Flashback, 2005:

"If anyone would like to say anything, you can now step forward and speak," the pastor said.

Jon had gotten up and walked up to the podium. Adriana was worried about Jon. She had told him in the car that he didn't have to say anything if he didn't want to. Jon insisted on speaking so Adriana left it alone.

Jon cleared his throat a little and cleared his mind. He took a deep breath and started:

"When I was a little boy, I didn't have any friends really. I was always to myself. Then one day I was on the monkey bars at school when Samuel showed up. He had asked me if he could join me. Usually I'd tell someone I didn't feel like playing with them. But I sensed something different with Samuel. I sensed something genuine about him. Which I why I told him he could hang out with me. Samuel had reached into his pocket and offered me some tootsie rolls. Me and him would eat a bunch of them on the playground. Just me and him. Sometimes I would go over to his house and play with him. He was one a true friend. Between him and my girlfriend and mother, no one else really mattered. Samuel would always make sure I wasn't in trouble and remained focused on school and my future. I messed up here and there but I always remembered the inspirational words he told me. He always told me to keep going. No matter how hard life gets, just keep going. He told me that life is going to knock me down. But I have to get right back up and continue my journey. A day before he passed he had asked me if I wanted any kids. I told him I do want kids. We were talking about what names I would give my children and everything. He told me I'd end up having four children. Which is what my grandma and grandpa told me. I found that to be pretty funny. Sam told me that once I got married and had kids and settled down to make the most of everything. And to remember to always put my family first and to take care of myself. Sam told me to just keep going. And despite some of the things that's happened, that's what I'm going to do. Dust myself off and keep going. I'm going to miss you, Samuel. Rest in paradise."

Present:

Jon looked at the tombstone that had Samuel's name on it.

"Samuel Carter

Beloved Brother, Son, and Best Friend"

Samuel's grandmother wanted her grandson buried in Richmond. She happened to live not too far from Jon, which was a coincidence. Jon remembered where

"Hey, Sam. Um...things are going pretty good. There was some setbacks but everything is better now. It's crazy how I decided to move to Virginia with Adriana and I forgot that you're buried here. I wanted to stop by and say hi. I miss you a lot. Rest well."

Back at home:

"What are you drawing now?" Adriana asked.

"Food," Jon said.

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes," Adriana said.

"Come here for a second."

Adriana took her mittens off and went to see what Jon wanted. He put down his coloring pencil and wrapped one arm around his wife's waist. He pulled her close to him.

"I love you. You know that?" Jon said.

"Of course I do," Adriana said.

"Thank you for sticking with me through the years," Jon said.

"Thank you for putting up with me through the years," Adriana said.

When Adriana kissed Jon, Jasmine had walked into the kitchen.

"Mommy. Daddy. Why you kissing? Where's the food?" she said.

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes," Adriana said.

"Juice," Jasmine said.

"You can drink some kool aid with your dinner," Adriana said.

"Mommy," Jasmine said.

"Yes?"

Jasmine looked at her mother then at her father.

"Cookie?"

"After you eat," Adriana said.

"No cookie now?" Jasmine said.

"You can eat it for dessert," Jon said.

"Mommy, Daddy...damn. No damn cookie," Jasmine said.

She walked to the table and sat down.

"I'll wait," she said.

"I wonder where she learned "damn" from," Adriana said.

"You know what? I was just thinking the same thing," Jon said.

"Uh huh," Adriana said.

She went back to the stove to check on the food. Jon dropped his colored pencil on the floor. It rolled underneath the table. He ducked under the table to grab it but unfortunately the back of his head hit the table.

"Fuck!" Jon said.

"Fuck," Jasmine said.

"No, don't say that," Jon said.

"Fuck?"

"Yes. Don't say it again."

"No fuck?"

Jon threw his hands up in the air.

"Where did our children come from!?" Jon said.

"Well, your ship stopped unloaded at my dock and delivered some precious cargo. Four little kids that we love dearly," Adriana said.

"I love you, Mommy. I love you, Daddy. Can I have juice now?" Jasmine said, with a smile.

"Daddy, I don't want to ride my bike without the training wheels," Maddy said.

"You can do it," Jon said. "I'm going to push your bike and I want you to pedal."

"I can't do it," Maddy said. "I can't."

"Don't speak that. You can do it. I have faith in you. Have faith in yourself," Jon said.

Jon pushed Maddy's bike. She started pedaling slowly at first. When he saw that she was keeping her balance, Jon let go of her and watched as she pedaled down the driveway.

"I think I got it, Daddy!" Maddy said.

