All characters except for Annabelle Causley, Frederick Randal Laskaris and Rosa Maria de la Luna and a few others belong to Stephenie Meyer…and, of course, the writer is not receiving any profit for this story whatsoever.

This story follows right after Already Gone. The timeline of the story backtracks to two months after Rick and Leah return from their honeymoon in Greece after the prologue, which will reappear later in the story.

AN: Ses, I LOVE YOU! It's such a great thing to see a constant reviewer/reader leaving wonderfully insightful (not to mention funny!) reviews on every single one of my chapters. It's those long reviews that give me the inspiration to push along this story, which is quickly becoming one of my favorites (although I am particularly attached to Already Gone). I am enjoying getting to find Seth's voice and how he thinks...and I've introduced a new character (not the mystery woman) that will become important in Seth's life but not the center.

82c10akaLYnn, I haven't forgotten about you. You've made it through each of my stories and I am so thankful for that loyalty.
Enjoy the new chapter and remember to review!

Chapter Six

Seth took a deep breath as he watched the hot red-orange orb slowly rise into the sky, pushing itself out of the horizon.

He could hear the crashing waves behind him; feel the cold drops that occasionally made it as far as where he sat wearing cut off jeans and nothing else.

He had left his shoes and shirt behind in his car, wanting to enjoy the early morning breeze on his bare skin, the cool silky sand between his toes.

Resting his arms on his drawn up knees, he watched the sky as it slowly lightened from dark blue to a brilliant peacock blue, the clouds wisps of white cotton.

"You're not from around here," a soft voice behind him made him tense up as he heard the approaching footsteps sinking into the sifting sand.

Looking up into a heart shaped face, he stared for a few seconds before relaxing, giving her a smile guaranteed to make her melt, "What gave me away?"

"Probably the not from a salon tan," she shrugged, digging her toes into the cool sand as she looked at the rising sun, "Beautiful view, uh?"

"People around here get their tans in a salon," Seth looked her over while she kept her eyes on the horizon, admiring the long slim legs, the narrow waist, the long red-brown hair and heart shaped face.

She looked down at him, catching him giving her the once over, "What do you think?"

"Nice," Seth grinned as he tilted his head up to look into her eyes, "Very nice. Are you wearing contacts?"

"No," she shook her head, reaching up to twist her hair into a knot at the base of her neck, "I know, violet eyes are unusual, but they're real…do you surf?"

"Uh, yeah," Seth tried to catch up with the conversation, wanting to laugh at the whole situation, "I don't have a board though."

"You surf but don't have a board," she raised an eyebrow, placing her hands on her slim hips, "Where are you from?"

"La Push…Washington."

"No kidding," she exclaimed, dropping down to sit next to him, keeping her knees tucked up against her chest, "I just moved to Port Angeles end of July. I'm here visiting my family for the day. I'm a teacher aide."

"Okay," Seth smiled at her, thinking fast to catch up to her, "Teacher aide…what do you teach?"

"Music," she leaned against her legs, wrapping her long arms around them, "Voice, piano, violin, some saxophone, guitar…my favorite is definitely guitar. I have several students that are really gifted then there are those who just want an easy grade. Do you play an instrument?"

"No," Seth wondered to himself if her music ability, mainly the vocal and wind kind, made it possible for her to talk a mile a minute without taking a breath, "I've always wanted to learn to play the guitar though."

"I could teach you," she smiled at him, her purple eyes slanting at the corners as a dimple appeared on her left cheek, "I love teaching. There's the acoustic guitar, classical guitar, electrical guitar and my personal favorite, the bass guitar."

"That's a lot of options," Seth chuckled, looking away towards the horizon, the sun well on its way towards the top of the sky, "Which would be easiest to start with?"

"Oh, don't go with the easiest, go with the one you'll enjoy the most," she dug her hands into the sand, pulling them out to let it trickle through her fingers, "We can try each one. I have all of them at my apartment in Port Angeles. My love is a twelve string acoustic guitar. If you're from La Push, what are you doing here?"

"Whoa," Seth laughed, wondering if he'd ever felt this dizzy before, "You change directions faster than a vampire. I just came to see the sunrise."

