Epilogue

Not edited or proofread.

Novella

I made my way down the stairs, my belly making it hard to move around. I was eight months pregnant—a mere two weeks away from my due date—and I felt like I was ready to explode. While I loved how much Axel loved me being knocked up with his baby, I wasn't sure if I could rebound after six weeks and give him another one. My body needed a rest.

Carrying around a baby that was measuring eight pounds already was back-breaking work. I was exhausted the moment I managed to roll out of bed each morning.

And this morning, I was miserable, extra tired, and I wanted my husband.

My husband... that still felt surreal to say. But Axel had bound me to him a mere two weeks after we got the confirmation of my pregnancy. And I couldn't have been happier. Per my request, our wedding was small—just something simple at the courthouse. We took a trip to Bora Bora for the week, leaving Griffin to handle the company. And God, that week had been amazing. I could do without sex on the beach, considering sand got everywhere, but damn, it had been amazing anyway.

Kyle looked up from his tablet, where he was working on something for Axel. "Hey, little sis," he greeted, standing from his seat. "You look like hell."

His words brought forth tears, and suddenly, I was crying, tears running down my cheeks. Kyle blinked in surprise before muttering a curse and quickly making his way to me, wrapping me in his arms the best he could with my massive belly in the way. "Fuck. I didn't mean that," he rushed out. But we both knew he did. Kyle never said anything he didn't mean, and it just made me cry harder. He sighed. "I'm sorry. You just look so tired, sis."

"I want Daddy," I sobbed.

Kyle leaned me back some to swipe at the tears on my cheeks. "You know he doesn't want you going anywhere while you're this pregnant, sis."

I stomped my foot, my chin wobbling, my tears coming harder. "Take me to him," I snapped, my voice thick with tears. "Or I swear, I'll start walking."

He huffed and pulled out his phone before snatching his tablet off the table. "He has got you so fucking spoiled," Kyle muttered as he started walking to the garage.

"I'm not spoiled!" I shouted at his back, getting angry now. "I'm tired and hot and pregnant and uncomfortable and you're being a dick!"

"Jesus fuck—Axel?" He paused, turning to glare at me when I continued to angrily stare at him, still crying. I was an emotional wreck. "Hey. I'm bringing your crazy ass wife to you." He clenched his jaw. "Yes, the fuck I am. She's a goddamn mess and being a brat and crying and I don't know what the hell to do with her." After a moment, he held the phone out to me. I snatched it from him before holding it to my ear.

"Daddy?" I croaked.

He sighed. "Baby girl, what's going on?"

I swiped at my cheeks. "I'm tired and uncomfortable, and I want you." I sniffled. "But you're at fucking work. Why couldn't you just stay home?"

"You really are having a bad day, aren't you?" he asked, his tone soft. My bottom lip trembled. "You never curse, baby. Tell Kyle to bring you to me. I have a lot of meetings you'll have to sit through with me, but I'll take care of you, okay? I'm sorry for leaving you alone."

I sniffled. "I have Kyle." Even if I was being a raging bitch to him.

Axel chuckled. "Come on, baby. I'll be waiting for you downstairs. I love you."

I sniffled again. "I love you, too." I hung up Kyle's phone and handed it to him. "He said to take me to him." I swiped at my cheeks again. "I'm sorry for being a bitch."

Kyle sighed and pressed a hand to my aching lower back, leading me to the garage, where he beeped the Land Rover unlocked. He helped me into the passenger seat before buckling me in. Then, he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Try to rest, alright? And don't worry about apologizing. If I was carrying a heavy human being inside my body, I'd be pretty pissed off with the world, too."

My lips twitched with a small smile. "You're seriously the best brother in the world."

He chuckled before shutting my door. I leaned my head against the cool glass, letting my eyes slide shut. I'd take a small nap on the way there, and maybe I'd feel a little better after.

~*~*~

"Shh," Axel crooned when I moaned in protest. "Easy, baby. Daddy's got you."

I slowly opened my eyes, my head leaning on Axel's chest as he reached across me to unfasten my seatbelt. Kyle was behind him, and the valet was waiting at the hood of the car for Axel to get me out. With little to no effort, Axel lifted me against his chest, and Kyle shut the door, following us into the building.

