"Mom,"

Nora lifted her head at Alex's sleepy voice and smiled as she saw him stumble into the kitchen.

"Good morning sleepyhead. You're up unusually early."

"Gotta-" he broke off with a yawn and blinked, looking more awake by the second. He came around the side of the table and leaned into her for a hug. "We have to get ready to go trick or treating."

"Oh," she laughed quietly, enjoying the dose of excitement in his gaze. "I know you want to but that's not until later this afternoon."

"Oh."

"It'll be here before you know it." she promised. She pushed away from the table and stood up. "What do you want for breakfast? I think we have just enough to make a few more pancakes."

"Pancakes are good."

"Good." she leaned down and kissed the top of his head, then moved to get the needed ingredients. She glanced up when she heard a faint scratching, saw the dog at the sliding door. "Can you let Stitch in?"

Alex did as he was told, then took the time to play with his pet. Every so often, he would glance at the clock, as if that would will time to move faster. He noticed Miles out of the corner of his eye, grinning slightly as he was given the 'be quiet' sign.

"There better be enough for me," Miles grumbled, grabbing Nora gently from behind. She jumped at his sudden appearance but smiled as she tipped her head back to look at him.

"Only if you ask nicely." she taunted. There was a light in his eye that she had missed. The corner of his mouth turned upwards as he leaned in, brushed his lips lightly along hers.

"Please?" he whispered.

"I think you could be a little nicer."

"I could but there's a child in the room." he chuckled against her cheek, noses bumping.

"Yeah. Don't forget about me." Alex commented. "I thought you were making pancakes."

"I am. Hold your horses." she directed her attention back to Miles, mumbling, "You're bad."

"I'm bad?" he choked out a laugh. "You're the one who insinuated I could be nicer."

"You didn't have to take it to that level."

"I can hear you." their son singsonged, causing them to both sigh.

"We need to figure out a better code. He's getting too smart for us." Miles finally pulled himself away and walked back to the table, ruffling his son's hair as he sat. "You don't even know what we're talking about."

"You're always kissing. I'm not dumb." he made a face and added, "It's gross."

"One day you'll understand."

"In the very far off future." Nora added, causing Miles to snort softly. She turned from the counter with two plates and set one in front of each of them. They mumbled their gratitude before quickly digging into the food. She merely rolled her eyes as she grabbed her own plate and took a seat next to Miles.

"Never." Alex promised, making them chuckle quietly. He frowned into his breakfast, apparently not appreciating their amusement. "It's not funny. I'm serious."

"We know." they shared a grin while he wasn't looking. They ate in relative silence for a few minutes until Miles noticed Nora was barely eating.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just can't scarf down an entire meal like you two." she chewed carefully on the piece she had just placed in her mouth. "It's not as bad as it was."

"No, I know. You can actually eat something now."

"What's wrong?" Alex gazed curiously across the table, a hint of worry in his eyes as well.

"Nothing."

"Are you still sick?"

"No. Not really."

"You're not dying are you? I know you've been in bed a lot and Dad says not to bug you a lot of the time and it was just like in that movie we watched where the people got really sick and couldn't be around anyone and most of them died."

"What are you watching with him?" she turned her stare on her husband, who innocently continued with his breakfast.

"Not The Lion King, that's for sure," he finally replied with a small smirk. She rolled her eyes before looking back to Alex. His concern was endearing and she smiled softly at him.

"I'm not dying and I'm not sick. I-" she paused, glancing at Miles for assistance. He shrugged, as if to say what the hell. "Honey, we're going to have a baby. You're going to have a brother or sister."

There was a moment of silence before he let out a quiet 'oh.' She echoed him, suddenly seized by an intense panic. Miles rubbed her thigh gently, knowing what was racing through her brain at that exact moment.

"So… so…" Alex started, then paused with a frown. "So, babies make you sick?"

"What?" his question was the last thing they had expected.

"The baby is making you sick." he stated, more confidently, and a little grin appeared on his face, as though he was proud of his breakthrough. Miles chuckled around the fork and ignored the kick Nora gave him.

"Well, kind of. Not exactly. I have to adjust to having the baby in me but it works itself out." she explained, then added, "I'm already feeling better."

"I'm glad. I didn't want you to die."

"I appreciate that." she smiled slightly as she let out a quiet laugh.

"So," his grin started to grow as he considered what he had been told, "so are we really getting a baby?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"In April."

"That's so far! I thought you meant soon."

"The baby has to grow. It has to be strong and big enough to live outside the mom."

"How long does it take?"

"About nine months. We only have six to go."

"That'll take forever."

