Epilogue; June 27, 2065

A tall man of roughly forty years of age stood on his rear porch, observing the sunrise. Time had been kind to him, in many ways, though there were stress lines visible on his handsome features. He was built like a tower, and had medium length, medium brown hair streaked with blond and frosted with the initial signs of gray, and had expressive hazel-green eyes.

Presently, the door to his house opened and closed again, and he didn't have to turn his head to know who it was; she walked behind him, and rising to her toes, she kissed his cheek with an exquisite tenderness.

"Good morning, dearest." She murmured, before stepping slightly to the left, and lowering herself into a chair not far from where he still stood.

Chris turned his head, and an adoring grin spread across his face. This was Marléna, his gorgeous wife — who was still an undeniable complete package, she was both intelligent and beautiful; tall, with shoulder length hair quite literally the same shade as his, celestial blue eyes flecked with light gray, and a slight hint of olive to her flawless complexion. It was hard to believe sometimes that they had been married for almost a decade and a half…. and had been in love with each other for roughly 7 years prior to that.

He would always recall fondly the day they were wed, it had been a week shy of her twenty-third birthday, whilst she'd been visibly pregnant with their older children, who slept soundly in the house, along with their younger siblings.

He didn't recall so fondly how close he had come to losing her love months earlier, when she'd traversed the 100 miles between their colleges by car to tell him she was carrying his child, he'd been foolish enough to break his promise of eternal faithfulness to her then, the only time he was properly drunk, and he'd been dumb enough to go along with that college girl's plan and say horrible things about her like "Who cares about that Lannerbäck girl, I don't, I was purely using her." and "She ain't even beautiful, I dunno what anyone sees in her." She heard them, and her heart had been shattered instantly, for she didn't know he was under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana, and had driven back to her own college in tears, having left her engagement ring and a note that told him she believed that he'd never actually loved her, and that she'd been coming to inform him she was pregnant, but it probably wouldn't matter now, for he'd cheated on her anyway. When he'd returned home for mid term break, even his younger brother, who he'd always been close with, gave him icy looks, he and Marléna's younger sister were a couple by then, their crush had evolved to full-fledged love, and Astrid by the time she was 16, was extremely beautiful.

"What's up, bro. Why are you suddenly acting so cold towards me?" He asked, and Robbin glared at him "How could you break Marléna's heart like that Chris?!" He questioned incredulously, his amber eyes hard and sparking.

"What the heck are you talking about?!" Chris was enraged at the accusation, for he loved Marléna with all his heart, he'd even asked for her hand in marriage.

"She's heartbroken, she told us she had driven between your schools to inform you she was pregnant, which she'd already called us all and told us - she felt she needed to tell you so in person so she arrived and apparently overheard you making love to someone else and well, she thought it best to end things, since you were stupid enough to do that in the first place!" Robbin rebuked his brother, glowering at him.

Chris's brows knitted together in confusion "Doesn't she know I was drunk and high?! I had no idea she planned on telling me that, I'm thrilled!" He replied, and then he looked about, searching for her. "Where's Marléna now? I have to make things right with her."

Robbin relaxed a little "She's back at her familj's house, I don't think you should go over though, since Eddie is thoroughly disappointed in you, and she's still really upset about it." He advised, his eyes softened then.

"How are things between you and Astrid?" Chris changed the subject, eager to know the latest of his and Marléna's siblings' relationship.

Robbin smiled then, his eyes shining with love. "They're great, I even plan on proposing to her within a year, she's only gotten more beautiful with each passing day, and then there's JJ and Linnéa…. JJ wants to propose to her in a couple of years; he doesn't think himself ready for that level of commitment quite yet." He informed his brother, who nodded "Beauty runs within the feminine branch of the extended clan of De Martini, Lannerback and Ferrier, our cousin Frank-Lynn and Dan's sister Josie are married already, Aunt Lynn says that she can't wait to teach her grandchildren how to play sports, as they already have a small son, Ruben Thomas Rodriguez, he's about 3 months old."

