A/N: Since the ....'s don't count, there's mature content near the end.

Epilogue: Part 2, The return of Leeann

As the men went to go back to the living room to be responsible hosts, they were interrupted by a knock at the door. Gareth grabbed Phillip's hand and audibly gulped. No matter how overwhelmed Phillip had been feeling before, now he was totally present and ready to be a support to his husband. "Hey, we can do this," he offered.

Gareth nodded and reached for the door. On the porch there was a family of three. Kyle, still very large, with his long hair and full beard, now more salt than pepper, and there were a few more wrinkles around his eyes. Leeann, looking somewhat anxious, and older, more....mom-like, and less party girl, tastefully dressed and her hair no longer dyed blonde, more of a toned down colour. She was still wearing make-up, but it wasn't heavy or lurid. And finally, standing at the door and peeking up was an adorable little boy with a tanned complexion like his father, dark brown wavy hair, deep brown eyes, and a nervous expression. Gareth couldn't help but feel for the little boy, his own children's little brother.

Rather than address the adults, Gareth squatted and talked to Xavier. "Well, hello there! You must be Xavier." The little boy nodded. "I have a few kids here that would love to meet you, and I think there might even be something from Santa here for you, too."

"Really?" His eyes lit up as they all walked in the house. "We have presents, too. I have two sisters and a brother. They live here."

Phillip took their coats and hung them up just as Daisy walked in the room. "Hello Kyle," she smiled, ignoring Leeann altogether, then kneeled down. "You must be Xavier! I'm Daisy, your big sister! Do you want to meet Gabe and Franny?"

Xavier looked back at his parents, and they nodded their approval before the young boy took Daisy's outstretched hand and she led him downstairs.

"I can't believe how grown up she's gotten," Leeann said, watching her go. "She's so big and mature!"

"She's always been mature, had to be," Gareth responded, then bit his tongue, because that probably wasn't the least confrontational comment he could have made.

"No, you're right, and I deserved that," Leeann offered, much to Gareth's surprise. "Uh, maybe we can talk. Phillip, you're welcome, too, since you're the children's parent, too." Phillip fought back the urge to say 'more than you,' because he didn't want to start an argument. She was trying, after all, and there were children in the house. But he would protect his husband and children if necessary, as would everyone else in the house, probably.

"Leeann, you good?" Kyle asked as his stomach grumbled.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why don't you get some food." Then she looked at the parents of her children, "I mean if that's okay with you?"

"Sure. Food's all laid out on the kitchen table. Grab a plate, then take it out to the living room," Gareth instructed as Phillip pointed the way.

Leeann popped her head around the three men and looked at the people sitting in the other room. "Oh, Hi, Mr and Mrs Lewis. Nice to see you, again." Gareth's parents didn't want to be polite, exactly, so they nodded in greeting. It seemed the safest bet.

Kyle quickly filled a plate with mini quiche, random hors d'oeuvres, turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, and some vegetables. "Leeann still can't cook for shit, so I take it when I can get it," Kyle told Phillip. "I'm not going to nag her for it, she's got a lot going on."

Phillip nodded, and said, "I'm sure." Although he really wasn't. He wasn't sure if Leeann didn't get off easy again, using a child to have a house and access to money. But maybe Kyle was a bit different from Gareth.

Leeann, Gareth, and Phillip sat on the kitchen chairs awkwardly, as Kyle took his food into the other room. They could hear Mel and Vern starting up a conversation with him, then Tyler scooted past and headed down to the basement with the rest of the kids.

"Who was that?" Leeann asked, watching the tall blond boy go down the stairs.

"Daisy's boyfriend," Gareth answered. "He's a good kid." Phillip nodded in agreement; he felt he was probably going to be doing a lot of that. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well, a few things actually." Leeann took a deep, bracing breath. "First off, I know you've heard from Kyle that I'm clean. I've been drug free since rehab, and haven't had an alcohol in three years. I had a bit of a slip awhile back, but got back on track right away or else I would have lost Xavi, too."

