- A FEW YEARS LATER -

"I really like the color." Amelia comes up behind me, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. Her belly bumps into my backside and I can't help but smile at the intrusion. "It's a nice soft color, soothing even. Like a waterfall. Hopefully he'll like it."

I place my paintbrush down and turn around, seeing her palming her full stomach. My mouth finds hers before giving her a kiss. After a few moments I pull away from her with a broad smile, feeling completely content.

"He won't care about the color. He'll be too busy staring at his gorgeous mother." I set my hand on top of hers rubbing our unborn son with her. In just two or so weeks he'll be here with us, in our new home in Newton, Massachusetts. Back on the east coast, just as Amelia had wanted. Back where everything made sense.

No longer were we blinded by the vibrant neon lights of Las Vegas. That lifestyle, everything that happened there, was forgotten about a six months or so after Amelia had moved into my condo. I'd asked Amelia to marry me and that same day we went and got hitched.

Our thought process had been why wait when you knew you were with the one? Our parents weren't fans of that particular logic, though. Didn't change the fact that we were engaged and wed on the same day.  Mrs. Amelia Anderson, now my wife and always the love of my life; my best friend.

"I wonder who he'll look more like?" She ponders thoughtfully. "I hope he has your hair." She makes a point of reaching up to caress it.

"Probably going to be deformed if you stay in here any longer." Seth said playfully as he comes into the room with a fresh can of pain in his hand.

"Really, Seth?" Amelia glares at him as he laughs.

"The fumes aren't good for you, that's all I'm saying." He shrugs as he begins opening the lid.

"We got safe paint." I shoot back at him, trying to assuage Amelia's irritation. "It's not going to do anything to her or the baby, thank you very much." He looks up at me and gives me a disbelieving face. "Seriously."

"Fine. Whatever you say, kid." He pours the paint out before grabbing a roller. The relationship between the two of us was an odd one. Considering he was my stepfather and kind of like a stepbrother to Amelia, it made things a bit awkward. "You want to continue painting so we can get this room set up before the little guy arrives, or what?"

I roll my eyes while Amelia lets out a little laugh. "How about I whip up some lunch for all of us?"

"Oh, I don't think so. I will make lunch for everyone and you will relax. " My mother comes up behind her with a wide smile. She is so excited for the little one she could hardly contain it. "Soon enough you will be getting no rest. Trust me, take it while you can get it. Come on, Mellie."

"Go on, love." I plant a swift kiss on her head before letting her go off with my mother.

"She's happy you're back." Seth said, once the two of them had left the room. "When your sister had told us she was moving to Virginia for college your mother nearly had a nuclear meltdown. Two of her children would be so far away from her, nearly broke the woman. And you know how tough your mother is."

"Not when it comes to her kids."

He stops painting and looks over his shoulder at me. "No, not when it comes to her children. She loves you all to death." She was a great mom like that. She showed us the tenderness, the care while Seth had shown us how to take care of ourselves. He was the hard ass in the relationship. "When you said you got married and were coming home, she snapped out of her funk."

"How was she after dropping Monica off on Friday?" He cringes and I can only imagine the crying fest he had to endure on his drive back to Massachusetts. "It was that bad?"

"The woman was a complete mess the entire ride back. Our only daughter being left there all alone at that college with her frat boyfriend." He grit the last words out and went back to painting, vehemently.

"Carter isn't so bad." He doesn't say anything as he continues painting the wall like he had some sort of vendetta against it. "You really don't like the kid, do you?"

"I don't know. The kid just rubs me the wrong way." I don't say anything to that because if I had to guess it's because the kid reminded him of my father.

Carter is arrogant and from money. The kind of kid who thinks he deserves the world. Unlike my father though, he didn't just buy his way through life. The kid is actually athletically talented. He has a lot going for him but he and Monica hardly make much sense together.

They are completely different. Exact opposites. But, if Amelia and I were any indication of the fact, opposites often attract.

"As long as he makes Monica happy, that's all that matters."

We don't say anything for a while after that. We just continue painting until the room is complete. The basinet is already built and in our room. But we still need to put together the crib and the rocking chair, as well as decorate. 

"Jamie! Seth!" My mother's voice calls out loudly. "Get down here now!"

My eyes immediately fly to Seth's and I can tell he's thinking the same thing I am. Amelia's in labor. The both of us quickly exit the room and hurry down the stairs to see Amelia hunched over the counter. Her eyes are closed tightly as she grips the sides of the countertop.

"Mellie?" Her eyes open and hold mine, looking scared. "The baby is coming?"

"Jamie, it's too early. It's—" She cries out in pain as I hurry over to her. "We've got—" She swallows what she was about to say, not being able to handle the pain.