Chris laughed "And how are Greg and Chelsea going?" and Robbin grinned "You could ask him yourself, he's just walking in the house now, with her in tow."

Greg appeared several minutes later, with his girlfriend behind him, who was staring daggers at Chris.

"How's college for you, bro?" Chris asked casually, and his twin smiled "Just fine thanks, Chelsea and I attend the same school, she's still a cheerleader but also studies nursing."

Sam and Luna came to greet their sons, with a fully grown Roxy following them.

Chris's eyes widened as he caught sight of the youngest member of the family. "Holy hell, this cannot be our baby sister! In spite of her face shape being radically different from yours Momma, she looks just like you!" He exclaimed, and Roxy and Sam rolled their eyes, while Luna gave her son a disappointed frown "Christopher John Loud-Sharp! How could you do that to Eddie's daughter?! You've got to be ashamed of yourself, since we all thought she was your soulmate!!!" She growled, and fixed her son with a sharp gaze.

Chris stiffened, not used to his mother being that annoyed at him "Mum, I still love Marléna with all my heart, and am thrilled to know she's carrying our child."

"Then why'd you cheat on her?!" Chelsea interjected, incensed, her usually jolly seafoam eyes snapping.

Chris groaned "I was drunk and high, I'd just attended my first and last college party, and the head of the cheer squad was intent on having her way with me… in my inebriated state I agreed. I heard from my roommate Kelle the next day, that my darling Marléna had come to tell me of the latest stage of our relationship — and had gotten to our room's door, and heard me saying things I never meant, he comforted her and told me that she'd left me a tearful note, saying that she always thought I'd hurt her that way one day, it was just horrible that it had to occur under those circumstances." He told them, and his voice grew shallow and unsteady as he continued "At first, I was still sobering up and accused him of lying but then I found the note and her ring and I was crushed, I can't live without her, I didn't mean to hurt her like that, and to think her heart might be closed to me, means I'm destined to be alone for the remaining years of my life." He finished, his eyes wet.

Luna's expression changed, she hated it when one of her children was upset "You have to tell her the truth son, or she's likely to put your child up for adoption, she's already talking to her parents about it."

Chris sighed, and yawned hugely, "I will talk to her tomorrow, but I'm exhausted, I've just driven three and a half hours from my college to get here."

So the following day he'd ridden to her family's home and knocked on the front door, which her father reluctantly opened, casting Chris a glance which could've only been described as hostile "Hello, Christopher, what are you doing here?" Eddie greeted coldly, his usually kind brown eyes had in them a look which spelt discontent.

"Mr. Lannerbäck, I've come to talk with Marléna…" He began, and the older man's protective father's instincts flared, and he glared at the youth.

"Do you plan to cause my eldest daughter more pain than you already have?" He accused, he, like almost everyone else, had only heard his daughter's side of the story, and was in no mood to let her tentative ex-fiancé anywhere near her so soon.

Chris was crestfallen "Look, your daughter still means the world to me and has no idea what went on before she came to tell me some exciting news. And if you'd let me, I'd tell you the whole story."

Eddie sighed, and nodded reluctantly "Alright, you can tell me your side of events over coffee if you want to." He stepped aside and omitted the young man, within the hour, Chris had told the whole story, and his girlfriend's father nodded, "She might be harder to win back, son — She's in a fragile state right now, she may look a lot like my dear Gracie, but she's a little more my child temperament-wise." He informed the youth, a melancholy smile on his face.

Presently, a sweet feminine voice floated down from the landing, one which Chris knew and loved so much "Far? What's going on?" It asked, and they both turned to find a slightly anxious Marléna to be stood at the top of the stairs, confusion written on her still angelic face.

"Dear dotter, Christopher is here, and apparently has to tell you his side of events…." Eddie trailed off, as he noticed the pained expression that appeared on the countenance of his firstborn.

"Why? It's not like he still feels anything for me, or does he?" She asked, and the bitter edge to her tone made Chris feel suddenly unwelcome, yet he would still try to talk to her.

