Everything Comes Back To You (book 2)

229. Real Life

"Are you sure you want to go with me and Julianna to Las Vegas?" Nina asked as she finished packing the last item of clothing into her suitcase and Ian walked over to her and pulled her into his arms before leaning down and pressing a kiss on her lips,

"Yes, we haven't gone anywhere just us two in a while not since we had the kids," he replied and she bit her lip

"Your mom won't mind watch them for a few days?"

"She wouldn't have offered to watch them it she did," he stated, "I want to be in Vegas with you when you announce that your wine is going to be available in the resort," She smiled and nodded, "I'm so damn proud of you, you know that?"

"And I'm proud of you as well," She replied, "I never in a million years thought that I'd be sharing all of these experiences and achievements with you."

"Neither did I, but we did it. It had taken a lot of challenges and bumps in the road but here we are." He said cupping her cheeks and Nina smiled, "I wouldn't want to experience none of these adventures with anyone else."

"The feeling is mutual," she cheekily replied along Ian chuckle and shake his head before he was giving his wife of nearly four years a kiss on the lips.

"Our anniversary is also coming up," she said when he pulled back and Ian hummed nodding, "we should go away for a couple days after our trip to Vegas."

"I agree." He said before adding, "well think of a place to go on our way to the airport,"

Nina grinned before she grabbed her purse since Ian had carried their shared suitcase downstairs. Ian's mom, Edna, was had arrived earlier in the day before Blaire went to school. To say that Arrow and Blaire were upset that Ian and Nina were going to be gone for a few days would be an understatement. The hand thrown the biggest tantrum they ever had before the pair promised to bring them each a toy when they returned and also told them that their Nana would be watching them. Yes, they were still upset but were also excited to spend the next four days with Edna.

"Already time to go?" Edna asked looking up when both of them walked into the living rook

"Yeah, our flight is at three but we need to leave soon in order to beat traffic," Ian said and his mother nodded, "hey kiddos,"

Blaire and Arrow both looked up when they heard their dad's voice, eyes instantly filling with tears already knowing what was about to happen and Ian gave them a small reassuring smile, "Hey, shh it's okay,"

"Don't go, daddy," they whispered in unison wrapping their arms around his neck and Ian wrapped his around them

"It'll only be for a few days and then mommy and I will be back," he said and Arrow pulled back to look up at his mother before he broke down and Nina instantly gathered him into her arms and swayed him whispering soothing worlds into his ear while rubbing his back. Now she was started to second guess herself if going to Vegas was a good idea or not.

"Mama," Arrow hiccuped wrapping his little arms tightly around Nina's neck and all she did was rub his back

"Daddy and I will only be away for a few days and then we'll be back," she repeated pressing kisses to his temple but he was having none of it as he kept crying. Blaire had also begun crying in Ian's arms and the pair looked at each other helplessly. The kids had never been away from them because whenever either of them had to go do press for their drinks, the other always stayed with the kids. But now they were brig leaving and the kids were not having it. Not even with promises of getting gifts when Ian and Nina returned.

"Come on now you two," Edna said as she tried to pry both Blaire and Arrow form their parents but that only made the two oldest scream louder resulting in baby Duncan waking up from his nap and wailing.

Now the house was filled with three screaming children and it was making it harder for Nina and Ian to leave.

"I'm going to make a quick bag with four days worth of clothes for all three," Nina said making Edna look up and Ian to raise a brow at her sudden declaration before nodding.

Before Edna got a chance to say anything to object to Nina's comment, Nina was already gone with both Blaire and Arrow.

Ian had gone to pick Duncan from the bassinet and cradled him against his chest instantly claims the baby.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to take them?" His mother asked and he sighed nodding.

"They've never been away from either of us. They always had one of us with them whenever we had press for our drinks and though it would have been nice to be away even if it was for four days, we both knew that we wouldn't be quite relaxed knowing they were upset." He said and Edna nodded.

"If you say so," she said and Ian nodded

"I'm sorry, Mom" he apologized and Edna shook her head with a smile

"There's no need to apologize, sweetheart," she replied waking over to him and running her fingers through his overgrown hair, "I would have chosen to take the kids too if I were in your shoes."

"But you came all the way over here to watch them," he replied and she shrugged.

"We only live ten minutes away, honey. I'll be watching my fur grand babies," he chuckled at that just as one of their dogs, Maverick, strutted in. She tilted her head as if asking what's funny and Ian rolled his eyes.

"IAN!" Nina yelled from upstairs

"Yeah?!" He called up

"Can you come help me get the kids down? They cried themselves to sleep," she said from the top to the stairs and he nodded handing Duncan to his mother before cloning the stairs and going to his and Nina's room where she had laid Blaire and Arrow down while she got down packing a suitcase with their clothes.

"Come on, mom said she'll watch the pets for us," Ian said and she nodded grateful his mother was still willing to look after their pets even if she wasn't going to look after the kids.

"Edna you are an Angel," Nina said when they met her downstairs and Edna smiled, "thank you so much and I'm sure Ian already apologized, but I'm so sorry that we had you drive up to watch the kids only for us to end up taking them with us last minute."

"Like I already said to Ian, there's no need to apologize. Things like this happens and if I were you I'd do the same thing." Edna responded and Nina nodded, "Now off you, you don't want to get stuck in traffic."

"Thank you again, Edna," Nina said as she carried Arrow and gently placed him into his car seat while Ian did the same with Duncan after having strapped Blaire into her car seat.

"Drive safely, and make sure you enjoy your trip as much as you can while you're there,"she replied after giving them each a hug

"We will, thank you Mom," Ian said before they got into their seats with Ian in the driver's side and Nina in the passenger seat.

With a final wave at Edna, Ian pulled away from their driveway and headed towards the airport.

"So much for our couple's retreat," Nina chuckled and Ian grinned lacing his fingers with Nina's before lifting them to his lips and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

"We'll have one eventually."