Baffle and Babies

Jude’s POV

I gently picked up the box, feeling like it was made of molten lava and almost dropping it again. The struggle to hold it as it slipped a little caused me to let out a squeak as I caught it, making me turn my head rapidly to check on Axel. Fuck, thank Goddess… He was still out asleep, his snoring covering my noise.

Should I? I hesitated with the small box in my hands, my fingers trembling as I balanced it delicately on top of my palm. The little ribbon poking out of the box was a tempting thing, like a whispered secret with a tongue darting out. Maybe just one small peek. I was curious what Axel’s taste in jewelry was like, having gotten none from him before.

We had talked about officially mating a couple of months ago, the idea still seeming foreign to me after raising the girls all on my own. But Axel was everything I had dreamed of and then some, his missing limbs not even hindering him in any way; which I found sexy as hell.

Just when I was about to open the box, Axel cleared his throat. “I hope you like it…” he was sitting up now and watching me, his sudden appearance at being awake made me swear as I clutched my heart. I hadn’t even seen him move, the change in positions almost super human speed.

“Fuck!” I almost dropped the box again, clutching my heart at the startle. “Damn, you always catch me off guard when ya move like that!”

Axel gave a dry chuckle as he threw his stumps over the edge of the bed and worked his way gingerly over to me, plopping his butt on the ground in front of me and holding out his hand for the box. “You’re gonna have to forgive me for not taking a knee; I might trip over myself with my nerves.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I got down on my knees in front of him, resting right in between where his own would have been. “Apology accepted.”

“Thank Goddess; I was worried there for a second.” He wiped his brow with the back of his free hand in mock sweating, his eyes twinkling with worry but also anticipation. “Jude Arden Doe, will you marry me?” He opened the box as my eyes focused on the content, my breath being stolen instantly.

The ring was a polished gold that caught in the light, its surface like a mirror reflecting everything back. The diamonds were arranged into an intricate knot the at looped around the top of the ring. The pattern was breathtaking to behold, and something that definitely would stand out and grab attention. “Yes… yes!” I smiled widely at Axel as he put the ring onto my finger, capturing his mouth in a kiss once it slid home.

“I love you, sexy.”He got out as I continued to pepper him with kisses, pulling his mouth back to mine.

“I love you too.” I finally released his mouth and pulled him into a hug, savoring the feel of him around me. “Never leave me again… alright?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He confirmed, pulling me into tightly.

Knock, knock, knock!!! A rapt at the door caught our attention, making me smile and scramble to my feet. “Hold on a minute, girls!” I grabbed a robe and pulled it tight as Axel crawled over to his sleeping shorts and shirt and did the same, nodding at me to go ahead as I went to the door to open it.

Ada was the first to break through, beelining for Axel and jumping right on top of him. “Did you ask yet?!” Her little angry voice demanded, making him chuckle as the other three swarmed in.

“Why don’t you see for yourself?” He smiled, causing all four of them to surround me and grab my hand. When they saw the ring, the squeezed in delight.

“We’re gonna have a daddy!” They began to dance around me in a ring, their little hands clasping in a ring of their own as they danced in a circle.

“When will you get married?” Grace pulled apart from the other three, pulling my legs into a hug as her sisters followed suit.

“I was thinking in a couple months or so.” Axel stretched in the bed as he pulled on his legs, standing up and coming g over to celebrate with the rest of us. “Supposedly, all our friends will be coming into town; so we can have something small like your mamma wants.”

“Even Uncle Chester?!” Addison beamed, setting off a round of high pitched squeals from the lot. They loved that man, saying that he reminded them of a popular spy movie about a man called ‘Jimmy Bind’.

“Even Uncle Chester. There’ll also be Uncle Gage and cousin sally and his husband, Uncle Chip and his wife…”

“Yah, but we see Aunt Heather and Uncle Chip all the time!” Grace rolled her eyes, making me laugh.

“She’s got a point there.” I nodded, making Axel grin at me.

“Yah, but Aunt Heather’s pregnant again. Bet you all didn’t know that yet!” We did not, the girls starting to chatter about little babies again and grinning. When they looked between the both of us and grinned, Axel shot me an inquisitive look.

“Mommy; Daddy.” Abby turned to us, the spokesperson role being assigned to her for the time being from the four of them. “We would like to ask… No, we want to know; when will you both have another baby?”

Axel and I shared a look as our eyes darted between our little pack of girls and ourselves, the seriousness on their faces not betraying a hint of anything else at the question. We’ve been set up! I shook my head and should have known that there was a reason for my little girls supposed baby fever.