Picture Perfect?

DEVLIN'S POV :

I'm scrambling around doing last - minute organizing , since Ash will be here in less than 30 minutes , along with the rest of the band , and the girls . Today is his 34th birthday , and they're taking a couple of days off , and coming here for his birthday party . Unfortunately neither my folks or any of his relatives were able to come out here , but everyone has sent gifts , and they're all stacked up in a corner of the dining room . Actually , the only ones that aren't there are whatever the guys have gotten him , and my gift , since it's too big to fit with the others .
I've been working on it since a couple of days after he went back on tour earlier this month , and just got it finished yesterday . Honestly , as glad as I'll be to see him , I'm glad he didn't get back earlier , because there's no way I could've kept him from finding it , and spoiling the surprise .
As I look around to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be , I hear footsteps coming up the front steps , and the dogs start yapping hysterically . Tinsel looks up to see what's going on , then decides she's not interested and goes back to dangling limply over the back of the couch , like an old fur stole .
"Hey , there , guys ! I'm glad to see you , too , now let us get inside !" , I hear Ash telling the dogs , as he and the others step into the entryway .
I walk across the room , meeting him halfway , and he flings his arms around me and picks me up off the floor , kissing me passionately as the dogs continue to take laps around his feet .
When he comes up for air , he looks down and chuckles , saying , "Sorry , guys , but you'll have to wait your turn , she comes first now ."
He finally puts me down , and gives Killer and Tokyo some attention as I greet everyone else . We catch up on what's been going on since we saw each other at Christmas , and I introduce Tinsel to everyone . She's pretty social to everyone , but she seems to have a particular liking for Jinxx , insisting on sitting in his lap .
A few minutes later , the doorbell rings , and when Ash goes to answer it , Jazy , Markie , and Jeff are there . They wish him happy birthday , then come in to join us . I've set things up so that everyone can help themselves to whatever they want to drink , so nobody has to be stuck playing bartender instead of enjoying themselves .
We all just hang out for awhile , talking and having a good time , and finally I ask for some of the girls to help me with the cake . They all troop into the kitchen with me , gathering plates , napkins , and silverware , while I light the candles , then Jazy helps me carry it out to the table .
I've gotten him a cake that has been made in the shape of a pair of cowboy boots , with one boot being chocolate cake , and the other vanilla , so everybody has a choice . After we sing Happy Birthday , and he blows out the candles , I cut the cake , and Jazy , Markie , and Tiff help me plate it up and hand it out . It's pretty good , but everyone agrees with Ash when he comments that Tony would have done better .
After cake , it's time for him to open presents . We start with the ones from the family , and make a list of everything , so he knows who to thank for what . Then everybody else takes turns giving him their gifts , and everyone gets a big laugh out of the matching cowboy hats that Jeff got for both Ash and I to wear , since for some reason , I never seem to look quite right in one , and everyone knows it .
After the entire pile has been unwrapped , Andy says , "Looks like the only one left is you , Dev ."
"Yeah , I actually have two ." , I say , handing him a small box . "Here's the first one ."
He opens it , and takes out a wide silver chain bracelet , with a silver rectangle in the center , engraved with an infinity symbol , with both of our initials inside of the loops , and our anniversary date . "Just to remind you that my love has no end ." , I tell him as I fasten it around his wrist .
"Thank you , darlin' ." , he says , "You know that goes both ways ."
I kiss him , and say , "As for your other gift , it was too big to put with the others , so you'll have to find it ."
"So I'm going on a scavenger hunt , huh ?"
"Yep , that pretty much covers it ."

ASHLEY'S POV :

"Alright , then , if I have to look for it , do I at least get a clue ?" , I ask .
"Yeah , I'll actually give you two ." , she says , grinning at me . "It's bigger than an amplifier , and it's water - related ."
"So actually , you gave him two clues and a tell ." , CC comments .
"How's that ?", she inquires .
" Well , if it's bigger than an amp , it's obviously not in here , the living room , or the bathroom , or somebody would've already found it ."
She nods , acknowledging his point , so I immediately dash out to my home studio , and look inside . Nope , nothing different here , so I go back into the house , and start looking around , while Dev just stands leaning against the fireplace , smirking at me .
As I start heading down the hall toward the bedrooms , I hear Juliet ask , "So how long have you had this up your sleeve , anyway ?"
"Truthfully , it's been in the works since I was on tour with y'all , but I just got the details done yesterday ." , Dev responds .
"How did you manage to keep anybody from figuring out what you were doing , on that cramped - up bus ?" , Markie asks .
"What can I say , I'm just that good !"
I keep opening doors , expecting to find a new surfboard or something , 'cause I can't think of what else it could be . I'm reasonably certain that she wouldn't bring a Jet - Ski or anything like that into the house .
I look into our bedroom , and I don't see anything like what I'm looking for , but something is definitely different . For some reason , since I left after New Years , she's had a door put in connecting our room to the next one , so I open it and walk through .
I feel the wall next to the door , feel a light switch , and flip it on . When the light comes on , I see that she's had one of the pictures that she took on our honeymoon , a picture of a coral reef and some colorful fish , blown up to mural size . OK , I guess this could be considered "water - related"
As I look around the room , and see everything that's been done to it , I suddenly realize exactly what I'm looking at , and my heart nearly stops . This is un - fucking - believable !

