*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
"Hey," I say to Dean as I walk into the waiting room of the dance studio as he is watching Natalia practice her ballet.
"Hey, Beautiful," he says with a smile before he greets me with a kiss as I sit down next to him. "How was work?"
"It was good," I say with a smile. "I have an interview with Megan Trainor in couple days. I can't wait. Natalia is going to go crazy when she finds out."
"I bet isn't that one of her favorite singers?" he asks me.
"Yeah," I say with a smile. "How is she doing tonight?"
"She's doing pretty well," he says, "she had a problem in school today."
"I heard about it from the teacher," I say, "what should we do about it?"
"I don't know," he says, "she was defending herself against the girl that was making fun of her. The girl has been giving her a problem all year she said."
"Yeah I know. I've talked to the principal about it and he has yet to do anything to stop the bullying. I wish she would be more like us well more like you," I say. "You didn't tolerate all the bullying."
"My solution was to punch someone in the face when they messed with me," he says, "I don't want that for Natalia but apparently kicking someone in the shin and punching them in the stomach is her solution to the issue."
"And she got her ass kicked for it," I say, "we've got to get her out of that school."
"Yeah," he says, "soon enough. When I get back from Europe we'll start looking for houses in Connecticut and soon enough we won't have to worry about this nonsense in her school. She did at least get a few good punches in. Remember when I kicked Shawn's ass at school?"
I smile as I think about it. "Yeah," I say. "You know what happened to him?" I ask.
"Not really. I don't really keep up with the people from Cincinnati anymore. The day I left, I never looked back."
"Same here," I say. "The only people I talk to are my dad, Chastity and Rod. I don't really talk to anyone else."
"What happened to Shawn I'm dying to hear this one," he says.
"My dad said there was a huge scandal that went on with his dad's company. It got bought out in a takeover and Shawn lost everything. He is back living with his mom and dad with his 4 kids. He doesn't really do much of anything."
"Serves him right," says Dean. "That guy was such an asshole. He always thought he was better than everyone. He thought because he had some money in his pocket that he was God's gift to the world. He was a prick."
"He really was," I say with a smile as I take Dean's hand into mine. "I'm glad I chose you."
"I'm glad you chose me too," he says with a smile as he looks down at me with his blue eyes. "Look at everything we would be missing," he says pointing to Natalia. "I don't care how she came to be or how she was created she was made out of our love for each other. She changed both of our lives. I wouldn't want to make a baby with anyone else."
"I guess you're my favorite person to make a person with," I say with a smile as he lets out a laugh.
"You're my favorite person to make a person with too," he says before he kisses my cheek softly. "Forever, Ana. I don't care what we've been through we're here now and we're good. I think we have a pretty good future."
"Me too," I say as I watch Natalia dance her heart out in the studio. I watch her dance and tears fill my eyes. She reminds me of myself when I danced. It's ironic the day my dream came true is the same day I found out I was pregnant with her. I had to give it up to be a mom. I'm glad I did though because my life without Natalia would be so meaningless. It's always the unexpected that you love the most. Natalia was most unexpected but she was the greatest gift and blessing I have been given. "Are you coming to her recital?" I ask.
"I'm going to tell Hunter and Steph that I need off. It falls the same weekend as a pay-per-view so I'm not sure I will be able to get out of it. If anything I'll miss a house show that Saturday, come to her recital and take a red eye flight out of New York for the pay per view. I don't want to let her down."
"I know you haven't missed a dance recital ever," I say. "She's counting on you to be there."
"I'll be there," he says as he plays with my engagement ring. "Do you really like it?"
"I love it," I say. "It's perfect. It's beautiful. It's us."
"I wasn't sure if you would like it or not."
"I love it because it is from you and it is a symbol of a promise between us."
"Okay," he says with a smile as I rest my head on his chest. A couple years ago Dean and I were not in a good place at all. He was gone all the time and on top of that he was living away from us. I'm ashamed of myself but I fell into the trap of adultery and ended up dating my boss Stephen. I'm not proud of it. I didn't plan it. It just happened. I was lonely and I ended up sleeping with my boss. We had a small fling but I ended it. I told Dean and nearly lost him because of it. I'm glad he came around because I can't picture my life without him. I should have never been with Stephen or let myself sleep with another man but it happened. I wish I could take it back but I can't. What's done is done. Dean and I have worked through it and we're in a better place now getting ready to plan out the rest of our lives together. "Do you ever miss it?"
"Miss what?" I ask as I watch Natalia do a turn series perfectly across the floor.
"Dancing do you miss it?"
"Sometimes yeah," I say, "but I gave it up to be a mom and I don't regret that. I would much rather be a mom than a ballerina any day. It's tough sometimes but when I see Natalia it is all worth it. Look at her though," I say with a smile. "She is so perfect at it I'm amazed. She got my dance ability. She wants to be a ballerina too. I just hope it happens for her."
"Me too," he says, "Let's just say she is working solo on a Great Gatsby project when she gets older."
I let out a laugh and say, "Agreed but if we didn't have that project we wouldn't be here right now."
