Epilogue

First off wohoo another little fic finished and like all my other fics, I've really enjoyed writing this and I hope you guys will like the outcome.

Set a few months later from the previous chapter.

He hurriedly pulled into the driveway of a rather extravagantly decorated house, knowing that he was going to be in an enormous amount of trouble for arriving three hours late, even though he firmly promised her that he wouldn't be a minute over.

He just hoped the massive pile of gifts he had managed to fit into the back seat of the car, would considerably ease the sharp glare he predicted he would receive the moment he walked through the front door.

With some quiet manoeuvring and a frantic moment spent searching for his keys, he finally managed to get the garage door open, and once he was granted access to it's spacious depths with the exception of Kate's car, he quickly retrieved hold of the gifts, momentarily marvelling at the vast quantity but equally excited at what their reactions would be like tomorrow morning.

Twenty minutes later and all the gifts were placed within the garage and hidden in a spot he knew Aaron or Angie would ever think of looking. At almost two and a half years old she was becoming more and more like her Mother, and that included her ever growing curiosity of everything. A trait he hated and loved about Kate but he found himself frequently opting for the latter because he was too in love with her to find any thing that could falter his feelings at this point.

They were both past the phase of allowing the endless obstacles to prolong what their hearts had been yearning for ever since they unexpectedly met in a place they desperately longed to leave at first, but gradually the maturing bond between them somehow caused their minds to slightly change as a result. They were just too weary to express it at the time.

That wasn't the case now.

Six years later and that very bond which started out as a mutually trusted friendship, slowly strengthened and finally solidified itself into what they were now. Two people who were so in love with each other that nothing else mattered other than the culmination of what their love had unexpectedly brought forth. Two children and another two on the way.

After attempting to tip toe through the backdoor of the Garage leading into the laundry room of the house, he caught sight of Kate putting up the last of the decorations on the gigantic tree that he himself had a tough time getting into the House, but as always he wanted everything to be perfect and this year was pretty much the exception because the Doctors had told them that the Twins' due date could be any day now. They knew the odds of the Twins arriving on Christmas day itself was a pretty big gift to ask for in itself, but if there was one thing they learned it was that fate worked to your benefit when you least expected it to.

"Momma I wawwa put the Angwel on this ywear." He suddenly heard his two and a half year old daughter asking Kate while holding the precious ornament high up in the air. Almost like she just won it or something, and he couldn't help but chuckle and then suddenly frown upon the scene when he caught the distinct look of fatigue displayed over Kate's features when she turned her head to focus on Angie.

Without thinking as to what might happen he took a few long strides across the room and made his presence clearly known. Well technically Angie did with her squealing "Dadda you hwome", but still it failed to dismiss Jack's growing concern for the shocked yet equally tired woman who knew it was a tad risky to be unnecessarily exerting her body at this stage in the pregnancy, but she certainly wasn't one to just stay put and do nothing other than watch TV or go to the toilet practically every twenty minutes.

Plus Christmas was a time of year she cherished the most and it wasn't just because of Jack and the kids. Growing up in a house where there was constant conflict didn't leave much time for the good things to get a sense of precedence. Of course she was far too young at the time to even know of festivals such as Christmas, but still she sensed a growing void that didn't seem to fill itself. Instead it only grew deeper with each argument she was a scared and trembling witness to.

"You're home early." Kate commented and Jack momentarily prepared himself for what was bound to ensue. Though the glimmer of a smile threatening to make it's way onto her face allowed for a sigh of relief to then escape his lips. Right before it was temporarily sealed with hers. A loving exchange that was admittedly hard for them to initiate due to Kate's "Gynormous" belly as she constantly worded it. However Jack said she never looked more beautiful to him, and all she did in turn was chuckle and roll her eyes though still allowing her heart to naturally warm to his words.

"Yeah, just had to take care of a few things." He revealed with a flashing smile and then quickly busied himself with Angie in an effort to not give the brunette a chance to drill him for any more information because the last thing he wanted to do was ruin what he had planned this year. A surprise he had been preparing for the last few weeks though in real effect this was something he wanted to do for quite a while now.

