I do not own anything!
I am so sorry this update has taken so long. I've been busy writing my own original story. Anyway this will be the last chapter although I am going to leave it in progress just in case I want to add more. May I take this opportunity to thank every one who have reviewed, favourited or just read this story and I hope you continue to enjoy my work.
CHAPTER 26
The week passed quickly for the Mar family. The reception in Haven City went off without a hitch just as the one in Spargus had and all the preparations for the twins final party were done.
Anya wandered around the bazaar in Haven City the morning of the party with Lucie. Lucie picked up a short black skirt and looked at it frowning "What do you think?" she asked
Anya pulled a face "A bit dark for you Luce, why don't you just wear that pink floaty dress?" she asked
"I want something special for tonight...for Taj" she answered
Anya pulled a face again "I'm sure he'll love you in anything you wear"
"And what about you?" Lucie asked putting the skirt back down
Anya shrugged "Dunno, maybe some shorts and a crop top"
"You have to wear something better than that Anya its your party" Lucie laughed
Anya laughed "Yes but its on the beach and I'll get covered in sand and it'll be hot and I want to be comfortable"
"Oh I have the perfect dress for you...my denim dress, you'll look amazing in that" Lucie grinned grabbing Anya's hand "Come on let's go get it" she said dragging Anya out the bazaar and towards her house.
Keira sat at the kitchen table across from Jak who had Lexa on his knee as she drew pictures with Damas next to them doing the same "So I was thinking, maybe we should spend the night at the palace with these two" she smiled
Jak looked up and frowned "You mean leaving the twins with the house to themselves?"
"Well I thought some of their friends might not want to travel home and they could stay here" she said
Jak kissed Lexa's forehead and moved her off his knee, sitting her back down before motioning for Keira to follow him in to the lounge, he sat down on the couch and sighed "I don't think it's a good idea to have loads of kids here" he said
Keira sat beside him "Just a few of them"
"I'm fine with Lucie and Rio, and I'm not entirely sure Taj and Anya will want loads of other people around" Jak said
Keira nodded "But you're fine with us staying out for the night?"
"Not really...its like were saying its okay for them to be together" Jak sighed
Keira took Jak's hand and smiled "Jak...Taj is ready to be with Lucie and Anya is ready to be with Rio...either we support them or they just do it anyway and they take risks"
"I know" Jak sighed pushing Keira back and wrapping his arms around her, his head resting on her chest "I just don't want to know about it"
She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair "I've spoken to Anya and I took her to the doctor to get her on the pill"
"What?!" Jak said lifting his head "Why didn't you tell me?"
Keira shrugged "Because you didn't need to know...but now you know how responsible she is being"
"I don't want them to grow up" Jak said lowering his head again
Keira giggled "It has to happen sooner or later, even Daxter has had to grow up"
Jak laughed "Yeah who'd have thought that would happen"
"You need to talk to Taj" Keira whispered
Jak nodded "I know, I'll do it later" he said looking around as Lexa entered the room and he sat up "Hi there baby girl"
Lexa tilted her head to one side and frowned "Are you sad daddy?" she asked
Jak smiled and lifted Lexa to his knee "I was just thinking about your big brother and sister and how grown up their getting"
"Does that make you sad?" she asked looking up in to Jak's eyes
Jak nodded "A little bit but I still have you and Damas to play with don't I?" he smiled
She nodded and smiled "And you could have a little sister for me to play with"
"Don't get carried away Lexa" Keira laughed
Jak laughed and hugged Lexa to him "I love you baby girl"
"I love you too daddy" Lexa smiled snuggling in to him
Keira smiled at them and stroked Jak's face he winked at her as she got up and went back in to the kitchen.
Jak leaned on Taj's bedroom door frame as Taj stood in front of the mirror fastening his shirt "Does it still hurt?" Jak asked
"What?" Taj asked looking around
Jak nodded at the scar on Taj's chest "The bullet wound"
"Not really, still a little tender but I hardly even notice it anymore" he thought for a minute "Do you still feel it, your bullet wound?"
