Chapter Text
Waking to the sun's spotted rays, warmly kissing your skin, blankets kicked away in the middle of the night, exposing you to the room's chilling air, lovingly fought off by the warm arm tucked under your own. Hot breaths blanketing the back of your neck, sending warm, fuzzy shivers down the length of your spine.
Slowly opening your eyes to the bright room, the sun's reach is vast, unblocked by the thin curtains. Head barely lifting, seeing the view they allow of the sea, at the cost of the ache behind your eyes.
Gaze snapping to the man that lies beside you, rewarded with another view. Andrew still sleeping softly, head dipping the pillow heavily, eyes closed, unmoving. Only when turning, body facing the father of your child, does he stir. Light auburn lashes feathering open, meeting Andrew's hazel eyes, melting the sleep from your mind, leaving only the feeling of pure love.
Watching his eyes flicker over the length of your face, studying every feature. Meeting his soft eyes once again, head still against your pillow as he moves forward. Warm breaths now falling onto your lips, eyes scanning one another, asking, waiting for the next move.
The distance, the slow, careful breaths, reminding you of simpler times. Even the nervous stare in Andrew's eyes brought you back to a time, lying atop his twin bed, faces moving closer and closer until your lips met. Falling in love with him at each show of soft shyness, every little thing he did for you.
Though your first kiss was cut short as Smurf shouted for Andrew to help his brother with setting up the backyard for a party, leaving you alone atop his twin bed that Smurf had refused to exchange for a bigger one once you'd both made the relationship public.
Furrowing at the troubling memories, eyes breaking from their parked state, noticing Andrew moving away. Reaching up to his face, gently cupping his cheek with a silent reassurance.
"It's not you I'm mad at," you whisper, staring into Andrew's hazel eyes that glow under the warm specks of the sun's rays, decorating both of your faces.
"I'm mad at all the years we lost," you sigh, softening your hard brows. Moving your head closer this time, feeling his nervous breath fall upon your lips.
Witnessing Andrew's eyes flicker to your lips, knowing the man wishes the years had been different, too, that the wall of heartbreak and pain wasn't between you. Granting the man's sole wish, lips inching closer, eyes stealing glances at one another's lips in anticipation.
Broken by the distant pit-pats of feet coming down the hall, separating to look towards the bedroom door. Watching as it opens to the sight of your daughter, eyes tired but smiling widely, seeing both of you. Smiling at her messed hair, stuffed animal in hand that Andrew had won her years ago at a county fair.
"Good morning," you hum lovingly, opening your arm to her, accepting the openness immediately. Scurrying across the room into your arms, pulling up between both of you.
Hearing the song of giggles singing from her as you shower her with kisses, planting them on her cheek and head. Tucking her warmly under the thick covers, wrapping her securely in both of your arms. Stillness falls over your little family, watching as her eyes flicker between the two of you, smile growing wider in the process.
"Did you sleep good?" you ask, brushing a hand over the top of her head, fighting back on some of the messy strands of hair as she nods.
"No nightmares?" Shaking her head 'no,' smiling before turning to face her dad. Witnessing as his eyes turn from watching the two with pure affection to now finding her face, reminding you of the day he first set his eyes on her in the hospital room. Saying aloud how he found it hard to believe that she was real and a piece of both of you.
"Are you staying with us forever this time, Daddy?" she asks innocently, breaking your heart, seeing as his does as well. Staring at Andrew's face, allowing you to catch his eyes before they look down at his daughter.
"I don't know about forever, but I'll be here for a while," he says, pulling her into his chest, comforting them both.
Chest filling with a frustrating sadness, wanting nothing more than for him to stay, even for all of you to live under the same roof. Though impossible with Smurf, as she'd just dump all the dirty work onto Andrew, then send him home on edge, or on the brink of death, knowing you'd patch him up at the end.
Refusing to allow that sight of damage around your daughter, leaving seemed to make his mother back off, as an eight-year-old couldn't stitch a wound.
"You're not getting together?" she asks, looking up at her father, only for him to look at you, unable to answer.
"What made you think that, baby?" you ask, keeping your tone light, watching her curl into Andrew's chest. Understanding the subject of her question is a touchy one.
"We're always happier together. I want us to stay like that forever," she answers, causing a frown to weigh down your face. Glancing at Andrew to see his reaction to the heart-aching statement, reading he wanted that too, more than anything. Hugging your daughter close, planting a kiss atop her head, whispering into her hair.
"Something needs time to happen, but you'll be the first to know if that happens, okay?" You lightly squeeze her, too afraid to look up at Andrew, knowing his reaction would cave in the wall you'd put up to stay away from Smurf's son, the man you love so dearly.
