I See You by Missio
"No, no, no, no," I said, rushing over to Clifford as he tried to eat a rock. "Don't eat this, Cliff. This isn't food."
"Ew, Clifford's trying to eat a rock," Louise giggled. I groaned, they were really trying me today. Where the fuck was Sam? I'm gonna murder him when he gets back.
"You tried to eat rocks, too," I reminded her. Clifford giggled and flailed about happily. He had just turned one and a half a few weeks ago. Louise was five now. Normally I have the energy to keep up with them all day, but I was nearing the six months pregnant mark so I was just tired all of the time.
"Nuh uh," Louise said, crossing her tiny arms in defiance and sticking her chin out. Dear lord, she may not have Sam's genes but she's definitely inherited that face from him.
"Yeah huh," Clifford chimed in, standing on his feet and waddling through the grass. Louise quickly forgot her argument and ran after him.
I sighed. Today is chaos. I tucked my hair behind my ear, watching them play.
"Daddy!" the children yelled in unison, pointing at Sam as he walked up the road to our shelter.
"Well go get him," I laughed.
"C'mon, Cliff!" Louise grinned, holding his hand so he didn't fall. Of course they're perfect angels when Sam's around. There was a hard kick to my stomach. I smiled, putting my hand there.
"Sorry," Sam apologized, kissing me when he reached me. All thoughts of murdering him disappeared from my mind as soon as he was near me. Even after all of these years, he still manages to make everything okay just by being next to me.
"You missed Clifford trying to eat a rock," I smiled.
"Nah uh, it Louise," Clifford giggled. Louise looked panic-stricken.
"No it wasn't," she protested.
"I dunno," Sam smirked. "Cliff seems pretty sure it was you."
"Mom," Louise whined. She clung to my leg. I patted her on the head reassuringly.
"It's okay, I know you didn't try to eat that rock," I teased her. She looked up at me, her little green eyes indignant.
"Hey!"
Sam picked her up and kissed her on the forehead. "We're just teasing you, Lou."
"I know, I just didn't try to eat a rock."
"We've all tried to eat rocks," I reassured her. Sam looked at me.
"You tried to eat rocks? I never did that. I'm with Lou." I smiled, wrinkling my nose at him. He laughed, putting Lou down, and then kissing me. Lou held Cliff's hand again as we went into the shelter to put away the groceries and supplies Sam had just brought back. I was the last one at the door. I stopped, looking out at the sky. It looked like rain. But we don't have to worry about the rain any more.
"Everything okay?" Sam asked, coming back over to me. I smiled at him, kissing him gently.
"Everything's perfect."