"That's a funny saying, there's no such thing as vampires. You could have seen the sunrise at La Push. There's a cliff there that would give you a great view," she took a deep breath, brushing sand off her slightly shaking hands, "I'm sorry, it's just…when I get nervous, I tend to talk really fast."

"What are you nervous about," Seth tilted his head to the side, keeping his eyes on her face, admiring the smooth almond color of her skin.

"You," she answered; her nervous habit of talking fast making it impossible for her to lie. Lying took thought and thought took contemplation…she couldn't do that when she was running off at the mouth.

"Me? What, you think I'm going to bite you or something?"

"Well," she ducked her head, staring at her feet as she piled sand onto them, "The way you stare at me."

"I think you're pretty," Seth kept his eyes on her, liking the way her skin deepened into a rosy hue, "Is that a problem?"

"No," she shook her head, biting her lip as she took a deep breath to calm her nerves, "I'm sorry, I'm just not used to guys…thinking –saying that I'm pretty."

"Don't apologize about that," Seth chuckled as he turned to look at the view before him, "You can apologize for making me think so early in the morning, especially when I haven't slept all night."

"Why haven't you slept?"

He turned to look at her, smiling as she ducked her head…she had been staring at him, "Yesterday was my twenty-first birthday."

"Partying all night, uh?"

"Not all night," Seth looked at her out of the corner of his eye, catching her doing the same thing, silently laughing as she quickly focused on the sand over her feet, "My sister threw a surprise party for me…but I spent most of the night driving here."

"To see the sun rise," she smiled at him, lowering her long lashes, unaware how that affected Seth as he sucked his breath in.

"Yeah," Seth stared at her, intrigued at the combination of quirky innocence and shy seduction that made up the girl next to him, "And to catch a mermaid."

She laughed, covering her mouth in surprise as she stared at him, relaxing as he smiled at her, "There are no mermaids here. The water's too cold…so you have to go further south to find those."

"Oh well," Seth pushed himself to his feet, dusting off his cut off jeans, "Guess I'll have to take you instead then."

"I guess so," she smiled up at him, taking his offered hand, laughing as he pulled her up onto her feet, "Although I don't do lots of the things mermaids do."

"What kind of things do mermaids do," Seth kept her hand in his, rubbing his thumb against the pulse point at the inside of her wrist.

"I've never asked," she said seriously, watching him watch her before they both started laughing, standing close to each other.

They both felt it…the beginning of something…special.

"Mmm, something smells good," Rick walked into the kitchen barefoot, wearing low slung jeans and nothing else as he rubbed a towel over his wet hair before flinging it over his shoulder.

Leah smiled as Rick stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he rested his chin on her shoulder, "Spaghetti and meatballs. Mom's dropping Gabe off before lunch time and it's his favorite."

"That should add to the joy our news is going to give him," Rick kissed her neck, sliding his hands lower on her stomach, "So should we just tell him that he's no longer going to be your baby?"

Leah took a deep breath, blinking her eyes rapidly to keep from tearing up, "I don't know…I can't believe he's growing up so fast! He's going to be three in seven months…oh my God!"

"What?" Rick turned Leah around, looking down into her wide eyes, "Leah, what is it? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Leah took a deep breath, "I just realized that the baby's going to be born in May…it might even be born on Gabriel's birthday!"

"Talk about a great birthday gift," Rick grinned as he pulled her closer, his hands on her hips, kissing her lips, "He's definitely going to have proof that he's a big boy…what with a baby brother or sister to let him know."

Leah giggled, sliding her arms around his shoulders, deepening the kiss before realizing that she still had the simmering sauce on the stove, "Oh, no, we can't get into that right now, I have meatballs to make."

"Want some help," Rick let her turn around in his arms, not moving as he looked over her shoulder, watching her check the pasta then stir the sauce, which he knew from experience was amazingly good.

"No, I've got everything under control," Leah placed the stirring spoon on its holder, spontaneously clapping her hands as she remembered something, "Oh! Look what I made."

She pointed at the side cupboard, smiling up at him with pride as he stared at the pie pan, "What is it?"

