Five Years Later
The backyard was alive with laughter and the squeals of delighted children. Balloons floated from trees, and colorful streamers danced in the breeze. A banner that read Happy 5th Birthday Robby! hung across the patio. The scent of chocolate cake and grilled cheese lingered in the air while miniature superheroes and fairies ran circles around the yard.
Inside the house, Riya moved through the kitchen with practiced ease, arranging cupcakes on a tray. A smudge of frosting streaked across her cheek, unnoticed. The chaos outside didn't faze her—this was the good kind of chaos. The kind she and Justin used to dream about when everything was uncertain.
As she leaned over to grab another tray of snacks, two strong arms wrapped around her waist.
"Caught you," Justin whispered, his lips brushing her ear.
Riya smiled and leaned into his chest. "Again? You're predictable."
He chuckled. "Only when it comes to you."
They swayed there for a few seconds in the quiet bubble of the kitchen, the sounds of Robby's party muffled by the walls.
"Five years," Justin murmured, tightening his hold on her. "Can you believe it? Our little boy's five."
Riya exhaled softly. "Some days it feels like he was just born… other days, like he's already fifteen and arguing with me about bedtime."
"He's got your attitude."
"And your stubbornness."
Justin grinned. "Dangerous combo. But adorable."
They both laughed, and Justin brushed the frosting from her cheek with his thumb. "You've got cake on your face, woman."
"Part of the job," she smirked. "He asked me yesterday where babies come from."
Justin froze. "Oh no. What did you say?"
Riya gave him a look. "I panicked. Told him Amazon delivers them."
Justin broke into a full laugh, his shoulders shaking. "That's going to backfire someday."
"Yeah," she muttered, turning back to the tray. "Probably when he tries to order a little sister with two-day shipping."
They laughed again, and the sound blended into the music and laughter outside. It felt easy, natural—a far cry from the chaos that once defined their lives.
Justin leaned down to kiss her cheek, then stole a cupcake off the tray. "You always did make the best frosting."
"I know," she said smugly.
He took a bite, watching her. "So... when are we having that second kid?"
Riya blinked at him. "Excuse me?"
"I mean," he said with a casual shrug, "Robby needs someone to boss around besides me."
She rolled her eyes. "Let's get through this party first, Mr. Planning-Ahead."
"Fair," he grinned, licking frosting off his finger.
A tiny crash from outside made them both look up.
"Uh oh," Riya muttered.
They rushed outside to find Robby standing proudly next to what used to be the cupcake tower, now a sweet, sticky disaster on the grass.
"I was just showing my friends how strong I am," he said innocently.
Justin sighed. "And now we know. Super strength runs in the family."
Riya tried not to laugh. "Happy birthday, Robby. You're cleaning that up."
As they watched their son dart off with a laugh, frosting smeared on his shirt and cake in his hair, Justin leaned over and whispered, "Okay, maybe Amazon can hold off on that delivery after all."
Riya elbowed him gently. "You think?"
Just then, Robby came barreling back, eyes wide with excitement. "Mom! Dad! There's a kitten stuck in the tree! Can I climb up and save it? Please?"
Justin and Riya exchanged a look.
"This is your fault," she said.
"How is this my fault?" Justin asked.
"You let him watch all those superhero movies!"
And as Robby ran off toward the tree like a caped crusader, Justin shouted, "Wait! At least wear shoes!"
Riya buried her face in her hands. "We're going to need more cupcakes... and maybe a ladder."
Justin groaned. "And maybe that second kid won't be as adventurous."
"Careful what you wish for," Riya said, eyeing him. "Because next time, it might be twins."
Justin froze, mid-step.
"Wait… what do you mean next time?" he asked slowly.
Riya smirked, grabbing a cupcake and walking past him. "Just saying. Two-day shipping is faster than you think."
Justin stared at the kitchen door where Riya had just vanished with a cupcake in hand, her final words echoing ominously in his ears.
"Two-day shipping is faster than you think…"
He blinked once. Then twice.
