Easter.

Today was the day James planned on asking Caroline to marry him. He had it all planned out and was more nervous than he's ever been in his life.

"Grayson, get your basket so we can look for eggs, baby!"

"Daddy, give me my basket! Give me my basket!"

"Here you go, bud."

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome! I bet I can find the most eggs!"

"Nuh-uh! I find the most eggs!"

"I think I will!" Jessica says.

"No, mommy, I gonna find them all!"

"We'll see about that, little mister!" Jessica taps his nose.

Danny walks over to James and nudges his arm.
"You ready?"

"Yeah." James smiles.

"Relax, son. You look nervous." Danny chuckles.

James didn't say anything, he just smiled.  Hearing Danny call him son made him feel so happy. He didn't know why, it just did.

**

"Mommy look!  Fred looking for eggs too!" Grayson laughs at his dog running through the yard.

"Yes he is, baby!" Jessica giggles.

In their family searching for eggs wasn't just for the kids.  The adults loved having a friendly competition every year.

"James, you're stealing all my eggs!" Caroline laughs.

"I'm sorry, here.. You go ahead of me.  Look over by the garden."

Caroline looked through Jessica's beautiful garden and grabbed as many eggs as possible.
Everyone knew what was coming, so they gathered around with their cameras to watch.

*Gasp* "The golden egg!  I found it!  What do I win!" Caroline jumps up with excitement.

"Heh!  Well why don't you open it and see what's in there?" James smiles.

"Okay!" Caroline opens the egg and sees a shiny diamond ring.

She was shocked and wasn't expecting it at all.  Her eyes were wide and she looks at James as he takes the ring from her and gets down on one knee.

"Oh my gosh." She whispers.

"Caroline.  Since the day I met you, I knew you and I would be together forever.  You were my light at a very very dark time in my life, you've been there for me through everything.  You were there when my little brother was born, you were there when my family had hard times.. you've been here for it all.  I only wish my dad would have gotten a chance to meet you.. Because he would have loved you." James' voice shakes.

"Caroline, I love you with all my heart, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you.  Will marry me?"

"Yes!" She smiles with tears running down her face.

James slips the ring on and stands up to kiss his beautiful bride to be.

Jessica was in tears watching her son.
"He's all grown up now... Our baby boy is getting married, Sammy." Jessica whispers to herself.

The whole family cheers for them and Caroline smiles, "I'm getting married!"

"Me too!" James laughs.

"My baby!" Jessica's voice goes high and she hugs him tight.

He hugs her back and Jessica looks up and places her palms on his cheeks.

"Your daddy is so proud of you, baby boy."

James just smiles as Jessica softly brushes her thumb on his stubble.

Both of their eyes tear up a bit.
It was such a happy time, yet it was sad because Sam would miss it. They know that he would still be there in a way, but every young man wants his father to be there on his wedding day.

***

April.

"Happy Birthday, my beautiful girl." Danny says laying in bed with Jessica cuddled on his chest.

"Thank you."

"Why do you sound sad?"

"I'm old."

"No you're not!"

"I'm almost forty!"

"Not really."

"I'm thirty six, I might as well me fifty!"

"There's quite a difference, honey." He chuckles.

"I guess.
...Danny?"

"What baby?"

"I haven't gotten my period."

"Really?" Danny's eyes slightly widen.

"Yeah.."

"Are you gonna take a test?"

"I'm scared to."

"There's no reason to be scared, baby.. If it's negative, then we'll try again. We have a lot of fun doing that, don't we?" He tickles her side.

"Yes!" Jessica giggles and presses into his body has she tenses up from the tickling.

"Heh.. But yeah.. Just take a test so we at least know. Maybe you have a little birthday present in there." Danny rubs her stomach.

"I don't know.. I'm not getting my hopes up."

Danny kisses the top of Jessica's head and takes in her delicious scent.

**

"Daddy! It's my mommy's birthday!" Grayson runs into the room while Jessica is in the restroom.

"I know!" He smiles.

"Where she at?"

"She's in the bathroom." 

"Mama!  Come out!  It's you's birthday!"

"I'm coming, baby.  Just a second."

"Gray, come here."

Grayson turns around and runs to Danny.
He lifts him up falls back on the bed.

"Oh Grayson, you're so strong!  You just knocked me over!" He plays.

"Yeah!  I strong!"

Jessica walks out of the bathroom so Danny sits up.
She looks at him with red watery eyes and doesn't say a word, she just nods her head no.

"Come here." He holds his arms out.

Jessica walks closer to him and wraps her arms around him.
He lays his head on her stomach and she leans forward on him.

"Hey!  What about me?"

Jessica chuckles and kisses Grayson.

"Happy Birthday, mommy!!"

"Thank you so much, baby!"
Jessica sits beside him and Grayson climbs on her lap.

