***All persons depicted in sexual situations are over 18***
Early November
Year 2 of Us
Friday
I woke up and realized that there was only one other person in bed with me. I started to sit up when Lacey flung her arm over my chest, followed by planting her head on my shoulder.
"We're under strict orders to stay here and cuddle."
I looked into her blue eyes and noticed that there was a sleepy smile on Lacey's face. "Orders?"
"Yes," she nodded, "we can only get up if we have to go to the bathroom or if the babies are hungry."
"What time is...?"
"It doesn't matter. The reinforcements are here, and Erica has everything under control."
"When did all this happen?" I kissed her forehead, smiling gently.
"Before dawn. Travis and the kids got here first, then Cathy and Miriam. Roni and Tina got here about thirty minutes ago."
I chuckled. "Did you go meet everyone as they arrived?"
"Of course. What kind of hostess would I be if I didn't meet them?" Her smile grew wider. She shifted up and kissed me softly, her tongue teasing mine. I started to roll towards her when there was a tap on the door.
"Lacey, are you awake?" I heard Erica's voice come through the partly opened door.
"Yes, and so is Wyatt, so come on in."
I rolled my head and reached for my glasses. Once I had them on, I could see Erica's smile as she pushed the door open. Lacey raised herself up and then sat cross-legged beside me, her hands caressing my chest.
"Why are you awake, Wyatt?" Erica gave me a mock scowl. I shrugged.
"Just woke up." I grinned at her. "I'm surprised that I didn't wake up earlier, considering everything that seems to have been going on."
Lacey leaned forward and kissed my forehead. "I have to go pee."
"Then back into bed with you, young lady," Erica scolded, then smiled. "We've already fed all three babies without you, Wyatt."
"Oh?"
She nodded as Lacey got off the bed and walked into the bathroom. "Travis stood in for you, but you need to eat before the littles wake up again." She grinned. "I don't think Sam was fooled, at all!"
"Of course not," I moved around and sat up, holding my left leg as pain shot up it. "Travis only has a mustache, not her Daddy's beard." I grimaced, even though I had meant to grin at her.
Erica leaned over and rested her hands on my shoulders, before taking my chin in one hand. She pulled up, forcing me to look into her blue eyes. "Just how badly are you doing, cowboy?"
I closed my eyes. "About a nine on the scale, to be honest," I whispered.
"Do you need help?"
I shrugged. "Maybe?"
Erica gave me her hands and I started to stand up. I groaned just as Lacey walked back in.
"What the hell?" She rushed over to us.
"I'm trying to help him up, Lacey."
Lacey shoved herself under my right arm, pushing up gently, using her strength to help me get vertical. "Can you walk, love?"
I nodded. "I think so." I took a tentative step. "Maybe." Erica released her grip.
"Perhaps." I stopped moving and looked down at Lacey. "Honey, get back into bed. I have to pee, too, then I need to go downstairs to get something to eat."
Lacey nodded as I limped into the bathroom. I took care of business, and I could them talking in the bedroom. When I came back in, my cane was leaning against the bed. I hated that thing. It made me feel useless... crippled. I gave it a look and Lacey simply said, "Use it, Wyatt. Everyone here knows what condition you're in." She took a breath. "Don't be prideful."
I looked at her and I could see everything she felt for me... all the love... all the care and support shining in her eyes. I nodded. "Okay. It just makes me feel..."
"Inadequate?"
"Exactly." I choked a bit, but then I was grabbed by them and held tightly.
"You're not inadequate, Wyatt," Lacey whispered to me as she tugged my face to hers. She stared into my eyes before she kissed me.
Erica added, "She loves *you*, Wyatt. Do you think that she'd love someone inadequate?"
Lacey broke the kiss, and I turned my head enough to give Erica a kiss, too. I rested my cheek on Lacey's forehead, before saying, "I love both of you. I just wanted to say it aloud, instead of merely thinking it." They both smiled at me as Erica stepped away. "I'm just glad I got pants on somehow."
"Oh, my cowboy," Lacey giggled. "We got them on you right after Travis got here -- we were sleeping, too."
