"Why are you and dad barely talking? Are you guys fighting?"

I look down at Ava, seeing her look at me with confusion as I shrug. Not sure if I should tell her our little problems. This was adult matters and I'm already not in the mood with Arthur.

We still sleep in the same bed and talk...when necessary. I found myself seeing that I in particular don't talk to him unless I have to. But these days, I felt like I've been protracted as the bad guy. For the longest time I've known in the past I was immature and horrible. But this is now and he's...I'm afraid everyone still sees me as the William who broke sweet Arthurs heart.

Yeah, I deserved it in the very beginning. But this is now and I'm annoyed of being seen in that light. It's like I can catch a break.

Like this whole surrogacy thing. I know Arthur went to talk to Talia about it because Bella called me and chewed me out. Saying I need to leave him be and let him do his thing first. That he's already stressed out enough being married to me.

One, that bitch needs to get a life. Two, instead of dealing with my problems she needs to handle hers. Then three, fuck off.

People like that have been pissing me off, acting like they know shit. They need to hear both sides and not just one. Arthur pissed me off doing that and making me look bad. I seem to always be seen like that and I'm over it... He's my husband, you're supposed to look past their negatives and love them despite everything...

"I wouldn't say fighting. More like a disagreement."

"About...?"

"Nosy much?" I growl, hoping she'd get the hint to leave me alone. But she just sat beside me and stared at me like I was some type of wild animal.

"Dad's been quiet and you've been snappy. I don't know...but you two seem to balance one another out and bring out the best. When you both are mad at one another you seem to both bring out the worst. You're mean and he's quiet and boring."

I just stare at her, knowing what she's getting at. She's trying to tell me that we both need to fix our problems to bring out the best.

"We aren't angry or mad though." I retort, having her laugh like she was a scientist awakening Frankenstein.

"I didn't say you were. Now I know you guys are fighting." She concludes, smiling and having me face forward in frustration." What's wrong?"

I shake my head, waving my hand at her to go away.

"This's adult stuff. Your little eight year old mind wouldn't get it-."

"I'm nine." She hissed, folding her arms in anger." Anyway, I'm smart for a nine year old. You can tell me."

I shake my head, annoyed that she kept badgering me and going on. Now I understand what my parents went through when I kept asking for things.

"Here's a hint, do you know what surrogacy is?"

"What-?"

"There's my hint." I end, standing as I walk away and hope she doesn't follow me. I'm just so...sad and disappointed and angry.

You ask for one thing...one!

Going upstairs, I go in our room, happening to see him sitting on the couch near the window. I don't even think he noticed I entered so I just walk to the dresser and grab my phone.

About to walk out I hear him slam his book closed, glancing at him as he folded his arms. Looking at me like I was some type of stranger he's never encountered.

"William?"

I sigh," Arthur?"

Then it gets quiet. We both were being awkward like some teenagers. But even then it was this awkward.

"Want to read book of poems with me?" He asked, showing me the cover as I saw a couple staring into the sunset. Not even bothering reading the title, I walk to him and sit beside him. Watching as he flipped to a page and pointed at a poem, seeing If Not For You.

If Not For You

If not for you, I wouldn't know
What true love really meant.
I'd never feel this inner peace;
I couldn't be content.

If not for you, I'd never have
The pleasures of romance.
I'd miss the bliss, the craziness,
Of love's sweet, silly dance.

I have to feel your tender touch;
I have to hear your voice;
No other one could take your place;
You're it; I have no choice.

If not for you, I'd be adrift;
I don't know what I'd do;
I'd be searching for my other half,
Incomplete, if not for you.

I just stare at him, watching as he closed his book and looked at me...

"I know what you're trying to do." I hiss, seeing him frown as I snatched the book from him in anger." Trying to woe me with words because I'm mad at you. Never dealt with something like this, huh?"

"Yeah, I have actually. It's just the first time that I'm in the wrong for everything."

I sneer, seeing him sneer back but soon replace it with a frown.

"I don't understand. You're mad at me because I was reluctant to have a baby with you? You do realize that I never said no."

"It doesn't matter. You went and ran off to Talia and told her our business. I am sick of being the bad guy because I hurt little Arthurs feelings. I'm always doing something wrong, it's ridiculous!" I confess, and he chuckles at my surprise.

"I don't think you're the bad guy. In ways I feel like one-."

"Don't try to sweet talk. Don't say what you think I want to hear. That's something else that pisses me off about you. Just tell me straight up, don't go around it and say shit to make me smile."

