Melanie and Chris got the kids settled in before Chris left to go and get the pizza they'd ordered. While he was gone, Melanie called her attorney's office. Since it was a Saturday she wasn't expecting anyone to be in and her hunch  was correct. After leaving a detailed message she began to unpack and sort laundry. Melanie shook her head ruefully, laundry was the bane of every mother's existence and here she was gladly doing it, if for no other reason than the joy of knowing her kids were safe and home with her.  After that chore was started, Melanie joined the kids in the living room as they watched the Disney channel

"Honey, I'm home!" Chris shouted as he came in carrying the pizzas. Melanie couldn't help but laugh at him. Jessica and Thomas  jumped and scrambled to the table. Working side by side, Chris put the pizza slices on their plates while Melanie served everyone their drinks.

"So guys," Melanie began smiling at her children setting her slice of pizza down, "Chris and I need to talk to you about something."

Jessica smiled and said, "Are you going to finally tell us why Chris is a fancy man?"

Chris almost choked as he tried not to laugh. Melanie was glad that she set her pizza aside as her laughter sounded in the room.

"The word is fiancée actually and yes Bug, we are." Melanie began. "I know that these past few years have been different for us since Daddy decided to leave and I know that we've all been hurt by Daddy as he's made some bad choices."

"Is that why we was arrested with Daddy last night?" Jessica interrupted.

"You weren't arrested Bug," Melanie began only to be cut off by Thomas.

"Yeah we were," he replied frowning. "Well they didn't cuff us and they did  let me play with the lights but we had to sit in the back of the police car." Thomas frowned even more. "It smelled like dirty socks in there."  Melanie offered a small smile to her son. That was a position she never wanted to hear of her children being in again.

"The point is guys," Melanie started bringing the conversation back around, "Daddy has made some bad choices. It's not that he doesn't love you anymore, he's just, well, he's thinking differently. But if it weren't for Daddy's choices we wouldn't have met Chris."

"And we love Chris," Thomas said grinning.

"Yeah Mama we love Chris," Jessica interjected, "even you love Chris."

Melanie smiled at Chris over the children. "You're right I do, but what makes you say that?"

"Cause," Jessica said. "When Chris comes over you don't cry at night anymore. And since you started to play face hockey you smile and laugh more."  Melanie's cheeks flared at Jessica's word choice but Chris threw his head back in laughter.

"It's called kissing, Bug, not face hockey what else is this Becky teaching you in school?" Melanie began, but Chris held his hand up, laughter dancing in his eyes.

"The point is guys," Chris interjected bringing the kids attention to him. "I love your mom with my whole heart, but I love you both too, very much. That's why I want to marry your mom, and if it's okay with you be your stepdad."

"What's a stepdad do?" Thomas asked frowning slightly.

"Well," Melanie began, holding Thomas hand,  "they do what Chris does now. They play with you, help you with school, and take care of  you and mommy. They are just like your a real daddy, but they are the daddy that you and mommy choose. Chris would do everything he does now, the only change is that mommy and Chris would be getting married so Chris would live with us all the time instead of just coming over to visit."

"Oh!" Jessica said, "you're getting married. That's cool. Lexi in class has a stepdad named Danny cause her mommy just got married. She said she doesn't call him Danny anymore but she calls him Pops. She says he's really nice but his feet stinks really bad after work." 

"Will your feet stink really bad after work when you marry Mama, Chris?"  Thomas asked.

Melanie and Chris were both trying to not laugh at the children's logic.

"I don't know Bud, maybe. But I promise to take a shower if they do, okay," Chris replied and satisfied Thomas just nodded his head and picked up his pizza.

"Mama, if Chris lives here after you get married, where will he sleep?  We don't have anymore bedrooms." Jessica questioned.

"Well," Melanie said a soft smile on her face. "Chris will sleep with me in my bed.  It wouldn't be my bedroom anymore, we would share it."

"Oh," Jessica nodded, "like you and Daddy used to and like Daddy does with Sara now."

"Yes," Melanie answered. She glanced at Chris and smiled.

"So guys," Chris began, "Is it okay with you if I marry your mom, live with you guys, and be your stepdad?"

