A/N: Another chapter so soon. RTN is down for the weekend so I'm focusing on this fic since I can't very well post a Jaxie fic on a Liason website anyway LOL. And it's going to rain here in sunny Florida all weekend so you will probably get another chapter this weekend as well. Oh and the end of this chapter has the best AWWWW moment (if I do say so myself). PS: Anyone who has read any of my other fics knows that I have two dogs, Precious and Popeye, who are in nearly every story I write. And guess what....they show up here too. Enjoy.

Chapter 15

Maxie cringed as soon as the words came out of her mouth. She turned to Jason and as expected, his one eyebrow was raised awaiting the truth. The guy was so annoying.

"That's not true. Brittany didn't do it. It was me. But I have an excuse."

Suddenly his big strong arms surrounded her and she was pulled down into the chair on his lap. His lips moving to capture hers.

"See, wasn't that easy." he murmured in her ear.

For the past three weeks, every time it was Maxie's instinct to lie, she would usually blurt it out but within five minutes Jason would receive the truth. And an apology. And a promise to try harder.

"So what's the excuse."

"You and the boys walked in the door. Remember, last week when you came in with this bouquet of flowers?" she thumbed the flowers on her desk in the newly finished loft.

"Oh...so I distracted you and caused you to accidentally ring up a three hundred dollar blouse for three millions dollars." he laughed at her. It wasn't a huge mistake. Just a very noticeable one when doing the books. Especially since she didn't back out the charge on the computer register, she just cleared it and started over.

"That's my story and I'm sticking to it." she announced and turned in his lap crossing her arms across her chest in defiance.

She pouted for a few minutes and Jason waited her out. Patient and quiet. Like he always did but then finally she sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm really trying."

"I know." He replied. "And you're doing better. I'm not trying to change you but I don't want either of the boys growing up learning it's okay to tell lies. And you know how I feel about it."

"I don't lie to the boys. Except the other day when Jake asked me if Daddy was spanking me."

"Well I was spanking you. You had been a very, very naughty girl." He wiggled his eyebrow at her. "Besides, you asked me to."

"So you want me to tell Jake the truth?"

"Hmmm...no that's probably not a good idea."

"See"

"But that's different."

"You always know if I lie anyway."

"So why do it?"

"I can't help it. Twenty five years of doing something doesn't change overnight."

"Then it's good that I'm patient and I love you."

"Very good." she pulled him into her and pressed her lips against his deepening the kiss as his hands started to roam up her thighs to her waist then her breasts.

She moaned as he pinched her nipples, rolling them between his fingers while his tongue twirled with hers.

They had christened her office on several occasions since they started having sex. It seemed going all day without seeing each other strained them too much. They needed a release and only the other could give it to them. Luckily they had made changes to the boutique that tended to keep the boys in the store room more.

The first day Spinelli was there, it was awkward to say the least. Jason was not happy with Spin, Spin was not happy with Jason and Maxie was walking on eggshells between the two of them. By mid afternoon, Maxie came up with a plan that would hopefully get the two friends seeing eye to eye again. Besides, it wasn't like Spinelli was going to stop her and Jason from being together. So now the two men had to work through this rough patch and get back to where they were.

Master and Grasshopper.

And what better way than to have Spinelli working on one of her projects with Jason.

So Maxie suggested after breakfast that first morning that he upgrade the computer registers and server at work while Jason finished the renovations to the boutique. Spinelli tweaked the online site and Jason helped Spinelli wire the loft office while finishing up the final touches of the boutiques renovations. They both agreed and soon were talking with each other about what supplies they needed to get and what local store was best to buy the new computer equipment.

When Maxie finally showed up with the boys that afternoon, she had new flat screen TV's on the walls, which were a surprise idea from her two favorite men. All four screens were currently showing The Fashionista Diaries from 2008. It was Maxie's favorite show, Spinelli remembered, and she had made him watch every episode with her so he downloaded it.

