Where Love Grows

Underneath the Same Moon

I sat in the studio, curled up in a blanket scarf and watched Hunter and his band record the demo of Inside Out. The level of emotion he poured into the song was giving me chills. I caught his eye and he smiled, singing.

Yeah, I wanna love you inside out
I'll spend my whole life trying to figure it out
Just close your eyes and shut your mouth
And let me kiss you inside out.
let me love you, let me love you
let me love you babe.  

Once the song commenced, I stood, applauding and the producer gave a thumbs up. Hunter emerged from the booth, smiling.

"The more I play it, the more I want it."

"Really?" I asked, "Well, I know the writer, she's a fan of yours." I smirked as he wrapped me in a hug.

"I'm a fan of hers." He kissed my cheek before we headed to California for our anniversary weekend.

"Happy fifteenth wedding anniversary," I tipped my glass to Hunter as we cheered to us, "can you believe we have three awesome kids, your career is as strong as ever..."

"I can't believe it. Each day I wake up and get to live this dream. It's amazing." We sipped our drinks, "You're amazing. The way you teach our children, care for us all and you're on the verge of becoming an award winning songwriter." He smiled.

"All because of you," I said softly as we enjoyed a dinner at one of the wineries in Napa Valley. The weekend was a whirlwind of wine tasting, sunny weather and romance. We were packing up in the hotel when Hunter got a phone call from Sutton.

"Hey sweetie, everything okay?" He smiled, "Oh, really, well we will have to turn the tv on then. Thank you love. Yes we are. Okay, have a good day at school. Love you too." Hunter was beaming and grabbed the remote to turn the tv on. He shuffled through the channels to find GMA.

"CMA nominations?" I said and he nodded.

The host announced the categories and we were jumping and hugging after hearing our names for Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year.

"Babe!" I kissed him, "This is amazing." On the high of being nominated, we boarded our plane home and were greeted by Lynette and Leo.

"Congratulations guys," Leo hugged us, "fifteen years and four nominations." We thanked them and asked how the kids were.

The day rolled on until it was time to get the kids from school. As we drove down the freeway, I admired the trees bearing orange and gold leaves. "Sutton and Easton have that school dance tomorrow."

"Why on a Tuesday night?" Hunter asked, pulling up to the pick up area. I shrugged, emerging from the car to help load the kids in. The car ride home was full of chatter including the CMA nominations.

I put dinner in the oven and checked in with the boys as they got cracking on homework,"Eas, are you going to the dance with friends?"

He smiled and nodded, "There's like, a group of us going. Everyone I play soccer with at recess." I smiled and checked in with Beckett before I headed upstairs, hearing the quiet strumming of a guitar and knocked on Sutton's door.

"Come in."

"Hey sweetie, do you have homework?" She passed me her agenda, stapled inside was the annual 'we are talking about sexual health' parent information form. "Pen?" she handed me one to sign the form and I gave her back her agenda. "Anything you want to talk about?"

"Not really," she gaze was averted, "what about you?"

"Not really," I smiled, "I think Dustin and Stephanie are bringing the twins over tonight."

"Oh nice."

"Are you looking forward to the dance tomorrow?"

"Yeah, umm, Lilly is going too."

"That's great." I sighed, "Dinner will be ready soon." She nodded and I stepped out, closing the door behind me and I heard that gentle strum of the guitar.

"Beckett, sit here," I said, holding a pillow, "put this under your arm." Once he was comfortable, Stephanie placed baby Aiden in his arms. "Easton, this side." Dustin smiled as Easton cooed at baby Kyle.

"Mom was I ever this small?" Easton's big brown eyes were captivated by the little life in his hands.

I nodded, "Yes. And you were the loud baby, the one who needed to be held all the time."

"I remember I showed up on your doorstep and he was what, two weeks old?" Steph said, "And Hunter had to go get those baby wear wraps."

I nodded, "If you weren't being held, you were crying." Easton smirked. Sutton sat down on the floor, also admiring the tiny babies.

Once everyone got their fair share of baby cuddles, the visit came to an end. Stephanie and Dustin thanked us for the much needed socialization, "I am going to go crazy." She chuckled, giving me a hug before she headed out.

"I've been there, done that," I reassured her, "I'm home a lot right now, don't hesitate to call if you need anything."

We wrangled our own kids and got packed next day before heading up to bed. "I love how much that song means to you." Hunter said, brushing my hair back as we laid on the bed.

"I am forty with three kids," I sighed, "that's what I ought to be singing about. Not making out and sex..." My thought interrupted by him placing a finger over my lips.

"You can write whatever you want." He smiled, removing his finger and resting his hand on my cheek, "It's vulnerable in a way, definitely sexy." He moved in closer, kissing my lips, his hands exploring my body. We got closer, entangled in one another, hearts racing.

"Every dam'n time."