CHAPTER 4

Aaron willed himself to calmness as he opened the door to Lottie's back parlor. Closing the door quietly, he found Jemma sitting, as if lost in thought, studying their children; a sad, slight smile on her face as she did so. Closing the distance between the door and her chair he lowered himself to sit on his heels as he placed his hand against her cheek;

"Sweetheart, are you alright?"

Dragging her eyes from the bassinet to meet her husband's gaze, Jemma couldn't help but ask quietly;

"Aaron, am I such a terrible person that everyone assumes the worst? I know what Helen Dalton's motivation was and that it wasn't my fault, but when even my own uncle automatically wants to believe that I HAD to get married; maybe it's just something about me."

Seeing that she was losing the battle with her fight to hold back her tears, Aaron rose to stand and, pulling her up from the chair, settled himself in the rocker before settling her in his lap. He wasn't surprised when she wrapped her arms around his neck before burying her face against the side of his neck to release her frustrations as her tears began falling; wrapping his arms about her, Aaron cradled her closer against his chest, trying to comfort her. Letting her cry out her agitation with the situation, Aaron waited until she quieted somewhat before issuing;

"Jemma love, look at me."

Laying her head against his shoulder, Jemma lifted her eyes to meet his as Aaron gave a slight shake of his head;

"Darlin, there is nothing wrong with you and you are most assuredly NOT a terrible person. I'm not happy with what your uncle just did, by no stretch of the imagination am I happy, believe me. But, Duncan seems to blow this whole elder Bolt thing out of proportion and I think that he has it in his mind that none of you would dare do anything, like getting married, without his approval and permission, at least not unless it was a matter of having to."

Regaining control of herself as Aaron took his handkerchief and dried her tears, Jemma ventured;

"I supposed that, in his defense, he was half right."

Puzzled by her statement, Aaron questioned;

"What do you mean, love?"

Taking his hand in hers, Jemma took a deep breath before admitting;

"I did HAVE to marry you, just not for the reason that, it seems, some people want to believe."

His curiosity piqued by her statement, Aaron used his free hand place his finger under her chin to lift her eyes to meet his;

"And just what was the reason that you HAD to marry me, sweetheart?

Aaron couldn't help but feel his heart swell with the love between them as she admitted;

"Because I loved you and still love you way too much not to have agreed to spend my life with you when you asked me to."

Holding her chin firmly between his thumb and forefinger, Aaron gazed into her eyes;

"That's quite a remarkable coincidence, sweetheart, because based on that logic, I HAD to marry you too, and for the same reason."

Aaron brought his lips against hers in a kiss that, although thoroughly sound, neither demanded or expected anything in return aside from their love and affection for each other. When the kiss ended, Jemma laid her head against his shoulder as she glanced up to study his visage as she sighed and confessed;

"I have to admit, love, when you kiss and hold me I can easily forget whatever problems we might have. But, what are we going to do about this particular problem with Uncle Duncan?"

Before Aaron could formulate a theory or how to express it, there was a knock on the door. Assuming that it was one of her brothers, Candy, Julie, or Lottie, Aaron issued a terse;

"Come in."

Aaron and Jemma found themselves shocked when the door opened and Duncan was standing there. Meeting each other's looks of concern, Aaron's features hardened somewhat at the idea that his wife might be subjected to more of the man's ridiculous accusations as he quipped;

"This should be interesting."

Candy and Jeremy stood holding onto each other's hands as they kept looking between the parlor door, where Jemma and Aaron were with their children, and the saloon entrance where they knew Duncan was hovering. Leaning closer as she lowered her voice, Candy ventured;

"Jeremy, we have to do something, we can't just leave things the way they are, and I don't mean just because of how it affects our wedding but you and I both know what it's doing to poor Jemma."

Seeing the look of concern in his fiancee's eyes, Jeremy hurried to assure her;

"Candy, I promise, if this can be worked out it will be. But, I know my sister and I know that she's not going to let this cause a problem for our wedding."

