A year later, Lucas and Elizabeth's new house

Lucas picked up six month old Leo and carried him to the kitchen so he wouldn't wake Elizabeth. Leo smiled up at his Daddy and sucked on his fist.

"Hi, buddy. I'm going to make you a bottle. Hang on, okay?"

Leo was the sweetest tempered little guy and he'd be fine while Lucas stumbled through process of making the bottle. Elizabeth usually nursed him first thing in the morning but it was her day off so Lucas decided to take the job of feeding.

Catie and Luke were still sleeping so it was quiet.

Lucas swayed as he warmed the bag of milk in a cup of warm water. "Daddy loves you, buddy." Leo kicked his legs and smiled.

"Mommy loves Daddy," Elizabeth said from the doorway.

He turned and smiled. "Hey, you should be sleeping." She shrugged.

"You were gone and then Leo was gone…so, I came out here because I thought we could talk."

He leaned toward her and gave her a kiss. "About what?"

"I don't know. I just feel like the last six months have been a blur and we need time together."

They had been a blur! Not only having a new child but moving into a new home, Elizabeth being off work, coordinating school and activities for the two oldest and Lucas finally starting his own business. Bouchard Landscaping.

"They have. In fact, we need to go on a date."

"When? Sweetheart, we have so much going on right now."

"We can take a night just for us. Its important, Beth."

"Of course it is. Alright, lets see. Randi has the kids on Friday for the weekend so we just need to get a sitter for Leo."

"Bill and Molly," they said in unison.

"Mom!" Catie yelled, running out of the room.

"Cates, can you please be a little quieter? Its early and Mommy's just waking up," Elizabeth told her.

"Sorry! But I'm excited!"

"That's great. What are you so excited about?"

"Its crazy hair day at school today. Will you help me?"

"Sure. What do you want to do with your hair?"

Leo squirmed a bit but Lucas got the top of the bottle on before he got upset and placed the nipple in his mouth.

"Dad? I'm hungry," Luke said, climbing up on the counter and staring as his little brother ate.

"Okay. How about cereal?"

"Can you make waffles?"

Thankfully, they had Eggo's in the freezer and Lucas could work a toaster with ease.

"Sure, bud. Can you get out the syrup and butter for me?"

Elizabeth took Catie to the bathroom and was working on her hair.

"Ow!"

"Sorry, bugs. You have snarls. Do you brush your hair at night before bed?"

"No."

"Why don't we try? Or if you want, I can braid your hair after your bath."

"You can braid it if you want."

"Its your hair. What would you like me to do?"

"I don't care, Mom." She crossed her arms and frowned.

"Cates?" Elizabeth looked at her in the mirror. "What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"You can tell me anything."

"I don't think my other mom likes me anymore."

Elizabeth turned her around and lifted her to the counter. "Why do you think that?"

"She doesn't read to me anymore. She doesn't brush my hair or say she loves me. She doesn't buy me clothes. Luke either."

That was strange. Randi had been doing very well, even getting a job at Lucas' landscaping business which was formerly Bill's. She seemed happy and even was dating Michael seriously.

"Honey, maybe she's having a hard time. Do you want me to talk to her for you?"

"No. Its ok. I know that you love me."

"You know what? Would it be fun to have her and Mike over for dinner?"

She shrugged.

"Bugs."

"Can I have a hug, Mom?"

Elizabeth would never turn any of her children down for a hug. Ever. She picked her up and squeezed her tight.

A moment later, she felt wetness on her front.

"Oops," Elizabeth said, putting Catie down. "I guess I need to do something about that."

"Cates, breakfast," Lucas said from the doorway.

Elizabeth wiped at her front and looked up at Lucas. He was biting back a smile, she could see it.

"Shush you. I need to go pump since someone already ate." She kissed Lucas and then Leo.

"So Saturday, date?"

"Yep."

……

Randi's apartment

She was so sick of the tiny little apartment. It barely fit her and the kids.

She rubbed her toe where she had stubbed it on the door wall. The kids left things everywhere.

Her phone buzzed. Elizabeth.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Randi. How are you?"

"Oh you know. Trying not to break my toe in this dinky apartment."

Elizabeth could hear the tension and unhappiness in her tone. She wondered if that's why Catie was picking up on.

"Are you busy?"

"What did you need, Elizabeth?"

"I think you and I should have a talk and without the older kids around. Do you have time for coffee soon?"

"I really don't. I have to work."

"You don't work Sunday, do you?"

"Elizabeth, can you just tell me now?"

"I'd rather not. Its concerning to me and I think we should talk in person."

"Fine."

"Sunday, after services?"

"Fine."

She wasn't sure what was happening with Randi but she would try to be her friend and see if she would talk.

"I'll just take Leo with me and we will meet at Joe's or something," Elizabeth told Lucas as she did dishes that night.

"I'll watch Leo."

"It will be easier if I take him that way I can feed him."

"Trust me, Beth."

"What's happening? Why don't you want me to take him?"

"Randi…she might be upset by seeing you with Leo."

"Why on earth would that bother her?"

"Because of her injuries, she can't have more kids so she's feeling inadequate."

Elizabeth nodded and looked away from Lucas.

"What, Beth?"

"She confides in you about that? Why not Michael?"

Lucas saw a rare jealous side of Beth. "She really didn't."

"You're my husband."

He put his arms around her waist and kissed her nose.

