early Christmas
morning and Danny would wake them up soon so he could open his
gifts. He and Jen were looking forward to it and the tree was piled
high with gifts. The biggest gift he hadn’t put under the tree. He
rolled back over and snuggled with his mate. He was almost back to
sleep when a weight landed on his back.
“Danny!” Jen said. “You’re not allowed to
jump on our bed. What if you’d landed on me?”
“It’s okay mama. I aimed for Ros.” Ros
stifled his laugh.
He didn’t want Jen mad at him. “Just don’t do
it again.”
“Okay mama. Can I open presents now?” he
asked with an excited smile and eyes that no one could resist.
“Okay, but wait until we get there before you
open them.” Jen got up with Ros’s help. She could do it alone, but
it was a struggle. She ran to get the camera while Ros picked up
the video cam. They were going to cover this for posterity.
The next thirty minutes was spent with Danny
tearing up the wrapping paper on his presents. He got all the toys
a boy could want but Ros thought the remote control set- a plane, a
truck, and a helicopter- were his favorite. They had to stop him
from opening more because they needed to get ready for the big
Christmas breakfast that Sierra had planned out for everyone.
They managed to get dressed despite Danny’s
begging but when Ros told him the other kids would be there and he
could take one toy with him, the begging stopped and the excitement
began. How could a boy pick just one out of so many wonderful
gifts? He finally managed to decide on the plane and Jen told Ros
he might end up regretting his decision.
Ros looked at the smile on Danny’s face and
knew he’d live with the results. They finally arrived at the
cafeteria which Sierra had turned in to the North Pole. White, red,
and green ruled with a few blue decorations and lights thrown in.
Silver and gold dishes and silverware covered the tables with
glasses or mugs in red or green. Sierra was dressed like Mrs. Claus
and poor Zeus was Santa. Ros was thankful he hadn’t been asked to
do it.
It was more fun laughing at Zeus, behind his
back of course. The meal was perfect and Cherish had made some
mouth watering desserts. Ros was nervous about the upcoming
ceremony Sierra had told Jen all the women had gone through when
they arrived. Once they were done eating, it was time. Zeus and
Sierra went to front of the room and everyone’s eyes turned to
them.
“Jen would you come up here?” Sierra
asked.
Jen turned to Ros suddenly looking nervous
but Ros smiled and nodded at her encouragingly. Jen walked up to
Sierra and stood in front of her. “I’m afraid we got you up here
under false pretenses,” Sierra said.
Jen looked confused and turned seeing Danny
and Ros had followed her up to the front. Ros dropped to one knee
and looked up at her. “Jenna Jones, would you do me the honor of
becoming my wife?”
He held a box and he pulled a ring out. She
stood there, tears running down her face as the man of her dreams
asked a question she had never expected to hear. “Yes, “ she
whispered. “Yes!”
He slipped his ring on the finger of the
woman he loved. The one that carried his child and had gifted him
with a son, Danny. He’d known almost immediately that they would be
a family and now they were. He hugged his mate and their son. Danny
would always know about his father who had died a hero, but he
would have a second dad. Ros felt Danny’s dad Steve would’ve been
happy to know someone would step in and take care of Jen and Danny.
Ros knew if anything ever happened to him, he would hope Jen would
find someone who loved her and any children they had with all his
heart.
Jen had a little conversation in her head.
She talked to Steve sometimes although she hadn’t done that since
she’d met Ros. This would be the last time she’d do it.
Steve, you were my first love and I loved you
dearly. I never wanted to lose you, but life took you away. I want
you to know I
Jennifer McCartney, Lisa Maggiore