Chapter Two- Simmons

Matt Simmons swore his house was never silent. It was home to both he and his wife, two boys and two girls. He loved his family, more than they would ever know, but he enjoyed the peace of falling asleep in a hotel room or the jet where he couldn't be woken up by four noisy children.

However, on his day off, he had no such luck at avoiding the noise and the laughter. He and Kristy had been enjoying each other's company when they woke up. Maybe too much as, when Jake ran in and asked why Mommy and Daddy were wrestling, Matt found himself blushing while Kristy laughed. David then ran in and jumped on the bed, distracting Jake long enough for Kristy to sort her pajama top out and for Matt to separate himself from his wife.

"Morning boys!" Matt said, clearing his throat.

"Morning Dad!" replied David, bundling his father, taking him by surprise.

Matt laughed, "Where are Chloe and Lily?"

"In their room doing girl things…" said Jake, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

Kristy smiled at her eldest child, "What have you and your brother been doing may I ask?"

"We played soldiers and then we did some drawing!" said David, placing himself in between his mother and father on the bed.

"Did you guys play nicely?" asked Matt. He knew the boys loved each other dearly, but Jake could be a bit of a bull to his younger brother.

Jake sighed, "Yes, Dad!"

"Good."

There came a gasp from the doorway. Kristy and Matt looked up. Chloe was stood in the doorway. She smiled widely, "Lily! Mom and Dad are awake!" The elder twin ran into the room and joined her brother on the bed, Jake copied. Moments later, Lily came running into the room and joined her siblings so that the whole Simmons family was sat all together on the bed. They stayed like that for a while, chatting and laughing, talking about school and Lily and Chloe's kindergarten adventures. Matt told them about some of the countries that he had visited. This was a particular favourite of the kids, they loved to hear about all the counties that Matt had been to with Jack and Clara and May with Monty staying States side.

Eventually, Kristy suggested that they all get some breakfast and then they could decide what they wanted to do that day. Jake, David, Lily and Chloe were all very excited when they found that both parents had the day off. It was rare for both Matt and Kristy had the day off, it was usually one or the other. But luckily, they both had the day off today.

Once all the kids were fed, watered and dressed, Matt and Kristy got them into the car. They had decided to surprise them with a bowling trip followed by a walk in the woods. They knew that the bowling would go down well, and they hoped that being out in the fresh air would tire them all out, making bedtime a lot easier. As they drove out of their street and onto the main road, they knew it wouldn't be long until the boys figured out where they were going. In all fairness, they could have walked to the bowling alley, but they needed the car to get to the park.

Once at the bowling alley, Matt helped his wife to assemble the children and make their way in. Jake couldn't stop bouncing, he was that excited. David held onto his father's hand and Chloe and Lily talked animatedly amongst themselves. They had a lane to themselves and while they would be playing individually, David suggested that they do a boy's verses girls thing. Matt looked at Kristy and she shrugged. Matt agreed and he, Jake and David took one side of the lane and Kristy, Lily and Chloe took the other. The team with the highest combined total at the end of the game would win. Jake and David soon proved that they were very competent bowlers, while Lily and Chloe, being a bit younger than their brothers, needed a little help from Mom and Dad.

They had a very enjoyable time, bowling as a family. Matt and Kristy decided that everyone was a winner and they all sat down in the café to have a hotdog and ice cream.

"Did you see my strike, Mom?" asked David, tucking into his hotdog.

"I did!" she replied, smiling, "It was a lucky shot!"

"I got nine pins down in one go, Daddy!" smiled Lily, as she took a sip from her drink.

"I saw lilbug, I was very proud!" Matt replied, smiling.

"I managed to bowl without Mom's help!" said Chloe, "That's because I'm a big girl!"

"Not as big as me!" said Jake, who had finished eating, "I was able to bowl by myself when we got here. You only managed the last couple by yourself!"

"Jake…" warned his mother.

"What?" He replied, innocently, "It's true!"

"Yes," replied Matt, looking at his eldest son, "But don't forget, you're eight and Chloe and Lily are only five."

"Ok, ok. I'm sorry." He said, rolling his eyes a little.

Matt chuckled to himself. He had four children, all born within a year or two years of each other. Jennifer had once called him 'The Breeder' of the FBI and had called his wife a saint. He wouldn't have it any other way though. He loved all of his children, each one was brilliantly unique and gifted. Jake was good at sports and loved to be in the outdoors, David was quiet but was showing signs of being academically gifted. Matt often called him a 'mini Reid'. And Chloe and Lily? Well, they had an amazing gift for seeing the world in a unique and magical way that made everyone they knew smile and laugh.

Once they had finished their ice cream, they piled back in the car and drove towards the woods. It was a twelve-minute drive from where the bowling alley was to the woods. Kristy made sure that the kids were all covered in sun cream and made sure that they all had hats on and then she let them go wild! Matt found a spot in the clearing and made sure that the kids could see where they were and that they could see where the kids were. He got a blanket out the car and placed it on the grass. He then flopped down on the blanket with one hand behind his head and the other by his side. Kristy smiled as she crouched down. She sat up for a while, listening to the giggles and playful screams coming from her children.

Matt propped himself up on one arm, "What you thinking about?" he asked her, smiling.

Kristy looked down at him, "About how lucky I am. I have four beautiful children and an amazing husband. I love my job, I love our home." She smiled, "I love life right now."

Matt sat up so he was facing her, "And I love you, Kristy Simmons, more than life itself."

Kristy placed her hand on his face, gently, "It's great having you states side again."

Matt chuckled, "It's great being here all the time." He looked off into the woods, "I'm going to get to see my children grow up and I'm going to get to be a part of it."

"We made it work though, didn't we?" She asked, lying down in the position Matt had been in moments ago.

Matt joined her, "We sure did. And that was because we loved each other. I had a reason as to why I was in the IRT and you raised our beautiful babies. When I was at home, that's all I was focused on. You and the kids."

Kristy slipped her hand into his and squeezed tightly, "I was thinking…"

"That's dangerous!" Matt laughed.

Kristy swatted his arm playfully and then she turned to face him, "I want one more child. Just one…" she looked at him, biting her lip nervously.

Matt looked at her, amazed. "We said that last time and we ended up with the twins…"

"I know, but I feel like, now that you are going to be here more often, that we should do it. It feels right Matt…"

Matt sighed and turned to face Kristy, "Well, I'm sure one more can't hurt!"

Kristy squealed and threw her arms round her husband. She kissed him deeply, making every moment tangible.

"Mommy… Daddy!" called two little voices and the couple broke apart.

"Yeah sweetie?" called Matt, looking for the person belonging to the voice.

"Come and see what Jake found!"

Matt jumped up and held out his hand to help Kristy up. She joined him and together, they ran off into the woods.

Hand in hand.

Smiling from ear to ear.