In the early morning, Gunner and Liliana were sprawled across her mattress. He was on his stomach, his arm splayed across her tummy as she laid on her back. His face was pressed into her side right by her chest. Their snores mixed together. Every time Liliana shifted around, his muscular arm tightened needily around her.

It was peaceful, serene even.

Until the baby monitor began chirping in Liliana's ears. Rowan's soft cries made her sit up abruptly. On auto pilot, she was out of bed as if forgetting Gunner was even there in her groggy haze.

Shuffling around in her sloppy pajamas, she found herself kneeling beside the low to the ground bed. The little barriers on the side prevented Rowan from falling out of the makeshift, transition crib.

"Whatsa matter, bubba?" Liliana rasped. Rowan grabbed at the air whinily, grunting as her mother finally lifted her up.

"Let's sit on the potty and I'll make you somethin' yummy."

Gunner was nearly dead to the world, but once he'd slowly registered Liliana's absence of warmth he groaned sluggishly. Cracking his crusted over eyes open, he looked around confused. Squinting at the clock on her table, he groaned even louder at the time it read.

Slumping back face first, he couldn't recall in his foggy mind the last time he was up this early. But without Liliana beside him now in bed, he slowly found himself getting up.

He had fallen asleep in his jeans. Matter of fact, he was never taking these jeans off after last night. And if he did, maybe he'd get them framed.

Shuffling around in his white tank, he looked around Lily's bedroom. It was soft, with warm neutrals as the base. She had light greens and pinks strewn around with random decorations that made the room scream Liliana. Pictures were framed all over but before he could look at them all, he heard soft clanging in the kitchen.

Immediately, his feet carried him towards the noises. His green eyes were still hardly open as he shuffled around through the cozy house. Just rounding the kitchen, his feet stumbled, and something bounced against his shins.

"Shit," he hissed in mild confusion before he registered a thud.

Glancing down with furrowed brows, he was met with caramel brown eyes that were damn near a replica of the woman that captured his affection. With brown skin that was only a few shades lighter than Lily's, the baby he was staring down at wide eyed was a replica of Liliana.

Sure, he could see a few differences and hints of whoever fathered the child, but this was Lily's baby through and through.

His breath caught in his throat, an intense wave of emotion slamming into his chest. The baby wasn't crying even after hitting the floor on her little butt.

"Shit- fuck," he scolded himself as he crouched down. "Sorry, sorry," he apologized to the little girl. His hand reached out instinctively, but he hesitated. Inhaling through his nose quickly, he pushed aside the fear and held out his large hand to the small girl.

Her eyes flickered all over the man she clearly didn't recognize. It was like she was trying to find out if this man crouched down to her level was a good thing or bad thing. Her wide eyes shone with the same hesitancy Gunner felt.

Quickly, she gripped his outstretched hand and balanced herself up onto her wobbly, chubby legs. Immediately, her bare feet slapped against the tile, and she ran faster than Lily had ever seen towards her legs.

"No!" Rowan yelled much too loudly for the hour.

Liliana had watched the entire interaction with a softened expression on her face. It was too early for her mind to go haywire and overthink, and she was grateful for it. She hadn't really been thinking through the introduction of the two last night, but this felt like ripping the bandage off. In a good way.

Gunner, who was still crouched down, fell back onto his butt this time. His green eyes found hers, worried at the response. He bent his knees, resting his elbows on them.

"That's her first word, she's testing it out," Liliana croaked. "Don't take it personal."

Gunner, still wide eyed, nodded at the information as he tried to keep up. They both watched the baby hold onto Lily's knee and smear snot against her leg.

"Rowan," Lily whispered not so quietly. Eventually, Rowan glanced up. "Say hi to Gunner, baby. He's not so bad."

Lifting Rowan up with a grunt, she held up the baby's hand and wiggled it wildly.

Almost immediately, Rowan erupted in giggles. Her eyes squinted with glee and her laughter could raise a dead man from the grave with how sweet it was.

Pressing a hand over his chest, he felt his heart speed up crazily as he watched the two.

Scrambling to stand up, Gunner found himself hovering closer to the two.

Seeing him hesitate, Lily waved him closer. Rowan watched him too, pressed her face into Lily's chest. Bending over her, Liliana grinned while lifting her hand up.

Showing her, Lily shook Rowan's hand. Rowan grinned a little, allowing her hand to be held out towards Gunner who quickly shook it.

"Nice to finally meet you," he murmured softly to the little girl. Rowan squeezed his fingers tight together, looking at the rough calluses before scraping her nails over them.

Unable to temper her grin, Lily rested her head against his bicep lazily.

"Can you grab a bowl next to the fridge?" she croaked tiredly.

With a nod, Gunner was quick to do what she'd asked. Squinting at the options, he gripped a hot pink one. Passing it over, Liliana hooked her baby under one arm while gripping the bowl, oatmeal, and milk.

"Jesus, honey, just ask for help." He was quick to grab the extra things in her grip while Lily sat Rowan in her highchair.

Once Rowan was in, as she turned around, Lily bumped into Gunner's chest. He brushed his knuckles over her cheek, and leaning down, he kissed her softly.

"Good morning," he rasped. "Thank you for this."

Humming softly, she pressed her lips against his harder. "Thank you, this means a lot for me. It's really, really important to me."

Nodding down at her, Gunner kissed her forehead before letting her get back to Rowan who was slamming her hands excitedly against the tray. He nodded towards the stove, "What are ya eating? I can get it started?"

Liliana looked at him in surprise, telling him he could make whatever if he'd like.

The morning went smoothly enough, with Liliana practicing her words with Rowan as Gunner watched and made their breakfast.

