{ Ashton }

Tate was still asleep when I woke up. She was on her side facing away from me, so I rolled and pulled her into my body. Her hands went to mine and she held onto them subconsciously. I smiled and kissed the back of her neck, before getting out of bed. I made sure she was under the covers so she didn't freeze. Mom likes it cold and Tate does not do cold.

I thought I was successful in not waking her up, but I was not.

"Ash?" I heard her speak as I grabbed a pair of jeans and a button-down from my bag. I turned to the bed and saw her sitting up, her eyes still full of sleep.

"I'm cold now" she whined, making me laugh.

"I'm sorry, but I've got interviews today. I'll be back by dinner time" I promised and pulled my jeans on. She blinked then slowly nodded.

"Go back to sleep" I laughed. She immediately plopped back down and curled up under my blue childhood comforter.

I threw on my shirt and walked out of the room, carefully stepping over Riley who was asleep on the pallet of blankets and pillows we made on the floor and went down the hall to the bathroom.

****

After getting ready, I walked into my room and grabbed my phone and wallet, then pressed a kiss to Tate's lips and Riley's head and went downstairs. I grabbed my mom's car keys and went to the studio for our first interview with some dude named Josh.

"Good morning boys! It's nice to have you back in Australia" Josh smiled as he greeted.

"It's a great time to be back here. I feel like we haven't been home in a long time" Michael spoke.

"How's everyone doing? Ashton, how's the baby doing?" He asked.

"I'd say we're all doing good. The baby is doing good. Getting bigger all the time, learning new stuff. It's crazy" I smiled.

"I think our sons have the same name" a lady who was doing papers spoke up.

"Really?" I gained attention.

"Riley Fletcher" she smiled. I laughed.

"Then yeah they do. That's funny" I laughed.

"I found that out when I was looking you guys up for this" she laughed then returned to what she was doing.

Michael answered a bunch of wedding questions, Calum talked about Emma, and Luke talked about Sierra. Now it was my turn to gush about my girl.

"Tate's amazing. I don't tell her that enough. But she's my best friend and we've done a lot together. We've been together for 9 years now and we have a beautiful son. It's crazy how life works. I love her so much. She puts up with so much and does so much herself. She just amazes me" I smiled.

"You're engaged too?" Josh questioned.

"I am. But our wedding won't be for a few years. We're just focused on Riley right now" I answered,

"Okay, so let's talk about music. You all have two shows here. One in Sydney and one in Melbourne. Any big plans?" Josh asked.

"We're going to be playing a lot of old songs, songs that kinda got us started. We want to remember where we started and with what got us started" I answered,

"Yeah. We're going to be playing things like Gotta Get Out so it's going to be exciting" Calum spoke up finally.

****

{ Tate }

I walked into the kitchen with Riley on my hip, completely shocked when I saw Anne and Ashton's grandparents, Bruce and Marie, sitting at the table.

"Oh Tate! It's so good to see you sweetie" Bruce stood and hugged me.

"It's good to see you too" I grinned. Ashton's grandparents are the sweetest. Marie followed Bruce and hugged me as well. They both pulled away when Riley whined between us.

"And this must be our great grandbaby" Marie smiled as Riley grabbed her finger.

"It is. This is Riley" I smiled.

"You look so much like your daddy" Bruce laughed.

Anne came and took Riley from me and we all sat down around the table.

"Let me see that ring my grandson put on you" Marie smiled as I held out my hand.

"Oh my! It's beautiful" she grinned.

"I can't believe he did it. I thought he'd chicken out" Bruce laughed.

"Ashton's the most confident boy I know. No way was he going to chicken out" Anne laughed.

"I think that confidence has lowered a bit since we had Riley" I laughed.

"Usually how it is once you have kids" Anne nodded.

Soon Lauren walked in and right to me.

"Can you go shopping with me?" She asked.

"I guess" I laughed.

"I'm going to a dance and I need a dress. I don't like my mom's opinions and every time you wear a dress it's cute so I want your help" she told me as Anne scoffed but laughed.

"I can help you out" I smiled.

"Awesome! We're leaving in 20" she told me then ran back off to her room.

I turned back to everyone at the table who laughed.

"I can take care of Riley" Anne assured.

"Thank you" I smiled and went back to Ashton's room to put clothes on and text him,

-messages-

[ I'm going dress shopping
with your sister😂 ]

Ashton: [ Nothing inappropriate! Nothing too short! I don't need her looking like a stripper ]

[ Ash, babe, chill. It'll be fine.
She's a big girl ]

Ashton: [ What about RiRi? ]

[ hanging with your momma and grandparents. Now I have to get ready
before your sister kills me. I love you 🥰]

Ashton: [ I love you toooo😘 ]

------

I laughed and quickly got dressed and met Lauren downstairs.

****

"You drive like your brother" I breathed as we finally got to the mall and successfully parked.

"No I don't" Lauren scoffed.

"Whatever you say heavy foot" I laughed making Lauren laugh and lightly shove me.

We made our way inside and I followed Lauren in and out of stores. We just couldn't find anything. Finally, we ended up going into a store, which I'd never heard of, and Lauren found a ton she liked. I found a bench outside the dressing room she went in and waited for her to come out.

Lauren walked out in a beautiful blue dress.

"Lauren, that's the one" I grinned.

"You think so?" She smiled.

"Yeah I do," I told her. She smiled and ran back into the dressing room.

She came out and we went and paid for her dress before getting lunch.

