Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot!

Chapter 21

As soon as Nick set down his keys and bag on the table, he made his way further down the hall and towards his and Miley's bedroom to check on her and the baby. His baby. His little girl. The sight that met him made his heart swell with happiness and love. The love of his life was lying down on her back with their little baby lying on top of her, face nestled in between her mother's breasts. Miley's thin, long arms were fastened around the little girl's body in a protective embrace. Their breathing was even and he couldn't stop the smile that came to his lips as he saw mother and daughter sleeping peacefully. He gently took Miley's hands and unfastened them from the baby's body, hoping not to wake either of them. Unfortunately for him, Miley's motherly instincts alerted her. When she opened her eyes she was greeted by a priceless sight. There stood Nick with his daughter in his arms, rocking her gently. Miley smiled softly and sat up drowsily.

"I must have fallen asleep while putting her to sleep..." She whispered. Nick chuckled slightly.

"Get some rest... I've got this." He leaned down to kiss her forehead and made his way to the nursery.

No longer feeling sleepy, Miley stood up and followed them down the hallway. She leaned against the door frame and watched as her lover cradled the tiny four month old baby girl.

"Good night baby girl... Daddy loves you!" He told her with a cheeky smile. Leaning over the crib, he gently placed her down and ruffled the small curls lying on the top of her head. He stood there for a few seconds, watching his little girl sleep before turning towards the door. He jumped, startled to see Miley in the doorway, watching the sight with loving eyes. She smiled at him and headed towards the kitchen with him following.

"I thought I told you to sleep..." He shook his head in disapproval.

"Wasn't sleepy anymore..." She shrugged her shoulders carelessly while pulling out some left over's from the fridge. "I couldn't miss you saying goodnight to your daughter!" She smirked.

"You think it's funny don't you!" He playfully glared at her.

"No I think it's adorable..." She smiled genuinely and leaned against the kitchen counter, waiting for their food to heat up.

"Sure you do..." Nick laughed.

"I'm serious... You're really good with her and I always enjoy watching the both of you..." He walked over to her and hugged her. Sparks flew across their bodies as they held each other; there was no denying the chemistry between the two.

"Thank you..." He whispered.

"For?" She asked as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"For making me feel like the best father in the world even though I know I'm far from it." He chuckled at his own sincerity.

"I can only return the favour..." She said simply before pulling away to set the table.

"What favour?" His forehead creased in confusion.

"You make me feel like the best mom... so I can only return the favour by making you feel like you're the best dad." She laughed. "You really are a great daddy." She smiled and poked his chest playfully.

"I make you feel like the best mom?"

"Yeah you do..." She paused before continuing. "You know when she was born... I really didn't think I would manage... I never thought I would be able to do all what she needed me to do for her. I felt so weak and useless..."

"It's ok, baby... you don't have to talk about it if..." He said reassuringly but she cut him off before he could finish.

"Just let me say this..." She took some time to rearrange her thoughts. "I know it took me a really long time to get my strength back... but now that it's back I just can't get enough of it. Sure sometimes it's hard because I don't know why she's crying, or I don't know why she's cranky etc... but in the end it's all worth it... And I just pray to God that I will be able to give her all she needs..."

"You're really good with her, Mi. You're being too hard on yourself. It was overwhelming at first because we were new at this. But it gets better every day; we learn along with her." Miley nodded her head in silent approval. She couldn't help but smile at the man standing in front of her; he had been nothing less than perfect to her.

"Nick..." Her voice trailed off and he looked at her expectantly. She finally took a deep breath to say: "I just wanted to thank you for supporting me... for doing everything when I couldn't. Taking care of her and I... it must have been really hard... I'm just really thankful... I don't think I ever expressed that..." Nick smiled and wrapped his arms around her.

"I was just doing my job. I'm glad I could help." He whispered as she held onto him.

It had been four bittersweet months... Miley had been quite weak after the long and difficult labour and the sudden changes that had taken place in her life had her overwhelmed and somewhat depressed. Nick had taken on both roles of mother and father during this period and the little time he and Miley had together in between mid night feedings and crying sessions had not been easy going ones. It had taken a toll on their relationship and it had taken Nick a lot of patience to deal with the moody Miley who had been subconsciously pushing him away.

But in the end, they knew they loved each other and it would be a matter of time before everything fell in order and they got used to their new life with their daughter. Nick couldn't remember how long it had been since he had seen a real Miley smile and the fact that she had been able to express her feelings regarding her state post-delivery made him believe that they were on the right track to going back to their old habits and this time, bringing Baby along for the ride.

...............

"I'm jealous." Demi stated as she took her place in bed beside her boyfriend of almost one year.

"Of?" Joe raised his eyebrows at he circled her waist with his arm, bringing their bodies together.

"Nick and Miley's baby is just so cute..." She elaborated, her voice trailing off as she realised that the last thing a 22 year old male wanted to hear is that their girlfriend of 21 wanted a kid.

"Our babies will be even cuter..." He whispered as he proceeded to kiss the sensitive skin below her ear. A wide smile appeared on her lips at the simple yet meaningful statement her boyfriend had uttered. She shivered involuntary at his heavenly touch.

"You think we'll have kids some day?" She asked, making sure she had heard right.