Jak pulled his shirt up and showed Taj his own battle scars "Mine are a lot older than yours, but yes I still get a twinge every now and again" he sighed "You should know that because of the dark eco infection it will never properly heal"
Taj nodded and continued to button his shirt up "I can't wait for tonight" he smiled
"Well you know why I'm here" Jak said sitting down
Taj laughed "I figure mama sent you to give me the talk" he said
Jak laughed "You're a lot smarter than you make out Taj Mar...so you know what I'm going to say?"
"I think so, you're going to tell me to be careful and take my time and not to rush in to anything" Taj said sitting down next to Jak
Jak nodded "I think you've got it...but I also wanted to tell you how proud of you I am" he smiled
"Thanks dad" Taj smiled
Jak grinned "Now me and your mother have decided to stay at the palace tonight with Damas and Lexa, so I'm trusting you and Anya to behave yourselves here"
"But Lucie can stay over?" he asked
Jak nodded "Yes and Rio...just be careful Taj, your mothers to hot to be a grandmother"
"As much as I like the fact that you and mama are still so much in love I don't need to hear how hot you think she is" Taj chuckled
Jak laughed and stood up "Well I'm afraid you'll be hearing it for a long time yet" he said leaving the room.
"You look beautiful honey" Keira said looking up at Anya as she sat on the bed plaiting Lexa's pig tails.
Anya turned around from the mirror and smiled "Do you think Rio will like it?" she asked
"He'll love it" Keira grinned
Anya turned back around and smoothed down the short denim shirt dress that she'd borrowed off Lucie "I'm surprised it fits...I'm bigger than Lucie"
"It's always looked a bit big on Lucie, but you fill it out perfectly" she smiled
Anya sighed "Mama...you know tonight, when I tell Rio...well how do I say it?"
Keira finished Lexa's hair and pulled her on to her lap "I'm sure when you find the right time you'll know how to tell him"
"Tell who what?" Taj asked as he entered the room
Anya frowned "Nothing to do with you Taj, this is girl talk"
"Whatever I'm going to meet Lucie at the transport with Damas, are you two coming?" he asked
Lexa jumped off Keira's knee and ran to Taj grabbing his hand "Yes please Taj"
Taj laughed and looked back to Anya "What about you?" he asked
She sat on the bed and pulled on her boots "Rio will be with her so yes"
Keira stood up "I suppose we'll see you down the beach...you two be careful with Damas and Lexa" she said
"I would never let anything happen to them mama" Taj frowned
Keira smiled "Sometimes things happen that you can't control, just be careful" she said kissing his cheek and leaving the room.
Taj shook his head "Come on then sis" he said turning and leaving the room after Keira.
Keira walked into the kitchen and smiled at Jak stood leaning on the back door frame looking out over the beach, she walked up and wrapped her arms around his waist "Looks like Daxter started the fire" she said
Jak looked down at her and put his arm around her shoulders pulling her closer "Yep, I heard a few screams but he seems to have got it" he chuckled
"You know this isn't the end" Keira said looking up at Jak "Just because the twins are turning sixteen it doesn't mean you've lost them"
Jak smiled sadly "I know...I just miss how much they used to need me, how they'd look at me with wonder when I was telling them a story about metal heads or marauders" he sighed "Now not only have they heard all the stories but they've been into battle themselves, Taj even has a battle scar"
"Jak, you're always going to be their father, they will always need you no matter what" Keira sighed looking out over the beach
Jak nodded "I've still got Damas and Lexa and I'll always have you"
"You will always have all of us" Keira smiled looking up at him
Jak smiled and leaned down to kiss her gently "I love you Keira"
"I love you Jak...now lets go and see what's happening down there" Keira smiled taking his hand and pulling him out the door.
"Did I tell you how gorgeous you look tonight?" Taj whispered to Lucie as they strolled through the streets of Spargus towards the beach
Lucie giggled and squeezed his hand "You have but I like it when you say it"
"Well in that case...you look beautiful Miss Cave" Taj grinned stopping and pulling Lucie into his arms "And I am going to show you how much I want you later" he breathed
Lucie looked down and frowned "Taj, if I wasn't ready...to you know...be with you...like you want...what would you do?" she asked
Taj smiled and lifted her chin with a rough finger "Then I would wait until you are...even if I had to wait forever"
"It won't be forever Taj...it may only be a few hours but I needed to know" She smiled
Taj hugged her closer "I love you and I would wait for as long as it takes"
"Well that's good to know...and I love you too" Lucie breathed as she snuggled into his chest.
