Forever? Forever.

"Can I please kidnap her?" my co-worker and best friend Talisman questioned me while looking at the recent picture of Eliana that sat at my station. I giggled some at her eagerness. "I promise I'll bring her back in like a month or so."

"Seeing how this week she'll be at her father's I don't think you can kidnap her, Tally," I told my friend with a smirk on my face, packing up my camera seeing how it was the end of the day. I looked at her, seeing a pout on her lips. "Maybe next time."

Talisman folded her arms over her chest. "Fine, I'll just go to Zachary's house and kidnap her then."

I laughed. "Really?" she looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "You'll actually be willing to go to Zacky's house where Majesty is?"

The sudden horrified look that crossed Talisman's face proved to me she had forgotten Ichabod wasn't the only fur baby Zacky had. Majesty was our Great Dane; we got her around the time Eliana was born. And in truth I was a bit worried about getting a big dog with a baby in the house, but Majesty proved to love Ellie just as much as me and her dad did. Majesty was a total sweetheart, but for Talisman she was death on four legs-Ichabod was the same way, but she could deal with him because he was smaller than Majesty.

"I'll just wait until it's your week again," Talisman finally told me, causing me to laugh at her. She laughed along with me a few seconds later, nudging my shoulder some. "So I'm having Mexican tonight with Richie. Want to third wheel my shit, lovely? Always want that. Even now seeing how me and Rich aren't seeing eye to eye."

"Much as I like to third wheel on your date, Tally, I got a cookout to head off to tonight." I told her with a smile on my face, taking in her words finally and raising an eyebrow. "What're you and Richie fighting about now?"

"Well, we're not really fighting, just not seeing eye to eye." I rose an eyebrow towards her, wanting her to tell me more. She sighed. "Alright, let's just say we've been married for almost a year now and I think we should take the next step and start a little family of our own."

"But Richie doesn't want to, does he?" I questioned, now fully understanding.

Talisman sadly nodded her head. "Yeah," her voice was said. "He thinks we should wait a little longer, seeing how our marriage is still new and all that shit. My sister and her husband were married about eight months and next thing I know, she gets pregnant with my nephew Tommy." she turned to me, a frown on her face. "How did Zack react when you said you wanted to have kids?"

"Well, um," I began not really sure how to answer that. Should I tell her about the laughing gas situation or the normal chat we had in his office? I'm going with normal chat in office. I cleared my throat and shrugged. "Truthfully, he was alright with it. He had been thinking about it for awhile by the time I asked him. So after we talked about it for a few minutes, we got right to it."

"Lucky," was the huff reply out of my best friend. "You two aren't even together and you're still better parents than what Richie is being right now."

I rolled my eyes, ignoring the whole "aren't even together" part. "Maybe because you two aren't parents, Talisman. Just give him some time, soon enough he'll come around. I promise."

She sighed. "If you say so," Talisman wrapped her arms around me and I wrapped mine around her, the both of us hugging each other tightly. "I'll see you Thursday, okay? Don't let anything interesting happen without me knowing it."

"I'll try not to let it happen," I smile as we broke apart, telling each other goodbye once more before going our different ways out of our work place.

As I sat in my car a sigh escaped past my lips as I started my car, slowly pulling out of my parking space to get on the main highway, driving my way back home to get ready for the cookout tonight at Matt and Valary's house. While driving I couldn't help but think about how Talisman said Richie didn't want kids yet, thinking about how unfair it was of him to stomp on Talisman's dreams. All she has ever wanted was to have child, a little girl to dress up or a little boy to be the gentlemen he was meant to be, but she ends up with Richie. Don't get me wrong, he treats her right and everything, but sometimes this boy is too dependent on what his mother thinks. Total and complete mama's boy.

Well I can't say much, my brother is the exact same way, but I'm a daddy's girl so it sort of evened out. Mom got Lucas while daddy got me.

Thinking of her problems somehow made me think about mine and Zacky's. Yes, we're on good terms once again and are friends, but I still can't forget how we used to be. And this cookout wasn't helping much either. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that Zack found a beautiful girl that gives him happiness and I'm happy she treats our little girl right, too, but I couldn't help but wonder what things would be like now if I hadn't called our relationship off.

Would we be married by now? Maybe we would have had another child by now? I would never know. But I guess I have all my memories to fall back on, and one in particular is always the best for me, seeing how it involved that lovable, duck loving, lanky drummer that I missed so damn much. And how I missed how he always tried to "kidnap" Eliana.

