Alex slid between the sheets into bed and snuggled into Bobby's side. She let out a heavy breath and nuzzled his neck. It was Sunday night, and after spending the day assembling beds and sorting boxes, they'd brought the children home to spend their first night in the new home. She caressed his side. "How are you feeling?" she whispered into his ear.

"Good," he answered, tipping his head away from her to give her easier access to his neck. She smiled, draping her leg over his and stroking his waist as she continued to nuzzle his neck.

He turned his head toward her, seeking her mouth. She relaxed against him as he threaded his fingers into her hair. Her hands skimmed over his waist and she tucked her fingers into the waistband of his boxers. He smiled against her mouth and whispered, "Yes."

She laughed and pressed herself against him. "Someone's happy to see me," she teased.

"Always," he answered, grinning.

As she started to slide his boxers over his hips, they were interrupted by a knock at the door. He groaned as she pulled them back up and called out, "Yes?"

The door opened and Maggie's curly head poked into the room. "Mommy? Daddy?"

Alex rolled onto her back. "What's the matter, honey?"

"I can' sleep."

"Why not?"

"It's not my room."

"But it is your room, sweetheart."

Maggie shifted in the doorway. "But it's not my real room, Mommy."

Bobby sat up beside Alex. "Maggie, you sleep in different rooms when you go to Grandpa's or Aunt Reggie's."

"But they're my rooms, too. I have three rooms, an' this room isn' one."

Bobby looked at Alex, who shrugged. He said, "Will it help when all your things are in your room?"

She shuffled her feet and shrugged. "I dunno, Daddy."

"Do you like the new house?"

"Yes. I like it a lot. I jus'...I wish I coulda bringed my room."

"Come here."

She approached the bed and climbed up with her parents. Bobby settled her between them and kissed her head. "I'll tell you what. When I get home from work tomorrow, I'll start setting things up in your room. Once we get it all set up, it'll feel more like your room. After a few days, Mischief will settle in, too, and then she'll sleep on your bed like she always has."

"What about Archie?"

"I'll get your shelves set up first, and then Archie can move from the entertainment center to your shelves, where he belongs."

She gave that some thought. "Will it look like my old room?"

"Not exactly, but it will be your room and all your things will be there. We can set everything up however you want it."

Slowly, she nodded. "We can try that, but it's still not my room."

Alex slid out of bed. "Come on, Maggie. I'll tuck you back in. You'll get used to your new room."

Maggie sighed, then yawned. "Do you think so?"

"Yes, I do."

She looked at Bobby, who nodded in agreement with her mother. She stood up on the bed and kissed him, hugging his neck. "Good night, Daddy."

"Good night, baby."

When Alex returned to the bedroom, Bobby had not moved. She slid back into the bed and said, "She's so much like you. She can only handle so much change."

He looked around the room. "But I'm okay with this being our bedroom."

"You're not six, and you haven't had the same bedroom in the same home since you were three. A lot of things have changed, Bobby. A new home, a new neighborhood, a new brother. That's a lot for her to handle."

He gave that some thought. "I suppose it is. What about Harry and Tom?"

"Harry's life has been so unstable he's used to changes, and Tommy's only 2. He still rolls with the punches."

"Maybe we'll luck out and he'll be more like you than me."

She leaned over and kissed him. "Being like you is not a bad thing, and I wouldn't want her any different. Would you?"

Slowly, he shook his head. "No. Of course not."

"Then we have to take these little inconveniences as they come."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "But suppose she doesn't get used to her room?"

Alex smiled. "She will, I promise." She snuggled into him, coaxing him to lay down again. She stroked his abdomen and said, "Now where were we?"

With a soft hum, she played with the waistband of his boxers, once again working them over his hips. "Someplace right about here?" she whispered.

From under heavy lids, he watched her face, aglow with desire once again. "Keep going," he urged.

Sliding down his body as she worked off his boxers, she followed through with what she started.

Bobby slept through the alarm the next morning, but Alex didn't. She got up and got the kids up. While they were eating breakfast, Bobby came into the kitchen, dressed for work. He kissed each of the children and said good morning, then gave Alex a kiss before pouring himself a cup of coffee. She handed him a plate of eggs and sausage, adding a freshly buttered piece of toast. "How much more school do you have?"

"Two weeks. Then I see Dr. Wrightweiler again to see if I can go back to work for real."

"I think he'll give you the green light. You've been improving. How has physical therapy been going?"

He shifted uncomfortably and moved toward the table to sit with the children. "Uh, okay, I guess."

She stared at him. "You haven't been going, have you?"

"I don't need to put myself through that. My knee has been improving on its own."

"So where have you been going when you were supposed to be at the hospital?"

"Uh, well, Mike and I..."

"Don't say anything else. I swear you two are nothing but trouble when you're together."

"We're not that bad," he said defensively.

"Look, you need to start going. I mean that. Don't make me hold your hand and go with you."

"Alex..."

"I'm not joking."

He huffed softly and finished his eggs. "Fine. I'll go this afternoon after school."

"And do what she tells you. Don't make her job any more difficult. Got it?"

