His Forever Flame

60. Jay's Birthday

It'd been a couple of weeks since Lauren's trip to Tennessee, and Mouse had been living with them for a little over a month. He was slowly getting better. The twins loved having him around. They ate up all the attention, and it seemed to be helping Mouse just as much. He'd play with them and spoil them, and he seemed more like his old self each day.

Lauren wanted to ask him a favor, so once the twins were asleep she quietly approached him. " Hey Mouse?"

"Yea?" he asked pausing the movie he'd started.

"Can I ask a favor?"

"Sure. What do you need?"

"Well Jay's birthday is next week and I really want a day to ourselves so I was gonna see if you could keep the twins?"

Mouse got really quiet and really still.

"I mean... you don't have to. It's fine. I can ask Kelly and Shay... I just thought since you were here it'd be easier. I just.... Never mind. You don't have to...." She rambled backtracking when he just kept quiet.

"You.... You want me to keep your babies all night?" he asked quietly as if he was in shock.

"Yea Mouse. I mean if you want. You don't have to though."

"You trust me like that?"

Lauren sat down on the couch facing him. "Yea Mouse we do. Why wouldn't we?"

"I just... I'm not.... The war..."

Lauren laid her hand over his and smiled at him. "Yea you went back and you came home. No it probably hasn't been easy but you've done so well. The babies love you so much and you're such a great uncle to them. You've been such a big help with them since I've been pregnant. You've been a God-send Mouse. Jay and I trust you so much, especially with our babies."

Mouse was quiet, staring at her hand over his. "What if something happened though?" he asked quietly.

"Meaning what if you had an attack and were alone with them?"

Mouse nodded.

"When was your last one?" she asked gently.

"Two weeks ago when you were gone."

Lauren gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Mouse we trust you. I think you'd be fine with them, but if you don't I totally understand."

Mouse thought it over. When the babies were around, war was far from his mind. The twins were his light in the darkness. They seemed to make it better.

"I'll do it," he finally said.

Lauren hugged him tight. "Thank you Mouse," she whispered as little Jayson kicked. "I think he agrees," she laughed making Mouse smile.

"Mouse did Jay tell you his full name?" she asked laying back against the couch softly rubbing her belly. She knew Jay wanted it to be a surprise but she thought he needed to know to see just how much they trusted him.

Mouse shook his head no; "He just said yall had finally agreed on one."

Lauren smiled, "Yea we did and Jay picked it out."

"What is it going to be?" Mouse asked already knowing they were going to call him Jayson.

"Jayson Gregory William," Lauren smiled at him.

Mouse sat there just staring at her hand softly rubbing her belly. "You're serious?" he asked her.

"Yes Mouse I am. Jay wanted to name him after you and Will. You really mean a lot to us Mouse."