The Baby Between Them

Epilogue - Four Years Later

 "Where's the birthday girl?" A deep voice boomed.

"Poppy!" Milly's little voice squealed back.

Rae looked up from loading meat onto a plate that Hunter had just finished cooking on the BBQ and smiled as she watched Rick walk across the backyard, squat down beside Amelia and hand her a birthday present wrapped in paper with bright pink unicorns on it. They were her current favourite thing.

With eyes full of glee, Milly ripped into the gift, sending pieces of paper flying around her like snow.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Mumma look!"

"Manners Amelia!" Rae and Hunter said at the same time and then both laughed as Hunter leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

"Oh yeah!" The now four year old little bundle of energy said as she turned and threw her arms around Rick's neck. "Thank you Poppy. I loves it and I loves you!"

"Love you more Milly-Moo." He gushed, squeezing her tightly.

He'd been out of prison for just over six months. With the statement that Hunter had given letting the judge know that there was no doubt in his mind that Rick's part in his kidnapping had been under duress, he'd received a reduced sentence and was now out enjoying life with his family, thankfully without any permanent damage from being shot by Sasha. He'd taken to the role of Amelia's Poppy like a duck to water and never once brought up the fact that he was actually her father.

Sasha on the other hand, her trial had gone as bad as possible. She had been charged with a litany of different things ranging from assault, to kidnapping a police officer, to four counts of conspiracy to murder. Turns out Rick had been recording everything on his phone the whole time and there had been verbal proof that she had planned on killing Rae, Lily and Amelia. She'd received a life sentence and to this day, Rae, Lily and Rick were all still ignoring her attempts to contact them and Milly had absolutely no idea that she even existed.

"How's my girl?" Rick walked over and gave Rae a hug. "Nearly ready to pop I see." He chuckled, rubbing her very swollen stomach.

"We'll be meeting our son any day now." Hunter said proudly.

He'd kept his word and the day after Rae's twenty-first birthday last year, they'd gotten married in a beautiful, intimate ceremony on the beach in Byron Bay. Rae, Hunter and Nash all thought choosing that location was quite funny, but their parents, not so much.

Then seven and a half months ago, on Hunter's birthday, Rae handed him the most precious gift. He'd unwrapped the box to find a positive pregnancy test and a little white onesie with the words "Baby Hughes #2 – Coming soon" on it. He hadn't been capable of words. He'd grabbed her and openly cried tears of joy into her chest, while kissing her stomach and thanking her for being the most amazing wife ever.

"They're naming him Nash, after the most awesome Uncle in the world." Nash announced as he walked out of the Hughes back door.

"No, we're really not." Rae replied, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

"Their loss babe." Lily laughed, standing up on tip toes to kiss Nash. They'd made their relationship official the day after Hunter had been granted custody of Amelia and Rae had it on very good authority that he planned on proposing soon. She couldn't wait. They were perfect for each other and she'd never seen either of them as happy as they were together.

Rae sighed happily as she looked around the backyard at the people gathered for Amelia's fourth birthday. Hunter put his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

"Pretty great isn't it?" He said. She turned, wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled.

"It's more than that Mr Hughes. It's perfect."

"Yes you are Mrs Hughes." He smiled smugly before taking possession of her mouth and kissing her deeply.

The End