After It All

Chapter One

Riley 

"Boys please" I said looking through the mirror to see the two of them fighting over something in the back seat
"If you wake up your sister boy, you'll be in tr-" James started earning an eye roll from the pair of them
"Trouble" Both of our boys finished
"We got it" Zach said letting his confidence side out. The same one he got from James and James knows he is to blame for it

"Are we almost there" Landon asked eventually winning the little feud with his older brother 
"Yeah, like 10 minutes away buddy" James said smiling at Landon

Our Kids and James have all sorts of different relationships 
We have Zachary, our 10 year old, our eldest. He looks remarkable like me but is James through and through. 
Zach is our wild child. He's the one who can do anything he sets his mind to and James only hypes that up for him
In Zach's childhood he's had more hobbies then I could count. James immersed him in music to the point Zach learnt the drums and the Guitar. But then Zach's interested transferred over to football
Breaking James' heart slightly
The pair of them are thick as thieves, like I said Zach is James through and through which means, he knows exactly how to get his own way with James 

Then we have Landon, he's 6 years old but he has the biggest heart. He's our little sweetheart and had James wrapped around his little finger from the moment he was born. 
Landon was born with a problem with his lungs. It's often mistaken with Asthma and tends to be treated the same way regardless but it's a little more intense then that
I think that is one of the many reason James is so cautious with Landon
To top it off, James always reminds me how Landon has my tells, he overthinks, he worries just like I do
As much as James may think it's sweet - It's something I wouldn't wish on anyone 
But nevertheless, Landon is and I think always will be a mummy's boy. Not that Zach isn't but Landon is more of one 

Then we have Ellie, James' little princess. She's only recently turned one and I don't know who it hit harder, Ellie or James
Since day one, James has been smitten with Ellie and Ellie knows it. She's truly the sweetest little girl you'll meet. She had all three of the boys wrapped around her little finger and occasionally also manages her way into my soft spot 
Ellie was our complete surprise, Zach and Landon were planned, we were going to stop at 2 but Miss Ellie had other plans 
But I think we all know now that she was truly what was missing for our family 

Now that we have all three of them. It's like we are complete 

So it only made sense to come home. This is the place James and I grew up, the place we met, the place we built everything. Coming back only seemed right 
We took time away to grow and I couldn't be prouder of what we had built in the process

"Hey Ellie bearrr" Zach said using his personal nickname for his baby sister before Ellie let out a small giggle to let us know she was awake. Zach is a softie when it comes to that little girl however he wouldn't dare admit that to his friends 

"And here we are" James whispered taking a hold of my hand as we pulled into a driveway
James had been travelling back and forth with his Dad over the last month getting the house ready and allowing us to slowly move everything in so that when we got here today. It wouldn't be so hectic. Moving with 3 kids wouldn't be easy 

"Welcome home babe" James smiled turning in my direction, I chuckled smiling in his direction gently leaning forward to press my lips against his 
This was the first step to the next chapter of our live and I think we were all beyond ready

--

"Nana!" Landon yelled running into the living room to see James' family there. Zach walked over attempting to act like he didn't care but the moment Piper pulled him into a hug, I saw that smile 
"Hey guys" Tony, James' Dad said coming over to us. Ellie looked up from my arms to see him stood there before smiling at him
"Papa" She cooed reaching out to him

She couldn't quite say things yet. James was Dada, I was Mama, Piper Tete seeing as the boys call her Auntie Piper. Deborah was Nana, and then Tony evidently was Papa
It was sweet that she had her own way of talking to all of us. It makes me dread what it'll be like when she grows up and can talk confidently 

"How was the journey" Piper asked as we all walked into the living room sitting amongst the sofa's and chairs
"It wasn't too bad, Ellie slept the entire way. The boys kept themselves busy" James said placing his arm around me on the back of the sofa while the boys headed straight over to a toy box

"It's great that you guys are back for good" Deborah said smiling as we watched Ellie crawl around after Tony put her down
She was crawling towards her brothers which is no shock

"Yeah, we are back for good" I said before smiling at James who nodded kissing my temple 

James' family didn't stay for long, it was rather late by the time we got here anyway but I can't blame them for wanting to come say hello. I'm sure the next week is going to be full of visitors
All the kids had gone down like a dream, truth be told they usually do but tonight I thought we might have had a battle of two seeing as this isn't a familiar place to them 

"Now" James said coming into the living room with two glasses in his hands, he placed them down on the coffee table before turning to me pulling me in close making my legs fall over his lap
"Now?" I asked making him nod with a smile on his face 

"Are you ready?" He asked making me look at him confused
"Ready?" I chuckled
"Yeah, ready for all the craziness to come" He winked making me roll my eyes

"I have you, I have the kids. I couldn't be more ready" I smiled making James smiled down at me before placing a soft kiss against my lips 

"I love you Ri" He whispered pecking my lips 
"I love you most" I said laying my head on his shoulders