Author's note: As a response to PhoenixMoon's review of the last chapter of "Over the Edge", here's the first part of an explaination as to how James and Jack ended up so chummy. Hopefully this can hold you over until I get some work done on the story featuring Grace.

Kaylee was going crazy. Living in a house with twin three-year old sons was worse than living in a zoo; at least animals couldn't talk. "That's it!" She yelled as she swept up yet another broken glass left in the wake of her toddler terrors. "I can't take this any longer; I'm going to go insane." She sank down onto a kitchen chair, exhausted.

James wandered back from the front of the tavern to see what the ruckus was to find his wife slumped in a chair and his two sons chasing each other and hollering at the tops of their lungs. He caught them each by the backs of their shirts and swung them into his arms, then looked at Kaylee. "Honey, are you alright?"

She looked up at him. "Do I look alright? The kids are running me ragged."

James set the boys down. "Jim, Tom, go find your sister and see if she wants to play." The two boys went tearing up the stairs in search of their nine-year-old sister. James slipped behind his wife and began to rub her shoulders. "Kaylee, dear, why don't you take a little vacation? My sister still lives in Port Royal, and she hasn't seen you since the wedding. You could pay her a little visit and I could mind the children, give you a little break."

Kaylee looked up at him, and a tired smile lit up her face. "That would be wonderful, James." She stood up and kissed him. "I'll go pack right now."

No sooner had she said that than the sound of a scuffle broke out. "Mommy! Jim and Tom broke my doll again!"

"Now, make sure Grace practices her piano." Kaylee was trying to give James last minute instructions as he hurried her out the door.

"Yes dear."

"And make sure the boys take a nap promptly at two, otherwise they'll be incredibly cranky."

"Yes dear, I get it. I am their father, you know." James kissed his wife and gave her a shove out the door. "Enjoy your vacation. I love you."

She smiled over her shoulder. "Love you too!"

With Kaylee finally gone, James shut the door and turned around. He laughed to himself. Poor Kaylee, she was worried about nothing. How bad could it be taking care of his own children? Almost on cue, Grace wandered down the stairs, still in her nightgown. "Daddy? I'm hungry." Behind her came the twins, chanting, "Hungry! Hungry!"

James smiled, glad he was already prepared. "Breakfast is all ready. Come on down." They came thundering down the stairs, sounding like a herd of elephants rather than three children. James settled them all at the table and set a plate of pancakes in front of each of them.

All three of the kids' faces fell. Grace spoke first. "That's not the way Mommy makes them."

James looked at them, puzzled. "What do you mean? They're pancakes."

"But Mommy makes our pancakes bear shaped. They taste better that way."

"They taste exactly the same, now eat your breakfast."

Tom piped up. "I want bearcakes! I want bearcakes!" Jim burst out crying. Grace looked at her father like he was a moron. James was beginning to understand why his wife needed a vacation.