His sisters, so beautiful in their matching dresses, stood next to their brother. He'd gotten every detail right.

As I continued walking it all hit me. I was about to marry the man of my dreams, the father of my unborn child. With shaking hands I reached out and found his. In his eyes were happy tears, as I continued to fight my own.

"Hey, darlin'. I'm glad you could make it. I was sweatin' bullets for a while."

"I can't believe you did this for me."

"I did this for us. I knew you wanted everyone to be here, and so with a little help I made it happen."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Everyone got quiet as soon as the music stopped playing. The pastor from our church came out of the audience and stood before us. In the next fifteen minutes we recited our vows to each other, promising love, faithfulness, and a lifetime of being together. I never took my eyes off of Noah, and neither did he with mine.

We exchanged rings that we'd bought a year before, but never been able to use.

Then we kissed, and it wasn't like those kisses that you see in the movies. It was long, messy, and probably way too erotic for the poor pastor's eyes, not that we paid any attention. This was the happiest moment of my life.

I'd had a number one hit single, and not felt this kind of euphoria. There was only one thing missing that could make it even better.

After pronouncing us man and wife, and everyone watching our seductive kiss unfold I took the microphone with one hand, and held on tight to my husband with the other. "Thank you all for this. I'll never be able to say how grateful I am to all of you. I love you, and I'm happy to be a Mitchell. Now, before we get this party started, I have something I want to give to Noah and all of you for Christmas. You see, I've had a secret for a while now," I heard his mother gasp, because she must have already guessed it. "Noah," I looked him right in those gorgeous green eyes. "You're going to be a daddy."

The pastor leaned forward. "It must have been from all that kissing."

Noah laughed, but I felt embarrassed, only for a second, until the whole family came up to congratulate us.

It was surreal. Every intimate detail of our perfect wedding was absolutely remarkable. He'd even convinced my agent and managers to come out on Christmas Eve to celebrate. They'd all kept it a secret from me.

It took us a long time before we could be alone. The sun had set, and the night sky full of stars shined down over us. The music was loud inside of the barn, but all I could hear was my own beating heart. "I don't know what to say to this."

"Were you pregnant this whole time? Since Thanksgiving?"

I worried that he'd be mad, but nodded anyway. I didn't want our marriage starting out with a lie before the reception ended. "Please don't be mad. I needed to wait until I had everything in order."

"In order?"

"Noah, I canceled the tour. I'm goin' to still write and record, but I'm getting out of my contract. I love to sing, and perform, but not as much as I love being with you. This baby helped me see that. It's time I learned how to be a wife, and how to cook, because clearly we can't keep eating at your parents every night."

He chuckled and leaned forward to kiss me. "I don't think my mom would mind."

"So you're not mad?"

"Shalan, not only did you marry me, but you've just given me the best present a man could ask for. I ain't mad."

"Merry Christmas, Noah."

"Merry Christmas, darlin."

Chapter 10.

Noah Waking up on Christmas day next to my wife was a gift in itself. Placing my hand on her stomach and knowing that a part of me was growing inside of her was a blessing. I'd never in my life felt happier, and I knew we had so much to be thankful for.

It was a Mitchell family tradition to have pancakes at my Gram's house. After cuddling half the morning away, we got up and dressed to see the family. For once I didn't care about opening gifts or watching football with the guys. All I wanted to do was crawl back in bed with my wife and talk about everything that life had in store for us.

Breakfast was chaotic, although I think Shalan enjoyed that about our family. Her smile lit up the room, and everyone was so busy talking about the baby that I hardly got a word in edgewise.

I couldn't stop looking at her, wondering if our child would have her features or mine. As long as he or she was healthy I'd be okay, and even if something was wrong, I knew we'd do whatever that child needed.

This was what my father wanted me to see about staying on the ranch. It was this kind of fulfillment that I couldn't get anywhere else.

I looked around the room at my family.

My sister Christian was in love. It was hard to imagine what she'd been through not so long ago. Addison, our youngest sibling had enrolled in art classes, and had also been clean for almost three months. She had a long road ahead of her, but we'd help her.

Bells and Rusty were already talking about having another child. My only regret was that they lived so far away.