"Has anyone seen Eliana?" I questioned in full on amusement, a smile on my face as I watched the tall and lanky drummer walk around with his favorite jacket on, zipped halfway up allowing me to see the top of my four month old daughter's head sticking out.

"No, I haven't seen her." Jimmy told me while walking down the hallway towards the dressing room, holding the underside of his jacket where my daughter's diaper clad bottom was. A tiny squesl sounded and Jimmy began coughing, trying to cover it up. "Oh, wow, I must be coming down with something."

"You seem fine to me, Rev," Brian mused while walking over to his best friend as we entered the dressing, rubbing his chin a bit while looking down at the bump in Jimmy's jacket. "But you do seem to be packing on the pounds though."

"Well fuck you, too, Gates!" another squeal sounded from inside the drummer's jacket, causing me to roll my eyes. Take it to my child to find the cursing of any of her uncles, especially Jimmy, funny. Jimmy coughed once again, turning away from Brian. "God, I got a bug or something."

"Nice try," Zacky said coming inside the dressing room with Matt behind him, Johnny and I following shortly after, making his way over to Jimmy. The drummer had a pout on his face as the green-eyed guitarist began unzipping his jacket to reveal our happy baby girl held there. The moment she saw her father a two teeth smile appeared on her face, reaching her arms out for her daddy. Zacky smiled and picked his daughter up, holding her in the air before bringing her down to his face, kissing her on her cheeks. "Hey, princess." he gave Jimmy a sideways glance. "Did mean Uncle Jimmy stuff you inside his jacket and try to kidnap you, huh?"

Of course Eliana couldn't give him a verbal response, just little gurgle noises with a smile on her face, burying her little face into Zacky's shoulder. "No fair," Jimmy continued pouting, his long arms crossed over his chest like a five-year-old. "I wanted some time with my Ellie-Belly."

"Should have thought of that before you tried to kidnap her, Jim-Jam," I giggled while walking over to the two of them. Zacky kissed the top of our daughter's head before shifting her carefully into my arms. I turned to face my tall best friend. "Besides, Jimmy, you guys are about to go on."

"She could come with us, sit on Uncle Jimmy's lap while he plays the drums," Jimmy suggest with hopeful eyes, only to pout more when he saw both Zacky and I raise an eyebrow at him. Jimmy sighed and began walking away, sliding her feet along as he went with his head down. "Fine."

"Sucks for you, man," Brian laughed while walking over to me and Zacky, Matt and Johnny getting ready for their show tonight. The guitarist put one of his tattooed fingers inside Eliana's small hand, chuckling when she instantly squeezed it. "If anyone gets to kidnap her, it'll be Uncle Bri."

"I'll have you all know, if you do kidnap her, you'll have the honor of changing all her diapers." I laughed.

Brian shrugged while wiggling his finger free before Eliana placed it in her mouth. "Wouldn't be the first time I had to change a diaper," he chuckled before kissing me on the cheek, making his way over to the others to get ready for the show. I just rolled my eyes towards the spikey-haired man before turning around to look at my boyfriend.

"Hello there," he greeted while wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me towards him some to kiss the side of my neck. He rested his chin on my shoulder, a smile on his face. "Have I ever told you thank you before, baby?"

I raised an eyebrow to look at him. "For what, Zee?"

"Everything," my eyebrow was still raised in confusion some. "Thank you for being the best girlfriend, not giving up on me with this long distance because of tour, and thank you for giving me a beautiful baby girl. I'm the luckiest man in the world because of you, Braska."

"I love you, Zee," I smiled as I kissed him softly on the lips. We broke apart and smiled at one another. I adjusted Eliana on my hip with a laugh as she squirmed in my arms like she normally did. "You and Eliana."

"And I love the both of you, too," he kissed my lips before allowing Eliana to grab hold of one of his fingers. "I'll always love the both of you, so much."

Zacky and I shared one more kiss before he went on his way to get ready for the show tonight. I smiled as Eliana and I sat on one of the couches in the dressing room, occupying ourselves while her daddy and uncles got ready. I smiled at what Zacky told me, believing everything. He wasn't the only one that was lucky. I was also the lucky one in the relationship.

A sigh escaped past my lips as I continued driving, not long pulling into my driveway and getting out of the car before locking the doors back. A quick shower and some fresh clothes, then I'll be on my way to Matt and Val's.

+


"Mommy!" Eliana squeal while running over to me the moment I walked outside to the patio with Valary. She wrapped her small arms around my leg, burying her face there as giggles escaped past her lips. "You came!"

"Of course I cam, baby girl," I chuckled while picking her up and rested her on my hip, kissing her chubby little cheek. "I told you I was, didn't I?"

