Pain and Love Comes in Many Forms

Chapter Fifty Three

Airplanes still made me antsy.

Even when we flew to Japan and Australia, I had a hard time sitting still.

I guess Jack was able to tell full well, pulling the bar between our seats up, and pulling me to him.

And he did that for every flight.

So I always felt safe.

That's unimportant anyways.

"A beach house?"

He shrugged casually, "I bought this a couple years back before we met again. It's a private beach, in the off season, so there's no one around."

I turned to face him, and he captured my lips as soon as I did, the two of us walking towards his beach house.

The air was hot around us, and my back hit the front door. He just fumbled with the keys, just barely pulling away from me, wanting not to break the contact we created.

The door unlocked with a satisfying click as we moved into the house, my legs hitting something right away, sending us spiraling onto the couch.

We parted, just hanging over each other, lazily locking gazes.

"Why hello there," I joked, hooking my legs around his waist.

"Hello to you too."

"We should probably order some dinner and go shopping tomorrow."

He shrugged, "Yeah, that would be smart."

We pulled ourselves off the couch and Jack went to order some pizza. While he did, I pulled out my laptop to FaceTime the kids.

A couple rings and-

"You are definitely a parent," Heather sighed.

"I can't help it. How are the kids?"

"Wide awake, waiting to talk to you and Jack."

"I already miss them," I gushed.

"Is that dad!!!?!???" I heard Mark shout and heard two little sets of feet bound towards us. Our wonderful 12 year old and 6 year old dressed in Dottie pajamas, holding stuffed animals and just excitedly looking at the screen.

They bounded to where Heather was and plopped themselves onto the ground in front of her laptop.

"Hey kids." I smiled gleefully.

"Daddy!" Lily squealed.

"I miss you guys."

"We miss you two!" They said together.

A felt happy looking at them, "you enjoying your stay at Heather's and Ian's?" Heather had babies now too, so she must feel a tad overwhelmed.

"Yeah! Their daughter is so cute!" Mark exclaimed happily.

"Ellie has taken quite the shine to these two and your bratty cat, and it seems her feelings are returned." Heather explained, looking to the side, as Ian walked in with little Ellie.

"I'm gonna put her to bed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." They shared a goodnight kiss and Ian left.

"Daddy and Papa do that too!" Lilly said warmly.

"I would assume so," Heather laughed softly. "You've got amazing parents after all."

I smiled at her, then at the kids. My heart felt so full with them around.

"Are you having fun?" Heather asked me.

"We just got here. Jack is ordering pizza."

"I just ordered it. We've got twenty minutes to kill." Jack said, leaning over the couch and then getting up and hopping over.

"Papa!" The two exclaimed once more.

"You guys should be mindful of little Ellie," I said, warningly.

They nodded and smiled at us. Such sweet kids.

"Soon we'll be back, so don't worry. For now, just enjoy your time with Heather."

"We'll be waiting!"

Heather got up, "I think it's time to say goodnight. He'll call again tomorrow."

"Awww!!!"

Such sweet kids, "Goodnight you two. And goodnight Heather, "

"Goodnight Daddy! Goodnight papa!"

"Goodnight you two." Heather said softly.

"Goodnight."

The call was cut off and Jack and I were left smiling tenderly at the screen.

"Kids. Who would've thought we'd have kids?" Jack laughed.

"I hardly thought we would end up together, let along get married. Kids? I never thought about it, now I wouldn't change it for the world."

"I can agree."

We sat there, laying against each other. We took in the silence of the room, hearing waves roar in the distance.

This was peace. True peace.

"You wanna take Heather up on her surrogate offer?" I asked, glancing at him, "she mentioned how she was being completely serious at the wedding."

Jack shrugged, "I don't know. How would Mark and Lily feel? They might feel like we're replacing them."

"I don't think that's the real reason you're saying no."

"I-" he sighed, "I just, I want us both to have a say in this, I want our kid to be that, our kid."

"Jack, you know that's impossible."

"I know! But, I can't help but feel that way."

"Jack," I put my hand over his, and he closed his eyes in thought.

He let out another sigh after a few minutes passed, "who do we want to be that father?"

"It's twins. The eggs she took out to be fertilized are destined to be twins. Fraternal."

"So the kids will look like me or a bit like you or you?" He asked.

"Heather's mom and dad both, in combination, look like me. Her genes are carriers for mine. at least the whole physical attributes."

"Oh-"

"Heather doesn't skimp on details."

Jack chuckled, "she doesn't seem to be the type to."

"So, what do you think."

"I think having heather be a surrogate is a great idea."

"Our family will be even bigger!"

"Mark is going to be in college by the time they get to kindergarten."

"There's an age gap between me and my brother and you and your sister. Your point?"

"Fair enough."

The doorbell rang to interrupt us and Jack went up to get it, seeing as he already had his wallet out. I followed and we opened the door to greet the pizza delivery man/women.

"I have a Pizza here for Mr. King?"

"That would be me." Jack said as he took the pizza, handing it to me.

The delivery boy apparently recognized the two of us, "I thought it was Queen?"

"He took my last name. So now it's Mr. and Mr. King," I explained.

The boy nodded, unfazed, "congratulations then. Honeymoon?"

"Yup."

"Alright, then I'll be on my way. That will be seven fifty."

"Here ya go," jack paid for the pizza and the delivery boy left as we went to the couch and set the pizza down, turning on the tv. We opened the box and let our peaceful honeymoon begin.