It had been well over a month now since Sophie had taken her maternity leave from the library leaving Tessa to fill her shoes while she was gone. Rather than try and get around during those last few uncomfortable weeks, Sophie had opted to take her leave just a little early. She was now at home with a bouncing baby boy named Thomas, and Tessa was thoroughly enjoying having the run of the library and actually getting paid to do it!

Between her new - but temporary - full time job and attending night classes three days a week, Tessa's life was filled with more adult conversation than she knew what to do with. Tessa had been so used to her toddler structured life that this new busy adult one was quite a shock. Though she loved her new routine, there were times when she missed her all day one-on-on time with Lucie. She still got plenty of mommy time after work. Usually by the time Tessa got home Lucie had worn Jem out, so like a good wife Tessa would take over the child minding. Will's days off were a different story, since the two fathers together were a match for the toddler. On those nights Tessa often indulged in a lavender scented bubble bath and a good book.

All in all, her life was pretty darn brilliant as far as Tessa was concerned.

The one slight blip on her radar was the lack of an answer she'd received from her soulmates about whether or not they wanted to have more kids. It wasn't like she was trying to rush them or anything, even if they answered in the affirmative she'd want to wait till she was done with this job and her bachelor's degree. Still, she had expected to at least hear the topic mentioned in passing once in the eight months since she'd first brought it up.

Maybe they'd just forgotten.

She tried to put the topic from her mind as she focused on what she was meant to be doing: her job. She had emails to answer, and events to organize, and staff to delegate to. This was no time to huff and puff about her husbands.

When Tessa got home that night she was surprised to see Will sitting on the floor playing with Lucie.

"I thought you had work tonight?" Tessa said, by way of greeting as she walked in.

"And good evening to you too," Will chuckled as he helped Lucie stack her blocks just to have the toddler knock them all over again.

Tessa smiled. He was right. Tessa took off her thick winter coat and hung it up. Next she removed her boots and gloves, and lastly she hung up her scarf. Finally free of her January attire, Tessa walked over to kiss him hello before asking her question again.

Will just shrugged. "Got sent home," he said as if this was a normal thing. Tessa raised an eyebrow at him since this was definitely not a normal thing.

"Let's see it," Tessa snapped.

"See what?" Will grumbled.

"Whatever injury you have that made your supervisor send you home!" Tessa replied firmly. "Because I know you'd never go of your own accord."

"That is untrue!" Will replied defensively. "There are plenty of reasons for me to leave work early on my own accord." He started listing them on his fingers as he continued, "Jem in the hospital, or you, or Lucie. Hospitals in general, let's say. Emergency at the house. Important appointments that can't be cancelled. Lucie's still too young for school, but her school calling, or a parent event would probably count-"

"That's all very well and good, but since none of those things have happened," Tessa let the sentence hang there making sure her husband knew she meant business, and wasn't willing to let him deflect.

Will let out a deep sigh, but didn't speak.

"Are you burned?" Tessa asked seriously, resisting the urge to charge forward and start checking his skin for wounds.

Will rolled his eyes. "You know that statistically speaking firefighters don't actually get burned very often. We do wear all that gear for a reason."

"Just tell me then!"

"I strained by shoulder," Will grumbled. "Got benched for a week to let the muscle heal."

"Oh," Tessa said, her level of anxiety going down by the second. "Why didn't you just tell me that then? That isn't so bad."

"It sucks!" Will exclaimed. "I'm not even guaranteed to be able to go back in a week. I have to get cleared by the doctor first. Can't lift anything, or sleep on my right side, or be useful at all!"

Tessa smiled as she moved closer to sit beside him. "Such a workaholic," she chuckled.

"I hate feeling useless," Will grumbled. "Can't even get anything done around the house since that would involve lifting."

Tessa couldn't help but giggle at her husband's sulky expression. "I don't think a week of idleness will kill you," she chuckled.

"Ma and da da all done fight now?" Lucie asked.

"Yes," Tessa told her daughter. "Though I wouldn't call that a fight. Daddy just didn't want to tell mommy he got hurt."

"Why not?" Lucie asked.

"Daddy can be very stubborn," Tessa smiled at her daughter, leaning down to kiss the top of Lucie's head as she did so.

"Mommy stubborn too," Lucie continued. "Mommy not let daddy not tell."

"That is true," Tessa replied. "Your mommy is tough like that."

Lucie had just turned three last November, and had started to switch back and forth between her baby names for them and the entire words 'mommy and daddy.' She had even started calling Will daddy, though as Jem was daddy as well sometimes, this caused some confusion. Lucie would squeal in delight at having two people answer her call. Tessa suspected the whole thing amused the toddler so much she had decided to keep using the same word for both of them.

"Daddy, where daddy go?" Lucie asked Will.

"If I'm referring from context correctly then my answer would be that Jem is still napping like he was the last time you asked," Will said with the air of a parent who had answered the same question a thousand times.

