The Skype call to Cody almost immediately connected when she clicked on his name, as if he had been waiting by the computer for the notification from Reyna. She was thankful that she didn't have to stare at the blank, connecting screen for a very long time, as his face soon popped up on the small laptop screen and an easy smile spread across her face. His eyes took in his girlfriend, her hair still in the messy bun she had put it in before her flight and in more lightweight clothes than she had been wearing when she boarded the plane, which made sense when he saw that she was not alone in her bed in the Australian home.

"Hey, Princess," he said softly, worried about waking her bed mates.

"Hi," she said back in a normal voice, knowing the girls would want to wake up and see Cody. "We were watching Moana and they fell asleep."

"You love that movie a little too much," he laughed, smiling widely at her.

She smiled back, "Don't blame me! Abi was the one that begged me to let them watch it."

"Mhmm," he hummed, quirking an eyebrow at her. "Somehow, I don't believe you."

"That's probably because I lied," she admitted. "I forced them to watch it. But that's because I don't think I could sit through Frozen again."

"Elsa!" Averi mumbled against Reyna's chest, shifting and looking up at her. "I love Elsa!"

"You also love Cody, right?" she asked, smiling softly at her baby sister.

The blonde toddler nodded, "Cody is a prince."

"Well that's such a kind thing for a princess to say," he said, making her eyes widen as she looked around the room for him.

Finally, she spotted him on the computer screen, "Cody! When you come?"

"Soon, sweetheart," he told her, smiling softly. "I have to work, but as soon as I'm done, I'll be there."

"Good. Need Cody hug."

"You sound like your sister, needing her Cody cuddles and all."

"You don't have to expose me like that, jerk," Reyna laughed.

"Hey!" Averi exclaimed, lightly smacking her older sister's shoulder. "Cody not jerk! Say you're sorry. Now!"

Reyna's eyes widened as she looked back to her boyfriend, a wide smirk on his face as he tried to keep in the laughter. It was pretty hard for her not to laugh either, but she smiled sweetly at him under the careful watch of Averi.

"I'm sorry, Cody. I shouldn't have called you a jerk. I love you."

A little scream came out of Averi's mouth at those words, stirring the other two girls. During that, she used the little one's distraction to stick her tongue out at Cody who mouthed back to her that he loved her. But then the other two girls figured out who their two sisters had been talking to and the couple's Skype call got hijacked by the excited triplets.

Reyna watched, content, as her boyfriend talked to the three little girls who absolutely adored him. They showed him pictures they had colored and told them about their day so far with their big sister. And eventually, Caroline came in to tell them to settle down and go to bed, so Cody told them he loved them all and bid them goodnight. Reyna smiled gratefully, honestly so thankful for everything he had done for her. And so she curled up with the girls and Booger, finally being able to sleep, surrounded by them and knowing that Cody would be there for her when she needed anything.

•••

i meant for this to be longer but it's just not happening tonight.

[ 8.18.17 ]