#daddy wolf

“That you, Mama Llama?” Jake poked his head into the hallway as she made her way down, his sandy hair falling across his eyes and his signature grin pulling at the corners of his mouth. He was supposed to be at work until 10, but called her right before she started Molly’s bath to say he’d be home sooner. He was tired, long day, had flown a couple of short routes and just wanted to get to bed, he’d told her. Jake coming home early was always fine with Kara, especially so close to her due date. After missing Molly’s arrival, and seeing as this time she was a little higher risk with the twins, he was taking his leave from work with 2 months to go, and after today he just had three more days of work before it was just the three of them until they became five.

“You better hope it’s me, Top Gun, and that your daughter isn’t capable of climbing out of her crib and down the steps alone…yet,” she joked, her voice strained with the effort of moving her frame.

He came out of the living room and wrapped her in his arms from behind- it was the easiest way to hug her at the moment. “Hey princess,” he said softly, kissing her behind the ear. “How was your day?” He pressed his face to her neck and inhaled a breath through his nose. She smelled like hyacinth, like fresh air and home. He closed his eyes and nuzzled against her, her wayward hair tickling his face.

Kara sighed contentedly as his breath warmed her skin, leaning back into him as he tightened his hold on her. “It was good,” she yawned. “Took Molly for a little walk around the pond, your mom stopped over for a bit, then I stuck Miss Llama in her highchair with crayons so I could make dinner,” she yawned again, her voice squeaking a bit, and Jake let half a chuckle slip from his lips as he imagined a tired, messy Kara stirring the pots and flipping the chicken and tasting the greens all while Molly babbled and sang, dragging the crayons in her fists over the paper that now hung on the refrigerator.

“Sounds like a full day for my girls,” he released her and took a step around her. He smiled, his eyes drifting over her face and down her body to rest on her stomach. “And how about my boys?” he squatted down to address their sons. “You little wolves behaving for your mama?” He lifter her shirt to kiss her skin, warm and light, as he placed his hands on either side of her bump. He turned his ear to her stomach as if he was waiting to hear a response from his cubs. “They say they were good all day. That true, Mama Llama?” He stood back up and tucked some of her stray hairs behind her ear.

Kara couldn’t help the rush of love and happiness she felt, watching him interact with their unborn children. Jake in love was one thing, and it was one thing that had made her life complete. But Jake in love with his kids, in love with being their Daddy, that was something else entirely and it filled her heart to the point of overflowing. “They were very well behaved, Daddy Wolf. They’re biding their time for mischief until they see the light of day, I think.” She winked and another yawn broke free. Fighting the urge to lay her head against his shoulder and close her eyes falling asleep on her feet, just standing right here in the hallway- Let the kitchen stay messy, she wanted to tell herself- she sighed and said, “Now, I have to get that kitchen clean before I pass out right here and now.”

“Alright, Princess, better get to work then,” he pressed a kiss to her temple and felt her melt a little, making him smile against her skin. He followed her into the kitchen with a smirk on his face that showed how impressed he was with himself. The kitchen was spotless- which was a far cry from the state he’d found it in when he got home. He’d snuck in, quiet as he could be, knowing from the splashing sounds and the giddy shrieks of his daughter that Kara had been busy with bath time, and made his way into the demolished kitchen, wiping spilled sauce from the counter and errant crayon marks from Molly’s chair. He’d put away the leftovers and even done the dishes, knowing how exhausted she was. He leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed over his muscled chest, pulling his t-shirt taught. She took in the clean room around her, spinning slowly to inspect every sparkling surface.

“Jake,” she had a tear in her eye and he knew it was mostly because her hormones were out of control with the twins, but also because he knew how much she appreciated the tiny gesture of love. He showed his love in lots of ways- in flowers and kisses, in touches and with his words, but the times he stepped in like this, taking some of the weight from her back, showing his love and appreciation through his actions, though making her load a little lighter, those were the times that were so important and meaningful. Was there anything inherently romantic about an empty sink or a clean floor? Not really. But the fact that Jake had come home from work early, tired himself after flying a few routes that day, to scrub the kitchen and help her out- that was love and it was just what she needed. “Jake,” she said his name again, tears slipping down her cheeks as a smile slipped up them, “You are the most amazing man on the planet.”

He took a few steps towards her to wipe away her tears with his thumbs, his palms warm against her cheeks. “Anything I can do to help you, princess. You’re the woman of my dreams, the mother of my children,” the fact that Jake got to say children, plural, made his face split wide with happiness and he laid a kiss her nose, “And the best damned thing to ever happen to me, Kara. I love you, and I’d clean a million messed up kitchens to show you just how much.”

Kara looked at her husband, taking in his clear blue eyes and carefree hair, his strong arms and slender hips. “I love you, Jake McKenzie,” she whispered.

“How much?”

Now it was Kara’s turn for a surprise. “Check the fridge,” she giggled as the look on his face told her that he knew what was in there.

“You didn’t!” He pulled open the door and his eyes lit up. Kara knew the quickest way to put a smile on his face and love in his heart was by baking his mom’s pecan pie. So that’s what she’d done that afternoon. “You did!” he answered himself, pulling the pie out. “You really love me, don’t ya princess?” He set the pie on the counter and came back to hug her again.

“Yeah, Top Gun, I really do.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek as he cut them each a slice of pie. They sat in the kitchen, the light of the moon and stars streaming in as they fed each other bites of pie and kissed crumbs from each other’s lips before Jake pulled her into the living room.

“I know stairs aren’t your friend right now, Princess,” he said, taking her by the hand, “So I though you and me could take a little vacation from the bed and stay down here tonight. What do you think?” As if coming home early to help her wasn’t enough, he’d also transformed the living room by bringing all of their pillows and blankets- how did he sneak upstairs without me hearing him?- down and turning the couch into a soft, fluffy nest for them to sleep on.

“I think I couldn’t love you more if I tried, Jake.”

He chuckled and helped her get comfortable before nestling himself in next to her, placing his arm around her shoulders as she laid her head against his chest. “To the moon and through the sky, princess,” he whispered and kissed the top of her head. Normally she’d respond with the second half of their phrase, “No brighter love that you and I,” but she was already asleep. He pressed another kiss to her hair and let her gentle breathing lull him to sleep as well, dreaming of the day he’d get to hold her and their sons and Molly on this couch all together.