Falling For The Biker: The Vice President's Girl Chapter 137

Wren

"Aunt Wren!!" I hear the high-pitched scream just as Ezra pulls into Beth's driveway.

"I'll call you back, Judi," I say into my speaker, "–that's Hannah."

Judi's small chuckle comes in. "Alright, later, honey."

As soon as she hangs up, I'm out of the car and my knees hit the ground with my arms spread apart. Hannah takes the cue and runs into them.

The breath is nearly knocked out of me, but I don't care. I squeeze her so tight, almost as tight as she squeezes me.

"Oh my darling," I say, "I've missed you so much."

"Me too." She grins and pulls away.

I gasp dramatically when I take her in. "Look at you. You've grown since the last time I saw you!"

She giggles. "No, you're just saying that."

"I'm not. You'd soon be taller than me."

"Aunt Wren." She laughs some more and hugs me again. I pick her up and stand to my feet just as Noah comes running out of the house with toothpaste around his mouth.

"Noah!" Beth yells. "Would you just rinse your mouth for one second?"

He ignores her, eyes shining. "Aunt Wren! You're here!"

Ezra takes Hannah from me so I can hug Noah properly. He doesn't like to be picked up so I settle for a long hug.

When he wipes his mouth against my blouse, I cringe.

"How're you, sweetheart? I missed you." I ruffle his hair.

He smiles wide. "Me too. Mommy said you got shot, that's so cool. Just like Uncle AJ."

Ezra shakes his head. "No, it's not cool, Noah. She could've died."

"But she didn't." He shrugs.

When Ezra opens his mouth to protest, I shake my head at him.

Only a seven year old will think it's cool to get shot.

But it's fine. I'm happy to see them, and he's right, I didn't die even though I could've.

"Alright, let's go in." Beth claps and Noah runs back into the house while Hannah wraps her hand around my pinky, tugging me into the house.

Before I get in though, Beth pulls me into a hug which I appreciate. "Oh Wren," she breathes, "I'm so glad you're okay."

"I'm glad to see you, Beth. Heard it's a full house."

"You wouldn't even believe it. At least the kids disturb their grandma and uncle, it gives me the time to breathe, so it's not so bad."

"Maybe we'll squeeze in some girls' night out, yes?"

She laughs. "Definitely."

"Aunt Wren, come see our grandma and Uncle AJ." Hannah tugs me into the house and I follow, looking back once to see Ezra grabbing our bags.

He winks at me, and my cheeks heat. Hannah manages to tug me into the kitchen that smells wonderful.

I see Andrea, her back to us as she stirs a pot of something.

"Grandma Andrea, this is daddy's girlfriend!" Hannah introduces us like we've not already met and when Andrea turns around, her eyes go wide.

"Wren, darling." She spreads her arms, eyes welling up. "Oh, come here, you poor thing."

And I know that she knows about the baby. When she holds me, my eyes sting with tears but I hold them back.

I've cried enough. I can't do it anymore because if I start, I don't know when I'll stop.

Her hug is comforting. Like a mother's hug...a mother I've always wanted, always longed for. I sink into her arms, letting myself have this moment, holding her tight as I settle into her warmth.

She cups my jaw, her eyes pierce into mine, just as intense as Ezra's. "You will get through this, okay?"

I nod.

"And that little baby? He's watching over all of us. You're an amazing mom, darling. And when you and Ezra get married and have kids, you'll be even better."

My cheeks flush and I nod again. "Thank you, Andrea. I'm glad to see you all better."

"No, I have you to thank, Wren." She presses her forehead to mine. "Thank you for loving my son, and for loving our family so purely. Thank you for bringing us all together again."

I hug her again, sniffling. "Thank you for choosing them. You look amazing."

Her smile widens. "Oh, stop it."

But it's true.

She looks so much better, healthier. Her dark hair glows, her eyes are bright and her skin...flawless.

It suits her. I'm happy for her.

When we pull away, I see Ajax, Ezra and Beth watching us from the entrance, all with matching intense eyes.

Hannah and Noah grin up at me, and the feeling that takes over my body cannot be explained.

Family.

This is family.

And I'm so grateful to finally be a part of something so important, and so beautiful. The three people missing are Ray, Quincy and little MaryAnne.

Very soon, we'll all be together.

I walk over to Ezra, and in front of everyone he kisses me. Just like that.

I couldn't get more embarrassed if I wanted to.

"I love you," he says loudly.

"Aww," everyone coos.

Oh wait...I can get more embarrassed. My cheeks are hot and I hide my reddened face in his chest while he chuckles.

I swat him when I pull away but he only gives me that breathtaking smile. And I realise that I'm happy.

I'm really, really happy here.

Ajax walks over to me, and gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Glad to see you strong, Wren. This is our little family, and I hope you love it here."

"I do," I reply. "Thank you, Ajax, for saving me back there."

"I'd always protect my family."

God, how did I end up here? If someone told me I'd be in the midst of such amazing people who love me, I wouldn't believe it.

And I owe it all to the man in front of me.

His eyes brighten when he catches me staring.

"I love you," I mouth. "Thank you."

He presses his lips to my forehead.

We've been saying 'I love you' a little too frequently, and I know it's because of the scare. I'll spend my life telling him how much I love him, so that if anything happens...he'll never forget it.

"Alright!" Andrea announces with a single clap. "Dinner's ready! Which of you little nuggets will help me serve?"

"Me!!" Hannah and Noah chorus, hands thrown up.

She places her thumb and index finger on her chin, mock-thinking for a minute and then she hums. "Maybe we'll just have to roll a dice."

The way they groan and grumble makes me believe it's not the first time.

And I laugh at that.

***

[The Next Day]

"Daddy, where are we going?" Hannah asks for the third time since we began this journey. I look back at her in her car seat, legs swinging.

"We're going for a visit, sweetheart," I reply for the third time too.

"I know, but where? Who are we visiting and why isn't Noah and aunt Beth and grandma and Uncle AJ coming, too?"

Ezra gives me a worried look and I place my hand on his thigh, shaking my head subtly.

I smile at Hannah. "Well, that's why I'm coming with. Everyone else is a little busy, besides, the car can't contain all of us."

She pouts. "Oh."

"We'll be quick, okay?" I say and she nods. "Do you need a snack?"

When she nods again, I open up a packet of skittles and hand it over. "Thank you, aunt Wren."

"You're welcome, baby."

A sigh leaves my lips, my heart pounding in my chest. We're going to see Diane and Mitch today, and Ezra and I are both nervous.

We're dreading this.

I won't let Hannah go without a fight. Even though she biologically belongs to them, Ezra has been a great dad.

They can't just rip her from us, can they?

What if they want to take her? What if...?

My thoughts are cut off when Ezra's hand engulfs mine on his thigh. He lifts it to his lips and presses a kiss.

"I can hear you thinking," he murmurs. "We'll be fine."

I swallow thickly. "I hope so, Ezra. God, I hope so."

Through my rear mirror, I see Hannah chomping away on the skittles, and my heart stutters.

"Help me find out where Ray and the guys are, okay?"

I grab my phone. "Okay, I'll call him."

Like Ezra promised, Ray's coming with us. Especially when we're going to Outlaws MC to see Mitch and Hannah's dad, Pete.

But for now, Diane first.

We don't know how this is going to go, we don't even know what we'll say when we get there.

But...fingers crossed.