Jack was relieved to be home. Granted he'd had an amazing time at the Theta retreat with Hiccup but they'd been so busy with activities he was more exhausted than anything. He threw his duffel bag on the floor of his room and literally face planted on the bed, groaning from sore muscles and a small sunburn on his neck and shoulders. But nonetheless, he grinned thinking about those amazing nights that were just him and Hiccup alone in the room or on the beach, either making out or making love. If only Spring Break didn't have to end so quickly.

"Jack?" He heard his mother yell up to him. He groaned again having to get up, but obeyed.

He shuffled down the stairs and already saw Punzie sitting at the dinner table finishing her meal. Her mother sat across from her, looking contemplative. Jack came down and noticed Max leaning against the counter with the same look on his face. As soon as Jack entered, Max walked over to him and smiled, "Mind if I have a quick chat with you?"

"Uh…did I do something?" Jack asked nervously, hello the guy was practically a cop!

"No." Max laughed, relaxing when he realized he looked as if he were about to interrogate Jack, "Just have a question for you." He nodded, leading Jack to the front door.

Jack followed him, a thousand thoughts running through his mind on what Max had to ask him.

Max shut the door and then looked down at Jack and took a visible breath, "I want you to be honest with me when I tell you what I'm about to say. Can you do that?"

Jack nodded nervously.

"Jack. I was wondering if I could have your blessing to marry your mother."

That threw Jack. In fact, he was so stunned he could only stare at Max and gurgle.

Max waited patiently however and continued, "I know how important your mother and Punzie are to you. I also know you've been the man of the house for quite some time. But I'm ready to help relieve you of that responsibility. I'm also ready to be a father to you…if you want that is."

Jack finally blinked and shook his head to clear it, "I…Max you don't have to ask my blessing, it doesn't matter if-"

"Jack," Max cut in softly but firmly, "you are important, your feelings are important. I know I can never replace your father and I don't want to. I just simply want to be a part of your family. I'm not asking you to step down or anything. I just want to know that when I ask your mother, I know you'll be happy and okay with it."

"Max…you really love her and respect her. You take care of Punzie and you accept me…" Jack rambled, "I mean…how could I not let you ask my mom to marry you?"

"There's some hesitance." Max smiled understandingly.

"I just…I…I don't know what to say." Jack admitted, "I haven't exactly been asked that kind of question before."

Max put a hand on his shoulder, "You don't have to answer me right now. But I want you to be honest with me. Can you do that?"

Jack nodded quickly.

Max ushered him back inside and then walked over to Gwen.

Gwen smiled at them, "Everything alright?"

"Yeah, just having a man to man talk with Jack is all, making sure he's doing good." Max smiled.

Jack nodded, still feeling a small weight on his shoulders. He watched as Max walked over to Punzie and noticed she was refusing to eat her peas.

"You know. Peas make you strong. You should eat them." Max told her with a smile.

Gwen rolled her eyes, "She's being stubborn tonight."

"Oh, is that right?" Max grinned, "Well that's a shame, because I brought cookies for dessert."

Punzie's eyes widened and Jack had to hold back a laugh.

"But, I guess she doesn't want any. Because my rule is, you eat everything your mother makes you before you get dessert." Max said with a nod.

Without another word Punzie was shoveling the peas into her mouth.

Jack watched as his mother and Max smiled at one another knowingly. Jack suddenly wanted nothing more than to just be a part of this scene he was witnessing. He wanted to sit down with his family and embrace the small moments. He walked over and sat at the table, across from Max and next to his sister and mother. The table was full of happy people, people who'd had suffered great losses in their life, yet came together and dealt with the pain as one unit yet individually in their own way; Punzie with her childhood innocence and art, Jack with his boyfriend and musical outlets, Gwen with her children and now Max, and Max…Max with Gwen and her family. They were complete, like a puzzle piece had been found.

Jack found Max's golden eyes and held them for a while before finally giving Max a nod with a firm smile on his face. He was more than okay with Max being his mother's new husband, he was more than okay with Max being him and Punzie's father; he was happy.

…

Hiccup was feeling pretty relaxed after a nice long holiday at home. But now he was back at school and his workload was ever increasing. He was just glad he didn't have to worry about any more Theta pledging. Now they were just taking part in fun Greek activities on campus and hanging out on weekends or whenever they wanted.

He couldn't have asked for a better brotherhood, sure some of them were a little odd and he didn't feel as close to but the ones that he was close to really looked out for him. In fact, Tuff and Bork joined him at a Gay Straight Alliance meeting on Campus to support him as he talked to others like him on campus that he had no clue were even around. He found it easier to accept who he was and how much he loved his boyfriend back in Burgess.

His grades were flourishing and he couldn't have been more confident in himself. He called Jack almost every other day and Skyped weekly. All the worry about long distance didn't seem an issue anymore. And from what he was hearing, Jack was doing wonderful at home now that Max and Gwen were engaged. Hiccup was even asked to be in the wedding with Jack as a fellow groomsman while Merida, Punzie, and Sophie Bennett were asked to be flower girls. Jamie Bennett was going to be the ring bearer from what Jack told him. Hiccup couldn't be more excited and happy for Jack to finally have a father in his life.

With all of this amazing good fortune going on, Hiccup made an accidental joke in his head about how all good things would come to an end at some point. Seriously, there had to be a jinx or omen at some point! He just wasn't anticipating what that omen was until that fateful day in April.

…..

Jack was so relieved that Sandy had offered to help him with the wedding favors for the reception. His mother's colors were turquoise and lilac for the summer wedding that would happen in July. She'd picked the colors since Jack loved blue and Punzie loved pink and purple. All of the girls would be wearing light purple shades while the men wore light blues. At the moment, he and Sandy were folding small white boxes and tying cute little bows to prepare for the candy they would put in the boxes. The boxes were monogramed with Gwen and Max's name and the bows were turquoise with light purple polka dots. Needless to say he was really glad Sandy offered to help him. It was nice to catch up with her after so long not really talking to one another.

Sandy was signing to Jack about a date she and Snot went on when his phone rang. He saw that it was Hiccup calling and smiled to Sandy who giggled silently as she continued to tie some bows.

"Hey you." Jack smiled as he put the phone on speaker, "Sandy's here, we're making-"

"Get it off speaker." Hiccup said sternly.

Jack's eyes widened and he and Sandy exchanged a look. He did as Hiccup asked and excused himself, "What's wrong?" he asked as he walked towards the living room, "Hiccup…"

"Dad's dead." Was all Hiccup said.

"WHAT?!" Jack nearly cried, "That can't be I just talked to him a few hours ago!"

"Not…not Fergus." Hiccup choked.

Jack felt his stomach drop.

Hiccup seemed to struggle with saying the words but finally managed to get out, "My dad…he…he was killed last night in prison."