"You realise that we are going to have seven people sleeping at our place tonight?" Jubal raised his eyebrow looking at Maggie.
"Hey, it's Christmas we are allowed to have a full home" Maggie laughed softly.
Tyler had started talking to Brandon about something from school after Brandon thanked Maggie for her soccer drills, and Abby had joined them as they stood to the side a little bit, but still close to the adults. Gina looked at Maggie and Jubal.
"I have whole new level respect for you two… I mean honestly, I wanted to just slap, her a few times".
Maggie laughed, "Yeah I may have noticed you were also trying to hide that you were laughing"
"I can safely say that my wife would not make it as an FBI agent" Dan laughed.
"If it helps, I'm pretty sure Mags lets our her frustrations on a suspect when they try running from her" Jubal joked lightly, but the whole incident with Sam had once again really bothered him, he hated the way Sam spoke about Maggie even when she was standing right there.
"I'm sorry who's Maggie, I only know 'Your Girlfriend'" Gina joked which just had Maggie laughing.
"Yeah, I think I should change my name to that... I mean hey if she chooses to remind everyone that I'm Jubal's girlfriend then I'm not going to stop her" She smiled wrapping her arm around Jubal's waist. She knew that the conversation with Sam had really bothered him, hell Dan and Gina could see it, but they were all trying to help Jubal relax a little by joking about it.
Jubal smiled hearing Maggie, and he kissed her temple, and then her head pulling her even closer to him "See? It was seriously impossible to work with this woman, and not fall in love with her".
"You two are very adorable, and that's not a word I use often… Jubal you and Dan will have to arrange a night that we can go out for something to eat, it would be nice to hang out with you both without kids or ex's around" Gina smiled looking at Jubal and Maggie.
"When things calm down after Christmas we can definitely make that happen, thank you again for today, keeping the seats and standing by us" Jubal looked at Gina and leaned over hugging her as he really did appreciate everything they had done, they had gone out of their way to make sure that Maggie felt comfortable today.
"No need to thank us Jubal, you know that Dan and I think a lot of you and the way that Tyler spoke about Maggie I knew that we would love her" Gina smiled as she hugged Jubal and then hugged Maggie.
"Well thank you from me as well, you both made this a little less daunting. I'm sorry that we have to run, but my family is very anxious to meet Abby and Tyler" Maggie spoke as she hugged Dan before they all gathered heading out to their cars together, ignoring how Sam and her friends watched them the whole way. They all said their goodbyes before Maggie, Jubal and the kid's climbed into the car. Maggie had texted Mel to say that they were on their way home, and she smiled seeing a reply straight away which she read out to Jubal.
"We are going to be home before Mel and my parents, they are finishing up some things in the city, and then will join us at home"
The kids spoke the whole journey back to Jubal and Maggie's place filling them in on different things that had happened with their friends and at school since they had seen them even if it had only been a few days. Abby was so excited and full of energy talking about Santa, it was impossible not to smile while listening to her. When they got inside the apartment Jubal told the kids to go wash up before they had a snack. While Tyler and Abby ran to the bathroom Jubal gently took Maggie in his arms.
"Thank you for today, for not slapping my ex-wife" He joked kissing Maggie's neck as he stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her from behind, "For being amazing with the kids, for agreeing to have them stay with us tonight"
Maggie chuckled hearing Jubal about not slapping Sam, she ran her hands along his arms' leaning back against his chest "I honestly thought that Gina might slap her… But you don't have to thank me babe, I meant it when I said, that I would love to have the kids tomorrow. The kids are always welcome here" she titled her head back catching Jubal's lips in a sweet, soft kiss. They only broke apart when they heard Tyler and Abby coming back down the corridor with Abby carrying Sparkles.
"Can we have a snack now daddy?" Abby smiled looking at her dad.
"You know there is no doubting she is your daughter you both love your food" Maggie joked and laughed when Jubal started tickling her and that had Abby and Tyler laughing as they all made their way to the kitchen to get something to eat.
They were all sitting on the couch eating, Abby was sitting on her dad's knee with Tyler sitting between Jubal and Maggie. Maggie leaned back against the couch sipping her coffee as she watched the kids chatting constantly to their dad when not chewing.
"Hey, would either of you like to bake some Christmas cookies?" Maggie looked at the kids while speaking.
"You can bake?" Jubal raised his eyebrow looking at Maggie.
"Some things yes… My mum used to make them with us each Christmas when we were younger, said she hoped it was something we carried on when we were older" Maggie didn't have to say that her mum meant for them to make them with their own kids one day, she knew Jubal had realised what she meant as she saw it in his eyes as he looked at her.
"Can we make Santa shaped ones?" Abby asked looking at Maggie.
"I have some different cutters, we can make Santa, Christmas Trees, Reindeer, and snowmen"
"And we get to decorate them ourselves when they are ready?" Tyler looked at Maggie.
