"Oh my god I'm so excited! Aren't you excited!" Jorge said, speedily packing.

I laughed.

"Yes baby, I am." I said, kissing him on the forehead.

He laughed and grabbed his suit case, as I went to get mine. But I caught a glimpse out the window.

"Shit! Theo !Our taxi is here!" I said, and ran down the stairs. I heard his feet stomping down as well, and we threw our cases in the trunk and got in the bright yellow car.

He took a breath out, and lied his head on my shoulder.

I saw the taxi driver look at me though the mirror.

"To the airport , please," I said, and he nodded, putting the car into drive and starting down the road.

The plane was pretty nice, though I guess things advanced from the last time me and Theo went on a plane.

I managed to snag the window seat, since he always begs for it, but ends up terrified of the sight below him.

He was already fast asleep on my shoulder, but I was just so jittery and nervous.

What if my kids hate me?

What it they hate Theo ?

What if I get too nervous and fuck everything up,

But just as if he heard my thoughts aloud, his hand reached over mine, and squeezed firmly, silently telling me everything was going to be alright.

And so i closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let all of the stress and anxiety go.

I began to drift off to sleep, to the sound of people quietly chattering, and the sound of drinks being softly sipped.

—-

I woke up and we still had one remaining hour of our seven hour long trip.

I looked over to see jorge enjoying himself a bag of airplane peanuts

He looked over to me, and smiled a mouth full at me.

"Ew, you nasty,"

I said, look away from him, in semi-fake disgust.

He just laughed, But I was too entranced in thinking of my kids.

I wonder how Wendy is.

If she's got a boyfriend, or girlfriend

What she's into nowadays, and If she's liked any of the presents I've bought her

And if she's stuck with her childhood dreams of becoming a baker

Now tommy

He's a different story

As a kid he'd change his imaginary profession every few days

From a fire fighter, to police

From a writer, to and adventurer

I just hope he's as open to things now, but that he found something he truly loves

But if he hasn't, of course that's perfectly okay

I wonder if he's found love yet

And if he's needed a father figure

Or if he's been quite alright

I wonder if either of them have missed me at all

I guess my thoughts wondered off for longer then I had thought, as we were currently landing.

Me and Theo got our bags form the over head compartment and headed down the steps of the plane.

I was nervous to say the least, as I had researched at the library that where meradith lives is only a mere fifteen minutes from the airport.

"Max?," Theo asked, looking at me with a concerned look.

I guess he saw straight through me.

"Yes," I said, as calmly as I could make it.

"Why are you so nervous?" He asked, placing a hand on my leg.

"I- I-" I looked at him, tears starting to well up.

"I'm scared! What if they don't like me? What if they hate me for leaving? What if they grew up so much that they think I'm just- that I'm just some - some stupid guy?" I sputtered, the poor taxi driver easily tuning us out.

"Baby, you're their father. They're going to miss you when you leave just like they missed you when you were gone. They are going to scoop you up into one big great hug and hold on real tight." He said

His eyes were soft, and I started to calm down.

I sighed, and leant into his touch.

"You're a good father max. There's absolutely nothing for you to be nervous about." Theo said,

And I have to admit, that made me feel a lot better.

Just like that we had arrived at her house.

It was tall, a good basic New York styled house. There was flower pots hanging from a plant holder outside of the widows. It was nice.

We got out of the car, and Theo walked up the stairs first. I let him, since I was too afraid to knock.

But he did. And a tall, thin, straight blonde haired girl answered the door.

Honestly, I almost mistakenly took her for Meredith.

But I recognized her as Wendy.

"D-dad," she stuttered. We took a few moments to look each other in the eye. She had grown so much.

From chubby faced, rose cheek child, who wore only dresses with collars, styled by her mother.

Was now a tall, slim, makeup wearing, young adult.

She came forward and embraced me in a hug. I hugged her back, instantly.

She pulled back, and looked at Theo.

"Oh. My. God. You're, you're stunning," she said, and Jorge did a friendly spin for her. She just laughed and they started talking about something in fashion, hitting it off instantly, as if they had been friends for years.

I picked up my bag, as Theo had took his inside, and walked into the house.

