"Dad, what is wrong with you?" Emily hissed as Wes patted her shoulder reassuringly.
Jack smiled and looked toward Emily, chuckling, "Well, apparently nothing."
"Jack!" Sharon interrupted. "Stop."
Tiffany looked around the room, "Oh, I thought you would all be excited for us! Another beautiful baby, just proof of our love."
Rusty, who had moved to the back of the group and now stood next to Sharon and Andy, mumbled, "Is this one going to be named Ricky?"
Andy heard him, and turned away, trying not to bust out laughing. He patted Rusty on the shoulder in a "good one" acknowledgement.
Everyone was silent, and the tension could be cut with a knife.
"Tiffany, Jack, come in," Sharon motioned.
Ricky stopped Jack, as Tiffany, bounced ahead, excited to talk about the baby. Wes and Emily stayed behind while Lauren went in search of Meghan.
"Dad, come on? Another kid? Are you kidding? You barely see your wife and kid as it is now," Ricky started in on Jack.
Jack nodded, "I know this doesn't seem like the best timing. I wasn't exactly thrilled, but Tiffany is over the moon. She really wants a sibling for Emily. I guess I just didn't realize it was going to happen."
"Because HOW it happens is such a mystery, Dad!" Emily exclaimed shaking her head. "Seriously! Four kids-two of which will be under two, and you're in your mid-60's married to a 31-year-old. Dad, it's like a bad after school special."
"Watch it, Emily," Jack pointed, "this is my life and my family."
"Yeah," Emily nodded ticked off, "we know. Discard the first family for the second." Wes patted her shoulder in support. He knew she was worked up.
"I'm not discarding you. I'm here! I came to eat with you. I invited the four of you out dancing, and you didn't want to go," Jack stated.
"Dad, you're here because your ex-wife felt badly for her kids. She didn't want us to choose between our whole family or you. You refuse to acknowledge Meghan, and that's unacceptable to me. We're not interested in some good time with you; we're interested in a dad who wants to see his kids and their families. Now, the decision is yours. You can leave with your new family and sulk, or you can pull your act together to spend the evening with your current kids and pretend to enjoy their families and lives," Ricky told him.
"I agree," Emily pipped up, "Dad, Ricky's right."
Jack pursed his lips and shook his head, "Guys, I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm drowning again. Tiffany wants us to have this kid and be a family. I thought I'd be retiring, and now I'm going to have two more kids to support. She wants us to decide-L.A. or Vegas and wants us to stop the going back and forth. I'm covered up in problems and don't need them from you!"
Ricky, Emily, and Wes exchanged glances, and Emily piped up, "Well Dad, sounds like you have some growing up to do. Yes, you have responsibilities. You had them over 30 years ago too and chose to ran. We're the product of that, as is Mom. This time, you can run again and screw up another family, while making all of us even more upset with you, or you can get your act together and finally grow up. It's sad that I'm 31 and telling my dad to grow up. It's sad that my little brother has a better grasp on family, and has a beautiful one, than you do. He's taken in a kid that isn't his, and you don't want to be around the four you have. Decide, Dad. Go or stay tonight-I don't care, but it's Christmas, and we are going to enjoy it."
Emily turned to walk off, and Rick and Wes were left with Jack. "Jack," Wes started, as he'd remained quiet, "Emily may be your daughter, but she's my wife. You aren't going to upset her. This is our first Christmas married, as it's Ricky and Lauren's first Christmas married too. Sharon and Andy have gone out of their way to invite her ex-husband and his new family here-my goodness, she invited a lady you were CHEATING on her with for years. She's a saint to even speak to you! Emily comes first for me, and if that means I ask you to leave, I will. So, as she said, and as Ricky has said, DECIDE."
"Jack, baby! Aren't you coming? I was telling Sharon all about the baby!" Tiffany yelled from the kitchen.
Jack rolled his eyes and sighed, "I'm coming, baby," and turned to the guys with his hands up, "Alright, I'll stay for tonight. I don't know if I can do this with Tiffany, but I'll stay tonight for you kids."