Spinelli tied the televisions in with the server so that Maxie could run a continuous slide of her Virtual store, and set her up so she could add more product that she didn't physically have at the boutique. She could show music videos, regular television programs and movies. She could do her advertising by flashing pictures of already happy customers wearing items purchased out and about at high society parties and weddings and such. There were any number of possibilities and when he and Jason were standing in the electronics store and staring at the football game on forty different television sets, they both looked at each other as if they shared the epiphany.

Guys wouldn't mind bringing their wives or girlfriends shopping as long as one sports game was on one television somewhere in the boutique.

So Jason hung four sixty inch flatscreens in the main room, smaller nineteen inch screens were in each dressing room, mens and womens, and hung high enough so that each person in their stall could see it. Then a twenty-seven inch screen was hung in the storeroom and in the loft office.

Jason and the boys had been spending a lot more time at the boutique in the afternoons so he installed them so he could watch the news and the boys could watch whatever they wanted to in the storeroom.

Then when she went upstairs, the pictures she had framed were hung on the wall and the new office furniture she wanted was installed and set exactly where she told Jason she was going to put it. Along with a huge leather couch. Oddly, a leather couch that looked eerily like his old ratty one. But it was new and it matched her furniture and she supposed, after he showed her his intentions with the well placed couch, it was a perfect addition to her new office.

For the four days that Spinelli was there, he went to work with Maxie every day and slowly they worked their way back to the comfortable friendship she had shared with him for years. Minus the sex, of course.

And Jason and Spinelli had worked out their issues as well. But Spinelli still held on to the premise that Jason and Maxie would probably not work. And Jason being Jason didn't argue with him. To Jason actions spoke louder than words and he would simply prove that he and Maxie could make a go of things.

Spinelli stayed in Jason's room and Jason happily moved into the master bedroom with Maxie. Once Spinelli left, he simply didn't move back into his room. It was never really discussed between he and Maxie but he noticed that after a week, Maxie had moved things in her room and bathroom to accommodate his books and his toiletries and his few other items. However, she didn't budge an inch in her closet or her dresser drawers and knowing Maxie, he supposed she never would.

They didn't have the talk with the boys until the day Spinelli left. It was Thursday and they held their traditional work day for the entire family at the boutique and then dinner at Keegans. As expected, the boys asked a few questions but didn't seem to understand what the difference was from how their family dynamics already had existed for the past two years.

But when Jason kissed Maxie right in front of the boys after she fed him spoonfuls of the She Crab soup, Jake groaned with a loud 'EWWWWWW' and then as they walked out of the restaurant and back around the block to the boutique to their cars, Cameron asked when they were going to get married which had Jason choking. And then because his choking was so exaggerated and wouldn't stop, Maxie hit him on the back. HARD!

The whole extended Watson family was very happy about their new romance and Denny admitted she had an elaborate scheme planned since the fateful wedding but that their month long argument and then their seemingly working things through on their own caused her plans to no longer be needed.

Jason and Maxie both asked what this elaborate scheme was but Dale interjected stating they DIDN'T want to know so the two lovebirds just laughed it off.

"You know what today is don't you?" Jason asked Maxie as she moved to straddle his waist. Quickies in the loft were becoming a regular occurrence with them nowadays.

"Sure it's one month since you first kissed me." she smiled, leaning in for another kiss. "So it's our anniversary."

Confusion marred Jason's face and he tried to hide his sudden realization that he was with one of those women that makes an anniversary out of every little relationship milestone and would expect him to remember these ridiculous dates for the rest of their lives.

"Ooookaaayyyyy" he drawled. "I think you may be a day or two off though."

"No I'm NOT! It was Tuesday before Thanksgiving." She pulled the desk calendar over and pointed at the date. "The twenty third and today is December twenty third. One month anniversary of our first kiss."

"Okay but don't expect me to remember this ridiculous anniversary." He laughed.

"What do you mean ridiculous you Neanderthal?" she batted him on the chest and then they both turned their heads when Jake cleared his throat from the stairs. A habit he'd learned from his father.

"What Jake?" Jason groaned knowing that the panties Maxie was wearing under her skirt would no longer be pushed to the side and the condom in his wallet would remain in its place...for now.

"Daddy did you apologize yet?"

