(A/N: Hey! I am SO sorry about the really long wait on this chapter. Once again, I have been plagued with schoolwork. Chemistry and AP government have been taking up most of my hours. I wanted to update sooner, but just couldn't find a chance to. So, finally I have written the next chapter. I hope you like this, and please bear with me- I don't know how long it'll be until the next chapter. Of course I will try to add more as soon as I can, but don't be mad if it's a long wait again. Thank you for being patient! Oh, and please review, I appreciate it! Thanks!)

Love Conquers All

Chapter 7: Please Lord, Don't Take Him Yet

Kevin awoke the next morning and did not want to get out of bed. Eventually he forced himself to get up, and looked at himself in the mirror. His hair was extremely messy and he seemed to have dark circles under his eyes. A few minutes later, Lucy stirred. She opened her eyes and smiled at Kevin.

"Good morning, sunshine," Kevin said to her, as he went to check on the babies. They were miraculously quiet, even though they were awake. They were playing with some of the toys in their crib. He took them downstairs to their playpen, and asked Annie if she could keep an eye on them for a little while. She did not mind, and Kevin thanked her and went back upstairs. They finally had a little bit of time alone.

Kevin smiled to himself and asked, "Hey honey, do you want to take a shower?"

"No, that's okay, you can go first. I don't mind waiting," Lucy replied, not aware of what he was really asking.

"No, Luce, I mean tog-"

"Really Kevin, I don't mind."

"Well… if you say so. I just thought it would be nice to take a shower together while we have the chance," he said flashing a grin, as he turned and headed into the bathroom. It took a few seconds for this to register in Lucy's mind before she realized what he had said. "Wait! I'm coming!" she said chasing after him.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Soon after the shower and after they were dressed, they went downstairs to have breakfast. Annie was preparing breakfast when she saw Kevin and Lucy emerging from the stairs. "Good morning you two, I made breakfast," Annie said cheerfully.

"Good morning Mom, thanks for looking after the little ones. Kevin and I…we just needed time to our selves," Lucy said, as Kevin put his arm around her shoulder. Annie just nodded, and Kevin kissed Lucy softly. The couple sat down at the table and thanked Annie for the breakfast. After a little while, the two finished their breakfast and they went into the room to check up on the twins. As Kevin was watching his little ones play happily in their playpen, he looked up at Lucy and asked, "Hey Luce, I've been thinking, and maybe you have too, that it would be a good idea to start looking for our own house. After all, we have children now, and our space we have now is not going to be enough for our growing children," Kevin explained, turning back to the children.

"Yeah, I've been thinking a lot about that lately. I don't want to be a burden on my mother anymore. I mean, I know she loves her grandchildren very much, but I just feel bad that we're here, you know? Like we're making extra work for her," said Lucy.

"How about we start looking today? I have a day off from work, so that won't be a problem."

"Sure, why not," Lucy said smiling. Kevin leaned in and kissed her passionately. After they broke the kiss, they sat there for a few minutes, just smiling at their children and taking in the moment. Lucy's eyes met Kevin's and they smiled at each other. She didn't know what she would do if something were to happen to him.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

A few months later, Kevin and Lucy were living in their new home. They had found a house just a few blocks away, and Lucy loved it. They had their own space, their own home. They still had some unpacking to do, but they were finally, overall, settled in. The babies' room was just about finished, but the twins would sleep in Kevin and Lucy's bedroom for now. Eventually they would move them into their own room, since it was right across the hall from Kevin and Lucy's. The house was two stories, and had three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a large kitchen and dining area. There was also a large family room and basement. Lucy loved the space and openness. She was looking forward to spending years in their beautiful new home together.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

One morning, Kevin received a phone call from Detective Michaels. He was needed at the station. "Hey Luce, I'm sorry but I have to go to the station today. There's been a bunch of break-ins and they need me today," Kevin explained.

"Okay. Be careful," Lucy cautioned, as usual. She never did like his job. She was always afraid something would happen to him, but she didn't want to say anything because she wanted to be supportive. He always supported her and she wanted to do the same for him.

"Don't worry Lucy, I'll be home right after I drop Ruthie off. I love you," he said. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes. He knew she worried about him. "I love you too," she said, and hugged him, "wait…drop Ruthie off?" He kissed her forehead and smiled at her.

