Lainey and CB share a sweet moment with their baby.

~.~

She's noticed a certain air of confidence about him again. Something she's always seen in him, but never quite fixated on until now. The way he carries their sweet baby, the way he opens doors for her when she's carrying him, the way he wakes up in the middle of the night to feed him, the way he sings cartoon theme songs to him at naptime, even the way he changes diapers in the morning before work. It's almost as if he's a different person - not completely different; he's still her best friend, her lover, her husband. He's just changed somehow. And she knows exactly what it is… he's a father now.

It's been the most amazing year - marrying him, having his baby, caring for their child together. It's been a whirlwind for sure, but she wouldn't change anything about their lives now. If you'd told her last year at this time that she would be married to her best friend and holding their child in her arms, she would've scoffed in your face. It hasn't been all moonlight and roses, though; they've had their share of struggles too. But they've always persevered and came out stronger on the other side. Their love has always seen them through.

And to imagine it all started with a kiss - a sweet, chaste kiss that changed everything between them. Her eyes were finally opened that fateful morning and she knew in her heart she would never be the same - she fell in love with her best friend. The one who was there all along and loved her just as much in return. In some way, he always had; he was waiting for her and would've waited a lifetime for her if he had to. Luckily, he didn't have to wait long.

She looks over at him holding their beautiful fair-haired child as she grades papers in the living room of their apartment. He gazes back at her, the smile blooming across his face. He mouths the words "I love you," and her heart almost bursts with overwhelming happiness. She smiles, returning back to her grading, only to hear his sweet voice begin to sing.

"You've got a friend in me…" Her head pops back up, and he winks at her from his perch on the chair. "You've got a friend in me…"

Tears begin to seep from her eyes beyond her control, remembering when he sang the same song to her the moment before they shared their first kiss.

"If you got troubles, I got them too…" He returns his attention to their baby boy. "There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. We stick together, we can see it through…" His voice begins to crack with emotion. "Cause you've got a friend in me… yeah, you've got a friend in me."

She stands up and walks over to her two favorite boys in the world, taking a seat on the arm of the chair. She joins her husband in finishing out the song.

"Some other folks might be a little bit smarter than I am… bigger and stronger too, maybe… but none of them will ever love you the way I do… it's me and you, boy."

He reaches up and takes her hand in his, placing a tender kiss across her knuckles.

"And as the years go by, our friendship will never die… you're gonna see it's our destiny... you've got a friend in me… you've got a friend in me."

"Thank you, Lainey," he manages to say, peering up at her.

"For what?" she asks and wipes away her tears.

"Little Charlie here," he replies, his blue eyes stained with tears as well. He lovingly squeezes her hand. "And this wonderful life. I never knew I could be this happy."

"Thank you for never giving up on me," she says, bending down to press a kiss to his lips.

"Ha, I knew you'd come around… one day." He laughs as she pulls away.

"And I did."

"You most certainly did." He smiles down at their slumbering child before returning his gaze to her. "I love you, Mrs. Brown."

She loves the sound of her new last name, especially when it crosses his lips. She figures she'll never grow tired of hearing it.

"And I love you, Mr. Brown… forever and always."

THE END

~.~

Thank you so much for reading! Hope you enjoyed this fic which started as a angsty drabble and turned into something much more. I loved writing CB and Lainey as a couple and wanted to give them the happy ending they deserved. Hopefully, they will be given something similar in canon as well. Let me know what you thought. ~ Dazzy xxoo