A/N: This is for my sweet friend, Sue. Better known to you readers as sand1128. She is a great source of encouragement for me and is always there when I need her! Thanks, Sue! Happy Belated Birthday!

"It's been a long day, let's take a bath together?"

Things in the Friar house had been especially hectic the last few weeks. Riley was trying to juggle her online articles along with the kids, house, and ranch. Lucas had been unusually busy with the clinic. The only reason he had been around was because the clinic was located here at the ranch. He hadn't got to spend much time with her and the kids at all.

He has gotten called out at 4 a.m. for a horse that was about to foal at the McCullough place and hadn't been seen or heard from since. He was probably out on another ranch somewhere giving vaccines or tending to another sick animal. It was nearly 4:00 p.m. And Riley needed to walk to the gate to meet the bus that would drop their daughter Josie off from school. She had just talked CJ into finding his shoes and gotten him ready to walk out the door when her cell rang. She looked at the screen and saw that it was her mother.

"Hi, mom!" she answered.

"Hey, Riley. How are you?" Topanga Matthews asked her daughter. "I hadn't heard from you all week. Dad wanted me to call and see if everything is okay.

"Oh, you know, busy, busy. CJ and I are walking to the gate to meet Josie, now. Lucas got called out at 4 a.m. and hasn't been back home yet today. So, the kids and ranch are up to me. Not to mention it's just been a crazy couple of weeks. You can tell dad that we're fine and that I'm sorry for not calling." she told her mother.

CJ apparently knew who she was on the phone with. As they were walking, he pulled on Riley's pants leg and asked, "Momma, I wanna talk to Nana Topie and Poppy, please?"

Riley smiled at him and said, "Yes buddy, you can talk to Nana and Poppy in just a minute, okay? Let momma finish talking first, ok?"

"Is that my sweet little CJ? I miss the kids, Riley. Dad and I are coming for a visit soon." Topanga could never contain her excitement when she heard Josie or CJ in the background.

"Yes, he wants to talk but first I have a question. Auggie and Ava, has he popped the question yet?" She asked, knowing this was a sore subject for her mother.

"Uck! Why did you have to bring that up?" Topanga answered. Auggie and Ava had a tumultuous relationship at best. Auggie had followed in Cory's footsteps and became a history teacher and had just started teaching at JQA Middle School. He and Ava had broken up during college and had gotten back together about a year ago and had been happy ever since. Sure
Topanga liked her, she just wanted Auggie to make sure this is what he wanted.

"Mom, you know it's inevitable. They've been together longer than me and Lucas." Riley was laughing at her mother's disdain for Ava.

"I know that they're meant to be together, but I still have issues with the way she treated him all through college. The on again off again nature of their relationship. The girl was so flighty. I love her, I do. It's just he's my baby. I want her to treat him the way he deserves to be treated." Topanga explained.

"I know, mom. Auggie loves her though, and she loves him. She's grown up a lot in the last 2 years. They fought for each other and decided they were worth the effort." Riley said, trying to calm her mother.

"Hmm, seems like someone else has been through this," Topanga commented.

"Yea," Riley said with a laugh. "We made it to the gate and this little man is dying to talk to his Nana Topie," Riley said her goodbyes and handed her phone to CJ.

Riley checked the mailbox and sat on the bench Lucas had made and placed at the gate. When Josie had started school last fall, it became a daily ritual for her daddy to walk her to the end of their driveway to the gate to wait for the bus. Josie had wanted a place to sit.

Once the bus arrived and the little girl blond girl with Lucas face and Riley's eyes saw her momma and brother waiting for her she started skipping toward them. Riley's heart swelled at the sight of her first born. She smiled at the energetic little girl and opened her arms for the hug she knew was coming.

"Momma!" the girl yelled and launched herself into her mother's waiting arms.

Riley bent down and held her daughter to her, breathing in the scent of her. She smelled like sunshine and had a smile that lit up any room.

"Hi, Jo! We missed you today, how was school?" Riley asked her daughter.

"It was good. Lanie and I played at recess together, and Carter Gaynes chased me. He was tryin' to kiss me, yuck!" Josie explained to her mother.

"Carter Gaynes?" Riley asked. Lucas would not be happy to hear about boys chasing his daughter already. She imagined he would be a bit like her own father.

