It Was For The Best Chapter 35, an alias fanfic

Chapter 35

The next morning Jack and Irina woke up to the sound of someone knocking on the door. Jack immediately panicked a little bit. He didn't want the triplets to find him and their mother this way. All their clothes were scattered all over the floor, and they were naked. Irina watched him and couldn't help but be amused.

"It's not the triplets. They don't knock like that." He looked at her and then looked at the door, when he heard Sydney's voice very quietly through the other side of the door.

"Mom, dad, are you up yet?" Irina smiled and gave Jack a quick kiss.

"Told you." She was about to get out of bed when Jack gently grabbed her arm.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"To answer the door. When someone knocks on the door, the most polite thing to do is answering it." She couldn't help but grin, and even more when Jack rolled his eyes at her.

"I know that, but we're not dressed and our clothes are everywhere. I don't want Sydney to see that."

"I have no intention on opening the door naked. I'm putting on a robe." There was another knock, and Irina was able to slip out of bed. She called out to Sydney. "Be right there."

"Just wait a second. I want to get the clothes up off the floor, and put mine on."

"Too late, Jack. Already got my robe on." She quickly got her robe on, tying it as she ran to the door. Jack had just gotten out of bed, picking up Irina's bra, when he quickly got back to bed.

"I can't believe you." When Irina had her hand on the doorknob, he got under the covers, covering himself completely. She smiled back at him, before opening the door a little.

"Morning, sweetheart." Sydney smiled at her mother a little embarrassed. She had a feeling what had been going on between her parents, and felt a little uncomfortable. Her mother also seemed extremely happy.

"Morning, mom. I just wanted to tell you two that all of us are going out for breakfast. We haven't told the triplets anything. We just told them that Sergei wanted to spend the morning with all your children, Vaughn, Eric, and Isabelle, and that we'd let you and dad sleep in. We'll probably be back around lunch time. I told them that I'd let you and dad know."

"Okay. That sounds like fun. Have a great time." Sydney looked her mother in the eye, and was a little concerned, even though her mother had been smiling.

"Is everything okay between you and dad?" Irina smiled sincerely.

"Yes, everything is just fine between us." Then she smiled a bit more amused. "But feel free to ask your father yourself." She opened the door fully, so that Sydney could see all the scattered clothes on the floor, and her father under the covers. Sydney stared wide eyes for a few seconds, then shut her eyes. Jack groaned loudly.

"Mom, please. I did not need to see that. I'm thrilled you're fine, but I did not need to see that. I'm leaving."

"So, you didn't want to ask your father if everything is fine?" Sydney waved her hands in the air.

"No, mom." Then she left, leaving Irina laughing a bit. She closed the door and locked it too, just in case and went over to stand by the bed.

"You can come out now." Jack pulled the covers down to the middle of his chest, still holding Irina's bra in his hand, and with an un-amused look on his face. Irina grinned a little. "Trying on my underwear, Jack?" He noticed the bra in his hand, threw it back down on the floor, and rolled his eyes at her.

"Why did you have to do that? It's embarrassing."

"Can I help it, if I want to show my daughter how much I'm in love with her father? You better get used to it, because I intend to kiss you whenever I want, wherever we are, and in front of anyone. We'll be making out like horny teenagers, and making up for lost time. And since that's more than twenty years, we'll be making up for lost time a lot." She wiggled her eyes at him, and he laughed.

"Well, I guess that not such a bad thing."

"And speaking of making up for lost time." She untied her robe and let it fall to the floor with the rest of the clothes. Jack swallowed a few times, taking in the beautiful sight before him. "We have the place to ourselves for a few hours. Why don't we make the most of it?"

"That sounds like a good idea." He removed the covers and let her climb into bed.

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An hour later they lay in each others arms catching their breaths.

"That was fun."

"Yeah that was…..wow." A few minutes passed by before their breathing returned to normal. Jack turned to look at Irina. "So, we're definitely telling the triplets today, right?" She smiled.