"We do... And I think that your dad might need some extra help from you when decorating his" Maggie winked playfully at the kids making them laugh.
"Hey! I can hear you and yeah you are probably right" Jubal laughed, he couldn't stop smiling, he was struggling to keep the emotions under control today, the way that Maggie was with the kids at the school, the way she handled Sam and now wanting to share this family tradition with his kids.
"Don't worry daddy we will help you" Abby smiled kissing his cheek.
"Well let's go into the kitchen, and you both can help me check to make sure that I have everything we need to make them" Maggie had been planning on making the cookies for Jubal to take to the kids, but this was even better.
The kids jumped up from the couch and followed Maggie into the kitchen, Jubal sat on the couch just watching them, he wanted to cherish this moment forever. Their first Christmas together was turning out better than he could have ever imagined and to have the kids be such a big part of it was making it even more special. This was already going down as one of his favourite Christmas's in a very long time. He took a quick picture of Maggie hunkered down between Abby and Tyler as they read the list of what they needed, he sent the picture to his sister.
'Mags is about to bake Christmas cookies with your niece and nephew'
Jen replied straight away, 'Warning next time before the cuteness. You let this one go, and I'm gonna have to slap you... She sent me a picture of you with the kids during the weekend. So glad the first sleepover went so well. Can't wait to see you all at Christmas'.
Reading the message had Jubal smiling even more, to know that Maggie had texted his sister a picture of him with the kids showed that they both really did get on well. Jubal had just slid his phone back into his pocket when their door opened, and he smiled seeing Mel coming in with her parents behind her.
"Hey, is Maggie and the kids not with you?" Mel asked as she sat down the bags she was carrying and walked towards the living room, and she stopped when she saw the view in the kitchen. Maggie and the kids had been laughing about something so hadn't heard Mel, she watched as Maggie was still hunkered down between the kids showing them something.
"Oh they are with me, but I don't think they notice anything except for the three of them right now" Jubal smiled as he looked towards the love of his life with his kids, who were so happy.
James closed the door a little louder than he had planned to and it caught the attention of Maggie and the kids who both froze a little when they looked up and seen the living room now with Jubal, Mel, Madeline and James. Tyler moved to stand behind Maggie a little and Abby wrapped her arms around Maggie's neck.
"Sorry, the door slipped out of my hand" James was afraid the noise had scared the kids.
"It's okay James, the kids are just a little shy around new people" Jubal smiled looking at James as he stood up and made his way over to Maggie and the kids.
Maggie stood up lifting Abby with her as the young girl was holding on tight to her neck, and she wrapped her arm around Tyler as she felt him standing so close to her, and she met Jubal at the breakfast bar.
"Abby, Tyler this is my mum Madeline, my dad James, and my sister Melissa" Maggie lay her head against Abby's gently as Tyler moved to stand beside his dad who wrapped his arms around him.
Mel smiled looking at them "Please, call me Mel… Only people, I don't know call me Melissa" she smiled softly at the kids. Madeline couldn't take her eyes off the four of them, they looked like such a family right now. She wasn't even sure, she could speak around the lump in her throat as she really had given up the idea that Maggie would have her own family.
James stepped passed his wife and daughter, and sat on the arm of the chair nearest to Maggie, Jubal and the kids as he smiled speaking softly "You must be the young lady that drew that card that's hanging on my fridge back home"
Abby was hiding a little in Maggie's neck, but she had turned her head to look at James when she heard him talking to her "You liked the card?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper.
"Don't tell Maggie and her sister, but I think it might just be my favourite Christmas Card ever" He leaned in pretending to whisper to Abby who was giggling hearing him. Jubal smiled watching James, you could see the cop coming out in him a little as he knew how to get down to the kids level and talk to them and the way that he spoke softly to them.
James looked at Tyler standing with his dad, "And you must be the young man who is interested in playing soccer. I hear Mel and Maggie gave you their file, has it helped?"
"Maggie told you about that?" Tyler asked quietly but his interest was peaked when he heard the mention of soccer, it really was one of his favourite things right now.
"She did… I even heard that you was fantastic at your tournament on Saturday morning" James smiled at Tyler. Maggie was so thankful her dad had clearly paid so much attention to everything they had told him as she could feel the kids ease into things with the way he was talking to them.
Melissa and Madeline was still standing watching it all, they knew that Maggie and her dad had a special bond, so they weren't surprised that James was the first to go over to the kids to try to help them feel more at ease with their company.
James leaned in talking to James and Abby this time "I promise that the two standing behind me don't bite… and if any of them including Maggie or your dad give you trouble you just come and tell me okay?" He winked at the kids who nodded their heads smiling as James stood up and looked at Madeleine and Mel, "Okay you two, stop staring at us… why don't you go and put the bags away while they fill me in on what we are doing here in the kitchen".