"Yes, your mom asked me if I could pick her up from school. She was going to take the boys to the zoo and your dad will be busy counseling a couple. I didn't mind, so I told her I could." After a few moments he got his car keys, kissed her goodbye, and Lucy watched through the window as he pulled out of the driveway and disappeared down the street. "Well, I might as well get some more unpacking done," Lucy said to herself. She looked at the pile of cardboard boxes stacked up in front of her. Sighing, she began to sort through the boxes.

Several hours later, she decided to take a break. She fed the twins and placed them in the playpen, hoping they'd take a nap soon. She then flopped onto the couch and turned on the television. After only a short period of time, she had fallen asleep. The twins had managed to wake her up only a few times before they fell asleep for their nap. About a half hour later, the sound of the phone ringing woke up Lucy. She yawned as she picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hello. Is this Mrs. Kinkirk speaking?" asked a woman.

"Yes this is she."

"Mrs. Kinkirk, I'm calling from Glen Oak Community Hospital, I'm afraid your husband was involved in a car accident." As she spoke the last sentence, Lucy's heart began to beat furiously as the words reverberated in her mind. Your husband was involved in a car accident. She stood there in shock, and the phone fell from her hand as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Hello? Mrs. Kinkirk?" came the call from the phone on the floor. Lucy shakily picked up the phone and stuttered, "T-Thank you for letting me know. I'll be there right away." She hung up quickly and ran for her car keys. After she had the twins secured in their car seats, she nervously turned the keys to start the car and sped out of the driveway and down the street.

The first place she went was to her mother's house. Annie already knew, because she had gotten a phone call about Ruthie. They both wanted to rush over to the hospital but Lucy had the twins and she didn't want to bring them to the hospital, because she would be too preoccupied to watch them. Much to their dismay, Annie and Lucy couldn't find anyone to watch the twins. They had gone through the entire list of neighbors. Their last resort was Roxanne. Lucy hastily called up Roxanne and begged her to baby-sit the twins. Roxanne agreed, which was a relief to Lucy. After Lucy and Annie brought the twins and their things to Roxanne's, Lucy gratefully thanked her, and they left for the hospital.

As they drove to the hospital Lucy pleaded over and over again silently, Please Lord, don't take him. Don't take him yet. He's not ready to go. He has a family who needs him. Please, don't take him away from my children and I. Tears continued to stream down her cheeks as she parked the car and the two ran into the hospital. She tried to calm herself as they approached the front desk. "Excuse me, my husband, Kevin Kinkirk was involved in a car accident. What room is he in?" she frantically inquired.

"I'm sorry ma'am but he's in surgery right now, you'll have to wait to see him."

"But I have to know if he's all right!" she practically yelled.

"Ma'am you will have to wait," the woman said firmly. Lucy gave up and nervously took a seat in the waiting area. Annie asked about Ruthie, and was told she would have to wait for the doctor for information on Ruthie's condition.

The news was on the television, and Lucy silently watched. Suddenly, a look of pure horror came upon Lucy's face. A reporter was standing in front of a badly wrecked minivan and a semi truck lying on its side that was blocking nearly the entire road. Lucy knew it was Kevin's van, and asked for the volume to be turned up. She listened in anxiety as the reporter explained what happened.

"I am live at the scene of what was a serious car crash involving a semi truck and a minivan. The driver of the semi was reportedly highly intoxicated and was driving on the wrong side of the road, when he lost control and the truck toppled over, colliding with this minivan," the woman said, pointing to the wrecked van. Lucy cried as she continued on. "There were two passengers in the minivan, reported to be a man and a young girl. The two were immediately rushed to the Glenoak Community Hospital. Their condition is not known at this time. As for the driver of the semi, he was killed instantly." Tears of fear flowed from Lucy's eyes as she kept thinking about the unthinkable. Was Kevin going to die? She was so lost in emotions and thoughts she didn't even realize Annie was shaking her shoulder. "Lucy," she tried once, "Luce?" she continued. Finally Lucy snapped out of her thoughts and apologized for not responding. "Lucy, I am so sorry. But we have to have faith that they'll be okay," Annie said with teary eyes. She had been watching the television as well.

"I'm sorry too, Mom. I just…I just hope they're both okay," Lucy said hugging her mom and crying. A very short while after, Eric and the rest of the family soon arrived.

"How are they? Have you heard anything yet?" Eric asked anxiously, deeply worried for the lives of his son-in-law and his youngest daughter.

"We don't know, the doctor hasn't come to tell us anything yet," Annie replied almost lifelessly. Lucy only nodded, staring blankly into space. They sat nervously in silence, as they awaited the fate of their two loved ones.