Jasmine, Maddy, and Michael were playing in the living room. They were throwing a tennis ball around to each other. Even though they weren't supposed to. Jasmine threw the tennis ball so hard that it ended up hitting a picture on the wall that was above the television. The glass frame shattered and the picture fell to the floor behind the t.v. stand. The three siblings looked at each other in horror.

"Ooohh," Michael said.

They heard a door open down the hallway.

"What was that noise?" Jon said.

Jasmine, Maddy, and Michael didn't say anything.

"I know someone heard me," Jon said.

Jasmine slowly walked down the hallway to her parent's room. She saw Jon standing at the door. She knew she'd get in trouble for what she did. Maddy and Michael stayed behind in the living room to listen to what was going on.

"What happened?" Jon asked.

"I…broke a picture. I didn't mean to! Me and Maddy and Michael were throwing the tennis ball around because since it's raining outside we had to play something and I threw the tennis ball and it hit the picture and it fell and it broke and it fell behind the t.v. I'm sorry, Daddy."

Jon picked Jasmine up.

"It's fine. It can be replaced," he said. "You're going to help me clean it up. Where's your brothers and sisters?"

"Maddy and Michael are in the living room," Jasmine said.

"Let's go get them," Jon said.

"Nooooope!"

Michael ran straight to his room and closed the door.

"You'll never get me!" he said.

Jon put Jasmine down and walked to Michael's door.

"I won't get you huh?" Jon said.

"Nope!"

Jon opened the door but Michael was pushing back.

"Dad, you have to try harder!" he said.

Jon pushed the door open with ease and grabbed Michael. He hoisted up over his shoulder and carried him to his bed.

"What're you doing?" Michael asked.

"You'll see!" Jon said.

Jon playfully slammed Michael on the bed and started to tickle him.

"Dad!" Michael squealed.

Jon stopped tickling Michael.

"Alright. Clean your room and get ready for dinner. I'm ordering pizza tonight," he said.

J.J. and Aiden were too occupied with their Wii U to pay attention to what was going on.

"Don't cheat," J.J. said.

"I'm not cheating," Aiden said.

"You two help your brother clean the room," Jon said.

J.J. paused the game and continued to fuss at Aiden.

"I'm gonna body slam you," J.J. said.

"I'd like to see you try!" Aiden said.

Jon walked back down the hallway. He assumed Maddy and Jasmine went into hiding in their room since they were nowhere in site. They were still going to clean up the mess regardless. Jon knocked on Jasmine's door.

Jasmine opened it and looked up at her father.

"Hi, Daddy," she said.

"Hello. You're still going to help me clean up in the living room, right?"

"Yup. Let's go."

Jasmine grabbed Jon's middle finger and walked with him to the living room. Maddy quickly joined them.

"Alrighty," Jon said. "Let's grabbed the dust pan and the vacuum cleaner."

The three of them cleaned up the broken glass on the floor behind the t.v. Jon told all of the kids to not throw anything else in the house. They all agreed and went back to playing in their rooms. Jon went back into his room and ordered pizza and hot wings for dinner.

Adriana had Tia in her arms and was watching cartoons with her. Tia was staring wide eyed at the television set. It was if it was foreign object to her. Jon poked her cheek and tickled her stomach. Tia smiled and waved her hands around.

"She's getting so big," Jon said.

"She has dimples just like her papa," Adriana said.

Jon shot Adriana a threatening glare.

"Stop talking about my dimples," Jon said.

"Never. What happened in the living room?"

"Jasmine, Maddy and Aiden were throwing a ball in the living room. Jasmine threw the ball too hard and it hit a picture on the wall. I put the picture in the photo album. It was just a picture of the cat."

"I think Tia will try to beat up Cookie."

"I'm sure. Can I hold her?"

Adriana gave Tia a kiss on her cheek then handed her to Jon. Jon stood Tia on her two feet while holding her.

"You make Daddy happy, you know that? I never thought that I would be the one delivering you but I did. And even though Daddy was scared as hell I was also excited to see you. I love you and your brothers and sisters so much."

Jon held Tia close to him and gave her a hug.

"Daddy loves you very much," he said. He kissed her cheek.

Adriana always enjoyed it when Jon would have a heart to heart to the kids when they were babies. She also reminded herself how truly lucky she was to have a husband like Jon. She was thankful for the brief encounter she had with Jon in the grocery store when they were younger. She was also thankful that they happened to meet each other years later. Adriana did remember touching a boy's hand. Little did she know she'd meet him again at school and become friends. Then boyfriend and girlfriend.

Then husband and wife.


1992:

"I love ice cream," Jon said. "You want some of mine? What did you get?"

"No, thanks. I got chocolate chip ice cream," Adriana said.

Mrs. Germanotta had made them each a bowl of ice cream. Jon was eating mint chocolate chip ice cream. They were sitting on the couch enjoying their treat. Instead of playing outside in the heat, they chose to stay inside.

Jon finished his ice cream and waited for Adriana to finish hers. When she finished eating, Jon took their bowls and spoons and carried them to the kitchen. He climbed a stool so that he could reach the sink. He washed out the bowls and set them in the drainer next to the sink. Jon hurried back to the living room so he could join Adriana again.

"Miss me?" he asked.

"You just went to the kitchen!" Adriana said.

"But did you miss me?"

"Yes. I did."

Jon wrapped his arms around Adriana's waist.

The two of them gave each other a kiss on the lips.

"I love you," Adriana said.

"I love you, too," Jon said.


Present:

Jon and Gus were more than glad to see their grandparents after work. Nonno and Nonna had made oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies, much to their delight. And the children's of course. Brie, Tyler, J.J., Aiden, Maddy, Michael, and Jasmine were all sitting in the living room enjoying the cookies. Adriana was in the backroom with Tia. Jon walked down the hallway and stepped into the room.

"Hello. How was work?" Adriana asked. She had been laying down next to Tia who was on her way to sleep.

Jon crawled on the bed and gave Tia a kiss then Adriana a kiss.

"Tiring," Jon said. He finished his chocolate chip cookie and laid his head down. "So…damn…tiring. Man, I'm going to get some sleep. I need rest."

"Then let's sleep. It's the weekend and it's only five."

"I'm gonna hang one of the rugrats by their toes if they disturb us," Jon said.

"Sleepy time," Adriana said to Tia.

Jon started patting Tia's back. Tia began to slowly close her eyes until they were completely shut. Adriana drifted off to sleep and Jon did as well.

All three of them sleep soundly for a couple of hours.

Fortunately, nobody came in to disturb them.