Candy's eyes widened in disbelief and irritation as she admonished;

"Jeremy, I want to marry you more than anything and I don't want your uncle to cause a problem for us either, but right now I'm more concerned with how hurt and upset Jemma must be at what he said to her. He was horrible to her and he had no reason to be, what he said was unfounded, and even if he had of had a good reason, he never should have done so in front of, almost, all of Seattle."

There was no mistaking the determination that he saw that Candy was going to do all she could to rectify the situation. One thing that Jeremy had learned was that when Candy fixed her mind on something and became determined on the issue there was simply no swaying her, especially if she knew that she was right, and Jeremy had to admit that, in this situation, Candy was definitely right. Trying to fathom a solution to the situation, Jeremy, along with everyone else, turned their attention towards the entrance to the saloon at the unmistakable sound of Holly Houston's voice as she ordered;

"Go on, big feller, you know you ain't gonna feel no better until you make things right with your kinfolk."

Although Jeremy's reaction of stunned silence to the scene he was witnessing wasn't anything out of the ordinary for his character, he couldn't help but find humor in Candy's look of amazed disbelief as they stared in shocked amusement as Duncan, who was every bit as large as Jason, begged Holly, who was just a slight bit taller than Jemma;

"Now, lass, I know I need to do this and I will, but ya have ta give me a bit of time here."

Tugging at his arm, Holly shook her head adamantly;

"Ain't no time like right now, big feller, now git on in there and straighten everything out. Don't make me have to hogtie and drag you in there."

Rushing forwards, the look on their faces conveying a combination of concern and humor as Jason demanded;

"Uncle Duncan, what is all of this about?"

Unable to contain his chuckle, Josh tapped Holly on the shoulder;

"Holly, what are you doing?"

Turning to face everyone, her fists on her hips, Holly stamped her foot in slight irritation at the idea that her intentions weren't obvious;

"I'm helping your uncle here make things right. He knows he's messed things up and wants to fix everything right up, but he's being a might skittish about it."

Crossing his arms over his chest, Jason questioned;

"Uncle, is what Holly said true?"

Shamefully lowering his head, Duncan offered a slight nod;

"That it is, Jason, I'd like the chance to talk to Jemma if I might."

Narrowing his gaze, Jason studied the look on Duncan's face and could see that he was sincere in his intentions, however, the problem with Duncan Bolt, Laird of Kilmarron, was that he was the epitome of the old saying about the road to Hell being paved with good intentions. Still, he knew that Jemma understood that quirk of their uncle's personality, and, at the very least, deserved an apology for Duncan's wild accusations, although Jason was going to make certain that she received them in the same manner as she received the accusations; publicly. Meeting his uncle's look of contrition with a determined one of his own, Jason decreed;

"Uncle, we'll let you talk to Pixie, but whether she listens or not is up to her, not to mention you're going to have to get past Aaron as well. And, Uncle Duncan, you owe her the courtesy of apologizing to her just as you insulted her; in front of everyone."

Placing his hand on the elder's arm, Jason advised softly;

"Uncle, Pixie's been through a lot this past year; good and bad. I don't want to see her any more upset than what she's already been. You need to think before you say whatever it is that you're going to say because if you don't and you upset her any further, you should know, Aaron is not going to like it and what happened earlier will be no comparison to what he may well do."

Duncan couldn't argue with Jason's conditions as he nodded;

"Of course, I had no right speaking to the lass the way I did."

Shaking his head, Duncan admitted;

"I know that Jemma has always been a good girl and I had no right saying what I did to her."

Lifting his head in a determined manner, Duncan lifted his hand to point his finger as if trying to prove his point;

"But as the eldest Bolt and head of the clan, my permission shoulda been asked before she married."

