MCBAIN ESTATE (TWENTY YEARS LATER)

John and Evangeline were throwing a party with close family and friends to celebrate the twentieth year of their journey of love. Evangeline sat relaxed on the soft leather chaise lounge in their huge master bedroom looking through various photo albums, while reminiscing of the their time together.

Evangeline looked up from the photo album and watched John fiddling with the buttons on his shirt. Although it had been twenty years, she had to admit he looked sexier than ever. The speckles of gray around his temples and neatly trimmed goatee, gave him a very distinguished appeal. "After all these year, this man still turns me on," she thought before catching him staring at her. "What?"

"I'm just having lustful thoughts of you that's all," he said with a mischievous smile. "You know, we have a little time before our guest arrive."

"Oh no you don't," she replied moving our of his reach.

"Come on baby," he pouted chasing her around the room. "I promise I'll be quick."

"John, stop it!" she shouted dodging his moves around the sofa. "You've never been quick, when it comes to making love and I wouldn't want you to start now. So, if you promise to behave, I promise to be very good to you later."

"How good?" he challenged.

"Very naughty, that's how good," she smiled with a seductive lick of her lips.

"Oh so it's like that," he laughed. "All right, I'm going to be on my very best behavior, Mrs. McBain. But you make sure to take a dose of vitamin E. Cause it's going to be on like hot butter popcorn tonight."

"You know, we've really had some wild times," she said reminiscing. "Remember our tenth anniversary, when Layla showed up engaged to that wannabe mobster Vincent Jones?"

"How could I forget," he laughed shaking his head. "He didn't have a chance after, you, Lisa, Blair and Marita worked your Nazi interrogation tactics. Layla was so angry, I think it was two months before she finally forgave all of you for chasing away the so called love of her life."

"Yeah, that was fun," she laughed. "We couldn't let anything happen to our baby girl. Besides, everything worked out for the best. If she hadn't stormed out of here, she would have never rammed her car into Jamal's and they wouldn't be Mr. and Mrs. Cudahy."

"What about our fifth anniversary, when Adrianna went into labor out there on the patio. We were all running around like chickens with our heads cut off," he chuckled. "I still can believe how calm Michael was delivering the triplets, Evan, Michele and Annalise. I was truly in awe of my little brother that day."

"Of course we can't forget our last anniversary, when we caught Helena in the throws of passion, with her sixty year old lover." They both shuddered remembering that mental picture.

"For once it would be nice if we could have a normal family gathering, with no drama or surprises," he replied. "I'm confident this will be the year. Everyone has promised to be on their best behavior."

"Whatever that is, " she said, slipping on a white pair of linen pants and pink silk Asian top, when the doorbell rang suddenly rang. "It's only 4:30, so that must be one of the caterers."

"I'll go and check who it is," he said heading downstairs. The sound of Michael's voice resonated from the patio, as John reached the bottom stairs. He gave Michael a hug and noticed a goofy look on his face. "Okay, what's up. Where's Adrianna and girls?"

"They're coming with RJ and Lisa. Where's Evangeline?" he asked, nibbling on one of the mini pastries, evading John's question. "Mmmmm...these are really good."

"Hey little brother," Evangeline called out from the foyer. "How are you?" She gave him a warm hug and gently rubbed his chin.

"I'm just fine," he replied, with a big grin. "But you look more beautiful than ever."

"Aren't you sweet," she smiled.

"All right that's enough," John replied with a hint of jealousy. After all these years, he knew Michael still had a crush on Evangeline. "You never answered my question. Why do you have the stupid grin on your face?"

"Do I have a stupid grin?" he said giggled. "I guess I'm just happy."

"About what?" Evangeline smiled, as Michael's giddy behavior was wearing off on her.

"Come on spit it out!" John shouted.

"Okay, but I think you both need to sit down."

"Michael!" they both shouted. "What's going on?"

"Okay, here goes. Evangeline's pregnant."

John and Evangeline stood speechless, before bursting out into uncontrollable laughter. "That's a good one, bro," John laughed wiping the tears from his eyes. "Usually, I can see your jokes coming a mile away. But you got us this time."

Evangeline elbowed Michael in the ribs "You really had us going there," she laughed. "Forever the jokester. I almost believed you, from the look on your face."

Their raucous laughter suddenly turned to nervous jitters, as Michael's expression turned serious. "Okay, this is the part where you say "just joking", John replied giving Evangeline a look of confusion.

"I like the name Ian for a boy and Angelica for a girl."

"We're...really going to have a....baby. Michael, are you sure?" she asked, as reality set in. "I think I need to sit down."

"I ran the test myself four times," he said with assurance.

John's laughter suddenly filled the room, as Evangeline and Michael exchanged concerned looks.

"Baby, are you okay?" Evangeline asked rushing to his side. "Maybe you need to sit down."

John regained his composure and gently rubbed her stomach. "I'm fine," he said.

"Then what's so funny?" she wondered.

"We are," he chuckled. "Nothing about our life or this family has ever been conventional or predictable. So it's only natural, that after twenty years of marriage, we would be having a baby."

"Does that mean you're happy, because I know I am," she smiled.

"Let's see, we'll be in our sixties during the teen years and in our seventies, when the kid goes to college. No doubt we'll be the oldest parents around and on Social Security to boot. Am I happy...hell yeah!" he exclaimed sweeping her in his arms. "This is just another chapter to our unconventional journey of love."

AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVE AFTER!