Lucy couldn’t help but stare at the monitor and smile, knowing her eyes were wide as saucers, her mouth slightly open. Ian sat beside her, his hand wrapped around hers, his nervousness clear in the way he kept tightening his fingers around hers.

She looked over at him and saw his focus was trained on the ultrasound monitor as well. Although they didn’t know everything they were looking at, all the little parts that created their baby, they could make out the obvious things; the little body, the head and the arms, even when the ultrasound tech pointed out the spine. She watched as the baby sucked on its thumb, and she smiled, feeling her heart flutter.

Lucy looked back at the screen. For long moments they just sat there and watched their baby move around.

“It’s incredible.” Ian’s deep voice echoed throughout the small room.

“It really is,” Lucy found herself saying. At only five months pregnant she already had a decent size belly, felt her little guy or girl move around, and was already looking forward to the day when they’d meet their son or daughter.

“Would you like to know the sex of the baby?” the ultrasound tech said and glanced over at them, a smile on her face.

Lucy looked over at Ian, saw he was watching her, and smiled broadly. “Do you want to find out or do you want it to be a surprise?” Lucy hoped he wanted to know, because she hated surprises, but she’d gladly wait until the birth of their child to find out.

Ian didn’t say anything for long moments, but finally he looked over at her and leaned down and kissed her softly. “Let’s find out what we’re having.” He pulled back and cupped one side of her face, stroking his thumb along her cheek. “Yes, let’s find out,” he said to the tech.

They both looked over at the screen again, and it seemed like an eternity of silence. But Lucy could’ve watched that monitor all day, every day. Then the tech zoomed in on what they assumed were between the legs. She still didn’t know what she was looking for as she glanced between Ian and the tech, and then the screen again.

There was more clicking on the keyboard before she lifted her finger and pointed at the monitor. “Looks like you’re having a little boy.” Then she typed on her keyboard again and on the screen, right above the picture of their baby, were the words “I’m A Boy.”

Lucy grinned and felt her heart jump into her throat. She looked over at Ian and saw that he already had a big smile on his face. She didn’t care if it was a boy or a girl, and she knew Ian didn’t either. As long as the baby was happy, that’s all they cared about.

But a little boy. A little Ian. She felt tears well up in her eyes and lifted her hand to quickly wipe them away. But before she could drop her hand back down to her side Ian had it in his much bigger one and brought her fingers up to his mouth, kissing each one, taking her tears onto his tongue, lips.

“A little boy,” he whispered and closed his eyes, and she could see that he was struggling with emotion. He wasn’t the type of man to show things like that, and kept things hidden, this wall up around him. But with her he let his guard down. With Lucy he showed her exactly how he felt with his touch, with his words, with the very expression on his face.

“A little boy,” she whispered back and looked at the screen, knowing that she’d never be happier than she was right now, with Ian by her side and their baby growing inside of her.

* * *

Life had no meaning for Ian without the love of a woman and the laughter of his children filling his head. And that’s what he had, in spades.

He pulled Lucy in closer to him, buried his face in her hair, and closed his eyes as he inhaled. She smelled incredible, like warm vanilla and honey. Ian slipped his arm around her belly, feeling their third child kick. They both chuckled.

Their son Jax and daughter Molly were asleep in their rooms, and it was during this time, when the house was quiet and peaceful, that Ian reflected on his life. His family was no longer in the picture, and as angry as he was over everything they’d said and done to Lucy, he could never forgive them. It didn’t matter anyway, since they hadn’t shown any kind of interest in having them or their grandchildren in their lives.

But truth was, Ian didn’t want his kids around that negativity. He didn’t want them to be subjected to the shit he had been while growing up.

But none of that mattered, because Ian had his wife and children, and he was happy and content. Lucy had changed him so much, and then when their children came along he became an even better man, seeing the errors of his way, the fact that he’d been such an asshole all those years. He’d missed out on so much by being the person he’d been. But Lucy, his angel, his queen, had opened his eyes to love.

It was sappy as hell, but God, he loved it.

“I love you,” he whispered against her temple. She shifted, her sleepy sigh having him smile. There was nothing more important to him than the woman in his arms, his baby in her belly, and the children she’d given him. Who knew signing up for a mail order bride could have brought him his soul mate?

This was his world. They were his world.