She lays down and Grayson lays on her chest.
"I love my mommy."

"I love you more, my sweet angel." Jessica says making Danny smile.

***

It's now May and Jessica's period has been off.
She had a doctors appointment today, so she was hoping to get some answers.

"Danny, I have a doctors appointment today, will you be able to come with me?  It's during your lunch hour."

"Of course!"

During her visit they did the usual examination.

"Jessica, from your blood work it shows that you're not ovulating."

Jessica immediately felt extremely upset.  All those months she went through taking those pills and now she's back in the same spot she was in.

"There's one more option you have."

"What's that?" Danny asks.

"HCG fertility shots." The doctor explains all about the shots and what it does.

"You do them at home.  You can do it to yourself, or your husband can do it for you."

"My husband?" Her eyes widen.

"So this is all done at home?"

"Yes ma'am.  I recommend doing the injection, then no intercourse for the next thirty-six hours.  After that, you should be ovulating, so.. Well you know what to do."

Jessica takes a deep breath and says, "Okay... We'll think about it and let you know.  I'd like to wait a little while because our sons are graduating in a few weeks, and it'll just be crazy.  Plus, one of them is getting married, so.."

"Oh really?" His eyes slightly widen.

"Yeah!  Heh, we probably sound crazy for wanting to start over, but.. I guess we're crazy." Jessica chuckles.

"No!  Not at all!  You're young and just married, it's understandable."

***

May 24th.

"Sarah, we leave this weekend, you better not have that baby without me!"

"Heh!  I'll try!" She chuckles.

"Nah, I think I still have a while.  I'm thirty six weeks."

"Yeah, maybe.  Call me if anything happens though!"

"I will." She smiles.

"Jessie, my mommy is like soooo huge!"

Jessica laughs at Riley's comment and says, "Do you know why?"

"Because Asher's in there, silly!"

"Oh silly me!" Jessica giggles.

McKenna was sitting beside Sarah with her hand on her stomach.

"Jessie, you have to feel this!  I swear this baby is gonna bust my mommy's tummy one day!"

Jessica chuckles and touches Sarah's bump.
"Oh my goodness!  He's a wild one!"

"I wanna feel!" Grayson shouts.
Jessica picks him up and he touches her stomach.

"Woah!" His eyes widen.

"That's the baby in there?!"

"Yeah!  He's saying, Hi Grayson!"

"Haha!  Hi baby!" Grayson waves.

Jessica laughs and sits down on the couch across from Sarah.

"Now I feel your baby, mommy!" Grayson touches her stomach.

"Honey, I don't have a baby in there."

"Mm!" Grayson narrows his brows and crosses his arms.

"Sorry." Jessica smiles and fixes his hair.

"Jessie, you should have another baby!" McKenna smiles.

"Maybe one day, sweet pea."

Sarah pats McKenna's thigh and tries changing the subject.

"So.. Your boys are graduating!  James is getting married!  When did they grow up?!"

"I know!  It's so crazy.  My little James-y." Jessica pouts.

"He's such a good boy.  He'll make a great husband."

"I have no doubt.  You have done so well with them, Jess.  I mean it.  You should be proud."

"Awe thank you so much." Jessica smiles.

***

That weekend Jessica, Danny and Grayson headed over to Oklahoma for the twins graduation.  Jessica's family and some of Sam's we're going to be getting there a day later.

The night they arrived they had dinner and asked Caroline and her family to join them.

"Jessica, I just have to tell you how much Bobby and I love James.  The fact that he talked to us before he proposed, just shows how great of a mother you were."

"Oh thank you so much!" Jessica smiles and touches her chest.

"All of your boys are so amazing."

"That really makes me happy to hear.  Thank you!"

**

"I can't believe graduation is in two days.  It seems like just yesterday we moved out here.. This past year has been fun with you two." Sam tells Michael and Zachary.

"Yeah, it was so much fun!  I loved being the only girl in our little group." Caroline chuckles.

"They have a group!" Jessica says in a high pitched voice as she leans close to Danny.

He laughs and they continue listening.

"It's gonna be so different without you three..  I'm really happy we all got to play another year of basketball together.  That's always been such a huge part of our lives.. I don't wanna sound all mushy and shit-"

"Language, young man!"

"Sorry!" Michael smiles.
"But.. We're brothers, and Caroline, you're like a sister to us.. Well except for James because.. Ew!"

Everyone laughs and Michael continues.
"Being here with you guys made it feel like home, and it'll just be different next year."

"Yeah.. But we're so happy for you guys.  You're officially adults now, with real responsibilities.  Ha-Ha!" Zachary points and laughs.

"Heh!  Yep.. It's the real world now, huh, babe?" James says putting his arm around Caroline.

"Yep!" She smiles softly.

***

Graduation day.
"My babies.. My babies are graduating... And Sam's not here to see it."

"Aw baby..."

