Jack opened the door and then scooped Elizabeth up into his strong arms.

She laughed. "What are you up to?"

"Carrying you over the threshold." He stepped over and inside but didn't put her down. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her, their lips moving together perfectly, dancing the familiar dance they had perfected.

"It seems we have the house to ourselves," she mentioned.

He put her down gently and took her hand, leading her up the stairs, leaving the bags and the moving truck to be dealt with later.

As they entered the master, he locked the door and removed his shirt, his lips on hers once more, right where they wanted to be.

Then they heard yelling downstairs. "Isaac! It's a date. Me and Ray alone. You are not going with us!"

"Why not? Mom and Dad won't let me go with Mandie if we don't go in a group."

"You're kids."

"We are two years younger. Why are you being such a jerk?"

Jack sighed and put his shirt back on. "Back to the real world, I guess."

They walked down the stairs to the kitchen. "What's going on, guys?" Jack asked, crossing his arms.

"Nothing," Isaac said, crossing his arms too.

"Look, this yelling isn't like you. We heard what you were fighting about. Jonah has a valid point that a date usually only involves two people."

"But then Mandie and I can't go."

"True. You aren't old enough to date yet, Isaac."

"You said we could be in groups."

"What if you invite her here?"

"To hang out with my newlywed parents? I'd rather not."

"Hey, we're pretty cool," Elizabeth told him. "We could go to a movie. The four of us have done that before."

"Take it or leave it, Isaac," Jack told him.

"Its not fair," he told them, walking past to go up to his room. "Welcome home."

Jonah grabbed a soda from the refrigerator. "Thanks, guys."

"Would it be so terrible to have him and Mandie along?" Jack asked.

"Yes."

"Come on, Jonah."

"Dad, Ray is leaving in five weeks. Then I won't see her until I'm not sure when. I want to spend this time with her before she goes."

Jack knew what he was feeling. Not that long before, Elizabeth had left Hidden Lake too. "Fair enough. But, maybe think of some way you and Ray could include Mandie and Isaac in the future."

"I'll think about it." Jonah kissed Elizabeth's cheek. "I'm glad you're home."

"Thanks, sweetie."

Jack sighed and wrapped his arms around Elizabeth. "The joys of being a parent."

"You're good at it."

"I appreciate that but I must say, I'm really glad I have a sidekick now."

He winked at her and lifted her up on the counter with ease.

"A sidekick?"

"Mmhm." He took her legs and wrapped them around his waist. "Like Batman and Robin."

"Bonnie and Clyde?" she asked with a laugh, slipping her arms around his neck.

"Clark Kent and Lois Lane," he mentioned, nuzzling her neck with his lips.

"Jack and Elizabeth," she told him, meeting his perfect warm lips with hers.

"Um guys?" Isaac said from behind them.

Elizabeth sighed and hid her face in Jack's shoulder. "Yeah?"

"Can Mandie come over for dinner?"

"Sure," Jack told him.

"Thanks. Oh, and can you maybe try not to do that so much while she's here? It's totally embarrassing."

Elizabeth hopped down.

"Where are you going?" Jack asked her.

"I need to go grocery shopping and then make dinner." She kissed his cheek. "Wanna come with me?"

"I'll go!" Isaac said, walking back in. "It's our thing, Mom."

"Alright, sweetie. Go get in the Tahoe. I'll be right there." She stepped close to Jack and smiled. "You could still come, hon."

"That's okay. He's right. It's your thing. It's important you spend time together."

She gave him a kiss and a hug. "I love you."

"I love you, Bee. Be safe."

"I will."

After they left, he started a load of laundry and unpacked from their honeymoon. Then he asked Jonah to help him bring in the various boxes from the moving truck.

Elizabeth had made it easy for them. She had labeled every box according to which room it needed to go in. Organized to a fault. That was his Bee.

The store

"So what's Mandie's favorite meal?" Elizabeth asked Isaac.

"Enchiladas. With tons of cheese and sour cream."

"Okay. Wanna help me make it?"

"Yeah. I need to learn how."

"Why's that?" she teased, nudging his shoulder.

"Well, she loves it. Might be good to know how to make it. For later."

"You really like her, don't you?"

"She's my best friend."

"That's a great place to start." She had been best friends with Jack before dating him and look at them now. "Isaac, why don't you go get the tortillas, cheese, and sour cream? I'll grab the meat."

"Okay."

Her mind wandered to the last two weeks. The best, most romantic weeks of her life. She couldn't imagine anything changing now after they were finally married. The need and desire to be with him every moment was stronger than ever, even now as she stood staring at the meat case.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She took it out and saw his text.

"I MISS U BEE!!

"I'll B home soon, love."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

About an hour later, she and Isaac pulled into the driveway. Jack came out of the house and opened her door for her before she could do it herself.

"Hi."

"Hey."

Isaac rolled his eyes and took a couple bags in, knowing they were going to be smooching before long.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" Jonah asked, putting his jacket on.

"Making out in the car, I'm guessing."

"Well, I'm going to Ray's. See you later."

"Bye." Isaac began unpacking the bags, separating the items he would need to make dinner.