It was wooden paneled, and had white painted walls with styled white trim around the top of the ceiling.

"Do you like it? Me and Sam did it ourselves." A voice sad, scaring me slightly.

I turned around and was met with Meredith. Her hair was in tight curls, pulled back and met with a braid. She had on bright red lipstick, and a dress with white polka dots.

I smiled.

"Yes actually, I love it. Maybe me and Jorge will do it to our house." I said. And she smiled.

"Oh get over here," she said, and took me in for a hug.

"So, dinner is ready and set out, you can go in there and I'll," she said, gesturing towards my suitcase and taking it ," take this," she said. I smiled and thanked her.

I walked into the living room, where I thought I saw Theo and Wendy disappear into, but instead I was met with a tall figure.

A tall, broad shouldered, brunette with a collard shirt and dark jeans on.

"Tommy?" I questioned. And he turned around.

He had freckles dotted all across his face, and a strong jawline.

"Dad!" He spoke, his voice a bit hoarse from emotions.

He came forward and hugged me, towering one or two inches over me. I hugged him tight. I missed my boy.

He pulled back.

"You somehow look exactly the same." He said, laughing slightly. I laughed with him.

"Really? I feel like every time I see myself I age twenty years," I said. He rolled his eyes, and lead me into the kitchen, where Theo and Wendy were.

It was nice. Me being with my husband, my daughter and son, and my best friend-

Where's Meredith?

I looked around, seeing no sight of her.

"Where did your mother disappear off to?" I asked, getting met with a series of shrugs, even from Theo. I swear he's a teenaged soul.

But then, I heard some footsteps, some whispering and then

"Max." Meredith said. I turned to look at her. She had a quite nervous smile on her face, but it looked like a happy nervous.

"There's someone I'd like you and The to meet. Sam!" She said, and out came a fair skinned, dark haired, green eyed Girl.

I instantly smiled, and glanced over at Theo, who was smiling too.

"This is Samantha," Meredith said, beaming like a light house," and she is my fiancé," she finished.

And from there we ate, my family all together.

We started arranging plans to see each other all again, but we mostly ate, and bantered.

I learned that Wendy, is a scholar in her school. And she is still in fact obsessed with becoming a baker, and that when she graduates from school, she has a guaranteed place In culinary school.

And she hasn't had a boyfriend yet, she says not that she hasn't had the chance, but that she's genuinely turned down anyone that asked, as she's too invested in her friends, and in her schooling. Which I support 100% unconditionally.

And that tommy, he wants to become a journalist, just like me.

And he said he's a few girlfriends, but that none of them have really been a good fit. Which I of course told him that he could meet anybody anywhere at anytime, and accidentally fall in love with them

Just like I did

But that he'd never regret it

Ever

And as for mer, she met sam when she first moved to New York, but that they didn't start dating until after they both ranted about their ex's when she was still in a bad place mentally with me

Which is understandable

But it was a few minutes before ball drop, but I decided I'd go out onto the balcony and to look out at the fire works going off in sky.

"Hey," Theo said, and came over to me, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Hey," I said, still admiring the night sky.

"Was that as scary as you thought it would be?" He asked, laughing lightly, admiring the sky with me as well.

I laughed too.

"I don't know why I was so scared. I help raised these kids." I said.

And then he looked at me.

And I could see when we first met

His young, fierce, out going self

"Listen what's you're name?" Theo asked me.

"Maximus," I said

"Boring," he huffed.

"Max" I rolled my eyes.

"Then I'll call you max," he winked. My heart rate increased.

I could see when I knew I first fell in love with him

then pulled me

By the collar of my shirt and connected our lips.

We both melted into it.

I could tell as he was looking at me, and doing the exact same thing

And then I heard loud chanting

10!

9!

8!

7!

He gave me a question with a look

And I nodded

6!

5!

4!

We leant in his hands on my face, mine on his hips

3!

2!

And his lips touched mine, I could feel all of my choices I've ever made alining

Everything I've ever done

And I knew in my heart that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be

1!

And if I could go back, and have the choice to redo everything

I would do everything exactly the same

The heart break Meredith has to endure

The move

Going into that bar that night, and meeting the love of my life

Happy new year!

Original written date: January 3rd 2020