Surviving The Aftermath [Book Three]

Twenty Three

Demi

"Mommy, I don't want you to go" my heart broke a little as Ayla whined. I pulled my attention from my suitcase and glanced down at Ayla who stood beside me with her stuffed elephant 'Ellie' clutched into her chest. She has had Ellie since she was a baby.

"I know you don't, Peanut" I knelt so that I was the same height as her, my hands running along her arms as she cocked her head slightly to the side, a pout on her adorable little mouth. "But it's my job, Baby. I'll be back for your birthday though, and you'll be coming to see me next week. We'll FaceTime every day" she didn't look convinced. "I'll also be home for Halloween so we can go trick or treating" her lips ever so slightly tugged at the corners.

"I wanna be a cat."

"I'm sure we could make you the most adorable cat ever" she giggled as I stroked my fingers gently through her hair. "I love you, Peanut, okay? And even though I'm gone, I will still love you this much" I opened my arms widely, the smile on my face widening as Ayla giggled louder. "I love you so, so much, Baby, okay?" she nodded and snuggled herself into my chest. I pressed a kiss to the top of her head and locked my arms around her.

"Love you, Mommy."

"I can't believe you're going to be 4 next month. You are getting too big, Peanut" I gave her a squeeze. "You're going to be starting school before we know it" she pulled away from me and shook her head, wiping her hair out of her face.

"No, I stay home with you and Bebe forever" I cupped her chin in my hand and leant to press a peck to her lips causing her to giggle. The sound of a growling tummy cut into the air.

"Was that your tummy?" I lightly laughed as Ayla nodded her head. "Shall we go and get you some food?" she nodded again. I pushed myself to stand and lifted Ayla onto my hip. I pressed a kiss to her cheek before she dropped her head onto my shoulder. We began from the room and downstairs, we headed into the living room where Kobe was leant back against the couch with Kyra settled on his lap, her eyes on the tv. They were watching Tangled. "We have a growling tummy over here, Bebe" Kobe glanced to us and chuckled.

"You hungry, Ayla?" I lowered her to the floor as she nodded. "What about you, Little Miss?" he lightly bounced his knee and Kyra looked up at him. "You hungry, Ky?"

"I hungry, Daddy" he lightly chuckled as she focused back on the movie. Ayla climbed up onto the couch and curled into the side as her attention fell on the tv, she cuddled Ellie into her chest.

"We better get some food in these bellies then" Kyra squealed as he began to tickle her sides. "Shuffle over, Princess. Mommy and I are going to grab you guys some food, okay?" Kyra moved off Kobe's lap and dropped back against the couch, keeping her eyes locked on the tv.

"Be good. Batman you're in charge" Ayla and Kyra giggled as Kobe and I left the room. We headed into the kitchen and I lightly giggled as Kobe's hands grabbed at my waist. I turned around in his arms as he pinned me against the counter. "We're supposed to be getting food" he chuckled as he leant down to brush his lips with mine. I ran my hand along his stubble, giggling into the kiss at the way it tickled my hand. "Are you growing it back out?"

"It's going into winter; I need it to keep me warm" I rolled my eyes as he lightly chuckled.

"What should we make for dinner?" Kobe pulled away from me as I began to the refrigerator so that we could decide what to have for dinner.

-

"Arms up" Kyra giggled as I lightly poked her tummy. I pulled her top over her head as she held up her arms. "Let's get you into bed, Princess" she leant into me, her arms tight around my neck. I pressed a kiss to her forehead as I stood, lifting her onto my hip. I began into her bedroom and lowered her into her crib. I covered her over with the bedsheet as she curled onto her side. "Goodnight, Baby. I love you."

"Love you, Mommy" I switched on the nightlight and headed out of the room. I kept the door open slightly and grabbed the baby monitor off the drawers. I headed into Ayla's bedroom and smiled at the sight that I was met with because Kobe was sat on the floor by Ayla's bed, reading her a story. I crossed my arms over my chest as I leant against the doorframe, a content smile spread across my face.

"And they all lived happily ever after, the end" Ayla shuffled herself around on the bed. "Goodnight, Peanut. I love you."

"Night, Bebe. Love you" his lips twitched into a smile as he leant to press a kiss to her cheek. I found myself growing emotional, a lump rapidly forming in my throat as my heart thumped. "Night, Mommy."

"Goodnight, Peanut" Kobe pushed himself up from the floor. He switched on her nightlight and placed the book back onto the shelf. "I love you, Baby Girl."

"Love you" I stepped out of the room as Kobe headed towards me. He switched off her main light and closed the door behind him. He took my hands in his and gave me a smile as he tugged me towards the master bedroom.

"It's only 8" he lightly chuckled as he closed the door behind us and guided me towards the bed.

"I know, but I want some one-on-one time with my favourite girl before she leaves" my lips twitched into a smile but it still hurt that I had to leave my family behind.

"I don't want to leave."

"I know you don't, Baby" he stroked a strand of hair behind my ear. "But you're doing what you love. You're going on tour, Baby" no matter how much I didn't want to leave, I am insanely excited to start touring. I have missed it crazy amounts. "We'll see you next week too. And we'll FaceTime every day" Kobe was nibbling and sucking on my neck.

"I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too, DemDem" he crashed his lips to mine and I moaned into the kiss as his hands began to palm my ass. He guided me towards the bed and I lightly squealed as I fell back onto the bed, Kobe hovering over me as he began to strip me from my clothes.

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