"It's highly probable he does, he just needs for you to be willing to give him a second chance." Her father answered.

"But, what if he cheats on me again?" She asked, her eyes welling with tears, and Chris's heart wrenched, all he wanted was to hold his fiancée tight, and repeatedly beg her to forgive him.

He rose to his feet "My sweet Marléna, I would never willingly cheat on you. Babe, you mean everything to me… I had no idea you'd come to tell me that in the first place, and I'm absolutely elated to know we're going to have a child together. Please; please, give me a chance to explain what happened before and after you came…" Chris pleaded with her, and she reluctantly descended the stairs, and stood a few feet away from him, still looking upset.

Chris momentarily closed the space between them, and enveloped Marléna in a loving embrace, once he'd released her, he offered her his hand "Come with me, darling, let me tell you what happened. And remember that I still love you, and I always will."

She'd allowed him to lead her to the sofa, and he'd recounted the tale, and Marléna had just listened to him in silence, and once he finished, he took her hands gently in his and started caressing her palms with his thumbs.

"Oh Chris…" She trailed off and looked down, embarrassed at her irrational reaction, deep down she loved him so much that it hurt, and cursed herself for jumping to conclusions like that.

Chris let go of her hands, and instead tilted her chin upwards, and cradled it in his palms, his fingers stroking the sides of her face lovingly. "So you'll give me another chance, babe? not just for my sake, but for our child's as well?"

Marléna nodded, and leant in suddenly, kissing his lips with an aggressive passion born of being apart from him for so many weeks. It was true that she'd grown up without him, but it was with Chris that she felt truly at home, and now nothing stood in the way of their unshakable bond with one another.

Chris just held her tight, thankful she'd been willing to give him another chance.

But then he also remembered the time she'd been taken from him, by the eternally jealous Bjørn Jansen, their oldest children had been in first grade at the time, and Olivia was still a toddler. Anyhow after a half year of not knowing where she was he pretty much gave up hope of her ever returning, had gotten involved with another woman and eventually decided to marry her, which upset the whole family, Robbin wasn't going to be at the wedding because of Astrid… Anyhow Marléna had shown up during the exchanging of the vows, and the kids had all run to her, while Chris had just stood there like stone…

"Chris, how could you? I called a week after Erik and Ingrid's 7th birthday and you flat out rejected me! Sad thing is, I thought you promised not to break my heart again after the last time… But, I guess I was wrong to trust you again so readily, I've spent many months trying to return to you…" She dissolved into tears "hoping you had remained faithful, yet here you are, getting married, so I guess I was wrong in trying so hard, maybe we can devise a custody plan, it's fine if you don't want to see me again, I just want to be a part of my childrens' lives."

Chris felt his heart wrench again, he was only marrying Elsie because he'd thought Marléna was dead, and their children needed a mother. He still loved the ghost that stood before him, and hearing her this upset again, over his actions — wildly affected his heart rate.

She put Olivia down on the ground and the toddler ran to Roxy and Jeff for comfort; Erik went to stand with JJ — who tightly held a silently crying Linnéa —, and Ingrid held tightly to her mother's coat tails.

"Mor, please don't leave us, Daddy still loves you…" She pleaded, her eyes glistening with tears, face buried in her mother's jacket.

Marléna shook her head, and stroking her daughter's hair she whispered, her breathing still ragged and uneven "I think your father hasn't any romantic feelings left for me. So I must leave you, of course you'll see me every time you visit with Far-Mor and Gran." She said, detaching the tenacious fingers from her outer garment, and turning to walk from the room, while Ingrid ran to sit with her Onkel KK.

Chris left his spot at the altar, walking quickly over to her, reaching out and grasping her shoulder, squeezing it gently, causing her to reluctantly turn around to face him.

"Marléna… is this real, are you standing in front of me right now?, because I…" he dropped his voice low so the children and Elsie couldn't hear "still love you with all my heart, and the kids and I all need you."