"Yea, he's just a stinky old boy, who's bubba talking to?" She asked when she spied her brother with her mother's phone in hand.

"Who is your favorite person in New York City?" Riley asked with a smile.

"Uncle Auggie!" She exclaimed.

She should have known that would be her response. Josie had her Uncle Auggie wrapped around her little finger and Auggie thought his niece could do no wrong. Could be the fact they named her after him.

"No, guess again." Riley laughed.

Josie thought hard, "Uncle Josh?"

"No," Riley answered.

Josie was twisting her face trying to figure out who it could be, then she smiled, "Poppy and Nana?"

Riley just laughed at her daughter and shook her head yes.

Josie asked her brother if she could talk. Her brother said his goodbyes and handed the phone to his sister.

Riley and the kids walked back to the house. CJ ran circles around Riley and Josie. Riley listening to Josie talk to Poppy about the boy that was chasing her at recess and imagining the freak out her father was having. They made it back to the house and Josie and CJ ran inside to wash up. They had handed the phone back to Riley and she was now talking to her father.

"Hey daddy, how are you? Sorry, we haven't called in awhile. It's been a busy couple of weeks."

She said to her father.

"Riley, who's Carter? Why was he chasing my granddaughter around at recess trying to kiss her?" Cory asked.

"Dad, calm down! She's only in kindergarten, it's completely normal." Riley had to laugh at her father.

"Does Lucas know about this? If not, he needs to be made aware. It's never too early to start stealing their shoes. Let him know that he can't mess with our Jojo." Cory was being completely serious.

"Oh, daddy. I have to go. The kids want a snack and then I have to get dinner fixed for them. Bye, dad. I love you!" Riley said and then hung up her phone.

Over the next few hours, she helped Josie with her daily reading and practicing her writing. She got both kids fed and cleaned up the supper dishes with still no word from Lucas. It was now almost 7 p.m. This wasn't like him. She called Lucas' Aunt Jessie and asked her if she would come watch Josie and CJ so she could try to find him.

It took Aunt Jessie about 20 minutes to get there. She told the kids to be good and mind their aunt. That when she said it was bedtime there had better be no arguments. She kissed them both goodnight and told Jessie that if she needed her to just call.

Her first stop was the vet clinic. It was closed already but Riley knew where the appointment book was. She found the information she needed and started making phone calls.

After a half an hour on the phone, she still hadn't been able to contact him. Calls to his personal cell phone had been going to voicemail for the past few hours. She was getting ready to leave the clinic when she noticed the answering machine blink with a message. She listened to the message…Lucas, it's Tim McCullough again, I know you've had a long day and I hate to bother you again, but I've got some cows that are sick and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind giving me a call. I sure appreciate it. Thanks.

Riley took out her phone and went into her contact and pulled up Tim McCullough and made the call. He picked up on the second ring.

"Hello," Tim answered.

"Hey, Tim, It's Riley Friar, I was wondering if you have heard from Lucas? I haven't heard from him since he left home this morning." She asked.

"I thought he would have been home by now. He came by and checked on few of my cows. I left him with his vehicle out in the cow pasture and that was a couple of hours ago." Tim said with concern in his voice.

"I can't get him on his phone if it's not too much trouble, could you go out there and see if he's still there? I'm heading to my car now and heading to your place." She hoped he was there.

"No trouble at all, Riley. If I find him I'll give you a call." He told her.

"Thanks, Tim." She said.

Riley got to her car and took off down the drive. She sent up a prayer that Lucas was okay. She was nervous as she drove down the highway to the McCullough ranch. She had just turned in the drive when her phone rang. She stopped the car and answered her cell, not taking the time to see who it was.

"Hello," she answered.

"Riley, it's Tim, I found him." He said with the hint of a giggle in his voice. "He's ok, but you need to come down here and meet me, please."

"Oh, thank goodness, I'm in your driveway right now. Do I just go straight instead of turning at the house?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am. The pasture is about a half mile. Our vehicles are on the right side of the road. You can't miss us." Tim said.

As she hung up her phone, she noticed the sound of amusement in Tim's voice. She had just gotten to the turn for the house and kept driving straight. She finally caught a glimpse of Tim's pick up. She noticed the old suburban, that Lucas used for his calls outside of the clinic, parked in front of Tim's truck. She pulled in behind his truck and got out and walked to where Tim was standing.

