When Constellations Form (Light in the Dark 4)

I can’t believe I’m coming around to the idea, but I am. A big family is starting to seem less and less scary, and more and more like something I want too.

What is happening to me?

Jensen and Katrina check in with us after their dinner, and we let them know everything is fine. The kids are still watching the movie, and once it’s over it’s time for baths and bed.

Xander goes to start the bath while I somehow manage to get the three kids wrangled into the downstairs bathroom.

The baby, thankfully, doesn’t need to be bathed.

Since he’s taken a liking to me, I hold onto him while Xander undresses Kira and Ryland.

I sit on the closed toilet lid, bouncing a babbling Finn. He’s actually kind of cute, in a wrinkly, drooly, sort of way.

Kira climbs into the tub on her own and Xander lifts Ryland in.

Ryland immediately starts splashing water everywhere.

“Don’t do that, kid,” Xander scolds, but Ryland only giggles. “Come on, sit down. Stop kicking the water,” he pleads. “Here, you want a cup to play with?” Xander asks, grabbing a paper cup from under the sink.

Ryland takes it gladly, fills it with water, and dumps it on Xander’s head.

Xander sighs and looks over at me. I bust out laughing because he looks like a drowned rat.

“That’s a good look for you,” I snort.

“Thanks,” he mutters. “Give that back.” He takes the cup from Ryland.

Ryland plops in the water and begins to cry. “You’ve done it now,” I tell him.

He sighs. “Let’s just get you washed,” he mutters.

He washes Ryland first since he’s making the bigger mess, and once he’s clean sets him out and wraps him in a towel.

“Come on, Ryland.” I stand up and guide the little boy out of the bathroom.

We left their pajamas in the family room so I lead him there and somehow, still holding the baby, I manage to dress the two-year-old in his Batman PJs.

Katrina packed their blankets from home so I set them out and fix the couch for them to sleep since it’s bedtime for them.

Xander comes out of the bathroom with Kira a few minutes later and dresses her.

We then fix her and Ryland on separate places on the couch and read them a book together, both of us making voices for the characters, which the kids seem to like.

By some miracle, they both fall asleep quickly. I’m sure it’s because they’re exhausted from being in a strange environment.

Xander and I end up taking the baby upstairs to our room and we lie on our bed with him in-between us.

It isn’t long until little Finn falls asleep too.

“I’m going to shower,” Xander tells me. “Are you okay here?”

I nod. “I’ve got this. But it looks like you’ve already showered,” I joke, referring to the fact that he’s still slightly damp from all the water poured on him.

He pulls his damp shirt away from his chest. “The kid tried.”

He stands up and shucks his shirt, tossing it toward the basket.

I yawn, fighting my tiredness. It shouldn’t be much longer until Katrina and Jensen come to pick up the kids.