1 week later...

Tarzan stood on the ledge of the patio and looked over the city, then he started pacing from one end of the ledge to the other and back again. He had not seen Jane since the liquor store robbery on Christmas day. She had gotten a call that her Aunt Toni was sick. She and Nikki had gone to see about her. But today was something called "New Years Eve, and Jane was coming back. His Aunt Kathleen had a party planned.

Tarzan did not care about a party ,but he remembered the strange look Kathleen had given him when she tried to explain the Holiday to him...he had told her she "could do her party, but he wanted to do Jane"... Kathleen had looked at him for a few seconds then laughed and laughed. Tarzan still did not understand why.

The long , black car that Aunt Kathleen called a 'limo' pulled up to the curb and Tarzan went down on his haunches, watching intently. A huge smile hit his face when he saw the top of Jane's head move out of the car door.

"JANE !" Tarzan called as the driver assisted her to stand.

Jane looked up and saw Tarzan perched on the ledge of the 5th story patio and her heart seemed to jump into her throat. She knew he was safe, but it was still unnerving to see him that close to the edge.

" Tarzan!" Jane called as she waved and started for the house

Tarzan crouched lower still on the ledge, the wind had brought him Jane's scent and he sniffed like a hungry beast on the prowl, but something was different. He knew Jane had stopped wearing what she called " perfume" , but her scent was slightly different. He sniffed again, his heart hammering...

" JANE !" he called just as she was getting ready to walk up the steps... he wanted her to stand still

Standing tall on the ledge the wind whipping his long hair around his face, he could feel it in his chest...Jane's heart beat. He could feel the 2 beats mesh into one within his chest and a peace filled him that had been missing all week. He stared at Jane and could tell she felt it too. Her mouth was shaped in a round "oh", then she broke into a glorious smile. Tarzan smiled back and watched her foot land on the first step leading to the mansion door. Then he felt something else

He felt another fluttering beat in his chest . Tarzan stood almost transfixed and scented the air again. Just as Jane stepped inside the doorway , Tarzan threw his fisted hands into the air and his call split the night...

" ahhhhhhhyaaaaahhhhhhyeeeeeehaaaaaaa"

Inside the foyer a started Jane looked at Kathleen.

" why did Tarzan do that ?" Jane asked Kathleen " Is he OK ?"

" he has been fine, other than missing you" Kathleen told her " go on up "

Kathleen had to smile as she rememvered her nephew's words several days ago. She was supposed to " do the party, while he did Jane". Laughing, Kathleen walked over to greet more guests... it sure 'sounded like a plan to her"

Jane hurried to the atrium where she knew Tarzan would be waiting. She had barely gotten through the door when the leaves parted and Tarzan stood there.

" lord almighty" Jane thought to herself as she stared. Kathleen had gotten him into a Tux.

This Tux had to be tailor made. Jane did not think a store bought one would fit those broad shoulders or lean waist . His presence dwarfed the room, But Tarzan did not seem to be in the mood to let her stare. He picked her up in his arms and kissed her. Softly at first, then harder, till they were open mouthed, tongues searching and touching.

Tarzan was the first to break the kiss which surprised Jane. He moved farther into the room until they stood in front of the french doors, the skylight above showing a darkening sky. Tarzan pulled her coat from her shoulders and threw it on the futon, her purse followed. Jane assumed he wanted to make love and the heat started to pool between her legs at the thought. But he did not undress her. He stood and stared, with tears in his eyes.

When he did move, he pulled off the exquisite Tux jacket and gave it a toss too. The white Tux shirt followed. Jane looked around the room as the studs from the button holes on the shirt flew everywhere.

'ohhhh ,Kathleeen may be mad' Jane thought to herself as the bright white shirt followed the path of the Tux jacket Tarzan stood there, bare chested, wearing Tux pants and thongs on his feet.

Reaching for her hand, Tarzan laid her fingers against his heart.

" Feel" was all he said

" I know..." Jane started to say, she had felt their hearts mesh when she got out of the limo and saw him

" No" Tarzan said " feel"

Tarzan reached to touch her and his fingers encountered a bulky sweater. Without hesitation, Tarzan reached for the hem of the sweater and pulled it over Jane's head. Then he unzipped her dress pants and bending, pulled them off.

Standing again, Tarzan moved her hand back to his heart. He placed her other hand over her abdomen and covered it with his huge hand. His other hand moving to cover her heart.

