“Dimitri Blake Titov,” Piper said with a grin before leaning over to kiss her little guy on the head.

“So sweet,” Rowan said, staring down at her grandson. “He is perfect. Great job, honey. I heard it wasn’t easy.”

Piper shrugged her shoulders. “It was horrible, but worth it. I am thankful Erik was here. I probably couldn’t have done it without him.”

“He has really changed,” Harper said softly.

Piper looked up at her older sister; she was still a little upset with Harper because of the way she had acted during Piper’s labor. With a curt nod, Piper said, “He has.”

“I think I owe you an apology,” Harper said, looking Piper in the eyes.

“You do,” Reese said from the side, receiving a smack from Rowan. “Well, she does!”

“Hush,” Rowan said as Harper rolled her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Piper, I was wrong.”

Piper accepted the apology and reached out to hold her sister’s hand. Everything was crazy and Piper was sure she had probably been acting a little nuts, too.

“It’s fine; now come see your gorgeous nephew.”

Harper smiled as she came closer and with a laugh said, “God, he looks just like Erik!”

Piper laughed. “Yes, he does.”

When the door opened, Piper looked up to see Elli, Fallon, and Audrey, all smiling as they entered.

“Audrey! You are supposed to be on your honeymoon!” Piper complained as they came toward the bed with flowers and bags in their hands.

“Like I would leave without seeing you first!” Audrey said with a wave of her hand. “Oh my goodness, he is perfect!”

Piper nodded as she smiled proudly up at her girls. “He is.”

“I went to your house and got everything you needed. Erik didn’t want to leave y’all,” Elli said, placing the things on the chair before coming toward the bed.

“Oh my stars, look at him,” she gushed as she grinned back at Piper. “Gorgeous, just like his daddy, but he’s got your eyes.”

“You think?” Piper asked with a grin.

Everyone nodded as Elli said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if they turn blue. My goodness, he is beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Piper gushed as she looked around the room for Erik. She was going to ask if he thought Dimitri had her eyes, but he was gone.

Where’d he go?

* * *

Erik was on cloud nine, but he was sick and tired of people interrupting his time with Piper. He knew it was expected with the new addition to the family, so he tried not to be that mad, especially knowing that he and Piper had the rest of their lives together.

Or at least he hoped they did.

Coming out of the room, Erik found himself almost running right into Shea. Looking up at his captain, he smiled before asking, “Did you get that for me?”

Shea nodded. “Yeah, Elli got pissed because she didn’t want to stop by the store, but I explained that you didn’t have time to get it.”

Erik smiled as Shea handed him a bag that held something for Piper. “Thank you.”

“No problem; make sure you consider what we discussed, okay? Elli will need to know and I think you’d make a great alternate captain,” Shea said before reaching for the door to Piper’s room.

“Thanks, Shea. I’m thinking yes, but I’ll talk it over with Piper first.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” She said. “I’m going to go check this kid out, and hopefully he’ll be my right winger for the next generation of Assassins.”

Erik laughed as Shea disappeared into the room. With Piper’s gift in his pocket, he looked to the left to see his father standing with Blake. Just the man I was looking for, he thought as he made a beeline. Blake looked up and smiled as Erik approached.

“Gorgeous boy, Erik. He’s perfect,” Blake said as he grinned at Erik. Blake and Erik had always gotten along but he still felt there was tension between them. He figured there was a lot of reason for that and he was ready to take the steps to make things good between them, because he wasn’t going anywhere.

“We are so proud of you two,” Cooper said.

“We really are,” Blake said, squeezing Erik’s shoulder.

“Thank you, but I need to ask you something,” Erik said to Blake.

His eyebrows came together as he nodded. “Sure.”

“My father always taught me that when you meet that girl, the one that would make it hard for you to breathe, you should marry her but not to forget to ask her father first.”

Blake looked confused but nodded. “That’s good advice.”

“It is, but I didn’t do it,” Erik said, his eyes never leaving Blake’s. “And I know that bothers you.”

Blake nodded. “It did, but it’s no big deal now, son. You are family now, and also a good man for my amazing daughter.”

“I am becoming one and that is because of your daughter, but I wasn’t before. I’m ready to make things right, Blake, and first I want to ask you if I can have your blessing to marry Piper.” Erik paused and swallowed loudly. Cooper stood by, a small smile pulling at his lips as Erik went on. “I want to marry her. I can’t promise that I’ll be the best husband. I might do something to make her cry, or I might not say the right things or tell her everything I’m thinking. But I’ll love her, I’ll wipe her tears, and I’ll apologize when I say those things I shouldn’t. I’ll love her until my last breath, and I’ll make her happy. Or at least I’ll try.” Erik’s hand moved to the pocket that held his gift for Piper. “I just want to love her for the rest of my life. I want to be the father I’ve been raised to be, and I want to be the husband your daughter deserves. I just want your blessing to do that.”