*Aces POV*

"Dada," Sage said, with his big toothless grin. At that moment my heart stopped. He said his first word. I could feel a smile making its way to my face. I could feel Athenas gaze on me, I just smiled harder. "That was his first word!" Athena said with joy. I'm glad I could share this moment with her, "yeah." I whispered under my breath. I still can't believe it, Sage's first word. Wait till I tell Gio about this! I quickly took Sage from Athena and started giving him all kinds of kisses on his face. He started laughing making my heart warm. "Mama," Sage said looking at Athena now. "Oh my god." She whispered shocked. I just laughed it off. She's about to be sage, I thought.

          I looked back at Athena and saw she had an even bigger smile on her face. She just looked down and smiled at him before looking back up at me. God if I could just make her mine right now I would. She's not like anyone else I have ever met, let alone been with.

        She is so selfless and caring, it's amazing. I don't want my lifestyle to mess her up, but I'm too selfish to ever give her up. I didn't realize I was staring when She began to blush. She was just so fucking cute. Sage and Athena are all I need, and now I need to find a way to make it happen.

She began to walk out of the bathroom, she placed Sage down on the changing table putting a diaper on him, she then, put his clothes on, finger brushing his hair. She placed a kiss on his temple putting him in his crib. He usually sleeps with me but has no problem sleeping in his crib.

She turned on a night light for him, giving him one last kiss, I walked over to them and kissed Sage myself. Athena and I walked towards the door, not forgetting to turn the light off behind us, as well as close the door. She started walking down the hall, past her room. Where is she going? I called out for her, "Athena, where are you going?" I asked, "I'm going to the garden, you can join if you'd like." She said. I just smiled in return and followed behind her. Our walk through the house was in comfortable silence.

We were just enjoying each other's presence. Once we got to the garden, she sat on the grass, by a tree, she was looking out on the now dark sky, lit up by the moon and thousands of stars. I slowly sat down next to her. "It's so beautiful." She started breaking the silence, I had been staring at her this whole time, "yeah it's is." I said back. She had a small smile that lit up her face.

At this moment I realized she the one, and I would do anything to keep her, even if she wanted to leave. I think I'm starting to fall in love with her? No, do I? It's probably just feelings, I don't know what love is, I was never shown it. "Hey ace, you said I could talk to you, right?" She asked, now glancing over her shoulder to me. "Of course," I said, I was already looking at her, hell I have been this whole time.

"Ace, I like you. And I don't know what it is that I'm feeling, but I was wondering if maybe we could go on a date or something. It's okay if you don't feel the same way." She said. I felt my breathing stop for a moment, she likes me back? I couldn't be happier, tonight is one of the second-best days ever, a smile was now rising on my face, I think I was stuck in thought too long, because she started again, "as I said okay if you don't want to go." She was now looking back at the sky.

I could see her check heated from embarrassment, "Athena, I would love to." I said while laughing at her embarrassment. She let out a sigh of relief, "You know I heard you and Gios conversation earlier." She laughed out. What conversation. Oh. Now my cheeks were heating from embarrassment. I just coughed, trying to clear my throat, god why does he always have to embarrass me. But some part of me is glad he did that because Athena wouldn't know how I felt if he didn't. Don't get me wrong he's still getting his ass beat.

After our conversation we sat in comfortable silence, she went back to looking at the stars and I went back to looking at her. She has everything I want in a woman. When I was younger I thought all I needed in this world was money, therefore I could buy anything I'd like, and it draws the lady's attention, so it was a two in one. But the older I got the more I realized, no one loved me.

Yeah, I had friends, and parents, who even they didn't want me, my mother and father groomed me from day one to take over the family business. There was no love in the relationship, they only had kids so they had an heir. My mother hated me, she didn't want me, and the same was for my father, he hated me a little less, but still hated me. I was beaten regularly because I needed to "toughen up" it was an excuse so my parents could take their anger out on someone.

The day my father gave me the mafia, and let me move out, was the third-best day of my life. I felt free, free from everything, I was happy for a little while at least. I was happy with my newly found freedom before I started to get unhappy again, then I met Britney, at first I thought she was different, then she got pregnant. I was so happy, I wanted a baby with the woman I was starting to like, then she had to fuck it up.

The whole time she used me for my money, my house, and my body. I was something for her to show off, I was an accessory to her. It hurt to find that out, but it had to happen. Without her, I wouldn't have Sage, and without Sage, I wouldn't have Athena. People I now hold very close to my heart. I'm willing to do anything for her and Sage. They're my life now. They're the reason I'm happy to get off of work, I want to come home every night with them. Before Athena, it was only Sage and me. It was hard, so fucking hard, but I did it.

And I will forever remember the time I was without my Athena, I wish I found her earlier, but at least I have her now. I was taken out of my thoughts when I felt something on my shoulder I looked down and saw Athenas head was resting on my shoulder. If I wasn't happy before, I sure am now.

I brought my hand up to her hair and began to massage her scalp. She let out an airy moan that immediately went down to my pants. I felt them tighten. For fucks sake. I just tried to forget about it, which was one of the hardest things to do, the thought of her under me squirming with pleasure. And that bubble ass bouncing with each thrust I did. I have to stop thinking things like this. I looked down at her and saw she had her eyes closed.

We sat there for a little longer, and now I'm sure, she's asleep. I slowly brought her small body to my chest, rising to my feet. I began to walk back inside, I looked back on the spot where we were sitting before, I just know in the future, we will look back at that spot and remember this moment. The moment I realized she's the one, the moment I realized I would go to the ends of the earth for her, and most importantly the moment I fell in love.

I made it to the door quietly opening it, stepping inside. I began the walk to her room, I was looking at her the whole time I was walking. Remembering everything about her. From her freckles to her one dimple in her left cheek. Once I made it to her room, I moved her covers aside putting her in them.

I kissed her on her temple, making sure she was warm enough, before turning out her light, I looked at her one last time before leaving. I headed towards my room, I laid in bed looking up at the ceiling. How did I manage to get so lucky? How did a ruthless, cold, man like me get someone like Athena?

The whole time my thoughts ran wild. I didn't sleep an ounce after I put Athena to sleep. My mind was too busy thinking about a special someone. And I can't wait for our date, I want to make it the most special one of our lives, I want us to start good, I want her to be spoiled to no ends. I want her to feel loved and cared for. I want nothing but the best for her. Always.

While lost in thought, I heard someone thing in Athenas room, it was a big thud. What the hell was that. I quickly got up and particularly ran to her room, I threw the door open to see she was now on the floor, holding her head. I quickly walked to her and bent down. I brushed her messy hair out of her face, "Athena, are you okay." I asked my voice laced with concern.

She just groaned, she nuzzled her check into my hand, I felt her arms wrap around me. I slowly lifted her, and laid her on the bed, I covered her again, but she wasn't letting go of me. "Ace, please stay." She said just above a whisper. She still looked asleep but that sentence put me through shock. I stood there for a few more seconds before climbing into the bed next to her, I got comfortable under to covers. She moved closer to me throwing her leg over my waist, pusher her head into my chest, I wrapped my hand around her waist, nuzzling my head into her hair.

Not even minutes later she was asleep, she was making cute noises In her sleep. It almost made me want to make her mine. When she asked me to stay I could have died right here, and been content with my life. My mind became foggier and foggier, and soon after that, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.