🔹 Bonus | 4

GREY

"Sweetie?"

I went from room to room, calling after my daughter, who had somehow disappeared from my view.

She was in her crawling phase and this meant that I had to be more attentive in watching her so as to avoid any accidents.

I called again while looking around the living room but there was no sign of her here.

The house was so quiet, almost as if there was no one in there until I heard a small crash in the master bedroom.

I rushed over at once, my heart almost beating out of my chest at the thought of Gina getting hurt.

"Sweetie?" I called in panic as I rushed in, my eyes catching sight of her playing on the floor with her mother's books.

I sighed out in relief, briefly ignoring the torn pieces of paper around her.

Gina looked up at me and smiled, dropping the large book she was barely holding as she crawled to me.

Her small hands firmly held onto my legs as she attempted to stand up.

"Dada,"

She blinked up at me, an action so identical to my wife's that had my heart soaring in immense pleasure.

Her eyes, brown as honey, made mine light up because I thought of both of them at the same time.

How was I supposed to scold her when she looked just like my wife?

I lifted up my daughter into my arms and began to tickle her all over, her laughter being one of my favorite sounds.

"D-a-d-a," she called in between chuckles, her fingers clutching onto me as she wiggled over my chest.

"Will you be a good girl for me?" I stopped tickling her and waited for a response and when none came, I reached for her feet.

She laughed, her entire body shaking until she slumped into me and gave in.

She knew what she had done since she lifted up her head and glanced at the mess she'd made .

"Mama," she pointed at the torn book, her face falling as she stared at Ginelle's photo beside our bed.

How we missed her.

It had been hardly three hours since she left and both of us were pouting over her picture, wondering when she'd come back.

She had gone in to work to help with the store. Lora, the store owner, was expecting her second baby and my wife was so considerate to handle everything for her.

She was an angel.

My angel.

Our angel.

Being the clingy man I was, I had called her over three times now, just to hear how she was doing.

She knew me too well, promising that she'd be home in two hours so I didn't have to call her anymore.

In that time, I changed Gina out of her messy clothes, gave a warmth bath and cleaned her room.

The remaining task, the toughest of them all was feeding her. She was the type to eat while moving around but today she wasn't even opening her mouth.

I had tried to coax her with all means I could find but she'd only had ten spoons. I was going to get an hearing from Ginelle if she found out that Gina hadn't had her afternoon meal.

When all my schemes never worked out, I slumped into the couch and sighed as I turned on the TV.

I put on a show that Gina liked to watch. It was about some princesses and I had tried to catch up with the songs there severally from my phone.

Her eyes flickered on the screen as she bounced up the couch where I was closely watching her.

I knew she didn't exactly know what was happening but I smiled when she turned to me after I began to hum a familiar line.

She giggled softly while moving closer to grab my thigh. I made a funny smiling face and she giggled even louder.

I took that as my chance to feed her but she dodged the spoon and pursed her lips together while shaking her head.

Her attention went back to the images on TV and I sighed. I tried again in vain and had just leaned back on the couch when I heard the doorbell.

Gina and I looked at each other and exclaimed, "Mama!" Our faces matched and I picked her up, rushing to the door.

It never occurred to me why she'd ring the doorbell until I saw the faces behind the door.

"Look at that face,"

"You thought it was your wife?"

"We should have just gone in,"

I didn't drop the annoyed look on my face, my daughter too mirroring my actions but she seemed to forget who we were waiting for when she saw her playing buddies.

"Gina, I missed you!" Mayella reached for my daughter, who looked more than excited to get off my arms.

She diffused into the company of Mayella and Carter; Louis and Leila's son.

I let the rest in, Reece smirking at me as he followed his wife, Clarissa. Louis and Leila followed after their son, Enzo coming in last.

He greeted me unlike the rest, who had already made themselves comfortable. I couldn't do anything to them, Ginelle liked it that way.

I took out my phone to ask how far from home she was but then saw her message indicating that something else had come up and that she'd be late.

She promised me that I'd have company and that explained Reece's smug look. Elle had invited them here.