"It'll be here before you know it." she smiled at the pout on his face, relieved to see he was eager to have a sibling. "You're really excited about this?"

"Yeah." he smiled with a nod. "I- I always wanted one. I didn't like being alone. I wasn't sure if I really did because I saw Matt's little brother and he was crazy but everyone else's brothers and sisters are cool."

His admission made both his parents mellow a little. Nora's smile faded slightly as she felt Miles squeeze her hand. She didn't think she would ever get used to the little tidbits their son provided of his life in Philly.

"Why does it have to grow?"

"What?" his next question snapped her out of her thoughts and she looked back to find him staring at her.

"Why does the baby have to grow? How does it do it?"

"It grows in the mom. It gets everything it needs from the mom. It has to grow so that it can live on it's own. When babies are made, they only have a few cells. It doesn't have a body yet. It's like…. it's like the flowers we planted. They were only tiny seeds but now they have stems and leaves and petals. So the baby has to form and get arms and legs and lungs and a brain. It takes time."

Miles remained quiet during this conversation, sensing the topic was a slippery slope. Eventually they were going to touch upon that dreaded question.

"So how does it get in the mom? I know there's a mom, a dad, and a baby but how does it work?"

And there it was. He quickly clamped a hand down on his wife's knee, gave a small shake of his head.

"He's asking a question." she argued.

"It's too mature for him."

"Is this making you uncomfortable?" a grin was slowly forming on her face and he shook his head again. She would not get pleasure out of this. He refused. He didn't mind explaining things to Alex but sex … no. It was too soon for all of that.

"Why is it uncomfortable?" Alex asked, tilting his head.

"Right now, all you need to know is the mom and the dad each have a piece of the baby and it has to be put together." Nora explained calmly.

"You say that but it's only going to confuse him more." Miles muttered. "What's wrong with the stork? Or the cabbage patch?"

"Did you believe either of those when you were his age? I know I didn't."

"What do they have? How does it get together? Is it like a puzzle?"

"You're only causing more trouble for yourself."

"Well, it works like the plants. There's…"

"Do not, for the love of God, call it that." Miles interrupted.

"How would you like to explain it?" Nora turned her head to look at him, a hint of exasperation in her tone.

"Not at all." he retorted.

"You're giving off the impression that there is something wrong with it. Are you saying there is something wrong with it?"

"When you say it, we're talking about s- it right?

"Yes."

"You know it's one of my favorite past times. I would rather not divulge that information. Besides, you're going to scar him."

"I'm not going into mechanics."

"It's going there."

"I'm talking about the bare minimum basics here."

"I just want an answer." Alex chimed in.

"The mom and the dad have a little piece of each of them and it mixes together and when it does, a baby is made. You know how you look like me and Dad? It's because of those pieces."

"How does it get together?"

"It… gets together."

"But how? If the baby is in the mom, then pieces have to go in the mom right?"

"Exactly. See, you've got it all figured out."

"Doesn't that hurt?"

"No. They're very small and I mean small. You can't even see them."

"Well …." Alex paused, a frown forming on his face. "How does the dad get his piece in?"

"Mechanics." Miles commented. Nora jabbed him roughly in the thigh but kept her eyes on their son.

"It's a process. You have to be older to do it. That's why only adults get to have babies."

"Where does it go?"

"The baby goes in a special place in the mom."

"No. Where does the piece go. It has to go inside the mom."

"That's a mechanics question." Miles commented. "End of story."

"The mom and dad have -" Nora cut herself off, stumped. "The - I can't explain it without -"

"What's the big deal?" Alex was slowly growing irritated with their evasive remarks and leaned across the table towards them. "It can't be bad or no one would have babies."

"I'm telling him. He can handle it."

"This is going to end badly for us. I'm just putting that out there. Mark my words." Miles gestured with his glass and leaned into his chair. "Could have left it simple."

"He would just keep pushing. I don't want him to be confused or scared or ashamed of it. It's a natural part of life. Honestly, it's better he hears it from us than kids on the playground saying holding hands make babies."

"Whatever you say."

"When people want to have a baby, they have to do a certain thing. It's… it's called sex and you only do it when you're old and married."

Miles let out a cough that sounded suspiciously like 'hypocrite', which Nora ignored and continued on carefully with her explanation.

"It's not bad but it's a serious thing, that's why people usually don't learn about it until they're older. But I'm always going to be honest if you ask me something. So, you- you have a uh- a penis, right?"

"What do you mean right?" Miles asked. "You sound like you don't know what's down there. If she's so insistent on letting you know this, here it goes. Guys have a penis, girls have a vagina and it gets put in there and the stuff happens then."