"It's a mud pie," Leah bit her bottom lip before moving towards it; "I got the recipe off the internet. It's got chocolate pudding, butterscotch pudding, cream cheese, whip cream, butter, sugar, and a graham cracker crust," she showed him two small bowls, "I'm going to add crushed Oreos on top to make it look like dirt then gummy worms. Gabe's going to love it!"

"Yeah, so are you when the sugar goes to his head," Rick swiped a gummy worm from its bowl, "Don't you think that's a little too much for a two year old?"

"Oh, I forgot," Leah placed the bowls onto the counter, "Emily's dropping the twins off after lunch…they'll be here in time for dessert."

"So we're babysitting," Rick smiled at her, not minding when she forgot to tell him important things like three over-active toddlers running roughshod around his house, "Nice."

"Yeah," Leah moved towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist as she looked into his blue eyes, "You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not," Rick held her close, kissing her lips, "Although it is bothersome that Bradley won't talk to me."

"Bradley doesn't talk much," Leah kissed him before moving back to the stove, "You shouldn't take it personal."

"I don't, it's just…bothersome."

"I'm sure he'll grow out of it…eventually," Leah opened the refrigerator, pulling out the ingredients she had prepared to make the meatballs, "I mean, he and Gabe are tighter than tight…he's bound to pick up Gabe's social habits."

"Or hide behind them," Rick leaned down to kiss Leah's cheek, "I'm going to go finish getting ready. Our son should be here –"

"Daddy! Mama! Grama got me a turtle!"

"Right on time," Rick turned as Sue walked in behind an exited Gabriel, a box turtle in his small chubby hands, "I hope you plan on keeping that at your place, Sue."

"Of course," Sue smiled at Rick as she moved towards her daughter, giving her a quick hug and a kiss, "We brought him over in a box but he wanted to show it to you both."

"His name's Lancelot," Gabe held the turtle up to his father, an expectant look on his face.

"Well, I can see why," Rick inspected the turtle, thinking the poor reptile looked scared out of its shell…or into its shell, as was the case, "That's a very brave looking turtle you got there."

"Yes, he is," Gabe dance in place, jostling the turtle, his father saving it before it toppled to the tiled floor, "He goes into his shell to get ready to fight."

Leah laughed as she crouched down to her son's level, "Who told you that?"

"Grampa Charlie," Gabe jumped a few times, "He says turtles have their things they fight with inside their shell…that's why they have to go in there."

Leah laughed, hugging the excited boy tight, letting go when he began to wiggle, "That's right. He would tell you that."

"Well, I have to go," Sue took the turtle from Rick, leaning down to look into Gabriel's eyes, "I'm going to take Lancelot with me, okay? You'll get to see him when you come over for dinner with mommy and daddy."

"Okay," Gabe reached up to kiss his grandmother's cheek, "Make sure he has what he needs before he goes fighting bad guys."

"I will," Sue straightened up, smiling at Leah and Rick, "I will see you at six."

"Do you need me to bring anything mama," Leah asked, moving over to the stove to check on her sauce.

"No, just yourselves," Sue gave them both a sly smile, "And whatever news…announcement…you might have."

"At least act like you have no idea," Leah laughed as she quickly rolled the meatballs, gently dropping them into the sauce.

"Oh please Lee," Sue arched an eyebrow, brushing back her hair, "The only one that's completely clueless is Seth."

Leah laughed, dropping the last meatball before moving to the sink and washing her hands, "I just hope he doesn't join in on the joking Collin's bound to start as soon as we tell the pack."

"I assume you'll be announcing it at the tribal meeting tomorrow night," Sue watched as her grandson ran out of the kitchen to the spare bedroom where his toys were kept.

"Yes," Leah moved towards Rick, wrapping her arms around him as he placed an arm around her shoulders, "Rick won't be able to be there since it's after sunset, but we thought it would be best to announce it at the meeting…what with the entire pack being there and all."

"I'll be by the forest line," Rick kissed the top of Leah's head, squeezing her shoulders, "Don't feel like I'm being left out, Leah mou."

"But you are," Leah looked up at him, her brown-green eyes bright, "They know you can't join us after the sun sets but they still schedule those council meetings in the evening."