"So, what were you doing?" Reece looked around the room, his eyes resting on Gina's untouched food.

"Should I tell on you?" He loved to see Ginelle scold me and I could also say the same about his wife.

"Stop being mean, Reecie." Clarissa piped in and you could have seen how Reece recoiled like an obedient baby.

The two had married about five months ago and had just shared with us about a baby being on the way.

I was happy for them, especially seeing the ever joking Reece looking at his wife with googly eyes.

Louis being the experienced parent here helped me serve out some food Elle had reserved this morning.

Gina ate with Mayella's guidance and I was able to relax. At least she was eating something.

I watched how Gina attempted to mimic Carter's steps. The boy was just a few months over an year and was walking on his own.

He was fluent in his speech and I could see that he understood most of what Mayella was saying.

My daughter however stared at their feet as she crawled after them, blabbering out aloud when they went too fast.

Leila followed after them to keep an eye on them, Clarissa following after a while.

"Aren't our wives the most beautiful?" Louis sighed after they were gone and Reece jumped into agreement.

I too hummed, still waiting for her to get home as I wondered what she was doing at the moment.

Through the corner of my eye, I noticed Enzo toying with something on his wrist. He had been silent the whole time, something that wasn't odd but I knew he felt like the odd one out.

Louis too noticed and he asked, "Enzo, are you late for something?"

He shook his head and Louis continued, "But you've been staring at your watch for so long, is something the matter?"

Enzo looked away, avoiding all our eyes as Reece craned his neck to see what was on his wrist.

"What are those?" He reached for Enzo's hand and then exclaimed, "Butterflies?"

We all saw Enzo smile, a smile we'd never seen on him. We all exchanged curious glances and then scrambled to see the butterflies better.

"It's nothing," he quickly pulled his hand away but I could see right through his mask. There was someone in his heart.

From what I had gathered, she was from the hospital. I didn't have much details but I knew he'd share with us soon.

"Let me find the kids," I diverted the attention from Enzo so that he didn't feel overwhelmed about revealing anything.

I found them in the kitchen where Leila was helping them drink water as Clarissa wiped off any mess created.

Mayella called me to the side when Leila and Clarissa weren't watching and whispered, "Masha, Elle went to pick up Nana for her birthday."

I smiled while ruffling her hair, glad that someone was letting me in on what was happening.

Gina saw our brief interaction and she struggled to move out of Leila's arms as she looked at Mayella and I.

She relaxed and patted my chest when I took her, her attention shifting to Mayella as she called, "my dada,"

We all knew whom she took after with that single action.

Clarissa chuckled, Leila just shook her head as she rearranged the cups, Mayella not understanding what was funny.

"I love you sweetie," I ruffled Gina's hair and kissed her forehead so that she'd stop being territorial.

"Dada," she stroked the side of my face in affection, an action that she'd learned from her mother.

"You're my little tulip, and I am your dada." I kissed both of her cheeks until I heard her adorable giggles.

I laughed along with her when she tried to reach for the ticklish spot on my chest.

Again, she watched her parents too closely.

"Grey! Gina! I'm home!" We stopped laughing, our heads turning to the familiar voice.

Gina squealed first at her voice and I too would have, were it not for the company we were having.

"Mama," Gina called when she actually saw her face and my smile matched her ecstasy.

"How are you my babies?" my beautiful wife lay off the small bag she had over her shoulder as she skipped towards us.

Her beautiful smile melted me all over again, even as she softly pressed her lips on my own and did the same to Gina.

"We're doing well, mamma." Her cheeks flushed in an adorable pink color and my smile grew.

I loved how she'd turn scarlet at that pet name.

"Everything was okay with her?" Ginelle asked but I just embraced her with my free arm, pressing a kiss at the top of her head.

Gina leaned over to return the affection to her mother and my heart swelled.

How I loved them infinitely.

"Mama, dada," she looked at us in turn, her small hands stroking both of our faces as she smiled.

"What did you do with dada?" Ginelle sweetly asked our daughter who in turn looked at me.

"B-boo, boo-" she attempted to reveal what had happened but wasn't able to fully pronounce the word book.

