"Nicolas Baker, she's gonna run into a tree!"

I smiled at my mother from the island, kneading dough for cinnamon rolls in a giant glass bowl. "She's fine," I assured, referring to my five-year-old daughter ripping around on her Indy EVO in her grandparent's backyard. A brand new sled my husband and I bought her for Christmas. "She can't go very fast." Thanks to her overprotective father, who tightened the pin and ran next to her in eager excitement. "He has the leash," I reminded. "All he has to do is tug, and it'll kill the motor."

My mother wasn't convinced. A hand held over her heart, and the worry seeping into me. "Paul!"

From the yard, my father yelled, "She's fine!"

"She's too young to be on that sled!"

I chuckled, catching the sound of the adorable little engine rev up, then her papa's bark of laughter.

I'd calculated everything in days from the start of Baker's sobriety. One thousand, eighty-one days marked the day we gave birth to our daughter.

I smiled at the dough I was rolling in my mother's kitchen, remembering that night as clear as day. Little Nadine Baker came into the world at 2:28 am, eighteen hours after I felt that first contraction. I'd never seen Baker move so fast. Not even on the track. He tossed the bags into the truck, helped me down the stairs of our home, and drove as fast as he could to the hospital, where he waited in dreaded anticipation.

"She's five," I casually mentioned to my mother, not that she was even paying attention with the high-stress level. "We were her age."

"And I yelled at your father then, too," she shot back.

I shook my head. There was no convincing her. Nadine Baker was their first grandchild and was on her way to becoming spoiled.

I blamed it on my parents. And on Baker's father who brought her new presents every time he and his wife Susan came over for dinner. Then there were her stupid uncles, one of whom was due to return with the brown sugar and cinnamon spice I requested. But mostly, I blamed it on her father, who wanted nothing more than to give her the life he might've had had his father stopped drinking.

I wiped my hands on a tea towel, making my way to the French doors my mother left open for all the heat to escape.

There they were, my daughter, my father, and my husband. The latter two chasing her around the mini track her uncle Johnny built for her and Lily–Nate's daughter.

The last eight years had been incredible. Full of ups and downs for both Baker and me, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

His smile was the brightest I'd ever seen as he ran alongside her, glancing back at my winded father every second. But it was nothing compared to the day she was born.

He cried over us and thanked me over and over again as he took her and selfishly kept her most of the night.

I didn't mind. And I didn't mind all the mornings he woke up with her and all the nights he lulled her to sleep. Nadine was a handful, a fact she proved the older she got.

My heart brimmed with joy as I watched my little family and played with the ring on my finger.

Nadine came before the wedding, but neither Baker nor I cared. She made the most adorable flower girl and spent most of our sober night slumbering in her dad's lap while uncle Austin drank enough for the three of us. That is until grandma Linda pried her from his arms and took her for the night.

I laughed at the memory, never once regretting my choices. Baker was mine, and I was his. And I'd do anything to support him just as he supported me. I'd built a marketing empire and was sought out by some of Motocross's biggest names. Baker was there every step of the way, creating his own brand and becoming a legacy within the racing community.

"It's getting dark!" I called, and the three of them sagged in unison, knowing their time was up.

"One more lap!" Nadine called over the idling sled and through her helmet.

My eyes flicked to Baker, whose mischievous grin curled at both edges.

"One!"

They came in one lap later, just as Luke and his new girlfriend walked in with arms full of groceries. "There's my honey bee," he smiled, scooping a running Nadine in his arms before crushing her in a hug.

Honey bee, because her eyes were liquid sunshine like her dad's and her hair just as dark, but everything else she inherited from me. The beautiful almond shape of her eyes, the same long eyelashes and full lips.

She was beautiful. And Mr. Nicolas Baker was going to have some trouble if he wasn't careful.

The snocross legend slipped tattooed arms around my waist, hands finding the growing swell of my belly before he planted a sweet kiss on my cheek. "Anything?" he asked. Hopeful in his question.

