Love Is Happiness (sequel to Love Does Exist)

Chapter 4 Early Riser

When the alarm went off the next morning, I reluctantly rolled over toward Ross. He had jolted up when the alarm went off, but laid back down. I wrapped him up in a hug, kissed his beautiful sleeping face. "I love you," I whispered careful not to wake him up. He would need all the rest he could possibly get when Michele was here in just over an hour. He moaned when I moved out of the bed, but didn't get up.

I walked to the kitchen when I heard talking. Rydel was already in there with dresses and hand bags on the bar. I laughed. "She won't be here for over an hour," pointing at the store of clothes in the bar. She laughed and I smirked as I went back to get Ryland up. After much shaking and taking Stormie's advice, he finally got up. Moaning and griping, he walked off toward the bathroom, leaving me standing there laughing. He was more like Riker than he knew.

After a quiet morning only speaking 'good morning, how'd you sleep' and Rydel's apparent excitement for the day ahead, I finally got Ryland out in Ross' car. He moped until we were half way there, than finally perked up. "Thanks for this sis." I looked over and saw him smiling.

  "Anytime." I laughed. "You are just like Riker trying to get him up in the morning by the way. I had to do than many times during tour, and he fought every time too."

  "We are blood." He laughed laying his head back against the head rest and closing his eyes.

  The rest of the drive was silent. Maybe mornings I wasn't going to get anything out of him, but afternoons would surely be different. I couldn't figure out why this bothered me so much, but it did. I let him off at school, than picked up my phone. I called Aunt B, and told her to have Michele ready in 45 minutes to spend the day with her. Aunt B smiled through her voice, saying she needed the day to clean anyway.

A few minutes later I turned on the radio. Being the last to drive the car, it was still on my favorite country station. I blared the speakers and sang the whole way. When I got to my old house, I checked my phone when I heard the vibration and Rydel's recording she made for her. A text asking me when I would be there with the little one. I just laughed, shook my head, replied with 'lol' and locked the screen.

It rang and buzzed again, but I ignored it and walked up to the front door. Michele was all ready and ran into my arms when I opened the door. She was all excited when she saw me. "You ready to go, Rydel has dresses laid out for you and ready to play." She lit up and started talking so fast I couldn't understand a word. I just smiled and kept nodding.

"Calm down Michele." Aunt B said as she walked into the room. She came and gave me a hug. "Thank you. I needed a day to myself."

  "And I need more time with this little princess," I said as I tickled the squirmy girl in my arms. She laughed until she almost cried. "I might not bring her back," I said when I stopped tickling.

Well, it's the truth. I would keep her forever if Aunt B would let me. I know Ross and the others would. I think the one to be least pleased if I did would be Rocky. Or maybe El, but only because he has to share Rydel when she was there.

After getting her car seat buckled in, and a sack full of toys put in the trunk, she climbed into the back seat while I buckled her in. Aunt B was ready to get back inside for her day of successful work. She leaned into the back seat saying good bye to the excited angel than closed the door. I opened it back to check that child lock was locked and closed it again.

She sighed. "I'm not used to checking that. Always used to it always being locked."

We laughed for a minute as I told her if I forget to unlock it, I usually get my butt ripped when Riker tries to get out. At the sound of his name she jumps up and down in the car seat. "You better go before she has a heart attack back there." Aunt B and I laugh again.

I tell her good bye and that I'll have her back by 8, get into the car and back out. The fifteen minute drive drives her crazy. She laughs, talks and is excited to see Rossy, Rydel and Riker. When we pull I get her out than walk to the house. When I get in its quiet. I go to mine and Ross' room, and he's still in bed. I put Michele on the bed and tell her to wake him up.

"Rossy, Rossy, wake up. Play with me." She is screaming. I see him smile pretending to be asleep. She gets mad, yelling louder and louder until he throws her on the bed and starts to tickle her. She laughs uncontrollably. I laugh just watching. He was amazing with her.

"Header, hep me." She tries to speak, losing sounds from giggling so much. When Ross stops, she is still breathing heavy as the giggling slows. Once she completely stops, he looks back at Ross. "Come play with me."

"Oh, you wanna play more?" He asks with a sneaky grin on his face. "Let's play." He starts to tickling her again. She desperately tries to say 'no' but can't get it out. For the first time since I got back, he looks at me and smiles. I silently laugh watching him not stop playing with her. It was a sight to see.

Finally she got Rydel's attention and for a instant forgot Ross was tickling her. When she starts laughing again, Rydel cuts in the room. "Give the angel to me." She marches past me and picks her off of our bed. "We have business to tend to." She looks at me asking to take her away. I nod, because whether I say yes or no, she will anyway.

"Well, since Rydel took her away from me..." He says reaching up for me pulling me on the bed. Oh no he didn't. "...I'll have to insist that you take her place." Oh yes he did.

I placed my hand in the only place I can keep his attention on me and nodded at him. He freezes. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." He grinned and gave me a soft quick kiss before rolling off the bed. He grabbed a change of clothes and went into the bathroom and shower. I went out into the living room.