Forever (Always & Forever 2)

“I know. I feel the same way. Are you ready?” he asked, placing one bottle on Landon’s rocking chair and the other by his.

Landon’s gaze widened as he asked anxiously, “Can’t you do it and let me watch you again, so I get it right? You’re a doctor—”

“Babe, you can’t be scared to hold your own baby. This is our bonding time. Come sit down.”

Kane, just a little over five pounds, began to squirm in earnest. He loved bottle time and didn’t like to stop eating for the burp. Kane made Landon the most nervous with all his kicking and stretching. The little guy was a very active baby.

Robert carefully picked up Kennedy. When he went to place her in Landon’s arms, his mister rubbed his hands together, warming them as he took his seat. The exchange went normally with Landon extremely careful while taking her in his arms. Once Landon was comfortable with her there, he tucked the blanket around her and reached for the bottle.

Kane broke the sweet moment with his soft newborn-baby cry, which made Kennedy stir and Landon stiffen in his seat.

“Relax, Papa.” He cupped Landon’s shoulder, caressing a path to his jaw, making him look up at him. “If you’re tense, then she’ll be tense.” A phrase he’d uttered every feeding since their babies had been born two weeks ago.

“I’m glad they’re home,” Landon said and rolled his shoulders. “They didn’t have to stay in neonatal as long as I thought. You hired that nurse to come here with me during the day, right?”

Robert only nodded. Landon knew the answer to his question. He’d been there when they’d set her schedule to match Landon’s. Landon claimed those times with the registered nurse were designed to be his tutorials, even though they’d taken all the birthing and parenting classes they could before Kane and Kennedy’s arrival. Robert hoped his protective papa bear learned to manage his nerves before the children got too much older.

“They’re so beautiful, Robert.” Landon carefully put the nipple in Kennedy’s mouth then monitored each move Robert made with Kane until he sat in the rocking chair next to Landon. He quickly placed the nipple at Kane’s moving lips. Kane aggressively took the bottle into his mouth and sucked the breastmilk down.

“He’s funny how he does that. I bet he’s gonna love food all his life,” Landon said, still focused on every single move their babies made, so much tenderness in his dark eyes.

“I think so too.” He placed the bib under Kane’s chin to pick up any stray dribbles. Landon mimicked his move with Kennedy. Robert’s heart was so full of love and blissful happiness as he drank in the moment. His father’s words echoed softly in his head. He’d taken the chance—dared to fly—and now the always and forever he’d only dreamed of became complete with his family at his side.

He darkened the room by remote control. This had become his favorite time of the day. When his family settled in together like this—the sound of the chairs on the bare wood floor, rocking back and forth, along with the soft music filling the room. Nothing could ever be sweeter than sharing this with the love of his life. He watched Landon’s profile in the gentle dance of the flames as the snow fell quietly just beyond the large glass window. Yes, he had been blessed beyond measure.

The End