music to your lullaby, and you are going to sing along."

"Okay Daddy."

"And Car, can you control her mix for me?"

"Yup!" I gave him a thumbs up.

"Okay Gray, i'm going to sing with you the first time."

"Why is Mommy taking my picture?" She asked.

"Because I want to get pictures of you singing."

"You're both silly." Ashton laughed. "Alright, Gray, i'm going to start the music."

She nodded and I smiled at her before I could hear the music and she looked at Ashton and they began to sing together.

Go to sleep, lovely
And when you dream, dream of me
Close your eyes and sleep tight, baby

Pull the blanket to your chin
Pretend I'm there to tuck you in
Dream of all of my love, dear

Though when I'm here with you in person
Wrap your arms around me, pull me in
And know that I love you
I love you
I'll hold you when you're feeling lonely
Just want to be your one and only
Know that everything I say to you is true
When you can't fall asleep think of me
And my lullaby for you

I smiled widely as Gracie sang along and I videoed her, she was so cute.

Darling, I love you

Ashton and Gracie sang the last line together and I could hear the guys clapping and cheering for Gracie.

"Good job, Gray!" Ashton said and she grinned.

"Daddy, I want to sing by myself."

"Okay. I'll play the music again." He smiled and started the guitar over.

Ashton had to cue Gracie in but she sang the song by herself pretty well, this time I got it all recorded.

When she was done I led her back in the studio where Ashton took her up in a big hug.

"I love you." He gave her a kiss as she smiled happily, beaming with excited energy.

"What do we want to call that song?" John asked.

"Daddy Gracie song!" Gracie said and we laughed.

"How about we call it Daddy and Gracie's Song and then in parenthesis do Gracie's Lullaby." Ashton said and Gracie nodded so John typed it in.

"Daddy, you sing me my song?" Gracie smiled up at Ashton.

"Again?" He asked and laughed when she nodded. "Okay, Gray."

I watched Ashton sing Gracie her lullaby again, the little girl who loved him so much smiling away in his arms as he moved around the room, making her the happiest little four year old in the world.

--

So sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up but here it is and I hope you liked it!

The next part will be up soon and as always, comment and vote if you'd like!

Much love xx -M