Wow, this has been a tough weekend for all of us. I'm still working on my fix-it fic - 'Sly Down' - and I will finish it as soon as I can, it's just hard to write about that subject at the moment. Instead I thought I'd jump a year into the future to happier times. This is a standalone story, but could be considered a sequel to Sly Down, even though the original isn't finished yet (which sounds weird, but it all makes sense, I promise!) No idea how many chapters this one will be, but I'm going to enjoy writing it. I hope you all enjoy reading it too. All comments welcome, thank you kindly!

SUNSHINE AND SEA AIR

"What's with Paige today?"

Toby looked up from the two text books he was reading and briefly watched as Paige ascended the stairs to the loft. He'd noticed she had been unusually quiet since he and Happy had arrived at the garage that morning. He knew she was busy with government paperwork after the case they'd worked yesterday - a case, in typical Scorpion style, which had resulted in some collateral damage to government property albeit while saving hundreds of lives in the process. Toby knew that wasn't the reason for Paige's mood today, though.

"It's the first anniversary of... y'know... today," Toby reminded Cabe.

"Oh," Cabe responded. "Y'mean the day she broke up with Walt."

Toby nodded.

"But that means it's the eleven month anniversary of the day they got back together," Cabe pointed out.

"True," agreed Toby. "But Paige is still working through the fallout from that day. She's in a much better place than she was a year ago, don't get me wrong, but today her psyche is gonna be a bitch by constantly reminding her of it all."

"I don't think Walt'll be bothered by the date," said Cabe.

"I doubt One Ninety Seven has given it a second thought," agreed Toby. "He's worked through his issues in his own way. Don't tell him I said so, but I'm kinda impressed."

"Then we should all be here for Paige today," said Cabe. "Let's do something, as a family, I mean. Allie and I were gonna catch a movie later, but we can do that another day."

"Great idea!" Toby replied, closing his books and leaping to his feet. "Let's hit the beach."

"Do y'think Happy is feeling up to joining us?" Cabe asked.

"Morning sickness has eased a little since last week," replied Toby. "Some sunshine and sea air will do her good."

Toby still couldn't quite believe that his wife was actually pregnant after they'd given up all hope. They were weeks away from finalising the adoption of twin girls and they'd both agreed that the surprise pregnancy wasn't going to stop them bringing the orphaned toddlers into their lives, but there was no doubt their world was going to be turned upside down in the next few months.

"Great!" Cabe grinned. "We missed her yesterday."

"Sure did," agreed Toby. "She would've fixed that cooling fan in half the time it took you and Sly."

"Why are my ears burning?"

Toby looked across the garage as Sylvester wandered back from the kitchen carrying an apple.

"Just talking about yesterday," Toby explained. "And planning a trip to the beach for later today. A picnic, maybe. You in?"

Sylvester's face paled a little. "The beach is covered in contaminants," he said. "And the sand gets in your food."

"Why d'you think they call them sandwiches, pal?" grinned Toby.

Sylvester frowned. "Is this little outing because of… because of what day it is?"

Cabe and Toby exchanged a glance. Of course Sylvester would have remembered the significance of the date - his eidetic memory would never let him forget.

"Yep," Toby replied. "Thought it might be good for us all to get out of here today. Have a little fun."

Sylvester smiled broadly. "Fun sounds like... fun!" He agreed. "I could invite Patty?" he suggested and Toby and Cabe both nodded.

Sylvester had struggled a lot during that horrible month they would all rather forget, but since the team had reunited his relationship with Walter had actually gone from strength to strength. It helped that Florence had taken a research position at Princeton University, two and a half thousand miles away, so she wasn't around as a constant reminder of the reason they'd fallen out in the first place. Sylvester had long since realised that he'd never really been in love with her after all, but the whole experience had opened his eyes - and his heart - to the idea of finding new love with the right person one day and he would always be grateful for her friendship. He was happy now to wait patiently for romance to find him.

Just then Paige came back down the stairs clutching the memory stick she'd been looking for in her hand. She wandered back to her desk without acknowledging Cabe, Toby or Sylvester. Toby frowned and followed her. Paige plugged the memory stick into her laptop and then her face fell as the screen froze. "Crap!" she exclaimed.

"Stupid tech, huh," noted Toby, perching on the corner of her desk. "Can't live with it, can't live without it."

"Something like that," agreed Paige with a dismissive shrug. "Where's Walter?"

"He took Ralph to get supplies for his science fair project, remember?" Toby replied.

"Oh… oh, yeah."

Toby pursed his lips. "I'd ask if you're OK, but I know you're not," he said.

Paige looked up at him. "I know it's dumb," she said with a sigh. "I know everything's back to normal now, but…"

"Hey, I object to the word normal," said Toby with a grin.

Paige cracked a tiny smile. "Everything's back to the way it should be," she corrected herself. "But, I've been dreading this day coming around."

"I know," said Toby. "And it's perfectly normal to be feeling a little reflective today."

"Is it?" Paige's narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Why? Walter and I are closer than we've ever been, we communicate so much better than we ever did before, we trust each other, we're a proper couple and it's wonderful. Why am I still worrying so much about what happened a year ago?"

"Because you can't help but think about what might have happened if we hadn't healed the rift," Toby replied. "About what a terrible, disastrous ending it might have been for you and Walt and for all of us. And a part of you is still worried that it could all happen again."

Paige sighed. "I guess," she agreed.

"No guessing involved," insisted Toby. "Genius shrink at work."

Paige smiled. "As much as I enjoy your company, Toby, I never expected I'd still be in therapy after all this time."

