Jacob watched in fascination as both Jarod and his daughter went about cooking dinner. Neither spoke or even made a noise to the other, yet both somehow seemed to know what the other needed. Handing the other a spice or utensil that the other needed at the moment, yet they didn't make eye contact of any kind as they worked.
Beside Jacob, Sydney also watched in awe as one of them would cut vegetables and hand them to the other as the other one would extend their pot or hand to receive the item.
Watching this together both Sydney and Jacob glanced at each other through the side of their eye.
Their wordless communication came with a bond that only twins could really understand. Oddly enough, these two people that meant so much to them, were exhibiting a connection that could not be described as 'normal'.
Jarod stirred the big pot of pasta that he was boiling and scooped out a piece of pasta to taste. Brows furrowing in uncertainty, he again scooped out another piece and proceeded to turn and place the piece of pasta against Parker's mouth as she continued to chop vegitables.
Parker automatically opened her mouth and accepted the offering without any odd looks to Jarod or any remark whatsoever. Surprising Jacob and Sydney with this action was definite, but when Parker chewed the piece of pasta and grimaced with a tilting of her head, both were awed at the fact that Jarod without questioning her added salt to the pasta and again brought out another piece for her to taste.
Parker again opened her mouth, and as she began to chew. Cracking a small smirk was the only indication that she gave towards the taste of the pasta.
Amazingly Jarod clearly understood the almost imperceptible sign. Quickly he stirred the pasta one last time before taking the pot to the sink and draining the water from the pasta. Shaking the big colander so all of the water was drained away he began to walk to the stove, at the same time Parker stopped chopping and actually met Jarod at the stove.
Jarod placed the pot down and Parker took the pan full of condiment that had been slowly cooking. Parker poured the condiment on top of the Pasta as Jarod stirred. Proximity between them was basically none, which neither of them commented on or even fidgeted about.
Jacob knew in a second that something had happened between the both of them.
Explanation enough was the level of intimacy they both seemed to share with the other. Almost as if they were……a married couple.
Both Sydney and Jacob watched until all of the food was ready.
Parker began to call the children to the kitchen to help her bring all of the food to the table. Catching Jarod staring at her with a smirk on his face as he fiddled with a wash cloth in his hand, she smirked back at him with a smoldering look in her eyes. Jarod ducked his head and Parker allowed herself a smile at his shyness. With that she brought the pasta to the table.
Finally, when Jarod looked up, he noticed the two men standing in the doorway. Blinking twice he remembered quickly that there was suppose to be two. Soon his mind reminded him of how he came to find this out and promptly blushed as he stared at the two men.
Jacob and Sydney just smiled back at Jarod.
Straightening up he approached them. Jarod still held himself with confidence yet it seemed that he still seemed a child to both Jacob and Sydney.
"I would like to apologize for my behavior earlier….."Jarod started slowly, "I had no right to…"
"You had every right in the world Jarod." Jacob interrupted with a smile.
Jarod's brow furrowed at this.
"Jarod……I am the one who should be apologizing……….for everything." Saying this as his face contorted to one of sadness and unexpressed heartache.
"I am the man…..(Jacob's eyes began to water)….who took you from your home."
Jarod said nothing yet his eyes spoke volumes. The emotions that those words provoked made Jarod almost shatter.
"I am the REASON why this all started……….and there are no words……..that could ever……that could ever…." Jacob waved his hand as tears now freely spilt down his face.
Jarod's eyes burned, but he couldn't cry. Crying now would mean to cry for the rest of his life. Believing that if he started……he would never stop.
Jacob tore his eyes away from Jarod's and mashed his lips together. Shaking his head he knew that there was nothing that could be said that would make anything better. For those who lived in this house knew that words meant nothing and that actions spoke volumes.
"I know I can never make anything right with you Jarod…." Jacob said without looking at Jarod.
Continuing to remain quiet Jarod just continued to stare at this man before him.
Jacob turned his head and looked straight into Jarod's eyes.
"But I swear that I will try till the day I die how truly I am sorry."
Standing there quietly staring Jacob in the eyes, he knew that he meant the words he spoke; meaning it from the bottom of his heart.
"I will as well." Sydney said from beside his brother.
Turning his head to look at Sydney he couldn't help but feel how weird the circumstances truly were in his life.
Moments passed before Jarod was able to compose himself to responding to Jacob and Sydney's oath.
Looking down at his hands he fidgeted before talking.
"I ah……..I always thought of you….." looking up and realization came to him in the form of two men smiling at him which caused him to smile at the slight mistake, "of both of you…….as my father." Ducking his head as the last words were muttered.
"We are Jarod." Jacob said in a smooth calm voice.
Jarod raised his head with a slightly open mouth and such need in his eyes that Jacob stepped forward and placed his hands on Jarod's shoulders.
"Jarod……you are the husband of my daughter, the father of my grandchildren, the boy whom I have been raising since he was a child. For all of those definitions Jarod, what are you to me?"
Honesty in his words was all Jarod could comprehend. He had begun to cry despite all of his best efforts not to.
"Son." Jarod whispered out.
"Never forget that Jarod. No matter what anyone tells you. You are our son."
