Happy 2010 guys!!
Epilogue: THE BEGINNING
"Adam Christian Shepherd."
A week old now and he was already keeping them on their feet. A trait Jack jokingly said he inherited from his equally jumpy Mother, but after being threatened with diaper duty for the next 3 months, he never joked about it again.
Both Emily and Phoebe had already taken to Adam amazingly well. Phoebe especially who was surprisingly ecstatic that she shared her Birthday, to the hour, with her baby Brother. Both Jack and Kate secretly feared that such an accurate coincidence would rouse unease and jealousy, but thankfully Phoebe only saw the positive side to it.
That positive side being an even bigger "Birth-mas" cake.
Since Christmas, AKA Birth-mas day for Phoebe, was spent cooing and awing over the newest addition to their family, a proper celebration was due. New Years Eve being the perfect opportunity for that and Jack was more than willing to go all out to make this event historically commemorative.
The family vote, including an affirmative gurgle from Adam, was to have the party at the Restaurant. Seeing it as the most plausible and money saving option as Kate pointed out, despite Jack assuring her that it wasn't an issue.
So with that set, all that was needed now was a guest list. Jack's Parents had called a few days ago, much to Kate's fear, and with receiving the news of their Grandson, they immediately proposed a visit.
Though expectedly nervous, taking her last meeting with them into account, Kate tried her level best to stay calm and hopeful in terms of them possibly forgiving her too.
She knew she had no right to ask for it, cause the position she put their son in as a result of Todd's death was unforgivable. To a certain extent she found it hard to forgive herself for having involved Jack in the first place.
Never the less that was then and this was now. Dwelling any further in the past would only discredit everything she'd done to help him get over what he originally felt he was at the time, a Criminal. Despite the Police declaring that it was an act of self defence against a severely mentally troubled individual.
However Jack's conscience failed to accept that and to this day the very mention of Todd's name, which was exceedingly rare, still sent a wave of guilt through Jack.
-----
His Parents had planned to come on New Years Eve, which was tomorrow and with that knowledge affirmed, Kate grew all the more nervous. More so when Jack then naturally added them to the guest list, but in an effort to not cause any unnecessary misunderstandings, she supported it, once again with a hopeful heart.
However Jack knew her a lot better than she let on, and all he did in return was take her into his arms and assure her that everything would be okay. Him having to repeat it with a comforting smile when the worry was still evident within her gaze.
The tendency came as no surprise to him cause she always worried, most times unnecessarily, but in the end he put it down to an instinctual habit she may have developed after enduring what she had in her past. Although that's what it was now, the past, and he hoped she'd perhaps let it go and embrace the present instead, starting with their new baby.
A weak smile was all she could offer for his efforts, right before Adam's wails on the baby monitor demanded her attention.
As he watched her walk away, he sighed, slightly un-eased himself as to what tomorrow would bring. The last thing he wanted was an argument, much less in front of the kids and on New Years Eve. So he hoped. Hoped that whatever animosity his Parents still shared with Kate was no longer existent.
He didn't want to be forced to choose.
-----
Later that evening Matt brought Emily and Phoebe home from shopping. His back nearly giving out at the amount of things they bought for the party.
"Can we show Mommy Kate and Daddy what we bought Uncle Matt?!" Phoebe excitedly asked, but before Matt could rustle up an excuse, Emily caught on and chipped in with proposing to get started on the triple choc delight cookies Phoebe had been going on and on about today. The very mention of the word "chocolate" won Phoebe over considerably so she agreed.
Smiling at the way Emily had already eased into the role of "big Sister" Matt then went to investigate Jack and Kate's whereabouts. His search ending at the jarred door to their bedroom where both Jack and Kate were fast asleep with a bewildered Adam, Matt noticed upon approach, nestled safely in between them.
Not wanting Adam to disturb his clearly exhausted Parents, Matt leaned down to pick him up. Thankfully rousing no fuss in the process, he quietly left the room and trudged on downstairs. Then, much to his surprise, welcomed with a light knocking on the front door once he stepped off the last stair.
Carefully shuffling Adam to free his right hand, he answered it and was more confused than anything.
"Mom? Dad?"
"Hi honey, we…..Oh my…." the elderly woman started, but broke off midway upon seeing the baby in Matt's arms. Her emotions replacing her speech from that point onward, leading for the man standing next to her to take cue and explain why they were here a day early.
"What your Mom was trying to say is that she couldn't wait to see the little guy you're holding."
Chuckling at his Mother's anxiousness, he quickly ushered them into the house. Matt wordlessly offering to help them with their bags, while Sandra kept herself busy with cooing over little Adam. Also checking to see how Phoebe and Emily were doing in the kitchen.