He nodded and finished his coffee. He put his plate and cup in the sink then kissed each of the four children. He hugged Alex and gave her a soft kiss. "I promise, I'll behave. Have a good day."

"You, too."

Saying goodbye to the family, he grabbed his briefcase and left the house.

He got home late. Alex and the kids were already home and she was making dinner. When he came in the door, the kids ran to greet him. Then they scurried back into the family room to play. He stopped to pick Molly up from her playpen, kissing her and tickling her belly like he usually did. Setting her back in the playpen, he gave her a toy and headed for the kitchen. He limped to the refrigerator and took down his medication, which he had hoped not to need any more. He was annoyed that he did.

Alex looked over her shoulder at him from where she stood by the sink chopping vegetables. Usually, he showed an interest, watching over her shoulder before he corrected her procedure and showed her the best way to chop whatever food she was attacking with the knife. She never told him that she purposely did it wrong, just so he would show her how to do it his way. Now, she watched him, knowing he was in pain, which made her feel bad. When he downed two pills and left the room without saying a word, she knew that he was angry as well. With a soft sigh, she finished what she was doing. Sometimes it was best to leave him alone, sometimes not. She wasn't sure what the best response would be this time, but she left him alone for the time being in favor of not burning dinner.

Once dinner was done, she dished it out for the children and called them to the table. She had already fed Molly, who was content to play for the time being. She settled the three children at the table to eat, then went upstairs to deal with her husband.

She found him in Maggie's room, assembling her shelves as he had promised the night before.

"How are you doing?" she ventured.

"I'm fine," he answered, not looking up from his work.

"I take it you went to physical therapy today."

"I did, because you wanted me to go. And I'm paying for it now."

She understood his grouchiness and did not react to it. "You know it's in your best interests, Bobby. Your knee will be stronger in the long run, and that will increase your chances of being returned to the job."

He let out a soft sigh. "I know," he said finally.

"Do you want dinner?"

"No, thanks. I'm feeling sick to my stomach. I'm just going to finish putting these shelves up, like I promised Maggie I would."

She crossed the room and leaned down to kiss the top of his head, ignoring his bad mood. Then she returned to eat dinner with the children.

When she chased the kids upstairs to get ready for bed, Maggie was happy to see the shelves up in her room, declaring they made it look more like her real room. But she was disappointed that her daddy wasn't still in there. When she went to his room to thank him, she was further disappointed to find him sleeping. Alex led her back to her room, where she set out Maggie's pajamas. "You can thank Daddy tomorrow, baby. Now get ready for bed while I tuck the boys in."

After making sure teeth were brushed, she tucked in the three older children, then went back down to the living room. Molly was sound asleep in her playpen. She picked up the baby and changed her into a sleeper before carrying her to her crib. After tucking the baby in, she got ready for bed, then slid under the sheets beside Bobby. She snuggled against him, and he turned toward her, drawing her close. With a soft sigh, he nuzzled her hair and settled back to sleep. Reassured, Alex snuggled deeper into his embrace. He wasn't so upset that it carried over into his sleep. She drifted off quickly.

Bobby's night was restless, his sleep interrupted by pain. When Alex woke with the alarm in the morning, he wasn't in the room. She sighed, aware that he'd had a bad night. She got up, pulled on her robe and went looking for him. She found him sitting on the back deck, his leg propped on a lower rung of the rail. He held a coffee cup in his left hand while flexing his right in and out of a fist. She knew well that was a sign of irritation. She opened the sliding door and stepped out onto the deck.

"It's a nice morning," she commented.

He made a noise and took a drink of his coffee. His hand settled into a fist. He was on the verge of withdrawing, she knew, and she wanted to prevent that, if she could. She stepped up behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders. She felt his muscles bunch beneath her hands, and she pressed her thumbs into the knots, making firm circles over his muscles.

He released his breath slowly and closed his eyes. Gradually, his right hand relaxed out of a fist and he calmed. She spoke softly into his ear. "You had a bad night."

He nodded.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"No sense in us both being awake," he answered.

She moved her hands to his neck and he tipped his head forward. "Are you angry with me for making you go to physical therapy?" she asked.

"Yes and no."

"What did she say?"

"The muscles are tight and need some work. It's going to be uncomfortable for awhile. She said to use the pain medicine as I need it and she wants to see me twice a week for the next month. Then she'll reassess my condition."

"Will it delay your return to work?"

"I don't think so."

"Was it worth it to play hookey with Logan instead of doing this all along?"

He didn't answer right away. Finally, he said, "I'll get back to you on that."

Reluctantly, he stood up. "I'd better get ready for work."

She stepped into his path and he pulled her into a hug. "Please," she said. "Don't withdraw again. I'll help you deal with the pain however I can, but I need you outside your head, with me."

He rested his chin lightly on the top of her head. "I'll try," he promised. "I don't want to take it out on you if I'm in a bad mood because I hurt."

"Don't worry about that. Trust me to be able to get you out of that mood."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Call it whatever you want. I'm up for it, partner."

He smiled and pulled back to look at her. "I guess you are."

He kissed her softly then moved past her to go into the house. He left before the children were up.