This first one is dedicated to zitana128 for her constant love and support throughout as well as constructive criticisms and also the outstanding front cover.

Thank you.

***

4 years later...

^^ Leonado Micah Kwabena Santiago.

Writer's POV

"Leonado- Micah Kwabena Santiago! Torna qui ora! (Get back here now!)" A 24 year old Matéo yells running after his 4 year old son.

Why did Adeline decide to leave me with this boy?!

Matéo internationally yells.

23 year old Adeline Santiago has left her husband of 4 years to babysit their son as she goes shopping for things for the house.

As it turns out, nobody runs faster than a toddler when you ask "what's in your hand, son?"

Matéo runs  and slide tackles the floor in front of his son, blocking the boy's path and making him stop abruptly and then flop onto his padded bum.

Matéo picks up his son and unclenches his fist to reveal one of his wife's hair clips.

A hair clip?!

Is that it?

He stares at his son, who stares back and then giggles poking his daddy's lightly bearded cheeks to make him smile.

Matéo can't help but smile back at his adorable son. He can never stay angry at the boy for too long. It's his biggest weakness.

Leonado inherited Matéo's green- blue eyes and Adeline's thick black hair and adorable smile, nose and eye shape.

He kisses his son's forehead gently and then carries him back to the front room.

They sit on the couch and watch cartoons, but it seems that Leo is more interested in playing with his dad.

He crawls up his Dad's stomach and cuddles his neck.

Matéo hugs his son back, his heart melting.

"Baba" Leonado sighs tiredly.

He has had a long day of running around and making his dad run around with him, while mama was out.

Food time was the best though, because he got macaroni cheese all over his baba's hair!

He got put in the cot while baba changed but it was worth it!

Leonado is just about to fall asleep, when the door opens.

"Mummy!" Leonado squeals excitedly!

He shuffles quickly of his father's lap and runs as quickly as his tiny legs can carry him to see his mum.

He finds mummy trying to lock the door while balancing the shopping bags and another weight all at once.

It's his baby sister, Jayla!

^^Jayla Afia Santiago.

Matéo walks up to Adeline and takes the bags off her and gives her a kiss.

They go into the living room and She puts down Jayla, who  goes towards her father.

Matéo picks up his little princess and lays on on his chest to get comfortable.

She gurgles softly and snuggles into her dad's neck, her soft but very full black curls tickling his face.

Within seconds, the 1 year old falls asleep in her Dad's arms, breaths slow and light.

Matéo scoops up the tiny child and holds her to his chest, standing up and supporting her head as he does so.

He walks past the kitchen and sees Leonado helping his mother with the shopping as best as he can, handing her cans of tomatoes one by one with his tiny hands.

He was always a proper momma's boy.

She patiently lets him help out and plays mini games with him, picking him up and playing spider man so that he can reach the higher shelves and put things away.

He smiles at his son and wife and then at his little daughter in his arms, thinking about what an amazing family he has.

He leaves them be and carries Jayla to her little nursery.

He lays his child down after dressing her up in her tiny pyjamas and puts a blanket over her, kissing her little face.

He walks out of the room, looking back at her one last time to make sure that she is okay and then he leaves the room, leaving the door half open.

He goes back down the stairs to see Adeline and Leonado are still in the kitchen.

"It's bedtime now, Kwabena" Ade tells her clearly sleepy son.

"I not tired mommy!" Leonado protests, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

Adeline chuckles and leans forward, kissing his forehead.

"I'll come and make sure that you're in bed in ten minutes, okay?" She tells him.
He huffs out a breath.

"But momma, I-" Leonado starts, but he is cut off by Matéo.

"Son, didn't you hear what momma said?" Matéo asks him.

Leonado nods.

"Yes baba" He responds.

"Up to bed, and we'll come and see you in ten, alright?" Matéo tells him.

Leonado hugs his mom and then hugs his dad's legs, before going up the stairs and to his room.

Adeline turns back to the counter top and finishes cleaning it off.

"Thank you for your help baby, but I had it" she tells her husband without looking at him.

Matéo stares at his wife, skimming his eyes over her body from head to toe.

The pregnancy and birth of their children sure did a lot to change her body, but she bounced back quite well.

Her hips had grown a lot wider, making her waist look a bit smaller and her curves more defined and her thick hair grew longer.

After all these years, he still found her extremely attractive!

He walks up behind her and hugs her gently.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel that way" he tells her softly.

He has learnt most of the basics during their short time of marriage.

1) happy wife means happy life.

2) when she was mad it was best to find the balance between giving her space and attention. Chocolate helps.

3) she is always right! Always! It doesn't matter what you think, say or do, she is always right and there is nothing you can do about it.

Ever.

She turns to face him and gives him a peck on the lips.

"You're forgiven, she responds, smoothing her hands over his chest.

See?

"Good" Matéo says with a small grin.

He pulls her closer and lets his hands travel to her butt.

She gets on her tiptoes and kisses him slowly.

After their children were born, between the gang and looking after the kids, they never really had time for themselves.

Matéo grabs his wife's butt and then gives it a good slap.

"Hey!" She yells.

He shuts her up by kissing him again.

Even more deeply.

After a few seconds Adeline pulls away first, pushing his chest.

"We need to go and check on the kids" she tells him.

He respects her and pulls away, then she walks out of the kitchen and he follows her up the stairs and to his son's bedroom.

^^ Leonado's room

Matéo Santiago's POV.

I chuckle at the sight.

Adeline pulls the quilt over our son, who wears his spider man pjs and sleeps peacefully.

Adeline smiles at him and she brushes his curls out of his face and plants a kiss on his cheek, before getting up from his bed and walking towards her husband.

She walks past him and he turns the room light off with a 'click'.

I follow her down the stairs and she walks into the living room.

I sit with her on the couch and she turns the tv on.

I switch to Netflix and look for our favourite show.

'Power'

They say this is a big rich town...

I just come from the poorest part...

I lay back and I take her with me.

"Update?" I ask her, playing with her hair.

"The new shipment from Japan flew in today, I checked with Trey, Janelle and Sebastian" she tells me.

"The amno or the money?" I ask.
"Both, she responds and I nearly sit up.

"At the same time?" I ask her.

"How?"

She looks up at me with a smile.

"I may... have done a little bit of negotiations with the boss so that we could get everything on task on time" She tells me proudly.

I smile back.

"That's my girl" I tell her.

"You gotta give me my present!" She giggles, pouting.

I smile and lean forward and kiss her.

She kisses me back and tugs at my bottom lip asking for entrance, which I give her.

Then we are cut off all of a sudden.

Jayla is crying.

Extremely loudly!

"Mommy?!"  Leonado yells.

I sigh.

Adeline chuckles.

"I'll get the baby and you get our son" she tells me, pecking me on the lips and getting off of me.

I sigh and get up to go and look after our family.

I love them more than anything.

——————————————————

Hey all!

Welcome to the first chapter of the newest book!

Thank you also to iloveruss_ I used one of the names you suggested because I quite liked it.

I really hope you liked it and don't forget to vote and comment what you think.

Until next time...

~ Xo