"Men are complicated as fuck."

Aurora chuckled, placing her hand on her swollen belly as she watched her newest friend slump onto the plush white couch next to Megan. Alana Sommers sighed loudly as she laid her head on the youngest Knight sister's lap, causing the girl to smile.

"Here, here."

Maddie held her cup of water up, almost as if she was toasting her agreement. With Aurora pregnant, there was a silent no alcohol rule in the house, which applied to Xavier as well, who was more than happy to comply with his wife's wishes.

Alana rolled her eyes, giving the older girl a playful glare. "Oh shush it. You and Lucas are happily married— hey, now that I think about it, I'm the only single one here," she groaned, bringing her hands up to cover her face. "I mean, Ethan's always following after Steph like a lost puppy. Megs and Noah are practically married already. And Xavier basically worships the ground Rory walks on. Hell, even my best friend is about to get married."

Megan's face grew warm as she blushed. "Noah and I are not practically married. We-" She paused, not knowing what to say.

Alana, whose head was still resting on her friend's lap, raised her eyebrow. "Girl, I'm going to smack that boy's head if he doesn't ask the question soon. He practically looks at you with hearts in his eyes."

Maddie nodded in agreement. "I'm willing to bet my entire company that he's going to pop the question within the next year."

"Guys, I'm still young— I mean, I like how things are right now between the two of us," Megan protested, but deep down she knew that if Noah were to pop the question, she had no doubt that she would say yes. "With him still learning the ropes on how to manage his own tech company under Xav's guidance and me just starting work at the animation studio, we don't really have time for all that. We haven't even talked about marriage."

Maddie shrugged. "You never know, Megs. Men can be...unpredictable."

Aurora nodded her head. "Xavier and I never talked about marriage, and one day he just proposed suddenly. I think we were together for a year and a half at that point, but look at you and Noah. You two have been together since freshman year in university and he's been pinning after you since way before."

"I guess you guys are right. I just don't want to rush things— I don't want to mess up our routine that we've become so used to."

"Noah's a sweetheart. He'll literally do anything for you," Alana paused before sighing dramatically. "All this talk about your amazing men is making me feel real lonely."

The girls around her chuckled at her confession. It was a surprise as to how easily Alana made her way into the girls' hearts. Aurora first met the 22-year-old singer when she flew to New York to help Alana renovate her then apartment. Much to Aurora's surprise, despite being one of the most famous women in the world, Alana was extremely down to earth. The two had quickly bonded over their struggles with bullying in high school and had grown extremely close.

Alana had slowly eased her way into her family's hearts as well, always invited over to their home whenever she visited Los Angeles. The whole family loved her and even the kids enjoyed her visits, always bearing gifts and sweets for her and Xavier's already hyperactive children.

"Oh shut up, you're the one hiding your man from us," Maddie rolled her eyes playfully before giving the beautiful singer a smirk. "What's this about you asking how Aurora knew Xavier was the one?"

Alana gasped before throwing Aurora a playful glare. "Aurora Knight, you did not."

Aurora tried to look everywhere but at the singer, causing Megan to stifle her laughter. "I did....not?"

"Xavier was right. You are a terrible liar," muttered Alana, pouting. "I'll forgive you— only because I'm the godmother of this little one right here."

Alana sat up and moved to where Aurora sat, placing her hand on Aurora's belly. Her grin grew as she felt the familiar flutter against her hand. Aurora smiled, thinking back to when she had asked Alana to be her daughter's godmother since the Knight sisters were the godmothers of the boys. Maddie was the godmother of Xander, while Stephanie and Megan were the godmothers to the twins.

The decision was an easy one and she remembered the tears of joy that Alana had shed. They had only been friends for a year, yet they had welcomed her with open arms.

"You're going to spoil her," Aurora patted her friend's hand. "Just like everyone else in this family is."

"Don't I already know that," smirked Alana as she leaned down and talked to Aurora's belly. "Auntie Lani's going to spoil you so much— you're going to be the coolest kid in school I swear. Well, I guess your brothers are cool, too, but let's be real, boys stink," Aurora glared at her friend as Alana gave her a sheepish smile. "I'm just kidding— not really. Any boy who isn't a Knight stinks."

"That's better," muttered Aurora. Megan shook her head with amusement. It still blew her mind that she was friends with the Alana Sommers. She remembered the day Aurora introduced the singer to the girls. To say they were all starstruck was an understatement. But it had been a year since they had all become a group of close-knitted friends and Alana had slowly opened up to them.

Underneath all the glitz and glam of being a celebrity was a lonely and cautious girl, who had struggled to get where she was now. Alana was good at hiding her problems and she was glad to have met people that truly cared and understood her, especially Megan and Aurora who had gone through similar experiences in high school.

"When's she coming anyways? Isn't she overdue?" Asked Megan, looking at her sister-in-law with concern.

Aurora nodded, rubbing her swollen belly. "Yeah, way past her due date, actually. Baby girl just doesn't want to come meet us yet."

She stood up on her feet slowly, before making her way to the kitchen. Alana's eyebrows furrowed with worry, as she made a movement to stop her. "Where are you going?"

"I'm just getting some more snacks," replied Aurora.

"I can grab those for you— just tell me what you're craving," Megan made a move to stand up, but was quickly brushed away by Aurora.

"You girls don't have to worry. Dr. Tran said I should move around more often— it'll help coax baby girl out or something," Aurora gave the worried girls a reassuring smile before turning back to walk to the kitchen. She could hear the girls talking as she waddled her way to the pantry where Xavier had organized all her favorite snacks.

