🔹Bonus | 2

GREY

Ecstatic

I was beyond that, the immense gratitude I carried in my heart just at her presence being immeasurable.

She was glowing, every part of her radiated in a magnificent way that I found it so hard to look away.

She was chatting excitedly with the girls, the sweet smile on her face making my lips curve just by seeing her happy.

My wife

I seemed to even forget that I'd been against this idea at first. I didn't want her to get tired, my concern for her growing each passing day.

She had invited everyone to our place for a small get together and even when I knew this would tire her by the end of the day, I kept my lips sealed after seeing her eagerness when everyone confirmed that they'd come.

With her body changing day by day, I knew the fatigue that would tear her down after so much activity thus my eyes shifted to her every few seconds.

I trusted everyone around her; Nana, Rosie, Clarissa and Lora. They were all so supportive after we'd shared the news of her pregnancy months ago.

Nana would call every two days to ask how we were fairing and Ginelle would openly share with her all that she was feeling.

Her parents would come by once every two months, our friends keeping us company anytime they were free.

Even with everyone beside her, I still felt a little bit anxious when it wasn't me by her side. I barely focused on what the boys were saying, my attention solely on her.

"Grey, she's literally in your vicinity, just a few meters away." Reece nudged my arm to get my attention.

I turned to the men around me - Reece, Enzo and Jordan sipping their drinks as they emphatically shook their heads.

I didn't care what they thought of me, the expressions I wore being so open that anyone could read.

"How does he even go to work?" Jordan asked the moment my head turned the other way a minute later.

"You think he'd leave her home alone?" Reece scoffed, whereas Enzo hummed in agreement.

"He applied for leave a month ago." Reece explained, Jordan mumbling that it was only sensible that way.

And true to their words, I had taken leave a month ago. It didn't take much convincing with the brigade commander because it was my very first time.

He even seemed much eager to give me leave, given that my performance in the preceding months had been questioning.

It had been really hard for me to focus on work from the moment Ginelle shared with me the news about our baby.

When I was away, I would call her too often, sometimes passing by the bookstore since she kept insisting that she still wanted to go to work.

Though worried, I had let her for the first five months but the moment her bump began showing, I asked her to stay home.

She willingly gave in and it was a month later when I too stopped going to work and stayed at home, taking care of her.

Her bump had grown since then, her clothes no longer fitting to a point where even my extra large shirts barely covered her fully.

I was at awe every time I looked at her. She was dazzlingly ethereal, every inch of her being so perfect.

She laughed at something Nana had said, her smile dying out as the conversation went on and I tried to read her face to check whether she was comfortable.

I wanted to be there for her at all times and the fact that the girls had chosen to have their own circle by the side displeased me.

What if she needed a glass of water? What if a part of her body was aching?

Such questions went through my mind even after the boys had assured me that the ladies around her would help.

I tried to relax but it seemed almost impossible when she sat that far from me.

I noticed her shift into her seat and her left hand rose to the side of her lower abdomen and I was up from my chair.

The girls alarmingly looked at me at my instant presence but I softly held onto my wife's shoulder, squatting beside her.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" My left hand went to her lower back whereas my right rested on her thigh, soothingly tracing circles.

"Yeah, I just need to get to the restroom." She whispered shyly with all the eyes on her but I cared less, gently holding onto her hands as I helped her stand.

By her waist, I supported her and led her to one of the washrooms downstairs. I refrained from following her in, her assuring smile being the only thing I held onto.

I counted seconds until she was out, my legs following her as she cleaned her hands by the sink.

I stood behind her and watched her through the mirror, a smile forming on her face once she felt my hands on her stomach.

There was never a time when I wasn't holding her, the company today making it hard for me to express my affection openly.

"You're both fine?" I whispered softly as I met her eyes through the mirror, my hands caressing over her tummy.

She nodded in a smile and I peppered the left side of her face with soft kisses, cute giggles escaping her mouth.

"G-Grey," she mentioned my name in between giggles and my excitement had me pecking her rosy cheeks next.

"W-We have c-company," she attempted to say but I slowly turned her around so that we were facing each other.

With her bump separating us, we were hardly touching except for my hands that cupped her small adorable face.

"You're so beautiful, baby." I didn't hide it, my eyes taking in every part of her skin that was visible.

She was growing. Gone was that petite frame of hers, her curves had filled in and I could barely keep my hands away.

I leaned for her inviting lips, my control treading on a thin line when I thought of the company waiting for us.

Her soft hands around my stubble made my eyes shut in satisfaction, the softness of her skin over my body making me smile.

She showered my face with kisses and I leaned even closer, so that she could reach with more ease.

When it came to her, I was child. I would do anything just to obtain a fraction of her affection.

"I love you Grey," her soft words had my eyes slowly opening, her growing blush having me lean down for another kiss.

"I love both of my girls," I pecked over her forehead, my hands never leaving her round tummy.

Her smile grew and she placed her hands over mine, my smile broadening when she brushed over my hands.

Our baby girl

I remember how elated I'd been after finding out that we were expecting a girl. I had smiled so hard that day, the thought of birthing a child as beautiful as my wife making me the happiest man alive.

I would stare at Ginelle and think; would our baby girl have her eyes? Her smile? Her hair?

I daydreamed so often, the anticipation of seeing our baby growing day by day now that we were less than two months away.

"Do you feel tired?" I softly pressed over her temple, watching her sigh as her eyes closed for a second.

She shook her head and after some seconds of relaxing, her eyes shot open and she grabbed my arms.

"Grey, you made me forget about everyone." She accusingly looked at me as she tapped over my chest.