"Dad," Ricky started again, as Jack started to move, "No offense, but if you can't 'Do' this with Tiffany as you said, why would you even allow yourself to marry her and get her pregnant again? In my opinion, you walk out on her, and that's it. I'm done. I can't speak for Emily, but don't ruin another family. You walked out on us, and that was totally crappy. We did well in spite of it because Mom worked like a dog and was two parents in one. Tiffany is nice, but you and I both know, she can't handle that. Don't mess up two more kids because you want to crap out on them."
Wes nodded, "Emily will most likely agree with that. Jack, man up."
Both Wes and Ricky turned and walked back to the kitchen where they heard Tiffany gushing about the new baby. It was going to be a long night.
"So, we didn't even know that when we were in New York I was already pregnant!" Tiffany was gushing to Sharon, who looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole and die. "I should have known-you know how it is, Sharon-my chest was getting bigger already. You remember how Jack loves a big chest, and I should have known with that." Sharon gave Andy a huge "help me" signal with her eyes. Tiffany wouldn't stop talking and had no idea how inappropriate her conversation was. Andy had been trying to get her out of the situation, but Tiffany kept talking. Andy was having trouble now not laughing at the recount Tiffany was providing. She had no filter.
"Oh sweetheart, I think you need to check the roast," Andy interjected, smiling at Sharon. "Gus gave you alone the instructions for it."
Sharon mouthed a silent "Thank you" to Andy as Tiffany turned her head away. "Tiffany, I'm glad you are excited, but I need to check on dinner," and with that, she turned away saying, "Andy, can you give me a hand."
Sharon and Andy knew the kids had stayed in the hall with Jack, which was party why they had indulged Tiffany. Andy walked up behind Sharon and put his hands on her waist, whispering in her ear, "I know you said you'd pay me back for tonight, but umm, you might be the one in need of some pampering. Wow, just when you think it can't get worse," Andy chuckled. Sharon hummed in agreement and patted Andy's arm on her waist. "You're right," she whispered to him, "I don't know how I ever married him either." Andy chuckled behind her and as they heard the kids coming in from the hallway, pulled back and turned around to stand beside her at the stove.
"Mom, are we eating first or opening presents?" Rusty asked. "It's not me-it's Meghan who is about to tear into everything, and Baby Emily isn't far behind."
Sharon smiled at Rusty who was on kid duty, keeping out of Jack and Tiffany's conversations.
"Rusty, we'll eat first," Sharon replied. "Tell Meghan she better watch out because Santa is watching."
Rusty grinned, "Really?"
Andy pointed at Rusty, "Hey, he's watching you too, remember that. He might have to make some returns tonight off that list you just happened to email me if you can't play along."
Rusty pulled up his hands, "Okay, I give. I just never had a family as a kid to do the Christmas thing," he tried the sympathy card.
Andy rolled his eyes, "Yeah, you've played that one before. I think the last six Christmases have more than made up for it. I know I've, or Santa, has nearly gone broke at least the last three years for you kid."
Rusty grinned, "Too bad Santa can't eat any cookies this year," and turned and walked away.
Sharon chuckled as Andy gave her a glare, "Mrs. Claus, you're mean."
"Apparently, not mean enough. I invited my ex-husband and his replacement family to dinner," she smiled as she kissed his cheek and walked away.
Wes had gone in search of Emily and found her outside on the patio.
"Hey," he said walking up and putting his arms around her, standing behind her, "I'm sorry. He's awful."
Emily sighed, "You think I'd learn."
Wes started kissing up her neck, "Well, you see the good in people. One of the things I love about you. You are just like your mom like that. She's the same-not many would spend Christmas with their ex."
Emily turned in Wes' arms, "Well, good thing we won't ever have to worry about that, hmmm?" and kissed him sweetly.
"Most definitely not," he smiled, deepening their kisses. "I'm here to stay. I mean, someone has to keep you from murdering your own dad. Who better to keep tabs on you than an LAPD detective?"
Emily giggled, "Come on. Let's go inside and rescue Mom and Andy from Tiffany. Good grief, another kid? Did you hear Rusty's snide joke?" she said as the two walked, arms around each other back to the house.
Wes shook his head, "No," he smiled, "what did he say?"
Emily laughed, "He asked if this one would be named Ricky."
