Brothers at War [#Wattys2017]

bonus chapter ii

I had never thought that, after everything, we would be stood here now. I had never even imagined that this would occur.

I had, of course, hoped for this day, and I had wished relentlessly for it. But, with a father like Markus Barnes, I didn't think it would ever actually happen.

He has always been protective over his children. He has loved them fiercely since the day each of them were born, or since the day he met them in the case of Callie. When it comes to his children though, he is a force to be reckoned with, and he will always fight for his children.

Even when they're in love and want to get married. He will still fight for his children because he doesn't want to accept that they are grown up, and that they are moving on with their lives now.

They don't need their parents to watch over their shoulders, and they sure as hell don't need their father to tell them that they're not allowed to get married nor are they allowed to move to a different part of the country to start their own life.

"You look stunning." I had always imagined seeing Callie in a wedding dress, but seeing her never did my thoughts any justice. She wasn't my little girl anymore and neither was she my princess, she was a woman, and she was about to become a married one. "Parker is one lucky man."

"He is, isn't he?" Callie grinned as she turned and took the latest addition to the family off my hands. "How is my little Sammy? You're still so much cuter than Logan when he was born, but don't tell him I said that. He still thinks he's my favourite."

Samuel Mark Barnes had been the only one of our children who were planned. Sarah had not long turned eight, and Logan was coming up for his seventh birthday, and with Callie flying the nest, Markus and I thought that having another child was the answer to our problems.

"You know he can't understand a word you're saying. Right?" Callie might have moved in with Parker almost two years ago now, but she was still round the house to see her sister and brothers practically every single day. It was almost as though she had never left, and I had a feeling that it was making it harder for Markus to accept that his little girl was now a grown woman. "He's barely even a month old. But, you are right, he is cuter than Logan was at that age."

I knew that Logan was hiding behind the door, mostly because he and Sarah had never been able to be silent around each other. Their giggles were obvious and, even though they thought that they were whispering, it was more like a conversation at a normal level.

"In fact, I think he might just grow up to be a lot cuter than his older brother. Wouldn't you agree, Callie?"

"I think you might be right. He might even become my favourite brother the older he gets." Callie couldn't contain her laughter, and neither could I when Logan marched into the room with his arms over his chest. He threw his dirtiest look at his older sister and then hid his face in my leg, wiping his snotty nose on the bottom of my dress as he did.

Having four children, you get used to the snotty noses being wiped wherever they feel is appropriate, and you don't even bat an eyelid when one of them is sick all over you. Mucky hands on expensive clothes becomes a common sight, and the anger simply drifts into a sigh and shake of the head as you try to figure out which of your children to blame.

When you have children, you take everything which comes with it. You take the tears, the laughter, and the messiness. You take the anger, the annoyance, and the frustration. You take the damage they cause, and the pain, and the thoughtlessness.

You take it all because you love them, and because it comes with being a parent.

"Mummy, I no like Sammy." Logan looked up at me with tears in his eyes and, if he didn't look genuinely upset, I probably would have laughed at the expression on his face. As it was, I picked him up and rested him on my hip, and he put his head against my shoulder.

"Why not, sweetie?"

"Is he really cuter than me?"

"Mummy was being silly. Mummy loves all her babies. I promise." I kissed the top of his head for reassurance, and that seemed to do the trick as he gave me a massive grin and began giggling as he buried his face in my neck once again.

"Logan loves mummy too." I wasn't even surprised when he placed a slobbery kiss on my cheek and then wiggled out of my grip, running out of the room shouting for Sarah, wherever she had disappeared to.

I was sure that they were going to get themselves into mischief before the wedding even began, and I was relieved that I had chosen to keep them out of their outfits right until the last moment. Sarah's white dress would have been more a grey colour when it came time for her to walk down the aisle, and I dread to think what Logan would have done to his suit in that time.

I knew that, when it came time to leave the wedding, they were going to be a mess, and I fully expected it from children their age. But, being the mother of the bride, I wanted to at least make sure the bride's flower girl and page boy made it down the aisle looking somewhat respectable.

"You really do look stunning, baby girl," I smiled as I gave my daughter the once over again in her wedding dress. She looked gorgeous and I couldn't have been more proud of my little girl, and I knew that Markus was proud of her as well, even if he didn't say the words. "I have dreamed about this moment since you were a little girl and, honesty, none of this has lived up the images I've created. You are beautiful and I meant what I said earlier, Parker really is a lucky man."

"If you make me cry, my makeup artist will kill you. She had to apply the makeup three times this morning, just because I couldn't stop being emotional."

"I am proud of the woman you have become, Callie. You deserve the world, especially after everything you've done for your father and I, and certainly after all you continue to do for the both of us." I moved towards my daughter and took her in my arms, being mindful of my son who was still sleeping soundly in her arms.

I really was trying to fight the tears, mostly because I already knew there was going to plenty of them once my daughter was a married woman, and definitely when it came to the speeches—I had read the one Markus had prepared and if there was a dry eye in the house, then they would have to be somewhat heartless.

But it was no use. I was an emotional wreck, and who wouldn't be on their daughter's wedding day?

"I love you, Mum. And, Dad. The stubborn and overprotective fool that he is," Callie chuckled and that was the moment Sam decided he was going to wake up, and start crying for his mother. "I love you too, Sammy." Callie cooed quickly before she handed him back to me and, almost immediately, he fell silent the moment I pressed him against my body and took his small hand in my own.

"Soooo. Can I come in now or is this still a crying fest?"

"No, Dad, it's safe for you to come in," Callie grinned as the both of us wiped our faces and turned to face Markus with grins on our faces, both of us happy to see him in that moment. I was happy to see him because I hadn't seen him in three days, because he had been busy planning a surprise for our daughter, and Callie was happy to see the man who was giving her away at her wedding.

"Just for the record, I love you as well, Callie." Markus kissed her cheek and then turned his charming smile to me, his way of telling me that he loved me too without even needing to say the words.

"Great. So that makes now the perfect time to tell the both of you that you're going to be grandparents. Right?"

TWITTER: EmmaaLouisaa__

INSTAGRAM: emlouisaxo_

© 2017 Emma Norman. All Rights Reserved.