Ever After

Chapter 24: Day Off

*A Week Later*

I whine softly. "Stay a little bit longer." He smiles twirling a piece of my hair. "Sure." He whispers softly to me. There's silence as I lay my head on his chest taking in his presence. "So what do you have planned today?" He asks softly and I frown. "I guess I'll just read my books and wait for you to get home. Like usual." He lifts my face.

"You miss me huh?" I nod. "The kids do too. They miss school. Maybe it was a bad idea to come. I know we are only holding you back. I mean you've got stuff to do you don't need to be worried about us." He kisses me. "I'm always worried about you. Listen if at any point in time you wanna leave I'll have to be okay with that. I don't want you or the kids to be upset about coming."

I huff. "They miss you too Jackie. Home would be a distraction but eventually they are gonna ask for you. They always do." He huffs rolling around with me a bit. "I don't know what to do." He says stopping as I land flat on his chest. I cup his face. "That's because there isn't anything to do. Go to work Jackie. The kids will understand. They always have."

He huffs. "Come with me." I smile. "I'm glad you miss us Jackie but a work zone is no place for kids. I'm sorry." He frowns. "Then I won't go. Much rather be her anyways." He says with a smirk lifting the shirt on my body some. I grab his wrists sighing. "No Jackie...you need to go to work."

He flips pinning me to the bed. "Cody has this baby. They won't miss me for one day. Besides tell me that you don't want to spend some time with me." He says pressing his nose to mine. I bite my lip shutting my eyes before letting them fall open. "Jackie we can't. You have a company to build." He pins my hand to the bed.

"I didn't ask what we should do. I asked what you wanted to do baby girl. I know you. Baby I know you better then I know you company." I huff. "I don't know what you're talking about? I gave my answer." He smirks. "Oh really?" I swallow softly. He lets his nose slide down my neck pressing soft kisses. My eyes shut as I try to fit this.

"Come on baby girl. Relax and let me love you." I shake my head. "You have a job Jackie." He hums. "Yes and that's exactly what I'm doing. It's my job to take care of my wife." I huff and he lets go of my arms cupping my face. "Just say the words baby and I'm up." I bite my lip thinking.

"You're sure Jackie? You're not gonna run off after right?" He frowns. "Darling of course not." I press my nose to his. "I'm trusting you Jackie." He hums. "That's all I've ever asked. Now relax. Everything is gonna be fine." I nod softly. "If you're sure." He smiles kissing me. "Have I ever lied to you doll?" I shake my head.

He brushes his nose against mine. "Look at me." I do looking up into his eyes. "I am not going to work. I'm gonna spend time with you. And then I'm gonna spend time with my family okay?" I nod softly as I glance breathlessly down at his lips before looking back at his eyes.

"You aren't listening are you?" I smile. "I am but you can't pin me down and expect me to not focus on the fact that I think your attractive." He smirks. "So I'm attractive now?" I roll my eyes. "You always have been." He scuffs. "Not when we first met." I blush. "That's not true. I always believed you were too attractive to be talking to someone like me." He spins letting me fall flat on him. "Hey you were always beautiful to me." I smile softly.

"Always?" He leans in. "Always baby girl." I hum kissing him gently. "You're bent for me." He hums. "Oh of course. But..." He sits keeping me in his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck. "You bend to me too baby and it's the best thing in the world." I pout. "Do not." He smirks and I swallow realizing I've challenged him. "Jackie..." He kisses me roughly before letting his hands slip under my shirt and his lips attach to my neck. I sigh softly.

"That's my beautiful girl." He hums and the vibrations through my neck make me bite my lip. I try to stop it when my back arches forward but he just brushes his nose against mine. "Bent." He whispers and I whine sadly. "Hey it's a good thing. Don't pout baby." I frown harder and he pouts back. "Now listen you're gonna have to turn that pout into a smile or I'm gonna tickle you until you do."

I sigh. "Pick a side Jackie. Cute or romantic?" He smiles. "You pick baby." I smile. "I think you've promised me a bit of both. But I'm feeling frisky. Can we play?" He gazed up at me. "You'll kill me doll." I lace my fingers through his hair. "At least you'll go happy." He smiles. "Always true." I kiss him teasingly.

I hum against his lips and he wraps his arms around me to keep me close to him. "Come on Jackie." He kisses me harder pulling back when we are both out of breath and I can feel him panting on my neck. "Let's play Teagan." I hum in agreement as he attaches his lips to my neck.

*

"Daddy stuffies!" He scoops Emma up as Sadie plays with the hem on my denim shorts. "Sure sweetie. Let's get one." He says as we step into the store. Jackson had taken us out but I'm not quite sure how we ended up in the mall again. A coincidence I guess. "I want to get this girl one that looks like Paws. So he can have a girlfriend." I smile at Jackson who glances at me. He smiles. "A girlfriend huh? And what do you know about girlfriends?" He says tickling her. She giggles. "I know that mommy is your girlfriend and she makes you super happy." I look down at my hand that's on Emma's head, as she grips my shorts, looking at my ring. When I glance up he's staring at me.

"Oh so I get it. You just want Paws to be happy." She nods. "Exactly daddy." He hums. "Okay grab it." She does and he smiles taking her to the check out. "Is there something you'd like Sadie?" She glances around stopping on a fluffy diary. "Mommy?" She points. I pick her up taking her to it. "You're sure?" She nods. "Okay come on sweetie."

We meet Jackson who takes my hand. I smile widely at him. "I love you." He hums. "I love you." We pay before leaving to head home. We step into the house and the kids rush upstairs. Emma clung to her new stuffed dog and Sadie has her diary held close to her chest. I hang my purse on the rack and he pulls me into him. "Come here." He says softly as he drags me to the couch.

He sits pulling me down into his lap. He just stares at me. "Jackie..." He hums. "Was there something you wanted to say?" He nods. "Ugh yeah...." I frown. "Is it bad? Is something wrong?" He wraps me in his arms. "Well..." I bite my lip. "I was thinking about you and the kids going home." I swallow.

"Why? You don't want us here?" He shakes his head. "No it's not that I just don't want you guys to be bored and unhappy." I cling to him. "I'm happy wherever you are and so are the kids Jackie. Please don't make us go back." He huffs. "Darling you know I can't make you do anything." I lay my head in his chest. "Then were staying. That's final." He smiles playing with a strand of my hair. "If you say so baby girl."

Enjoy!