A/N: 52 chapters, over 60,000 words.
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5 years later:
My 3 year old daughter ran past me, giggling loudly.
"Hey," I called after her.
I picked her up and placed her on my hip. "What are you doing running around?"
"I'm playing with Jimmy!" She exclaimed, trying to wriggle out of my grasp.
I laughed. "You're playing with your cousin?"
She nodded, and stopped trying to wriggle out. "Daddy, will you put me down now? He'll get away and then I'll never win."
I chuckled and set her back down on the ground.
She took off running again and I called after her. "Hey, be careful."
She disappeared around the corner and I shook my head, chuckling.
My very pregnant wife came into the living room and smiled at me.
"Hey, Sam." I said and walked over to her.
She kissed me, then pulled away. "Have you seen our daughter?"
"Yeah, she's running around here somewhere." I smiled.
I put a hand on her stomach. "You ok?"
"Yes, Danny. I'm pregnant, not disabled." She rolled her eyes.
"I just worry." I responded, kissing her neck.
"Umm, get a room guys." My sister called to us.
I looked at her.
Tucker had his arms wrapped around her waist, and was getting ready to kiss her.
"Speaking of." I called back.
She laughed and I went back to paying attention to my wife.
"Where are your parents?" She asked.
"They're in the kitchen, spoiling their grandchildren probably." I laughed.
She chuckled. "I love you, Danny."
"I love you, too." I replied.
"Guys, it's dinner time!" My mom called.
Jimmy and my daughter came streaking past and into the kitchen.
"Hey, slow down!" Jazz and I called at the same time.
Tucker and Sam laughed at us.
"You guys are hilarious." Tucker said, giving Jazz a wink.
She rolled her eyes and kissed his cheek.
"Come on, baby, let's go eat."
I took Sam's hand and led her to the kitchen table.
The conversation at the table was both hard to follow and wonderful.
My mom, "Do you like your truck, Jimmy?"
My daughter, "Mommy, I want to sit beside uncle Tucker."
My father, "Pass the rolls, Jazz."
My wife, "Sweetheart, you should sit beside your dad and me for right now. Your cousin probably wants to sit with his dad."
Jimmy, "Mommy, why do I have to use a sippy cup? I'm too OLD for a sippy cup!"
Jazz, "Here you go, dad. Jimmy, settle down."
I looked around at my family. They were passing food around, arguing, loving each other…just having a good time.
I smiled, and said above everyone. "Merry Christmas."
The noise died down and slowly my family members picked up their glasses as well.
"Merry Christmas." They repeated, smiles on their faces.
We all drank from our glasses and silence settled around us for about ten seconds, then conversation resumed.
Sam took my hand.
"Thank you." I whispered.
"For what?" She whispered back, putting a roll on my plate.
"For believing that my family and I could work it out. Without your belief and persistence, the two of us probably wouldn't be sitting here surrounded by all the people who love us." I told her.
She smiled and kissed my cheek. "I love you, baby."
"I love you too." I responded.
Conversation around us was just as chipper as it was when we sat down to eat.
This Christmas was just like the four that came before it.
Everything was relaxed and great and it felt like home again.
A smile passed across my face, Christmas with my family felt normal again.
