A/N: This is NOT the end, my fic only ends when you see "The End" at the
bottom. :)
~
Chris sat in his living room, Dungy by his side, as he watched a movie. Things had changed a lot in the last year and a half. Of course, in his opinion they were changes for the better. His life was great now, and he had no regrets, not a single one. Ok, maybe he had one regret, he never should have taken back Jessica. Luckily he had remedied that problem before it was too late.
After Jessica had left, he and Stephanie had officially gotten together, and decided to get married. Surprisingly, their families had not been surprised by this revelation, which shocked him and Stephanie. They had gotten married in a fairly small ceremony right on the ranch. And they had lived happily together ever since.
He saw Stephanie come down the stairs, coming back to finish the movie with him. He smiled at her as she came down. She came over to the couch, and picked up Dungy and put him on the floor. She sat back next to Chris, and he pulled her into his arms. She went over willingly and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Luckily I've seen this movie before," she said.
"Everything ok?"
"Yeah, just needed a change that's all."
"Oh, ok."
They sat silently as they finished the movie. After it was over, Chris turned off the television. They sat together, for a little while, just delighting in each other's company. He loved when they could be quiet, there wasn't much quiet in their lives anymore.
"What do you say we go to bed, you look exhausted," Chris whispered.
"Yeah, that does seem like a good idea."
They headed upstairs, and got ready for bed. It was a little while later, when Stephanie lay in Chris's arms, that thoughts started running through Chris's mind. He was quite the thinker, and sometimes thoughts would pop into his head before he could stop them.
"Steph, do you ever regret meeting me?" Stephanie lifted her head and looked at him in confusion.
"Why do you ask?"
"I don't know, just thinking nonsensical things."
"No, I never regret meeting you. In fact, I thank God every day that I met you."
"Just making sure," he said, laughing softly.
"Do you ever regret dumping Jessica?"
"Absolutely not. You're ten times the woman she was. And I can actually stand you."
"I love you Chris."
"I love you too."
Chris woke up the next morning, and much like most mornings, he was alone in bed. He yawned and stretched his arms. He heard noises downstairs, and knew that Stephanie was already in the kitchen. He hopped out of bed, changed into a pair of jeans and a shirt, and headed downstairs.
He walked into the kitchen, and saw that Stephanie was moving about, making breakfast. Dungy ran up to him and jumped against his legs. He bent down to pat him on the head. Chris walked over to Stephanie and kissed her on the cheek.
"Good morning, why didn't you wake me up?"
"You looked so cute asleep I didn't want to wake you up."
"You should have, I hate waking up to an empty bed."
"Well, I couldn't, not with him," Stephanie said, pointing towards the table.
"He can't help it."
Chris walked over, and picked up his four-month old son, Carter Hunter Irvine, from his high chair. The little boy was covered in baby food, and Chris took him over to the sink. He grabbed a wet paper towel, and cleaned the little boy's face and hands.
"Carter, were you being difficult for Mommy?" Chris asked the baby, who just gurgled and smiled in response.
"Don't gang up on me," Stephanie said laughing at the mutual pouts they were sending her way.
"We're sorry Mommy," Chris said in a baby voice. Stephanie rolled her eyes at him.
"I'm going to take a quick shower, do you think that you can handle him all by yourself?"
"Of course I can, I'm his father."
"That's what I'm worried about," she said, leaning over to kiss him.
"Thanks, you're too kind."
"I know."
Stephanie left the room, and left Chris and Carter all by themselves. Chris looked down at the little boy, who was resting his head against his chest. He looked up at Chris with curious eyes. Chris smiled and kissed his forehead.
"What should we do while Mommy's not around?" Chris said. Carter just clapped his little hands together.
"Well, that's not much of an answer. You want to go see the horsies, huh Cart?" Carter just looked up at him happily, grabbing Chris's long hair in his little hands.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Chris took Carter and together they walked outside. Chris walked over to the stables and Carter started getting excited. He loved to look at all the horses, and was fascinated by them all. Chris walked over to Othello, and Carter clapped his hands.
"You want to ride a horsie Carter?"
Chris shifted Carter to one arm, and opened Othello's stall. Othello was very well-trained, and walked out of the stall obediently. Chris led Othello out into the ring just outside the stable. Chris then set Carter onto the bouncy seat that they had set up outside. He happily bounced as he watched Chris saddle up Othello.
As soon as Chris was done saddling Othello, he walked back over and picked up Carter from the bouncy seat. He carefully set Carter on Othello, and held him as Othello started trotting slowly around the ring. Carter smiled joyously, his eyes wide in glee. Chris laughed at his expression.