Even my aunts and uncles, and all of my cousins seemed to be enthralled with contentment, with the exception of Jake. He stood in the corner alone, with a plate in his hand. I couldn't understand why he was so bitter, but knew he clearly needed to get something off of his chest.

I pulled him outside where no one else could hear us. "Dude, what's up with you?"

"You promise you won't say anything to my brother? I mean it, Noah. This stays between us. No pranks or jokes. This is for real."

I held out my hand. "It's Christmas. You have my word, Jake. Did you do something wrong? Are you in trouble."

He looked down at the ground, and I could tell this was serious. "It's about my brother, well indirectly. You know that girl he brought; the chick, Reese, that he says is the one?"

I nodded. "Does she have a kid? Is she married or somethin?" It was obvious he had a problem with her, and clearly it would have to be something Jax didn't know.

"I'm in love with her." He looked right into my eyes after he'd said it. "I'm tryin' real hard to keep my distance, but it's not helping. How am I supposed to watch them together when I want it to be me?"

I didn't know how to answer. "Jesus, Jake. I don't know. He's your brother. You can't . . . It's not like you don't have to see him. You two do everything together. You've got to figure this out. It can't come between you. No matter what."

Jake nodded. "I think I just needed to tell someone. I'll be alright. I'll keep being a dick so she hates me. It's the only way. I'd never intentionally hurt Jax. You know that."

"Yeah, I know, cuz. It'll be okay. You'll get past it." I didn't know if that was the truth, but I had to at least make him feel better. My cousin was in love with his twin brother's girl. He clearly wasn't having a good Christmas.

Once I went back inside I found my bride talking to my Gram, and my other grandmother. They were all smiles as they discussed me as a small boy. Shalan was glowing. I winked to let her know I was watching. She blew me a kiss, making me wish we were back in that bed.

Later on, when we were heading back to our house, I pulled her close to me. "We haven't talked about honeymoons. Is there any place you'd like to go?"

She pointed to the woods in the direction of our house. "I'd like to be locked up in a large cabin for the next few weeks. Do you think we could arrange that, Mr. Mitchell?"

"Oh yeah, I think we can, Mrs. Mitchell."

The End.

Merry Christmas from the Mitchell-Healy's and have a very Happy New Year.

Look For Jake's Book In January 2015.

Chapter 1.

I'd only just dropped my books on the bed, and my roommate was knocking on my door. Love the girl and all, but her habit of not letting me get through the door before she was rattling shit off in that New Jersey accent was not going to be a selling point when she started looking for a new roommate next year. When I graduated in the spring, that was one thing I definitely would not miss.

"Hey, London. Trent called me." She swung on the molding of the door into my room, then fell back on my bed. My books bounced around, and one fell on the floor.

"Dammit, Lola. What did he want?" Clearly annoyed, I picked the book up off the floor.

"He was looking for you. Said he was worried because you haven't been answering your phone or his texts all day. I think it's sweet that your twin brother worries about you like that." She twirled a piece of hair around her finger mindlessly. "Do you two have that weird twin connection? Like if you were hurt he'd feel it too? He would know if you needed help or something, right?" she asked, staring at the ceiling. Another selling point . . . she's fucking weird, but in that 'it grows on you' sort of way.

"Not really. It's more like a bat signal. We shine our special lights in the northern sky and hope the other is just sitting around star-gazing to see it," I answered animatedly with a cheesy fake smile, then topped it off with the grand finale of resting bitch face.

"Jesus, you need some Dr. Phil in your life," she said as she sat up and leaned back on her elbows. "So how come you're ignoring Trent's calls?"

"I wasn't ignoring him, Lola. It's because this happened." I reached in my pocket, pulled out my shattered, dinged-up cell phone, and tossed it on her stomach.

"Holy shit, London, what the hell happened to your smart phone?" She held it up and gave a quick laugh as she examined it.

"It's a cell phone," I pointed out. I don't care if you can navigate the Kardashians to another planet with the damn thing . . . it's a cell phone. I refuse to call it a smart phone.

"Anyhow, you should call him back. He's worried." She stood and put the crushed phone on my desk next to my book, then handed me her own phone from her back pocket.

"Thanks." I smiled.

"No problem. You want brinner?" she asked. Brinner was when you had breakfast for dinner.

"Yes, brinner would be great."