Pocky. Dried seaweed. Shrimp chips. White rabbit candy.

So many fucking options.

Her eyes lit up as she browsed through the shelves, thinking about what she wanted to snack on. But before she could decide, a pain erupted from her stomach, causing her breath to hitch. Thinking it was Braxton hicks, she took a deep breath and continued to browse the shelves. 10 minutes later, another contraction hit, prompting her to take note of the time. Each contraction lasted around a minute and having given birth twice already, she had an itch that it was time.

"Girls," she called out from the kitchen, placing the snacks down onto the counter. To snack or not to snack— wait, maybe she should just bring the snacks with her.

Thank god she was blessed with such a big brain.

"You okay, mama?" Asked Maddie, hearing the slight strain in her best friend's voice.

"I lied— I think baby girl wants to meet us now."

The three girls' eyes widened in unison as they processed what Aurora had just said.

Well, fuck.

❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎

"How are you feeling, beautiful?"

Xavier's gently held onto Aurora's hand, bringing it up to his lips as he placed a sweet kiss next to where the IV was inserted.

"I can't feel my legs," she gave him a tired smile, causing him to chuckle. "Whoever invented the epidural should get a raise."

"I'm pretty sure he's already dead, sweetheart," he smiled, placing another kiss on her forehead this time. He gently brushed a few strands of hair away from her face as he lovingly stared down at her. "You're so beautiful."

Aurora snorted, squinting her eyes at him. "I look and feel like a train hit me."

"Still the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on," he shrugged, giving her a cheeky grin.

"Where are the boys?" She asked, a look of worry clearly written on her face. The girls had been over at their home for a much-needed girls' day. Being the perfect father that he was, Xavier had voluntarily taken the day off to spend time with their boys, knowing Aurora wanted to spend some time pampering herself before their baby girl arrived. He even begrudgingly allowed Lucas and Noah to tag along as they were bored without their women.

Almost a few hours ago, he had received a frantic phone call from Maddie, saying that Aurora was going into labor. He could hardly contain his excitement at the thought of finally welcoming their baby girl into the world.

"I dropped them off with our parents," he murmured against her forehead. "Don't worry about them, love. Just focus on yourself and our baby girl."

Aurora nodded, giving him a small smile as another contraction hit. With the epidural, she could barely feel the pain, and instead, felt a pressure inside her abdomen.

"I can't wait to meet her," she whispered tiredly.

"Me, too, baby. Rest now— you'll need the energy later," he smiled, taking a seat next to the hospital bed. It was quiet, with the only beeping coming from the heart monitor.

"Stay with me?"

"Always."

He held her hand the entire time, never letting go, even when she began pushing, crushing his hand in the process. Almost 10 hours later, their baby girl was finally welcomed into the world.

"Congratulations, mama," the nurse smiled as the sound of crying filled the delivery room. She placed their daughter on Aurora's chest, allowing the mother and father to finally lay their eyes on the beautiful sight. The nurse counted the fingers and toes out loud as Xavier breathed out a huge sigh of relief. "8 pounds— A very healthy baby girl."

Eyes filling with tears, Aurora began sobbing as soon as she laid eyes on her daughter. Xavier placed a kiss on his wife's forehead, praising and showering her with his loving words.

"You did so amazing, baby," his eyes also filled with tears as he looked back and forth between Aurora and their daughter. "You did so so so good, love."

Sniffling, she buried her face into the side of Xavier's neck as he murmured words of praise. Aurora couldn't take her eyes off their daughter at all. Even as the nurse took her daughter off of her chest to get her cleaned, she never once took her eyes off their daughter. The same was with Xavier as he left Aurora's side to watch the nurses clean their daughter up.

Aurora couldn't help but smile as she watched his overprotective stance hover over the working nurses. Their daughter was just barely brought into the world and her father was already overprotective over her.

"Does she have a name, yet?" The nurse asked as she wrapped their daughter in a swaddle before gently handing her over into Xavier's arms. His large arms, ones that Aurora often caught herself looking at shamelessly, made their daughter seem so small, but she knew he was holding their daughter as if she was the most precious being in the world.

He slowly made his way to where Aurora laid, the doctors and nurses still cleaning her up.

"Yes, her name is Ayla— Ayla Knight," Aurora replied to the nurse, who wrote the name onto the birth certificate above the small footprint.

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl."

Xavier bent down, allowing Aurora to see their daughter's beautiful face clearly for the first time. She felt her face water once again as she reached up and gently patted the swaddle.

"She's beautiful," whispered Aurora as one of Ayla's eyes opened, seeing her parents for the first time.

"Just like her mama," Xavier murmured his agreement, leaning further down to place a sweet kiss on Aurora's forehead and then her lips. Using his other hand, he gently wiped away the tears on Aurora's cheeks as she continued to gaze at their daughter.

"Thank you for bringing her into the world, love," Xavier murmured, as he stared at his two favorite girls like they were his world. He thought of their three boys and his heart swelled, knowing that their family was now complete. "I love you and I love you, Ayla."

Aurora smiled at him tearfully, still feeling the emotional high.

"I love you, too."

❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎

I'm 22 today, and what better way to celebrate than to celebrate with the birth of Aurora and Xavier's daughter, Ayla Knight! Also, yes, Alana Sommers is featured here, but if you haven't checked out Chasing Alana (and yes, I'm shamelessly promoting my other story) please head over to my profile to check it out! 

Thank you so much for all the love <3 And yes, more bonus chapters await! Now, I'm off to get drunk for the night^^ ( and no I am not promoting underaged drink) Stay safe and have a wonderful weekend!