Chapter 9: All's Well that Ends Well

Clarifications: This is FOR SURE the last chapter. Courtney and Duncan are married with their two children and all of the contestants are now living on the same block. Enjoy my final chapter, and thanks again for all the reviews and support. :)

"Mommy! Mommy! Wake up! Santa came!"

"Daddy, wake up! Stop sleeping!"

Courtney and Duncan opened their eyes to see (and feel) their two children jumping on top of their bed with giant smiles on their faces. Ever since they had been married, they had prayed for a boy and a girl. Well, that's what they got! Courtney had given birth to twins, their daughter being named Brianna and their son Patrick, both now seven years of age. They both smiled at their excited children, for it was Christmas morning. Duncan lifted up his squealing daughter, swinging her in his arms.

"Come on, Nana! Let's see what Santa brought you last night." he said as he set her down.

"Oh, I can't wait! I hope that I got that Barbie doll that I wanted!" she said as she ran down the steps.

"Oh," he said, winking at Courtney, "I think that he did."

As Duncan followed Brianna down the steps, Courtney rubbed her eyes and kissed her son's forehead.

"So, Pat, what do you think you got from Santa?" she asked in wonder.

"I don't know, mommy," he said as he stared down at his footsie pajamas, "I just hope that I got that Spiderman toy!" he said excitedly.

"Well," she said as she picked him up, "let's not keep daddy and Nana waiting."

*******

Courtney walked down the steps of her house and set Patrick down. The whole room was decorated perfectly. Their Christmas tree was filled with decorations and creations made by the twins, each one with sloppy glue marks and glitter. There was a huge stack of presents under the tree, each one either a shade of pink, purple, red, or green. Patrick and Brianna ran to the tree and started to claw at the presents while Courtney and Duncan watched them. Courtney sighed.

"What's the matter Princess?" said Duncan while he sipped his coffee.

"Nothing, it's just..." she said quietly, "they're growing up so fast."

"Aw, Princess. You sound just like one of those mothers from those movies who says, 'they grow up so fast' at the sappy moment in the movie." he laughed.

"Well, now I know why." she said with a weak smile as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Courtney... I know," he said as he stroked her hair, "but they're only seven."

"Not for long."

"I know that, but... it's just the circle..."

"Of life?"

"Yeah, that's it! But wait; didn't they turn that into a song? 'The Circle of Life?'"

"Sounds like a Lion King song," she said with a smile, "and speaking of the Lion King..."

"OHMIGOSH! MOMMY!" said Brianna as she ran over to her parents. "Lookie! Santa brought me a Lion King plushie lion!" she beamed.

"Wow. Santa knew exactly what you wanted, sweetheart." she said with a smile.

The kids unwrapped the rest of their mountain of presents. Patrick had gotten his Spiderman action figure, which led to a lot of screams of happiness from him. Duncan gave Courtney a silk nightgown, music, and a new PDA. Courtney gave Duncan some music, tools, and a new laptop. Brianna opened up a very large present; it ended up being a fold-out Barbie bus with a brand new doll inside. Brianna and Patrick decided to make things interesting with their new dolls. (Barbie was in a runaway bus while Spiderman came to the rescue.)

Duncan watched his kids play with their new toys and pulled out a small box addressed to Courtney.

"Hey, Princess. I got you one last present." he said with a smirk.

Courtney took the small little box and flipped open the top. Inside the white silk, there lay a small silver chain with a molded diamond that looked like a skull. The same skull he had given her on the island. Courtney was having a total girl moment and shrieked. Duncan plugged his ears.

"Jeez, could you be any louder? I can't hear you!" he said sarcastically.

"Duncan! This is amazing!" she said as she hugged him tightly, "I love it!"

"I thought you would." he murmured into her ear.

Patrick and Brianna ran up to them, still grinning.

"Mom! Santa is a miracle worker! This is the best Christmas ever!" they said in harmony.

"Oh, I know."

And, like any good story, they all lived happily ever after.

*******

A/N: Well, that's all folks! I just wanted to say thanks one more time. Writing this was really fun, and I really enjoyed it. Thanks again, and tune in for more stories! :)

Rcrocks95