EPILOGUE TWO

Iend the call I just spent the past hour on in my studio and lean back in my chair to look out at the sunset filtering through the large window ahead. It’s become my favorite time of day to work in here.

The warm light’s just perfect as it filters through the slats of the blinds and catches on the blank pages in front of me that are waiting to be filled. Today, I had to spend most of my work time prepping for the call I just got off of, rather than picking up my pencils and getting lost in a new sketch.

There’s a thunder of footsteps outside the door behind me and I push myself up, cradling my heavy stomach as I head out. When I open the door, Dean rushes past chasing Milo as he crawls down the hall in fits of laughter.

Dean still finds it difficult to give me my own space and spends a lot of time hovering. Honestly, I don’t mind it, it’s nice to know he’s there watching over me and our son.

“Mama!” Milo squeals as he spots me from down the hall. He pulls himself up onto his chunky, little legs and tries to run to me but before he makes it two steps he falls over and lands flat on his face. Dean’s on him in an instant, picking him up and cradling him to his chest. My heart swells with so much love I can feel it taking up my entire chest.

Dean really has been the sweetest with Milo and the beautiful bond that snapped into place not long into my pregnancy has only strengthened with each new day.

All the worries Dean had about becoming a father were quickly forgotten.

Sometimes, I notice him watching Milo and I can see him wondering if one day he’s suddenly going to be like him. Like now, Dean’s tense as he waits for Milo to start crying. The doctors have reassured him that Milo is a healthy and happy little boy. Even if he was born just like his father then we’d still love him the same but Dean knows what it’s like to live with his condition and to not wish that on his son both breaks my heart and heals it at the same time.

After a few short seconds, Milo opens his lungs and wails against Dean’s chest. “I’ve got you, little guy. Where does it hurt?”

Milo holds up his arm and sobs, “here.”

“Let me see,” Dean says as he gently takes hold of his arm and kisses it better. Milo starts to calm down then Dean pretends to bite down on his arm making him squeal in delight.

“He’s definitely got your lungs,” Dean teases.

I tickle Milo’s cheek, making him laugh even more. “Well he needs something from me since he got all your looks. It’s honestly scary sometimes like he’s a little clone of you.”

Dean searches Milo’s face like he’s looking for something but we both know it’s not there. “No, not a clone. He’s so much better than that,” Dean whispers.

“Well I think you’re both perfect.” I kiss both of them on the cheek then say, “time for bed. Do you want story time with Mama or Dada?”

“Both!” he giggles, reaching for me but Dean keeps hold of him and they run upstairs ahead of me before Milo can kick up a fuss.

“Hey!” I yell after them.

“No heavy lifting for you!” Dean calls back down and I roll my eyes again. I’m grateful to not have to carry Milo all the way up the stairs though. My back’s been constantly sore since entering the third trimester of this pregnancy and the stairs feel like an actual mountain trek each time.

I wanted to wait before having another baby but Dean is very persuasive when he wants something and I find it so hard to say no, especially when he calls me his good girl.

I get Milo’s room ready for bedtime whilst Dean bathes him, then we all cuddle up in bed. Dean grabs a book off the nightstand to read, it’s one of mine. I’ve spent the past two years drawing anything and everything that’s popped into my brain and being pregnant inspired me to work on my own series of children’s books. Dean helped me get them published. Turns out he has a lot of connections through his work and he found someone to help publish my work pretty quickly.

Dean still kills people for a living but he’s more careful with what jobs he chooses. We don’t exactly need the money. He says it’s because he doesn’t want me, Milo and the bump to ever have to worry about money but I know he still feels the need to enact some of his own justice on the world that wronged him and I don’t blame him for that. Maybe one day he’ll stop but for now it works for us. Plus it’s kind of a bonus when he comes home covered in blood and with this hungry look in his eyes. I’ve got a lot less squeamish since becoming a Mom.

Once Milo has fallen asleep, Dean helps me up and we head downstairs to tidy up. As soon as I start picking up Milo’s toys off the floor, Dean stops me. “No, you sit down. I’ll sort all this out then I’ll go run you a bath when I’m done.”

He’s too good to me, part of me wonders if he still thinks he needs to make up for the things he put me through. He really has spent every day showing me he’s sorry.

With zero grace, I lower myself to the sofa, my beachball of a stomach sending me down quicker than I intended, and I lean my head back. What feels like a few seconds later I’m being lifted into the air.

“What’s happening?” I murmur sleepily into Dean’s chest.

“You fell asleep. I think we should ask the doctor about it. You’ve been sleeping a lot lately.”

“Rude,” I say, giving him a light tap on the chest. “It’s normal to be this tired so late into the pregnancy, especially when you have an almost two year old and a giant man baby to look after.”

He smirks, raising a brow at man baby, but he knows better than to argue with me in my condition. I rest my head against his shoulder for the rest of the way upstairs, relaxing into his warm safety. It’s nice to feel so adored and looked after. Even if it is a bit extreme at times. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Dean sits me down on the edge of the bed and heads into the bathroom, I hear the taps running as he starts the bath for me. “You going to tell me how your phone call went or do I need to tease it out of you?”

He stalks back into the bedroom, his clothes long gone and his cock hard in his hand. “Tease what out of me?” I gulp as I stare at the shiny head as it leaks precome.

“My eyes are up here, baby.”

He tilts my chin up and my eyes rake over his defined stomach and chest, making my mouth practically drool. I blame it on the hormones. “Hmm?”

“Your phone call.”

“Oh.” I snap back to reality and a wide grin spreads on my face. My call earlier was to an animation studio on the other side of the country. I wasn’t going to apply for a job with them since it would mean moving our entire lives but Dean said I should go for it. Still, I ended up putting it off until I saw a position to work for them remotely and I leapt at the chance. It felt like a sign telling me that I really am right where I need to be.

“They loved my work and are happy for me to work from home for their next project.”

“Shit, Willow, that’s amazing! I knew they’d want you, who wouldn’t?” His fingers stroke up my cheek and end up roughly tugging my hair. “How do you want to celebrate?”

My eyes trail back down to his cock and I open my mouth ready to accept my prize.

“Good girl.”