Chapter Seventy Six

I'm on the edge of glory, and I'm hanging on a moment of truth
I'm on the edge of glory, and I'm hanging on a moment with you
I'm on the edge with you.

Lady Gaga – Edge of Glory

It was seven o'clock in the evening and Don was enjoying a little one on one father, son time with the four month old infant kicking his tiny feet in the luke warm bath water. Don used his hand to splash the water lightly over his son's nude body as he garbled and waved his tiny fists contently in the small baby bath. His son's shocking flock of fine black hair seemed to run in the family, Don thought as Grace's intense grey eyes stared back at him. He had never thought they'd have another baby. They had decided after having Jenny that one was a handful enough. So much came with having a child, they were wonderful bundles of time and energy consuming joy.

And then his wife had discovered she was pregnant again with their baby boy due to the antibiotics she'd been taking to ward off a chest infection. They hadn't thought at the time, although Don thought they probably should have learned their lesson about their own fertility since their previous happy mistake the first time around. It had never crossed their minds.

Now he was bathing Patrick Nicholas Flack while Grace read a story book to their three year old daughter in the other room. He was surprised by how fast the time had gone by, it seemed like only yesterday he was bathing Jenny as a newborn in a similar bathtub. Things had changed so much in that time it was unbelievable. The two of them were owners of a lovely, spacious, three bedroomed house in Nassau county, with a garden that boasted a swing set for their daughter and eventually their son to play in.

Grace had taken the job as a Lecturer at the university, her classes were popular for the 'live' cases she required each student to undertake in a bid to put their skill sets to work. Not to mention the interesting guest speakers she had in order to aid the student learning and development within the field of Forensics.

In the past three years his own skills had been utilised and he had received a promotion to Lieutenant after solving several cold cases and apprehending a felon who had been at large in the community for over a decade. He missed the hustle and bustle of the NYPD, there was something to be said about working so tirelessly on a case that you put your heart and soul into it. Yet here he felt like he could see the difference he was making and that gave him a sense of achievement that rivalled no other. He would always be a cop, it was in his blood.

"Come on buddy, I know you love being a water baby but it's time to get you into a dry towel so you can get some sleep." Don told his son as he lifted the baby boy out of the baby bath and placed him on the warm, soft towel he had placed upon the floor.

With practised hands he wrapped the infant up in the towel and began to pat him dry with gentle motions. Patrick wriggled within the confines of the towel staring at the swinging silver sovereign of St Michael that had escaped the neckline of Don's wife beater.

Grace had returned it when she'd switched jobs. She'd silenced his protest with a soft lingering kiss upon his mouth after draping it around his neck, reminding him he was the one that needed it more now.

Patrick's small fists opened and closed as he groped for his father's necklace as it dangled just out of reach. They had played this game over the past few nights as Don dried his son and the baby never seemed to tire of it. He opened the towel briefly, fitting on the snug white diaper with care whilst Patrick remained distracted. It was so much easier to cloth the baby when he wasn't trying to constantly fight against it.

In the way that Jenny had been a happy, bouncing baby who loved the feel of various textures on her skin. Patrick was more the type that preferred to be naked, or Don assumed that considering he seemed to pee with excitement every time he felt the fresh air upon his skin. Don had taken to stripping off his button up shirt and simply attending to Patrick in his wife beater instead. The baby seemed to enjoy the contact more and burrowed closer whenever he was held close to his father's chest.

Thankfully Patrick was a heavier sleeper than Jenny had been. Don didn't know whether it was the lack of colic or just the fact their jobs were more routine now but there wasn't as much stress with the infant. However with the two kids together, that was a different story.

Grace had worked some wonders smoothing things over with Jenny. The entire way through her pregnancy their daughter had been mesmerized by her mother's growing stomach. Grace had engaged her in the pregnancy as much as she could. The two of them would spent their evenings reading from Jenny's favourite storybooks to the baby before bedtime. When the baby had started kicking Grace had placed their little girl's hand upon her swollen tummy and told her that this was the baby's way of trying to say 'hi' to its sister.

After the baby had been born, it had seemingly become a contest between the two to see who could get their attention first. During the first month they had divide and conquered, switching roles constantly in order to please both of their children until he'd done some reading up on the subject and relayed the information to Grace.

They had been working on getting the pair to bond over the past month by having Jenny kissing her brother good night and conducting one or two of the formula feeds under Grace's watchful eye. It seemed to be working, Jenny had taken to trying to give her brother several of her cuddly toys recently and once some of her crayons. Don had explained to his daughter that the baby was too young for crayons but he was sure Patrick appreciated the gesture.

It took him a few minutes to manoeuvre Patrick's tiny limbs in to the pastel green baby grow before he fastened the popper buttons. He picked up the baby boy and clasped him in a sitting position so Patrick's chest was pressing against his. He felt infant's minuscule hand patting against his heart before scrunching up the materiel of his wife beater in his small fist. Don's thumb smoothed over the back of his son's head as he planted a feather light kiss on the infant's temple, inhaling that baby sweet scent.