DEVLIN'S POV :

As we all wait in the dining room , everyone suddenly hears what sounds like an Indian war- cry coming from the end of the hall .
"Well , either he REALLY likes his present , or it just scared the shit out of him !" , Jake says jokingly .
As the words leave his mouth , we hear Ash running full speed back in our direction , and as he comes through the living room , back into the dining room, he slides the rest of the way across the floor tiles , putting out his hand to stop himself as he skids to a screeching halt in front of me .
"Seriously ?" , he asks , looking at me with wide eyes . " I mean , SERIOUSLY seriously ?"
I can't keep from laughing at his disbelieving expression as I say , "Honestly , babe , do you REALLY think I'd do all that work just to prank you ? To answer your question , yes , seriously !"
"BEST BIRTHDAY EVER !" , he bellows , as he grabs me and twirls me around .
"Jeez , what the hell did you get him , fuckin' Seaworld ?" , Andy inquires .
Before I can say anything , Ash says , "Why don't you all go look for yourself ? It's the next - to - last door on the right . And it's fucking AWESOME !"
As everyone starts trooping down the hall , Ash looks at me , gives me a huge smile , and says , "Thank you so much , darlin' . This is just ..... Thank you !"
I start laughing again , and say , "Why are you thanking me , Ash ? This is just as much your doing as mine , I don't get this way by myself , y'know .
All of a sudden , we hear an uproar from the end of the hall , and everyone comes charging back to me and Ash , practically smothering us with hugs .
" That is so cute !" , Inna exclaims , "Whenever Jake and I decide to have a baby , I want you to help me with the nursery !"
"Ditto !" , Juliet chimes in . "That is awesome !"
"Thanks , but I'm not sure Andy would recover if we did something that wasn't Batman related !" , I tease , and he sticks his tongue out at me .
"Don't worry , Dev , I fully intend to make sure my little niece or nephew is inducted into the Cult of the Bat as early as possible !" , he informs me .
"Oh , great !" , Ash groans . "There's something to look forward to !" , which causes Andy to adopt an offended expression , and everybody cracks up .
Everybody hangs out for another couple of hours , and then start dispersing for their respective homes , or hotels . After they've all gone , we Skype both of our families to give them the news , which of course gets a very enthusiastic reception from everyone . My folks are already making plans to take time off to be here the beginning of August , for the arrival of their first grandbaby , and possibly some of his family as well . We even carry the computer into the nursery so they can see it .
Three of the walls are painted sort of a blue- green color , to match the water in the mural on the fourth wall , which is a picture I took when we were scuba diving in the Bahamas . The furniture is white , with the curtains , chair cushions , and everything else in shades of blue , green , and purple , to carry on the water theme , along with several stuffed fish , turtles , and other creatures around the room .
After finishing up with the computer , we decide to take a bath before bed , and I end up sitting in the tub , between Ashley's legs , leaning back against his chest , as he entertains himself by rubbing my stomach with the bath scrunchie , and leaning over my shoulder to talk to it .
"Thank you ,Dev ." , he says again .
"Ash , like I said earlier , you're as much a part of this as I am ."
"Yeah , for now ! But you're the one that's gonna have to do the hard part !" , he murmurs into my neck .
"No , we both have to do the hard part ." , I inform him . " We have to help this little person learn who and what they want to be , and to be proud of whoever that is , along with making sure they learn how to be a decent , considerate , functional human being ."
"Damn , I don't know if I'm qualified for that !" , he says . "What if I suck at being a dad ? I don't want to screw the poor kid up !"
"You have never sucked at anything you've put your mind to , babe ." , I say . "You'll be great , because you WANT to be . I don't know any more about being a parent than you do , so we'll both just have to do our best , and make sure that he , or she , knows that they're loved , and that we'll do whatever we need to do to make sure that they're safe and happy ."
"Yeah , I think I can do that ." , he replies , relaxing a bit . "I just realized that I don't have any idea what to do with a baby , and I freaked out a little ."
"Join the club . I'm the first of my siblings to have a kid , so I never had nieces or nephews to practice on . So I guess we'll have to figure it out together ."
We get out of the tub , dry off , and head for bed . As I'm just about to drift off to sleep , I feel his hand gently rubbing my stomach , and I hear him whisper , "Hey in there , it's your dad . I just want you to know that I love you and your mommy more than anything else in the world , and I'm gonna try not to screw things up , but if I do , it's not because I'm not trying . I just don't know what I'm doing , but I'm gonna try really hard to figure it out before you get here . Goodnight , sprout , Daddy loves you ."
I kiss his neck , and he jerks a little and says , "I thought you were asleep ."
"Nope , I heard every word , and you don't have a thing in the world to worry about . You are going to be an amazing dad . Trust me , I can tell . I love you , Ash , goodnight . Happy Birthday !"
"You've got that right ! Best fucking birthday ever !"

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