Best Mistake

The sound of Will's cries coming from the monitor on my night stand woke me from my deep sleep. I groaned a little as I rubbed my eyes, a loud yawn escaping my mouth. That was the first few hours of decent sleep I'd gotten since we brought him home the week before. I knew I'd be missing out on rest for a while at first, but I had no idea how much. I was absolutely exhausted.

Being parents of a newborn was a lot tougher thank I think both Alex and I were aware. The first night we were home with him, after we put him to bed, we congratulated ourselves on a job well done. But a few hours later as we were trying to sleep, Will demanded our attention. I volunteered to go check on him. As well as the time after that. And the time after that. And the time after that.

It wasn't that Alex didn't want to help, because I could clearly see that he did. He always tried to get me to let him feed or bathe or change or rock Will to sleep. He had a lot on his plate though as his personal life and his professional life continued to cross paths. He was doing a lot of work from home to prepare for All Time Low's album that was in the works. I didn't want him to be distracted, and I was trying so hard to be Super Mom.

The house was an absolute wreck. I was continuously putting Alex's focus on his record. I'm sure my constant nagging about it got on his nerves, but he was probably too worried about pissing me off to object, so his nose stayed buried in his laptop. All of my attention was put towards Will, and it felt like I didn't have time for much else.

I rolled over to see if Alex wanted to show some compassion and check on Will for me, but when he wasn't there and I heard his soothing voice through the monitor, I sighed with relief and fell back against my pillows, my eyes shutting immediately.

"Hey, little dude," Alex whispered. "What's up, man?"

I smiled and looked over at the monitor as I listened to Will's cries start to fade. Alex groaned a little as he picked him up.

"Can't sleep?" he asked. After a moment of silence, he said, "Me either. I'm worried about your mom."

I furrowed my eyebrows a little and turned to my side so I could try to listen better.

"She's so focused on you and me, she's barely paid any attention to herself. Am I right or am I right?"

There was a moment of silence and I heard Alex lay Will down on the changing table and rip open his diaper. I giggled when I heard Alex gag.

"No wonder you're so upset. I'd be sad too if I had to lay in my own poo."

Alex started humming as he changed Will's diaper. It was an unfamiliar tune, but it was beautiful, and I felt myself slipping into another round of sleep as I listened.

"There. All better," he said, and my eyes involuntarily reopened.

The rocking chair creaked as Alex sat down in it.

"Wanna hear a new song I'm working on? No one knows about it yet, since I want it to be perfect. But I can trust you not to leak it, right?"

Will gurgled and Alex cleared his throat. I blushed and momentarily thought about turning the monitor off, but my inner fan took over and leaned a little closer to hear better.

"Spent my whole damn life trying to get things right and for every one of my mistakes, you gave me all these chances. But the road's too long. I am tired. Baby you are my horizon and I'll drive until it all breaks down."

He paused for a moment, and I caught myself holding my breath as I listened.

"You keep me alive on the edge of tonight. Chasing tomorrow with fire in my eyes. You're like a siren in the dark. You're the beat playing in my heart. You keep me alive on the edge of tonight."

I exhaled loudly as he fell silent.

"I'm writing that for your mom. It's about you, too. Because the two of you are making me the happiest I've ever been, and I want the world to know that."

"Whoa," I sighed.

The chair creaked again as Alex stood and I listened to his feet pad against the floor as he walked Will back to his crib.

"I love you, son."

I laid still as the lyrics to our song ran laps around my brain. I could soon hear Alex walking back into the bedroom and he slowly crept into bed. He kissed my shoulder lightly before laying down and wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Alex?" I asked.

I felt him jump a little at my voice. "What's wrong?"

I hesitantly rolled over to face him, and with help from the moonlight I could see the exhaustion circling his eyes.

"Are we really your horizon?"

He blushed a little as his eyes widened. "You heard that?"

I nodded.

He sighed heavily, but then smiled. "Well this is a little embarrassing."

"I'm sorry. I thought about turning the monitor off-"

"You really are. Will is, too, but that part is kind of directed only towards you. Originally that song was just about you, but once Will was born I noticed that it could have a double meaning for him as well."

I shook my head in slight disbelief.

"What?" Alex asked.

With a heavy sigh, I shrugged. "I just don't understand why you like me so much."

He rolled his eyes and propped his head in his hand. "I don't like you. I love you. So much. On a scale from zero to Beyoncé, I'm level 2003 'Crazy In Love' with you, girl."

I laughed and gently pushed his shoulder. "That's a pretty high rank."

"Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no," he sang, gyrating.

"Christ," I giggled. "Cut it out before you break your hip."

He smiled sweetly and scooted closer towards me. "But seriously. You got me forever. I hope you're down with that."

"Forever?" I asked, feigning discomfort, even though my heart was fluttering happily around in my rib cage.

"Or at least for as long as you decide to keep hanging out with me," he frowned.

I smiled and leaned up, placing a kiss on his soft lips.

"I want to hang out with you for the rest of my life."

He laughed nervously and I noticed the pink tinge coating his cheeks abs he kissed me again.

"Awesome."

Notes

Thank you guys so much for taking the time to read my story. I'm truly grateful that after so many years of neglecting writing that I was able to come back and receive such positive feedback. You guys rule <3

I'm planning a sequel, so keep your eyes peeled for that!