Before any of the brothers could respond, Holly slapped Duncan's shoulder with the back of her hand as she demanded in a huffy tone of voice;

"Now just how in the heck was they supposed to ask you anything when you weren't anywhere around here? You just stop being a stubborn mule and go set things right."

Lowering his head slightly, Duncan nodded contritely;

"You're right, lass, I was wrong and I'll set it right."

Motioning towards the back door that led to the parlor, Duncan asked;

"Are they in there?"

Seeing that the Bolt's were stunned silent by what they were witnessing, Candy nodded slowly as she pointed;

"Yes, but you should knock in case Jemma is tending the twins."

Tipping his cap to Candy, Julie, and Holly, Duncan made his way to the door and knocked softly to wait until he was bid entrance. Stepping into the room, the first thing that struck Duncan was the fact that Jemma was in her husband's lap, neither making an effort to disturb their position as Aaron demanded;

"What is it, Lord Bolt; or should I be afraid to ask?"

Noticing the pleading look in his niece's eyes as she turned to her husband, Duncan raised his hands in a gesture of surrender as he rushed to assure Jemma;

"No, Jemma, he has every right to say that, and more. Considering how I acted out there, in front of everyone, and on such a special day as this,"

Shaking his head in self-disgust, Duncan admitted;

"To be honest, lass, I'm surprised that he didna punch me in the mouth for what I did out there."

The look on his face reflecting his extreme displeasure with Duncan's earlier behavior, Aaron narrowed his eyes to mere slits of anger;

"You have no idea just how much effort and will power it took NOT to do just that, Duncan."

Nodding towards Jemma as he took her hand in his, Aaron left no room for doubt as to just who Duncan had to thank for the extraordinary amount of patience that he had demonstrated;

"The ONLY reason that I demonstrated THAT much 'understanding' was that I knew how Jemma would feel, despite how justified I would have been in knocking the hell out of you for what you did. But, seeing the look of disappointment that I knew would be in her eyes wasn't worth the satisfaction I would have felt in doing it."

Duncan studied the couple for a moment before removing his cap and lowering his head;
"Jemma, Aaron, I know I've no right to ask you this, but could I at least see my great-niece and nephew?"

Aaron could see by the pleading look in her eyes that the fact that her uncle was showing interest in their children meant a great deal to her and that being the case he knew that he couldn't refuse the man's request as he waved his hand towards the bassinet;

"You are a member of the family, Duncan and I don't see why our children shouldn't meet their great uncle."

Hesitantly, Duncan approached the sleeping infants who, sensing a stranger, opened their eyes to look at Duncan in curiosity. Although they weren't familiar with their great uncle, neither raised a fuss at his presence as they studied him just as closely as he was studying them. Despite his irritation with the man, Aaron couldn't help but feel a tug at his heartstrings as the look on the older man's face changed from curiosity to loving nostalgia as he observed softly;

"Well, there's certainly no denying who these two wee bairns belong to; they look just like the two of you."

Glancing fondly at his niece, Duncan nodded towards Amie as he recalled;

"She looks exactly like you did the first time I ever laid eyes on you, Jemma."

Jemma couldn't help but notice the hopeful gleam in his blue eyes, and although he didn't say anything, she had a fairly good idea what his unspoken request probably was. Turning to glance at her husband, who understood her silent request and offered a slight nod of consent before she reached into the bassinet for Amie before approaching her uncle and ordering;

"Hold your arms like mine, Uncle Duncan; just like that."

Placing her daughter into her uncle's waiting arms, she introduced;

"Sir Duncan Bolt, may I present your great-niece; Amelia Carleecia Stempel."

Duncan couldn't help but chuckle at the infant's reaction as she studied the person holding her. The amusement evident by the happy gleam in his eyes as he faced his niece and Aaron, he offered;

"You know something? She looked at me the exact same way that you did when I held you the first time, Jemma lass."

Placing her hand on his arm, Jemma offered;

"Would you like to meet your great-nephew?"

Eagerly, Duncan nodded;

"Aye, lass, that I would."

