Growing Love

15

The house has never looked so bright. Val and the girls had been placing lights on every corner of the house. A huge Christmas tree sat at the center on the entrance hall, and a smaller one in the guest living room. That's were all the presents are at.

"Abigail! Don't run with Nick!" I watched as Jennie and James' cousin was playing with Nick. We told everyone to invite their family. Since this was also their home too. So we have all sorts of different family and friends here. I decided to head outside with the guys to play football.

"Oh hell yeah! I call cousin Carter!" Before I knew it, I was being pulled from one side to the other.

"Screw that! You already got my cousin Marcus! Carter is with us!" I looked to the others for help, but they just laughed. Including my husband, who was on my cousin Josh's team. Oh, he is gonna get it.

"I'll be on Jack's team for now, then I'll switch." They agreed, and then we started the game. Let the games begin.
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Marcus

We all watched as Carter and Ethan played like pros. They wouldn't let anyone get passed, and no one dared to try. I was so busy laughing at Freddy, who got knocked down by my cousin Chris, that I almost didn't notice a pale looking Izzy.

"Hey! I'm out for right now!" I switched with Jenny's cousin Evon, and went to follow Izzy. I caught her just before she fell. "Hey, you okay?"

"Marcus. Y-yeah, I'm good." The quiver in her voice, and the tears in her eyes said different. I took her hand, and lead her to an empty sitting room.

"Izzy, you forget I used to be a girl. I can still pick up on these things." Sometimes I even forget myself. It's been so long since I've thought about it. I handed her a tissue, and waited until she was calm enough to speak.

"I, um. Lately I've been feeling sick, and I thought maybe it was the flue. So a few days ago, I went and bought some medicine. I looked at the label, cause you know, safety first. Anyway. When I read the label, it said pregnant women shouldn't take it. So I started thinking back to when I had my last period, and I realized I was late. So I started freaking the fuck out! So I bought a pregnancy test, but I thought maybe I did something wrong. So I bought four more, and, well." At this point the tears were freely coming out, and she was shaking. I did the only thing that I thought would calm her down. I pulled her into a hug, and she cried into my chest. "Marcus, I don't know what I'm gonna do. I'm so scared." I pulled back, and sat her up straight. I wiped under her eyes, and smiled.

"Let me ask you something. What are you more scared of? Freddy being mad? Or the fact that you are gonna become a mom at a young age?" She wiped her nose, and shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know? Both? We've only been dating a few months! My sisters dead beat ex boyfriend left her and her son, and they were dating for years. What proof do I have that Freddy won't leave me after I tell him." I gently smacked her head, and looked at her. She gave me a small pout as she rubbed her head.

"Isabella, listen to me. Freddy is an amazing guy, and one of the few people I consider a brother. I may not have known him long, but he hasn't proven to be anything other than a great guy. You see how he is with people who aren't his family. Think how he'll be once he has his own." That seemed to calm her down. After giving her time to relax, we joined the others. Mickey finally arrived, and James was so cute being all overprotective. He made sure that Mickey was comfortable at all times, and that he didn't go without anything.

"J-J-James, I'm o-o-okay. G-g-go have fun." His stuttering wasn't as bad, but it was still adorable when James would make him blush. I went to find Jenny, and smiled at the sight of her with our family. Our parents managed to make it, so she was currently with her mom and mine. I looked to Ethan, and he seemed to understand what I wanted. He went and turned the music off. He ignored the boos, and called for everyone to come outside. Once everyone was outside, I took Jenny by the hand, and towards the huge Christmas tree Val also had out here by the house. I am not joking, we needed a lift to put the star at the top.

"Babe? What's wrong?" She noticed that everyone was staring at us, but my eyes were only on her. Her short dark hair, has grown longer. Her hazel eyes look more green, and her smiles looks a million times more lovely. I love this crazy woman so damn much.

"Jennifer." That caught her full attention, since I rarely call her by her given name. "For six years, you have been by my side. You were there as I made my final transition from girl to guy, and you never judged me. You even beat up a few people who tried to make fun of me." She and everyone laughed at the memory. "Remember when you asked me what I wanted this year for Christmas? And I said I had what I wanted? Well, that was half true. Since meeting you, I feel like I've gotten the best gift of all. Six years ago, I asked you to be my girlfriend. That was one of the most important questions I had to ask you. Now, I want to ask you one more important question." I got on one knee, and I swear I have never seen her speechless. The sight would be amusing if I didn't feel like I would pass out at any second. "Jennifer Esperanza Evans. Will you grant my last Christmas wish, and become my wife?"

"Yes! Hell yes!" I couldn't stop my tears. I placed the ring I have been saving for for years on her slender fingers, and pulled her to me. But her small self tackled me down while she kissed me. But that was by far the best kiss I have ever had. I guess some Christmas wishes really do come true.