Epilogue-Aiden
The happiest day of my life is the day I married my best friend. Today is going to be the second happiest day. Today I get to stand before a judge and be told that Rowan is officially my daughter. She is seven months old today, and today is the day she becomes a Baker.
We got the call a couple days before Christmas saying that we finally had a court date to make it official on paper that she’s mine. In my heart, she has been mine since the moment Bailey’s test came back positive, but today it will be official in a court of law.
Rowan has grown so much over the last five months.
She has hit all of the milestones the doctors want her to, and if you didn’t know she had been five and a half weeks early, you wouldn’t be able to tell.
She’s a chunky little girl now, who loves solid food as much as she loves her milk.
Bailey still nurses and pumps extra milk.
Bailey has what others in her mom’s group calls an oversupply of milk.
She pumps so much that she has even started donating some to a local single mom that isn’t producing in the way that she wants to, but can’t afford formula. Bailey really is my hero.
All of our friends and family have come out to hear that judge tell me that I have a daughter, and we are having a party to celebrate after.
Bailey, Rowan and I are standing at the front of the courtroom.
The judge, a middle-aged man with dark rimmed glasses and a receding hairline, looks at me with a stern face, “Do you promise to love and protect Rowan with everything you are, no matter the status of your relationship with her mother?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” I say, my heart is pounding so hard in my chest, I’m fairly certain it’s about to fly right out.
“Do you understand that, with this adoption, no matter the status of your relationship with her mother, you are responsible for the well-being of Rowan?”
I asked Momma a couple weeks ago what to expect today. I have been preparing myself for this question since she told me it would be asked.
“There is absolutely zero doubt in my mind that Bailey and I are a forever kind of love. I spent the better part of the last eighteen years dreaming about the girl beside me, and I will spend the rest of this life and the next loving her. But if for some reason the love Bailey and I have for each other changes, and things don’t work out, Rowan is mine.
She has had my heart since the moment those two little lines popped up on the screen, and she will be mine for all the days of my life.
I take care of my family, and there isn’t a doubt in my mind that Rowan is my family.
” I say the words with as much conviction as I can muster, because Rowan and Bailey are mine, and absolutely nothing could change that.
I chance a peek at the girl to my left, Bailey, the love of my life, my Blue, and the love shining in her eyes as she looks back at me fills my chest with warmth.
The judges voice breaks our contact, “I hereby grant the adoption of Rowan Elizabeth Michaels to Aiden Matthew Baker.” He bangs the gavel, and my Little Bear is officially mine.
Cheers erupt from behind me, and our family, both blood and chosen come rushing toward us, offering their congratulations.
I lift Rowan in the air and toss her slightly, getting the sweetest giggle out of her.
I kiss her chubby cheek, and I swear I’ve never been happier in my entire life.
I may hate douchebag Daniel for the ways he’s hurt my girls, but I am also grateful for him. Without him my Little Bear wouldn’t be here, and it might have taken Bailey and I a lot longer to finally confess those feelings we had both been keeping locked away.
Rowan will never know anything other than me as her dad.
Someday, when she’s old enough to understand, we will tell her the story of how she came into this world, and I’m not looking forward to that day.
I don’t know what that day is going to look like, but I know that she will always be surrounded by the love of our family.
Little Bear has started saying “Dada” and “Mama” and I swear the first time she said both Bailey and I were both sobbing messes.
I have been there for all of Rowan’s first. Her first words, the first time she rolled over, the first time she crawled, and so many more.
I am grateful everyday for that little girl and all the joy she brings me and our family.
“How does it feel for it to be official?” Pop asks me as we gather outside of the courthouse.
“So fucking good. She’s always been mine, but it’s nice for it to be official you know?” I ask him, “This little girl and her Momma are my entire world, and I don’t even want to try and imagine my life without them. I need them both like I need air to breathe.” I tell him
“I get that. That’s how I feel about your momma and you kids.
You guys are my entire world. It’s been amazing to watch you grow over the last year and a half.
Becoming a husband and a dad, facing your fears, all while still thriving in school.
I’m so proud of you son.” Pop doesn’t get choked up often, but when he does it makes the entire room cry.
“Thanks Pop. I couldn’t have done any of this without you and Momma’s support. I will forever be grateful for the ways you support me and my family. I’ll never be able to repay you.” I tell him.
“Nothing to repay. We are grateful to do it, honestly. Supporting our family brings us joy.” He claps me on the shoulder, “We’ll see you at the house. There’s a bunch of food for everyone. And Charly baked cupcakes and cookies”
“We will see you there.” I say before going in search of my wife. Being a husband and a dad are my favorite titles. I’m excited to see what the future brings. Growing a life with Bailey and Rowan, giving Little Bear siblings eventually, and growing old with my best friend.
Life sure has a way to throw us off our game sometimes, but you’ve just got to learn to roll with the punches.
And let life happen. I never expected that when I ran out of my house all those years ago, I would meet my best friend and love of my life.
I never expected that that night at Bar Code that the douchebag wearing a fucking polo dancing with Bailey would give me the greatest gift I could ever ask for.
And I never expected that the woman carrying my little girl and walking toward me with the widest smile on her face would finally give me a shot, and choose me first every single time.
I would have dreams of my life, and Bailey was always in them, but even my dreams don’t compare to my reality.