A week later

Dani finished talking to her boss and then drove home. She had decided to put in to work only three days a week. She wasn't feeling well and Gabe needed more attention than she could give him if she continued full time.

When she walked back in the door, she heard Trace talking on the phone and Gabe whimpering. As soon as Gabe saw Dani, he reached for her.

"Shhhhh, baby. It's okay. Mama's here."

He laid his head on her shoulder and played with her hair. It seemed to soothe him to do something with his fingers.

Trace hung up and sat, closing his eyes. Something was wrong.

"Honey? What's wrong?"

"That was Jamey and George's social worker."

"Yeah?"

"Apparently they found an uncle that is willing to take the boys."

"I thought….I mean, I thought we were going to take them."

"Me too. But somehow this uncle had slipped through the cracks before and had never been notified of his brother and sister-in-law passing away."

She hated seeing Trace upset. She knew he loved the boys so much. She did too but family was willing to be guardians and that's ultimately the goal of most placements. "I'm sorry, hon."

"How does that happen? They belong with us."

"Well, social work isn't always an easy thing. If no one comes forward at first, it can still happen."

"I loved them, Dani." He wiped his tears and shook his head. "In my heart, they were our sons."

"I know." She laid Gabe down because he had fallen asleep and then she turned and opened her arms to Trace. "I love you so much, Trace. I'm so sorry."

"I love you too," he mumbled, holding her tight. "I feel like we let them down."

She pulled back and touched his handsome face. "We didn't, babe. If this uncle is qualified, it might be best if they are with him."

"In the meantime, they are stuck in the group home."

"A group home with lots of boys that they are happy with. You saw them, Trace. They got along with them very well."

He nodded and kissed her cheek. "I'll take Gabe up to his crib. Then I'm going to get dressed for work."

Trace felt like his children had been taken from him. He had a room ready for them and his heart had accepted them. Now, the room would be essentially empty.

"Trace."

"Dani, you have Gabe. You got what you wanted. I need time to get past losing what I wanted."

"You wanted him too, Trace. That wasn't a fair thing to say."

He carried Gabe upstairs and placed him in the crib. It wasn't that he didn't want Gabe. It's that he didn't feel connected to him like he did Jamey and George. Maybe that made him a selfish person. It for sure made him feel that way. Maybe he shouldn't have blurted it out the way he had.

"Daddy?" Bethanie said from the doorway.

"Yes, Bethie."

"Why is Mommy crying?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, sweetie. I'll take care of it." He knelt in front of his little girl. "Will you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Will you play in your room for a bit while I talk to Mommy?"

"Yeah." She kissed his cheek. "Did you mess up?"

"Yeah. I'll fix it."

"I love you," she told him. "Just say you're sorry and give her a hug. That's how I fix it."

He kissed her forehead and smiled. "I love you too."

Before he could make his way downstairs though, Gabe woke up and started crying. Trace wandered into his room. "Hey, buddy. What's wrong?"

Trace knew that sometimes, Dani just needed to rock him to get him to relax so he sat down, taking Gabe's blanket and covering them. "You know what, Gabe? You might need to be patient with me sometimes. I don't always do the right thing. I made Mama upset and I didn't mean to. It just came out of my mouth before I could stop it."

He sighed as Gabe stared up at him and gripped Trace's thumb. "I promise you that if you ever say something that you don't mean to, I will forgive you. Okay?"

He smiled up at him and reached for his chin. Apparently he thought that was cool.

Dani watched Trace rock their son from the doorway. "I'll forgive you too, Trace."

He looked up at her with surprise on his face. "You heard me?"

She held up the handset of the baby monitor. "It's not my fault that you don't feel connected to Gabe."

"I know it's not. I know that what I said hurt you. I'm really sorry, Dani."

"Dadadada," Gabe babbled as he still stared at Trace.

"See, he knows who you are."

Trace nodded. "It might take some time, Dani."

"I know and I am so sorry that we aren't getting the boys."

She touched her tummy. "Babe?"

"I felt the baby."

"You did?"

"Yeah. Which means I'm probably further along than I thought." They had an ultrasound the next day and a checkup.

"What did it feel like?"

"A little flutter. I used to love when Bethanie would kick me and move. It helped me know that the little person inside me was doing just fine."

Trace nodded and his eyes filled with tears. "That's amazing."

"It really is."

A few days later….

Jack's parents came down from Augusta to spend time with the grandkids and great grandkids which gave Jack and Elizabeth a chance to go out to dinner with both of their older kids and their significant others.

Dani wasn't feeling her best, but they decided that tonight could be the night they tell Jack and Elizabeth about the new little one.

"I don't want tonight to be all about us though," Dani mentioned. "Maybe we should wait."

