A Bad Boy's Gift

Chapter 47

After dinner, we sit and help Hudson and Molly with their homework, Archer helping Hudson with his science and me helping Molly with her maths. 

When Molly is finished, I take her up for a bath. 

"River," she asks quietly, as though she's afraid of what I'm going to say.

"Yes, sweetheart," I say, unplugging the bath.

"Do you still want a baby?" She whispered even quieter than the first time.

"A baby?" she nods.

"Yes," she raises her eyes to mine, worry laced behind them, clearly wondering if I'm going to be upset with her question.

"I would, Molly, yeah," I smile, helping her out of the bath and wrapping her in a towel. "Would you like that?"

"Yeah, it would be nice to have a baby around," she frowns a little as though she's thinking hard. "Does it take a long time to have a baby?"

I smile.

"Sometimes it can take a really long time and sometimes it can happen really quickly, and it takes about 9 months for a baby to grow until they are ready to be born." I smile.

I towel dry he hair and take her into my room, grabbing her pyjamas and hair brush on the way.

"Can you tell me more?" She asks while I start to brush her hair.

"Well, babies are very complicated, sometimes when it takes too long for a baby to happen, the mummy and daddy might need some help. But then sometimes a baby can happen when you don't expect one or want one." I start braiding one side of her hair. 

"Why would someone not want a baby?" she asks.

"Remember when I said babies are complicated, sometimes people don't want them because they cry a lot, or they take up a lot of time or sometimes because it takes a lot of money to raise them." I tie the plait with a bobble before starting on the other side.

"Then, if they're complicated, why do people want them?" she twists round to look at me with a confused face.

"Because even though they're complicated, there is so much love that goes with them. The love you feel for your family is multiplied by infinity when you have a baby," she smiles and turns back around so I can finish the rest of her plait. "But that doesn't mean you can have babies yet, Molly, you can help me look after ours when we have one. It might not be just yet, but hopefully one day soon." 

I finish the plait and kiss the top of her head, helping her get into her pyjamas. 

"River!" I hear Archer call from the bottom of the stairs.

"Yeah?" I call back, taking Molly to her room. 

"We going to watch some TV before bed tonight?" He calls.

"Yeah, why?" I call back, turning the light on.

"Wine and chocolate in bed?" I can hear the smirk in his voice. 

"Why not grab a bottle of prosecco? I fancy some bubbles." I watch Molly get into the big double bed, waiting for Archer to reply. 

"Ooo sounds like a date, see you in bed in five." I hear him walking down the hallway, indicating the conversation is over.

I go over to Molly, tuck her in and giver her another kiss to the forehead. 

She snuggles down, getting comfy and I switch the night light on at the side of the bed. 

"Night princess," I say as I close the door. 

I turn around and suddenly, standing in front of me, is Archer.