By late afternoon, most of the adults had dropped out of the game and the younger kids had lost interest. Bobby, Mark and Kevin continued tossing a football around with Todd, Hannah and Teddy. Kerri was up from her nap, sitting in Alex's lap, content for the moment to watch. As the activity around them settled, Kerri got bored and climbed off her aunt's lap. Alex wasn't surprised to see her toddle across the yard toward Bobby. She was about to hollar at him that the baby was there when she saw him notice her. He caught the ball Hannah passed to him and threw it to Teddy, who caught it, jumping up and down. "I caught it! Didja see that, Daddy?"

Bobby laughed and turned his attention to Kerri, who ran toward him. Picking her up, he swung her over his head. She squealed happily and giggled. When he settled her in the crook of his arm, she set about playing with the buttons on his shirt as he headed toward the tree Alex was sitting under with Jeff, Holly and Leslie. He sat lightly near Alex and Kerri leaned against him, continuing to fiddle with his buttons. Leslie smiled at him. "That's the first pass Teddy's ever caught."

"That's because I didn't spin the ball. He was able to keep hold of it."

Holly smiled at her little daughter. "She's not bothering you, is she, Bobby?"

He shook his head. "Not at all."

He looked at Alex, who smiled at him. He liked that smile, and he was glad she'd asked him to come with her. He liked her family. They were a large, close-knit clan. They were what family should be.

Alex saw a hint of sadness creep into his eyes as he looked away and she wondered where it came from. She hoped he was having a good time; he seemed to be. She reached forward and touched his hand. Looking back at her, he smiled, squeezing her hand affectionately. Now he seemed fine. She decided to ask him about it later.

He turned his attention to the toddler in his lap, gently bouncing her, making her giggle. He loved playing with children. There was no pretense with children. They didn't judge him or criticize him. They simply liked him. He understood kids and he could relate to them. He could make them laugh, and he loved to see kids happy. Kids should be happy. Childhood should be a simple, innocent time, and for these children, it was. These kids were a perfect example of how kids should be. He sighed and gently kissed the top of Kerri's head. She looked up at him and reached up to touch his face. He let her. She bounced up and down and, taking the hint, he bounced her in his lap again, smiling when she squealed happily and clapped her hands. It was so easy to make kids happy and took such little effort.

Mark leaned over the railing on the porch. "Hey, guys! Mom and Dad have got the kids in the den playing board games. You guys up for some Trivial Pursuit? We can play teams. I'm teaming with Chris."

With a smile, Alex got to her feet. Mark and Chris as a team were almost unbeatable. Almost. "Fine, Mark. I'm teaming with Bobby."

Bobby stood up with the baby and smiled at his partner. They headed up onto the deck, where Mark was setting up the game in the middle of the picnic table. Aaron came out of the house. "Reggie doesn't feel up to playing."

Holly said, "Poor thing. Where's Jake?"

"Mom's got him."

"I'll be your partner for the game."

Aaron smiled. "Great."

Jeff leaned back in a lounge chair. "How 'bout it, Kev? Think we can take Mark and Chris?"

"I'm up for trying."

Leslie smiled at Wendy. "I guess that leaves you and me, Wendy."

"You got it, Les."

Teams chosen, they began the game.

--------------------------------------------

Mark opened another beer as he dropped into an Adirondack chair near the table. Alex pulled a card from the box and said, "Ok, boys. Sports and leisure. 'What game to Britons call noughts and crosses?'"

Mark frowned, thinking. "You've been to England, Chris. What is it?"

"I was there for two weeks ten years ago. I didn't immerse myself in the culture. Dominoes?"

Alex smiled. "Nice try. Tic-tac-toe."

"Damn. Noughts and crosses...we shoulda known that."

Wendy picked up the die and rolled. Four. She landed on a pink square. Aaron grabbed a card. "Arts and Entertainment. 'What is the color of the other brick road in The Wizard of Oz, alongside the yellow one?'"

Leslie said, "The other brick road? I've seen that movie hundreds of times. There's another brick road?"

"I guess so."

"Orange?" Wendy guessed.

Aaron laughed. "Close, but no cigar. Red. Your turn, Al."

Alex rolled. Two. She moved the pie to a brown square. Kevin pulled a card from the box. "Science and Nature. Geez. You get this one, I'll take you to dinner next week, your choice."

"You're on," she smiled, looking at her partner, who was sitting on a lounge chair with Kerri sleeping on his lap. He took a drink of his beer and winked at her. She looked at her brother. "Go ahead, Kev."

"'What substance is secreted by eccrine and apocrine glands?'"

An anatomy question...Alex smiled wider. "Bobby?"

"Sweat," he said as though it were something everyone should know.

Kevin stared at him. "Is he right?" Leslie asked.

"Damn. We owe them a dinner. How'd you know that?"

Bobby shrugged. "I guess I picked it up someplace."

The game continued well past dark. The children were asleep scattered throughout the house, except for Jake, who happily sat on Alex's lap, swinging a rattle and chewing on a piece of zweiback toast. Two teams were close to winning, each needing one more piece of pie to proceed to the center of the board for the final question. Jeff leaned back in his chair. "I am so glad to see someone finally giving Mark and Chris a run for their money."

Wendy laughed. "Next time we play, I think I want to team with Bobby."

Alex laughed with her. "Ok, Wendy. I'll share him."

Bobby raised his eyebrows at her and she grinned. He smiled. Next time...he liked thinking there could be a next time. Chris rolled the die. Five. That was blue. Crap. He'd needed a six for a chance at the yellow piece they needed. Leslie pulled a card from the box. "People and Places. 'What was Theodor Geisel's middle name?'"

Alex leaned down to Jake and whispered, "We know this one, don't we, Jake?"

