Chubby cheeks. Stubby toes. The sweet smell of soft skin bundled tightly into a thin blanket.

I'm in love. Heart swelling, emotions on overdrive, every ounce of my body filled with this warm buzzing feeling.

It's this sweet baby boy, those bright eyes that keep flashing my way before slamming shut for more sleep that has me swooning. Offering to babysit Trina's newest addition to her family was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

He moves slightly in my arms, his head nestling gently against my chest. Watching his little mouth fall open as he turns into me has a familiar smile falling across my face.

"I know, beautiful boy. It looks like I have the goods, but I'm sorry, I don't have what you're looking for."

"This little man has a severe aversion to being held," Tommy's voice floats across the room as he saunters in, my one year old nephew wriggling in his arms. "And let me just say, changing a diaper with an extremely active and curious kid is no easy task. I think I deserve a medal," he boasts before placing Tucker down on the carpet.

"Come on, TJ," Mia smiles, grabbing his tiny fingers as she leads him around the room.

Tommy smiles before gliding over to me, slowly taking a seat beside me on the couch.

"What exactly would you like your medal to say?" I ask, keeping my gaze on the bright eyes wrapped up in my arms.

I can feel Tommy leaning in beside me, his gaze falling to the sweetness taking all of my attention. "Best Uncle, Top Notch Babysitter? I don't know, but the amount of cleanup on that change combined with the acrobatics of that kid and I feel quite accomplished right about now."

I can't help but smile. I've been there. Changing a toddler's diaper, especially one that just discovered the freedom of walking, can be a real treat. The fact that Tommy walked away from that whole scenario with a smile has a tiny little section of my heart lighting up.

"Now," he reaches out a hand, resting it against mine. "What was that about this little guy looking for something?"

My eyes catch his briefly as he leans in against me. "You see the way he keeps turning into me?" I ask, looking briefly over to Tommy, smiling at the fact that he's intently examining the small baby boy in my arms.

"Ah," he nods, his eyes locking onto mine. "I've seen that needy look before."

"I'm not talking about your desire to constantly have my-"

"I know you weren't talking about me," he laughs, cutting me off from finishing my sentence. "I am an uncle of three you know? I've seen a baby reach for their food source."

"Oh," I smile, letting my eyes travel back to the innocent life in my arms.

"You're right though. The face we make is probably the same," he mutters as he observes the baby alongside me. Then he shoots me a smirk, "Looks like we never outgrow that, huh?"

"Guess not," I tell him with an amused roll of my eyes.

Clearing his throat, he shifts to stand on his feet. "You want me to warm the bottle?" he asks, already moving from his seat.

"No," I shake my head, though his instinct to help warms a whole other section of my chest. Not to mention that little ticking clock that's been sounding off a lot more lately. "It's not time yet. I think he just wants the comfort of his mama. Isn't that right, Zander?" my head drops closer to his face as his eyes open again, a glimmer of a smile fighting to play across his lips. It's not a true smile, not yet, but it's still turning my heart into a puddle. There's something so comforting in holding a baby in your arms. I miss this feeling.

"So," Tommy settles back in beside me, his arm making its way around my shoulder as I lean in against him. "You never told me what everyone was up to tonight. How we got blessed running a daycare on a Saturday night."

Zander's eyes fall closed, sealing tighter this time as his delicate little mouth falls open, his body relaxing with each tiny breath. "Oh," I whisper quietly, running my fingers along the edge of the blanket, sliding it out of his face. "Trevor and Lacy had a date night and Trina, they didn't have plans. Their six week wait was over, so I offered to take this little man for the evening."

"Six week wait?"

My eyes dance right on over to the man beside me, full of mischief. "Yeah, the six week wait. You haven't heard of it, Mr. Professional Uncle?"

His eyes drop, giving me that playful smirk as his free hand glides across my stomach, his fingertips just barely grazing the skin beneath my shirt. Butterflies. I've felt them since the first time he touched me. A feeling I won't ever lose when it comes to him.

"Obviously uncles aren't privy to all of the ins and outs that parents are. So no, I have not heard of the six week wait."

"It's about six weeks before the first doctor's check up after the baby is born. The first chance for the very hard working mom to get the all clear."

"The all clear?" he questions, just as his eyebrows raise. Watching all the pieces fall into place in front of him has me smiling. "Oh, got it. Six weeks. Okay. Well, that's...six weeks, huh?"

"Yes, six weeks," I laugh. "Why? Don't think you could make it?"

He leans in, his chin resting against my shoulder as his eyes land on the bundle of innocence in my arms. His hand against my skin slowly raises, resting on mine as it sits across Zander.

"Baby, I'd wait as long as you needed me to."

