The blaring of my alarm at 5:30 in the morning had Ashton reaching over me and slamming his hand down on it.
It had woken me up but I didn't want to move even though I knew I had to. We were leaving on the ferry at 8:00 so we could get to Ashton's house by lunch time.
"Babe, we gotta get up." Ashton muttered and I closed my eyes even tighter.
"Five more minutes." I mumbled and he graciously held me for a little longer until I was forced to get up.
I practically stumbled down the stairs to start the coffee maker and was of course met with Gracie's soft arms. Managing to keep her up in my tired state she fell right back asleep in my arms.
I could hear her breathing in my ear as I poured myself my cup of coffee and attempted to wake myself up.
Ashton came downstairs, fully dressed and made himself his coffee and took Gracie from me so I could go get changed.
I woke up Ender after I was dressed and had him get in the shower so I could get Gracie in the bath afterwards.
Gracie woke up more when she was in the bath and I got her all scrubbed up and clean and used my hairdryer to dry her hair and then my moms old curling iron to curl it into soft waves and then styled it into a half pony tail.
I dressed her in her pink leggings, black tutu skirt that Ashton had bought her, and a white shirt he had got her as well that had silver sequins that made a G on the right corner pocket.
Gracie brought a pair of combat boots with her when she came here that were a lot like mine so I put those on her as well.
She ran downstairs all dressed up and showed her outfit to Ender and Ashton.
"You look very pretty." Ashton beamed at her.
I had Ender get Bears bag ready for Ari to come pick him up later on today while Ashton and I finished packing Gracie's bag and then moved onto mine.
He threw his shaving kit and charger into his already packed suitcase that he had worked on yesterday and brought the three bags down to the stairs. Ender had me double check his bag and then Ashton brought it downstairs with the others and started carrying them out to the jeep while I started on breakfast.
Several stacks of pancakes and plates of scrambled eggs later, everyone was ready to go.
Ender took Bear for a walk one last time and I had Gracie use the bathroom and hold onto Mr. Carrots and Olaf as we walked to the car.
Ashton had our tickets in his wallet and we made it to the boat just in time.
He parked the jeep on the car deck and then we got out to go sit on the benches so Gracie could see the water.
"Daddy, how old are you?" Gracie asked randomly, swinging her little legs from the bench.
"Twenty." He answered.
"How much older?"
"Sixteen years."
"Woah!" She gasped and Ashton snorted a laugh at her reaction.
She got bored quickly like most children do so Ashton downloaded a few games on his phone for her. I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of his screen saver as he handed it over to her which used to be the picture of me and him kissing in front of the Christmas tree but was now one of me holding Gracie while smiling down at Ender who was making a funny face to cheer up the little girl.
I interlaced my fingers with his and we watched Gracie play a baking game until it was time to go back to the jeep.
Ari sent me a text to let me know she had picked up Bear and to have fun in Sydney.
After the two hour boat ride we finally made it to the mainland and slowly but surely made our way off the ferry and onto the road.
Gracie pointed at things out the window the entire drive until we made it to Ashton's house. His street was filled with cars unlike last time and there were even two police cars down the block.
"Woah, someone's having a party." I commented.
"Yeah." He said glancing around before pulling up into the drive of his house.
"This your house?" Gracie asked as he turned off the car.
"Mhmm. This is where I grew up." He turned around and smiled at her.
She nodded, looking at the building while the rest of us got out. He unhooked her from her car seat while I pulled out all of our bags and Ender took two of them while I took one and Ashton took the other, carrying Gracie with his other arm.
He let go of the suitcase and opened the door, taking it back up as he walked in, the rest of us following. The house hadn't changed since I was here but Gracie's eyes flitted about everywhere, taking it all in.
But Gracie's wandering eyes stopped when Ann walked into the room, all smiles.
"You made it!" Ann clasped her hands together.
"We did." I smiled and she came forward to hug me tightly.
"It so nice to see you again, Carter. You look as beautiful as ever."
"Thank you." I smiled.
"And Ender, I heard you are quite the footie player, you won the first game?" She let go of me and turned her attention to him.
"Yeah, 6-4." He said, obviously stoked that she knew that and she gave him a hug as well.
When she stood up her eyes went to Gracie and Ashton and she had the most warm-hearted look in her eyes.
"And you must be Gracie." She smiled at the child but Gracie being her typical shy self, buried her head in Ashton's neck.
"Gracie, this is my mum." He tried to nudge her with the shoulder she was resting on but she kept hiding.
"She'll warm up to you in a bit." Ashton told his mother and she gave him an understanding smile.
We set our bags by the door and walked further into the house and into the living room where Indie was laying on the floor.
"Indie!" Ender grinned and jogged over to the dog, Gracie lifting her head up at this to see what Ender was talking about.
She let out a little gasp at the dog and Ashton looked down at her.
"Do you want to go see the dog?" He asked her and she nodded vigorously. He set her down and she ran over to pet the new puppy.
"She's absolutely gorgeous." Ann commented next to me.
"She really is." I said back, watching Gracie rub Indie's belly.