"Are you saying you want to end our weekly sessions?" Toby asked, clutching at his chest with both hands in mock pain. "You, Paige Dineen, are in the unique position of being able to enjoy the pleasure of my undivided attention and Harvard trained skills every Tuesday morning – or sometimes Wednesday if we're busy saving the world on Tuesday."

"You're about to become a father to three children, Toby," Paige reminded him – not that he needed reminding. "My mental health shouldn't be taking up your time."

"Paige, you're my Best Ma'am," smiled Toby. "And I'm good at this therapy game, so your mental health will remain a priority… even when my priorities multiply."

Paige bit hard on her lower lip, Toby had seen enough of her tears over the last twelve months. "Thank you," she said. She knew she was getting better, time – and Walter's love – had healed her, but equally she knew she still had a way to go before all her demons were banished.

"So, Cabe and I were thinking about a picnic this afternoon," said Toby, breezily, all too aware that Paige was struggling to keep her emotions in check. "At the beach. Thought it would do us all good."

"You thought right," agreed Paige, shutting the lid of her laptop with a defiant action. "The government can wait."

"What's in the fridge?" asked Toby. "Last time I looked we were well stocked, but Ralph and his teenage hormone-fuelled appetite is making a dent in my snacking quota."

"Yeah, sorry about that," replied Paige. "I promise you I am feeding him at home."

"Then I guess I'll hit up Kovelsky's for picnic rations," said Toby. "Back in half an hour. Tell Happy where I am – she'll miss me, of course."

"Like a hole in the head."

Toby spun round at the sound of his pregnant wife's voice. "Hey, darlin'," he smiled as he half walked, half skipped over to meet her. "How did you get on with that oil change?" He kissed her on the cheek tenderly, before recoiling as his senses acknowledged the sight of her, not to mention the smell. "Looks like the oil changed itself all over you," he noted. "That's not one of the recommended pregnancy therapies."

"There was a slight hitch," admitted Happy. "I'm just glad Dad was there to give me a hand."

Paige looked up and smiled as Patrick walked in rubbing his oily hands on a rag. "Hey, Patrick," she smiled.

"Scrub up, Quinns," said Toby. "We're off to the beach soon. Family picnic. Doctor's orders."

Patrick nodded and smiled. "Can't argue with the father of my soon-to-be grandchildren," he replied.

The team were getting used to having Patrick around the place again since his release from prison. Paige had noticed Happy seemed, well, happier since his return and she completely understood why. It had been so hard on her to lose him three years ago after they'd only just reconnected and they had a lot of lost time to make up for. Paige wondered what her own father would have been like had he lived longer, if he had lived to see Ralph grow up, to meet Walter and the rest of her family. Maybe if she'd had his stable influence in her life for longer… maybe…

"Paige?"

Paige jumped as Toby's gentle hand on her shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts. He looked at her with raised eyebrows, glancing briefly across to where Happy and Patrick were talking and laughing as they cleaned oil from each other's faces.

Paige forced a smile onto her lips, but Toby saw straight through her.

"Hold that thought," he said gently. "Until Tuesday."

Paige nodded.

Just then the door opened and Ralph ran in with Walter right behind him. "This is gonna be the best science project ever!" he exclaimed excitedly.

Paige smiled at his youthful exuberance. For a minute is was as if he was ten years old again, not fourteen. He had blossomed into a young man over the last year and she knew it was mostly down to having Walter in his life… and Cabe… and the whole team. He had the best family a boy could ever have. She couldn't believe she'd come so close to throwing it all away.

"Ralph exceeded the budget by a small margin," said Walter as he carefully placed the bag of electrical components he'd been carrying down on a chair. "But I believe we can submit this project to the International Science Award committee once it's done. It's all Ralph's work, of course." He leaned over and planted a lingering kiss on Paige's lips.

"Let's get started right now!" said Ralph, running over to his work bench.

"Not now, Ralph," said Paige. "We're going to the beach. All of us."

"It would be inefficient to waste time sitting on the beach today," Walter frowned. "You go, have a good time, Ralph and I will stay here."

Paige sighed. "If that's what you want?" she queried, looking at her son.

Ralph nodded. "I'd really like to make a start on this," he replied.

Without another word Paige walked over to the fridge and opened the door. "You were right, Toby," she said. "Definitely need to go to Kovelsky's."

Walter quickly joined Ralph at the workbench, but before they could even start to unpack their purchases, Toby was standing between them. "Paige wants you to come to the beach," he stated bluntly. "She's feeling a little down today."

Walter's face fell. "She… she is?" he queried. "W-why?"

"Because this time last year was the day you guys… y'know," replied Ralph, sadly. "And even though everything's OK now, she's still a little freaked out. I was kinda hoping she'd forgotten the date."

"Your mom's OK, pal," Toby tried to reassure the young genius. "Just feeling a little blue, that's all. So…" he trailed off and waited for Walter to respond.

"So, we… we should participate in the family picnic," said Walter, much to Toby's relief.

"And that, my friend, is the correct answer," grinned Toby. "Pack up your inflatable flamingos and put on your mankinis, fellow geniuses, we hit the sand in an hour."

Ralph smiled broadly. As much as he loved working on projects with Walter, he loved doing normal things too. The anniversary had brought back so many horrible memories from a year ago for him too and an afternoon at the beach sounded like a great way to forget all of that and celebrate being a family again.

Paige glanced up as Toby ran out of the door on his way to Kovelsky's and smiled as she saw Walter and Ralph had changed their plans. This was going to be a great afternoon.