"Yes, absolutely." Jack was a little worried.

"You do think they'll be happy about it, right?" She caressed his cheek, and smiled lovingly at him.

"Of course they will, Jack. They'll be ecstatic. All they've ever wanted is for all of us to be a family. Believe me, they'll be thrilled with the news." She kissed him soundly on the lips. "I probably should've told them a few days ago that we're moving, but it'll be so much easier now that we're all going to live together. Just where are we going to live? Your apartment is a little too small for all five of us." He laughed a little.

"Yeah, it is. I thought we could look at a house. We can look online today, so that we'll know which one to buy, if we can find one. We can't very well stay at my tiny place for very long. We can look at houses now if you want?"

"It's only 9.00 and everyone won't be home for hours. I think we can find other more enjoyable ways to spend the time." She started to trail kisses up and down his chest.

"Well, you won't hear any arguments from me."

After spending another hour in bed and nearly an hour in the shower, Jack went to his bedroom to get some clean clothes. When he was just about to walk out of his room, he shook his head and laughed a little. Then he turned around and packed all his clothes down in his suitcases and brought them with him to Irina's bedroom.

"I thought I might as well bring everything with me, since I won't be sleeping in my own room anymore." Irina turned around when he started talking, and smiled broadly when she saw him standing there with his suitcases. She walked over to him and kissed him, before they walked downstairs.

They'd had some fruit to eat, knowing that they'd have lunch soon, and were now lying on a blanket in the garden talking.

"So, any ideas for what kind of house you want us to get?"

"No, not really. Well, it has to have at least four bedrooms. One for us, and one for each of the triplets. And I kind of like the idea of them having a playroom. They've enjoyed it here, and we can always turn it into a guestroom later on."

"I'm certainly not going to deny my children anything. A house with five bedrooms it is."

"Well, maybe one with a few more. We need to have at least one or two guest rooms."

"What guests are we having over? Well, there's Sergei of course, but other than that everyone we know lives in town."

"The rooms will be nice to have for Christmas or Thanksgiving. In case Sydney and Nadia stay over, they each have a room they can stay in. And we can use one of the rooms for Isabelle and other future grandchildren, because I'm sure we'll be doing plenty of babysitting, whenever Sydney and Michael need a night to themselves."

"Don't say that." She looked at him a little confused. "As much as Sydney and Nadia don't like to know about our bedroom activities, I don't like knowing about theirs or even having it implied. And furthermore I can't believe you put Nadia and Eric in the same room. Putting Sydney and Vaughn in the same room is bad enough, but they're at least engaged." She broke out laughing.

"Jack, they're grown-ups. They're allowed to stay in the same room together."

"That's your opinion, not mine." She laughed even more, and then gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"You're adorable." He rolled his eyes at her. "Yes, you are. Just add it to the long list of great qualities about you." She kissed him soundly on the lips. "Now, getting back to the house. I wouldn't mind having a big kitchen and a big living room with a fireplace. I know it's LA, but I love fireplaces, and we've certainly had some nice times in front of the fireplace." She wiggled her eyes at him, and he laughed.

"Yeah, we certainly have. A fireplace it is. What about a room we can turn into a library? You love books, and even though I don't know if you'll be bringing all of the ones you have here, I'm sure you'll be buying plenty of books." She smiled broadly at how considered he was, and then she kissed him softly.

"Thank you. I'd love that." They laid on their sides caressing each others cheeks. "The house definitely also has to have a pool. And a Jacuzzi. Just think how much fun we'll have there after we put the triplets to bed."

"Oh we definitely have to have that." Their lips met, and Jack rolled Irina over, so she was lying on her back. They were too busy making out that they didn't hear the triplets coming over to them a few minutes later, looking at them confused.

"Mommy?"

"Daddy?"

"What's going on?"

Jack and Irina pulled apart immediately, and Jack's face turned red with embarrassment. Irina smiled lovingly and stroked Jack tenderly on the cheek, when they sat up. She looked at him.