Reaching to take her daughter, Jemma and Aaron were shocked as he shook his head;

"I'm sure I'm strong enough to hold two wee little ones. Just lay the lad in my empty arm, Jemma lass."

Jemma glanced towards Aaron in uncertainty, unsure if holding both babies at the same time was a good idea. However, much to her surprise, her husband simply shrugged;

"Sweetheart, you and I hold both of them all the time and we had to learn."

Offering a slight nod, Jemma ventured;

"Alright, if you two are sure."

Lifting Jacob from the bassinet, she carefully laid him in her uncle's waiting arm as she offered;

"Uncle Duncan, this is your great-nephew; Jacob Aaron Stempel."

Studying the baby's face as intently as he had studied Amie's, Duncan's own visage broke into a wide smile full of pride as he nodded towards Aaron;

"There's certainly no denying who the lad's father is, is there?"

Even though it took him by surprise as first, Duncan felt gratified in his niece's choice in a husband as Aaron rose abruptly from the rocking chair to glare heatedly as he stated in a tone that brooked no argument;

"No, there isn't and there never has been."

Seeking to ease the tension, Jemma placed her hand on Aaron's arm to draw his attention as she met his heated glare with her own look of pleading;

"Darling, I'm sure that Uncle Duncan didn't mean anything by what he said, he's probably just amazed by how much Jacob looks like you, that's all."

Noticing how Aaron's arm automatically protectively went around Jemma's waist as well as how his niece seemed able to calm the man's temper with little more than a look and a softly spoken word, Duncan knew that Jemma and Aaron were two people who had been destined for each other. Glancing from one baby to the other any doubts that Duncan might have had as to just how much the couple in front of him belonged together disappeared as he realized just how much of a blessing the two infants he held in his arms truly was. Knowing what he had to do and his tone reflecting his sincerity, Duncan appealed;

"I know that I was wrong for what I said out there and I'd like ta make it up to you both. Would ya be so kind as to join me out there?"

Smiling down at the twins, he requested;

"May I?"

Glancing down into her eyes and seeing the unspoken question, Aaron offered a slight shrug;

"Sweetheart, he does deserve the opportunity to rectify the situation. And, you and I both know just how much your uncle's blessings mean to you."

Biting at her bottom lip as she processed her uncle's request and her husband's observation, Jemma sighed in resignation as she nodded;

"Alright, Uncle Duncan."

She couldn't help but give her uncle a loving smile at the picture that he made holding her and Aaron's children and the smile of happiness that he wore that also seemed to fill his pale blue eyes. Patting her uncle's arm, she offered;

"And, yes, you can hold them as long as you like, well at least until they get hungry, or need fresh diapers."

Nodding towards the doorway, Duncan ventured;

"Then I think we need to go join the rest of your guests so that I can make amends."

Deciding to make his position on the situation clear, Aaron suggested;

"Jemma love, you go ahead and we'll be out in just a second."

Seeing the suspicion filling her eyes, Aaron rushed to assure her;

"Sweetheart, it's okay, I promise."

Glancing from her husband and the look of determination that he wore to her uncle and the look of trepidation that he wore, Jemma realized that this was a discussion that she had no wish to be involved in. Noticing the concern on her face as she looked at their children, Aaron held his hand up in a placating manner;

"Jemma, darlin, I promise that you have nothing to worry about. Please, just trust me."

Offering a slight nod, Jemma opened the door and with a last pleading glance over her shoulder pulled it closed behind her. Waiting until he was certain the door was closed, Aaron turned to Duncan to issue;

"Duncan, if you never believe anything else in your life, you need to believe this; Jemma has been through a lot over the past year and I will not see her go through anymore if I have any say or way to prevent it, and in this case it just so happens that I do."

His estimation of just how good of a husband his niece had been blessed to marry went up as Duncan nodded;

"Aye, I can see that you'd do whatever needs be to see to her well being."