"But mommy home now so daddy wake up time," Lucie ordered in her most authoritative voice.

"Daddy needs his rest," Tessa said. "Why don't we start dinner and he can join us later?"

"But daddy doesn't need rest like other daddy does," Lucie observed gesturing towards Will for the first half of her sentence.

"Other daddy is just stronger," Will said with his usual level of self confidence.

Lucie however didn't agree. "Daddy broken," she said, pointing to Will's right shoulder.

"Yeah yeah we're both broken now," Will sighed. "How about mommy makes dinner while daddy sulks?"

"Come now I'm sure we can find a task for you that doesn't involve lifting," Tessa teased gently. "Like folding napkins." Will did not look amused, but Tessa couldn't keep in her giggle.

As promised Tessa found something for Will to help with on dinner, and it was even more useful than napkin folding and everything. When Jem woke up he joined them, and soon the whole kitchen smelled glorious.

Cooking all together was one of Tessa's favourite family activities. She just couldn't help but feel all warm and loved with all of them here with her.

"Daddy daddy!" Lucie squealed as soon as she was finished eating. "Vlin, vlin!"

"Just because you are finished eating doesn't mean everyone is," Will reminded his daughter gently since only he and Lucie were finished eating.

"Vlin, vlin, vlin, vlin," Lucie began chanting.

"Alright, but only if you are very quiet while I go get it," Jem said, and instantly Lucie fell silent.

Jem got up from the table and left down the hall. Lucie, though completely silent, looked like she was holding back quite a lot of noise. She got down from her high chair and ran over to the living room.

"I still don't understand how Jem can get her to do what he says so easily," Will whispered to Tessa, ending in a sigh.

"He's her da da," Tessa reminded him. "Also he's here with her all day while we are at work."

"Maybe that's what I need to focus on with this mandatory week off," Will replied. "Rather than feeling useless, I should think of this as time with my daughter."

"That is a much better way to look at it," Tessa smiled at him. She paused for a moment, worried her words had been misinterpreted. "I know I tease you about being a workaholic, but that doesn't mean- you are a wonderful father Will."

"Thank you," Will said with genuine gratitude in his voice. He leaned forward to kiss her gently on the lips.

No more needed to be said, and just then Jem reappeared holding his Violin case.

"Vlin!" Lucie screamed, but then - seeming to remember her deal - fell silent once more.

And then Jem began to play.

Lucie's eyes were fixed on his hands controlling the instrument. Jem played so beautifully, it felt to Tessa as if his music permeated her very being. She loved how much her daughter enjoyed his music. She wished she had something special like that to share with Lucie as well, but Tessa knew somehow that Jem would always hold a unique place in Lucie's heart.

The music swelled, the pacing getting faster and faster until it came to a stop. Jem began again slowly and evenly bringing the music back to a more powerful volume. Tessa found herself marveling at his art. If it wasn't for his health Tessa had always thought Jem would have been playing concerts in front of thousands if he had the energy.

When Jem finally put down his bow, it was because his arm was too tired to continue. Tessa had done the tidying up while the rest of her family had been listening to Jem play. Will was quite surprised by this when he turned around to see it all done.

"Oh great I'm so crippled now that my wife is secretly cleaning up behind my back," Will sighed.

"Only literally behind your back," Tessa replied. "It wasn't like it was in secret. You were just facing the other way."

Jem's light laughter interrupted them. He was sitting down on the couch now looking a little spent, but smiling widely. "I think that makes it your turn," Jem chuckled at his friend.

"My turn what?" Will asked.

"Well I played," Jem explained. "Tessa did the dishes. What are you gonna bring to the evening?"

"One useless arm, and a lot of complaining," Will replied.

"You know what I'd like," Tessa said kindly. "Would you read to us Will?"

It had been so long since she'd heard Will read aloud. So long she wasn't even sure if she could remember. It must have been before Lucie was born, but other than that she couldn't pin down an exact memory.

Will's smile told her he loved the idea, moments before he jumped up to go get a book. Will returned and sat down beside Tessa before opening his book and beginning to read. The book he'd chosen was Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens. Tessa wasn't surprised. Will rarely read anything published in the last fifty years. He, like her, was a sucker for the classics.

At first Lucie jumped up on the couch to sit beside her father and listen, but as the evening grew on the toddler's little eyes began to flutter. Soon she was asleep on the couch with her head resting on her father's knee.

"I think it's someone's bed time," Will whispered as the chapter he was on came to a close.

"I got her," Tessa offered, knowing Jem was tired, and Will's shoulder was sore. Usually even if Lucie fell asleep on top of Will it was Will who carried her to bed. Tessa knew it was a point of pride for Will that he could do stuff like carry his daughter to bed. Tessa suspected the next few weeks of his injury leave would be very hard on Will's self-esteem.

