co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo

Chris sat by the fire place reading a book like he'd become accustomed to since they'd come back to Canada after seeing Hope and Starr. He hadn't dated anyone. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind. And the what ifs began to play. What if he'd told her he'd wanted the baby? Would she have accepted his proposal and gone back to Canada with him? He looked at the calendar. December 24th. It didn't matter anymore anyway. She was married to Phil now and Phil would be the one helping her raise the baby. His baby. Their baby. He looked up when he heard a knock. He knew it was Wade.

"Hey man."

"Hey, I see you're reading that book." Wade replied.

"Yeah and thinking." Chris said as he headed back to his place.

"I know that feeling. I have been thinking a lot too."

"What if I'd told her I wanted the baby? Would she have picked me?"

"I don't know. You've been pretty bloody wishy washy this whole time. What's done is done Chris. We said we wanted them to be happy and they are. Leave it alone."

Chris looked at him. "Could you really leave it alone if Hope were pregnant with your baby?"

"If Hope was having my baby, I would be there for her and the baby. I would love that baby and want that baby. But I can't live my life with the what ifs"

"You should fight harder for her. I know you said you wanted her to be happy but you love her. You're ready for all that stuff that you get when you settle down. I think you should go to Houston and get her back."

"It's not that simple. She's in love with this Evan fellow. And I respect that. Respect her enough to let it go." Wade stood up and looked at his friend. "Chris, you can't have everything both ways. Either you want her and the baby or you don't. And you made it clear you didn't. So you need to let her go." He sighed and headed upstairs.

Chris thought about what he said. He had to see Starr. At least one more time. He had too and he had to talk Wade into going with him.

Starr smiled as she and Phil sat in the living room. Everyone else was kind of mingling around but Hope had insisted she sit down. Phil had gone in to keep her company. She rested her head on his chest and looked at her wedding rings.

"I still can't believe we're finally married." She said.

"Do you ever stop to wonder what would have happened if you'd have accepted my original proposal?"

"Sometimes but things happen the way they should as Hope would say." Starr smiled.

"Yeah I guess so."

"I think it's time for the first dance." Hope said walking up.

"Do we have to?" Starr whined. Hope smiled and nodded her head. "Okay."

"Good." Hope smiled. "Because I want some cake."

Starr laughed and followed Hope to where the cake was. She and Phil cut the cake and fed each other careful not to smash it in each other's faces. Hope had told her that she heard if a couple does that, it increases their chance for divorce. After they cut the cake, Starr threw the bouquet right to Hope and then she and Phil headed off to their honeymoon. Things were looking up for them. Her phone rang and it caught her attention when Chris' number flashed on the screen. She hit ignore. She wasn't going to let anything ruin her honeymoon and that day.

"Important?" Phil asked.

"No. Nothing is important today but you and me."

He smiled and kissed her softly. "So I got you something." He said. "It's not much but it's...something to help you always remember how much I love you."

She smiled as she took the box and opened it. "It's beautiful." She smiled bigger. She held up the necklace with a charm on it.

"I'm glad you like it. And it has enough room for us to add more to it as we have more children."

She leaned over and kissed him. "I love it and I love you."

He smiled against her lips. He'd always wanted this to be way between them. He'd never seen himself married to anyone else. And he'd always known she'd be the mother of his children. He just hoped that things always stayed this way and that nothing came along to ruin their happiness.

Hope sat on the sofa in the gate house after the wedding. It really had been beautiful. She couldn't wait for her wedding.

"You're deep in thought." Evan said walking out of the kitchen with some drinks. Beer for him, milk for her.

"I was just thinking about how excited I am Starr is married and how excited I am about our wedding." She smiled taking the glass.

"I'm excited that I finally get to spend my life with you. That's really all I've ever wanted." He said as he kissed her. "This time next year I'll be eating cookies left for Santa." He said as he placed his hand on her belly. He leaned in and kissed her softly and she sat her milk down and bolted toward the bathroom. He picked the beer up and walked into the kitchen pouring it down the sink. He looked up as she came back into the living room. "Are you okay?"

"Sorry the smell of the beer got to me." She sat back down on the sofa.

He got some gum and chewed it and sat down by her. "Not a problem. I will know from now on not to drink beer near you."

"Yep. I have a feeling more stuff will make me sick."

"Well, at least you will be living here from now on and I will know exactly what makes you sick." Hope smiled. "And I can watch our baby grow."

"I can't wait. Just a few days and we will be married. As my dad has said many times finally."

Evan laughed. "Do you regret that we broke up and lost that time?"

"No, I don't." She said. "Don't take this the wrong way but I'm glad we took that time. I'm sorry I dated Jay. But we need the time apart. I believe that."

He kissed her. "I happen to agree with you. I would never stand in the way of your dream and I knew how much college meant to you. You need that and I think the time was good for us."

"Good, then we agree."

"But I'm glad I got you back. And that we'll be together for the rest of our lives." She smiled. "C'mon, let's go to bed and we can get up in the morning and go see your dad." She nodded.

Chris sat at his computer looking at the confirmation. He'd booked two tickets to Texas. He'd tell Wade they were taking a trip and then when they were at the airport, he'd tell him where they were going. He had to see her. He had to. So he could finally let it go.

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