Here is a belated little bonus chapter to celebrate this book reaching 1 Million views :)

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Ashton's POV

My heart was racing, abnormally. The distress was scrapping at my nerves, one by one, eluding me of all my common senses. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck standing up, the sweat beading on my forehead and the pulse on my neck taking off a sprint. I tried to analyze my mental slash physical state and came out with one conclusion only; I was so fucking nervous.

And nervous, I shall be.

It's his first day home, back from the hospital. It's our first day home: Katherine, little him, and me.

We left this house as two people and came back as three. In a way, it's surreal. In other ways, it's so fucking scary that I want to run off for the hills.

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to keep myself intact as I detached the car seat with one click, my fingers tight over the handle as I pulled him out. My eyes fell and focused on little baby him, safely tucked underneath his blue blanket. God, he is just so damn small, so fragile, and vulnerable, it keeps squeezing at my heart. Just looking at him hurts.

His eyes were closed, sleeping still, totally undisturbed as I moved him around. His nose is so tiny it keeps me wondering whether he is breathing well through it or not, and his small tiny lips would twitch every now and then, almost like he was sucking on something...probably dreaming of food and milk, as those are the only things he knows of.

It almost calmed me down; his innocent face, almost made me relax. But then, I looked up at the house, my gaze flickered to Katherine as she pulled her keys out, then again back to the house as she opened the door for us. My hands were rather occupied with his bag and him; the little baby, my little baby, whose whole life depended on me. Me. Yes, fucking me.

I never had anyone depend on me before, never had to think of anyone else. With Katherine, I started to learn it, and boom now, I am fully responsible for a whole human being. An x-small-sized human being. Yeah, that's not scary at all. Not one bit.

I am not at all freaking out...

"Welcome back!" Cara's voice shook me out of my haze, and my eyes flickered from her to Alex standing right beside her. My eyes grew wide a bit, taken aback, startled...because how in hell did they get inside my house?

My gaze drifted around in shock, they had transformed the whole entrance into a 'Welcome home from the hospital' aura. Balloons in various tones of blue, white, and silver clustered together in a grand display. The stand had boxes of chocolates in baby blue and silver wrapping, muffins with blue and white icing, some tiny teddy bears, flowers, and shit...

Who in god's name let these two in?

I only gave a key to my mother. Goddammit.

Unlike me, Katherine burst into a joyful gasp, and in the effervescent atmosphere, Cara enveloped her in a tight embrace, their shared happiness palpable into the air. They exchanged some words, all happy and excited. Alex was next as he hugged her too, saying something that had her pull back and slap his arm playfully. Okay, am I the only one freaking out over here?

Is no one else aware that there is a small tiny human with me?

Did they forget that Katherine almost died giving birth to said small tiny human?

I know everything is well now, but the residual stress is eating me alive. But, I guess it's only me. Katherine looks happier than ever. Her face, glowing. Her eyes, radiant, the same eyes that had weathered the storms of this tough childbirth, now they sparkled with the brilliance of a thousand constellations. Her smile, a reflection of unfiltered joy, graced her lips like the dawn breaking over a tranquil horizon.

God, every expression she made, every word she exchanged, every laugh and smile, made her glow with an ethereal light that transcended the mundane. She was out of this world, I am beginning to believe in that more and more each day.

Her presence within the house, my house, our house, became a lullaby, a melody that finally managed to calm the storms within my soul.

I finally understood the reason behind my out-of-sorts state, I wasn't just nervous. Lately, I have been preparing myself, that when I enter this house with him, I am going to enter it alone. I had some hopes, true, but I also understood how life always showed me its dark side, so I was preparing myself for that horrendous scene. But now, that she is here, with me, with us, I am slowly recovering from that suppressed trauma.

In the middle of their joyful conversation, a soft cry left my little boy's mouth, instantly grabbing my attention back to him; my sudden moment of relief transformed back into utter panic.

"Oh, my sweet little boy," Cara said, coming closer to my side, her hand reached for the car seat, her fingers wrapped over the handle, ready to take him from me but her action only made me tighten my grip harder and pull back.

Her eyes shot up to me, "I was just gonna put the seat down," She mumbled, lines etched on her forehead in confusion as she tried to justify her action.

"I will do it," I mumbled, urging her to back off.

Why are they here again?

I placed the seat down, clicked the handle, and pulled it down so I could reach for him. Ever so carefully, I pulled him out of the seat, cradling him between my arms, my hands literally shaking.