"Sure, babe. Whatever you want."

They had seen the doctor and had confirmed that she was fifteen weeks pregnant and the heartbeat was strong.

Dani reached for Trace's hand and squeezed. "Are you doing okay, Trace?"

"Sure. I'm fine."

"If you aren't, you can tell me you know."

"I know." He kissed the back of her hand and then got out to walk around and open her door. Tonight was going to be a date in his book. He was going to pull out the stops.

"Thank you," she told him, taking his hand as he helped her out of the car.

"My pleasure." He gave her a brief kiss and smiled. "I love you."

"I love you more."

Brayla and Brady were arriving at the same time so the two couples walked inside Georgio's together.

Jack and Elizabeth were already there, waiting at a table for six.

After hugs and greetings, they all sat down to peruse the menu.

"You guys ready to head back to school?" Trace asked Brady and Brayla.

"I'm actually headed back in January," Brady told them. "I'm going to be helping out at the diner until then when Clara comes back."

"Oh right. Sorry."

"I'm ready," Brayla admitted.

"What are you studying again?" Dani asked.

"Elementary Education."

"You'll be a great teacher, babe," Brady told her, squeezing her hand.

"Thanks. I hope so."

"So what's new in your lives, Mom? Dad?" Brady asked.

They looked at each other. Then Elizabeth's face flushed. "Not a lot."

"It's something," Dani teased. "Are you pregnant?"

"What? No."

"You say it as if it couldn't happen, Mom. You are still young."

"Hardly, sweetie."

"You're not even thirty four. It could happen. Never say never."

Elizabeth watched Dani. Her cheeks were red and her hand was resting on her tummy while she sipped her water.

"Something you want to tell us, Dani?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.

"Nope. Now, what's new?"

"I'm…well Jesse is going to be working with someone in Portland so I am going to be taking on a new partner," Jack mentioned.

Brady looked at his father. "A new partner?"

"Yeah. His name is Jeff and he is out of Portland. He is going to be working with me once Jesse moves on."

Brady felt left out. Jack saw it. "Brade, you are still going to be my partner but you have at least another year to go. I need someone now. I can't do all this work alone." Brady nodded.

"Brade?"

"It's fine. I understand."

"I'm not replacing you."

"This may make it sound like I'm five but it sure feels like you are. Like I'm out of the picture."

"You are my son. You and I are going to work together. Have I ever broken a promise to you?"

"No."

Jack touched Brady's shoulder and squeezed. "I am not breaking this one either."

Brady felt his eyes fill with tears. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, son."

All the women at the table were wiping their eyes as they watched. Then the waiter came up and took their orders.

"I'm starting to write a new series," Elizabeth admitted as soon as they had their appetizers.

"Cool. What's this one about?" Brayla asked her.

Sunday evening

Dani and Bethanie were on their way to get Chinese food and go to a movie for their mommy/daughter date, leaving Trace at home with Gabe. He assured her he was looking forward to spending time with him so she and Bethanie left.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, baby."

"This is going to be fun, I think."

"I think so too."

"I missed you."

"You did?"

"Yeah. Babies are a lot of work."

"Yes they are," she agreed with a laugh. Dani put her hand on the gentle rise in her abdomen, something that she had just noticed this morning.

"Was I a lot of work?"

"Yes you were. But I had Mimi and Papa to help me so that made it easier."

"Mimi and Papa are the best."

"Yes they are, bugs."

"I'm going to get sweet and sour chicken with two egg rolls," Bethanie announced.

"Two, huh? You must be growing again."

"Or maybe I just like egg rolls."

"Maybe you do."

Their evening went well. Dani even sprung for some twizzlers for dessert at the theater, plus she was craving some sugar anyway.

"This was fun," Bethanie told her on the way home. "I'm glad we went together, Mommy."

"Me too, bugs."

"Can we do it again?"

"I tell you what. I will try to make sure we do, okay?"

"Yeah and can I go on a date with Daddy too?"

"Let's ask him when we get home."

Elizabeth turned toward Jack as he dozed next to her. "Jack?" she whispered.

"Hmmm?" he whispered back.

"Jack, what if we had a baby?"

He opened one eye and looked at her. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. If we did, Erik would be three by the time I had it. That's a good span."

"I thought you were happy with where we are."

"I am. But, Dani was right. I'm still young and...I love our babies, Jack."

"I know you do."

"Do you not want another one? Truth."

"I don't know. I guess I haven't thought about it because I thought we were done."

She moved closer and kissed him. "We don't have to decide right now." She closed her eyes and snuggled closer. "But I do think Dani is pregnant."

"Really? Another grandbaby. That's great."

"Yes it is."