"So are you going with a boy to this dance?" I teased as we ate.

"Yes I am. He's so cute. His name is Charlie. His little brother plays soccer with Harry" Lauren grinned.

"Ahh. Just know your limits" I winked.

"You're telling me to watch my limits. I'm pretty sure you and Ashton had sex like the first time you saw each other" she smirked, catching me off guard.

"It was the third time but nice try. Plus we were long distance so we barely saw each other" I defended.

"Didn't really need to know that" Lauren looked disgusted.

"How did you and Ash do it? The long-distance thing?" Lauren asked.

"We talked every day and saw each other as much as we could. Plus, we trusted each other. That was a big key" I smiled.

"I'm glad you guys worked. I'm glad you'll be my sister-in-law" Lauren smiled.

"Me too girl" I responded.

"Plus I got a cute nephew out of it" she laughed.

"Just a little earlier than you expected" I joked. Lauren laughed too as my phone buzzed.

-messages-

Ashton: [ Hey, heading back to my mommas. You girls still out? ]

[ Yes. We're eating lunch then
probably come back ]

Ashton: [ Coolio hoolio ]

-------

I rolled my eyes and showed Lauren.

"He's a big doof" she laughed.

"That he is" I smiled,

"Oh did Ash ask you about filming our Pampers advertisement?" I asked as we threw our trash away.

"Oh yeah. Wanna do it when we get home?" Lauren asked. I nodded.

****

"Look Riles, Mommy's back!" Ashton beamed as Riley crawled towards me. I lifted my baby up and kissed his face. He giggled and attempted to kiss me back, a new thing he's discovered, but instead just licked my face.

I put Riley on his feet and held his hands as he walked towards Ashton. About halfway, I let go and he finished the rest of the way on his own.

"Good job bubby!" Ashton cheered and hugged Riley tight as I sat next to him.

"He's getting so big" Anne gushed.

"I know. He needs to stop" I whined.

"Okay. If you two want me to film your thing, better get on it" Lauren sassed and took my phone from my hands.

Ashton and I changed into pajamas and stripped Riley down to his diaper. Ashton played the music and Riley began bouncing with his knees as Ashton and I stupidly danced around him to the Pampers diapers song.

We finished and Ashton and I watched it back before I posted it.

"The boys are so gonna make fun of me" he laughed and pressed a kiss to my temple.

"Oh yeah. Because you sir can not dance" I joked.

"And you're talking" he giggled and pulled Riley up on his lap.

"You're going to go viral Riley" Ashton whispered then blew raspberries into his cheek. I laughed then posted:

-Instagram-

@tateberklee: #advertisment Life's busy especially with a moving baby. Pampers has allowed Riley to live in all ways, never making him slow down. With leak protection, it allows for more fun like dance sessions with mommy and daddy. We are proud users of Pampers and can't wait for more adventures
^@emmahayden: the cutest little family 😊
^@michaelclifford: Ashton's dancing lmao 😂😂
^@lukehemmings: Please pull those moves out on stage😂😂
^@crystalleigh: stop making fun of him! this is adorable
^@ashtonirwin: Hey! Leave me alone. These dance moves make money🤑

------

I couldn't help but laugh.

****

{ Ashton }

Tate fed Riley then put him down for bed then came back and joined me on the couch with my mom. We had to discuss the month of December, which will be a busy month for Tate and me.

"We will be in the day before Tate's graduation. We won't be leaving until you all get back from Michael's wedding. So don't worry about Riley while you go to Bali" my mom assured me.

"I fly in the morning of Tate's graduation" I spoke.

"You're going to be there!" Tate perked.

"Of course. I'm not missing it" I laughed and kissed her head.

"Now when is Riley's surgery?" My mom asked.

"Two days later. So my graduation is Saturday and his surgery is Monday" Tate sighed next to me.

"And Christmas is the next week and you fly to Bali on January 4th" my mom spoke. We nodded.

"My grandma is going to stay at our house too," Tate told my mom.

"Oh lovely" my mom cheered.

****

When we got to bed, Tate rolled over and rested her head on my chest and played with the band of my boxers, tracing her nails on my lower stomach.

"What's up?" I questioned.

"Maybe I should just stay home from Bali. I mean Michael will understand. I just can't leave Riley that soon after his surgery" she sighed. I was expecting this conversation and Michael's already told me that if we had to stay back, he understood, but we couldn't miss his wedding.

"Baby," I sighed,

"Riley's going to be okay. My mom and your grandma will take amazing care of him. Plus after this year, I think that mommy brain of yours needs a break" I told her. I felt her blow air out then kiss my chest.

"I just hate leaving him" she mumbled.

"I know and I do too," I told her. She nodded and got a little closer to my body.

"That'll be the first time I'd be leaving him. I haven't been away from him for more than 12 hours" she told me.

"I know. But just think, we go on a mommy-daddy vacation, then we come back and we get to celebrate Riley's first birthday" I tried to brighten it up.

"I guess you're right. I've already been planning that" she told me as I laughed.

"Oh, I know. You keep me updated. I do get the credit card bill after all" I smiled as her hands stopped moving and rested on my stomach.

I rolled Tate away from me and I rolled towards her, pulling her back into my body.

"Go to sleep. Tomorrow will be a very late night" I whispered. She turned her head and kissed me on the lips a few times, then returned and tucked back into me.

"I love you" she mumbled.

"I love you too" I smiled and placed a kiss on her neck.