Everything Don Flack could have wanted was in this house and he thanked God everyday for these precious gifts.

Grace was barely awake when Don crawled into bed along side her. The baby monitor was already switched on and placed on her night stand so she could hear the even breathing of the baby. Listening to the soothing sounds of Don's voice as he talked to their baby had almost lulled her to sleep like it had on so many other nights. Grace propped her head up on the pillow as Don settled onto his back with a contented sigh.

Her delicate hand came to rest upon his firm stomach as she smoothed up and down the ridges of his muscular structure through his white wife beater. Don's large palm rubbed up and down her forearm, his thumb tracing up and down the soft skin of her underarm as he stared into her intense grey eyes.

He loved the way she looked at him, he could see the adoration and love shining in her gaze as he watched a slow smile curve across her lips. For Grace these past few years had been a blessing not only upon the two of them but on their friends and family as well.

Tomorrow was their day off and they were hosting a barbecue for their friends and family. Over the past few months there had been barely been any time for them to visit any of their friends in the City. Juggling Patrick and Jenny on top of their jobs was keeping the two of them very busy.

Adam had been over a few nights ago to play with his god daughter and to visit the new baby. He was a dab hand with children these days, Grace wondered whether him and Beth would be having their own babies any time soon. The two of them had been married over a year now and Grace had never seen Adam as happy as he was with Beth.

"What are you thinking about?" Don asked his wife, his fingers interlacing with hers.

Grace shifted closer so that her lithe, tired body snuggled in against his side. Her legs entwined with his as her head came to rest upon his shoulder. Her silky dark hair tickled his skin as he pressed a butterfly kiss to her forehead.

"You, me, the babies and how I wouldn't change this for the world." Grace murmured, guiding their interlocked hands upwards until their hands came to rest above his heart.

She could feel his steady heart beating underneath her fingertips as she closed her eyes seeking the strength and comfort of their connection underneath the surface. Don chuckled out loud as her head tilted upwards, her lips brushing across the curve of his jaw before she settled in the crook of his neck.

"No regrets?" Don murmured as his fingers combed through his wife's silky hair before Grace answered with an honesty that Don felt resounded deep within his soul.

"No regrets."

Hey guys! Welcome to the final chapter of 'Complicated'. It had been a wonderful journey for me and it has been amazing to meet you all and to read your reviews. So thank you very much for your support! By this point I thought Don and Grace deserved a happy ending, and what a song to end it with!

I've already started doing a one shot or two based on this story. I'll post the first one in two days. The story will be called 'The Missing Pieces'. It will include a few scenes that didn't make it into the story, alternative ideas and little bits and pieces like that!

A special round of applause goes to Nat and Sch for all their continued support! There wouldn't be a story without the two of you!

Again thank you all for your continued support and I'm sure I'll be seeing you all soon!

Pheo: I always think Mac is kinda like a stand in mentor for Don. Like he's the prime example of being the best that he can be. Part of being a grown up is knowing when to stop me thinks. Thankies for your review!

Yaba: I completely feel like I am losing a set of friends by ending this story because you live your chars lives through them, suffer and share their triumphs. They have had such a wonderful progressive journey I'm just glad their happy at the end of it. Thank you very much for your detailed reviews and your considerable support, it really means the world to me.

Lov: Apparently we will find out on the 18th but I am keeping an eye out in case any news slips the net. I could imagine them photographing Jenny's mile stones in detail! The last 3 eps of the season have been wonderful and it;s in a good place to end if they do cut it!

Sch: What can I say, it's been an amazing journey and I am so sad to say goodbye but as you said end it on a high and all that. I think part of being a grown up is putting your responsibility first and making peace with that decision. It's not easy but I think it's time to get out when they can. Esp after that line about how much of your life span being a cop knocks off. You have Don's needs down to a T, he wanted Mac's understanding of the situation. It's always lovely to have someone backing you up when your in a wavering period like that. Thank you so much for your encouragement and support during this story, by now you should be completely aware of how much I truly appreciate you!

Bel: I kept my mouth firmly shut about this being the last chapter until it was needed. I am going to miss this story too! I feel like I am waving bye to some friends in a way. Don;t worry they'll be a few one shots on the two of them, so maybe keep an eye out for those! Thank you very much for your review!

Ship: It is really sad! I am gonna miss the two of them! Lol Thank you so much for all of your support and keep an eye out for the one shots!

Sam: Thank you very much for your continued encouragement and I am really sad too! They have been amazing to write.

Buster: It's the way it has to be, I never saw an ending until ch75 would you believe and it clicked into place. I think the cost is well worth the price in this case. Thankies for the review.