He decided to wait in the small park around the corner. Teresa said she would be done by 5:00 and then they would go out for a nice early dinner. That was the good thing about DC, he thought. They had great restaurants to choose from in the downtown area.

He was tired. They had travelled all over the Capital that day – seeing the sights, including a good portion of the Smithsonian. The Natural History Museum had been a favorite and they'd spent a long time there. It had also been cool inside the museum – the heat could get unbearable in DC in the summer.

The Mall had also been a favorite. He'd brought a blanket and they'd had a picnic lunch, sitting on the grass and watching all the people go by. They'd gotten a lot of attention, of course. They always did.

Jane smiled. There were some days when he couldn't believe how happy he actually was. He hadn't expected it – had thought that life was only to be survived, not lived. But he was living it now – to the fullest. And he knew how very lucky he was to be able to say that once more.

He looked down and grinned. Yup – they'd had a great day, but now the babies were flaked out. He almost wished he could join them. Pushing a stroller around, and looking after two tiny toddlers by himself, was exhausting … but wonderful.

Teresa was in DC doing a week-long training, which would move her to a higher pay bracket. Not that they needed it – but he knew it was something she wanted so he had encouraged her to come. She had insisted that she would only do it if he came with her, and brought their children. She refused to be apart from them for a whole week, especially as she was still nursing them in the morning and at night.

Emily Charlotte Jane and Matthew Daniel Jane were almost 12 months old, and were the joy of their parent's lives. Little Emily had big blue eyes, fine blond hair, and a serious expression she'd inherited from her mother. Matthew, on the other hand, sported curly brown hair, green eyes and a smile that charmed – just like his father. The two of them had their parents wrapped around their little fingers, and, if truth were told, most of the FBI agents in Austin – especially their Uncles Cho and Wylie.

Jane looked at the two of them with pride and with so much love it sometimes felt like his heart would burst. He really didn't know what he'd done to deserve them, or Teresa. He could only figure that the universe that had taken so much from him, had decided to finally give something back.

He was pretty much a stay-at-home dad these days, and he loved it. He knew that Teresa found it hard to leave them to go to work each day, but also that she trusted him completely to look out for them. And they adored their mother, usually squealing with delight when she returned home at the end of the day.

And for the first time since he'd known her, Teresa didn't work late but instead hurried home to be with her family.

Yes, life was good! Jane sighed and glanced down at the sleeping children. They'd gone hard today – laughing and pointing at all the new sights and sounds. The animals at the Natural History Museum had delighted them and he hadn't been able to resist buying them each a cute little shirt and a stuffed animal. Teresa would give him trouble since they already had a room full of cuddly toys.

Emily and Matthew had run around – or toddled and crawled around – the mall until they'd both flopped down, exhausted. He'd quickly put them in their double stroller and watched as they'd fallen into a deep nap.

He glanced at his watch and stretched. Teresa should be here soon. He wondered what she'd like for dinner.

"Jane?"

He glanced up, a frown on his face. He'd recognized that voice, but hadn't thought he would hear it now, here. "Pike."

The agent glanced down at the stroller and then back at Jane. "Yours?"

"Yes," he nodded, wondering if Pike could possibly not have heard. "They're a year old – Emily and Matthew."

"Congratulations." Marcus Pike looked much the same – which shouldn't be surprising as it was less than two years since he'd seen the man. "I hadn't heard." He glanced at Jane's hand, which was resting on the back of the park bench. "So – married?"

Jane nodded, his lips slightly pursed. "Yup."

"Congratulations again. Uh – I'm assuming - ?"

"Teresa? Yes, we're married. I'm surprised you didn't know," he said bluntly, although he tried to speak gently.

Marcus gave a self-conscious smile. "I had heard something, but didn't pay much attention. I - figured it was best to move on. I assume you're both still in Austin?"

"Mmm hmm," he said. "We've settled in – new house, etc. How are things here in DC?"

"Oh, you know. It's the capital – always something interesting going on."

"Right," Jane nodded again. The conversation was particularly awkward and he hoped that Marcus would leave soon. It was going to be even more awkward if he was still here when Teresa arrived.

Just then Matthew began to squirm and a moment later his eyes popped open. His forehead crinkled in a fierce frown and he looked around. The moment his eyes found his father his face erupted in a huge smile. "Da!" he cried, his arms going up.

"Hey you," Jane laughed and reached down and unstrapped his son from the stroller and lifted him up. The little boy continued to smile.

"He's a charmer," Pike said, indicated the toddler with a nod of his head.

"Yes, he is," Jane agreed. "And he knows it!"

Pike's eyebrow went up. "Like his father, I guess."

Jane didn't know whether to take Pike's words as a compliment – or an insult. He was pretty sure he wasn't being complimentary, but decided to accept the words at face value. "That's what Teresa says," he agreed. Okay - so he wasn't a saint. He did want to make sure the other man knew he and Teresa were solid together. Not that he needed to worry – but his male ego was in play. "And he's kind and good like his mother," he said, giving his son a kiss. "Aren't you Matthew?"

That caused his son to giggle and to grab onto his shirt. The little boy looked around, seeing Pike and giving him a big smile.

Marcus took a swift breath, a fleeting look of pain in his eyes. "He looks like Teresa – even if he has your smile."

"Yup," Jane smiled. "No doubt whose children these are."

"So, you did - have a plan," Marcus said after a couple of seconds. "You were married and had a family pretty quickly."

