bonus #8

"Shhh, mama sleeping."

Aurora had to bite back her smile as soon as she heard Jayden's attempted whisper at shushing his brothers. She continued to lay still while keeping her eyes closed tightly, wanting them to think she was still sleeping.

But ever since the door to their bedroom had squeaked open that morning, she had already woken up to the sounds of her children's feet on the ground as they tried to keep quiet. Aurora couldn't help but smile when she felt the bed dip as their small bodies came over to cuddle her.

"Mama, wake up," came Xander's gentle voice. She felt their little hands shake her as she continued to fake being asleep.

When she didn't open her eyes, she felt them begin to pat her face, trying to coax her awake. She, again, tried to keep her face straight.

"Mama," whined Jared, sticking his pudgy finger into her nose. Her lips twitched, threatening to smile again, but this time, she was able to hold back the urge to do so. "Wake up."

"Papa, why mama no wake?" Pouted Jayden, turning to look at his father. Both twins had just turned three and were beginning to speak in more complete sentences.

Xavier chuckled, already knowing that his wife had already been awake. He placed the breakfast tray onto the nightstand while holding Ayla in his other arm, who was staring at her older brothers in confusion. She had her favorite stuffed elephant and blanket in one arm while the other wrapped around her father's neck.

"Maybe you should tickle her," Xavier suggested mischievously. "I'm sure that'll wake mama up right away."

Aurora mentally threw curses at her husband as she pretended to yawn and wake up from her sleep.

"Did my morning angels come to wake me up?"

The boys cheered as she finally opened her eyes, each throwing themselves at her, crushing her in a dog pile. Aurora laughed, wrapping her arms around all three boys and cuddling them to her.

"We made breakfast for you, mama," whispered Xander excitedly, despite being squished into his mother. Not that he minded— he loved cuddling with her, especially in the mornings. "Happy anniversary, mama."

It was Xavier and her's wedding anniversary, which was why she was blessed with breakfast in bed this morning. It wasn't something she wasn't used to because occasionally on weekends, she would wake up to the kids helping Xavier with breakfast. Apparently, they were all morning people, just like their father.

"Thank you, baby. You guys made breakfast?" Aurora gasped, sitting up as the boys, too, sat up and moved so that they were now surrounding her, eagerly waiting for her to praise them. Xavier helped Xander place the tray in front of her as Ayla crawled out of her father's arms and into Aurora's warm embrace. "Hi, my sweet girl."

She planted a kiss on Ayla's cheek, causing the little girl to giggle. Maneuvering so that Ayla sat comfortably on her lap, she finally looked at the breakfast that was placed in front of her.

It was evident that Xavier had a few extra little hands helping him in the kitchen that morning. There were two pieces of toast, slightly burnt, with scrambled eggs and sausage links on one plate. The other plate consisted of an odd, lumpy-shaped pancake that was filled with sprinkles and chocolate chips, which was probably the twins' doing, doused in a bunch of syrup that one would think that the syrup was the main dish. There was a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a cup of coffee for her as well.

Regardless, she loved it and was going to eat it all.

"You guys made pancakes?" She asked with a smile as the boys nodded in unison. "They look delicious— I love the sprinkles and chocolate chips. Who's idea was that?"

"Mine, mommy," Jayden timidly raised his hand.

"Mine, too, mama," Jared added after his twin, giving her a cheeky grin.

"Well, I love it and I bet it's going to taste really good," she praised, leaning over to kiss both twins on the cheek.

"Try it, mama," Xander said, handing her a fork. "I helped papa cook the eggs."

"Thank you, baby," she gestured to Xander to lean down so she could give him a kiss, which he happily obliged. Now, 5 years old, she wanted him to stop growing up so quickly.

Cutting up the food, she quickly brought it up to her lips. She took a bite of the pancakes before taking a bite of the eggs, knowing full on that the boys were watching her every move like a hawk. Pausing to chew, she nodded, making sure to show her kids that she was enjoying it. It perhaps tasted even more delicious than usual since her kids had helped.

"It's so good," she praised, taking a sip of the orange juice. "I think my little chefs deserve some praise."

Their faces brightened up immediately as she, once again, placed kisses on their faces.

"Hey, what about the main chef?" Xavier muttered, feeling left out. After all, he was the one who was the main cook— doesn't he deserve some praise, too?

Aurora rolled her eyes, gesturing for her husband to get closer as she sighed dramatically. "Alright, my big baby, I guess you get some love, too."

"I guess?" He repeated, narrowing his eyes at her. "You're so getting it tonight, sweetheart."

Laughing, she cupped his face, planting a sweet kiss on his lips. Before she could pull away, he deepened the kiss, causing the kids to squeal in either surprise, confusion, or disgust— Aurora wasn't sure.

"Papa, no eating mama face," pouted Jared, pushing at his father's chest.

"Eat this," Jayden grabbed the fork and shoved a pancake into his father's mouth.

Aurora couldn't hold back her laughter as she watched the look of shock form on Xavier's face. She loved their kids so fucking much— she wouldn't trade her life for anything else in the world.

The rest of breakfast time consisted of Xavier playfully wrestling around with all three boys, who were now getting bigger and seemed to never grow tired. Aurora shook her head, making sure to remind the boys not to get hurt, while she fed bits of eggs and toast to Ayla. Ayla, being the princess of the family, sat in her mother's lap and continued to watch her brothers and father in great wonder.