Once she was done eating, Lily was quick to transfer Rowan into her play pen. Turning back to Gunner, he slid over a coffee and shoveled eggs onto her plate.

"This is my specialty. The only thing I can make confidently actually." He shot her a tired smirk.

Liliana snorted to herself. "Thank you. I don't know the last time someone made me breakfast. It smells good."

It was just scrambled eggs, but it meant the world to her. Gunner tugged her closer as they both leaned against the counter.

"Can't believe you have a little girl," he murmured. Liliana glanced up at him and he quickly continued, "I mean that in a good way." Gunner raked his own hair out of his face. "Can't believe you've been doin' it on yer own."

Threading his fingers into her hair, he massaged her scalp while watching Rowan over her shoulder. She sighed, nuzzling against his shoulder and peeking over to watch her as well.

"I just hope I'm doing okay at it," she whispered, barely loud enough for Gunner to hear her.

He kissed all over the top of her head, squeezing her tight. "Sounds like yer doin' a fine job to me."

Pinching at his sides, she spared him a little smile. Sighing heavily, she rested her chin against his chest. Swallowing hard, she inhaled a deep breath to steady herself.

"I was only with her dad for like two months after a string of shitty relationships. I had a bad habit of picking guys who never took me seriously. I was never... girlfriend material. They'd never take me out in public, no dates... no effort. I mean, I was a joke to them." Her voice just barely shook with embarrassment that she was even admitting it.

Gunner inhaled sharply when she started talking. Tilting his chin down, he nuzzled his nose into her curls. He didn't make a move. He barely made a noise in fear he might scare her into clamming up.

"The guy that knocked me up, he was so nice at first. Called me his date right off the bat, introduced me to people." Her arms tightened around him. He could hear her sniffle a little but felt her stifle it against his chest.

"I thought maybe he really liked me," she mumbled. Gunner felt like the wind was knocked out of him at the tired, fragile tone of her voice.

Liliana nuzzled deeper into him, watching Rowan out the corner of her eye. "It all started changing the second month. It sounds silly cause it was so short, but he turned out just like the other guys. Telling me exactly what he didn't like about me. How I could be better for him or how he could do better than me. I'd bet money he got me pregnant on purpose y'know. Cause I was always careful. But that backfired because it scared me so bad I left him. He threw a fit, but he realized I wasn't budging because I wanted to get my shit together. And obviously he didn't know anything about pregnancy or kids, cause when the baby came he signed away his rights. Guess I made it pretty clear I wasn't putting up with it anymore, so his little plan fell through."

Rowan stood up in her play pen, peeking over the rail and squealing at Lily. Raising her hand, she opened and closed her palm in a very deliberate wave.

Wiping under her nose and at her eyes, Lily waved very enthusiastically back.

"I don't keep up with him anymore. I like him out of sight and out of mind. I just don't know how Rowan will cope as she gets older."

Gunner turned her attention up to his face. His eyes were completely softened down at her. He held her face, trailing his palm down and pressing his hand against her heart. He could feel the fluttering thud of each pump, and she hummed at his warmth. "She's a happy baby. You make her happy."

He leaned forward to press his forehead against her own. "Yer such a good fuckin' mom, baby. I'd be blind to not see it." It made sense. So much sense looking back at how they'd started, how they met.

He came in hot. She was hesitant and skittish around not only Gunner but all the bikers. Lily had been through the ringer before, treated like garbage to be thrown aside. The realization made his blood boil under his skin. It made him want to put a bullet in somebody. No. It made him want to take care of that man with his own bare hands.

He clenched his jaw sharply but felt her fingers dig into his shirt. He forced his focus back onto her. Onto what matters.

Her breath was trembling softly. "You haven't seen me be a mom yet," she tried to joke with a little smile.

He shook his head at her. "Nah, the way you handled me and how serious you took everything. It all makes sense cause you were protectin' what's yours and I respect that. It all makes sense now and she'll see it one day just like I see it now."

Lily pouted her lips out, her eyes shiny with emotion. Leaning forward, she meshed their lips together seamlessly. "Gunner I-"

"Oliver."

His pale skin went rosy as the name fell from his mouth. Green eyes wide, as if even he was surprised he said it. Lily's expression mirrored him.

Her lips parted, her brows lifting with pleasant surprise. A small chortle erupting from her throat.

His face went even more red. "Forget I said that—"

"Oliver," the name practically rolled off her tongue.

And like that, he practically melted to the floor. His shoulders slouched and curled into her as he wound both of his strong arms around her tiny waist even tighter.

"Fuck," he exhaled as if he was out of breath. His words fanned against her soft lips. "Take it easy on me baby, I can only take so much," he purred with low lidded eyes.

She giggled wildly, her head falling back beautifully. He trailed kisses over her soft jaw, nipping it playfully. "Ya got me by my balls, babe," he rasped in her ear.

Gasping, she clutched his sides, feeling his muscles ripple underneath her palm. "Gunner," she whimpered softly. Kissing his cheek, she trailed her tongue across his own scruffy jaw shyly. "Oliver," she repeated in the same needy tone.

Reaching down, he gripped her ass tight with an arrogant grin. "Like sayin' my name like that, honey? I sure like hearin' it."

"Mhm," she mewled quietly with quick nods.

"Good. Use it like it's yers." He patted her butt. Both of them glanced over when Rowan threw a doll into the kitchen. Babbling loudly, none of the sounds stringing together into any words.

"She's needy for her mama, just like me." He kissed her addictive pout just one more time before the two of them both turned towards Rowan who was officially tired of her cage.

"Alright, alright. Let's see what we're doin' today." Lily tugged her up to kiss all over the baby's face. Gunner smiled at the ground, admiring the pair as he got familiar with the two of them and the house.