Sofia had fallen back to sleep just as Jake left the room. It was still too early to open the shop, and with the lack of business due to the storm, it wouldn't be too bad to open a little later. Sofia nuzzled her pillow she could smell her husbands scent on it. A smile slowly winded its way across her face as she took in a deep breath. She loved the way Jake smelled; the mixture of muskiness and sand made her feel at home.

"Mom…you awake?" A small voice squeaked out in front of her, Sofia squinted with one eye to see which one of her children was calling. A pair of golden brown eyes enclosed by huge black round-rimed glasses greeted her squint.

"Mom you up?"

"Mmm…yes Magnolia…What's up?" Sofia lifted her head up and placed a feather light kiss on her daughter's forehead. Magnolia pushed her glasses up with the tip of her tail and gave her mother a worried smile.

"Mom, y-you love me…right?" Sofia met her daughter's eyes with a confused glance.

"Yes of course I love you, why would you say that dear?"

"I know you love me…but how much are we talking about? Is it a 'semi-love' or a 'I'm-never-ever-going-to-scream-or-yell-at-you-or-punish-you-because-I-love-you-so-so-much?"

"…What did you and your sister do this time?" Sofia rolled her eyes and slowly got out of bed.

"Nothing…why would you believe that Auberi and I would do anything wrong. I mean can't a girl ask her mom how much she loves her without be subjected to an interrogation?"

"You do forget that I was once your age hon…" Sofia gave her daughter a semi-amused look as the two left the bedroom and headed towards the kitchen.

"What did you two do this time? Set the stove on fire? Accidentally lock your younger brother in the top cabinet? Decided to make a dress out of the good curtains in the living room?"

"…No…"

"Then it can't be that ba—" Sofia' mouth hung open as she passed through the kitchen door. The entire room was covered in bits of mangled pieced of silken fabric, in the sink; there were huge chunks of silk ribbon that were cascading over the edge. At the bottom of the sink was Jake, his head inside the cabinet with a flashlight in his mouth and a screwdriver in his tail. He was trying to unclog the pieced of silk that had twisted themselves into the garburator. Beside him sat the oldest, she was holding another flashlight; pointing at the mess of silken knots.

"Auberi, for Christ sake sweetheart! Hold the darn light steady, I can't see a darn thing if ye keep on jiggling the light," Jake huffed out; Auberi simply rolled her golden eyes upwards.

"What…happened…to…my...kitchen?" Sofia said in astonishment.

"Hon—" 'Bang' "ow…don't worry everything is under control," Jake said and placed his tail over his head. Sofia could see her eldest daughter trying to sneak out of the room from the corner of her eye.

"HALT!"

"God did it Jesus helped!" Auberi shouted out as she turned around to face her very angry mother.

"Auberi Priscilla Beans Rattler you get your butt back in this kitchen right now!" Sofia growled out in an authoritative voice. The young snake slowly slithered over and stopped just inches away from her mother.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Uh…I'm a product of my environment…" Auberi looked up and gave her mom a tiny shrug. Sofia stood there silently for a moment, 'my mom was right…I have kids that were just as bad as me…' she thought to herself

"Lord give me strength?" Sofia said as she looked up at the ceiling.

"Daddy, who is Mommy talkin' to?" Jr. whispered loudly to his father. Jake bent down and placed his face along side his sons.

"I'll tell ye when yer older son," he gave his son a reassuring pat on the head and stood up straight.

"Am I grounded?"

"No dear of course not, you can go on your merry way and I'll clean up your mess…"

"That's sarcasm ain't it?"

"You got it in one! I expect this mess cleaned up by noon, if its not then you're on kitchen duty for the next month…got it?"

"…Yes mom," Auberi gave out a small sigh before she slithered past her mother and towards the mess. Sofia gave out a small sigh of frustration and turned towards her husband who already had a piping hot cup of coffee in his coils.

"Here babe, am guessin' you'll be needin' this," he said and placed the cup gingerly in her coils.

"Thanks hon," Sofia gave him a small smile and placed a light kiss on his lips.

"Ewwww! Mommy and Daddy are kissin'! That's gross!" Jr. covered his eyes with his tail.

"If it weren't fer this here kissin' you wouldn't be 'ere te day son," Jake chuckled out as he hoisted his son up in his coils and fooled around. This caused a burst of giggles to escape the young lads lips, causing a loving smile to take its place on Sofia's mouth. She sipped her coffee slowly, allowing the wonderful aromas to fill her senses.

"Look at the time! Hon you have work soon,"

"Oh yer right, ok Jr. we'll continue this later"

"Awww,"

"Sorry bud," Jake placed his son on the ground and headed towards the back door.

"I'll be home around six," he gave Sofia a seductive wink and opened the door.

"I'll be waiting," she called back and blew him a kiss good-bye. "Lord today is going to be a long day…" Sofia huffed out with a smile.