Broken {Completed}

Epilogue (Family Reunion)

"Jen, you're doing great baby. Just breathe," Shannon said trying to soothe me, but right now I wanted to slap him for causing me so much pain again.

"You're almost there Mrs. Leto. One more big push!" Emeri said with excitement.

I inhaled deeply before pushing with all of my strength, and soon high pitched cries filled the room. The cries of my sweet baby.

"Congratulations! It's a girl!"

"Baby you did you it!" Shannon kissed me softly and patted my hair down.

Antonio, Nat, Gunnar, and Feo came out from behind the curtain as Emeri placed my baby in my hands. Gunnar looked down at his little sister and a large grin spread across his face.

"She's so beautiful," he said kneeling beside the bed. "And she looks a lot like you."

I could tell he was already awe stricken, and it made my heart leap with joy. At first I thought it was going to be a hard transition for him, but surprisingly it didn't take any time at all. "Do you want to hold her?" I asked.

Gunnar looked at me in shock, but quickly nodded. He gently took her from me and cradled her to his chest. We all watched as Gunnar bonded with his sister.

"So I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking this, but what are you going to name her?" Antonio asked softly.

"I don't know. Jen and I thought we'd leave that up to Gunnar." Shannon said squeezing his mother's hand that was placed on his shoulder.

"You want me to name her?" Gunnar looked down at the small spirit in his hands in deep thought.

"What are you thinking?" Feo asked wrapping an arm around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. I can't believe that she was only a few months behind me in her pregnancy, and with boy no less.

"Astrid."

• • • •

Six years later

"Astrid! Guess who's here!" I called upstairs, and immediately heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet bounding down the stairs.

"Garret!" Astrid cried running to her nephew, but more like her brother or cousin I guess. Whenever Garret came around the two of them were thick as thieves.

"Hey mom!" Gunnar entered the house and hugged me tightly followed by Feo.

"Hi mom." Her hug was longer and I felt something was going on.

"Is everything okay?" I whispered pulling her away just a little.

She nodded. "I'm fine."

"Uncle Jared is here!"

"Please don't have candy. Please don't have candy. Please don't have candy," I muttered.

"Who wants candy?"

I grunted as I turned to look at Jared with large candy bars in his hands. "Could you not?"

"Seriously," Feo agreed.

"I want nothing but the best for my niece and nephew."

"Well right now you're giving them cavities," Shannon said entering the room with an aluminum pan of grilled foods.

"Come on, what's childhood without cavities?"

"A good one," Shannon, Feo, and I said in unison.

"Hey dad." Gunnar turned from playing with the kids and hugged Shannon.

"Hey kido. How are you?"

"I'm great! I-"

"Daddy?" Garret tugged on Gunnar's hand and looked up at him through his thick lashes.

"What is it, Garret?"

Garret looked down at the chocolate bar that was almost the size of his head and back up to his father. Gunnar looked toward Feo who had her back turned helping Shannon with dinner.

"Just a small piece." Gunnar took the chocolate bar and broke off a small piece handing it to Garret, but I don't think he realized that Feo had turned around and was now furious.

"Busted," I spoke just as the doorbell rang. I went to open it and saw Emeri and Nat standing at the door. "Come on in! You know you don't have to knock."

"Thanks Jen." Emeri hugged me, and then Nat followed.

"Where's Toni?" I asked.

"He's out in the car. It's a really important phone call," Nat responded.

I smiled as I looked at my family. What started with Gunnar and I grew into a family of nine very beautiful very distinctive souls, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We all sat in the living room preparing to play a game when Antonio finally walked in. He looked fatigued, but he smiled and greeted everyone. "Now where's the birthday girl?"

"I'm right here uncle Toni!" Astrid ran into his arms hugging him tightly. "What did you get me?" She asked excitedly.

"You'll have to wait and see, but I told you I would make up for missing your last birthday."

"Good lord," Shannon mumbled. Between Jared and Antonio Astrid was spoiled to the core giving her any and everything she wanted. "Well lunch is ready, and we can get started."

"Great! I'm starving!" Feo said grabbing a plate, and Emeri wasn't far behind her.

"Astrid do you want me to fix your plate?" I asked.

"No I want uncle Toni to do it."

"Well let's go princess!" Toni took Astrid's hand and helped her fix her plate. I watched as everyone gathered around the table. This was my beautiful, strange yet wonderful family. At times we may struggle, but we always pull through for each other.