Jarod's tears came out harder and he couldn't seem to breathe correctly as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat.
Jacob then did something he had never done. He slowly wrapped his arms around Jarod and hugged him.
Before Jacob knew it Jarod was hugging him back fiercely as his head buried itself into Jacob's neck and shoulder.
Jacob just hugged him back tighter.
"I love you Jarod. You have always been my son. And I am soo very proud of you."
It took about two minutes before Jarod began to relax and let go of his hold on Jacob. Pulling back slowly Jarod turned to look at Sydney.
Sydney took one step toward Jarod. Jarod did the same and engulfed Sydney in a similar hold that he had had on Jacob.
Sydney kissed the top of Jarod's head.
"I could have never asked for a better son then you Jarod. And I love you very much."
Jarod felt like he was drowning. He had wanted to hear those words his entire life. He had always doubted that Sydney loved him. To know that he actually loved him- it was the greatest feeling that he had ever experienced aside from finding out about his children.
Slowly the embrace ended as Sydney and Jarod smiled at each other.
"Jarod may I ask you a question?"
Jarod's looked curiously at Sydney before answering.
"Of course."
Smiling widely Sydney asked a question that he had waited a long time to ask.
"Do you want to go fishing tomorrow morning?"
At the question Jarod's smile seemed to light up the room. Eyes shining like a little boy on Christmas Day. A small tear escaped his eyes, showing how much emotions were playing still in his mind.
"I would love to."
"We have to wake up early. The early bird catches the worm." Jacob said to Jarod.
Jarod just nodded his head with great enthusiasm.
"I can do that."
Sydney wiped away the remnants of Jarod's tears with a smile on his face. In that moment...Jarod felt whole.
Parker came back to the kitchen from the other side and was about to pick up the two bowls of salad left behind, when she saw the sight before her. Always a curious woman, she began to walk over to the three men to see what was going on.
"Now what are you three up to?" She said as she walked up to her father and wrapped her arm around his back as she leaned in to kiss his face.
Jarod still looking like a happy child was so excited that he answered rapidly.
"We're going fishing tomorrow."
Parker couldn't help it. She rolled her eyes.
"Oh God! Now he's going to obsess over fishing."
Jarod gave her one of his most wicked grins.
"Well we'll have to wait and see……now won't we."
Both Sydney and Jacob watched the very electricly charged exchange between the two and the smoldering looks that both gave each other. The tension between them was very noticeably high Sydney noted with satisfaction.
Jacob just let go of his daughter and gave her a kiss on her forehead.
"Well I think I'll go sit down and make sure my grandchildren don't misbehave. Due to their parentage they do seem to be inclined to get into to trouble."
Parker swatted at her father because of the wide grin that spread across his face.
Sydney leaned over and kissed Parker on the cheek and then exited with his brother beside him.
Parker and Jarod watched them both leave then slowly both acknowledged the other's presents. Enchanted by the other they just stood there looking at each other for a few moments before Jarod finally acted.
Leaning forward he placed a small kiss on her lips. Both closed there eyes at the contact. Gradually he pulled away and stared into her beautiful star sapphire eyes. Then he spoke so close to her lips that it felt like another kiss.
"Thank You."
Letting her eyes glance at his lips for a second then back into his eyes she registered his words.
"For what?"
Bit by bit a small smile formed his lips. Gazing into her eyes like he had never seen them before, he couldn't find the words to express everything. Words seemed inefficient to encompass all that he wanted to say. Feelings he wanted to convey to her couldn't be uttered to the capacity he was feeling. So he settle for just two words. Simple and full of meaning.
"For everything."
And there it was again. An intense moment between them that was born from Parker's realization of just how much this man meant to her. Discovering how deeply this man was connected to her had caused cataclysmic events to occur, and a rejuvenation of her soul.
After everything that she had done to him, after all those years the man she called father held him captive- he was thanking her.
Tears welled and the mood changed swiftly. Ducking her head as the salty water splashed down her cheeks and she sniffled, she didn't know how to respond to him. Didn't know why he could thank her for anything. Telling herself that she should be apologizing to him.
But such things she knew she should never say. These words that she wanted to say meant something that she wasn't ready to admit, yet at the same time were so true she felt like begging for forgiveness for all the wrong that had been done to him. Explain to him that the vision of his death had taken her into a depression that she had never before felt. Not for her mother……not for Thomas.
Stripped of something that she had not known was so vital to her being. Broken inside by the cruel truth that his death had been her fault, she had not been able to live with herself. Falling back on her age old pattern of drinking and closing herself off from the outside world.
Hands tilted her chin up, and his eyes were glued to hers.
"Why are you crying?" He whispered out.
What could she say to him? How could he possibly understand how hours of a dream had felt like a lifetime of sufferance without him? How could she explain to him that he should never thank her?
Then it happened.
Something that no one……no one would have expected.
It just happened. The words leaving her mouth without her consent. Emotions speaking from her heart because of the intensity; the feeling having been bottled up for so long that the words needed to be said.
Words that she hadn't been able to say to Thomas.
They just flew from her mouth in a whisper.
"I love you."