Tessa tucked her daughter into bed, kissed the top of her forehead and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.

When Tessa returned to the living room it was to find her two husbands looking about as worn out as her sleeping daughter. They were both sitting on the couch, their eyes closed, and their heads resting on each other's shoulders. It was all rather adorable. Tessa couldn't resist getting out her phone and taking a picture of them before starting the conversation she was determined to start.

"Before you two pass out on me too I wanted to ask you something," she said. Neither of them looked worried, but rather just curious. "It's been almost eight months since I asked the first time, and neither of you have said a word, so I'm asking again: do you want more kids?"

Will and Jem looked at each other then at her, and she had the sneaky suspicion that they'd talked about this without her more than once.

"Do you want more kids, Tess?" Jem asked kindly.

"That's not the point," Tessa sighed, annoyed at their lack of an answer. "I'm asking you."

"And we are wondering how you feel about it?" Will replied.

"Clearly you two have talked about this without me," Tessa said annoyed. "I just want to know what you are thinking. This isn't a trick question or-"

"We never thought it was," Jem said gently, getting up off the couch and pulling her into a hug.

"This is something the three of us have to decide together," Tessa reminded them when the hug ended.

"You first then Tessa," Will said, standing up to look her right in the eyes.

And she knew she'd never get an answer out of them without first sharing her own. The trouble was that her own answer was messy and confusing. The post-partum she'd had with Lucie gave her pause, but when she thought of her beautiful sleeping daughter she couldn't help but say...

"I want another baby," Tessa said. "At least I think I do."

The exact same smile appeared on the faces of the men she loved, and Tessa knew their answer was the same. They both pulled her into a hug, and Tessa hugged them back with all her might. Sometimes it was overwhelming how much she loved these men, like her heart might explode from the size of it.

"We didn't want our wishes to sway your choice," Jem explained.

"Idiot boys," Tessa sniffed. She wasn't crying, but the emotional weight of it all had her all teary eyed. "We are a team. I can't do this by myself. Wouldn't even want to try. Of course your wishes will sway my choice."

"Herongraystairs," Will chuckled.

"What?" Jem laughed.

"Just something my cousin's girlfriend keeps doing," Will explained. "Merging couples names."

"I thought they broke up?" Tessa replied.

Will shrugged. "I don't think it will stick, but yeah technically they are broken up, but then again so were we once remember?"

"What I remember is you leaving me to Jem, and running off like a scared little kitten," Tessa mocked.

"And on that note I am going to bed," Jem stated firmly as if trying to escape a war zone before the carnage.

They watched him walk away before Will whispered to her, "Is it my fault you were so scary?"

"But you aren't scared now?" Tessa asked.

"Sure I am," Will grinned like a fool. "Just not of you."

Tessa punched him playfully in his left shoulder before leaning in to kiss him lovingly.

"Tessa Gray you are one confusing woman. You know that?" Will said, looking dazed as he held his shoulder dramatically. She knew she hadn't actually hurt him.

"And don't you ever forget it," Tessa grinned back at him.

Wow sorry been gone a LONG time. But April 2021 was a hot mess for me what with my final exams, my drivers test, my clinical and oh yeah I got married! Virtual bridal shower was like 3hours after my exams and then COVID moved my wedding by a week and yeah it was a crazy old time! But awesome. I got some beautiful photos I will cherish forever and I am no longer a Lott though I won't be changing my username. We tied the knot on April 24th and it was perfect despite the masks and lack of reception.

Now that all that being crazy busy is behind me, I am planning to start updating this more regularly. The hope is to actually finish this freaking story before I die of old age... but no promises. lol

Chapter 188 has been almost finished since before chapter 187 got started so as a change of pace I actually have a rather longer than usual sneak peek for you. Muchly deserved after such a very very very slow update. Hope you enjoy!

Sneak Peek Chapter 188

"Ready to get your butt kicked at Mario Kart?" Annika said by way of greeting.

"Um yes?" Jace replied with a laugh.

"And in this corner Mr. Indecisive Answer," Annika said in her best announcer impression.

"Keep that up and I won't make popcorn," Jace laughed.

"Totally worth it," Annika chuckled.

"You say that now but wait till you can smell the popcorn," Jace replied, evilly.

"You'll share," she grinned at him.

Despite Jace's mental resolution to deny her popcorn at all costs, no more than twenty minutes into the game somehow she had the popcorn.

"Like a thief in the night," Annika mocked him. Jace used the opportunity while she was distracted to take the lead.

"Hey no fair!" Annika objected as she managed to get a bonus orb and retake her lead.

They'd been playing for well over an hour and eaten their way through two big bowls of popcorn when suddenly the atmosphere changed.

"Hey," Annika said all of a sudden, pausing the game.

Jace could sense some nervousness in her voice as he turned to listen.

"I was kinda hoping we could talk," she continued.