Chapter 15

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ERIS

Two months later…

Could life get any sweeter?Eris thought silently to herself as they got out of the car, seeing the fire engine backing into the massive garage. Zane was climbing all over the passenger side front seat since they were parked under a tree in the shade – and she was sincerely glad she'd put the cooler in the back floorboard.

"Look at Daddy!" he was calling out, waving happily… and wearing a bright red cap that had a fire truck on it. "Dere's my Daddy! Mama, you see him?"

"I see him, sweetie."

And oh, did she!

Colton was walking across the parking lot toward the car and had never looked sexier. He had this self-confident swagger as he moved, slowly unbuttoning his protective gear and exposing the sweaty T-shirt beneath it as he pulled off his hat. His beloved face was streaked with soot and sweat, but that smile was everything.

"Hey babe… I wasn't expecting this treat," Colton grinned. "Zane, come give Daddy a big ol' sweaty hug."

"What about Mama?" she invited, huskily and saw his eyes darken.

"Oh, I'll take care of Mama… don't you worry about that."

"Promises, promises," she whispered, taunting him before stretching up to kiss him softly.

"I absolutely promise," he murmured, nipping at her lip tenderly. "One more day of this – and don't you get out of bed in the morning."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, I'll bring home donuts… and bring you coffee in bed."

"Something else too?"

"You know it," he chuckled, putting his hand in her hair. He pulled her to him, kissing her deeply – only to feel a little hand on her forehead, pushing her away. She opened her eyes in surprise, and saw Colton's look mirrored her own. Zane had put a hand on each of their foreheads, pushing them apart, and was making a face.

"Das' weird," Zane grimaced. "My daddy licked you."

"Oh mercy, son… you don't know the half of it."

"Colton!" she gasped, shocked, and looked behind him to make sure the other firefighters didn't hear their exchange.

"What?"

"Don't say things like that."

"Well, they're true," he laughed easily as she rolled her eyes.

"Doesn't matter. You don't say it in polite company."

"My son has called me his "idiot donkey" several times… I think we're good – besides – we both know I'd yell it to the rooftops if I knew it wouldn't make you mad or embarrassed."

"True…" she chuckled nervously, hugging him. "I brought you and the boys dinner. I made a massive container of spaghetti and meatballs – and stopped to get some French bread for you all, too."

"Oh man, that sounds so good, and we are starving."

"It's in the cooler in the back, so it stayed hot."

Colton set Zane down and walked around the car, opening the passenger side rear door pulled out the cooler, and hesitated.

His eyes shot up to meet hers.

"Is that what I think it is?" he said hoarsely.

"Oh, I don't know…" she replied in a sing-song voice, teasing him – only to hear him shout in excitement.

"Eris! Are you pregnant?! There's a pregnancy test on the floorboard of the car in a Ziploc baggie – and if you aren't, then we need to talk about who is doing what in our car!"

"The car, the bathroom, the bedroom, the kitchen…" she taunted – and yelped happily as he put down the cooler and came racing around the car, hugging her wildly.

"Zane – I'm kissing Mom!" he blurted out – and then kissed her passionately, laughing for a moment, as he plucked Zane out of her arms. They separated, but for just a moment as Colton looked back toward the firehouse.

"Justin, can you watch my boy? I'll be right in with dinner that Eris brought…" and she started to call out, but Zane was already halfway across the parking lot to the man who was kneeling with his arms splayed wide. Justin, Colton's captain, scooped up the little boy, taking him to go play on the fire truck only a split second before Colton kissed and hugged her once again.

"We're gonna have another baby?"

"Yes," she said happily, tears of joy stinging her eyes. "I had an appointment this morning to confirm it, but yes – we are pregnant."

"Oh man," he whispered, his own eyes shining. "I love you."

Eris swallowed, feeling such bittersweet feelings deep inside because this was how it should have been last time, and it wasn't. He was so happy, so enthusiastic, and so ready for all of this – but she understood. Last time they had fumbled in their relationship so badly… that time had a way of correcting things. Instead of a singular moment that ended in a rush of mistakes, it was like things fell into place because it was time.

She never regretted Zane, and he was a treasure… but this was different.

This time, she had married the man she loved. They were building a life, home, and family together because they were mature enough to handle the consequences.

"I love you."

"Never doubt it," he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers as they stood there together, not moving… only to be interrupted by a voice in the distance.

"Hey! I've got a little tyrant in here that is telling me to be patient because dinner is on the way…" She heard Colton's laugh right as she looked over to see Alec coming across the parking lot.

"No, no… carry on, you two," Alec grinned, scooping up the cooler that waited on the asphalt nearby. "I'm here for the food and because Lance is currently eating a ketchup packet while complaining about his tummy growling. Just a head-up, your kid thinks it's hysterical – so if you have any packets of hot mustard, relish, ketchup, or any other condiments in a drawer at the house, I'd trash them."

"Thank you," she chuckled nervously, as Colton's hand slipped into hers, pulling her forward. The moment they were inside the station, chaos erupted.

"FOOOOOOOD!"