"For WHAT?" That kid was starting to get on his nerves. Every time Maxie called him a name or was unhappy it was HIS fault and Jake insisted that he apologize to her.

"Daddy..." the three and a half year old groaned "She called you a nanderfalls. You DID something."

"Yes he did Jake. He forgot a very important anniversary." Maxie said sliding off of Jason's lap and holding her hand out for Jake to take.

Jason turned in the leather desk chair that matched the couch and the other two stationary chairs in the room. He watched as Jake's face marred in confusion much like his father's had a few moments ago. His son was amazingly just like him.

"What's a annie...annie..."

"Anniversary." Maxie helped Jake. Then she sat on the sofa and Jake crawled up on her. "It's...it's like your birthday Jake. Every year we celebrate your birthday. The anniversary of the day you were born."

"And Daddy forgot your birthday?" he looked at her wide eyed. His sparkling crystal blue eyes staring up at her.

"No, not my birthday. Remember we had my birthday when you were a Transformer for Halloween."

"Oh yeah...I wanna wear that to school. I know Ling-Mei would think it's SOOOO COOL." he turned to his father. "She didn't get to see it cause YOU didn't want to go Trick or Treating in her neighborhood."

Sighing Jason stood and moved to the couch. "Jake it was late and you and Cam had school the next morning and I am NOT going to go through this argument with you again. The costume was a pain in the ass and you're not wearing it to Miss Sally's house."

"OOOOOHHHH" Jake looked at Maxie, his eyes even wider.

"I'm thinking the pool cue." she smiled and nodded at the little boy.

"Yep...pool cue goes in the swear box Daddy" Jake laughed and then laughed some more when Jason picked him up by his belt loops on his little blue jeans and swung him like he was going to toss him over the wrought iron railing.

"NOT the pool cue. I'll give up..." he stopped, thinking of something else he could give up.

"Me?" Maxie pointed at herself a big wide smile sparkling her face.

"You're not a toy Maxie." Jake giggled as he swung out again.

"Yeah but she's fun" Jason responded swinging Jason back and forth, a game he played with the boys often. "I'll give up the pool cue."

Maxie smiled a demure little smile and Jason felt his heart squeeze knowing he'd just confirmed to her that he preferred her over pool which for him was a huge admission.

"When are we gonna be done here? I wanna go to the park." Cameron announced climbing the stairs. "I'm bored."

"Oh is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles over?" Maxie asked as she stood and moved to the desk grabbing a swatch of material a woman had brought in wondering if she knew a designer that could make a dress using that material for her wedding dress. It was hideous but the woman had gobs and gobs of money so she'd put in a call to Federico and see what could be done.

"Yeah...can we go to the park now?" Cam asked again while tugging on Jason's other arm to get him to swing him too. Jason grabbed onto Cam's jeans and started swinging both boys back and forth by their pant belt loops.

"One day those loops are going to rip and you are both going to fall on your noggins." Maxie smiled as she set the swatch in a file folder and wrote a note on the folder to remind her what needed to be done when they came back in the next time. She closed the store yesterday for the two weeks the boys were off for Christmas break and Jason had taken the two weeks off as well. They were just there that morning to tie up a few loose ends and let Jason pay a couple of bills and gather his books to go to the accounting company to close their books for the year.

Even though the shop had only been open for eight months, Jason wanted the fiscal year to coincide with the calendar year. He said it was easier for everything. He also said if she continued the tradition of closing for the Christmas Holidays until after the first, it made perfect sense.

Suddenly she remembered as she looked at the calendar for the date she'd re-open the store.

"OH today's THAT day." she exclaimed as she turned to Jason who simply smiled at her realization. "We can't go to the park today. Actually, we better get going now if we want to take care of everything today."

She looked down at her skirt. "I really need to stop by the house and change into some jeans like you boys."

"And a t-shirt." Jason added. He loved when she was fresh from a shower, her hair in crazy, sexy curls all wild and blue jeans and plain t-shirt and tennis shoes.

Of course he loved her in heels. Especially when she would walk out of her closet in nothing but five inch stilettos. She'd done that a few times for him and he would always ask her to keep the heels on while he had his way with her.

