After discovering that both Reyna and Malina were having twins, it was pure chaos. 

With both women due around the same time, and Malina and Bob already having a toddler, their friends and family were in full swing to help prepare the two families for their new arrivals. 

Some people, cough Bradley and Javy cough, nearly died of laughter when it was discovered that Reyna and Jake were having identical girls. It seemed Jake was destined to be surrounded by women his entire life. He liked to say that since he helped raise Mari, raising his own daughters should be too bad. 

He would soon come to regret that statement. 

Malina and Bob, on the other hand, were having fraternal twins, a boy and girl. So Mal and Bob got to dote on a daughter while also having to wrangle two boys. 

It helped that, over the years, the two sets of twins did mostly everything together. Because Dagger Squad had a permanent base, the kids got to go to the same schools. Mal and Bob's oldest was three years ahead in school, but just as protective of the Seresin twins as his own siblings. 

By the time the twins were teens, Mari and Eli had married and were expecting a baby of their own. And although the cousins were almost 15 years apart, they got on like a house on fire. 

Malina had been lucky, well she says lucky, everyone else says it was only a matter of time. She had caught the eye of a museum director with a few of her pieces and was offered an exhibit during an event the museum held for up and coming artists. 

And while Malina had been in the business for years, this was her first true step into the larger world of photography. She had more requests than ever, but had to decline a few over the years as it took her too far away. Bob was still on active duty, at least while the kids were young. 

But soon, Bob had decided to retire from the Navy, reaching the rank of Commander. He could stay home with the kids while Mal took jobs farther away. Besides, with all her traveling, she and Bob could treat their family with fun trips for little to no cost. 

Hell, one time they made a road trip out of it, driving across the county, stopping at many places along the way. 

As the kids entered high school, Malina had approached Mari with a proposition. 

A shared photography studio. 

They had talked about it after Mari had graduated, but Mal wanted the girl to make a name for herself in her own way. Mari wasn't the type of person to piggyback off another's success. So she made her way through the field, using Mal as a resource and reference from time to time. 

With their combined talent and great connections, the studio launched to a successful start, clients lined up for months. 

By the time Mari's own children started high school, the duo had taken on a few employees, who they had mentored while in college. 

But the fun didn't stop there. As it turned out, having the sets of twins doing basically everything together growing up had created some unbreakable bonds. 

One of Jake's daughters had begun to date Bob's son. 

There had been bets since the day everyone found out about the twins, so not many were particularly surprised by the development. 

In fact, the only one who had any sort of reservation was Jake himself. And that was only because it was his little girl. He wasn't ready to accept she was dating. 

(Even if both Reyna and Mari had told him that Bob and Mal's son was the best option because they knew him.) 

And as it turns out, Reyna and Jake's other daughter decided to follow in her father's footsteps and join the Navy. 

Except, she took on the role of Uncle Bob. She liked the WSO position and the technical side of flying. Jake could only be proud of what his daughters were accomplishing. 

The bonds of friendship and family run strong, something all of these individuals had come to realize. 

And they couldn't ask for anything better than the family they had found. One they all needed the moment they got it. 

✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈ 

Word count: 725

I thought a little look into the future would be fun. I'll be honest, I really didn't feel like creating names for all the kids, so if things are confusing, please tell me and I'll try to clarify. 

This is also the last time any photos will be present, so I once again thank you all for allowing me to share my photography with you all. ❤️

See you soon for the next bonus Chapter. Hint: it's our favorite little karate loving family's turn!! 

Buy guys!!