As always Emily grew uncomfortable in front of Sandra, especially after being witness to what she told her Mother after Todd's death. So it came as no surprise that she just stood there in the corner of the kitchen, quietly stirring the bowl of cookie dough whilst watching Phoebe interact with 'her' Grandmother.
A few years ago and Sandra would have played a blind eye to Emily's unease, but that wasn't and wouldn't be the case now in Sandra's recently changed point of view.
"Hello Emily. What you cookin' up there?" Sandra enquired upon approaching the weary girl.
"Trwiple choc dewight cookies!!" Phoebe chipped in when Emily seemed slightly hesitant to form a reply or make eye contact with Sandra for that matter.
"Yumm…." Sandra stated with an animated expression, evoking a giggle out of Phoebe and the hint of a smile from Emily. Taking that as a promising start, Sandra then went on to lend a hand any way she could. The end result proving to be a lot more successful than anyone could have predicted, especially Emily.
-----
He woke to what he swore was his imagination playing tricks with him. The smell of his Mother's Pot Roast strong and unmistakable, but everything came to standstill when he then noticed Adam missing.
Not wanting to worry Kate anymore than she already was, he went to check Adam's crib and then followed the voices downstairs when his search proved unsuccessful. Surprised to say the least by what he saw.
-----
The first thing she reached out for was Adam, and upon noticing no trace of Jack too, she bolted out of bed and bumped right into Jack on the way who grabbed her before she could fall back from the initial force.
"Jack, where's…." Kate barely had the chance to say before Jack filled her in on what was happening downstairs. The specifics scaring her to no end, but like Jack said, everything would be okay, and besides Sandra had been asking about her so Kate took that surprising fact as some consolation.
Still wanting to make a visually good impression, Kate ruffled through her closet for the perfect outfit. Dismissing the choice of an elegant dress merely as trying too hard and then settling with a formal top and pants. Jack having to draw the line when she considered adding make-up to the mix cause in his eyes she didn't need it.
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"He looks so much like his Father did at this age." Sandra commented looking in awe at the sleeping baby cuddled in Christian's arms.
Even though it wasn't even New Years Eve yet, Sandra wanted to plan a family dinner, Kate included. Both Christian and Matt naturally assumed a catch somewhere, taking Sandra's track record of tolerance with Kate in the past into account, though she seemed nothing but sincere this time.
Kate was more taken aback than anyone by the scene before her. However nothing could have then prepared Kate when Sandra spotted her, came over and embraced the frozen woman in a hug.
Dinner went by in the same weirdly affectionate fashion, and it didn't stop when Sandra volunteered to help Kate with the dishes.
Once they were in the kitchen the atmosphere, more for Kate, was tense and uncomfortable, slightly more so when Sandra decided to make conversation.
"I bet Adam's keeping you on your toes and if he's anything like his Father was then you've got your work set out." she jokingly warned and Kate's lack of a reply in return was enough to confirm Sandra's assumptions.
"Thought so." Sandra added with a raise of the eyebrow, making Kate chuckle and reply with simply saying, "He's definitely his Father's son."
The moment from there on between the two women grew somewhat normal and surprisingly humorous at some points too. However at some point they were going to have to discuss what they were both still avoiding.
"I wanna thank you Kate." Sandra stated with the utmost seriousness and Kate honestly didn't know what to say other than….
"For what?"
"For taking care of Jack and Phoebe even after the things I said to you." She explained, hating herself for the way she behaved. Even if it was only later that she found out what Kate had to deal with in regards to this 'Todd' guy.
"You had every right to feel that way Mrs. Shepherd."
"Maybe, but it still doesn't condone my actions at the time, and please call me Sandra…." She replied, finishing with a smile, "we are family after all."
The admission was like a weight had literally been lifted off of Kate's shoulders, and for the first time she allowed her emotions full precedence in thanking Sandra for finally accepting her.
-----
Jack, wondering what was keeping his Mother and Kate decided to investigate and defend if he needed to. However what he witnessed instead was something he least expected his Mother to grant. The scene of his Fiancé and Mother embracing making him smile and invest in the hope of a new beginning.
This was his New Year nearly paid in full. All that was needed to make it complete was a wedding date.
THE END
And "Christmas Spirit" here finally endeth. I've honestly had the best time writing this fic and I thank everyone for participating in what was a festively joyous ride.
I hope to be back sometime in the New Year with new updates and knowing me an array of one-shots of which I'm bound to turn into fics lol, but let's just see for now.
As an extra thank you in return I've decided to issue one lucky reviewer with a little present....