I roll my eyes at him and then turn to check on the kids. Julian and Scout have given up trying to cut through the old oak tree with their light sabers. They're using rocks. Jayce and Raven have picked up the light sabers. Jayce is digging a hole with his. Raven is just holding hers.
She senses my eyes on her and turns to look at me.
"Aunt Miwan."
My heart melts. I head in her direction to see what she wants.
"Mommy!" Jayce yells when he notices me coming his way.
"Hi, baby boy," I say, laughing. Jayce never talks quietly.
Raven drops her light saber and climbs to her feet, holding her little arms out to me. "Up," she demands, as sweet as ever.
"Oh, you're getting so big!" I tell her, lifting her into my arms.
She pats me on the cheek with one dirt covered hand and then lays her head on my shoulder. "Unka Juses."
"You want to see Uncle Justice?" I ask, trying to decipher her command.
She nods, making me smile. Raven and Jayce are the same age, but she is so much different than he is. She's the sweetest little girl. She tells you what she wants and then waits for you to make it happen. I think she has a little crush on Justice. She always asks to go see him.
I carry her over to Justice and Shep. She wiggles for me to put her down once she's by his side. He looks up at her and smiles. She smiles back and climbs into his lap, laying one of his arms over her torso.
"Hi, sweetheart," he murmurs, tilting his head down to grin at her. "You want to help put together your playset?"
"I watch," she answers, turning her little nose up at the prospect of doing any work.
He chuckles and shifts around so he can help Shep and hold her at the same time. I watch them for a long moment before reclaiming my seat by Ainsley.
"He's changed so much," Ainsley murmurs, her eyes on my husband and her daughter.
"Yeah, he has," I agree quietly. His past no longer haunts him. His eyes are firmly focused on the future, on our future. I already know it's going to be beautiful. He wouldn't accept anything less for me, for our boys, or for Ainsley and her girls. And I wouldn't accept anything less for him.
He told me once that his biggest wish was me. I was the one thing he wanted more than anything else. He has me now. He will always have me. And there will never be a day when I don't love him just a little bit more than I did the day before. His past doesn't define him. His heart does. And just like the rest of him, his heart is mine.