Amelia POV

Work was very long. Owen had an off day and was supposed to be meeting up with his mother, so he had Bella with him all day. I had surgeries scheduled from the time I got there until the time I left. I was tired and cranky. I barely had anything to eat all day and I was missing my little family. I had to deeply focus on the drive home to not fall asleep behind the wheel. It didn't help it was just as the sun was starting to set so the visor was of no help to me. The warm late-spring sun shone into my eyes despite my sunglasses. I finally had made it home and pulled up the long driveway just to see a car I didn't recognize next to Owen's truck. Then it dawned on me- Evelyn was at the house. I took a deep breath to keep my cool then grabbed my purse to head inside. I couldn't get the front door open as my key would frequently get stuck in it so out of anger I banged my hand on the door. A few seconds later, Owen unlocked the door and smiled.

"Key got jammed again?"

"Everyday."

He yanked it out of the key hole and opened the door fully for me to walk in.

"Your mom is here?"

"She insisted."

I walked through the entry way and into the living room to see Evelyn holding Bella who was fussy and angry.

"Hello Amelia. I think she's hungry."

"Hi Evelyn. Nice to see you again."

I tried my best to be nice but I just wasn't feeling up to entertaining guests.

"You seem exhausted. How was work?"

"Long. I'll go get her a bottle."

Owen gave me a look so I knew he would get onto me later about being short with his mom. As I walked into the kitchen to grab one of the bottles I had pumped early that morning, I saw reenlistment papers on the counter. My stomach dropped down to my toes and I wanted to be sick. I put the bottle onto the warmer and paged through them. Nothing had been signed yet, but the principle of them even being in the house... The warmer dinged so I got the bottle and gave it to Evelyn.

"So you guys have her on formula?"

I could tell she was trying to judge us by the look on her face.

"No. I breastfeed her but obviously with our busy schedules, I have to pump for bottles too."

"Oh, that's exactly right."

"Will you be staying for dinner? I'm just making spaghetti."

"No dear, I am leaving shortly to go out to eat with John."

"Okay. Maybe next time."

There you go Owen, civil effort. I turned back for the kitchen again and got out the pasta, sauce, and meatballs for spaghetti. By the time I put the water on the stove-top to boil, Owen came in and took my hand so I would look at him.

"Amelia, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm tired."

"Obviously something is wrong. You were short with my mom."

"She was short with me. I'm as civil as I can. Please Owen, just drop it."

I didn't want to get into this right now. I just wanted to eat and hold Bella and sleep.

"There's something more. I know you like the back of my hand."

I looked over at the reenlistment papers on the other counter.

"Planning on an Iraqi getaway?"

"No, I can explain."

"You swore you were going to stick around. I know you're smart enough to not break my trust in you or to make me regret letting you back into mine and Bella's lives..."

"Exactly, I am smart enough. My commander sent those. He wants me back, but I'm not going. I have you, and we have Gabriella, and eventually I want us married and to have another baby or two. But we need time for all that. Time I wouldn't have if I went back into the army. I wasn't even going to open the packet. My mother did actually."

I took a deep breath and looked up at him.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course Amelia. I love you. You're stuck with me."

He pulled me in for a hug which I happily reciprocated.

"I love you too, if that matters."

He smiled down at me and gave me a kiss.

"Of course it matters. Why don't you take Bella up for a nap? You both could use one. I'll wake you up when dinner is ready. Please, go rest. I have to go get more diapers and wipes anyways. It'll be good for you. My mom is leaving soon anyways."

I gave him another kiss. What a saint. Running the errands and letting me take a nap? He didn't have to tell me twice.

"Thank you."

By the time I went back out into the living room, Bella had finished her bottle and Evelyn had already burped her.

"She's sleepy, Amelia. It was nice seeing you but I have to go meet John. Thank you for letting me meet her and for having me at your house."

I forced out a half fake, half real smile. It's not that I let her. They were supposed to have gone to her house, but it was whatever. That was Bella's grandma so I would have to get used to her being around, even if we got off to a bad start. Owen walked her outside so I took Bella upstairs and laid in our big king sized bed. Almost instantly, both of us were out like a light.

I woke up to Owen planting kisses on my cheeks and forehead, much like I would do to Bella. I felt refreshed. When I looked over at the clock, it was 7:30. I had napped a little under two hours but it was enough apparently.

"Hey you."

"Does dinner in bed sound good to you?"

As I sat up, adjusting Bella in my arms, I looked around the room. There were candles on our dresser and nightstands, with a vase of two dozen of fresh roses on my vanity. The tray had sparkling grape juice in champagne flutes, and our plates of spaghetti and meatballs with the sides of broccoli and rolls.

"It certainly looks good. What is the occasion?"

"Look closely at Bella."

It took me a second to get what he was saying, but then I saw a sliver of silver she was clenching in her little fist. He was proposing.

"Owen..."

"Amelia... I know this is fast, but that is what we are. You and I together, we are fast and furious. We have done everything out of order... Had the baby, then decided to be a couple, and it's been almost a month. You're no stranger to me and I'm in this for the long run. You're so strong and beautiful. You are exactly the lady I hope our daughter grows up to be. I want to go to sleep next to you every night, and wake up with you tangled in my arms the next morning. I want us to grow old together. I want a forever with you. You're the love of my life. I am in love with you. I always will be. Will you marry me?"

His speech had me all teary eyed. I couldn't help but fall for him even more.

"Yes, of course I will."

He got the ring out of Bella's hand and slid it into my finger, reaching over Bella to hug me and give me probably one of the best kisses I've ever got in my life. It was perfect. He was pretty close to perfect. Two broken, dark, and twisty people fit together like a glove. We were truly going to be a family now and I couldn't help but beam a huge smile. I had endured a lot of pain and loss to get to the place I'm at now. It was all worth it.

~So... the calm before the storm (which is the next chapter)... I know I have ghost readers. Reviews really do help me write the next chapter... So leave me your comments/suggestions/whatever in a review... Next chapter will be up tomorrow night or Wednesday night, depending on what's going on in my messy life.~