Hi Readers: My apologies once more for the constant changing of stories. After all, I want nothing more than to write a long story for you guys which I hope you enjoy. Now, I am going to just try and do just that once more. Thanks again for reading and enjoy.

Chapter 1

Halstead Home, Chicago – October 9, 2018
He made sure that he was quiet when he came into his home this afternoon, the new father of two not wanting to wake up his sleeping children should they be in the living room of the home he shared with his wife and children. Though, luckily for him, they weren't in the living room at the moment; rather, his in-laws were…which meant that his wife Alexandra and their twins Jason and Olivia were all in the primary suite of their home, getting the quiet rest that they need. Meanwhile, his parents-in-law were currently talking amongst themselves. "I really don't know how she does it. I mean, it seems like she's doing it all right now Lydia." His father-in-law, Matthew Akron, said in reference to his wife doing everything for their children at the moment…which couldn't be further from the truth. He just wished his mother-in-law said that. "Jay's grieving right now, what do you expect? He has financial things to do."

And since Lydia decided not to back him up, Jay sighed as he closed the door behind him and took off his shoes; after all, if she wasn't going to defend him…then he would have to do it himself. "You know, maybe you guys should stop criticizing me when I'm right here." Turning their heads, Matthew and Lydia got nervous when they saw that their son-in-law was there. "Jay, how was the funeral?" Rolling his eyes as his father-in-law basically acted as if he didn't just hear what they both said, Jay went to put his shoes away…only to hear both his and Alex's Yorkshire Terriers Maya and Bobby make their way over to him at the door. "Hi, you two, you guys spending some time with grandma and grandpa?" Jay said, as he crouched down and then rubbed the top of their heads. "Did you guys take them out recently?" Lydia agreed with Jay, as she just put them out. "I just put them out maybe 15 minutes earlier." Jay agreed.

After which, he took a breath as he made his way into the living room. Meanwhile, Matthew got up and looked at his son-in-law. "How was the funeral?" Jay sighed as he walked up to his father-in-law, only to shake his hand. "It went okay. My brother and future sister-in-law did a good job planning it. Small affair. It was just the burial today; the memorial mass will be later so that Alex can be there with the twins." Lydia agreed with Jay, as she thought that was a good idea. "Now, about what I just heard. Lydia, I think we both know that I'm doing a lot more than you give me credit for. My brother has a full-time job as a doctor at Gaffney Medical Center. So, who do you think did the planning for the funeral?" Lydia then realized that. "Oh." Jay agreed with his in-laws. "Do you really think I wanted to be away from Alex and the kids? My newborns? My children who will never know my parents!" Both of his in-laws just got nervous.

After all, it was clear to them now that what they said was wrong. "So. Listen, I don't want to have a bad relationship with you. But, I am going to clear the air. My father died 6 days ago." Both of the parents agreed. "I'm Irish American Catholic. Tradition dictates that the funeral is held 72-96 hours after the death of one's family member. Due to the fact that me and Alex had the twins, I asked my brother and the local pastor if we could delay the funeral. And they said yes, but not the burial. So, I just spent the last hour and a half in the rain…doing a gravesite funeral for my 10 closest friends and family." Lydia and Matt both just got nervous when he said that. "So. No, I have not been doing financial things; no, I have not been doing funeral things as much as you think. I have been doing my best, while also dealing with my own emotions. I'm still a newlywed, I have newborn twins, and my dad died in a fire."

Both of Jay's in-laws agreed with him when he said that. "So, I'm going to go get changed out of these wet clothes, check on my wife and children; then, I'll come thank you guys for helping. However, I do not want to hear about this again. After all, my father's funeral was the last place I wanted to be today…when I would've much rather been here with my children." Jay said, as he walked away so that he could go check on his wife and children. Meanwhile, Lydia sighed due to the fact that she knew they pushed it. "Yeah, we screwed up." And just then, Alex came out of the room. "You think?" Smiling at his wife as he made his way over to her, Jay smirked. "Hey, did you get some rest?" Alex agreed. "And I was resting until I heard you speaking to my parents." Jay sighed as Alex said that, only to get close to his wife. Wrapping his arms around her, he leaned in and kissed the woman he loves this afternoon.