"I'm in AA and go almost daily. I have to, and I have a really great sponsor. One of the steps to getting better is making amends. I've already admitted that I have a problem, a big one, and that I lived my life really badly. I did lots of things I'm not proud of, and it wasn't always the alcohol or drugs that was responsible for those decisions. It was me, and me making selfish terrible choices. I got pregnant with Daisy on purpose when my parents were kicking me out so that I'd have someone take me in. He didn't, but I got mother's allowance and welfare. Raising a child by myself wasn't something I did well, so I did the same thing again."

"Instead of being responsible, I picked you. I saw you at the bar, and you had no tolerance to booze at all. You were an easy mark because you were nice and vulnerable, and easy to take advantage of. I asked if you would help me home because I was worried, and you did. I got you drunk almost to the point of passing out, then forced myself on you. You told me you were gay and I wasn't your type, but I forced you. Some responses aren't something you can fully control. I did the same thing again when I thought you were going to leave."

"I trapped you on purpose, took advantage of your good nature, then treated you like dirt, and for that I'm sorry, so very sorry. I was a complete bitch, and I shouldn't have hit you. I was just so angry all the time, and mostly at myself and the situation I'd put myself in. Because as much as I trapped you to take care of me, I still wasn't happy. I did all sorts of terrible things and you took it because you are a good person. Too good, really. And I'm sorry for everything." Tears were running down Leeann's face and she grabbed at a napkin to wipe her eyes.

Gareth tried to think of a response, because he wasn't going to say it was okay, because it wasn't, and he wasn't going to say she was forgiven, because she wasn't, not really. "I'm not going to tell you it's all fine, because really I spent most of my twenties in a really bad place. But the kids are the best thing to happen to me aside from Phillip, and I'm really happy now. You kicking us out in the middle of winter was terrible, but it ended wonderfully, so I suppose I thank you for that." Phillip held Gareth's hand and rubbed little circles on it with his thumb to comfort his husband because he could tell Gareth was really upset.

"I am so sorry, Gareth. I want to apologize to the kids, too. I have no expectations for having a relationship with them. I screwed them up big time."

"They are doing well, and you are only here today because they agreed to this. Mostly because of Xavier. They want to have a relationship with their brother, know he is being cared for," Phillip said, giving Gareth time to recover.

"Thankfully, Kyle's kind of like you. He's a great father, even though he never wanted children. But that's actually the other reason why I am here. I know this is a big thing to ask, but Kyle's getting older and his blood pressure isn't great. And I'm clean and sober now, and intend on staying this way, but the future....well, who knows what could happen, and I did some damage to myself, you know, my liver and stuff." She paused for a second and closed her eyes to steady herself. "What I'm trying to say is that Kyle and I are working on a will, and if something was to happen to us, we were hoping you could take Xavier. He could be with his siblings and in a loving household. Kyle's parents don't live in the country and speak no English, and my parents just aren't an option. You know how bad they fucked me up."

"Leeann, are you sure? I mean you'd want to subject your son to our 'immoral lifestyle'? Meanwhile drugs and alcohol were completely fine?" Gareth quickly retorted. He was still angered over her tactics to get custody of their children and it was hard to let go, even after all the years.

"No, I was wrong. I was angry and Kyle wouldn't support me doing drugs, so it was my attempt to get more money from you, it was the only way I could afford them. I was really fucked up and I'm so sorry. You have no idea how glad I am that worse things didn't happen. I knew I was pregnant and I still did terrible things. Kyle and I were so lucky that Xavi was okay. He spent a bit of time in the ICU when he was born because of low birthweight, but otherwise, he's normal. I was so very lucky, and so was he. Apparently if I had continued to drink or do coke for much longer, it could have had terrible effects on Xavi."

