Nick and Charlie 6 years into the future

the day after

Nicks pov:

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the bedroom. I stirred awake, the events of the previous night flooding back with a warm rush of happiness. Turning over, I saw Charlie still asleep beside me, his face relaxed and content. I reached out, gently tracing a finger along his cheek, marvelling at how lucky I was to have him.

We were engaged. The thought filled me with a profound sense of joy and anticipation for our future together. I lay there for a few moments, savouring the quiet peace of the morning before reluctantly slipping out of bed. Today was a new day, and there was much to do.

As I padded down the hallway, I peeked into the twins' room. Oakley and Lily were still fast asleep in their cribs, looking angelic in the soft morning light. I smiled, my heart swelling with love for our little family. Quietly closing the door, I headed to the kitchen to start breakfast.

I was just finishing up a batch of pancakes when I heard the familiar sound of little feet padding down the hall. Charlie appeared in the doorway, his hair tousled and eyes still sleepy.

"Morning, fiancé," I said with a grin, holding out a cup of tea to him.

He smiled, taking the cup and leaning in for a kiss. "Morning, fiancé. You’re up early."

"Couldn’t sleep," I admitted. "Too excited."

"Me too," he said, taking a sip of tea. "It still feels a bit surreal, doesn’t it?"

"It does," I agreed. "But in the best way possible."

We were soon joined by the twins, who woke up with their usual boundless energy. After a round of morning cuddles and kisses, we all sat down for breakfast. Lily giggled as she made a mess with her pancake. While Oakley quietly observed, his little hands mimicked the signs Charlie and I used to communicate.

"Are you ready for another big day?" Charlie asked, signing along with his words for Oakley’s benefit.

I nodded. "Absolutely. I think we should start planning the wedding soon. There’s so much to do."

"Agreed," Charlie said, a mischievous glint in his eye.

After breakfast, we spent the day playing with the twins, discussing wedding plans in between. We made a list of potential venues, guest lists, and other details. It was overwhelming but exciting, and I loved every minute of it.

Later in the afternoon, we decided to take the twins to the park. It was a beautiful day, and the fresh air would do us all some good. As we strolled through the park, pushing the twins in their pram, we talked about our hopes and dreams for the future.

"I’ve been thinking a lot about Oakley’s hearing," Charlie said, his voice thoughtful. "We need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to support him."

"Absolutely," I agreed. "I’ve been reading up on hearing aids and how they can help. We should follow up on that referral the doctor gave us."

"We will," Charlie said firmly. "Oakley is going to have the best support possible. We’ll make sure of it."

As we sat on a bench, watching Lily and Oakley play on the grass, I felt a deep sense of contentment. Our journey as parents had been challenging, but it was also incredibly rewarding. Seeing our children happy and thriving was worth every sleepless night and every worry.

That evening, after the twins were tucked into bed, Charlie and I sat on the sofa, a glass of wine in hand. We talked about our plans for the wedding, the twins' birthday, and everything in between. The conversation was easy and filled with laughter, a testament to the strong bond we shared.

As the night wore on, we found ourselves reminiscing about the early days of our relationship, the moments that had led us to this point. It was a beautiful reminder of how far we had come and how much we had to look forward to.

"Nick," Charlie said softly, turning to look at me. "I’m so happy we found each other. I can’t imagine my life without you."

"I feel the same way," I replied, taking his hand in mine. "You’re my everything, Charlie. I can’t wait to marry you and spend the rest of our lives together."

We leaned in, sharing a tender kiss, the promise of our future shining brightly in our hearts. As we pulled away, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together with love and unwavering support.