Allie was on the couch, breastfeeding Gwen. She loved Peanut's little noises when she was nursing—the coos, her suckling, her taking deep breaths through her little nose—like a beautiful song.
Dean sat on the opposite end of the couch, watching his wife feed his baby girl. He couldn't believe how his life went from perfect to totally fucked, too scary as hell, and now here, exactly where he wanted to be.
Gwendolyn's green eyes shined as they looked up at her.
"How's my Peanut? Are you going to sleep for mommy? Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? I can't believe you're here. Mommy's little miracle."
She kissed her nose and positioned her onto the other breast.
"A woman breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful things to see," he said.
"Only made even more beautiful by the beautiful woman doing it," Alex said.
He handed Dean a beer. They both open their beer with Dean's bicep trick.
"You guys are the same person. No wonder I love you both so much. And you two are only saying that because you," she pointed at Dean. "Want to get laid, and you," she pointed at Alex. "Want to get on my good side so he can golf in Augusta this weekend."
"NO! That's not true. I would also like to get laid," Alex smiled.
Allie picked up a pillow and threw it at him. "You know my husband is sitting right there."
"He can watch. I don't mind," Alex said with a smile. "Hell, he can join in for all I care." He bounced his eyebrow at Dean.
"You wish."
"I will neither confirm nor deny that allegation. Oh, we should see if Bruss wants to go with us this weekend."
Allie laughed so loud that it made Gwen flinch and open her eyes wide.
"I'm sorry, Peanut. Guys, Shelly will not let Bruss out to play in Georgia for an entire weekend. Can one of you take her, please?" she asked.
Dean stood up and took hold of his daughter. Even though she was four months old, she was still tiny. He kissed her forehead.
"You are the greatest thing to ever happen to me." Allie comically cleared her throat. "Yeah, you're alright," Dean said with his beautiful smile.
"You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me," Alex said. "But you didn't have my baby, so I really can't say that you would be the definitive greatest thing ever to happen to me."
Allie stood up and took her back from Dean. "I bet if Malibu were here, he would have called me the greatest thing ever to happen to him," she murmured.
"Alex, do you know what the phrase looking thirsty means?" Dean asked.
"I know you want children, Alex. Would you ever be with a woman you knew couldn't have children?"
"If she were you, yes, but there is only one Allie Kingston in this world, and she has a huge husband."
"Allie Kingston-Stapleton,' she said. "I left Allie Kingston in my apartment that night."
"And I Left Dean Carron in California. I've been trying to evict Mikey DeLuca for months. It's time to be who I am. I am no longer the calm, quiet Cowboy. I'm more like a..."
"Young gun?" Alex laughed.
"Good movie, my friend! I know what we are doing tonight."
"You sure? You told me about the whole Kokomo thing. I like the song Young Guns. We can let her ruin John Bon Jovi for me."
"HEY! Bad form! You never know, when I hit my head, maybe I became an excellent singer!"
"Baby girl, I love you with everything I have, but you are an awful singer, and that will never change," Dean said, swaying back and forth, slowly rocking Gwen to sleep.
"I like who you are now. You have come a long way, Farmboy, and nothing turned me on more than when you kicked the shit out of that guy at um... Where were we?"
"Nitros."
"Yes, Nitros. From what I gather, Mikey DeLuca definitely knows how to rock a girl's world and break a man's j," she said.
"How about you, Alex? Are you the same person that you've always been?"
"Well, I am best friends with a man I beat senseless five months ago. I guess I've matured."
"You did not beat--"
"Boys! Can I please finish my sentence? Dean, from what I heard about Alex putting his boot on your neck, I think he may have won by a little bit now if you let me continue. Maybe you look at things from a different perspective now," she said. "Alright, enough deep thoughts." She took Gwen from her daddy's grip.
"I don't want to let her go," Dean said with a frown.
"When she shits, you sure let go real quick. Tell Daddy and Uncle Alex night night."
Alex stood up and kissed Gwen. "Hey, maybe in twenty-one years, I can give you a call. You are the closest thing to another Allie Kingston-Stapleton there will ever be.'
"Dude, she's like your daughter. I would rethink that idea."
"Really? That's how you see me?"
"You did say that if I never came back, the baby would be calling you daddy," Dean said.
"Yeah, I did say that, didn't I? You know I said that to be cruel. I was angry at you for what had been done to Allie and that you were back, and I am not an idiot; I knew that "
"Getting to know you as well as I have, I guess you would have made a decent second string. We wanted to ask you something."
"Yes, if you die, I will marry Allie and raise Peanut," he said.
"Haha, very funny. We did want to ask you something."
"Fine. I'll move in and be the pool boy."
"You are such a prick."
"Yep," Alex said with a grin.
"We wanted to know if you would be Gwen's Godfather and her custodian if anything ever happens to us."
"You're having Gwen baptized? Custodian? I didn't think you were deeply religious."
"His parents are, and let's just say I believe in things a little bit more now than I did before," she said. "I believe there is something far beyond what we can see." "Or maybe you believe it because you saw a soul for over a year and a half, who was an old love who guided me to where I am today. I loved him even more by the time he left. He became my guardian angel during those rough times."
She put Peanut on her shoulder. The little girl curled up into the fetal position against her mother's chest.
"Wow. This is totally unexpected, weird as hell, and a little unbelievable, but wow, of course, I will. I would always be around for whatever she needs. I guess she will be a daughter to me," Alex said. The two embraced in a "Bro-hug." "I am so sorry I tried to kill you, man."
"Me too. She is right. We are pretty much the same person."
"God," she made a sound like she was about to vomit. "There's a lot of bro-love going on here. You should blow each other already. Now, I'm going to take our daughter upstairs and apologize for the crazy people she will be growing up with," she said, kissing Gwen on the head.
She grabbed Gwen's bunny and walked up the stairs.
They both tipped their head to the right and watched her ass sway as she walked away.
How do you feel about Allie marring Dean I know there was a lot of Alex supporters.