by Mj Fields
���I can tell, it���s the same with Emma, I can see it in her eyes. I also see it in Harper���s. She is going to be an amazing mother to our child, because you showed her how,��� Maddox looked up and then back at Tessa. ���I hope you know I���ll be a great father to our child as well. I���ve learned that from my father. There is nothing in this world as important as family.���
���Maddox, I know you love her. I see it. I have also seen the way she has looked at you for years now. I watch you with London and Lexington and I���m sure you���ll be a good father. I���m just ��� Maddox will you continue to sing? Will you be away from her for months at a time? Will you������
���I���d like to have a discussion with my parents as well as you and Collin while Harper naps,��� Maddox smiled, ���That is, if London can be entertained. We have planned how to tell her, Harper wouldn���t be pleased if she found out, otherwise.���
They walked into the family room and Maddox watched as Tessa whispered something to Matthew. Within minutes, he was dragging London outside in full snow gear to play.
���Now good?��� Tessa smiled.
���Of course,��� Maddox laughed.
Maddox sat at the dining room table with Brody, Emma, Tessa, and Collin. He took a deep breath and smiled, ���I���ve had a few weeks to try to figure out what, besides Harper and all of you, is the most important to me in light of recent events. I also have more than myself to take into consideration now.���
Maddox sat back and looked at Brody and quickly away, ���I don���t want anyone to be disappointed������
���Maddox— whatever it is son, I never would be,��� Brody scowled, ���Whatever you need I will help you make it happen.���
���I do know that, and I appreciate it more than you know,��� Maddox took a deep breath. ���When I step back and think of what would make Harper happy in concern to our future, I don���t think staying with Burning Souls fits into it all. I love music, but it never was my dream. It has afforded me a lot. I own a home that���s paid for and have invested wisely over the past few years. I���ll continue collecting royalties on my music, and from what I can figure record sales will sky rocket once word hits that I am to become a father. You know, curiosity���,��� Maddox smiled at Brody. ���I do love it, but don���t wish for it to disrupt my family life. I also don���t want Harper to feel insecure or nervous ever about my lifestyle and its effect on our child.���
���Maddox, you could join us, I would love for you to. It would be great,��� Brody smiled.
���I have considered that. Not full time, but as a guest if you would have me once in a while. Harper is going to be a Cornell graduate in just a few months. I���m very proud of the strength she showed by finishing her schooling while I was acting like ��� for lack of a better term, a piece of shit. I���ve considered going back to school. I love to learn and truly feel a need and desire to go back. I���ve applied to a few schools, just to see what my options are. I���ve heard back from two. Cornell is one, and the other is Harvard.��� Maddox tried not to smile but he could not help himself, ���Two totally different programs. Literature and,��� Maddox looked at Brody and Emma, ���Psychology.���
Emma smiled and whispered softly, ���You could help so many.���
���There are several avenues I could travel in the field,��� Maddox smiled at her.
���Psychology is Cornell isn���t it?��� Emma asked.
���It is,��� Maddox looked cautiously between her and Brody, ���I���m waiting to hear back from������
���No, I can see it in your eyes son, do it. You���re young, you���re brilliant������
���I���ll discuss it with Harper. I applied before Thanksgiving and frankly, I forgot until yesterday. I���ll ask that I start wherever Harper and I decide, in the fall. I���ll play the few shows we have scheduled in February and then I will be done. That brings me to the next topic; my���Harper isn���t going to like what I need to do tomorrow, but it needs to be done. She made mention that whatever business I needed to conduct, she would be accompanying me. I need to talk to the band. I do not want her there when I do that. I know she���s going to be very upset about this and I am asking for your help in convincing her that������
���Convincing her what?��� Maddox���s head snapped around when he heard Harper���s voice.
���You were supposed to be sleeping,��� Maddox stood up and walked towards her smiling. He kissed her head, ���Feeling better?���
���I was, but now I���m little concerned,��� she looked around the room.
���Oh no you don���t,��� Maddox smiled and whispered ���I love you, Sweetness.���
She smiled and raised her eyebrow, ���I���m going with you.���
���I���m going to make sure you are safe,��� Maddox held her face in his hands. ���We���ll talk about it later alright?���
Harper narrowed her eyes at Maddox as Caroline walked into the room with Lexington.
���Maddox,��� her voice cracked as she raised her little hand and rubbed her red eyes.
���Hey Lexi, you are feeling better?��� Maddox walked over and scooped her up and hugged her.
Her bottom lip pushed out and she began to cry, ���No.���
���Okay, well I���m going to hold you until you do okay?��� she shook her head yes, ���Your throat dry?��� she shook her head again, ���Let���s go get you a drink.���
Maddox held Lexi until she was falling asleep at the dinner table. He stood up and walked out of the room.
