"You just said…" I trail off, shaking my head."Never mind.We'll get you your girl, Cordelia.Just as soon as you recover from this one."I pause."But next time, maybe we don't go to the cabin in the third trimester."
"Smart plan," she says."We should definitely have more sex at the cabin before the third trimester."
I laugh, leaning down to press my lips to hers."Now you're speaking my language, little girl," I breathe against her lips.
"I love you."
"I love you, Sunshine."
A paramedic carries Atlas to us, bundled in blankets.
"He's doing great, mama," she says, laying him on Cordelia's chest.She immediately cuddles him close, some of the tension draining from her body."He's a healthy little guy.You did good."
"Hi, baby boy," my wife whispers, her eyes locked on our son."You're going to be our little troublemaker just like me, aren't you?"
"Fuck," I whisper, a lump rising in my throat as I watch her cuddle him close, complete adoration lighting her up.It's the most beautiful sight, outstripping the mountains by miles.
Bonus Epilogue
DEACON
I know my wife is up to no good the second I leave my office and hear the unmistakable sound of an axe outside.
"Christ Almighty," I growl, hauling ass to the door so fast I damn near take myself out on the edge of the credenza.I manage to catch myself just in time to stay upright and rush out."Sunshine!"
She doesn't answer, but the sound of my goddamn axe does.
Jesus Christ.
I rush around the sound of the house, coming to a dead stop when I see her trying like hell to tackle a log as big around as she is, with Tyr watching from a safe distance.She's wearing one of my shirts tied up around her waist with a hair plastered to her red face.She looks like she's dying.
"He makes it look so easy," she grumbles to Tyr, hefting to axe overhead again.
"That's because I know what the fuck I'm doing, Sunshine," I growl, waiting until the axe makes contact with the wood.The last thing I need is to scare her.God only knows what appendage she'll chop off.
"Ahh!"she screams as it is, whirling to face me.
I catch her before she manages to land on her ass in the wood pile.
"Deacon!"she cries like she hasn't seen me all week.I was in my office for an hour, tying up paperwork.Now that we're spending most of our time back in Seattle, I have to cram in what I can while we're here, at least until we find a new caretaker for the cabins.
Her arms wrap around my neck, her smile bright enough to light up my whole fucking world."I missed you."
"I can see that."I brush my lips across hers."You always find the worst ways to entertain yourself when I'm busy, Sunshine."
"What?No, I don't."
"Oh, really?"I smirk, turning her in my arms until she can clearly see the scorch mark across the side of the house."Then what happened there?"
"I can't control the wind, Deacon!"
"Uh-huh.You tried to use the grill."
"I just said I can't control the wind, Deacon," she mutters.
I fight a smile.I swear to God, I'm not sure if she keeps me young, or if she's aging me so goddamn fast I'll die before I hit fifty.Either way, I wouldn't change a single second of it.She's wild as hell, and I love her to pieces for it."You know what I think?"
I scoop her up into my arms.