After all, he felt horrible that he woke her up. "Sorry I woke you up." Alex shook her head. "No need to apologize to me bae. I mean that. Listen, you've already had an emotional day. How about you go get changed and we can spend some time together in bed? It can be us, which is what we need right now." Jay agreed with his wife, prior to kissing her softly. At the same time, Alex whispered to Jay. "I promise, I'm going to talk to them too. Just take it easy and relax, okay baby?" Jay agreed as he kissed Alex once more, prior to walking away so that he could get changed; meanwhile, Alex looked at her parents. "Seriously? I'm doing everything right now? He's worried about his money? Seriously dad! How long have you known Jay?" Matt then went to defend himself. "Alex, I…" Alex just looked at her father. "Dad, I'm exhausted. Just answer my question." Matt agreed with his daughter. "Almost 8 years." Alex agreed with her father.

And that was why she was so insulted. "Dad, he's the love of my life, the father of your grandchildren, and he just lost his father. Do you not expect him to want to grieve a bit? This is me you're talking about dad. Sure, I just gave birth. But, this isn't the 1980s. Women can get back to walking and everything within days of giving birth! You think that I wanted this? For my father-in-law to die 48 hours after my twins were born? My husband is heartbroken. Yet, for the past 4 days, he's been all about me and the twins. Today was the first day where he was all about grieving and remembering his father. So, yeah. Plus, dad…do you really think that I wouldn't have said something to him if I wasn't okay with it? C'mon, this is ME we're talking about. The queen of opinions. Hell, I critique your steak when you make it wrong!" Matthew agreed with his daughter, as that was the truth. "So, you don't think I gave him permission to go?"

Lydia then looked at her husband. "She has a point Matthew. We know Jay, and he wouldn't have dared to go against his wife. She's…" Alex just looked at her mother. "Careful. I can always celebrate my first birthday as a mother alone with Jay and the kids in 10 days." Lydia agreed with her daughter, well aware that was the case. "And what a great birthday gift you have." Alex agreed with her mother when she said that, as that most certainly is the truth; she got the best birthday gift in the entire world: two beautiful children, who she and her husband love more than anything in the entire world. And she also has a great man to help her raise her children. Oh, and the best parents in the world…who she got close to and went to hug, starting with her dad. "Listen, I love you both." Matt agreed as he wrapped his arms around Alex and kissed the top of her head. "I love you too sweetheart." Alex agreed, smiling at her parents.

After all, they have been so helpful when it comes to the twins. "I love you guys too. However, I think now's the time for me to ask you guys to leave. You literally just caused drama on the last day I needed you guys to cause drama. And right now, I think Jay needs it to be just us and the twins." Lydia agreed with her daughter, as that was the truth. Right now, Jay needed to be alone with her and their twins. "Sorry about the drama, sweetheart." Alex sighed, as she knew that her mother was sorry for the drama. "I know mom, but you need to think next time. Jay is not in the right space right now to have to deal with this. His relationship with his dad wasn't in a good place before he died, so he's dealing with that. Add in the PTSD he has from his time at war, and that just makes this all harder. So, we're dealing with a lot right now, and I don't need to have you guys causing stress in my married." It was then that Matt got worried.

After all, he didn't like the sound of his daughter talking about stress in her marriage. "Hey, is everything okay with you and Jay, sweetheart?" Alex looked at her father. "Now you're worried about that? Dad, it's because of what you said. What if he's insulted and hurt by that? I don't know what type of head space he's in at the moment, which is why I need to be alone with him. I love you both, but I think you guys just need to leave and let us rest with the twins." Lydia agreed with her daughter, as that sounded like the right thing to do. "I think that's the reasonable thing to do." Alex nodded as she went to lead her parents out of her and Jay's home.