"Don't be cute."

"Babe, look at me." She did and he saw a tear escape. "You're upset?"

"No. I'm pregnant."

"What? Holy cow!"

"I was going to tell you on our date."

"Elizabeth."

She hugged him back and leaned in, soaking up his comfort.

"She doesn't confide in me. Remember the night she left in tears back a few months?"

"Yeah."

"I asked her what was wrong and she told me that she was fine. Later, she sent me a very short text that explained why she was upset. That's all."

"Okay."

"And, Saturday we are going to celebrate the baby, alright? Because I am really excited about that."

"Well, we could always celebrate tonight too."

"Movie and bubble bath?"

"Perfect."

……

Randi's apartment that night

Mike put his hand on Randi's back as she scrubbed the kitchen. It was already clean so he knew she was struggling. It had been a long year in her healing process. Sometimes it was like one step forward, two steps back. Sometimes five steps back.

"Babe…"

"I'm broken, Michael."

"We all are."

"You deserve someone better."

He turned her towards him and shook his head. "No. I won't let you talk about yourself like that, Randi. I don't want anyone else. I want you. Don't push me away."

"Why do you want me?"

They'd had this conversation before.

"Babe, I need you to listen to me. I love you. You. Even if you think you are broken. You are what's important to me. You and Catie and Luke. We can be a family. I trust you. I know that you will not cheat on me, even if you doubt it yourself. I know you love me back. You are not the same person that you used to be."

She collapsed into his arms. He held her tighter. "We are going to go to therapy. You and me and the kids. Family therapy."

"No. I'll be fine."

"No, we all need this. You need it to get over your past and forgive yourself. I need it so that I know how to help you and how both of us can heal together. The kids need it because I can see their confusion when you push them away sometimes. I know you love them but they don't understand why you can't verbalize it."

"Of course I love them."

"Yes, but you are pushing them away."

"They are better without me."

"No. They need their mother. Kids need their mother. Trust me."

"Elizabeth wants to have coffee Sunday."

"That's good. You need to get out of the apartment."

"I don't understand why she wants to talk to me."

"Want my guess?"

"I don't know. Do I?"

"Probably not but I'm guessing Catie might have mentioned last weekend."

Catie had pretty much cried and thrown fits the entire night. Mike had witnessed it and Randi couldn't bring herself to comfort her which made it worse. Mike tried, but Catie just wanted Elizabeth with made Randi resentful. It had been a vicious circle. A very sad one. Luke just ignored it and played in the living room.

"I didn't know how to help her."

"That is why we need to get some help in fixing this."

….

Saturday

As much as Lucas would have loved to stay in for their date, he also wanted to be out in public, showing off his stunning wife.

She was curvy in all the right places, making his blood run hot. She wasn't showing her pregnancy yet and he loved keeping that intimate secret between just them.

Nashville was hopping on the weekends but he took her to a small Italian bistro with delicious food and less people. It was lit for romance and a quiet dinner so in his mind, perfect.

She lifted her fork with a bite of lasagna on it, offering it to him. He, of course, opened his mouth, almost shivering as her eyes drifted to his mouth and watched him take it. He winked at her and squeezed her fingers.

"Love you," he mouthed, giving her a bite of his warm breadstick, moist with butter and parmesan.

"Mm," she said, chewing. "Love you," she mouthed back.

"Baby Bouchard likes Italian," she giggled, knowing at just eight weeks along, it was really Beth Bouchard that loved Italian.

This Baby Bouchard hadn't been planned but it wasn't anything but a huge blessing. Beth loved staying home with Leo and working only part time. He assumed she'd love the same type of schedule with the new baby.

He loved just holding Leo, talking to him, feeding him when needed. It was wonderful. He hoped the new baby was a girl.

"What's on your mind, husband?" Elizabeth asked, taking a sip of water.

"I'm so grateful for our family. So so grateful."

"Me too."

Elizabeth hadn't told Lucas yet but she wanted to quit her job when the new baby came. Two babies under two would not leave her time for work outside the home. Plus, Catie was wanting to take ballet and Luke wanted soccer so she'd be very busy.

"Beth? I can see your wheels turning too."

"I want to quit my job."

He raised his eyebrows. "Yeah?"

"Not now, but when it's time to have the new baby, I want to stay home. What do you think?"

"It should be fine. We have a good savings now and no mortgage."

"Let's try putting my money in the savings and make sure."

He kissed her knuckles and winked.

So that's what they did. For the next few months, her money helped build the savings account.

….

Hope Valley Obstetrics

"Are you sure you want to know the gender?" Lucas asked as the ultrasound tech did her job.

"Yes. I want to get the nursery ready."

She had a feeling it was another boy but, either way, she'd be happy.

"Any guesses?" the tech asked, a smile on her face.

"Girl," Lucas said, grinning. "I want a girl."

Elizabeth touched his handsome face, loving him more and more everyday.

He was a great "girl dad" for Catie. They had an amazing bond. But seeing him with his boys…it filled her heart to the top.

"Mom?" the tech asked, wanting her vote.

"Girl," she said, even though her real vote was the opposite.

"Its a girl!"

"I knew it!" Lucas said, pressing his lips to Elizabeth's. "Cates is going to go crazy."

"Alexandra Helen Grace," Elizabeth murmured. "We can call her Lexie."

This was going to be my last chapter but there's one more in my heart...stay tuned!*