"What does that even mean?" he muttered, already moving after her, cupcake still half-eaten in his hand. "Riya?!"
Outside, the birthday chaos had resumed like nothing had happened. Robby was now halfway up the tree, a group of cheering kids chanting "Climb! Climb! Climb!" beneath him. Justin dashed across the grass, dodging balloons and plastic swords, scanning for Riya.
She was by the lemonade table, cool as ever, sipping from a cup with that knowing smirk she wore when she was three steps ahead of him.
"You can't just drop a bomb like that and walk away," he said, jogging over. "Twins?! Are you serious?"
"I never said I was serious," Riya said, casually adjusting the drink pitcher. "I said, 'just saying.'"
Justin leaned in closer. "Riya. You know I love surprises. But not the kind that show up in pairs and cry at 3 a.m."
She raised an eyebrow. "So you don't want another baby?"
"I didn't say that. I'm just saying if we're talking about twins, I need to start emotionally preparing now. Like with breathing exercises. And maybe therapy."
She laughed and handed him a slice of cake. "Relax, drama king. I'm not pregnant with twins .Yet."
He choked on the bite he'd just taken.
"YET?!"
Riya patted his back like he was a toddler. "Eat your cake, Justin. We'll talk about it later. After you get Robby down from that tree."
He glanced over. "Oh God, he's trying to help the kitten onto his shoulder. This is going to end with a tetanus shot."
Riya waved him off with a grin. "Superdad to the rescue."
As Justin sprinted toward the tree yelling, "Robby, don't give the kitten your cape!", Riya sat back in a patio chair, watching her two boys with a soft smile.
Life wasn't perfect. But it was perfectly theirs.
And maybe, just maybe… two-day shipping had one more surprise in store.
Later that night, after the party had settled into quiet memories and the last of the balloons had begun to wilt in the corner of the living room, the house finally found its calm. Robby had fallen asleep mid-sentence with frosting still on his cheek, snuggled between his superhero sheets with the toy kitten he'd "rescued" tucked under his arm.
Riya stood at the doorway to his room, watching him with a soft smile.
Behind her, Justin leaned against the wall, arms crossed, still wearing his "Birthday Dad" t-shirt. "You think the sugar crash hit him or he just used up all his superhero energy?"
"Both," Riya whispered, slowly pulling the door closed. She turned to him and smirked. "You're getting good at these parties."
Justin groaned. "I'm just glad nobody set the trampoline on fire this year."
They walked quietly back to the living room, stepping over scattered toys and party hats. Riya plopped down on the couch, sighing as she let her head fall back.
Justin joined her, stretching out and resting his head in her lap. "So… what was all that earlier? Two-day shipping, twins, mysterious cliffhanger comments. Should I be worried?"
She ran her fingers through his hair, biting her lip, suddenly serious. "Okay, so... don't freak out."
Justin sat up immediately. "Oh no."
Riya held up her hands. "I'm not saying anything for sure yet. But… I'm late."
His eyes widened. "Like... calendar late or fashionably late?"
"Calendar late. A week."
He blinked. "Have you taken a test?"
"Not yet," she said, shrugging. "I didn't want to until after today. It was Robby's day. But... I've been feeling off. Tired. Nauseous."
Justin stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like he was buffering. "So... there's a chance?"
"There's a possibility," she nodded, watching his reaction closely.
He leaned back slowly, then muttered, "Twins…"
Riya laughed softly. "I didn't say twins."
"But you didn't not say twins," he pointed out dramatically.
She reached over and smacked him with a throw pillow. "Would you stop? It might be nothing."
Justin exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Okay. I'm calm. I'm collected. I'm… low-key freaking out, but in a mature way."
"You'll be fine," Riya said, leaning into him. "You're already a great dad."
He turned to her, eyes searching. "How do you feel about it? If it's true?"
Riya paused, resting her head on his shoulder. "Honestly? I think… I'd be happy. Scared, but happy. Things are finally calm. Maybe it's the right time."
Justin smiled, kissing the top of her head. "Well then. We'll deal with whatever comes. Together."