Cara inched closer again, trying to reach for him but my unwillingness to let go had her glare at me, her eyes narrowing in annoyance, "I am not gonna eat him," She grumbled out. My jaw ticked and I pushed past her, heading for the couch, my legs felt as if they were made of jelly as I moved him around.

I felt like I couldn't trust him with anyone but his mother and me. No one would be as careful as we are, no one would love him as much, no one can. This type of love is just...so different, so overwhelming, so intense. I've never felt anything like it before. I know that I never will.

His cries calmed down as I cradled him in my embrace. He mewled softly, his eyelids dropping again as he sank back into dreamland.

He was mine, a part of me, a part of the woman I love.

God, I love him more than my life, more than anything and anyone.

It's insane because I've only met him four days ago, so how was this even possible?

I felt a presence beside me, taking my attention off him for a brief second. Katherine's gaze caressed his face and when she reached for him, I carefully handed him to her. She ran her forefinger over his cheek, staring down at him with a similar intensity to my own, even more, if possible.

We were in this little bubble and of course, Alex had to burst it as he dropped beside Katherine, his gaze fully on our boy, "God, he looks like he grew up in these last two days," He said in astonishment.

Katherine smiled and nodded her head, "Yes, he did, didn't he?"

Lines etched between Alex's eyebrows, "Yeah, but he is still so damn small," He whispered in genuine worry as he looked between us, "We are a hundred percent sure that this is normal, right?"

Why is he here again?

My jaw tightened and I kept glaring at him while Cara smacked the back of his head playfully, "Stop saying that."

"What? I am just worried," He mumbled, ever so innocently, like he genuinely believed our four-day-old boy should look bigger.

Patience. God, give me patience.

He extended his arms, "Can I hold him?" He asked, excitement flickered over his face and Katherine seemed ready to hand him over but my hand curled over her arm, "No," I grated out, my eyes on Alex, my gaze pushing him to back off.

"Stop being a—" He brought his hands and rested them lightly over Chase's ears, "—dick."

"I am his godfather, if I didn't hold him, then who will," He retorted back and I scoffed at his declaration, "I never said that you'll be his godfather."

He gasped, his eyes widening in betrayal, "Who else would be?" His eyes narrowed at me, "As if you have any other friend but me, shut up please," He grumbled, "As if anyone can tolerate you but me," He added under his breath but it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

Katherine slapped Alex's arm, ever so lightly, "Don't say that," she said, defending me as always.

She turned her head around and looked at me, tenderly smiling before she tipped her head up, reaching for me and softly pecking my lips, silencing every other voice in the universe.

"Hey, hey!" Alex's annoying voice broke through again and I was contemplating the extent of my patience, "No kissing, no touching, we don't want to recreate the last stressful nine months, control yourselves."

Cara rolled her eyes at his nonsense before she tugged at his arm, trying to drag him off the couch, "Come on, we should head out," She urged, being the sensible one, "They just got back and they need to rest," She added, her eyes softening as they flickered to my little boy, cradled in his mother's embrace.

"They can rest, I am not stopping them," He mumbled, refusing to leave, turning to Katherine and extending his arms forward, "Come on, let me hold him," He requested, pouting like a kid, "I need my Chase-dosage for the day," He insisted and I knew Katherine would just let him so I interfered, leaning closer and carefully taking him from her.

"You are so petty," Alex shot out, glaring at me.

Giving him a very unbothered look, I said with a cold calmness, "I am putting him in his bed." My voice held a steel edge as I added, "You better be gone when I get back."

The suffocating pressure tightened around my chest like an iron vice, constricting my breath with every passing second. I needed everyone to just be gone, for them to leave us alone, so I could perhaps attempt to make my peace with this reality.

Alex cursed me under his breath and Cara whined at his stubbornness, forcefully dragging him out of the house. I paused at the first step of the stairs, my gaze darting from the daunting ascent to the tiny, fragile being cradled in my arms. My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard, my eyes fixed back on the stairs leading upward. My feet were rooted to the spot, refusing to obey my desperate command to move. Why did no one warn me that this would be so unbearably difficult?

For months, my thoughts had been consumed with worry for Katherine only, leaving me blind to the looming weight of this moment. I knew I was having a baby, but I hadn't truly grasped that the baby was also having me—relying on me, needing me in ways that terrified me to my core.

Inside, I was spiraling into a silent panic, hyperventilating, paralyzed with fear. The prospect of walking up the stairs, even with him safely in my arms, filled me with a dread that I couldn't shake.

The sound of the main door clicking shut echoed through the silence, signaling their departure. Footsteps approached, and I saw Katherine in my peripheral vision. I turned my head, facing her. Her confused eyes met mine, concern etched in the lines between her brows, "What's wrong?" she asked.