"We would take him in even if he had challenges. That's a given," Phillip responded quickly. "It wouldn't have been his fault, and he's a child." He knew Gareth would agree, anyway, and he couldn't bear the thought of his children's brother going into foster care or something, especially if he had challenges. He looked at Gareth and caught his husband's smile--Phillip knew he'd said the right thing.

Leeann fumbled with her purse for a second before bringing out three envelopes. "These are letters I've written. There's one for each of you, and the third is a cheque. In AA we are encouraged to write out all our mistakes, take ownership of our behaviour, and ask for forgiveness. I have letters to give the kids, too. The cheque is a partial payment for child support and the money I took from you to pay for alcohol."

"We don't need your money, Leeann. The kids are fine and they don't lack anything, well except things we won't get for them." Phillip thought back to Franny's tantrum over wanting a smartphone. "If anything, I want to thank you," Phillip said. Leeann and Gareth both looked puzzled. "I want to thank you for signing over your parental rights so that I could be a father, legally, to my children. Gareth and the kids have brought nothing but joy to my life."

"I'm really trying with Xavier, and it's not fucking fair to Daisy, Gabe, and Franny, that I couldn't do the same for them, so thank you for being such a wonderful parent, Phillip. Thank you both." Leeann stood, then looked towards the stairs. "Do you think I could go down and see them?"

"Yes, just don't push them into anything. They have been in counselling and are doing better, but I'm not sure they want anything to do with you right now. They don't trust you," Gareth explained.

Leeann bit her lip and looked hurt. "I understand, and I don't deserve them. But I promise I won't do anything to upset them, I just want to see them. I'm not expecting to be their mother. Please keep the cheque, and at least put it in their education funds. You're such decent parents that I'm sure they have them."

"That they do," Gareth said with a smile. Leeann nodded and tentatively headed down the stairs.

"Are you sure this is alright?" Phillip asked, a bit nervous.

"It'll be fine. I told Tyler he'll never see Daisy again if he doesn't come and get us at the first sign of a problem," Gareth said with a chuckle, trying to mask his nerves. "Besides, if you think I'm not going down there in a few minutes, then you're sorely mistaken."

.................................................

The rest of the day went fairly well. Vern and Kyle seemed to hit it off, and Gareth's parents were willing to be polite to Leeann, especially after she apologized to them for keeping them away from their grandchildren.

Xavier played nicely with Oliver, and Daisy, Gabe, and Franny really enjoyed meeting their little brother, declaring him cute and not at all bratty. By six o'clock, their house was almost empty. Vern and Mel left with Oliver by four so they could drive to her older brother Jon and his partner's place for dinner, and they hoped Oliver would nap in the car. Leeann, Kyle and Xavier left shortly after because they had plans with Kyle's boss. The kids made Leeann promise to bring Xavier over to visit again, and she left them each with an envelope of their own, as well as a few Christmas presents of hat, scarves, and mitts, and some gift cards.

Daisy and Tyler left at five thirty because she was having Christmas dinner with his family. His parents and sister really liked Daisy, and she had presents for each of them that she'd picked out herself. "I promise she'll be home by ten," Tyler said, as he ushered Daisy out the door and towards his parents' car.

"Okay. Merry Christmas, Tyler, and thank you for everything today," Gareth called down the driveway.

"No problem, sir!" he dutifully replied.

"Oh my god, you don't have to call him sir," Daisy lectured as she got in the car. It was a common argument between them.

Gareth laughed as he went back inside. All that was left of their guests were the grandparents and Marjorie, who were helping clean up in the kitchen while Franny and Gabe lazed about on the sofa watching cartoons. The food was being packed up in tupperware, none of which was going to fit in their already crammed fridge.

"I hope you're planning on taking some of that back with you," Gareth said, eyeing the mound of containers.

"Of course, dear. Did you want us to starve or something?" Beverly joked.

"I don't know about you, but I'm taking Vern's left over cake. If that man wasn't so good at managing the store, I swear I'd convince him to open a bakery," Jack said, looking at the baking.

