Theo has just turned three and Oliver is a couple of months old.

Rekindle

I'd been gone for two weeks, working on a project in Florida.

My first month back since Oliver's birth and I'd been away from my sweet baby boy and his adorable sister for far too long. Let's not mention that it would be a testament to Trevor's and I relationship. He hadn't have the opportunity to be there with Theodora as a newborn, and though he had been most marvelous in the first four months of my maternity leave, we'd been together. He had never been alone with both kids for more than just a couple of hours. I didn't doubt for a second that he could do it, it was Trevor, but it would definitely put to test his patience and willpower.

Theo was entering that stage where she was questioning everything, undermining you as an authority figure, and being ridiculously terrible. Everyone spoke about the terrible two's yet as soon as she'd turned three all hell rose. I don't know if she got it from Trevor or from me, our mother's didn't seem to agree in any way, but by God's grace, something was up with that kid.

I smiled, glancing out my window as I waited for the light to change. I had missed them, I'd missed them all so much, and I couldn't wait to be in Trevor's arms with my two little beans. It was late though, so I had to prepare myself for them to be asleep—for all of three of them to be asleep.

I eased on the gas pedal when the light turned green, turning to be on the final street before stopping in front of the gates of the community and watching as they slowly opened. I turned left on Chapel Avenue, going underneath the small bridge and quickly right onto Shearwater Court, where at the end of cul-de-sac waited my home. Trevor had left his Escalade parked outside, and I smiled, pulling up besides my husband's ridiculously large SUV. I turned off the ignition and debated whether or not to haul everything inside or just wait for the morning.

I grabbed my purse and popped my door open; having decided that bringing my suitcase in could wait until I woke.

I walked to my front door, mumbling a faint hello to Trevor's and I wedding tree that now took residence in our front porch. I eased my key in, turning it quickly, and pushing the door open. I heard the faint beeping of the alarm system go off, starting a count down before it would "shut off" signaling the company of an intrusion. I disabled the alarm and armed the system once more. It was ridiculously quiet; the only sounds audible were the TV and the air conditioning unit. Everything else was dark, only the slight overcast of the TV illuminated the downstairs area.

I approached the couch, leaning over the back to finally see Trevor asleep with a stirring Oliver on his chest, and a possessive Theodora clinging to his neck. My eyes watered, but I smiled nonetheless, and before I could move, Ollie cooed, a faint cry dropping from his lips. I circled the couch, grabbing him from Trevor's chest. He must've been exhausted since he barely stirred when I removed Oliver from his chest.

I shushed Oliver as I bounced my knees. "No need to wake up Papa, Ollie. You're okay, my love," I whispered, walking a few steps to sit at the end of the L-shaped couch.

I unbuttoned my shirt, releasing my breast from its cup, and positioning Oliver to suckle. He latched immediately and I sighed, having missed the feeling of my son attached to my chest. I brought my legs up, adjusting both my son and I in a more comfortable position. I beamed down at him, watching as his blue eyes tried to focus on my face. My thumb caressed his cheek as he suckled.

"Noa," Trevor mumbled as he pulled Theo closer to him.

I snickered softly and shook my head. Those two had grown thick as thieves, and though most of the time I found it completely adorable, it had worked my nerves on more than one occasion. Oliver made suckling noises, swallowing, and cooing as he played with my fingers. To a mother, those were the most beautiful sounds your child could make when nursing. It's a beautiful bonding experience and I craved it more than once throughout this entire ordeal.

Theo whimpered and I looked up, watching as she sat up, wiping at her eyes. "Theo," I called out softly for her.

Her head turned and she adjusted her eyes at me. She crawled away from her father on the couch until she reached me. "Mami, you're home," she finished with a yawn.

I leaned sideways to kiss her forehead. "I am," I smiled. "What is your hair, Theodora Langan?"

"Papa let it down," she admitted, nestling underneath my bosom.

I shook my head, "I can see. Hold on, mama, let me lay down." I shifted, releasing Oliver's fingers and accommodating several throw pillows against the armrest and leaning back so that Theo could rest on me as well as Oliver, "There, come here."

Theo climbed between my legs and settled underneath my chest. One of her knees dug at my ribs, but I would take that sweet pain over not feeling anything at all. I burped Oliver and saw as his little eyes began to drift, and as I listened to my children's breathing even out, I too concealed sleep in that moment.

x x x

The sun was bright as it filtered through the glass doors that led to our patio. The kids hadn't woken after our brief encounter last night, and Trevor had slept like a baby the entire night. I adjusted my eyes to the bright, offending light; thankful that I had decided to shed my contacts on the plane ride home. My glasses had remained on my face for the entirety of the night and I pushed them up my nose. I groaned, feeling my muscles ache due to having held my children close to me for the night and not being able to move and find true comfort. I shifted, feeling Theo's little arm tighten around my waist. I ran my hand down her curly mane, watching as she smiled and moved her head to face me.

"Mami," she said, digging her chin on my side.

"Hermosa," I responded with a smile.

She pushed her body up, digging her little palms on my stomach until she reached my neck, "I missed you! Why were you gone so long?"

"I know ma, I know," I rested my head against hers. "Next time, I'll take you with me."

I turned my head, placing a kiss to her hair. She giggled, "I come to work with you, Mami?"

"Yes, you can come to work with me, but we won't tell Papa."

She giggled again, "Papa missed you too."

I bit my lip as my daughter sighed against my skin. "I missed you all," I patted her back. "Are you hungry?"

She nodded against my chest, "Can we have 'nana pancakes?"

I shook my head, "Yes we can, but we have to get up and give Ollie to Papa."

She moved, digging her leg in my groin.

