Lizzie McGuire: After Kiss in Rome

We open all these gifts that day. Got the kids up early for a wonderful Christmas surprise. Our first time together as a family for a special holiday. Kayla and Chris- those were their names.

I watched as they opened their gifts with delightful excitement, like I once did as a little boy.

Tears stream down my face, and then, it starts. I start bawling.

All I hear around me like in a distant tunnel is Kayla asking Lizzie, "Mommy, why is Daddy crying?"

Then, I hear and see my son, Chris. "Daddy? You okay?"

They were both one, and we worked our asses off to make this the best first Christmas for our family.

I start into the fuzzy distance. "I just don't know how your mom loves me or could love me so much..."

"Gordo?" I hear Lizzie, still hearing that 14 year old kid who crushed over Ethan instead of me.

"I never thought I had a chance with you," I say, looking up at her sweet, understanding eyes.

"Gordo, of course you did. You always did. You always swept me off my feet from day one. Just didn't know it."

"I just wanna know one thing, Lizzie," I say, looking down at her soft, bare feet.

"Yeah, Gordo?"

"Please...don't ever let me go."