Chapter 53

A Day With Dad

"Holocene"- Bon Iver

Kyle (POV)

I played with my gold wedding band as I hovered over Sophia's crib and watched her as she slept. She would wiggle from time to time, or make a noise every so often. My thoughts wandered back to when I was eighteen and it was Brice's crib that I was hovering over. Now here I am twenty-four years old, married to the love of my life, a wonderful son and a beautiful daughter, and I couldn't be happier.

I knew that my days with my family were numbered, but that didn't mean I wouldn't do everything in my power to keep my body from failing me. Sophia is eight weeks old today, and for the past five weeks I've been doing injections of an altered formula that Jessi and I had created. It was too early to tell if there were any substantial effects, however there hadn't been any further decline in my body's performance.

I sighed softly and bent down to kiss Sophia's forehead, "I love you Soph," I whispered before I left the nursery and crept to my room to join Amanda in bed.

The next morning was Amanda's first day back at work, which meant I began my two weeks off to stay home with Sophia. It was also summer break, so Brice and Nathan were off from school. I woke up early, before anyone else in the house, and went for a run.

I ran down by the shore, there was still that crisp morning feeling in the air as the sun rose and it began to get warmer. I stopped for a moment and looked out over the water. It was completely calm, just the sound of the water hitting the shore. I ran back to the house and was able to shower just as Amanda started to get ready for the day.

I sat down on the edge of the bed as I slipped on my socks after having dried off from my shower. I noticed that my muscles in my legs were tighter than usually. I hadn't increased my work out so it was slightly odd. I would have to remember to tell Foss: he would want to log any changes.

"Good morning," Amanda said as she darted from the bathroom to the closet in just a towel, already running slightly late.

"Morning," I chuckled. "Ready for your first day back?"

"I think so…" she called. "Are you sure you'll be okay with the kids all day?"

"We'll be fine," I said, standing up and leaning in the doorway of the closet.

"Are you sure, because I can call Lori-" she rambled as she clasped her bra.

"We'll be fine, Amanda," I assured, placing both of my hands on her shoulders.

"Okay," she smiled and I leaned down and touched my lips to hers.

As if on cue, Sophia started crying.

"She has perfect timing," she sighed.

"I'll get her, you finish getting ready," I gave her another kiss before I ducked out of the room and crossed the hall to Sophia's room.

Before I even scooped her up I had caught whiff of a dirty diaper.

"Good morning, Miss Sophia," I spoke as I plucked her up, "Smells like someone needs a diaper change."

I set her down gently on the changing table and removed the dirty diaper, and cleaned her up before placing a fresh one on.

"There," I coed, pressing the tabs down. "That's better, huh?"

I snatched a purple t-shirt and light pink leggings for her to wear. Once I had her all dressed I scooped her up in my arms.

"How about we go wake up that brother of yours?" I suggested, and we crossed over to his room and poked my head in. "Time to get up, Buddy,"

He grumbled a little but began getting out of bed. I took Sophia downstairs with me and into the kitchen. I laid her in her baby swing and began preparing breakfast. I started the batter for blueberry pancakes, knowing we hadn't had them in a while. It wasn't long before Brice was making his way into the kitchen in a pair of tan shorts and a blue t-shirt.

"Morning, Bri!" I smiled as I flipped the first set of pancakes.

"Good morning." He peered up onto the counter top. "Are you making blueberry pancakes?"

"Yes, I am," I smiled down at him.

"Really? They're my favorite!" he cheered.

"I know they are," I chuckled.

He climbed onto the stool at the counter and I set a stack of pancakes on a plate for him. Soon after Amanda came down dressed in her business clothes and poured herself some coffee in a to-go mug.

"I guess I'm off," she sighed with a sad smile, not wanting to leave.

"You'll be back before you know it," I tried to console her.

"Okay, I'll see you guys tonight," she said, giving Brice and Sophia a kiss on the forehead. "Be good for your dad."

"I love you," she called with a quick kiss on my cheek before she left.

After I finished the last set of pancakes, I fixed a bottle for Sophia and plucked her up to feed her.

"Don't you have to go to work?" Brice asked, he wasn't used to me being home during the day.

"Nope," I smiled, "I'll be home all day,"

"Can we go to the park?" he asked, getting really excited.

"Yeah, we can do that," I said, setting aside the empty bottle and shifting Sophia to burp her.

I could hear Nathan begin to shuffle around in his room before he made and appearance.

"Morning," I greeted as he sat down at the counter and grabbed himself a stack of pancakes.

"Morning," he returned as he dug into his food.

"Uncle Nate, we're going to the park!" Brice cheered.

"Sounds like fun, Bri" he chuckled.