I grinned at her. "Will you get me a shirt, then, love?" I found my slippers and stepped into them as Erica hovered while Lacey pulled a shirt from the closet. When she handed it to me, I pulled it over my head. Two pairs of hands helped me tug it down and I gave them each a kiss after it was in place.
"Lacey, you get back in bed, okay?" I took a breath and lifted my cane, watching as she got back under the covers. "I'll be back up as soon as I can."
Lacey caressed my back then dropped onto the bed with a giggle. "Yes, sir."
"Don't call me sir, I worked for a living!"
"Yes, love." Then she started laughing, and I joined in.
Erica looked from Lacey to me, with a puzzled look on her face.
"Tuck her in, Erica, and I'll tell you the joke on the way downstairs." While that was happening, I quietly made my way to look in on the babies. All three were asleep, with LB under Sam's crib and Sherlock looking at me from under Duncan's. I smiled at both of them and backed away as Sherlock wagged his tail at me before settling his head back down.
When I made it to the bedroom door, Lacey was already asleep, and Erica was standing at the door with a gentle smile on her face.
On the way down the stairs, I tell Erica the bit about having been a sergeant, an NCO, which nobody calls an NCO 'Sir', which is reserved for male officers. Once I told her the entire thing, she shook her head and said," You military guys are complicated."
I simply nodded agreement as we reached the bottom of the stairs and then I smelled food, so I started to head for the kitchen when Erica took my arm and guided me to the living room.
Travis looked around the wall at me and asked, "The usual, Wyatt?"
"Sure!" I answered as Erica brought me to a halt at the couch.
There were four young women sitting there and Erica began to introduce them. She pointed to the one on my far left and said, "This is Cathy RochΓ©," I shuffled forward as she rose, extending her hand. I shook her hand, took her in and smiled at her. She was about the same height as Erica, with shoulder length, jet-black hair and piercing green eyes. Her pale complexion was striking when combined with her hair.
The next was "Miriam Lee," a redhead with very short hair and beautiful grey eyes. When she stood up to shake my hand, I realized that she was nearly as tall as I was. After our hands touched, she leaned forward and gave me a hug, which certainly surprised me.
Then there was "Roni Hansen," an Asian girl shorter than Lacey whose hair was over her shoulders and whose dark eyes sparkled with amusement.
Finally, I was introduced to "Tina Baker," a blonde with green eyes who didn't seem to like me. She was a little taller than Erica, and there was a definite 'I don't like you' vibe coming from her.
When that was over, Erica took me by the arm and guided me into the kitchen, where Travis had just set a breakfast plate down on the table. I made it into the chair and started to eat. I bobbed my head towards the living room before speaking to Erica in a low voice.
"What did I ever do to Tina?"
"Well," Erica paused and looked to make sure that we were alone except for Travis, who began to clean up.
"It's a little complicated."
"Of course," I replied with a smile.
"I think that she believes that you 'stole' Lacey from her." When I looked at her, Erica shook her head softly. "Lacey likes her, but there wasn't that much to the relationship. Play time? Yeah. Love?" Erica shook her head again. "No."
Sounds came from Erica's pocket. She pulled her phone out and I could hear faint sounds coming from it. "That's Amanda. I'll get up there, wake up Lacey and start to deal with them." She patted my shoulder. "Finish up and come up. I'll take the girls up and they can meet the babies." She kissed my cheek and walked into the living room.
Once she had gotten them up the stairs, Travis sat beside me.
I looked at him. "So, am I going to have trouble with Tina?"
He shrugged. "She's not a man-hater, but she did make it clear that she was annoyed."
I slumped down as I finished the last of my food. He clapped his hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry. If anyone can keep a lid on this, it'll be Lacey."
I smiled and then Travis got a ping on his phone. He pulled it and looked at it. "Text from Erica. They need *you* up there. Sam isn't happy."
I stood up and grabbed the cane. I hobbled over to the stairs and made my way up them.
When I got to our bedroom, Miriam was walking around the room holding Sam, cooing to her. I knew the sounds Sam was making and Miriam walked her over to me.
When I took Sam from her, my daughter quieted almost immediately, looking up at me with her blue eyes. She smiled and gave a little burp.
"Was that her problem?" Miriam asked with a little laugh. She looked down at Sam and smiled.
I grinned at Miriam. "Looks like it."