I smiled, knowing he was referring to the movement of the baby. "A little." His eyes danced when I looked at him, his hands feeling. "I think he likes sweets like his dad."

Baker's grin broadened before kissing me–his tattooed hand slipping into mine.

His phone rang, but he was quick to silence it. Bell Racing had grown exponentially within the last few years. So much so that Baker, Luke and Nate purchased more land and created their own nationally renowned track. But that wasn't Baker's favourite part. It was the school and training facilities they organized every year, including a two-week program in the winter with five spots designated for kids who couldn't afford the sport and several throughout the summer geared around motocross.

He loved it. And he loved how everyone played a role, including Austin, who opened up his own mechanic shop and rented out bikes and snowmobiles throughout the year.

Baker kissed my head, grabbing the groceries Luke left by the door and bringing them to the counter before returning to the living room to sit with my father and Luke while Miss. Nadine Baker climbed onto a stool–cheeks red. "When's Lily going to be here?" she asked, taking the hot chocolate grandma Linda set in front of her.

She gave her a pearl white smile before checking on her turkey behind me. "Soon."

Nadine fell dramatically onto the counter. "They're taking forever."

"That's because aunty Janelle had a business meeting in the city, and their flight was delayed."

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't as impatient as my daughter. I hadn't seen Janelle or my brother in months. Nate and Janelle married a year before they had Lily, choosing to raise her in the city because of their careers. With Janelle's encouragement, Nate retired early from snocross, opting to return to school and earn his law degree. They did well for themselves, but lately, they seemed lonely, especially after Janelle's sister moved closer to her inlaws.

Nadine crossed her honey-brown eyes. "I'm going to find uncle Johnny."

I added the cinnamon to the sugar, observing with a quiet smirk as my daughter climbed off her seat and prowled around the corner to the garage–her wild hair in desperate need of brushing.

My mother and I set the table, leaving my father to cut the turkey. Nadine jittered in the seat next to me, greedily eyeing the mashed potatoes. Baker and I chuckled as papa took his time. Christmas was always spent with grandma and papa. A fact Nate knew when he barrelled through the front door. "I'm sorry we're late!"

"It's about time," Luke said from his seat across from me.

Nadine snapped a look over her shoulder before leaping out of her seat. "Lily!"

The girls screaming had the rest of us cringing, including Johnny, who dug fingertips into his temples.

Janelle crouched over my chair, giving me a one-arm hug and a quick kiss on the cheek before shuffling over to Baker. "How was the flight?" I asked.

"I'm over it," she breathed, slumping onto the seat next to me after Nate helped her out of her black peacoat. "We've decided to move home. Permanently."

Home, as in here.

My mother's eyes danced. "So we'll see more of Lily?" she asked, pushing out her seat to greet her granddaughter.

Janelle lifted a glass of water to her lips. "You'll be seeing more of both of them."

Our heads shot to Janelle as she casually sipped, leaving Nate to say. "Janelle's pregnant."

My mother and I shrieked louder than the girls who situated themselves in their grandparent's laps. Baker and Luke rose out of their chairs to congratulate Nate.

I loved my family and was grateful for every one of them, including the man who kissed my temple–a tattooed hand resting on my belly.

It wasn't an easy road, but it was the one I'd retake time and time if it meant being with Baker. "I love you," he murmured against my forehead.

I smiled. Baker was an incredible dad. A great husband. And everything in between. And I was grateful to have him at my side: imperfections and all.

"I love you too, Baker."

A/N: I'm sorry I didn't post this sooner! I've never written an epilogue and I was struggling with the end. Shout out to Mrsdeemo for helping me out!

This concludes our story, unless there a need for bonus chapters... please let me know if this would be something you're interested in.

Please note this is not the end, Baker and Hadley do show up in the Snowcrossed spin-off starring their daughter, Nadine Baker and Mr. Levi Hunt, the son of Baker's nemesis. If you're interested please go and check out 'Snowstruck'.

Thank you so much for reading!

In gratitude,
Dene