A/N- Thanks for the comments! I'll probably post on Thanksgiving, but if you don't hear from me because I forgot, check back on Friday. Have a happy week!
Chapter 68
Piph tries to eye the box. "What is it?"
"It's a Cartier trinity bracelet. Johnny! It's too expensive," Brenda said.
Johnny stared at her lovingly. "I see it as a promise for things to come."
Jason smirked. "Yeah, you're not mushy."
Johnny grinned. He's not even gonna try to deny it.
She slipped it on. There are three bands of eighteen carats white, yellow, and pink gold. They represent love, fidelity, and friendship. "It's perfect. Thank you." She looked a little pained.
"What's wrong."
"I kind of went overboard and you're going to think I'm crazy."
"No…" Jason said making Johnny glare at him.
"Should I be scared?"
She nodded.
"This is going to be good," Piph said making Kelly giggle.
Max handed Liz some hot chocolate making Jason glare.
"What? We were married and all. I know what she likes."
"Max…"
Cam grinned. "If Max keeps teasing dad, Tess will be mine sooner than later."
Liz jerked around as her jaw dropped while Jason grinned. "You called him dad."
Jake chuckled.
"Well, it was inevitable."
Aidan smiled mischievously. "I feel left out." He winked at his father before gazing at his stepfather. "Maybe I can call you, Daddy Jason."
Cam snickered as Jason shook his head. Surprisingly, Lucky laughed. He's used to his son's quirky sense of humor.
Johnny stood and spun Brenda around who is laughing. When he saw the keys, he almost had a heart attack.
"I'm scared to ask," Tracy said.
When Johnny finally stopped kissing Brenda and put her down, she led him through the room.
"I got Johnny a car, but not just any car."
"This I have to see," Jake said following them. Soon, everyone moved to the front of the house where a sportscar sat with a big bow on it.
"Holy…." Francis muttered. "She didn't."
Johnny's eyes pricked with tears. "She did."
Jason rolled his eyes as his friend ran towards the convertible version of a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 convertible Bond car.
"Wow," Maximus said.
Brenda is spun around again. "You love it?"
"I do. Thank you. I—this is insane, Brenda, but you can't have it back."
Her laughter and everyone else's filled the air.
"Can I take it for a spin?"
"Only if I'm riding shotgun."
Piph handed Brenda her coat and the bow was removed before the couple took off.
"We may never see him again," Jason said.
Francis chuckled. "I don't blame him." That is Johnny's dream car.
Piph's brow raised and once the boys were back in the house, she focused on Jason. "Is that car big enough to have sex in? Because I don't think they'll be back for a while."
"Piph!" Jason yelled. "I—ugh…" He hit his head like he was trying to knock the image of them out of his mind and the girls lost it.
Robin doubled over as Patrick cracked up. Leave it to Piph to say something scandalous.
As the din died down, Liz sat in a corner and watched her family and friends interact. It was the perfect weekend full of laughter and love. Sarah and Francis realized they were standing under the mistletoe and Liz held her breath. Francis is a good man, and she wishes Sarah could be blessed with someone like him. The distance won't work, and she doesn't think her sister would consider moving here permanently.
Sarah grinned and then kissed Francis firmly on the mouth before winking and walking away, making Francis's head tilt. Of course, Piph had to drag Jason over there and she was rewarded with a kiss on the cheek and a hug. The cutest though, was when Cam handed Alana to him and he kissed her on the cheeks and then blew on her neck making the baby laugh and giggle.
Everyone's mouth dropped open when Maximus stopped in the doorway and pulled someone into his arms and kissed her.
Max and Milo were floored.
"This is Victoria, my girl."
The woman, who Liz guesses is in her mid-fifties with long black hair and blue eyes smiled and Tess immediately welcomed her.
The boys join their father and greet her.
"Well, I'm in shock," Liz said. She can't believe he hid someone right under their noses.
"Why do you look mad?" Piph asked.
"I had matchmaking plans of terror for him." She got up and handed Maximus his Christmas present with attitude. She had been waiting for the right moment to spring it on him.
"Why are you mad at me? Don't you like her?" he said eyeing his woman who is across the room sitting next to Drew and the baby.
"She's not the problem. You are."
Max waved for Milo to come closer and half the room joined them.
"What did I do now?"
"Open it."
He opened the envelope and almost died laughing. It's a profile with a picture of him and the caption, don't be scared of my little gun. "I should spank you for that." It's marked private because he does have a reputation to uphold.
"You couldn't catch me."
"That is the best present ever," Piph said. "It's too bad you can't use it."
Victoria had joined them and thought it was hilarious. "I'm sorry for ruining the fun."
"Don't worry about it. I'll just torture Milo or Cam," Liz quipped.