"No way. Then we'd have to pay for his baked goods. This way we get it for free," Marjorie said as she packed some of the containers into bags.

"I think we're about ready to head out, boys," Beverly told her son and son-in-law. "Thank you for everything today. It was great."

"No, thank you mom." Gareth gave his mother a hug. "Gabe, Franny, can you get their coats please?"

The two youngest Lewis-Camerons gave some good natured grumbles as they pulled themselves from the sofas, but complied, reaching into the closet, then helping the three older people with their coats and bags. In turn they gave each member of the household hugs and kisses before heading out.

"I'll see you at the store tomorrow, Phillip." Marjorie said as they carefully went down the steps. She loved having her place in the store, an area where she had tea and tables set out for garden club members, as well as making her rounds of the greenhouse, helping customers. Getting the store back and having Mel and Phillip as part owners was the best thing that she and Arthur ever did. They loved Phillip like a son, and were thrilled that he was so happy in his life, as she knew his mother would be.

During tea, the men discussed everything that happened with Leeann. Franny and Gabe agreed that while they didn't forgive Leeann, and didn't want to spend much time with her, they also didn't want to hold the past against Xavier. "He deserves to have a big sisters and a brother, just like I have," Franny explained. And their fathers agreed.

"Besides I have to teach him guy stuff, because Kyle works a lot, and Leeann's probably not much fun for playing. I don't remember her being any fun at all," Gabe said. "I want to make sure he's always okay." His voice wavered a bit. "Why couldn't she have done it for us? She's doing all this for him, but we weren't good enough." Tears started to form.

Franny looked at Gabe while Phillip hugged him comfortingly. "If she'd done it for us then we'd never have Phillip, and none of us would want that. Besides, Leeann had to grow up. Some people just take longer to do it."

Gareth gave Franny a kiss on the head. "That's a very good way of looking at things, Franny. She's right, Gabe. Leeann had to do it for herself, not for us, and in the end it took her getting arrested to make her grow up. And if you want to be there for your brother, I agree. No one is saying you need to like Leeann. But she gave us you guys so there has to be some good in there somewhere."

Phillip hugged Gabe a little tighter before letting him go. Gabe was getting so big, there was only so long he would put up with a hug. Fortunately Franny was still willing to humour her fathers with hugs.

...........................................

Later that evening, the kids all in bed, Daisy in the door mere seconds before curfew, the men lay in bed together, gently caressing each other. "I have another present for you, Gareth."

Phillip climbed out of bed and went to the dresser drawer, pulling out a slim envelope. He passed it to his husband.

"What's this?" Gareth carefully tore open the envelope to see the printed reservation record. "You've rented a chalet?"

"Yes, for our anniversary. The fourth anniversary is traditionally flowers or plants, but we have those already, so I thought you might like a weekend away. It's Bill's friend's chalet and it has meals included in the dining room, a spa, and in-unit hot tub with a view of the ski hills."

"Come here, you!" Gareth patted the place next to him on the bed, and Phillip complied, climbing back in. "Maybe we can practice what we're going to do there?"

"We don't have a ski hill in here, Gareth," Phillip replied with a smirk.

"Why Mr Cameron-Lewis, that is totally not what I meant and you know it!" Gareth's hands snaked down his husband's body while his lips nuzzled at Phillip's neck where Gareth inhaled deeply. "I swear I could come just from the way you smell. It's intoxicating."

"Don't you dare. You're not coming until I'm buried inside you," Phillip replied with a growl of desire, as he thrust his growing erection against his husband's thigh. Although he intended on something a bit more than that.

They kissed and teased and stroked each other, removing clothes in the process until Gareth was laying on his back, legs spread wide apart, begging and needy. "Please Phillip."