I winced, that was something I could live without, constantly being prodded and used as a couch cushion, but I couldn't deny admitting that I'd missed it after two weeks of not having it. She slid off the couch and I stood, supporting Oliver's back. I dropped him off on Trevor's inside elbow and watched as they both sighed in unison as Oliver pouted and stretched his fingers. I bent at the waist and picked up Theo, properly receiving my first hug in two weeks from her. I kissed her cheek and directed her to the kitchen where we got busy mashing bananas for the pancakes.

We didn't notice, but between our constant laughter and continuous shrieks of joy, Oliver woke. I could hear his cries and before I could move, Trevor grumbled. I placed my forefinger to my lips, shushing Theo playfully. The girl giggled and parroted me, bringing her butter-covered finger to her lips.

"Theo?" I heard Trevor question in confusion. "Theo, where are you?"

I nodded at Theo, "I make 'nana pancakes, Papa."

The quick shuffle that followed afterwards was enough to make me snicker. He came in the kitchen flustered and barely out of slumber when he noticed me. He smirked and closed his eyes, holding Ollie to his chest, "When did you get in?"

He kissed Theo's hair, standing besides me as I flipped a pancake, "Last night, it was almost midnight."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

I turned, leaning my hip against the stove, "You looked tired, plus Ollie had just woken up and I was breastfeeding him. Theo woke up a little bit after that—"

He captured my lips in a quick kiss. "God, I missed your ramblings," he mused, pressing his lips against my own in a searing kiss.

"Do you want to sit down with Theo while this pancake finishes? I'll take Ollie and eat while he feeds," I spoke against his lips, pressing mine against his. "We can climb in bed and let the kids wreak havoc around the house, what do you say?" I smiled, slowly opening my eyes.

"Can we put them outside instead?" he chuckled, smirking.

I shook my head, pushing at his chest.

He turned around and sat on the kitchen island, whilst I finished with our breakfast. After plating everything, we sat and ate and Trevor and I swapped Oliver in order for me to feed him. It was loud and boisterous, but what morning wasn't when I had my rambunctious toddler with me? After we were done, I took the kids upstairs for bath time whilst Trevor left to pick up Billings from the vet, having been kept for observation after Theo accidentally fed her chocolate chips from her yogurt bowl.

I had showered and set up a place for Theo and Oliver to play on the ground in my room when I heard Billings' bark from my door. She knew she wasn't allowed in any room unless she was called for so I beckoned her to me and basked in her love. Trevor jumped in the shower and when he came out, I was in the middle of nursing Oliver once more. He eased next to me, resting his head on his pillow and wrapping his arm around me.

"You're not allowed to leave this house again."

I snorted, watching Theo dance in front of her father's tablet, "And, who are you to forbid me from doing anything?"

I felt Trevor bite the skin above my elbow. "Your fucking husband," he chortled. "I will tie you to this bed if I have to."

"Is that a promise?" I quirked an eyebrow, turning my head to look at his smiling face.

"It was more of a threat, but a promise will do."

"You're so full of it," I tittered. "What did the vet say?"

"Oh," he slid his arm down my torso to rest at my hip. "Her symptoms were mild—restlessness, elevated heart rate, and some frequent urination. They lasted up until three in the morning though, and Theo fed her the chocolate at ten in the morning, so we dodged a bullet there."

I sighed, "I'm sorry."

"For what? It happens, Noa. We have a curious kid who's learning what nurturing is. She was just trying to make Billings 'feel better'."

I nodded dejectedly, "I'll try to not be so long next time. I didn't mean to leave you with all of... this."

He rested his head on his elbow, "Hey, we're in this together. They're my kids as much as they are yours, and I cannot expect you to do this all on your own."

"I just gave birth a couple of months ago and I up and left my first month back at work, what does that have to say about our situation? I bet people had a lot to say…"

"People don't live in this house, people do not pay the bills, or care for my children; you and I do. The only people that needed and could say something about anything are with you in this bed," he paused, kissing my arm. "I'm proud of you. This was an opportunity for you and you went for it."

I smiled, helping Oliver have a better latch by propping his head on my forearm, "Thank you, for everything."

He sat up, kissing my lips and easing me back against the headboard. I felt his hand at my neck, gently applying pressure when I broke the kiss, panting, and out of breath. I rested my forehead against his mouth, swimming in my own arousal when I glanced down at the sleeping face of my son. His suckling noises had ceased and he'd broken the latch as he fell asleep. He had an arm curled against his chest and his pouty lips parted as he breathed in easily. I felt Trevor's lips on my neck and I hitched a breath, shrugging my shoulder, and leaning my head against his cheek.

"Don't fight me. I've missed you," I smirked, feeling his breath against my skin.

"I have your son in my arms and your daughter is at the foot of our bed."

"He's sleeping and she's—" he paused, lifting his head to watch Theodora resting her head on Billings' stomach. "Theo?"

Theo stood, climbing the stool we had at the foot of the bed to then crawl up the bed. She settled between my legs, yawning, "¿Tienes sueño, belleza?"

She smiled sleepily at me and nodded. "Come on then," Trevor said. "Go with Mama for nap time."

I knew why he had left her to me, his desire was peaking, and I already had Oliver in my arms, so might as well. I tucked myself inside my camisole, lowering a leg and then the other to stand. I dropped the kids off in their respective rooms with Billings following suit and returned, to find Trevor shedding his shirt.

"How old are you again?" I quipped, closing our bedroom door.

He chuckled, climbing out of the bed through my side and pushing me against the door, "Old enough to fuck my wife senseless, and after I've thoroughly fucked her, I'll make love to her until she passes out."

I hummed, scratching at his sides, "I don't see your wife anywhere around, care to take me instead?"

"Every day for the rest of my life," he said with conviction.