Without warning, I reached down and gave her ass a hard smack.
"That's for spray painting my car," I said.
Her breath hitched, and she bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile. "You're such a caveman."
"Caveman? How about this?" I said, smacking her...
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15 YEARS LATER
Esmeralda's POV
The sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across our bedroom. I squinted against the light, blinking sleep from my eyes as I rolled over to see Caleb sprawled across the bed, a blissful smile on his face. It was a Saturday morning, and the house was unusually quiet, a welcome change from the chaos of our lives with two energetic kids.
As I lay there, I couldn't help but smile at how far we'd come. The once complicated dynamics of our family felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the love and life we'd built together. I glanced at the bedside clock—8:00 AM. The kids would be up soon, and I was determined to make the most of this peaceful moment.
"Caleb," I whispered, gently shaking him. "Wake up, sleepyhead. The kids will be up soon."
"Mmm, five more minutes," he mumbled, burying his face deeper into the pillows.
I laughed softly, knowing he'd always been a champion of sleep. "If you don't get up, I might just have to send the kids in to wake you."
That got his attention. He shot up, eyes wide with mock horror. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh, I absolutely would!" I teased, playfully poking him.
With a resigned sigh, he flopped back against the headboard, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Fine, I'm up. What's on the agenda today?"
Before I could respond, a loud crash echoed from downstairs, followed by the unmistakable sound of giggles.
"Oh no," Caleb groaned, jumping out of bed. "I think I know what that was. Is that your way of telling me it's time to face the music?"
I chuckled, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "Welcome to parenthood, babe. We're in this together."
As we hurried down the stairs, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Caleb. He had changed so much since we first started dating. He was an incredible father, and watching him with our kids brought a warmth to my heart that I couldn't describe.
In the living room, I found our two children, Ava and Leo, in the middle of an epic Lego battle. Ava, our seven-year-old, had inherited my creativity, her bright imagination leading her to build fantastical worlds. Leo, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of energy at five, always ready for mischief.
"Mom! Dad!" Ava exclaimed, waving her arms excitedly. "Look what we built!"
Caleb and I shared a smile, leaning down to admire their creations. "It's amazing!" Caleb said, genuinely impressed. "What's this one called?"
"Castle of Dreams!" Leo shouted, his face beaming with pride.
"Very cool! Can we go inside?" I asked, pretending to peek inside the imaginary castle.
"Only if you promise to fight off the dragons!" Ava replied seriously, eyes sparkling.
Caleb feigned fear. "Dragons? I'm not sure I'm brave enough!"
"Come on, Dad!" Leo tugged on his shirt. "You can do it!"
I watched, heart swelling, as Caleb knelt beside them, his playful side shining through. "Alright, I'll need a sword! And a shield! Who will join me on this dragon-fighting adventure?"
With laughter filling the room, I grabbed a pillow, brandishing it like a sword. "I'll fight with you, brave knight!"
Ava giggled, running to grab a blanket. "I'll be the princess who helps!"
We spent the next hour fighting imaginary dragons, creating stories that transported us to far-off lands. It was messy and chaotic, and I wouldn't have traded it for anything.
Caleb's POV
Watching Esme laugh and play with our kids filled me with a sense of fulfillment I never knew I needed. Seeing her in her element—full of joy, creativity, and love—reminded me of the journey we'd taken together. Every challenge we faced had brought us here, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
As the battle wound down, I plopped down on the floor, pulling Esme into my side. "I think we make a pretty great team, don't you agree wifey?"
"Definitely," she replied, leaning her head against my shoulder. "I can't believe how much they've grown. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time."
"Why not create a magical time-freezing potion?" I suggested playfully. "A castle of dreams should have one, right?"
Esme laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, I'll put that on my list of things to invent right after I finish my next novel."
As the kids began to settle down, I looked at Esme, her expression serene and loving. "You know, I still can't believe how lucky I am. I have a beautiful wife, two amazing kids, and a family I actually enjoy spending time with."
"Just wait until they're teenagers," she teased, rolling her eyes. "I'm sure that will change."
"Not a chance," I countered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'm going to keep reminding them how cool I am, especially when they start dating."
"Good luck with that!" she laughed. "They'll want nothing to do with you when they're older. They'll be embarrassed by their dad."
"Never!" I declared dramatically. "I will always be their favorite. And they'll always know that no one will love them more than I do."
Esme smiled at me, her gaze full of warmth and affection. "You're right about that. They are so lucky to have you, Caleb."
"And I'm lucky to have you," I replied, leaning in to plant a soft kiss on her lips. The kiss deepened, filled with the love and passion we had always shared, even amidst the chaos of parenthood.
A loud giggle from Leo interrupted us, and I pulled back, grinning. "Looks like we've been caught red-handed."
"Caught doing what?" Ava asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Um, planning our next dragon-fighting adventure," Esme said quickly, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Can we join?" Leo asked, bouncing on his feet.
"Of course!" I laughed, ruffling his hair. "The more, the merrier!"
As we dove back into our world of imagination, I realized that this was what life was about—loving fiercely, laughing often, and creating memories that would last a lifetime. No matter what challenges lay ahead, I knew we would face them together, united as a family.
In that moment, surrounded by laughter and love, I felt the weight of my past fade away, replaced by the promise of a bright future. Together, Esme and I would navigate the beautiful chaos of life, hand in hand, ready for whatever adventures awaited us.