I shook my head, biting the inside of my cheek to hold back the rising tide of panic, "Nothing," I whispered, forcing my body to obey.

Instinctively, my arms tightened protectively around him as I began to climb the stairs. Each step felt like a Herculean effort, my muscles taut with anxiety. Sweat beaded at the back of my neck, and my heart pounded as if I were carrying a hundred tons, not a six-pound baby, up those stairs.

Katherine followed close behind me as I entered our room, her wary eyes flickering over my face, always reading beneath the surface and sensing my anxious frayed nerves. I paused by his little crib and carefully lowered him onto the comfort of the mattress. He mewled softly, his eyes still closed, his tiny arms moving and fingers twitching before he fully relaxed. Gently, I pulled up the blanket, covering him and tucking it snugly beneath his chin.

I straightened myself, my eyes focused on him, watching his chest rise, up and down, in a rhythmic calming manner and I taught myself how to breathe again.

Katherine's hand reached for mine, wrapping her fingers softly around my own, urging me to break my gaze and face her, face all of this. I turned around, and she looked up at me, worry softened her gaze, a few lines pressed between her eyebrows as she took all of me in, "Ashton, what's wrong?" She asked, edging closer.

She brought her other hand and rested it over my cheek, "You look extra stressed today."

I leaned into her touch, allowing it to calm my erratic heartbeats as I sought peace in its tenderness. My eyelids dropped down, "Katherine, I am terrified," I mumbled, reflecting my inner trepidation out loud.

Her frown deepened, "But why?"

I shook my head, "What if I do something wrong? What if I hurt him somehow?" I spoke, "What if I mess it up," My gaze momentarily went to him, "Look at him, he is so small, so fragile, he needs me, he needs us, and I am so scared," I added, "I have no idea what I am supposed to do, Katherine."

With her thumb, she carressed my cheek, "Hey, it's totally normal to feel like this," She said, her lips curving up into a soft reassuring smile, "Believe me, I am freaking the hell out too, because this is so new, unfamiliar, and we've never done it before, which is why it's so scary," She whispered, shaking her head at all the negativity, "But we will learn it all along the way, we will do it together, you and me," She whispered, assuringly, always the one to find light in everything, "You are not alone," She added.

"We will?" I said.

Her smile widened, "We will," She said before she tiptoed and pecked my lips. On instinct, my arm snuck around her waist, my palm pressing into her lower back, pulling her closer, needing her touch and scent to envelop me and take all the bad away.

I tipped my head down, capturing her lips with mine, tasting her sweetness, savoring every bit as if it were our first kiss all over again. Her hand moved from my cheek to weave through my hair, fingers threading through and finding purchase at the nape of my neck. My other hand cradled her head, fingers lost in the softness of her hair, tilting her head slightly to deepen the kiss, to lose myself in her, to let her sweetness drown out my fears.

The fear and anxiety that had gripped me began to ebb away, I felt the chaos within me calm; God, this woman, she was my lifeline, an anchor, keeping me steady amidst every storm.

My heart lurched, ready to leap from the confines of my ribcage into Katherine's awaiting palms. But then, a soft cry pierced through our moment, shattering the spell of our embrace. Reluctantly, I forced myself to pull back, breaking the sacred connection of our lips.

My eyes flickered to Chase, as he tossed around, a frown deepening between his brows as he let out another cry, "So, this is how our life is going to be from now on?" I mumbled, my tone playful and a tiny bit scared of the awaiting couple of months or maybe years even.

Katherine chuckled lowly at my words before she gently disentangled herself from my touch and edged closer to our son, "Yeah, I guess so."

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Four months later...

I blinked, once and then twice, trying to shake the blurriness of my tired gaze away, but it stubbornly clung to me like a fog. A deep yawn parted my lips as I peered down at the baby bottle in my hand, utterly befuddled. "How many spoons of milk did I put in you?" I muttered under my breath, my memory blank despite my best efforts.

Glancing at the bottle, I squinted at it and shrugged, deciding it looked milky enough. With a resigned sigh, I closed the cap and gave it a half-hearted shake. He's barely four months old; he doesn't need gourmet milk, especially not at a godforsaken hour like three in the morning. Another yawn escaped me, betraying the sleepiness that clung to every fiber of my being.

You know, I used to think that I didn't like sleep, I'd stay up late finishing up piled-up work back in the bachelor days of my life. But all those notions were shattered the moment parenthood took over. I pulled up my phone and checked the time, a low sigh parting my lips as I realized that I hadn't slept since...four months.