"Busted. Time to tell them." She turned her attention to the triplets. "Come here and sit down." They walked closer and sat down on the blanket. "You know how I told you that I'd done something bad, which some people couldn't forgive me for?" They all nodded. "Well, it turns out that I have been forgiving for what I've done. But that also means that we have to move to America, because I have to work with daddy and your sisters." The triplets smiled and turned to look at their father.

"Does that mean we're moving in with you daddy?" Caitie was very excited as were her siblings.

"No." Their smiles immediately faded, and Jack thought he'd better explain faster. "You'll be moving into a house."

"Oh. Okay." That didn't help their mood, and Jack shook his head, and ran his hands over his face. Irina couldn't help but smile of his nervousness. Jack took a deep breath, looked at the triplets and smiled.

"I should've explained myself better. I live in a very small apartment. There's not enough room for the five of us. You might like to share a room now, but one day you'll want your own room. You wouldn't even have a room to share at my apartment. So therefore we're moving into a house. We'll be looking at one as soon as possible, and you can help us with that." The triplets smiled again, but they were a little hesitant.

"Does this mean you and mommy are back together? That we're going to be a real family?" Jack and Irina looked at each other smiling and then turned to look at the triplets.

"Yes, it does."

The triplets smiled even more, got up and threw their arms around their parents, knocking them back down on the blanket. They all snuggled closer together on the blanket, and Jack gave Irina a kiss that made the triplets giggle. Everyone else had watched their interaction and walked over to them a few minutes later. They all looked up, and the triplets were smiling from ear to ear.

"Mommy and daddy are back together."

"And we're all going to live together."

"We're all a family." Sydney and Nadia smiled broadly too.

"Yes, we are." The triplets got up and hugged their sisters, and then Jack and Irina got up too, and joined in the hug.

"Why don't we make a lunch basket and have a picnic at the playground?" They all nodded and the triplets were very excited.

After having had lunch, they had all had fun at the playground. Sergei was taking a break to get something to drink from their basket and Jack followed him. When they looked at each other Sergei smiled at Jack.

"Jack, I can't tell you how happy I am for you and Irina. The triplets too. I'm so happy that you're finally a family. It's great for all of you." Jack smiled back.

"Thank you. I was wondering if you'd consider moving to LA with us." Sergei looked at him surprised. "You're the one who've been with the triplets their whole lives, and it's clear to everyone how much you love them. They love you too, and I would like for you to still play a great part in their lives. I haven't talked it over with Irina yet, but I'm sure she feels the same way."

"Jack, I appreciate the offer, and believe me I'll miss them like crazy. But they're your children. I don't want to overstep my welcome."

"You won't. You were there for Irina when she needed you, and you've been there for the triplets every step of the way. You're family to all of us, and you can never have too much family around. You could get a place of your own in the area of our house, and then spend time with them whenever you'd like. It would make me happy if you'd accept the offer, and I know it would make everyone else happy." Sergei smiled warmly at Jack and nodded.

"It sure wouldn't interfere with my work, which I must admit I'd like to do more of. I'll definitely consider it. Thank you for asking, Jack. It means a lot to me." He put out his hand to Jack, who shook it.

"Don't mention it." They turned around smiling at everyone else, who was having a great time.

When they got home a few hours later, they all sat down by the computer together to look at houses. They looked at a few houses, and finally found the perfect one. It had eight bedrooms, plenty of bathrooms, a big kitchen, a huge living room with a fireplace, a room they could turn into a library, another one they could turn into an office, and a dinning room. It also had a basement with plenty of rooms, a big garden with a big pool and a Jacuzzi. It was overlooking the ocean, in a secluded area with the neighbors far apart. It was not that far from APO and also not that far from a good school. After making a few phone calls to the seller and bank, the house was theirs. They spent the rest of the afternoon slowly started packing some things down, finding out which things to bring and which things to leave, since they were keeping the house in Russia.

They were all in the kitchen making dinner later. Jack was at the stove and turned to Irina.

