Stronger (Camren)

Chapter 14

The next day, Keaton picked up Camila and I. I was nervous the entire ride there. My stomach in knots. When we pulled up to the house, I took a few deep breaths. I have not seen Ashton in awhile and honestly? I'm afraid to. Keaton told me that Ashton knows I'm his mom but I've never heard him call me it before. When we went in the house Keaton's brother, Troy, was home. Ashton ran up Keaton in his own two year old way. "Daddy!" He exclaimed. Keaton picked him up and spun him around in the air. He stopped and turned to me. "Do you know her?" Keaton asked. "Momma." Ashton said reaching his arms out for me. I grabbed him and hugged him tight. I didn't even try to stop the tears from spilling out of my eyes. I didn't loosen my grip on him for a few minutes. I turned to Camz. "Camila, this is Ashton. Ashton, this is Camz." I said. She tickled his belly. "Well aren't you the cutest thing." Ashton giggled and I couldn't help it, my smile grew larger. Shortly after, Ashton got put down for a nap and we were all talking in the living room. "He's perfect." I said. "You know, now that your out of your old house and you live somewhere safe, he can stay with you for a few days, if you'd like." Troy said. I looked at him. "Seriously?" I asked. "Yes. The whole reason we adopted him in the first place was so he loved in a safe and stable home where he could be provided for. You're out of that house and it's about time you two get to know each other." He said. I tackled him in a hug. He was always like an older brother to me. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." I repeated over and over again. "Don't thank me. He's your kid." Troy simply said. We talked for awhile and before we left gathered up enough of Ashton's things for a few days. When we got home, Keaton helped carry his bag and toys into the house before saying goodbye and leaving. "Aunt Milika, we're home!" I yelled. She came downstairs and into the living room. "He's so cute!" She exclaimed. "Do you want to hold him?" I asked and she nodded. I handed him over to her and we all sat down. After a few minutes, everyone else came down into the living room with us. "He looks just like you." Normani said. "You haven't seen Keaton yet. They're like twins." I said. Ashton got fussy and wanted me so I took him back. He cuddled into my chest. "You know what I just realized." Uncle Gordon said. "I'm a great uncle." He said. We laughed at his comment. After dinner, we watched a movie then I put Ashton to bed. "Goodnight, baby. I love you." I said before kissing his forehead. I gently set him in the crib that Keaton had brought over. Once I checked that he was comfortable and asleep, I went back out to the living room. "He's asleep." I said while sitting back down next to Camila. "Is it weird that I'm not even upset that you have a child? I feel like I should be upset. I'm not though. I'm actually happy. Ashton's adorable and the way you look at him makes me fall even more in love with you." She said. I blushed and kissed her head. "I love you too. So much." Sometime later, we went to sleep. I slept for a few hours but I woke up in the middle of the night. I quietly and carefully go out of bed so I didn't wake up Camz. I went over to the pile and grabbed one of the many letters. I opened it and it read:

Dear Keaton,

If it wasn't obvious, this is letter ten. Yes, I know that you're sorry but there's nothing you can do. I agree. I don't want my mom to be married to him either but I'm only 13 so there's not much I can do. You're only 17 so there's not much you can do either. It's not that bad. I'll write to you next letter.

- Lauren ♡

P.s.~ I want my Beatles cd back!

I put the letter back with the stuff. I crawled back into the bed and tried to fall back asleep. If only I knew what was to come when I was 13. Maybe I could've changed things. I could've stopped everything. I could've but would I have wanted to. At the time, I would've but if I knew then that I would have what I have now, then I'd do it all over again. I'd never do anything to lose Camila. Aunt Milika said we're soulmates but what if I had gotten on another bus? Or what if I decided to run away the day before I did or the day after? I tightened my grip around Camila and eventually fell asleep. I'm not sure how long it was before I woke up again but when I did, I was alone. I got up and went out to the kitchen. What I saw, made my heart swell. Camz was dancing with Ashton in her arms with music playing from the television. I slowly walked up behind them. I tried to scare her but two things gave me away. The first, I was giggling my life away and the second, Ashton saw me. "Mama." He said reaching for me. Camila turned and I took him from her. "How long have you been standing there?" She asked. I smiled at how embarrassed she looked. "Just s few minutes." I said before looking at Ashton. "Hi baby." I said peppering his face with kisses. "And hello to you too." I said pulling Camila close and kissing her forehead. I put Ashton in the living room to play with his toys. "I gave him breakfast, changed his diaper, and took him for a walk. Oh and danced around the kitchen." Camz said. I took her hands in mine. "You didn't have to do that." I told her. "I know. I wanted to, besides you were asleep and I didn't want him to wake you." She said. I pulled her onto a hug. "Well thank you." I said. I sat down on the couch and she sat down next to me. "You know it's not fair." Camila said. "What's not fair?" I asked. "You're perfect. You're just an amazing person. It's not fair because I know I'll never have a reason not to love you if god forbid, I ever wanted to. I would literally scream about how much I love you off of mountain tops. I want it to be sung into all men's ears that you're mine. And you're even an amazing mother. It's rigged. It's rigged for you to be this perfect." She said, dramatically throwing her hands up and into her lap. "I'm not perfect though." I said. She laughed. "You'll never understand how perfect you are to me." She said. I didn't know what to say so I just intertwined our hands and kissed the back of her hand. Uncle Gordon left for work and Aunt Milika came downstairs shortly after. "Did you guys eat?" She asked. Camila nodded but I shook my head. Aunt Milika nodded and went to the kitchen. Camz watched Ashton as I was eating breakfast that Aunt Milika had made. "You guys are going to be alone here later. I have to take the girls to a dress fitting and Dinah is at a dress fitting. Normani should be back later." Aunt Milika told me. I had a mouthful so I just nodded. After they were ready, the twins and Aunt Milika left. Camila and I decided to watch a movie. About halfway through, the doorbell rang. I got up to get it. It was Keaton. "Hey. Come in." I said. He did. "I brought over more clotches and diapers that I thought you may need. How is he?" He asked. "He's perfect. I've missed him so much. How are you?" I asked. "Good. Troy said that he and Ally are very happy that you're back in his life. I am as well." He said. We talked for awhile longer until he left. "Who was at the door?" Camila asked as I sat down on the couch. "Keaton. He brought some more clothes and diapers over." I said. She nodded and went back to watching the movie. Normani came over just a few minutes later. "I have your dresses." She said. Camila and I went and tried them on. They were white with a purple ribbon around the middle. My dress was a perfect fit. I took the dress off and gave it back to Normani. "Perfect fit." I said. "Same." Camz said repeating my actions. At dinner, we talked about the wedding. After dinner, we helped clean up and then watched some movies. Camila wasn't feeling too well so I made her some soup. "Here, Love." I said setting it down on our bedside table. I turned and looked at her. She was asleep with Ashton cuddled into her chest. I took a picture and laid down with them.