He came out of the washroom this afternoon to the sight of his beautiful wife sitting in the comfort of their bed, while just wearing her underwear and his t-shirt, which was very sexy. However, not as sexy as the way she defended him to her parents, which is precisely what Jay decided to mention first as he came out of the washroom. "You know, it means the world to me that you defended me to your parents." Turning her head to look up at the man of her dreams as he came out of the washroom, Alex smiled as she loved the sight of Jay just wearing those sexy Calvins he was wearing right now. God, the way they just clung to his body was incredible and really turned her on. "I swear, how are you not a Calvin Klein model when you walk around like that?" Snickering, Jay proceeded to make his way over to his side of their bed, only to set his phone down on his side table and hanging his towel up next to their bed.

However, he wasn't ready to get in bed yet; first, he needed to go check on the twins. "Well, I'm not really one to get attention like that. I'd much rather just be a personal trainer, husband, and father." Alex agreed with Jay, as he's a great one. "And you are babe, especially the last two." Jay sighed when Alex said that. "Not according to your parents. According to them, I should've stayed here rather than lay my father down to rest." Alex sighed, as she had a feeling that this was going to be part of their conversation. "Jay, we both know that isn't the truth. They're just worried. They've always been worried about our relationship, due to the fact that you're a veteran with PTSD. My dad never understood that, so he's just worried about how things are going to go; whether this is going to cause problems for us." Jay snickered. "if anything, your parents are going to cause problems for the both of us." Alex agreed.

After all, that was precisely what she told them. "I told them the exact same thing before I kicked them out of the house, as I just want it to be the two of us right now." Turning his head, Jay smiled as he wanted the same thing. He wants to be alone with her and the twins, so that they can start off their life with each other. "I love that idea, especially since it means that the two of us can just hold each other in bed." Alex smiled, as that's precisely what she wants from Jay; she wants to have him hold her in bed. "You know, that means that you actually need to come join me in bed." Jay agreed with his wife as he finished checking on both of the twins, only to turn and walk over to their bed so that he can join her. "How about you slip over? I want to be on this side in case I need to get the twins." Alex agreed with her husband, prior to slipping over in bed so that she was further away from the cribs than he was.

Meanwhile, Jay opened the covers and smiled as he looked at the love of his life; the only woman he could ever see himself being with for the rest of his life, especially after she just defended him the way she did back there. "God, I'm so happy to be home." Nodding, Alex smiled as she watched Jay climb into bed and grab his pillows. After which, he went to set them up behind his back so that he could be comfortable, which is precisely what she's going to be once she's in his arms. "You ready for me yet?" Smiling, Jay was about to say yes when their dogs Bobby and Maya jumped onto their bed. "I think first, these two want some of my attention." Jay said, as he went to rub the top of their Yorkie's heads. After all, they clearly missed him while he was at the funeral. "I swear, they love to steal your attention away from me." Extending his arm, Jay shook his head as he moved closer to the woman he loves.

After which, Alex crawled into his arms and laid down on his chest; meanwhile, Jay grabbed the covers and held them open so that Alex could slip her legs in between his. Doing so the moment she was comfortable in his arms, Alex smiled as she laid her head down on his chest and cuddled up to him precisely how she wants to at the moment. She wants to cuddle up to her man and just take it easy, as they are at the moment. Meanwhile, Jay wrapped his arm around her and smiled as he kissed the top of his wife's head. "I promise, I'll talk to my parents again. They need to learn how to speak." Jay sighed, as the last thing he wants is more drama. "The last thing I need right now is more drama, which is what I'm going to have with my brother. He's dead set on having his wedding in two months." Looking up at Jay, Alex was confused. "And why would that be a problem?" Jay was surprised when he heard Alex say that.

After all, their dad just died. Is it really time to celebrate a marriage just two months later? "Isn't it a bit soon to celebrate a wedding? Just two months after our father's death?" Alex sighed as she looked at Jay. "Isn't it a bit soon to celebrate our children's birth? Jay, Will and Natalie have wanted this for a while. Plus, they already booked the church. It's hard to get a church wedding. Hell, the reservations were for 2019 when I tried to book the church I wanted." Jay agreed with his wife, well aware that was the case. "I know, we had that entire conversation. Still wish we would've just gone to Vegas." Alex laughed, as that would've never happened. "Yeah, over my parents…" Alex then stopped, as that wasn't appropriate. "Sorry, that wasn't appropriate." Jay sighed, as he knew what she was trying to say. "I know what you were trying to say, so I get it." Alex agreed with her loving husband, taking a breath and sighing.

