Disclaimer: I don't own it or get paid for it : ) I don't own the characters and therefore have no hope of making any money off this.

CHAPTER 28

"Terri, I couldn't believe how much I wanted our baby after what happened in Mexico with Andrei. Knowing that we were bringing a life into the world gave me hope. Then you were kidnapped. Jackson called me when he found out." Stiles shuddered as his mind went back to that awful night four years prior.

"When I got to the scene I saw your car, the guy they murdered—everything was a mess. I could barely see straight I was so worried about you. When I got back home that night, I was so tired I didn't even make it upstairs. The next morning I found your present-the sonogram of our baby girl in the frame. I was so happy. I was happy about the baby and I was happy that you were finally happy about the baby. I just wanted you, both of you, home and safe. When that didn't happen, my world fell apart. I had no idea how to deal with that.

"My father suggested that I spend some time in Ireland, so I took a leave and stayed with my grandfather for a month. My father convinced me to go back to the Agency. You are still everywhere in that house. I missed you so much I nearly worked myself to death to avoid going home. I missed us. I still do."

Terri sighed as she let a lone tear escape. "What about Kara? I want to believe you, but you must love her—you asked her to marry you. You were going to marry her tomorrow." Terri wiped the tear from her cheek as she looked into her husband's eyes and waited for his answer.

Stiles looked down at his feet. In a way, he did love Kara, but never in the way had he loved his wife. He needed Terri to understand that.

"Terri, I've been trying to put my life back together since you've been gone. Yes, I got engaged, but I needed to move on-to live. Do you remember Willie Dorman?

Terri nodded. "She was the prosecutor on the case. Everyone went out after the trial. It was months later that she asked me to attend a work thing with her. When I wasn't working, I was sitting in that house surrounded by memories. I was taking more and more risks at work. I didn't care if I lived. Terri, I don't know how to explain it—she made me want to live again. Just please understand that I wasn't trying to replace you; I wouldn't, couldn't replace my soul mate."

Stiles was having a hard time reading Terri's face. She seemed to believe him, but she wasn't saying anything so he kept talking.

"I used to try not to wake up in the morning because I knew the conversation I had with you was just a dream. I couldn't pick a date to get married and I finally figured out it was because I hadn't let you go. I came here, to this island, to say goodbye, but I couldn't even do that. I found your painting the first night I was here and it brought up even more memories of our time here. We belong together. When I heard Jack call you mommy last night, it brought back the loss; I was afraid you'd given up on us as soon as you were freed. We'd had that awful fight right before your were kidnapped and I just…I was hurt."

Stiles stopped talking and pulled a folded, crinkled piece of paper out of his wallet and held it out to Terri.

"What is this?"

"Open it."

Terri opened it slowly while looking at Stiles skeptically from the corner of her eye. She stood with her mouth open when she saw what he'd given her. Terri stared down at the first sonogram she had of her babies. "You kept it?"

"It's always with me. Terri, just tell me what to do and I'll do it."

Terri looked into Stiles' eyes. His light gray eyes were pleading with her. Her demeanor had softened and she was fighting tears, but she didn't say a word. She just motioned for Stiles to come further into the room. Once he was inside, Terri put her arms around her husband and held onto him tightly as she whispered in his ear.

"I love you too. I've missed you so much."

Stiles pulled her close to him and kissed her. As Terri was returning his kiss, Stiles lifted her from the floor and spun her around. "I love you. I love you. I love you." he said punctuating each "I love you" with a kiss.

When he finally put her down Terri smiled at him and said, "Wait right here."

"Where are you going?"

"Just wait right here. Please."

Stiles nodded and sat down on the couch.

Several minutes later Terri returned. Stiles smiled broadly when he looked up to see Terri and on either side of her, holding her hand, a small child—a little boy and a little girl.

"Stiles, I want you to meet someone."

"Stiles, this is Ava Brianne, your daughter. This little guy, whom you've already met, is Jack Lexington."

"Lexington?"

Terri laughed. "I named him after Jackson and Lex."

"What happened to A.B. the II?"

"Um, Ava Brianne-A.B."

Stiles couldn't help but laugh. Terri bent down by the children to introduce them to their father. "Ava, Jack, this is your daddy that I told you about." Looking up at Stiles she added, "He came for us just like I hoped he would."

Stiles took a deep breath, bent down, and motioned for Ava and Jack to come to him. He was terrified that they wouldn't and equally terrified that they would. "You told them I would come?"

Terri shrugged. "Yeah. He wanted to know if he had a daddy like his friends Charlie and Hannah. I told him yes and that you would try to come see him when he got older."

With little prompting, Jack walked over and started talking. Looking at Terri he pointed to Stiles and said, "His name is A.B."

Terri tried not to laugh as she answered, "Yes, but you get to call him daddy."

"Hey Jack. I'm sorry I woke you up last night."

Ava hid behind Terri and wouldn't say anything. After several minutes' worth of cajoling, she agreed to say "hi." Stiles wouldn't have cared if she'd continued to hide, he was just so glad to see her, the little girl whose picture he'd been carrying around in his wallet for four long years; she was finally real.

Turning back to his sun, Stiles attempted to begin a conversation. "Have you found any more fun stuff on the beach?"

Jack shook his head as he climbed up on the couch next to Stiles. "Mommy said we can go back after lunch. Mommy said you would come see us sometime." Turning to Terri, he added, "Can he come mommy?"

"Sweetie, if you want him to come with us you can ask him."

Jack didn't waste any time. "Will you come daddy?"

When Stiles heard Jack call him daddy, he was overcome with emotion. He had no idea how much he'd wanted to hear that word. He was aware of four little eyes staring at him, so he tried to speak, but he didn't bother wiping the tears from his cheeks.

"Yeah, I'd like that, very much."

Ava, who was still standing behind her mother, pulled on Terri's pant leg then motioned for her mother to bend down.

When Terri was close enough, Ava stage whispered, "Mommy, why is he crying?

Terri looked back at Stiles and smiled. "Daddy's crying because he's happy."

Stiles nodded then pulled something out of his pocket.

"I think this belongs to you."

Stiles handed Terri her locket. "Where was it?"

"I found it in the room."

He wasn't ready to tell her how he really ended up with it.

Terri hugged him. "Thank you. This means a lot to me."

"You're welcome. You mean a lot to me." Stiles said after kissing Terri softly. He didn't want to let her go.

"So, how about lunch?"

When Stiles heard the word lunch he remembered that he was supposed to meet Kara at 1:00 at Max's restaurant.

Stiles looked at his watch; it was already after 12:30. "Oh, Terri, I can't. I have an appointment."

"You can't?" When Stiles shook his head no, Terri frowned then whispered, "You just promised Jack you'd go to the beach with us and you're already canceling to spend time with her, aren't you?"

Stiles was surprised at how fast Terri switched gears. "Terri, honey, please. I told her I'd meet her for lunch at 1:00. If I don't show up, she'll start asking questions. I'm not so sure it's a good idea for her to know you're alive yet."

Sorry to end at such an awkward moment, but it had to be done. The original chapters were much shorter. When I redid them it changed all of my cliffhanger moments!
Jnp—thanks for the review. Now for the rest of ya . . . is there a rest of ya? LOL