Ever After

Chapter 13: The Talk

"Daddy!!!!" Emma yells giggling as she runs away from her class with paint on her hands. "Woah Emma we've talked about the paint." She frowns. "But I wanna hug..." He scoops her up from the back bringing her into his chest. She grabs his arm.

"But we have to get you cleaned up first..." He says tickling her sides and she cackles. I smile watching them wash their hands together. "Oh Mrs. Peters! I thought she had got lost." I shake my head. "Nope just getting cleaned up. Did you need her back? We are a little early."

She shakes her head. "No no I'll take the kids back to class and she's free to stay with you." I smile. "Thank you." Emma giggles. "Daddy!" They step out of the bathroom with her in his arms. "Show mommy some love." He says softly. She leans over kissing my cheek. "I love you mommy." I hum. "I know sweetie. I love you too."

Jackson pulls her back into him. "But I love you more." He says squeezing her. I scuff. "Come on we have to wait on Sadie to get out." We walk through the halls heading towards Sadie's class. When we get there the bell rings and she comes out. "Daddy!" She says hugging his leg. "Hey sunshine. How was school?" She smiles. "It was good. How was work?" He looks at me. "Um it was a bit crazy but that's not important anymore. I'm thinking about pizza for dinner huh?" She cheers. "Oh can we mommy?" I nod pulling her into my side. "Yeah sure. Come on let's go." I pick her up and Jackson softly bumps into my side. I smile before bumping him back.

The kids giggle softly as we make our way to the car. "So guys we have something we need to talk to you about when we get home okay? And I've decided that whatever you decide is what we will do okay?" They nod softly but than the whole way home they poke for me to ask before we get home.

I don't and when we get home with the pizza I make everyone a plate as we sit at the table. "Mommy what is it?" I sigh. "Well daddy has to go on a trip far far away from here. He has invited us to come but we would be gone for a month maybe two and you wouldn't be able to go to school. But you would get to spend plenty more time with daddy."

Emma claps. "I wanna go!" Sadie doesn't say anything. "Sadie?" I ask softly. "What if we don't go?" She says with a pout. I huff. "Well than daddy is gonna go without us." She huffs. "May I be excused?" I nod and she gets up leaving. I huff before getting up as well. I head up the stairs knocking on her door. "Sadie..." I step in and she's sitting on her bed crying.

"Oh sweetie..." She sighs as I sit down. "I don't want to leave but I miss daddy so much. I just wanted to stay here." I brush the hair from her face. "Sweetie we will come back I promise. Daddy just has some things to take care of. I don't want to force you to go." She shakes her head. "Can I have sometime to think on it?" I kiss her head. "Of course sweetie. I'm not sure when we will leave but I'll make time. I didn't mean to make it seem like it needed to be answered today. Now will you come eat?" She shakes her head. "I'm just gonna lay here for awhile." I kiss her head huffing. "Okay. I love you." She fakes a smile. "I love you too." I frown before getting up to leave. You'll never know how much that just broke my heart. I think to myself as I walk away.

*

"Come on love she'll be fine. She just needs some time to adjust that's all." I huff. "Yeah I guess you're right." He hums pulling me closer to him as we lay next to each other. "Besides she's asleep. Nothing we can do for now." I nod. "Okay." He smiles kissing me softly. I smile softly placing my hand on his face as his hand finds its way up the back of my shirt. "So this is what you've wanted?" I say softly and he pouts. I smile. "Look you've learned the pouty lip. Awww I taught you that." I say sticking out my bottom lip too. He smiles. "You're the queen." I press my nose to his. "Don't you forget it Jackie."

He kisses me gentle. "Never." I hum pressing my lips back to his. "You know you don't deserve what you're asking for." He brushes his nose against mine. "I don't deserve a thing you've given me. But I'm trying. I really am." I smile. "I know. I'm hard on you and you know I don't ever expect you to be perfect. I really don't. I just..." He kisses me. "I know baby girl. I know. I could do better." I hum pulling his lips back to mine. "Show me." He smiles. "Really?" I roll my eyes. "Don't talk yourself out of it." He pulls me into him kissing me and I wrap my arms around his neck. "Be thankful I love you." He hums. "I always am."

I kiss him softly before he trails his lips. "So if we come what awaits us in Rome?" He smiles. "Wouldn't you love to know?" I smile. "That's why I asked Jackie." He bites my neck harshly. I groan yanking on his hair. "Don't!" He sucks and I throw my head back. "Oh I hate you." I say gasping before pulling his hair some more. He pulls back. "What was that?" I bite my lip. I shake my head. "Say it. Come on." I eventually let my breath go. "Do it again..." He smirks before reattaching his lips to my neck. I whine softly.

"Mmm..." He pulls me into a kiss and I lovingly roll with him until I'm pressed firmly on top of him. "I plan on making my three favorite girls very happy. We are gonna shop until my baby girl drops. We are gonna spoil the hell out of those kids and I'm gonna spend time with my family. Especially you." I roll my eyes and he pins me to the mattress. "Roll those pretty little eyes all you want but you know that you're gonna love shopping in Rome."

I scuff. "Non hai le tue speranze." He makes a face staring down at me. "Don't get your hopes up." He scuffs with a half smile. "What was that?" I hum playfully thinking. "Italian. My father spent some time in Italy before meeting my mom. Je parle aussi un peu français." He smirks softly. "I also speak a little French."

He hums. "Well I think it's hot." I shake my head. "You disgust me." He kisses me lovingly. "That's not what you were saying five minutes ago." I scuff. "Shut up Jackie." He smiles kissing me again. My mind still wondered about Sadie but I hoped she'd be okay and that she would make the right choice soon enough. As for now all I could do is enjoy this moment and trust me that wasn't too hard.

Enjoy!