46.3 Alexander

"She just woke," he murmured, walking towards me, and I smiled, ruffling his hair, which earned me a glare in return. But I grinned, and he rolled his eyes with a smile.

"Thanks! Have you eaten yet?" I asked, and he shook his head. "Then why are you waiting? Go ahead and grab something." I nodded towards the tent, and he bit his lip before nodding and walking towards it. "Let's all eat."

Soon enough, the evening went from tense to relaxed, and everyone sat around laughing and joking with each other, while Kat, Hayden, Savannah, and I sat together on the deck, with the others scattered around.

"Are you enjoying the night?" I asked Hayden, who nodded.

"As much as I can with my parents constantly looking over here," he mumbled, and I could tell he just wanted to go and hide in his room to get away from his nagging parents.

"Just ignore them like you've been doing the whole time," Kat said as she fed Savannah her bottle. He just nodded, focusing on the book he was reading.

"I have something for you," Kat said, looking at Hayden, who looked up from his book with a raised brow, making her smile. She leaned over, grabbed a small wrapped box, and handed it to him. "Go on, open it." He set the book on the table and ripped the wrapping off before gasping when he saw a bracelet with little paintbrushes, palettes, and other artsy charms dangling from it.

"Kat, I—wow. Thank you, sissy," he whispered with a wide smile.

"No problem, H. I know you said you didn't want any ring for your birthday, but you know me. I always end up doing just that," she said, and he smiled.

"I forgot that today was not only Father's Day but also your birthday," I said, glancing over at him.

"You don't have to get me anything."

"I know, but I'm still getting you something. But that will have to wait until tomorrow," I said, and he huffed.

"Thank you—seriously—for everything," he said.

"What are siblings for?" Kat asked, and Hayden smiled.

"To support you and help you through all the good and the bad."

"Damn right." We were startled by David's voice and saw him walk up the small steps before sitting beside Hayden and also handing him a gift, which had the youngest Montgomery sighing.

Soon enough, everyone began to leave the house, with Liam and Addison as the only ones left behind.

"Hayden," Liam said, gaining his attention. "A word, please."

"Can't it wait until tomorrow?" he asked. "I have homework I need to get back to."

"That can wait until tomorrow," Liam replied.

"Dad, don't start," Kat said, stepping in. "Go on, Hayden."

"Don't you dare move, Hayden," Liam warned.

"You can speak with him tomorrow, Liam," I stated, also stepping in, holding a sleeping, soon-to-be one-year-old. "He needs to get back to his homework."

"He's been ignoring his mother and me the entire night, and we want to talk with him now," he said.

"And we're telling you that you can speak with him tomorrow when you're all well-rested," I commented. I could see him debating in his head, and just when he was about to say something in reply, his wife walked over, telling him that Kat and I were right about getting some sleep and that they could return tomorrow to speak with Hayden, who had already gone to his room.

"Alright," Liam finally relented, which had Kat and me sighing in relief at not having to argue with him all night. We bid him and Addison goodnight before I locked the door behind them. Once I watched Liam drive away, I put on the alarm before joining Kat and Savannah at the stairs.

"Come on, let's go get some sleep because I have a feeling we'll be waking up early tomorrow," I murmured, and she nodded. We made our way upstairs and into Savannah's nursery, laying her down in her crib before walking down the hall to check on Hayden, who had his headphones on and was typing away on his computer with his school books surrounding him.

"Don't stay up too late," I said when he looked over to us, and he nodded. "Get some sleep."

"I will. Night!"

"Goodnight."

Once in our room, I froze, seeing a gift in the middle of the bed with blue balloons attached to the handles. When the hell did that happen? When did she even have time to put it on the bed?

"Babe? What's this?" I asked, walking over to the bed. I looked up at Kat, who was biting her bottom lip.

"Open it," she said. I raised a brow but did as told, untied the balloons, and looked inside, freezing with my eyes wide open.

"Babe," I murmured, taking out the familiar white stick, ultrasound, and onesie before looking up at her as she fiddled with her fingers. "Is this what I think it is?"

She nodded, and I felt my eyes sting as I looked at the items in my hands before dropping them on the end of the bed. I walked over to her, kneeling down in front of her, and lifted her shirt to reveal her small bump. How the hell did I not notice before?

"Hi, baby," I whispered to her belly, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I can't wait to meet you." I felt Kat's fingers run through my hair as I looked up. "Another baby."

"Another baby," she replied with a smile as tears rolled down her cheeks. I stood back up, cupped her cheeks, and pressed a kiss to her lips as her hands held me by the waist.

"Thank you," I whispered. "Thank you for choosing me to go through this wild ride with, for loving me, and for everything."

"Thank you for always choosing me, us," she murmured, and I smiled, resting my forehead against hers as I laid my hands on her belly.

"I will always choose you, us, and them." By "them," I meant choosing Hayden, Savannah, and this new little baby that will fill our lives with infinite love and happiness.

"I love you, both of you."

"And we love you too."