A Neighbor from Hell Fathers' Day

Part I

“Happy Father’s Day!” came the excited words that had Devin biting back a smile as he opened his eyes and-

Narrowed his eyes dangerously on his children as he watched as Dustin and Abbi stood on the other side of his bed, smiling hugely as they carefully placed a tray overflowing with junk food on his beautiful wife’s lap. He watched as Charlie, who should be outraged on his behalf, gave their children a watery smile as she sat up and-

“Oh, no…” Charlie mumbled weakly as she slapped a hand over her mouth as Devin bit back a curse and quickly reached over, grabbing the tray off her lap as Abbi and Dustin jumped out of the way so that she could quickly make her way to the bathroom.

When Devin put the tray down on the bed and went to help her, she shot him a pleading look that had him biting back a sigh and staying where he was, resigning himself to sitting there, pretending that he didn’t know that his wife was pregnant again so that he didn’t ruin the surprise. God, she was just so fucking adorable, Devin thought with a heartfelt sigh as he reached over to grab one of the cupcakes off the tray, only to frown when he didn’t find it.

After sending one last glance at the bathroom door that his wife had no doubt barricaded to ensure that he couldn’t check on her, Devin turned his attention to the tray and all the delicious treats that he fully planned on devouring only to find Dustin and Abbi sitting next to him with the tray of goodies between them. Their eyes narrowed dangerously on him as they took a bite of the matching cupcakes that were rightfully his, silently daring him to say something about it.

“It’s Father’s Day,” he reminded them as he held out his hand in silent demand, only to be met with cold stares as they took their time savoring the cupcakes that Charlie made for him.

Nodding slowly, Devin said, “This will not be forgotten.”

“No, it won’t be,” Dustin said, making a show of finishing off the last bite of cupcake before reaching down and grabbing a jelly donut.

“None of it will be,” Abbi seconded, finishing off her cupcake before grabbing the glass of chocolate milk, her murderous gaze never wavering as she took a sip.

“Traitors,” Devin bit out, climbing out of bed and headed for his bedroom door as he glanced at the bathroom door and-

“I’m fine!” Charlie said before he could make sure that she was okay, making him sigh heavily as he made his way into the hallway.

She really was a stubborn little pain in the ass, Devin thought as he made his way to the room next to his and couldn’t help but smile when he spotted Bradford, their insanely large German Shepherd, curled up in front of his son’s crib. When Bradford saw him, his eyes narrowed as he watched his every move until Devin reached down and absently scratched behind his ears, immediately appeasing the large dog as his focus shifted to the little boy smiling up at him.

“At least someone’s happy to see me,” Devin said as he picked his little boy up and kissed his head, earning an excited wiggle that had him chuckling as he pulled the little boy that he couldn’t imagine his life without into his arms, kissing the top of his head as he turned around and-

“We need to talk,” Dustin said, glaring up at him as he folded his small arms over his chest while his sister did the same.

“About the fact that you’re both traitors?” Devin asked as he carried Tristan to the changing table that he’d built for his son and made quick work of changing his diaper.

“No, we’re fine with that,” Abbi said, shrugging it off as Devin picked Tristan back up into his arms.

“We really are,” Dustin said, making Devin’s eyes narrow on his son as he kissed the top of Tristan’s head again.

“You’re both brutal,” Devin said with a heavy sigh as he made his way back into the hallway and-

“I’m fine!”

-prayed that his wife stopped driving him out of his fucking mind. Over the past two weeks, she’d been struggling morning, noon, and night, spending most of her time curled up in the bathroom and randomly whimpering even as she couldn’t stop smiling. A few times, he’d considered letting her know that he knew that she was pregnant just so that she would let him take care of her, but…

He couldn’t do that to her.

She was just so damn excited about telling him that he didn’t have the heart to ruin the surprise. So, Devin pretended that he didn’t notice that she couldn’t hold anything down and waited. In the meantime, he made sure that there was plenty of ginger ale and apple sauce in the fridge, everything that she needed for Tristan during the day, checked on her every chance he got, and made sure the kids gave her a break.

The same kids that were following him downstairs, glaring at his back every step of the way. They didn’t say anything as they made their way into the kitchen, but then again, he didn’t expect them to, not when they were doing their best to intimidate him. They were just so fucking adorable sometimes.

After he placed Tristan in his chair, he quickly made a bottle of formula, well aware that his children, who were now sitting next to their little brother, watched his every move. As soon as Devin had the bottle warmed up, he turned around and…sighed heavily when Abbi plucked the bottle out of his hand with a glare.

That was followed by her sitting next to Tristan, holding the bottle for him as she returned to glaring at him. Knowing his children weren’t going to say another word to him until they felt that he was properly intimidated, Devin focused on making breakfast. For a moment, he considered making scrambled eggs, but then he remembered what happened last week when he made Charlie breakfast in bed and decided against it.

Deciding on pancakes, Devin got everything that he needed out and-

Sighed when Abbi pointedly cleared her throat, drawing his attention to find her glaring at him as she gestured to Tristan. Without a word, Devin placed the mixing bowl in his hands on the counter and picked up his baby boy and gently rubbed his back, only to chuckle when his son released an impressive burb. Once he was sure that his son was done, Devin went to put him down only to sigh, gently rub his back again and waited for him to finish as he released another burp.

“You may give him back now,” Abbi said, gesturing for him to get on with it.

“You’re too kind,” Devin drawled as he placed Tristan back in his chair and found himself pulling his hands back so that Dustin and Abbi could make quick work of securing him in.

Once they were done…

“We’re naming the next one,” Dustin bit out with a glare that once again dared him to argue.

“You’re really not,” Devin said, reaching over to ruffle his son’s hair, which only made Dustin’s eyes narrow dangerously on him.

“Oh, but we really are,” Abbi said as she reached over so that Tristan could hold onto her hand while she reached down with her other hand and petted Bradford on the head.

“And what makes you think that you’re going to name your brother or sister?” Devin asked, returning to what he was doing.

“Because Mommy told us that we could help name the baby if we didn’t tell you that she was pregnant,” Dustin said, making Devin frown as he glanced back to find his son’s lips pulled up into a smug smile.

“Your mother told you that she was pregnant?” Devin asked, wondering why his wife told their children before she told him.

“Not exactly,” Abbi said, not quite able to look him in the eye as she shifted, cleared her throat, and shifted again while Dustin did his best to bite back a wince.

Sighing heavily, Devin reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose as he said, “Tell me what happened.”

“What makes you think something happened, Daddy?” Abbi asked, trying to sound innocent.

“Abbi,” Devin said, putting everything into that one word.

“It was an accident.”

“It really was,” Dustin murmured in agreement as Devin dropped his hand away so that he could glare at his children.

“What did you do?” Devin asked just as Charlie walked into the kitchen, smiling hugely only to quickly lose that smile, place her hand on her stomach, turn around and quickly make her way back the way she came as she yelled, “I’m fine!” over her shoulder.

“This and that,” Abbi said, trying to shrug it off.

Nodding, Devin glanced at Dustin and-

“We don’t like secrets,” his son said with a look that sent chills down his spine.

“Meaning?” Devin asked, not missing the look the twins shared before they focused back on him.

“That it would be a shame if Mommy found out about yours.”

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