Chap 14 "Christmas Shopping"

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Sam's POV
"Amelia, the tree is bare," I replied.
"I know," Amelia nodded. She grabbed a box and put it on the table. "I expect you two boys to have it done by the time I get down here."
"Alright," I chuckled. "You go and take your shower and get ready." Amelia left. "Dean, you're helping me with this."
"She's your wife," Dean replied.
"Your sister," I responded. We walked to the tree and started decorating. "I love Christmas."
"Why?" Dean asked. "I hate Christmas."
"I guess it's because I have a family," I replied. We got the tree done. I put the topper on the tree. "I guess it's because I've never really had a real Christmas when we were younger." Dean and I looked at each other. "The past Christmas I've had were amazing because we have Amelia and the kids here." There was a knock on the door. "I got it." I walked to the front door and opened it. "Hey TC."
"Hey," TC smiled as we shook hands.
"Come in," I replied. We walked down to the study. I didn't see Dean so I assumed he went to the kitchen. "Let me get the kids."
"Hey, Sam," TC stopped me. "Thank you."
"For?" I asked.
"Being with my sister and making her happy," TC nodded. "I knew she was happy when she was with my best friend but he broke her heart after five years of them being together. She thought she'd never find love again." I looked at him. "After their divorce, Blake went and married Katie. I guess he was desperate. I'm proud of my sister. She took things slow and gradually rebuilt her relationship with you."
"Are you telling me something I don't know?"
"Blake didn't treat the kids right. I know they weren't his kids and he was trying to make an effort but when he sent in those divorce papers, I knew. He didn't care about Amelia or your kids. He only took them in because he felt sorry for her and got her at her weakest point. They were collateral damage. He left her broke and homeless. I'm just glad she found you when she did. Sam, I thank you for taking my sister in and taking care of her and your kids."
"You don't have to thank me, TC. I love Amelia and I love my kids. I'd do anything for them. I might not have the money or the luxury to give them the best life, but I try."
"Dude, look around you. This is a home for you guys. This is a huge place for someone who says they're broke. Life didn't just give you this. It chose you. So, I really do thank you for taking care of my sister and your kids. I mean, they were going to end up knowing you were their dad one way or another, right?"
"Yeah," I sighed. "I guess. Let me get the kids." I walked to the hallway. "Danielle, Daniel, your uncle's here." I walked back to TC. "They should be coming down any second now."
"Uncle TC," Danielle walked in and gave him a hug.
"You have really grown up on me," TC looked at her as they pulled away. "You look so much like your mom." Daniel walked into the room. "And you look like your dad. But you guys have some similarities, since you guys are twins."

"Hey, Uncle TC," Daniel hugged him

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"Hey, Uncle TC," Daniel hugged him.
"Amelia, the tree is bare," I replied.
"I know," Amelia nodded. She grabbed a box and put it on the table. "I expect you two boys to have it done by the time I get down here."
"Alright," I chuckled. "You go and take your shower and get ready." Amelia left. "Dean, you're helping me with this."
"She's your wife," Dean replied.
"Your sister," I responded. We walked to the tree and started decorating. "I love Christmas."
"Why?" Dean asked. "I hate Christmas."
"I guess it's because I have a family," I replied. We got the tree done. I put the topper on the tree. "I guess it's because I've never really had a real Christmas when we were younger." Dean and I looked at each other. "The past Christmas I've had were amazing because we have Amelia and the kids here." There was a knock on the door. "I got it." I walked to the front door and opened it. "Hey TC."
"Hey," TC smiled as we shook hands.
"Come in," I replied. We walked down to the study. I didn't see Dean so I assumed he went to the kitchen. "Let me get the kids."
"Hey, Sam," TC stopped me. "Thank you."
"For?" I asked.
"Being with my sister and making her happy," TC nodded. "I knew she was happy when she was with my best friend but he broke her heart after five years of them being together. She thought she'd never find love again." I looked at him. "After their divorce, Blake went and married Katia. I guess he was desperate. I'm proud of my sister. She took things slow and gradually rebuilt her relationship with you."
"Are you telling me something I don't know?"
"Blake didn't treat the kids right. I know they weren't his kids and he was trying to make an effort but when he sent in those divorce papers, I knew. He didn't care about Amelia or your kids. He only took them in because he felt sorry for her and got her at her weakest point. They were collateral damage. He left her broke and homeless. I'm just glad she found you when she did. Sam, I thank you for taking my sister in and taking care of her and your kids."
"You don't have to thank me, TC. I love Amelia and I love my kids. I'd do anything for them. I might not have the money or the luxury to give them the best life, but I try."
"Dude, look around you. This is a home for you guys. This is a huge place for someone who says they're broke. Life didn't just give you this. It chose you. So, I really do thank you for taking care of my sister and your kids. I mean, they were going to end up knowing you were their dad one way or another, right?"
"Yeah," I sighed. "I guess. Let me get the kids." I walked to the hallway. "Danielle, Daniel, your uncle's here." I walked back to TC. "They should be coming down any second now."
"Uncle TC," Danielle walked in and gave him a hug.
"You have really grown up on me," TC looked at her as they pulled away. "You look so much like your mom." Daniel walked into the room. "And you look like your dad. But you guys have some similarities, since you guys are twins."
"Hey Uncle TC," Daniel hugged him.
"Alright," TC replied. "You guys ready to go and get some gifts?"
"Yeah," Danielle nodded.
"You guys stay safe, alright?" I replied.
"We'll be find, Dad," Danielle hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "We'll be back soon."
"Bye Dad," Daniel nodded.
"I'll see you guys back in time for dinner," I responded as they walked up the stairs. "Hey, TC, would you care to stay for dinner tonight?"
"I gotta go see my fiancee in Atlanta by tomorrow," TC nodded. "I'll drop them off by seven tonight."
"Alright," I sighed. I heard the door closed and I sat in one of the chairs in the study. "They have really grown up on me."
"I would hope so," Amelia smiled as she sat in my lap. "I am glad that their parents are their real parents."
"I love them," I nodded. "And you."

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