"I have fifteen minutes before I need to attend my next meeting," Axel told me. "Do you want food?"

I shook my head. "No, Daddy. I want cuddles," I mumbled into his neck. "My belly hurts."

He frowned at me. "When did your belly start hurting, baby?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. When I was asleep? My back started hurting this morning."

Kyle grunted. "She could be going into labor. Doc warned she might with how big she is."

Axel paused, contemplating Kyle's words. Finally, he sighed and continued toward the elevators. "Kyle, call the midwife. Let her know what's going on and to be on standby. I'll get Griffin to cover the rest of my meetings."

I leaned back to look up at Axel as he entered the elevator. "But the baby is early—"

"You're perfectly fine," Axel soothed, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. "We'll go upstairs to my office and cuddle on the couch and see what—" His words broke off as I moaned low in pain, my belly tightening. I wrapped my arms around it, sucking in a sharp breath. "Well," he sighed, smiling softly at me, "looks like our little boy is ready to enter the world." He looked at Kyle. "Change of plans. I want the midwife here now."

Kyle nodded once, then ran a hand over my red hair. "Time to bring my nephew into the world, little sis."

I just made a small noise, waiting for the pain to subside. Once we were in Axel's office, Kyle began making phone calls, and Max did what he could to make things comfortable for me. I knew I wasn't going home until this baby was here, which meant I would be giving birth in Axel's office. That was fine though. We'd prepared for this—even had a pullout couch brought in to replace the basic one Axel had here originally.

Harlan burst into the office as Max draped a blanket over me, fretting over me. He seemed just as nervous as I was, though I could see he was trying to hide it.

"The baby is coming?" Harlan asked, excitement in his voice. "We're meeting the little bean today?"

I moaned low in my throat as another contraction tightened my belly and swept through my lower back. Axel pulled me to his chest, crooning softly to me as we waited for the contraction to pass.

"It's not a fucking bean," Kyle growled, glaring at Harlan. "It's a baby. Why do you have to be so weird?"

Harlan winked at him. "He'll always be a bean," Harlan told him, now only saying it to get on my brother's nerves. He lived to annoy Kyle. "Stop being such a grump, Kyle."

Kyle sneered at him. "If you weren't so goddamn important, I'd cut out your tongue."

"Both of you shut up," Max snapped, his patience finally snapping. He shoved a hand through his hair. "Harlan, please go find some ice. She's sweating, and it's all she can have. And Kyle, can you please go lead the midwife up? She'll be here any minute."

"Damn, boy," Griffin whistled as he stepped into the office, nodding once at Harlan as he and Kyle left the office without a word. "Didn't know you had it in you."

Max ignored him and sat on the other side of me, his hand gripping mine. He shot me a tentative smile. "I don't know how well of a godparent I'll be," he chuckled, "but I'm here."

I smiled at him. "You're the best, Max."

A blush stained his cheeks.

~*~*~

Axel stared down at our baby as he suckled at my breast, his little hands curled into fists. A blue hat rested on his head, and his blue eyes were closed as he softly slept.

"God, he's everything," Axel finally rasped, running his finger over our sweet baby boy's cheek. He looked at me then, his eyes full of love and adoration. "Thank you, baby girl."

Kyle stared down at his nephew, cocking his head to the side the slightest bit—like he was trying to figure him out. "I thought babies were noisy."

I shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know how he'll be." I yawned, leaning heavily against Axel just as Carter let go of my breast. Axel quickly covered my chest with the blanket as Max swept my little boy into his arms and began to burp him for me. I was so tired, my eyelids heavy and drooping. It'd taken twenty-four hours for Carter to make his entrance into the world, and I was exhausted.

"Get some rest," Axel said softly, wrapping his arms around me as Max took care of our baby. "Our son has a small army ready to take care of him. Let me take care of you."

I snuggled into him as he pulled my gown back over my shoulder beneath the blanket. "I love you, Daddy," I mumbled.

He pressed a soft kiss to my lips. "I love you, too, baby girl. Now rest."