"Okay" she shrugged giving him a flirty look. She knew she turned him on when she was dressed down.

"Why can't we go to the park?" Cameron asked as he dug the wedgie out of his behind once Jason set him and his brother down.

Jason was turning off the computer, putting the checkbook back into the safe and piling up the final receipts, check register and invoices in the cardboard box behind the December tab to take to the CPA. He no longer worked on Maxie's boutique's books at home, preferring to come to the shop and spend his time there doing the accounting while listening to Maxie rattle on about whatever happened that day. And he also had better things to do with his time when they were at home now as well.

"Because Maxie and I have a surprise for you two. It's an early Christmas present that we have to go get today."

"YAY!" both boys yelled in unison. They had become practically unbearable over the past week since they had put up their Christmas tree and lights around the house.

A task that Jason didn't want to do until Maxie promised something incredibly dirty as payment for the task. He spent three hours on the roof putting up lights then another two hours after the boys went to bed enjoying the fruits of his labor.

Once he was done he used his arm to usher Maxie and the boys down the stairs. Just as Maxie hit the first step, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her flush to his body. "I have a surprise for you too."

"You do?"

"I do."

"Have I told you I love you today?"

He moved to press his lips against hers. "Yes but I don't mind hearing it again."

"I love you." She breathed and then deepened the kiss.

~%~%~%~%~%~

"I think her name should be Princess."

"He's a boy Jason and I think he should be called King"

"No" the boys shouted from the back of the king cab of the truck where Cameron and Jake were strapped into their car seat and booster with two huge dogs between them.

"It has to start with a P Maxie." Cameron explained. "Precious, Popeye and another P name."

"He's my puppy Cameron...I get to name him." she leaned in and the puppy licked at her face. "Aren't you baby. You're my puppy and Mommy gets to name you."

"That dog does not look like a him." Jason laughed as he looked over at the tan and white puppy with long wispy ears with tiny blue bows affixed to them. "Maybe Princess IS a fitting name."

"I'm not naming him Princess...besides..." she looked at him seriously. "Someone already has that nickname and she likes it."

"Okay...not Princess...how about Prince." Jason said smiling. Maxie had just admitted she actually liked when he called her Princess.

"Hmmm Prince." Maxie looked down into her lap and the puppy barked and sat up in her lap, licking her hand where she was scratching him under his chin. "You like Prince?"

The puppy barked again and she cooed at him. "Looks like you approve. What about you guys in the back? Shall we name the new puppy Prince? It's a P name."

"YES" came a chorus of shouts from the back seat and two loud woof's.

"Prince it is." Maxie smiled and with one hand reached across the center console and threaded her fingers with Jason's.

He pulled her hand up and kissed her knuckles.

"I love you Princess." He murmured while finally turning into the alley between their house and the Watsons to pull into the garage.

He had surprised her with the trip to Sarasota and the new puppy. The dog was incredibly expensive and the breeder was such an arrogant snob. He made them sign all kinds of documents making promises of never allowing the purebred to stud for another breed of dog. He hated the mixed breeds of snoodles and peekapoos and labradoodles. And Jason and Maxie had to sign a document promising to never allow the puppy to stud for anything other than another Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with AKC papers with proof of lineage showing that the dogs line at least three tiers were all of the same pure breed. They also had to sign that if they were to decide to get rid of the dog, the dog would be given back to the breeder. No person other than the breeder could take the dog off their hands or they stood to be sued.

In the end, Jason didn't care. The contracts and promises made to the breeder were essentially harmless. What did he care about studding the dog and giving it back to him if they didn't want the dog anymore.

Besides, with the way Maxie was behaving, they weren't getting rid of that dog, EVER.

Once back in Tampa, they stopped at four shelters, finally finding Popeye and Precious, two dogs that had to be given up two months prior by a military family when they were being shipped overseas. Precious was a pitt mix that was nine years old. She was a sweet dog that the previous owners said had never even growled at a human being. The shelter assured Jason and Maxie that in all the time the two dogs had been there, Precious was the best behaved and had a great way with children, even with the little ones that got excited and grabbed her ears or pulled her tail. The shelter's manager had assured Jason that the older dog never so much as reacted other than to pepper the children with kisses with her long tongue.