"What are you doing to my baby?"
"He's just going for a little ride."
"Are you sure you have him, I don't want Othello to run off?"
"I have him, don't worry."
"Well, he's had enough, take him down."
"You're no fun Steph," Chris told her, and he took Carter back into his arms.
"How come he's riding Othello, what about Caesar or Hamlet, they're ponies?"
"They're not trained, Othello would never run off."
"Even so, he's a baby, he shouldn't be on a horse."
"I was holding him, you want to go for a ride?"
"No."
"Yes you do, come on."
"No, I don't."
"What do you say we pack a lunch, go out on the trail, and have a nice afternoon?" Chris said, smiling in a way that was hard to resist.
"Don't look at me like that, you know you're hard to resist."
"Is that a yes?"
"I guess so."
"Great," he said walking over to her, he kissed her lightly, "Knew you would give in."
"Shut up."
They walked inside and made a lunch for themselves, and fixed a couple bottles for Carter. Chris went out and saddled up Ophelia for Stephanie, as Stephanie got some things together for Carter. They packed up their things, and tied them onto their horses.
"Are you going to ride with Carter?" Stephanie asked.
"Sure, here, hand him to me," he said, mounting the horse.
Stephanie handed Carter to Chris. She smiled as Chris gave Carter a kiss, causing the baby to giggle happily. He put Carter in front of him, and kept one hand around Carter, while the other held the reins. Stephanie climbed on her horse, and they were off.
They rode fairly slowly since Chris had to keep a hold of Carter. Stephanie and Chris laughed at Carter's wide eyes took in their surroundings. This was his first time taking an actual ride. They stopped at one of the small hills that dotted the land. They tied the horses up to some old dead trees, and took their stuff out.
They set up a blanket onto the ground, and laid out all their stuff on it. Stephanie sat Carter down in her lap as Chris came over and sat next to him. They had their lunch, and just sat there, enjoying the closeness, as Stephanie fed Carter a bottle. Chris sat down close to her, and wrapped his arm loosely around her waist.
"I love it up here," she said.
"Me too."
"Remember when we came up here after you got back with Jessica?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I think it was then that I knew I was in love with you," she told him.
"You knew you were in love with me, why didn't you tell me?" he asked, looking at her.
"Because you seemed so happy with her, I didn't want to complicate your life, and besides we had always said we were just friends."
"You should have told me. I was already having my doubts about her, and if I had known you loved me, I probably would have broken it off with Jessica."
"But I couldn't, I didn't want to ruin your relationship."
"Oh well, we figured it out before it was too late didn't we?" he said, leaning over to kiss her.
"Yeah, just in time...sweetie, when did you know you were in love with me?"
"I knew I was in love with you the day I told you. I was with her, and she was talking badly about you, and I just realized that I loved you and I didn't want her talking like that about you."
"When do you think you fell in love with me?"
"Why all the questions?" he asked in jest. Carter finished his bottle and Stephanie held him up to burp him. As soon as she was finished, she turned to Chris.
"Just curious."
"I think it was when you rode off with Ophelia on the anniversary of Hunter's death. I was worried sick about you, I didn't know where you could be."
"Yeah, do you love me more than you loved Jessica, when you were happy with her?"
"Yes," he said without having to think about it, "I married you didn't I?"
"But if Jessica had stayed, if you had worked things out than we never would have met and never would have-"
Chris cut her off, pressing his lips against hers. They kissed for a long moment before Carter pulled on Chris's hair. He pulled away and looked into Stephanie's eyes. He could see the worried expression on her face.
"I would've found you. I believe that we were meant to be, and I would have found you. And as for me loving you more...when Jessica left, I went on, albeit being sad about the whole thing, I went on. If you ever left me Steph, I would cease to exist, simple as that, I wouldn't be able to go on."
"I love you."
"I know you do. Do you love me more than you loved Hunter?"
"I loved Hunter, I did, but I don't think I knew him long enough to know if I would have loved him forever. You, I know you, I've been friends with you, I understand you. I was with Hunter for two years, I'm going to be with you forever, so I think I love you in different ways."
"And him?" Chris said, looking down at Carter, who had somehow fallen asleep.
"Well, he's too cute not to love," Stephanie said, laughing.
"I can't imagine my life without the two of you in it."
"And I can't imagine mine without my boys."
"It's funny how everything turned out."
"How so?"
"We were brought together by heartbreak and sadness, and from that, we found happiness."
"You're so right. But I wouldn't have had it any other way."
