The Fighter

Chapter Twentyfive

"Shhh! We don't want to wake them!" I feel Damien's chest vibrate a bit while two small voices echo through the house. "Come on Jake, you said that you would help me make breakfast!"

"I'm coming little one, just stand still for a moment. I have to get everything together so that we can make your Super Fantastic Much More Awesomer Blueberry Pancakes of Awesomeness!"

"Don't call me little," Jake lets out a small chuckle and she huffs rather loudly at him.

"But you are so small compared to me," there's a moment of silence, "so small. You're perfect for hugging and cuddling."

"Jaaaake, first you have to help me make pancakes!"

"So, pancakes then cuddles?"

"Mmhmm, I promise!" A pair of small feet run off and I hear Jake let out a sigh before he follows her into the kitchen.

"He's making a move," Damien whispers and I let out a giggle when his hold tightens on me. "I don't like it."

"Your baby girl isn't going to be little forever," I say softly as my morning voice is still in full effect. "But you know that he won't do anything without your permission unless he's intentionally trying to piss you off."

Damien grumbles and pulls me closer before we hear a buzzing on the side table. "Just ignore it." The phone buzzed again. "Ignore it." His ringtone goes off and he curses before rolling over and answering the phone gruffly. "What do you want Bruiser?"

Damien's shoulders go from aggravated to pissed very quickly; kissing his neck, I ask him, "What's wrong?"

"Get Alex and take care of it." Quickly he hangs up the phone and begins to get out of bed.

"Alex," I ask slowly, "I thought he was kicked out."

"He is," he says with finality and pulls on his cut. "I have to go."

"Wait," I pull his arm back and he pauses, "what am I going to tell the kids?"

"Tell them I had to go to work and that I love them." Looking down and over at me, he holds my face with the opposite hand and smiles. "I love you, too, Darlin', and I need to make sure y'all are safe. I'll be back soon."

"Pinky promise?" I hold out my pinky finger and he smiles.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly." Pulling me forward by the pinky and the back of my neck, he lands a long, gentle kiss. "I'll be home soon."

Home. "You better," I say returning the kiss. "Ride or die, remember?"

"Yeah, Letti, I remember. Took you long enough though." I let out a little scoff and swat his ass as he walks out the door. "Kinky!"

Walking to the garage, he quickly jumps onto his bike and leaves with a wave and a kiss to his pointer and middle finger; I sent one back to him and walked back inside to find the kiddos with flour and eggs all over the kitchen. I let out a small laugh and walk over to them and wipe down their faces a little bit.

"What are you two up to?" Addi lets out a loud laugh as I ruffle her hair.

"We're making  Super Fantastic Much More Awesomer Blueberry Pancakes of Awesomeness!!"

"That sounds amazing and I can't wait to try them," I say while kissing her head. "Hopefully Jake helped you with the hot parts."

"I did," he says with a wide smile before looking around and losing a bit of the sparkle in his eye. "Where's Damien?"

"Yeah, where is daddy?"

"Your dad had to go to work for something very important and is so sorry that he had to miss your  Super Fantastic Much More Awesomer Blueberry Pancakes of Awesomeness and that you need to make sure that you can make him some tonight when he gets back. He wanted me to let you know that he loves you more than the sun loves the moon and that he will make it back to you as quickly as he can." A little bit of joy leaves her face but Jake is quick to pull her into a hug. "He wanted to be with us this morning but he works to keep us safe all of the time, and you know that he wouldn't have left if he didn't absolutely have to." She nods slowly and is about to say something when the power suddenly turns off; both Jake and I look around with raised brows. "We're going to have to pause the pancakes for right now, and I need you to get to Derek's, okay?"