Over the last six months, Lex and I have grown into so much more than just a couple of kids who fell in love. We were broken together and we were each pieced back together, slowly but surely.

Her parents welcome me into their house, their family, their world. I am no longer the troubled kid in town; I’m not the child of the mistress either. Finally, they see me for what I am. Just me. Just a guy who is in love with their daughter, who will do anything to protect her.

My mom and I, we keep in touch. We meet once a month to have a meal together and we talk on the phone often. My father, on the other hand, I haven’t heard from. Lex’s parents say his drinking has only gotten worse. He’s been arrested several times for being drunk and disorderly and even managed to land himself in the hospital to have his stomach pumped a few times. If he’s trying to kill himself, it sounds like he’s doing a damn good job. I refuse to fight him anymore. I’ve done that most of my life and I’m tired of living that way.

Pops is doing as well as ever. He’s still as sharp as a tack and runs his diner the way he always has: complete chaos. Every weekend I go in there, he’s pouring coffee behind the counter with the radio on, listening to the local police.

Speaking of local police, Barney finally retired. The station even rewarded him with a new police cruiser, minus the police lights. It’s the exact same as the one they found at the bottom of the lake when they drained it.

I grab the broken-down boxes and carry them up the stairs and into our apartment.

I let myself in and set them down on the counter, next to the stack of boxes that are full of dishes.

“Lex, I’m home,” I yell out.

“I’m in the shower!”

I feel my smile spread across my face as I walk toward the bathroom, stripping clothes off as I go.

Behind the bathroom door, I’m greeted with steam and the view of Lex’s backside on the other side of the shower glass.

I step in behind her and place my hands on her growing belly. “How was your day?”

“Good. I have most of the kitchen packed up. Did you get more boxes?”

I nod and place a kiss on her shoulder.

“I will be so glad to get out of this cramped apartment. I can’t wait to start putting the nursery together.”

“I can’t either.” I fall to my knees and place kisses to her swollen stomach. The baby kicks me and I smile while looking up at Lex.

“He’s been active all day long. I think he’s missed you.” She runs her fingers through my hair.

“I missed you both,” I say against her skin as I shower her stomach with kisses, before letting my lips go lower.

She leans her head back while I have her pinned to the shower wall with my head between her thighs.

Her fingers tangle into my hair, pulling me closer as her gasps fill the room. When her moans have quieted, I turn her around and position myself at her entrance.

* * *

“Don’t be lifting that, it’s too heavy,” I tell her as we move boxes down to my truck.

“Okay, I’m sorry. I just feel useless watching you and the guys move everything.”

“Why don’t you call Hannah and go have some lunch or something?”

“She’s working at the store today. Surely, I can carry this one, right?”

The box she’s holding has nothing in it but pillows. “No, I don’t want you falling down the stairs because you can’t see over the box. Just let us take care of it, please.”

Her shoulders fall. “Fine. I’ll be over here, lounging on the couch and reading a magazine if you need me.”

* * *

We load up in the truck and stop in front of our new house. It’s a two-story brick home. There are blue shutters and a white picket fence around the front yard with a privacy fence in the back. There is a front porch and an attached two car garage. It reminds me of the perfect home that I never in a million years thought I would live in, much less with Lex and our growing family.

Before we start loading our stuff inside, we pose in front of the sold sign to take a picture.

* * *

The guys and I have managed to get everything moved in and we even brought in everything necessary to spend our first night in our new house.

Our bed isn’t set up yet, so it’s just the mattress lying on the floor, but neither of us care. I flop down into bed next to her and bring her into my arms.

“Did you ever think we would end up here?” I ask her, covering her with kisses.

“Never in a million years,” she answers, leaning her head back against my bare chest.

She’s holding her growing stomach in her hands and softly rubbing it. Noticing the action, I can’t help but do the same. I’m beyond excited to meet this little guy.

When I found out that Lex miscarried the first time, it broke my heart. Not only because she went through it all alone, but because I missed the baby I never got to meet. Getting another shot fills me with joy. I know, beyond a doubt, that I already love this little baby. I would give up my life to protect him.

“We still need to think of a name for this little guy,” I say as I roll us over so I can lie on my stomach to press kisses to her belly.

