Teach Me How To Love Again

Chapter Eighteen

A/N: Hello again! This chapter is new, but I will warn you that there isn't a ton of J&J in this one. It's a short chapter, but the next one focuses heavily on them so rest assured.

Chapter Eighteen

"Joe," Jill whined as he kissed her neck. "I have to go back to my room. The kids will be up any minute, which means everyone else will be, too."

"Rule follower," he retorted, snaking his hands around to open up her robe. "Don't you want your Christmas gift early?"

She giggled and caught his hands. "No, I'm leaving."

"Mmm, yeah, I can see you're making an effort to go," he joked, knowing that she hadn't moved at all.

"I'm going now," she promised before a small moan escaped her lips when his hand moved to her breasts.

Before he could fully convince her that staying in bed with him was a far better idea than heading to her cold, empty bed, they heard gasps and excited squeals.

They frantically met Beau and Hunter in the hallway, Jill affixing her robe tightly around her waist.

Joe pulled his camera off of his dresser and began snapping photos immediately as the boys and their cousins oohed and awed over their presents.

Jill laughed as Hunter stumbled down the stairs, far too precocious of a child to be left behind by his older brother.

Valerie shot them a knowing look across the coffee table. It was the same one Joe's mother gave Jill when she appeared in his kitchen half-clothed. A look mixed with disapproval and amusement, signaling that she had the upper hand and was not afraid to use it against her big brother.

Jill delighted in witnessing the exchange of gifts among everyone. Joe, in particular, caught her attention as he turned towards her and said, "This one is for you."

Inside the box, there were various items: an oversized medallion in gold - one that she'd been admiring in a shop for over a month - a lavish sweater, and an album. She felt a lump in her throat as she unveiled the vinyl. It was The Miracles' "Going to a Go-Go", and the third track held a significant memory for them- it was the first song they had danced to at Janet's party over a year ago. As her fingertips traced the title of the song, she took a moment to reflect on how much had changed in their lives since then, she couldn't help but think about the unpredictable journey their relationship had taken.

With a smile on her face, she leaned in and kissed him.

"My turn," she whispered, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes, as she tenderly placed her own box in his hands. She watched with anticipation as he pulled out each individual item. A set of luxurious cologne that he would never purchase himself, a few books she'd picked out for him to read, and a small square gift wrapped individually. He opened it and beheld a brown leather wallet, elegantly engraved with a heartfelt Irish blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

"How did you come up with this?" he inquired, gazing at the wallet in awe.

"When you lent me your book of Irish poems, I discovered a piece of paper with the blessing written on it," she acknowledged. "I assumed it resonated with you. I found it beautiful, as I had never heard it before."