Take Me to Your Paradise

Chapter 7: This Is Our Story (1/3)

A/N: Thank you so much for all the votes and comments, they are very much appreciated! As the title suggests, the next three chapters are a trilogy as they may deal with a certain very important event that wanted more space;) I hope you enjoy!

This one is rated M.

****

Bradley woke to the sound of the baby's soft babbling on the monitor, reached to turn it off and got up carefully; he tugged the comforter a little more over Stefani, eyes on her beautiful sleeping face for a moment and left the room quietly, padded next door to the nursery to check on Francesca. The little girl was laying calmly on her back, having a solo conversation and entertaining herself with grasping onto her tiny feet, trying to pull them up, making him laugh.

"Good morning, funny girl." He grinned at his daughter and a happy, sunny smile spread on her face in response. "How long have you been awake, hmm?"

Francesca gurgled something in response and Bradley reached to pick her up from the crib, kissed the side of her head. "Guess what, baby? Daddy has a really big surprise planned for your amazing mom and I'm a little nervous, so I hope you will put in a good word for me if needed. We'll just have to hope she'll be happy about it, won't we, angel?"

He took the baby to the changing table, dressed her in a cute red shirt and soft, comfortable pants; she began to whimper, clearly hungry now and he carried her to the bedroom, knowing Stefani always wanted to breastfeed her first thing in the morning. She had awoken too, smiled at him softly and stretched her arms, pulling him and the baby close; Francesca started to eat eagerly and her parents exchanged tender kisses, enjoying each other for a while until Bradley reluctantly got up and grabbed a quick shower before making his way downstairs where he found Natali and Ashley seated by the kitchen table, drinking coffee and making notes on the sheets of paper in front of them. They were at the Napa house, it was a beautiful April morning and if they managed to pull everything off successfully, the next two days were going to be huge.

"Morning, ladies." He glanced at Ashley's rather long to-do list, made a face; she noticed, touched his arm comfortingly.

"Morning. Don't worry; everything's going to get done on time. Stef still has no idea?"

Bradley shook his head, heading for the coffee. "I hope it's not... too big of a surprise for her."

Natali gave him a smile. "She'll love it; it's going to be incredible. Please don't stress at all; leave everything to us."

Stefani arrived with the little girl a moment later, frowning at her sister and assistant who quickly hid their papers. "What are you two doing here? Did we have plans that I've forgotten all about again?"

Ashley smiled sheepishly, took a sip of her coffee. "No, no. We just wanted some... lovely countryside air and really missed the baby so we came over to San Francisco yesterday."

"Right." Stefani stared at her assistant for a moment with a deeply furrowed brow, then shrugged and handed Francesca over to the brunette, walking to the sink to fill a glass of water and startling a little. "What in the world... B, are you aware that there is some random person taking measurements of our garden?"

He chuckled, knowing that the time for keeping secrets was up; he glanced at the baby, the little girl contently smiling and cooing as Natali and Ashley doted on her. "Stef, come with me for a moment."

Her face still in a deep frown, she followed him to the front door and outside; there were more people on the front yard, pointing at things, lists in their hands, waving at them and the blonde crossed her arms. "All right, B. What is going on here?"