"Neither would I."
~
Chris sat in his living room, Dungy by his side, as he watched a movie. Things had changed a lot in the last year and a half. Of course, in his opinion they were changes for the better. His life was great now, and he had no regrets, not a single one. Ok, maybe he had one regret, he never should have taken back Jessica. Luckily he had remedied that problem before it was too late.
After Jessica had left, he and Stephanie had officially gotten together, and decided to get married. Surprisingly, their families had not been surprised by this revelation, which shocked him and Stephanie. They had gotten married in a fairly small ceremony right on the ranch. And they had lived happily together ever since.
He saw Stephanie come down the stairs, coming back to finish the movie with him. He smiled at her as she came down. She came over to the couch, and picked up Dungy and put him on the floor. She sat back next to Chris, and he pulled her into his arms. She went over willingly and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Luckily I've seen this movie before," she said.
"Everything ok?"
"Yeah, just needed a change that's all."
"Oh, ok."
They sat silently as they finished the movie. After it was over, Chris turned off the television. They sat together, for a little while, just delighting in each other's company. He loved when they could be quiet, there wasn't much quiet in their lives anymore.
"What do you say we go to bed, you look exhausted," Chris whispered.
"Yeah, that does seem like a good idea."
They headed upstairs, and got ready for bed. It was a little while later, when Stephanie lay in Chris's arms, that thoughts started running through Chris's mind. He was quite the thinker, and sometimes thoughts would pop into his head before he could stop them.
"Steph, do you ever regret meeting me?" Stephanie lifted her head and looked at him in confusion.
"Why do you ask?"
"I don't know, just thinking nonsensical things."
"No, I never regret meeting you. In fact, I thank God every day that I met you."
"Just making sure," he said, laughing softly.
"Do you ever regret dumping Jessica?"
"Absolutely not. You're ten times the woman she was. And I can actually stand you."
"I love you Chris."
"I love you too."
Chris woke up the next morning, and much like most mornings, he was alone in bed. He yawned and stretched his arms. He heard noises downstairs, and knew that Stephanie was already in the kitchen. He hopped out of bed, changed into a pair of jeans and a shirt, and headed downstairs.
He walked into the kitchen, and saw that Stephanie was moving about, making breakfast. Dungy ran up to him and jumped against his legs. He bent down to pat him on the head. Chris walked over to Stephanie and kissed her on the cheek.
"Good morning, why didn't you wake me up?"
"You looked so cute asleep I didn't want to wake you up."
"You should have, I hate waking up to an empty bed."
"Well, I couldn't, not with him," Stephanie said, pointing towards the table.
"He can't help it."
Chris walked over, and picked up his four-month old son, Carter Hunter Irvine, from his high chair. The little boy was covered in baby food, and Chris took him over to the sink. He grabbed a wet paper towel, and cleaned the little boy's face and hands.
"Carter, were you being difficult for Mommy?" Chris asked the baby, who just gurgled and smiled in response.
"Don't gang up on me," Stephanie said laughing at the mutual pouts they were sending her way.
"We're sorry Mommy," Chris said in a baby voice. Stephanie rolled her eyes at him.
"I'm going to take a quick shower, do you think that you can handle him all by yourself?"
"Of course I can, I'm his father."
"That's what I'm worried about," she said, leaning over to kiss him.
"Thanks, you're too kind."
"I know."
Stephanie left the room, and left Chris and Carter all by themselves. Chris looked down at the little boy, who was resting his head against his chest. He looked up at Chris with curious eyes. Chris smiled and kissed his forehead.
"What should we do while Mommy's not around?" Chris said. Carter just clapped his little hands together.
"Well, that's not much of an answer. You want to go see the horsies, huh Cart?" Carter just looked up at him happily, grabbing Chris's long hair in his little hands.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Chris took Carter and together they walked outside. Chris walked over to the stables and Carter started getting excited. He loved to look at all the horses, and was fascinated by them all. Chris walked over to Othello, and Carter clapped his hands.
"You want to ride a horsie Carter?"
Chris shifted Carter to one arm, and opened Othello's stall. Othello was very well-trained, and walked out of the stall obediently. Chris led Othello out into the ring just outside the stable. Chris then set Carter onto the bouncy seat that they had set up outside. He happily bounced as he watched Chris saddle up Othello.
As soon as Chris was done saddling Othello, he walked back over and picked up Carter from the bouncy seat. He carefully set Carter on Othello, and held him as Othello started trotting slowly around the ring. Carter smiled joyously, his eyes wide in glee. Chris laughed at his expression.