"It's okay, baby. It's only two weeks early. Everything will be okay." I grab ahold of one of her hands and she squeezes the life out of it. "Come on, let's get you to the hospital." She nods at me through her pain and I can't help but feel a nervous excitement flow through me.

✩✩✩

Several hours, one epidural, and a lot of screaming later, our baby boy had arrived. He was born 7lbs 6oz with a head full of red hair and slate-colored eyes that had yet to decide their actual color. Nathaniel Sean Anderson. Named after my grandfather and Amelia's non-biological father. Nonetheless, Sean was still her father and she'd insisted his name be part of our son's namesake.

The both of them are asleep. Nathaniel is in a basinet beside Amelia who's in her hospital bed. I haven't been able to sleep, too overwhelmed by the feelings going on inside of me. The baby is perfectly healthy, as is Amelia. I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect than this.

During her pregnancy Amelia was filled with anxiety because what had happened between the two of us a few years back. When we'd decided to try our hand at having children, soon after getting married, that had been a worry of hers. It only took us a few months after she'd gotten her IUD removed for her to become with child.

That was when we'd decided to move back to the Northeast. I wanted her back home, where she seemed more at ease. Where she was comfortable and we had family to help us. Needless to say, my mother was more than happy with that fact. Her eldest son home, married and with a baby on the way. She was ecstatic, especially with the fact it was with Amelia.

I stand up from my seat and stretch. I'd been sitting in the same position for far too long. After giving Mellie a kiss on the forehead and checking in on the baby I head out of the room, needing something to eat. The minute I open the door I spot my mother looking upset and shocked while Seth was speaking angrily into his phone.

Wondering what the hell they're so upset about I quickly make my way over to them. Just before I get there Seth brings the phone away from his ear saying, "she hung up on me. I can't believe she just fucking hung up on me."

"Who?" I asked, making them both look over to me. "Who were you just talking to?"

"Your sister." Seth grits out. "She's apparently left her college and decided to go on a road trip or something."

"What?" I can't have heard him right. Monica was far from the impulsive type.

"Yup." He runs his hand through his hair and tugs at the ends.

"Does she even have a car there yet?"

"Nope. It sounds like she's taken off with some friend."

"What!?" My mother's voice full of panic. "She's gone on a road trip with Carter?"

"No, not Carter. She won't tell me who. She just fucking hung up on me." He stares down at the phone in his hand. He looks like he wants to smash the damn thing and, knowing him, that's exactly what he wants to do.

My phone starts buzzing in my pocket and I immediately know who it is. I reach into my pocket and see my sisters name pop up on the screen. Seth tries to snatch the phone away from me but my mother swats his hand away from it.

"If anyone can get through to her it's her brother, Seth. Calm down."

"Give me a minute. I'll find out what's going on." I hold up a hand as I turn away from them and go down the hallway. I answer with, "Monica?"

"Hey bro! Congratulations on the baby! I'm an auntie now!" She sounds elated and I can't help but smile.

"Thank you, Mon. Yes, you're an aunt now."

"Auntie." She corrects me. "Aunt makes me sound old."

"Alright, well, do you want to explain to me what he fuck you're up to. You're going to give Seth and mom a heart attack."

"I've decided to take a leap." I pinch the bridge of my nose as she continues. "I have always been so sheltered and always done what people expect of me. I'm tired of it. I made a friend and—"

"So, you met a random stranger and decided to go on a road trip with them?"

"Essentially, yes." After a few moments of silence she adds, "I know you all think I'm crazy for doing this but I need this, Jamie."

"Hey, gorgeous, you ready to get going?" Comes from a deep male voice in the back ground.

"That's a guys voice. You met a guy?" A guy who's calling her gorgeous...

"I did."

"Do you feel safe with him?"

"Yes."

I let out a long sigh. "Mon, please tell me you'll be careful."

"I promise, Jamie. I trust my gut." Her words are reassuring. She's got a good head on her shoulders. "You know me."

"Alright, I'll try and work on Seth and mom. But make sure you get back here soon so you can meet your nephew."

"Thanks, bro. I love you."

"I love you too."

I hang up the phone and head back to the two of them knowing they're not going to like what I'm about to say. After telling them I think she's fine and that she has a good head on her shoulders they both quasi-relax. Seth still has agitation written all over his face but he seems to accept my words.

A sharp crying brings my attention back the hospital room where my wife and child are. If what my mother and Seth are going through right now is an indicator of what I will be going through in the future, I'm really not looking forward to it. But I've still got a handful of years to have to worry about that.

And a lifetime of loving the woman in that room.

- THE END -