A/N::: Sorry for the long wait and future grammar error

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Disclaimer::: I don't own, by the way.

Gastropod

Mollusks including snails; slugs; whelks

Zach POV

I stare at her, the newspaper still in my hands as I tried to decode what she had just said.

"You're… wait you're going back to work?" I ask, incredulous. Cammie just sips her coffee, nodding slightly. "And you were going to tell me this when?"

"Now," she says simply. "I knew you had a day off today so I figured you could watch them instead of getting Grant and Bex or the others to come over. You're okay with this, aren't you?"

"But…" I pause, thinking of an excuse, any excuse. "Aren't you still breastfeeding?" She makes a faces, dumping the rest of the brown liquid down the sink drain.

"No. Haven't you been paying attention to what I've been saying? Or did you just start when I mentioned I was leaving for work?" I open my mouth, but come up with nothing. "Uh huh. That's what I thought. And no, I'm not. The twins have already been weaned. The bottles of milk are in the fridge, all you need to do is heat it up. You're okay with this, aren't you?" she repeats, biting her lip like she does when she gets nervous. Cammie may be a spy, but we all have our little quirks. Mine, of course is the Smirk.

"Yes," I nod, doubting my own word even as I say it. She can see it too, the way her mouth moves into a frown. I stand and walk to her, wrapping my arms around her small frame compared to my own. Sometimes I wonder how Cammie, my petite, beautiful Cammie, could be such a lethal weapon, brought up to be a killer/agent. And yet she was so small and fragile, it was hard to believe she could kill a man 20 different ways with just her hands. But I've seen her in action. This nervous, fidgety woman was nothing like the cold, relentless agent she could be.

I kiss her hair, careful not to mess up her bun. "We'll be okay here, Cammie," I whisper, pulling away so I could look her in the eyes. "Now go and kick some terrorist ass." I smirk and she smiles, the gesture lighting up her whole face.

"Thanks, Zach. I knew I could always count on you." We kiss, a sweet gentle kiss, careful not to say "good-bye" as she leaves, because we hope that whenever one of us leaves through the door, it won't actually be good-bye.

"Bye, Cam," I raise my hand as the door closes quietly, sighing to myself. I flinch when I hear a high pitched cry.

I groan quietly, heading towards the noise. "This is going to be a long day…."

Blink.

Stare.

Blink.

Stare.

"How are you doing this?" I whisper as Matt and Abby continue their stare off, their gazes falling on their twin. I dressed them each in their respectful gender colors (after an hour long bath), hell, I even scraped Abby's tiny baby hairs into a lop-sided mini ponytail, and yet instead of wanting to go out and do what normal almost one year olds want to do, they continue to have a stare-off with one another, ignoring the colorful and annoying Teletubbies onscreen.

"You both ran out of diapers," I whisper. I guess they can't understand me yet, or just know I'm lying because they don't move. Abby reaches out and tries to poke Matt's face and to my surprise, he lets her. But when her fingers starts picking his nose, he moves, making an annoyed baby sound, pushing her hand away. That's when they break, Matt turning and crawling away, leaving Abby just sitting there, unknowingly victorious.

I rock back on my heels, whistling lowly at what I just witnessed.

I pat Abby's head, smiling as she turns her green eyes towards me. "Don't worry there Abby," I say, "he'll be back." I grin as she reaches and grabs my hand, making those painfully adorable noises as she tries to stick my finger in her tiny teeth-less mouth. I see Matt pick up a toy truck in my peripheral vision about two feet away, throwing it around in the air.

"Whoa there buddy," I mutter, reaching over and grabbing the plastic ladder that had swung off and nearly clonked him on the head. It was small and feather-light but still, it could have made him bleed, or worse, get a concussion. Oh God, if Cammie ever found out…

"Alright, that's enough toying around for you," I smirk, lifting Matt and Abby under each arm as I stand. "Ha. Get it? Toying around? Because, Matt was playing with a toy?" They both ignore me as I step out of the apartment, locking the door behind me as I manage to balance them both. "What am I saying?" I say aloud to myself, standing in front of the elevator. "You kiddies don't appreciate my Zach-humor." Once I reach the car (baby-friendly, of course), I strap them both in, double check to make sure they won't go flying out, and sit behind the steering wheel for a few minutes, wondering what to do next.

Cammie had said that they liked visiting Grant's, but she probably wanted me to spend a day with the Minis. Dragging a hand through my hair, I made a quick, impulsive decision.