Wes groaned into Emily's hair, "I wouldn't put it past them."
As the two entered the house, they found Sharon putting things on the table, keeping as far away from Jack and Tiffany as she could. Jack was actually sitting in the living room holding the baby and talking to Meghan. Meghan liked Baby Emily, which wasn't hard. The baby was adorable; it wasn't her fault her parents were clueless. Tiffany was trying to help Sharon and Andy with the food. Emily surveyed the scene and decided to rescue her mom and Andy.
"So, it's looking like this baby will be born around the 4th of July! How exciting," she was telling Sharon who wished she was anywhere but here. "Hopefully, Emily and I can be moved out to LA by then. I don't know what I'll do about work with two babies at home, but Jack does such a good job providing everything we need," she gushed.
Sharon just hummed a "Um hmm."
"Let's eat, everyone," Andy said as he clapped his hands together. Gus had done a great job with the roast, and Sharon, Lauren, and Emily had worked on the sides and dessert. Andy sat at the head of the table with Rusty on one side of him. Sharon had opted to sit on Andy's other side, instead of at the other head of the table. She wanted to be as far from Jack as she could be. Wes was next to Rusty, with Emily next to him. Ricky had taken the spot at the head of the table, opposite Andy, to keep Jack from that seat. He had Jack next to him, followed by Tiffany, and then Meghan was next to Sharon. At least Tiffany liked kids enough that sitting next to Meghan was about as safe a spot as she could have.
"Dinner looks so wonderful!" Tiffany gushed. "I barely know how to cook, and Jack doesn't cook much for me."
Jack grumbled, "Well, it's hard when trying to juggle work and family."
Sharon just smiled at Andy with that comment and took a bite of her vegetables. Jack always made everything about himself.
Dinner went as well as it could. Sharon made sure to keep the conversation flowing, asking the kids about their lives. Much of what they said, she already knew, but it was really for Jack to hear. Once everyone had finished eating, Sharon suggested they move to the living room for presents before Meghan exploded. The little girl was so excited for some presents. Santa was of course coming on Christmas, but the family had agreed to just do some of the smaller family presents now. Sharon and Andy had talked to the kids and decided they would do their "Flynn Family" gift exchange on Christmas morning. Really, this was a chance for the kids to give Jack a gift and possibly the reciprocal if Jack had actually brought them gifts. The gifts for Meghan were a couple Sharon and Andy were letting her open because she couldn't contain herself with the thought of Christmas.
Tiffany, to her credit, did get presents for the kids. Sharon knew none of that was Jack's doing. However, the gifts were a little off.
"Oh, Dad, Tiffany, thanks," Emily smiled, not a full smile, holding up the framed photo of Jack, Tiffany, and the baby. "We can put it up at the house."
Tiffany gushed, "I just love pictures and didn't think you had one of the three of us! I took a few nice ones of you and Wes in New York that I framed for our house. There's also one in there of Emily for your house."
Ricky and Lauren exchanged glances, noting they had the same gift. Tiffany was sweet, but her idea of one big happy family just wasn't hitting the mark.
"Tiffany, thanks," Ricky nodded to her.
The two couples had discussed their gift to their dad and Tiffany and had pooled their money to get them a couple of nice restaurant gift certificates. Both were in LA; they knew their dad wasn't much of a cook, so they thought that was the least they could do for Tiffany.
"Oh, Jack! This will be wonderful! We can go out for dinner and dancing with these," Tiffany smiled. "Kids, thank you! If only you could join us. We'll have to get a sitter for the baby, and gosh, we'll have to use these before we have two babies at home. Life with babies-it's so overwhelming! Sharon, I don't know how you did it. Are you thinking of having more kids now with Andy?" Tiffany asked innocently.
Emily grabbed onto Wes' knee to keep herself from screaming. Was Tiffany serious?
Andy and Sharon were sitting on the couch together with Meghan, and they looked at each other with a "Is she serious?" look.
"Tiffany," Sharon said very nicely, "no, we won't be having more kids."
Rusty couldn't help himself from laughing. He quickly got up and excused himself for a moment. Andy glared at him, a twinkle in his eye, almost laughing himself. As Rusty walked out of the living room, Andy heard him mumble, "Only thing worse than old people married would be old people surprise baby."
