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( CHAPTER 1 ╱ part 1 )

(Honeymoon Fades — Sabrina Carpenter)

    SEPTEMBER days were cool, a light nip at my skin as rose bloomed on my cheeks. It was the kind of weather that made mother's wrap their children into layers of thick cotton and knit wear. It was the weather that was made for hot chocolate by the fireplace, cozy pajamas and reruns of old holiday specials.

    It was my favorite time.

    I was reminded of that same warm and fuzzy feeling as I sat in Fawns home, the coolness of the leather chair facing my writing desk. Fawn always made room for me, we had always been close, far closer than me and my daddy, hell even closer than me and mama, would ever be.

    I was born first, into a world that might've forgiven my mistakes if not father's original transgression. People always say there is always a rhyme to reason, a method to madness – but when it came to daddy, there was never a reason. 

    He was born into prosperity, promise given to him with the very silver spoon in his mouth welded the day grandfather found out he'd have an heir – a son. He was given what he wanted, charmed his way through what he need to earn. Born into an empire, yet he always craved more, nothing was ever enough.

    I was never good enough.

    A son, who despite inheriting his father's handsome looks and charms, could never escape his unbridled wrath – because what boy would ever pursue such as sissy career as the arts.

    They'd attempted another time, in hopes that maybe the pregnancy that bore such a disappointment surely wouldn't fail a second time.

    A daughter, born with her mother's beauty, her dear grand-mama's dark curls – to bad she was lame in the head.

    Alexander Lowell had never failed in his life, ever. And now, now as his line bore such bastards – he had never been so enraged. He'd turned to aggression, brash hands littering my skin in bruises no one would ever believe came from the great Mr. Alexander Lowell – why would they? A boy could never be a victim of abuse.

    I tried shielding my sister from his cruelness, from mama's blind eye, but even if I took the brunt of his lash – I could never save Fawn from his harsh comments. 

    I hated them, loathed them, Hell, they could drop dead, and I wouldn't shed a tear. I knew it, Wyn knew, hell even daddy knew it – but I knew Fawn would never stop chasing the validation that would never come from our parents.

    I tipped my head back, skin stretching along my adams apple and jaw as Irish whiskey burned its way down my throat, the subtle aroma hitting my senses before the liquor touched my lips.

    "Fawny..." I drawled out, bobbing my head from it was tilted, "You don't know your commas from your colons."

    She merely slapped my shoulder a wide grin splitting along her lips.

    Wyn sat perched on the arm of my intricate leather chair, legs crossed and swinging and her head lain against the back. I could smell the buttery caramel melding with bitter coffee beans against her breath, no doubt a gift from her morning coffee.

    Even after all these years, I doubted I would ever tire of my Wyn – doubted my mind would ever cease to fry at the very thought of her, my darling, lovely Bronwyn.

    She was wearing an oversized green corduroy flannel (one that was no doubt stolen from my side of the closet) and a pair of overalls, her converse (worn down and well loved) are tied tightly, the laces swinging with every foot movement.

    I felt her hand come up to clip the back of my head, her rings thumping against my skull. 

    "Don't make fun of her Fox," She said, keeping her tone light and her gaze playful, "I can't tell the difference either - are ya makin' fun of me?"

    "It's alright Wyn." Fawn smiled, turning to give me mischievous grin, "Fox probably doesn't know the difference either."

    It was then that the creaky door of Fawn's cottage slammed open. Sirius Jasvar, a man with shortly cropped blonde hair and a buffer build stood in the doorway. Sirius and I went way back, much farther than I did with Wyn. I wasn't sure how we'd met, or even why we began to talk, all I knew was that Sirius always had been, and always would be like a brother to me – there was no doubt about it.

    "That cold front is a bitch." He grumbled out, a deep baritone that shook from his chest

    From my place in front of the fire, Teeth wide and canines shining against the fluorescents; akin to a rabid dog ripping open its jowls, I let a grin split along my mouth. "That's not the only-"

    "Ok!" Wyn exclaims, beginning to lightly tug at my sleeve, "we have something to finish, don't we Foxy?"

    "At Fawn's house?" I asked, confused. "Where we currently are?"

