A/N: Nick and Elise are back! :D Putting 'I Remember Me' on the backburner. I had a vision, but slowly my vision is dying. Super excited about my 'Once Upon A Time' story!

Pyramid

Chapter 1

I wanted to pull my hair out. It seemed like everything today was going wrong. The washing machine broke down just as I ran out of underwear, then I burnt breakfast because I was changing a diaper, then I burn my hand trying to clean up the burnt breakfast. I was at the point of just trying to survive. I hadn't showered in days and my hair was literally already falling out on it's own. This being a stay at home mom to 2 kids was not my idea of a great time. I sat on the couch. I just needed one minute of peace. That minute didn't last too long because suddenly there was an eruption of baby cries. I stood and made my way over to the pack and play where I had Jessica napping. I picked her up and realized there was poop spilling from her little pants. I sighed as I carried her. I passed the kitchen where I saw James who I assumed had been coloring, but he had found his way into the kitchen and was eating dog food.

"James please don't eat Sam's food!" I called out. James looked up at me and giggled before running away. "James Warrick Stokes get your butt over here!" I then went to chase my son. I finally grabbed him by the arm and made him walk to Jessica's room with me so I could change her. By this point my shirt didn't just have splashes of James' lunch and Jessica's spit-up, but not it contained poop. I made James sit in the corner while I changed Jessica and cleaned her up.

"I'm home!" a voice called from downstairs. I felt relief spill over my entire body. I walked out of Jessica's room and down the stairs with James following behind me. I found myself in the living room standing face to face with Nick. He gave me a smile and kissed me quickly.

"I'm so glad you are home." I said. James was pulling on Nick's pant leg and he picked James up.

"Hey there little guy. Were you a good boy today?" Nick asked James who simply nodded with a big smile.

"No!" I then said at once. "He threw his lunch on the floor and snuck away from coloring to eat Sam's food."

"James." Nick said looking at our little boy who was now doing his best sympathy face. Jessica cooed in my arms. My little girl was 3 months old. She was the cutest thing I had ever seen with her lightly tanned skin and brown curly hair. Everyone said she looked most like me.

"Can you watch them for just a few minutes?" I asked with pleading in my eyes. "I haven't showered in 3 days and I just got poop on me."

"Go. I've got them." Nick said as he sat James on the floor and picked up Jessica from my arms. I gave him a smile. I quickly ran upstairs and then remembered I was totally out of underwear. At least I was going to finally get a shower.

Stepping in the shower I smiled to myself. Our lives were so different from where we had been. There hadn't been any fear, but just peace. Our marriage was strong and we had our two beautiful children. As much as being a mom was difficult I wouldn't give it up for anything. My kids were everything and they meant the world to both of us.

After 20 minutes of luxury I got out of the shower and put on a nightgown sans underwear until I could get that problem fixed. I walked downstairs to find Nick in the kitchen. He had Jessica in her swing and James in his highchair having dinner. I walked over to the table and sat down. I was exhausted, but pleased. I just watch and watched Nick feed James. Not that James needed much help. He was 18 months old now and growing into such a big boy already.

"Thank you." I said to Nick. He rand his hand over my leg. I smiled at him. He made me so happy and in this peaceful time it was perfect.

"Mama I eat!" James declared to me.

"Good job James." I said to my little boy. No matter how much mischief he caused he was going to be our little boy. "I'm going to feed Jessica." I said as I stood and walked over to the swing where Jessica was cooing away.

"I'll give James his bath and put him to bed." Nick said.

I sat on the couch reading a book. Nick walked downstairs and made his way over to me. He sat down and pulled me into his arms. We didn't say anything. I just sat there and continued to read my book. I could feel his fingers running through my finally cleaned hair. I sat my book down and looked at him. He smiled down at me.

"James went down ok. We read that train book about five times until he was satisfied." Nick said rolling his eyes. He was just as tired of the train book as I was.

"We read that book a few times today." I said looking up at him. "Tomorrow we need to call a repairman for the washer. I am out of underwear and I can't do any laundry."

"Mmmm out of underwear you say?" he questioned as he slipped his hand under my nightgown.

"Hey!" I said at once swatting his hands away.

"But…but…." He stammered.

"We need to talk about this nanny thing. I really want to hire someone. I need a little help during the day especially with James. Even if it was just for a few days a week especially since I have magazines looking at picking me up again." I said looking at him.

It had been over a year since I was let go from my previous magazine after Mark murdered my boss in order to get to me. I had started writing again when I was pregnant with Jessica. I wrote a lot on maternity wear and that got me noticed again. I was going to make a comeback and I liked the idea. I liked having something else to do outside of being a wife and mom. I liked the idea that someone felt that my writings were worth something. Nick had been amazing supporting me as I tried to have a career again. I did all I could to support him even nights when he had to come home very late or mornings where he had to leave extra early. I did my part and he did his.

