Later that same day, (the day after Zoë broke her arm falling out of a tree), the girls found themselves home alone. Their parents had gone on a last minute Christmas shopping spree, they didn't know where Gloria and Adam had gone, but they knew they wouldn't be back for sometime, and Tess had been called on a small assignment. Tessa was glad that she did not have an assignment that day. She could not have handled it, a fussy little sister was all she was up for for the day. No murder attempts, no reasoning with anyone, no thinking even. Just helping to protect her sister.

Zoë was only fussy because her arm hurt, a lot. The adults had given her pain reliever, which did not seem to be working, because it usually never did. Tessa had always thought that when she had to take pain medication it always made her feel much sicker, but maybe that was just part of the process. She did not know. She was decorating the staircase with Christmas decorations; Zoë was lying on the couch. They were both watching television.

"You feeling any better Zoë?" Tessa asked.

"Yeah. Do you think they are going to get together?" Zoë asked as of the couple on television. Even at age eight, it was evident that Zoë was a romantic.

"Who, them? Who knows, but I hope so!" Tessa was also a hopeless romantic.

"Anything could happen now, he has commitment issues!"

"Him?" Tessa laughed sarcastically, Zoë joined her. But their laughing was interrupted by a large crash.

"Zoë, what was that?"

"The cat?"

"We don't have a cat."

"The dog?"

"We don't have a dog either."

"The pony?"

"Zoë! We don't have a pony!" Tessa thought for a moment. "Zoë, get up!"

"But I'm tired."

"Get up now, just do it!" Zoë obeyed and followed her sister to the hall closet.

"Put your coat on." Zoë did so, and Tessa took her hand and they left the house.

"Tessa, where are we going?"

"On a walk."

"Why?"

"Because, we are going to visit your friend Lauren."

"Are you going leave me and go see Jodie?"

"No, I'm staying with you."

Thankfully, Lauren's house was only a block a way. Lauren and Zoë went to play. Tessa was quite surprised to see Lauren's mother there. She usually never was. Tessa was quite good friends with her older daughter Rose, but Rose was not home at the moment.

"What's new with you Tessa, I haven't seen you in quite a while?" She asked as she made Tessa some coffee and sat down at the kitchen table with her. "How is Zoë, I heard about her fall."

"She'll be okay, but can I whisper something to you." Lauren's mother nodded. Tessa leaned over and whispered. "I don't want Zoë to know, but our house has just been broken into!"

Lauren's mother gasped and gave Tessa a comforting hug.

"I am calling your Mother right now!" She said as she got up and walked to the phone.

"Thank you so much."

A half an hour later Monica and Andrew showed up at Lauren's house.

"Are you okay?" Monica asked as she hugged Tessa.

"Quite fine Mom, really."

"I'm very proud of you, you knew just what to do." Monica said, Tessa could only smile in reply.

"I didn't tell Zoë."

"Good." Her father said, hugging her too. "Where is she anyway?"

"Upstairs," Lauren's mother said, "I'll get her."

About a minute later Zoë and Lauren came down the stairs. Monica and Andrew tried to look no happier than usual to see her, but they were relieved.

They had called the police on their way to Lauren's. And not only had they reported the suspected break in, but they to reported every instance that had threatened Zoë in the past few days. The police were searching the house and surrounding area for clues. For now, the family was stuck at Lauren's.

................................

Several hours thereafter they went back to the house. Monica and Tessa did not want to. Andrew had reserved his judgments until something else happened, but was determined to protect little Zoë form anything and everything at all costs, and Zoë did not even know that anything was wrong. All four of them, and Tess were in the kitchen when they heard the front door shut. They all gathered behind the door to hear Gloria and Adam's conversation.

"Oh come on, Adam it won't be that bad."

"I never said anything about bad, I only said that I'm completely amazed."

"Good, I'm not. I think I've subconsciously known the whole time."

"I'm not going to even ask." He said, they both laughed.

"Are you happy?" She asked, sitting down next to him.

"Ridiculously." He said, kissing her. Zoe, who was peeking at them through the kitchen door stuck out her tongue in disgust.

"When should we tell everyone?" She asked.

"After dinner seems logical, doesn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Tell everyone what?" Zoe asked, as the kitchen door flew open.

"Zoe Michelle! Don't ask that, they'll tell us whatever it is when they are ready!"

"No, everyone is here, we can just tell you now. I don't know if I can keep quite until after dinner anyway." Gloria said, Adam agreed. "We're having twins!"

...............................

"Zoe," Tessa asked later that night.

"Yeah?"

"How are you supposed to be a romantic, if you're sickened by seeing your Uncle kiss your Aunt?"

Zoe thought for a moment.

"I don't know." She said, "You did not look to well about that either."

"I guess your right." She said. "Are you looking forward to Christmas?"

"Yap, just a few more days!"

"I am too."

.................................

"Gloria, how long have you known it was twins?" Monica asked as she and Gloria did the dishes.

"Just today, why?"

"I'm just wondering how in the world they missed that, that's all."

"It struck me as a bit odd too." She admitted. "But, did you know that it's something like one out of five times where they are wrong about the sex of the baby?"

"Really, that often?" Monica asked.

"Angel Girl, don't you remember the days when there was no way to tell?" Tess asked.

"I sure do. I remember the days before this city was even here."

"That must be really neat." Gloria said. Suddenly Andrew came into the room.

"Monica, I have to talk to you."

Monica excused herself and followed her husband. He helped her slip her coat on and they went outside.

"What is it, Andrew?"

"The police called."

"They did?" Monica asked nervously.

"Yeah. They said that no one broke into the house today, which makes sense since there is only a small whole in a kitchen window, barely big enough for a bird to fit through. There is also no evidence of any other method of break in. Nothing was taken, and a dead bird with a bent beak was found right underneath the broken window. So, they've established that there was no break in today, just a bird." Monica sighed with relief and hugged her husband.

"Then there's the explosion across the street. The motive on that was murder, but it was intended specifically for the owner of that house, as he had done the very dumb thing of dating a mob boss's girlfriend, and cheating him out of money."

"So, it was the mafia?"

"Yeah. Then there's the double homicide next door. They are still investigating that, but have no reason to believe that it had anything to do with Zoe."

"But there's still the matter of the school play."

"That they are looking into and are deeply concerned about."

"Good," she said, hugging her husband again. "I don't understand why there is all of this crime here all of a sudden. This is the upper East Side, this kind of thing shouldn't be happening here!"

"The police also said that it's been an odd year for crime." He said, he noticed that she was crying. "Are you okay?" He asked as he pulled out a tissue and dried her tears.

"Yes Andrew, I'm fine. It's just a great mix of fear and relief."

"I know what you mean." He said as he hugged her even tighter and placed a small kiss on her lips.