Love Under the Western Skies

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ ᴛᴡᴏ

ᴍᴀᴅɪꜱᴏɴ

➵➵➵➵➵➵➵❂➵➵➵➵➵➵➵

Six weeks, six long weeks later, we were finally at the World Champions.

We were back home in Texas, or it was once home for me, now it was just a state with memories. Steve was in the bathroom, fixing the tie he swore he hated. Savannah had given birth in Texas, and while we could've absolutely finished the adoption process in Montana, it felt full circle for Rhett to officially become mine in the state he was brought into the world. It also helped that because of my and Savannah's family ties, we were able to expedite the hearing and get the whole process over with. I was ready to sign my name on the adoption papers and officially claim Rhett as my own.

The sweet boy was currently sitting in the center of the bed I was lying on, farm animal toys sprawled around the white comforter.

I had never felt love like this before. I had dated, and fallen in love more than I can count. I loved the idea of love. But with Steve, it was different. He was the first person I trusted with my heart, who I believed would care for me the same way I have cared for him. And he came with a little human who I loved so dearly my heart clenched. Losing both of them would be the end of me. And when I was snapped back into reality by Rhett throwing himself onto my chest I smiled, wrapping an arm around the little boy as when he snuggled up to me, I knew there was nothing in this world that could make me feel like I do now.

"Baby," Steve groaned, walking into the room with the tie resting undone on his clavicles, "I need help, I can't figure this shit out."

I laughed, laying Rhett beside me on the queen bed, his blue eyes blinking up at me with sadness. "One moment buddy," I kissed his head before I stood up, "Your daddy is having a hard time being a civilized human," Steve grinned when I walked up to him, his hands gripping my hips as he pulled me flush to his body, "I once again have to do everything for him, even though I'm the pregnant girlfriend." I pouted, but it soon turned into a laugh when he leaned down to kiss me gently, swallowing the sound wholly. I couldn't help but melt into him, I always did.

"I like this," Steve murmured against my mouth, his hands tugging on the hemline of the forest green dress I was wearing, "it suits you."

I stepped back so I could take in Steve's full outfit. The black slacks hugged his thighs perfectly, his crisp white shirt was tucked in and a forest green tie was hanging off his shoulders. The dusting of stubble he had on his cheeks this morning had been shaved off and his hair was coifed perfectly. Steve was always handsome, but when he cleaned up completely, he made my heart stutter. I flattened the tie against his chest before I started to tie the knot at the top, Steve's eyes never leaving me while I carefully slid the knot up against his throat, smoothing down the fabric after. "I thought I would prefer you like this," I smiled up at Steve who watched my mouth in that way he does when he wants to devour me, and my stomach flipped, I wished I could blame it on the baby, but I know it was because no matter how long I was with Steve, he would always give me butterflies. "But I think I much prefer you in Sawyer Western apparel."

Steve barked out a laugh, sitting down on the edge of the bed and pulling me by the backs of my thighs so I was between his parted legs. My hands rested on his shoulders, my eyes locked on him as his hands slid from my thighs up to my stomach, cupping the tiny bump in his warm palms. I didn't have a large bump being only twelve weeks, but Steve loved to hold my stomach anyway. He was a man who lost the nine months of watching his pride and joy grow, he missed out on all the milestones of Savannah's pregnancy with Rhett and he was determined to never miss a moment of this one.

"I love you," He murmured against my stomach, pressing his lips to it after, I knew he wasn't speaking to me, and yet it made my heart stutter because he loved his life, he loved being a dad, he loved every moment of it. And when his blue eyes peered up at me I smiled, cupping his cheek, "And I love you mama."