Mess Me Up (Bear Bottom Guardians MC 1)

My guess was Castiel, but there really was no telling.

The light was piercing, and my headache was damn near debilitating, but I opened my mouth anyway.

But Rome’s beautiful face, only inches away from our baby’s tiny perfect one, was too lovely not to look at.

Fuck the way my head felt like it was about to break in half.

I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t have this stunning memory to remember for the rest of my life.

“Rome.”

Rome’s head snapped up, and that was when I saw the beautiful pink bow on top of our baby’s head.

“It’s a girl.” He stood up and walked to me.

Tears started leaking out of my eyes.

“What are we naming her, darlin’?” he challenged, placing my daughter in my arms.

I couldn’t breathe, let alone think.

Yet this was something I instinctively knew.

We were naming our baby after one of her brother’s favorite movies.

“We’ll name her Astrid, after the dragon rider off of How to Train Your Dragon,” I told him.

And that was about when I saw a grown man cry.

Tyler, who appeared from the alcove by the door, walked up to us and threw his arm around Rome.

“Well, buddy…” Tyler drawled. “Looks like you got your happy.”

Nobody replied, but he got part of that statement correct.

Rome did, indeed, get some of his happy. The rest of it was in heaven, with my little girl who had never lived a single day, and Rome’s son, who had lived only fifteen hundred and eighty-seven days.

***

The first week at home was nothing short of terrifying.

Everything alarmed us. The sound of her breathing, the way she slept for such long hours, and the way she’d make these little noises when she breathed.

But one thing that didn’t worry me when it came to that little girl?

The way her father loved her so freakin’ much.

All it took was one look, and Astrid had found her hero. Rome never put her down. Never wanted her more than a few inches away from him. And forget her learning to sleep in her own bed. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a bed in our room, right next to our bed, forever.

“This is Blitz,” I heard Rome say.

My eyes, which had felt like they’d fallen closed only moments before instead of an entire two hours—this mommying thing was hard work!—opened. The first thing I saw was Rome holding Astrid like a football in the crook of his arm. He was standing in front of Blitz’s new tricked out cage in the middle of our living room.

Astrid, eyes open for once, was staring at Rome and not Blitz.

I didn’t blame her one bit. I’d stare at Rome, too.

“And this is Toothless,” Rome continued, picking up the stuffed dragon that had been Matias’ pride and joy. “I think Matias would like for you to have him.”

***

Rome

3 ½ Years Later

“Did you read my card?” Izzy eyed me.

I felt my lips twitching. “Yeah.”

“Did you put her up to it?” I continued.

He shook his head. “I only wrote what she wanted me to say.”

She glared.

“She did not come up with that on her own.” She snorted.

“She really did. She said, and I quote, ‘Daddy, write down my exact words. Don’t change them.’” I looked at her. “So, when she said to write ‘Mother’s day would not be possible without me, buy me a present instead,’ I only did what I was told.”

She started to giggle, and I threw my arm around her shoulder. “She’s only three and a half, yet she acts like she’s an adult. Swear to God, this kid is even more adult than me…should we be worried that she’s so advanced for her age?”

I shrugged.

“I always thought Matias was smart because he was forced to do nothing, and the only way to keep him entertained was to do something to stimulate his brain with him. But, maybe I just make smart babies.”

Izzy rolled her eyes. “Oh, there he is!”

She started to waddle toward the opening gates, determination in her every step.

Then her brother saw her, grinned widely, and swept her carefully up into his arms.

Her feet left the concrete for a brief half a second, then he was putting her down to gather her more comfortably in his arms.

Izzy was eight months pregnant with our second child, and despite what everyone else thought, no she was not about to pop.

At least she better not be.

We needed that baby to cook a little longer.

When Astrid had decided to come three weeks early, neither her mother nor I had been prepared.

Now, we were even less prepared seeing as we had a toddler who was hell on wheels and demanded quite a bit of our time and energy. Though, we were about to gain a live-in babysitter any time we needed it thanks to Slate being released from jail.

Originally, the plan had been for him to go home, but unfortunately, his release came with strings attached in the form of an ankle bracelet and house arrest for eight months. Which meant he’d be pretty isolated living alone, so until the time came that he could be able to come and go as he pleased, he was staying with us.