HEY GUYS I AM TERRIBLY SORRY THAT IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO UPDATE THIS CHAPTER I HOPE YOU LIKE IT AND PLEASE REVIEW
I woke on Christmas Eve to an empty bed, but could hear noises coming from down the hall in Tony's room. I quickly got out of bed and made my way down the hall to Tony's bedroom. Leaning against the door frame I could see Jenny helping Tony get ready for our day, especially since we had a long drive across town to make and then a drive to Stillwater later this afternoon. I had packed the car last night with our bags, deciding that it was better to be prepared but knew that the food that we had spent the last couple of days making wouldn't be able to go in the car until we left home. Tony was talking animatedly about how excited he was to see his grandma and grandpa, Aunty and Uncle knowing that he was going to get a lot of attention from all of them. I was slightly nervous as I was meeting her sister and brother-in-law for the first time, with work and Tony there weren't very many opportunities for us to see family together so it was a first for all of us. Tony looked up and squealed
"Jet, mummy said you would be awake soon" he said happily and I smiled as he rushed toward me giving me a hug
"Good morning Tony" I said and he kissed my cheek
"Morning Jet, mummy said that we could have bacon and eggs for breakfast before going and seeing Grandma and grandpa" he said and I nodded
"Sounds good, why don't you and mummy go downstairs and I'll quickly get changed and then get your breakfast going" I said and he nodded, Jenny who was making her way towards us, leaned up and kissed my lips
"Morning Jethro" she said and I smiled
"Morning Jen" I said handing Tony over and she smiled.
With breakfast eaten, dishes done and the food in the car for the day we made our way across town to Jenny's sisters house. I was nervous and as we neared there house I had this feeling that today was either going to be a disaster or that I would make a really good impressions. We arrived at her sister's house, Jenny helping Tony get out of the car before he made his way to the back of the car to carry in the container filled with gingerbread men we'd decorated as Santa's. He waited patiently before walking with us to the front door where Jenny's sister had flung back the door and was picking up Tony and smothering his face with kisses.
"Oh Tony, it's so good to see you. Have you been a good boy?" the woman asked, she was obviously Jenny's sister they had similar features.
"Yes Aunty Cassidy. I've been a good boy" he said giving her a kiss on the cheek after being picked up.
"That's good, I bet Santa is going to bring you lots of presents tomorrow" she said and Tony beamed. She turned and gave Jenny a hug before looking at me and smiling
"You must be Jethro. It's nice to meet you, I'm Cassidy and this is my husband Derek" she said and I smiled
"It's nice to meet you both" I said and both of them smiled before letting me move further into the house. I spotted Heather in the kitchen and Jasper in the lounge with Tony firmly in his arms both of them admiring the Christmas tree. But before I could do anything else I took the food into the kitchen where the women would be working on the meal and making sure that everything was up to scratch.
Though I was new to the celebration with this family each one of them was incredibly friendly and I knew that it could be ten times worse. Jasper was happy that I had been able to make it and that I was still around. It had been just over six months since we started dating, six incredible months and when I asked to talk to Jasper he handed Tony off to Derek while the women were preoccupied with the cooking and we snuck out the back to the deck.
"How've you been Jethro?" Jasper asked as soon as we were alone
"I've been so happy. Everything I do with Jenny and Tony has made me the happiest I have been in such a long time" I told him and he nodded
"Having children around can do that to a man, especially when you have a woman you love there by your side. Now this is something that I've been meaning to say for a long time but we haven't really had the choice and it needs to be said now more than ever" he said and I looked at him listening intently to every word that came out of his mouth, if there was anyway to get in his good books it would be to have a trusting relationship with him and to let him know that I wanted the world for both Jenny and Tony and if that meant listening to whatever he was about to tell me then so be it.
"When Jenny was younger, I never gave any of her boyfriends as much praise as I give you. Not a single one of them had made her feel even half as good as you make her and seeing the way you adore not only her but Tony, well it makes me feel such pride. She's been hurt way too many times for her own good and Tony doesn't need that in his life, I need to know how serious you are because its not just Jenny that you're going to hurt" he said and I nodded
"Right well sir, as you've probably heard Jenny and I moved in together a couple of weeks ago. Not because we're rushing into anything but because the moment felt right. I love Tony like my own son and I would do anything to protect the two of them, especially since I know how it feels to lose a child and partner" I said and his eyes bugged
"What do you mean?" he asked and I looked around, it was still a raw subject but having Jenny and Tony around made life a lot easier to manage.
"Eight years ago I lost my wife and daughter, they were killed in a hit and run whilst I was away fighting in desert storm. Losing them almost broke me and the only thing that got me through was NIS, but now that I have Jenny and Tony they make me so happy, they make me feel alive again and loved. Honestly I have no idea how I managed to avoid her for so long or why I never acted on my feelings until when I did" I confessed and he nodded
"I'm truly sorry to hear about your wife and daughter Jethro, I couldn't possibly imagine how hard that must've been for you" he said and I smiled sadly
"I promise to do my best to do everything in my power to protect the two of them, I would do anything for them both" I said and he nodded
"I know you would Jethro. I just had to make sure" he said and I nodded, knowing that even though Kelly had never even reached her teen year I was still very protective of her around young boys.
Just as we were about to head back in I stopped Jasper to ask him something that had been on my mind for a couple of weeks now.
"Jasper, I wanted to ask your permission for Jenny's hand in marriage. There is no one else that I want to commit to and Tony will be asked as well, but you are her father and I wouldn't want to over step anything" I asked and he looked at me
"Well it is a little sudden but honestly both Tony and Jenny love you so much, and I admire you and thank you for trusting me with the news of your wife and child. However if I say yes I need you to promise that both of them will be looked after and treasured" he said and I nodded
"Of course Jasper, I wouldn't have it any other way" I said and he nodded.
"Alright, Jethro you have my permission. When do you plan on asking her?" he asked and I smiled
"Well her birthday is a couple of weeks away and I wanted to make it special and I wanted to involve Tony as well since he's a part of who Jenny is" I said and he nodded
"It sounds like you have it all sorted out. Just please let me know if there is anything I can do to help" he said and I nodded. With that out of the way the two of us made our way inside and Jenny made her way over to me and asked
"What was that about?" I smiled
"We were just having a man to man talk" I said and she rolled her eyes. She was about to ask another question when Heather announced that it was present opening time.
With everyone gathered in the lounge around the Christmas tree I truly felt included in the family, even Derek and Cassidy had welcomed me into the family with open arms. As the presents were handed out and the pile of wrapping paper grew I smiled, leaning over and kissing Jenny's cheek as she opened one of the presents from me and Tony.
"Thank you Jethro, and Tony I love it" she said holding her arms open for Tony and when he bounded over toward us and we picked him up and wrapped him in a hug.
"I love you mummy and Jet" he said and we smiled
"We love you too Tony" we said placing a kiss on his cheek and he giggled. The moment was broken by Cassidy who let out a rather loud
"Awe" and we turned to her and saw he blush that was brought up on her cheeks
"I'm sorry, you guys are so cute, I just wish that Derek and I are as lucky with our own baby" she said her hand making its way down and resting on her belly.
"Cassy are you pregnant?" Jenny asked her little sister.
"Yeah, we found out about five weeks ago but we were waiting until Christmas to tell everyone" she said and I smiled, it brought up memories of when Shannon had been pregnant with Kelly and we'd waited until she was and truly out of her first trimester to tell anyone.
"That's awesome, congratulations" Jenny said getting up and going over to give her sister a hug. After more congratulations and finding out that she was four months as of yesterday we all headed over to the table for the Christmas feast.