Jack leaned back against the passenger seat and laughed. "I'm glad you're home."

"I gathered that," she said with a laugh. "I'm glad I'm home too."

"Jonah and I unpacked the moving truck. I'll take it and drop it off in the morning before class."

"Okay." She reached up and touched his lips.

"Bee?"

"Yeah."

"What's on your mind?"

"Just...I can't imagine being away from you tomorrow. I love seeing you every day. Knowing you're right next to me or just in the next room."

Truth be told, he missed her already too.

Jonah knocked on the window and Elizabeth rolled it down. "I'm headed to see Ray."

"Be home by curfew," Jack told him.

"I will."

As Jonah walked down the sidewalk to Raylinn's house, he tried not to think about her leaving. He just wanted to think about tonight. It wasn't easy though.

She was sitting on the porch swing waiting for him. "Hey," he said, giving her a smile.

"Hey yourself. What do you have there?" she asked, gesturing to the bag and thermos he was carrying.

"Surprise."

She stood and walked down the steps and then kissed him softly. "I'm ready to go."

"You look cute," he told her, taking her hand. Her jeans hugged her curves and her long striped sweater looked cozy and comfortable.

"Thanks. So do you."

"I have something I'd like to talk to you about, Ray."

"Okay. I'm listening."

"I figured out what I want to study in college."

"You did? So did I."

"I'm going to study Digital Arts."

"Marine Biology," she told him. "I'm thinking Bowling Green."

"Ohio?"

"Yeah. It's only like an hour and a half from here so I can visit you. Unless...I mean, where are you going to go?"

"I was thinking just Hidden Lake Community College for two years and maybe go abroad for a year."

"Paris," she said, knowing he had always wanted to go there.

"Yes."

"For a year."

"Yeah. Ray, you know that has been my dream." She nodded and wiped her cheek. "Ray? Tell me."

"I don't want to leave, Joe. I can't believe I have to move away from you."

He put down his bag and thermos and wrapped his arms around her. "Its only two years and we will be in college. That's all."

"Two years? Its forever, Jonah."

"It will go by fast."

"Do you really believe that?"

"No," he admitted. "I just tell myself that so I don't miss you too much."

He held her another long moment and then he handed her the thermos and he grabbed the bag. "Let's go."

"Are we going to the fire pit?"

"Yeah."

It was one of their favorite spots by the lake and it was romantic, even in his opinion. The two Adirondack chairs faced the water and the fire pit was perfect for making s'mores.

Instead of each of them taking a chair, once they had the fire going, they shared a seat and covered up with a blanket he had brought.

He took her left hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. "One day, Raylinn Stanton, I'm going to put a ring on that finger."

"I hope so."

"I am and then no one will be able to take you away from me."

She leaned her head back and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Joe. To the moon and back."

"I love you more."

"Checkmate!" Mandie said, pumping her fist and grinning across the table.

"I can't believe you beat me again!" Isaac said, feigning annoyance.

"We could play a different game. Like Scrabble."

"Okay. Sure."

"We could ask your parents to play."

"If you want. But just to warn you, they're kinda inseparable right now."

"I think that's sweet."

"You do? I think it's a little gross actually."

"You know that could be us one day," she told him, a pink blush on her cheeks.

"Us?"

"Us... I mean...me and you separately or... together."

"Really?"

"Well, yeah. Don't you think about growing up and getting married?"

"I'm fourteen."

"Yeah, but marriage isn't that far off if you think about it."

"Who wants popcorn?" Elizabeth asked from the kitchen.

"I do," Mandie said. "I'll help you, Mrs. Thornton."

Isaac bolted from the room to the living room where his dad was.

"Whoa, bud. Where's the fire?"

"Huh?"

"What's the rush?"

"Do all girls think about getting married when they are fourteen?" Issac whispered loudly.

"I have no idea. Maybe ask your Mom."

"I mean we start high school next year and then college. I mean it would have to be at least eight years before….whoa." Isaac paced in front of the couch as he ranted.

"What's going on, Isaac?"

"I mean, all I told her was you and Mom were like making out all the time and she said that could be us one day. Us! What is she thinking?"

"You told her we make out all the time? Good grief."

"That's the part you focus on? I'm having a nervous breakdown here, Dad. You and Mom making out is not the issue."

Jack laughed and patted the couch cushion. "Isaac, women are perplexing and interesting, not to mention confusing creatures. There is really no point in spending too much time trying to figure them out. Nine times out of ten, they'll let you know what's on their minds and you won't need to be clueless anymore anyway."

"So you are still clueless?"

"Oh yeah."

"And Gramps?"

"Yep. He'd confirm if you asked him."

Elizabeth came in and sat down on the other side of Jack. He smiled and lifted his arm, placing it around her shoulders.

"Mandie has Scrabble all set up for you," Elizabeth told him.

"Great. Thanks."

"One game and then I'll drive her home."

"Okay, Mom."

Elizabeth looked at Jack and smiled. "What did I interrupt?"

"Nothing much. He did ask me if all fourteen year old girls think about getting married. I told him to ask you."

She touched his chin and gave him a kiss. "I love my clueless husband."

"I love you too. Let's watch a movie."