"Yeah we can work on that. Put an ad out I guess and I will get background checks on anyone who applies." Nick said.

"Sounds good." I said.

I let him pull me in for a kiss. His tongue entered my mouth quickly. I slipped mine into his. I felt his hands creep up my nightgown again. I moaned into his mouth. He lied me down on the couch as he worked to undo his belt. I worked to unbutton his shirt. I helped pull his shirt off. He then kicked off his pants. His hands then slipped back under my nightgown moving it up until my breasts were exposed. I let out a breath as his fingertips grazed my nipples. I let him kiss me again. I ran my hands down his sides until his waist. I slid my hands in front of him. I took ahold of him. He broke the kiss and smiled down at me.

He then moved my hands away and spread my legs. He was getting down to business, but it had been a couple weeks since the last time we had sex. Things got complicated when you had 2 kids under 2. I gasped as he entered me. I pulled him close and moaned against his shoulder. We were in our own place. I tried my best to keep quiet knowing we had kids asleep upstairs, but with every move he made I wanted to scream out his name. I bit my lip.

"Oh Nick." I groaned into his ear.

"Mommy, Daddy." That voice was so close.

I jumped and standing right next to the couch was James. I was frozen. I didn't know what to do. I hadn't heard him walk down the stairs. By the look on his face you could tell he didn't quite know what he witnessing. I thanked God that he was only 18 months and would forget about this. He was wiping his eyes as he stood there holding his teddy bear. Nick jumped off me. I pulled my nightgown down.

"What is it James?" I asked as I reached my arms out to him and picked him up.

"No sleep!" he proclaimed at once. I shook my head. I looked to see Nick putting his pants back on. He looked at me. I could tell he wanted to laugh and truthfully I wanted to laugh also. This was a story to remember.

I stood up with James and walked him upstairs. I sat down on the chair in his room and rocked him as he held his bear. I watched as his eyes slowly started to close. Once I was sure he was asleep I put him in his bed. I left his room and closed the door quietly behind me. I then walked down to my bedroom. I could hear the shower running in the bathroom. I slipped into bed. I picked up my cell phone and looked through my Friend Agenda page. Amanda had posted a picture with her new boyfriend. I sat my phone down as Nick entered the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. I smiled at him.

"I can't believe James walked in on us." He said as he sat on the bed next to me.

"No sex on the couch anymore. Too risky, we will have to keep our door closed." I said at once. I started to giggle as I thought of James' poor little face so confused.

"Thank God he will forget this." Nick said.

"My exact thoughts." I said as I moved to be closer to him. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. We just lied there in silence. He rubbed my shoulder and suddenly I was asleep.

I had spent my entire day interviewing for the nanny position. We had everyone who applied submit to having their fingerprints taken and a background check done. We couldn't be too careful with our little ones. I was down to the last interview of the day. A girl walked in. She was tall and thin with straight brown hair in a ponytail. She gave me a kind smile. I had looked over her resume before she arrived. Of everyone I had interviewed her resume was the most polished and she had the most experience.

"Hello Mrs. Stokes I am Carol." She said happily.

"Hi Chloe. I looked over your resume. I am impressed. So you have been a nanny before?" I asked.

"Yes for 2 different families. Before and after my preschool teaching days." She said happily.

"Your degree is in Early Childhood Education?" I questioned as I peeked down at her resume.

"Yes ma'am. My Bachelor's is in ECE and I am currently working on my Master's in Child Psychology." She explained. I liked her a lot.

"Well I like you and truthfully you have the most experience of anyone I have interviewed. I would love to see how you interact with my kids. I was just going to wake them from their naps." I said to her.

"Sounds lovely." She said with a big smile. I stood and made my way to the stairs. She followed me as I went up the stairs. I went into Jessica's room first. My little baby girl was fast asleep. I walked to her crib and stroked her hair. She started to stir and squirm. I picked her up and cuddled her close.

"We can go wake up my son." I said as I held Jessica. "This is Jessica. She is 3 months old. In the next room is James he is 18 months and a handful. You won't get board with him." We made it to James' room. As soon as I opened the door he jumped up and out of bed.

"Mommy!" he said happily as he ran into my arms.

"I brought a few friend. Her name is Chloe and she will be coming to play with you a few days a week." I said happily to him. He looked over to Chloe.

"Hi!" he said while waving.

"Hello James." She said to him as she bent down to his level. "Would you like me to show me some of your toys." James' eyes lit up. He reminded me of his dad when he was excited about something. James ran to his bookshelf and pulled out the train book. He handed it to Chloe.

"His favorite book." I mentioned as I rocked Jessica.

"Well I guess we will read this one." Chloe said as she sat on the floor and took the book from James. James sat next to her and she opened the book, she started reading and he was hanging on her every word. I was so happy that we had found someone. This was going to be a great adventure for our family as I started back working. I was looking forward to it. I smiled down at James and Chloe. She seemed good. Good for us.