Holy. Crap.

Since when did a park become so damn dangerous? The swings are just lethal seats waiting to crack open a head, the surrounding trees are like freaking towers waiting for their King Kong, and the sand box? Full of germs and kids willing to stick anything in their mouths!

Matt was off in the corner of our designated grassy spot (it was the least deadly place I could think of, what with the bike riding psychos and crazy ignorant parents) while Abby was across from him, pointing at a dog, her lop-sided ponytail falling in her eye as she pushed it away with her chubby baby fingers.

After wandering around for ten minutes, I finally found a shady, nice spot underneath a tree off to the side, twenty neat feet away from most of the population, grimacing as the tiny ant hill nearby as I set them both down. I could tell by their expression, that the Minis loved the park. They crawled around, attempting to stand (but failing epically/cutely, I'll admit) and rolling around on the grass. I sat back, glad to have found a nice place, letting my mind wander as they stayed nearby, their short limbs unable to carry them far.

I honestly don't see how Cammie finds this difficult, I tell myself, smirking. This isn't so hard, once you get the hang of it. I crack open an eye, just to amuse myself at how easy it was to watch them, only to find Matt literally sucking on a snail shell while Abby was poking at the ant pile with a stick shorter than her arms. They were both at least seven feet away from each other.

"Matthew you take that out of your mouth, right now!" I'm already standing, slipping the saliva covered shell out of his saliva covered fingers, and flinging it across the park where it hit a biker on the helmet. I couldn't help but grin as the biker fell over, the momentum of the shell enough to had felt like he was getting stoned, watching his confused expression as he looked around, wondering what had hit him. I dropped my arm, quickly heading over and scooping Abby up where she starting crying. I looked on her arm, only to find an ant on her soft skin, travel onto her shirt. I slapped it off lightly, checking and double checking her clothes and making sure there weren't any other critters left on her.

"It's okay Abby, the mean ant didn't bite you," I soothed, even though I knew she was mad at me for pulling her away from bugs that she thought were her friends. I set her down quickly besides Matt, who had wondered closer to the shade. I slumped down, feeling tense and like a spring, not taking my eyes off of them for a second.

"Watch yourself, Matt!" I yelled as her precariously crawled closer to the sidewalk, now only fifteen feet away (I'm a father, damn it! I have the right to worry). He began pulling at the grass, nearly falling back as he over heaved. I looked over at Abby, only to stumble over towards her.

"Abby, honey," I muttered, my voice sounding hoarse as I reached out towards my little girl, who had picked a shell out of the insanitary dirt and was examining it, turning it in her hand. "Don't, don't stick that in your mouth—" I stopped short, watching in horror as she stuck it in her mouth and swallowed it. "Jesus, Abby!" I stuck my finger in her mouth immediately, wincing as she bit down and started to squirm and giving up when I couldn't find the shell—which she had swallowed!—and rubbed my saliva covered finger against my jeans. "If you were hungry you should've said something," I grumbled, throwing her over my shoulder and making my way to Matt, where I balanced him on my hip, carrying him like a football.

"Time for lunch," I tried happily, only to realize that it would get messy. Really messy, by my luck.

"You're supposed to eat the ice cream Matt, not rub it all over your shirt," I groaned, picking up a napkin and trying to clean his once-blue shirt that was now smeared with chocolate and ketchup, crumbs of hot dog bun bread still on his jeans. Abby on the other hand, had the food all over her face.

"It goes in your mouth Abby, not every but!" I take a deep breath, wiping the sweat off of my forehead with the back of my hand, trying hard to keep my cool. I glanced around from the bench we sat on (well technically the Minis; I was crouched in front of them, too busy trying to clean up after them). My face felt sticky with strawberry ice cream Abby so graciously smudged on my face and I could feel my legs falling asleep from staying in a crouched position. If anyone saw me like this I'd probably—

"Zach?" Have to kill them, my thoughts finish. I freeze, the voice sounding scarily familiar. I turned slowly as I stood, keeping a steady expression, only to find a not-so-familiar looking guy staring at me, holding hands with a blonde woman, probably only passing by. I squint, his face somewhat familiar and then look around, wondering if it had been someone else who had spoken, or had been spoken to.

"Zach? As in Cammie's boyfriend?" the blonde mused. I frown, unable to place names to their faces.

"Uh, hey, fancy seeing… you guys here," I managed to get out, panic setting in. Who the hell were these people? And how did they know Cam and me?

