(Five years later)

A now twenty four year old Gabby stood behind the bar the she worked at sneaking a cigarette, between breaks. She was actually supposed to be off right now but her replacement was late, again.

"Gabby, get your ass in here, some jackass is trying to start a bar fight again, and I'm not breaking it up" Candy, the new girl said, Gabby sighed before putting the half smoked cigarette out and tucking it behind her ear.

"Alright, damn I'm coming" Gabby said her New York accent thicker than usual, Candy stood there impatiently.

"Fuck girl get out of the way" Gabby growled walking passed the red head and into the bar, she looked around a moment before she spotted a large burly man shouting at a waitress by the bar, Gabby sighed and walked over her black combat boots thumping on the floor in tune with the loud rock music playing.

"Bitch, I said give me back my keys" The man yelled, the waitress happened to be Jack and Gabby's friend Jessica.

"I told you I don't have your keys you took a taxi here" The blonde haired girl growled back crossing her arms.

"Look man, come on the girl ain't got your keys, give her a break" Gabby said, the man was in such a rage about being 'lied' to and now being told what to do that he swung around before anyone could react, beer bottle held tightly he was slamming it into Gabby's side, shattering the glass bottle sending shards deep into Gabby's abdomen, grabbing her wrist and twisting it causing her to move with her arm only for her chest to be slammed into the bar, effectively knocking the wind out of her. Gabby cried out in pain as she and everyone around her heard a loud crack, where it came from was a mystery at the moment.

"What the hell is going on over here" A large security guard yelled coming over, he pulled the man off of Gabby, before dragging him outside of the bar. Jessica rushed over to Gabby and helped her stay standing.

"Candy call the police and make sure they send an ambulance" Jessica said, Candy grabbed the phone behind the bar and started dialing.

"Jess I'm fine, just call Brian have him give me a ride home I'll be fine" Gabby said trying to stand on her own.

"Hell no, Gabby you're bleeding really bad, I'm calling Jack" Jessica said Gabby looked down at her side and sure enough blood was soaking the entire left side of her once white tank top.

"Don't call Jack he'll just worry, I'll be fine, promise" Gabby said as Jessica forced her to sit down.

"Yeah right, the ambulance is already on its way" Candy said handing Jessica a towel, who pressed it onto Gabby's side, she hissed in pain and ground her teeth together, to try and stop from crying out, her foster care side coming out as she tried to hide how much pain she was really in but Jessica was already calling Jack.

"Hey you need to meet Gabby at the hospital…. Bar fight…. Yeah….Her side, something broke….. No…. Blake already threw him out… The cops are on their way… along with an ambulance….. I'm trying but she says she'll be fine…. Alright Jack I'll tell her…. Bye bean pole" Jessica said before flipping her phone shut and turning back to Gabby.

"Well" Gabby asked trying not to wince every time she took a breath.

"He's going to meet you at the hospital, after he drops the twins off at school and I'm going with you now" Jessica said as they heard sirens coming from outside.

"Fine but they're going to tell you that nothing's wrong with me" Gabby said rolling her eyes as she stood up, now being able to fully ignore the pain.

"Whatever, come on" Jessica said surprised that Gabby was standing straight up without help.

Gabby was forced to lay on a stretcher as paramedics put her and Jessica into the ambulance. Gabby ended up having to have 37 stitches, and a brace on her right wrist, as well as having three broken ribs and two cracked. Right now Gabby and Jessica were waiting for Gabby's test results to come back, making sure there wasn't anything else wrong with Gabby.

"I told you so" Jessica said as Gabby sat on the bed trying to find something decent on the TV.

"Alright fine you were right" Gabby said rolling her eyes as a nurse came into the room.

"Miss Ortiz, we have your test results back, are you aware that you're pregnant" The nurse said Gabby choked on her air as her eyes got wide.

"I'm what" Gabby said Jessica looked just as surprised.

"Yes the baby seems to be about three months along, you didn't know" The nurse said looking surprised.

"No, I didn't" Gabby said looking down at her stomach which was hidden beneath gauze and a hospital gown "Is the baby okay" Gabby asked her eyes darkening to a forest color.

"Somehow yes but it is very low on nutrients we want to prescribe you a prenatal vitamin that will help your body give nutrients to the baby while still being able to support your own immune system" The nurse said handing Gabby a prescription before leaving the room to get her check out papers.

"Jess, don't tell Jack okay" Gabby asked looking at her friend, Jessica looked confused.

