Wiping her brow with the back of her hand, the chef of the restaurant sent out one of the final meals of the night. It had been a hectic night poured on top of a hectic few months, the dark eyed woman trying her best to relax when all life did was try and stress her out and push her to her limits.

But her nightmare was finally done, her ex boyfriend dead, and she was living peacefully with her daughter and her loving boyfriend, and his son who made her feel like a child again, and she couldn't be more grateful.

"Chef Prentiss?"

Emily turned to see her head waiter coming into the kitchen. "David," she nodded, smiling to the younger man. "Is everything alright out there?"

The twenty-four year old grinned to his boss and made his way through the bustling kitchen. "Everything's perfect. A man wanted me to come in and ask if it would be alright to thank you."

Emily felt herself blush. "That would be alright," she nodded.

"He actually asked if you could come out there," David shrugged. "He's with his kids and I don't think he wants to leave them alone."

Hesitating, the brunette woman smiled. "Give me a few minutes. I just need to get these soups done and I'll be right out."

The waiter accepted the words from the older woman and went back out into the dining area, finding the table where the father of two sat with his credit card in hand. "Sir, Chef Prentiss said she would be out in just a few moments if you're willing to wait that long. She's finishing up some other dishes that were ordered."

"Not a problem."

Amelia grinned at the older man. "You know mom's going to kill you."

The FBI agent gave a menacing look to the teenager as he shook his head. "She will not."

"Do you not know my mother?"

The now three year old blond boy did his best to wink at the older girl at the table. "He knows her good."

Amelia's jaw dropped. "That is disgusting."

Aaron laughed at his son's comment, taking a final sip of the water he had ordered. "Jack, don't say things like that."

The teenager glared at her mother's boyfriend as she stole a French fry from Jack's plate. "Well it's not going to help when you laugh about it," she mused. "You know he walked in on me in the bathroom and just stared?"

"I did not!"

Amelia glared at the young boy. "Be quiet, and you did too!"

"I did not!" the three year old screamed.

Aaron kept his eyes on both children as they continued to bicker. "That is enough, you too. At home is one thing, but this is your mother's restaurant."

Walking around the corner, Emily took her chef's hat from her head and smiled wide when she saw her family at their usual table. "Hey," she grinned, letting her boyfriend stand and give her a kiss. "What are you guys doing here?"

Jack threw his hands in the air. "S'pise!"

Emily felt her eyes start to tear when everyone took presents out from under the table and set them before her.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart."

Her eyes opening wide, the chef of the most popular restaurant in the city held her hand over her gaping mouth as her boyfriend tapped his knife against the glass of water he had been drinking to get the attention of every patron that was dining in her restaurant that night.

Aaron set down his glass and fixed the lapels of his suit jacket. "Hello everyone, my name is Aaron. I hope you're enjoying your food tonight," he laughed lightly, "my girlfriend is the one who made it."

Emily tried her best to hide her face. "Aaron," she hissed.

"And I wanted to let you all know how lucky you are to have her here; almost as lucky as I am to have her in my life." He turned, facing the woman he had fallen in love with and showed her the box that held her present. "You're a beautiful woman and mother, and I'm so proud of everything you've overcome. I can't imagine my life without you, and I'd like to prove it to you with something very special."

Emily watched as her boyfriend opened the long box he held in his hands, her eyes wide when the diamond necklace inside sparkled.

"This was given to my mother by my father on their first wedding anniversary, and it's incredibly special. He took her mother's diamond from her wedding ring that my mother was in love with and had it set in this necklace." Aaron watched as his girlfriend's eyes started to water, and he took a step forward. "As a sign of us moving forward with our two beautiful children, I would be honored if you took this necklace."

Nodding her head, the crying chef sent her boyfriend a smile. "I will." She turned, lifting her low bun so the older man could clasp the necklace on, and she blushed when he kissed her pulse point and the restaurant cheered.

Waiting until the love of his life turned in his arms, Aaron smiled. "Happy birthday, beautiful."

Emily laughed against his lips and cupped his cheeks with her hands, pulling him down so she could kiss him fully. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too."

Jack raised his arm in the air. "I love!"

Emily shared a smile with the little boy, and she bent down to pepper kisses along his hairline. "I love you too," she grinned.

Amelia sat back in her seat, glaring at the two adults surrounding their table. "Excuse me? Am I so unlovable that I don't get a declaration?"

The brunette woman rolled her eyes and laughed, sitting down at the table and pressing a long kiss to her daughter's cheek. "I love you too, Mia."

Amelia grinned. "I know."

They were finally a family.