    She began to run her finger along my arm, a suggestive look in her eyes, "I don't think Fawn wants us doing our...stuff here." 

    "What?" Fawn asked suddenly, her eyes lifting from what she was reading.

    Sirius, who before now had been leaning against the doorway, plops down next to Fawn, "Whatcha reading Little Deer?"

    "A book," She replies flatly, but once she realizes how rude she may have sounded, Fawn quickly retracts, "I mean obviously it's a book..."

    "Well," Wyn cuts into the silence, clapping her hands against her thighs as she stood tip, "I see y'all are busy, so Fox and I'll just leave and-"

    "But I need Sirius' opinion on the new chapter." I pointed out, confused by her sudden desire to leave.

    She gives me another pointed look, something far sharper and more serious than the playful nature of her previous one, "no you don't."

    "Which chapter, Fox A Lot?" Sirius asked.

    "See," I jeered, turning to where Wyn stood with her arms folded, "he cares."

    "Fox, we need to go do that thing, remember?" She said, diction hitting each syllable, making each word ring in my head.

    "Oh god," Sirius whispered loudly to Fawn, "they're going to have sex."

    "We won't be if he doesn't move it." Wyn muttered under her breath. 

    From where he sat, Sirius stretched, slinging his arm lazily around Fawns shoulders. 

    "Why don't y'all stay?" He asked, leaning into the soft blanket over the couch, "I have to tell ya about this hike I took this weekend."

    I was about to respond, eyes twinkling as my head whipped to where he sat, but Wyn's voice stopped me;

    "We still have to get everything ready to announce the baby, Foxy."

    That got my attention. My brows shot up, eyes wide and a grin fighting its way to my face. "We have to go, now!" I hurried out, lifting up Wyn and rushing towards the car — each giggle she let out garnered making my heart flutter. 

    "Christ Fox," Wyn continued giggling, her head thrown back as I opened the door for her, "I thought I'd have to pry ya from that chair."

    I gave her a soft kiss on her forehead, lingering there before running to get into the drivers side. 

    "Whatdya mean?" I asked, my brows furrowed. 

    "I love ya foxy, but even God couldn't separate you from your writing." She smiled. 

    Whether it was the way her eyes crinkled or how her teeth glowed when theyre on full display, I was enthralled. It was the same way she smiled when we found out she was preganent. She'd been as sick as a dog, her skin as pale as a ghost and the sweat shining against her skin made it more apparent. 

    I didn't even glean that it could've been a pregancy until Wyn arrived home one day, a bag from the drug store a few blocks down clutched tightly in her hands. I remembered how clammy my hands grew as we waiting for the test results, I didn't even know I could get that nervous.

    "What does it say?" I had asked, noticing how wide her eyes were, the soft glaze that began to form over them as her hands shook with the test. She slowly turned the test my way, the two red lines, though difficult to see, stood out to me as I felt my jaw go slack.

    "You're gonna be a dad, Fox." Her voice shook, but the way her face broke out into a grin and the way she giggled when I hoisted her up to and spun her around.

    I didn't think Wyn could get any more beautiful than in that moment, her smile the same as the one she gave me now – breathtaking, enchanting, entralling, completely and utterly Wyn.

    "I was writin' about you, Winnie Baby. No wonder I got so distracted." I shrugged my shoulders, turning my head slightly to give Wyn an innocent smile.

    She gives me a look, "you're lucky you're cute, otherwise I'd've left ya to your stories." From where my eyes were trained on the road, I felt Wyn grasp my chin, pulling me to her waiting lips to peck me on the cheek.

    "How're ya feelin' Winnie Baby?" I asked, grasping her hand in my own, pressing a gentle kiss on the back of it.

    "Better," she hums, "I think the baby's finally calmin' down, haven't had that blasted mornin' sickness in a while." Her eyes peer down, her hands rubbing where the bump was forming.

    "I can't believe it." I said giving her a soft smile, my hand traveled down to where she still caressed her belly, gently rubbing my thumb along the ripples of her knuckles, "you've made me the happiest man in the whole wide world Winnie baby."

    "I think you're more excited than I am Foxy..."