Shaking his head, Duncan admitted;

"You've a right to have been mad. You'd think that given how many mistakes I've made that I'd learn how to think before I speak, let alone rush into judgment."

Placing his hand on the man's shoulder, Aaron ventured;

"Duncan, the fact that you can recognize that fact means that there is genuine hope for you."

Holding the door open, Aaron offered;

"Shall we join everybody?"

As soon as Jemma pulled the door closed she was set upon by her brothers, Julie, Candy, Lottie, and Clancy as Jason demanded;

"Pixie, are you alright?"

Jemma nodded;

"Yes, Jason, I'm just fine."

Seeing the obvious concern on all of their faces, Jemma waited for the obvious question, however, she found herself surprised by its source as Holly, in her usual manner, demanded;

"You mean you left your uncle back there alone with Aaron, ain't ya worried about what those two stubborn mules might do to each other?"

Tilting her head to the side, Jemma cast an admonishing look in the woman's direction as she lightly chastised;

"Holly, I think it's fairly safe to leave those two alone, especially considering that I left them with mine and Aaron's children, and I'm sure that they both know just how badly I'd take it if they were less than civil to each other in front of Amie and Jacob."

Noticing the door opening and the subjects of their conversation approaching the group, Candy leaned closer to Jeremy as she pointed out;

"Well, they don't seem as if they've been fighting and your uncle certainly looks happy holding the babies."

Jemma searched the look on her husband's face for any indication of what might have taken place once she left the room and when she didn't find any obvious clues, she excused herself to approach Aaron. Seeing the gleam of curiosity lighting her eyes and the determined look on his wife's face, Aaron placed his arm around her shoulders as he promised;

"It's alright, love, trust me."

Before he could elaborate any further Duncan, still holding his great-nephew and niece, cleared his throat before pleading;

"I'd like to have everyone's attention, please?"

Jeremy, worried over what his uncle might have in mind now, grabbed his oldest brother's arm;

"Jason, just what in the hell is he going to do now?"

Shaking his head, his own visage reflecting his concern regarding what their uncle was about to do next, Jason could only offer;

"Jeremy, I don't know, I just don't know."

Worry darkening her blue eyes, Candy demanded;

"Can't you three stop him, or at least find out what he's about to do? You know, just in case he should be stopped."

Before any of them could make a move towards Duncan, an ear-piercing whistle split through the dull roar of the various murmurs from all of the guests. Everyone turned in shocked surprise at the source to find Holly Houston standing near Duncan, her arms on her hips as her gaze swept across the crowd before demanding in a tone full of irritation;

"Now just what the heck's the matter with all of ya? Are you stone deaf or something? The big feller here asked all of ya for your attention, and I swear I don't think none of ya got any manners. I mean you was all more than happy to see him make a mistake, the least y'all could do is let him make amends."

Despite her familiarity with Holly, Jemma couldn't help but be impressed at the silence that fell across the saloon, leaning closer to Aaron, she whispered;

"And I thought that you and Jason were good at hushing a crowd."

Having gained everyone's attention, Holly motioned towards the group as she turned to Duncan;

"Alright, big feller, they're all yours; you best make it good."

Duncan couldn't help but stare at the brash woman in shock until she admonished;

"I got em warmed up for ya, now all you gotta do is dive on in."

Recovering his power of speech, Duncan cleared his throat as he began;

"If you'd all be so kind as to give me your attention for a moment, I'd like to apologize for making such a spectacle of myself earlier and interrupting such a nice party as this. More importantly, I want to apologize to my niece; Jemma and her husband; Aaron for my behavior."

Duncan shook his head in self-loathing as he admitted;

"I know good and well that my niece would never have done anything like what I accused her of and I was wrong for even thinking that was a possibility. I'm a foolish old man who gets stuck in the old traditions or a world that I'm no longer a part of."

