Pt 2 of them (continued ver)

Chapter 237

Colby and Malia decided to take the kids on a calming midnight walk through their peaceful neighborhood, hoping it would help everyone relax and settle down for the night. Caitlyn and Liam were seated comfortably in their double stroller, buckled in and content with their surroundings. Liam held onto one of his favorite dinosaur toys, occasionally chatting to himself, while Caitlyn quietly played with a soft stuffed animal.

Carter, however, was a bit harder to settle. Since Carter had two strollers, Colby debated which one to use for this walk. One stroller allowed Carter to face him, where Colby could easily see his little boy and talk to him, while the other faced outward toward the road, letting Carter observe the world as they walked. After some consideration, Colby chose the one where Carter faced him. He knew that with Carter still a bit fussy from the day, it might comfort him to see his dad's reassuring presence.

Colby adjusted the stroller's straps carefully, making sure Carter was snug but comfortable. He handed Carter his bottle of warm milk and tucked a soft blanket around him. Carter immediately started nibbling on the bottle's nipple, his big blue eyes occasionally glancing at Colby as if to check that he wasn't going anywhere.

"Alright, bud," Colby said softly, smiling down at him. "Let's get some fresh air."

Malia was by his side, pushing the double stroller with Caitlyn and Liam. She had packed a small bag of essentials—extra blankets, diapers for Carter, and even a few snacks in case Liam or Caitlyn got hungry.

As they stepped into the cool night air, the streets were quiet, illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights. The neighborhood was peaceful, with only the occasional sound of crickets chirping or the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.

Carter seemed content for the first few minutes, sipping from his bottle and occasionally reaching out to grab at Colby's hand. "You doing okay, buddy?" Colby asked softly, leaning down to brush Carter's hair out of his face. Carter let out a small hum in response, his eyes drooping slightly as the rhythmic motion of the stroller began to soothe him.

Meanwhile, Liam started to squirm in the stroller. "I want to walk!" he announced loudly, reaching for the handlebar.

"Not tonight, Liam," Malia said gently but firmly. "You can walk tomorrow. For now, sit tight."

"But I'm not tired!" Liam protested, crossing his arms in a stubborn huff.

Colby chuckled. "Liam, buddy, you're always full of energy, huh? Just sit back and relax for a bit."

Caitlyn, ever the angelic older sister, patted Liam's arm. "It's okay, Liam. Look at the stars!" she said, pointing up at the clear night sky. Her voice was soft and calming, and Liam, though still pouty, eventually leaned back in the stroller to stare up at the twinkling lights.

The family continued their walk, taking their time to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Malia and Colby chatted quietly, occasionally pointing out things like a cat darting across the road or the soft rustle of wind through the trees.

Carter, who had been quietly observing, started to squirm a little in his stroller. Colby stopped and crouched down to check on him. "What's wrong, buddy? You getting bored?" he asked.

Carter responded by reaching out for Colby, his tiny hands grabbing at his dad's shirt. Colby sighed with a small smile and unbuckled Carter, lifting him out of the stroller. "Alright, come here," he said, holding Carter against his chest. Carter snuggled into him immediately, resting his head on Colby's shoulder.

Malia glanced over and smiled. "Looks like someone just wanted some cuddles," she said softly.

"Can't say no to this little guy," Colby replied, rocking Carter gently as they walked.

By the time they made it back to the house, Caitlyn had fallen asleep in the stroller, her stuffed animal clutched tightly in her arms. Liam was dozing off too, his head leaning against the side of the stroller. Carter, still in Colby's arms, was half-asleep, his tiny hands gripping the collar of Colby's shirt.

Malia unlocked the door quietly, and they carefully brought the kids inside. Colby placed Carter back in his crib, tucking him in with his favorite blanket and placing his bottle nearby. "Goodnight, buddy," Colby whispered, brushing a kiss on Carter's forehead.

The midnight walk had done its job, bringing a sense of calm and quiet to their otherwise hectic household. For now, all was peaceful, and Colby and Malia couldn't help but smile at their little ones as they drifted off to sleep.