Afterglow (Book Three)

Twenty Seven

An update, FINALLY👏🏼😂

Demi

"I can't wait to see my baby" Nick lightly chuckled as I squealed and practically bounced in my seat. "I missed him so fucking much. I'm never going away without him again."

"I'm sure he missed you too, Baby" Nick ran his hand along my thigh and I wrapped my hand around his.

"Thank you for an amazing honeymoon though."

"You're welcome, Gorgeous" I leant my head back against the headrest and just stared out the window as Nick drove us towards my parents' house. I may have had the most amazing honeymoon. I may have done things that I will probably never get the opportunity to do again, for example, swim with sharks which I would probably never willingly do again anyway. Even though I had an incredible honeymoon, it doesn't mean I didn't miss my baby boy like crazy. We FaceTimed nearly every day but that didn't really help at all. I missed his snuggles and his kisses. I missed him. The excitement I felt only seemed to grow as Nick pulled into my parents driveway. A smile formed rapidly on my face as I climbed from the car, watching as the front door opened and Batman and Cinderella charged down the driveway, followed by Peyton.

"Babies" I sunk to the floor and caught Peyton as he threw himself at me, his grip tight around my neck. "Oh, Baby. I missed you so much" I locked my fingers into his hair and nuzzled myself more into him. Batman and Ella were jumping at my legs but my main focus was Peyton.

"Miss you, Mommy."

"My baby" I kept my grip tight on him, breathing him in. I am never leaving him again.

"Daddy" I reluctantly released him from my grip but watched with a wide smile as he threw himself at Nick.

"Hi, Bud" Nick lifted him up and onto his hip.

"You guys have a good time?" I shared a smile with Nick before I turned to my mom who stood on the porch. I began up the driveway, Batman and Ella dancing around my feet as I began towards mom.

"Yeah, it was amazing. I missed my babies though" Nick stepped onto the porch beside me. "Were you a good boy for nana and papi, Handsome?"

"He was an angel" I couldn't help but to smile wider.

"You tired, Baby?" I stroked my fingers through his hair and leant to press a kiss to his forehead.

"He didn't sleep. He refused to have a nap today, and yesterday. He said he wasn't tired."

"You didn't nap, Baby Boy?"

"No."

"Why not, Handsome?"

"No sleep" I couldn't help but to lightly chuckle.

"You want to get home and see if you can get some sleep?" he just shook his head.

"No tired."

"Come here, Baby" he leant into me and I smiled as I took him from Nick and settled him against my hip. He cuddled himself into me and I gently rocked us. "Other than not sleeping, he behaved?"

"He was an angel. He slept during the night; he's just been refusing to nap" I pressed a kiss to the top of his head.

"Well, let's get you home then, Baby Boy. You can have cuddles with mommy and daddy."

"A story."

"You want a story?" he nodded into my neck as he played with my necklace.

"Yeah" I smiled widely as I shared a smile with my mom who was handing over Peyton's things to Nick.

"We better get you home then, Baby" I pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "Shall we say bye to nana?" Peyton gave my mom a wave and leant over to press a kiss to her cheek.

"Bye, Honey. I enjoyed spending the last couple weeks with you. I hope you had fun" he nodded into my neck, lifting his hand up to rub at his eyes.

"Thank you so much for watching him, and the dogs" she shook her head and leant over to press a gentle kiss to my cheek.

"You don't need to thank me. It's what I'm here for" she lightly poked Peyton in the tummy causing him to squeal. "You be a good boy for your mommy and daddy, okay?"

"Kay. Bye, Nana, love you" the smile on my mom's face widened. Peyton has been saying 'love you' so much more lately and I am in love with it.

"I love you too, Honey."

"We got everything, Babe?" I glanced to Nick who nodded over at me with a smile.

"It's all packed and ready to go, including the dogs."

"Okay. Thank you again, Mama."

"You're welcome, Baby. I'm glad you had a good honeymoon" I nodded and we shared a one-armed hug before I began down the driveway and towards the car with a half-asleep Peyton settled on my hip.

-

"He's asleep" I smirked over at Nick who lightly chuckled. I ran my fingers through Peyton's hair as he remained snuggled into me. "I think he just missed his momma" I leant and pressed a kiss to the top of his head.

"I missed him too."

"I wonder why he hasn't been wanting to nap. Maybe he only needs one nap during the day now."

"He can't grow up yet, he won't want cuddles" Nick lightly chuckled as he adjusted himself on the couch and leant to press a kiss to my temple, his fingers running into my hair.

"Think we've got a while before then, Baby."

"I love you."

"I love you too, Gorgeous" I snuggled myself into Nick's side, smiling as he locked his arm around me. "Why don't we watch a movie?"

"A Disney movie?"

"What? So Peyton can wake up and be annoyed that we started it without him" I rolled my eyes but chuckled because it's true. If you start watching anything Disney related, without him, he gets very annoyed for a toddler.

"It's worth a shot. I'm down for Disney" Nick rolled his eyes but smiled as he turned his attention to the tv and clicked onto Disney+, the smile on my face just grew as I cuddled up on the couch with my boys.

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