"Thank you." Nora gave him a glare. "You are so incredibly helpful."

"That's what you were trying to get at, were you not?"

"I thought that's how I pee." Alex interjected.

"It has other functions. So, girls have a different way they go to the bathroom and that area has a place where it- the penis fits. So when they have sex, their body knows what they're doing and they each release something that will join and the baby will happen."

"So a boy has to stick his penis in a girl and that makes a baby."

"In so many words, yes."

"That's not so hard. I don't want to do it but I get it."

"That's for you to decide when you're older. And I'm serious Alex. You have to be an adult to do it. When you get older, your body gains the ability to make a baby, but it's a big responsibility."

"Are Charlie and Jason going to have one?"

"I hope not." Miles muttered.

"Maybe one day."

"Do they have sex?"

"I- honey, this isn't- okay," Nora took a deep breath and started over, "While having sex is not bad and everyone is aware that it exists, most people like to keep it private. It's something special between two people who love each other."

"You sound like a book on puberty."

"Miles, I've had it up to here with you."

"You're so cliched!"

"Well how else am I supposed to explain it? If I left it up to you, you'd have crude diagrams and incorrect words!"

"Uh, I believe I used the proper lingo."

"When you get older, we'll discuss it more." she turned her attention back to their son, who frowned thoughtfully.

"How come you only did it two times?"

"What?"

"You said you have to do it to have a baby. You only have two."

"Again, we'll discuss it more later. Why don't you go start getting ready?"

"Thought it was too early to get ready. Are you finally admitting defeat?" Miles smirked from behind his glass as Alex darted from the room.

"Shut up."

They wandered through their neighborhood for a good hour, which resulted in Alex becoming even more hyper and a bag that grew heavier with each stop. Within five houses, the bag had been handed over to Miles, who agreed to carry it only if he was allowed to eat along the way. Alex had been adamant that neither of them touched his treats but it didn't stop Miles or Nora from sneaking bites here and there. Their reasoning was that their son was going to practically gorge himself on every bit of food possible that he wouldn't notice a few missing pieces.

Now, they were in the high school gymnasium, where it felt like most of the town was gathered. A committee of parents had worked diligently for several weeks to put together an event worthy for the kids. From where she sat, Nora could count at least three different activities that were taking place in the room. She knew there were a couple classrooms that were set up as well.

The noise level was impossibly loud. Someone had managed to find some old CDs of Halloween music, which was blasting out of a set of speakers near the far basketball hoop. Kids were screaming, laughing, and running back and forth along the length of the room.

It was fun though. It reminded her of when she was a kid and the different parties she went to. She was glad that Alex was getting a chance to experience that. She scanned the room, half listening as Sandy rambled to their group, and found Alex and Miles in the corner bobbing for apples. Even with the noise and the distance, she could still pick out her son's shriek of laughter.

It was perfect. Or it would be if it weren't for the khaki uniforms scattered through the room as well. She had been slightly dismayed when they had arrived and found the Patriots in attendance with their own families. There was nothing they could do and no one else seemed bothered. She would just pretend that they weren't there.

She finished the rest of her pizza and stood to join her family. Her friends barely acknowledged her departure, knowing they would all be back and forth throughout the night.

"Mom!" Alex flew at her as he saw her coming towards them. She smiled as they grew closer to each other, then he skidded to a halt only a few feet before her, eyes widened comically. "Sorry. I forgot about the baby."

"It's okay. Come here," she laughed, wrapping an arm over his shoulders. "You look like you're having fun."

"I am! Dad is so bad at getting the apples. He keeps trying to use his hands!"

"He's sneaky like that." she caught Miles's gaze over Alex's head and smiled.

"Why don't you try?"

At the next bucket, Angie was arguing with her daughter that she would absolutely not be sticking her head in any sort of water of any kind. Nora raised an eyebrow at Miles, who rolled his eyes in response.

"I'll give it a shot." she agreed, kneeling down next to her husband.

"No cheating." he reminded, earning an eye roll from her. She shook her hair back, clasped her hands behind her back, and lowered her face to the bucket. A few moments later, she sat back and spit an apple onto the ground. Alex let out an victorious holler while Miles muttered, "Beginner's luck."

The challenge had been issued and she smirked, diving back in to grab a second. He was grinning when she came up with another. She stuck her tongue out for good measure and accepted the towel he held out to her.

"She's better than you!" Alex crowed, giggling at the thought of his father being bested. "Can we go paint pumpkins now? The line's too long to build scarecrows."