Harper watched him and smiled softly. When he was out of sight she looked at the ground and felt tears again stinging her eyes. She stood up quickly, ���Please excuse me.���
Harper walked quickly towards the bathroom her eyes fixed on the floor beneath her, ���Sweetness?��� Maddox grabbed her hand, ���What���s going on with you today?���
He pulled her in and hugged her tightly and she began to cry, ���Emotional.���
Maddox took her hand and pulled her into the bathroom, ���Talk to me.���
���I don���t know���earlier I was watching you and my father out the window.���
���Always snooping,��� Maddox joked and Harper tried to pull away and cried more, ���Listen, I was joking and looking back I wouldn���t have had it any other way, Harper.���
London walked into the hallway and she stopped quickly, ���Maddox, you make her cry a lot. If you love her���do you love her?��� Maddox looked at London���s shocked expression. She looked like a bell had gone off in her head, ���You do love her!���
���Madly,��� Maddox smiled widely at her.
���Wow does this mean������
���London, you and I need to talk,��� Maddox gave her a look of warning and she stopped and then laughed.
Harper looked at her and smiled, ���I kind of like him, too.���
���Kind of, my brother is hot stuff, Harper. All the girls at school are like, OOOO your brother is gorgeous��� could you hook us up? Seriously they are like twelve or thirteen, grow up���emotionally of course because obviously socially they are WAY too������
���Your brother is beautiful, London,��� Harper stopped London���s rant and giggled.
���And so are you,��� London hugged her.
��
�London, I would love you to help me with something. Do you think they would mind if we disappeared for a little bit?��� Maddox pointed to the dining room.
���Maybe Harper could keep them busy,��� London smiled at Harper.
���Sure, unless you need my help,��� Harper looked at Maddox confused.
Maddox winked at Harper, ���We got this���huh, London?���
London walked into the dining room beaming, ���Ladies and gentlemen, could you please join me in the living room?���
���We have dessert first London, and������ Emma began.
���Not a chance. Living room. Now.��� London left quickly before she could get the lecture she knew her mother was ready to dish out and knowing they would follow. She heard Tessa laugh.
���Tessa?��� Emma tried not to laugh but smiled and shook her head.
���You heard her. Living room. Now.��� Tessa laughed and they all stood up to join London.
London patted the spot next to her on the couch and Harper sat next to her, ���Sooo do you really like Maddox?���
Harper laughed, ���Sooo yes��� I really do.���
���What do you like about him?��� London looked past her towards the stairs.
���He is very cute,��� Harper laughed.
���Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. And?���
���He makes me happy,��� Harper said softly.
London looked at her quickly, ���Then why do you sound sad?���
���Maybe because I secretly hope I can make him just half as happy as he makes me,��� Harper whispered to her.
���Oh, I think you do,��� London laughed and hugged her tightly.
Maddox walked in with his guitar and Harper looked up. He was smiling and blushing a bit, he chuckled when he saw Harper���s checks turn pink.
���London and I had a chat; it appears she thinks I would be a complete idiot if I went one more day without telling Harper how I truly feel about her. But what London doesn���t know is that Harper has been told every day for the past few weeks how much I want her in my life now and forever. I love you, Harper Abraham. I���m one hundred percent certain I have from the day I met you.��� Maddox swallowed hard and looked at Harper, ���Of course London also thinks I should sing to the woman I love, so I kind of threw something new together.���
Maddox sat next to Harper and smiled shyly and began to play.
My past was a storm, the rain, and thunder crashing down. The water rose, drowning me taking me deeper into the depths, doubting and faithless that what I felt was authenticity.
One voice of hope one sweet kiss, dragged to the shores, sunlight peeking through blackened clouds, was it real or a dream, out of harm’s way an illusion or a certainty
I fell and stumbled, broken down, hidden sorrow. The waters rose swallowing this soul again.
Fighting the current, the pull, the torment, the agony. Towards the light the sweetness my spirit���s desire, in my heart and soul, I missed you my friend���
No longer fearing the rising waters, from the storm. No longer feeling inadequate, doubting my capability, I am not alone, I have been carried by your love all this time.
I am giving everything to you now, I am giving you my life, my heart, my love,
Everything comes down to love, to hope, to faith.
No longer what I am afraid of.
When I look in your eyes, everything awake in my soul, no longer trying to forget, that I���m yours. I am not alone, I have been carried by your love all this time.
Maddox set down his guitar, ���I love you with everything I am and everything I will become, knowing you���ll be with me forever,��� he knelt in front of her and pulled the box out of his pocket, ���Marry me, Harper Abraham, walk through this life with me forever.���
Tears began to fall from Harper���s eyes and she shook her head yes and hugged him tightly.
