A/N: Just made a few necessary changes

Meanwhile…

"Oh, it is so good to see you Simon. Even if it's only for a quick visit," gushed Annie as she hugged her son tightly.

"It's good to see you too Mom," he croaked as she pulled him even tighter, not wanting to let go. He looked pleadingly over her shoulder at his father, tapping Annie's back when Eric just smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

"Mom? Mom…I'm having a hard time breathing. Ohhh thanks," he gasped as air rushed back into his lungs.

"Sorry honey, I was just so happy to see you. We weren't expecting you," she said as she let go, a wide smile on her face as she settled onto one of the kitchen chairs.

"That's not to say we aren't happy to see you," Eric reassured him, his shirt rumpled, his tie undone, "It's just that it's the middle of the week and…where's Rose? I thought this was the week that you two were supposed to be meeting with the caterer's, that's why you two declined our dinner invitation. Simon," Eric's eyes narrowed suspiciously, the corner of his mouth tilting upwards, "what's going on?"

Simon's eyes brightened with excitement, a grin plastered from ear to ear. "Actually," he started, looking back and forth between his mom and dad, "that's why I'm here. Rose and I have announcement. Umm, you may want to sit down for this."

Annie and Eric's eyes met and locked, a shared feeling of dread passing between them. Just as Simon was ready to share his news Sam and David came bounding down the grey carpeted back kitchen stairs, arguing noisily over who could shove more oreo's into their mouths at once.

"Hi guys," Simon bent down to the boy's height, clasping his hands together. "You are just in time to hear my great news."

Sam and David looked at each other before answering. "Can we still eat cookies?"

He ruffled Sam's head and laughed, "Of course you can."

"Good, cause we're really hungry, aren't we Sam?"

"Yeah, we're really hungry." Sam echoed as they ran across the kitchen towards the cupboard beside the fridge.

"Not too many boys, we don't want to spoil our appetites do we?" Annie asked as the boys stuffed their faces, pieces of cookie flying all over the place as they shook their heads no.

Simon raised his eyebrows before starting again, "All right, here it goes. Rose and I have decided not to wait till the spring to get married. We're going to skip the big wedding and instead have decided to have something small," he beamed at his parents. "Isn't that great?"

Eric began pulling on his collar and sank down on the chair that Annie had pulled out for him, all colour draining from both their faces.

"Didn't you hear me?" he asked, laughing with disbelief at their reaction. "We're getting married sooner and we wanted just the immediate family there. That's why Rose isn't here; she's gone to tell her parents."

"My baby…" Annie gasped out, her face crumpling as tears gathered in her eyes. She covered her face and laid her head on the table.

"Dad?" he turned to Eric with confusion.

Rising unsteadily from his chair, one hand on the table Eric grimaced and then coughed. "Well Simon, I think your mom…and I for that matter, are just a little in shock. Wow, getting married, sooner."

"Dad?" called David, his words muffled with cookie.

Eric ran a hand over his face before turning his attention to the twins who were now standing by the back door, looking out at Ruthie and Martin in the back yard. "Yes?"

"Why is Martin biting Ruthie's lips?" he asked pointing out at them.

"What?" he asked as he stumbled towards the door and gazed out at his daughter and her best friend kissing for all they were worth, Martin nibbling on Ruthie's bottom lip.

Annie shoved back her chair and poked her head beside Eric's shoulder. "I didn't even know he was here," she said dazedly.

Looking up towards the ceiling and cupping his hands together Eric mumbled, "Please lord give me strength. Could it have been too much to ask to have only one surprise per day? Just one?"