Ribbon
"Mom, when are Emma and Ashton actually going to be fun to play with?" five-year old Jason asked as he watched his mother get the twins ready for bed.
"What are you talking about? They're fun," Sam said.
"No, all they do is ruin my stuff," Jason mumbled. "Emma drooled all over my new coloring book this morning and Ashton kept knocking over my Mega Block tower I was building."
"Well they don't know any better right now, they're only one," Sam explained. "They don't mean to wreck your things." She leaned down and rustled his blonde hair. "I know they're kind of a handful to deal with right now. But once they're a little older you can teach them all sorts of games; they'd love to learn from their big brother."
"I'm gonna teach them not to mess up my stuff," Jason said firmly.
"Well, kid, if you figure out a way to keep them from being destructive, please pass it along," Sam sighed. "Alright, go start getting ready for bed. Daddy will be home any minute and we'll be in to tuck you in."
Just as Jason ran off Sam heard the front door open downstairs and a few moments later Freddie stepped into the twins' bedroom.
"Hi baby," Freddie smiled, giving his wife a quick peck on the lips. "Aw, and how are my little angels?"
He picked up Emma and Ashton in his arms.
"Da!" Ashton cooed happily as Emma giggled.
"They didn't act too much like angels today," Sam smirked. "They drove their brother nuts getting into all his stuff, didn't you two? And they spilled mommy's root beer all over the carpet."
"Aw, they didn't mean to do any of that," Freddie said, kissing the tops of their heads. "They're too sweet, aren't you guys? You're the sweetest girls in the whole wide world."
"Pfft, they've already got you wrapped around their tiny little fingers," Sam said, rolling her eyes.
"No they don't," Freddie defended.
"Uh-huh, sure," Sam grinned.
"Well anyway," Freddie said. "You know how you've been saying you want to go out?"
"Yeah," Sam nodded.
"Well you'll have your chance next weekend," Freddie said. "We just got invited to a wedding."
"A wedding?" Sam repeated. "Who's getting married?"
"That nice lady who lived down the hall from me and Carly when we were growing up," Freddie said. "Ms. Paulson. I was just over at Bushwell Plaza helping my mom with her Wi-Fi and she dropped off the invitation. You remember her, don't you?"
"Yeah, she was cool," Sam said. "But I always thought she was already married."
"She was, but apparently her husband died awhile ago, while we were all away at college," Freddie said. "I wish I would've known, I'd have liked to have sent her flowers or checked in on her."
"Her husband died and she's getting married again?" Sam frowned.
"It was like, ten years ago, I think she's had time to grieve," Freddie shrugged. "Anyway, you in for the wedding? Carly and Spencer are invited too so it should be fun. My mom already volunteered to babysit for us."
"Um, yeah, I guess that sounds good," Sam nodded. "Honestly I've been cooped up in the house for so long I'd go to a Galaxy Wars convention at this point."
"Huh, I'll keep that in mind," Freddie grinned.
…..
"The second Emma and Ashton turn two, I say we start potty training them right away," Freddie said later that evening as he walked into the bedroom. "I just looked at our credit card bill for last month and you wouldn't believe how much we spent on diapers. And to think we thought it was expensive with just Jason…"
"Yeah, maybe," Sam said, somewhat distracted.
"Oh, you just want to hold off as long as possible because you are going to be in charge of that, right?" Freddie grinned. "Well have fun, Sam. I did my time with Jason."
"Yeah, and you could've worked on his aim a little more," Sam mumbled. "I still have to clean up after him sometimes."
"He'll get it," Freddie said, sitting down next to Sam on the bed. "So, you miss work yet? Or are you loving the stay-at-home-mom life?"
"Eh, like I said, it would be nice to leave the house once in awhile," Sam said. "But it has its perks. This morning the twins did the cutest thing. Emma was trying to walk over to her doll and she fell down, so Ashton ran over there and gave her a kiss and hug."
"See? They're angels," Freddie said.
"But five minutes later Ashton then pushed Emma down for taking her red crayon," Sam added.
"Well, they do have your DNA," Freddie chuckled. He kicked off his shoes and laid back against the pillows and looked up at Sam, who still seemed somewhat distracted.