Phillip was laying on the bed, propped on his elbows as he teased at Gareth, alternating between nips on the inner thighs, suckling on Gareth's sac, or licking the bulbous head of his shaft which was nicely swollen. Teasing Gareth was something Phillip relished. Making his husband beg was always something he loved, and he'd gotten rather good at it. He'd get to swallow Gareth's first load before even touching his sensitive hole. And that was what he was doing tonight. Phillip took Gareth's leaking cock deep in his mouth, sucking hard and working his tongue along the responsive veiny underside, paying special attention to the frenulum. At the same time, he stroked his own member at a slow, leisurely pace.

Gareth was getting closer and closer to reaching his peak, so Phillip took one hand to play with Gareth's balls, and with the other, he worked Gareth's nipples. The sensation was too much for the lithe man, and his moaned deeply while shooting his cream down his husband's throat while Phillip swallowed it all down.

"Oh god, Phillip. You're so good." He pulled Phillip up his body until he captured his husband's lips in a deep kiss, tasting his own release in his lover's mouth. Phillip's hard shaft was hot and heavy against Gareth's body, as he opened his legs even wider, "Please fuck me. Please." He pressed the lube into Phillip's hand.

Phillip sat back on his knees, and stroked his erection. "I don't have to, I could just come like this, shoot my load on you," he teased.

"God that's hot, but I need you in me. I want your load deep." Gareth's cock began to stiffen again at the sight of Phillip's naked body as he stroked.

"Fine," Phillip said. "If you insist."

He flipped open the lube and squeezed some on his hand, which he then smeared on Gareth's exposed rosebud and his own erection. He work Gareth open with care, but passion, making his husband beg again. After using two fingers and teasing Gareth's prostate, Gareth's shaft was back to a full erection and he was begging to be fucked.

Phillip slowly began to push his cock into where his fingers had just left. He progressed as carefully as he could past the ring of muscles at the entrance and into the enveloping heat of his partner's tight ass. Phillip was breathing heavily, trying to keep control because it was all so much. He just wanted to fuck with abandon, stab at Gareth deeply and fill him to completion. But he was waiting for Gareth's sign that he was ready.

"Please...faster...move." And that was all it took. Phillip pulled out to the tip and forced his way back in, hard and fast, just like his husband liked it. Gareth arched underneath him and wrapped his legs over Phillip's shoulders, bending as much as he could to get Phillip deeper. Gareth's erection was trapped between them rubbing against Phillip's abs and being stimulated by the movement. He reached between them and began stroking in time to Phillip's hard thrusts, while he squeezed his ass, trying to stimulate Phillip further.

Phillip was panting with effort and lust and a building orgasm. "God, you feel so good, Gare. I am going to come in you so hard."

"Fucking fill me Phillip, please." And Gareth began squeezing rhythmically as he was hitting his orgasm, his second load shooting between the two men.

"Oh god..." Phillip said, as Gareth's clenching sent him over the edge. He could feel his fluid shooting from deep in his balls all the way along his shaft, exploding into the depths of his husband, lightheaded with the release.

As the feeling subsided, satiated fatigue set in, and he collapsed on the bed next to his spent husband. "I love you, Gare."

"I love you, too, Phil."

Phillip ran his hand along Gareth's jaw. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

Gareth turned his head to playfully nip at Phillip's fingers. "No, you're the best thing that ever happened to me."

Phillip laughed lightly, then wiped both he and his husband with a dirty shirt that was next to the bed. They kissed lazily, then cuddled together, legs entwined much like they were when they awoke in the morning, much like they were every night. They just fit together.

A/N: There you have it, the end of the epilogue. As much as I wanted to kill Leeann, as did everyone else (mostly) I didn't want her to be innately evil, just really messed up and flawed, as some people are. Thank you again, and keep your eye out for the special bonus (mpreg fantasy) chapter, which I'm writing at the urging of Fhanth, DragonFlames32, and VirginiaLindstrom mostly, but with the support of a few others, too. :)

Hugs to everyone!

<3 JJ