The Former Marine

Chapter 35: Two Daddies

It was a quiet evening at Kylie's house, and Derek was sitting on the floor in the living room, playing with Stormi and Aire. The sun was streaming in through the window, illuminating the room with a soft light, creating a cozy atmosphere. Kylie watched the scene from the kitchen, smiling at how Derek got along so well with the children. He had a natural way with them, something she had always admired.

Stormi, with her five years of pure energy, was excited, building towers of building blocks with Derek's help. Aire, still only one, stood by, trying to imitate her sister's movements, laughing at anything that fell or was knocked over.

Derek, ever patient, helped Stormi stack the blocks higher, while making sure that Aire didn't miss out on the fun. He smiled at the excitement in Stormi's eyes and Aire's soft laughter.

"Look, Stormi, I think this is going to be the tallest tower ever," Derek said, picking up another block and placing it on top of the building they were building together.

Stormi laughed excitedly, jumping up and down with joy.

"It's going to be taller than me! Almost taller than you, Derek!"

Kylie, now with a cup of tea in her hands, walked into the room, watching the interaction closely. Seeing Derek with his children made her feel even more secure in their relationship. She knew they were building something special, not only for themselves, but for Stormi and Aire as well.

As they continued to play, Derek felt a small tug on his shirt. He looked down and saw Stormi looking at him with a curious look. She was thoughtful, as if something had been on her mind for a while, and now she wanted to talk.

"Derek…" she began, hesitating a little, looking down at her feet as she spoke. "Can I ask you something?"

Derek bent down to her level, placing a gentle hand on Stormi's shoulder.

"Sure, Stormi. You can ask me anything you want."

She stared at him for a few seconds, as if trying to find the right words. "

Do you think it would be a problem… if I called you daddy?"

Derek felt his heart warm at the question. He was silent for a moment, processing what that meant. Kylie, standing by the door, held her breath. She knew this was an important moment for Stormi, and she was waiting to see how Derek would handle it.

Stormi continued speaking, her voice soft and innocent.

"I know I have a daddy Travis, but… I think I could have two daddies. One is Travis and the other would be you, if that's okay…"

Derek looked at Kylie, who gave him an encouraging smile, and then turned his attention back to Stormi. He lowered himself even further, getting on his knees, and looked directly into the girl's eyes.

"Stormi," he began, his voice calm and caring. "I would be so honored to be called daddy by you. You know, having two daddies is something really special, because it means you have more people loving you and caring for you."

Stormi smiled broadly, clearly happy with Derek's answer. "So can I call you daddy, really?"

"Of course you can," he replied, smiling back. "And I'll always be here for you, Stormi, just like I am for your mommy and Aire."

Kylie, overcome with emotion, walked over and put a hand on Derek's shoulder, silently thanking him for how he was handling this. She knew that for Stormi, this decision was a big and emotionally important one.

Stormi threw herself into Derek's arms, giving him a tight hug.

"Thank you, daddy Derek," she said, her voice muffled against his chest.

Derek hugged her back, feeling the depth of the moment. For him, it wasn't just a word. Being called "daddy" by Stormi meant that he had truly become a vital part of her and Aire's lives.

Aire, who had been playing with some toys on the floor, noticed the commotion and approached Derek and Stormi. He mumbled something incomprehensible, but his little hands grabbed Derek's leg, trying to get his attention. Derek laughed softly and leaned over to pick Aire up.

"And this little guy here is part of my life too," Derek said, smiling at Aire, who was now sitting comfortably in his arms.

Kylie watched with an emotional smile. She had always known Derek was someone special, but seeing him build such a strong connection with his children made her realize how invested he was in their lives.

Stormi looked at her mother and then back at Derek.

"Mommy, are you happy with Daddy Derek too?"

Kylie knelt down next to Derek and Stormi, gently stroking her daughter's hair.

"So happy, Stormi. Daddy Derek is such an important part of our lives, and I'm so proud of you for wanting that too."

Stormi smiled from ear to ear, clearly pleased with her mother's answer. She then turned her attention back to the tower of blocks that they had built it together and, like all children, quickly changed the subject.

"Let's see if we can make this tower even bigger!" she said, running back to the blocks.

Derek laughed, gently placing Aire back on the floor so he could play too. He looked over at Kylie, who was now sitting next to him, and gave her a warm smile.

"You're raising amazing kids, you know that?" he said softly, running his hand through her hair.

Kylie smiled, leaning briefly on Derek's shoulder.

"We're raising amazing kids."

As the afternoon wore on and the games continued in the living room, Derek felt like he was slowly becoming more than just Kylie's boyfriend. He was truly becoming a father figure to Stormi and Aire, and that was something he had never imagined, but now meant the world to him.

Stormi, as she stacked another block, looked back and shouted excitedly, "Look, Daddy Derek! The tower is almost as big as Aire!"

Derek laughed, his heart filled with joy as he heard Stormi call him "daddy" for the first time. This was more than just a moment. It was the beginning of a new stage in their lives, a stage where he, Kylie, Stormi and Aire were, more and more, a true family.