"Do we have to call you Pops?" Thomas asked.

"No," Chris smiled at him, "You can still call me Chris."

"Okay, I don't like the name Pops."  Thomas replied.

"You can marry Mama, Chris," Jessica said. "Me and Thomas love you and always have fun with you. Right, Thomas?" She asked looking at her brother. Thomas nodded and went back to eating his pizza.

"Thanks guys,"Chris smiled. "I love you guys very much and will do everything I can to make you happy."  With his words, Melanie's heart melted. He really was an amazing man.

"So," Jessica said smiling at her mom and Chris. "When are we getting married?"

"I'm not sure yet," Melanie answered. "There are still somethings that Chris and I need to talk about. And we still need to meet his family."

"That's right," Chris said. "I have a brother and a sister so y'all are getting a new aunt and uncle. Plus you'll get to meet my Mom. My brothers kids call her Nana."

"What's an uncle?" Thomas asked.

"It's what you call your parents brother." Melanie explained. "You know that my Mom and Died died before Jessica was born and that I was an only child. But Chris has a brother and a sister so they will be your new aunt and uncle."

"And," Chris continued, "their kids will be your cousins."

"We get cousins!" Jessica exclaimed grinning. "Mattie in class has 16 cousins. He said they are lots of fun to play with."

"Yes, you'll get cousins, three so far," Chris said smiling.

"Okay," Jessica said. "Mom can we go play outside?"

"Sure guys, put your dishes in the sink and go. Just stay in the backyard where I can see you." Melanie smiled. That conversation had gone a lot better than expected.

"So," Melanie began, clearing her and Chris' dishes.  "That went well,"

"Yeah. It took all my will power to not cry in laughter when Thomas asked if my feet would stink," Chris replied wrapping his arms around Melanie as she loaded the dishwasher. He pecked her neck causing a light moan to escape, he knew it was her sweet spot.

"Chris, stop that. The kids are right outside," Melanie grinned swatting him on the arm.

"I just can't help it. I am your fancy man after all!" Chris replied laughing and backing away.  Then he continued. "You know I have almost three weeks of vacation saved up. Why don't we take a few days around spring break and go to Georgia so y'all can meet my family. We can make it a mini vacation and hit Wild Adventures while we are there too."

"Sounds good to me," Melanie replied closing the dishwasher and turning it on. "The kids  would love that.  Now," she turned to Chris, "I want to talk to you about somethings."

Chris nodded. He knew Melanie was a planner and an organizer. That was one reason she was an amazing teacher. He had peeked at her lesson plan book and was amazed at how neat and organized everything was, she even had it color coded, just like the family calendar she had on the refrigerator. He also knew after Jessica asked about the wedding her mind would start to go into overdrive. He was honestly surprised she had done the dishes before bringing the subject up.

Settling on the couch, Chris turned to Melanie and waited for her to begin.

"I've been thinking," she finally said after a few moments. "I really don't want the big fancy wedding again. I've been there and done that and look how it turned out. But I also realize how selfish that is. You've never been married and I don't want to take that away from you. I also don't want you to feel like you've got to move in here with us. I mean, this was the house that I lived in with David, and I don't want you to feel like it's haunted by his memories or something. You're too important to me and,"

Chris leaned over and kissed her quickly cutting her off.

"Melanie, I'd marry you tomorrow at the county courthouse with you dressed in a garbage bag. I don't care about big and fancy. The wedding is just a day it's the marriage that counts. I just want to be married to you. I also don't care that David lived here. He hasn't been here in what, a year and a half almost two years? His memory isn't here for me, but ours will be. Mel," Chris said pulling Melanie into his lap. "I want what you want. So, what do you want?"

Chris smiled, she didn't have to hesitate with her answer at all. "I want a small wedding on the beach, maybe only 30 people. I want everyone to be totally relaxed, no one dressed up. Everyone can wear shirts and shorts, that kind of relaxed. I want us all barefoot in the sand enjoying the sunshine. I want to carry the same bouquet you sent me, the white lilies and red roses. I want Jessica and Thomas to stand up with us." She paused glancing up at him and seeing his smile she continued "And I want to buy a new bedroom set, from furniture to curtains so there is no questions as to who's room we are sleeping in."

