Well, we have come to the end of another fic. I hope you have enjoyed it!
Epilogue - Christmas Surprises
Danny and Angie Taylor's Brooklyn Brownstone - Four Years Later
"Danny, I really don't think this is a good idea." Angie repeated to her husband as she bundled up her baby daughter, Emerson Rose, in a flannel blanket. Making sure Emerson's feet were covered, she laid the baby back down in her cradle and walked over to where Danny was changing the diaper of Emerson's twin brother, Aidan Edward.
"Which you have already told me a hundred times this evening." Danny remarked, making a silly face at his son. "Mommy thinks Daddy doesn't listen to her. But I spend most of my life listening to her, don't I buddy?" He said in a silly sing song voice and was rewarded with a huge smile from Aidan. Danny finished taping up the baby's diaper and continued to dress him in a warm outfit.
Angie surveyed Danny's work on the diaper, approved it, and then busied herself packing up the twins' diaper bag. "It's Christmas Eve, Danny. Our first with the twins. The weather forecast is calling for snow and I have a million things left to do before our families converge on us for tomorrow's big dinner. The last thing I was expecting was an impromptu road trip. Not to mention the fact that you won't even tell me what this is all about."
"If I told you where we were going then it wouldn't be surprise, now would it?" Danny picked up his son and walked over to give his wife a quick kiss on the lips. "Didn't anyone ever tell you that you are not supposed to ask so many questions this close to Christmas? It's a season of surprises."
"Living with you is a season of surprises." Angie muttered.
Danny kissed a sweet trail down her neck and moved toward her sensitive ear lobe. "And you love every minute of it." He whispered sexily into her ear.
Angie grinned, her annoyance melting away, and kissed him back. "Yes, I do."
"So, are we all ready to go?" Angie and Danny both scanned the nursery to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything. Nodding, Danny said, "Let's load up."
The happy couple loaded their sleepy infants into their car seats and settled in for Danny's surprise drive. With soft Christmas music playing in the car stereo, Angie admired all the beautiful Christmas lights around her as Danny drove them through Manhattan. "There's no place like New York at Christmas time, is there?" She murmured softly. "It's magical."
Danny agreed. "I can't wait until they are old enough for us to take them to see the tree at Rockerfeller Center. Or the windows at Macy's. And the Radio City Christmas Spectacular show."
Angie chuckled and said, "I just hope all of that goes better than our visit to Santa."
Danny joined her laughter as he remembered the disaster of taking their six month old screaming twins to sit on Santa Claus' lap. Emerson had screamed through the whole experience and Aidan had dropped a stinker in his diaper just as Angie sat him on Santa's lap. The photos were awful and they hadn't been able to use a single one in their Christmas cards.
As Danny turned onto the exit for the Lincoln Tunnel, Angie said, "We're going to Jersey? Why?" Danny gave her a look that reminded her to stop asking questions, so Angie changed the subject. "Did you talk to Uncle Frank today? I couldn't get a hold of him or Aunt Mary all day."
"I'm sure they've been just as busy as you have been lately." Danny said, scanning the signs in the tunnel to make sure he was in the right lane. "We're going to see them tomorrow."
"I know." Angie answered, turning around to check on their sleeping babies. "It's just weird, that's all. Aunt Mary has been calling me at least three times a day all week to make sure I have everything I need for Christmas dinner. And then today...nothing. Not a word."
"I wouldn't worry about it." Danny said, navigating their car onto a quiet New Jersey road.
For the next hour, Danny and Angie drove through the night. They talked about Danny's latest case, Angie's patients, Christmas decorations, and the craziness of the holiday season. Finally Danny pulled their car into the driveway of an old farmhouse, decorated festively with Christmas lights and evergreen wreaths. "What a beautiful home." Angie said, looking out the front window at the farm house. "Who lives here?"
"Usually, no one." Danny said with a grin. "Tonight, we do." Angie gave him a questioning look, but Danny turned and got out of the car. "Come on." He said, opening the back door to lift Emerson out of her car seat. Angie got out, too, and gathered Aidan up into her arms. Together they climbed the front porch steps. As they reached the top step, the front door of the farm house flew open and Mikey Sullivan greeted them warmly.
"What took you so long, Taylor?" He asked, coming out onto the porch. "We've been here for almost an hour."
"What are you doing here?" Angie asked, surprised to see her cousin coming out of the house. "I thought you had to work."