"You probably don't remember us," the guy was saying, both of them closing in. I tensed, my fight-or-flight instincts kicking in. I spared a glance at the Minis, realizing that I would have to run with them if it came down to it. "Wait—are those… Are those your kids, Zach?" the man was saying, stopping just three feet away.

"Yeah," I answered warily. "Listen, I'm sorry but I can't seem to remember who you two are," I said bluntly. If these two were undercover agents, they would give a coded message; but if they weren't, well then. I wouldn't like to cause a scene, here on a bench in the middle of a park near an ice cream vendor, but I guess life doesn't listen to wants.

"Oh, how rude of us. Of course you wouldn't remember people you've only met a handful of times," the blonde blurts, sticking her hand out to shake. I glanced at my own, which was sticky with ice cream and shrug an apology. She quickly takes her own back, blushing. "It's Dee Dee, Zach. And Josh. From Roseville?" I raise my eyebrows, the closest I'll come to showing surprise in public, realization hitting.

"Jim—I mean Josh. And Dee Dee. What a surprise seeing you guys… out of Roseville," I say, smirking at Josh's annoyed expression as I almost screwed up his name—again. "So what brings you guys out to Langley?" Although I hadn't wanted to, Cam and I had to stick close to HQ, seeing as how we were CIA and all.

"Oh, well Josh here is actually a journalist, and he's covering a story on the CIA and since Langley, Virginia is infamously known as the CIA Headquarters, we decided to spend a few days here, check out the scenery and all." Josh glanced at Dee Dee, probably for spilling too much information. But when he looks at me I can tell he's gloating, proud of his job. He wraps an arm around her shoulders, his ego only growing.

"Sounds…. exciting," I say, grinning. I turn, cleaning the Minis, trying so hard not to burst out laughing at how easily his ego is inflated. "Oh and yes," I say instead, grimacing as I chucked the twin's ice creams into the convenient garbage, "these little monsters are our children—Cam's and mine," I glance back as I say this, catching how Josh's jaw muscles twitch and fist clenches.

"Really? Congratulations! They're so cute!" Dee Dee squeals, and I smile tightly, trying not to wince at how fake her high-pitched voice is. Having only met Dee Dee once before, I'll admit I don't know a whole lot about her. But from what Cammie's told me and from what've I've seen, she's constantly full of life, always too happy, which usually means she's covering something up.

"Thanks. Cammie's working so I offered to watch the kids, give her a day off from being a mother." I'm a spy; lying is my career. Don't judge me.

"How sweet! Josh and I are planning on a child ourselves. Isn't that right, Joshy?" While I wonder if Dee Dee ever gets tired of being perky, Josh musters up his bits of self-discipline and smiles at me, almost bitterly.

"Yeah. We just decided to wait, so as we don't rush into things," he tries, probably trying to jab me? "Looks like parenthood's taken its toll on you, Zach." Yep, an intentionally jab.

"Parenthood is one of the best things I've ever done," I snap quietly, knowing it's true, even as I say it. "And one of those life lessons to help maturity. I don't regret it."

"If only Cammie was here to here you say that. How golden of you, Zachary," Josh bites back, his voice only slightly changing as he pronounces Cam's name. I smile, intentionally angering him.

"Cammie and I couldn't wait to have kids, actually. What can I say? I love her and couldn't wait to start our life together. And when we found out they were twins, we were just completely floored." I smile, listening but not hearing as Dee Dee droned on about marriage and how she wished we could have made it to their wedding as I made up some lie about having a sick relative and when she asked about our wedding, I lie quickly about sending them an invitation but how the post office probably screwed it up. Every time I brought up Cammie (which I did, constantly, I assure you), I would see Josh glance away or stiffen, as if it still bruised his ego to talk about her.

Really? After years of not even seeing her, how could he still be broken up over her? It wasn't as if she had led him on, or even made promises. Hell, she even erased his memory. And yes, I know it was forced, but still. It isn't as if she had denied it.

We spoke for about five minutes (alright fine, three minutes and thirteen seconds) when the Minis ended their silence, squirming from the bench as they started to cry, pulling at my pants leg.