With heavy eyelids, I trudged onward, my ears tuned to the cries echoing through the house, guiding my way. A low groan escaped me as my foot collided with something on the floor. Blinking blearily, I glared down at the truck toy that dared to obstruct my path. With a frustrated kick, I sent it skittering away before I resumed my weary march.

Pausing at his bedroom door, I watched Katherine finishing up changing his diapers, before she pulled him up and cradled him close. She looked as worn-out and sleep-deprived as I felt, if not more so. With a raised eyebrow, she addressed our son with a blend of exhaustion and wry humor, "Okay, your diapers are changed, you don't have a fever, you are refusing to breastfeed, and I am quite sure that nothing hurts you," She said.

"So, our only option is to try the milk bottle your dad prepared. And if you keep wailing after this, kiddo, we might have to reconsider our parenting options," she threatened in mock seriousness, as he has been crying nonstop over the past three hours and we still haven't figured out why.

Just another day of our lives...

Chase sniffled and stared at her with a pout, his tiny face sad and sleep-deprived as well. Katherine's own expression contorted in heartbreak as she pulled him closer into her embrace, hugging him so very tightly, "Oh, don't look at me like that," she murmured sadly, mirroring his pout before placing a tender kiss atop his head.

I moved closer as she settled into the feeding chair, carefully cradling him and positioning him just right for the bottle. Handing it over, I watched as she gave it a cautious shake, testing its temperature before gently offering the teat to his lips.

He accepted it, his cries tapering off, and I felt a surge of relief wash over me. I was ready to thank every deity in existence for this fleeting moment of calm. Katherine's face lit up with hope and happiness, her eyes meeting mine in shared delight, believing we had finally cracked the code. But our little bubble of joy burst almost as quickly as it formed; Chase turned his head from side to side, pushing the bottle away, his eyes squeezing shut as he resumed crying.

Katherine let out a theatrical groan of despair, leaning her head back against the couch in mock defeat, slamming the back of it over the cushion repeatedly. Leaning closer to her and Chase, I murmured softly, "Let me try."

Carefully taking him into my arms, I cradled him close, my hand gently rubbing his back in soothing circles, "What's the matter, buddy?" I pressed a kiss to his temple, "If you speak right now and tell me what's wrong, I'd give you a million dollars, I am not even kidding, I swear," I joked, desperation tinging my voice. My attempted bribe fell on deaf ears as he brought his tiny hand to his face, rubbing at his eyes tiredly but never ceasing his cries.

Katherine chuckled tiredly at my words. "He isn't a business partner you can sway with your money," she mumbled as she got to her feet, her exhaustion evident in every movement.

"I am out of options here," I muttered, caressing the soft strands of his hair back from his forehead, feeling utterly helpless.

"Oh, oh," Katherine suddenly exclaimed, realization dawning in her wide eyes, "His pacifier, his favorite pacifier. Maybe that's why he's crying," She looked around in a panic, scanning the room, "Where is it?"

"Check his crib," I urged, watching as Katherine hurried over, lifting the blanket and pillow. "No, not here," she said, frustration creeping into her voice. She moved to the changing table, rifling through a pile of clean diapers. "Goddammit, where is it?" She rampaged through the drawers, letting out a loud groan when she came up empty-handed.

I moved closer and handed her Chase, his cries still piercing through the night, "Here, hold him. I'll go look in our room and downstairs. Maybe he dropped it there somewhere," I said. Katherine took him from me, her eyes pleading for a miracle as I set off on my quest.

I tore through our bedroom first, flipping pillows and tossing blankets aside. The pacifier was nowhere to be found. I bent down, peering under the bed, my fingers searching through, I found a couple of his toys and a lost sock, but still, no sign of the damn pacifier. With a groan, I got up and headed downstairs, my feet heavy with fatigue.

In the living room, I checked beneath the couch cushions. I even moved the coffee table, hoping it had somehow rolled underneath. Nothing. The kitchen was my next stop. I rifled through drawers, opened cabinets, and even checked inside the fridge in a moment of sheer desperation.

Having checked every possible corner and spot, I gave up after many attempts.

Returning upstairs, defeated and empty-handed, I found Katherine still cradling Chase, his cries now a soft whimper, "I couldn't find it," I mumbled.

Katherine sighed, her shoulders slumping, "It's okay," she said, her voice gentle but tired, "We'll figure something out."

She left his room and headed to ours, and I followed her as she sat on the bed, her back pressing against the headboard. I settled next to her, watching them both with a mixture of peacefulness and exhaustion. She kept talking to Chase about random things to busy his mind, her voice a soothing balm that finally calmed his cries until they ceased.