My eyes quickly find his, taking in his words. I don't know if he meant them to imply what they do, but I can't help think about that six week wait, with him. About holding our child in my arms as he sits beside me.

I've pictured a lot of things with Tommy. Marriage, a future, even kids. But thinking about it now, holding this boy in my arms, it just seems so much more real.

"Tommy!" Mia yells, pulling our attention to her and Tucker. "You up for another round of hide and seek?"

He sits up now, pushing himself toward the edge of the couch. "I don't know," he begins with a playful smile. "You two ready to lose again?"

"Oh, we're not losing this time," Mia challenges back. "We've got a plan, isn't that right TJ?"

Tucker's playful laugh echoes across the room, causing all of us to smile.

"Alright, we'll just have to see about that," Tommy replies as he stands from the couch. "You better start hiding, you two. I'm counting as soon as I step outside."

Mia grabs Tucker's hands, the two of them running out back, though Tucker's run is more of a bouncy skip that requires Mia's hand to stay completely stable. Tommy turns back to face me, leaning forward as he places a soft kiss to my forehead.

"I'll be back. I love you."

There's that little flutter across my chest. Every damn time. "Love you too."

~~~

Today was one for the books. Three kids, one pushing every possible boundary of freedom on two wobbly legs, one bundled against my chest nearly the entire three hours, and the other on competitive overdrive attempting to challenge Tommy to every sport and game possible. That last one is nothing new. Tommy and Mia seem to have found a way to make every event into a competition lately.

Although, hearing Tommy try to use that to his advantage while changing Tucker's diaper was quite comical to listen to. Mia is far too intelligent to fall for it. I guess in a way, she won that battle in the end.

Taking a shower in the quiet tranquil trickle of water was a reminder of how much I used to love those very moments. The only moment of silence and peace I used to find as a new mom. There's something about the escape of a shower that can rejuvenate you, rebalance your stability as a mom and prepare you to take on the world as soon as you step back out.

It's nice to know the world I'm stepping out to these days is much calmer. Mia's old enough now to do a lot on her own. The small mundane tasks no longer require my assistance. It's something I used to think about all of the time. Imagining the day when I could have some of my independence back.

But now, now that she doesn't yell for me right away or refuse to accomplish a task without me by her side, I seem to be missing it more than I ever thought I would. I miss the tiny cries when I stepped out of the solitude of a short shower. The very ones that told me how much she craved my touch, my presence, while I was gone. I miss holding her in the middle of the night to feed her, just the two of us in the light of the moon as I slowly rocked her back and forth.

I miss every small and big moment of having a baby. A tiny, innocent, dependent, life that exudes so much love and joy in one laugh.

"Today was..." Tommy begins as he enters the room, pulling me from my swirling thoughts. He shuts the door behind him and takes a few strides toward the bed, plopping down heavily with a long breath.

"Exhausting," I smile, falling down onto the bed with an exhale of that very exhaustion sailing past my lips.

I can feel his eyes sliding over to me, resulting in my usual need to connect with those ocean blues.

"Yes, but that's not what I was going to say."

I shift slightly, turning just enough to face him more fully. His hand slowly finds mine, those fingers of his tickling across the palm of my hand before grasping it within his own.

"It had me thinking," he begins, his eyes searching mine. I watch the words spin around his head, seeing the thoughts attempting to gain ground.

"What were you thinking?" I ask, twisting my body just enough to push myself up and swing a leg across his lap. His hands find my waist on instinct, trailing beneath the thin tank clinging gently to my skin.

"Watching you today, with Zander in your arms..." he trails off again. My fingers begin to play with his hair as my arms drape against his shoulders. "I've never seen anything more beautiful."

Those butterflies he's permanently planted in my stomach have taken flight. They're fluttering in a frenzy, swarming my heart and making it hard to breathe.

Instead of searching for my own steady inhale of air, I press my lips to his, taking his breath as my own. His hand continues its way up my back, sliding against my skin and causing that familiar burn of desire to pulse throughout my body. As his lips so naturally part mine, my tongue frantically searches for his, falling against its soothing movements.

"Tommy," a sudden breath escapes as I manage to pull back. The ache between my legs questioning my need to speak in this very moment.

I force my eyes open, will them to find his again. And as they meet, I can see that darker shade I absolutely crave in these very moments.

"Is that something you want? Kids, I mean."

His hand begins to slide down my back before working its way up again. He continues this motion, rubbing small designs along the sizzling fibers of my skin.

He's quiet. Something he's been doing a lot tonight. He's thinking, trying to place the words just right. To find the ones that actually match the things he's feeling.