His answer was first that ever familiar smirk which appeared on her face, then the teasing glint in her blue eyes and finally her saying "Well, it sure seems like it!"

The realization dawned upon him that it'd been her calling him just after the twins' birthday a year ago, and in his pain he'd said awful things again, and she'd just accepted them as facts, and her heart had been shattered once more.

He pulled her into a tight embrace, and bent forward in order to kiss her, gently at first, though quickly intensifying with a fierce urgency, how he'd missed the feeling of her lips on his.

"What did Jansen do to you while he had you in captivity?" He asked, and she burst into hysterical sobs "He tried to brainwash me into believing you had already forgotten about our marriage, and when I kept refusing to, he would… whip me with his belt, until my skin was raw and bloody…" She stepped back and removed her jacket and pulled up the back of the shirt she was wearing and Chris's gaze was horror stricken as he let his fingertips trace the hundreds of scars that covered the surface of her back. He felt a seething rage and fiery hatred building within, if Chris ever got his hands on Jansen he would beat him up twice as bad as he'd done when Jansen assaulted her at school.

"Oh babe… I'm so sorry, I promise I'll never hurt you again." He whispered huskily, pulling her into a tight embrace, his lips sweeping down onto hers, as he deeply kissed her.

Marléna wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, snuggling deeper into her husband's warmth, relieved to know he still loved her, as she did him.

Elsie just viewed their heartfelt reunion sadly, she'd always been aware her fiancé had never truly been intimate with her, and finally realized that part of him had always been only reserved for the — she had to admit, in spite of herself —gorgeous woman who he was holding so tightly.

Chris momentarily released Marléna and glanced at his fiancée over his shoulder "I apologise for any pain this might have brought you Elsie, but I could never truly give you my heart — even though I kept saying my sweetheart was dead…" He paused, and threw his wife an adoring smile "somewhere deep in my heart, I knew she was alive and that marrying you wasn't the right thing, it was purely so my children could have a mother. Olivia was young enough that she fully accepted you — yet my older two never truly did, they were almost not talking to me after I broke their Mor's heart when we'd just begun to date. We can't even afford to remain friends, our relationship has caused damage to the pre existing one I had with my extended family — I've become a little neglectful of my older children since I got serious with you…" He gulped, as Marléna gave him an annoyed look, and said "What?! Really, I'd thought you would have spoiled them — Ingrid especially, since she is pretty much the spitting image of me, apart from the color of her eyes, and other than our photos which you might have kept hidden because you'd moved on…" she trailed off, and bowed her head to try and hide her eyes, which suddenly glistened with unshed tears, before she turned away again "I thought our marriage meant a lot to you — but you gave up on me, on us — and tried to replace me."

Chris sighed, and reached out, squeezing her shoulder again "Sweetheart, I didn't believe it was you on the phone that time, and punished our twins unjustly for their apparent falsehood, Elsie didn't want to raise our children initially - since they weren't hers biologically… she told me to put our children up for adoption… Which upset me for several weeks since I hadn't told her I myself had been adopted, and knew wherever you were, you'd hate me for even considering it." He whispered into her ear, and she reluctantly turned to face him again, but her eyes and face remained downcast toward the ground

"Do you truly still love me? Or… were you just telling me that so I wouldn't leave?" She asked brokenly, and Chris's heart wrenched again, and he drew his wife into a loving embrace "My sweet Marléna, how could you possibly be of the opinion that I don't love you anymore?, You have been my most treasured possession since we were both 16, and you're the only one who has this effect on me…" he murmured, tilting her chin upwards so he could brush away the tears which were just beginning to trickle from her eyes, "Of course I still love you - Babe, you mean the world to me, and a life without you by my side truly would be nearly unliveable."

She leaned into him then "I've missed you and our children so much…. I can't wait to get home and hold you… I've missed having you by my side, you're always going to hold pride of place in my heart." Marléna murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his lips gently.