There was a quiet beat between them before Justin added, "...But if it is twins, I'm getting a vasectomy."
Riya snorted, shoving him lightly. "You are so dramatic."
They both laughed, letting the moment stretch, tangled up in comfort and maybe—a little anticipation.
Outside, a breeze rustled the leftover decorations still clinging to the fence. Inside, in the glow of the living room, Riya and Justin sat together—ready, nervous, and full of love for the next chapter…
Whatever it might bring.
A week later, the family packed up and headed for Riya's mum and stepdad's farm, eager for a break from the hustle and bustle of their usual routine. The drive was long, but it felt familiar, comforting. Robby was in the backseat, happily absorbed in his tablet game, while Riya and Justin enjoyed the peace of the road, their conversation light and easy.
Riya, however, couldn't help but steal glances at Justin every now and then, still a little overwhelmed by the pregnancy test result she'd taken that morning. The truth was finally sinking in—they were going to have another baby.
"Are you sure?" Justin asked again, his voice soft as he kept his eyes on the road.
Riya nodded, her hand resting on her stomach. "Yeah, I'm sure. Two lines, like it's supposed to be."
Justin smiled, a nervous but excited grin spreading across his face. "I guess we're doing this again, huh?"
Riya chuckled lightly. "I think so. I wasn't sure what to think at first, but now I'm just—well, I'm happy. A little shocked, but happy."
Justin reached over and squeezed her hand. "We've got this. We'll figure it out, just like we did last time."
---
Arriving at the farm, the familiar sights and smells instantly brought a sense of calm. The large farmhouse, the sprawling fields, and the animals—everything felt like a reset button for their busy lives. Robby practically leapt from the car the moment it stopped, rushing off to greet his grandparents.
Riya and Justin exchanged a look, the quiet peace of the farm washing over them. They followed Robby to the porch, where Riya's mom and stepdad were waiting with open arms.
"So, what's the big news?" Sarah asked with a smile, noticing the odd combination of excitement and apprehension on their faces.
Riya exchanged a glance with Justin, then nodded. "Well, we've been holding onto a little secret. Justin and I are going to have another baby."
Sarah's eyes widened with joy. "Another one? Oh my goodness, that's wonderful! Robby's going to be the best big brother."
Riya smiled, a weight lifting off her shoulders. "I hope so. It's still a little surreal, though."
Justin chimed in, "Yeah, we weren't sure when would be the right time, but here we are."
"Well, you're in the right place," Sarah said, pulling Riya into a tight hug. "This farm is filled with love, and we'll all be here to help."
---
After dinner, the family gathered outside to enjoy the evening air. Robby was chasing fireflies with his stepdad, and the sound of crickets filled the quiet night. Riya and Justin sat on the porch, enjoying the serenity of the farm.
Riya leaned against Justin, her head resting on his shoulder. "I'm glad we came here. It's nice to get away from everything."
Justin nodded, taking in the sight of the expansive fields. "I know. It feels like everything slows down here. It's good for us."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, before Robby came running up to them, his face flushed with excitement. "Mom! Dad! I found something! You've got to see it!"
Riya raised an eyebrow. "What did you find now?"
Robby's eyes were wide, and he looked like he was barely able to contain his excitement. "There's a chicken chasing me!"
"A chicken?" Justin asked, his voice full of confusion. "What do you mean?"
Robby pointed toward the far side of the yard, where a small figure was indeed running toward them at an impressive speed. At first, it looked like just another chicken, but then, Riya's heart skipped a beat when she saw the familiar markings on the bird's feathers.
"That's not just any chicken," Riya said slowly. "That's Donna's chick."
Justin looked from the chicken to Riya, his eyes widening. "Wait a minute... that's Donna's baby? From last year?"
"Yeah," Riya said, still amazed. "I didn't realize how big she'd gotten. That's Donna's chick, all grown up."
The chicken, now an adult, was waddling toward them with a sense of purpose, her beady eyes locked on Justin's ankle. Robby stood back, giggling uncontrollably as he watched.
