Epilogue – It's Tradition

~A Year Later~

This is the first year that Becky hadn't been able to make it to the inn when the others gone. Unlike every other year, she had to stay at work until the day before Christmas Eve. It had been disappointing, but there was nothing she could do and she understood. So instead of going with the others, she would meet them there on Christmas Eve.

Over the last year, Becky's life had changed for the better. She'd gotten a promotion at work; one she hadn't been expecting. But that hadn't been the only change. It was her birthday when she received a call from a number she didn't recognize. Normally she wouldn't have answered it, but something told her to answer this one. She's glad she did. AJ had called, after begging Anna for her number, to wish her a happy birthday. She still isn't sure how he knew it was her birthday, but she doesn't care anymore.

Since that day, they have talked on a regular basis. Becky isn't sure what to consider their relationship, but she does know that despite not seeing each other since the previous Christmas there's something there. She'll be lucky enough to see him again soon.

As Becky walks up to the doors of the inn, she has to wonder if AJ and the boys are here yet. She walks inside, her smile widening at the sounds and smells all around her. She sets her bags down by the stairs before walking over to the desk. She rings the bell and waits for someone to come up.

"Hi there," Stephanie says with a bright smile. "We were wondering when you would get here."

"Got here as soon as I could," Becky replies. "I couldn't get out of work before yesterday."

"Promotions are great like that, right?"

"Oh yes." Becky smiles as she takes her key from Stephanie. "Thanks. Charlotte and Renee here?"

"I believe so. They said they wanted to wait for you before heading out today. Their normal rooms."

"Great. Thank you." She starts to walk away but stops and turns to Stephanie again. "What about your brother?"

Stephanie laughs softly. "AJ will be here this afternoon. He just called."

"Thanks." Becky is sure she's blushing, but she can't help it. She walks over and grabs her bags before walking upstairs. She smiles when she sees both Charlotte and Renee standing outside her door. "Hi, best friends."

"Hi back," Charlotte says. They follow Becky into the room. The moment she sets her bags down, they're hugging her. "You can never leave us like this again. Tradition isn't tradition without you."

Becky laughs. "Hopefully it'll be back next year."

"It better be."

Renee smiles. "We want to hear about this thing between you and AJ."

"Of course you do." Becky shrugs. "We're talking. I don't know what exactly it is, but it's going somewhere. Please don't make a big deal out of anything when he gets here. I don't know what he wants."

Charlotte nods. "We will try to behave."

"No promises," Renee says.

"You two have been with Roman and Dean too long." Becky smiles with a shake of her head. "Okay. Where to first? You have to catch me up around here."

"The tree, of course," Charlotte says.

They spend the rest of the morning walking around the town seeing all of the Christmas decorations. They spend a short time at the tree; with the agreement to come back tonight like they always do. It's midafternoon when they arrive back at the inn. Becky sees a family SUV now in the parking and can't help but smile; AJ's here.

"That smile must mean AJ's here," Renee says.

Becky blushes but nods. "Yeah." She follows Charlotte and Renee inside. Without even realizing she's doing it, she immediately looks around for AJ.

"Hi Becky!" Tucker exclaims as he runs over and hugs her.

Becky smiles as she returns the hug. "Hi there, Tucker." She watches as he looks up at her. "You've grown since last year. Pretty soon you'll be taller than me."

"You should see Casey."

"Yeah? Did he grow too?"

"Yes! Dad says he's gonna be as tall as him by Easter."

"Well, you never know." She smiles at him again.

"Tucker, don't talk her ear off," AJ says walking down the stairs.

Becky looks over at AJ and smiles. "Oh, he won't. I bet I'd talk his ear off before he'd talk mine off. What do you think, Tucker?"

"I think neither of us will do that." He shakes his head as he walks away. "Crazy Irishwoman."

AJ's eyes widen. "Tucker James!"

"What? That's what you call her."

"Tucker!" AJ sighs.

Becky laughs as she steps over to AJ. "Crazy Irishwoman, am I? You haven't seen nothing yet." She pushes him playfully.

AJ chuckles. "Well, I'm gonna have to say yeah, you're a crazy Irishwoman."

"So mean." She smiles as she pushes him again. "It's good to see you again."

"You too. Can I give you a hug now? Or are you planning on pushing me again?" He smiles when she lets him pull her into a hug.

"I can't believe how tall Tucker got."

"You should see the other two." AJ shakes his head. "They really need to stop growing." He looks over at the sounds of footsteps. "Speak of the devils."

"Oh my." As Tucker had stated, Casey has definitely grown. He's just about Becky's height now. "Casey, you'll wake up tomorrow taller than me."

"If you say so," Casey says with a slight eye roll.

"And Hunter…" She shakes her head. "Wow. I can only imagine how your Dad feels about seeing you three growing so quickly."

"So, Dad," Casey says with a smile. "Do we make you do it?"

Becky looks at AJ in time to see him frown. "What's he talking about?"

"No clue," AJ answers.

Casey rolls his eyes. "Look up."

Both AJ and Becky look up to see that they're standing under the mistletoe. Becky wrinkles her nose. She doesn't remember ever seeing that before; of course she never really paid attention.

"It's tradition," Charlotte says as she stands behind the boys.

AJ looks down at Becky and shrugs. "Who can buck tradition?" He leans down and kisses her softly.

Becky closes her eyes at the feel of AJ's lips on hers. She rests her hands on his upper arms even though she knows she should pull back. Instead, she doesn't want this moment to end. Apparently she isn't the only one that doesn't want it to end, because AJ is the one who deepens the kiss.

"Ewww… Dad…" Hunter groans.

AJ finally pulls back at that and clears his throat. "Um…" He looks at Becky and smiles. "Maybe we can make that a tradition."

The End