The Wild Ride

The next morning, Zack and Peyton were awoken by the sounds of giggles coming through the baby monitor. “What time is it?” Peyton groaned, pulling the covers over her face. “A little after seven.” Her husband yawned, wrapping an arm around her. “He’s going to be in here any second.” Right on cue, they heard the giggles get closer and the sounds of tiny feet slapping against the hardwood. “Daddy!” Lincoln shouted as he ran toward his father. “Linc Monster!” Zack said cheerfully, picking up the small child and smothering his face with kisses before placing him beside his mother on the bed. “Mama!” The boy said, laying on top of Peyton. “Hey my man! Did you sleep good?” She asked with a laugh. “Mama. Want bites!” He said, with a smile. “Come on wild man. We’ll go make breakfast while mom gets out of bed.” Zack said, picking up the boy and sitting him on his shoulders, which caused Lincoln to burst into a fit of giggles. ”Yay!” He shouted as his dad took off toward the kitchen, his infectious laughter filling the quiet house.

After breakfast, Brian came over so he and Zack could write a few songs for the album. It was getting close to Lincoln’s nap time, and he was growing more irritable by the second. Peyton was in the living room floor playing with him, while the two men were on the opposite side of the room working. Peyton had just gotten a text from Michelle asking if she wanted to go to lunch with her and Val, while Linc was working on an animal puzzle when he couldn’t get one of the pieces to go in. Eventually he got frustrated, and threw the puzzle piece across the room and shouted “fuck!” Peyton’s head snapped up and she glared at Brian and Zack, who both looked like their eyes were going to pop out of their heads. “Who’s taking the blame this time?” She asked angrily. The two men pointed to each other simultaneously, and Peyton sighed heavily. “Linc, you can’t say that buddy. Can you go pick up that piece and finish your puzzle?” The toddler huffed angrily and crossed his arms over his chest, “No.” “Lincoln.” Zack said in a warning tone, “Pick up your puzzle piece. Now buddy.” “No!” He said louder. Peyton pulled her son to his feet and turned him in the direction of the missing piece, “Go get the puzzle piece now or you get a pop.” Lincoln stomped his little foot and looked right into his mother’s eyes, furrowing his tiny brows, “No mama.” Peyton looked and Zack and sighed, then swatted her son’s behind. “Let’s go, little boy. Naptime.” She said, picking him up. “No!!! Biiiiian!” He cried, his little arms reaching for his godfather. “Come on Linc. I’ll take you upstairs. But you have to be nice to your mom, okay?” Brian said, standing up to take the boy from his mother. “Kay.” He sniffled, wrapping his arms tightly around Brian’s neck and burying his face in his chest. Brian grinned triumphantly and Peyton rolled her eyes and sighed, walking back into the living room while Brian laid her son down. “That kid is so stubborn.” She grumbled. “I wonder who he gets it from.” Zack chuckled, looking pointedly at his wife. “I am not stubborn, Zachary.” She argued, making him laugh. “Are you kidding me? You are the most stubborn woman I have ever met. Worse than Val and that’s a saying a lot.” He said, pulling her into his lap. “You’re so damn stubborn it drives me crazy.” Peyton laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, “Yeah, because you aren’t stubborn at all.” She said sarcastically. “I’m not. I’m very go with the flow.” He grinned. “Right. Says the guy who spent three hours putting together a crib because he refused to look at the directions.” She chuckled, leaning into him. “Hey. I got it done though.” He argued. “Yeah, only after I threw the directions at you and made you read them.” She grinned. “I love you.” He said softly, causing her smile to widen, if that was even possible. “I love you too, Zee. I love this life we have together.” “Me too, baby. It can only get better from here.” He whispered, kissing her deeply. They sat on the couch for a few more minutes, snuggling and talking until Peyton decided that she needed to get up and get ready for lunch with the girls.

About an hour later, Peyton was sitting at a quiet restaurant with Michelle and Val, talking about her upcoming baby shower. “I’m really excited. I can’t wait to celebrate baby Sanders. Hell I can’t wait to meet the little guy!” She grinned. “Linc needs a best friend.” “I can’t wait to see how Linc is with him.” Val smiled, “It’s almost time for you guys to have another one, right?” Peyton sighed and looked down at her lap. “Zack wants to try for another, but I don’t know. I feel like we just got to the point that it’s not super challenging to do things with Lincoln, and he’s finally developing a little personality.” She explained. “Oh, and he said fuck today. Twice.” “Shut up. Brian was there wasn’t he?” Michelle asked with a laugh. “Yep.” Peyton nodded, “He and Zack were writing, and I guess he messed something up, because all I heard was ‘fuck fucking fuckety fuck fuck’ and Linc just looked at him like he was nuts. But then not even five minutes later he was throwing puzzle pieces and saying fuck!” “It’s bad enough that Johnny taught him to say jackass.” Val said. “Let’s not forget that Matt taught him shit at the tender age of eighteen months.” Michelle added with a laugh. Peyton laughed and rolled her eyes, “My kid is going to get kicked out of preschool because his uncles taught him how to have a potty mouth.” The girls finished their lunch and were walking around the area, doing some window shopping and talking when they noticed a blonde quickly approaching them. “No fucking way.” Val said quietly. “Hi girls! How are you? Val you look great!” The girl said cheerfully, keeping quite a bit of distance from them. “Oh hi, Gena! Have you tried killing any pregnant women lately?” Peyton said sweetly, taking a step toward the blonde, only to have a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at Michelle, who shook her head. “Not here, Peyton.” She whispered. “Um, yeah. About that. Im really sorry, Peyton. I was a little crazy knowing you were with Zack and you were getting my fairytale ending and I took it too far. But I’m happy to announce that I’m getting married!” She said excitedly, holding up her left hand. “I’d love it if you guys would come. We were friends for so long. By the way, how is your baby?” “You’re out of your damn mind, Gena.” Michelle said. “What kind of ‘friend’ runs a pregnant woman off the road? Not to mention the bullshit apology you just gave her?” “Just think about it. I’ll send you all a formal invitation later. I’ve got to go, it was great seeing you guys!” Gena said, turning around and walking away. “What the fuck just happened?” Val said, looking at her sister and best friend. “I don’t know, but we better get out of here before she comes back with an axe or something.” Peyton said, heading toward their vehicles. The women all said their goodbyes and Peyton made a pit stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things before heading home to tell Zack about her run-in with Gena.

Notes