OK. So those who aren't familiar - I pulled this one out of a book I got my little ones for Christmas by Sandra Boynton called Hog Wild. It's original music and lyrics sung by the likes of Kristen Bell and Patrick Wilson and Samuel L. Jackson. This one is sung by our main main, Raul Esparza and Madeliene Lodge. The album is available in Prime Music if you have little ones too. Or just want to listen to Raul sing. Plus, the snow is driving me crazy. Thank goodness my older kids finally went back to school today after 5 long days. It has finally stopped snowing for the moment. Thanks for reading.

I don't care about any old weather
As long as we spend
Some time together
It's the way you think
And the way you are
-Sandra Boynton (And Oh I Love You So)

Winter had taken its grip on the city. The snow had started to fall, just like the temperatures, and it wasn't planning to stop any time soon. Everyone was trying to keep themselves entertained, from going stir crazy trapped inside.

He could see it happening in front of his eyes. In the weeks since the Sheila debacle, he found himself drawn here, to their home. What had started as a couple of work-ish related visits had turned into every night after work and usually on the weekends too. One night he didn't come over, thinking maybe they were tired of him, but that lead to a very irate Noah Benson on his mother's phone yelling at him for not visiting him that day. He swore he would never make that mistake again.

It was cold and snowy and dark, but he could tell they were tiring of this apartment. He leaned his head on his fist, watching Olivia negotiate with Noah about toys to play with or books to read. He wanted none of it.

"Noah, we haven't played Candy Land in a few days. How about we do that?"

"I'm BOOOOOOORRRRRREEEEEEDDDDDDDDD!" He bit his lip, trying to keep from laughing at the way the boy took dramatic to a whole new level. Rafael just watched him walk over to the window and roll his eyes at the falling snow.

"I want to go to school tomorrow!" Noah yelled at the window.

"You and me both" Olivia mumbled under her breath, looking at her phone. Noah started marching in circles around the couch as he watched Olivia try to ignore noise, scrolling on her phone.

"THANK THE BABY JESUS!" she yelled, raising her phone in the air. "Go brush your teeth, Noah. You have school tomorrow!" Rafael just laughed as the boy, who normally fought bed time tooth and nail, ran off excitedly.

He pushed himself off the couch, grabbing some of the toys that were at his feet.

"Happy?"

"You have no idea, Rafa. If the heat wasn't fixed tomorrow, I was going to buy every space heater I could find in the five boroughs and donate them to the school." He nodded, returning her smile as they cleaned up.

She stopped for a moment. "That doesn't make me a bad mom, does it?"

He laughed, shaking his head. "I think it makes you an honest mom who desperately needs her kid to get the hell out of the house."

Noah flew back into the living room, dressed in PJ's. "Rafa, you're sitting in my bed tonight, right?" He just nodded. "Of course." They quickly went through the bed time routine and soon, Noah was asleep and they could take a moment to enjoy the silence.

Olivia walked back out to the living room, looking around. "I have too many toys."

He laughed, grabbing his phone off the counter. "Pack some up. I'll take them to my place."

She whipped around, staring at him. "What?"

He glanced up at her, shrugging. "Why not? Give you all a change of scenery if you want." He noticed an all office email from McCoy and he started skimming it, not seeing at her staring at him, with wide eyes.

"Seriously? You would be ok with unleashing Hurricane Noah in your pristine apartment?"

He smiled, still skimming the email, starting to formulate a response in his head. "Sure" he said, only half paying attention to her now facing him, arms crossed.

"Why?"

"I love you both, so what's the big deal?" he replied off handed, wondering just how big of a moron Harrison was and if he could get away with…

Suddenly, he froze, his brain connecting with the words that had just fallen out of his mouth. Holy crap. He just stared at his phone, praying that maybe there was a chance he had just thought those words and not actually said them out loud.

"Rafa?" she said quietly, suddenly much closer to him than she had been. He slowly rolled his eyes up to see her standing right in front of him, eyes wide, arms hanging at her side.

"What did you just say?" she asked.

"I'm sorry" he quickly replied. She took half a step back, like she was steeling herself for something terrible.

"NO" he said loudly, throwing his phone on the couch. "No, Liv… I didn't…"

"You didn't mean…."

He held up his hand. "Just. OK. Just wait. Hold on just one second." She stopped. He ran his hands over his face, taking a deep breath. He let it out slowly, looking at her. Shock on face, mixed with… a maybe? A hopefully? He took that as a good sign.

"I didn't mean to say it… like that. Like it was an afterthought. Like it didn't matter. Cause it does?"

"How did you mean to say it then?" she asked quietly, dropping the toys she held in her hands. He squared his shoulders, taking a few steps toward her. He cradled her face in his hands, kissing her thoroughly. He let go of the little bit of fear left when she wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him flush against her. After a few moments, he pulled back, resting his forehead against hers, eyes closed.

"Like that" he whispered. She leaned back, looking at him, her eyes twinkling and a large smile on her face.

"That's a really good way."

He returned her smile. "How about we take this party to my place tomorrow night, then?"

"Sounds good to me. I think we all need a break from this apartment." He nodded. "Oh, and Rafa? Just know. We love you too." And she pulled him back in for another kiss, leaving the cold and the snow and the dark outside.