:: Emma’s POV ::

“Noah, come on bud… we’re gonna be late!”

I heard the pitter patter of his little feet coming from upstairs as I checked the time on my cell phone. 3:37pm. I suddenly felt the anxiety that was coming with the events that were set to take place around four o’ clock. Meeting JJ’s parents.

JJ had asked Noah and me to come over for dinner and to meet his mother and father who were in town to catch his game on Sunday. A game they would be attending with Noah and me. I really hoped they liked us, or me I should say. I don’t know anyone that couldn’t love Noah; he was certainly a charmer with that adorable little smile and his respectful manners. I was so proud. As the mother of a little boy I knew the feeling of not wanting to think about another woman in his life. I know it sounds silly, and of course I would want Noah to grow up and find a wonderful woman; but there’s a bond between mother and son that just cannot be explained. Very much like the bond a father shares with his daughter, I’m sure most of us girls can relate to an over protective father that we’re scared to introduce our boyfriends to for the first time.

“Did you get what you needed?” I looked at Noah as he skipped down the stairs, his Buzz Lightyear clutched to his chest.

“Yup!” He gave me a proud nod as he hopped off the last stair, “Did you get our cookies we made?”

“I sure did.” I held up the cookie tin I had placed the cookies in once they had cooled.

I smiled at him as I rustled his hair, ushering him towards the doorway. I locked the door before pulling it shut behind me. I helped Noah get into my Tahoe, making sure to get him buckled in and making sure our cookies had a safe place to rest while I drove. Normally I place things on my passenger seat but today I needed to play it safe, the last thing I needed was the cookies sliding off the seat and falling all over the floor of my car. I was being extra careful to make sure things went perfectly. Besides, Noah worked really hard on decorating those cookies, he’d be devastated.

I got myself into the car, got situated and backed out of my driveway. I turned on the radio station hoping the music would clear my mind momentarily. I don’t have any idea why but I always tend to over think about things. I knew I really had nothing to worry about but I would feel better once I could see JJ. He always seemed to have a calming affect over me in most stressful situations.

“Momma, how long till we’re at J’s?” Noah’s little voice came from behind me as I looked into my rearview to see his eyes.

“Just a little bit monkey. Maybe ten minutes. It won’t take long.”

Our music was interrupted by the ringing of my phone coming over the car speakers. I looked at my navi screen to see JJ’s name lighting up and hit the button to answer his call.

“Hey babe.” I pulled my sunglasses down over my eyes as the Houston sun decided to make an appearance this afternoon.

“Hey, you guys on the way?”

“Yes, we just left the house like 2 minutes ago. We should be there soon. Do you need to me to grab anything?”

“No. We’re good. Mom and dad hit the grocery store earlier while I was at practice. They’re just anxious to meet you guys, I thought I’d make sure you guys were okay.”

“You mean you wanted to make sure I wasn’t chickening out…” I laughed; I knew JJ knew I was anxious about this meeting.

His laugh came over the speakers of my car and I loved the way it sounded. It warmed my heart. He was so comforting and he didn’t even know it. That was the best part about it. He made me feel secure just by being him.

“I knew you wouldn’t chicken out babe. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t fussin too much. We’ve got everything we need over here, except you and my little man.”

“I’m comin JJ!” Noah’s little voice called out loud enough for JJ to hear him.

“Can’t wait to see you buddy. Tell mommy to hurry up, ok?”

Noah’s little giggle filled the car, “Okay!”

“We’ll be there in five. I’m just passing the plaza.”

“Okay baby, drive safe.”

“Will do.”

I had no control over the smile that spread across my face as the call with JJ disconnected. It was no secret that he was incredible but I loved the little family we were becoming. I couldn’t be more blessed.

It wasn’t long before I pulled up into JJ’s driveway. Those damn nerves starting to set in again as I took a deep breath and unbuckled my seat belt. I turned around to look at Noah, he was beaming in excitement just to see JJ, he was completely oblivious to the importance of this moment and I envied the safety that came with being a child.

“Remember to use your manners and to be polite, okay?” I always reminded him of this even though he had never let me down.

“Okay, mommy.”

I got out of the car and went around to the back to help Noah get unbuckled and then grabbed the cookie tin I had set on the ground, I’m happy to report that everything was still intact. Noah clutched my hand as we headed up the pathway to the front door. We hadn’t taken more than a couple steps before the door had opened and JJ walked out.

Noah immediately lit up and I had suddenly become chopped liver as he ran to JJ as fast as his little legs would let him. I loved to see my two boys together, nothing made me happier.

“Come on slow poke!” JJ called out to me, a smirk on his face and I laughed.

“You better be nice.” I teased right back as I finally reached the two of them.

JJ reached out for me, his hand resting on my hip as he pulled me into him. I looked up at him and gladly accepted the two soft kisses he laid on my lips. My eyes slowly reopened as he placed a kiss on my forehead before taking my hand in his and leading me and Noah inside.