"Why, aren't you excited" Jessica asked, looking at Gabby, the other girl avoided her eyes.

"Yeah I'm excited, it's just last time um you know it didn't last past three months" Gabby said Jessica sighed, she had forgotten that Gabby had been pregnant two years ago, after Jack and Gabby had gotten over the initial shock of having another baby around Gabby had lost it and had been told she wouldn't be able to have another, which had left her and Jack both heartbroken.

"Okay I won't say anything to anyone" Jessica said just as Jack entered the room, he walked over to the bed and kissed Gabby gently before placing another on her forehead.

"Are you okay" He asked looking into her eyes.

"Yeah I'm fine, can we just go home I hate hospitals" Gabby asked Jack nodded.

"Well I have to get back to work I'll see you two later" Jessica said standing and leaving the room. Jack helped Gabby get dressed before signing her out; they left the hospital and went home.

"I'm going to go lay down, wake me up when the twins get home from school" Gabby said heading towards the bedroom Jack nodded before sitting on the couch and flipping the TV on. Gabby came out of the bedroom and curled up into his side, without thinking Jack wrapped his arm around her pulling her as close as possible.

"What's the matter" Jack asked.

"Couldn't sleep" Gabby said sighing as she saw Jack was watching hockey again.

"Oh, something on your mind" Jack asked tracing a scar along her jaw line.

"No, just have a headache" Gabby said, they were interrupted when the phone rang Gabby sat up so that Jack could get up to answer it.

"Hey Jerry….. Jerry I can't understand you….. That's not possible Jer" Jack had stopped talking but was still holding the phone, Gabby could hear Jerry yelling for Jack on the other end, Gabby got up from the couch and took the phone.

"Hello" Gabby asked quietly as Jack stood there, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Gabby, hey um I got some bad news" Gabby recognized Jack's brother, Jerry's, voice on the other end; she had only met him a few times.

"Jerry, what happened" Gabby asked her eyes never leaving Jack.

"Ma's been murdered, Gabby" Jerry's force was barely above a whisper; Gabby forced the tears away from her eyes.

"Are you sure" Gabby asked.

"Yeah I'm sorry, Gabby, um the funerals Wednesday" Jerry said quietly.

"We'll be there, we'll see you then Jerry" Gabby said before pressing the end button on the phone.

"Jack, babe, look at me, come on, it's going to be okay" Gabby said stepping closer to Jack.

"No, I, I have to go, I'll be back later okay, I love you" Jack said before grabbing his jacket and rushing out the door. Gabby stood there for a minute before she finally let the tears fall.

Gabby let herself cry for a few minutes before she stopped herself and went into the bathroom to get cleaned up to go pick up the twins, figuring they could have an early day seeing as how everything was happening. Gabby left the apartment and climbed into her car and started the engine before pulling out into the street and heading towards the twins' school. She walked in and went to the main office to sign them out.

"Hey I'm here to pick up James and Juliette Mercer" Gabby said leaning against the counter, the secretary gave her a dirty look. The school didn't like that Gabby was with Jack but wasn't the twins' mother.

"Right, of course and why are you signing them out early" She asked Gabby sighed.

"Family emergency" Gabby said simply, the secretary handed Gabby the sign out sheet and she filled it out quickly signing her name at the bottom of the page.

"You know where their classroom is I presume" The woman said Gabby simply nodded before leaving the office and making her way to the kindergarten hallway and going to Miss Honey's classroom, Gabby stood in the doorway watching as Juliette and James played quietly in the corner away from everyone else.

"Hello Gabby, it's nice to see you again. James, Juliette your mommy's here" Miss Honey said, the twins looked up matching dark blue eyes sparkling eyes, and wide grins appearing on their faces.

"Mommy" The cried together as they rushed over abandoning the toys they had been playing with, Gabby scooped up Juliette and held James' hand.

"Hello, my babies, how was school" Gabby asked as the twins waved goodbye to their classroom.

"Good, why are you picking us up so early" Juliette asked her brother nodding in agreement.

"Well um, Daddy and I will talk to you about it later okay" Gabby said, she didn't want to tell the twins about Evelyn without Jack, but she didn't know when he'd be back.

"Where is Daddy" James asked, grinning Jack's signature grin that he and Juliette both shared.

"He went out for a little while but he'll be back later" Gabby said smiling at them.

"Hey mommy will you help us with our Thanksgiving project" James asked looking up at his mother.