Anya watched as Damas and Lexa ran on to the beach and up to their parents. She laughed as Jak picked Lexa up and spun her around. Rio grabbed her hand and pulled her to him "You okay?" he asked
Anya nodded "I kind of miss my father doing that to me" she sighed
"I'm sure he still can if you ask" Rio laughed
She laughed "I love Lexa but sometimes I miss it just being me and daddy"
"I think he probably misses it too" he smiled brushing her hair behind her ear "He loves you Anya...just as much as I do"
Anya smiled "I think it's a little different...and I love you too...and I think in an hour or so we should sneak off somewhere"
"Oh really...you mean you want us to..." Rio asked raising an eyebrow
Anya nodded "I think so...but first I want to party" she said kissing him quickly and running off down the beach towards her family.
Hours later the sun had set and the party was in full swing. Taj sat on the sand in front of the fire with Lucie in-between his legs, laughing with his friends at something Daxter was saying. Keira sat on a bench talking to Tess with Lexa falling asleep on her knee, Rio played with Damas and Tex and Jak sat overlooking the beach on a huge rock. Anya came up next to him and sat down "Hey daddy" she smiled
Jak smiled and looked down at her "Hello there angel...you enjoying yourself?" he asked
"I'd enjoy it more if you wasn't sat up here looking all sad" Anya sighed
Jak chuckled and wrapped his arm around her "I just miss you being kids that's all"
"I miss it too sometimes daddy...when I see you playing with Damas and Lexa, I miss it too" she sniffed
Jak smiled and lifted her chin "Anya tonight isn't the night for tears" he said wiping her cheek "You're having a party and all the people who love you are here"
"I know...I just don't like the thought of losing you, I'm going to have to grow up and get married and have kids and it scares me" Anya said
Jak laughed and hugged her "You are never going to lose me...I will always love you and be here for you, and you don't have to grow up"
"I think I do...part of me really wants to but part of me is terrifed...how did you do it?" she asked looking up at him
Jak shrugged "I was always a little too old than my years"
"So you never had any fun...I thought when you and mama met you got drunk?" she asked confused
Jak laughed "I had my moments...your mother made me feel different, like I didn't have the weight of the world on my shoulders so I let myself go and started to enjoy life...I guess love does that to you"
"Then what...mama had Taj and I and you had to go back to being grown ups?" Anya frowned
Jak shrugged "We didn't have to...and sometimes we still behave like kids...but when your mother had her first scan and the doctor rushed out to get a second opinon...before we knew there was two of you in there...we didn't have a clue what was going on when that doctor rushed out" he shook his head remembering
"What did you do?" Anya asked
Jak smiled "Your mother looked up at me, her eyes full of tears and all she needed was me and that's when I knew, that's when I realised that your mother needed me, and you and Taj needed me, and no matter what I would look after you and love you and always be what you needed me to be"
"I just need you to be my daddy" Anya smiled snuggling in to him
Jak smiled and kissed her head "Then that's all I'll be"
"Thank you daddy...love you" Anya smiled
Jak tightened his arm around her "Love you too angel"
"Hey" Jak whispered into Keira's ear as he sat down next to her "Do you think we should get the kids up to the palace and in to bed?" he said smiling at Lexa's sleeping face, her thumb stuck in her mouth.
Keira nodded "I think so...might be harder to pull Damas away though" she smiled nodding in his direction "So where have you been...I hope you haven't been sulking somewhere?" she asked raising an eyebrow
Jak glanced at Damas splashing in the water at the edge of the ocean and chuckled. He looked back to Keira and gently reached across to cup her face "Do you know how grateful I am to you for everything you've done for me?"
