A Second Chance at love

Chapter 17 (HIS POV)

"The holidays came so quickly this year" I thought as we geared up for our final show before the Christmas/New Year's break.

We all talked about the show, and what we were doing for the holidays- I couldn't wait to head for home once we finished up backstage after the show to see Emma and Chrissie-- although by the time we got things wrapped up and we all went our separate ways, by the time I got home they'd already be asleep.

The show was awesome, and the crowd was really into it.

Chrissie was in Florida with Katie and Emma was at my mom's, so the house was empty when I arrived home just after 11:30pm. I took advantage of it and got a good night's sleep

After picking Emma up the next morning she and I spent the next few days having all kinds of father-daughter fun. The morning of the 23rd was horribly cold and light snow was falling as I bundled Emma up to drop her off at my mom's, as I wanted to surprise Chrissie by picking her up at the airport-though with the weather the way it was I was thinking she might just turn around and go right back to Florida.

She was definitely surprised to see me when they came outside. Once we were back in my truck I let it warm up and we headed to get Emma.

Christmas was amazing!--well, all except the nasty phone call from her mental case of a mother. Santa was very good to all of us this year. As soon as my mom got wind of Chrissie's mother's behavior, she told us we needed to get a restraining order. Jordan even offered to watch Emma the 27th for us while we went to get it.

For the record, there is absolutely, positively, a snowball's chance in hell that her mother will take Emma from us or break us up. Chrissie and Emma are my world and I will do everything I can to keep them safe and keep my family together- and that is a DAMN promise!

Chrissie agrees that we need to get a restraining order as well.

For Christmas, I decided that Chrissie and Emma had shared a room long enough, so my brothers(except for Jordan) and I moved Chrissie's stuff into my room and I turned Emma's room into a nursery(they helped move furniture so I wouldn't spend Christmas in traction) that could easily convert to a little girl's room when she gets older.

I was nervous all through Christmas dinner as I couldn't wait to get Chrissie home to show her.

To say Chrissie was shocked was an understatement and I really thought I had screwed things up when she found out where her things were.

At first she thought I wanted her to leave and she started to cry.

I gently wiped her tears away with my thumb and told her "nothing could be further from the truth-in fact I really don't want you and Emma to move out at all." I said "the two of you are my whole world."

"I just thought that the time was right for us to start sleeping in the same room- that is, if it doesn't make you uncomfortable." I added. I also assured her that this wasn't same lame attempt to get her into bed, and that I would be a perfect gentleman.

Sensing she was upset I got mad at myself and flopped down on the bed. "dammit! I know I screwed up-I should have asked you first!!" I muttered. "I just thought it would make things easier since we like to talk at night before bed and because I remember what it was like to hold you in my arms as we'd drift off to sleep, and I miss that."

Chrissie sat down next to me assured me I had done nothing wrong, and that she was more stunned and surprised than angry, but, that she was ready to take that next step and share my room with me.

Before I could react, she added, "Although, it makes my Christmas gift to you seem rather small and worthless."

She turned so she was facing me and said, "I have been doing a lot of thinking and soul searching lately and decided to finally tell you how I feel about us and our relationship."

I was very nervous at this point, as she took a deep breath and said, " I Love You Jon and I think somewhere deep inside, I always have."

I gently pulled her close to me and wrapped my arms around her as I said " I've wanted to tell you this for awhile now, but, I didn't want to scare you away or make you uncomfortable." I said softly- "I never stopped loving you, I Love You too." as my lips captured hers in a very passionate kiss . she returned the kiss as my hand gently brushed her hair from her face.

We gave each other privacy as we got ready for bed, and it was definitely strange to watch her climb in to bed next to me, but it just felt right.

I gently pulled her close and said softly "Merry Christmas Chrissie. I could see her beautiful brown eyes sparkling as I reached up to turn off the light "Merry Christmas Jon" she whispered as we shared another kiss.

It didn't take long for us to drift off to sleep in each others arms.