Mesmerized by her gentle tones, he blinked tiredly, his eyes growing heavier with each passing moment, until he finally closed them and drifted into sleep.

Her wide eyes flickered to me, a triumphant gleam lighting them up. She threw her fist in the air in a quiet celebration, "Yay!" she mumbled softly and with a low voice, making me silently chuckle at her antics.

Leaning closer, I pressed a tender kiss to her temple, utterly awed, amazed by everything she was. How did she manage all of this with such grace and strength? She was, quite simply, out of this world.

Carefully and cautiously, she rested him right next to her, choosing to keep him here, afraid he might wake if we moved him to his crib. I leaned closer, pulling the blanket gently over him. As I shifted, I felt something pressing into my side from within my sweatpants pocket. Confused, I reached inside and pulled out the item.

Sighing out loudly, I stared at the damned pacifier with a hard glare. I freaking flipped the whole house upside down looking for it, and it was in my pocket all along?

Katherine noticed too and turned to me, her eyes narrowing and glaring, "If I wasn't so tired right now, I'd punch you," She grumbled; her words, the exhaustion in her eyes, similar to the one in mine made me do nothing but chuckle. I sank into the mattress and lowered my head down, resting it over her chest, "I am so tired," I mumbled, closing my eyes for a brief second.

She brought her hand up and rested it over my head, her fingers threading through my hair with a touch that felt like home, "Me too," she mumbled with a sigh. I sank into her comforting embrace, the gentle caress of her fingers sending waves of relief through my exhausted body. I was ready to fall asleep right there, enveloped in her warmth and the soothing rhythm of her touch and heart.

"I feel like I only smell poop and vomit and milk everywhere," She mumbled with a low cry, I shifted my head to look at her, seeing the weariness etched into her features, "I don't remember the last time I brushed my hair, I look so ugly, don't I?" She pouted, "How do you love me still?"

I lifted my head, leaning closer to press a tender kiss to her lips. "You're more beautiful than ever," I whispered, meaning every word. Motherhood suited her in ways I couldn't explain; it gave her a warmth and a glow that defied mere words.

She caressed my face, a soft smile playing on her lips, "You are only saying this because you love me," She said, sighing lowly. My fingertip traced the delicate edge of her nightgown, pulling it slightly as I left a featherlight kiss atop her breast. She playfully swatted my head, her eyes gleaming with adoration, yet a sigh escaped her lips, laden with quiet exhaustion.

"I want to take a shower, put some makeup on, fix my hair. I want to wear a beautiful dress and heels and go outside," Her lower lip formed a pout, "Also, also, I want my nipples not to hurt so bad anymore."

I chuckled lowly, "Honey, stop it with the dirty talk, you know I am tired," I said and she playfully smacked my head, "I am serious," She mumbled.

"Then how about we make Alex and Cara babysit tomorrow night, and you and I can have a night date," I suggested, the thought too surreal, too appealing.

Her eyes lightened up with excitement, "Really?"

I nodded, "Yeah, just you and me," I said.

Her smile widened and she nodded her head, ever so giddily, "Okay, deal," She said, edging closer and sleepily pecking my lips before she nestled back into the pillows.

I pulled my head from her chest, ready to turn off the lights and finally steal a few precious hours of sleep before work beckoned me back into the grind. Katherine looked at me with a guilty expression I knew all too well. Smiling at her endearing self, I asked softly, "What?"

"I am thirsty," She pouted.

I nodded my head, "I'll get you water."

She beamed, "You are the best husband in the whole big world."

I pecked her lips, savoring her sweet taste. "I know," I mumbled with a wink before climbing to my feet. I went downstairs and filled up the water bottle before I returned.  I paused by the doorway, my heart swelling as I saw her already fast asleep, Chase tucked close to her chest.

I quietly placed the water bottle on the nightstand next to her before leaning in to kiss her cheek. "I love you so much," I whispered, pulling the blanket up to cover her. My gaze flickered to Chase, who was wrapped up in his sweet haven, breathing softly. I kissed his head gently, "And I love you too, Sir Cries-a-Lot," I mumbled affectionately.

Turning off the lights, I laid down beside them, wrapping my arm around my little family, feeling a profound sense of contentment. Sleep claimed me quickly, only to be shattered two hours later by the piercing cries of our little one.

Being a parent is just awesome...

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Next Day...

"Will you hand him over or what?" Alex asked, raising a challenging eyebrow.

My gaze flickered from him to Chase, nestled in my arms, his tiny fingers pushing into his mouth as he sucked on them like they were the most fascinating thing in the world, his wondrous eyes drifting around, ever so energized as if he didn't sleep two hours in total throughout the day. 