Chris tightened his hold on his wife, allowing his hands to roam her back — after several minutes, he at last turned to Elsie again "So I must ask you to give me back your engagement ring, since I realize if we'd actually married, my older children wouldn't look me in the eye again, and I'd be the family outcast — My younger brother is married to her sister and is currently not talking to me, because I just about spoiled my union with his sister-in-law… her familj were a little disappointed in me already, for they'd never given up hope that she was alive - as I was foolish enough to almost do, it's bound to take them awhile to accept me again."

Elsie sighed, and slid the modest diamond ring which adorned the fourth finger of her right hand off, and walked towards the recently reunited couple and placed the ring into his outstretched palm "Thank you for being honest with me, I'm sorry I was so unaccommodating with regards to the children… I just wasn't ready to be a mother at the time - especially to children who already had full-fledged memories of their missing parent the way Erik and Ingrid had, and I understand that your family hasn't really ever accepted me because they never stopped hoping she'd come back someday. Thank you also for helping me realize I'm not ready for motherhood as yet." She smiled sadly "Farewell then Chris, and take care." she finished, walking past him to change from her wedding dress to a casual frock.

"Wow, she took your rejection surprisingly well." Marléna noted, staring at the recently returned ring it must've cost a fair bit, yet it wasn't nearly as beautiful as the band of rose gold that encircled her own left ring finger, its featured precious gems ethereally glistening in the resplendent spring sunlight.

Chris nodded, and smirking, whispered to his wife "I didn't even get that from the same jeweller I purchased yours from, I couldn't stand going there, since I'd taken you there to have him measure your elegant fingers for your engagement ring." He murmured, and made a show of kissing each of her fingertips before capturing her still sensuous lips in a passionate kiss, one which ended with gentle, affectionate smiles and foreheads pressed together, and then Marléna looked over to her almost-sister cousin "Linnéa, it's me — I'm alive, what Asti told you was completely true, I've missed you a lot my dearest cousin-friend."

Marléna stood once more, this time warmly embracing her husband "How long have you been awake?"

Chris swooped down and pressed his lips gently against hers "About an hour, are the kids still asleep?"

"Erik and Ingrid are, I don't know about our younger daughter… and the babies aren't up yet, which is strange considering they're almost 5 years old and usually awake before us."

Erik and Ingrid were their eldest children — Erik Samuel was the elder twin by 6 minutes; He was basically a miniature of Chris, but had Marléna's blue eyes with their light grey flecks, in temperament he was again like his dad and was already 6 ft with his fourteen years. He was super protective of all four of his siblings yet especially so of his twin sister, Ingrid Lucille, who was just like Marléna, except she had olive green eyes. Olivia Lisette was almost 10, and had a combination of her parents physical features, she had shoulder-length golden brown curls, Chris's skin tone, Marléna's nose, and while she'd inherited her mother's blue-gray eyes, they were like her father's in size and shape, she was like her Grammy Luna in personality though, and was the loudest of their children even louder than their two younger sons were… another set of twins as well. They'd expected one set, given Chris was a twin, while both had twin cousins, but they were shocked when the doctor had told them they were to have another set — and boys too. Being seasoned in the raising of twins meant Marléna had sailed through the pregnancy and three days before her own birthday in 2060 (she was about 33) she had delivered two healthy boys: Christer Jürgen and Matias Einar, or rather, CJ and Matt. CJ, as his name hinted, was a copy of his father, even more than his big brother — he was a serious little fellow, with — blond highlighted —- medium brown hair which already came to just below his shoulders and hazel green eyes. Matt was really an old soul trapped in a little body, if Marléna were ever to admit to having a favourite child, then he would be it, for he was an exact reincarnation of the great grandfather he bore the name of, he was a handsome little fellow indeed, with his cadmium green eyes, creamy skin, and smooth cinnamon locks, it was no secret that his looks earned him special attention from his Far-Mor, as Eddie Lannerback was known to thoroughly spoil the child, much to his daughter's annoyance.

She smiled, dimpling a little "You know by now I've spent more years with you than I have without?" She asked laughingly.