"Sweetheart, could you hand me the tomatoes?"

She looked at him smiling and then threw her arms around him, kissing him passionately and deeply. When they broke apart, they were both catching their breaths with Jack's face being a little flustered, and everyone else staring wide eyed at them. Jack looked at Irina a little confused. She took his face in her hands and whispered softly against his lips, so only he could hear.

"It's the first time you've called me sweetheart in years." He smiled back at her and gave her a soft kiss, before they returned with making dinner without paying any attention to everyone else. They were all still staring wide eyed at them, but then returned to making dinner as well.

Dinner went better than any of the other evenings, and the looks of love that passed between Jack and Irina didn't go unnoticed by everyone else. They spent a loving evening playing a cardboard game, and when it was usually the triplets' bedtime, Ethan looked up at his parents.

"Mommy and daddy can me, Caitie, and Maddie stay up a little longer and then sleep with you tonight?" Jack and Irina smiled at each other and then back at their son.

"Yes, you can." The triplets jumped up and down before giving their parents a hug.

They got in their pajamas, so that that was out of the way. They stayed up for awhile longer and when they started to get tired Jack and Irina knew it was time for bed. They could also use the sleep themselves having been through a couple of emotional days. They said goodnight to everyone else, who decided to stay up a little while longer. After they'd left Eric looked around at Nadia and Sydney.

"Well, if you need to talk to your parents, you know now that you can just walk right into their bedroom, without interrupting anything." He and Vaughn broke out laughing, Sergei rolled his eyes, while Nadia and Sydney picked up the cushions and started throwing them at them.

Upstairs the others had gotten under the covers. The triplets were nearly sleeping.

"Goodnight mommy and daddy, I love you."

"Goodnight mommy and daddy. I love you too."

"I love you too. Goodnight mommy and daddy." Both Jack and Irina smiled in the darkness.

"Goodnight kids. I love you too." Jack gave each of them a kiss, and then Irina gave them each a kiss.

"I love you all too. Goodnight." Jack gave Irina a soft kiss on the lips.

"Goodnight Irina. I love you." Irina smiled.

"Goodnight Jack. I love you too." The triplets giggled a little and soon all of them were sleeping, snuggled closely together.

Early in the morning Jack was woken by a small finger poking him. He smiled but kept his eyes shut.

"Daddy, wake up."

"Daddy's sleeping, Maddie." He felt a second small finger poking him.

"But you're talking, daddy."

"I talk in my sleep, Ethan." He had a hard time trying not to laugh, and the triplets were grinning at him.

"You're smiling, daddy." Now Caitie was poking him too.

"I smile in my sleep, Caitie." Then he felt Irina poking him too. They all kept poking him, but he still didn't open his eyes.

"Mommy, daddy's not waking up."

"Then I think you better tickle daddy." The triplets started to tickle Jack, and soon Irina joined them too. He was trying his best not to laugh, but he had a huge smile plastered on his face. Though, he still didn't open his eyes. The triplets were grinning.

"That doesn't work either, mommy."

"No, I can see that." She couldn't help but grin at Jack's expression and of the triplets too. "I think it's best if you shower him with kisses." They grinned and started kissing their father. After a few seconds Jack opened his eyes.

"Okay, I'm awake." He gave the triplets a kiss and then hugged all three tightly.

"Daddy, can we go to the playground now?" Jack looked over at the clock. 6.00 a.m. Then he looked at Irina, who was smiling, then the looked back at the triplets.

"Sure we can go."

"Can Sydney and Nadia come too?" Jack's smile suddenly grew bigger and more wicked.

"I think that's a great idea. Why don't you go to your room, and mommy and I will wake them up." All three got out of the bed quickly, excited about going to the playground. Irina was shaking her head at him.

"Jack, it's not fair to bring Sydney and Nadia. You should let them sleep."

"Oh no. If I'm getting up this early, so are they." They both laughed.

"Okay then. We better get up."