She noticed the smile on Tim's face and still didn't see Lucas. "Where is Lucas," she asked.

Tim pointed in the direction of the Suburban and she noticed the back door was open. She walked over to Lucas' vehicle and looked around the door. All she could see were Lucas' feet and hear his soft snores. He had fallen asleep.

"He left home so early this morning, and has been so busy lately, it must have caught up with him." She explained.

Tim laughed, "I didn't have the heart to wake him up. He seems to be sleeping pretty soundly. I'm sorry I had to call him back out here this evening, Riley."

She looked at Tim and said, "It's okay, Tim. He would have been upset if you hadn't. His patients are important to him…well his patient's owners. I'm gonna wake him up and drive him home. Is it okay if we leave the suburban parked out here tonight? We'll come get it in the morning."

Tim said it was fine and that he would get one of his hands to drive it back to the ranch. She told him they could park it at the clinic and leave the keys in the glove box. She thanked Tim as he left and took Lucas' medical bag and put it in her car. She climbed in the back of the suburban and gently shook Lucas. He stirred a bit and tried wrapping his arms around her. She shook him again and he woke with a start. He sat up quickly and realized where he was and what had happened.

She could see the confusion on his face and then the blush that rose to his ears and cheeks. "Hey, Dr. Friar, how are you?" she said with a soft smile.

"I fell asleep didn't I?" he asked her. He rubbed his hands over his face and let out a sigh. "The last thing I remember was taking my phone out to call you, but it was dead. I had just tended to these cows and was about to head home."

"I got worried when all my calls to your phone kept going straight to voicemail. I went to the clinic to find your appointment list for the day and started making phone calls. It was a good thing the light on the answering machine was blinking." She went on to explain how Tim had come out here to check on him for her and found him asleep.

"I remember seeing that my phone was dead and I had a headache so I took a couple of pain relievers and thought I'd lay here for a minute," he said as he checked his watch. "That was over two hours ago. I must have been more tired than I thought.

"You must have been, these last couple weeks finally caught up with you." She said. "You ready to go home. I know two somebodies that are probably still awake, expecting a good night kiss from their daddy."

He climbed out of the back of the suburban and grabbed his hat, then he helped Riley down. She told him, Tim would make sure the vehicle was driven back to the clinic tonight. That they weren't to worry about it.

They got in Riley's car and headed for home. They hadn't even gotten out of the McCullough's drive when she looked over to say something to him and noticed he was asleep. She smiled and turned the car towards home.

Once they got there, Lucas was nearly wide awake. He and Riley went into the house and she excused herself to go check on the kids, Lucas filled his aunt in on what happened and thanked her for coming to sit with the kids. He walked her to her truck and headed back inside. He met Riley at the bottom of the stairs.

"You are needed upstairs, daddy. They missed you today and you need to ask your daughter about why Carter Gaynes was chasing her at recess today." Riley said with a smirk on her face.

"Carter Gaynes. I think I went to high school with his dad. Why was he chasing Josie around the playground?" he asked.

"Nope, that is a question for Josie. My dad wants to make sure you know all about this boy. Now go tell your children good night so they can go to sleep. Do you need me to fix you a plate?" she asked.

"No, I'm good. I just want to take a hot shower and go to bed." He said as he followed her up the stairs.

She disappeared down the hall to the master bedroom, while he headed to CJ's room. CJ was already asleep when Lucas walked into the room. He sat on his son's bed and looked at him. He leaned down and kissed him on the head and whispered in his ear. He turned off the bedside lamp, leaving the glow of the baseball-shaped night light as the only light in the room. Lucas pulled the door so that it was left open a few inches. He turned and headed across the hall to Josie's room.

Noticing that she was still awake, he walked into the room and that got him a huge smile from the girl, "Hey sweet pea, how come you're still awake?" he asked as he sat on the edge of her bed.

Her face lit up at the sight of her father, "Daddy!" she said as she sat up and held her arms open for him. "I didn't want to go to sleep without seeing you." She told him.

He accepted the hug she offered, kissing the top of her head as she had her little arms wrapped around his neck. He held onto her for a few seconds longer than normal and laid her back on her bed. "You can go to sleep now, I'm here."