"I don't know, Ana, true love has a way of working itself out. If it hadn't been the project it would have been something else. True love works that way."
"Very true," I say with a smile as we continue to watch Natalia work on her ballet.
LATER THAT EVENING:
"So Natalia, can you tell me what happened at school today?" I ask her as Dean, Natalia and I are sitting at the kitchen table after dinner.
"What are you talking about exactly?" she asks.
"You know what your mom is talking about," says Dean, "what happened in school today with that girl Amber?"
"Oh Amber," she says making a face. "I kicked her in the shin and punched her in the stomach then she punched me and tried to beat me up so I fought back."
"But you started it," says Dean.
"No, Dad, she started it by calling me dumb because I can't read. She always calls me dumb and stupid. I'm not dumb and I'm not stupid. I just don't read like everyone else. I'm tired of everyone calling me dumb and picking on me so I wanted to make her be quiet."
"Violence isn't the answer," I say. "You tell the teacher about it."
"No, Mom, I did that she doesn't listen. No one listens and no one was doing anything about it." She speaks the truth. I have even talked to the principal and the teacher and nothing has been done. "So I handled it."
"But not the right way," I say.
"Then what is the right way if she keeps picking on me, Mom? Am I supposed to let her do it? Words hurt me sometimes."
"I know, Natalia," I say, "but you got yourself suspended from school."
"I don't care. I don't like that stupid school anyway. I want to go somewhere else where the kids are nice."
"And we are working on that," I say. "You will probably be in a new school next year."
"I will?" she asks. "How?"
"Well," I say, "Your dad and I are talking about buying a house in Connecticut. You'll go to a whole new school and make new friends. You won't be bullied."
"Are you for real?" she asks.
"Yes," I say. "I'm for real. When Dad gets back from Europe we're going to go looking for houses and hopefully be able to move to Connecticut by the end of the summer."
"What about my dance classes?"
"You'll go to dance class in Connecticut."
"Do you know how hard I worked at my dance school to be the best?"
"I know but moving to Connecticut will be good for us," I say, "we can have a house with a backyard and have a swimming pool. We can get you a trampoline. We won't be stuck in a penthouse."
"I don't know," she says. "Are the ballet schools good in Connecticut?"
"I'm sure they are," I say, "and I'm sure the schools are better than the one you go to now."
"I hope so," she says. "So we are really moving?"
"It's a big possibility," says Dean. "If not we will get you out of that school we promise."
"Okay," she says. "I really don't want to go there anymore."
"I know," I say. "I don't like what you did but sometimes bullies do need to be shut up when no one else does anything about it. I hate bullying. It's one of the things I always hated growing up. Your dad was bullied when he was younger."
"You were?" she asks him.
"Yeah," he says, "it doesn't feel good but the best way to handle a bully is don't give them the power to hurt you. The moment they see you react and the moment you give into their words you are giving them power. I know words hurt. They can tear you up inside but you have got to do your best not to let anyone make you feel like you don't matter because you do. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks of you what matters is what you think of yourself. Do you think you're stupid?"
"No," she says.
"Then don't let anyone make you feel like you do. You're not stupid. We went through this. There are things we are good at and there are things we are bad at. You're amazing at math and science," says Dean. "Reading isn't your strong point. It wasn't mine either but you know what I got better at it and you can too. I used to get called all sorts of things and I let that tear me down. I let it affect me but when I met your mom she believed in me and she had all positive things to say. She helped me see the potential in myself and helped me see that no one's opinion mattered more than my own. This is why I am the way I am today, Natalia. You don't think I have critics out there? There's always someone that has something bad to say about me or have some rumor or lie to make up about me. It happens in life. You can't play into it. I know at 10 it's probably hard for you to understand it and it's hard for you to just shake it off but you can't give the bullies power."
"Okay, Dad," she says, "but I don't think Amber is going to mess with me again."
"I hope she doesn't," he says, "but your mom is right. Violence is not the answer. I will admit I had some good fights back in my day," he says as I elbow him and shake my head. "But it was the wrong way to handle things. I ended up getting myself in trouble too just like you did. Was it worth missing a few days of school because of it?"
"No," she says. "I'm sorry," she says. "It's just I couldn't take it anymore."
"I know," he says. "And if it happens again you let me know. I'll handle it."
"Okay," she says.
"Come here," says Dean as he holds his arms out for Natalia. She gets up and smiles at him. "You're a beautiful and smart little girl. You don't let anyone make you think different. I love you for the way you are and you don't have to change yourself for anyone. Okay?"
"Okay," she says with a smile. Dean is so good with her it makes me smile. He is the best dad a girl could ask for. It makes me start to think about the baby thing. He wants one maybe I'll give him another one. He deserves it; I just have to really think about it before I make any decisions. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too," he says giving her a hug and kissing her cheek. "Forever my baby you'll be." She smiles and kisses his cheek. "Remember when I read you that book?"
"I do," she says. "It's my favorite book," she says with a smile. She walks over to me and gives me a hug. "I love you, Mama."
