Ryan and Brendon sat on either side of the car seat in the back seat of Pete and Patrick's car. Ryan was playing with the giggling baby while Brendon snapped a picture.

"She's so cute, dude!" Brendon laughed, looking up at the front of the car. "How was her first night?"

"I feel like she doesn't like her bed." Pete replied from the driver's seat, "She wasn't too pleased to be left in there."

"Hemingway slept right under her crib, though." Patrick added, "He seems to like her."

"Punk, that was probably because Kellin snuck her a cookie while you went to take a shower."

"What the hell!?"

"I told you, I'm the fun dad."

"Boys, boys, you're both pretty..." Ryan trailed off as he made faces at Natasha, "Your little assassin will love you both."

Patrick rolled his eyes, "Ry, she's not Russian and She's barely one."

"Let her dream."

Brendon reached over to playfully smack Ryan while Pete reached up for the radio dial. They were all driving to Dallon's for a small party to welcome in Patrick and Pete's new adoptee; just the close friend group.

The ride was quiet and cheerful, until a childlaced chorus echoed through the speakers.

Mama said that it was okay

Mama said that it was "quite alright"...

"Babe? You okay?" Brendon asked, making Patrick spin around to see what was wrong. Ryan had stopped playing with Natasha. He was looking down at the ground with a dispirited expression and a distant look in his eyes. Brendon reached out, lightly brushing his fingers against Ryan's arm to bring him back to the moment. "Ryro?"

Ryan blinked a few times before shaking his head. "I-I'm sorry... I just don't like that song much..." He reached across his chest to hold onto Brendon's hand, "It's just that... Mama never said that it was 'okay'... I was never 'quite alright'..." Ryan shut his eyes as the chorus came on again.

Patrick spun around, quickly reaching out and hitting a button to change the station. The car's speakers were now playing an alternative band of some sort.

"Ryro, it doesn't matter what she thought." Brendon soothed his husband, "I love you, and you love me. We proved that shit, remember?" He pulled his hand away from where it rested on Ryan's arm to allow their metallic bands to shine in the dull light that came through the car windows. "She can't hurt you with her words anymore, because you proved her wrong." Brendon cocked his head, offering an assuring smile.

A tear brimmed in Ryan's eyes as he looked back at Brendon. "I love you..." Ryan whispered.

"Guys, not in front of the baby!" Pete teased, shifting his gaze up to the rearview mirror.

"Like the little assassin hasn't seen worse." An amused grin spread across Ryan's face. He looked at Natasha. "Isn't that right, you itsy bitsy spider you." He tickled her stomach, causing her to squeal with laughter.

Patrick smiled at the sound. It was so precious, especially compared to her screams of distrust when trying to put her to bed last night. She seemed to like all the attention she was getting.

"Pete, you missed the turn to Dallon's."

"FU-"

"LANGUAGE, YOU MEME!"

"-DGE!"

Patrick face palmed with laughter. There was so much to adjust to with a new, impressionable life in the picture...

"Patrick, I think agent Romanoff's diaper has been compromised." Ryan relayed, pinching his nose.

So much adjustment...

---
A/N~ so hi guys! I know I've been pretty slow with updates in this book, and I'm sorry!

I do love this series and the characters so much, but I've been working on several other projects at the same time. Mainly: Blank Space, Faux Amour, and No Phones In Class. This is a fun series to write, but the others take more research, planning, and the chapters are definitely a lot longer than the average Kik fic chapter.

I won't let this book die, but know that updates will be slower than the previous books 💙

I hope you have a lovely day/night!

~Skittles Out~