Dayton

Chapter 19

While Ajax drives the three of us to the cafe to meet Arabella and Dakota, and I look at my lover in nervousness; "I change my mind. I want to go back home, can we go home now, please, Jax?"

Ajax reaches over the armrest between us to gently hold my hand in his much larger hand while driving with his left hand; "Baby, try and calm down. Take several deep breaths, okay? IF he is anything but pleasant, then we will leave, I promise. Just try to give this a chance, for yourself?"

Thickly swallowing around the huge lump that has formed in my throat as I give a jerky nod in a silent reply. Grabbing the door handle as I open the door to climb out once he has parked and turned off the engine, and climb out. Shutting the passenger side door as Ajax climbs out, and I open the back door to take a babbling Darien and his bag out of the vehicle.

Ajax smiles reassuringly down at me while lacing our fingers together as we head toward the cafe entrance. He opens the door for us, allowing D and I to walk inside before him. Scanning the interior, I spot Arabella and Dakota at a table, both sitting so they are facing the door, and Arabella instantly smiles at us. We make our way over to them, my steps faltering slightly when Arabella stands to hug us, and she looks pregnant. If she is pregnant, I am genuinely happy for her and Dakota.

She gives me a tight side hug before gently caressing the top of Darien's head since his face is stuffed into my neck because he is being shy with her. I feel guilty that he does not remember her, and he probably does not remember my brother either. Dakota slowly stands to step toward us as Arabella moves to hug Ajax.

"Hi," Dakota whispers as he intently takes in Darien's and my appearances; I do not think we have changed that much in appearance since we have moved out, but perhaps we have in Dakota's eyes.

"Hi," I softly reply, giving him a half closed mouth smile. "D, will you say hi to aunt Arabella and uncle Dakota?"

I will not force him to do this, but it does not hurt to ask. He shifts his head away from my neck, enough to see them, but keeps his head on my shoulder to look at them with a small wave of his hand as we sit at the table. An employee is kind enough to bring over a wooden high chair for Darien before taking our food and drink orders before leaving us alone.

"I want to start off again by thanking you for meeting us, and my apologizes for my words, and anger that night at dinner," Dakota quietly states, and I can see nothing but honesty in his face. "I fully understand what I did was selfish and extremely wrong of me."

"Thank you, Dakota," I murmur with a slight nod of my head as I settle D in the high chair, and give him half a bread roll from the basket on the middle of the table. "I also need to apologize to the both of you for my words and behaviors. I should have acted like a mature adult, and spoke with you once I calmed down instead of acting like a brat."

We clear the air between us fully, and agree that it will take some time, and full honesty between each other in order for things between us to return to normal. Dakota and Ajax also clear the air between them by the time our food and drinks arrive.

"Now that the heavy topic has been handled, we want to tell you both that I am four months pregnant," Arabella states with a happy smile as she rubs her belly fondly with a bright smile.

"Congrats to the both of you," I compliment, being completely honest in my words, and Ajax voices a similar compliment.

"Pa!" Darien demands, causing the four of us to look at my pouting son - Jax and I curiously, and Arabella and Dakota are shocked.

"Yes, Darien?" Ajax softly chuckles while smiling fondly at the boy.

"Foo'?" he whines with a pout at Ajax as I cut up his food to help it cool faster, so he can have it without burning himself.

"Dada will give you your food in a minute, I know it is hard to wait," he tries to assure the toddler, and all D does is continue to pout while reaching for his plate.

"Here bub, here is your food," I say about a minute later as I place his plate in front of him with a spoon.

"Fanks, dada!" he giggles as he grabs his spoon to dig into his mac-n-cheese before eating a chicken tender.

"You are welcome, bub," I murmur with a smile and a chuckle.

"When did that happen?" Arabella gently questions while looking between Darien and Ajax.

Ajax answers her with a fond smile and tone toward Darien; "He started calling me that not that long ago."

"How do you feel about this?" Dakota asks Ajax and me.

"I love that he calls me pa, and that Dayton allowed this to happen when it happened," Ajax responds proudly before I can answer.

"I love that D loves Ajax as much as Jax loves him," I murmur, smiling at my son and lover.

Dakota hums with a nod as Arabella coos that she loves our little family. An hour later when the five of us are standing in the parking lot next to my vehicle in preparation to leave. I know D and I are in need of a nap.

"May I have a hug, please?" Dakota softly requests of me as he shifts his weight between his spread feet.

Thinking for a second before I slowly nod, and open my arms slightly for him. He tentatively walks into my arms, we wrap our arms tightly around each other's waists because Ajax is carrying a sleeping Darien.

"I have missed you, little brother," he sobs softly into my neck, and I do not hold back my own sobs that wreck my entire body.

I try to return his words, but I am sobbing too hard, so I cannot, and Dakota sobs quiet down enough to hush my attempts at speaking. When we both quiet down, we pull away with wet laughs as we try to clean our faces off with our sleeves of our shirts.

"Can we have a family dinner soon with Dal, Dallas, and Bailey?" Dakota quietly requests of us, and I eagerly nod with a tearful smile as Ajax verbally agrees while telling them that we will host at our home next Sunday.