Christmas dreams

Guilt

Chris POV

It's been a few days since we bought Lizzie home and we have managed to settle into a great routine. With 3 children in the house it can get a little crazy but Luca is helping out so much. I always knew he would be an amazing big brother, Avery tries to help too bless her. It's actually nice, we feel like a real family.

I know Avery isn't ours, but if Hannah or Paul don't show up I may have to talk to Mia about legally adopting her. I don't want her to end up in the system so it just makes sense for her to stay with us. Mia and I have been together now nearly a year and I can't believe how much we have been through already. The best thing to come out of all this is we are stronger then ever.

Mia is just feeding Lizzie in the nursery while I sort dinner for Avery and Luca. The one good thing is there both great eaters so I don't have to worry about cooking different meals or anything.
"Hey Luc, I'm just going to check on mum okay?"
"Okay"
I kiss his head and then Avery shouts, as I look over I can see she wants a kiss too. I can't help but giggle at her pouting face.
"I'm sorry your majesty" I kiss her forehead and she smiles wildly at me. For a 15 month old she is very bossy.

As I walk into the nursery I hear Mia softly singing to Lizzie. She does it often to all of the kids, they love her voice and I know how much she misses singing. She is currently on maternity leave so I'm hoping that she will maybe pick up a guitar or play the piano a little when she can. I'm on leave too at the moment so at least both of us are at home to take care of the kids. Tomorrow is Monday so we are back to school and we have a pretty good routine in place.

"Hey beautiful"
"Hey"
"She okay?"
She nods "all milk drunk and ready for her nap"
I can't help but smile, she is an incredible mother and I can't believe how lucky I am.
"How's Luca and Avery?"
"There good. Munching away on dinner"
"Thank you for sorting that"
I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her from behind.
"We are a team. We work together"
I gently kiss her cheek and I see Lizzie fast asleep in her cot.

"God she's perfect"
Mia giggles "yes she is"
"Mia I've been thinking"
"Okay?"
"If we don't hear anything from Hannah or Paul what if we adopted Avery?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, my lawyer is sorting the papers for me to adopt Lizzie so I can always ask him to do the same for us both to adopt Avery. Once we've spoken with child services"
"You would really want to do that?"

I turn her around and cup her cheeks "of course I would. She is your niece, I don't want her to end up in the system. I have fallen in love with that little girl. And me, you, Luca, Avery and Lizzie were a family"
She smiles and I see tears in her eyes "how did I get so lucky?"
I shrug "well.....luckily I have a son who just loves dogs"
She laughs "maybe we should think about getting another dog. Not now...in the future"
"Sounds perfect"

I kiss her softly and as I pull away I hear Luca "dad!"
"We gotta go check on them"
I nod and we walk to the kitchen.
"Hey bud everything okay?"
"Yeah. We finished dinner, so I cleared the plates and put them in the dishwasher and Avery is all cleaned up and watching cartoons"
Mia pulls Luca into a hug and squeezes him
"You are my favourite person do you know that?"
He laughs "thanks"
"No really Luca this has been so much change for you and you haven't once complained you've just got on with it and helped us. I love you so much"

"I love you too. Both of you and I love Lizzie and Avery. I always wanted a big family and now I have it"
He hugs Mia once more before heading into the living room with Avery. Mia walks over to me, cups my cheeks and pulls me into a deep passionate kiss. As we pull away I can't help but smile.
"What was that for?"
"For having an amazing son. I think he deserves a treat of some kind. Maybe a day out?"
"Yeah definitely. We will sort something for him"
She nods and lays her head on my chest.
This life is pretty amazing. I'm just so happy everything seems to be settling down.

Mia's phone rings so I walk to living room and watch the kids while she answers. After a few moments she comes to the door way, I look up and she looks like she's seen a ghost.
"Mia what's wrong?"
"That was the hospital, Hannah's there"