Leaning close to her, Tarzan breathed into her ear " feel"

Jane watched him slowly close his eyes and she did the same. They stood there close together, silent...their hands on each others hearts and their combined hands on her abodmen...then she felt it

A flutter...the slightest of beats. She could feel it in her hand, then she could feel it in her heart. A tiny, rapid beat that seemed to grow stronger the more she concentrated.

" what...?" Jane started, opening her eyes to look at Tarzan.

His beautiful face had a smile like no other she had ever seen and the tears she thought she had seen in his eyes were now running down his cheeks. He swallowed several times as if trying to speak, but unable to get the words out.

As that tiny beat resounded in both their hearts, Tarzan started to talk.

" I have never had a Christmas before. I did not understand what it meant, but now I know. Now I understand. Christmas is many things... peace,love and family. But this Christmas you have given me my heart"

Jane was still confused. Her eyes seached his and her own heart filled when she saw the joy and happiness in them.

" How did I give you your heart?" Jane asked quietly, moving into the shelter if his strong arns, her fingers reaching to touch her own heart where she could still feel the faint rapid beat.

Tarzan went down on one knee, and he laid his face against Jane's belly. Her hands wrapped around his head, her fingers intwined in the locks of golden hair that spilled down his back.

" I love you Jane. You gave me my heart when you mated with me and you will give me my heart again when you have our child"

Shocked, Jane could not speak, but those fingers in his hair pulled so his shining face looked up at her.

" that is the beat we both feel. It is our child. I can scent the difference in your body." Tarzan explained. His shining, happy face, staring into her shocked one.

Almost reverently Tarzan looked back down and his lips brushed softly against the skin on her abdomen.

" This Christmas you have given me something I have never had Jane. You have given me Love like I have never known... Love for you and our baby"

Tears flowed down Jane;s face and she took a deep breath, trying to absorb what she had just been told. He was right, she could feel it, she knew it... he was right.

" UH OH... sorry"

Both Jane and Tarzan turned to look towards the sound

Tarzan stood and looked over Jane's shoulder at his Aunt and Nikki who stood just inside the atrium. He had not heard them enter.. that had never happened to him before. He gave both a rather sheepish look.

" Jane, why are you crying ?" concerned Nikki ran to her, giving Tarzan a " you better not have hurt her " look

" I'm pregnant Nikki" a tearful, smiling Jane told her

"WHAT !" Kathleen and Nikki said at the same time.

" when did you find out ?" Kathleen asked, looking at Tarzan and back to Jane

"Tarzan just told me" Jane murmured before turning her face into Tarzan's chest and wrapping her arms around his waist, hugging him tight, needing to feel him close.

"Tarzan just told you?" Nikki started 'but how..."

Kathleen laid a hand on Nikki's shoulder, silencing her

" because he just knows... thats how" Kathleen said through her tears. She had seen her nephew do some amazing things... things she could not really explain. If he said Jane was pregnant, she was

Pulling Nikki with her, she walked towards Jane and Tarzan. When they got close, Tarzan opened his arms to the other 2 women in his life, his family.

From within the circle of Tarzan's long arms, Kathleen cleared her throat and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

Looking deep into Tarzan's eyes she said " I was so glad to get you back John ,but this Christmas you have given me back my heart. Thank you"

Tarzan leaned over to place a quick kiss on Jane's lips, then he hugged his Aunt close. He understood exactly how she felt...

Moving out of the circle, Tarzan pulled Jane into a tight embrace and kissed her, his hand going to her abdomen, moving in small clrcles as if to sooth and calm. Then he smiled at Kathleen and Nikki and walked out the french doors to the patio.

Once there he jumped to the ledge and smiled when he heard Nikki gasp.

Then he raised his arms to the heavens, tilted his head back and cried his joy into the night air.

" ahhhhyaaaaahhhhhheeeeeahhhhhaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy"

Back in the atrium Nikki asked " does he do that often?"

Tarzan laughed at Jane's reply.

" get used to it little sister. I think you will hear it a lot"

Standing with her hands over her belly, a happyJane heard Tarzan chuckle before a second cry of joy went to the heavens.

She would never forget this "Christmas of the Heart"

Smiling she walked to the door and stood waiting for her heart to climb off the ledge and kiss her Happy New Years.

And what a year it would be...