"Oh Leah," Sue took a deep breath before smiling at them both, "You know what, I'll let your brother tell you. I have to go otherwise dinner won't be ready when you show up."

Leah and Rick watched Sue walk out of the kitchen before they turned to look at each other.

"It doesn't bother me, Leah mou," he kissed her forehead before letting her go, walking out of the kitchen, calling behind his shoulder, "I'm going to go finish getting dressed then go play with Gabriel. Call us when lunch is ready."

Leah stood in the middle of the kitchen, staring after him, knowing that it did bother him. Having the council meetings at a time when he couldn't be a part of them left him outside the circle, so to speak, feeling like he was still the only one left of a pack…no longer part of a pack…closing her eyes, she shook her head, trying to figure out how to change that.

If she could change that.

"Uncle Rick," a little hand tugged at his jeans. Looking down, he stared into Bradley's big dark brown eyes, surprised and slightly pleased that the little boy was addressing him.

"Yes, Bradley," he crouched down to get to the little boy's level.

Bradley stared at him before quietly asking, "Will you come outside and play with Gabe and me?"

Gabriel ran down the hall, holding a small basket filled with toys, "Daddy will play with us, Brad! Right Daddy?"

"Sure," Rick straightened up, moving towards the back door through the kitchen, smiling at Leah while she and Bailey, who was standing on a chair by the sink, were stirring something in a pitcher, "Would you two girls like to play with us outside?"

"Girls can't play with us," Gabe stopped by the back door, reaching up for the doorknob but unable to turn it, "We're gonna play soldiers and robbers."

"We are?" Bradley gave his cousin a confused look, "I thought we were going to play cars and trucks."

"That too," Gabe hopped up and down, waiting impatiently for his father to open the door.

"Thank you for inviting us," Leah smiled at Rick before primly saying, "But Bailey and I are going to have a tea party in the backyard."

"You can't have a tea party in the backyard," Gabe turned to frown at his mother.

"Yeah, we're gonna play cars and trucks with soldiers and robbers," Bradley's face had an identical look as his cousin's, "There's not enough room."

"Sure there is," Rick ruffled the little boys' hair, laughing as they tilted their heads to turn their frowns at him, "We'll use one half of the yard and the girls can use the other."

"Why, thank you, that is mighty kind of you," Leah turned to smile at Bailey, "Isn't it Bailey, honey?"

"Yes, it is," Bailey nodded, trying to imitate her aunt's tone, enjoying the playacting, "You can come to our tea party, Uncle Rick."

"Thank you Bailey," Rick smiled at the little girl, briefly wondering what one of his own would be like, "I will."

"Tea parties are for girls," Gabe placed the basket he was holding on the ground, glaring at Bailey before turning to look at his father, "You can't go Daddy."

"We're having mud pie," Leah said in a sing-song voice, pulling out the pie from the refrigerator. Both little boys stared at it, their eyes wide as they took in the chocolate pudding and Oreo crumbles.

"I want mud pie," Bradley said quietly, giving his cousin a begging look.

"I'll have pie," Gabe conceded, his eyebrows lowering abruptly, "But I'm not going to have girly tea."

Rick and Leah laughed as Rick opened the door, the little boys running out to the backyard.

Bailey clambered off the chair, running into the living room, quickly returning with a small wicker picnic basket where she kept her tea party set.

Rick took the pie from Leah, following behind her as she walked out with the pitcher of tea in one hand, and plates in the other, calling over her shoulder, "Rick, can you grab that blanket please?"

Rick glanced back to see a faded quilt folded over one of the kitchen chairs. Taking it, he walked out of the house, leaving the door open, watching as Leah and Bailey picked the perfect spot for their tea party, the boys standing by the side watching them.

It truly was a joy to watch Leah with their son and the twins…he'll have to give her as many children as they could handle.

"Hey, looks like a party going on here," Seth walked out of the house through the back door, having found the front door unlocked, no surprise there, and the house empty, a bit of a surprise.

"It's a tea party," Rick gave him a grin, showing him the pie in his hand, "And we're having mud pie."

