Reese rolled her eyes. Maybe drinking would be a good idea. “Yeah, the ride is lonely here, you know, but man, it is worth it. This house is perfect.”

Looking around Piper’s new five bedroom, two-level home, she smiled. Like Piper’s personality, the family room was a bright red with black and white accents. Along the wall were big pictures of Dimitri and some of her and Erik. Along the south wall where a huge TV hung, obviously for Erik’s intense love for Xbox, was hockey sticks, glued to the wall, spelling ‘Titovs,’ and above it said, ‘Home of the’. Reese’s heart expanded at the sight of the words before taking in the leather couches, the gamer chair that sat in the corner, and the many baby toys.

This was a home. A true, loving home, and part of Reese was jealous. She loved her studio apartment, it was wonderful, but she sort of yearned for this. A place to hang her dance shoes and be proud. Maybe she needed more space, that was why she was jealous of Piper, or maybe it was the love that surrounded her beautiful sister. Erik came over, snaking an arm around Piper’s waist, and she took Dimitri out his hands, placing a sweet kiss on his cheek before holding him out for Reese. She took him eagerly, snuggling her nose in his neck.

“Hey buddy, how’s auntie’s boy doing?” she cooed, kissing his sweet mouth before snuggling him closer in.

“Reese Pieces!”

Reese smiled as she looked down at her niece. Love exploded in his chest as she bent down, wrapping her arm around Ally. “Hey, baby girl.”

“Hi! Guess what!”

“What?”

“Shelli and Posey and Baby Owen and Evan are here!”

“Wow, that’s a lot of kids, huh?” she asked, sending Elli a grin.

Ally waved her hands in the air. “Yes! It’s almost a hockey team, Uncle Shea said!”

Reese laughed as she kissed her cheek again. “I know!”

“Guess what?”

She smiled as she said, “What, baby?”

“I’m gonna have a baby brother very, very soon. We get to go pick him up at the hospital!”

“I know! Isn’t it exciting?”

“It is. I can’t wait! I want to hold him and love him like I do Dimitri,” she rambled on before leaning into her.

Reese cuddled Ally in closer, kissing her temple before nodding. “I know and you’ll be the best big sister ever, huh?”

She smiled widely as she declared, “Yup!”

“Can I play with your baby brother, Ally?”

Ally and Reese looked up to see Phillip with an easy smile that hit Reese straight in her core. Ally giggled as she nodded, reaching for Phillip. He picked her up, kissing her loudly on the cheek. “Thanks, I can’t wait to meet him.”

“We are naming him Journey because it took a journey for him to get here!”

Reese cut a look at Phillip before looking over at her sister, who was grinning like that was the greatest name in the world. It wasn’t any of Reese’s business, it wasn’t her baby, but for goodness sakes! Seriously? Journey? Shaking her head, she squeezed Dimitri in close, taking in his precious scent of baby powder as she watched Phillip holding her niece so close. He looked good with kids, really good. Not that it mattered.

With a smile, she said, “That’s wonderful, Ally.”

Ally grinned widely at her before kicking to be put down. Phillip did as she asked and then she was off, chasing after who she thought was Shelli, but it could have been Posey, no telling, those Adler kids favored each other completely. When Phillip reached out for Dimitri, taking him from Reese, she wanted to complain but then he cuddled the little boy into his chest and her heart stopped at the sight. She fought for breath as Phillip lightly kissed Dimitri’s head before grinning down at him. Why did she like him a little more like this?

“How’s my buddy? Good? Mommy feeding you? Is Daddy letting you hold your hockey sticks?”

Piper rolled her eyes as Erik scoffed before saying, “Damn right I am.”

“I wish he wouldn’t though,” Piper said before breaking away from Erik and taking a hold of Reese’s arm. “Come help me cook.”

Reese shook her head no, as Piper pulled her arm. “No way.”

Piper laughed as she set her sister with a look. “What the hell, I’m slaving over a stove all day. I need help.”

“She had it catered,” Erik muttered, receiving a glare from Piper and a grin from Reese.

“Yup, not going,” Reese said with a quick shake of her head.

“Yes, you are,” she demanded, pulling Reese across the house. For such a little person, Piper was strong a hell and somehow she got Reese into the kitchen where her mother, Harper, and Elli stood, all with knowing smiles on their faces.

For f**k’s sake.

Acting as if nothing was going on, Reese walked up to her mother, kissing her softly on the cheek before hugging Elli and Harper next. “Hey guys,” she said sweetly before going to the fridge. She felt their eyes on her but nothing was said as she turned from the fridge, sipping the water she had pulled from it.

“So,” Reese said with a smile. “What’s up?”

“Nothing much, how about you?” Piper asked.

She shook her head. “Nothing new.”

They all eyed her suspiciously and Reese fully expected them to come at her, but to her surprise, her mother turned to Elli and said, “Dear, I meant to tell you, I ran into your mother yesterday with your sister.”