"What are you doing to my baby?"
"He's just going for a little ride."
"Are you sure you have him, I don't want Othello to run off?"
"I have him, don't worry."
"Well, he's had enough, take him down."
"You're no fun Steph," Chris told her, and he took Carter back into his arms.
"How come he's riding Othello, what about Caesar or Hamlet, they're ponies?"
"They're not trained, Othello would never run off."
"Even so, he's a baby, he shouldn't be on a horse."
"I was holding him, you want to go for a ride?"
"No."
"Yes you do, come on."
"No, I don't."
"What do you say we pack a lunch, go out on the trail, and have a nice afternoon?" Chris said, smiling in a way that was hard to resist.
"Don't look at me like that, you know you're hard to resist."
"Is that a yes?"
"I guess so."
"Great," he said walking over to her, he kissed her lightly, "Knew you would give in."
"Shut up."
They walked inside and made a lunch for themselves, and fixed a couple bottles for Carter. Chris went out and saddled up Ophelia for Stephanie, as Stephanie got some things together for Carter. They packed up their things, and tied them onto their horses.
"Are you going to ride with Carter?" Stephanie asked.
"Sure, here, hand him to me," he said, mounting the horse.
Stephanie handed Carter to Chris. She smiled as Chris gave Carter a kiss, causing the baby to giggle happily. He put Carter in front of him, and kept one hand around Carter, while the other held the reins. Stephanie climbed on her horse, and they were off.
They rode fairly slowly since Chris had to keep a hold of Carter. Stephanie and Chris laughed at Carter's wide eyes took in their surroundings. This was his first time taking an actual ride. They stopped at one of the small hills that dotted the land. They tied the horses up to some old dead trees, and took their stuff out.
They set up a blanket onto the ground, and laid out all their stuff on it. Stephanie sat Carter down in her lap as Chris came over and sat next to him. They had their lunch, and just sat there, enjoying the closeness, as Stephanie fed Carter a bottle. Chris sat down close to her, and wrapped his arm loosely around her waist.
"I love it up here," she said.
"Me too."
"Remember when we came up here after you got back with Jessica?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I think it was then that I knew I was in love with you," she told him.
"You knew you were in love with me, why didn't you tell me?" he asked, looking at her.
"Because you seemed so happy with her, I didn't want to complicate your life, and besides we had always said we were just friends."
"You should have told me. I was already having my doubts about her, and if I had known you loved me, I probably would have broken it off with Jessica."
"But I couldn't, I didn't want to ruin your relationship."
"Oh well, we figured it out before it was too late didn't we?" he said, leaning over to kiss her.
"Yeah, just in time...sweetie, when did you know you were in love with me?"
"I knew I was in love with you the day I told you. I was with her, and she was talking badly about you, and I just realized that I loved you and I didn't want her talking like that about you."
"When do you think you fell in love with me?"
"Why all the questions?" he asked in jest. Carter finished his bottle and Stephanie held him up to burp him. As soon as she was finished, she turned to Chris.
"Just curious."
"I think it was when you rode off with Ophelia on the anniversary of Hunter's death. I was worried sick about you, I didn't know where you could be."
"Yeah, do you love me more than you loved Jessica, when you were happy with her?"
"Yes," he said without having to think about it, "I married you didn't I?"
"But if Jessica had stayed, if you had worked things out than we never would have met and never would have-"
Chris cut her off, pressing his lips against hers. They kissed for a long moment before Carter pulled on Chris's hair. He pulled away and looked into Stephanie's eyes. He could see the worried expression on her face.
"I would've found you. I believe that we were meant to be, and I would have found you. And as for me loving you more...when Jessica left, I went on, albeit being sad about the whole thing, I went on. If you ever left me Steph, I would cease to exist, simple as that, I wouldn't be able to go on."
"I love you."
"I know you do. Do you love me more than you loved Hunter?"
"I loved Hunter, I did, but I don't think I knew him long enough to know if I would have loved him forever. You, I know you, I've been friends with you, I understand you. I was with Hunter for two years, I'm going to be with you forever, so I think I love you in different ways."
"And him?" Chris said, looking down at Carter, who had somehow fallen asleep.
"Well, he's too cute not to love," Stephanie said, laughing.
"I can't imagine my life without the two of you in it."
"And I can't imagine mine without my boys."
"It's funny how everything turned out."
"How so?"
"We were brought together by heartbreak and sadness, and from that, we found happiness."
"You're so right. But I wouldn't have had it any other way."
"Neither would I."