His baby blue eyes met mine, and I couldn't help but smile. He smiled back, a cooing sound of glee escaping his lips. How could I possibly leave him here and go?

Alex rolled his eyes and stepped forward, ready to snatch Chase from my arms. I pushed him back, "Hold on," I grumbled, leaning down to kiss Chase's head, my eyelids fluttering shut as I inhaled his sweet, baby scent. The idea of leaving him here gnawed at my heart. Couldn't we just take him with us on our date night?

"Look, if you don't hand him to me in the next five seconds, our babysitting service will no longer be available," Alex threatened. Glaring at him, I stepped forward and carefully handed Chase over, feeling like I was handing away a piece of my heart. The ache in my chest was almost unbearable.

Alex stared down at Chase adoringly, kissing his head multiple times. "Ahh, this smell," he said, "You are the cutest little shit in this whole world, do you know that?" he mumbled to him. Edging closer, I adjusted Alex's arms around Chase, ensuring he supported his back properly. "Hold him right," I shot out, and Alex glared at me before using his foot to kick me.

I removed Chase's bag from my shoulder and handed it to Cara. "Everything you need is inside," I informed her. She nodded, and I continued, "His diapers, milk, pacifier, and his favorite toy. Katherine also placed all types of medicines just in case, and his vitamins. Don't forget to give him his vitamins with his bottle, and—"

My words were cut off as Alex tried to close the door in my face. I pushed it open again, my anxiety rising.

He sighed loudly, "We are not amateurs. We'll keep him alive, don't worry," he grated out, clearly exasperated with my overprotectiveness.

"You know that saying that makes me trust you less," I grumbled, glaring at him. He rolled his eyes in return.

He looked at Chase, "Your daddy is a big dick, isn't he," he said and I facepalmed, ready to cancel all of our plans.

Cara chuckled and turned to me, "Don't worry, I've got it. He's in safe hands."

"If anything happens—" I began, the anxiety clawing at my chest.

"We'll call you," she interjected, finishing my sentence for me.

"Okay, now go and have fun," she urged, shooing me away with a reassuring smile.

My chest tightened as I watched Alex turn around with Chase, still talking and playing with him, ensuring he didn't cry as I walked away. A heavy weight pressed on my insides, making every step feel like an immense effort. I fought against the urge to run back, to scoop Chase up and cancel everything, as I got into the car and headed home to pick up Katherine.

When I walked inside the house, I called for Katherine before climbing up the stairs and stepping into our room. I was met with her back, as she was fixing her dress. She wore a stunning navy blue dress, its silky fabric flowing gracefully around her. The dress was sleeveless with a high neckline, elegantly highlighting her slender shoulders and graceful neck.

It flared out from the waist into a playful skirt, falling just above her knees. Her hair, usually tied up in a messy bun or hastily braided, flowed in soft waves down her back. I met her beautiful eyes in the mirror, and my heart lurched, it swelled and soared because I couldn't grasp still how she was mine.

She turned around, her lips forming a small pout as she gazed at my empty arms, "Did you leave him there?" She asked, a part of her hoping that I didn't, just like I was feeling on the inside.

I moved closer to her side, "Wasn't that the plan?"

She nodded, sadly, "I know but I miss him already."

"Me too," I said before I brought my hand to her face, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, "You look breathtaking," I whispered, the scent of her perfume—a delicate blend of jasmine and vanilla—filled my senses, intoxicating and comforting all at once.

"You're handsome yourself, hubby," She mumbled, being her adorable self as she fixed the lapels of my jacket.

"Wanna hear something funny?" She said sarcastically, "I almost fell asleep while I was taking a shower," She added with a raised eyebrow, "Could've hit my head against the concrete and we would've had our date night at the hospital instead," She added mockingly but I found no humor in that.

I brushed her cheek, "Don't say that."

She sighed lowly, "I am so sleepy," She mumbled with a pout, "Which is why I made a schedule," She added, "So, it's Six pm now, and our reservations are not till eight thirty, so this is how it'll go," She carried on, ever so enthusiastic with her little plan.

"We'll sleep from six till seven thirty; then, we will wake up, we will have sex, we will have only thirty minutes to have sex by the way, then we will have a maximum of ten minutes to freshen up, and at ten past eight, we'll head out to catch our reservations," She added, having planned everything down to the minute.

"Then, we will have dinner, have a dance and some fun. We'll stay there till ten thirty," She added, "We'll get back home, we will have another thirty-minute sex session and after that, we'll go pick Chase up; What do you think?"