Jason watched as they were all in the room used to acclimate prospective adoptors to the animals, Maxie in the corner holding on to the new puppy and Cameron running around with Popeye. Jake hid behind Jason's leg and Precious moved over and just simply sat down next to the little boy, never even moving to lick him, and watched as Popeye and Cameron ran around the room barking and screaming and playing with a squeaky toy.

Jason bent down and petted the old girl and Jake followed suit. As soon as Jake felt comfortable and started petting Precious more, she laid down and rolled over begging for the boy to rub her belly.

Popeye seemed like he'd be a little more work. He was not quite four and was a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. He had tons of energy and would jump up but the manager again assured him that the previous family said they never had an issue with him growling or biting people and that he was just a hyper active dog that needed a lot of attention.

The previous family had found him as a puppy and the three kids kept the dog active all day.

Since they had been together for nearly four years Jason agreed with the shelter that the two dogs should not be split up and he had been thinking two dogs, one for each boy, was a good idea anyway. So they paid their fees and signed their documents and added Popeye and Precious, who had already been named by the previous family, to their own quickly growing family.

Jason also wrote a rather large check in donation to the shelter after Maxie prompted him. It killed her how many animals were there hoping for a home. Jason didn't mind. He felt kind of guilty as well seeing all the cats and birds and dogs that had been dumped off or found roaming the streets. One Parrot had caught his eye and he considered buying it for Maxie's shop but then the bird started talking and whomever had him, had taught him to curse. So that idea was shot down quickly.

After the shelter, they stopped by the Pet Emporium. A huge store solely for animals. They were allowed to bring the dogs into the store on the temporary leashes they were provided. Maxie carried the puppy and Jason controlled the eighty and the sixty five pound dogs. Cameron pushed the cart and everyone loaded the cart with toys and food and chewys and leashes and a pooper scooper and everything imaginable for the dogs.

Then in cart number two, they loaded it with clothes for the puppy. All three boys and even Popeye barking that it was ridiculous that she wanted to put clothes on her dog. Then they found dog beds and food bowls and watering systems. Heartworm pills and training crates and designer pocketbooks.
The latter for the puppy again.

Collars and grooming kits and dog shampoo. Flea preventer and books on training and grooming for the three different breeds.

Leaving the store, Jason's truck bed was nearly overflowing, which is why the two large dogs were crammed in the back seat with the boys.

But everyone was happy and smiling and after Jason checked again in his rearview mirror and then confirmed by looking at Maxie's profile that the three were still smiling, he could have cared less that he'd just shelled out a fortune and doubled his family in size as well as taken on the responsibility of three dogs.

His family was complete.

~%~%~%~%~

Popeye decided to start Christmas early and Jason was so very happy he hadn't put out ALL of the Christmas presents.

The dog didn't ruin anything although the sweater that the boys got him needed dry cleaning before he wore it to get the slobber and drool off of it. And the toys Maxie and the boys had bought but didn't give the dogs because they wanted them to be Christmas presents were scattered across the floor.

It was four thirty and a continuous squeaking noise from the living room and then the new addition to Jason and Maxie's bed, Prince, started barking to be let down to go play with the big dogs. Jason rolled over and tried to hide his head under the pillow but Maxie pushed at his shoulder and mumbled something about letting the dogs out.

That was his new middle of the night job.

He groaned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Pushing at the tiny three pound puppy that was licking his ear. He was exhausted.

That was because Maxie gave him his Christmas present after the boys went to sleep.

Jason was sent on a last minute errand while she was wrapping the last of the boys gifts. He was gone for twenty minutes and when he walked back into the house, Billy was walking out of his bedroom. His shock turned to confusion as Billy high fived him and then left the house without a word. He went to open the door to the bedroom but something blocked him as he called out Maxie's name.

Then a few minutes later, Hannah came out with a huge smile on her face and told him to count to fifty then go in. She then told him she'd lock the door on her way out and for all of them to have a Merry Christmas.