Glancing from one infant to the other, a happy and loving smile lighting his features, Duncan confessed;

"But I canna help but think that her decision to marry a man who loves and adores her as much as her husband obviously does, something that resulted in these two wee little blessings, was the best decision that she and he could ever have made."

Searching the crowd until his eyes lit on Jason and Julie, he offered;

"And Jason, I think that you made as smart a decision as your sister given that lovely lass by your side."

Offering a slight bow of his head in acknowledgment of his respect, Duncan ventured;

"Welcome to Bolt Clan, Julie."

Glancing over his shoulder, he couldn't help but quip;

"And I've news for you, Aaron, your last name might well be Stempel, but you're just as much a part of the Bolt clan as your wife, children, and sister."

Rolling his eyes sarcastically, Aaron muttered under his breath;

"Ye gods."

Although it was said quietly, it wasn't quiet enough that it missed his wife's hearing, a fact he realized as she discreetly elbowed him before admonishing softly;

"Behave please."

Having missed the exchange, Duncan turned fondly to Jeremy and Candy;

"Candy, to our way of thinkin, you, Molly, and Christopher are already a part of our family and it'll be a pleasure come Saturday when it becomes official."

Noticing how Amie and Jacob were beginning to fuss a bit and understanding the reason, Jemma motioned towards her children;

"Uncle Duncan, I think you should let me have them now."

The disappointment evident on his face, Duncan begged;

"Ah, Jemma lass, couldn't I help ya with them?"

Reaching to take Amie as Jemma took Jacob, Aaron shook his head as he pointed out;

"No offense, Duncan, but there are some things that only Jemma can tend to with them and this just so happens to be one of those things."

Relinquishing the twins to their parents, and understanding Aaron's meaning, Duncan blushed as he ventured;

"So if everyone can forgive a foolish old man, might we get this party to celebrate the two wee ones back underway?"

Taking the cue, the musicians began playing once more as everyone began mingling and socializing. Once the door to the parlor was closed and as Jemma settled herself in the rocker to tend to Jacob, Aaron couldn't help but notice the expression that Amie wore; a cross between puzzlement and disbelief. Shaking his head in amusement, Aaron couldn't help but offer;

"I know, baby girl, there are certainly a lot of strange people in your and your brother's lives, but they all love you two dearly."

Cuddling the infant closer to his chest, his voice softened as he vowed;

"But nobody loves you more than Mommy and Daddy."

Noticing the sigh of relief that escaped Candy as they danced, Jeremy ventured;

"I'm guessing that you're relieved that things have been settled?"

Candy offered her fiancee a, somewhat, timid, smile;

"Well, yes and no."

Puzzled by her response, Jeremy couldn't help but demand;

"What do you mean by 'yes and no'?"

Leaning a bit closer as she lowered her voice, Candy pointed out;

"I'm glad that he apologized to Jemma and Aaron the same way that he insulted them, and that he's accepted their and Jason and Julie's marriage. Not to mention, he seems to have fallen in love with Jacob and Amie, not that I can blame him for that given just how adorable those two are."

Jeremy shrugged slightly;

"But all of that is a good thing, Candy, and that being the case why are you still concerned?"

Glancing about to make certain that no one was paying attention to their conversation, Candy admitted;

"I'm concerned, Jeremy, because, even though he thinks he's doing the right things, he tends to wreak absolute havoc in his stubbornness when it comes to what he thinks right. THIS particular issue may well be settled but who knows what he may do next and what the results will be. I think you have to face it, Jeremy, your uncle tends to be more destructive than a hurricane when all he means to do is create a little rainfall. I know he may think that he means well, but, well, you've seen his handwork and you know how he can be; look what almost happened to us on his last visit. And this time, he wasn't here an hour and he had created chaos with Jemma, Aaron, and the twins. I'm just worried about what might happen next."

Glancing past Candy's shoulder, and noticing the subject of their discussion dancing with Holly, Jeremy ventured;

"You know, Holly seems able to reason with him, so just maybe, she can help us keep him in line. At the very least, she might be able to help keep him out of trouble, at least until after our wedding."

