PART 2

"Can I open my gift now?" Sydney asked the children once she had eaten up all the pancakes Vaughn and Alex had been preparing.

"Yes mommy" Tim squealed and pulled it back over towards his mother.

All eyes were on Sydney while she unwrapped the box. A card was also attached to the packages so she first opened that one. She immediately recognized her first born child's scribbling handwriting

Dear Mommy,

We want to wish you all a very happy birthday. We love you all so much.

Kisses,

Oliver, Collin, Timmy and Alex

Below there was another message from her father.

Dear Sydney,

It's been so long that I wanted to give you this. I know I should have done it years ago but anyway. I hope you'll like it.

Love, dad

"What does it say mommy?" Tim wanted to know and tried to get a glimpse at the paper while looking over the card.

"It's a birthday card Timmy" Sydney said to her youngest and picked him up on her lap and handed the card to him so he could read it. "See this Alex who wrote the wishes for me from all of you and this is grandpa" she explained when pointing to the two different handwritings.

"Grandpa too?"

"Yes sweetie"

"Mommy, come on open the box!" Collin pushed his mother. "I wanna know what's in it!"

"Oh you don't know?"

Timmy shook his head vigorously and Collin went on "Nope, grandpa put it in a box, saying it's from all four of us and from grandpa. It's supposed to be a surprise you know?"

"Well in that case, I guess I shall open it"

Sydney opened the box carefully, just in case and in the big carton box was another box which was like 35 inches by 35 inches big. It had a deep cream color with little pink flowers all over it. She could see it was handmade and wondered who did it. Maybe it was something her dad had bought she thought because he wouldn't be the type of guy doing these things.

"Wow, that looks beautiful mom!" Alex exclaimed and joined the twins and Oliver next to the box on the ground.

"What's in it?" Vaughn asked her who got just as curious as the rest of the family.

"You don't know what it is?" Sydney was slightly surprised. Although on a second thought, it was kind of a gift from her dad so he might not know it.

"Nope but I guess I'm just as curious as our boys. Now come on sweetheart, open it!"

She leaned of the carton box and took out the other box and settled it back on the ground, since Tim was still resting against her. She removed the lid and inside she found lots of babies things.

"What is that mommy?" Tim had grabbed a little rattle that looked rather old and Sydney explained him. "Whose is it? Is it for the baby we are going to have?"

"Well... I don't know... I mean... I guess they look like they were mine when I was a baby sweetie" She tousled Tim's hair and hugged him real tight. His back was resting against her chest and she breathed in the scent of his soft curls.

Little by little they took out every single object that was filling the box and soon the table that had long been discarded from the breakfast dishes replaced with baby stuff.

The boys had silently retreated to their rooms to play and get dressed for the day. Vaughn and Syd had to laugh at them because the usual two had gotten into kind of a little fight which soon though ceased.

There were rattles, pacifiers, some dresses of yellow, white and pink color, a pair of white baby shoes, two little hats, some winter gloves with a Santa one and a reindeer on the other hand with the matching hat and scarf, a couple of pajamas, some pink bibs that were all washed out, white infant creepers. Last but not least there was another tiny box which looked just like a jewelry box.

Sydney took it and held it in her hands for a couple of seconds, staring at her husband then back to the box and finally opened it to reveal a baby bracelet with two daisies.

"Wow and I always thought of your dad to be kind of weird"

"Vaughn?"

"Yeah I know...sorry..."

"I know what you mean Vaughn, sorry I didn't mean it that way. I'm just surprised! Why is he giving me all of these? Why now? There are so many questions and I have to find answers. I want to know why!"

"I know sweetheart. I guess you can have that talk later with him when he's coming over this afternoon, right'" he gave her a questioning look and then left a kiss on her lips.

"Yes, I want to know what this is all about. Not that I mind at all! I mean look at all these things Vaughn! They were mine. At least that's what it looks like, right?"

Vaughn gazed of the kitchen table that was definitely filled with baby object. Baby girl objects nonetheless. "Yes" he replied shrugging not knowing either what to think about this. It was a nice gift Jack had done to Sydney but there was always this something that Vaughn always felt inside when it came to his father-in-law.

Jack had been very nice to him since the beginning but still distant at the same time. He loved his grandchildren just as much as his parents loved them. He even tried to spend less time as possible at work to have some time for them, to pick them up from school or do homework, while Sydney and Vaughn shared their tasks in between household, work and children.

It hadn't been easy with four children but soon enough they were going to be five. "Oh my God!" Sydney suddenly gasped.

"What? What is it? Are you ok?" Vaughn had immediately gotten into protection mode. "Is it the baby?" he was more worried by every second that passed.

"No, no, the baby is fine! I was just thinking that we have to tell my dad about our new addition to the family. What is he going to think? Vaughn I'm no longer 25!"

"Who cares what he thinks Sydney? I mean ok we have four children already and this little one" he wrapped his arm around Sydney's waist and rested his hand on her stomach "wasn't planned at all but we both know that it was made with love. I don't care what other people think. I love you and you love me Syd. That's all that matters to me. And what concerns your age, you'll just have to take it easier, be very careful. I'll talk to Kendall and you can get paper work done at home just like with the twins, ok?" he tried to comfort her.

"Plus, I can stay home whenever you want me to. I'm here for you and I promise that everything will be ok with that little man"

"What another boy? No way!" Sydney protested.

"Sure I want my ice hockey team! Come on you can't do this to me!"

"Oh and you can't do this to me, gracing me with 5 boys! That's no fair you know" they mocked at each other. "I also would like to have my little ballet princess!"

"Ballet princess? No! If it's a girl there's no way I'll put her into ballet! She'll be just as strong as the boys and kick some butts on the ice! I'm the father after all!"

They both had to laugh out loud about their silliness but as soon as their eyes met filled with tears from their laughing the only thing that mattered was their long silent stares followed with a long searing kiss that lasted minutes.

"I love you so much Sydney Vaughn" Vaughn breathed, resting his forehead on hers.

"I love you too Michael Vaughn"