***********

"Soph, how old are you now?" Ashton asked tickling the birthday girl

"This many!" Soph giggled holding up five fingers

"So you're not this many anymore?" Ash giggled holding up four fingers

"Nope! I'm a big girl now!"

"Alright alright" Ashton giggled and walked over to a now pregnant Carter

I can't believe it. How in the world is Sophia five years old already? And Matthew's going to be two? Holy shit, I'm getting old.

"You okay, baby?" Laur managed a giggled and took both my hands, but I wrapped my arms around her waist and placed my face in the crook of her neck

"I'm getting old" I mumbled

"Well so am I"

"I don't like it"

"Me either. But we have each other so it's going to be okay" I lifted my head to look at her just in time to be greeted with a kiss.

-

"Daddy, I'm scared"

"It'll be okay mumble. It's just a bike"

"But I'm going to fall!" Soph mumbled squeezing my leg tighter

"No you're not. I'm going to be right here" I smiled at her "plus you got training wheels on your bike to help you"

"You promise?"

"Have I let you down before?" Sophia giggled and shook her head "okay then, this time won't be any different" I grabbed Mumble's helmet and put it on her.

"Okay"

"You ready?"

"Yeah!"

I helped Soph steady herself on her small purple bike. It only took her a few tries with the pedals before she actually got the hang of it. I held my hand on the back of her seat for a little while before I slowly removed it. And just like that my little Mumble was riding her bike all by herself. Holy fuck she needs to stop growing up.

"Daddy! I did it!" Soph got off her bike and came running towards me. I couldn't help but laugh and pull her into a tight hug, with of course trying not to cry at the same time

"You certainly did Mumble, you certainly did"

-

"You look gorgeous, darlin" I told Laur walking into our bedroom. Tonight Laur and I are attending the arias with the rest of our group. Laur turned around and smiled while blushing.

"I highly doubt that, but thanks babe" Laur pulled me close to kiss me

I smiled and twirled her in a circle "you really do look beautiful"

"Stop it, you're making me blush"

"I can't help it, you're literally taking my breath away" I winked at her

And Laur really was taking my breath away in the dress she was wearing. All white sequence dress with a little bit of an open back and her hair all the way off to the side. God, I'm a lucky man.

"If you keep staring at me, you'll get a boner" Laur chuckled

"Well it's either now or later baby" I winked at her

"I guess it's a good thing your mom is watching the kids tonight, huh?"

"Absolutely" I snuk a quick kiss before I laced our fingers together and headed for a night of fun

-

"Hey Luke, remember one of our first dates?"

"I remember all of them" I chuckled softly. It was a lazy Wednesday morning, Sophia was at school and Matthew was taking his nap

"Which one was your favorite?" Laur smiled at me

I couldn't help but laugh at the memory that came to my thoughts "you trying to get me to find P. Sherman 42 wallaby way"

Laur gasped "Not. Fair! I thought that was real!"

"It's still pretty funny. Three solid months you kept trying to find it" I laughed harder

"Go ahead pick on the American" Laur scooted away from me

"But baby, I love you!" I giggled trying to get Laur closer to me, only she moved away more "oh come here, you know I'm kidding"

Laur only glanced at me and grinned. I placed my hands on her hips and pulled her down so our chest were touching, Laur looked at me "what?"

"I really wasn't trying to make you mad, love" I told her tucked a piece lose hair behind her ear, Laur looked at me "what?"

"You're lucky I love you" Laur smiled and kissed me

"I love you more, Mrs. All American" I mumble against her lips.

**************

HOWDY HO!

Dudes, I am so incredibly sorry for the wait! I had more personal stuff going on that I really needed to focus on and then i went on vacation to Nashville, so I didn't have time to update.

But I love you all and thank you so much if you kept reading/voting/commenting..... It's means so much to me :)

I hope you like this one!

SOOOOOO after a very nice reader pointed out to me, p. Sherman 42 wallaby way does in fact exist! But for the sake of the story I'm saying it doesn't.

-L