*LOVE CONQUER'S ALL* (Criss Angel Story)

*THIRTY*

Criss was indeed the perfect daddy...always feeding, burping, changing, and staying up with her at all hours...and said it was his turn to take care of our baby...beens I was there for Johnny and he wasn't...I knew he was doing a lot of it out of personal guilt, but I told him it wasn't his fault...that I tried to find him, but he just wasn't reachable...but he was there for all of us now...and that's all that mattered...but time flew by with her it seemed...because before we knew it she was taking her first baby steps...which I had to admit took her long enough...for I remember Johnny took his first steps a lot sooner than Amber...and that Johnny's first word was kwytn...which we all knew what he was trying to say...uncle Klayton...which I had to admit I was a little jealous of...for I was hoping one of my kids would say mommy first...but Amber's first word was da...

But it was so cute anyways...but her first whole word was bubby...which is what she called Johnny, that made him a very proud big brother...she was always cooing and giggling...clinging to her bunny that Johnny gave her...for it was her favorite toy as well...and when Rachel and Klayton brought Kiefer over for a playdate...Johnny was always watching both of them making sure they didn't do anything to get hurt on...for he said he was a big boy and needed to look after them...and he did a good job of it...we all were just so relieved when the doctors kept giving us the good news when it was time for Johnny's appointments...that he was still just fine with no signs of the cancer coming back...Criss decided to throw a party for his little man...for his accomplishments in winning his battle...and all he needed was just a couple more years and he would be completely cancer free.

It was during that party that my parents decided to grace us with their presence...and they both sincerely apologized to Criss and I both...for the way they acted towards us both all those years...and really apologized to Johnny...but he didn't show much interest in them...for they never been a part of his life...he didn't know them...but he was all over his uncles, aunts and his grammy...Criss and I both decided to accept their apology and let them stick around. Johnny was playing with all the kids in his family in the sandbox...along with Oso, Chicklet, and Wondermutt...Criss and Klayton were cooking on the grill...while Rachel, Dani, Lynn and I were swimming around in the pool...along with Sully, Jd, and Costa. Dimitra was in the sandbox playing with all her grandkids.

We all shared a lovely family reunion and a nice cookout...with fresh watermelon for dessert...after the eating was over Criss decided he was hot and took a wild dive in the pool and made a tidal wave flow over me...I screamed at him...but when he reached me I forgot why I was angry with him...he was just too damn adorable to stay mad at...Johnny wanted to join us so Criss swam over to him and held him as he swam out to me...Johnny was good at swimming but he just tired out very quickly, so Criss stayed close to him...Amber was too busy playing with her feet in the sandbox to care about the water...Klayton splashed in next to pester his wife and dunk her a few times...for he was awnery when it came to water play...he tried to dunk me...but I just held Johnny and sicked Criss on him...and the water war was on!!...but unfortunately for Klayton Criss was just a little bit better in the water than he was...and won with flying colors.

Klayton eased off but refused to admit defeat...and went to Rachel so she could kiss his battle wounds...Criss helped Johnny out of the pool and Jd was standing close by with his towel to dry him off...then he went back over to be with his little sister and his grammy. Criss swam back over to me wanting to play with me...but instead I just pulled him to me and told him to hold me...for the summer and the cool water was making me sleepy...my parents watched at how close I was still to Criss, and remembered the first time they ever saw Crisstopher...with all his goth on and his exotic creepiness...but I loved him...then as they saw how much we were still in love with one another...and realized that everything they did...was all for nothing for Criss and I knew we would end up together anyway...and we did.

Criss was kissing on my neck and down my chest a little before making his way back up to my cheek and lips...I squeezed him tightly and told him how much I loved and adored him...he gave me that same smile I fell in love with from the moment I first met him...as he told me he loved me so much more...and that his love for me would never die...then he gently pulled me to the edge of the pool and jumped out then helped me out and carried me into the house...ignoring all of our guests and family for the moment...my parents were about to follow us in...but Costa and Klayton told them to leave us alone...that we were in one of our moments.

Criss carried me all the way upstairs into the bedroom...and laid me on the bed where we made the sweetest love ever...and afterward I just laid there and played in his stringy hair...as he slept lightly...a few hours later he woke up but buried his head under me and said no...when I asked him if he wanted to go back down to the party...I giggled at him and said it wasn't very hospitable of us to leave the reunion so early...he gave me a little grumble and said I was his party...and he wasn't in the mood to share...I kissed him and managed to talk him into going back down with me...for I added that it wouldn't be long and they would all be leaving anyway.

Criss smiled at that thought and said then we could go back upstairs...which they did, a few hours after we came back outside...the family and friends slowly dispersed for tomorrow was another work day...Costa took mama D home, Jd took Lynn and Dimi home...for she had practice tomorrow. Klayton and Rachel walked back home down the block with their little boy Kiefer...Dc and Dani, kissed us goodbye and took little Destiny back to the hotel along with our parents for he brought them along this time...and as Criss and I cleaned up the backyard from all the partying...we both watched as Johnny was walking hand in hand with Amber helping her to the house...because it was her bedtime, and she was very sleepy.

Criss and I tossed all the trash in the dumpster, then headed into the house followed by our dogs...with Hammie bringing up the tail end of the line...we both went into the bedroom and saw Johnny and Amber sleeping together in his bed instead of in her toddler bed...Wondermutt went in the room and jumped on the foot of Johnny's bed...for that's where he always slept...Oso preferred being on the foot of our bed...and Chicklet she preferred to be by herself under the bed on my side...Criss held my hand all the way in our bedroom, where we jumped into our pj's and crawled in together and as he turned out the lights...he stated that after all, we been through in life...that it's proved to him yet again that Love Conquers All...then we kissed each other and told each other that we loved each other...and goodnight.

                                                                             *THE END*