"Dada pretty!"

"I think we've already established that."

"No! Dada pretty!"

Camilla is applying make up to Dominic's face while the nurses are changing his bandages. He's unable to move, all the while our daughter attacks him.

I pick her up, even if she's squirming against my hold, and drop her on the chair next to Easton. Easton, my baby, who's curled up and sleeping. He's cute, if we don't count that fact he's drooling.

I leave a small kiss on his forehead before walking back to Dominic. His recovery is slow. I'm not comparing him to Easton, but it's true that his brother was already training by now. 

The nurses leave the room with a glance on Asher, who's working on a few files in the corner of the room. I'm aware he's sexy with those glasses he recently got, but there's no need to gush over my husband.

"Hey, sweetheart," I whisper to the already tired Dominic. He mumbles something and turns to me, his eyes half closed. I fondle a little with his hair. "Are you that tired?"

It scares me how bad his physique is now. He used to be so strong, so inexhaustible. But now he's tired after a half hour of keeping his eyes open. 

He doesn't like to admit it, though. Even now, he shakes his head. While it's clear he'll fall asleep in just a few minutes. I nod, deciding to not call him out on things. "Okay. Do you want to cuddle a little?"

That brings a smile on his face. He shifts a little in the bed, making room for me. I join him, making sure I don't hurt his side. When we're all cuddled up, he hides his face in the nape of my neck. "This has been long."

I hum, continuing to play with his hair. I know that calms him. "Has it?"

He nods, eyes fluttering. "I'm sorry I can't stay awake for you. I think the drugs are too strong."

I kiss his head. "They are? Maybe we should talk to the doctor later today, then." 

He nods and tightens his hold on me. "I would love to start getting better. If I wasn't so tired all the damn time, I promise I would be trying to get in a better condition."

I kiss his cheek, or a part of it that's not hidden in between us. "You don't owe me any promise, Dominic. It's not your fault."

He gives me a little shrug, eyes never opening again. "I want to make you happy. This is not that. I want to be a good dad to my kids. This is not that. I want to be better than mine. This is—" "Exactly that."

He frowns, slightly shaking his head. "No . . . They should be playing right now . . . having fun . . ."

And he's asleep, still muttering how this is making him a bad dad. I hate that he's comparing himself to his own father. Because clearly, he's so much better.

Camilla adores him. That's one way to know it. Aiden does too. Even the little Sebastian, who never really trusts men, feels comfortable around him. How could he ever think he's a bad dad?

"Daisy," someone whispers from behind me. I look up to see Asher standing next to the bed, his elbows leaning onto the railings and him bending over the two of us. He leans down a little more and kisses right beneath my eye. His lips are a wet when he pulls back.

He was kissing away a tear of mine. 

"Butterfly," he whisper, reaching to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "He's intoxicated by the drugs. He's not a bad dad, and I believe he knows that, deep down. But he's scared he's missing out on important moments in their lives, lying here and sleeping for the majority of the day. I think that's normal, don't you?"

I nod, wiping another tear away. "But it's not fair. He doesn't deserve to be compared to your father. Even if he does it to himself."

Ash agrees with me, caressing my hair. "Life isn't fair. We know that, butterfly. But we'll help him, won't we? When he wakes up again, we'll talk to the doctor. She'll lessen his pain killers, and he'll start his recovery. While doing that, he can see more of the kids and help them with their school work by the time they get out. Don't you think that'll already help his mindset?"

I'm quick to nod. Another person accompanies Asher next to the bed and looking up, I see it's a still sleepy Easton. He's rubbing the sleep out of his eyes with his hands, his hair messy. I think he looks cute. 

He too bends down to kiss me. "Hello, little love. You're laying beautifully here, with a fat-ass as blanket."

To each of our surprise, Dominic groans and moves, glaring at Easton. He doesn't say anything, as he just woke up, but it's clear he heard what his brother said. Easton sweetly pats his head.

"At least I don't drool while I'm sleeping."

"Yeah? Well, at least I don't use Daisy as a stretch ball."

"Huh. Funny, considering I don't see you hugging her, ever."

"Maybe she's being claimed by my brother too much to be able to hug her."

"Maybe my brother has to stop being such a baby."

Easton scowls at that. He ignores Dominic's triumphant smile and looks at me. "Am I a baby?"

