Chapter Text
Kevin woke up feeling like a teenager in love again; he had his first love, his childhood love with him and life couldn’t get any better. He gently reached out to Sophie’s sleeping form, caressing her back which was turned to him, her body rising just slightly as she was still fast asleep. He scooched over and snuggled up behind her, breathing in the smell of her hair - and the new shampoo he had learned to love anew. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was. It had taken him many decades, many failures and many tries to get here. And he wouldn’t leave this bed for anything.
Or at least, that’s what he thought, because right that moment the door to his bedroom was pushed open with great enthusiasm as his twins ran inside, Franny carrying a cake and Nicky jumping up onto the bed - and onto his dad - yelling “Happy Birthday, dad!!” His daughter pushed the three layer cake in his hands and Kevin quickly sat up & grabbed it to safely hug his beloved children. Through the still open door followed Madison with a somewhat apologetic smile.
“They wanted to come over and surprise you”, she said, “Elijah is waiting in the car, we’re just stopping by for a quick hello before school”.
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All the turmoil had woken Sophie, who needed a few seconds to take in the environment. Yes, she loved the twins and she accepted the weird family dynamic with Kevin’s ex-fiancee, the mother of his children. Nevertheless, it was something to get used to, being woken by children and said woman barging into her bedroom. Her bedroom. Sophie loved to think about Kevin’s bedroom as “her” bedroom. So whatever, just go along with it.
She sat up in bed and watched Kevin hugging his kids, smiling broadly like life couldn’t get any better. And maybe he was right, maybe this was what life was all about; a loving family (with boundary issues) ... and cake. Sophie smiled at Madison as the beautiful mother finally got her children to get up and leave for school. The twins kissed their dad goodbye, waved, yelled “see you later!” and left the house singing “Happy Birthday”, followed by their dad’s chuckle.
“Yeah, happy birthday, my love”, Sophie said as she put her arms around Kevin and kissed his cheek. Yes, life couldn’t get any better.