Emily tried to change the conversation quickly, but knew it would be hard with Tiffany focused on babies. "So, Tiffany, how many kids are you planning to have?" Emily knew Jack would say zero, but well, that was a long-gone idea.
"I'm so hoping to have three or four, if Jack can keep up! We made one beautiful one so far!"
"What?" Jack turned, shocked at Tiffany's admission.
"Okay," Andy stood, and clapped his hands together, interrupting that thought, "Meghan, I think you found your presents for tonight. Let's get you up to bed. Gigi and I promised to read you a story so the rest of this group could catch up."
Meghan stood and said goodnight to everyone, and Sharon and Andy followed her up. Rusty bid good-bye to the group, anxious to get out of the Jack mess. He left, claiming he wanted to meet up with Gus, even if he had to wait for him all night.
Tiffany looked right at Emily, "Emily, so, when are you going to quit your job and settle down with some kids?" Tiffany giggled. "I mean, you aren't getting any younger! You're my age, and look at me-two kids now. If you have some kids, we could have playdates all the time!"
Emily had a shocked look on her face. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss children with Tiffany and her dad.
"Tiffany, Wes and I are very comfortable with our lives now. I enjoy working."
Wes smiled at her and held her hand. Tiffany turned toward Ricky and Lauren, probably intent on asking the same thing, but Jack interrupted her.
"So, guys," Jack started, "we were thinking about having a birthday party for Emily next week before you all leave. I know things are not good with us, but I hope we can work on that. For the sake of your little sister here, can I count on you to come? We can just do something at the apartment."
Tiffany smiled and jumped in, "Oh please come! Your sister loves you and needs you around. We don't really have other friends here, and it would just be awful if Emily didn't have anyone there to celebrate her birthday."
Emily, Wes, Lauren, and Ricky exchanged glances. None of them wanted to go, but they were feeling the pressure.
"Is Meghan invited, Dad?" Ricky broke the silence, getting to the problem he was having.
"Well, Ricky, if you insist-" Jack started to say, but was interrupted by Tiffany.
"Of course she is! Jack, how could you exclude her?" Tiffany scolded. "Meghan is a delightful little girl. Besides, these two girls, Meghan and Emily, will be growing up like sisters."
Wes rolled his eyes at Emily, who returned the look. On the other side of the room, Ricky and Lauren exchanged a glance, "Well, I'm not sure about that," Ricky started, and Lauren patted his hand to just drop it.
"Tiffany, we will try to be there," Emily piped in, looking around and speaking for the group, "Just text us the details."
The group talked a bit longer. Jack had made such a mess of his life, and it was clear that he and Tiffany barely discussed important topics. Topic after topic, the two seemed to be at opposite opinions or shocked at what the other had to say. It was clear, even to these newly married couples, that Jack had clearly jumped into his marriage to Tiffany.
"Wes!" Andy came bounding down the stairs, phone in hand. "Let's go. Provenza just called me, and I told him I'd fill you in. Double homicide."
Wes stood, pulling Emily with him. The two excused themselves from Jack and Tiffany and walked to the kitchen for a moment of privacy. Sharon had followed Andy downstairs, getting the case details from him, but she was staying home for at least a little while longer.
"So," Wes started talking to Emily as he collected his stuff, "Fun evening," he mocked.
Emily rolled her eyes, crossing her arms, "Isn't it always where Dad is concerned?"
"Sorry I have to go," Wes said as he pecked Emily's lips. "Are you okay here? I can ride with Andy and leave the car."
Emily nodded, "I'm fine here. I think Dad will be leaving soon, and yes, thanks about the car. I'll head home shortly."
Emily and Wes kissed again briefly before she walked him to the door where Andy and Sharon were waiting.
"Be careful you two," Emily nodded pointing at Wes and Andy. "I'll bring some food tomorrow if you are still there," she said to the group.
With that, Wes and Andy turned to leave. Sharon put her arm around Emily and said softly, "Things going okay?"
Emily nodded, "Okay, but my, it's so hard, Mom. I just hate this all. It's draining."
