A/N:
This is just over four years later, on Jaklyn's son's fourth birthday.
A white two story house stood with a Happy Birthday sign hung on the two car garage. A bright red door, and bright red shutters stood out on the house. A garden filled with flowers brightened the yard in early July. A bouncy house could just be seen in the backyard. A fenced in, in ground pool, was left to mostly adult but the rest of the backyard was where everything was hustling and bustling. Thirteen children were running around the backyard, running in and out of the playhouse and bouncy house. Parents were mingling and chatting around the food and drinks. There were numerous presents stacked on a table all labeled 'Edison'. A sign hung over the backdoor that read 'Happy 4th Birthday Edison!', balloons were tied to tables and chairs and a large curly dog was running around chasing the kids and playing fetch. Lars hugged Jaklyn and told her what a fabulous job she had done on the party and found his favorite child running straight up to him.
"Happy Birthday Edison!" Lars yelled picking up the four year old. He raised the young boy above his head. Both were smiling and giggling.
"HI LARS-Y!" He yelled hugging the now twenty-two year old man.
"How's my little man?" He asked bouncing the boy as they walked along.
"Good, I'm having fun!" He yelled as he saw the bouncy house set up with all his friends jumping around.
"Thanks Lars!" Jaklyn said kissing his cheek as Lars took Edison back to his party. She watched them walk around. Edison's darker skin tone, beautiful green eyes, shaggy brown hair. Slowly she tore her eyes away and caught Reggie staring.
"No problem!" Lars yelled back. "Is your girlfriendddddd here?" He asked poking Edison's belly.
"NO! I don't have a girlfriend!" He squealed his smile brighter then ever.
"Okay, okay!" Lars said letting him run into the bouncy house. Lars followed him in. Everyone was bouncing and running. Lars was tossing little kids around the house along with his younger brother, Twister. There were balloons going around the bouncy house.
"Hey Reg can you bring me another liter of juice?" She yelled across the yard.
"Yeah, one second!" She said trying not to get tackled by a bunch of little kids.
"Think it's time for cake?" Jaklyn asked pouring a few cups of juice for the kids running around.
"Yeah, I'll start rounding them up." Reggie said as Jaklyn headed inside, followed by Lars.
"Jake, are you ever going to tell me the truth?" He asked looking around their house. He pulled the candles out of the drawer and a lighter.
"Why won't you let it go? It's been almost five years already." She whispered putting candles on the Scooby-Doo cake.
"You won't tell anyone the truth. Either you are insanely selfish or extraordinarily selfless." He looked her up and down.
"I'd like to say I'm selfless. Why do you keep bringing this up? Please, just stop." She huffed and looked around the kitchen. She had made this her home, along with her son and Lars. They both worked so hard for everything. Her simple, soft white dress made her skin glow. Her hair was tied in a pony tail, her nails done, eyeliner on. She looked stunning and didn't show herself being shaken by anything Lars was saying.
"Because Jake, I know Edison is my son." His voice hit her heavy but he didn't see it catch her off guard. She turned around and pulled vanilla ice cream out of the freezer.
"Why would you say that?" She said clicking the lighter.
"When I took Edison to the doctor's for his shots and blood test, I got one done too. I had a paternity test done, Jaklyn. I know he's my son." His voice wasn't harsh or rude, he was trying to be supportive, but the heart break was pulling through his vocal chords.
"Why does it matter, Lars? You've been there for Edison every single day. You might as well have been his father anyways."
"Jaklyn Nicole! I could have spent the last four years with the mother of my child, raising him."
"You have been Lars, just not alone with me."
"How could you not tell me this? Four years ago this would have been much easier to leave Reggie. But I'm not going to hesitate. I love you, Jaklyn." Lars spoke with true heart and conviction showing her he was serious.
"You're with Reggie. Go make her happy, make her the mother of your children." She said placing the ice cream on the counter. Leaning against it now.
"I have a son. An amazing son, that I love with everything I'm worth. If I want more children, it's going to be with you." His shoulders were open towards her. He wanted nothing more than for her to just give in and hug him, say that she wanted to be with him.
"We are just best friends. You don't love me like a girlfriend, like a wife. You have Reggie, and Edison will always be there."
"Do you EVER listen? I don't want any other man raising my son. I want to raise him with you." He howled. "I'd marry you in a heart beat." She wrapped her arms around him. Tears welling up in her eyes.
The sound of a plate smashing on the floor echoed through the silent kitchen. Lars and Jaklyn's heads both snapped towards the door, their hearts stopped.