Chris kissed her throughly. "Sounds perfect to me. When does school get out?"

Melanie frowned a little. "Tuesday, June third is the students last day. Teachers last day is that Friday, June sixth. Why?"

Chris grinned. "So that makes the next Saturday June 14th right?"

"Yeah I think so," Melanie replied. "I don't have my day planner here. What are you thinking?"

"I think that Saturday, June 14, 2017 is the perfect day for a beach wedding complete with lilies, roses, and toes in the sand, and you in a light green dress, don't you?"

"A light green dress?" Melanie questioned. "Why light green?"

Chris smiled down at her. "To match your eyes, Mel," he replied with a shrug.

Melanie grinned and leaned over to kiss him soundly. "Sounds perfect to me!" she smiled.

"Now, as far as the bedroom, I don't remember what it looks like," Chris said grinning as he placed Melanie on the floor. "I think you'd better show me what we have to work with and we will go from there."

"Chris," Melanie blushed, "the kids can come in at any minute and."

"They need to get used to a locked door and knocking anyway." he finished for her grinning as he shut the bedroom door and turned the lock. "Now, I'm going to make love to my fiancée in what will be my new room." Chris grinned bending down to throughly kiss Melanie. With that one kiss all her protests flew out the window. Luckily for them, the kids left them alone since they were too busy
playing happily outside none the wiser as to what the adults in the house were doing.

Later that night after a rousing game of Chutes and Ladders, which Thomas won, Chris decided to introduce Melanie and the kids to his mom. The children laughed at her antics as she tried to answer the FaceTime feature with her son. Everyone giggled as she complained about Chris being too high tech for her own liking. They all knew she was teasing since Chris had shared he talked to his family via FaceTime at least once a week.

Mary Beth, Chris' mom, was beyond thrilled when he announced their engagement. She squealed and jumped up and down with happy tears streaming down her cheeks. She was even more excited when Thomas said that Chris would be their new dad named Chris, not Pops. His sweet words melted not only Mary Beth's heart but Melanie's as well. After promising they would be visiting the next month at Spring Break and that Chris would now include Melanie and the children in their weekly chats, they rung off.

After putting the kids to bed, Melanie and Chris snuggled into the couch with the TV playing lightly in the background.

"Your mom seems really nice and maybe a little excited." Melanie said with a large smile after a few minutes.

"Oh she is," Chris said grinning. "I wouldn't be surprised if she was out getting groceries and toys to get ready for our visit. If I know her, and I do," he continued his smile growing, "when we get there next month the kids will have new toys and she will have the playroom outfitted with prints that have their names on it. She did that when each of her grandkids were born."

Melanie laughed. "She sounds like the perfect doting Southern Granny." At that she sobered. "Do you think she'll like me? Does it bother her that I've been married and have the kids?"

"Mel," Chris said bringing her into his arms. He loved that she was smaller than he was and could tuck so easily into his chest. "She adores you and the children already. You don't think I call home to talk about work do you?" Melanie shook her head slightly and tilted up to look at Chris. "She loves you and the kids already. Don't forget Mel, she's been in your shoes. My dad left us for his boss' wife. She knows how it is."

Melanie nodded watching Chris closely. She knew his dad was a sore subject for him. After walking out on his mom he all but gave up his children and moved across the country. Melanie knew that he would talk to his dad, but it was usually only around Christmas and his birthday.

"Do you miss him?" Melanie whispered watching Chris for his reaction.

"Sometimes," Chris answered honestly. "I hated graduating from college and med school and only getting a card from him. But I'm not bitter. I heard he's a better dad to his other two kids so I guess that's all that matters."

Melanie nodded and just snuggled closer to Chris' side. They were content just sitting together for the moment. Their weekend away hadn't turned out as planned at all and they needed the quietness of the night. Chris had turned his attention to the crime drama on TV and thought Melanie was as into it as he was until He noticed just how totally relaxed she was. Glancing down he saw that she was sound asleep. Smiling, he picked her up and carried her to bed. Then he went out locked up the house and decided to join her, grinning as he thought about this being the first of many nights they would spend in this room together.