Disclaimer: I own everything but their names.

April 10, 2019 – Santa Cruz, California

"Do you love me, do you surfer girl? Surfer girl… my little surfer girl…" I sing, twirling around.

She smiles up at me, all pink squishy cheeks and big hazel eyes. She's got her mother's pretty face and my unruly hair. And there's only one girl in the whole world that's more beautiful.

She calls her mommy. I call her wife.

"Da-da-da-da-da," she sings back at me all sleepily, her eyes opening and closing slowly.

I smile, catching Bella out of the corner of my eye. She's standing in the doorway, watching us. Always watching. Since the morning Tyler was born it feels like she hasn't taken her eyes off of us. I can't stay that I blame her; I like watching her be a mommy, too.

"Hi," I mouth to her, snuggling the baby closer to my chest. Bella doesn't respond, just grins as I rock Tyler further into sleep.

Naptime is my job, and I take it seriously.

It wasn't long after Tyler came along that we set up a playpen for her here in the shop. She spends most of her days with us, and we wouldn't have it any other way. She's at that stage where everything she does is adorable, even the bad stuff.

Though she's running around this place like it's her job, she's not quite talking yet. At least, not like her brother was. I figure she's waiting for her big moment to let it all out.

Neither of us wants to miss it.

I know Bella has these lingering issues that stem from missing so much time with Lisle. She's voiced her guilt and regret to me many times since we've been together again, and I want to do everything I can to make sure she doesn't ever feel that with our baby girl.

I'm pretty much happy to give both of my girls anything they want.

I lay Tyler in the playpen, tugging the blanket up around her shoulders and tucking it beneath her chin the way she likes. The girl is a total burrito in her sleep, likes to be snug and warm and all squished. I honestly have no idea how she can stand to be so confined. Her brother was a wild man in the bed, rolling everywhere and throwing pillows on the floor. Sleeping with Lisle on nights when bad dreams hit were like preparing for battle. Sometimes I considered wearing a catcher's mask to bed.

But Tyler… she likes it thisway.

There are so many differences between them; things that make them exactly who they are. And it had surprised me at first. I thought I was prepared from the second Bella's water broke. I was the one who was supposed to be all chill and calm, helping her through it.

But I'm man enough to admit I was a wreck. I wasn't prepared at all. For how different I would feel… for how much more emotional I would be. How much I would hate seeing Bella in pain… and how it would break me to watch her hold our daughter in her arms for the first time.

I smile as I kiss the tips of my fingers and press them to Ty's cheek. "Sleep snug, little surfer girl," I whisper before shutting off the lights and heading to find Bella.

As I emerge from the back, she's just wrapping up with a customer. I join her at the register, waiting until he's gone to wind my arms around her from the back.

I bury my nose against her neck as I inhale. She hums and leans her head back against my shoulder. "She out?"

"Mmmhmm," I murmur against her skin.

"Good." She pushes me away with an elbow to the stomach and grabs a box from the counter, opening it and pulling out the contents, surprising me. Her look tells me I'm in trouble. "Want to tell me what this is about?"

My eyebrows lift and I shrug, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. I clutch the side of my abdomen where she elbowed me. "That hurt!"

"We talked about this," she says, ignoring my pouting face.

"I know," I reply, trying to keep my words at a minimum so as not to dig myself any deeper. Or to get hit again.

"She's too young!"

"Lisle was her age his first time," I say, trying to reason with her.

"Lisle's a boy. Boys are tougher," she argues.

I laugh and stare at her, wondering if she realizes what she's just said. "Thank goodness you're not part of the women's movement, Babe. They wouldn't achieve much."

"Oh, shut up, you know what I meant."

"Yes I know what you meant, but I still don't agree."

"What were you going to do, take her without me knowing?" she asks.

"Of course not! I just thought—" Fuck. I thought if I bought it, and Bella saw her in it, there was no way she would be able to say no. There's no way I can admit that, though.

"You were trying to trick me."

"No, I wasn't," I say, and then reconsider. Sometimes honesty works. "Okay, maybe a little."

She growls and looks down at the tiny pink wetsuit in her hands. She's quiet for a while, and I wonder what she's thinking about. If she's remembering herfirst time in one. I sure as hell remember. I couldn't keep my eyes off her.

I still can't.

"Do you remember your first time?" I ask, taking a step closer to her. She pulls the wetsuit in her hands closer to her chest and stares up at me.

"Yes." She pushes against me, but it's weak. There's a smile fighting the edges of her lips and about to break free.

"Me too," I whisper, and then kiss her softly.

"Stop trying to distract me with your wooing abilities," she tells me, smiling fully now as she pulls away.

I grin and then my expression turns serious. "You know me, Bella. You know I would never, ever let anything happen to her. Not ever."

"I know that, it's just…"

"I understand you're scared, but I need you to trust me. She's not too young."

Tyler's fiercely independent and stubborn, like her mom. She can do it. I know she can. I mean, come on… she's my kid. I've explained this to Bella time and time again. I think we've been arguing about the right age to get her in the water since the day she came into our lives.

The time is now; I'm sure of it. Bella will be too… she just needs a little push.

Bella's expression softens, and then turns a little mischievous. And that look is never good for me. She's planning something…

"Okay then, you know the deal," she says, smiling brightly.

I roll my eyes and sigh.

"Yes. If I'm wrong, Jasper gets to punch me."

This is completely unbeta'd, but it's been sitting in my docs for a few weeks now... there is a second part that I'll hopefully finish soon and post. You'll get to see Miss Tyler's first surf, and we'll bring back some of your favorite characters and see where they are in the future. :) In case you were wondering, she's about 2 and a half here.

Hope you liked this!

Thank you for reading!

xx