Wren

3 Years Later...

I wake up from a nap, blinking my eyes against the harsh afternoon light. I roll over a little on the couch, taking in the stillness of the house until the shrieking laughter of my daughter slips in through the open windows. I smile to myself and push up off the couch, ambling over to the door to watch her in the backyard.

"Daddy, spin!" She calls. Huxley grins and lifts her into the air, spinning her a few times before setting her down. She wobbles on her dizzy toddler legs, giggling until she falls into the grass. A moment later she pushes herself up, lifting her arms to Huxley again.

"Daddy, more!" She calls and Huxley chuckles, shaking his head.

"No more, Josie. Daddy's so tired." He says, falling onto the ground dramatically and flailing his arms and legs out before closing his eyes and pretending to snore. Josie laughs again before climbing onto Huxley's stomach, bouncing up and down.

"Daddy, horsey!" She cries and Huxley peeks an eye open at her. He grins and picks her up, tossing her in the air while making a neighing sound before catching her again.

He always catches her.

She sees me out of the corner of her eye and she smiles at me, my heart warming at the sight. Huxley puts her down and she wobbles over to me on her still slightly unsteady legs. I open the door and go onto the porch, reaching down to kiss her head.

"Daddy said we need to be quiet because mommy sleepy." She whispers, making me laugh.

"Mommy isn't sleepy any more, sweet girl. You can play as loud as you want." I say, putting her down and watching as she runs around the yard, screeching at the top of her lungs.

"You have a nice nap?" Huxley asks, kissing me sweetly.

"Yes, thank you for giving me a little peace and quiet." I say with a smile and Huxley chuckles, looking out at Josie.

"It wasn't easy." He answers, his hand going to my belly where our little boy is growing.

"You should keep resting." He says and I grunt at him.

"I wouldn't miss this moment for the world." I say, watching as Josie grabs a stick and starts to blow bubbles before chasing them around the yard and popping them.

"It is special. I'm glad we can enjoy it." He says, kissing me again. Our boy is due any day, so we took some time from work to enjoy these last few days as a family of three.

"Oof." I mutter, my hand going to my belly. "You feel that?" I ask Huxley and he nods, a grin spreading across his face.

"He kicks hard. Harder than Josie did. He's gonna be a handful." Huxley says and I chuckle.

"He's all yours." I answer and Huxley lets out a booming laugh.

"Every boy needs his mom." He says, his eyes going a little sad, no doubt remembering his own mom.

"We got this, baby. We'll do it together." I say, running my hand along his cheek. He nods and looks at me, his smile returning.

"Always together." He answers.

!