The next day I wake up to Christian feeding Aleah. I fed her twice last night, so Christian took the turn. Though he was awake with me both times. I see he has another set of clothes on, must have asked Taylor to bring him clothes to change into.

"Good morning," he says. "How do you feel?"

"Sore." I answer. "Still tired"

"Understandable. I told everyone that if they wanted to come, they should be over after 3. I wanted to give you time to actually wake up and have Aleah for a while."

"Thanks."

The next two days go by quick. By Wednesday afternoon I'm able to go home! Finally.. A comfortable bed. Teddy and Phoebe met their sister on Tuesday and they're head over heels in love. Christian decides to take a week off, he didn't have to but I'm thankful. When I finally check my phone, I have a few messages. One from Penelope.

Hey! So I called and I heard you were in labor.. Congrats! I bet she's beautiful. Can't wait to see pictures. I was calling to say I won't be in Seattle this week, change of plans. But I'll be there in January, maybe I can see you then? Hope all is well!

I replied.

Hey! January is great and thank you! She is beautiful, I'll send a picture soon. Hope all is well in New York and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

I lay down, with Aleah next to me as Christian brings the bassinet over. The kids come over and we're all in bed. All five of us.

Life is great.

-Christmas Eve-

"Mommy!"

I keep running around making sure things are in order.

"Mom"

Jesus, where's the chair?!

"Mom!"

"Teddy? What's wrong?" I finally answer.

"Aleah is crying and you said when she started crying to tell you."

"Oh," I say. "You're right. Thank you my sweet boy." I kiss his cheek and head up to Aleah.

I'm setting up the surprise baby shower I'm throwing, along with her boyfriend, for Mariana. He came to me asking for help. Apparently he knows what they're having, not her. That's how they are doing it. He wants to surprise her with the gender of the baby, so I started helping him with that. He brought up wanting to do a baby shower and then asked for help on that as well. A little early but that's how we're doing it. Apparently Mariana told him to contact me for any help relating the baby, it made me smile like an idiot that she thinks highly of me.

I told him we can throw a baby shower at my place, he can bring his family over. And a few friends. He said no to the friends, just something small with the family. Though, Mariana's closest friend is here helping actually. Ember is just like Mariana, bubbly. She felt out of place but I made her feel welcomed.

Mariana thinks she's coming over with Zack and his parents, and older brother & sister, for family dinner with Ray, Lauren and Michael.

They should be here in about two hours so after I feed Aleah and she falls asleep, I take a shower and get ready. Mom and Bob aren't going to be here since he surprised her with a trip to California but she left behind a present.

Gail helps the kids get ready while I get ready. Christian is already dressed and downstairs finishing up anything else.

Once I'm all done, Mia, Luke, Kate and Elliot have arrived. Then Michael, Lauren and Dad arrive. Michael is back home for winter break, but Mariana is up in Vancouver.

Carrick and Grace arrive and now we just wait for the rest.

About thirty minutes later the door bell goes off. Christian opens it and we all yell, startling her.

"What the hell?!" She says smacking Zack on the chest after jumping back. "OHMYGOD!" She jumps up and down laughing, Zack's family is behind him laughing at Mariana's reaction. "I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!"

Squealing she runs, well wobbles, over hugging me first. She goes around giving hugs and then Zack introduced us to his family.

"Hey, everyone, this is my mom and dad, that my brother Tyler and my sister Denise."

I greet them first and welcome them into my home. Their warm smiles tell me they're friendly and loving.

"Thank you for doing this for our boy and of course Mariana, you have a lovely home." His mom says.

"No problem, she's family so that makes him family too. And now all of you. There's food and drinks so help yourself." I smile at her and greet the rest of his family.

Gail has been watching Aleah almost the whole day, so I go up and get my daughter and bring her down so everyone else can meet her. Michael runs over first, which makes me laugh.

"Oh my lord, she's so small.. May I hold her?"

"Yeah, but take a seat first." He laughs and takes a seat on the couch. "You need to support her head okay?" He nods and I pass her over to his arms.

As hours pass by, everyone is mingling having a good time. I see that Michael and Mariana are now speaking again with no issues in between so that's great. Mariana told me they spent time together on thanksgiving slowly working things out.

"Hey, Ana, I want to do it now." Zack says and I nod knowing what he's referring to. I pass Aleah over to Christian and get what's needed.

I place a white blanket on the floor in front of Mari and Zack holds the black box. She looks confused.

"Okay, everyone, settle down." I say. "Zack contacted me a while ago asking for help. He wanted to reveal the gender of the baby to her in a fun way. If you didn't know, she has no idea what the gender is, but he knows. We tried to come up with fun ways, and we decided to get messy. That black box is filled with either pink or blue paint. Mariana, you have to dip your hand in, shake it off so it won't drop on you, that's why I put the blanket on the floor, and reveal to us the gender. You ready?" She nods. "Alright Zack, open the box. No peaking Mariana."