A low chuckle left my lips, "Wow, honey, I am so turned on right now," I said ever so sarcastically at her meticulous details and she playfully punched my chest, "Come on, we have a couple of hours only, we can't waste precious time."

I smiled and nodded; sleeping, even for an hour felt so fulfilling right now, considering I was operating on a maximum of three hours of sleep all over the past five days.

"Okay, I am jumping into bed, are you in?" She suggested.

"You will keep wearing that?" I asked as she fell into the mattress, and I removed my blazer, resting it over the chair.

She nodded, "Yeah, we'll also have sex with me wearing it, I don't have time to change, it will be a waste of precious time," She said, erupting another laugh out of me; she was unbelievable.

"Come here," She mumbled sleepily, urging me closer.

I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her closer to me, her back plastered against my chest. I couldn't help but dip my head into the heavens of her neck, my lips tracing a few kisses, from the delicate curve behind her ear, all the way to the top of her bare shoulder. She hummed in satisfaction before she pushed my head away.

I gave her a confused look and she tapped her hand over her watch, "Sex starts at seven-thirty, sleep," She said, being ever so strict.

Undeterred, my other hand snuck below her dress, caressing her soft skin, "We can start it now and sleep later," I suggested, the thought more appealing.

She slapped my hand away and I shot her a glare. She narrowed her eyes at me, "If we start now, I might fall asleep midway and that would insult your performance, baby," She said, tapping her hand over my cheek ever so endearingly, "I don't wanna bruise your ego that way."

"You are so infuriating," I grumbled, still glaring at her and her choice of words.

Chuckling lowly, she leaned closer and pecked my lips, "You love me," She mumbled and I hummed into her lips, "Now, sleep," She stressed out.

With that, she sank into my arms. With her nestled in my arms, her body entwined with mine, I succumbed to the inevitable pull of slumber. My eyelids fell and the much-needed sleep took over me, knocking us both down.

I don't know how long after that I felt myself rise from my deep sleep, uninterrupted sleep; I almost forgot what that felt like over the past month. Slowly, I blinked my eyes open to find the room cloaked in absolute darkness. Katherine remained nestled securely in my arms, unmoved from the exact position we had fallen asleep in.

"Katherine," I murmured softly, coaxing her from her own deep sleep.

She shifted, a low murmur escaping her lips. "Hmm," she responded drowsily.

"What time is it?" I asked as I rushed a hand over my face, very much aware that we had overslept by more than an hour.

My question jolted Katherine awake. Her eyes widened slightly as she took into the darkness surrounding us. She sat up abruptly, eyes darting to her watch, which prompted a startled groan out of here, "Why didn't the alarm go off?" she exclaimed in frustration.

Rising swiftly, I flipped on the light, grabbing my phone to confirm the time. As I saw the hour displayed, my eyes widened. Oh damn. We were really tired, indeed.

Katherine turned to me, her expression a mix of disappointment and disbelief, and her lower lip formed a pout. Frustrated tears welled in her eyes as she spoke in a voice tinged with sadness, "All my plans are ruined." She buried her face in her hands, the weight of disappointment palpable in her words, "It's eleven already, how did we sleep for five hours? Oh my god," she lamented into her palms.

Reaching out to her with a gentle smile, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close. She sank into my embrace, letting out another frustrated sigh. I tenderly caressed her back, "Hey, it's okay," I reassured her softly, "I guess we're more tired than we're letting on."

She pulled back and nodded her head, then she brought her hand to her chest, "My boobs hurt," She mumbled, "I miss my baby boy so much," Her lips formed a pout, eyes shimmering with unshed tears, "Let's go get my baby, I wanna hug him and smell him, my heart hurts," She added.

I nodded in understanding, a smile tugging at my lips, "I miss him too. Come on, let's go," I encouraged, urging her to get up.

After freshening up, we hurried into the car. Our plans for a date night lay in ruins, but I resolved silently to arrange another one very soon. Both of us needed that time together desperately.

When we reached Alex's house, Katherine was rushing toward the door before I could get down myself. She rang the bell multiple times and knocked, impatiently. The second Alex opened the door, she tumbled inside, "Where is he?" She asked urgently. Just then, Cara appeared, holding him snugly in her arms.

At the sight of his mother, he wriggled in Cara's embrace, impatient as well, his little voice calling out for her and ready to burst into tears. Katherine quickly took him in her arms, holding him close. She closed her eyes, burying her face in his soft hair, "Oh, my baby," she murmured, her voice choked with emotion, "I missed you so much. Did you miss me too?" Her kisses rained down on his head, his hair, and his face, expressing a love that transcended words.