"Is she angry?" Justin asked, raising his foot slightly, ready to avoid any potential pecking.
Riya laughed, shaking her head. "No, she's not angry. But it looks like she remembers you."
Just then, the grown-up chick, now a much larger bird, strutted right up to Justin's feet and gave him a peck on the ankle.
"Ow! What the—?" Justin jumped back, almost knocking over a potted plant.
Riya burst into laughter, her hands on her knees as she doubled over. "It looks like she's got a little vengeance in her. Remember when you used to chase her off last year?"
Justin rubbed his sore ankle, a bemused grin on his face. "I didn't think she'd remember that. It's a chicken for crying out loud!"
But the bird wasn't done. She strutted around Justin's feet, making little pecking motions as if she were a proud mother with something to prove.
Riya leaned against the porch railing, still laughing. "I think she's found her target."
"Oh, she's definitely targeting me!" Justin groaned, stepping backward as Donna's chick followed, her eyes narrowed in determination.
"Guess you're not her favorite person anymore, huh?" Riya teased, still chuckling.
"Not anymore!" Justin replied, his voice a little frantic as he sidestepped, trying to avoid the relentless pecking. "I'm going inside. I've had enough of this bird!"
As Justin started retreating toward the house, Robby's voice rang out. "Mom, Dad! She's following you! She's coming to get you!"
Justin looked back, horrified, and saw the chicken waddling after him with surprising speed. "Seriously?!"
Riya couldn't stop laughing now, her sides aching. "Looks like you've got a new friend, babe."
"Great," Justin muttered as he opened the door, hurriedly stepping inside. "I'm taking refuge indoors."
Riya, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, turned to Robby. "Well, at least she's got good taste in who to chase."
Robby grinned. "Donna's chick is so much faster than her mom."
As Justin disappeared inside the house, Riya's laughter died down. She looked over at Robby, her face breaking into a grin as she watched the chicken stand proudly on the porch, seemingly victorious.
"You think that's it?" she asked, still amused.
But before they could speak another word, the chicken strutted up to the porch, stopped, and pecked one more time—this time at Riya's shoe.
"Okay, that's it," she said, raising her hands in surrender. "I give up. She's got us both."
Robby laughed, his face lit up with pure joy. "I think she likes you now, Mom!"
Riya sighed, shaking her head. "Well, if she's going to stick around, maybe I'll have to get her a little chicken-sized chair for the porch."
And as the sun set behind them, the family found themselves in a moment of complete, chaotic contentment, with the little bird who had grown up and become an unexpected part of their family's life once again. Life was never boring with Donna's chick in the picture—and that was just how they liked it.
As the last rays of the sun dipped behind the hills, casting a warm, golden glow over the farm, Michael's voice called from the porch, breaking the peaceful chaos that had settled in the yard.
"Dinner's ready!" he called, his deep voice carrying through the evening air.
Riya straightened up, wiping the last of her laughter from her face as she glanced over at Robby. "Guess it's time to go eat," she said, still chuckling softly. "Come on, let's get inside."
Robby gave the chicken one last amused glance, then turned and bounded toward the door, practically skipping. "I'm starving!" he announced, his small feet thudding on the wooden steps as he hurried inside.
Riya and Justin followed, though Justin shot one last wary glance at Donna's chick, who had taken up a proud stance near the porch steps, as if guarding the territory. He sighed and shook his head with a smile, heading inside.
Once inside, the warmth of the farmhouse enveloped them. The comforting smells of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and vegetables filled the air, making Riya's stomach rumble. The dining table was set with all the familiar plates, and Michael was already sitting at the head of the table, offering a wide grin.
"Everything's on the table, folks," Michael said, motioning for everyone to sit. "Hope you're all ready for a good, hearty meal."
The family gathered around, Robby immediately plopping down in his seat and reaching for the bread basket, while Riya and Justin settled next to each other. Sarah, ever the perfect hostess, placed a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes in front of Riya.
"Everything looks amazing," Riya said, her eyes scanning the spread. "Thanks for putting this all together, Mom."