"You alright?" he asked.
"How long was Ms. Paulson married?" Sam asked suddenly. "Before-Before her first husband died."
"Um, awhile, I think," Freddie said. "I think they got married pretty young. Let's see…she had been living in her apartment for eight years before I moved in. Her and her first husband had three kids…I'd say close to fifteen years."
"Wow," Sam said softly. "You know, I was thinking and I'm pretty sure I remember seeing her with her first husband when we were younger."
"Oh yeah, Dan was a good guy," Freddie nodded. "I never talked to him too much, but from what I could tell they were really in love. It's a shame that he passed away so young like that…My mom said it was a car accident."
"Yeah, I thought they seemed like they really loved each other too," Sam said slowly. "I wonder if all this feels weird for her right now…getting married a second time. I mean, if she loved Dan so much doesn't it seem kind of messed up to just be replacing him like that?"
"She's not replacing him, Sam," Freddie said. "He-He died. And I'm sure she was heartbroken when it happened, but it's been ten years. She's still relatively young. She had to move on, didn't she?"
"Would you have moved on?" Sam asked softly.
"What do you mean?" Freddie frowned.
"If it was us," Sam said, looking down at her lap. "And-And I had died…would you remarry?"
"Sam, what-come on," Freddie said.
"I won't be mad," Sam said quickly. "I'm just curious. If I die, will you remarry?"
"Sam…"
"Say you're still pretty young too," Sam added. "Say you're like…forty-five when I go. Would you remarry?"
"Okay, isn't this a kind of, I don't know, morbid topic?" Freddie said.
"You wouldn't let me pull that excuse when we were doing our will after Jason was born," Sam pointed out.
"Because making our will was practical!" Freddie defended. "That was something we needed to do! It was important!"
"This isn't important?" Sam said. "Come on, just tell me. I said I wouldn't be mad or anything."
"Well would you remarry if anything ever happened to me?" Freddie asked.
"I asked you first," Sam said simply.
"Sam, I-I don't know!" Freddie said. "I mean come on, I-I hate thinking about stuff like that. I know I'm the one who pushed for us to do our will, but it really upset me to have to think about us dying."
Sam and Freddie were silent for several moments.
"I'd want you to remarry, though," Freddie finally said.
"What?" Sam said.
"Yeah, I-if anything happens to me, if you find someone…I think you should get remarried," Freddie nodded.
"So you don't think I'd be upset if you die?" Sam said, somewhat offended. "You don't think I'd be devastated and-"
"No, I didn't say that," Freddie said. "I'm sure it would be hard on you, and for awhile, I'm sure dating again would be the furthest thing from your mind. But eventually Sam…wouldn't you want someone? Someone to be with and love? If-If it can't be me, then-then it should be somebody."
"I don't think I could do that, though," Sam said softly.
Freddie gave her a small smile. "Sam…it wouldn't be 'replacing me' or betraying me in any way. Look, I hope it never happens and I get to stay here with you for a long, long time, but if it doesn't then…I still want you to be happy. You deserve that. I wouldn't want you to be alone. If you remarried, it wouldn't change how much we loved each other. Nothing could ever change that…"
Sam was silent.
Freddie reached over and squeezed her hand. "Seriously…we don't need to think about this. Let's just go to bed. I'm sure the kids will be waking us up at six in the morning just like always."
He reached over to turn off his bedside light.
"You should remarry too," Sam said suddenly.
"Huh?
"Yeah, if I go, um, I-I think you should remarry too," Sam nodded. "I-I'd want you to be happy too. Even if it's not with me…"
Freddie wrapped an arm around her and kissed her temple.
"Let's just hope neither of us winds up in that situation, though," Sam sniffed, wiping a tear from her eye.
Freddie nodded as he pulled his wife closer to him.
"Sorry I brought all this up," Sam continued. "It-It was depressing."
"Well, strong couples are the ones who are able to talk about things that aren't exactly…pleasant," Freddie said. He leaned over and kissed Sam again. "No matter what, I'll love you forever."
Sam kissed him back too. "You too," she said. "Forever…"