"But you didn't ask me about my day yet." She told him.

"Oh, right. I'm sorry, daddy's a little tired. Momma said I'm supposed to ask you what happened with Carter Gaynes at recess today. So, tell me, what did he do?"

She had a shy smile on her face and said, "He was trying to kiss me and I told him no and he started chasing me. You don't have to worry though, boys are yucky! Poppy said something about taking his shoes, whatever that means."

Lucas wasn't anywhere near ready for boys, this was his little angel, she was only six. He has to talk to his father in law on how to deal with this.

Lucas looked at Josie and smiled, 'promise me you won't like boys until you're at least 30, can you make me that promise, sweet pea?

"Oh daddy, you and Poppy are so silly." She said as she put her little hands on both sides of his face and looked him in the eye, " 'sides, you, bubba, Poppy, Pappy Jim, and all the uncles are the only boys that I will ever love. Uncle Auggie, Uncle Josh, Uncle Zay, Uncle Farkle and Uncle Eric."

Lucas had tears in his eyes, he wished her words were true. That the only boys that would ever be in her life, were her family, "that's the best idea I've heard all say sweetie, but if that Carter Gaynes, keeps trying to kiss on you, I want you to tell daddy, ok?"

She took her hands from his face and turned on her side. She nodded her head yes as her eyelids grew too heavy for her keep them open anymore.

Lucas pulled the covers up over her and kissed her one last time before turning off the light and leaving her room.

He was going to go downstairs to lock up and turn off the lights but noticed it was already done. He headed back down the hall to the master bedroom. He opened the door and was caught off guard by what he saw.

Riley was sitting on their bed in an old Yankees shirt of his, she had her hair pulled up in a messy bun and she had lit some candles and had some soft music on. "Time for you to relax, Lucas, the last couple of weeks have taken their toll on you. I called your Casey and told her to clear your schedule for tomorrow. You can spend the day with CJ and have all evening with Josie. They have missed you and so have I."

"You sure know how to set the mood babe, but I'm not sure I'm up for what you may have in mind," he told her.

She looked at him with a smirk, "get your mind out of the gutter, Friar! That's not what I was suggesting."

"My mind isn't in the gutter. Besides what's with all the candles and music?" he asked her.

"I wanted to make it calm and relaxing in here. I thought I'd give you a massage then we could put that big bath tub to use. What do you say, Lucas? It's been a long day, let's take a bath together?" she asked him. "I think it would be the perfect way to end this day."

"It could also lead to us staying up half the night, while I have my way with you." He whispered in her ear.

His warm breath on her ear, made her a little warm all over, but she pushed him away, "Listen up, cowboy, I would love nothing more than to spend the night all wrapped up in you, but you need to rest and recharge, you've never fallen asleep on the job before. Your body needs rest and your mind should focus on something other than work."

"He smiled a devilish grin and reached for her again, "my mind is on something other than my work, the only thing I'm thinking about is what I'm going to do to you?" he said with a husky voice.

"Lucas, I'm serious!" she said as she pushed him away. She jumped up off the bed and looked him in the eyes. "I don't want this to happen again and it is something other than you having fallen asleep in the back of your SUV. I was really worried and it got me to thinking that I don't know what I'd do if something ever happened to you. Please, if not for me, then for the kids!"

Lucas saw the fear in her eyes and realized just how scared she was. "Riley, I'm sorry. I'll do whatever you want me to do. I'll cut back to a four-day work week or take a mandatory three-day weekend once a month. I don't want you to feel this way ever again. Baby, you and the kids are my world, don't you know that. I never want to do anything to lose that."

Riley wiped the tears that had escaped with the back of her hand. She didn't know why it scared her so much. He reached for her and she jumped into his arms. "I'm sorry, I'm freaking out over something as simple as you falling asleep. I just worry about how hard you push yourself, sometimes. No job is worth risking your health. Now, you change and I'll start the tub and work on that massage."

He let her go to start the tub. He never thought he pushed himself that hard. Sure, sometimes the clinic and his work took over, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. But he'd do whatever he needed to do to make her happy.

An hour and a half later, Riley watched as he slept, slowly drifting off herself. She had massaged his neck and back to ease the tension and then they had soaked in the hot bath until the water started getting cold and they were all pruney. It was one of the best night's sleep either one of them had in a while.