Chapter Fifty

(Several days later.)

Chloe stood in front of the baby bed and placed her hands on the railing. Wesley was sound asleep for the first time in his own bed. Their first day out of the hospital had been long and tiring for both of them. Chloe probably would have guessed that every person she's ever met stopped by to welcome them home.

Wes made a quiet smacking noise with his mouth and Chloe laughed softly. Every tiny little move he made was like magic. It had taken a long time for Chloe to finally believe in love, and now she had it in truckloads. As every second passed by, she grew to love both her husband and her son more and more.

She heard Brady's footsteps coming up the stairs, and turned to smile at him as he walked into the bedroom. He came over and stood next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"Wow... that kid of ours is sure easy to get to sleep."

"Brady, don't speak too soon, you'll jinx us for the future." Chloe sighed softly and looked into Brady's eyes. "You know, everything right now... our life, our family, everything... is perfect."

Brady shook his head and grinned at her. "Not everything."

He let go of her shoulder and Chloe stared at him in confusion. Brady moved over to the dresser and opened the white box that was resting on top. He pulled out the mobile that Greta had sent to the baby shower and walked back towards the baby bed. Brady quickly hung it over the bed, and gently tapped one of the angels with his index finger, making it spin slowly. The moonlight coming through the window gleamed brightly against the angels, casting shadows on the walls around the room.

Brady put his arm back around Chloe's shoulder and smiled with satisfaction. "There... Now everything is perfect.

Chloe nodded slightly and gazed at the glass angels that would watch over Wesley every night as he slept. "Greta sent the perfect gift. Angels to watch over our little boy."

"Just like the real angel we've got watching over us."

Chloe yawned softly and nodded in agreement. Brady motioned towards their bed and held on to her tightly. "Sounds like somebody else is ready for bed too."

Chloe frowned at him and looked back at Wesley. "But, look at him, he's so sweet. I just want to stay right here and watch him. Honestly, have you ever seen a sight more beautiful than that?"

Brady looked at her lovingly and leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek. "I have. In fact, I'm looking at it right now."

Chloe smiled and giggled at him. "You know I love you, but sometimes you are so..."

"Corny?"

"Mmmm-hmmm... But, it's very romantic, and very sweet."

Brady grinned wickedly and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. "And it also happens to be the truth. You really don't know how beautiful you are, do you?"

Chloe paused to think about it and then shook her head. "I guess not. But I kind of like hearing you say it."

He kissed her briefly on the lips, and then backed away with a smile. "Chloe... I've been thinking about something."

"Something bad or something good?"

"Something good. I think it's good."

Chloe raised both eyebrows curiously. "Okaaaaaay, what is it?"

Brady let her out of his embrace and walked with her towards the bed, taking a seat on the edge. Chloe sat beside him and waited anxiously to hear what he had to say.

Brady cleared his throat nervously and continued. "I've been thinking about Julliard. You and Julliard."

Chloe looked away from him, her gaze darting towards the floor. Brady laid his hand on her arm and kept speaking. "The fall semester starts in less than seven months. I think by then, we could get a place in New York, I could be there running Basic Black for my father, and you could start school."

Chloe sighed deeply and then looked up at him. "Brady... No. I don't want to."

"What? You don't want to go to Juilliard? Chloe, this is your lifelong dream we're talking about. Remember when you got pregnant? You said that we could still do all the things we planned on, even with a baby. Why would you not want to go?"

"Brady, I do want to go. But, not right now. Juilliard is going to still be there in a year, or two years. And, I can still go then... I just..."

Brady looked at her in confusion. "You what? What's stopping you?"

Chloe smiled proudly at him. "Everything. I want us to be here, in Salem. I want to get to know my family, my sister, my brother, my grandmother... all of them. I want them to get to know me too. I want Wesley to take his first steps here in the loft, to spend his first year of life where you did. I don't want to take him a thousand miles away from his family... Not yet."

"And what about your dream, Chloe? What about your music?"

"Brady... This is my dream. What is in this room is everything I could have ever asked for. I just never knew before that this is what I wanted. You and Wes... It's all I need, and all I want."

Brady sighed and gently brushed her cheek with his hand. "You really want to stay here, don't you?"

Chloe nodded enthusiastically. "More than anything. And, don't think that I'm going to give up everything, because I'm not. I can still go to school. I could go to Salem University and then in a year or two, I can transfer to Julliard. I just... need some time here. I've finally found my home, my family, what my life is about, where I'm supposed to be and I don't want to leave it yet."

"And your music? I know how important it is to you..."

"It is important, it always has been and it always will be. It used to be the only thing that was important to me, and I never thought anything could take it's place. But, I was wrong. I have so many other things to focus on now. I have other things that make me happier than even the greatest aria could. I have you, and Wes. And, that's better than any song."

Brady smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead. "You amaze me, Diva. You really do."

Chloe smiled back at him and clasped his hand in hers. "So, please... Can we stay?"

"Of course, we can stay. Just promise me you won't give up on your music. You have so much talent, and the world needs to know it."

"I'll never give up on music. I'll never give up on anything that I believe in."

Brady nodded and grinned at her. "I know... You never gave up on me."

Chloe nodded slightly and rested her head on his shoulder. "And, I never will."

Brady wrapped his arms around her and Chloe sighed with contentment. Life had its way of throwing curve balls at you, but Chloe had somehow found away to rise above it all. She had somehow gone from a depressed, insecure, angst-ridden teenager to the woman she was today, confident, hopeful and truly happy. Part of her wondered how she did it, especially with all the obstacles thrown in her way over the past few years, and only one word sprang to mind. Love.

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