Irina barely got out of bed, before Jack threw her back down, climbed on top of her and pinned her down with his body. She looked at him totally confused, while he cocked an eyebrow at her.

"You can poke me and tickle me, but you can't kiss me?" He grinned at her, and so did she, before she captured his lips kissing him passionately. After a few seconds Jack broke the kiss. "Okay, I think we better get up, before a certain body part of mine gets up." Irina grinned again, gave him a quick kiss, before they got out of bed. They dressed quickly and then stood outside Sydney's and Nadia's door. Jack was just about to walk into Sydney's room when he stopped and turned to Irina. "Why don't you wake both of them up, and I'll go and help the triplets." She looked at him confused. "I don't want to go in there, in case they're…you know."

"Naked, Jack?" She grinned when he closed his eyes shut.

"Don't say that." She grinned a little more, and then gave him a kiss.

"I'll wake them up. You just go and take care of the little ones." She went into Nadia's room, and gently woke her up. "Good morning, sweetheart. I need you to get up, and be downstairs in ten minutes."

Both Nadia and Eric woke up. When Eric saw Irina, he pulled the covers up to his chin, even though he was wearing a t-shirt. Irina laughed a little at him.

"Morning, mom. What time is it?" She looked at the time. "Why on earth do I need to be up at this hour?"

"You'll find out. Just get up." She kissed her head and went to wake up Sydney. Nadia looked confused at Eric, who just shrugged.

"You better do as she says."

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one getting up."

"Yeah, I know." He snickered and Nadia threw her pillow in his face before getting up.

About ten minutes later both Sydney and Nadia met up with their parents and siblings down in the hall. They were still very sleepy.

"Okay, what's going on?" Sydney looked between her parents with half closed eyes. The triplets went over and took their sisters by their hands.

"We're all going to the playground." Before Sydney and Nadia could respond the triplets were dragging them out of the house. Jack and Irina followed grinning to themselves.

Once at the playground the triplets ran off towards the swings immediately. Sydney and Nadia were about to sit down, when Jack stopped them.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Having a seat, so we can watch our siblings have fun."

"No, you're not. You're going to go play with your siblings. Your mother and I will sit down and watch you and then come and join you in a few minutes."

"Dad, you have got to be kidding."

"No, I'm not. Now go."

"We're grown-ups. You can't tell us what to do."

"I'm still your father, so yes I can. Now go." Sydney turned to her mother.

"Mom, would you knock some sense into him?"

"I agree with your father. You're currently living under my roof, and as long as you're doing that, you'll do as I say. And I say the same thing as your father. Now go play with your siblings."

"You can't be serious." Jack gave them half of his famous Bristow death glare, and Irina gave them half of her Derevko death glare. Sydney and Nadia laughed. "Nice try. That's not going to work on us."

"Yeah guys, you don't scare us." Jack and Irina simultaneously crossed their arms, with Jack giving them his full blown death glare and Irina doing the same with her death glare. Sydney and Nadia took a step back, with Nadia stepping behind Sydney a bit. "Okay, now I'm a little scared. I think we better go, Syd."

"Yeah, let's go." They quickly got away from their parents and on the way to their siblings, Sydney was shaking her head. "They should not be allowed to use those glares on their own children. It's not fair."

Jack and Irina sat down on the bench laughing. They sat there for a while watching their children having a good time.

"That really is a beautiful sight."

"It sure is." They looked at each other and then sat there kissing each other for a while. Caitie noticed them from a far and started giggling. Nadia looked at her.

"What is it, sweetie?"

"Mommy and daddy are kissing." They all turned to look at their parents, and while Maddie and Ethan giggled too, Sydney and Nadia smiled broadly. A few minutes later Jack and Irina joined participating as much as their children. Caitie was standing beside her father and Nadia, and she looked up at Nadia. "Guess, what?"

"What?"

"Daddy is ticklish. See." She started to tickle Jack, who grinned a little.