"Sure baby, what do you have to do" Gabby asked as she put Juliette in her car seat and helped James get into his.

"We have to make a big poster of everything we're thankful of, can we call Grandma Evie and ask her for pictures of Daddy" Juliette asked Gabby sucked in a breath.

"Maybe not Grandma Evie but we'll call Uncle Jerry how about that" Gabby said Juliette nodded.

"Hey mommy" James asked swinging his feet back and forth.

"Yeah baby" Gabby said glancing at him in the rearview mirror.

"How come we don't have two grandmas and grandpas like the other kids" James asked curiously Gabby glanced back at him.

"Well, that's kinda complicated, your Daddy was adopted by Grandma Evie and she wasn't married, that's why Uncle Jerry, Uncle Angel, and Uncle Bobby look different than your Daddy" Gabby said but Juliette still looked confused.

"But Mommy shouldn't we have grandmas and grandpas from you" Juliette asked cocking her head to the side.

"Well, I do have parents but I don't know them, and I wasn't adopted by someone like your Daddy" Gabby said Juliette and James nodded accepting the answer.

"Are we going to Grandma Evie's for Thanksgiving" Juliette asked.

"Well aren't you two just full of questions today, but yes we will be going to Grandma Evie's for Thanksgiving" Gabby said causing the twins to squeal with excitement. Gabby started to feel bad, the twins thought they would get to see Evelyn, Gabby sighed before reaching up and turning the radio onto a 90s rock station, the twins began singing along with the song that came on and Gabby smiled as they pulled up onto the curb she walked around the car and opened the door and allowed the twins to climb out before taking their school bags and walking up the stairs to their apartment.

"Go clean your room until Daddy gets home then we need to talk to you about something important" Gabby said the twins shared a grumble before running to their shared room.

Gabby was sitting on the couch with Juliette sitting on the floor in front of her as Gabby ran a purple brush through Juliette's hair when the door opened and Jack stumbled in. Gabby sighed and finished Juliette's hair and stood up.

"Jules go to your room alright I'll be in there in a minute to tuck you and Jamie in" Gabby said handing Juliette the hair brush before walking into the kitchen where Jack had gone.

"Jack, are you okay" Gabby asked leaning in the doorway, she could already tell Jack was drunk.

"Yeah I'm fine, I'm going out later tonight with Todd" Jack said, Gabby frowned; Todd did drugs, hard core stuff. Gabby would know she had dated Todd and he had given her just about anything to calm her down enough to have sex with her.

"You know I don't like Todd, Jack and since when do you" Gabby asked crossing her arms getting ready for a fight.

"Well, I just want to hang out with someone and Brian has plans, and Jake can't get out of the strip club and Darren has to work" Jack said refusing to look at Gabby.

"Really, so you're going to hang out with Todd instead of taking care of our kids" Gabby asked glaring at Jack.

"Gabby I can't stay here right now, I just need a break" Jack said Gabby sighed but refused to stand down.

"Fine but if you get high or drugged up don't come back into this home until you can think clearly" Gabby said turning on her heel and walking out of the room.

"Gabs will you tell the twins for me" Jack asked Gabby sighed before nodding.

"Yeah, sure, whatever" Gabby said before she heard Jack grab his jacket and leave again. Gabby took a deep breath before walking into the twins' room, she wasn't in there very long before she felt arms wrap around her waist.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything I said, I just don't know how to deal with this is all" Jack whispered in her ear, Gabby said nothing.

"Please, I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you upset, I just don't know how to do this kind of thing, my Ma's been there since I was eleven, I don't like to think of life without her" Jack said Gabby finally sighed and turned to look at him.

"I know, Jack, but when you said you were going out with Todd, it scared me and today has just been really hectic and I don't know how to deal with this either you know that, you know me Jack and I know you" Gabby said Jack nodded simply but the conversation was cut short when the twins entered the room.

"Daddy, you're home" Juliette cried jumping up into Jack's arms; she knew he'd always catch her.

"Yeah Jules, I'm home" Jack said holding Jules on his hip; she had a habit of being held by someone mostly Jack while Jamie would rather hold onto a hand rather than be held.

"Mommy you wanted to talk to us" Jamie said as Jack sat down on Jules' bed as Gabby pulled Jamie up onto her lap also sitting on the bed.

"Well, something happened to Grandma Evie" Jack started carefully watching the twins' faces.

"What happened to Grandma" Jules asked head tilted to the side.

"Grandma got hurt very bad and she had to go to Heaven" Gabby said quietly running her fingers through Jamie's hair.

