Ohne Dich (Sequel to Stirb Nicht Vor Mir)

Chapter 38

December 25, 1999

"Merry Christmas," I whispered to Ville and kissed him. 

"Why are we whispering?"

"Ash might be sleeping."

Just then, Ashton started crying. I smirked at him, grabbed the camera, and started recording it. 

"Do you have to record everything?" Ville asked me. 

"I'm documenting his first birthday, Ville."

We walked into his bedroom and he started giggling as soon as he saw us. Ville picked him up and I kissed his head. 

"Merry Christmas, Big Boy!" I shouted. 

He giggled. "I wove you."

"Awww, we love you too!" I hugged him, but then gagged. There was a putrid smell. "Dude, I think he pooped."

"He's your son," Ville said. 

I gasped, paused the recording, and we changed his diaper. 

"Your hair is a mess," Ville grabbed the camera and we walked downstairs. 

"Fuck you," I flipped him off. My phone started ringing, so I answered it. "Hello?"

"When should I get him?" Neil asked. 

"We just woke up."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Jesus," I mumbled. "Um, in about two hours."

"Two hours?!"

"He has presents to open, Neil! He's my son, too!"

"Fine. Two fucking hours!"

He ended the call and I just shook my head. I heated up some pancakes I made yesterday (knowing that Neil would want Ashton soon) and fed it to him. 

"I can't believe he's turning two next year," I told Ville. "It doesn't feel like I've had him for two years."

"What do you mean?" Neil asked. "How is it two years?"

"He was born in 1998. It is 1999. 1998 is one year and 1999 is another year. Two years."

"Oh, because he can still be zero."

I chuckled and fed Ashton another bight. "He can still be zero. He's growing up so fast."

After feeding him, I grabbed him and we walked over to the tree. I started the camera and we sat down in front of the tree. 

"Merry Christmas, Ash!" I shook him playfully and kissed him all over. 

"Here," Ville handed me Ashton's bang of small gifts we got him. 

There were clothes, baby toys, and a picture of Ville, him, and I that we would put in his bedroom. 

"He doesn't like it," I said sadly as Ashton walked away into the kitchen. 

"Yes he does," Ville said. 

"We fucking walked away!"

"He's one, Adette. He'll love it later. He doesn't understand these are for him."

"Okay, okay. Time to open up your gift!"

He grabbed a bag that had his name on it and grabbed out the beers. 

"Thank you," He smiled. 

"There's another one," I told him. 

"Oh, there is?"