Aurora couldn't help but keep the smile on her face as she watched how happy their family was. Tilting her head down, she watched Ayla babble as she played with a spoon.

"Your brothers are so silly, aren't they?" Aurora asked, laughing as Xander, Jared, and Jayden sat on Xavier's back as her husband pretended to give up the fight.

Ayla babbled, slamming her spoon down onto the tray causing Aurora to laugh at what she assumed to be agreement. Wiping the drool from Ayla's mouth, she brushed the toddler's hair away from her face before kissing the top of her head.

Like she had mentioned earlier, she wouldn't trade her life with anything in the world.

❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎

"Isn't this nice— just the two of us?"

Xavier wrapped his arms around Aurora's bare waist, sliding her towards him so that her bare back was touching his bare chest. They sat comfortably in the tub, feeling the warm water soothe their tiredness and stress from the week away.

They were in the bathtub alone, enjoying the quiet house. Since it was their wedding anniversary, Xavier had thought it would be nice to spend the weekend with just the two of them. Of course, Aurora, being the worried mama bear that she was, was hesitant to leave her children, even with people that she trusted. This would be the first time since they had Xander that they would be spending the night, let alone the whole weekend, without their kids.

"I can't do it," She had said, eyes filling up with tears as she looked from Xavier to the kids. They, of course, paid her no attention as they were all just excited to be spending the weekend with their grandparents.

"It's just two nights, baby," Xavier wrapped his arms around his tearful wife, wanting to comfort her."They're going to be fine— mom and dad raised 6 of us, I'm sure having 4 over is a piece of cake."

"I know, I trust your parents," sniffled Aurora. "I'm just going to miss them so much."

"Me too, sweetheart, but they'll be fine, okay?" He rubbed her back as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead before she nodded.

After hesitantly letting the kids go, she sulked for another hour before finally, Xavier convinced her to get changed so they could celebrate their anniversary together. He, of course, spoiled her with a grand dinner out and pair of beautiful diamond earrings, despite knowing that he had promised not to get her anything this year.

But he just couldn't help it. Ever since they had their kids, she had always put Xander, Jayden, Jared, and now little Ayla first. He wanted to spoil her and take care of her, and most importantly, show her how much he loved and appreciated her for being the best mother to their kids.

"It is nice," she murmured, leaning back against him, feeling his comforting hands rub small circles on her thigh. "It's also weird not hearing their screams and laughter in the house— I kind of miss them already."

"We'll FaceTime them before we go to bed, okay?" He suggested, kissing her shoulder when she nodded. "When was the last time we took a relaxing bath together?"

"Maybe before we had Xander," she pondered, holding his left hand in hers, playing with his wedding band that he refused to take off. "Even when I try to take a quick shower, our little monsters are waiting outside the door— peaking under the door to see what I'm doing."

"They just love their mama so much that they can never leave you alone," Xavier chuckled. "Just like I love you so much."

"Is that why you never leave me alone either?" She asked, teasingly, causing him to lightly pinch her thigh. She squealed, laughing, trying to move his hand away. "Well, now we know who they take after."

"You love it," he muttered, nipping her ear playfully. "You love it, right?"

Aurora pretended to think for a second, which did not sit right with Xavier as he playfully nipped her ear again. "Okay, okay— you're right, I do love it."

"Good, because I'll never leave you alone. You know that, right?"

She nodded, biting back a grin that had formed on her face. Because truth be told, she wouldn't want him to leave her alone at all.

Silence engulfed them as they sat comfortably in the warm water. He smiled as he felt her finally completely relax and her body seemed to fit perfectly against his chest.

Looking down at his tattooed covered arms, she traced over the flowers he had gotten tattooed in his inner bicep— 5 tulips, one that represented each of them. He had first gotten two tulips, one bigger than the other, that represented Aurora and Xander. When Jayden and Jared came along, he had added two more, and finally, the smallest tulip represented their beautiful baby girl, Ayla.

She remembered the moment she saw the tulips and had cried when he explained what they were to him. She then scolded him for getting a tattoo that represented her, but once again, he reassured her that he knew she was his forever and that the tulip was a constant reminder that she was his.

"Are you happy?" She asked, tilting her head to look up at him.

"I wake up feeling like the happiest man alive, love," he smiled, kissing her lips, loving the feel of them on his. "And it's all thanks to you, my beautiful wife, who allowed me to be the father of the most beautiful kids. Are you happy, baby?"

"I think I'm the happiest I've ever been," she admitted, placing a small kiss on his jaw. "We have 4 beautiful kids and I don't think I can ask for anything else."

"Anything you want, you just say it. You know I'd give you the world, sweetheart," he nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, planting kisses that trailed from her shoulder to her neck. "I love you, forever."

"I know," she smiled. "I love you, too."

❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎

Surprise, surprise! Thank you all so much for being patient with me-- I know it's been a minute since I last updated a bonus chapter, so thank you for waiting! I also apologize for the constant cover changes; I just can't seem to know what I want, but I promise this is it for the time being.

More exciting news: I have finally decided to open an instagram account for my writing! I'll be posting more character and story aesthetics that you won't be able to find here, as well as some art that close friend is helping me with and other surprises, so make sure to follow me at insouciiancy on instagram! (yes, with two 'i's) I can't wait to show you all the cool things I'm planning to create. The link is in my bio!