8 Years Later.

"Ryker!" Kelsey screamed out as she held onto the corner of her summer dress, running out into the backyard as she watched the little boy squirt another with a water gun.

Justin laid back in his chair, laughing along with Bruce as they shared a beer, talking about the latest game on television when he glanced over, watching her scold their son. "Kelsey, they're kids. Let them have fun."

"Easy for you to say, you let them do whatever they want." Grabbing Ryker's hand, Kelsey crouched down, "be nice to your brother."

"He started it!"

"No, you did!" The twin yelled back, reaching over and pushing him causing the other boy to lunge forwards.

"Hey, hey!" Kelsey put her hands against their chests, holding them back from one another. "What has gotten into you two?"

"Ryker's mad Mykuh likes me better than him."

"Mykuh doesn't even know you exist."

"Look at my girl breaking hearts already," Leo teased as he entered the backyard, his arm around the waist of his wife; their daughter not too far behind them.

Looking up, Kelsey laughed, "do not entertain these two, please."

"What?" he chuckled, "she takes after her father," he basked in his glory, playfully rubbing at his chin. "Can you blame them?"

"Shut up," Justin threw a piece of bread at him, "and sit down. There's beer, you want one?"

"Justin!" Kelsey scolded, "where are your table manners?"

"Sorry baby," he cheesed as she narrowed her eyes, shaking her head at him.

"Don't mind if I do," Leo rubbed his hands together, leaning over to kiss his wife, Julia, on the forehead before taking a seat next to Justin and Bruce.

"Men," Julia laughed as Kelsey looked at her, nodding.

"Men, indeed."

"Mom, can I go play with Mykuh now?" Ryzer questioned as Ryker shoved past him already running in the little girl's direction.

"Okay, but no more fighting with your brother!" she called out after them, huffing as she dropped her hands down to her sides.

"Why do I feel like every time I am here, those two are ready to bite the other's head off?"

Turning around, Kelsey let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. "That's because they are," laughing, she approached the other.

Carly smiled, leaning over as she wrapped her arms around her best friend's neck, pulling her into a hug before letting go as her son came between them.

"Hi Aunt Kelsey," he grinned up at her, a spitting image of his father.

Looking down, she smiled big. "Hi Carter," she crouched down, fixing the collar of his shirt before gently placing a gentle kiss to his forehead. "How was soccer practice?"

"Eh," he shrugged, "it was alright. I missed a goal today, but mom tells me that dad wasn't that great at soccer either."

Laughing, Kelsey glanced up at Carly who shrugged, putting her hands up in mock surrender before looking at him again. "She's right, he was more of a handy person instead."

"That's what she said," he shrugged, "but it's okay." Waving, he ran off to join the other boys.

"I'm guessing you never told him?" Kelsey questioned as she stood up to her full length.

"No, some things are better left unsaid. You know?"

Nodding, Kelsey began walking towards the barbecue. "I know what you mean, Justin and I have agreed to keep it from the boys too until they're old enough to understand."

"How are Marco and Marcus doing?"

"They're good, traveling," Kelsey laughed as she shook her head, thinking about something before holding a finger up as she ran inside to grab something. Coming back out, she handed the postcard over to Carly.

Looking at it, Carly laughed as she saw a picture of both Marco and Marcus swimming with dolphins, knowing their wives must have taken the photo.

"Living their best lives, I see."

"As they should." Putting the picture down, she grabbed the clipper, flipping burgers onto the other side.

"So which one of you is going to buy me a tiara?"

"I will!" both boys spoke in sync before turning to one another, narrowing their gazes. "No, I am!" they spoke at the same time again.

"No, I am," Ryker shoved at his twin.

"Ryker," Carter approached the younger boy as he grabbed his arm to keep him from hitting his brother again, "what did I tell you?"

"What?" he huffed, pulling his arm away. "He started it!"

"No, he didn't," Carter reprimanded.

"Why do you always take his side?"