She dips her hand in and shakes it off a bit so it won't drip too much. She pulls her hand out and burst into tears when she sees the blue paint. Everyone squeals and runs over, her mom being the first one. After the hug exchanges are over, I help her over to the kitchen so she can wash her hand. As I walk her back, Zack pulls her over and faces her.

"I have a surprise."

"Oh? I love surprises." She says.

"Let's hope you love this one." He laughs nervously and I know what's coming. Holy shit..

"You remember how we met?"

"How could I not?" She laughs. "I threw a tomato at your face when I was actually aiming for Michael." Everyone laughs.

"The moment I laid my eyes on you, I knew you were trouble and that my life would never be the same. You've wrecked me in ways you don't even know about. It took years of me to a fault grow a pair and ask you out. I was trying to respect your brother's wishes, but I couldn't give you up without knowing what it would be like to have you. And with all due respect to Michael, going behind his back was the best decision I made. You made me happy, you're the best part of my day. Things might have gone wrong when everyone found out, but I'm happy to say I got my best friend back and I have his blessing to make you mine officially." Mariana gasps when she realizes what's going to happen. Everyone is dead quiet. "So Mariana.." He gets down on one knee. "Will you do me the honor of making me the happiest man alive for the rest of my life?"

"Yes! Yes yes yes! A million times yes!" He slips the ring on her finger and gives us a kiss. We all run over to get a view of it and gasp as how beautiful it is.

"You, my friend, have done well." I pat his back.

"Excuse me.." Mariana says trying to walk by. She runs straight into her brother's arms crying. "Thank you" she says.

"Anything for my other half".

I walk over to Christian and give him a peck on the lips before taking Aleah from him. Well.. Try to in this case. He shakes his head. She's laid up on his chest.

Mariana announces she wants to open gifts, so we let her. Sophie, Teddy and Phoebe help her out. Handing them to her. After all gifts are opened and views I stand next to Michael. "You know.. What you did was great. Being able to move on and keep the friendship."

"I was out of line all those months ago. It hurt they went behind my back, but I should have never said what I said. Thank you for doing this for her, by the way."

"Of course," I smile. "She's like a sister to me."

"Ouch.. What am I?" He jokes.

"The annoying younger brother"

"I'll take it." He chuckles. Mariana and Zack come our way with smiles on their faces.

"Zack it is my job to tell you that you better take care of her. Over the past year I've grown to love her like a sister so don't fuck this up. Actually it's not my job, it's Michael's job but I thought it was fun to say it." I smile and shrug. Christian comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waste. "Hey you, wheres the baby?"

"Upstairs in her crib. Gail is up there with the kids too."

"Ah okay." I nod.

"So are you done with taking my job and with your speeches?" Michael jokingly asks.

"Actually I have one more thing to do that I've been itching to do for months now." I smile then lightly smack him across this head. "That's for what you said to your sister."

"Damn it.. That hurt! Watch me end up having a concussion."

"Oh, don't exaggerate." I laugh. "Zack don't laugh because the moment I hear you've fucked up once, you will never be able to have kids again."

"Duly noted"

"Damn.. Even I'm afraid of her." Christian said kissing my cheek.

The rest of the night goes by amazingly. Christian and I sit by Kate and Elliot chatting it up. Mariana and Zack are talking to his parents, and everyone else mingles. Two years ago I didn't think my life would look like this right now.

}-{

At the end of the night everyone is gone. The kids are asleep and everything is cleaned up with the help of Gail and Taylor.

As the clock struck midnight, making it Christmas, Christian comes to me with a gift.

"Your first gift." He whispers. "Open it."

I open the box and gasp at the frame in front of me, tears escaping. In the frame is the same photo I gave to him last year. The photo of us off guard laughing. On top of the frame it says "when I knew.." In his handwriting. It's engraved.

"I knew much before you were my one and only, but this is our first official photo together. So carefree and happy. I loved you then just as much as I love you know. You gave me the photo and I love it. Now.. I have to return the favor. I have this framed in my office too and now I want you to have one. I love you so much baby, so fucking much it makes me want to scream it to the world." He's tearing up. "It's doesn't matter how much money I spend on you because photos like this, or even moments like that are priceless and mean the most. That's why I gave this to you. Because this means more than any diamond in the world."

I kiss him and wipe both our tears.

"I'm going to call up Jose so he can take some professional shots on the kids after the new year. We need to start capturing new memories."

"Agreed." He says.

"I love you, Christian. Thank you so much for this. We better head to bed. The kids will be up early wanting to see what Santa got them."

"You're right. I love you too, baby. Merry Christmas my beautiful wife."

"Merry Christmas my amazing husband."