Chapter 5

Ashton Carter

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of tea parties, royal commands, and glitter catastrophes, I slipped away and returned to our room.

The quiet felt sacred. Ellie was already there, straightening the sheets, her back to me. She didn’t say anything when I walked in, and neither did I.

Instead, I walked up beside her, silently helping her smooth the last wrinkle on the bed.

When she reached to adjust the pillows, I couldn’t hold back anymore. With one swift move, I grabbed her by the waist and gently pushed her back onto the mattress.

She gasped, not in fear, but in surprise — the kind that made my pulse thunder with anticipation.

I hovered above her, arms braced on either side of her head, caging her in. My eyes roamed her face — those soft hazel eyes widening beneath me, the faint flush rising in her cheeks, and those lips... those lips that haunted my dreams when I was away.

"You’re mine tonight, baby," I whispered, my voice a low promise.

Her breath hitched. “First... lock the door. Someone might come in.”

I groaned in frustration — dramatic, just to make her laugh — and reluctantly climbed off. I strode to the door, turned the lock with a definitive click, and turned back to her with a wicked grin.

She was watching me now, propped up on her elbows, lips parted slightly.

I climbed back onto the bed, slowly, deliberately, hands landing once again beside her face as I leaned in.

This time, there was no pause. No hesitation.

I tilted her chin up, my fingers warm under her skin, guiding her to look directly into my eyes. “Three weeks,” I murmured. “Three damn weeks I’ve waited for this.”

And then I kissed her.

Not gently. Not tenderly.

But like a man half-starved and finally served his favorite meal.

Our mouths crashed together, my lips claiming hers with a hunger I could no longer suppress. I sucked her lower lip, slow and firm, before deepening the kiss. She opened for me — willingly, eagerly — and our tongues met like old lovers reuniting after war.

We spoke in a language only we knew.

No words, only heated breath and the rhythm of hearts catching fire.

She didn’t just kiss me back — she matched me, pulling me in by the shirt, arching slightly against me.

In that moment, there was no chaos, no glitter, no spilled juice. Just her. Just us.

The kiss lasted long, searing, like it had no end.

My fingers curled in her hair, her hands gripping my shirt like I was the only solid thing left in the world.

When we finally broke apart for breath, our foreheads rested against each other’s, and I whispered with a crooked grin,

“God, I missed that mouth.”

Just as we were catching our breath — lips swollen, hearts racing, ready to dive further into the night — there it was.

A knock.

I blinked.

Are you kidding me?!

Leave me alone with my wife, for heaven’s sake!

Ellie paused, brows furrowing. “Someone’s here…”

I groaned, flopping my head onto the pillow.

“They’ll go away if we don’t respond.”

She gave me a pointed look. “What if it’s an emergency?”

“Then they’ll knock again,” I said stubbornly.

And like fate had a personal grudge against me —

Knock knock knock

Ellie sighed the sigh of a woman who had resigned herself to a lifetime of interrupted moments and pushed off the bed. I buried my face in my hands, suppressing a frustrated growl.

She opened the door.

There, in his little spaceship pajamas, stood our two-year-old — eyes glassy, lip trembling, clutching his favorite stuffed elephant like it had failed to protect him.

“Mumma… I… I had a nightm-wha… upies…”

His tiny arms reached out toward her, desperate for comfort.

In an instant, Ellie scooped him up, cradling him against her chest. His head dropped onto her shoulder like it was his designated safe spot. My wife gently rubbed his back, whispering soft reassurances as she walked back in.

My heart cracked just a little.

Even in the middle of my deepest desperation, one look at that baby’s tear-streaked face and everything else melted away.

I got up and helped her close the door, then reached out and brushed a hand through his soft curls.

“What’s up, buddy? Had a nightmare?”

He nodded slowly, sniffling, not saying a word. His little fingers clung to Ellie’s shirt like a lifeline.

“You wanna sleep with Mumma and Dadda tonight?” Ellie asked, brushing a kiss to his forehead.

He gave another silent nod.

I sighed.

Well, there went the night.

But honestly… I couldn’t say no to my kids — not when they needed us like this.

I reached out and tickled his belly just a little, making him squirm and giggle.

“Scoot over, little prince. Daddy’s gonna squish in too.”

Ellie gave me a soft smile, and for a second, I didn’t miss what we were about to have.

Because this right here?

This messy, chaotic, interrupted life?

It was everything I’d ever wanted.

I laid beside Luca, his tiny chest rising and falling with sleepy sighs. I leaned down and blew soft raspberries on his stomach, earning a round of infectious giggles that made my heart swell.

Honestly, that sound? Pure magic.

Although... I was pretty sure I’d said the same thing about Ellie’s giggles. And Mila’s too.

What could I say? My family made everything feel golden.

Luca had so much of his mother in him — those warm hazel eyes, those soft brown curls that always fell into his lashes, and that laugh... that sweet, sweet laugh. He was Ellie’s heart in miniature.

Mila, on the other hand, reminded me of myself. The way she walked with purpose. The way she gave orders to her teddy bears like they were soldiers. Her confidence, her fierce little glare — yeah, that was all me. My little general in a princess dress.

After a while, Luca’s tiny body stilled and softened into sleep. I brushed his hair back and pressed gentle kisses on his forehead and soft, chubby cheeks.

That’s when Ellie spoke, her voice low and warm behind me.

“You’re really a good father, Ash. You care about them so much.”

I turned to her, my eyes meeting hers in the dim light.

“I have to. It’s my duty… and more than that, I love it. Mila and Luca — they’re little pieces of us. We made them, Ellie. How wild is that?”

I let out a breathless chuckle. “They drive me mad sometimes, but they’ve made my life... so much better. Like I was walking through fog before, and they’re the sun that burns it away.”

She smiled, eyes glinting with emotion. “They sure do...”

I reached out and took her hand, our fingers naturally interlocking.

“And you’re an incredible mother, Ellie. I honestly don’t know how you handle them both, day in and day out, when I’m away. You keep everything running — the house, the kids, your own sanity. You’re... kind of a superhero, you know that?”

She laughed quietly, leaning her head against my shoulder.

“Well, superheroes cry in the shower too, you know.”

“And that’s why I admire you even more,” I said softly, pressing a kiss to her hair.

“You break down and still keep going. That’s strength.”

She turned to face me, her eyes a little misty.

“You are too, Ash. Stronger than you realize. I’m so glad I said yes when you proposed.”

I cupped her cheek, brushing my thumb across her skin.

“I’m glad too.”

I smiled.

“You’re my home, Ellie. No matter where I go, no matter what the world throws at me… you're the one thing I always come back to.”

Her lips curled into that soft, heart-melting smile I fell in love with.

“Then let’s keep coming back to each other. Always.”