Eliana giggled. "You missed it, mommy, Mea-Mea pushed daddy in the pool!"

Mea-Mea was a nickname Eliana gave Meaghan, and it was really cute. I had an eyebrow raised as I finally noticed Zacky sitting at the patio table with Michelle and Brian, a deep scowl on his face as his clothes were soaking wet. I looked around only to find Meaghan no where.

"She did, baby?" I questioned my daughter, earning a head nod. "Where is Mea-Mea?"

"She lefted," Eliana simply answered. "Daddy made her mad so she lefted."

Well, that was new. Normally Zacky and Meaghan were lovebirds and hardly fought. Hearing they made each other mad over the whole Meaghan pushing Zacky into the pool shocked me. Normally Zacky would find it funny, seeing how I or one of the guys used to do it a thousand times, but I don't know why he didn't think so this time. I guess I should see if Zachary James is alright. I placed Eliana down on the ground and watched as she instantly made her way over to her Aunt Val, placing her little hands on the older women's baby bump where little River rested. Eliana was so excited to know Valary and Matt were having a baby, she was ready to meet the new addition just like his parents were.

As I turned around to make my way over to Zacky, I was stopped when I felt arms wrap around my waist, picking me up from the ground. I squealed out a laugh as I was spun around, figuring out quickly it was no other than Matthew Charles Sanders. "Matthew, put me down now!" I squeal while kicking my legs, making sure my heels hit his shines each time.

"Alright, alright," Matt laughed while placing me back down on my feet. "Stop kicking the shit out of my shines."

I playfully punched him before wrapping my arms around his neck, standing on my tip toes to reach his height properly. Being the short wasn't fun at all. Well, if you were me and Johnny it wasn't. "Well, stop picking me up and I'll think about it."

Matt chuckled before wrapping his arms around my waist, hugging me tightly. "I'll just have to buy shine pads then, 'cause that's never going to happen."

I playfully slapped the back of his head before we broke apart. I looked around seeing the Berry brothers and Johnny at the grill, all three of them arguing about something but I just shook my head at their antics. Matt took my hand softly before making his way over towards Valary and Eliana, where I then saw a new person I've never seen before. I could only assume this was the new drummer Zacky, Brian and Matt had been talking about every time I'd come to pick Eliana up from the studio. I've never seen him before, so it was sort of strange seeing him in person now.

He was quit handsome if I must say. Tan colored skin, lovely brown eyes. lanky but well built in a way and he had some interesting styled-up hair if I must say so. He seemed a bit younger than the others, but I was sure he'd fit right in with everyone. He seemed to get the approval of Eliana, seeing how she now stood behind him on his patio chair, running her hands through his hair pretending to be a stylish.

"Arin, I'd like you to meet Nebraska," Matt introduced me to Arin. The drummer looked up from his hands, staring at me with a smile. Eliana reached her arms up towards her "Uncle Bear" as she loved to call him. Matt chuckled and picked her up, placing her on his hip. "She's this little monster's mother."

I looked at him with an eyebrow raised, my hands placed on my hips now. "You did not just call my child a monster!"

"She has half of Zack's genes, so yes I did." Matt said simply while walking away with my daughter, heading over to Johnny and the Berry brothers, Valary smiling at us before following behind Matt, leaving me and Arin alone with one another.

"So you used to date, Vengeance?" Arin innocently asked me, making me smile with how awkward he seemed at the moment. It was pretty cute.

"Yeah, I used to date Zack," I smiled while sitting in the chair Val was once sitting in. Arin was looking at me while messing around with his hands, causing me to laugh some. "Hey, don't be nervous around me. I don't bite, you know?"

"I know," Arin gave out a breath-filled laugh before rubbing his hands on his jeans, looking at me once again, a smile on his face. "I'm still just getting use to working with the guys."

"The guys are alright, a little rough at first, but you'll fit right in." I told him while placing my hand on his back, rubbing small and comforting circles on it. I looked over to where Eliana had joined her soaked clothes father, Aunt Michelle and Uncle Brian at their patio table, giggling some. "You already have approval from my daughter, so you'll be good with the guys."

Arin smiled and laughed some. "That's good to know."

Arin and I continued to talk, getting to know one another while the food was cooking, and I must say he was an interesting guy. He was funny, nice and a total sweetheart. The moment Matt said the burgers were done Arin and I stood at the same time, almost bumping into one another, and we laughed it off as he allowed me to move first. As I turned around to join the others I couldn't help but notice a pair of familiar green eyes staring intensely at the two of us.

Notes