(Ricky)
I was woken up to Damian and Dani jumping over me. Chris was already up, I presume, because he was nowhere in sight.
"Happy birthday babies." I said, yawning before I pulled them into my arms. They giggled, cuddling up to me with wide smiles. "Daddy! Drink!" Damian said loudly after a while, his high pitched voice ringing out in the room.
"Okay, okay." I said, sighing over dramatically before I stood up with them in my arms. I went to put them down so I could put some jeans on but they screamed and clung on tighter. I groaned and walked downstairs in my boxers, clearly not having any other choice.
I grabbed their drinking cups and filled them with some milk before handing them over. I managed to put them down on the sofa when I felt Chris' arms wrap around me from behind.
He planted a soft kiss on the back of my neck before sighing. "Morning baby."
"Morning. Do you need any help setting up for the party?"
"I've already done it. Go back to bed, love. I'll bring you something up to eat okay?"
I smiled softly and nodded, turning around to press my lips against his softly before walking upstairs. With a sigh of relaxation, I laid down in the bed and closed my eyes.
"Ricky? Baby, wake up." I grumbled and opened my eyes to see Chris holding a plate out, smiling softly at me. "What?" I mumbled, sitting up and blinking a few times. He placed the plate on my lap and sat down next to me, handing me a cup of coffee.
"You're the best." I groaned, drinking the coffee before I began to eat the full English breakfast he'd cooked for me. "You're better. Ange and Josh are downstairs with the kids." That explained why he sat down.
"I'm so fucking tired." I muttered after I'd eaten.
"I know." He looked sad.
"What's wrong?"
"Your parents are downstairs." Ah. Shit. I climbed out of bed quickly and got dressed, rushing downstairs to see my mom and dad. "Ricky, why is he here?" My dad spat, joy even trying to hide his hatred towards Chris.
"He's my husband, Dad. He lives here, where else would he be?" I sneered, clenching my fists at the pure anger in his eyes. My mom lightly placed her hand on his arm and looked at him. She whispered something I didn't hear before he walked off.
"Ignore him, he's grouchy. Are you okay, Ricky? Is this what you really want?"
"It is. I love him, Mom. And I have since I first got with him. Without him, none of this would've been possible." She smiled before pulling me into a hug.
"I'm so happy for you. What's happening with that Gaia girl?"
"I don't know..." I mumbled sadly into her shoulder, closing my eyes and budding her back. "It'll work itself out. Don't worry about it so much, Okay Rick?"
"Okay Mom.." I whispered before I stopped talking.
I just wanted to enjoy this moment, staying with my mom. It felt like I was 15 again, after I'd came home crying when I was bullied. She'd hugged me like this then, telling me almost the exact same words.
And then it dawned on me. I didn't have much longer with her or my dad. Tears welled up in my eyes and spilled over as I began to cry. She tightened her grip on me and softly rubbed my back. "Shh, don't cry. What's wrong darling? Don't cry honey, please don't."
"I-I just..." I started bawling loudly, loud enough for Chris to hear from upstairs. He came downstairs, I heard his footsteps. "Ricky? Love, what's wrong?" He sounded frantic, and worried. My mom stepped away and Chris took her place.
"I'm gonna miss t-them." I sobbed into his chest. He sighed, like he knew what I was on about. "I know, baby. I know." He mumbled, holding me tightly while I cried like a baby into his chest. "Don't worry about it, you still have loads of time left with them, you know that right?"
I nodded into his chest and he chuckled softly. "See? So don't worry so much." He pulled away and pressed his lips to mine softly before wiping away my tears. I laughed weakly and he smiled. "Come on." He held his hand out and I slid mine into his almost instantly.
His fingers slipped in between mine as he held on, walking outside and gently pulling me along with him. The scene outside was identical to the party last year. But this time, it was happier. I knew that nothing bad was going to happen.
Devin walked up and picked up Dani and Damian, spinning them both around with a wide smile. They laughed simultaneously, their high pitched giggles filling the air.
This was perfect.
