The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate Chapter 151

Tristan

"Sarah had Lily and Liam close together," I pointed out. "She'll be able to give us advice on managing two little ones."

"I'll help however I can," Sarah called from the kitchen. "Fair warning though, twins are going to be harder than two kids with a year or two between them."

"Thanks for the encouragement," Athena called back but she was smiling.

Dinner was amazing and we spent the whole meal talking about baby names and whether we wanted to know the genders ahead of time or be surprised, Lily had strong opinions about names and insisted that if there was a girl she should be named Princess.

"We'll take that under consideration," Athena told her diplomatically.

After dinner, after the kids were in bed, the four of us adults sat in the living room with coffee and tea.

"I want to talk about something," Orion said, his tone becoming more serious.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Security," he said. "With the twins coming and both families living on that property, we need to make sure it's as secure as possible."

"Agreed," I said. "I've already been thinking about that, we need a good security system, maybe some guards, definitely cameras."

"And we need to be smart about who we trust," Orion added. "After what happened with Seraphine and then the attack, we can't be too careful."

"What about Kiara?" Sarah asked. "She helped save us but Derek doesn't trust her."

"Derek has his reasons for not trusting people," I said carefully. "But, I think his reasons are different this time."

I've seen the way they both act towards each other and I know there really was something there, something that none of us knows.

"So we don't cut her out, we'll just try to find a way for them to co exist. Or give him a reason to trust her, so it won't be like we're overlooking his feelings." Athena said.

"Exactly," Orion confirmed.

We talked strategy for a while, discussing security measures and protocols, planning how we'd keep our families safe once we were all living on the property together.

Eventually the conversation wound down and Athena was clearly exhausted, I could see it in the way she was leaning more heavily against me and the way her eyes kept drifting closed.

"Bed," I said firmly.

"I'm fine," she protested but she yawned right after saying it.

"You're exhausted and you're carrying two babies," I said. "Doctor said you need rest so that's what you're getting."

I helped her up and we said goodnight to Orion and Sarah, heading upstairs to our room, I helped her change into comfortable clothes and get settled in bed, then climbed in beside her.

"Today was a lot," she said, curling up against my side.

"It was," I agreed. "Good though."

"Very good," she said. "Overwhelming but good."

I placed my hand on her stomach again, marveling at the fact that there were two lives growing in there, two babies who would be part me and part her, who would grow up on the land our parents had chosen, who would have Lily and Liam as cousins and best friends.

"I love you," I said. "All three of you."

"We love you too," she murmured, already half asleep.

I lay there long after she'd fallen asleep, my hand on her stomach, thinking about everything that had happened and everything that was coming, we were getting married, having twins, building a life on land that meant everything to our families.

It was perfect and terrifying and I couldn't wait for it all to unfold, couldn't wait to see what our future held.

For now though, I was content to hold my fiancée, to feel the warmth of her body against mine, to know that she and our babies were safe and healthy.

Everything else would fall into place, I had to believe that.

We'd been through too much, fought too hard, to have it all fall apart now.

This was our time, our chance at happiness, and I was going to do everything in my power to make sure we got it.

Starting tomorrow I'd increase security at both houses, would make sure the property was as safe as we could make it, would do whatever it took to protect my family.

But tonight, right now, I just wanted to hold Athena and let myself feel the joy and wonder of knowing we were having twins.

Two babies, two little lives that would call me dad, two chances to get it right, to be the father I'd always wanted to be.

I felt tears prick my eyes and I blinked them away, emotions running high after everything that had happened today.

Athena stirred against me and mumbled something in her sleep, her hand coming to rest on top of mine on her stomach.

"Sleep, baby," I whispered. "I've got you, I've got all of you."

And I meant it, with everything in me, I meant it.

........

The next few days settled into a rhythm that felt like something out of a dream I didn't want to wake up from.

Every morning I'd open my eyes to find Athena curled against my side, her hair spread across my chest, one of her hands always resting on her stomach even in sleep like she was already protecting our babies, and I'd lie there for a solid ten minutes just watching her breathe, watching the way the morning light coming through the curtains painted gold across her skin.

Sometimes she'd wake up and catch me staring and she'd smile that sleepy smile that made my heart do things I couldn't explain, other times she'd stay asleep and I'd carefully extract myself from the bed to go downstairs where Sarah was already making breakfast.

Sarah had taken it upon herself to make sure Athena ate enough, claiming that since she was eating for three now she needed proper nutrition, which resulted in breakfast spreads that could feed a small army.

"I'm going to be the size of a house by the time these babies come," Athena said one morning as Sarah set down a plate loaded with eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, and pancakes.

