Epilogue

Even though last year they'd spent the holidays together and it had been wonderful, technically this was their first Christmas together. Noah told Veronica that made it extra special, but she had an even bigger reason why it was.

Picking out the tree this year had been so much easier than all the other years. Somehow she knew no matter what tree she picked, it'd be wonderful because it was their tree.

They spent the day decorating the house, singing along to Christmas carols like they had last year. They were finishing up with the last touches of the tree, and Veronica brought out the box with the special tree topper.

"Ah, the very final touch," Noah said with a smile. "I'll get the stool for you."

"Nope, no need," Veronica said, pulling out the crystal star.

"Why?" Noah slipped his arm around her waist. "Should I just lift you?"

"No, because you get to do the honors this year." Noah's panicked expression made her laugh. "What?"

"Me?"

"Uh huh." She nodded. "Remember the tradition is the newest family member takes on the duty until another one comes along?"

"But I'm not family." Noah lifted an eyebrow.

"You're more to me now, Noah. And since you are officially living here—permanently now," she kissed him and added, "you aren't going anywhere now, mister!"

"I wouldn't dream of it." He kissed her back.

"Good," she said with a big satisfied smile. "Then it's settled. You place the star on the tree from now on."

As nervous as he looked, he still took the topper from the box and with no need for a stool proceeded to lift it, but Veronica stopped him. "Wait!" Noah's exasperated expression made her laugh again. "I'm sorry. I wanna take a picture of this." She grabbed her iPhone and focused it on Noah. "Okay, go for it."

She snapped several pictures, giggling at how extra careful Noah was about making sure he got it up there securely.

"Good?" he asked, looking back at her.

"Perfect," she said, taking one last picture.

Glancing at the small gift bag under the tree, Veronica had to fight the urge to give it to Noah already, but she'd wait until later tonight when the guys left. They'd be there any minute now. They were coming over to discuss Gio's next fight. It was in January, but the guy he was fighting was a pretty big deal and the first undefeated fighter Gio had ever taken on.

Veronica busied herself in her darkroom, developing her latest batch—photos of her and Noah's trip to the snow last week. She almost gave him his gift then but decided to wait just a little longer. She'd said she would wait until Christmas, but there was no way she was waiting that long, so she decided tonight would be the night.

When the guys finally left, the excitement crept in. She snuck over to the tree on the way to sit with Noah on the sofa and grabbed the small bag.

Noah smirked when he noticed her hiding something behind her back. "What are you up to?"

"An early Christmas gift."

After deciding to go into this relationship with Noah and taking it one hundred percent seriously earlier that year, Veronica made sure to cut things off completely with Derek. She wanted to avoid any arguments with Noah at all costs, but that summer she found out avoiding arguments in a relationship was impossible. There was still another sore subject she was now careful not to stir.

Noah had playfully mentioned that he couldn't wait for Veronica to have his baby. She'd just as playfully responded they weren't even married then made the mistake of pointing out that he was too young to be a father anyway.

Noah had responded furiously, as he had months before when she'd told him he wasn't in love. He argued that he was readier than some of the supposed "grown ass men" who didn't know the first thing about being a responsible father—Nellie's now ex-husband serving as a perfect example because when Courtney was only five months pregnant he told her he wasn't ready for a family and broke things off.

The argument escalated into his leaving after accusing her of being the one not ready, and that, once again, proved his argument that age was but an illusion.

He was back a few hours later, calmer, apologizing for flying off the handle. Veronica apologized right back and agreed that obviously she hadn't known what she was talking about this time either. It was she who wasn't ready. Noah said he respected that and let her know that whenever she felt ready to just say the word, because now that they were together, he felt more ready than ever.

Veronica handed Noah the small bag, feeling a flutter in the pit of her stomach.

"Roni, babe. I didn't know we were doing early Christmas gifts."

"Of course, you didn't—it's a surprise." She sat down next to him, nervous about what he'd say—think.

He tried to look angry, but the smile gave him away. Then he began pulling out the gift. Veronica had wrapped it in tissue paper, and she laughed nervously at his puzzled expression when he saw the small flat octagon shaped plastic case.

"Open it," she said when he looked up at her completely lost.

So he did, and he took out the only thing in it: a small folded paper. He unfolded it and read the two words on it. "I'm ready." He still looked confused. "You're ready?"

She nodded and smiled, waiting for him to understand, but his expression was still blank, so she gave him another hint. "That's last month's birth control pill case. I didn't get it refilled when I finished it."

His eyes shot wide open. "Are you ..."

"No, not yet, but I'm ready, so if it happens—"

He tackled her before she could finish, and she laughed out loud. She knew he'd be pleased, but she was thrilled that he was this excited about it.

"It's not just gonna happen, Roni," he said, devouring her mouth, instantly arousing her. "Haven't you picked up on the irony of life by now? Things only just happen when you're not ready. When you're ready, you start trying, and, god damn, I feel like trying right now."

She felt silly even asking, but she didn't want the excitement of this clouding his thinking, so she had to. She palmed her hand against his shirt. "And you're sure, right?"

He pulled away, but he took her hand, standing up. She stood up cautiously, hoping he hadn't taken her asking the wrong way. She yelped, startled when he suddenly lifted her and in the next second had her cradled in his arms. "Let me go show you how sure I am."

Veronica wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. She wouldn't tell him she may very well already be pregnant since she stopped taking her pills the last week of November—let him think he had to try extra hard.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT IN THE 5TH STREET SERIES "GIO"

When tragedy strikes in the ring, Giovanni Bravo falls into a deep depression, walking away from his dream of boxing to train instead. He agrees to a two month get-away, helping train Felix Sanchez, his high school buddy and now welterweight champ of the world. Once at Felix’s lavish boxing complex, he’s reunited with Bianca Rubio, someone he remembers only as the girl with the innocent doe eyes back in high school. Her refreshing, cheerful demeanor not only takes Gio’s mind off his troubled conscience, he finds himself falling for her fast and hard. The problem—Bianca is Felix’s girlfriend.

Having a sexy, famous boyfriend has its perks, but they come with a price. Bianca not only has to deal with the ongoing tabloid rumors about her boyfriend's questionable relationships with other women, but also his constant absence when he is on the road. So now that Felix will be in town for two whole months to train for his next big bout, Bianca is thrilled. He’s even asked her to move into his cabin while he's there. But when he leaves for days at a time to promote his fight, Bianca spends time getting to know Felix’s gorgeous new trainer and good friend, Gio. Increasingly drawn to his sweet smile and smoldering green eyes, she finds herself saying and doing things she normally wouldn’t.

As it becomes more and more difficult to resist the mutual attraction, Gio crosses the line between them. He hopes that one kiss will alleviate the overwhelming temptation and clear both their systems, but it does just the opposite. Their temptation suddenly becomes an overwhelming longing--a longing that quickly forces Gio to realize this is more than just lust. He's fallen hard and to his delight so has she. Now he's forced to make the hardest decision of his life. Risk losing a long time friend or walk away from the only girl he's ever loved.