"Yesss. Brinner bitches fo' life, yo." She pointed at me then slammed her fist on her chest twice with a mock sadness, before going out.

We'd had brinner a lot over the years. I'd definitely miss that. She was an amazing cook.

I picked up her phone and called Trent back.

He answered on the first ring. "Lola?"

"No, it's me."

"London. Where the hell have you been?" he asked, all pissyish. "I've been trying you all day."

"Hello sister. Hello brother. So nice of you to call me on this lovely day. I tried earlier, but alas, you did not answer . . ." I teased him with the mock conversation we should have had. "I have a life outside of answering your calls. I know it isn't the glamorous life of Trent Parker Skye, star center for UMD, but it's mine."

He ignored me and went right into the next question. "Why are you calling from Lola's phone?"

"I was leaving the lecture hall and dropped my phone while I was going down the steps. Someone stepped on it before I could pick it up. So, I'm using Lola's. Anything else? Did you have more questions about me and my whereabouts for your survey?" I laughed.

"I'll be there at nine a.m. London. Nine. Please don't make us late. There's a storm coming in and I want to make it back home before it hits. My two front tires need replacing. Oh and pack light, last minute change of plans. I have a friend coming along. He'd be spending the holidays here at school otherwise, so I invited him."

"Does Mom know?" I asked with a bit of caution.

"Yes, London, Mom knows," he said with a mischievous snicker.

"Trent, I'm not giving up my bed," I told him.

He gave a chuckle. "Of course not, Princess."

"Trent, I'm dead serious. Don't bring home any more head caseslike Hannah, who thought she and I were BFFs just because you two were doing it. Bitch took over my room, puked in my bed, and borrowed my favorite sweatshirt . . . then she mailed it back in five hundred pieces because you broke up with her. And don't even get me started about when she knocked over Grandma's ashes and blamed Tuna . . ."

"Don't worry London, I'm not. See you in the a.m." He hung up.

As I went to go give Lola her phone back, I got a whiff of waffles and heard Beyonce blasting from the kitchen. She was singing and pouring the waffle batter into the maker when she noticed me.

"Turn that down." She nodded her head back in the direction of the iPod dock. I did as she asked, then put her phone on the counter.

"Thanks for the phone." I hopped up on the stool and sat on the opposite side of where she was cooking.

"All good?" She closed the waffle maker, and wiped her hands on the towel.

"Eh," I muttered, less than enthusiastic, my face leaned against my hand and my cheek mushed up into my eye. "He'll be here at nine, and I have to pack light because he's bringing a friend home."

Lola's eyes widened, and she smiled. Oh no. Here it comes.

"A hot friend?"

Yep, nosy, nosy. "Oh, yeah, for sure." I sat up straight and smiled. "My brother said he's an absolute dreamboat." I rolled my eyes and laughed, and Lola joined me.

"I can't even with you. Dreamboat? London, you're a mess." She turned her attention back to the waffle maker. She knew I wouldn't be talking men with her. I never talked about dating or guys or anything to do with romanceI couldn't afford any distractions. Trent was getting a full ride on a hockey scholarship at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. I was going to the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, and I had no such luck in the scholarship department. The thing about Minnesota is, everyone is smart. Like smart, smart. So, unlike so many other places, you needed a sport to get you a scholarship, because being exceptional academically didn't cut it. You needed to one-up 'embrains and a talent. So I'd be buried in schoolwork for the next four years, at least. My parents could've helped out, especially with Trent having a free ride, but after my mom's second bout with breast cancer two years ago, it left the money tree a bit bare. And nobody would be going broke on my account. I survived on ramen noodles and the condiment bar down at the cafeteria. They had a mean mustard packet, that's for sure. I knew I'd be okay thoughmy parents wouldn't allow me to starve.

"Honestly, though, it's your last year . . . why not be a Ho Ho Ho this holiday season? Maybe Deck a Ball or two." She winked and blew me a kiss seductively, and I threw the roll of duct tape that was sitting in front of me at her.

"Oh yeah. Can't wait. What's worse than obnoxious frat guys? Obnoxious hockey players, that's what."

"But at least the frat guys have all their teeth," she joked.

"So you say," I laughed. "Besides, having sex in my parents' house isn't really on my list of top ten things to do in my lifetime."