"Can we go visit her" Jamie asked his eyes sparkling with hope.

"I'm sorry baby, but no we can't go see Grandma, she's too far away to visit and you can't call her either" Jack said tears filled Jules' eye.

"So we can never see Grandma Evie again" Jules asked.

"No I'm sorry baby" Gabby said as Jules and Jamie started crying, Jack and Gabby tried to comfort them but they were too young to really understand what was going on.

The twins cried themselves to sleep that night in between Jack and Gabby in their parents' bedroom. The next morning Gabby was up and already had breakfast made before Jack and the twins' were even out of bed. Jack came into the kitchen to see Gabby, dressed in nothing but a pair of his boxers and a Ramones t-shirt that she had stolen from Jack, Gabby swaying her hips along to a slow rock song playing on the radio that frequently played throughout the apartment, Jack smiling leaning against the doorway watching his fiancé of five years spin and twirl.

"Now this is a very nice sight to wake up to" Jack said causing Gabby to jump and spin around her face turning a bright red, before she started laughing.

"Really now and why is that" Gabby asked her blush fading, Jack walked over to her and placed his hand low on her waist backing her up against the counter.

"Well because when you sway, your ass just looks so hot" Jack said moving his hands down to grope Gabby's ass, she shrieked and giggled as he lifted her onto the counter.

"Oh really" Gabby asked as Jack kissed her neck, using his tongue ring to scrape against her skin, he ran his hands up her side but froze when he heard Gabby hiss in pain.

"Gabby" Jack growled, pulling away to look her in the eye, he hadn't actually seen the damage done to her side.

"Jack, I'm fine it's not a big deal" Gabby said but Jack was already tugging the up the Ramones shirt. Carefully he reached forward and began peeling off the gauze letting out a hiss when he saw the black stitching traveling up and down Gabby's side, Jack reached behind him and grabbed a washcloth and began gently cleaning off the stitches, watching Gabby's face for signs of pain.

"Why didn't you tell me it was this bad" Jack asked quietly.

"I didn't want you to worry, it doesn't even hurt and nothing was that wrong, honest I'm fine" Gabby said as Jack grabbed a fresh roll of gauze from a drawer in the kitchen and began rewrapping Gabby's stomach and chest, pain filling his eyes at the dark bruises on her chest.

"How are we getting to Detroit" Jack asked changing the subject as he helped Gabby off of the counter.

"Well I figured we could take a plane, we have money saved up to visit anyway and the twins haven't been on a plane yet" Gabby said turning to the stove and flipping a piece of bacon.

"Sounds fine with me" Jack said as footsteps were heard on the hardwood floor of the apartment, a moment later Jules appeared in an oversized t-shirt of Jack's that hung off one shoulder. Rubbing her eyes Jules walked over to Jack dragging a teddy bear with her before holding her arms up to Jack, he lifted her up and settled her in his arms.

"Morning Jules, did you sleep okay" Jack asked tucking a piece of honey blonde hair behind Juliette's ear, her head now resting on his shoulder.

"Yeah, Daddy" Jules said rubbing her eyes again, James came waddling down the hallway, a similar t-shirt on his small body, Gabby lifted him up and settled him on her hip before going to the fridge and pulling out milk and chocolate and strawberry syrup, handing them to Jack, she and him set the twins down at the table before grabbing a purple sippy cup and a blue sippy cup and making pink milk for Jules and chocolate milk for Jamie. Jack and Gabby began making plates of food for both twins and made their own before sitting down.

"Alright loves, after breakfast go pack your favorite things, because we're going down to say one last goodbye to Grandma Evie" Gabby said as Jack pulled her down onto his lap, she wasn't surprised he always had her sit on his lap.

"Okay mommy, when are we going to Grandma Evie's" Jules asked eating a piece of bacon.

"We'll be flying down on an airplane tomorrow" Jack answered Jamie looked up.

"Like the ones in my room" James asked grinning Jack's grin.

"Yep, just like those" Gabby said Jamie squealed in excitement before he and Jules declared they were finished and ran out of the room Gabby stood up and began clearing the table of the dishes, Jack stood up to help.

"I'll do the dishes, you go pack" Jack said giving Gabby a gentle push towards the hallway leading to their bedroom.

"Alright, do you want anything specific" Gabby asked running a hand through her hair.

"Uh not really" Jack said watching Gabby disappear down the hallway, it was then that he realized how hard he really fell for this girl.