the story of your life;

Whitney started to stir when she felt the bed move, and almost as if on instinct she rolled over to fill his spot in bed, smiling at the warmth he left behind. This was what she had missed when she was living in Boston. The first few months she had lived there, she cried herself to sleep pretty much nightly because of how lonely she'd been. Now she was home. And she would never have to go through that again.

After lazing in bed for another few minutes, Whitney got up and threw her pants on before heading across the hall, gently knocking on Charley's bedroom door. "Can momma come in?"

--

Alex groaned and rubbed his eyes as the dogs began running all over the bed, barking and driving him nuts. He heard Kassie retch in the bathroom and his eyes swung open. The vocalist slowly started to make his way to the bathroom, nudging the door open before springing into action. He got Kassie a little dixie cup of water and handed it to her before readying her toothbrush. "So, Alex junior is already a pain in the ass, huh?"

Kassie couldn't help but smile slightly, wiping the edges of her mouth with toilet paper before she flushed. Standing slowly, she glanced up at him. "Alex junior? Who in the world said anything about Alex Junior ?" She questioned, rising out her mouth with water before taking the toothbrush from him. He really was being just the absolute best boyfriend in the world.

"I never agreed to an Alex Junior"

---

Rian changed Charleys disperse, getting g her in new clothes for today when Whitney popped her head in. "Good morning beautiful..."Rian smiled, picking Charley up from her spot on the floor. "Look its momma sweet girl... you wanna say hi to momma?" Rian spoke, his voice slightly higher than normal.

Whitney's heart sang at the sight of her little family. "Momma," Charley babbled, still gnawing on her hand. The purple haired woman's grin grew even larger. "Well hello there, my little princess! Did you sleep nice?" She walked forward and pressed a few kisses to the baby's chubby cheeks before leaning up to give Ryan a kiss. "What does my family want for breakfast? I'm thinking... blueberry pancakes?"

--

Alex laughed at Kassie's reaction. "It doesn't have to be Alex. It could be Alexa, Alexis, Alexandra... I'm not picky." He kissed the top of her head before going to brush his own teeth. The vocalist figured that they had a few hours before they had to go to Rian's house and drop the news, so he wanted to spend as much time with Kassie as possible. "Do you think you could handle some waffles, love?"

Kassie rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she rinsed the toothpaste from her mouth. She glanced at the clock, groaning internally at hiw early it was before looking down at her stomach. "Really?" She spoke, her voice low and slightly annoyed "7 am? Can't let me enjoy the last 8 months of sleep I'm gonna get?" She placed her hand on her stomach, smiling slightly. She looked up when Alex questioned her ability to handle waffles.

"Baby... come on. Its waffles were talking about. I'll make myself handle them if I have to." She joked, walking out of the bathroom and heading down the stairs to let the puppies outside.

---

"Blueberry pancakes sound great momma." Rian smiled, "Good morning by the way." He chuckled, picking up Charley and walking towards Whitney. He pressed his lips against her cheek, grabbing her hand with his own free hand. "I think Kassie is coming by around lunch time... and while I love your pancakes you know you dont have to cook for me..." he smiled at her, leading her down the stairs slowly.

Whitney followed her family down the stairs, still clinging gently to Rian's hand. "I know I don't necessarily have to cook for you guys, but I want to. I miss having someone to cook for." She spoke as they reached the kitchen. "I'm thinking maybe this evening, or even after Kassie leaves I might wanna head over to my mom's and start packing my stuff up." Whitney moved about the kitchen, preparing a breakfast bottle for Charley. "Pretty soon I want to start trying to wean her off the bubba..." She spoke, mostly to herself.

--

Alex laughed gently as he followed Kassie to the kitchen. "What was I thinking?" He spoke. While she set about letting the dogs out, Alex started getting their breakfast plates together. He popped the waffles in the toaster before making coffee for himself and tea for Kassie. While the waffles were toasting, Alex went to get the butter and syrup out of the fridge.

Kassie sat at the counter, waiting for the dogs to signal they were ready to come in, her eyes trained on the coffee brewing for Alex. She wrinkled her nose at the tea as he sat it in front of her, her eyes giving off a puppy vibe. "Stupid Alex had to go and get me pregnant... first the baby wakes me up super duper early and now I can't even have coffee to help. Stupid Alex." She murmured, mostly to herself. More than anything she was jealous he got to have coffee and he didnt, but deep down she knew that part of her really needed coffee to function properly... and nicely.