The baby smiled at her. Mark grinned. "So do we, sis. I'm guessing that's where he got the name Seuss."

"Yep," Leslie answered. "Roll again."

Chris jiggled the die in his hand. "Come on one..." He dropped the little cube. "Yes!"

There was a collective groan as Jeff pulled a card from the box. "History. 'What exploded in 1883, causing strikingly red sunsets for a year?'"

"Hmmm. 1883...had to have been a volcano. Mark?"

"I say Vesuvius."

Jeff laughed. "No! Ha! It was..."

"Wait!" Mark interrupted. He looked at Bobby. "Do you know this one?"

He nodded, finishing off his beer. Chris leaned forward in his chair, smiling. "Ok, genius. What is it?"

Bobby smiled back. "Krakatoa."

Chris looked at Jeff, who nodded. Chris laughed. "Tell us where it is," he challenged.

"The volcano? In Indonesia."

Jeff nudged his sister. "You knew, didn't you?"

"What? That my partner's a walking encyclopedia? Of course. Why do you think I jumped to team with him?"

"After Wendy, I want to team with him," he said.

Alex laughed. "I think I've lost you as a teammate for awhile, Bobby."

Bobby just smiled at her. "That's fine, if you're ok with it."

"Like I said, I'll share you." She looked at Leslie. "I think it's your turn, Les."

Leslie rolled the die. Four. Blue. Chris pulled a card from the box. "People and places. 'What country gave birth to the Panama hat?'"

Together, Leslie and Wendy chimed, "Panama!"

Bobby and Mark both began laughing. Alex joined in. "I'm guessing you guys are wrong."

Chris nodded. "It's Equador."

"Then why don't they call it the Equador hat?" Wendy asked.

"Because Panama sounds better?" Holly offered.

They all laughed as Alex picked up the die and rolled. Two. Green. This was for their last piece of the pie. Aaron took out a card and said, "Ok, guys, for your last piece...Sports and Leisure. 'What fruit gives Slivovitz brandy its sweetness?'"

Bobby leaned his head back and muttered, "Zwetschgenwasser."

Alex looked over at him. "What?"

"Oh, sorry. That's German. It's plum brandy."

She smiled at him. "So the answer is plum?"

He nodded and she looked at Aaron, who said, "Give 'em their green piece. Roll again, Al."

She did. Chris groaned and then laughed. "Figures you'd roll a six. We may lose our crown here, Mark."

"That's ok, bro. We'll just have to play again to try and get it back."

Aaron said, "Ok, who wants to pick their category?"

"I will," Holly offered. "Arts and Entertainment."

"Ready? 'What movie was Bill Murray trying to film when he was bitten by an angry woodchuck?'"

Alex met Bobby's eyes, but he didn't say a word. This one was all hers. "Groundhog Day."

With a laugh, Aaron nudged Chris. "You guys are officially deposed."

Mark raised his beer in tribute. "Great game, guys."

Holly stretched. "I hate to do this, but we really have to get going. Jeff's working 7 to 3 tomorrow and it's already late." She walked over to Bobby and gave him another warm smile. "Thank you for taking care of her. I enjoyed having a little break."

"Any time. She's very sweet."

"I'll call you next time she throws one of her tantrums." She slid her arms under the baby and lifted her from his lap, hesitating as she straightened up to kiss his cheek. "It was a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Thanks. It was nice to meet you, too."

One by one, each of Alex's siblings and their families said good night, finally leaving only Alex, Bobby and Mark. They cleaned up the deck, tossing empty beer bottles into the recycling bin and filling a large trash bag with paper plates, cups and napkins. Mark grabbed another beer, handing one to Bobby and offering one to Alex. She declined. "I'm driving home," she said.

"More for me," he laughed, setting the bottle between his legs after easing himself into his favorite lounge chair. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, he began to snore.

Bobby settled himself into one of the two Adirondack chairs, stretching out his long legs. Alex pulled a chair up beside him and sat down. "Did you have a good time today?"

He nodded. "I like your family."

"So do I," she agreed. "And they like you."

He shrugged. "That's a nice change."

She reached toward him and gently rubbed her fingers along his arm. "You were great with the kids today."

"I like kids. I understand them."

"Because you're still a big kid yourself?"

"Am I?"

Her fingers ran along the back of his hand, and he turned it over. When she rested her hand against his palm, he closed his fingers and held it. She smiled. "Sometimes. But I wouldn't have you any other way."

"Then I guess I'm ok."

"You're more than ok, Bobby. Don't ever forget that." She squeezed his hand. "Was something bothering you today?"

"No. Why?"

"You just looked, I don't know...sad, from time to time."

"No, not sad." He sighed. "I just...Is this how you grew up, Alex?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean happy, like your nieces and nephews."

"Yes. We had a good childhood."

He nodded. "I'm glad. This is how a childhood should be. Happy, innocent...carefree."

"Not like yours was," she said softly.

"No. Like yours."

"Did that make you sad?"

"No. I was happy to see these kids. It was...reassuring. I'm glad to see kids are still raised happy." He sighed. "If I ever have kids...they're gonna be happy. I swear they will."

"I don't doubt that. Not for a second. Every time I see you with kids, I think about what a great dad you'll make."

He laughed softly, almost bitterly. "All I have to do is find someone willing to be a mother."

"You'll find her, Bobby. Maybe you already have." Leaning closer, she softly kissed him. "I'm going to find Dad. We need to get going."

He watched her go into the house. Maybe you already have. What could she have meant by that?

A/N: Trivial Pursuit is owned by Horn Abbot, Ltd. These questions are taken from the Volume six edition of the game. This was fun to write :-) Anybody learn something?