    I could only smirk.

    "How's the mini doin' Mama Wyn?"

    She let out a soft groan, lightly clutching the bottom of her stomach, "they seem to think my stomach is a damn football." 

    "Seems they their daddy's voice." I couldn't help but smile, even the smallest things felt life changing during her pregnancy.

    "Oh, they know it, I don't think they could ever forget." she states, laughing, "I also know they know we love 'em very much." she smiles softly, letting her hands flit along her bump.

    She groans once more, "Even if they're kickin' up a storm."

    "Are we doin the right thing, Wyn?" I ask after a moment, my brows furrowed.

    "Do you not think we are?" She frantically asked, whipping her head to face me. I winced, the worry in her voice enough to make me regret my question.

    "I don't know! I've never been pregnant before!" The words spill from my lips before I could think them through, hands raised in ceasefire.

    But it was too late, Wyn began to ranting before I could even explain, "I can't do this alone Fox, I can barely take care of a plant, let alone a baby! And my mama would kill me and so would daddy and-" 

    She began to cry, hot tears rolling down apple red cheeks. Each hiccup let out, broke my heart and the gloss in her eyes made my stomach churn. Even if I was born to be Fawn's shoulder to cry on, I'd never be able to handle Wyn crying.

    We were stopped in our driveway, my hands gently cupping Wyn's face, "Bronwyn Lowell look at me right now." I take a deep breath, "You're gonna be the best mama in the whole goddamn world." I kept my voice soft, a comforting vibrato despite my aching, racing heart.

    She lets out a small, watery laugh, "Bronwyn Lowell?"

    "Figured it had a nice ring to it." I smiled, though small as I rubbed my calloused thumb along her cheek, rubbing away the tears.

    "I don't think I could do this without ya Fox...I'm a mess." It comes out breathy, a sigh that seemed to pull a weight off her shoulders.

    "You're beautiful." It was simple, but it was enough to put a small smile on her face that was purely Wyn.

    "How do you always know what to say." She laughs lightly, eyes shining with love – a look I was sure I mirrored. 

    "Because I love you." I whisper, like a secret only we could hear, pressing my lips at the corner of her mouth.

    She only smiles, guiding my head so she could kiss me softly. The plushness of her lips, a sensation I should be used to, always felt new and exilerating whenever they pressed against my own. It was languid, familiar, it breathed in life where it previously felt meaningless – it was the perfect way to describe being loved by Wyn.

    "Always have and always will." I mumbled into her lips.

    "Then you won't mind gettin' the cake ready for tonight?" Her fingers flitted through my hair, tangling in every curl.

    "Anythin' you want Winnie Baby." I mumbled, remaining attached to her as I moved us out of the car. My arm was hooked underneath Wyn, lifting her so her legs could wrap around my waist.

    "And maybe after you've finished doing all that work for me, you can join me in the bath...I have been rather, tense lately." She pulls away from my lips briefly, moving to brush them softly along my jaw, "would ya like that Foxy baby?"

     A soft groan surpasses my lips, my neck extending backwards as I placed her on the counter, my arms placed on either side, "That ain't fair Wyn."

    "It's an incentive," she sing songs, pecking my lips with a mischievous smile, "I'll be waiting ever so patiently for you."

    All I could do was watch, mouth agape, as she fluttered her lashes, hips swaying left to right, making her way to the bathroom.

    "That's what I call damn good motivation." I muttered.

    "Then hurry along my little fox, wouldn't want the water to run cold while your away." Her voice was like a sirens, pulling me deeper into the tides of a vast ocean my mind begged me to drown in.

    "Screw what Fawn'll say," I call, "I picking up the damn cake."

    I run back to where the keys lay, smiling boyishly as Wyn lets out a lively giggle.

    "Be back soon Winnie baby!" I call, before letting the door slam shut behind me.

KOREY SPEAKS !

So....this took awhile to publish... but they're having a baby!!!

This is awhile after they confessed in the last chapter, they're currently 33 and 35 respectively.

Be prepared for the next chapter🙈it's gonna be a doozy

what do y'all think about the story so far?

Make sure to drink your water, have a good rest and take a deep breath!
All my love,