He ended up slipping all the way down in bed so that he was laying down flat on his back, which is something Alex loved; especially since it may lead to her falling asleep on Jay's chest. And clearly, she needed it as she could barely keep her eyes open as they watched TV with each other this afternoon; so, Jay decided to mention that to his wife: that she didn't need to stay awake if she felt like she couldn't. But first, he wrapped his arm around her back and rubbed it, while also pressing his lips to her forehead. "You know, you don't need to stay awake anymore. If the twins need you, then I can wake you up." Looking up at her husband, Alex sighed as she ran her hand up and down his muscular chest. "I don't want you to be alone right now. You already had to go to the funeral alone, I don't want to let you be alone right now." Jay shook his head, as he wasn't alone. He had her and the kids with him right now.

In fact, he always had them with him in his heart. "I'll never be alone, as I have the three of you in my heart. Plus, if I need you…then I just need to wake you up. Babe, I know you want to help me; I get that more than you think. However, as your husband, I need to make sure that you get the rest you need. It was why I didn't want you at the funeral, as I knew that it wasn't what you needed." Alex agreed with Jay, as she really wanted to go to the funeral. "I hope you know that I really wanted to go, even though I just gave birth to the twins." Jay agreed, as he knew that. Of course, he knew that she wanted to go to the funeral with him. However, it wasn't a good idea due to the fact that she needed to take it easy and just relax, rather than go to a church and a funeral. "You needed to be here with the twins, which is precisely where we both need to be right now. I even took some extra time off from my clients."

Alex was surprised to hear Jay say that. "You did?" Jay agreed. "I asked Antonio…" Antonio being Antonio Dawson, a personal trainer specializing in boxing at Halstead Fitness Center and Personal Training (the gym and fitness facility company Jay owns). "…to take over my clients until further notice. Right now, all I need to concentrate on is you, the twins, and my grief. I don't have time for my clients." Alex agreed with her husband, especially since that's precisely what he needs: time with her, the twins…and time to grieve for his father. "Jay, can you promise me something?" Jay agreed with his wife, as he can. "What is it, babe?" Alex smiled. "Well, two things. One: can you promise me that you're going to be open and honest with your grief?" Jay agreed, as he can do that for her. "I promise, I can do that for you." Alex smiled, prior to asking him for the next promise. "And can you promise not to go back until the new year?"

Smiling, Jay agreed with Alex as he can make that work. "I think I can easily make that work. I can take time off until the new year to be with you and the twins, to grieve, and just take some time as a family. Maybe we can even take a trip with each other." Alex smiled, as she loved that idea; however, she just needed to understand what he meant. "Just me and you, or the twins too?" Jay smiled. "I want the twins to come with us everywhere for now. They're our little ones, and they stay with us." Alex agreed with Jay, as she loves the sound of that; and to show Jay that, she ran her hand up his muscular chest and smirked as she leaned in and started to take things nice and slow with the man of her dreams here in the comfort of their bed. That was, until they fell asleep in each other's arms; something Jay desperately needed as he hasn't been sleeping the best ever since his dad died in the hospital.

It's something you learn when you become a father: when your kids and wife are asleep, take advantage of the time you have to do things which take you away from helping them with their day. And that's precisely what Jay's in the midst of doing right now as he worked on doing some prep work for supper. Tonight's meal? A pasta he likes to make from scratch with chicken and mushrooms, which Alex loved all throughout her pregnancy with the twins. And now that they're home (and he needs a distraction), he thought that it was a good idea for him to make it for supper tonight. He just hoped that Alex liked the idea too, which he thinks she does because of what he heard her say when she came out of their room. "Is that my favorite chicken and mushroom pasta?"