"I don't know exactly how to answer that, Amber," he says quietly, holding my eyes with his. "I think I've always been a little reserved about the topic. Scared even. I've never seen what a dad should be. I never had anyone to aspire to in that department. And I guess in some ways, that plays a certain game on your head, on your heart. Makes you question if you're even capable of filling that role yourself."

"Tommy," I whisper, placing my hands gently on either side of his face. "You're already every bit a father figure. I see it in the way your sisters look at you. Like they know you love them with everything you've got. Like no matter what kind of trouble they may get into, they know without a doubt you'd drop everything and run to them. And," I hesitate, holding his eyes to make sure he's following me. "I see it in the way Mia looks up to you."

His hand stops moving against my back at my last few words, his eyes focusing just a bit more on mine. "You think Mia looks up to me?"

"I know she does. Tommy, a father is someone who will always be there. Who will love without question and support without fail. And you are all of those things to your family, and to mine."

His head falls against mine, a breath of relief, of hope and joy falling from his lips. "I do want to be a dad, Amber. I do want kids. Watching Mia with Tucker today, you swaying another one to sleep, I want all of that. And yeah, I'm scared, but I'm also really excited."

"Yeah?" I question, a light filling my eyes.

"Yes," he nods against me. "But what about you? Do you want more kids?"

"I always wanted more kids," I begin, letting my words sit in the air for a minute. He doesn't pry or ask me for more. He waits. "I pictured Mia with siblings so many times. But I couldn't bring another child into the life we were living."

His head slowly lifts from mine, the calm of his blue gaze finding me, filling me with ease.

"What about this life?" he asks. "Do you still want Mia to have siblings?"

"Yes. With you, Tommy, I want it all."

He smiles, lighting up the whole damn room before crashing his lips to mine. His kiss is needier this time, his tongue frantically seeking mine as his hand pulls me tightly against him. I can't help but roll my hips into him, desperately seeking the hard contact against the throbbing need between my legs.

I push harder, ease him back against the bed as his hands continue to slide up my back, working the shirt over my head. His lips slide to my neck, finding the pleasurable spot below my ear as his hand cups my breast. He plays there before sliding it down, teasing the line of my shorts.

"Are you trying to put a baby in me right now, Maverick?"

He smiles, that hand of his dipping below my shorts, sliding across my increasingly wet folds.

"Is that what you want, baby?"

I freeze for a moment, just enough to cause him to do the same. I think about what he's asking, take in the seriousness falling across his face with that very question. The answer so glaringly obvious.

"Yes," I respond but catch myself and quickly clarify, "Just not exactly right now."

His fingers begin moving again, sliding into me as my eyes try their best to stay focused on him.

"When exactly do you want kids?"

My hips begin moving, riding the steady rhythm of his fingers as the flashes of light begin to edge their way around my vision.

Holy fuck.

"I want to finish school," I exhale, his fingers sliding in and out, circling and sliding, dipping deeper.

"Yeah, what else?" he questions before giving some extra attention to the small bundle of nerves already throbbing.

"I want to marry you first," I breathe out on a near scream. Everything building quickly as my toes begin to curl, my fingers gripping tightly to his chest.

"Anything else?" he questions, slowing his movements just enough to drive me crazy, to leave me desperate for more.

My eyes snap open, locking onto his as I slide my hand down his chest before gripping tightly to his hand at work, the very one that has stopped moving in that tantalizing rhythm. "I want you to stop playing and finish what you started."

He smiles briefly, just long enough to make my heart do its little dance before he flips us both over, sliding my shorts off in one smooth motion and settling between my legs.

"I want all of that too, Amber," he whispers, lowering himself on top of me as I snake my legs around him, bringing him in tighter. "I want to see you finish school," he presses his hard length against my core, causing my legs to fall open even more.

"I want to marry you," he places a kiss against my lips, slowly moving to my neck, lingering there as he licks and sucks his way down my chest. The very chest that is by some miracle containing the rapidly beating drum within its walls. The one flooded in butterflies, consumed with love, melting into a pile of mush.

"I want to put a baby in you," he whispers against the hard peaks of my chest, his breath teasing the small goosebumps along my skin, the very ones aching for him to touch in every way possible.

"But first things first," he states before pulling my nipple between his teeth. The short breath that sails from my lips as my mouth falls open only has him sucking harder.

"I'm going to finish what I started," he smirks before sliding down and positioning that very smirk perfectly between my legs.

Oh fuck. Please do.

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Hey there!👋🏼 Okay, two bonus chapters down, two sex scenes added to the charts. That makes us two for two😳 We promise that's not the plan for every bonus chapter. It's just, well, we missed writing about these two and when you dive into their heads, you kind of become them for a temporary moment. And the thing is... Amber apparently knew exactly what she wanted and stole the whole thing right out of my hands. Oops. It happens sometimes🤷‍♀️

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