Jane didn't answer, knowing he didn't have to justify himself – or his relationship with Teresa – to this man. Not now, not ever. Still, he could afford to be magnanimous. After all, he did win Teresa, and by the looks of things, Marcus still had feelings for her.

"We fell in love," he finally said. "There was no plan – just two people who had been friends for many years developing a deeper relationship."

"You're lucky," Pike told him.

"Yes – yes I am," he agreed. He smiled down at Matthew. "I'm the luckiest man in the world." At that moment his daughter – who took after Teresa in that she liked to sleep, woke up. He wanted to laugh as he watched her nose twitch and an expression of irritation cross her face. Yup – just like Teresa, she tended to wake up crabby when over-tired.

"Hey sweetheart!" he said to the little girl. "Did you have a good sleep?"

She stared for a moment at her daddy, and then slowly a smile appeared on her face. Her four little white teeth showed and she gurgled in delight, her arms going up, asking to be picked up. Like her mother, she couldn't resist this man who was the center of her world.

Jane shifted Matthew, putting him carefully down so that he was holding on to his knee, and reached over and unstrapped and picked up Emily. It was a good thing he'd had training as a magician – because juggling two toddlers was a feat.

"She's gorgeous," Pike told him. "Uh – can I help?"

"Thanks, I've got -" Jane stopped as Matthew turned and took two unsteady steps towards the FBI agent. He almost did a face plant – but before Jane had a chance to respond, Pike had grabbed him and steadied him. He received one of Matthew's smiles in return.

"God Jane – you and Teresa make cute kids!"

"Yes, we do," Patrick grinned, suddenly feeling much more positive about Marcus Pike. "But they keep us busy."

"I'm sure they do," Marcus laughed. He picked up Matthew and grinned at him. The little boy grinned back and started to babble.

"Hey!"

Jane glanced over to see Teresa walking towards them with a smile. She obviously hadn't seen Pike yet, her eyes clearly on her husband and little girl. "Did you all have fun today?"

"We did," he said, kissing her back. "Uh Teresa -".

Before he had a chance to finish his warning, Teresa had looked up and spied Marcus Pike holding her son. She blinked a couple of times – the picture so incongruous she wasn't quite sure what to make of it. She finally took a swift breath.

"Marcus!"

"Teresa," he smiled, and leaned forward to hand the suddenly squirming boy to his mother. "I ran into Patrick a few minutes ago. Uh – congratulations."

She frowned slightly, although then she smiled down at her son and gave him a kiss. "Hi Matt! Mommy missed you." A babble from her daughter caused her to turn and bend over for another kiss to her. "Hi sweetie," she told her daughter. "I missed you too."

A couple of seconds later – after giving her husband a questioning look – she stood and turned back towards Pike. "Thank you. We're very lucky."

"Yes, you are. They're cute kids Teresa. I – hadn't heard, but I'm happy for you."

"Thank you," she said again, smiling a little self-consciously. "How are you doing?"

"Oh, you know. Working hard as ever. I'm enjoying the job. There's more room for advancement here, at least in my area. And – uh – I'm seeing someone."

"Really?" Teresa frowned, but also looked slightly relieved. "I'm so happy for you Marcus. What's her name?"

"Amy. She's a teacher and she's really nice." He gave Patrick a quick look and then shrugged. "Reminds me a bit of you, actually."

"Oh." Clearly Teresa didn't know what to say, so Jane jumped in. "You always did have good taste," he told the other man. "And congratulations to you too."

Emily proceeded to start to bounce in her father's arms, a clear signal that she was getting restless – and probably hungry, thought Jane. He glanced at his wife, who answered with a nod.

"They're getting hungry."

"I should let you go," Marcus said with a smile. "It was nice to see you both – all of you. And congratulations again. You have a great family."

"Thank you Pike," Jane said, this time with a sincere smile. He really was a decent guy – and Patrick felt much better about him, especially since the agent was seeing someone. "It was good to see you. Good luck with the job – and with Amy. I hope things work out."

Pike considered him seriously for a moment and then nodded. A small, crooked grin appeared. "So do I. Teresa," he said with a brief nod. "Nice to see you. Your children are beautiful and I'm happy for you."

"Thank you Marcus," she said gently. "And I'm happy for you as well. It was nice seeing you."

They watched as the FBI agent walked slowly away. Teresa then turned to her husband, her eyebrow raised. "Well, that was strange."

"Yes – but better than last time," he said, still watching Pike walk away. "I think seeing the babies helped him get past you."

"What?" she frowned. "I'm sure he was over me a long time ago."

"No," he shook his head. "He still had feelings for you. But seeing you with a family – I think he's finally realized you really have moved on, and that it's time for him to do the same. He's a decent guy."

"He is," she nodded, but her eyes were on her husband. "But he's not nearly as interesting or as sexy as you," she told him. Teresa leaned forward and kissed her husband and grinned. "And he will never be the amazing father you are. So, my dear husband, where are you taking us for dinner because I'm starving!" Since both their children were starting to look disgruntled, Patrick knew that she wasn't the only one. He quickly packed everything away and buckled the children in and started rolling the stroller towards the entrance to the park.

"There's a great little Italian place just a block away. Let's try that. And by the way – I love you and you're the best wife and mother a man could have."

She smiled and linked her arm with his – and together, with their family, they headed to dinner.

Life was good for the Jane family.