"Hey, cool, gummy worms," Seth laughed as they both moved towards Leah and the kids, the perfect spot having been staked by the girls.

Leah took the blanket from Rick as the boys ran to Seth, each grabbing a hand and pulling. Seth laughed as he dropped to the ground, the boys climbing onto his stomach, "You two always beat me!"

"We are the best wreslers in the world," Gabe exclaimed, bouncing on his uncle's chest as Bradley did the same on his stomach.

"Yeah," Bradley exclaimed, laughing when Seth tickled his side, "Not fair!"

Gabe threw himself over Seth's arm, trying to pull his hand back, "You can't tickle my partner!"

"Then I'll tickle you!"

"No," both little boys exclaimed, jumping up on their feet and running across the back yard away from Seth.

Seth laughed as he pushed himself to his feet, brushing grass and dirt off himself, "Anyway, I actually came over to let you know that we've change the meeting time."

"What," Leah looked up from helping Bailey set out the little tea cups and saucers.

"We'll be meeting Saturday at dawn," Seth smiled at his sister's shocked look before turning to Rick, his face turning serious, "That way you can join us…you're a part of us after all…"

Rick stared at his brother in law before a grin split his face, "Fifteen months…fifteen months and I'm finally part of the pack? You guys are slow."

"Hey, not everyone trusts as easily as my sister," Seth shrugged his shoulders, "Anyway, it was mostly Alpha crap…I finally got through to Sam and he's relented and agreed to work harder at including you."

"That's great," Rick nodded his head, knowing this meant a lot to Leah so he tried his best not to let his natural inclination at being sarcastic towards Sam to come out, "Tell Sam…I appreciate it."

"Sure," Seth grinned at Rick, knowing what Rick really meant was to tell Sam to shove it up where the sun don't shine, "I'll go ahead and tell him you're real thankful and all."

"Don't overdo it," Rick shook his head, handing the pie to his wife, "Now if you'll excuse us, we're having mud pie."

"Well fine, don't invite me," Seth frowned at Rick before giving Leah a puppy dog look.

"You don't like chocolate," Leah stated plainly, placing the pie in the middle of the blanket as the boys ran back, both of them dropping onto the blanket, Leah's quick movements saving the pie from ending up under them.

"Right, that reminds me, I'm going to go through your recipe box," Seth stuffed his hands into the front pocket of his jeans, "Mom bought me groceries so I have like a crazy amount of strawberries…and a hankering for that strawberry mousse pie Grandma Cee Cee used to make."

"Go ahead," Leah dug through the little wicker picnic basket, pulling out a pie cutter she had placed in there earlier.

"Uncle Seth, are we going to the park," Gabe jumped up, plowing right into Seth's legs as was his usual way.

"Not today, tornado," Seth ruffled his nephew's hair.

"We'll go tomorrow," Gabe asked, looking up at his uncle, the obvious hero worship shining in his clear blue eyes.

"We'll see, okay," Seth grinned as Gabe frowned at him.

"But we gotta go to the park."

"Gabriel, come here," Leah called out to her son, smiling at him as he moved around the blanket to sit on her lap, "Why do you have to go to the park?"

Seth moved towards his sister in hopes to stop Gabriel from speaking but not moving fast enough.

"To pick up chicks."

"No," Seth groaned as Rick fell back onto the ground, laughing so hard his stomach hurt, "Gabe, you weren't supposed to tell."

"Oh."

Leah turned to stare at her little brother, not sure whether to be upset or amused, "You…take my son to the park…to pick up "chicks"?"

"Uh," Seth scuffed the toe of his shoe against the ground, glaring at Rick who was still laughing, "Well, it's not like it sounds…you know what? Your kid picks up his fair amount of chicks."

"What?"

"I've been meaning to give you this," Seth pulled out his wallet, opening to pull out a folded piece of paper, handing it to his sister while keeping a safe distance away, "I just didn't know how to go around explaining it."

"What is this?"

"Phone numbers and names," Seth shrugged, a sheepish look on his face, "Of girls that would like to babysit Gabe."

"I'm not a baby!"

"Of course not," Leah kissed Gabriel's furrowed brow, looking over the list, "You've dated almost every girl on this list."