The two men sputtered as she turned to laugh.
A few hours later, Liz and Jason headed to the cottage to take a nap before dinner. When they went into the living room, she handed him a box.
"That's your present."
"Why do you look so nervous?"
"It's a big step."
His hand lovingly glanced her face. "Do you want to take it back?"
"I'm scared but I think it's right. Open it."
Now, he's nervous. When he finally got to the box, he opened it and there is a weird contraption in there. "I have no idea what this is."
She laughed. "It's our future."
"What do you mean? Is it a car part?"
She shook her head as her eyes filled with tears. "It's my IUD."
He is at a loss for words and just stares at it for a few minutes before placing it on the table. "You mean it?"
She nodded as a tear ran down her face.
"You're not doing this just to please me?"
She shook her head. "I want a baby, with you."
Before she can blink, she is lifted in the air and he kissed the hell out of her.
"Well, that might have done the trick."
He grinned. "Not even close, but I can make it happen."
She laughs as he carries her to the stairs. "The doctor said I'm healthy and will just have to watch my blood pressure and take care of myself." She won't be under the stress she was under with the boys, so that will help a lot.
"Thank you. It's the best present."
"You're the best present."
They kiss and then he moves up the stairs and makes love to his wife.
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi
Everyone is excited about New Year's Eve. Elizabeth went over to Drew's place to see if he needed anything. Alexis had already gone home.
"Hey."
Drew smiled. "Hi. Come on in."
She moved inside and smiled when she spotted Alana playing with some blocks on the floor.
"She's teething, so she's a little grumpy."
"My poor baby."
Upon hearing her voice, Alana whimpered and then got up and ran to her.
"Hey, sweetie," Liz said before hugging her and then rocking.
"I'm gonna go pack her bag."
"Okay."
After a few minutes, Danny left his room and smiled when he spotted her. "Hi, Aunt Liz."
"Hey. You excited about tonight?"
"Yeah. I wish mom was here though."
"I bet you miss her a lot."
Danny nodded. "Dad said it's okay to feel sad. I think he feels bad that he doesn't remember her."
"He does. Does that make you upset?"
He shrugged. "He watches videos with us. I don't think Alana remembers her well, but she stills when she hears mom's voice."
Liz kissed the top of Alana's head.
"Did you get along with her?"
Drew smirked as he stood just beyond the doorway.
"Well, not all the time, but we did when it counted. It's hard when you like the same men. Sometimes, you get jealous, but your mom was a fighter, just like me. In the end, we managed to put our differences aside and put our kids first."
"I'm glad that we're here. I think my dad is happier. He's laughing more now."
"I hope he's happy too. Your dad had to make a lot of adjustments after the surgery, but he's doing much better now."
"Yeah."
Drew came out and smiled when he saw that Alana is asleep. "We're ready."
"Let's get a move on then."
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi
Elizabeth had to laugh. The boys couldn't decide what to do first and their attention was all over the place.
Robin sat next to her. "I have a surprise."
Liz's eyes widened. "What?"
Robin texted and a few minutes later, Liz gasped.
"Emma!"
The young woman ran to them and Liz warmly embraced her.
"It's so good to see you."
"You look the same."
Liz grinned. "God, I love you."
Robin laughed.
Cam stopped what he's doing. "Who is that?"
Michael grinned. "That's Emma Scorpio."
"Damn… She looks good." It had been a long time since he had seen her.
Jake chuckled. "Does Cam like?"
"Cam loves."
Aidan just rolled his eyes. When he spotted two of his friends coming inside, he ran to greet them.
"He asked two girls?" Michael said.
"Aidan is a future playa," Cam said making them laugh. "I'm going to go say hello."
"You do that."
Liz noticed Cam moving toward them and turned. "Emma, do you remember Cam?"
She nodded. He was always cute, but now he's very handsome. "Hi, Cam."
"Hey."
They hugged.
"Want to hang with us?"
She looked around him and smiled when she saw Michael. "Sure."
He grabbed her hand and led her away.
Robin and Liz eyed each other.
"I think my Cam is smitten."
Robin grinned. "She'll be in Rome studying until the summer, and she just broke up with her boyfriend."
Liz's brows wiggled. "I thought he'd end up with someone else, but that isn't happening, so I wouldn't mind if Emma were in the picture."
Patrick handed Robin a drink. "Where did Emma go?"
Robin pointed and then giggled when Patrick's eyes narrowed.
"He's a good boy," Liz said.
"He's still a boy."
"Technically, he's a man," Robin said.
"You're not helping," Liz said making Piph laugh.
"I'm going over there," Patrick said but is quickly thwarted by Robin.
"You go over there and no sex for New Year's"
His eyes widened. "You wouldn't."
