~*~Chapter Two~*~
"Eat the cookie, Daddy," a little voice said. Luke sat up groggily in his bed as he saw his four year old daughter and the crumbled cookie clutched in her little hand. There were crumbs and frosting all over his pillow.
"Daddy, you broke the cookie," Staci said sadly as she looked down at the demolished cookie within her hand.
"It's alright, darlin'," Luke soothed her. "There are plenty of cookies in the kitchen."
Another little voice giggled, and Luke turned over to see his son Lucky lying on his other side. His face was smeared with pink sprinkles and frosting, so obviously he had been into the cookies as well. "Did you save any cookies for your mommy?" Luke asked the mischievous twins. He tickled them, first Lucky, then his sister. Staci giggled loudly, trying to twist away from Luke's wriggling fingers.
Before Lucky and Staci could answer his question, Laura appeared in the doorway, a fussing Nikolas on her hip. "Luke, something's wrong with Nik. I think we need to take him to a doctor," Laura said as worry furrowed her brow.
"What's wrong, Laura?" Luke asked with a frown. "He was just fine when I put him to bed last night."
"It's mother's intuition. I know when something's wrong with my baby," Laura responded as she looked down at Nikolas. "We need to take him to the doctor."
"Well, alright," Luke said reluctantly. "But who's gonna watch the other kids?"
"Anna can watch them. I bet they'd love to play with Robin," Laura replied.
"I wanna go to Robin's house!" Staci spoke up eagerly.
Luke ruffled Staci's blond hair as he moved her aside and stepped out of bed. "I'll take my shower then... and you can call the doctor," he said to Laura.
"Okay, I will get the kids ready," she said. She started to walk out of the bedroom but then suddenly she turned and looked at her husband.
"Thank you, Luke."
Their gazes locked and held as the children scattered, leaving the bedroom. No doubt they were running off in search of more cookies.
"Anything for you, Laura," he answered.