"Oh, thank heavens… you are disgusting, Lance."

"You love me – and we both know it."

"I wuv you, Mr. Fireman," Zane volunteered, hugging Lance's arm. The other firefighter grinned and pointed at the unexpected ‘fan' he'd gained.

"See? The boy's got excellent taste."

"He wants to see you suck down another packet of ketchup, dummy."

"Ugh…"

"My wife is pregnant," Colton bragged happily. "Zane's going to have a little brother or sister…"

"Brother," Zane said distractedly, putting in his request as if he had a choice in the matter… while handing Lance a packet of ketchup. "Here you go!"

"I got you, little man…"

"Nobody look. That's an old packet."

"Ugh…"

"Colton," Eris whispered in alarm, feeling her stomach turn as the other man held aloft the packet of ketchup, getting ready to squirt it in his mouth. Zane was already laughing and clapping his hands in delight – and bless him, Colton snatched the packet from the other man without a second's hesitation.

"Nope," he said bluntly, looking at their surprised faces. "We got treated to dinner – and I'm not about to make the hottest chef in the county vomit because you think it's funny. If you want to eat three-year-old ketchup packets, then no spaghetti for you, and you can both go eat in the garage."

"Dang, the dude is serious ‘Dad material' – isn't he?"

"Is it wrong that it's hot?"

"You're a guy."

"So, I can appreciate life goals…"

"Your life goals are to be a dad and grumpy?"

"I see your point," Alec shrugged – and then winked. "You mentioned spaghetti… have I told you my Nonna is Italian on my father's side."

"Beckett isn't Italian, ya' big dummy…"

"Neither is Cortes."

"I never claimed to be Italian!"

"Yeah, ya big dummy," Zane chimed in happily, grinning and curling his nose happily, just one of the guys. "But my junk is, ya' idj-ut…"

Justin, Chad, Lance, Alec, Colton, and Eris all looked at each other – shocked to the core before Lance started roaring with laughter. "His ‘junk' is Italian?? And bragging about it at three years old? That's my bro! He's got you pegged, Alec. Ya' big idiot! Oh-em-gee, I love your kiddo, Colton. Can he like be an honorary member of the team or a mascot?"

"I'm gonna poop in your boots, Cortes," Alec growled and looked at Zane, pointing to get his point across. "Little boys don't say ‘idiot,' young man."

"And big boys use the potty… or go pee on the flowers," Zane replied, unphased, as Alec's mouth dropped open in shock right before he burst out laughing.

"Where does he get this stuff?"

Colton and Eris looked at each other – and she covered her face. This was getting wildly out of hand— fast.

"Oh my gosh," Justin chuckled, holding up his fist and bumping knuckles with Chad, who was trying not to laugh. "Little man, gimme some skin… here, put your fist up and bump my hand. That's how we roll on the team, Zane."

"Mrs. Fischer…"

"Please call me Eris," she replied immediately and saw several faces smile at once as Chad lifted the cooler onto the table.

"Welcome to our family – and our team," Justin nodded, smiling. "We're just about as dysfunctional as any other one, and I'm proud to say that each team may have its quirks, but we are all where we're supposed to be."

"I knew Austin wasn't right in the head…" Lance and Alec high-fived each other over the table.

"But he had it in spades when it comes to his heart," Justin corrected. "Just like any of you. We're different but in the line of duty…"

"We're family, devoted to each other," Colton finished for the other man, and Eris saw Justin's proud smile.

"Exactly, brother. We are family and congratulations, you two."

"Maybe we should all crash Chad's place and make him barbecue since he was bragging about that new pellet grill."

"I'll do it," Chad volunteered. "Trust me, you don't have to beg… I love that new grill and cook every chance I get."

"We can bring over our wives, Colton."

"And me?" Zane chimed in – and Lance immediately ruffled the little boy's hair, grinning at him.

"Maybe I could manage to bring a date, too."

"You?" Alec grinned. "You have to adopt the puppies, not date them."

"Har har har," Lance said grimly. "I've got someone in mind – and we all know that you'll be the one struggling to bring a date over."

"Nuh-uh… I've got chicks just waiting to go out with me."

"Oh boy," Colton chuckled, grinning at Eris. "I promise I wasn't this bad."

"I already knew that," she smiled tenderly and rubbed her foot along his leg – only to feel him reach down and grab her by the heel. For a moment, she made a face, expecting him to tickle her foot, only for him to give her a soft, sweet, sentimental smile.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too…"

"Again? Yucky," Zane blurted out, putting his head down on his fists, frowning at them. Lance patted him on the back and whispered something to him, causing the little boy to perk up.

"I wike that!"

"Uh oh…" Colton began.

"Nahhh, it's no biggie," Lance grinned. "I just told him that we'll go look around at the truck and the ambulance."

"Weee-woo mobile!" Zane exclaimed, clapping his hands. "We're gonna make it go weeeee woooooo!"

Eris smiled nervously at Colton, who was still holding her foot under the table, caressing the instep, and she could practically read his mind.

"You really don't mind having two little ones… do you?"

"I'm thrilled and cannot wait," he smiled.