"I lied." Mike said, kissing her cheek and taking his nephew out of her arms. "Hey little man, Merry Christmas!" Turning to Emerson, Mike made a goofy face and said, "And Merry Christmas to you, princess." Emerson yawned and buried her sleepy face deeper in Danny's shoulder. Laughing, the group walked into the front parlor of the farm house.
"I still don't understand what we are doing here." Angie said, walking into the beautifully decorated parlor room. A Christmas tree was fully decorated and twinkling with lights stood in the corner and stockings were hung on the mantle of the nearby fireplace, which housed a crackling fire. The room looked like something out of a storybook.
"Good things come to those who wait, my dear." Uncle Frank said, coming into the room with a cup of eggnog and followed closely by Aunt Mary. Merry Christmases were exchanged and the babies were passed around from relative to relative while Danny and Angie shed their winter coats.
"We thought we would spend Christmas here this year." Aunt Mary said, cooing over Emerson as she sat on the sofa. "Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a few days."
"Like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting." Mike remarked, smirking at Danny. He was laying on the floor with Aidan lying on his belly.
"It's a beautiful surprise." Angie said, looking lovingly at her husband.
"You ain't seen nothing yet." Danny said, winking at her. "I'll be right back." He disappeared up the stairs, leaving Angie shaking her head.
"Do you all know what he's up to?" Angie asked, taking a sip of the spiced rum punch that Uncle Frank had just handed her. "Ooh, that's good." She said, taking another warm sip.
Aunt Mary smiled knowingly. "You married a good man, sweetie. Just wait to see what he has done for you."
"Ready?" Danny called down the stairs. Everyone called up that they were ready and Angie heard him coming down the steps. She also heard that he wasn't alone.
Angie wasn't prepared for the shock that came when she saw her brother, Eddie, come through the parlor entranceway wearing a Santa hat and carrying his four year old daughter, Rose. With a big grin on his face, he said, "Merry Christmas!"
"Surprise!" Little Eddie yelled, running in after his father. Now eight years old and looking exactly like his dad, Little Eddie was followed closely by his mother and Danny.
Angie almost spilled her punch in her rush to get up from her place on the sofa. Uncle Frank grinned and took her cup as she rushed past him into her brother's arms. "Eddie." She whispered as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Actually, it's Jake now. Jake Conroy." He said, grinning and holding her close.
"And his lovely wife, Melissa." Danny said, with a grin. Angie turned from her brother's embrace and stepped into Theresa's waiting arms. She could hardly believe this is happening. Angie wiped the tears from her eyes as she gave Theresa a final squeeze and then looked down at her niece and nephew.
"And who are these beautiful children?" Angie asked, her smile taking over her entire face.
"It's me, Aunt Angie. Eddie." Little Eddie said with a grin, reaching up to hug his aunt. "But everyone calls me Matt now."
Angie bent down and took her nephew in her arms. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of him...it was the same as it had been four years earlier. "You are such a big boy, now." Angie whispered. "What grade are you in?"
"Third." Eddie/Matt replied with a grin.
"Top of his class." Said his mother proudly. Theresa looked down at the little girl hiding behind her leg and urged her to come out. "It's ok, Julie. This is Aunt Angie."
Angie turned to baby Rose, now a four year old little girl, and smiled. "Hi, Julie. I know you don't remember me because the last time I saw you, you were just a baby. But I'm so glad to see you again. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." Julie said, still clinging to her mother but giving Angie an adorable little smile.
"Now, where are those babies?" Eddie boomed, looking around the room. "Come on, Danny boy. Show me what you've done."
Danny picked Aidan up off of Mike's stomach and handed him to his Uncle Eddie. "This little guy is your namesake, Aidan Edward Taylor." Danny said, and then turned to where Aunt Mary was handing Emerson to Theresa. "And this beauty over here is his sister, Emerson Rose Taylor."
Eddie shook his head as he cradled Aidan in his arms. "I can't believe my baby sister has babies." He grinned. Theresa sat down on the couch with Emerson so that Little Eddie and Rose could see her better. As Eddie's family fawned over Angie's family, Angie made her way over to where Danny stood beaming proudly.
"How did you do this?" She asked, slipping into his strong arms.
"I called in a few favors." He said with a grin. "It's only for the tonight, but I thought you might like a little family get together for Christmas."
"Is it safe?" She whispered, not wanting the kids to overhear.
"We were very careful while transporting them here. And the house is surrounded by Federal Officers."
Angie leaned her face up and kissed her husband's sexy mouth. "I love you so much." She whispered against his lips before turning to watch her happy family reunion.
"I love you too, Mary Angelina. Merry Christmas."