Mistakes We Made (Wattys2016)

Epilogue

Three years later

Emma's POV

"Dad!" My five year old son called out as he down stairs.

"John, I told you he went to pick up your birthday cake." I reminded him from our living room where I was sitting on the couch folding clothes.

"Chocolate, right?" He grinned at me.

"Of course... Are you sure you wanna have your party today? You don't want to stay 4 for a little while longer?" I teased him. He vigorously shook his head no.

"But I need you stay my little baby forever." I pouted.

"Mom." He whined, "You're having a baby. You don't need me to be one."

"I will always need you to be my baby." I informed his as he plopped down on the couch next to me. He placed his little hands on my round stomach.

"When will he be here?"

"Your dad? Probably in another 30 minutes or so."

John shook his head, "No, Mom. My brother."

"It could be a sister." I reminded him gently. I didn't want him to get his hopes up.

"It's gonna be a boy." He told me, "and I'm gonna call him Jace."

"You are?"

"Yes, Jace Michael." John spoke matter of fact, "Like my other dad."

"Your middle name is Michael, the baby needs his own." I rubbed my belly absentmindedly, praying for a little boy for my son and husband.

"Hmm.. I guess you can pick his middle name." John consented, I bite back a smile. He was really getting into this baby stuff. He was going to be an amazing big brother.

"I'll think about it and get back to you." I assured him.

"John Michael McCauley, where are you?" Mrs. Melissa hollered as she stepped through the front door. John ran to greet her. She had came over to help me set up for the birthday party.

"I'm right here, Nana!" He exclaimed as he jumped into her arms. I stood up and went to help her with her bags.

"Did you buy the entire section of party stuff?" I teased as I grabbed a few of the plastic bags. She did this every year on his birthday, she went overboard with decorations and gifts. We tried to tell her that she was doing too much, but she simply ignored us. John was her first grandchild, she said it was her right to spoil him.

"I left all the girl stuff." She shot back, I couldn't help but laugh. The three of us got to work hanging streamers and blowing up balloons. John helped put table cloths on the tables and lay out the stacks of plates and cups, while his grandmother and I worked on putting out food.

"Em, I'm home." My husband called out when he stepped inside. I was standing on a chair in front of the living room doorway, draping more streamer, he quickly rushed over to me. "What in the world are you doing? You could fall."

"Relax, Kade. I'm fine." I rolled my eyes as I climbed down. He gently kissed my lips.

"How's my man doing?" He asked as he rubbed my stomach.

"It could be a girl." I told him.

"We need another boy before we have a girl." He grinned at me.

"John told me that he wants to name the baby Jace."

Kade raised his eyebrows in surprise, "He did?" I nodded.

"What do you think, if it is a boy, Jace Alexander McCauley."

"I think its perfect Em." My darling husband wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing me once more.

"Y'all are making me gag, please stop." Rae interrupted the moment as she pretended to be sick all over my hardwood floor.

"Hey Rae... and Garrett." I said, adding the last part when I saw her boyfriend standing behind her. That's right, Rae had re-entered into the world of dating. Her and Garrett had been going strong for almost two years. She didn't know this, but he planning on proposing to her on their anniversary in a few weeks.

"Hey Em." He grinned at me.

"Glad you could come." I gave him a hug.

"We wouldn't miss our boy's birthday." He assured me. Like Kade, the news of John's biological parents had shocked Garrett, but he had handled it well. He told her that he was proud of how she handled

We had begun explaining to John that Rae was his birth mommy and that Jace had been his father, but Kade and I were his mommy and daddy as well. He didn't understand at first, but he was slowly wrapping his head around it. He knew that we all loved him and that was what was important.

"How is my niece doing?" Rae patted my protruding abdomen.

"Nephew." Kade corrected her over his shoulder as he and Garrett made their way toward the kitchen, probably to sneak a beer in before all of the party guests arrived.

"Have y'all decided on her name yet?" Rae rolled her eyes at him.

"We decided on Jesslyn if it's a girl and Jace if it's a boy." I spoke quietly trying to gauge her reaction for the second name. Her expression softened.

"I think another Jace is just what this family needs." She gave me a smile.

"Thank you Rae." I hugged my best friend tightly. She squeezed me back, she understood that I wasn't just thanking her for approving of the name. I was thanking her for giving me John, for going to Kade three years before and fixing things with me and him and for being such an amazing friend.

When we stopped hugging, I noticed the tears in her eyes, "Hard to believe that five years ago today we welcomed that little boy into this world. Seems like just yesterday..."

"Now look at us, I'm about to have another one." I gave her a sad smile.

"Crazy isn't it? Did you ever think we'd end up like this?" She asked.

"Never." I replied honestly.

"Rae! You're here!" John came running down the stairs, most days I would fuss at him. He knew better than to run inside but since it was his birthday, I decided to let it go.

"Of course I'm here. I never miss your birthday." She picked him up and exclaimed, "Oh my goodness, you're getting so big!"

"Duh Rae, I'm five today."

She laughed, "You sure are. Your present is out in Uncle Garrett's truck, why don't you go get it and I'll let you open it before everyone gets here." She winked at him as she placed him back on the ground. He, of course, ran towards the door.

Right before he went out, he turned back and hugged us both, "You guys are the best moms ever. I'm glad you're both mine." Then he took off once again.

A/N Mistakes We Made is officially over. This story really means a lot to me, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you so much for sticking by it until the end. I'm really sad to see it end, but I feel like I did the characters justice.

Feel free to comment and vote! Feedback is always welcome. If you have any questions that weren't answered in the story, feel free to ask me, I try to respond to all the comments.

- Lauren.

PS. There is now a prequel posted on my profile that is told is Jace's Point of view so please check it out!