"Like what?" she frowned
Jak grinned "Like loving me and making me happy"
"Just what have you been doing, sat up there?" Keira smiled
He tucked some hair behind Keira's ear and smiled "One of the things I love is how you know everything...how did you know where I'd been?"
"I'm a mother Jak I know everything...I also know that when you're feeling sad you go to one of three places" Jak raised an eyebrow questioning her "The roof of the palace...the temple or that huge rock that over looks the beach"
Jak nodded "I was just thinking about when the twins were younger...Anya and I had a nice little chat"
"What about?" she asked moving around and passing Lexa to Jak
Jak took Lexa and cradled her in his arms "About growing up...about how sometimes she wishes she was Lexa's age again...she wanted to know about when we grew up"
"And when did you grow up?" Keira smirked
Jak laughed "I told her I was old before my time anyway but the moment I realised how much you and the twins needed me that's when I knew I had to be anything you needed me to be"
"Well right now I need you to be a good father and put your two youngest children to bed and after that I need you to be my incredibly hot husband and take me to bed" Keira grinned
Jak grinned and kissed Keira quickly and softly "Then that is just what I'll be" he smiled getting up with Lexa and going over to Damas.
"We're trusting you two to behave" Keira said sternly
Taj nodded "We know mama...and I promise it will only be the four of us"
"You can invite a few others to stay if you like but I do not want my home full of teenagers lying around in the morning" Keira said
Anya smiled and stepped towards her mother hugging her "We know how much faith you and daddy are putting in us and we promise we won't let you down"
"I hope not because we'd hate to have to punish you again" Keira smiled hugging her back
Jak arrived next to them carrying Lexa and holding Damas' hand "Whats this?" he asked
"Mama was just telling us to behave tonight" Taj grinned
Jak nodded and passed Lexa to Keira and she took Damas hand, Jak put an arm around Taj's shoulders and pulled him to one side "I'm trusting you to be careful Taj...you know what I mean..." he said Taj nodded "If you need any protection I've put some in your bathroom cabinet"
Taj blushed and looked down "Dad...I think I'm good"
"Just be careful" Jak laughed and hugged him before turning back to Keira and taking Lexa off her again "We're only at the palace if you need us...right?" he said sternly
The twins nodded "Right" they said in unison
"Good" said Jak taking Keira's hand and leading her away
Anya turned to Taj and frowned "So what now?" she asked
"Well I'm going to find Lucie...you can do what you like" he grinned
Anya frowned "We both can't take them home"
"I'm not planning on taking her home just yet Anya...you have a few hours" Taj smiled "Just be carefull...and happy birthday little sis"
Anya hugged her brother "Thanks Taj...happy birthday big brother" she smiled letting go of him and walking in the opposite direction to Taj.
Taj dragged Lucie by the hand through Spargus City "Where are we going Taj?" she giggled as she ran to keep up with him
"You'll see" he chuckled as he came to a hidden door
Lucie looked up at it and frowned "What is this place?"
"This is a secret door in to the palace...I found it years ago...its a like an underground palace in case the city is attacked" Taj grinned
Lucie looked at him "But why have to brought me to the palace...aren't your parents here?" she asked confused
Taj took his Mar seal out of his pocket and held it up to the door. It hissed open and he pulled Lucie in the torches lighting up the tunnels shining brightly "There's all these tunnels leading off to different rooms...conference rooms, control rooms, kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms" he started saying leading Lucie down a narrow passage "I went to the palace library and looked it up...an entire army could live down here for months without detection"
Lucie looked around "Does your father know about this place?" she asked
"I'm not sure if even King Sig knows about it" Taj laughed pushing open a door and pulling Lucie inside.
Lucie smiled at the huge bed in the middle of the room "And just how did you come across it?" she smirked
Taj closed the door and locked it wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her towards him, his groin pressed into hers "I was just wandering around the palace with nothing to do one day and I found these funny symbols so I followed them"
"And you are sure your father doesn't know about them...he's a very smart man" she smiled
Taj leaned his forehead to hers "Even if he does he'll never suspect that I know about it" he grinned
Lucie wriggled out of his arms and swayed over to the bed, she sat down and looked up at him "Are you going to stand there grinning Taj Mar or are you going to kiss me" she grinned.
