Three years later.

"Oh no!"

Harry was working in his studio located in the lower level of their home in the northern suburbs when he heard that wail from Robbie.  Putting down his paint brush, he rushed up the stairs to see what the commotion was.

The sound came from the kitchen.  Robbie was in there, along with their daughters Chloe and Emma.

"What happened?" Harry as he took in the scene.  There was flour everywhere, on the counter, the floor, and on Robbie's clothes.  Most of it was on the girls.

"We helping Daddy make cookies!" Emma said as she jumped up and down.

"Yeah," Robbie said as he dusted himself off.  "Your daughters were so helpful they practically dove right into the flour."

Harry scooped up a giggling Chloe and tried to dust her off.  "How long did you have your eye off of them?"

"A second." Robbie insisted.  "One teensy little second.  I turned my back just to get some vanilla extract from the cupboard and when I turned back they had turned the kitchen into their very own Winter Wonderland."

"That's exactly how long it takes for them to get into trouble."  Harry said.

Robbie rolled his eyes.  "No kidding."

As Harry watched Robbie bend over to clean the girls he thought about how long it took to get here as well as the changes that had happened over time.  They had moved to the suburbs when the twins were still babies.  The schools were better, plus they were twenty minutes away from downtown Chicago so the girls had the best of both worlds, city and suburban. 

Harry was teaching art part time at a local college.  He also worked on his own pieces that were selling at a gallery.  He was happy to be working at something he loved.

He was most surprised at Robbie, who chose to be a stay at home dad.  He now owned the stores he used to manage and was able to check in on the stores occasionally.  He wanted to be there for the girls and take care of them.  He took them to doctor's visits and playdates.  Robbie came a long way from that spoiled little playboy that wanted a nanny for them.  "I want to do it myself." Robbie had said.  "I don't want to miss out on anything."

Their relationship was good.  Harry couldn't believe they had been together seven  years now.  Hard to believe that seven years ago Harry was assigned by his boss to pick up his son at the airport and show him around town.  

That was the best job he ever had.  If not for that assignment Harry would have never met the true love of his life.  He was now grateful to Mr. Kay for giving him that job.

Over the years Harry and Robbie had their ups and downs in their relationship but they learned to trust and respect each other if they were staying for the long haul.  Plus their passion was still burning strong, when they were able to get some alone time.

"Look at all this flour," Robbie fussed as he shook flour out of Chloe's hair.  "The entire bag's gone.  So much for baking."  Robbie had gotten into cooking in a big way since the girls were babies.  

"Remember the time you tried to cook ramen for me?" Harry said.  "And you actually burned it? Who burns ramen?"

"Oh shut up." Robbie threw a dish rag at him.  "Stop bringing that up or I'll burn all your dinners from now on."

The girls giggled at that.  "Daddy's burning Papa's dinner." Chloe said.

Harry was looking out of the window.  It was a beautiful day outside, one of those days when the weather is just right.  Not too hot, not too chilly.  He had an idea.  "Let's go downtown." 

Robbie and the girls looked at him.  "What, now?" Robbie asked.

"Yeah, right now."  Harry said.  "It's a beautiful day out.  Let's go to Millenium Park, Navy Pier and Buckingham Fountain."

The girls cheered.  "Yayy!!"

Robbie smiled at his guy.  He loved how spontaneous Harry was getting.  Back in the day Harry was always on a schedule with his work and his classes.  Now he was a pick up and go kind of guy who liked to do things on a spur of the moment.  Just the other day when the girls were in preschool Harry dragged him to a hotel nearby and had his way with him.  Just out of the blue.  Robbie loved it.

"We have to clean up the girls."  Robbie said.

Harry took one girl and Robbie took the other.  They cleaned and changed Chloe and Emma into their playsuits then took them to downtown Chicago.

First they took them to Navy Pier and rode on the rides.

The ferris wheel was everyone's favorite.  From the top they could see the entire park.  There was a lot to see and do there.

Next was Millennium Park.

By that time it was getting hot outside so the water that came from the platforms were a welcome relief.  Harry and Robbie watched their girls race through the mini water falls, squealing with laughter.  They weren't alone.  There were many people weaving in and out of the water trying to cool off.

Next they went over to Cloud Gate.

"That's a big bean!" Emma said as she pointed.

"No, that's called Cloud Gate." Robbie explained.

"No, it's a big bean!" Chloe insisted.

Harry nudged Robbie.  "Remember when we had that same argument?"

The men laughed as they remembered Robbie calling it that back in their early days of knowing each other.  That seemed so long ago.

The family stopped for lunch and continued enjoying the sights that Chicago had to offer. 

"Remember when you first showed me around?" Robbie said, taking Harry's hand while holding Chloe on his hip. "I was so impressed with all of this, I thought it was amazing."

Harry had Emma on his shoulders as they strolled the park.  "I loved seeing it through your eyes.  Everything seemed fresh and new again."

"I'm glad we get to share this with our girls." Robbie said.  "Our happiness was a long time coming."

They had a fun day.  By evening they went to Buckingham Fountain for their light show.

The lights that appeared were many colors that reflected from the splashing water.  Everyone was absorbed by the pretty sights.

"Ooh!" The girls said, eyes wide.

"My favorite place!" Robbie said. "We should have had our wedding at night during the light show.  How awesome is that?"

"People would pay more attention to the light show than the ceremony." Harry pointed out.

"But it would be so cool." Robbie insisted.

"I tell you what," Harry said.  "We'll renew our vows here on our twenty five year anniversary, how's that?"

Robbie smiled at him.  "You mean that? Twenty five years? Will you still be able to put up with me by then?"

Harry pulled him closer.  "I've managed to all this time, why not?"

They gave each other a kiss, then held their girls as they continued watching the show while thinking of their future and all the possibilities. 

They hoped their future would be as bright as the lights on the fountain.