She looked so adorable in that angry expression of hers that I almost smiled were it not for another of her stern look.

"I'm sure they're tired too, we should let them go home." I tried to coax her into agreeing but she shrugged her shoulders, looking away.

She crossed her arms over her front while still looking away and I quickly racked through my mind for the right thing to say.

I knew she would get upset easily, something that came with her pregnancy, so I tried to always keep her in a good mood.

"Let's join them then," I pleaded softly and after one last eye contact, she accepted and I discreetly released a sigh of relief.

To my sheer luck, we found everyone gathering up their things to leave but with one glance from Ginelle, I knew it wasn't luck.

"Elle, you have a very selfish husband. He won't even let us share your time." Rosie added salt to the injury.

I signed Reece to cut his mother short but the damage seemed to have already been made when Ginelle turned to me.

I panicked after seeing her eyes get teary and I was ready for her scolding that would follow next.

Surprisingly, she didn't retaliate. Instead, she wrapped her hands around my left arm.

I stilled at first, my hands stroking her hair down as she nuzzled her head into my chest.

It wasn't the hearing or scolding I was afraid of but rather seeing her unhappy over something I could somehow control.

She fully calmed down after about five minutes and it was then everyone left after promising that they would come again soon.

Since it was almost evening, we strolled at the back of our garden as I helped her stretch, something we did together.

I noticed that her mood lifted after seeing that the tulips we'd planted a while ago were flourishing well.

Our home had turned out to be beautiful just like her and I couldn't want it any other way.

I watched her attempt to chase after some yellow feathered birds that normally came in the garden.

Her steps were small, so she hardly scared the birds away and I smiled to myself, closely following behind her.

She tried to stomp her feet but the birds only stopped feeding and looked up at her unfazed.

Her face turned into frustration and smiling one more time, I lifted my left arm to shoo the birds and they were gone in a flick of my finger.

Her shoulders relaxed and I wrapped my right arm over her, holding her closer while softly rubbing over her bare arm.

Her head leaned to rest on my arm and she snuggled her body into mine, seeking warmth.

I noticed goosebumps arise on her skin and I was quick to suggest that we head back in since she was cold and I didn't have my jacket with me.

She was quick to protest and it troubled me when she pleadingly asked me to wait for a few more minutes, mumbling that I worried too much.

She had at one time joked that someone would think that I was the pregnant one with how concerned I was about everything but to me, we were pregnant together.

Every step, every action, every decision - we did everything together so I wanted to be there for her in every way possible.

"We shall be good parents, right?" She reached for my hand and pressed tightly while looking up at me.

She seemed anxious about her question as she stared into my eyes, her gaze just as unsteady and restless.

"I'm sure we shall be," I took her other hand into my own, pressing a kiss at the top of both hands.

I saw her restlessness wane a fraction and her smile was back as I rubbed my thumb over her hands.

"We've had so many first times together. I'm sure we'll figure this together too, don't worry."

She rested her head on my chest and nodded, her fingers grasping onto the ends of my shirt as she clung onto me.

Her feet tired after another minute of standing and I carried her into our room where I started preparing her bath.

I let her rest a bit as I cooled down her water to the right temperature and then prepared the clothes that she would change into.

She was almost dozing off by the time I was done but I couldn't blame her. The day had been a long one since she'd been active since morning.

"Baby, will you clean later?" I gently shook her awake and her almost sleepy eyes looked up at me in confusion.

She squinted her eyes and after noticing that I was holding her showering items, she shook her head and began undressing.

I can't say I was used to seeing her that way because every part of me flushed upon seeing her bare skin.

She sleepily walked towards me and I swallowed severally while leading her to the tub where I helped her wash.

I was gentle in every scrub, my attention getting distracted by her every slight move but I endured it all.

Afterwards I dressed her into a large comfortable t-shirt I had just bought recently and then dried her small feet.

Her fingers ruffled through my hair as I squatted before her, now oiling the dry skin of her legs.

I smiled up at her as I placed the small towel aside and then kissed the skin just above her knees where the shirt had risen.

She squealed at the gesture, her legs pressing together and her fingers curling into the sheets around her.

"I'd better bring you something to eat before I end up starving myself." I hastily went downstairs before changing my mind.

I quickly warmed up her soup but even with my fast movements, she was already asleep by the time I returned to the room.

She was resting sideways, her head barely laying on the pillow as her legs curled into the soft brown duvet.

I stood at the door just staring at her, the hot mug in my right hand almost forgotten.

Her lips twitched and she mumbled something I barely heard but I noticed her hands move to her stomach.

She stirred, trying to find a comfortable laying position and I placed the soup I'd come with on the table by the door.

I squatted next to the side of the bed where she was facing, pulling away a strand of hair that made her eyelashes twitch.

I began to gently massage the lower part of her belly, something she'd told me that it made her feel relieved and less tired.

I was gentle in my every action, my upper body stretching out so that I could shower her entire stomach with kisses.

Gina Marshal

She already had my heart just as her mother. I knew that there was nothing I wouldn't do for her.

How I longed for the day I would see her and hold her with my own arms as I cradled her to my chest.

How I prayed for this day, hoping that my girls would remain safe and that no harm would befall them because they had me by their side.

My girls

I would love them till the end of time.

✪ ✪ ✪

If you know what day this is to this couple, you know it deserves an update.

(Incase you've forgotten) In a real world calender, today would be their anniversary.

Also to note: most of you guys were asking for more bonus chapters so I'd like to inform that bonus chapters will come monthly.

I hope that will be satisfactory in way, thank you for always being patient.

(⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)