Unbreakable (Book 2 of Unexpected)

Can't Help Falling In Love

Ivy's POV

"Mama..." A pause. "Mama!"

"I told you putting them to bed too early was gonna bite us in the ass." I slowly opened my eyes and glanced over at Avi, laughing a bit at how disheveled he looked in his sleep. "Avi!" I yelled, holding back a laugh as he jumped just enough to nearly fall out of the bed.

"Huh? What? I'm up," he said, his voice much deeper that it normally was. And not in a good way. My worries were confirmed when he jumped up and shut himself in the bathroom.

"Poor thing," I said softly and got up, walking out of the room and heading straight to the nursery. Ever since the twins could say mama, they haven't stopped. Greyson had been the first to say it, but Athena picked up really quickly. I walked over to Athena's crib to see her standing and holding her arms up, wanting to be held.

I picked up her with a smile as she giggled, her arms wrapping around my neck as if she hadn't seen me in days. Hearing a few footsteps, I turned around, frowning when I was Avi walking in. "Dada...dadadadadadada..." Athena reached out towards him, but he shook his head.

"In a little bit sweetie," I told her and put her back in the crib. "You don't look so good," I said as I closed the space between us, reaching up and placing the back of my hand on Avi's forehead.

"I'll be fine," he said, but I wasn't having it.

"No, Avi. Go lay down, you're burning up," I said, crossing my arms. "Go. I'll be in there in a few minutes," I told him, pushing him out the door.

Avi's POV

She is too bossy sometimes. As much as I didn't like it, she wasn't wrong either. I was as sick as I looked, but we also had more wedding planning to do, not to mention more arranging sessions with the group. I laid back down on the bed, my arm hanging loosely over my face as I let out a pained groan.

A little while later, I heard Ivy walk in, along with two babbling toddlers. The bed shifted, and Ivy moved my arm, replacing it with a cold washcloth. "You need to rest as much as possible. That means no planning and no arranging. I've already called the others and let them know."

"We have to arrange and plan," I told her as I sat up, only to have her push me back down.

"No," she said firmly, using a tone that I knew meant she wasn't playing. She got up and moved the trash can next to me just as I felt something start crawling on top of me.

"Carefully, buddy. Daddy's sick and we wouldn't want that getting to you," I said with a weak laugh as I wrapped my arms around Greyson.

"I'm gonna go make breakfast," Ivy said as she headed towards the door. "If you need me just call."

Not even ten minutes after she walked out, the door opened once again and Kevin walked in with Mitch, Kirstie, Scott, and Esther following closely behind. "Hey big daddy!" Mitch said with a bit too much excitement in his high-pitched voice.

"How's my niece and nephew?" Esther asked, picking Athena up with a grin.

"You should be asking how your baby brother's doing." Ivy walked in with a tray of food and set it down next to me. "He's running a fever, and I haven't seen him this sick in a long time."

"I'm fine," I lied. It was clear I wasn't, but I wasn't about to let getting sick get in the way of work. Or planning.

"No you're not," Scott spoke up. "You can't sing if you're sick," he pointed out, only to have everyone else agree with him.

"And we still have nine months before the wedding to plan. We're not in a rush," Ivy added. Again, another valid point.

"I'm not winning this, am I." It came out more of a known fact than a question, but that was because it was. I had six people against me, eight if I counted Greyson and Athena who kept bobbing their heads up and down without realizing it. "But what about the mess downstairs?"

"I'll handle it," Ivy said. "It's not like we had a hundred kids over here. It was a birthday party. I can clean up after two one-year-olds and a few adults. Just eat and get some sleep." She set the tray next to me and headed for the door, stopping only a few feet from it. "And try not to get the kids sick."

"You act like I'd do that on purpose," I mumbled, instantly hating the tone I used that made it sound much harsher than I intended.

"And you act like I said you would." The only other sound was the door slamming shut behind her when she left and the start of the toddlers wanting to cry. Thank God for Esther and Kirstie.

Kirstie grabbed Greyson, leaving Esther to Athena and they both headed for the door. "We'll go help her," they said and headed downstairs, leaving me with Kevin, Scott, and Mitch.

"Mean, don't you think?" Scott spoke up, taking a seat on the bed.

I shrugged as I took the food and slowly began eating. "It's not like I meant it like that. It just came out wrong."

Silence fell over the three of us as I finished up and set the leftovers to the side. Then, Kevin spoke up. "Why don't we take the kids on a shopping trip as a late birthday present? It would keep them from getting sick give you and Ivy some much-needed alone time."

"We get plenty of alone time," I argued.

"Okay, when's the last time you two haven't had the kids with you?" Scott asked, raising a blonde eyebrow.

I thought quietly for several moments and slowly looked down.

"Since you proposed?"

I nodded and put my head in my hands with a small sigh.

"Then it's settled," Mitch said as Scott stood back up. "Get well soon daddy," the brunette called, heading out of the room.

I rolled my eyes and laid back, turning on the tv with a small sigh. About an hour later, the door opened, and Ivy slowly walked in, closing it softly behind her. "Feeling any better?" she asked as she stopped at the end of the bed and watched me cautiously.

"A little," I said, turning the tv down. Without a word, I held my arms out to her, a smile appearing on my face when she took the offer and crawled in the bed next to me. "Sorry for snapping at you earlier."

"Don't be. I get just as snappy when I don't feel good," she said as she sat back against the headboard. She stole the remote and turned the volume back up moments before pulling my head into her lap.

"Isn't this supposed to be the other way around?" I asked, unable to hold back my soft laugh.

"You're the one that's not feeling good. When I don't feel good, you can do the same for me," she said softly, sifting her fingers through my hair.

"It's little things like this that remind me why I love you," I told her, and I could hear her smile in her response.

"You shouldn't have to be reminded."

A/N: I managed an update!! Yay!! No promises but I'll try to have an update for Elements soon!

~*~*~Ash~*~*~