"It's moments like this where it hurts the most..
You know, I sometimes wish he would have just cheated on me."

"What?"

"I'd rather him be unfaithful to me than be gone.  I wish he was still here for our boys.  This moment would have meant the world to him." Jessica says with tears running down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, honey." Danny wraps his arms around Jessica and she buries her face in his chest.

"I know he's proud of them."

"He's proud of you too."

Jessica looks up to Danny and he moves her hair behind her ears.

"You've done such a fantastic job, honey.  He's proud of that."

"Thank you." She says in a whisper.

**

"You did it!  You're college graduates!" Jessica hugs her boys.

"I am so proud of you two, and I know daddy is too."

The twins smile and Jessica says, "I love you both so much."

"We love you too, mom."

Jessica tears up and smiles.
"I can't believe these are the two little babies that used to fight in my belly!" She places a hand on each one of their cheeks.

The boys chuckle and Jane says, "It's true, you two did fight a lot in there!" She laughs.

Jessica nods and says, "You're men now.  I gave birth to these two grown men!" She laughs.

**

After graduation they all went out to one of the boys favorite restaurants.

"Boys, I have something for you from your father.  Not only did he of course write you both letters, but he left you a little something of his.  Please know that your father is so proud of you two.. He is so proud." Jessica says with tears filling her eyes.

They smile and Jessica blinks and takes a deep breath.
"Open your gifts and see what daddy gave you."

The boys open their gifts and Sam shouts, "No way!  His pocket knife!  Cool!" Jessica chuckles and James pulls out a nice silver pen out.

"Dad's pen." He smiles.

"He wrote all these letters with this pen.. He'd set it up on the right side of his desk.. Right next to his reading glasses.." James looks off into space, remembering his father's desk exactly how it always was.

"He wanted you guys to have something that he knew you once found interest in.
Sam, how many times did you ask your father to hold that darn thing?"

"A lot!" Sam chuckles.

"And James, how many times did you sit on your father's lap and want to touch his favorite fancy pen he never let anyone touch?  Not even me!"

"Hah!  All the time." James smiles.

"Exactly.  He always listened..
Treasure these little gifts forever... Because the memories meant everything to your father." Jessica says as a single tear runs down her cheek.

***

Samuel, my boy.
  You're my oldest son.. By 20 minutes, but still!
I remember when you were just five years old, you wanted so badly to just hold this knife.  I don't know what the fascination was, but you loved it.  I said no hundreds of times, but one day I finally gave in.  I of course watched you very carefully, and it was only for about two seconds, but for those to seconds your eyes were just lit up like crazy  I remember the look on your face made my heart melt.  I also remember when your mother found out and grounded me for two weeks!  So thanks a lot, Sam!
Haha, just messing with you.  I wanted to give this knife to my oldest son.  I hope that one day you have a son... And I hope he annoys you just as much as you annoyed me! 
Haha, I'm only kidding, Samuel! 
But really; I hope one day you create the same wonderful memories with your son like we have.
I love you with all my heart, Sam.  Congratulations on graduating college.  Hopefully you didn't do too much partying and were able to graduate with your brother!  Haha, anyway.. I'm proud of you, my boy.  I love you always.

***

James, my second born.
  Right now I'm writing this with the silver pen you loved so much.  I bet you don't even know where I got it from, do you?  Of course you don't, cause no one knows.  Not even your mother knows!  When I was starting freshman year of high school, I went shopping for.. Well I can't even remember right now, but I do remember the important parts of the story!  I remember seeing this extremely beautiful young girl.  Her hair was golden and her skin was glowing.  She was the most beautiful girl I had ever laid my eyes on.  I followed her around the mall for a while being a creeper before I finally got the guts to go and say hello.  Well when I got close to her I geeked out and stood in line like I was purchasing something.  The woman asked what I wanted and I pointed to a pen because I was thinking, how much could a stupid pen cost?  I'll just buy it so I don't look like an even bigger idiot than I already do.  Do you know how much those friggen pens cost just because they're behind a glass counter?!  By the time I came down from the shock of seeing that much being charged to my father's credit card, I turned around and the girl was gone.
Two weeks later I walked into school and saw that very same girl.  We got to talking, she complemented my pen!  After how much it was I was like, Girl you better compliment my pen!  I have this because of you!
Anyway, a couple months later we started dating, and nine months after that we welcomed two beautiful boys into the world.
Surprised!  The girl was your mother!
Haha, I'm sure you knew that already though.  That pen always reminded me of the day I fell in love. 
Once you got to that let me grab everything in sight stage, you fell in love with that pen as well. 
Now that you know the story, I hope you cherish it forever, and keep it away from your kids!
Haha!  I love you James, and I am beyond proud of you.  You've always been so smart, and there was never a doubt in my mind that you couldn't accomplish anything and everything you set your mind on.