My wife looked between the two of us and pinched my arm, discreetly pointing behind her, where everyone was staring at us.

"You'll have that later," she smiled at Gina and then whispered 'behave' into my left ear.

I didn't understand what she meant until she turned around to talk to the rest.

She had misinterpreted Gina's previous words. I put on a full smile as my eyes followed her, already counting the time to when later would arrive.

She had promised.

"Nana," Gina called excitedly when she saw her great grandma sitting amongst the guests in the room.

"My child," Nana opened her arms wide for her and I carefully placed Gina on her lap.

"How blessed I am to hold you," Nana rocked Gina to and fro, her hands softly laying on Gina's head as she offered a blessing.

She'd also done that to me when I was younger. The memory of it felt like almost an year ago but I couldn't believe it had been over twenty eight years since.

My wife seemed to understand what I was thinking of since she came to stand beside me, her hand reaching for mine.

"I love you Grey," she entwined our fingers and smiled at Nana and our daughter, but my eyes couldn't leave her face.

She was ever shining. There was never a time when she didn't mesmerize me. Her light was something I wanted forever.

I knew she was mine, my wife, my everything yet my craving for her never seemed to have a limit.

I loved her, I cherished her, I adored her. Both her and Gina. They were my lovely tulips.

I already had them with me but my desire grew each passing day. It was like wanting something you already have.

It didn't make sense but I always wanted them with me even when they were already with me.

What a paradox. I shook my head and leaned down to rest on her shoulder.

I didn't care about everyone looking at us. My focus was entirely on my woman. My beautiful wife.

"Someone could think you're the baby," Nana spoke and I looked up to see everyone shaking their heads at us.

Gina was preoccupied with the shiny pearls on Nana's sweater so I ignored the rest and leaned back on my wife's shoulder.

I was her big baby.

She placed her arm on my back and began to trace circles and that made me feel complete.

I briefly closed my eyes and sank into her warmth, the chatter around us seeming so far away.

I watched her whisper 'now' to Leila, who in turn informed Clarissa and I knew it was time for their surprise.

Mayella seemed to follow their communication too well since she quietly called for our attention and gave us a signal.

I didn't think the boys were part of the plan, until they too joined in chorus.

"Happy eightieth birthday Nana,"

We all wished at once and Mayella began to lead us in the birthday song and we followed after her.

Leila and Clarissa brought out the cake, drinks and the gifts everyone had prepared.

We offered our wishes to her but Nana's eyes remained on my daughter, who was clapping along with Carter.

She didn't look at anyone else until the cake was cut and was first offered to the kids.

"I'm so grateful that I get to hold my great grand child." She wiped some smeared cream off Gina's cheek.

Nana offered Carter a smaller slice so that he didn't mess himself like Gina, who was only playing at the cake.

"I never thought such a time would come," Nana glanced at Elle and then turned to me, smearing cream on my face.

Everyone laughed, Reece taking a picture as Nana added more cream on my face.

Gina giggled at the attention I was getting and she too joined in the action.

"Dada," she crawled to sit on my lap, her hands tapping my entire face like everyone else.

Elle smiled when Gina placed her hands on my hair, messing me further.

"Sweetheart," she leaned over to hear what I was saying and I cheekily kissed her lips, spreading the cream on her.

Gina laughed at our faces and she began to tap both of our cheeks, laughing the more.

Smiling, my wife rested her forehead on mine, Gina gazing up at us from the center.

This was a life I'd dreamed of having and here I was, experiencing it.

As I got lost into the brown eyes of my beloved, my entire world felt complete.

Our baby girl shifted on my lap and touched both of our chins to have our attention.

Elle looked at Gina. I looked at the mini version of my wife.

With laughter all around us, I thought; truly, home was the best place to be.

✪ ✪ ✪

Always, Tulip just got to 1M reads and I'm so so so happy (kicking my feet).

Thank you for reading, for supporting, for being here. I'm always grateful :)

Incase you're not informed, Enzo's story (Always, Lily) is currently ongoing.

You can check it out sometime. I'd be glad if you do.

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