Randy felt Stacy step behind her, her arms going carefully around Randy’s waist. “What are you thinking about?” Stacy asked as she kissed the back of Randy’s neck, which sent goose bumps down her spine.
“I was thinking about what it would be like to come home every night, knowing that someone was waiting for me. What it would be like to belong somewhere, have a family.” Randy said quietly as she gazed out over the back yard.
Stacy hugged her from behind. “You can have all that if you want it, but only you can make that decision on whether that’s really want you want or not.” She said as she laid her cheek against Randy’s back.
Randy didn’t answer her, but neither one of them moved, lost in their own thoughts. So much so, that neither of them heard Shawn and Rebecca enter the house with the twins.
Rebecca entered the open area, catching the two of them out of the corner of her eye and motioned for Shawn to stop. Shawn looked at her with a questioning look until she followed her gaze and saw her sister standing with her arms around Randy’s waist, hugging her from behind. She smiled at Rebecca and then backed up a few steps with Rebecca so that they could make some noise, announcing their arrival.
“Hello, anybody here?” Shawn called out grinning at Rebecca.
This time when they stepped into the open, Shawn was dumbfounded to see that neither one of them had moved. She glanced at Rebecca.
“Earth to Stacy and Randy! Anybody home?” Rebecca laughed.
Stacy gave Randy a quick squeeze, kissed her shoulder blade and stepped back from her. “I’m pretty sure you’re aware we are indeed here.” Stacy grinned at Rebecca.
Rebecca laughed. “Okay, you busted us. We just didn’t want to intrude.” She said smiling.
Randy turned from looking out at the back yard and Stacy reached for her hand. “You aren’t intruding. We were just taking a moment while Jackson was asleep.” Stacy grinned as they headed towards the living room. “Now hurry up because I want to see my adorable niece and nephew!”
Stacy knelt down by the car seats on the floor and unbuckled Bella, carefully picking her up. She handed her gently to Randy. “You hold gorgeous here and I’m going to get stud muffin out of his seat.” Stacy grinned as she handed the little girl to Randy.
Randy looked down at the tiny baby. She looked like a slightly fairer skinned version of her mother. “She is absolutely gorgeous. I love all of her dark hair. Oh and look her little mouth looks like she’s pouting!” She softly touched the baby’s hair.
Stacy looked up at Randy as she settled Brady in the crook of her arm. “That pouty face she gets from Shawn for sure.”
Shawn stuck her tongue out at Stacy. “Look who’s talking. I remember you pouting constantly as a little kid because you didn’t get your way.”
Randy smiled, enjoying the easy banter between the siblings. As Stacy and Shawn continued to go back and forth, she felt eyes on her and looked up to see Rebecca watching her.
Rebecca winked and asked “So what do you think about her? Do you want kids of your own?”
Randy shifted self-consciously. “I guess I haven’t really thought about it much. She is beautiful though.”
She was saved from any further questions by the arrival of Sam, Jenna and baby Jace. After all the hugging was done, they settled in the living room passing the babies around between them and were soon joined by Jackson who had wakened from his nap.
“Goodness, this is almost baby overload!” Shawn said laughing. “We look like we’ve started up a daycare!”
Sam grinned. “Actually, Jenna and I have some things to talk to you all about.” She laced her fingers through Jenna’s, as she sat between Sam’s legs in front of the couch.
“You are starting a daycare?” Shawn asked sarcastically.
Rebecca rolled her eyes at Shawn affectionately. “Shawn, you’d feel like an ass if she said yes. Quit being a pain!” She said with a smile on her face.
“Sorry, my dear. Go ahead Sam.” Shawn said winking back at Rebecca.
Sam looked around the group. “It’s been a bit of a rough year for some of us. But I think that things are looking up. We have each other and our family is growing by leaps and bounds. We’ve been blessed that Bella and Brady were born healthy and that Jace has come into our lives. Shawn and I have been blessed to also have our baby sister back in our lives and to be able to get to know her again. Because of that, we now have a new member of our family. Randy, whether you like it or not, you are now stuck with us.” She smiled at Stacy, who took Randy’s hand in hers.
Jenna giggled “Can I finish what you’re trying to tell them?”
“Absolutely!” Sam laughed.
“We have two pieces of news that we want to share with all of you but we’ve been waiting until the time was right.” Jenna said watching everyone’s expressions. “First of all, the more recent news is that Sam asked me to marry her and I said hell yes!” She used her thumb to roll her diamond around on her finger so it was showing.
“Oh, my, God, let me see that ring! It’s gorgeous! I’m so happy for you two!” Rebecca said as she held Jenna’s hand, admiring the ring. She glanced up at Sam’s face and winked, knowing this was what Sam meant when she had said she was going to make things official.
Shawn reached out and pinched Sam’s arm. “When did this happen and why are we just now hearing about it?”
“Oww! Jackass! That hurt!” She reached out and grabbed Shawn’s finger, bending it back. “Say you’re sorry!”
A frown appeared on Shawn’s face. “Damnit Sam, why do you always
