Epilogue

Christmas Eve - One Year Later

As was the usual every Christmas Eve, the Cena family filled an entire pew in the middle of the sanctuary. Only this time, the son who'd been absent the past three years had come with them, carrying a darling little girl in a Pooh Bear snowsuit, and escorting a beautiful redhead who gazed at him in total adoration. With him was his best friend and the best friend's wife, who was just starting to show in her fifth month of pregnancy.

John laughed Randy hovering over Stacy like a mother hen, but every so often looking down at her stomach and grinning as though he were very proud of himself.

"Randy's already bought that kid everything he can find that bears the symbol of the New England Patriots," he told Maria.

"Wonder when Stacy's going to tell him the doctor told her they were having a girl," Maria giggled.

"Probably not anytime soon...I think she's enjoying this too much," John replied.

Leaving Taylor to enjoy the church nursery, the couple joined the rest of the family for the traditional service. As they sang along with the choir, John glanced down at his beautiful girlfriend, who'd moved in with him back in October. He glanced toward the front of the church at the Nativity scene there, and sent a silent 'thank you' that he hadn't missed his chance to grab this with both hands and never let it go.

Yep, he thought, life was good.

And the following morning, both would get surprises from the other.

Maria's surprise from John was in the form of a small jewelry box containing a diamond solitaire ring that would be tied into the big red bow around the neck of the rambunctious female Golden Retriever puppy that was currently hidden in a guest bedroom at Mr. Cena's house.

John's surprise from Maria was in the form of a thermometer-shaped object that bore two blue lines glued to a homemade card that read 'Merry Christmas Daddy'.

THEEND

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed it...Happy Holidays to everyone!

R&R!