"I know we will." He smiled down at the love of his life. "I vote sooner rather than later." He added to Demi's astonishment.

"Joe..."

"I'm not saying now... maybe in a year or two? After we get jobs and settle down?" He spoke hesitantly, not wanting to pressurise his younger girlfriend.

"Are you serious?" Although her tone was one of shock, her smiling face betrayed her true feelings on the matter.

"You didn't think I would let you run away from me, did you?" He joked, his lips brushing against hers teasingly.

"I had no intention of doing such a thing." She giggled. "But I never thought you were the type to want kids and get married." She admitted.

"What can I say... this amazing, beautiful person showed me that I wanted nothing but." His smile widened at the sight of her warm, loving look.

"Are you saying you will marry me someday?" She questioned, a hint of playfulness in her tone.

"I will marry you and give you the cutest babies..." He kissed her lips lovingly as she snuggled deeper into him, wrapping her arm around his waist.

"I can't wait." She breathed out as they parted. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, baby..." He whispered against her lips as he resumed kissing her plump, pink lips. There was no way he would ever get tired of lying in bed with her, staring at the ceiling or even better, kissing each other with all the love they held for one another. The feeling of bliss never left them as long as they were together, completing and complementing each other perfectly, as if they were made for each other.

................

"Aw she just smiled at me!" Miley cooed as she watched her daughter waking up from her long night. The young couple had been blessed with a baby who slept through the night, giving her parents all the time needed to catch up on sleep.

"No! She was smiling at me!" Nick huffed playfully.

"Please don't turn her into a daddy's girl so young!" Miley pleaded dramatically.

"Daddy's girl... I like the sound of that." He smirked.

"Ah uhh..." Came the sweet sound of their daughter's voice.

"See, she agrees with me! Tell mommy you want to be a daddy's girl!" Nick told the smiling infant.

"Nick!" Miley laughed, enjoying the playful banter going on between her and her boyfriend.

"She has your eyes..." Nick suddenly became mesmerized by the mini-version of Miley's eyes.

"And she has your curls..." Miley smiled as she ran her fingers through her daughter's dark brown curls.

"How do you know they're mine? You have curls too!" Nick responded defensively. He liked the idea of his daughter taking after Miley a lot more than he liked the idea of her taking after him.

"Because mine don't do this." She laughed as she illustrated: she tugged on one of Nick's curls and let go of so it would spring back to life. "See she has a few of those..."

"Fine... she has my hair." Nick agreed. "What about her nose?"

"Definitely mine... yours is crooked, remember?" She giggled.

"You're lucky you're cute or I might have to punish you..."

"Who said I didn't want to be punished?" She smiled seductively.

"You bad girl!" He feigned shock. "Don't take after her, little girl, okay?" He spoke to the gurgling infant.

"Now Nick, what are you teaching your daughter?" Miley scolded lightly.

"And she has your lips!" He suddenly noticed. "YES!" He pumped his arm into the air. "She's going to look just like you..." He grinned.

"And that's a good thing, how?" She raised her eyebrows sceptically.

"She'll look just as beautiful as you... maybe the only girl in the world who will be able to compete against your beauty!" He smiled as he wrapped his arm around his girlfriend to bring her into his chest.

"You are so whipped... by both mother and daughter." Miley laughed as she kissed his nose. "I love you..." Nick's smile brightened as he heard the three little words that held so much meaning when it came from her.

"I love you, too..." He smiled as he kissed her lips softly.

"I'm sorry I haven't said that in a while..." She apologised.

"Shhh..." He smiled reassuringly and pressed his lips back to hers.

"Baby in the room..." Miley reminded him as she gently pushed him away, her hands on his chest. "How about we give this little one a bath?" She suggested.

"Sounds good, right baby doll?" Nick cooed.

"What's with all the nicknames? You never gave me that many!" Miley acted jealous.

"I think babe is more appropriate for a hottie like you..." He teased.

"I'm no hottie!" She blushed. "I look like a fat..." Nick immediately cut her off.

"You need to stop doing that..." He told her seriously, his hand stroking her cheek gently.

"Doing what?"

"Putting yourself down and thinking so badly about yourself. You are beautiful. Believe me." He smiled softly.

"But I gained so much weight... and I have stretch marks..."

"Baby, you were pregnant and you just gave birth! Of course that's going to show on your body. But it doesn't make you any less beautiful. Will you stop thinking that way? Please?" He pleaded. A small smile graced her lips as she answered:

"I'll try." She paused. "I don't know what I did to deserve someone as amazing as you but whatever it was, I'm glad I did it." She smiled lovingly at him and noticed the sparkle that had returned to his eyes. Something that had disappeared during the time she had pushed him away, she realised. But she wasn't going to let that thought trouble her. No. She had brought back the smile on his face and the sparkle in his eyes and she was going to keep it that way. She was going to make him happy and show him just how much she loved him even though it hadn't seemed that way in the past 4 months.

There is it, the little sneak peek into their lives after the baby's birth! Next chapter will be the last one!

I was actually thinking of updating Meet Me Halfway before this one but I got more reviews for this story and most of the chapter was already typed!! So here it is...

Thank you for all the reviews,

xoxo