"Damn, woman," David said as he stretched in his chair. "That was the best." Leesha leaned over and scratched his belly playfully. "Whatcha think, Jonny? My old lady's lasagna kick your's in the ass?"

"It's good," Jon admitted, "but it's only a close second." He patted Julie's leg and winked at her. "What do you say, Ari? Is mom's better or Auntie's?"

Ari looked up, startled out of her drifting thoughts to the new lives within her, "Um...don't make me choose, Dad. Mom uses the family sauce though. Have you ever watched Auntie make her sauce? She gets fresh tomatoes. FRESH TOMATOES! All from scratch. No jars or cans."

"Don't let your Uncle Tony hear you say that," Jon smirked, "He'll argue with you till he's red in the face, that the family sauce is fresh."

"Tomato red?" Ethan and David asked in unison and fist bumped each other.

"Very much so," Jon laughed.

"I'm not offended in the slightest, Ari," Julie joked, "If Tony's gonna supply the sauce and it helps Dad cook, then I'm okay with that." She winked at Jon who let out a sound of outrage.

Leesha shook her head and started to take up the empty plates. "Well I'm just happy that you all like it. Started as my grammy's recipes and I made tweaks to it. Like the paprika and cayenne. She never used those spices."

"So I guess no one has room for dessert?" Julie asked as she rose from the table to start clearing it before she brought out her pavlova. She sent Ari a pointed look from behind Jon's back as she walked around the table.

"You two are gonna kill me," David joked and accepted a sweet, serene kiss from his wife.

Jon inhaled a sharp breath and shifted in his seat, Julie stopped mid-stride for a nano-second and Ari and Ethan looked at each other. David's diagnosis of stomach cancer and subsequent treatment meant that he'd become slightly thinner, dropping to 140 lbs from his well-maintained 180.

His one luscious curls had since fallen out but, with the help of a dear family friend, he'd received a custom-made wig. While only slightly lighter than the blonde he'd had for so long, the hair was real and styled daily into loose curls. Today, he had paired it with a bandana.

It was an elephant in the room that was largely ignored for David's sake, preferring to continue life as though nothing apart from old age was going to take him from the family.

"So," Julie spoke first, hoping to break the pall that had fallen over the gathering, "I managed to save some of the whipped cream for the pav but it might be a little on the light side."

"What happened, mom," Ari asked, "You bought a new container today when we were out, didn't you?"

"Your father happened," Julie smirked at Jon and promptly left for the kitchen to put dessert together, followed by a teary Leesha with dirty plates.

"Gross, dad!" Ari chuckled, "Did you just eat whipped cream by itself? You know you'll get fat."

David snorted and sprayed wine from his nose and mouth across the table. "Oh fuck me," he muttered and held his stomach as he let out a deep belly laugh.

Jon, to his credit, kept a straight face and nodded sagely, "Yes...yes, I did. And your mother was delicious."

"OH MY GOD, DAD!" Ari squealed.

"Hey now, baby," Ethan growled to Ari, "You like that too, remember? We still have a can in the fridge downstairs." It was Jon's turn to grab for his napkin as he fought off a cough from swallowing his wine the wrong way.

"That's my boy!" David cheered and shakily stood from the table, slowly making his way to the kitchen for more wine and to check on Leesha.

"Fuck, I need a smoke," Jon muttered, "I'll be back for dessert."

He fished his cigarettes from his jacket and headed outside, Edie the dog following closely at his heels. He'd settled down in one of the poolside loungers and propped his feet up, looking up at the stars. Edie hopped up and laid in his lap, eyes closing as Jon scratched behind her ears.

"Daddy?!"

"Hey, Babymine," Jon smiled and held his hand out to his daughter, "Want a drag?"

"Um, no thanks, I've given up," Ari replied and sat down beside Jon's legs facing him.

"Good! I didn't like you smoking," Jon said, pushing the smoke from his lungs up into the night air, "Mom said you haven't been feeling well? You okay now? You didn't eat much tonight." He watched her carefully.

"There's a reason," Ari breathed, "and I hope you're going to be happy and not beat the shit out of Shaggy."

"Oh?!" Jon queried. He sat up, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray at Edie jumped up behind him. Jon brushed his hand down his daughter's hair, taking her hand and asked, "Does it have anything to do with the purchase today from Nordstrom's baby department?"

Ari's head shot up in surprise. "What?! How did-," she asked.

"The bank called me because of the unusually large purchase," Jon smiled at his daughter, "I got them to read out the list of items." He crooked his finger under her chin so their matching blue eyes could meet in the dark, "Do you want to tell me something, Babymine?"

He watched the tears track down her face as her smile outshone the moon above. He swallowed heavily over his own tears of happiness.

Ari nodded and threw her arms around her father's neck and whispered, "Twins, daddy. I'm having twins."

Jon breathed out a happy sob as his tears finally were given their freedom, and held his daughter close. He'd felt the same when Stephanie had broke the news to him. He may not have approved of his daughters' partners at first but they were a part of his family, regardless of what shit went on between the two dynasties, and soon there will be another generation.