Chris grinned widely and nodded "Yeah, and you've regretted none of them, because you know how deeply I feel for you." He answered matter of factly, and he leaned in and kissed his wife again, this time more passionately.

A while later, the couple were torn from their reverie by the sound of another person's approach and the door opened again, and their firstborn stood in its frame, observing his parents embrace with a smirk.

To get their attention, the teenager yawned loudly and obviously, stretching his muscular arms above his head, his blue eyes sparkling.

Marléna smiled at her son "Erik, you're awake? What a surprise! I thought you'd want to sleep late."

The boy smiled back at his Mor, shaking his head "Nah, I have to seize each day as it comes, I don't know when I will leave this world, so I must make each moment count."

His parents exchanged a smirk "He's sounding a lot like his uncle Robbin there, dearest." His Mor said, and his Dad chuckled.

"Are your sisters and brothers still asleep?" Chris asked now, glancing at his son.

Erik nodded " Yeah. Dad, are we holding a cookout for the 4th of July again?" He asked, and his father nodded.

"Mor, Daddy? I'm hungry!" a small voice piped up suddenly, and Marléna smiled lovingly upon her youngest son;

"There you are, little Matt, did you get a good sleep?" She asked crouching down with her arms splayed, and the little boy ran into them, his green eyes sparkled in the early morning sun.

The little boy nodded emphatically "CJ should be out soon, he just was watching the video to "Finitely free" on Viewtube." He added, referring to his twin, and tucked his head beneath his mother's chin.

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway reached their ears and Marléna muttered a curse under her breath, she'd forgotten they'd organized to have a visit from Jeremy and his family.

"I didn't expect them to come so early… I guess my cousin wanted to surprise me, which she did." She added laughingly, as she caught a confused look from her oldest son.

Suddenly a sweet young voice filled the air, though it was still heavy with sleep "Mor, isn't that Tante Linnéa's car coming up the driveway?" It was Ingrid, dressed in a fluffy lavender dressing gown, — with grey silk pyjama bottoms just visible beneath the hemline — and matching slippers.

"Yes honey, it is… so we're going to have to start cooking, though your Tante will insist on helping." Marléna answered, smiling at her eldest daughter.

Suddenly, a knock was heard upon the front door and Chris sighed, and releasing Marléna, he turned for the door which led back into the house, after another, more impatient knock sounded, he kissed her lips once more, and started en route to the front door.

Moments later he opened the door to reveal a smirking Jeremy to be stood on the front porch, with his arm tightly around Linnéa's waist, with Stevie and Walt standing in front of them, with huge smiles on their faces.

"Morning Chris, is Marléna around?" Linnéa greeted, smiling at the husband of her cousin.

Chris laughed "She's on the porch, with the majority of the kids, although…" He trailed off as the door of one of the several bedrooms in the house opened and closed, and Olivia came lumbering into the hallway, dressed in light purple pyjamas with fairies printed all over them.

"Morning, Daddy and Tante Linnéa." She greeted happily, her blue eyes smiling.

There was suddenly the noise of breakfast being hastily prepared from the kitchen and Linnéa smirked "Marléna forgot we were coming, didn't she?"

Chris chuckled, nodding his head "Yeah, My mini-me should be out any moment…" As if on cue, a boy who looked exactly like his father, calmly exited the bedroom he shared with his twin brother, dressed in an outfit identical to the one his father wore, but with inverted colors. Matt suddenly ran into the hall, in his olive green tee and khaki shorts, and smirked at Walt, who was dressed in a faded Sacred Oath 'Blood offering" shirt, deep purple jeans and black and cadmium green sneakers.

Chris too looked at the young boy's shirt for a second then looked at his father with a raised eyebrow "When did Walt get that shirt?"

"I found that at a thrift shop downtown, stroke of luck that it was, Sacred Oath are one of my fave bands." Jeremy (who'd been called so since his seventeenth birthday on his insistence) explained, grinning.

As they entered the kitchen/dining area, Chris went around the island and pulled Marléna tightly against his chest, and whispered "Babe, you just let me and Erik take over the cooking… didn't you also invite Dan, Günhilde, and their two?"

