“Nothing, I think I’m having more Braxton Hicks contractions.”

“Pardon?” I stand suddenly, and she grabs my arm.

“It’s okay. Sit down. It’s normal.”

“How do you know they’re not real contractions?” I question without taking a seat, and she glares at me.

“I don’t kno—oh, God.” Her eyes tighten, and I mutter a curse under my breath, scoop her up into my arms, and apologize to Maria, who is looking like she might pass out with worry.

“You are so damn stubborn,” I grumble, glaring at my wife an hour later as the anesthesiologist leaves the room, having just given Ash her epidural.

“How was I supposed to know I was going into labor weeks early?” she asks on a huff, rolling her eyes, and my jaw tics.

“I don’t know. Maybe the contractions you had been feeling all day but somehow forgot to mention to me or anyone else,” I bark, standing to pace back and forth at the end of the bed, feeling restless.

“Stop being an angry bear,” she yawns. Pulling in a breath, I move to the bed and scoot her over to lay down next to her.

“Sorry.”

“I know you are. You always act like a madman when I’m in the hospital. Trust me, I’m used to it by now.”

Ignoring her statement, I hold her against me as she falls asleep, keeping my eyes glued to the monitor next to the bed.

“I hate you so fucking much I hope your penis falls off!” Ashlyn screams as another contractions hits, and I wince from the sound and the feel of her nails digging into my hand.

“Breathe, baby,” I urge her softly as the doctor tells her to push again.

“You fucking breathe!” she cries.

I hate this. We are not having any more kids after this. No fucking way can I stand to see her in this much pain ever again.

“Ash, just one more push and she will be here,” the doctor says, and Ash bears down hard. So hard, her face turns red.

“Holy shit.” My head lightens and stars dance in front of my eyes as I watch my daughter’s head, shoulders, and then body appear.

“Someone catch him!” I hear someone shout, and I shake off the shock.

“I’m okay.” I pull in a breath, and then watch the doctor drop Destiny to Ash’s chest and wipe her off as she cries.

“You did so good, baby.” I kiss my wife’s brow, resting my hand on our little girl. “So fucking good. Look at her. She’s perfect.”

“She is perfect.” Her watery eyes meet mine, and I know in that moment I truly have everything.

Ashlyn

Waking, I roll over in bed and sigh at the sight that greets me. I don’t think I will ever tire of seeing my big, strong husband with his daughter. Sitting up carefully, as not to wake them, I smile as his big palm on her tiny diaper-covered bum holds her more protectively against his bare chest as she stirs. As I look at the two of them, I wonder what my life would have been like if I didn’t wake up married to Dillon in Vegas. I was always happy, but until him, I never knew what true happiness felt like.

“Come here.” My eyes fly to his, finding him watching me. Reaching out, he tugs me against him and settles me against his side under his arm.

“Perfect,” he whispers, and he’s right. This is perfect.

Dillon

Five years later

“Can I sleep with you and Mama?”

“No, baby, remember you’re a big girl now, big girls sleep in their own beds,” I tell my baby girl as I tuck the covers in around her, silently praying this is the time.

“I don’t want to be a big girl.”

“You want to wear nail polish and only big girls get to wear nail polish,” I remind her, watching her bottom lip pop out making her look just like her mom.

“Can I have some water?”

“You already had water,” I remind her, since we just got back from getting water three minutes ago.

“Can I go potty?” Jesus, this kid doesn’t stop.

“Do you really have to potty?” I ask and she shrugs.

“I think so.”

“Okay, come on.” I help her up and lead her across the hall to the bathroom. “All done.” She grins at me mischievously after washing her hands four times.

Jesus, I love my girl. I love her with everything I have in me. But there are times, like right now when I know her mom is in bed awake and waiting for me, that I wish I could send her away for a night or three.

“Are you ready?”

“Can I have water?”

“Sorry, no more water tonight. Tomorrow you can have more.”

“Okay, Daddy.” She holds her arms out toward me and I pick her up, feeling her heavy weight against my chest as I carry her back to bed. Tucking her back in for the tenth time since putting her to bed over an hour ago, I kiss her forehead then stand.

“Night, baby.” I head for the door then stop when her soft, sweet voice asks quietly,

“Can you read me another story?” Turning to look at her, I watch her give me the puppy dog eyes that are my kryptonite.

Sighing, I pick up a book off her desk and head back toward her, watching her smile.

It’s going to be a long damn night.

Waking with my body aching, I carefully climb out of Destiny’s tiny toddler bed, making sure not to wake her then head down the hall to mine and Ashlyn’s room. As soon as I walk through the door, I smile. The TV’s still on and Ashlyn is asleep on her side with a box of cookies against her round stomach, her hand still in the box where it obviously was when she fell asleep. Shaking my head, I carefully dislodge her hand and set the box on the bedside table before settling into bed next to her. “Wake up baby.” I kiss her ear and run my hand over her breast and stomach, then freeze as her nails run over my abs and our daughter asks,