"So how has it been, adjusting to all of it?" She asked and I stepped aside so we could talk better.
"It's been strange definitely. I mean it's just been me and Ender for so long and I had forgotten what they were like at this age and how much care they needed." I answered.
"I guess it came as quite a shock too huh?"
"Yeah, just a bit," I laughed lightly. "I didn't even know she existed until I got the call from social services."
"So how is she related to you?"
"She was my dads sisters daughters daughter. My dads sister or my aunt Deb died after I was born and had a daughter named Abby who I don't think my dad even knew she had, and then Abby had Gracie when she was sixteen and passed away from pneumonia leaving Gracie to me."
"That's just crazy to think about." Ann shook her head in awe.
"It is but, I'm glad I found out and they didn't send her to a foster home."
"That would've been awful." She frowned at that. "But she's here with you now."
"Yeah, and I don't want to imagine it any other way. She grown on me quite a bit." I smiled.
"I don't see how she couldn't." Ann said watching Gracie like me.
"Hey where do you want to go for lunch?" Ashton walked towards us, pulling out his phone.
"What about Bourke Street Bakery?" Ann suggested and Ashton nodded.
"We'll take the SUV." Ann patted my arm and I went to get Gracie and Ender.
Ender helped Ashton put Gracie's car seat in the SUV while I made sure she had Mr. Carrots with her so she wouldn't start crying if she realised she didn't have him.
We got her into the seat and Ann got on the drivers side, Ashton taking the front passenger and me in the back with the kids.
Once we arrived at the restaurant Ann parked in front and Ashton told the rest of us to go in while he parked the car.
The restaurant was fairly crowded but we managed to get a table closer to the back. Our waiter brought a little booster seat for Gracie and I texted Ashton where we were sitting.
Wondering what was taking him so long to find us since we had already ordered our drinks, I looked out the window to see him walking up to the restaurant but a man with a camera in his hand jogged up to him, saying something to Ashton.
Ashton shook his head and the man said something else and finally Ashton gave him a wave and walked inside.
He found us and took the seat next to mine, his arm going around the back of my chair.
"Who was that man outside talking to you?" I turned my head to ask him.
"Just some guy asking for directions. Sorry it took so long, there were barely any parking spots left."
"Well you're here so...." I gave him a cheeky little smile and he impulsively bent down to press his lips to mine in a sweet kiss.
Blushing terribly, I returned to my menu to pick out what I wanted and helped Gracie decide as well. Our waiter came back and took our order and then we all sat back, relaxing.
We chatted about my work, Bear, and Ender missing school this week.
One time in the conversation Ashton's phone went off and he went to check it then slid it back in his pocket.
"Who was that?" Ann asked.
"Just a reminder about Gracie's doctors appointment next week." He said looking over at me.
"Oh, that's right." I nodded and looked back to see Ann giving us a happy little smirk.
Gracie didn't talk at lunch, except for when I asked her questions, but you could tell she was still trying to get used to Ann who was nothing but sweet to her.
When our food arrived, since I was sitting next to Gracie, I cut up her food for her and then started in on my own meal.
Everyone shut up as we ate and when I was done I looked over to see Gracie not eating anymore of her food, her plate a quarter of the way full.
"Gracie, finish your food please." I said to her and she shook her head no.
"Okay, how old are you?" I asked her and she held up four fingers. "Then take four more bites."
She agreed to that and took another bite, Ashton patting me on the back to tell me good job.
When the waiter brought us our check I tried to pay for me, Ender, and Gracie but Ashton wasn't having any of that and ended up taking my wallet from me, which Ann found hilarious.
"You can get it back when you stop fighting with me about this." He stuck my wallet in his back pocket.
"I'm not a child." I frowned at him and tried to make a grab for my wallet but he snatched my hand before I could and laced his fingers with mine.
"I know my ass is great but we're in public, control yourself and your grabby hands." He gave me a wink and I rolled my eyes.
When we left the restaurant we decided to walk around the area a little bit and look at the different shops.
Gracie held onto my hand and Ashton's and swung our arms between us, every once in a while jumping up and skipping a few steps.
Eventually she got tired of walking and Ashton picked her up, her legs wrapped around his torso.
She reached up to start playing with his hat and glasses and he had to move her hands away, adjusting his accessories and getting onto her a little bit.
Finally we got back to the car and tucked Gracie into her seat and made our way back to the Irwin house.
Gracie sat in the middle of the living room floor and played with Indie, giggling every time the dog would lick at her hands.
"So is Gracie keeping her last name or are you changing it to Chase?" Ann asked me from where I was sitting on the sofa next to Ashton.
"Uhh...I don't know...I hadn't really thought about that." I answered.
Gracie let out a loud squeal and began to run in circles around Indie.
"I guess she'll take the name Chase, I just don't want to completely cut her off from everything in her past."
"You're not cutting her off, your integrating her into your family. She's your child now." Ann said nonchalantly but her words really hit home.
Gracie's laughter interrupted our conversations and suddenly she ran up to Ashton, flinging herself into his lap.
"Daddy, can I have ice cream?" She batted her eyelashes and sat her self down on his legs.