"In the meantime, what do you think about Daddy cooking pancakes for us?" you say, feeling the little girl start to squirm with excitement.
"Yeah, yeah! Make us pancakes, Daddy!' she chants, causing both the corners of your lips and eyes to lift up. Smiling as you gaze into the soft, hopeful hazel eyes, sending a large crack into the protective wall around your heart.
Watching as your daughter starts to yank her father's arm, Andrew smiles at her sweetly, giving in to her adorable demands. Rising from the bed with a grunt of aging joints, sitting on the edge, giving her an opening to jump atop his back.
"Carry me!" she chirps, wrapping her small arms around his neck. Rising with her, tucking her short legs over his forearms before walking around the bed and to the door.
Watching as they both disappear past the door frame, leaving you to stew on the possibility of your family's future. Running a hand over your face, grumbling a sigh, fighting off the family fever that burns within your chest. Giving yourself a few minutes before sitting up in bed, blinking away all the thoughts of how life would be much sweeter, simpler if you gave forever a try.
Stepping on the rug below, turning back round to quickly fix the bedding, then walking out of the room and down the hall. Smelling the scent of coffee first, then hearing the sizzle of butter and batter cooking in a pan. Exiting the hall welcomed by the sight of your daughter standing on tippy-toes to mix the bowl of pancake batter as Andrew flips a pancake.
"Smells good," you say, looking over to the pan the to the bowl. Stepping behind your daughter, placing a hand atop her head, then planting a kiss.
"I want the first pancake," she chirps, stopping her mixing to look up at you.
"Of course, baby, why don't you go watch cartoons, and I'll bring it to you," you say, watching as she wastes no time, running to the living room.
"Coffee's ready," Andrew says, motioning to the coffee maker with the spatula.
Moving around him, noticing two mugs set in front of the maker, one filled with coffee, as the other sat empty waiting for you. Fighting back the smile that pulled at your lips, grabbing the mug, pouring the strong liquid into it.
Fixing it to your liking, before cradling the warm ceramic mug, leaning against the counter. Watching as he makes another cake in the pan, eyes wandering over his arms, flexing as he puts the bowl back down upon the counter, sparking the memories of how they used to hold you, which always led to kisses being planted on your neck and cheek.
Pulling yourself out of the thought, glancing back up to his face, only to realize you'd been caught. Eyes locking with one another, looking away, cheeks flushing, staring at the kitchen floor, feeling the fall of your wall, allowing the question that had been eating away at your mind to slip from your lips.
"Would you want to try again?" you ask, as if his answer wouldn't be anything other than a "yes," but insecurity ate away at you ever since you left, preparing for the day he mentions someone new.
"Try what?" he asks, hand stilling mid-air, aware of what you meant. Noticing how Andrew's eyes refused to look at you, afraid of being wrong.
"Us," you say, setting down your coffee, watching as he peers up from the pan. Softening at the sight of Andrew's eyes as they plead with your soul to not crush the hope within him, to not take anything you had said back.
"I mean it, Andrew," you confirm, seeing his shoulders slump, a frown taking control of his lips, causing them to quiver. Nodding as he reaches both arms out, taking you in his arms. Hearing Andrew's silent sobs into your shoulder, causing emotions to bubble up your throat, eyes burning to cry with him.
Instead, you pull away, looking into Andrew's tearful eyes, gently wiping away tears, earning a sad smile from him. Hands moving, resting on your hips, noticing his eyes flicker to your lips.
"You have someone waiting on their pancakes in the next room," you say, seeing realization spark in his eyes, swiftly turning back to the stove.
Grabbing plates from the cabinet above the coffee maker, holding one out for Andrew to transfer the last cake onto a plate for your daughter, who sits patiently atop your couch, sucked into her favorite cartoon. Leaving him to plate the rest, stepping into the living room, setting the plate down atop the coffee table rather than the dining table, knowing she'd bring it to the coffee table to get a better view away.
Walking back into the kitchen to get her a cup of juice, only to see the fridge open, Andrew pouring the orange liquid into a plastic cup before handing it over to you. Returning the sweet smile he gives you, moving to the living room once again.
Settling down onto the couch as your daughter happily smacks away on her pancakes, drinking her juice loudly as Andrew brings both of your plates. Taking the plates of food from him, allowing Andrew to go back, bringing your mugs of coffee.
Sitting down next to you, digging into your food, smiling at the taste, made just how you taught him to on the mornings in the Cody house when no one was home to bother you.
Leaning over, chewing on the sweet cake, resting your head against Andrew's shoulder. Freezing the man, feeling his eyes fall onto you before his head touches down atop yours. Chest blooming with warmth, snuggling closer to Andrew, eyes staying on the TV, scared if you peered up, this second chance would turn into something that would last forever.