I smile and tap his cheeks. "You do sleep like a baby in my arms." 

He shrugs and picks me up, away from Dominic. Nicky whines like a little kid. Easton chuckles, "Yeah, who's the baby now?"

Dominic immediately stops and sits up straighter. His face twists in pain for a second, but before Asher gets close enough to help, it's gone already. It's sweet of Asher, but I'm really proud of Dominic for trying himself. 

"God, I hate this," Nicky groans, blowing out a breath. For the rest, he seems okay. While Easton is placing kisses all over my face, I listen as Asher and Nicky start to talk. Ash is dodging the subject work, even if Nicky keeps asking questions about it. 

Eventually, Easton joins in and sits down on the bed, with me on his lap. Asher pulls a chair closer, laughing at some joke. I'm not quite following it, more like enjoying the time we have together again. Finally.

I feel Easton's chest rumble under my chin with his laugh and smile. "What about when Michael tripped and fell through that glass door? I was having the time of my damn life."

"Goddamn, I just fucking walked in."

All of us startle, seeing Michael standing in the doorway with an annoyed expression. He's holding a bag in his hands, and I suspect it might be a gift. 

I look at Dominic, who's frowning and confused. "What are you doing here?"

Michael looks from him to the bag in his hands and back to him. "I don't know. Cleaning the windows?"

Nicky rolls his eyes. Mike walks in, kissing my cheek as a way of greeting me. Easton possessively pulls me back, but he should know by now Michael isn't interested in me in any way. He then pulls a chair next to Asher's and sits down.

"I'm here to visit you," he smiles at a very confused Dominic. Nicky frowns even more. But why—" "Because you're my friend and I care."

He gives him the bag. Curious, I watch as Dominic starts unpacking his gift. There's childlike excitement in his eyes, even if he acts all cool. 

A little chuckle leaves his lips at the sight of seeing the wrapping paper around the box. He immediately shuts his mouth again and looks up with wide eyes, but the rest of us are just watching him and encouraging him to open it. So what he's giddy? It's cute.

He carefully unpacks it, cautious to not rip the Hello Kitty paper off. A smile spreads on his face, lightning up his eyes when he sees what it is. He looks up and grins at Michael. "No way."

Michael grins too and shrugs. "I knew you wanted it. Here you go."

"What? What is it?" Impatient as always, Easton tries to stand up and look into the box. Unfortunately for him, I'm still on his lap and stopping him from doing so. 

Dominic pointedly ignores him. He's too much in an awe. "I can't believe this!" 

"What is going on?" Easton urges. Happiness all over his face, Dominic almost giggles. "Michael got me tickets to the next festival in that beautiful architecture building I was talking about three weeks ago. They're really hard to get, and I missed them."

Aw. Michael grins. "I got enough for him and a few other people to join. I can only hope he takes me with him."

I don't really care if Nicky takes me with him. I'm just really happy there's joy in his eyes again. That smile on his face right now? Worth every penny on this earth. 

"Knock knock." I look over Easton's shoulder and see the doctor walking in. "I heard my presence was requested? Oh, Dominic, be careful with moving too much."

I look over my shoulder just in time to see Nicky reaching for Michael. He wants a high five, but Michael steps in before he can lose his balance and gives him some sort of hug. 

"Thank you!" "You're welcome." Michael shakes his head, obviously enjoying Dominic's slightly weird behavior. 

Easton nods at the doctor. She steps closer to the two of us, winking at me before focusing on Easton's explanation. 

"We would like to lower the dose of his drugs. He wants to stay awake for longer periods of time and start recovering. When I got shot, I had to do exercises in the gym. Why doesn't he have to do that type of stuff?"

The doctor grins. "Because you wouldn't stop complaining about your bed rest. I haven't heard Dominic complain, but I can understand he wants to go home soon."

The word home catches Nicky's attention. He scans my face and then the doctor's before slightly nodding. "I can go home?"

She laughs. "God, no. But we can start your revalidation tomorrow and build up. If you're doing well, maybe you can go home in a few weeks."

Asher jumps up, startled. "Shit! It's already 4! I need to get the kids." 

He leaves with a hurried kiss on my forehead. It makes me happy.

. . .

Turn back around and leave some comments. I haven't had any in a long time and I have no idea if you are actually enjoying this sequel.