���Sweetness,��� he whispered, ���Wow, tears when you already knew������
���Not like that Maddox, I didn���t expect it like that in front of everyone, or like that. I think I love you even more and I didn���t think that was possible.���
���I hope and pray each day you feel that way,��� Maddox pulled back and held her face between his hands and kissed her lips lightly, ���I love you.���
Harper leaned forward and kissed him harder and grabbed his hair in her hands and her tongue traced his lower lip.
���Sweetness, we aren���t alone,��� Maddox pulled back and clenched his jaw.
His eyes began to darken and she laughed, ���I forgot.���
Maddox stood up and pulled her up keeping her hand in his, ���She said yes London, what do you think?���
���I think that���s perfect!���
Maddox and Harper hugged London and then looked around the room. Tessa and Emma were holding hands and crying; the grandmothers, Caroline and Maggie were smiling at them.
Brody laughed and clapped his hands, ���Well then, when do we do this?���
Maddox and Harper laughed and Matthew walked over and shook Maddox���s hand and hugged Harper. Matthew gasped when he felt her stomach push against his and she laughed.
���Well I think we need to ask you all to sit down again, we have something else we need to tell you,��� Harper smiled at Maddox and he shook his head yes and smiled back at her.
Harper looked around the room and then at London, ���Maddox and I have another BIG surprise.���
London smiled, ���Bigger than that?���
���Just as big, come here, London,��� Harper took her hand and held it against her slightly rounded belly and as if on cue the baby kicked.
London jumped back and squealed in surprise and then laughed out loud and put her hand back on Harper���s belly and felt the baby move again and smiled and laughed.
���I thought you were just eating a lot of chocolate…���
���London,��� Emma gasped.
���What, you know like you did when you and Daddy lived together, you������
Brody laughed out loud, ���Alright, London.���
���Well, just ���she was sad, and I thought my brother was a gigantic jerk to her and������
���Wow, London, not just a normal sized jerk but a gigantic one?��� Maddox laughed.
���Well her belly is ������
���Alright that���s enough,��� Emma laughed and wiped tears from her eyes.
���Mommy I didn���t mean to make you cry. I just���well Daddio must be better than chocolate,��� London smirked and laughter rolled through the air.
���LONDON,��� Emma gapped, ���These are happy tears but if you keep it up you may drive me back to the chocolate, or wine.���
Emma grabbed London and hugged her. She whispered in her ear, ���Are you as happy as you look about this?���
���More Mommy,��� London hid her face in her hair and cried, ���So much more.���
Is she crying? Maddox mouthed to Emma and she shook her head yes.
���Hey London, we have one more little surprise. This envelope has been sealed since we got it. How about you open it and tell us if we will have a boy or a girl?��� London jumped up and wiped her face and snatched the envelope out of his hand.
���We do this my way,��� London raised both eyebrows at him.
���That���s fine but how about you see what Tessa and Mom have to say about that,��� Maddox chuckled at her.
London���s jaw dr
opped and she smiled slyly at Maddox, ���Perfect idea. Come on Tessa and Mom, the great-grandmas too,��� London laughed loudly.
Maddox looked at Harper who was looking down at her ring, ���Penny for your thoughts?���
Harper looked up at him, ���This must have cost a whole lot of pennies.���
���And that bothers you?���
���It didn���t before, but I just look at my father and������
���Harper, that ring is a promise from me to you and from you to me. Please don���t feel bad about it, it will break my heart,��� Maddox stuck out his bottom lip and purposely pouted.
���You know I love it, Maddox, almost as much as I love you,��� Harper smiled and kissed him, ���What is taking them so long?���
Maddox���s eyes widened, shocked by her abrupt switch in conversation, ���In a hurry to find out? I���d like to remind you this was your idea.��� Harper���s eyes narrowed and he smiled, ���Textbook fucking crazy.���
���Not funny,��� Harper warned.
���No?���
���No.��� She looked away and then back at him, ���Fine a little. I can���t believe you remember all this stuff.���
���It���s not stuff, Harper; it���s our story, our beginning of forever.���
He looked different when he said things like that, innocent and vulnerable, which lasted two point two seconds before he kissed her lips and ran his tongue across her lips, ���I want to taste you so bad right now.���
���Maddox,��� Harper whispered harshly as she looked around the room at their families.
���So fucking bad,��� Maddox���s eyes ran down her body slowly taking her in. He licked his lips and held his bottom lip between his teeth.
Harper felt the air begin to leave the room, her breaths deeper as his eyes raked her body slowly moving from her ankles, stopping at her crotch, he licked his pink lips and moved up to her breasts. His nostrils flared slightly and he held his lip between his teeth and let out a slow deep silky groan.