---

Glancing up from Charley as Whitney spoke, he couldn't help but think aloud. "Whit what about your mom. The whole reason you came back here was because she was sick and needed your help." He questioned, concerned. He was so focused on getting his family back together he didnt even think about anyone else.

Whitney bit her lip. She knew that Rian was right-- her mom was the sole reason she moved back to Baltimore. "You're right," she spoke softly, running a hand through her hair. "She and I did have a talk last night, but I feel like we should have another talk with all three of us, soon. We need to figure this out." She bent down and handed Charley her bubba before turning back to the stove to start the pancakes.

--

Alex raised a brow. "You got something to say, babe?" He teased, leaning over to give her a kiss on the temple. "I'm pretty sure you weren't complaining when the baby was conceived." He joked, popping the batter in the waffle maker. While that was going, he set out getting the syrup, butter and powdered sugar out. "What do you say to some fresh fruit, love?"

"Dont get me wrong. I would love for everything to go back to the way it should have been. Maybe she could stay with us for a while? Until we get into a grove." Rian suggested, sitting across the kitchen, watching Whitney cook "Charley could stay in our room for now and your mom could take Charley's room... at least while I'm on tour, ya kniw? It's just a thought..." he trailed off. Knowing her mother though, nothing like that would happen. Shed find a way to make it work before she got between Rian and Whitney working everything out.

---

"Hmm? I didnt say anything." Kassie smiled, responding innocently as her eyes widened slightly. She nodded to the idea of fresh fruit as she stood, letting the dogs in from outside. "After breakfast I think I'm gonna get a shower and start getting ready to go over to Rian's. I'm not sure if I want to tell him about the baby first... or about us." She mused, mostly to herself. "What do you think?"

Whitney nodded as she flipped the first pancake. She knew that her mother wouldn't mind staying for a little while, while Rian was on tour. But there was a snowball's chance in hell that she would actually move in with them. Even at her sickest, Bev was fiercely independent. Whitney knew there was no way that she'd leave the house she'd had since Whitney was about six. "We'll figure something out." She smiled before starting on the next pancake. "After breakfast, maybe we can go through Charley's baby book until Kass gets here?" She offered.

--

Alex bit his lip, running a hand through his tousled hair as he tried to figure out how to answer Kassie's question. "That's kind of like asking if you want to get shot or stabbed..." he mused as he brought their breakfasts over to the kitchen table. The vocalist gave it a bit more thought, sipping his coffee. "I figure we tell him about us first, and then the baby. That way he knows that we're actually serious and not just fucking around.... maybe we should get him drunk first." To say that Alex was nervous would have been a gross understatement, but he knew this had to be done. Especially if he wanted to marry Kassie.

ope

Rian smiled, his eyes on his daughter as he thought of the first year of her life that he had missed. He was still so incredibly angry at Whitney about it, but with his eyes on his daughter he couldn't imagine feeling any way other than happy. She was beautiful, she was healthy, and she was theirs. "Yea, I would like that." He nodded at Whitney's question, turning back to watch her flip pancakes.

---

"Yea... you're probably right." Kassie nodded, returning to her seat at the counter. "If we lead with the baby hes either gonna kill you before we tell him it wasn't just a hook up, or figure it out himself before we've had the chance to tell him." She watched as he set their food in front of her and she didnt hesitate to dig in. "And we can't get him drunk. Its gonna be 11 am, besides... if we get him drunk he likely won't remember and well have go tell him twice." She added as an afterthought.

Whitney felt that brief moment of tension in the air, after she mentioned Charley's baby book. She knew that as good as things were going right then, they would have a lot of things to hash out, probably in counseling, if their relationship was going to be one hundred percent healthy again. "Okay," she spoke, smiling softly as she finished up with the pancakes.

--

Alex nodded his head as he sipped his coffee. "Yeah, you're probably right-- although don't talk shit about drinking at eleven am. That's something I've done a time or seven." He joked, leaning over to kiss her temple. "It's gonna be okay. As scared shitless as we both are right now, I know everything is going to be fine. We have to do this.... for Alex junior." he teased.

"Again with the Alex Jr." Kassie shook her name, her eyes focused on Alex. This man was going to be the death of her... but she loved him. And there was nothing that would change that, so she was stuck with him. "I did not agree to this !" She chuckled.

