My hands were shaking, my heart was thundering, and all I could think about where the what-ifs, the fact that this might not be the best for Deacon.

I’d finished my schooling, was even interning in my profession. This little bomb was certainly a surprise, and whether it was a good one or bad one for Deacon would be revealed very soon. When I couldn’t sit on the couch any longer, I stood and started pacing. I stared at the things Deacon and I had collected for our home over the last two years, the things I’d brought from my home, the things he’d already had here. We complemented each other, fit perfectly together, yet I was still worried.

I stared down at my engagement ring. He’d asked me for my hand in marriage a year ago, but we both decided waiting until I was done with school was the best option. But now here I was, carrying our unborn baby, the positive pregnancy stick staring at me from the coffee table.

When I looked at the clock, the time seemed to stand still. I made my way into the kitchen, staring out the window above the sink, and saw a flash of something in the distance. Deacon’s SUV came down the road, pulled into our driveway, and for long seconds I felt myself frozen. I knew he loved me, so much that he told me it hurt his chest. That always had this tingling taking root in my entire body, told me I was the luckiest girl in the world.

I watched as he climbed out of his vehicle, his big body appearing dirty in the best of ways, looking like he worked hard for a living, did manly things. When I heard the front door open, I closed my eyes and breathed out. He called for me, but I was almost in a trance in that moment. And when several long minutes passed, I snapped my eyes open. He would be looking for me in the living room, and I’d left the pregnancy test on the coffee table.

I made my way out of the kitchen and into the living room and stopped, not able to move, not able to breathe. Deacon had his back to me, standing in front of the coffee table, and from the position he was in I could see the pregnancy stick in his hand. My throat tightened, my mouth went dry, and panic settled in. This certainly wasn’t how I’d wanted him to find out.

“Hey.” I was trying to be calm, trying not to seem like I was freaking out, but the truth was I was so over being tense that I wouldn’t be surprised if everything in me snapped. He turned around slowly, his expression neutral, as it always seemed to be. He still held the test, maybe waiting for me to say something, but the truth was I didn’t know what to say in that moment. “I didn’t want you to see the test on the table and find out that way,” I finally managed to say.

Making my way into the room again, I stared at him, trying to judge what he was thinking or feeling. “I know we’ve been together for two years, and I’m done with school, but we’ve never actually spoken about a family. This is probably scaring the shit out of you.” It is me.

“You’re pregnant,” he said, no expression covering his face. Was he in shock? It would seem appropriate, but I hated not knowing what he was feeling.

All I could do was nod, even though he hadn’t phrased it like a question. For long seconds we didn’t speak, didn’t even move. The air was thick, I felt tense, and sweat beaded the valley between my breasts. What would he say? How would he feel about all of this?

And then he grinned down at me, his straight white teeth flashing, his pleasure and happiness clear. I felt the tension leave me and knew that things would be okay with just that one look. Before I knew what was happening, he had the pregnancy test back on the table and had me in his arms seconds later.

He held me for a long time, but that was okay, because being in Deacon’s arms always felt like being home.

“You’re okay with this?” I finally asked, knowing that although he seemed happy, I needed him to say the words. He pulled back, not saying anything, and instead kissed me. The kiss was gentle, loving. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead on mine, both of us breathing the same air, feeling the same things.

“I’m more than okay with this. I’m fucking ecstatic.” He pulled back then. “I should probably start getting used to watching my mouth.” He grinned, and my heart melted.

I cupped his cheeks, smiling in return. “I kind of like you swearing. It turns me on.”

He chuckled and kissed me again. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding on to him, letting him carry my weight, give me love in the gruff way he always did. He set me down after a long moment, my lips pleasantly sore and wet from his. Before I could react or even have time to see what he was doing, Deacon was on his haunches in front of me. He pushed up my shirt, placed a kiss on my belly, and started murmuring soft things. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but the pitch of his voice told me they were sweet.

“All I want is for you to be happy,” he said and looked up at me. “All I want is for you to always be in my life.”

I reached down and smoothed my hands over his short, dark hair. “With you I am happy. With you I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

He stood and pulled me into an embrace. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes, knowing everything would be okay.

“There’s nothing in this world that could ever make me happy except you and the little person you’re growing.” He pulled away and kissed me. “And I’ll prove to you, show you what a good husband and father I can be.”

All I could do was smile. I was choked up with emotion, feeling foolish for even thinking Deacon would be upset over this. I was angry with myself that I let my panic outweigh the good he made me feel.

“You think we can do this?” He had his hand in my hair, stroking the strands, making me feel like I was the only person in this world that he saw.

Because I am. He shows me that each and every day.

“I think we’ll be the best parents.” I looked up at him. “You and I can do anything, and this little piece of both of us growing in me is proof that the world can be beautiful, that we are beautiful together.” My words were sappy as hell, but I wasn’t the gruff one. And Deacon might be manly in all ways, but for only me he showed his softer side. “I love you.”

The smile he gave me had my heart skipping a beat. “It’s only you for me, baby. Only you.”

And I knew that as much as I knew the sun would rise each and every day.

* * *

“You’re daddy’s girl, aren’t you?” I kissed Abigail on the forehead, the scent of her sweet and innocent. She’d already fallen asleep, her little toddler body curled against me, the fact that she was safe, that she’d always be that way, filling me with joy.

“You already have her wrapped around your finger,” Maddie said from the kitchen, the smile in her voice evident. I heard her coming into the living room and turned to see her smile wide, the love in her eyes making me feel pretty fucking incredible.

She sat on the couch beside me, staring at Abigail in my arms. “She looks good there,” she whispered. I looked down at my hands, still stained and calloused from blacksmithing, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Providing for my girls was the best feeling in the world.

I saw Maddie shift, and heard this slight sound come from her right before she placed her hand on her rounded belly. “You good, baby?” Worry slammed into me. She turned and faced me, nodding.

“Yeah. This little boy is just doing somersaults today.” She chuckled softly, and I relaxed. I was careful of not waking Abigail as I moved my hand out from under her and placed it on Maddie’s belly. My wife had already given me one beautiful, strong daughter, and in a few short months she’d give me a son.

“I love you,” I said, not able to stop myself. I told her each and every day what she meant to me, and would continue doing that until the day I died. I pulled her in close, loving that she rested her head on my shoulder.

“I love you, too,” she said and reached out to smooth her fingers through Abigail’s dark hair.

This was my life, and would be until the day I died. And what an incredible fucking life it was.