Marléna nodded, leaning into his chest "I did, but you know Jeremy's and my mutual cousin has a tendency to be erm, fashionably late." She exchanged a smirk with Jeremy and smiled warmly at her two nephews, before reluctantly releasing herself from Chris's hold to walk around and tightly embrace her dearest cousin.

Just as they were setting the table to eat, another series of knocks sounded on the front door, and with a sigh, Marléna got up and went down the hall to answer it, and was shocked to find a smirking Thor Valderson to be standing on the porch, Günhilde exiting her car, with Thorliff and Alma in tow.

"Thor?" She asked her old friend, "Where the heck is Dan?"

Günhilde chuckled at the facial expression of her husband's cousin "He went on a business trip two days after Chris and Greg's birthday, he won't be back until July 2nd." She answered, and Marléna shook her head, and smiled at the two young children that stood beside their mother; "Hey there, Thorliff and Alma, breakfast should be ready soon, you can go in and play with Matt and Walt if you'd like."

The boy grinned, he was dressed in an outfit identical to his honorary Uncle's, the exception being his shirt was a much lighter blue "Thanks, Mrs. Loud-Sharp, I'll go join them, c'mon, Alma." He said, gently tugging at the hand of the small girl standing beside him, dressed in a light violet sundress, with lace at the hem and neckline, with a dual-tiered, ruffled skirt, in several shades of greenish-blue, and burnished gold boots with dusty rose accents, followed timidly after her brother.

"Hey there, Chris, Jeremy and Linnéa, how have you guys been keeping?" Thor asked as he entered the kitchen, smirking at the three other adults as he greeted them.

Chris smiled at their old friend "Ever since my sweet Marléna returned, my life has been as it was before, so I can't complain."

"I can't believe you were so neglectful of the twins while she was held captive by Jansen!" Thor admonished him in a low aside, "We all thought you'd be spoiling Ingrid especially, since she is just like her mother, only a green-eyed version."

Chris groaned, putting his face in his hands and said, just as lowly, "I hadn't truly regretted getting involved with Elsie until she began pressuring me into putting them up for adoption — I was deeply hurt, since she didn't know that I had been adopted myself or that deep in my mind, I could see Marléna's face full of deep betrayal and plaintive agony, and I knew wherever she was, I would probably never have her love again, and I would never forgive myself for doing that to her." He finished, his tone agonized.

Thor patted his shoulder sympathetically "Don't worry dude, jerk's in prison for 8 - 15 years… so he isn't likely to harm your family anymore."

Meanwhile, Thorliff and Alma approached the two boys who were busy constructing a cityscape from Lego - Matt paused, and smiled at them in welcome "Hey there Thorliff! Come join in this project, we could use an extra pair of hands…" He paused, and nudged the boy sitting alongside him with an elbow "couldn't we mate?" He queried, and Walt simply nodded.

CJ on the other hand, gently approached his little cousin "Hey Ally, do you wanna go do some craft in my room?"

The little girl nodded, she was quite fond of her slightly older cousin, and was also very creative. Only he called her Ally, not even her Daddy called her that.

After they'd been drawing for roughly fifteen minutes, they were called to the table and once they'd eaten, there was another series of knocks on the door.

Marléna went to answer it again, and was doubly surprised when she found her friend from Sweden, Ola, his wife Marina — who was coincidentally the niece of her dad's business partner Mikko — and their three children to be stood on the front porch.

She was familiar with the eldest as he often had sleep-overs with Ragnar at her parents' place, he was a handsome lad too, tall for his almost thirteen years, with shoulder length caramel blond locks , gentle sapphire orbs, and light, even tan skin. He was like his mother's uncle who he viewed as an honorary grandfather, his mom's real parent had died in a motor vehicle accident shortly after her seventh birthday… and after her grandparents passed on a couple of years after emigrating to the states, she was adopted by her Uncle.

"Welcome, Ola and Marina