"I love you too, Baby Girl," I say with a smile before I kiss her cheek. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," she says with a smile before she walks out of the kitchen and to her bedroom to go to bed. She's a good kid she just has trouble with her anger sometimes she just has to learn how to control it like her dad has.
Once Natalia is settled in bed Dean and I are left alone to talk and enjoy the night together before he leaves the next morning to go back out on the road. I hate the thought of him leaving but soon he'll be with us all the time or more than usual. I walk into the living room and hand him a beer and take a seat next to him. "Thanks," he says with a smile.
"You're welcome," I say with a smile as I open my own beer and take a swig. "So," I say. "I think we have a future to discuss."
"I like the sound of a future talk," he says with a smile as he opens his beer. He doesn't drink a lot just enough to unwind. He knows when to stop himself now and never goes beyond his limits. "So what about the future, Baby?" he asks with a smile.
"I don't know the wedding maybe. When do you want to get married?"
"I'm ready to get married whenever you are," he says, "you know that. We could go get married tomorrow and I would be happy."
"Hmm," I say with a smile, "sounds promising. I don't want a long engagement. I feel like we've been together for 11 years so why wait another 2 years before we get married."
"How long were you thinking?"
"Well, I was thinking of having a December wedding," I say. "I know it's 8 months away and there is so much that we need to do and planning it would be quick but I don't want to wait any longer than that to get married."
"So December," he says taking a swig of beer. "I can work with that. Do you want a big wedding or a small wedding?"
"Doesn't matter," I say, "it could just be you, Talli and me. Well of course my dad he would want to see us get married so he would have to be there and you can have your best friend there. I just want to get married," I say with a smile. "I'm ready to be Mrs. Dean Ambrose. I have been ready for a while."
"I've been ready to make you my wife for years now. I just feel like this is the best time. We can afford the wedding we want. Are you sure you don't have a dream wedding?"
"I don't know. I do but how much of a dream wedding can I have in 8 months. I have to go dress shopping, we have to send out save the dates, wedding invitations, pick the meal choices, the wedding cake flavor."
"We can do that in 8 months," he says with a smile. "Were you thinking of a special date in December?"
"Christmas Eve," I say with a smile. "I think it would be so beautiful to have a Christmas Eve wedding and it would be different."
"I like the sound of that," he says with a smile. "Anastasia, whatever you want you can have it. This day is about you. If you want to go out and have the biggest most expensive wedding we will if not that's okay too," he says. "I want you to be happy. I'll just show up when you tell me to and do what I need to do."
"It's your day too," I say with a smile. "I want you to have some part in the wedding planning."
"Okay so we'll work together on this and we'll have our wedding in December," he says.
"Thanks, Baby. I just can't wait for the day."
"Me either," he says with a smile. "It's going to be the best day of our lives. We deserve this," he says wrapping his arm around me. "It's been a long road but we're here and I don't want to travel with anyone else on this journey of life."
"Me either," I say as I rest my head on his chest. "And speaking of life's journeys," I say with a smile.
"Yeah?" he asks taking another swig of his beer.
"I was watching you with Natalia tonight. I love seeing you with her. I love seeing you being a dad. You're amazing at it. She loves you to death and I love you to death. And that means you deserve to be happy too. I know my career is REALLY important to me and I love it so much but I know how much you love being a father. I love being a mom too. I wouldn't give it up for the world. It's the best job in the world to me," I say with a smile as I rub his thigh softly.
"And?" he asks looking at me with a smile on his face. "What are you saying, Ana?"
"I'm saying that it's time to start trying for another baby. I'm going to throw my birth control pills out and we'll start trying."
"Are you serious?" he asks with a smile on his face.
"I'm dead serious. I'm throwing them out tomorrow in fact I didn't take my pill this evening like I should have. It's open game now and we'll let life happen."
"Ana," he says with a smile. "I'm so happy. Thank-you."
"You're welcome," I say with a smile. The joy on his face makes me smile. "But I only want one more. This will be it."
"Deal," he says. "I can handle one more," he says with a smile before he presses his lips against mine kissing me softly and deeply as I rub his inner thigh. "Keep that up, Ana and we'll be making a baby tonight," he says against my lips.
"So why don't we go try?" I ask in a whisper against his lips.
"You don't have to ask me twice," he says with a smile before he kisses me once again. He takes my beer from me and puts it down on the coffee table and puts his down on the table next to mine. I stand up and take his hand, pulling him to me and kiss his lips softly.
"Let's go make that baby," I say with a smile before he scoops me up from the floor and carries me to my bedroom where we spend the night making love to each other and enjoying each other before he goes away for a couple weeks.
*A/N: Would you say that Dean and Ana are in a good place now after everything they have gone through? What do you think of Natalia being bullied in school but no one doing anything about it? What are your thoughts on her taking matters into her own hands to stop the bullying? Do you think she inherited Dean's temper as well? How do you think Dean and Ana handled the situation? What do you think of Ana wanting a short engagement? What do you think of her choosing Christmas Eve as her wedding day? What do you think of her making the decision to start trying for a baby? Please review and thank-you for reading.