Smile (Kris Bryant)

Chapter Twenty Seven| Birthday Bash

Alexandria

My birthday ended up falling on the day after the last day of regular season baseball. The guys were gearing up to go to Pittsburg to take on the Pirates in the wildcard game and I was excited to be a part of it. As a send off/ birthday celebration Kris was throwing a shindig at our apartment. No one knows that I'm pregnant besides Kris and I and my doctors and no one besides Anthony and David know we're moving into a new house soon.

Those personal details are small compared to what's going on around town. After the Blackhawks won a championship for the third time in six seasons the city wanted more. And the Cubs were destined for great things. All the guys who got called up this year; Kris, Schwarbs, Addi, and my second favorite Javy, they're all great baseball players and exciting and so very talented. You got a lot of young guys and a lot of young talent. Jorge and Anthony are still young and love hitting baseballs too even though they're not rookies. With how Jake is pitching right now this should be a fun wildcard game.

As the party starts I realize how many guy friends I have. I haven't really been around the significant other groups because I'm usually working then or have something else the organization is doing that involves me. But I have to admit I love Dexters family and Davids family. I love kids and Naya and all of Davids kids were the best. Jon Lester's wife is the biggest sweetheart ever and Jakes family is great too. I guess the good thing about the Cubs is even though I work for them were one big family so I still know a lot of the families. Plus Kris has them over often or we go to their places so no one is a stranger around here. I'm getting out more and they're welcoming me in which makes me feel better.

"Happy birthday" someone yells and I see dexters wife Darya with Naya in her arms in a little party outfit. She was so stinking cute I couldn't deal with it.

"Oh my god, you guys look amazing" I say hugging them.

"Us? Look at you! You're glowing" she says and I freeze. That had to have been a coincidence on the word choice. I welcome them in and they give me a gift.

"What's this" I ask. There was no gifts involved at this party. I made sure of it.

"It was Dexters idea. He really likes what you've brought to his game this year and I like what you brought to the significant other group so I helped him out a little. Inside the bag was a nike sports bra, tank and pros set. The tank top said "I don't sweat I sparkle" and I had to laugh.

"This is great, thank you guys so much" I say giving her another hug. She goes off to drink and she hands me her baby. I take Naya into the living room and sit her on my lap so she's looking at me. She tries to figure out what's going on but can't. She never does cry though, I hope my baby is like that.

"Dada" she babbles and that makes me smile.

"Can you say alex" I ask. She responds but not coherently but that's okay, she was still the cutest little thing ever.

"Oh god, did you steal another kid" Kris jokes sitting next to me and I roll my eyes.

"That kid followed me. I did not steal him" I laugh.

"Sure, but that mom sure wasn't happy" he claims.

"You don't have to remind me" I mumble. He'll never let that one go. Soon enough everyone was in the living room with a drink and a snack. We talk amongst ourselves but Kris never leaves my side.

"Are you going to keep my kid" Dexter asks.

"Maybe" I tease.

"Honestly I'm okay with it. I think you and Kris would make great parents" Darya claims.

"Really" I ask.

"Well yeah. You guys both love harder than anything I've ever seen. A child would be blessed to have you guys as parents. You're both extremely responsible, never getting in trouble. You guys don't drink and are super successful in your own fields. I look up to you and I'm older than you guys" Dexter laughs.

"That's so sweet of you. I love you guys" I smile.

"Of course" Darya smiles. Eventually it comes time for everyone to leave and I give the kid up. She was upset to leave but I promised a play date in the off season. After we clean up and pack away the extra food I crash onto the couch. Kris appears with a big bag and a big smile on his face to match it.

"Watcha got there" I ask.

"Present time" he cheers.

"I hate getting presents" I whine.

"I know. But that's because you hate asking for things. You didn't ask for these things" he claims. I was pretty skeptical but I got over it.

I open the card and laugh when it was Stitch singing happy birthday. He was my favorite Disney character after all. In there was a gift card to a hardware store and I look at him questionably.

"There's a hundred dollars on there. It's for paint and brushes and tarps for the basement. You can paint whatever you pretty little head desires" he says and I smile.

"You're going to help me right" I ask.

"Have you seen my art skills? Do you want stick figures" he teases.

"I expect at least one stick figure on there" I threaten and he smiles.

"I'll see what I can do" he claims. I set that to the side and pull out a baby onesie from the bag. It had the Cubs C on it and I smiled.

"How'd you get this with no one figuring it out" I wonder.

"Turns out it is possible for me to go incognito here. I just have to wear a really big hat" he claims. Cute. The next thing I pull out is a beautiful picture of us at the bean messing around. It was a adorable picture and I could wait to hang it up at the new house. The last thing was a journal with my name in gold in the front. I open the cover and see a little note from Kris in there. It read, "Dear Alexandria. One of the many things you have taught me was the value of thoughts. Every idea and feeling is important to who we are. Our lives are quickly changing and I figured you would want a place to write some, draw some, even dream some. Keep that beautiful mind of yours working. So happy birthday and happy trails. No matter what remember that I love you so much and I got you. Love Kris."

"Kris... I don't know what to say" I say softly.

"You always seem to find the right words" he claims. I place the book to the side and pull him to the couch so I could kiss him.

"Happy birthday princess" he whispers and I smile.

"Thanks Kris, for everything."