"You should be thanking me. You know by now that nothing good will come of you starting fights. Leave Ryzer alone, let's go play with our cars," he recommended as he held the toy truck up.

"But--"

He gave him a knowing look, "do you want Aunt Kelsey to ground you?"

Thinking to himself, the young boy's shoulders fell as he rolled his eyes, mumbling irritably, "no."

"Then let's go."

Joining his best friend, the two began walking off, but not before Ryker turned around, running over to Ryzer and shoving him once more.

Falling to the ground, Ryzer huffed, having had enough before pushing himself up and lunging towards his brother until they both fell to the ground.

"Ryker!" Carter groaned as he ran over to pull the twin off the other, "come on, this is stupid!" Attempting to pull the two of them free of each other, Carter fell once they pulled him down, too.

Tousling in the dirt, each of them hitting the other with elbows, arms flailing as they rummaged to pull away, it wasn't long before they were caught.

"Carter Johnathan Rivera!" Carly yelled as she approached the boys, hands on her hips. "What did Aunt Kelsey tell you guys?"

"It wasn't my fault!" he whined, wiping the dirt off his pants once they finally separated. "I tried breaking it up."

"Oh, so you're the hero now, huh?"

"Yeah," Carter held his chin up, almost defiantly. "Just like dad."

Her eyes softened almost immediately at the words before sighing as she waved him over, "come on. The food's ready, let's eat." She looked up at the others, "that goes for all of you. Up."

"Come on, Ryker."

Standing, Ryker ran over and wrapped an arm around Carter's shoulders, walking towards the sliding doors that led inside the house.

He knew the topic of his father was a tough one, something they still didn't understand, but they knew as long as they had each other, everything would be okay.

"What the hell happened to you?" Kelsey stopped in her tracks, taking in the disheveled appearance of all three boys.

"We were just playing," Ryker played it off, innocent. "Right, guys?" He looked at them all, waiting for them to agree with him.

Despite not wanting to, Ryzer nodded his head. "Yeah, we were playing cops and robbers. Sorry, mom."

Sighing, she allowed the excuse as she gestured behind her, "go clean up and set the table."

Waiting as they all went inside, Carly stopped at the foot of the door, "what are we going to do with them?"

She laughed, "I'm still trying to figure that out myself. Come on," grabbing the bowl of salad, she handed her the plate of burgers while holding the other with steaks. "Baby, can you shut off the barbecue?"

"Yeah, babe." Justin patted Bruce's back as he stood to walk into the house to join everyone for dinner, Leo and his wife close behind. Walking over to the grill, he leaned down to turn the switch off before standing as he waited for the flame to go out.

Looking out into the distance as the sun shined down harder than usual, he squinted, covering his eyes with his palm as a vision of two people came into focus. Finding himself overwhelmed by emotions he couldn't decipher, Justin parted his lips as both John and Jazzy stood there, side by side.

They smiled, waving.

"Justin?"

Snapping out of it, he turned around to see Kelsey standing there, brows furrowed at the sight of his expression. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," he cleared his throat before turning back around to see that they were gone. Smiling softly to himself, a sense of calm rippled through him in that moment as he inhaled a deep breath as if they had entered through his body, leaving a reminder that they would always be with him.

She waited as he closed the barbecue before reaching over and grabbing her hand. Lifting it to his lips, he kissed the back of it. "I love you."

Smiling, Kelsey leaned her head against his shoulder. "I love you too," walking side by side as they entered the house, Justin closed the door behind them to join their family at the dinner table.

Off in the distance, John and Jazzy looked at one another in peace before turning just as Justin approached the door to shut the curtain, watching as they disappeared off into the sunset.

One night.

One party.

One mistake.

What he thought was going to ruin his life, turned out to be the opposite.

When all your life you've been used to people lying and deceiving you, how do you learn to trust those around you?

And when the person you care about the most has become the target to your enemies, what would you do to protect them?

THE END.