Surviving The Aftermath [Book Three]

Twenty Five

Demi

"Mommy" I grumbled at a poking on my cheek. "Mommy. Mommy. Mommy" she spoke, repeatedly.

"Ayla" she beamed as my eyes fluttered open.

"Hi Mommy."

"Hello Peanut."

"Hi Mama" I glanced away from Ayla and down at Kyra who was hanging onto the mattress as she swung back on her heels.

"Ayla, did you help Kyra out of her crib?" she nodded, her lips formed into a wide smile. I sighed and rolled my eyes, glancing to the clock on the nightstand. "It's four in the morning, Girls."

"I no tell time yet, Mommy."

"Well, it's only 4 in the morning. So, shall we try and get some more sleep?"

"But Santa."

"The presents will still be downstairs when we wake up in at least 2 hours. Come on, let's get more sleep" Ayla climbed up onto the bed with no problem and settled herself between me and Kobe who grumbled awake. I helped Kyra onto the bed and smiled as she cuddled herself into me.

"What time is it?"

"It's 4 in the morning, Daddy" Kobe lightly chuckled as his eyes fluttered open and he ran his fingers through Ayla's hair. "I've said that we need 2 more hours of sleep before we can see if Santa's been" I pressed a kiss to Kyra's forehead.

"2 more hours does sound good" I was thankful that the girls dropped back to sleep without any further issues and I hoped that we would get the two extra hours I hoped for.

-

"You proposed to me a year ago today" I smiled over at Kobe who's arm was wrapped around me.

"I did and it's been the best year of my life since" I beamed and leant up to brush my lips to his.

"Do you want your present?"

"I didn't think we were doing presents?"

"I never said that" he lightly chuckled and I rolled my eyes as his lips twitched up into a smirk. I shoved him away as he leant to press a kiss to my lips. I pushed myself off the couch and headed towards the Christmas tree. Hidden towards the back of the tree was the bauble that Kobe got me last year that held my engagement ring. I took it off the tree and began back to him, being careful of the unwrapped presents and wrapping paper.

"Is that the bauble from last year?" I nodded. "I never saw you put it on the tree" he lightly chuckled as I smirked.

"I'm just that good" I dropped down onto the couch and held it out towards him. I watched as his eyebrows scrunched together. His eyes were clouded with confusion as they locked with mine.

"Why are you giving me this?" he took it and my stomach suddenly filled with butterflies.

"It-It's your present" his eyes narrowed slightly as they watched me before they glanced down at the bauble in his hand.

"Why have...?"

"Just open it, Kobe."

"Okay" he lightly chuckled, a hint of worry behind his chuckle. I chewed down on my lower lip and my legs nervously shook. I began to fiddle with my fingers as I watched Kobe open up the bauble. There was a silence around us for a moment. "Wait" his eyes widened slightly as they turned to look at me. "Are you pregnant?" I nibbled on my lip as I nodded. He locked his arm around me and pulled me into him. I nuzzled my face into his neck, tears threatening to pour down my cheeks. "Are-Are you seriously pregnant?" I nodded as he pulled from the hug, quickly wiping the tears from my cheeks.

"No, I used someone else's sonogram" he rolled his eyes as he cupped my face in his hands and crashed his lips to mine.

"I love you. I can't believe you're pregnant" I giggled, my heart warming as his hand moved to my stomach. I'm 8 weeks pregnant. The doctor struggled to find the heartbeat when I went for my appointment so they did an ultrasound. I placed the sonogram into the bauble and hung it up onto the Christmas tree yesterday.

"What pregnant mean?" I sniffled and wiped at my cheeks, glancing to Ayla who stood with Kyra at her side.

"It means that mommy is having a baby."

"Yay, Baby" Kyra cheered, her hands flying into the air. We laughed at her reaction.

"No baby" Ayla did not look impressed.

"Yeah, Peanut. The baby's in mommy's tummy" she shook her head. "We have a photo; do you want to see?" Kyra skipped over and Kobe pulled her onto his lap as I kept my eyes on Ayla. "Do you want a baby brother or sister, Ayla?"

"No baby brother or sister" I released a sigh and met Kobe's gaze who looked just as worried as me. She crossed her arms over her chest and suddenly looked so much older than 4.

"Why don't you want a baby brother or sister, Ayla?" she released a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes. "Hey, you do not roll your eyes at me" she pursed her lips and huffed. "Do you need to go on the naughty step?" she shook her head. "Why don't you want a baby brother or sister?"

"Cause."

"Because why?"

"Cause" I shook my head and glanced to Kobe who had Kyra settled on his lap, leant back into his chest. She was nibbling on her nails staring at Ayla who had a serious attitude.

"Where did you learn this attitude, Ayla?"

"Don't want a brother or sister" she stormed from the room and we all jumped as she slammed a door. I dropped my head into my hands and groaned, my eyes welling up with tears. Who in the hell did she learn this attitude from?

"I'll go, Babe. Kyra keep mommy company" I weakly smiled as Kyra shuffled over onto my lap and cuddled into me. Kobe leant down to press a kiss to the top of my head. Kyra had the bauble in her hand and I smiled as she held it up for me to see.

"Mommy, no cry" I pressed a kiss to her forehead, my heart melting as she wiped at my cheeks.

"You excited to be a big sister?" she nodded, widely smiling as she glanced back down at the sonogram. I sighed and pressed my lips to Kyra's temple. "Hopefully, Ayla is too, eventually."

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