One Year and Ten Days Later:

"Olivia Shephard," called Ms. Bennett.

Olivia didn't look up. She continued working on her puzzle; she was determined to finish it before school was over. It was important to show every single one of her pre-school friends that she was the fastest at completing puzzles.

"Olivia," called Ms. Bennett walking over to Olivia's desk. Olivia looked up and beamed at her teacher. She wanted praise for completely the two hundred-piece puzzle. For being almost five-years old, Olivia was the smartest student Mary Bennett had ever taught. "Very good job, Livvy, but your Dad's here. It's time to go."

Olivia looked up quickly, searching the room for Jack. She found him standing in the doorway, dressed in a pair of navy blue scrubs and a windbreaker. She ran over to him at lightening speed and jumped into his arms.

"Daddy you surprised me!" Olivia said happily burying her face into his neck as he hugged her.

"Was it a good surprise?" Jack asked as Olivia's feet hit the floor. He squatted down so he and his daughter were at eye level.

"The best," Olivia replied cheerily. She gathered her book bag and then took Jack's hand so they could walk out into downtown Chicago together. "Where is mommy?"

"She's at home," Jack said looking down for a brief second, "I got home early so I thought I would come pick you up."

Olivia beamed again. She had only officially been Olivia Shephard for four months. It had taken a while for the name on her birth certificate to be changed. But she had been calling Jack 'Daddy' since the day on the beach.

"Olivia," Kate said squatting down in front of her three-year-old. Jack followed suit. Olivia had wrapped her arms around him the moment he had walked into the house, but now she was standing in front of them with anticipation. "There is something we need to tell you…"

"Okay," Olivia said bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"This is your Dad," Kate said looking from Olivia to Jack and then back again. Olivia eyes lit up and she smiled.

"I already knew that," she said before wrapping her arms around Jack's neck and kissing him on the cheek.

They had moved out of the studio apartment immediately and found a larger apartment on the north side of Chicago. Kate still bartended and now had decided to go back to school. She was attending Colombia University in her spare time to major in photography. Olivia had been her muse. Jack had woken up one morning, about a month after moving in with Olivia and Kate, and decided that he was ready to go back to work. He applied for a job at the University of Chicago hospital and received it immediately.

Life went on as normal. Nan still babysat for Olivia whenever there was a time that both Kate and Jack were working. Kate was only attending school part time, the main focus was to spend every possible moment with Olivia. They worked as little as necessary. Every night, no matter what was happening, the three of them ate dinner as a family. It was the most important time of day to everyone.

Kate and Jack were married six months after the almost wedding with Isabelle. It was small and took place in the Chicago courthouse. Claire and her husband David were the witness. Olivia was the informal flower girl. She got to wear a pretty dress and hold a bouquet of daisies. After everything they had been through during the long ten days of engagement festivities... they had come to a mutual agreement, a low key wedding was ideal for the both of them.

"Mommy we're home!" Olivia called as soon as Jack had unlocked the door to their two-bedroom apartment.

"Hey sweetie," Kate said as Olivia wrapped her arms around Kate's legs and squeezed tightly. "How was your day?"

"Amazing," Olivia said climbing up into a stool on the edge of the kitchen island.

"What do you want as your snack?" Kate asked her leaning across the counter top at her daughter.

"Hmmm," Olivia hummed as she thought, "A peanut-butter sandwich."

"Alright," Kate nodded with a smile. She turned around and bumped into Jack. She kissed him deeply and then smiled. "And how was your day?"

"Good," Jack said brushing a hair out of her face. He kissed her again before moving onto the refrigerator. He came back to her after grabbing an apple. "And yours…"

"Quiet," she said with a little smile, "And… I have a surprise for you."

"Oh?" Jack inquired.

"It'll have to wait till later," Kate said mischievously, "I have to make a sandwich."

If one year and ten days ago Kate could have dreamt up the perfect family, the perfect life, the perfect husband, it would never have come close to this. It was like living in a dream world.

Jack quit his job, broke off ties with his family, packed up everything he owned, and moved to Chicago to be with Kate. He proposed right away wanting her to realize that he wanted nothing more then to spend the rest of his life with Kate and Olivia. Olivia and Jack's bond was a strong as imaginable. Olivia was daddy's little girl; anyone could see it by just looking at them together. Kate got butterflies every time she realized that Jack had chosen her, she was with Jack. Her soul mate, her best friend, he was hers.

"So," Jack said as he sat on the edge of their bed. Kate was sitting in the direct center of the bed in her pajamas, crossed legged, read a book laying her lap. "Are you going to tell me now?"

"Oh," Kate said closing the book. She pulled her hair back into a messy ponytail, "Do you mean your surprise?"

"Yes," Jack said exasperated. Kate knew that he hated surprises. She was purposely torturing him.

"Alright," Kate said beaming from ear to ear. She leaned over to her side table and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "I had to go to the doctor today."

"Why?" Jack asked worried, "Why didn't you talk to me first? Where did you go? Who did you see?"

"Dr. Cavanaugh," Kate replied simply.

"Wait," Jack said rubbing his forehead, "Isn't that your…"

"Yes," Kate said annunciating each letter.

"I'm not following," Jack replied.

Kate handed him a piece of paper. Jack opened it and read through the diagnosis. She had morning sickness, upset stomach, dizziness…

"I'm pregnant," Kate whispered into the silence. Jack didn't reply. He was still reading over the paper. "Jack?"

"I don't know what to say," Jack said slowly. He looked up at her.

"Is that a bad thing?" Kate asked her voice panic stricken.

"No," Jack said at glacier pace. "There are just no words to describe how happy I am."

"Really?" Kate asked crawling across the bed at him. "Oh Jack."

Jack looked up at her and kissed her over and over again. Kate was clinging onto him, unwilling to let this moment end. The intense happiness she felt at that moment was like nothing she had ever experienced. The beach, her wedding, her life, was nothing compared to what she felt like at this moment.

"Kate?" Jack asked, their lips just far enough apart so he could speak.

"Hmm?" Kate asked still clutching onto him.

"Let's go tell Livvy," he requested.

"Now?" Kate asked, "She is in bed."

"Let's wake her up," Jack said.

"Okay," Kate said excitedly.

She took Jack's hand as he led her off the bed and out of their room. They walked clear across the apartment and into Olivia's very pink bedroom. They knelt together at the side of Olivia's bed and Kate gently shook her awake.

"Livvy," she said softly.

Olivia opened her eyes and smiled. She hadn't fallen asleep yet. She had still wanted to play when her parents had ordered her off to bed because she had school in the morning.

"What's going on?" she asked sitting up.

"We have to tell you something," Kate said giving Jack's hand a squeeze.

"What?" Olivia asked.

"You are going to be a big sister," Kate told her.

"Really?" Olivia said bouncing up and down in her bed. "Really? Is the baby a girl or a boy?"

"I don't know yet," replied Kate. She looked over at Jack. He was speechless. He was just taking in the moment. "But we can find out eventually."

"I think I want a brother," Olivia said thinking.

"You can't choose Livvy," Kate said with a laugh.

"I that a good thing?" Olivia asked. She directed the question at Jack. "Daddy?"

"It's a very good thing," Jack replied with a nod.

"Why?" asked Olivia titling her head to the side.

"Because in the end," Jack said looking over at Kate. Their eyes met and she smiled at him. His heart melted like it did every time. "Fate… determines what your life is going to be like… and in the case of this family, we have very good luck with fate."

The End