** 17 years later **

Grace's P.O.V

~1986~

Today is Bryleigh and Jake's 12th birthday party. Ashton and I are helping Felicia and Luke plan for our kids birthday party. Felicia's oldest son, William, who's only two years older is helping also. Bryleigh and Jake are out with Brock and Carrie. Mary Lou and Marco won't be able to make it since they left the state five years ago.

"Honey, did you get the chips?" Felicia asks her husband. Luke runs into the kitchen. He runs back with a family bag of chips. She smiles at him and gives him a quick kiss on the lips. "Ew gross." William, their son, says in disgust. Felicia laughs at her sons reaction. She pucker up her lips to her son, "Oh come here." He runs into the house.

We laugh at the two. I rub my belly. Baby number two. We're have a boy. Ashton is excited about. His first son. I'm seven months in. I can feel him moving. It makes my heart so happy.

~~~~

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday day dear Bryleigh and Jake. Happy birthday to you." We all sing. Bryleigh and Jake blew out their candles. We all cheer and clap. We hand them their gifts.

I look over at Felicia and Luke. They're looking at me also. We got them Michael Jackson tickets. He's coming to New Orleans in a couple of months. They're a huge fan of his. I put my eyes back on the kids.

They open the envelope. They read and then screamed. They look at each other and hugged. They get off of their seats and ran to us. Bryleigh hugs Ashton and I. She looks up at me with tears in her eyes, "Thanks mom and dad. This means a lot."

I bring her close to me, "Anything for you. Now go thank Nanny Felicia and Padon Luke." She wipes the tears off her cheeks. She walks over to her godparents. Jake runs to Ashton and I and gives us a warm hug, "Thank you. I love you guys." I give his cheek a kiss, "Anything for my godchild."

All of our kids and their friends dance around to the music we have playing. The adults are sitting around the picnic table. Carrie is holding her baby girl. Amelia Gracie Duhon. She's so precious. She has her fathers hair and her mother's eyes.

She plays with my finger. I tickle her and she laughs. "She's so cute." I tell Carrie. She smiles over at me, "Thank you. You didn't do so bad yourself." She motions towards Bryleigh. I smile at my daughter. She has my skin tone. She has the same hair as Ashton. Long and curly. She has my eyes. But her eyes are more light brown than dark.

"Yeah. I sure did. I'm really excited about this one." I point to my belly. She laughs, "I think we're all are." I bump her shoulder with mine. Tom and Shelby's son and daughter run up to them. They're focus on their kids.

"Mom, Jacob hit me." Their daughter, Emily, tells them. Jacob chimes in, "No I didn't. She ran into my hand." I cackle. Shelby and Tom look at me with amused smiles on their lips. They look at their kids, "Jacob apologize to your sister." Jacob rolls his eyes, "Sorry little sis." Emily smiles at her older brother, "I forgive you." She hugs him.

His once upset face expression is now smiling. He gives his sister a quick hug. "Come on. Let's go get Bryleigh and Jake." He implies to his little sister. "Yeah." She giggles and follows her brother. We laugh at the two.

Ashton wraps his arm around my waist. He pulls me close to him. I rest my head on his shoulder. I look at the scene in front of me. All of our kids playing with each other. Bryleigh is on William's back as Jake is on Isaiah's back. Their friends are laughing at the four. I look around me.

I never would've thought I would have this strong of a friendship with anybody else. Luke and Felicia are smiling at their kids, Tom and Shelby are laughing at theirs, Brock and Carrie are watching their son and admiring their baby girl.

I look up at my husband, who is smiling at our daughter. I smile up at him. Even at the age of 37 he's never looked so good. I give his cheek a kiss. He looks down at me, "What was that for?" I smile up at him, "Because I love you." He dips down and places a kiss on my forehead, "I love you, too."

I move closer to him as we watch the kids have fun with their friends. Ever since Mr. Marshal was killed, everything got better for us. We still had stares but nobody threatened us like Mr. Marshal. Tom and his father got closer. Mr. Schlesinger is in jail for murder of a black man. He's been in there for almost fifteen years.

Shelby, Felicia, and Brock got closer ever since they became parents. They're bond is stronger than ever. Mary Lou and Marco has to move because of his new job. I miss them dearly but they do come and visit when they can. Mary Lou still doesn't have a kid. But they're working on it. I look at the people I call family. I've never been so happy.

The End.