Taj laughed and moved quickly to the bed.
Anya dragged Rio in to her bedroom and fell on to the bed pulling Rio down on top of her. She kissed him hungrily as her fingers unbuttoned his shirt, her hands caressing the small defined muscles of his chest and abdomen.
Rio's hands started to roam Anya's body, feeling her breasts before unfastening the buttons of her denim dress. He pulled away and looked down at her as the dress fell open to revel her body "You're amazing Anya...I love you so much"
"I love you too Rio...promise me you won't leave me" Anya smiled
Rio frowned "Anya how can you even ask me that...I will never leave you, and I will marry you as soon as possible"
"Really?" she laughed raising an eyebrow and reaching up to stroke his face "That we can talk about later"
Rio nodded "All that matters right now is how much I want you"
"I think I can see that" Anya giggled as her hand rested on the bulge in his trousers.
"Do you think the twins are alright?" Keira asked as she lay on her side looking in to Jak's eyes
Jak smiled and reached up to brush some hair out of Keira's eyes "I'm sure they'll be fine"
"Why are you so okay with this?" Keira frowned
Jak laughed and ran a hand down Keira's side resting it on her naked hip "I guess I've just realised that as much as I hate them not being kids anymore I should embrace and have fun with them as young adults...I'll be able to take Taj for his first beer soon"
"You better not go get my son drunk" Keira frowned
Jak laughed and moved closer to her pulling her waist to his "You can have them girly chats with Anya that involve lots of wine and things"
"That'll be nice" Keira smiled "I wonder how they are getting on...we can't hear any yelling so they must be okay"
Jak grinned "Taj won't be in the house"
"What do you mean...where will he be?" Keira asked confused
He laughed "Don't you remember I told you about the secret rooms under the palace?"
"The Mar rooms, yes" Keira nodded
Jak smiled "I think Taj might have found them and I'm pretty sure he's planning on taking Lucie there"
"How do you know?" Keira frowned
Jak leaned up on his elbow a little "Well when Taj was still recovering from being shot and he'd started to get bored I sent him up to the palace to find something to do...when I went to pick him up a while after I found him around the side of the palace...where the secret door is"
"Does he know you know?" Keira smiled
Jak shook his head "Nah...he said he was just wandering around"
"So you're telling me our son is in a bed right under us with his girlfriend?" Keira frowned
Jak nodded "Well not right underneath us" he pushed her on to her back and positioned himself on top of her "Now baby...do you really think they care that we are over them doing what we're about to do?"
"I guess not" Keira muttered before Jak crashed his lips to hers.
Anya rubbed her eyes as she wandered in to the kitchen. The moon light shining in to through the window. She frowned at Taj stood leaning against the counter drinking a glass of water "Where have you been...where's Lucie?" she asked
"She's gone for a shower and we've been having a great time...what about you?" Taj asked
Anya smiled and tucked some hair behind her ear "Rio and I have had a great time also...I think maybe he should sleep in your room though"
"I suppose that's a good idea...although I did want to wake up with Lucie" Taj frowned "How about we just all sleep down here?"
Anya smiled broadly "Yeah we could get our covers and pillows and put a movie on"
"Great I'll go tell Lucie" Taj grinned placing his glass down on the counter, he turned back to Anya and studied her face "He didn't hurt you did he...he was carefull?"
Anya smiled and stepped towards Taj and hugged him "You're way to protective Taj, just like daddy...but I love you for it" she kissed his cheek and let go of him "And no he didn't hurt me and yes we were carefull"
Taj smiled "Good..love you little sis"
"Love you big brother" Anya smiled turning towards the sink and pouring her own glass of water smiling to herself.
Right that's it for now. As I said I'll leave it in progress and if I feel like adding another chapter I will. Also I would like to apologize for the delay in this chapter, I started but half way through my dad got taken in to hospital and he's still there so I haven't really had time or been in the right frame of mind to right.
As ever thank you for reading and I hope it was worth the wait and please let me know what you think. Thank you also to anyone who has reviewed, faved and followed this story. X X X X