Early in the morning, a thief jumped into Xiu and Darren’s tent. He first looked at the sleeping faces of this couple before jumping on them to wake them up.

“Mommy! Baba! Wake up!”

Xiu groaned and hit Darren, “Let me sleep!”

Darren opened his eyes to stare at his son, “Can’t you let your mom sleep? She is tired!” Darren caressed Xiu’s face, lovingly gazing at her. He was glad that they had cleaned up everything before sleeping last night. But just thinking about the last night’s affair, Darren’s whole being got excited again. 

In the end, he had to push his excitement down because of this third-wheeler. Oh, he means his son. But then again, his son was really a third-wheeler!

“Mommy, everyone is already up!” announced Rowan innocently.

Xiu sighed out, “Just because the world is up, doesn’t mean I have to as well!”

“Rowan, don’t disturb your mother,” said Darren as he sat up. He was already up and couldn’t go back to sleep, unlike his wife who had a special talent in the field of sleep.

“Why is mommy not waking up?” questioned Rowan.

Xiu sat up in frustration, “Because your mom is the laziest person alive. Got it?”

“Got it!” replied Rowan.

“Good! Now, let me sleep!” saying that, she laid back down but didn’t fall asleep. Instead, in just a minute, she sat up again, “Forget it. I can’t even sleep anymore.”

Rowan excitedly jumped to hug her and asked, “Then, can we play football?”

“Just because I can’t sleep doesn’t mean I am awake,” replied Xiu.

Darren chuckled at her words while Rowan tilted his head in confusion, “What does that mean?”

“Stop acting spoiled with your mother,” said Darren as he rubbed his son’s head. 

“I want to,” insisted Rowan, stubbornly as he buried his face in Xiu’s neck refusing to let go. “You also act spoiled with my mommy.”

“That’s because she is my wife,” replied Darren proudly. “It’s my legal right.” He took a pause and added with a smirk, “Go and find your own wife to act spoiled with.”

Rowan gave his father a look, “What kind of a father says this to his eight-year-old son?”

Darren pointed at himself, “This kind of a father does it.”

“You just want to push me away from mommy.”

“If you understand that then why don’t you just leave her alone?” retorted Darren, not at all ashamed at being seen through by his own son.

“I refuse!” 

Xiu looked at this exchange between father and son in amusement. She was too used to such scenes in their house. It was a fact known to everyone that Darren was the kind of a father who loved to spoil his son to heaven. He doted on Rowan way too much. But he’d become stubborn when it came to her.

He was okay with giving his son everything but his wife. 

“Stop this pettiness already,” interrupted Xiu and looked at the both of them. “If you continue this, I’m gonna get a headache. And you both know how it’ll end once I had a headache.”

Both Darren and Rowan turned into obedient little kids before her. They didn’t dare go against her.

“Rowan, go and play with your sisters. I’m coming out soon.”

“Okay,” Rowan lowered his head and left. But before leaving, he kissed his mother’s cheek saying, “I forgot, I came to give you a good morning kiss.”

Xiu smiled at him and kissed his forehead, “Now, go!”

Rowan grinned and ran away leaving behind a sulky Darren who put his head on Xiu’s shoulder, “Sweets, I also want a good morning kiss.”

Xiu pinched his chin, “You had a whole feast last night. It wasn’t enough to satiate you?”

Darren shamelessly shook his head, “I’m still starving.”

  Xiu rubbed her waist and glared at him, “Don’t even think about it.” She stood up to leave the tent or else she knew she’d fall into his trap again. It was better to escape while she had the chance to do so.

Darren followed after her and stood behind her as she stretched and took a deep breath in the fresh air. He put his hands around her waist and started gently massaging it. 

It was so comforting that Xiu leaned back against his body and closed her eyes in relaxation. Hearing the sound of cheerful laughter, she opened her eyes and looked over at the kids playing together.

The adults were sitting together watching the beautiful sunrise with content smiles on their faces. There was a strange peace in this morning air that had the ability to calm one’s nerves. 

“Everyone looks happy,” remarked Xiu emotionally. “I wish this happiness always stays the same.”

“The happiness can’t stay the same,” said Darren. “After all, time is always changing.” He hugged her from behind and went on, “But I believe if we are all together, the happiness won’t be far from us.”

Xiu nodded her head as she closed her eyes again. With a smile playing on her lips, she said, “Baobei!”

“Hmm?”

“I love you!”

Darren was taken aback by this sudden declaration of love. Of course, it wasn’t his first time hearing it but as always, it was so random coming from her.

He smiled at her, “I love you too!”

Xiu turned around to face him and told him, “Do you know, sometimes I think this second chance wasn’t given to me.”

“Huh?”

“It was your second chance,” she told him. “I feel like it’s your desperate cry that touched the heaven and I was sent back to you. Or else, a person like me who had no attachment to this world didn’t really have a reason to live another lifetime.”

Darren pressed his lips against her forehead, “You’re right. It really is my second chance. It was me who desperately needed you to come into my life and teach me how to love again. And also, how to live again.”

“But I think it’s you who taught me how to love,” argued Xiu. “It’s you who gave me a warm home that belongs to us. Just us.”

Darren pinched her nose, “Silly, we both needed each other. And we both found each other. And it’s only the beginning. I don’t think I’ve managed to even tell you how much I really love you.”

“There is more to this love?” 

Darren nodded his head and smiled at her, “As I said, it’s only the beginning!”

Xiu looked around her and leaned her head against his chest. It was indeed just the beginning. They had a long life ahead of them. They had a beautiful family of their own. They still had a lot of good and bad days ahead of them. How could it be the end? 

“It’s only the beginning, indeed,” she muttered to herself with a content smile.