The baby project~~

9.

Nova's POV

The morning light streamed through the curtains, gently warming the room. I blinked awake, taking a moment to gather my thoughts. My eyes landed on Ace, sprawled out beside me. He looked like he was nursing a hangover, his hair tousled and a frown etched across his face. I knew he would wake up before the kids, but I hadn't expected him to be so cold this morning.

As I slipped out of bed, I decided to keep last night's confession to myself. I quietly moved to the kitchen, brewing a pot of coffee and hoping it would help ease his headache.

Before long, I heard the soft patter of small feet. Liam, still in his dinosaur pajamas, shuffled into the kitchen. "Morning, Mummy!" he said, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Good morning, sweetheart. Are you hungry?" I asked, pulling a bowl of cereal from the cabinet.

"Yeah! Can I have pancakes?" he replied, his eyes lighting up.

"Pancakes coming right up!" I smiled. As I poured the batter onto the griddle, the smell of sweet pancakes filled the air.

Not long after, Noah appeared, wearing his favorite superhero pajamas. "Can I help?" he asked, his little hands eager to assist.

"Of course! You can be my pancake flipper," I said, handing him a spatula. Together, we worked on breakfast while the aroma wafted through the house.

A few moments later, Emily woke up, her tiny voice calling from the nursery. I lifted her into my arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

As I returned to the kitchen, I was met with Ace trudging in. He leaned against the counter, his head in his hands, clearly suffering from the effects of last night. "What's for breakfast?" he asked, his voice hoarse and laced with irritation.

"Pancakes. Just a little something to help with that hangover," I teased lightly, but he only scowled in response.

As I finished cooking, Ace suddenly walked over and pulled me against the counter, holding my waist. He put his head on my shoulder, groaning softly. "Ugh, this is torture," he muttered, his voice muffled against me.

I chuckled at the unexpected display of vulnerability. "Maybe don't drink so much next time?" I suggested, running my fingers through his hair, which seemed to calm him a bit.

"Shut up," he replied, though a hint of a smirk tugged at his lips. "You're lucky you're cute."

"Right back at you, Mr. Grumpy Pants," I shot back playfully.

The kids wandered in, and Ace kept his hold on me, clearly not wanting to let go. As I served breakfast, the warmth of his body against mine felt comforting, despite the chaos surrounding us.

After breakfast, we cleaned up together. I pulled on a pair of cargo pants, a fitted tank top, and a black leather jacket, feeling confident in the ensemble. I glanced at Ace as he dressed in a sharp suit that accentuated his toned physique. Even with his hangover, he looked undeniably hot.

The kids were dressed and ready to go as well. Liam wore a bright blue T-shirt with a cartoon dinosaur on it and khaki shorts. Noah was sporting a red polo and denim shorts, looking just as sharp. Emily looked adorable in a frilly pink dress, her hair in a little topknot, completing her sweet look.

"Ready for the party?" I asked as we gathered our things.

"Yeah!" they cheered in unison, and my heart swelled with affection for my little family.

As we piled into Ace's car, he took the driver's seat while I settled in beside him. The kids were in the back, buckled up and buzzing with excitement.

After a few moments, Emily began to cry from the backseat. I sighed,. "I'll get her," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt and turning around to tend to Emily.

As I reached for her, I glanced back at Ace, who was now watching me with an amused expression, his earlier hangover momentarily forgotten. I managed to calm Emily down, holding her close, and smiled back at Ace.

"Alright, party time!" I announced as I settled back in my seat with Emily in my arms.

Ace turned the car off and opened the door, ready to face the party. I couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation. Maybe today would be a good day after all.

Ace's POV

As we stepped into the party room, the vibrant atmosphere hit me instantly. Colorful balloons floated above, and laughter filled the air. I glanced over at Nova, who was already greeting the kids' mom with that warm smile of hers. She seemed to light up the whole room.

After exchanging pleasantries, she returned to me, her hands busy as she adjusted the baby carrier. "I don't need to wear this, you know," I protested, though my voice was weak against the pounding in my head. But when her hands brushed against my chest, I couldn't deny that the contact felt good, providing a brief distraction from my hangover.

"Just hold on a second," she insisted, her tone playful as she secured the straps. Once she was satisfied, she gently placed Emily in the carrier, rubbing her back and kissing her cheek. It was a tender sight, one that made my heart skip a beat—especially when I thought of how she could be so nurturing.

"Hey, I don't get a kiss?" I teased, a smirk creeping onto my face.

Nova's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she looked up at me, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Nah," she replied, trying to brush past me with a laugh.

Without thinking, I grabbed her arm, pulling her back toward me. She stumbled slightly, and before she could react, I pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. "That's for making me wear this ridiculous thing," I said, my tone teasing.

Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she stumbled away, attempting to regain her composure as she moved toward Noah and Liam, who were eagerly eyeing the cake.

I watched her go, feeling a mix of satisfaction and confusion swirling inside me. She was beautiful, even more so when she blushed like that. I had to admit, I loved the way she interacted with the kids—so natural, so caring

As I stood there, trying to keep my composure amidst the noise, I felt Emily cooing up at me from the carrier. Her tiny fingers grabbed at my shirt, and I couldn't help but let a small smile break through my stone-cold facade. The little one was captivating—her innocent giggles made the chaos around me fade into the background, even if just for a moment.

While I tried to focus on her, I caught glimpses of the other parents from the baby project. They approached me with forced smiles and small talk, trying to engage me in conversation. I responded with short, clipped answers, maintaining my aloofness. "Yeah, it's great," I'd reply, not really listening, my eyes drifting back to Nova as she chatted animatedly with Noah and Liam.

I could feel the irritation bubbling beneath the surface whenever someone else tried to get too close. They didn't get it. They didn't understand what it was like to be in a room filled with fake smiles and pleasantries.

Then I heard Nova call my name, and my attention snapped back to her. She waved me over, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Come on, Ace!" she urged, holding my arm and dragging me toward the makeshift photo area.

Noah and Liam were already there, their faces lighting up as they spotted us. Nova hugged both of them, and I felt a warmth spread through me just watching her interact with them. She turned back to me, linking her arm with mine, and beamed as she positioned us for the picture.

"Smile!" she said, her voice cheerful and inviting.

As the camera flashed, Nova looked directly at it, her smile bright and radiant, while I found myself captivated by her. My gaze was solely on her, admiring the way her eyes sparkled and her happiness seemed to illuminate the space around us. It felt like a moment just for us, despite the chaos surrounding us.

Once the photo was taken, I watched as it printed out, my heart racing just a bit faster.

"Look! We look great!" she exclaimed, holding the picture up to show off. 

I glanced at the picture to see everyone looking at the camera and me looking at rose. my rose