A/N: I have always wanted to see this moment play out... :) A slight tie to part one of chapter fifty-six.

Ages:

Jim - 45
Melinda - 41
Katie - 16
Aaron - 12
Mackenzie - 6

Enjoy! xx Mariah


It started like any other morning at the Clancy house.

Jim was still in bed with his head under the pillows after a late night at the hospital while Melinda was going through her normal routine in the bathroom. As he rolled over, the warm sunlight hit his face and he couldn't help but think about how quiet Melinda was being in the bathroom. There was no running water, no humming, or sound of a hairdryer.

He sat up in bed and called out to her. "Melinda? Mel, honey are you okay in there?" She didn't answer and he became a little worried at her quietness.

Usually, she'd peek in with a smile on her face, but then again it was a Tuesday and she didn't have to work and with Katie driving now she didn't have to bring the kids to school.

He pushed the covers off his body and slowly got up, rubbing his eyes. He crept towards the bathroom not knowing what to expect. Standing in front of the mirror he saw Melinda looking sternly back at herself with her fingers in her hair.

At first, he found it a little funny that his wife was looking so intently at herself until he realized why she was so close to the mirror. He walked up behind her, placed his hands on her hips and rested his cheek on her head.

"You know it happens to everyone," he spoke quietly running his hands over her hips. Still silent and oblivious to the fact that he was expecting a response, Melinda kept picking through her hair. "Mel, baby, I have them too."

He let out a laugh but quickly became aware that this was a serious matter in Melinda's eyes. Again no response. No quick laugh at his previous joke, or a mere shoulder shrug, nothing.

Jim rubbed his hands from her hips down to her ass, and it was then that she acknowledged his presence. Melinda turned around so she was facing him and he could tell that she was visibly upset.

"I'm barely over forty, Jim. At this rate, I'm gonna be white headed by the time I'm fifty. They just popped up. I didn't notice them yesterday." Her face crinkled with worry and she stared back at him. "Did you?"

"Honey, it's fine. A couple gray hairs are not going to be the end of the world," he said softly, kissing her forehead. "I wouldn't have even noticed them now if you didn't tell me."

It was hard trying to reassure his wife that everything was going to be okay, but he needed to try to be the voice of reason. Melinda gave Jim a pleading look. She knew that he was trying to help her, but the simple fact was that her hair changing was something new that she didn't like.

"I don't like change," she sighed, looking at him. "I think I'm gonna go get my hair done..."

He ran his fingers through her hair and she closed her eyes. "Mel, it is really nothing to worry about. I have a few here and there and you said you like my salt and pepper look," he smiled, kissing her forehead. "It comes with the territory of getting older. We've been together nearly twenty years and I think you look even better now then you did back then."

"Twenty years huh?" She reached for his hand and smiled.

"Almost," he smiled at her. "Mel, just know I really don't care if your hair turns white tomorrow or if it all falls out. I don't care if you turn out to be bald in a day's time. I just won't, baby." He held her cheeks in his hands and kissed her softly. "I love you no matter who old and wrinkly you get. Just promise me that when my good looks fade you'll still love me?"

"Always and forever," she whispered and reached up on her tiptoes to press another kiss to his lips. "We have a day to get started..." Melinda smiled as their lips parted. "You think its sexy right?"

"Very sexy," he smiled and threw her over his shoulder.

"Good. I think I'll keep it this way then." She gasped as he threw her on the bed.

"The more grey hair the merrier," he winked and set upon his mission.


Melinda was dressed in a second, a pair of jeans and t-shirt from their vacation to Boston last year.

A birthday gift from Jim.

"We're all gonna be late," she hissed. "I knew you trying to go for the second one was going to take longer than expected..."

"It's my duty to make you come twice," he chuckled and fixed his tie in the mirror.

"The kids are so gonna be late and then you'll be late for your morning meeting." She whispered. "At least the store is closed today..."

"We'll all be fine," he whispered. "A little late start won't hurt us."

"You're right," she sighed. "I'll get the kids up and then you can start on breakfast?"

"Yes," he smiled, kissing her cheek. "There's my girl."

They walked out of the bedroom hand in hand and went to Aaron's bedroom, which was empty and then Katie's, which was empty as well. The rustling of plates and sizzling could be heard as Melinda entered Mackenzie's room, Jim slipped down the stairs. The blonde was still tucked in bed with a cold washcloth on her forehead.

