AN: I changed a bit in Chapter 24 to make the flashback make sense!! Hope you are all enjoying this story.
"Let's go down to the boardwalk," the girls said. "All right," Marshall replied.
They headed down to enjoy an afternoon. Madelyn had both boys in the double stroller. She smiled as she watched the girls have fun. They found small rides that Maverick could do with them. He giggled and squealed at each one. She leaned on Marshall's shoulder, sitting on a bench next to the ride the girls had just taken their little brother on. Marshall leaned his head against hers.
"I am so glad they love him so much," she said softly. "Of course they love him. They get to baby him and cart him around like a living doll," Marshall laughed. "I know how hard it was for you to start over." "I don't see if as starting over. I see it as expanding and adding to. Baby, I was an asshole when you got pregnant with him." "I won't deny that."
She chuckled. He kissed her forehead.
"I really do owe you the world," he said. "You don't though. I have the world with you and our crazy silly fun and loving family. I never dreamed my life could be like this. Is it chaos? Sure but as long as you are there, it is so worth it." she said. "I love you more than you will ever know. I will spend my life making up for every stupid thing I do but I do not regret making you my wife and having our boys."
She smiled. He lifted her chin and kissed her lips.
Flashback
He sat at the restaurant. Kim swore she would get Madelyn to show up. He was terrified that she wouldn't want anything to do with him. He was scared that she wouldn't think he was good enough to be a father to her child. He stared at the door of the restaurant, just waiting.
"Can I get you something to drink? I assume you are waiting for another to arrive," the waitress said. "A water, please," he said as the door opened.
He sat silent in his seat just taking in her appearance.
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He watched as she gently rubbed her baby bump. She spotted him and frowned. He would have been lying if he said his heart didn't plummet to his feet. She walked toward him slowly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. "You ain't meeting Kim," he replied. "Obviously. So they think they can set it up like our first date and everything will be fine?" "I knew you wouldn't show if I asked you to come." "How do you know?" "Because you have ignored me for two months now. Mads, I miss you." "It is a package deal, Marshall."
He nodded. He motioned for her to sit down. She glared at him for a minute.
"Please," he said. "Only because this kid is constantly making me hungry," she replied sliding carefully into the booth. "You look amazing." "Yeah whatever." "Mads, give me a chance. Please?" "Explain to me why I should." "I love you, for one. I know I freaked out over this whole thing." "How is love going to fix you telling me to abort our child?" "Mads, I came here today to get you to come home. I need you. Shit just ain't right without you. I know I need to fix what happened and what I said. I want to give you and our baby the world. I want our baby. I'm sorry that my insecurities crept in and screwed this all up. I didn't want my girls to think I was trying to replace them by having a baby with you." "Marshall, those girls love you. Never in a million years would they think you wanted to replace them." "Found that out when Hailie yelled at me for what I said."
Madelyn chuckled a bit. He sighed.
"I want you to come home, Mads," he said, seriously.
The waitress interrupted them to get their order. Once she walked away, Madelyn looked at him. He could see the hurt in her eyes.
"I want to come home, but I have to know you want him too," she said softly. "Him?" Marshall asked. "We are having a boy."
End
Marshall watched the girls come off the ride. Hailie had Maverick in her arms. He was giggling. Madelyn watched her husband thoughtfully.
"What's going thru that head of yours?" she asked. "What a dumb ass I was," he said. "What?" "I was thinking of the day in the restaurant that I asked you to come home." "Baby," "He is one hell of a kid." "Thanks to us both." "If I had gotten my way, he wouldn't even be here. I fucked up with that shit, and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you and to him." "Baby you are his hero. He doesn't even know what happened. If he finds out, we will explain it to him and explain the shock as well as how much we love him."
Marshall nodded. They headed back to the house to get the boys ready for bed.
