Brought By Destiny

Chapter 21

The Sweetness of Home

Lilly's POV:

The drive home from Michael's parents' house was filled with a chorus of excited chatter. The news of the baby and the surprise that Jeni was pregnant too had turned the evening into a whirlwind of celebration. Now, as the car hummed along the quiet streets, a peaceful sense of belonging settled over us.

"Is the baby going to be as small as a kitten?" Emma asked from her car seat, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Even smaller at first, sweetheart,"
I replied, reaching back to squeeze her little hand.

"I hope it's a boy," Ryan added firmly. "I need someone to help me keep an eye on Emma. She's getting too fast for me to catch."

"Hey!" Emma pouted, though she was giggling a second later.

Michael glanced at me from the driver's seat, a permanent grin etched onto his face. He looked younger tonight, the weight of the past finally stripped away.

Once we stepped through the front door, the kids were far from tired. We all piled onto the oversized sofa in the living room, the four of us tangled in a mess of blankets and pillows.

"Okay, team," Michael announced, leaning back. "We need to talk about names. And rules. Ryan, as the oldest, what's the first rule for the new baby?"

Ryan looked very serious for a moment. "Rule number one: No touching my gaming console until they can at least say 'PlayStation'."

"Fair enough," Michael laughed.

"Emma, what about you?"

"The baby has to share their toys with me!" she chirped.

"I think the rule is supposed to be you sharing with the baby, Emma,"
I corrected, poking her tummy. She dissolved into a fit of squeals and tried to hide behind Michael.

"I have a name idea!" Emma shouted, standing up on the cushions. "If it's a girl, let's call her... Sparkle!"

"Sparkle Knight?" Michael raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a superhero. Or a very fancy horse."

"And if it's a boy," Ryan chimed in, "we should call him Batman."
"Batman Knight. Very subtle, Ryan,"

I teased, leaning my head on Michael's shoulder. "I think we might need to revisit the naming committee when you're both a little older."

We spent the next hour in fits of laughter, imagining the baby's future and watching the kids argue over who would get to hold the bottle first. Eventually, the excitement wore them out. Michael carried a snoring Emma to her bed while I tucked Ryan in.

"Mom?" Ryan whispered as I kissed his forehead. "I'm really glad you're the one who's our mom."

My heart swelled with a love so intense it almost hurt. "And I'm the luckiest woman in the world to be your mom, Ryan."

When I returned to our bedroom, the lights were dimmed, and the soft glow of the bedside lamps created a warm, intimate sanctuary. Michael was already there, leaning against the headboard with his shirt discarded, looking every bit like the man who had claimed my heart five years ago.

"Kids are down?" he asked, his voice dropping into that low, husky register that always made my pulse quicken.

"Out like lights," I murmured, walking toward him.

He reached out, grabbing my waist and pulling me down onto the bed beside him. His hands were warm as they slid under the hem of my silk robe, tracing the still-flat curve of my stomach.