Chapter 5

"Can we open presents now?" Came the enthused voice above the din and chatter. The request came not from Aaron, but from Jack. As the morning progressed, Theta became aware that those two really were made for each other. Both were enthusiastic and youthful. Neither had run out of things to talk about, always having something to say to one another.

"Yeah go ahead Jack. Knock yourself out." Jack went to the present pile and Aaron soon followed him.

Theta was sitting in his favorite chair with the woman he loved propped on his lap. They'd been like that most of the morning; inseparable. Hugging her closer to him he took in the sight around him.

Jack pulled a few out and was sitting sprawled on the floor with them all around him. He looked a sight; just like a big kid. Aaron helped him sort through the pile. When she had a few gathered in her arms she made her way around to each person presenting to them a present.

"Here ya go bro." She extended the gift to Theta.

"Ooh sweet! Gimme!" Theta reached for it causing Aaron to pull it out of his reach. The game went on for a couple more minutes before she finally got bored with it and gave it to him.

Rose turned around in his lap and pressed her lips to his. "You can be such a kid sometimes. But I love you for it."

Theta grinned. He loved her so much.

He heard giggles and chuckles coming from the center of the room. "Do we need to separate you two?" Jack and Aaron echoed each other .

"Ahh, just open your presents!"

Permission granted, everyone ripped into their gifts; some more hastily than others. "AHH!" The squeal echoed through the whole building. They all looked over to Aaron, who was hugging Jack for dear life. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Jack laughed, "Your welcome."

"What did he get you?"

Aaron smiled, "This." She held up a new, fixed, prosthetic leg. Quickly, if not painfully, she attached it back into place. Like a flash of lighting, Aaron was soon dancing around the room, like a kid you had too much sugar.

After calming Aaron down, and all presents were opened, Aaron went back into her room and came out with a small box. She threw it at Theta and winked.

"Theta whats going on?" Theta pulled himself from under Rose and kneeled in front of her. He held open his hand, the item sitting in his palm. Rose looked from his hand to his face and back again, repeating the action several times. Realizing that he'd shocked her into speechlessness, he opened the little velvet box. Inside was nestled a simple, yet beautifully made diamond ring. It brought tears to her eyes as she caught his meaning, even before he had a chance to voice it. Which he did eventually, once he gained the ability to speak.

"Rose, sweetheart, I know I usually ramble and take a while to get my point across ..."

"You can say that again." He heard Jack say in the background, though he didn't let it sway him.

"...But I'm going to make this simple. Rose, I love you, and you would make me the happiest man in the universe if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife." He finished and met Rose's watery gaze with bated breath.

Tears streamed down her face as her mouth lifted in a smile. She nodded her head earnestly, as she choked out a 'Yes' around the lump in her throat. Theta's face lit up at her declaration and he placed the ring on her finger before he gathered her into his arms.

He felt her lips form into a smile against his cheek as she whispered. "Looks like I've been a very good girl this year."

Theta chuckled and held her closer. She held her hand up and gazed at the ring he'd given her. "I do have one question though ..."

"It was my mom's. Aaron found it and has been keeping it...until now."

Rose smiled some more as she wrapped her arm back around him and nestled her head on his shoulder. Clapping irrupted from around them. His arms went around her shoulders, his lips finding hers in a passionate kiss, not caring that they had an audience.

Everyone seemed to take that as their cue to vacate the room. Aaron grabbed Jacks' hand and headed off to her room. Rachel conveniently remembered that Christmas dinner wouldn't make itself and made her way into the kitchen.

Theta broke apart from Rose and simply looked down into the loving eyes of his fiancée. He could hardly believe he was sitting here with the woman he loved, and had for some time, cradled in his arms. A baby on the way. He counted himself as a very lucky man.

Rose wrapped her arms around his waist and let her head rest on his chest, listening to the comforting rhythmic beat of his hearts. The soft strains of a meaningful Christmas song drifted out from the radio in the kitchen oblivious to the two lovers warmly ensconced in each other's embrace.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Let your heart be light,
From now on our troubles
Will be out of sight.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on our troubles
Will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore,
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together
If the Fates allow,
Hang a shining star
On the highest bough,
And have yourself
A merry little Christmas now


so what do you think? I know its not even close to x-mas, but i couldn't get this idea out of my mind! lol...please review!