He just felt that doing it on such an occasion would make it all the more special. He also knew that this time round he would go into this without questioning it later on much like he did the last time over something he now saw as nothing but petty.

"Momma hewlped me mwake it Dadda." Angie revealed with nothing but pride in her tone and demeanour and Jack smiled warmly while raising the little girl into his arms so that she could place the ornament on top of the tree.

It was certainly no surprise to him that he found Kate in a puddle of tears as a result of the scene, or so he assumed. So all he did in response was wrap his vacant arm around her, pulling her slightly trembling form into his embrace and allowing himself to participate in the precious moment.

"Where's Aaron?" Jack then asked while gently kissing the side of Kate's head and chuckling at Angie's "Eww grocie" before she removed herself from Jack's arms and scampered off into the living room to play, leaving Jack some alone time with Kate.

"He's…." Kate started out and before she could finish with telling him what had happened today, she was met with an almost changed and amazingly energetic Aaron literally lunging himself into Jack's open arms, almost in relief and she tried her hardest not to allow the slightest amount of jealousy to show within her watchful gaze.

"Daddy!!" Aaron excitedly stated while desperately burrowing himself further into Jack, and Kate then found herself faced with a puzzled look from Jack but he chose not to verbalise his concern just yet. Instead all he did was continue to hold the boy and then release him when he announced he wanted to go get something to eat.

"What was that about?"

"He's a little mad at me for not being allowed to put the star on this year." Kate admitted while trying her hardest to keep her emotions in check, but the very recollection of seeing that little face of anger and disappointment was enough for her.

"Now he hates me." She choked out before she broke down falling into Jack's arms. His voice attempting to sooth her with his words and by the end of it she was left feeling considerably better and a tad more confident about maybe facing Aaron once again.

The rest of the night had gone off fairly well with the exception of Aaron's weird behaviour not just towards Kate, but Angie as well. So later that night while they were settling in, Jack took the opportunity to have a little talk with him.

"So what did you do while I was gone?" he asked opting to not go straight into it because he didn't want to be shut out as well.

"I don't want to talk." Aaron more or less grumbled while bowing his head to hide something Jack guessed he didn't want him to see.

Was it anger? Jealousy?

Whatever it was he needed to know before it got out of hand.

"Aaron, look at me." He asked in a relatively firm manner, gaining the boy's attention somewhat.

"Clai…..Your Mom and I love you more than anything in this world and all we want is for you to be happy." He confessed in a gentle and comforting tone trying his best to convince the boy of what his heart truly felt. Even though it was hard for him to accept at first, but like Kate had told him it was the right thing to do and in trueness of it all he was the only living family link to Aaron.

"And more than anything we don't want you to ever feel like you don't matter because you do buddy."

"You're our son and you always will be." Jack finished feeling a hint of guilt for lying to him, but at the same time it felt good in the sense where he was finally accepting a life he sometimes had to pinch himself in order to believe that it was in fact real and happening to him.

"I know, but….." the little guy started out and then broke off to sniffle away his tears, and in an effort to hear him out Jack sat next to him on the bed.

"I said I hated her."

"But she knows you didn't mean it." Jack attempted to appease the boy and in response Aaron lifted his gaze showing nothing but regret within it.

"Really? You mean Mommy will forgive me after saying that?" he felt the need to innocently enquire and immediately got his answer the next minute.

"I already have." A trembling voice suddenly spoke from the doorway to the room and with that said she walked towards them only to be stopped halfway by a crying Aaron who threw himself into her arms, apologising over and over until Kate silenced him saying that it was okay and that everything would be alright.

Also taking note to tell him that he wasn't on Santa's naughty list cause of what he said.

"I love you swee'pea. I love you so much."

"Love you too Mommy."

Jack in the meantime gazed on at the scene with a swelling heart and the beeping of his watch firmly suggested one thing. It was midnight and little did he know that this would turn out to be the best Christmas ever, especially when Kate was then forced to pull away from Aaron, clutching the sides of her swollen stomach and complaining of getting stabbing pains around the area.

It was time. They were going to be parents again.

THE END