Tarlos: We're A Family, All Four Of Us

Part 13

Carlos sat up in bed, TK was sleeping next to him. He turned over to rest his head in Carlos's lap unconsciously, he gently kissed the soundo man's head. "Baby?" TK whispered extremely drowsy, "Where are you?" He asked rolling onto his back, "Thinking, is PD right for me?" "Baby are you enjoying it?" "Yes but I'm wondering if it's for me," "Then what would be for you?" That was a good thought actually, "What about Rangers?" "You can always ask, now don't dwell on it now. Sleep," TK firmly smiled, he brought Carlos's hands to his belly.

Returning a phone call changed his life and his career. Within seemingly a month he went from being a police officer to a renowned Texas Ranger. Best of all they gave him time off for when their youngest is to be born.

The alarm blasted and Carlos was quick to silence it, he wanted to wake TK, "Hey," he whispered, gliding a hand over his 23 week baby bump, it was truly there no missing it, "Mhm, Morning," TK smiled rolling over to face Carlos, "You start today," TK spoke as if he was in a daze, "Yeah, I'm so nervous," "You'll smash it," TK assured him before getting up, "Come on the girls will need to get up soon and I need an excuse not to ask for sex," Carlos rolled his eyes at that. Not that he wasn't turned on or anything, either of them.

Sure enough hurricanes Louise and Harper appeared in there doorways not long after, Louise looked like Haymic the Horrible and Harper was away with the fairies, "Okay, I'll do hair," "And I'll do uniform," TK and Carlos agreed, TK got started on caring for Harper's curls as negotiating Lou int9 uniform took just as long then it was a switch. Both girls wanted Dorothy Gale french plaits so that's what they got. Stopping to have breakfast felt like a luxury especially when TK had to prevent a food fight, "Right eat your cereal and papa you should know better," TK teased ending the cereal chucking. While the girls weren't looking Carlos got his gun out of the safe. "Right we need three people in that car or we're leaving without you!" Carlos shouted picking up his bag and TK's to chuck them in the boot, Louise and Harper rushed down from upstairs TK came out of the kitchen having stuffed permission slips and lunches into school bags, "One child," Carlos announced as Harper dove under his arm to the open car door, "Two child," Louise followed forgetting her school bag, "Two child without school bag," he shouted at Lou who turned around to sheepishly pick it up again, "One husband, and precious cargo," to receive an irritated glance from TK. Never mess with a Strand they like to throw punches, hint Owen. "Everyone seat belted?" Carlos announced, "Baby you're not," TK pointed out, his new work hat was currently on Harper's head, "Course," "Right if you've not got it tough!" TK announced knowing his girls all to well.

They parked a solid five minute walk away from the school, though difficult to walk from there house they do enjoy something of a walk together as much as they can. Harper got to ring the bell to call the children to line up, she was grinning ear to ear before rushing over to say goodbye to Carlos and TK and taking Louise with her, "Bye girls love you!" The proud parents shouted, before turning on their heels to go.

Stocking the rig with Nancy TK had to catch his breath when baby knocked the wind out of him with a firm kick to the diaphragm, "You good dude?" Nancy nervously asked, "You're not in early labour," "No," TK scowled, "Kid knocked the wind out of me thats all," "Oh I hated that with my twins," Tommy laughed with an air of fondness about the situation, "Are you and Carlos going to find out gender? Cause if so dibs planning the reveal," "Nancy right now I'm helping Carlos transition to the Rangers we'll see," he sighed sitting back against the gurney. It was really gross to him that all he wanted to eat was chocolate and chilli, good thing Paul isn't a mind reader.

At the Rangers office Carlos was met with a desk and an already small pile of cases, he was determined to make work friends and project a positive person and not a nepo baby and as far as he is aware he has succeeded in his task. The next three weeks slowly ticked by but seemingly in the blink of an eye, Carlos had missed bedtimes and had to break promises to his girls and to TK. They were meant to go to the most recent scan together to find out the gender together but Carlos couldn't make it. One of the selling points of becoming a Ranger was picking his own hours and more time to watch his children grow up, TK however kept his concerns quiet.

Post school the girls had eaten and desperately wanted to show there papa the drawings they had done in class, but Carlos was still in the office, "Come on girls lets go get papa," TK announced picking up his keys, they happily got in the car bringing with them there respective drawings. Approaching the front desk TK caught the back of Harper's collar just as she was about to bolt, "Excuse me," TK asked approaching the reception desk, "I'm looking for Ranger Carlos Reyes?" "And who are you to Ranger Reyes," "Husband and two daughters," TK announced then looked around to see one missing, "Lou don't touch that, come here," he ordered distracting her from the bell displayed in the waiting area, "We want to show papa our drawings!" They both announced holding up varying images, "This way I'll take you to him," the man behind the desk smiled opening a blocked off set of double doors. Louise and Harper saw Carlos before TK did, sat at his desk hunched over with a cup of steaming hot liquid most likely tea and his glasses on, "Papa!" They shrieked rushing over, surrounding rangers allowed curiosity to take over as they turned to silently observe the two small girls being followed by an obviously pregnant man moving towards newbie Reyes' desk, Ranger Campbell looked up curiosity shining through.

"Hello girls," Carlos called out taking off his glasses and turning to hug them, "Oh and what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" He asked, "Come home papa we want you to read us a story," Harper asked. "Reyes go home," the CO ordered, having come in out of curiosity, "Harper mind out," Carlos announced moving his daughters head so a colleague wouldn't open his door on her, "Thanks papa, tag!" She shouted before running, "Can't catch me papa," Louise laughed but was tagged, he crept up behind them and lifted them both up, TK was stood laughing at the fools, "I swear I have three children," he said aloud, "Never took Reyes for a dad," Ranger Green smiled watching him play with his girls, "Yeah dad of two soon of three," TK softly smiled placing a hand to his belly hiding under the hoodie, "Wow congrats," Green responded, "Can I just say, we'll get him home to you," "TK I'm a paramedic at the 126," "No way, that Captain Strand is notorious," "Well aware he's my dad," TK laughed before Harper came running over, Louise was on Carlos's shoulders so TK responded in kind picking Harper up, "Shall we go?" TK suggested as Carlos handed his bag to Lou who promptly smacked him in the face with it, "Easy Lou," he laughed before they turned to leave.

Something as simple as having dinner together seemed so far fetched. As an apology Carlos offered to wrangle both girls to bed as TK had been doing it solo for to long, "Shame I have work tomorrow," TK sighed watching the exhausted Carlos plop down next to him, "How were you doing that?" "Negotiating, Harp is a real haggler," he laughed, "I'll keep that in mind," "How have you been feeling?" Carlos asked, he turned his full attention to TK, "Rough but the morning sickness has let-," he stopped and grabbed Carlos's hand, he slid it under his hoodie to lay on his belly. Carlos was understandably confused till he felt it, a slight kick it felt like a jab, "Is that?" "You didn't miss everything," his eyes lit up, "This is the first time?" "Yeah I was about to call the midwife, there is is again," he laughed.

Standing under the hot beam of water Carlos reminisced on the last few weeks, he can't get that time back with his girls, time with TK. He jumped a little when the shower door opened, "Hey," TK whispered seductively biting his lip, Carlos looked him up and down, "Hey sexy," he retorted pulling TK into the shower and shutting the door.