I pull her shirt up, exposing her stomach, and give it a kiss.

“How about Steven?”

I laugh. “No way.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know, it just doesn’t sound right. It needs to be special. We’ve overcome all odds - from the way we grew up, to meeting six years later, to getting everything out in the open and finally being able to be together. We need something strong, something bold.”

She runs her fingers through my hair as she meets my eyes. “What do you suggest then?”

I think it over for a minute. “How about Zander?”

She thinks it over. “Zander Murphy, I like it.” She smiles down on me and I slowly move up her body.

“When do you think you will take the same last name?” I slowly place kisses up her stomach, over her chest, and up her neck until I get to her lips.

She kisses me softly and pulls away. “I don’t know, Striker. You know how I feel about marriage.”

After seeing our parents’ marriages, Lex never was one to dream about her wedding day. I personally never gave it thought either way. As long as I had her, I was happy. But with a baby on the way and us buying our first house, the thought has been plaguing my mind. I want her as my wife.

“We’re nothing like them,” I remind her.

“I know, it’s just hard when I’ve brainwashed myself into hating marriage, you know?” She’s looking at her hands, watching her fingers twist together.

“Look at me.”

It takes her a minute, but finally her brilliant blue eyes lock on mine. They are clouded with confusion.

“I love you. I will do anything to keep you happy for the rest of your life.” I take her hands in mine. “I want to know for the rest of my life that you will be mine and only mine. I want you in this bed, in my arms, and in my heart as my wife.”

Her lips turn up just a bit. “But what if I don’t make a good wife? I don’t even know how to do this whole relationship thing very well to begin with.”

I let out a small laugh. “And I do?” I roll us over so she’s on top of me. “We will figure it out together, just like we always have. It’s you and me, and now this little baby. Will you please put me out of my misery and be my wife?”

“Striker,” she breathes out, closing her eyes.

“Lex,” I say forcefully. “You know I will never back down. I spent six years of my life looking for you and this time I don’t have to look. I know right where you are. It will be a whole lot easier to get to you this way.” I smile with my threat.

She laughs, breaking the tension. “Okay, I’ll marry you, but can we just be engaged for a while?”

I sit up with her on my lap and place my hands on either side of her face. “Yes,” I answer with a smile. I press my lips to hers and feel all the love I have for her, the love that hasn’t faded a bit despite everything. She’s finally mine with nothing between us.

I pull her shirt away and roll us back over, holding myself off of her as my lips travel down her body. When I reach her panties, I sit back to pull them away. I let my eyes fall over her; she’s absolutely gorgeous, radiating love and happiness. Her breasts have almost doubled in size with her pregnancy and they are sensitive to the touch. Before I can even reach for them, they perk up with anticipation. I suck her hard nipple into my mouth and flick my tongue against it.

My dick presses against her folds, threatening to slide into her wetness before I am ready. She wiggles her hips against me, trying to slide onto me, but I pull back and look at her. “Why are you in such a hurry? I want to take my time with you.”

I allow myself to slide against her again and the feeling shoots chills down my back. I want nothing more than to bury myself in her, but not yet. I want her shaking with need for me like I always am for her.

I rub against her while my lips trail kisses across her body. Her nails dig into my back while she tries pulling me into her. Finally, I stop resisting. I allow myself to slide deep inside. Just her heat and pressure wrapped around me make me want to go off, but I refrain. I grab her thighs and hitch them higher while slowly moving in and out of her.

I thrust in, roll my hips, and slide out slowly. I repeat the process, moving slowly but precisely. I can feel her tightening around me, preparing for her release. I can feel mine building as well, threatening to spill over.

I hold it back a little while longer. I don’t want to quit, I don’t want to leave her warmth. I want to stay inside her forever. With one last roll of my hips, we both find our release together. Her nails dig further into my skin and scratch down my back. Her legs tighten around me as every muscle inside of me tenses when I shatter inside of her.

When I pull away, we’re both spent. I lie by her side and hold her close as both our hearts and breathing return to normal.

I don’t know how my life would’ve turned out if I never would have turned on the radio in Pops’ diner that day, but I know I would be lost right now if it wasn’t for her.

She was my everything.

She always had been.

Now and then, it’s always been her and me.

Forever.