Jack woke up the next morning to find Rose's side of the bed made. He tried to lift his hand to rub his eyes, but found a pair of toy handcuffs attached to his wrist and his night table. He looked down at his hand, and next to it was a note that read don't even think about it. "Rose!" Jack called downstairs.

A moment later, the bedroom door swung open. "Good morning, darling," said Rose with a smile. She had in her arms a tray with breakfast on it.

"What's with the handcuffs?" Jack asked.

"Well, I couldn't risk you getting up before me to take care of the children, now could I?" Rose unlocked the handcuffs and sat down next to him. She kissed him lovingly.

"You remember the last time you had me in handcuffs?" Jack asked.

"How could I ever forget?" Rose said with a smile.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Can I come in?" said a little voice outside.

"Of course you can, Josie," said Jack. Josie entered the room and jumped onto the bed. She sat next to Rose and squirmed her way into Rose's arms.

Rose kissed the top of Josie's head. "Do you know how much we love you?"

Josie smiled. "Yes, Mommy. I know."

They sat there talking for a few minutes, but then the twins started to cry. "I'll be right back," said Rose. She quickly returned with both twins in her arms. "They missed their daddy."

Jack took Maddie and held her in her arms while Rose held Myles. They both sat with Josie, who was looking at Maddie. "We're going to be best friends when she's older."

Rose smiled. "I'm sure you will be. Just try to include your brother too, alright?"

Josie nodded. "I will. He's pretty awesome too. Can I hold him?"

"Of course, darling," said Rose. Rose invited Josie to sit on her lap, which she did. She put the baby in Josie's arms while still holding him.

"That man we met at the hospital," Josie began. "Who is he?"

Rose sighed. "That's a man that I used to know when I was younger."

"How did you know him?" Josie asked. Meanwhile, Jack rolled his eyes humorously behind her. Rose mouthed help to Jack.

"He was friends with Mommy when they were younger," said Jack. "They stopped being friends a long time ago."

"Why?" Josie asked.

"He was being mean to her," said Jack.

"Oh," said Josie. She looked down at the little baby. "He's really cute."

"He's beautiful," said Rose. "All of you are."

"Who's your favorite?" Josie asked with a giggle.

"Josie, I don't have favorites. All of you are my favorites," said Rose.

"But it's me, right?" Josie asked.

"You're my favorite toddler," said Rose.

"I'm your only toddler," Josie giggled.

Jack looked like he was in pain. "Jack? Darling, what's wrong?"

"I'm okay. I just have a headache," said Jack.

"Josie, sit with Daddy for a minute while I bring the twins downstairs, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy," said Josie. She leaned on Jack's chest while Rose took the babies down to the nursery. Rose returned a few minutes later. "I'm going to go draw downstairs."

Josie left, and Rose sat next to Jack. "I need you not to be stupid," she said suddenly.

Jack scoffed. "I'm sorry?"

Rose put her hand on Jack's cheek, a tear trickling down her own. "I need you. I need you more than anything. I need you to take care of yourself because I can't live without you. I never want to live without you. I don't want our children growing up without a father like I did. So I need you to not be stupid, because I can take care of everything as long as you take care of me."

Rose put her head on Jack's chest and cried. "Rose," he said quietly. "I'm so sorry. But I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you. And as much as I want to help you with everything, if you sincerely tell me that staying here is the best way to help you, that's what I'll do." Rose continued to cry against his chest. "Please, Rose. I can't watch you be upset like this."

"It's just…" Rose began, but she shook her head and stopped.

"What, sweetheart?" Jack asked, stroking her hair.

"I didn't get a chance to be scared and sad. I had to take care of you, and then Josie and the twins. I didn't get a chance to cry."

"You can cry now," said Jack. "Come here, just cry. For as long as you need to."

Rose looked at Jack, who nodded comfortingly, and she put her head on his chest and cried. She cried for about five minutes before looking up at Jack. "I love you."

"I love you too," said Jack.

They sat there for a moment before Rose kissed him. "You can get up now. I know staying in bed is making you crazy."

"Really?" Jack said, and his face lit up.

"Yes, you can," said Rose.

Jack slowly stood up and walked downstairs. "Now how long before you let me cook again."

Rose smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "We'll see," she whispered. "We'll see."

•••

It was a few months later, and everything had gone back to normal. It was early in the morning, and suddenly Rose heard Myles crying. She jumped up and ran to Myles's room. "Hi baby boy," said Rose, picking him up. "You hungry?"

Rose sat down on the rocking chair and glanced at the clock. It was already seven thirty, but she was still exhausted. She put Myles back in his crib and decided to check on the other children. Rose went into Maddie's room, to find her crib empty. "Jack!" Rose yelled, as she ran up the stairs again. She ran over to him and shook him vigorously. "Jack! Jack!"

"What is it?" Jack asked groggily.

"Maddie's not in her crib!" Rose said, still shaking him.

Jack jumped up and ran out of the room. "Did you check her room?"

"Yes, of course," said Rose. She ran into Josie's room. "Josie isn't in her room either."

"What?" Jack exclaimed. "What the hell happened?"

Rose ran downstairs and Jack followed behind her. Suddenly, they heard Josie reading a book out loud. "Josie?" Rose called for her.

Josie was on the couch holding Maddie. "She was crying and I didn't want you guys to wake up, so I decided to read her a book."

Rose put her head against Jack's chest. Jack wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "I'm never sleeping again," Rose whispered.

"Don't worry, neither will I," Jack chuckled, as they both watched their children.