"Hey," Seth tried to find the words to explain, "You know what? I don't have time for this. I have two hours to make a strawberry mousse pie so we'll just have this conversation at another time like…never."

He walked away, ignoring the laughter that followed him as he walked around the house, heading towards his own.

He really needed to find a way to stop people from picking on his dating habits.

"This is Julie, I'm not here, so leave a message. I'll call you back."

"I see you gave me your real number. Anyway I –"

"Who would give you a fake number?"

Seth laughed, looking out his kitchen window as he rinsed out a canister of strawberries, "Same kind of person who would screen her calls. Why are you letting your message machine answer?"

"Because I screen my calls," Julie's voice was low and smooth over the phone connection, "I don't like talking to those telephone people."

"Telephone people," Seth lowered his eyes in confusion, tucking the phone between his ear and shoulder as he grabbed a knife to quarter the fruit, "Oh, you mean telemarketers."

"Yeah, them. They're annoying. I see you made it back to La Push before dinner time."

"Yeah, I did," Seth tossed the pieces of strawberries he wasn't going to use back into the canister, "Which is good 'cause mom really wants this dinner. A family only celebration for my birthday."

"So who's going to be at this family celebration?"

"Well, my mom and her husband. Then there's my sister, her husband and my nephew."

"You have a nephew?"

"He's my pride and joy. Anyway, I was calling to see if you would be interested in going to a movie tomorrow night…"

"Oh! I, uh…well…"

"We can double date with a couple of friends of mine. I think you'll like Mattie."

"I'm sure I will it's just that…"

"You already have a boyfriend?"

"No."

"Already have a date?"

"No."

"Then what?" Seth grabbed a saucepan and placed it on the stove, setting the fire to low before grabbing the sugar and gelatin, combining it into the saucepan, quickly adding the thawed strawberries with its juices and stirring as he turned up the heat to medium.

"Well, I do have plans tomorrow night but not as in a date. I kind of have…well; it's just that every Saturday night I go to this club…it's sort of a routine now –"

"What club," Seth watched as the sugar dissolved, setting the spoon aside as he slowly increased the heat until the whole thing began to boil, picking up the spoon to continue stirring, "I mean, is it a dance club or a fetish club or –"

Julie's laughter rang clearly through the phone connection, "Not a fetish club…it's kind of an artsy club."

"You mean like a place where they do poetry readings and that kind of stuff?"

"Yeah except that there's no reading of poetry."

"So what is it," removing the saucepan from the stove, Seth grabbed the stainless steel bowl he had set aside, pouring it in and placing it in the fridge to chill.

"Music," Julie's breath came out in a rush, "There's singing and playing of instruments and people come to listen or to perform –"

"A karaoke club," Seth took a measuring cup and his carton of eggs, proceeding to carefully fill the measuring cup with egg whites, tossing the yolks in their shell into the trash can by his side.

"Not exactly…you know what? You'll just have to come and see for yourself."

"I just might," Seth washed his hands, drying them against his jeans, "What's the name of the place."

"Posh."

"Are you serious," Seth's hand froze midway towards a cupboard where he kept the mixer bowls, "What kind of moron names a club Posh?"

"The one named Pierre," Julie's giggle was low, "He walks around like he's got a stick up his behind but he's good at finding talent…bad at letting it go though."

"I guess I can go and listen with you for a few hours…we can do a movie afterward," having finished whipping the egg whites into soft peaks, he added sugar then proceeded to whip them some more, "Deal?"

"I suppose, yeah. Hey, my sister's calling me…"

"Sure, okay. I'll call you tomorrow to get your address so I can pick you up."

"You know what? Let's just meet there…I'm sorry I have to let you go."

"Don't worry about it," transferring the egg whites into a clean bowl once they held their shape, he set them aside then proceeded to use the first mixing bowl to whip the heavy whipping cream until it stiffened.

"It's just that my little sister and her boyfriend broke up. Major emo-drama and I get to be the counselor."

"Emo-drama," Seth chuckled, turning to open the refrigerator and stir the strawberry mixture he had placed in there.

