Revolution (Collide, #4)(81)

Now, I was about to let it fall from mine and I had barely been able to keep in my excitement in all day.

I twisted my necklace, rubbing the hearts that were made for me, and sighed.

"What's wrong, babe?" Merrick asked, so predictably.

"Nothing. I was just thinking that this apartment is awfully small."

He frowned. "I thought you loved it."

"I do. It's just small."

"Well," he said slowly, "beggars can't be choosers, sweetheart."

I giggled. "I guess not. But the baby is going to be awfully cranky-"

"What…did you just say?"

I sat up and straddled his lap. "I said…" I smiled and cried for about the millionth time in the past week and whispered, "The baby will be cranky."

His mouth opened and he stared. "You… Really?"

"Really. Lily told me, and I don't think it's a good idea to doubt her when she says something. Plus," I shrugged, "a woman knows her body."

"Are you saying…" his eyes filled and the joy was all over him, "we're going to have a baby?"

"That's what I'm saying, Keeper. Not only did you save me more times than I can count, and come for me, and love me, you gave me the one thing I thought I'd never have."

"But…how?"

"Do I need to give you an anatomy lesson, baby?" I licked his earlobe and kissed his chin. "I think you know how."

He rolled so quickly, it reminded me of the Keeper speed he no longer possessed. He grinned down at me. "Really?"

I smiled and burst. It hurt to have so much joy in my gut. He lay down on me and absorbed my sobs as he stroked and kissed me. It took a while before I realized that he was crying, too.

We held onto each other and dreamed about things of the future. Soon he was tucking me under him in more intimate ways and I arched, and sighed and gave into him.

This was what I had to look forward to for the rest of my life.

And I was one happily content girl.



Ten Months Later


"How's the sign coming along?" I asked.

Merrick and Miguel grinned down at me. Miguel nodded. "It's bloody perfect! Everyone will see this thing from a mile away."

"They better," Billings groaned as he held it up from the bottom. "Are you done yet?" No one answered him and he growled and yelled, "Hey!" at Bones who nipped at his pants legs.

Cain stopped beside me and looked up at it. He whistled. "Looks good." He read aloud the 'In Honor of Daniel. The Lighter whose sacrifice saved us all'. He smiled wistfully, rubbing L's arm as she laid her head on his shoulder, and then smiled down at me. "And how are you doing?"

"Oh, fine," I sighed happily and rocked my hips side to side. "I just don't want you guys to get in over your heads, that's all. There's a lot of people in this town to feed."

"Nah," he shrugged off, "we're fine. We've got lots of help from the other guys in town. And Pap's seeds that he left at the cabin were plenty enough to get us started." He chuckled. "I never thought I'd be a farmer."

Lillian wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Bet you'd look cute in overalls."

He grinned. "I look cute in anything, L."

"True." She smiled at me. "How are you really doing?"

"I'm great!" I laughed. "Everyone needs to stop worrying about me."

"Where's Marissa?" Cain asked.

I nodded my head toward the lounge chair. "She's there." Marissa, Jeff and that gorgeous baby were all snuggled up for a nap in the lounger together. They needed the sleep for sure. The baby was keeping them up at night, I knew.

"You could probably do with a nap, too," Lillian said and gave me a look.

"She's right," Merrick said and glanced at Jeff. "I'm a little jealous of Jeffrey right now."

"Ah," I crooned and kissed Hope's little head. "She's not that bad, are you, baby?"

Merrick smiled gorgeously and kissed her head, then mine. "No, she's not that bad." He took her from me, my arms releasing with the ache of being still so long. "In fact, she's perfect. She looks just like you," he whispered, as he'd whispered a million times since she was born. He held her effortlessly and kissed her forehead again.

"Let us take her for a bit," Lillian said excitedly. "The grand opening for the produce farm isn't for a few hours still." She looked at Cain and he nodded with a grin. "Come on, let us," she pleaded.

I kissed my little girl's head once more and Merrick handed her sleeping form over reluctantly. She was exactly two months old today. Merrick took my hand and towed me upstairs toward our apartment. Calvin and Lana's was right at the end of the stairs. I saw Calvin's sheet tent in the living room. Ellie and Ryan's apartment was on one side of us and Jeff and Marissa's was on the other. Ryan's door was open and they were standing in the doorway.

He must've been heading off to help with the opening because he was giving her one heck of a goodbye kiss. Merrick and I smiled at each other as we passed. We entered our apartment, a nap sounding like the best idea ever right then, to find Lily there. She was brushing out her doll's hair and setting them up for a tea party.