Chapter 36: Sisterly Support

It was a sunny morning in Los Angeles, and Kylie was getting ready for brunch with her sisters at Kim's house. They met up often to discuss business, news, and, of course, their personal lives. Since she started dating Derek, Kylie noticed how these meetings had become lighter, without so many demands or questions. Her sisters were much more supportive now, and that made her happy.

Arriving at Kim's house, she was greeted with warm hugs from her sisters. Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Kendall were already sitting around the large kitchen table, with croissants, fresh fruit, and coffee being served.

"Kylie, you look radiant! Life with Derek is doing you so much good," Khloe commented with a smile, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

Kylie smiled shyly, sitting between Kendall and Kourtney.

"Thank you, Khlo. He's been amazing… Not just with me, but with Stormi and Aire too."

Kendall, always the closest to Kylie, looked at her younger sister with a loving look. "We can tell, Kyls. Derek is a special guy. I think we all see that. He has a strong presence, but he's super affectionate with you guys."

Kim, who was cutting some fruit, looked at Kylie and smiled.

"And how are the kids doing with all this? We know they love Derek, but I imagine there must have been some kind of transition, especially for Stormi."

Kylie took a deep breath. She knew it was the right time to tell her something she had been holding back for a few days.

"Actually… Stormi now calls Derek 'Daddy Derek.'"

There was a brief pause as her sisters processed the information. The looks of surprise quickly turned into smiles of happiness. Kim was the first to speak, with a warm smile.

"That's wonderful, Kylie! It shows how important he's been in your lives," Kim said, taking Kylie's hand across the table. "It's a big step, but from what I can tell, it's a natural fit for Stormi. She clearly sees Derek as a father figure."

Kendall, with a tearful look on her face, agreed.

"That's so sweet! I knew Stormi and Aire loved Derek, but I didn't expect her to call him daddy so soon. Have you talked to Derek about it?"

Kylie nodded.

"Yes, she brought it up. She asked me if she could call him that, and I said that if that's how she felt, I didn't see a problem. Derek was touched, even emotional. It was a really sweet moment."

Kourtney, always the practical and straightforward one, smiled sideways.

"That's a huge compliment to him. Stormi wouldn't do that if she didn't feel like he was there for her. Derek is clearly taking on an important role in his children's lives, and that's something that means a lot."

Khloe laughed, shaking her head.

"Oh, Kylie, you really found a rare guy. He's amazing with kids, and the way he treats you… Seriously, it makes me jealous! I'm sure Stormi and Aire are so happy to have him around."

Kylie smiled, feeling the genuine support from her sisters. It was comforting to know that they approved of Derek and recognized the role he played in her life and the lives of her children.

"Yeah, girls, I couldn't be happier," Kylie said, taking a sip of her coffee. "And honestly, seeing Stormi feel so comfortable with Derek, to the point where she wants to call him daddy, just shows how much he's there and how important he is to us."

Kendall, who had known Derek the longest, smiled broadly.

"I always knew he was a special guy. Ever since I started working out at his gym, I've seen how dedicated and responsible he is. He treats you and the kids with so much respect. You deserve it, Kyls."

Kim nodded, her tone soft and welcoming.

"Derek brings a calm, protective energy, which is exactly what you and the kids need. You're a great mom, Kylie, and having someone like him to support you only strengthens the family you're building."

Khloe, ever the jokester, winked.

"Besides, if he's willing to deal with the chaos of our family, then he's definitely a keeper. He survived dinner at Mom's, remember?"

Everyone laughed at the memory. The dinner where Derek was officially introduced to the family had been intense, as any Kardashian-Jenner event is. But he'd handled it well, keeping his cool and impressing everyone.

"Yeah," Kylie said, laughing along. "He really handled it all really well. And honestly, seeing how he's doing with the kids just makes me more confident that I picked the right person to be by my side."

Kourtney, always the reserved one, leaned forward and looked at Kylie with a genuine smile.

"You're doing what's right for you and your kids, Kylie. And Derek is a part of that in a very positive way. He's building something with you guys, and of course Stormi and Aire are happy. That's the most important thing."

Kylie felt the warmth of Sisters's words and was grateful to have such a close-knit and understanding family. She knew it wasn't always easy to introduce a new person into the children's lives, but Derek had adapted so well that it felt natural.

As brunch continued, the conversation turned to other topics, like business, upcoming projects, and the family's social life. But deep down, Kylie felt a sense of lightness. Knowing that her sisters supported her relationship and were happy for Stormi and Aire only made her feel even more secure in her decision.

Later, as they were saying their goodbyes, Kendall pulled Kylie aside while the other sisters chatted outside.

"Kyls, you're really happy, huh?" Kendall asked, looking her sister straight in the eye.

Kylie smiled, feeling confident.

"I am, Kendall. Very much. And I just have to thank you for introducing me to Derek's gym. Who knew it would lead to all this?"

Kendall giggled.

"Well, who would have thought my trainer would end up being Stormi's new daddy?"

The two laughed and hugged tightly.

"You deserve this happiness, Kyls," Kendall said, still hugging her sister. And I know Derek will continue to be amazing for you and the kids."

With a big smile and a full heart, Kylie left Kim's house feeling at peace. She knew she had the support of the most important people in her life, and with Derek by her side, she was ready for whatever the future brought.