"Well that's my signal," I chuckle, amused at how smart the Minis were. "Cammie's probably expecting me to call soon and seeing as how I didn't bring a cell phone with me, I should probably head home," I lie, tugging my shirt down over my pocket where my cell phone was, subtly. But, as my luck would have it, it rang, the ring tone ringing loud and clear. "Huh," I say, pulling it out, "guess I had it all along." I avoid their gazes as I turn slightly, telling to the Minis to hush for a second as I answer the phone. "You've reached the amazing Zach Goode," I declare, already knowing who was calling.

"You sound so arrogant, answering like that," the soft voice retorts. I smirk.

"Love you too, Cammie-dear. So what's up?" I dare a glance at the couple behind me, giving them a smile.

"Just wondering how the kids are, since I'm on my way home. So did you spend the day at the apartment? Or did you go out with the twins?" Cammie asks, and I freeze, not knowing if I should mention we were currently at the park and admit running into Dee Dee and Josh (since they're standing right there) or lie to her blatantly. But of course, as luck would have it, a group of yelling, happy kids pass by, yelling about racing each other to the playground. "You're at the park?" Cammie inquires, and I sigh mentally, forcing cheer into my voice as I reply.

"Yep. And guess who I ran into? You'll never believe it." I could hear her hesitation, her hitched breath.

"Is it the Circle?" she whispers. I can hear her fear, the dreadful possibility that we were in the Circle's grasp.

"No," I whisper soothingly, almost sorry I told her to guess. "No, dear, never. I would never take the kids out, under those circumstances. It's Dee Dee and Josh, hon. You remember them, don't you?"

"Dee Dee and Josh?" she questions. "Oh. Oh! Right, from Roseville? Yes, I remember them. They got married two years ago, didn't they? Tell them I send my condolen—I mean congrats. I actually meant congrats. Oh god, I'm not on speaker, am I?" Her voice hits high pitch, cracking at the end, fearful.

I laugh, keeping an eye on Abby who edges too close to the trash can, at the end of the bench. "No honey, you're not; no worries. Anyways, do you want us to meet you at the house?" I say intentionally, to lead off that we actually don't own a house; it'd be far harder to get up and leave a house, if necessary.

"Yeah, if you're done chatting and the twins are done playing. You fed them lunch, right? I'll make dinner later, maybe some—" I remove the phone from my ear as I lean over to plop Abby onto the bench, shooting her a stern look as I go over and scoop Matt up, setting him down besides her, placing the phone to my ear just as Cammie finishes talking about what to make as I faintly note Dee Dee and Josh conversing quietly. "—And maybe some mash potatoes so we won't have to force feed the twins. Sound good?" I pause, not knowing how to respond.

"Sounds interesting," I reply instead.

"Uh huh. You weren't listening, were you?" Cammie questions, and I grin, knowing she's right.

"Well, the twins were about to fall off this hill so I had to save them—"

"Oh don't be such an extremist, Zachary," she snaps. I smirk. "Listen, I'll be home in twenty. Be there by then, or I won't be making dinner for you. Is that clear?" She sounds so much like her mother, ordering me around and telling me what to do (with Rachel, it was to keep away from Cammie when we were sixteen; at twenty, she told me not to break her daughter's heart or she'd break me). So I agree, hanging up after a nicer goodbye.

"Sorry about that," I say, turning and facing a smiling blonde and annoyed looking brunette couple. "Cammie's having mother anxieties. She sends her regards, by the way." I don't know what he was expecting, but Josh's face falls when I say that, as if he was hoping she'd gush her love for him over the phone. "Anyways, we should be heading home. The twins look exhausted so—"

"Josh and I think it'd be a great idea to have dinner some time—well, typically tonight, actually—just to play catch up, you know, talk about how the years have gone by. I would've asked as you spoke to Cammie, but we just came to an agreement, Josh and I. it also seemed plenty rude to interrupt. So I don't mean to intrude, and I totally understand if you decide that you don't want to bring back lost memories or if you have to watch your kids and have a nice family outing and all because I've heard twins can be a handful and all, but we just thought it be a good idea." I open my mouth, not sure how to respond. Sure Dee Dee was nice and all, but how would Jimmy react once he saw Cammie? I wouldn't be surprised if he threw himself at her feet, begging her to take him back. But then, it was also a good time to prove once and for all how it would be a lost-cause for him to pursue this infatuation any longer.

"I don't see why not," I hear myself agreeing. I soon find their number in my cell phone as I walk away, carrying two sticky and sleepy twins in my arms. It isn't until I reach the family-friend car, that I question exactly what I did.

Shit. What did I just get myself into?

A/N::: There will be tons more of Josh and Dee Dee =D

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