I approached him, my hand gently cradling his little face, my touch conveying a longing as though we had been separated for months, not mere hours. He nestled into Katherine's embrace, finding comfort in her familiar warmth, probably missing us too.

Katherine stroked his back soothingly, her gaze shifting to Alex and Cara with concern, "How was he?" she asked, ever so worried, "Did he cry?"

Alex shook his head reassuringly, "Not a peep," he replied with a smile. "We fed him his bottle and he fell asleep right away. He only woke up about ten minutes ago. Honestly, I don't know what you two fuss about. He's an angel."

Katherine's confused eyes flickered to me, questioning, "Are we the problem?" She whispered in terror, as to why his sleeping schedule had been so messed up lately.

I shook my head at her silly thought. Alex leaned in, showering our little one with kisses, "You two should bring him over more often," he requested and Katherine shook her head, not willing to be apart from him anytime soon.

"So, how was date night?" Alex asked with a mischievous wink, "Did you finally have sex after god knows how long," He added teasingly.

Katherine's eyes met mine and her earlier worried expression melted down into a silly smile, exchanging a look we both only understood. I couldn't suppress the surge of emotions that swept through me at that moment. It hadn't been easy—parenthood, juggling responsibilities, navigating the ebbs and flows of life—but I couldn't imagine navigating this chaotic, beautiful mess of life with anyone else but her.

──────౨ৎ ──────

Alex's POV

As I closed the door behind them, my attention turned to Cara standing beside me. Her usually lively demeanor was replaced by an eerie quietness, her hand nervously finding her mouth, teeth biting into nails with an anxious rhythm.

"Cupcakes, what's wrong?" I asked, attempting to bring her focus back to me.

She swallowed hard, meeting my gaze with wide eyes filled with apprehension, "I did something bad," she whispered, the fear in her voice palpable, "But you can never tell Katherine," she added urgently, her terror now mirrored in my own rising concern.

"Okay, now you are scaring me, what happened?" I asked.

"So, uh, you know how I prepared him his milk bottle, and as Ashton said, I added his vitamins," She said and I was praying on the inside that she didn't somehow poison the kid, "Yeah?" I prompted cautiously.

"I mean, I thought I added the vitamins," she continued, her expression contorting into horror. "But when I was packing his bag for them, I realized I accidentally put cough syrup into his drink," she confessed, her head sinking into her hands, "Oh my god, no wonder he fell asleep so quickly. I literally drugged the kid."

Despite the seriousness of the situation, a chuckle escaped me involuntarily. Cara shot me a glare and punched my arm. "Don't laugh, I'm freaking out here."

"Wow, I always thought I'd be the one to mess up like this," I admitted, thoroughly amused. "Never expected it to be you."

She pouted, arms crossed tightly over her chest, clearly annoyed and distressed. Chuckling softly, I pulled her closer by the waist, attempting to comfort her. "It's okay. Nothing happened, at least, he got the sleep he needed," I reassured her gently.

"Don't tell Katherine," She mumbled lowly, "She'd never let me babysit again."

"I won't," I promised earnestly before leaning down to kiss her softly on her pouting lips.

Looking up at me, her eyes held a sadness that cut deep, something more serious and profound, a vulnerability that spoke volumes, "Will I be a bad mother?" she asked quietly, a weighty question laden with self-doubt.

My hand cupped her cheek, tenderly caressing the soft skin, "No," I said firmly, sincerity ringing in my voice, "You will be the best mother in the world," I affirmed, my belief in her unwavering.

I pulled her closer to my embrace, "Also if our future kid keeps crying at night, believe me, I'll be the one putting cough syrup in his bottle," I added jokingly and she chuckled lowly in my embrace, relaxing into it and calming down, her tension easing down.

For once, the horrifying prospect of starting a family—of embracing the highs and lows of parenthood—felt not daunting, but exhilarating; appealing, and exciting, as I will be doing it with her out of all.

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A/N

Hey lovely humans ;)

I just wanted to upload a small little thing since y'all made this book reach 1M, which is insane xD

I am a bit late to the party but I was busy uploading my other books lately. And now that I will be leaving wattpad very soon, I wanted to upload a small thing to the first book that started it all 🥹

I always wanted to come back and edit these first two books (because they terribly suck and don't reflect my writing potentials one bit xD) but now I don't think I'll ever do it. Let it stay here as a memory of my very young self :)

Ashton and Katherine were my first couple, and they hold a special place in my heart. I am so glad that you loved them as much.

Thank you again, love you all ♥️