A/N: I know I've said it many times before, but Thank You to everyone who's taken and interest in this story and read/
reviewed it!!! Many thanks again to the ladies over at I-C (Aiden's Aunties and Godmother) without whom this story
would never have been possible.
Betty, Henry and Aiden walked through Central Park happily bundled up against the cold. Christmas was coming soon and
the whole city was decked out in twinkling lights. Betty could hear the carriages slowly winding their way around the park,
the horses' hooves clopping over the pavement. Betty and Henry could hear Aiden giggling as he played in the snow.
The past few months since they had married had been full of firsts. Their first time making love together on their two-week honeymoon, a present from Daniel and Alexis. Their first time living together as Betty moved into Henry's apartment, a weekend that had been spent laughing, moving and pizza together with movies as the three of them had snuggled together on the couch. Baby Rosa's first steps, Hilda and Santos rushing to find the video camera as Justin got his sister to walk to him. Finally one of the biggest firsts; just before Halloween, when Betty and Aiden were looking for a costume to wear to school, Aiden surprised Betty to tears. Aiden had found the Spider Man costume he'd been looking for and rushed around the corner in the store. He stopped short and thrust the costume at Betty.
"Mommy, can I have this one? PLEASE???" Aiden had said. Betty could only nod as Aiden darted off and Henry walked up behind her.
"Did he just call you..."
"Mommy." Betty said as she burst into tears.
"Oh...Betty...honey don't cry." Henry said softly as he wrapped his arms around her. He held her there in the aisle as she pulled off her glasses and buried her face against his chest. He rubbed her back and murmured to her soothingly as he rested his chin against her head. After a few minutes Betty stopped sniffling and wiped her eyes with a tissue.
"I'm sorry Henry, I just can't believe he called me Mommy." Betty said looking up at him. Henry brushed a few lingering tears away from her eyes and kissed her forehead.
"It's OK, we talked about it the other night." Henry said, "he asked me if I thought you would be all right with it."
"I AM all right with it. More than you know." Betty said.
Since then, Aiden had called her Mommy every day. While she had grown used to it, her heart still gave a flutter whenever she heard him call her that. Lately she'd been thinking more about their own baby. A beautiful baby with her eyes and Henry's smile. Aiden would love a brother or sister. She would have to talk to Henry about that later on at home. Aiden's voice carried over the blanket of white snow as he ran ahead of them.
"Mommy, Daddy, let's go over the bridge." Aiden called as he started across. Betty and Henry slowly walked across the bridge stopping almost in the middle. Henry stopped and turned to Betty. He took her gloved hands in his. She could see his breath coming out in little puffs as he looked at her.
"You know, the last time I was here in this spot, a lot of things changed. I was with someone who was everything to me.
But, I almost lost her by being so stupid." Henry said.
"Henry..." Betty said, "you were never stupid."
"But now I'm standing here with my wife and my son." Henry continued, "and while I may have kissed that girl all those years ago, I've never felt like I did her justice. You see, that other kiss was way too short and bittersweet for me." Betty wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling his head closer to hers.
"Well, I hope you plan on fixing that." Betty said grinning.
"I certainly do." Henry said as he lowered his head and brought his lips to hers. Betty's arms tightened around his shoulders pulling him closer. Henry deepened the kiss, his tongue probing against hers. She felt weightless and weak-limbed, with only Henry's arms to hold her up. Henry broke the kiss as he looked up at the sky.
"Look Betty, a shooting star." Henry said, "Make a wish."
Betty watched the small dot blaze its' way across the sky. She could almost feel her mother's hand on her shoulder as she gazed up at Henry lovingly.
"I already did." Betty smiled, "and it looks like it came true." Henry bent down and gently kissed the tip of her nose as Aiden ran up, red faced and breathless. Betty held out a hand to him as Henry took his other hand and together the three of them continued their walk across the bridge.
THE END