Kyle Luca, Age 21

            December 13^th, 2039; even though it was a snowy sort of day in Baton Rouge, Kyle Luca McGee needed to go out for a run. He had a lot on his mind between his school work, his family and his mother calling every other day pleading with him to come back to DC for his birthday. But Kyle Luca knew that his mother didn’t just want to see her son on his birthday, she wanted to see her grandkids and Kyle Luca was beyond certain that his mother-in-law was on his mother’s bandwagon too. So as Kyle Luca ran he had his iPhone tucked in the back pocket of his pants and he had the music on full blast in the headphones. All he wanted to do was clear his mind before he returned home to Bella and their kids.

            Three years ago to the day when Bella had called him, she told him that she was pregnant with their baby. Nine months later with a very crowded delivery room and even more crowded waiting room when Elle Grace McGee came into the world.  About a year and a half later déjà vu happened a second time when Troian Ava McGee came into the picture with her twin sister; Shane Avery McGee. Elle would be two in nine months while her little sisters; Troian and Shane had just recently turned a year old. Needless to say having three kids under the age of five while juggling their education with their part-time jobs along with all their other responsibilities on their own was no cake walk. But Kyle and Bella were managing as best as they could.

            Of course there had been moments over the past three years both Bella and Kyle had gone to the people they trusted the most for advice. Bella as expected called upon her mom for advice and help from time to time while Kyle went to Jethro. Of course not going to his own dad for help when it was needed was a bit odd at first but Jethro had been married a few times and having daughters were up Jethro’s alley more than having daughters had been for Tim. Besides Jethro had always provided a safe haven for his team, his wife, his daughters and anyone who asked for it.

            Kyle ran for quite some time. He ran for what seemed like miles. Kyle kind of felt a bit like Forest Gump when he was running except he didn’t have Bella or anyone behind him a ways back shouting Run, Kyle, Run like it was in the movie. He knew that he had to wrap up the run, Bella would need his help back at the house with the girls before she went to her class at the local community college. That and there was the minor fact that he assumed that Bella had planned something cute for the girls to do for him today.

            So with that in the back of his mind, Kyle jogged home from his current location. Along the way a few alligators reared their heads from the water as Kyle went by. It wasn’t long before Kyle was back home and was about to walk through the front door.

            “Happy Birthday, Daddy.” Elle said as she ran over to Kyle as he came the door.

            “Thank-you, Elle.”

            “I made this for you, Daddy. Mommy did the writing and I drew the picture.”

            “It’s beautiful.” Kyle said as he admired the handmade construction paper birthday card his eldest daughter made with Bella’s help.

            Bella had a smile on her face while she watched Elle and Kyle together as she fed the twins.

            “Troian and Shane wanted to say Happy Birthday too, so I made their card for them.”

            “You had a busy day yesterday, Miss Elle.”

            “Oh it was nothing, Daddy.”

            Kyle went over to the table where Bella was sitting with Troian and Shane to thank the three of them as well.  Shortly after Kyle had said thank – you to his girls, he helped Bella with the girls before they went to play in the living room.

            “So how was your run? Your head clear?” Bella asked when it was just her and Kyle cleaning up after the girls’ breakfast.

            “It was fine and yes it’s clear.”

            “Okay so have you made up your mind about DC? I’d really like to see everyone and our moms are dying to see the girls.”

            “Bells.”

            “No, Kyle.  No matter how much they drive us crazy, they are family and we owe them that much since they helped us with everything after Elle was born. We wouldn’t be here without them.”

            “Bells.”

            With that Elle came back into the kitchen, completely unbeknownst to her parents who were still arguing when she came into the kitchen.

            “The kids don’t like it when Mommy and Daddy fight.” Elle said.

            “She’s just like, Mom.” Bella said as she picked Elle up.

            “You can say that again.”

            “So are we going back to DC, Daddy??? Are we going to see Gammy Abby and Grandmama Ray – Ray?”

            It was quite clear that Kyle had a hard time saying no to his daughter. By this point Troian and Shane came back which made saying no ten times harder on Kyle.

            “We’ll go.” Kyle said caving in the second his daughter started giving him the sad puppy dog eyes.

            After that the girls went back to playing in the other room, leaving their parents to what they had been doing in the kitchen.

            “You so planned that.” Kyle said as he took the frying pan from Bella to dry.

            “Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. You can’t prove it.”

            “Oh can’t huh?”

            “No you can’t.” Bella said as she set the dish towel down after she dried her hands.

            “No you can’t.” Bella continued after she wrapped her arms around Kyle and whispered in his ears just so he could hear what she had to say.

            After Bella said her peace, she gave Kyle a quick birthday kiss before she grabbed her school things and left for class. On her way out she kissed her daughters good – bye and told them to enjoy their day with Kyle.

            “Your mother is a sneaky lady.” Kyle said to his girls as they played together before him.