Arthur raises an eyebrow, shaking his head but soon nodded.

"I guess. But my words are mine. I'll tell you what I'm feeling. I wouldn't lie to you. This whole surrogacy thing is messing us up and I don't want that-."

"Maybe if you complied and stopped being so..."

I lick my lips, leaning on the couch in frustration again. Wondering how married people do this. I can't even run anymore...

"I'll do it."

I look at him, seeing him stand as he walked to his dresser. Pulling a drawer and seeing him pull out a sheet. Confused, he sat beside me again and let me see that it was a sheet about...surrogacy.

"You're just doing it because it makes me feel better-."

"No. After not talking to you for a few days it has you think and I want to do it for both of us. To benefit us both...besides! I've been thinking about what it would be like to have someone that's just like you and me. Not just me...not just you...but both of us! I mean, what they be like?"

I suddenly got excited, unsure if he was just messing with me. But it didn't seem like it or he wouldn't have this sheet.

"I want to apologize again for my behavior. I don't always see you as the bad guy. Sometimes I think I'm in the wrong for getting onto you or just not being man enough to take your jabs. I sometimes forget that we're adults and just have to talk it out. It just seems so hard sometimes because I'm not used to being close to anyone since I was adopted and all... But I am getting better because of you.

"This baby that we make together will only make it even better."

I smile, nodding as I look at the paper. Examining all the possible things as I never went into depth like this.

"You really looked into it even when we weren't talking?"

"Of course. I felt bad and was doing it at first because I needed to look at the options. But it seems so cool and interesting, I want to look into it with the person I love the most."

I smile, shrugging as I knew it was me. It kinda felt nice to not be the one apologizing.

"But...there's one thing I wanted ever since the argument..."

I wait, and he scratches his temple and smiles awkwardly.

"Yes?" I tease, waiting as he just looks so awkward and embarrassed.

"Can I kiss you?"

I smile, leaning towards him as we kiss. Happy that we were back in our groove... It almost made me want to prove Ava wrong.

"I have something I want you to do for me."

"Yes?"

"Ava thinks we are fighting, I mean we were. Not anymore! But I want to prove to her that we're peachy."

He frowned, seeming to not like that idea.

"But...isn't it good for her to learn that in a marriage...there's always going to be fights? Even if you love each other deeply, you'll go through your hardships?" He states in a questioning tone, having me question that as well." I don't want her thinking marriage is all sunshine and rainbows. It has their des hauts et des bas." ( ups-and-downs )

I begin to see what he means, nodding as I agreed on that.

"Okay... Hand?"

I stand, extending my hand as he smirks and grabs it. Our eyes meeting as he stood up slowly until I was looking up at him. Grinning and all and feeling much better.

The both of us going downstairs, I nod towards Ava and Isabella. Seeing them watching TV and Ava looking at us in confusion.

"You two aren't angry at one another?" She questioned, looking at us as if it was an act." I think it's funny how I bring it up that you two are fighting and now you're fine-."

"We were mad at one another," Arthur interrupts, making her look lost. As if she didn't understand that we had an argument." I know you both saw it. But we fixed it because we love one another."

"But isn't it if you love someone, you never fight?" Isabella asked innocently, and I shake my head as I walk to the two of them and sat next to them. Arthur sitting on the other side.

"Not true, at all. Actually, when you love someone it's impossible not to fight. Because you're love for one another is still thorough and seen and known even when you're arguing. It almost hurts to fight and sometimes you want to run...but you can't. So you avoid and avoiding gets you nowhere..."

I glance over at Arthur, and he smiles and gives me a thumbs-up.

"So...you can get married to anyone and be in love and still have arguments?"

"Of course." I answer, and Ava purses her lips in thought. Letting me know that they were processing what we were saying.

"Why were you guys fighting?" Isabella asked, Arthur beginning to put on the biggest smile as they looked at him with confusion." Are we not allowed to know?"

"Do you two think it'd be cool to have another baby?" Arthur questioned, having them gasp.

"With our mom-?"

"No!" I cry out, having them look at me as I calmed down." I mean...no. Excuse my outburst, but Ava. Remember when I said do you know what surrogacy is?"

Having her nod, I smirked as they glanced between the two of us.

"Men can make babies?!"

I snort, making me laugh as they stared in confusion and completely lost. But I found it hysterical and decided not to say anything.

"How about we wait until we get to the process to answer questions." I state, and they continue to ask questions as I glance over at Arthur. Seeing him wink, making me happy that for once something was going my way. Without any trouble.