The car ride over to my house was one filled with curiosity and questions. We talked about our current lives, jobs, and how much we missed each other. Matt snuck in a kiss or two between conversations. I don't blame him, I wanted him just as much...but we would have plenty of time for that later. We pull to my red brick house and I can see how nervous he his, he doesn't hide well at all.

I'm about to open the car door, then I pause halfway. "I know I kinda rush you into this...but if you're not ready-"

He places his hand over mine. "No, I want to meet her."

We hold hands and I unlock the front door. "Hey, Mallory! I have a surprise for you!"

I hear her scream while running down the stairs. "Am I finally getting that puppy!" She halted at the last step. "Mr. Cowboy!" She sprints towards him and tackles him with a hug.

"Hey, Barbie."

"I missed you."

"I bet I missed you more."

"Nuh-uh." Her new favorite thing to say. "I missed you like a million times infinity."

Matt chuckles. "Well, I missed you infinity times infinity."

Her blue eyes peered up at him. "What happened to you? Mommy said we had to leave without you. I begged her to let me stay, but she wouldn't let me."

I feel so guilty hearing her say that. I never wanted to leave in the first place, but it was the safest option for everyone...at least, that's what I've been telling myself.

"I know you had to leave and sometimes that can be scary, but I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere, Barbie."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Did mommy tell you about my baby sister?"

He smiles, with the biggest grin I've ever seen. "Yeah....I can't wait to meet her."

"Oh, she's sleeping right now, but I can always wake her up."

"No, Mallory. You have to finish getting for bed, it's way past your curfew."

"But, Mommy!"

"No, buts. Go upstairs and say goodnight to Matt."

"Good night, Mr. Cowboy." She says and finally releases him from her grasp.

"Good night, Mallory. I'll drop by tomorrow."

"Yay!" She bolts upstairs and goes to her room.

I shake my head. "I don't know where she gets all that energy from."

Matt puts his arm around my shoulder. "She has the same smile."

"I wish you could have been here to see her grow up, both of them."

"I'm here now."

"Follow me," I say and lead him down the hallway into Katherine's room. "Ready?"

"Yes."

Opening the door, I see her fast asleep in her cuddly bear-print pajamas. "Hey, Katie bear." My nickname for her. "I know you're sleeping but someone wants to meet you." I pick her up from the crib and cradle her in my arms.

"She's....so precious." Matt looks at his daughter in awe, leaning over my shoulder to reach out, Katherine wraps her little finger around his. "She has your nose."

"And your eyes," I say and hand her over to him. Matt holds her gently in his arms and stares down at her, quickly becoming his new world.

"Hi. I'm your dad." He whispers and places a feather-light kiss on her forehead.

Matts put her back down in the crib and I kiss his cheek. "I can tell she already likes you."

After I finish giving him a tour of the house, we end up cuddling on the couch and watching tv. "So, I know we said that we both wanted to jump back into this but I was thinking-"

"Tessa, we don't have to dive back into this head first. We can do things as slow as you want."

"Baby steps?"

"Baby steps." He leans close and kisses me. "Plus, we still have a lot to catch up on."

"You're right, how about a date?"

"Tomorrow night? Candlelight dinner and music."

"Alright, but I'm terrible took."

"Oh, I know."

I playfully smack his shoulder. "Hey!"

He wraps my wrist and pulls me in for another searing kiss. "It's a date."

"It's a date."