Sharon nodded as the two walked back to the living room, "I'm sorry. I know it's draining-all too well."
As the two walked back into the room, Tiffany was explaining a story about one of the first dates she and Jack had five years ago. Emily reached over and held Sharon's hand; it couldn't be easy to hear.
Sharon jumped in when she had a chance, "Ricky, Lauren, I think Meghan would like to say goodnight." Truth be told, Meghan was fast asleep, but Sharon knew the kids were having a tough time, and the evening needed to end.
"Dad we are going to call it a night," Ricky stood, pulling Lauren with him. "We hope you have a Merry Christmas," he said as he extended his hand. Jack shook his hand back.
Tiffany walked over to hug everyone. Jack scooped up Emily off the spot they had setup for her to sleep. She'd passed out on the floor holding a large stuffed animal Meghan had picked out for her.
"Oh, I'm getting too old for this," Jack chuckled. "Not young like we used to be, are we Sharon?"
Sharon looked at Jack and with a neutral expression, "No, Jack, we aren't, but then again, I'm not having to take care of a baby on a regular basis. What's the saying-kids will keep you young? I guess you're taking that to heart these days?"
Jack threw a look at Sharon and chose not to comment. He didn't know what to say; he was old and now he had at least another 18 years of solid parenting ahead of him.
Emily said goodbye and followed the crew to the door. Sharon waited for her in the kitchen. Once Emily walked into the kitchen, she smiled at the sight. Sharon was making tea for the two of them.
"I can't believe sometimes he's my dad," Emily started. "Mom, what is he thinking?"
Sharon smiled a bit, "He's thinking he's still 20 until responsibility hits him in the face. Then, he starts thinking like he did when he was 30-he thinks about running away like he did then. The question will be whether he'll act like he did when he was 30 and run, or whether he will finally grow up and take on this second family he's created now that he's in his 60's. I'm sorry sweetheart. I wish he was a better example."
Emily smiled, "At least I have one amazing example, right here. Thank you."
The two were quiet for a few moments, stirring their tea. "Want to tell me what else he said that is bothering you?" Sharon asked.
Emily sighed, "How do you do that? You always know."
Sharon shrugged, "It's a gift," and smiled.
Emily sat on the stool and had some of her tea, "Tiffany asked when I would quit working and have kids. It's not something we've discussed much. We still don't' even live in the same state. I don't know how to answer that. Mom, how do you know when you are ready? What if I'm not ready to stop working? We've talked about someday having kids, but as Tiffany told me-I'm not getting younger. So, I guess I'm just thinking about that. Someday, we'll have to decide-decide where to live, when to have kids, where to raise them, how many to have, and work. Wes' job isn't easy, and my schedule is awful. Kids don't seem to mix with any of that."
Sharon smiled and listened, "Emily, you'll know. When you are ready, you will know."
Emily looked back at Sharon, "So you knew with me?"
Sharon looked down at her tea, "Well, sometimes surprises turn out to be the best thing you could have never imagined. That was you. We had talked about waiting several years, but then, surprise, there you were. I then knew. Now, I'm not going to pretend your dad was excited at first, but I knew it was the right timing, even if it wasn't the timing I had planned. You and Wes already talk so much more than your dad and I ever did. You'll know."
Sharon's phone rang, interrupting their talk. As she picked it up to look at it, she smiled.
"Ahhh, Andy," Emily chuckled, knowing the caller by Sharon's smile, "Who would ever think you could smile like that when getting a murder call?" she chuckled.
Before answering the call, Sharon raised her eyebrows at Emily, "Who would have ever thought a rough, tough LAPD Detective would ever be giddy talking about watching a ballet?" and answered her phone before Emily could reply. Emily chuckled.
Sharon, after getting the details from Andy, collected her stuff to head to the office. She and Emily said goodnight to Ricky and Lauren and left at the same time.
"Take care of the guys, Mom," Emily hugged her mom. "I'll stop by with breakfast, okay?"
"Thank you," Sharon told her. "Just remember what I said. You'll both know when you are ready."
Emily nodded and got into her car. Before pulling out, she mumbled, "Dad, why did you have to ruin the last 30 years?"
