The dog looked up at them, hopefully. There were seven other dogs on this side of the centre and they'd excitedly responded to them.

"Doggy!" Lexi squealed out, clapping her hands as she tried to stick one through the metal wires.

"No, Lexi." Spencer took her hand out. "They will think it's food."

JJ chuckled, shifting James to settle on her other hip as she ruffled Henry's hair. "Which one do you like?"

Henry looked up from his notebook which had a lot of information on different breeds of dogs. He'd also made an impressive presentation as to why he believed they should adopt a certain brand of dog. "I want a Siberian Husky. Kevvy and Kimmy have one at their dad's. Also, they look like wolves. Cool!" He grinned, waving at the hopeful dog.

The dog was a Siberian Husky, abandoned at two years, been here for two. At four years old, he loved children and lived a very active lifestyle.

"We have the garden space and he could come with us on our morning jogs," JJ told Spencer as he continued to read the dog's information.

"He's perfect."

The dog tilted his head a large open smile gracing his face as he barked.

"Clever too," JJ grinned.

The worker came up to them with a bright smile. "Is this the one you wish to adopt? He's called Joey but you kids can name him whatever you want!" He placed her hand beside her mouth to shelter what she was going to say next. "He never really responds to 'Joey' anyway," she winked.

JJ and Spencer chuckled as they nodded. "We want Joey then."

"Yes!" Henry said, his eyes sparkling as Joey barked happily at him.

...

It had taken two weeks to get settled to having another 'child' in the house. Henry had renamed Joey Midas because anybody he went up to had brightened like gold. Kate had visited with Dylan and Meg due to a silly argument with Chris that she'd wanted to make up for so she'd left the kids at theirs so she could go home to spend time with Chris. As soon as she stepped into the house, Midas had run up to her and licked her feet making her giggle in happiness.

"You've just made my day better, little guy!" She had said.

The family had easily adjusted to Midas' happy ways and energy.

"Right, Meme's here to get you guys ready for your Saturday activities. Dad and I are going jogging with Midas."

JJ slipped her iPod into her pocket then strapped her water bottle to her hip, watching as Spencer hurried down the stairs with his own iPod.

"Do you know where my water bottle is?" Spencer asked her.

"I think you left it at work. You can have my spare one." JJ replied, kissing Henry's head then the twins'.

Spencer nodded, thanking Sandy when she handed him JJ's filled spare bottle after hearing their conversation.

"Looks like that little one needs to go potty." She pointed at Midas who was whining at the door.

Spencer chuckled. "I've got it."

He attached the leash to Midas' collar and opened the front door, stumbling when the energetic dog rushed out to do his business by the tree in the front garden.

"Midas! Not there...!" JJ groaned when she stepped out.

"Might help fertilise your plants," Spencer grinned, chuckling as he and Midas started to jog down the pavement.

JJ playfully glared after them, sighing at the dog business by her lovely tree. "Not funny..." She mumbled to herself, slipping her music into her ears.

...

Later that night as Midas lay asleep at the foot of their bed, Spencer kissed JJ on her forehead. "Can we talk about the... miscarriage?"

"Yeah, I guess. It's been two weeks..."

"Did you even want any more children?"

JJ shrugged. "Not really but when I found out that I was pregnant, I was excited. Excited to be able to give you three kids that were biologically yours."

"Biological or not, Henry's still mine," Spencer told her, kissing her. "I don't care how many children you bear for me, as long as we're happy."

JJ kissed him, digging her fingers into his hair as she came to lay on top of him. She broke the kiss off and leaned her head on top of his beating heart. "We're happy now. I guess maybe it was a blessing in disguise but honestly, it would be nice to have another girl. But either way, Henry and James will be very protective of her."

"Hmm hmm," Spence said, kissing the top of her head. He was about to close his eyes when his phone rang, jolting their relaxative state. "I've got it." He blindly grabbed his phone and sat up to answer it, JJ manoeuvring to lay beside him instead. "Hello?"

"Spencer, hi. It's Jasmine - your dad had a fall. He told me to tell you that it was nothing-"

"Is he okay?" Spencer asked, standing up as he searched for his jeans and shirt.

"He's fine. We're back at home now. Just a little bump to the head but he's fine. There is something he needs to tell you. I think it's best that we leave it to the morning though. He's very drained and he just wanted me to call to say that everything is well, I don't mean to worry you or the family."

JJ glanced up at her husband who nodded at her. "It's fine, Jasmine. Thank you." He bid her goodbye and went back to bed, rubbing his face.

"What happened, Spence?"

"My dad had a fall. I don't know but I think he's seriously ill. He's been acting out of sorts but he seems okay."

JJ kissed his head, snuggling closer to him. "He'll be alright."

"Jasmine says that he needs to tell me something tomorrow morning though. I might be late to work."

Midas whined from the foot of their bed, lifting his head up to look at them.

"Hey, buddy. My dad will be okay. Why don't you come with?"

Midas gave a low howl in reply and dropped his head, sleeping straight after.

"He'll be okay, Spence," JJ assured her husband. "He's a fighter, something he gave to you."

...

Spencer took a deep breath in, opening his eyes. "I know."

William sighed. "How long?"

"That day Derek and I bought the kids around. How long?"

"Five months."

Spencer stood up and left through the garden door, inhaling the cold air. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

William shrugged. "You were so happy. So relieved. You and Jennifer are in a good place, you don't need any more grief-"

"We had a miscarriage."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Me too." Spencer frowned. "But we bounced back. We could have done the same with you but now we have even less time to-"

William shook his head. "I'm getting treatment, son. I've only known for five months. I don't have five months to live - I hopefully have more. It's benign, I'm one of the lucky ones. Jasmine's best friend has a private clinic, she and her husband are helping me."

Spencer nodded. "You know when you said that your dreams of having a daughter turned into having another son... would you have minded him?"

"No. I would have loved him just as much as I love you. I don't say it enough but I do. I really do, Spencer." He wrapped an arm around his shoulders and sighed heavily.

Midas trotted up to them, sniffing about William's slippers and making him chuckle heartily.

"You're a good dog, aren't you?"

"Maybe you and Jasmine should get one." Spencer smiled at the dog then smiled at his father.

William smirked. "Where would we put the dog when we're cruising the world?"

"Good point." Spencer chuckled. "So what does this diagnosis mean for your wedding?"

William bit his lip. "Ah, well, it's moved to next week. And not only that... we should sit down."

Spencer whistled for Midas to come back to them before herding the dog through the French doors, his father following them and closing the door behind them. They sat in the sunroom where a blanket had been laid for Midas to relax in.

"What is it?"

"Your mother had diaries which I looked through and there was something which alarmed me greatly. Do you ever remember your mother being... pregnant?"

Spencer's eyes widened as he furrowed his eyebrows, shaking his head. "What? No! I think I'd remember if a child was growing in my mother. I don't remember her being pregnant although some women barely look pregnant during full term. Maybe she was one of those cases - but wait, why are you asking me this?"

William took a deep breath in. "She had a child - a daughter - who went to live with her parents. I'm trying to do some more digging into this, find her parents' last known numbers and try and get to the bottom of this but Spencer, you might have a sister."