"Emotional drama…she's decided that she doesn't want anything to do with the male race and will focus on her future career…she's asked if she could move in with me to go to Port Angeles High School…they have a dual credit program where she can work to earn her high school degree and Associates' Degree at the same time."

"That's cool," Seth closed the refrigerator, leaning against it as he took the phone in his hand, rubbing his neck with the other, "You okay with her moving in?"

"Oh, I'm fine. I can never say no to my little sister. But she's still working on wearing down mom. Oh, crap, there goes the phone again. Okay, I need to let you go before she decides becoming a nun is the next logical step."

Seth laughed, running his fingers through his hair, "Alright then. Talk to you later Julie."

"Sure. See you tomorrow night."

"Posh."

"Posh."

"Gabriel," Leah sat on the couch next to Rick, taking his hand in hers, their fingers interlocking, "Come here, sweetheart."

"But we're gonna be late mama," Gabriel moved towards them, bouncing on his feet as Rick let go of Leah's hand to pick him up and set him between them, "You said it's not good to be late."

"I know sweetie, but Grama will understand," Leah ran her fingers through his hair, thinking she needed to get him a haircut, "Daddy and I need to tell you something."

"Okay," he looked at his parents in that serious way that made them have to hold in laughter.

"Remember how, yesterday morning, we talked about you being a big boy?"

Gabriel tilted his head to the side, looking at his mother, "Yes, I do. You said I needed a brother or sister to be a big boy. Did you make one already?"

"Well," Rick reached behind his son, running his fingers through her hair before he gently squeezed the back of her neck, "We did make one…"

"Is it a brother or sister," Gabriel asked evenly, staring at his father before looking at his mother, waiting for them to answer.

"We don't know yet," Leah smiled at her son, rubbing her hand up and down his small back.

"When did you make it," Gabriel started to slightly bounce in place, "Can I see it?"

"Oh no, honey, we'll have to wait until the baby's born," Leah smiled as he moved to stand on the couch, using her shoulders to keep his balance, "Then you can see it."

"But why can't I see it now," Gabriel bounced a couple of times, wrapping his arms around her neck, kneeling on her lap.

"Because the baby's in mama's tummy," Rick gently pulled his exuberant son into his arms, not wanting Leah hurt by the jumping.

"Why," Gabriel sat back on Rick's lap, staring up at his father, his eyebrows lowered over his blue eyes.

"Because that's where the baby needs to be to grow before we bring it home," Leah leaned in, kissing Gabriel's forehead, smiling as his little face turned to her, the expression on it serious as he quietly contemplated this new information.

Staring at his mother, he pushed himself away from Rick, placing his little hands on either side of Leah's face. "Mama," he stared deep into her brown-green eyes, "How did the baby get into your tummy?"

Leah stared at him, a laugh escaping her as she turned to look at her husband, "I think Daddy should tell you that."

Rick stared opened mouthed at Leah, quickly closing his mouth when Gabriel turned to look at him, quietly waiting for his father to answer his question.

"You see, um," Rick rubbed the back of his neck, trying to figure out how to explain, "When a mommy and daddy love each other, they…they like to show each other how much."

"Like you were showing mama yesterday," Gabriel supplied, staring at Rick, waiting for him to continue.

"Yes, like yesterday," Rick swallowed, rubbing his neck again, "That's how you make a baby…we call it making love."

"So you and mama make love and now mama has a baby in her tummy," Gabriel nodded, everything making perfect sense to him as he clambered off Leah's arms and on to the floor, "We need to go mama. We gonna be late."

Leah and Rick watched him run to the front door, both of them turning to glance at each other before Rick stood up, taking Leah's hand as she also got to her feet.

"Well, I guess we should go," Leah glanced up at Rick, a beautiful smile slowly spreading across her face, "We don't want to be late after all."

Rick laughed as he opened the front door, walking out with his wife by his side, his little boy running ahead of them towards their car.

Opening the back door, Leah helped Gabriel into her car seat as Rick slid into the driver's seat, having left the passenger side door open for Leah.

Gabriel reached up to tug at Leah's hair.

"I want to tell Grama and Grampa Charlie about the baby in mommy's tummy!"