"What was it like at first when you adopted the kids?" Amelia asks, breaking the silence at the dining table.

And I'm glad for it, hearing nothing but silverware clattering on a plate and yourself chew is enough to make someone go completely mad.

"It was both my best dream and worst nightmare realized." I tell her honestly, looking into her eyes. "You were finally here and I knew you wouldn't leave, but then I was stuck having you next to me and never being able to call you mine."

"Cameron, I don't understand why you doing this. I'm grateful!" She quickly adds and I smile, continuing to tighten the screw to the small princess bed. "But adopting three children?"

Because I love you and this is the only way I know how to tell you.

"It's gets lonely." I give a non-committal shrug right before moving to the next screw.

"When it gets lonely," She starts softly. "You get a dog, not three kids."

"But kids are going to be so much more interesting." I smile at her, setting down the screwdriver. "In all seriousness though, I understand this isn't a joke, and I'm responsible for three lives but..." I try to think of how to word what I have to say. This was not a snap decision, it's something I have carefully considered these past few months. "I'm ready to be a father. I've been thinking about kids for awhile now but I just haven't found the right woman," or the right woman doesn't love me back but that's not the point. "And these kids, they've gone through so much, I think they deserve everything I can give them."

Amelia, who's been resting next to me on her knees, launches into my arms and I fall back onto my case of tools I had been using to put Zoey's bed together.

Something stabs into my back but I hardly feel it. All I feel is the weight of her body on top of mine as her arms move to wrap around my neck.

"Thank you." She whispers, her breath sending heat from my ear to every inch of my body.

The sweet scent of peaches plays with senses as every cell in my body becomes electrified.

Every nerve is on high alert taking in the feel of her.

One specific part of me starts to become more alert then the set of me and I nearly throw Amelia off of me.

"I'm so sorry." She flushes and I feel like shit embarrassing her but I need to do something before I ruin what friendship we have now. "I'm just so happy. I didn't mean to jump you."

"You're fine." My voice sounds hoarse to my ears and I pray to God she doesn't notice. "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something."

She becomes serious, nodding. "Okay."

"The kids are legally mine." I pause and she nods solemnly. "But I want you to be a part of the parenting. I would like it to be fifty-fifty if you want that."

"Seriously?" She questions, wide eyed and I worry I've said the wrong thing. "Yes please!" She grins, suddenly attacking me again.

_____

By the time I had given the kids a tour of the house, and Amelia got them ready for bed last night, it was late.

This morning I woke up from a restless night to the smell of bacon.

When I walked into the kitchen and found Amelia cooking, I just had to stare. She was so focused looking back and forth from the food she was making to Ryder in the high chair she didn't notice me.

"I don't remember the last home cooked meal I had." I mutter, stepping into the kitchen.

She jumps slightly. "I'm sorry! I hope it's okay."

"Amelia."

"I should have asked first."

"Amelia," I laugh, walking toward her. "You are welcome to do whatever you want in the house, what's mine is yours."

She gently bites her lip, quickly releasing it before grabbing a plate behind her. "Pancakes?"

I'm just sitting down when soft steps come down the stairs. Xander comes in moments later. Zoey is basically attached to his back.

"Did you two sleep well?" I ask, watching as Xander seems to have a silent debate as to whether he can come into the kitchen or not. Amelia seems to notice too because she stops cooking.

"Yes." He mutters quietly.

"Well if you guys are hungry you can come sit wherever." I motion to the large wood dining table with ten chairs surrounding it. "Or you can watch tv and eat in the living room?" I add when neither of them respond. They have to be hungry.

"They shouldn't eat in there." Amelia glances at me. "They could ruin the carpet."

"We can replace the carpet." I respond and she frowns.

I quirk a brow at her, challenging her to say otherwise.

"Maybe we could eat together as the family." She says softly and I feel my lips twitch, family.

"How about we can do one dinner a week in the tv room." I suggest and Amelia smiles and I go back to facing Xander. "Are you hungry?"

He nods, stepping forward three steps before stopping. His eyes dart from the end of the table where I'm not and to the empty chair next to me and closer to the baby.

It seems like the greatest mental debate of all time. His eyes quickly dart to me before jumping away and I make a decision.

Sighing dramatically, I stand, grabbing my plate. "The sun is in my eyes in this seat." I pretend to squint for good measure. "I'm gonna move over here." I take the seat the farthest from Ryder and once I've moved Xander seems comfortable enough to cross the kitchen and sit at the chair I previously was in. Zoey remains attached to him, hiding herself.

I catch Amelia's eye and she smiles at me before mouthing a simple 'thank you'.

She quickly places two plates in front of the kids before moving to sit next to me with her own plate.

We all eat and aside from Ryder's mumbling and forks scraping against glass plates, it's silent until Xander speaks.

"So should we call you our father?"

"If you'd like." I set my fork down. "But I would prefer dad to father. And Cameron is fine if you would like that too."

"Okay." Is his only response before turning back to his meal.

"In a way it was weird when they first moved in but then we fell into a routine, one I enjoyed and hoped would remain. And we were so in sync with raising them there were times I almost forgot we weren't together. I

"When did you fall in love with me?" She questions, rolling a piece of chicken around with her fork.

"Instantly." I respond and she freezes, slowly looking up with questioning eyes.

"How's it going between you two anyway?" I ask Isaiah, chuckling when he blushes at his phone.

Isaiah's mother has been our family chef for years and Isaiah and I have grown up as brothers.

"I love her." He smiles at me, still flushing like a little girl.

"Gross." I throw a football at him in a tight spiral.

"You're jealous." He smirks and I scoff.

I'm not jealous. I'm fine not dating. I haven't dated in years, since high school, and it been great. All women want is my money, until I find one that doesn't, there is no dating for me.

"By the way, her best friend is coming with her today. She's really nice, quiet, but nice."

I quirk a brow at him.

"I'm just saying..." He shrugs, smiling at something behind me.

His fiery haired girlfriend is laughing at something the blonde next to her is animatedly talking about. The expressions the blonde is making makes me want to know what they're discussing.

Her descent from heaven most likely.

The blonde watches, smiling lightly, as Isaiah and Meghan greet each other and I'm completely entranced.

"Amelia, this is my best friend, Cameron." She finally looks at me and I'm lost in her ocean eyes.

"James." I add, standing straighter. Isaiah gives me a strange look at the mention of my family name but I ignore it. "Cameron James."

"Amelia." She responds, holding her small hand out.

"Pleasure." I take her hand in mine, immediately loving the smooth feel, it fits perfectly in mine.

She simply responds with a small smile before pulling her hand from mine.

That small smile became permanently engraved in my mind and I instantly became a goner.

"Do we have a wedding album?" She suddenly asks, and I nod.

"I can go get it from my office if you'd like." I offer, standing.

"Please."

It only takes me a minute to grab the glossy black photo album off the shelf and return to the dining room.

"Here." I set it on front of her.

"What's this?" She asks, pointing to the gold symbol standing out in stark contrast to the black cover.

"A family symbol Kai drew for us." I trace my finger across one swirling line. "This represents love." I point at another. "Family." I trace out infinity symbol. "Eternity."

"It's beautiful."

"It is."

"Wow." She whispers, looking at pictures from the best day of my life.