“What are you doing over there?” He turned and looked at her.
“Pi’ture or, Papa its’ prise.”
It amazed him lately how more grown-up she seemed lately. Just a few months ago, she wouldn’t let him go to work without crying. And since finding out that she was going to be a big sister, it was as if she made a conscious effort to do things on her own. In the past couple of weeks, the phrase "I do it, Daddy" rang in his ears.
“Oh really? How come you don’t make pictures for me?”
“See 'ou all time," she answered without looking up from her art. “'Ou no need s’prise,”
“I don’t think it’s fair your papa gets all your beautiful drawings and I don’t,” he pouted. “Can Daddy have one picture, please?”
This time she looked up at him placing a hand on her forehead completely exasperated with him. “Fine.”
He smiled, loving her new personality which reminded him so much of Rebecca. His stomach grumbled reminding him that it was way past time that he ate. Lately, his cravings were getting out of control. He’d kicked it up a bit adding pickles and sauerkraut with his ice cream and sardines.
He was going to seriously ground his twins for the weird things he was eating or smelling the second they were born. He was so busy preparing the last of their dinner when he heard Zoi scream, he turned around so fast he dropped the knife in his hand. He looked up to see Tucker standing halfway into the kitchen with his—no their—daughter in his arms.
“Hey, baby girl, I’ve missed you, so much,” he said hugging her and lifting his eyes looking in Lucas’ direction. “Come here.” Tucker extended a hand towards him and without argument he rushed towards his husband and sighed the second his arm wrapped around his waist. Tucker kissed him on the side of his head and, for a second, he forgot where they were until the scent of burnt food reached his nose.
“Dammit,” he cursed and reluctantly pulled out of Tucker’s arms and back over to the stove turning it off. Dinner was ruined, and frankly, he didn’t care. “How about we order out for pizza,” he said turning around to face the two most important people in his life.
“How about it, baby girl, pizza for dinner?” Tucker asked Zoi who was still in his arms.
"Yay! Pizza!”
Lucas reached for his phone and dialed the number he’s come to know by heart and ordered a large with half cheese and the other loaded with everything that popped into his mind. Hanging up he looked at his husband and daughter reconnecting their bond, and the scene was very touching. Then it occurred to him if Tucker was there that could only have meant one thing, Gianni was back behind bars and he could go home and back to his regular life.
“Since you’re here does that mean that we can go home?”
“In a couple of days,” Tucker answered looking up from the drawing and at him with a bright smile on his face.
“What?”
“You’re glowing.”
“What the he . . . heck, are you talking about? I look the same as I always do.”
“No, you don’t,” he said getting up and walking over to Lucas, resting a hand on the nape of his neck. “You look happy.” Tucker’s lips were inches away from his.
“That’s because you’re here and I can finally go home,” he said staring at Tucker’s lips before they descended on his, pulling the sweetest moans from him. Tucker's arms circled his waist pulling him closer, and he went willingly. He felt tingles all over his body simply being in Tucker’s arms and at the prospect of being inside his man before the night was out. He grunted when he felt a sharp jab to his stomach, instantly, Tucker pulled away and looked down at his stomach then back to him.
“Did one of them just kick?” The astonished expression on Tucker’s face made him smile. He reached for his husband’s hand, placing it on his stomach and wasn’t disappointed when there was another stronger kick. Tucker didn’t say anything, simply pulled him back in his arms with the same hand on his stomach.
* * *