Sarah smiled warmly, patting Riya's hand. "It's nothing. We're just happy to have you here."
As the conversation flowed easily around the table, the quiet clinking of silverware filled the space between bursts of laughter and chatter. Robby eagerly told everyone about the fireflies he'd been chasing earlier, and Michael and Sarah exchanged amused looks as Robby described the chicken chase that had transpired outside.
"So, Robby," Michael asked, his tone playful. "How did it feel to be outrun by a chicken?"
Robby giggled, his eyes sparkling. "It was so fast, Grandpa! You should've seen it. Mom and Dad were running from it like they were scared."
Justin chuckled, giving Riya a side glance. "You know, I'm starting to think I'll need to invest in some chicken repellent for the farm."
Riya laughed, nudging him. "Oh please, she's harmless. Just a little... persistent."
The family carried on with the meal, Robby sharing more wild tales of the day, Sarah happily sharing her latest garden tips, and Michael cracking jokes about his younger years.
But just as they were finishing dessert—homemade apple pie with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream—Robby suddenly jumped up from the table, his eyes wide with alarm.
"Mom! Dad! The chicken's back!"
Everyone froze. Robby's announcement was followed by a faint tapping noise from the door, like the gentle pecking of a beak.
Justin let out a groan. "Are you kidding me?"
Sure enough, as if summoned by Robby's words, Donna's chick strutted proudly into the dining room, her eyes locked on Justin's feet once again.
"Oh no," Justin muttered, pushing his chair back.
Riya couldn't help it—she burst into laughter. "You seriously can't get away from her, can you?"
"I think she's got it out for me!" Justin exclaimed, backing away from the table, but the chicken followed, her beak tapping rhythmically against the floor with every step.
Michael, clearly amused, raised an eyebrow. "You know, Justin, she's just trying to be part of the family."
"Well, she's doing a great job of it," Justin said, his voice a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Maybe we should just put a leash on her."
Robby, standing in the doorway, was giggling uncontrollably. "Mom! Dad! She wants to eat your food!" he shouted, pointing at the chicken as it got closer to Justin's plate.
Riya wiped her eyes, still laughing. "At least she has good taste."
Justin made a quick dash for the kitchen, but as he tried to escape, Donna's chick made a beeline for his unattended plate, pecking at his leftover pie.
"You're kidding," Justin said, turning back to face the rest of the family. "She's eating my pie now?"
Sarah, holding her stomach from laughing, said, "Well, it was getting a little cold. She's just helping you out."
"Oh, right," Justin replied, looking at the chicken as it proudly stood over his dessert. "Thanks, Donna's chick, I'll just go without dessert, then."
The rest of the family was in fits of laughter as Justin stood defeated, watching his pie disappear bite by bite.
"Guess she's the true dessert lover around here," Riya teased, trying to catch her breath.
Justin threw his hands up in mock surrender. "I give up. She wins."
Robby leaned over and whispered to Riya, "I think the chicken's taking over the farm."
Riya shook her head with a grin. "At this rate, it looks like it's Donna's chick's farm now."
"Well one thing's certain, it's like this farm will forever be dominated by chickens"
Justin added which earned a laugh from Micheal.
As the laughter from the dining room began to settle, Justin and Riya found themselves standing on the porch once again, watching the last remnants of daylight fade behind the hills. The sounds of the farm—distant calls of animals, the rustle of leaves in the breeze—washed over them in peaceful waves. Riya leaned her head against Justin's shoulder, feeling the weight of the years they'd lived through together, the highs and the lows. "It's funny," she murmured, "how we thought life was complicated back then, when really, it was all about moments like this. All the chaos, the uncertainty—it brought us here." Justin smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Yeah," he agreed, "here with you, Robby, and the chickens. Couldn't ask for more." They stood there, hand in hand, knowing that no matter what came next, they were ready to face it—together.
He looked down at her with a smile.
He felt like the luckiest man on earth.
She glanced up at him and he kissed her.
The kiss held hope, trust, love and a promise.