After breakfast was all cleaned up and I had gotten the kids ready to go, we piled into the Jeep and headed to the park near Stephen and Nicole's. Once we were there, I got Sophia settled into her stroller and we made a few laps around the playground as I kept an eye on Brice.

"So I heard that your guidance counselor from school called Amanda yesterday," I broached the subject. "She wanted to talk about your plans for college after you're finished with your senior year."

"I haven't even started my senior year," he replied, matching his pace to mine.

"No, but you will be in the fall, Nate, and that's when you have to start applying," I reminded him. "Have you thought about where you want to go?"

"I'll probably stay here, go to UW or something," he shrugged.

"You know you're not limited to Washington, right?"

"I know," he nodded, "I don't know if I want to leave home though,"

I could understand why he wouldn't want to leave. We were his family and he didn't want to move hundreds of miles away.

"Well how about later this week, we go take a look at UW?" I suggested. "The kids can spend the day with Nicole."

"Sounds good," he smiled, "Thanks,"

It wasn't long before it started raining and Sophia started fussing.

"Brice!" I called, "We have to get going!"

We piled back into the car and made our way back home. By that point it was really pouring outside. I put Sophia down for her nap, and popped in a movie for Brice while I prepared lunch for us. Nathan chose to work on his bike in the garage.

"Grilled cheese, no crust, green apple sliced and a glass of milk," I announced as I set his plate on the coffee table.

"Thanks, dad" he mumbled, sitting up and eating his food while he kept his eyes on the movie.

I joined Brice on the couch and ate my lunch while we watched the movie. Once the film was over, Sophia needed a diaper change and a bottle. After I had gotten her cleaned up, I brought her back downstairs and fed her a bottle. Brice had kept himself busy by drawing in his coloring book at the coffee table. I sat back down on the couch and Sophia curled up on my chest.

In the time I was gone he had also popped in another movie to watch. It was another movie with talking toys. I placed Sophia in her swing and slipped out into the garage to see if Nathan needed anything.

"Need any help?" I asked.

"Actually, yeah could you tighten this bolt here, while I hold it in place?" he asked, his hands covered in oil.

"This is really coming along," I noted.

"Yeah, Foss is going to have to make due on his promise," he chuckled, sliding his hands out and wiping them off on a rag.

"I guess he will," I laughed slightly.

Amanda came home, as I was helping him fix the breaks. By that time Brice had finished his movie and joined us outside. Considering we were all outside, I brought Sophia and her swing out to the garage.

"How was your first day back?" I asked as she picked Sophia up.

"Long," she sighed, "but it was good to get back."

Shortly after, I made my way back inside and got dinner ready. We all ate together, than it was time for me to take Brice to basketball practice. Since it was summer vacation we had enrolled him on a league to keep him busy. I watched from the sidelines as he ran around with the other kids. The coach was having them run shooting drills. They ended practice by running a mini scrimmage.

Brice and I made our way back home and he hopped in the shower before I got him ready for bed.

"Goodnight buddy," I whispered and he mumbled goodnight back.

Nathan had gone out with some of his friends from school and Amanda was downstairs in her office, probably catching up on some work. I poked my head into Sophia's room and found her sound asleep. I left the door cracked and made my way downstairs.

"What are you working on?" I asked, leaning on the doorframe of Amanda's office. She must have been tired because she had taken out her contacts and was wearing her glasses.

"I was actually just going through the photos I had printed of when Sophia was born," She explained, setting a stack of photos on the coffee table and sitting back into the couch.

"Really?" I said, moving to join her on the couch.

"Oh! Look at this one," she said, handing me a photo.

It was one of me holding Sophia; I was leaning against the window of the hospital room, my focus completely on her.

"I didn't even know you took this," I chuckled. "Look at this one,"

It was a photo of all of us—Amanda, Brice, Sophia and myself—on the hospital bed. It was the first family photo we had of all of us.

"We need to get some picture frames," she whispered softly.

I had wrapped my arm around her and she had rested her legs on my lap. She rested her head back onto my shoulder and peered up at me. I looked down into her deep blue eyes.

"What's that look for?" I smiled softly.

"You're the mind reader," she grinned.

We laughed and I took the photos she had in her hand and tossed them onto the coffee table. I brushed a few stay hairs from her face before tilting her chin up and touching my lips to hers. She pulled at the collar of my shirt, drawing me closer and deepening the kiss.

"I love you," I mumbled between kisses.

"I love you too," she replied, unbuttoning my shirt.

AN: Hey everyone! I know that in the last author's note I said that I would have more time to write. Turns out I didn't and I'm sorry for that. This chapter was mostly just fluff, however that's good from time to time. I've been thinking a lot about jumping ahead in time a couple of years so I may or may not do that in my next chapter. I have a couple ideas of what I want to do so we'll see what I end up doing.

Anyway, I hope you liked this new chapter. Let me know what you thought! Thank you for reading!