"Let's see if you're ticklish too." Jack picked up Caitie and started to tickle her. She giggled and Nadia couldn't help but laugh. Jack looked at her. "Oh, you think that's funny? Well, let's see if you're ticklish too." He put Caitie down, grabbed a hold of Nadia and started to tickle her mercifully. She was laughing out loud.

"No, dad, stop. Stop. Dad, stop." She was laughing harder and harder and Jack kept on tickling her. Ethan and Maddie ran over to give their father a hand, while Sydney stood watching, laughing too.

"So, you think it's funny that your dad is tickling your sister? Well, don't forget that you're ticklish too." Irina started tickling Sydney, who started laughing as much as Nadia.

"Mom, stop. Mom." Irina showed as little mercy as Jack, and Caitie ran to help her mother. Soon it was the triplets who got tickled mercifully, and while Maddie and Ethan was tickling each other, Jack put and arm around Nadia.

"You know your mother is extremely ticklish too." They looked at each other, and then motioned for Maddie and Ethan to follow them.

Jack grabbed Irina from behind holding her down, while the others started tickling her. Sydney and Caitie quickly got in on the action, and Irina was screaming with laughter.

"Jack, I can't believe you. You know how much I hate being tickled."

"Yeah, why do you think we're tickling you."

They tickled Irina for a few more moments, and then they all tickled Jack. After a while they were all lying on the ground roaring with laughter. They stayed for a while longer before returning home with groceries for breakfast. Everyone else had gotten up by then and they all helped with breakfast.

As they were eating Irina looked around at everyone.

"I was wondering if everyone would like to come to the cemetery with me to visit my parents' gravesite?" They all stopped eating and looked at her. Slowly everyone smiled.

"Yes, mom, of course." Irina looked at Jack and received a warm and loving smile, and he answered her softly.

"Of course."

Later they were all set to go, but were waiting for Jack down by the stairs in the hall. When he came down they all looked at him oddly.

"Dad, what's with the suit? It's really warm outside." Jack was wearing a black suit, gray shirt, and a black tie.

"I've never had the chance, pleasure, or honor of meeting my in-laws. I thought the least I could do was to dress for the occasion." He gave Irina a warm smile, and she wiped a tear from her eye, before she gave him a soft kiss.

"Thank you." He gave her a smile and then a quick kiss before they all left.

They picked up some flowers on their way there, and when they got there the triplets put some flowers on their grave first. They'd been there before. Then Irina stepped forward with Sydney.

"Mama, papa, this is Sydney." Sydney stepped forward, and placed some flowers on their grave. After that Nadia stepped forward. "This is Nadia." Nadia did the same as Sydney, and then Jack stepped forward. "And this is Jack. The man I love more than anything. The man I told you so much about." She gave him a kiss on the cheek before he stepped all the way up to their grave. He knelt down putting flowers on their grave and spoke softly in Russian.

"Thank you for your daughter. I love her more than life itself, and I'll take good care of her. I promise." He stayed there for a few seconds more before standing up next to Irina, putting an arm around her. "Thank you for brining me here." She smiled back at him.

They stayed for a while longer. When they were nearly by the car Irina stopped.

"I'm just going to have a chat with the caretaker. I want to tell him that I'm moving and if he can pick up some flowers from time to time to put on their grave."

"Okay. You want me to come with you?"

"No, you all just go to the car and wait. I'll be there soon." They all nodded and as they went to the cars, Irina went to talk to the caretaker. After she finished, she walked to a gravesite that was out of sight from the cars. She knelt down by the tombstone. "Hi baby girl. I just came to tell you that I'm moving to America. Jack and I are back together. He got me a pardon, and I'll be working with him. I'll also be with my children. It'll probably be a while before I can come back to see you, but I've made arrangements to have flowers put on your grave from time to time. I wish I could stay longer, but I have to go. Bye sweetheart."

She kissed the tip of her fingers and ran them over the name on the tombstone. Anastasia Derevko. A girl, who only lived to be little over a year old. After that Irina got up and walked to the cars.

TBC