She was sitting at the kitchen table in one of my t-shirts that hung off her shoulder and a pair of sleep shorts, her hair was pulled back in a messy bun and she had that pregnancy glow everyone talks about even though she was barely four weeks along.

"You're going to be beautiful," I said from my spot beside her, leaning over to kiss her temple. "You're already glowing and you're not even showing yet."

"That's what you have to say," she said but I could see her trying not to smile. "You're biased."

"I'm not biased, I'm observant," I corrected, stealing a piece of bacon from her plate. "There's a difference."

"That's my bacon," she protested, but she was grinning now.

"Our bacon," I said. "What's yours is mine, remember? You agreed to marry me."

"I'm starting to regret that decision," she said, pulling her plate closer protectively.

"No you're not," I said confidently.

"No I'm not," she admitted with a laugh.

Sarah was watching us from the stove with this soft expression on her face. "You two are disgustingly cute," she said. "It's almost annoying how perfect you are together."

"Thank you?" Athena said, making it sound like a question.

"It's definitely a compliment," Sarah assured her. "Orion and I were the same way when we first got together, we couldn't keep our hands off each other and everyone said we were nauseating."

"We still say that," Orion called from somewhere upstairs.

"Shut up," Sarah yelled back, but she was smiling.

Lily came bouncing into the kitchen then, already dressed in a bright pink dress with her hair in pigtails, she was a morning person in the worst way, full of energy from the moment she opened her eyes.

"Good morning Aunt Athena," she sang out, climbing onto Athena's lap without asking. "Good morning Uncle Tristan."

"Good morning princess," Athena said, wrapping her arms around her niece. "You're up early."

"I couldn't sleep," Lily said. "I'm too excited."

"Excited about what?" I asked.

"About the babies," Lily said like it should be obvious. "Mama says they're going to be here in a few months and I get to help take care of them."

"That's right," Athena said. "You're going to be the best big cousin."

"I know," Lily said with the confidence only a four year old could have. "I'm very good with babies, I helped with Liam when he was little."

"You were only two when Liam was born," Sarah pointed out.

"I still helped," Lily insisted.

Liam wandered in a few minutes later, still in his pajamas and rubbing his eyes, he looked like a tiny version of Orion with his dark hair sticking up in every direction and his serious expression.

"Up," he said to me, holding up his arms.

I picked him up and settled him on my other side, he immediately laid his head on my shoulder and stuck his thumb in his mouth, clearly not as much of a morning person as his sister.

"Rough night, buddy?" I asked.

He just nodded against my shoulder.

Orion came down then, looking more awake than his son but not by much. "Morning," he said, heading straight for the coffee pot.

"How is it that you have two small children and you're still not a morning person?" Sarah asked him with a smile.

"I know you don't mean that baby" Orion said, pouring himself a large mug.

Sarah raised her brow still smiling.

"You love me that way" I rolled my eyes at his words, but I'm smiling too.

Sometimes I wonder how they love each other more everyday.

I want to love Athena more everyday too. I'll love her more till my last breath.

We all ate breakfast together, Lily chattering nonstop about everything and nothing while Liam slowly woke up, by the time we finished eating he was his usual active self, wanting to get down and play.

"So what's the plan for today?" Orion asked, refilling his coffee.

"I was thinking we could go out to the property," I said. "Check on the progress, let the kids run around."

"I love that idea," Athena said immediately. "I want to see how much they've done since last time."

"Me too," Lily said, bouncing in her seat. "Can we go now?"

"After everyone gets dressed," Sarah said. "And after your brother finishes his breakfast."

"He's so slow," Lily complained.

"You were slow at his age too," Orion reminded her.

We spent the next hour getting everyone ready, Athena took a shower while I helped Orion wrangle the kids into appropriate outdoor clothes, by the time we were all ready it was almost ten in the morning.

The drive out to the property took about thirty minutes and Athena spent the whole time looking out the window with this expression of contentment on her face, I held her hand the entire way, my thumb rubbing circles on her skin.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked quietly.

"How different my life is now compared to a year ago," she said. "A year ago I was still with Daxon, still pretending everything was fine when it wasn't, still lying to myself about being happy."

"And now?" I prompted.

"Now I'm actually happy," she said, looking at me with so much love in her eyes it made my chest tight. "Now I'm with someone who loves me, who protects me, who makes me laugh and makes me feel safe, now I'm pregnant with twins and planning a wedding and building a house on land that meant something to all our parents."

"Now you're living the life you deserve," I said.

"We're living the life we deserve," she corrected. "Together."