Seeing the skepticism in her eyes, Jeremy pleaded;

"Well, it's at least worth a try."

Noticing Candy and Jeremy so engrossed in conversation as they danced, Julie asked her husband as he maneuvered her around the dance floor;

"I wonder what they're discussing so seriously."

A panicked look lighting her eyes, Julie prayed;

"Oh, I hope they aren't having a quarrel of some type."

Glancing past his wife's shoulder as he turned her, Jason shook his head;

"I don't believe that they're quarreling, sweet, but I do think that they are trying to hatch some scheme as to just how to keep Uncle Duncan occupied and out of their hair, at least until after their wedding."

Puzzled, Julie demanded;

"Jason, love, how in heaven's name can you be so certain of that."

Pulling her slightly closer, he brought his lips close to her ear;

"Because, if we were in their place, that would be what I would be thinking."

Noticing his wife's unconscious habit of tugging at her bottom lip with her teeth when she was concerned or worried over something, and noticing his sister and Jason's interaction, as well as Candy and Jeremy's, Aaron was fairly certain that he knew the source of both couples' concern, not to mention the source of his wife's worry. Holding her closer Aaron shook his head as he stated in a soft but definite tone;

"I know what you're thinking, sweetheart, and the answer is no."

Her shock reflected in her eyes as she met his knowing glance, Jemma stammered slightly;

"Aaron, what are you talking about? I wasn't thinking anything, I was just enjoying dancing with my husband while our children are quiet and sleeping."

Chuckling slightly, Aaron reminded her;

"Jemma Elysia, when are you ever going to realize? Ever since the first time that I took you in my arms to teach you how to dance and looked into those emerald green eyes of yours, I've been able to tell when something was on your mind or bothering you. Now, considering today's earlier events I've got a fairly good idea what two out of three, if not all three, of your brothers are thinking and I know that you're all worried about the same thing; just what kind of rabbit could Duncan possibly pull out of his hat to mess Jeremy and Candy's wedding up. Or am I wrong?"

Jemma couldn't help but sigh as she admitted;

"No, you're not wrong."

Aaron nodded;

"I didn't think that I was. Alright, there's only one way to settle this."

Catching Jason's attention, Aaron motioned for him and Julie to join he and Jemma, as well as doing the same with Josh, and Jeremy and Candy. Once they were all together, and after making certain that Duncan was occupied, dancing with Holly, Aaron led the way to Lottie's back parlor, and once they were behind the closed door and having made certain that the twins were still sleeping peacefully, Aaron motioned to the table;

"Let's sit down."

After everyone was seated at the table, Aaron came straight to the point;

"Alright, I don't have to be a fortune teller to see that all of you are worried about just how much of a loose cannon Duncan may well prove to be, especially after what happened today, not to mention his last visit."

Julie spread her hands in a questioning manner;

"There's no denying that you're right, Aaron, but the question is big brother, what do we do about it?"

Always the most logical one, Josh observed;

"Well, if we could keep him busy somehow, or occupied, the chances that he would be able to cause very many problems would be minimized."

Nodding, Aaron agreed;

"I agree, now that being the case, just exactly how do we keep your uncle busy?"

Meeting his brother in law's questioning look, Jeremy ventured;

"We need to find something for him to do to make him think that he's helping, but at the same time, not anything that can give him the chance to create havoc."

Glancing covertly towards his sister, Jeremy ventured;

"Maybe, say, something along the lines of helping someone who happens to have their hands full with trying to help her older brother's fiancee get ready for their wedding and her new twins."

Her eyes widening in disbelief as her jaw dropped, Jemma shook her head;

"Oh no, no you don't Jeremy James Bolt."

Shrugging, she demanded;

"Not to mention, just HOW am I supposed to keep him 'busy'?"