"Oh, I would. Your daughter is an adult. Leave her alone."
He mumbled under his breath and moved over to where Jason and Steven are playing pool.
"What's wrong with you?" Francis asked.
"Cam is macking on my daughter."
Jason grinned.
"Don't smile. It's not funny."
"He won't find it funny if he has a daughter," Drew said.
Jason grimaced. "I didn't think about that, but my daughter will never leave the house."
Johnny rolled her eyes. "You know Liz won't allow that."
Brenda ran over and tugged him away.
"He is so whipped," Patrick said.
Francis chuckled. "He was a goner before the car, but now, forget about it. His single life is over."
"I'm still in shock," Jason said. He never saw that coming. Brenda is an acquired taste and he never thought Johnny would have the patience for her.
"Me too, but she's good for him."
"If you say so…" Jason just hopes that Brenda doesn't break his friend's heart.
"I overheard her talking to Robin."
Everyone stopped and focused on Patrick who laughed.
"She is just as whipped. I think she's in a different place now. She doesn't date a lot, but I think she's lonely. You want different things as you get older."
"That's true," Francis said.
"Are you going to be able to live with that, Jason?"
He shrugged. "I guess. I care about them. I just hope it won't end badly."
Michael joined them.
"Is Cam behaving?" Patrick asked.
Michael laughed. "I had to leave. It was gagworthy. They have a date tomorrow night, by the way."
"Ugh…"
They laughed at Patrick's pain.
"You know, she could far worse than Cam," Jason said.
Patrick rolled his eyes, but he does like Cam.
"You should ask him to you for a spin in the Ferrari, and then you can use the time to threaten his life," Francis said.
Drew snickered.
"Ugh, no. I still have a gun," Jason said.
"Oh, like if it was your daughter, you wouldn't be doing the same thing," Patrick said.
"That's beside the point. Cam is my son and I have his back."
Patrick tried not to smile.
Johnny had heard the end of that. "Sniff, sniff, so touching."
"Shut it, O'Brien," everyone said at once.
"Tough crowd…"
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi
The rest of the evening was fun. Francis found out the hard way that Tracy and Sarah are very good at bowling. His wallet was dented by the time they finished with him.
Piph beat Jason as well which was the talk of the evening.
Liz moved over to her husband who is sitting by the kids drinking a beer. "Are you pouting?"
"She cheated."
Liz shook her head.
"She smacked my ass on my last turn, and I got a spare. It would have been a strike."
Liz smirked. "I thought that was an excellent move on her part."
"Whose side are you on, wife?"
"Yours, baby, but if I don't let Piph grope you every once in a while, she might full-on attack you." She slipped onto his lap. "We can't have that. She might hurt you."
"I'm yours."
"You better be."
They kissed and then a groan rose as the others caught a glimpse.
"There are children here," Monica said trying not to laugh.
"Look away," Liz said before returning to Jason's lips.
"Time out," Alana said, making the couple tear apart and stare.
"Good girl," Drew said. Danny had been teaching her different phrases.
"What are you teaching her?" Liz asked.
"Stuff," Danny quipped making her laugh.
"Can she play cards yet?" Francis asked.
"She eats them still, but I'm going to train her to sit on your lap and then tell me what you have," Drew said.
"Tired of losing?"
"Hell yeah."
Jason stood and then let Liz slide down his body. "We have one hour, so party up.
Liz smiled when he drags her to the pool table, and they play one round which got so crazy with their cheating that they were surrounded by the adults.
"If he sinks this one, he'll win," Piph said to Liz giving her a pep talk. "Use what your mama gave you to stop him."
Liz snickered. "I have a better idea."
While Jason lined up his shot, she moved over to Johnny.
"I need a favor?"
"Get Brenda to flash Jason so he'll miss."
Johnny grinned and then pulled Brenda over who was talking to Kelly.
"What's up?" she asked.
They explained and she cracked up. "I'll do it."
Liz returned and right when Jason is about to hit the cue ball, Benda pushes her out of the way and lifts her top and Jason flinched, sending the ball into a perfect position for Liz.
Everyone cheered.
"That was dirty," Jason said playfully glaring.
Liz shrugged and grabbed her stick. "Now, let's finish this." She eyed the eight ball. It is a perfect shot. She is going to beat him, and she can't help but smile.
She leaned over and then Johnny tugged Jason closer.
"Are you going to do something?"
He sighed.
"Don't let her win that easily," Patrick said.
"Yeah, get her Daddy Jason," Aidan said who is enjoying this immensely.
Jason smirked. "Fine, you asked for it."
Liz pulled the stick back and Jason ripped his shirt off, much to Piph's delight.
"Damn…"
Liz stood tall and bit her lip. Her man looks delectable, and she can't believe he stooped so low.