"I'm so proud of you, Babymine," he said hoarsely, "You're going to be a wonderful mommy."

"You're not going to beat Ethan up?"

"Not unless he gives me a reason to," Jon said, pushing Ari back a little so he could look her in the eyes, "Understand me? Any step wrong and I will beat him into oblivion."

"Yes, daddy," Ari smiled, "You'll always be my first love, daddy."

"Oh stop!" Jon said, kissing her on the cheek, "You're gonna make me blub soon, sweetheart. I love you too, my Babymine." Jon stood and held his hand out to Ari who stood also, and tucked her hand into his arm as they strolled back inside.

"Watch this," he winked at Ari before they walked inside. He stopped just outside the door for a moment. He gripped the doorknob and yanked the doors open and yelled, "Where is he?! Where's that little punk that got my daughter pregnant?"

Ethan almost fell off his chair as Jon charged at him. Ari stood just inside the door and watched her dad and her husband as the others fell silent in shock. Jon stood in front of Ethan and growled, "Stand up!"

The adults started to protest but Jon just held up his hand to silence everyone, as Ethan stood shakily to his feet, ready to meet his father-in-law's fury.

When the men were facing off, Jon's angry demeanour melted away and surprised Ethan by throwing his arms around him and said, "I hope you have two daughters so you know what I've gone through. Congratulations, son."

"Fuck, I thought you were gonna beat me up," Ethan breathed in relief.

"I still might so watch your step closely," Jon gave Ethan his best stink-eye.

"Yes, sir," Ethan nodded seriously.

Jon turned and pinned Julie with his glare next as the room erupted into relieved laughter, "You! Mrs Bongiovi! You kept a secret like this from me? I'll deal with you later, baby."

"Yes, sir," she purred and licked an errant dribble of cream from her finger.

"I've got a whip if you need it, Jonny," David laughed and smacked Julie's ass. The rest of the evening was spent in a celebratory mood as they ate Julie's confectionery dessert, sending the Bryan family into raptures over the taste sensation.

As the table was cleared, the men disappeared into David's studio. This left Julie and Leesha with Ari to gossip and make plans on a nursery at both homes. Ari smiled watching her mom and aunt draw out rough sketches, comparing color swatches.

"But what if Uncle Lema is right and we have twins?" She asked uncomfortably.

"Twin cribs!" The two women exclaimed.

"Though sometimes twins like to sleep together," Leesha added on.

"It would be a blessing...again," Julie grinned, "The more Bongiovi/Bryan babies, the better!"

Leesha laughed and poured Julie more wine. "Don't let Jon hear you say that..."

"I know...," Julie grinned, "He's always at Jesse to look outside of the Bon Jovi circle for girlfriends. Jake...he's got girls dripping off of him."

"Maybe Jesse will go after Gabby," Ari offered.

The two women looked at the younger one as Julie said, "Are you trying to kill your father, sweetheart?"

Leesha shrugged and took a drink. "It would be a turn of the tables. A Bongiovi man going for a Bryan girl...but here's the problem with that...Gabby is more like David. Takes a gay man or a Jonas brother to get her attention."

"Uncle Lema likes the Jonas Brothers?" Ari asked with a cheeky grin.

"More like tolerated them. Took Gabby and Lily to see them a few times. Your uncle has a major IN with the industry," Leesha explained. "He can meet anyone, anywhere, anytime. Your Dad too."

"Uncle Mookie has some cool friends too," Ari said, "Nikki and Courtney were amazing!"

"Maybe we could do a rock and roll theme if you have a boy!" Leesha exclaimed.

"We...we're not going to find out the sex," Ari hesitated, ducking her head as her father has a habit of doing when he's avoiding something. "So maybe if we keep everything neutral for now?"

Leesha and Julie exchanged a look. For two women that enjoy decorating and color coordinating, this was a bitter pill. "There are women in rock too," Julie offered.

"Mom," Ari sighed, "You can do whatever you like at your place, if you want to, but I don't want anything too fancy. It's not really my scene...sorry."

"What about baby boho?" Leesha asked, showing Ari a few photos.

Neutrals and wood grains flashed over the screen and Ari nodded, "Yeah...I like that! It kinda reminds me of the place Uncle Mookie took me to, to get my wedding outfit."

"Baby boho it is!"

"What's baby boho?" David asked when he and Jon reentered the house, leaning over their wives to see what the gossip was about. "You gonna have a hippy baby?"

"Nursery designs," Julie offered as Jon kissed the top of her head on his way past.

"Blues and pinks!" Jon nodded.

"Nah...piano and funky colors!" David threw back.

"Football!" Both men called out and fist bumped.

"Anyone would think you two were pregnant," Julie chuckled at them both, "It's what Ari and Ethan want...just remember that!"

"I'd be good with football," Ethan tossed in, kissing Ari's forehead.

"NO FOOTBALL!" the three women said in unison.