"Baby, are you sick?" She sat on her bed and felt her forehead.

"Katie said she'd tell you and that you'd let me stay home," Mackenzie coughed. "My belly doesn't feel good."

"Oh no," she whispered and kissed her cheek. She could feel her fever on her lips even. "Katie told you right. No school for you..."

"Daddy?" Mackenzie started to nod off again. "Is he with you?"

"He's downstairs," she whispered. "I'll have him come up in a minute." She kissed her cheek

and placed the wash rag back to her head. "Sleep well, little fish." She shuffled out of the room and down the stairs. "What's going on down here?" She asked, watching as Jim and Aaron sat in the breakfast nook and Katie flipped an egg on a plate with toast and poured a cup of coffee.

"You and dad were busy, so we made breakfast." Katie smiled. "I have an AP test that I need to finish up before the first period so I have to get going like now, but I already had my yogurt and granola." She put the plate next to her dad's. "I have practice after school at the gym and probably won't be home for dinner."

"Sounds like a packed schedule for you then," she pressed a kiss to her daughter's head as she grabbed her red juice. "Another one?"

"Of course. I just love how packed full of antioxidants it is," Katie laughed and took a sip with a smile. "There's some left in the cup by you, dad. Aaron, if you want a ride with me you better come now."

"You heard her," she reached for her coffee mug and kissed Jim's cheek. Aaron was shoveling food in his mouth in a very Jim-like fashion. A car started and she smiled at him. "She's all grown up. They all are."

"I know," he laughed and finished his strip of bacon. "Katie makes some damn good bacon too."

"Wonder where she got that from," she smiled at him as Aaron chugged his milk and ran toward the door, grabbing his bag.

The was a car horn and she knew Katie was long gone.

"Come on," she said as Jim grabbed his juice. "Will you give Aaron a ride so I don't have to wake up Mack? She's not feeling well. She asked if you'd go see her before you go."

"Oh?" He asked, going toward the stairs. "I'll peek in and see her."

"It's nothing I can't handle. Probably just a tummy bug," she laughed. "We'll probably stop by your office if she doesn't get better by lunch."

"Okay," he set his briefcase by the door.

"Mom, she left me!" Aaron yelled as he came back toward the front door and Jim went up to see Mackenzie. He leaned over the railing and sighed. "I can't believe she actually left me."

"She was running late and needed to leave. AP test or whatever," Melinda said, sipping her coffee. "Here don't forget your lunch. I packed two deserts because I need you to take the bus." She kissed his cheek just as he groaned, but she turned him around and pushed him in the right direction. "Have a good day at school."

"But the bus sucks," Aaron muttered, still walking down the lawn.

Jim came out of the house a moment later, arm slipping around Melinda's waist as he kissed the side of her head, whispering something about this morning that made her blush and brought the coffee mug back to her lips as she glanced at him.

"I'll give you a ride, Aaron," Jim said, straightening his tie. "I remember how much I hated the bus. My mom would only drive me on my birthday." He kissed her neck and she leaned into him. "Kenz was asleep when I got up there, but she was still pretty warm."

"Thanks, dad!" Aaron said, running to the truck parked on the street.

"Have a good day," she said, smiling up at him and giving him a quick kiss. "I'll call you if anything happens with Kenz."

"Okay. Give her my love when she gets up. I'll stop in on my lunch to check her fever." Jim said, smiling as he kissed her again. "I'll bring Lento's home. It's just across the square. You know, Payne's sitting in a car."

"I noticed and lunch sounds great," she nodded, kissing him again.

"Love you," Jim said and with that, he jogged toward his truck.

"I love you too," she waved to Jim and stood there for a moment and waited until he was long gone. She noticed Payne glancing at her again and she smiled, waving to him and pointed to the mug as she heard footsteps.

"Mama..." Mackenzie whispered, rubbing her eyes.

"Hey there, my little minnow," she said, picking up the sickly child. "Feeling any better?"

"No," the girl coughed and laid her head down. "I don't mommy."

"Let's go get you some breakfast in your tummy and then we can watch a movie." She said smiling and looked at Payne again who had gotten out of his car.

"Princess movie?" Mackenzie perked up with a smile. "I think that'll happen."

"Yes... we can watch a princess movie." She laughed and then walked back inside of the house.

The day began as it always did with the Clancy family, a smile on each other their faces.