AN: Because of a guest review wanting more, I've decided to add on an epilogue. It's pure cheese and fluff, it doesn't add anything to the plot, but it's cute anyway. Hope this answers your questions, Anonymous Reviewer!

"This feels pretentious," JJ complained, gesturing widely with her paintbrush.

"Lots of famous painters did this," Emily countered, not looking up from her canvas so JJ couldn't see her rolling her eyes.

"Exactly," she said, "Pretentious."

The little family was seated along the banks of the Thames, painting the scenery before them. It had been Emily's idea. She wanted to expose the children to different kinds of art and expand their world beyond the walls of the tattoo parlour.

They'd moved to London the year following her return. They'd been considering buying a house, putting down roots, when Emily suggested the dramatic change of address. JJ, easily seeing that Emily was struggling to return to her old life, had readily agreed. She didn't care where they lived, so long as they were together. The two of them had opened a new parlour together – as equals this time, rather than master and apprentice – in the heart of London and were quickly becoming a local hot spot.

Emily looked up to give her a look like she was being ridiculous – a look she used all too often, now that Henry was five – causing JJ to burst out laughing. It was her turn to roll her eyes at Emily's 'mom face'.

"Let's take a trip," Emily said suddenly, apropos of nothing.

"What?" JJ asked, confused by the sudden change in subject.

"To Paris," she added.

"Why?" JJ marked her canvas with delicate brushstrokes, head quirked to the side, trying to capture the glint of the sun across the water.

"I think we could all use a little vacation before the baby comes." She bit down on the end of her paintbrush as she surveyed her painting. In her lap, Phoenix looked up at her and mirrored her actions.

JJ thoughtfully rubbed her rounded stomach. She was six months along with baby number three, but it looked like she could go into labour at any moment, given the size of her belly. She felt awkward and bulky and Emily took every opportunity to assure her that she'd never been more beautiful.

They'd both agreed that they wanted one more child – one that didn't come from a teenaged accident or a drunken mistake, but one created with love and intention. Derek had graciously agreed to be their sperm donor and, though Emily had very much wanted to carry a child, her injuries had made it impossible for that to ever happen, so JJ was once again carrying their baby.

"I have always wanted to see Paris," JJ admitted.

Emily grinned smugly, knowing she'd won her over. She went back to her canvas with a thoughtful expression. Phoenix again followed her movements.

"Henry, come help me paint," JJ called to her son who had gone off to throw rocks into the river because painting was 'boring' (he'd recently learned the word and now everything was boring, according to him). He came sprinting up, already covered in paint, jeans soaked up to the knees, their golden retriever chasing after him. JJ pressed a kiss to the top of his head as he attacked the canvas with renewed intensity.

The dog, whom Emily had christened Kilgore, had been a recent addition to their family, a gift for JJ's birthday, but he'd quickly become Henry's faithful companion. He followed the boy everywhere, including sleeping at the foot of his bed every night.

"Do you want to go to Paris?" Emily signed to Phoenix.

Phoenix had been given a cochlear implant to help him hear, but they'd made the decision to continue teaching him sign language as well so he could communicate with the deaf community. They'd found a deafness support group in their community that used American Sign Language and attended every week so that the boy had peers he could relate to.

Phoenix signed back, "Go with Mama?" He was very much Emily's little guy – from the first moment she held him, he loved her with his whole heart, unable to love her more if she'd been the one who'd birthed him.

She'd officially adopted the boys the previous year and JJ had given her a ring featuring the boys' birthstones as a gift. The boys had done their part by helping bake a cake with the word 'Mommy!' in icing on the top.

"Yeah, Buddy, Mama would come too."

"Okay." He went back to painting, not yet understanding what he'd agreed to. Emily just laughed and tickled his sides, producing peals of giggles from the child.

"Me too?" Henry asked.

"Of course, you too, Picasso." He grinned widely at the nickname; he was the budding artist of the family. "Paris is where Picasso and Monet lived," she said. "And we'll learn all about them at the Louvre. Won't that be fun?"

Henry nodded eagerly and gave an exclamatory jab of brush on canvas.

"And what about Mommy?" JJ asked, smirking.

"French wine, French patisseries, French kissing..." Emily listed, smiling mischievously. She leaned over to kiss JJ.

"Gross!" Henry interrupted loudly.

Emily just laughed and went back to her work.

"Can I see your painting yet?" JJ asked, craning her neck to try to sneak a peek. Emily had forbidden her from looking at the canvas she and Phoenix were studiously working on.

"Okay, Nicky, show Mommy our painting," Emily told the toddler who gave a dramatic flourish in the direction of their easel.

Instead of the landscape JJ was expecting, it was a blur of colours (courtesy of Phoenix) and the words 'Will you marry me?' She gasped, clapping a hand to her mouth.

Emily pulled a jeweller's box out of her pocket and opened it to show off an antique opal ring. "I figured since we've done things rather unconventionally, you'd like an unconventional ring..." she explained, talking to cover up the nerves fluttering in her throat.

JJ gave a little half laugh, half sob, nodding. "Of course, I'll marry you!"

A brilliant smile split Emily's face. She slipped the ring onto JJ's waiting finger, then leaned in for another kiss.

"Stop it!" Henry wailed.

Emily pulled him to her, covering his face with kisses until he starting squealing with laughter.

"Me too! Me too!" Phoenix signed, not wanting to be left out. Both women pressed kisses to his cheeks until he too was giggling uncontrollably.