Maddy started pedaling faster.

"You're doing good, sweetie! But watch out for-"

Maddy had ran over Aiden's feet. He was watching his sister learn how to ride a bike.

"Ow!" he said.

"Your feet will be fine!" Maddy said.

"Brie, please get out of the flowers," Jon said.

Brie was standing right amongst the flowers that were lined up by the sidewalk.

"But they're pretty," she said.

"But you're killing them," Jon said.

"Oh," she said.

She stepped on another flower as she walked onto the sidewalk.

"I think you need to take kids somewhere before they destroy your house," Gus said.

"You're right. And Tyler is about to kill himself if he eats the dirt," Jon said.

"No, you cannot roll the ball into the pins, Aiden," Jon said.

"Awww, why not?" Aiden asked.

"Because that's cheating. And you can't walk up to the pins and knock them down either!" Jon said.

"Oh come on, Daddy! Tyler is doing it right now!" Aiden said.

"Damn!" Jon said.

Marty had snatched Tyler up and carried him away from the bowling lane.

"I was gonna knock the pins down!" Tyler said.

"You're not going to do that," Marty said.

"Aww," Tyler said.

Marty put Tyler down. He looked at Jon.

"No. More. Kids," he said.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Jon said. "At least Brie, Maddy, and Jasmine aren't trying to hurt themselves."

"Daddy, I need to go to the bathroom," J.J. said.

"Alright, let's go. Aiden, come on," Jon said.

"You go with them, Tyler," Marty said.

While Jon took the boys to the bathroom, Adriana and Beatrix were helping the girls.

"Mommy, I can't hold this," Jasmine said.

"You can roll it on the ground," Adriana said.

"Okay," Jasmine said.

Adriana helped Jasmine give the bowling ball a good push and watched it slowly roll towards the pins. The ball ended up knocking over a few pins.

"Boom. Crash," Jasmine said.

Adriana chuckled.

"Boom and crash, indeed," she said.

"Alright, you think you can do this Brie?" Beatrix asked.

"No," she said.

"I'll help you," Beatrix said.

"Okay," Brie said.

"Adriana!" someone said to her.

Adriana looked around and saw a guy walking up to her. At first she didn't know who it was but then it hit her. The man was one of Jack and Marty's childhood friends.

"Oh hi, Damien!" she said.

"How's it going?" Damien asked.

"Good! Marty and Jack are over there," Adriana said.

"Marty! Jackrabbit!" Damien said.

"Well, I'll be damned," Jack said.

Jack and Marty went up to Damien and gave him a big hug.

"Long time no see!" Jack said.

"Most definitely," Damien said. "Let's go get some drinks."

Jack, Marty, and Damien went to the concession stands to get some soda.

"Man, Adriana is beautiful. Very beautiful. Gorgeous. Is she single?" Damien asked.

"She's married and has four kids," Jack said. "She was with two of her children. Her and her husband have two boys and two girls."

"Oh," Damien said.

His dreams of sweeping Adriana off of her feet were quickly shattered.

"Who's her husband?" Damien asked.

"Our cousin," Jack said.

Damien gave Jack a funny look.

"Well, he's not blood related but we consider him family because he is family," Marty said.

"I don't remember him. What's his name?" Damien said.

"Why do you sound a little hostile?" Marty said.

"I'm not," Damien said. "I'm just asking a question."

"His name is Jonathan," Marty said.

"Has he been good to her?" Damien asked.

"He's a very good husband. And a terriffic father," Jack said. "Him and Adriana are happily married."

"That's good. I used to have a crush on Adriana," Damien said.

"You still do. But she's taken. And don't you get any ideas or we'll kick your ass," Marty warned.

"I won't, I won't," Damien said.

Jon had found Marty and Jack with Damien at the concession stand. He walked over to the them and stood next to Jack.

"Jack, if you could get me some chips, that would be great," Jon said.

"Ha ha, very funny," Jack said. "Jon, this is Damien. Damien, this is Jon. Damien is a good friend of ours."

"Hello," Jon said.

"Hello," Damien said. "Your wife is beautiful."

"Thank you. She's an amazing person," Jon said.

"She sure is. Oh, damn. Hey, I have to go now. It was nice meeting you, Jon. And it was nice seeing you guys again. I'll kep in touch," Damien said.

Jon watched as Damien walked out of the building before turning to Jack and Marty.

"I can already tell he likes Adriana," Jon said.

"Don't worry. We warned him," Marty said.

"Good. Because if he tries anything, I'm killing him with my bare hands," Jon said.

Author's Note: Well?