"You're hyper enough, I don't think you need any ice cream." He smiled down at her, messing with her hair.
"Please." She whined.
"Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow." He patted her head. Not pleased with his answer, she turned to me and gave me the most pathetic puppy dog look she could muster up.
"No, Gracie." I shook my head and she let out a defeated sigh.
"Hey, why don't you go pick out what you want to wear tomorrow?" I asked her, trying to give her something to do.
"Okay." She primly smiled and slid off Ashton's lap and skipped to the hallway where her suitcase was.
Ann turned to both Ashton and I with an incredulous look.
"She calls you Dad?" She asked us wide eyed.
"Yeah." Ashton answered, a smile playing on his lips. "She calls Carter "Mom" too."
"When did she start that?" Ann asked again.
"A while ago." Ash said.
"I thought Calum was going to have a conniption when he heard her say that." I added with a little laugh.
"We think it comforts her to call us mom and dad because she doesn't have them anymore." Ashton explained to Ann.
"It doesn't feel weird having her call you mom?"
"Not really. I mean that's basically what I am to her now. With Ender it's different, I'm his sister first and mom substitute second. But with Gracie, I'm it now." I shrugged. "And I think she just gravitated to Ashton because her dad was never around and she needs that male figure in her life."
"And I'm more than happy to be that for her." Ashton squeezed my shoulder.
Ann nodded approvingly.
Gracie came running back in a few minutes with a white and yellow dress.
"I wanna wear this." She held it up to me and Ashton.
"Looks good, Gracie. It's time for you to take your bath now." I stood up and picked her up under her arms.
"No." She whined but I whisked her away to the bathroom anyways, ignoring her.
I found a towel in the bathroom closet and got Gracie in the bath, her tiny self playing around in the bubbles.
A knock on the door was heard behind me and Ashton walked in.
"Hey, what's the sleeping arrangement for tonight?" He asked, leaning against the door frame.
"Uh, I don't know. She can share the guest room with Ender." I answered as I poured the last bit of water over her hair to get the soap out and pulled the drain on the plug.
"Okay, I'll get the bed made." He said and left so I could get Gracie in a towel.
I carried her in her towel to the guest bedroom where Ashton grabbed her baby blue fuzzy onesie with a white cotton bunny tail on the back and zipped her up.
I found her comb and separated her wet hair into two braids.
"Okay, now go brush your teeth." I sent her off to the bathroom.
Ender came in a few seconds later in his pyjamas, Indie tagging along.
"Okay, since Gracie is staying in here with you, you need to make sure she actually goes to sleep and doesn't just try to play with Indie." I told him as he climbed under the covers.
"And if she starts to cry, wakes up or you have any issues just come get us." Ashton added.
Gracie came bouncing back in at that moment and Ashton picked her up while I flipped back the covers and he laid her down.
"Night, sweetie." He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Night, Daddy." She beamed happily and he moved aside for me.
"Sweet dreams, Gracie love." I kissed her other cheek.
"Good night, Mommy." She kept her same cheery expression.
"Are you excited to go to the zoo tomorrow?" I asked her.
"Yes!" She clapped her hands.
"Well, if you go to sleep then we can go see the animals." I smiled and she turned over, closing her eyes.
I laughed and then moved over to give Ender a kiss on the head as well.
"Night, bro."
Ashton and I left the room and before I closed the door I called out to them. "Good night, guys, love you."
Ashton and I went to his room to change clothes ourselves and get into bed.
I couldn't help but smile goofily as I covered myself with the comforter, Ashton giving me a weird look.
"What are you smiling about?" He asked as he slipped under the blankets next to me.
"I was just thinking that this was where we first slept in the same bed together." I said, blushing slightly.
"No it wasn't." He gave me a funny look. "It was that one night back your house and we fell asleep on the sofa together."
"Okay but that wasn't official." I admitted.
"Official?" He laughed.
"Yes! This was where we officially spent our first night together."
"Hmm, well," He turned over on his side so he could look at me better, "I guess today is kind of like an anniversary then." He winked.
"I guess so." I said kind of sensually and he leaned forward to give me a kiss.
Smiling into it, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. His right hand went to the side of my waist that was the farthest away from him and his other hand went to my cheek.
Using his tongue he deepened the kiss and started to trail the hand that was on my waist, down my leg.
I was just about to make a bold move and push myself onto him when there was a knock at his bedroom door.
We immediately froze and I rolled onto my back and sat up, him doing the same.
"Come in." Ashton called, running his hand through his hair.
The door slowly creaked open and Ann appeared in the crack in the door.
"Sorry, but Ash I need to see you for a second." She said frowning and Ashton nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be there in a second." He said and she closed the door back.
"Be right back." He sighed and stood up, leaning across the bed to kiss me again.
I pulled the blankets up to my chest as I watched his shirtless back glide out of the room.
--
This trip is going to be full of surprises so just get ready! lol
Anyways, thank you guys for reading and i love you lots!
As always, vote and comment if you'd like and I'll hopefully have the next chapter up tomorrow!
much love xx -m