Clasping her hands together, Candy offered;

"Jemma, I don't know if this would help but, well, Jeremy seems to think that, just maybe, Holly might be able to help keep your uncle in check; at least enough so that he can't wreak any havoc."

Having processed all of the information, Josh ventured;

"You know, having children to look after might just well give those two something to occupy their time."

Aaron and Jemma turned to stare at each other in disbelief before Aaron, the first to recover from their mutual shock of Josh's statement, thundered;

"Joshua Bolt, have you lost your damn mind? You're actually suggesting that we trust those two with our newborn children?"

Scared awake by the sound of their father's raised voice, both babies began crying as Jemma quickly rose from her chair to hurry to take one of her children in an attempt to soothe them back to sleep as Aaron took their other child. Both parents cradled their children to them as Aaron gently rubbed their daughter's back as he offered;

"Daddy's sorry, baby girl, he didn't mean to scare you or your brother."

Holding their son closely against her shoulder as she patted his back gently, Jemma soothed;

"It's alright, sweetie, I promise, Daddy wasn't trying to scare you."

Everyone found themselves shocked when the door opened suddenly as Holly and Duncan entered the room as Duncan turned to Holly before pointing;

"Ya see, lass, I told ya that I heard the wee ones crying."

Crossing the space, Holly approached Jemma as Duncan did the same with Aaron before Holly suggested;

"Here, why don't you let me take em and see what I can do."

Before Jemma could protest, Holly had Jacob in her arms as she rocked him back and forth in her arms;

"Now what's the problem there, little fella? Things can't be all that bad now can they, you just tell ole Holly what's the matter."

As amazed as Jemma was when their son quiet and cooed at Holly before drifting back off to sleep, Aaron found himself even more amazed when Duncan took Amie from him before cradling her in his arms before offering softly;

"There now, for such a wee little lass you certainly make quite a fuss when you're not happy; don't ya, lass?"

Jemma and Aaron could only stare at each other in utter shock as Amie followed her brother's example by sighing in contentment as she closed her eyes and drifted back into slumber. Watching as the pair placed the twins back into their bassinet, Aaron and Jemma reached the same conclusion as Aaron gave a slight nod of consent before Jemma sighed in resignation;

"Uncle Duncan, Holly, Aaron and I were wondering if you would be willing to do us a big favor."

Their curiosity evident as they glanced at each other, they soon found it turning to surprise as Jemma ventured;

"With everything coming up for Candy and Jeremy's wedding next week, I would be grateful if you two would consider helping me out with the babies. I know it's a lot to ask, but I would be very grateful."

The delight at the prospect evident on both of their faces, no one was shocked as Holly declared;

"Why shoot, I'd be downright happy to help ya take care of them two little ones of yourn"

Nodding his agreement, Duncan declared;

"I'd be a might honored that you trust me with your wee little ones, Jemma girl."

Turning towards Jeremy and Candy, her eyes daring them to disagree, Jemma ventured;

"And I'm sure that Candy and Jeremy would be just as grateful if you wouldn't mind helping to entertain Molly and Christopher as well."

Both nodded as Duncan remarked;

"Of course, lass, Jeremy, I'd like to get to know the little lad and lass since they're going to be family."

Turning to Holly, he offered;

"I think that calls for a drink, don't you, Holly lass?"

Nodding as she headed for the door, Holly agreed;

"Yep and I'm a buying."

Once the door was closed, Jemma turned to the engaged couple to hold one finger up as she waggled it towards them;

"Oh, don't even THINK about arguing. If I can trust them with my two then so can the two of you. Besides, Molly is a good little babysitter and, this way, I know that my two will be safe, sound, and well cared for when they aren't with me."

Tilting her head to the side as she shrugged, Candy offered;

"Well, she certainly has a point, and it might well help keep those two out of trouble."

Although everyone was optimistic over the plan, it wasn't without a lot of hope and prayer behind it as they rejoined the party.