Jason quickly counted to fifty and when he opened the door to their bedroom, Maxie was tied up with a huge red ribbon and bow wearing nothing but a Santa Hat and red fuzzy heels and the ribbon tied her to a dancer pole that had been erected in the middle of their bedroom.

Jason was instantly hard and when he finally untied her, he was treated to an erotic dance and then some pretty wild sex.

The pole was collapsible and by one am she was done dancing for him so he tore it down. They finished up the stockings and went to bed where he made love to her once more while the puppy stared at him atop his bed in the corner.

Jason climbed out of bed, readjusting the silk red pajama bottoms that was also a gift from Maxie. Jake's nightmares hadn't quite stopped yet, although he hadn't had one in two days. Precious would sleep in bed with him and he hadn't had a nightmare once. But Maxie and Jason still made sure that when they were finally ready to go to sleep, they were dressed appropriately. Just like they had been for the past month.

No sense in having to have that conversation with the boys yet.

He turned back around and picked up the puppy then leaned over the bed to place a kiss to Maxie's cheek. She let out a contented sigh and rolled over onto her stomach pulling the pillow over her head.

Jason met Cameron in the hallway who was rubbing at his own eyes. As Jason walked down the hall, Cameron behind him, he stepped on a squeaky toy and Prince started barking again. That started Precious so Jason tipped open the door and saw that Jake was now sitting up in bed too.

"Alright, I guess we're up for Christmas since Jake would be waking us up in a half hour anyway. You two go climb into bed with Maxie and I'll be in there to get you three in a minute once the dogs have gone out to do their business."

"Okay Jason." Cameron yawned as he turned around and headed toward the door at the far end of the hall. "Come on Jake."

Jake climbed out of bed and followed his brother and Jason made a ticking sound with his mouth sucking air between his teeth and Precious jumped from the bed to follow him. He could do nothing but laugh at the site in the living room. Popeye could apparently read pretty well and only got confused by a few of the wrapped gifts because aside from one sweater and a new pair of shoes for Jake, Popeye had only opened gifts that were to the dogs.

Eventually Jason was sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in his hand. He'd set up the video camcorder in the corner of the room behind him to capture the day. Maxie was on the floor sitting Indian style with Prince in her lap sleeping next to a stuffed bear the size of him. Jake was climbing on her back and Cameron was leaned up against her. Precious was laying on the floor below Jason with her chin resting on his feet and Popeye was in the bad dog crate for a time out after he took Cameron's new Ninja Turtle action figure and ran around the house while Cameron screamed and chased him.

And Jason could not have been happier.

He noticed Maxie look back at the tree. He hadn't given her his gift yet. Well except for the well endowed package he'd bestowed upon her again and again last night in the bedroom. Yet somehow he didn't think that was going to be enough for the little pixie blond.

He watched as she sighed and turned around again, petting at Prince. He'd told her two days ago that the purebred was her Christmas present just like the two other dogs were the boys' gift but he knew Maxie expected more.

"Hang on a minute, I forgot something." Jason announced and stood, causing the older dog to groan her displeasure at losing her pillow.

"What'd you forget Daddy?" Jake asked while he practically choked the life out of Maxie hanging on the back of her.

"Well I haven't given Maxie her gift from me yet."

He quickly glanced in her direction and watched as her sullen eyes lit up at his words. She tried to play coy and even said, 'Oh no...Prince was my present remember?' but Jason knew he had just made her happy.

A few minutes later he walked in from the garage with four boxes of the same size.

They were wrapped beautifully and Maxie was so excited. Jason pulled Prince from her lap and sat on the coffee table facing her. Jake finally stopped climbing on her when he was threatened with a time out just like Popeye who was in the corner in his cage crying and looking very remorseful for his earlier antics.

As Maxie opened the first gift her eyes widened in wonder. With the second, tears welled up in her eyes. By the third she was out and out bawling and at the fourth, she leaped into Jason's arms and openly wept as she kissed him.

"I don't see what's the big deal over a bunch of stupid Barbie Dolls" Cameron announced as he stomped toward the kitchen to find something to eat since it looked like Jason wasn't going to be cooking them breakfast anytime soon.