“Are they here?”

I heard a curious woman’s voice coming from around the corner and JJ squeezed my hand as if he were trying to comfort me or reassure me that everything would be fine. It was merely seconds before I had come face to face with a petite blonde woman. I suddenly felt at ease the moment I saw the same kindness in her eyes that I saw in JJ’s.

“Oh my gosh!” She came closer to us, holding her arms out until she was close enough to pull me into an embrace; my worries were slowly melting away as I accepted her hug.

She broke our embrace as her hands still rested on my arms, I smiled at her as she looked at me then she looked up at JJ. He laughed at his mother’s obvious excitement.

“It is so nice to meet you Emma. I’m Connie. I have heard so so much about you…” She placed her hand on her chest as she looked from me then down to Noah, her eyes lit up even more, “You must be Noah?”

Noah nodded, a smile plastered on his face as he clutched onto JJ’s leg.

“It is so nice to meet you Noah; I have heard so many things about you.”

“Thank you.” Noah blurted out and we all laughed, he was shy.

We followed JJ and Connie into the house to meet JJ’s father. He was just as sweet as Connie was and I was suddenly at ease and looked forward to getting to know more about them as we enjoyed this evening together. I knew how much this meant to JJ and in turn it meant a lot to me. I felt honored he wanted me to have a good relationship with his parents, especially his mother.

……………………………………………………

:: JJ's POV ::

"I'm so happy for you..."

I looked over at my mother to see her smiling bigger than I think she ever has. It felt so good to know that she approved of Emma, not that I ever doubted she would. How could she not approve? Emma is incredible in every aspect of the word; there was no way to deny that.

Our eyes fell on Emma who held Noah on her lap, the two of them focused on stories my dad was telling. Judging by the way they were laughing I was willing to bet they were probably about me.

"Justin... she's just beautiful." My mom rested her hand on my arm as she enjoyed the same view I did.

My mother never called me Justin unless I was in trouble or she had something important to say. But, she was right. Emma was definitely beautiful. The way her eyes sparkled when she smiles or the way her nose crinkles when she laughs. I loved it. It was hard for anyone to not be happy around her.

"Have you told her?"

"Told her what?" I was confused at her sudden remark.

"That you're in love with her.”

"Ma..." I shook my head trying to avoid the topic for the moment.

"It's all over your face." She was not going change the topic, "I see the way you are with her, with Noah..."

"I haven't told her.”

"You better tell her before someone else does. I really like her JJ. She's good for you. You need to keep her around for awhile."

I laughed as I nodded in agreement with her. She was right; I needed to tell her before someone else did, before someone else had the chance to steal her heart.

"Should we join them?" My mom looked over at me and I gave her a nod.

We got up from our seats at the table and joined Emma, Noah and my dad for story time. My mom had taken the empty spot on Emma's left and I took the empty spot on her right, resting my left arm behind her on the back of the couch. My father seemed so happy to have Noah around; it was amazing how grandpa mode seemed to kick in naturally. I couldn't help but to think how lucky my kids would be to have him for a grandfather, after all he learned from the best; my grandpa.

"Your dad is tellin us some good stories." Emma smiled up at me as Noah had climbed onto my lap.

I looked from her to my dad and laughed, "I'm sure he's tellin you some good ones. I figured I needed to validate some of these.”

“Everything I told you is true!” My dad looked at Emma, “Honest.”

The room filled with laughter and everything about this moment felt so perfect. So right. I hoped that this was the way things were supposed to be, the way things were meant to be. I couldn’t have asked for a better fit for me than Emma.

“You tired bud?” Emma reached over and rubbed Noah’s leg.

He nodded his head that rested against my chest.

“You ready to go home?”

“No, I don’t want to go home.” Noah’s small voice was laced with sleepiness, “I want to stay with JJ.”

“Awww.” My mom crooned as she looked over at Emma, then at Noah and me, “That’s so sweet.”

Emma agreed, “These two are practically inseparable, I swear. I think I’m just here to babysit them.”

We all laughed at her comment. Noah and I are very close, that’s true; it helps that I’m a big kid at heart. I loved that I was able to be a mentor to him, to be some sort of father figure to him to help make up for the absence of the one that failed to be there. We had a bond and I really cherished that.

“Why don’t you guys stay?” I looked at Emma, “We can lay him down in the room down the hall from mine.”

Her eyes moved from a half sleeping Noah to mine, “Okay… if you’re sure.”

I nodded, I couldn’t be more sure. It had been days since we had spent a night together and truthfully I was craving her, not just sexually, but I craved her presence. I wanted to feel her next to me, to feel her in my arms, to smell the lingering scent of her florally shampoo on her hair and the sweet smell of the lotion that blanketed her skin making it feel like silk against my own. I couldn’t get enough of her, ever. I was in deep with her and she didn’t even know it.