"Now, lets talk about your marriage." Broots sat down next to the couple.

"Dad, I don't know why everyone is against this. We are over 21."

"I know. I think we are more worried about how you are going to live and pay the bills."

"Don't worry." Debbie faced her father.

"It's my job to worry."

"It's not that I'm against it. Like your father, I'm concern about the same things." Charles commented.

"Charles, I think we should stay out of it." Margaret told him.

"Margaret, he's our son too."

"I know but what did we have when started our life together. We made it just fine."

"Oh yeah, looking over our shoulder all the time."

"Well, now they don't have to. Thanks to Jarod and Melissa. They are already starting out better than us."

Broots turned back to his daughter. "Okay, answer some questions for me. Where are you going to live and work? A place to live will have bills."

Debbie looked over at Parker and Jarod who was standing off to themselves.

"You see they can live in the small house behind ours. We aren't using it." Parker spoke up.

Broots faced Parker. "I don't think the two of you should be helping them out all the time."

"We aren't. Debbie has a job at Legacy and Jay too if he wants it. If not, he knows he has to work somewhere. The house is empty and needs a little work but they can stay there."

"Oh, I see you have been discussing this already." Broots turned backed to the couple on the couch.

Debbie shook her head yes.

"I hope they are going to pay you rent. They shouldn't live there for free."

"Don't worry. We have everything under control." Jarod added.

"It sounds like it. I have one more question. How long you known about this?" Broots looked back at the couple standing.

"The night they got married." Parker answered.

"And you didn't tell anyone!" He began to shout.

"We were told not to." Jarod tried to calm him down.

"I told you we shouldn't have told them." Debbie stood and her and Jay stormed out.

Broots was going after them when Parker stopped him.

"Leave them alone."

"Melissa, I want to know when you are going to stop spoiling her and let her grow up."

Parker took a deep breath when Jarod stood between them.

"Okay, listen. What is done is done. There is nothing you can do about it. I think you both should accept it and let it go."

"That's easy for you to say they are not your children." Broots commented.

"No but I feel like Debbie is my daughter. I have watched my wife with her and Jay *is* my brother."

"Guys, Jarod is right. Let them grow up together." Margaret said as she took a hold of Charles' hand.

"Simone, you have been quiet. Do you have something you would like to say?" Charles asked.

Broots turned to face his wife. "I think that Margaret, Melissa, and Jarod are right."

"What?" Broots' jaw dropped.

"I can't help it. We were scared to death when we got married and we planned it all out. I think we should all support them. Broots, you can't keep shielding her from everything. She is over 21 and we are going to start a family too."

"She's right." Parker agreed.

"I know. It's just hard. She is my little girl and we have only had each other for so long."

Debbie walked back in the house. "I forgot something."

"Debbie wait." Broots touched her arm. "Can we talk?"

"I think we have talked enough."

"Then can I tell you that I'm sorry. It's just you mean a lot to me. You're my baby girl. I love you."

"I love you too, daddy." She embraced him. "I'm sorry too. We should have told you sooner."

"Congratulations." They hugged and made up.

"Same to you and Simone. By the way, you could have told me before tonight." She placed her hands on her hips.

"Don't start." Parker grabbed the girl and hugged her. Debbie smiled.

Charles looked down at his watch. "It's getting late. I think we should go."

"Us too." Broots helped his wife off the couch.

"I guess you are going to stay the night with your wife." Charles turned to the boy.

"If they don't mind." He nodded his head toward his older brother.

"We don't mind. They have been staying here...."

Parker placed her finger over Jarod's lips. "Shh."

The four adults looked at him.

"I mean, no we don't mind." He smiled.

They said there good byes and everyone headed in their different directions as they too got ready for bed.

******

Parker rolled over and watched Jarod as he climbed into bed.

"It went better than I thought." She snuggled closer to him when he laid down."

"Yeah. It did but I have to agree with Broots on one thing."

"What?"

"You do spoil Debbie."

"And you don't."

"Not as much as you." He hugged her when she placed her head on his chest.

"Jarod, I don't know if you have noticed or not but we have a daughter that is growing up fast."

"Who?"

"Catherine, silly."

"Oh."

"Well, good night." She kissed his lips.

"Good night."

"Merry Christmas." She added as her eyes began to close.

"Merry Christmas to you too." He turned the light off. "By the way, remind me to lock Catherine in her room from now on."

Parker gave him a punch as she settled in closer to him and fell asleep.

The End!