*6 Weeks Later*
"Shawn, please, for the love of God, pick up your stuff!" she pleaded for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past 30 minutes.
Looking around the spacious living room, it was a clutter of boys' toys and laundry baskets, heaping of clothes begging to be folded. Shawn sat across the living room, a toy placed in his lap and his feet on the back of the leather sofa, as he eagerly continued to play with his action figures, ignoring his mother's words.
"Are you even listening to me?" she asked, before jogging towards to phone that was ringing from the kitchen counter. "Hello?"
"You sound outta breath! What's going on?" came John's voice from the other side of the receiver.
"Take your pick. Let's see I have laundry needing to be folded, Shawn's toys are scattered everywhere and he just refuses to pick them up for some reason, I have dinner to be made, dishes that need put away…" she trailed off, relieving a long sigh.
"Well, cancel dinner off that list." came a husky voice from behind her.
She whipped her head around, her hair swinging over her shoulder. Her eyes met the crystal blue orbs of John, who was standing mere inches from her, holding plastic bags in either hand. A smirk played at the corners of her mouth before she shut her cell phone, returning it to the counter and wrapping her arms around the large man's neck.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, giving him a small kiss on his cheek.
"Well, I got a few days off from the road before our overseas tour and I thought to myself, 'Boston or Chicago?'" he chuckled, as he placed the bags on the counter. "And you weren't lying about the laundry. My God, baby, I told you to get rid of some of that shit when you moved!"
"I know, I just haven't gotten to it. But on a brighter note, I'm glad you decided to come here." she smiled. "Maybe you can get that son of yours to pick up his sh—"
"Hey, hey!" he cut in, playfully shaking a finger at her. "Have patience!"
"Patience, my... butt! I have told him like 50 times and what's he doing?" she asked, staring past John to look into the living room at her son, who hadn't budged from his spot on the sofa. "Nothing! He's been glued to that spot for over a half hour. It's like he's ignoring me or something!"
"I'll take care of little man. You get dinner ready and we'll eat, alright?" he replied softly, placing a kiss on her forehead before closing the distance between the two rooms to his son.
She sighed before relenting to his words, taking the Chinese take-out from the bags and grabbing some plates from the dish drainer. As she divvied out the fried rice on the plates, an image from years ago came to her. Recalling of the times when she was pregnant with Shawn and remembering how scared she was to become a mother. She had wanted to tell John the secret then, but she could never bring herself to doing it. She had been so scared becoming a mother, but it was something that she took serious; he was the most precious gift in her life.
Well, and John. She couldn't forget about him. He had been wonderful with her decision of moving and even after the got things squared away and became a couple, he supported her every decision and the reason to her moving from their hometown. It was difficult at times. When he was able to break away from his own job and visit, it was of course, easier. But, the fact still remained they had been completely honest with each other about their feelings and were happy, no matter how many miles were between them.
"Space cadet!" John said, his fingers coming into view, the snapping noise breaking her from her daydreams.
"Huh?" she shrugged, smiling slowly.
"Where were you?" he asked, taking a plate and placing it in front of Shawn, who was now seated at the table, eagerly waiting his food.
"Just… thinking." she replied, smiling. "I see you got him peeled away from his toys long enough to eat."
"Yeah." John replied, giving a loving glance at the boy. "I don't know why I didn't notice before now, but he does look like me."
"Oh, whatever!" Apryl said, slinging the dish towel at his stomach before retrieving the other two plates and making her way to the kitchen table. "That boy looks more like his momma than anything!"
"Whatever, princess!" John said, taking the seat across from her. "He got the good genes, thank you!"
"Oh, did he?" Apryl asked playfully, receiving a nod from John. "Remember that later when you want me to get into those jeans!"
"Oh, you wouldn't!" he chuckled.
"I would… and you know it!" she said smiling, taking a bite of her eggroll.
John smirked in her direction before placing his spoon into the rice and giving her an evil glare. She looked at him intently, her eyes glaring across the table at him, but the playful smile still evident on her face. John raised the spoonful of rice in her direction, arching his eyebrows .
"You wouldn't!" she said, almost in a whisper.
"Wouldn't I?" he asked cockily.
Before either could say or do anything, rice hit the side of her hair, some of the grains hitting the floor. Her mouth dropped open, before both she and John looked in their son's direction. Shawn released a playful giggle at his mother before standing from the table.
"Daddy wouldn't do it, but I would!" the boy shrieked before running from the kitchen, Apryl and John hot on his tail.
"Shawn William!" Apryl called after him.
John scooped the boy up, blowing raspberries on his belly, causing Shawn to break into a fit of laughter. Apryl stopped to watch the scene before her and couldn't help but smile. The swelling in her heart erupted, giving her a feeling of extreme pleasure and happiness.
This is right, she thought to herself, shaking her head.
"That's my boy!" John hollered, as he placed Shawn on the ground and holding his hand out, allowing his son to give him a high five.
"Hey!" Apryl exclaimed, placing her hands on her hips.
"What?" both asked in unison.
"Don't what me!" she said, rolling her eyes and pointing her finger at them.
"Let's get her!" John urged, as both lurked towards her.
"Boys…" she warned, taking steps backwards.
"Get her!" Shawn yelled, running after his mother.
She erupted into a fit of giggles as John grabbed her waist from behind and tickling her to the ground, where Shawn joined in. They continued attacked her for another minute before both guys placed kisses on her cheek.
"You're grounded!" she said, ruffling her son's hair.
"Am not!" Shawn replied, sticking his tongue out.
"Well, maybe not." she replied, as John helped her from the floor. "But, at least help me clean this rice up."
"Alright, momma." he sighed with a smile.
As he picked up the last grain of rice, he popped his head up, looking in John's direction. John titled his head to the side, knowing his son was conjuring up a question or two of sorts.
"Daddy, when are you and mommy getting married?" the boy asked, causing his parents to share a wide-eyes glance at one another.