---

Rian smiled at Whitney as she brought the food to the table. As upset as he was about missing the first year, he had to remind himself that Whitney was alone for two years and she had done an amazing job at raising their little girl. I'm the end, she only left because she thought it's what was best for him. She was wrong, but she made the decision with his future in mind and he couldn't be mad about that. "Man, did I miss your cooking." He grinned, the smell of the pancakes filling the room.

"I did say that we could name her Alexandra if she was a girl... I'm not totally unflexible." Alex smirked, drinking the last of the coffee in his mug. "Don't we want to carry on my fantastic name?"

--

Whitney kissed Rian's temple as she set the food on the table before setting up Charley's high chair so she could sit and enjoy her little cut up bits of pancake. "I missed having someone to actually cook for...this one didn't really like to eat my food for awhile." She teased, gently booping Charley on the nose.

"Your fantastic LAST name maybe" Kassie giggled slightly, rolling her eyes at her boyfriend. "I'm going to shower. If we keep stalling we'll never make it over there." She stated, grabbing her phone to move towards the stairs. As she began walk up the stairs she took off her shirt, leaving her completely topless, and theww it back down the stairs behind her. "You coming?" She called back, a smirk on her face.

---

"Well she was sorely missing out." Rian smiled up at Whitney and Charley. He wasted no time into digging in to the food she had prepared. All thoughts of his sisters impending visit the last thing on his mind. "So I was thinking. Since Kass doesnt mind moving out - I really wanna make Charleys room her own. I'm thinking we should paint it. I have a friend who does great with scenes and characters. We could do anything."

Alex smirked as he followed Kassie up the stairs. "You know I can never say no to you." He teased, ripping off his own t shirt and throwing it into the nearby laundry basket. He followed Kassie into the bathroom and grabbed her wrist, gently spinning her around and pulling her close. "I love you," Alex mumbled, pressing a kiss to Kassie's lips.

--

Whitney took a bite of her own breakfast, mulling over Rian's words. She nodded her head in approval. "That sounds like a great idea babe. She's really into Mickey Mouse right now... you think Matt would be willing to part with some of his stuff?" She asked jokingly.

Kassie couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips before she returned the pressure against Alex's. "And I love you." She murmured, resting her head against his. Moving away from Alex, Cassie turned on the water in the shower then returned to the man who was standing in the doorway. She kissed him gently, her hands trailing down his chest and ever so slightly into the edge of his pajamas.

---

Rian choked on his laughter at the thought of Matt giving up a single piece if Mickey Mouse merchandise- even if It were the daughter of one of his best friends. "I highly doubt it" Rian chuckled out "I am sure we could find some of her own Mickey toys." He smiled softly

Alex smirked slightly as his lips returned to Cassie's forehead. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, running a hand through her hair. He then gently gripped her waist, letting the palms of his hands rest on her bare skin.

--

Whitney nodded her head, knowing that as much as Matt loved his niece, he would cut off his own foot before he gave up one of his stuffed Mickeys. She thoughtfully sipped her coffee, observing her little family around the kitchen table. "One day she's gonna think she's too cool to hang out with her mom and dad." She teased.

"Pfft." Rian scoffed "maybe her mom - I'm the cool dad. I'm gonna be the one to introduce her to all sorts of bands. She'll never think she is too cool for me." He chuckled, flashing a smile towards Whitney. "Kass should be here soon. What do you say we get miss thing cleaned up and take a peak at that photo album." He suggested, looking at Charley and the sticky mess she had made with her pancakes.

---

Kassie let her nails rake up his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. She stood on her toes briefly before jumping up to wrap her legs around his waist. She pressed her lips against his neck, biting down ever so lightly. If there was one thing that turned Alex in - it was his neck. And she used it to her advantage quite often.

Whitney rolled her eyes, gently shoving Rian on the arm as she got up from the table. "She eats like you," she teased, kissing the top of Charley's head before getting her out of the high chair. "Come on, you little hot mess you." Whitney led the way upstairs, grabbing a new onesie, pair of pants, and a diaper before heading into the bathroom. "Have Zack and Olivia gotten married yet? Or is he still procrastinating?"

--

Alex stumbled slightly, a hiss catching in his throat as he held onto Kass. "You're going to kill me one day, you know that right?" He spoke through clenched teeth.