"Yeah, let's go. Maybe I can restore some of my dignity over there." Miles joked as he helped Nora to her feet.

The pumpkins were in one of the classrooms across the hall. They made their way through the crowd in the gym before heading into the hallway. There were a few other people scattered around the area and it looked like four or five kids were in the room with the pumpkins.

Out of the corner of his eye, Miles saw someone exiting the gym. He didn't think it was anything serious- people were continuously walking in and out. It was when he looked again that he knew something wasn't right. The person- a man- exited the doors to the sidewalk and as the door shut, he looked back and met Miles's eye.

Nora was focused on Alex and did not notice the exchange. She did feel when Miles pulled away from her.

"Babe?" she noticed the change in his demeanor, recognized the frown on his face. "What? What's wrong?"

That made him look at her. He blinked and his expression softened. She felt wary, unsure of what to make of the situation.

"Nothing," he finally answered. "I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll meet you in there."

She glanced over the foyer, trying to see what had set him off. Not seeing anything suspicious, she gave a small nod and steered Alex into the room. Miles waited until he was sure she wasn't going to come looking for him and then quickly exited the building. He hesitated, trying to decide whether to walk to the left or right. Then, he noticed the fading form walking towards the baseball fields.

There was no way he was going to be able to go after him without worrying Nora even further. He rubbed a hand over the top of his head as he turned to walk back into the school. He tried to tell himself Charlie had gotten into his head and he was seeing things. However, there was no doubt in his mind that he had seen his father-in-law or that the other man seemed to take pleasure in his surprise.

"Do you want me to help you with him?" Miles muttered as he lowered a sleeping Alex onto his bed. Nora shook her head in response as she sat and began to pull his sneakers off.

"No, I got it. I'm only going to be a minute. Can you check the dog?"

"Yeah." he glanced back at their son, swept a hand quickly over his forehead, then turned and left the room. She watched Alex for a moment, then gingerly reached for the fake sword strapped to his hip. As soon as she pulled it off, he rolled and began blinking his eyes.

"Mommy," if it wasn't for the drowsy tone in his voice, she would have said he had completely played them on the way home from the party. They had barely gotten to the next street when he started to complain of being tired and Miles had tossed him over a shoulder in an effort to keep the whines to a minimum.

"It's okay. Go back to sleep."

"What are you doing?"

"Did you want to sleep in your shoes and sword?"

He nodded quietly, the expression on his face alerting her to the fact he was not entirely awake. She smiled slightly and leaned in, kissing his forehead gently.

"You can have them tomorrow. I don't need you poking yourself in your sleep and the sheets would get all muddy."

"Will you stay?"

"For a little while." she agreed, nudging her shoes off. She moved so she was stretched out next to him and lowered an arm over his waist. "Good night."

"Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"Is it hard being a big brother?" he asked. She chuckled softly into his hair. He sounded so serious and concerned. "Why are you laughing?"

"Because sometimes I forget how adorable you are."

"That's all because of Dad."

"Did he tell you that?"

"Yeah."

"Of course he did. And no, it's not hard to be the older sibling. It's fun. It can be annoying because once the younger one is old enough, they want to mimic everything you do."

"I don't want to be bad at it."

"You won't. I know you're going to be the best brother."

"How?"

"Because you're sweet and caring and once you and the baby start bonding, everything else will come naturally."

"Okay." he fell silent after that but she could feel him squirming, trying to find a comfortable position. She was surprised when he placed a hesitant hand on her stomach gently. "Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure there's a baby in you?"

"Yes," she laughed again and he sighed irritably at her amusement. "I went to the doctor and she has a special machine that can tell. There's definitely a baby in there. I promise. Next time I go, you can come with me and you'll see. Plus, soon the baby is going to be a little bigger and stronger so you'll be able to feel it move."

"Really?"

"Mhmm."

"Did I move a lot?"

"All the time. Especially when I was trying to sleep." she smiled faintly at the memory while he chuckled. Her eyes scanned his face carefully, noting the smudges from the eyeliner she had put on him that afternoon. There were pizza sauce stains near the corner of his mouth. He looked exhausted but content. "Did you have fun today?"

"Yeah. It was so cool. I really liked going to the school and doing all the games."

"That was fun. Your pumpkin turned out very scary."

"Are there going to be more parties?"

"I'm sure there will be. The next holiday is Thanksgiving. Then, it'll be your birthday and then Christmas."

A few minutes later, he trailed off mid sentence and she opened her eyes to find him asleep. She was halfway there as well. She eased the blanket into place over his shoulders, then leaned in and kissed his forehead. The light was turned off and she exited the room to head for her own.